The impacts and success factors of a work-from-home service-learning internship during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
May Mei Ling Wong ◽  
Ka Hing Lau ◽  
Chad Wing Fung Chan
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Student Interns

PurposeCOVID-19 has changed the way we teach and learn, including service-learning (S-L). This study examines the impacts of the work-from-home (WFH) mode on the work performance and learning outcomes of student interns on an eight-week S-L internship programme, and the key factors in terms of its success.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research methodology is adopted by interviewing nine student interns and four supervisors from three community partner organisations (CPOs) to understand their experiences of how the WFH mode has impacted intern work performance and learning outcomes. Thematic analysis is used for the data analysis.FindingsThe interns uncover a number of negative WFH impacts on the S-L internship, including ineffective communication and management practice, low work efficiency and quality, a lack of task variety and learning opportunities and distractions in the home environment. Furthermore, five critical factors for WFH success are also identified, including prior preparation, effective communication systems, personal motivators at work, the nature of the job in relation to it being suited to the WFH mode, and organisational support.Originality/valueThe study examines impacts on student work performance and learning outcomes in an S-L summer internship programme operating under the WFH mode as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key success factors and practical recommendations have been developed for enhancing the future success of S-L internships operating under the WFH mode.

scholarly journals Framing stress and associated behaviours at work

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2566-2580
Author(s):  
Paul Hampton ◽  
Ezekiel A. Chinyio ◽  
Silvia Riva
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Ethnographic Methodology ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand more precisely the culture and interpersonal behaviours associated with stress. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted using a qualitative approach through an ethnographic methodology in relation to three companies. The greater part of the data collection period was structured into observations that ranged between 2 and 4 hr per day, 1–3 days per week, for a period of six months. A total of ten sites were explored; and on each site, the observations involved activities by 5–20 people. Findings The results showed the pivotal importance of interpersonal relationships in coping with the uncertainty of working conditions, the coordination of teamwork and managing responsibilities and power interactions. It was found that the impact of stress is multifaceted, affecting the physical status, interpersonal relationships, work performance and emotional well-being of construction workers. The workers who were studied emphasised five sources of support that help moderate work-related stress: additional tools such as communication systems and software, a facilitated access to professional help (e.g. psychological services), organisational changes in leadership, provision of resources for the well-being of personnel (e.g. job training) and better teamwork. Practical implications The study underlines the importance of dedicated services for stress management and specific training-related abilities devoted to reinforcing positive person–organisation dynamics. In particular, the abilities should relate to managing the impact of stress in terms of physique, interpersonal relationships, work performance and emotional well-being. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to adopt a psychological perspective for understanding construction scenarios and phenomena and was conducted by a qualified psychologist.

The boat is rocked – Employees' grumbles: a decision dilemma

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Abd Latiff Sukri Bin Shamsuri ◽  
Ponmalar N. Alagappar ◽  
Dileep Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Change Management ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Organizational Change Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Firm

Subject area Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, Organizational Change Management. Study level/applicability Postgraduate and undergraduate students. Case overview Restoran Minang Plus is a self-styled family-owned and managed restaurant featuring a gamut of Malaysian Negeri Sembilan and Indonesian Padang dishes. The eatery establishment has sailed the food industry waters successfully since 2004 and currently has five branches. However, there are certain imperatives they have to institute to integrate their entrepreneurial challenges with organizational change management. The nature of the forces in the competitive restaurant landscape requires a continuous rethinking of current strategic actions, organizational change, communication systems, motivation, asset deployment and strategic flexibility to respond quickly to changing conditions and thereby develop and maintain a competitive advantage. The question is how do they integrate this organizational change management to their entrepreneurial challenges with a view to achieve and maintain competitive advantage? Expected learning outcomes The expected learning outcomes are as follows: understanding managing diversity by looking at the different categories of diversity, that is, generic characteristics and learned characteristics that influence work attitudes; explaining how fostering learning and reinforcement can help in increasing job satisfaction; describing the basic motivational needs of the employees and how it can help in increasing job performance; understanding how an entrepreneurial firm can maximize its firm performance through effective change management; and understanding the importance of strategic management in an entrepreneurial firm. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.

