Work as a government ‘scientist’: Professional status security during organisational change and downsizing

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Glennie ◽  
Michael O’Donnell ◽  
John Benson ◽  
Michelle Brown
Keyword(s):  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Public Research ◽  
Research Workforce ◽  
Research Organisations ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Funding Environment ◽  