Sukhpal Dairy Farm: considering customer engagement-based growth options

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Ritu Srivastava ◽  
Akhil Mangla
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: understand the challenges and opportunities of an unorganized business/informal economy; compare and contrast the applications of customer engagement frameworks between small and big businesses; outline the steps in product design in a services context; discuss the services marketing mix as a part of the marketing strategy; and understand the need of scaling up the business operations in wake of new opportunity. Case overview/synopsis Sukhpal Dairy Farm (SDF) is a case of unorganized milk marketing in the Indian Emerging Market. Milk was sold as a commodity with a fragmented set of suppliers to only a small population. Changes in consumer demand, technology and supply chain presented huge opportunities to the small dairy farmer. But it was also a threat to him. The large corporater, players backed by strong logistics and supply chain operations support posed a big challenge to the small farmer who lacked scale and reach. Sukhpal, owner of SDF, struggled while considering the options to grow his business. He did not want to change the success factors of his existing business model that was based on word of mouth and customer engagement. Complexity academic level MBA students. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS: 8: Marketing.

Sustainability service learning in economics

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlen Gabriele Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Project Work ◽  
Sustainable City ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Qualitative Survey ◽  
Teaching Learning

Purpose Service learning is not comprehensively developed in economics such as the implementation of the 17 sustainability goals of the Agenda 2030 – although this would be beneficial as experiential learning is linked to democratic education goals. Service Learning offers itself as a didactic design for this purpose. The paper aims to discuss how service learning can be used to work critically and reflexively on sustainability issues in a cross-university context. Design/methodology/approach The cross-university teaching-learning project brought together students of industrial engineering and economics. The idea space “sustainable city” was to be developed together with practice partners with the help of the practice-relevant project management method scrum and methods of sustainability assessment in the sense of service learning. Evaluating the project, a written and a qualitative survey were conducted and analysed by means of descriptive statistics as well as content analysis. Findings Success factors include the regular feedback by practice partners and lecturers including reflection questions. Student heterogeneity can hinder effective project work. Complexity can deter effective and successful service learning. The use of scrum in service learning contexts cannot be fully recommended. Although scrum contributes to service learning concepts in economics, in complex sustainability projects either the method should be in focus or prior knowledge of scrum should be mandatory. Originality/value The paper discusses how service learning can be used to critically and reflexively address social and practical challenges in a cross-university context. The study contributes to the fact that the complexity of education for sustainable development competencies requires the teaching of knowledge- and fact-based fundamentals as well as methodological-research procedures for research-based and at the same time practice-oriented learning.

Kamal Youbi: a knack for startups

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Fadwa Chaker ◽  
Mohamed Wail Aaminou
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Administration ◽  
Emerging Countries ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Creation Process ◽  
Key Success Factors ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Academic Level

Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Learning outcomes Discover first-hand entrepreneurship facets in Africa through a real-lived story; and identify key success factors for entrepreneurship in emerging countries. Case overview/synopsis The case describes the main entrepreneurial milestones of a young Moroccan entrepreneur. By telling his success stories and his failures, the challenges he stumbled over and how he quickly got on his feet after each fall. The case ends with a description of the creation process and evolution of MyAppConverter®, a highly innovative startup, describes the huge potential of the firm and the main difficulties faced by the founders. With limited financial resources, the associates need to quickly detect the misfunctioning part of the business model and get it fixed before the crucial pitch they are making at the end of the month before world leading investors. Complexity academic level Bachelor in business administration. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Murrah Dairy: Thailand's first and only buffalo milk producer

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Rasi Kunapatarawong
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Buffalo Milk ◽  
Product Portfolio ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Product Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Benefits

Subject area Murrah Dairy Company Limited (Murrah Dairy) is a strategy and management case related to entrepreneurship, with a focus on marketing, expansion, strategy and management of a family-run small and medium enterprise (SME). Study level/applicability The case is suitable for senior undergraduate and/or graduate MBA strategic management, entrepreneurship and marketing courses. Case overview The case is about Murrah Dairy, Thailand's first and only buffalo dairy producer. The company combines the concepts of regular SMEs together with community enterprises to build a business that can be used to achieve community benefits as well as private gains. With 11 years of experience, Murrah Dairy remains the first and only extensive dairy buffalo farm in Thailand. The market is growing, the brand is catching on and the company keeps expanding. Beginning with Murrah Farm in 2003, now Murrah Dairy now operates Murrah Farm, Murrah House and Mini Murrah Farm. The question now is where to go from here and what will it take to grow? Expected learning outcomes The expected learning outcomes are the increases in understanding on environment assessment (such as SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, success factors), marketing strategy (product portfolio analysis, market-product analysis) and SME management, as well as abilities to propose growth strategies and marketing strategies for the firm. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.

Research synthesis in collaborative planning forecast and replenishment

2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Márcio Tavares Thomé ◽  
Roberto Luis Hollmann ◽  
L.F.R.R. Scavarda do Carmo
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Collaborative Planning ◽  
Research Synthesis ◽  
Spatial Diversity ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this research synthesis is to gather and integrate findings on Collaborative Planning Forecast and Replenishment (CPFR) as a business process and as a management practice; and to assemble quantitative evidence of its impact on supply chain (SC) performance. Design/methodology/approach – The researchers independently conducted a systematic review of 629 abstracts and 47 full-text papers. Original keywords were applied to four key electronic databases for operations management and information systems. Rigorous and verifiable selection criteria governed inter-coders reliability, review of steps and exclusion of papers. Resource and dependency-based view of the firm, contingency research and maturity models informed the analysis. Findings – There is not a single “blueprint” for CPFR. Competing models emphasize the need for “trust and confidence” and reliable data systems. The type of products, scope, spatial diversity and number of partners in the network are important contextual variables. Firm resources that are unique and advantages from multiple and reciprocal dependencies are powerful levers. There is no consensus on maturity model and on required investment in data and communication systems. Practical implications – Practical implications are implementation related: cost-benefit analysis and simulations should precede full-scale collaboration. There is a consensus on starting CPFR small and expanding gradually. Originality/value – This synthesis applies a rigorous review method and attempts to assemble the dispersed literature in one study, utilizing explanatory operations management and information systems theories.

Assessing the use of ICT systems and their impact on construction project performance in the Nigerian construction industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dubem Isaac Ikediashi ◽  
Amaka Chinweude Ogwueleka
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Word Processing ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Accounting Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

Purpose The use of information and communication technology (ICT) for business processes has witnessed exponential growth over the past two decades. This paper aims to explore the level of use of ICT infrastructure in the Nigerian construction industry and analyse the implications for construction management practice. Design/methodology/approach Using quantitative questionnaire survey, data from 148 respondents were analysed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics as well as multiple regression analysis. Findings Findings establish project managers, site managers and quantity surveyors as the primary users of ICT with regards to the variety of ICT devices in the Nigerian construction industry, while the foremen are the least users. Besides, word processing/accounting systems, electronic communication systems and project management systems are the three top rated in terms of frequency of use, while quality as well as cost impacts of ICT infrastructure use are established as the most important factors contributing to overall project performance. Originality/value The study establishes causal relationships between ICT infrastructure use and project performance within the context of Nigeria’s construction industry.

Kulula.com: now anyone can fly in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Stephanie Townsend ◽  
Geoff Bick
Keyword(s):  
Marketing Strategy ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Marketing Communications ◽  
Advertising Agency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The Relationship

Subject area Marketing. Study level/applicability This case can be used in a principles of marketing course, at Introductory, Executive or MBA level, it is particularly suitable as a case on promotions policy as one of the 4-P's, to illustrate the role of marketing communications as part of an integrated marketing strategy, or to illustrate the building of a service brand. Case overview The case illustrates a number of practical marketing issues: the marketing challenges of launching a budget airline: gaining high visibility and awareness with a relatively low share of voice; the relationship between an organisation and its advertising agency; the requirement to maintain a consistent marketing strategy over time, but to adapt the execution as market dynamics impact the consumer. Given the dynamics of most industries, kulula.com cannot afford to be complacent, as new entrants are always on the horizon. The dilemma facing Gidon Novick and his team is to rethink the sustainability of its current strategy, how to grow and protect its position, as well as the relationship with its advertising agency and its communication strategy – is a more relevant campaign or a new agency required to keep the marketing communications interesting and current? Expected learning outcomes The expected learning outcomes are: to analyse the success of communications campaigns; to explore the issue of client/agency relationships; to understand brand building strategies, how to create a distinctive position, and how to build a services brand; To understand the key success factors for a low-fare niche positioning strategy, and to examine the sustainability of this low-fare strategy; and to identify some product line extension opportunities for kulula.com. Supplementary materials Teaching note.

Service--Learning in Positive Psychology: Effects on Well-Being and Learning Outcomes

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeana L. Magyar-Moe ◽  
Katherine Becker ◽  
Lisa Rubow ◽  
Jenna Semling ◽  
Debra Simmerman
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Well Being
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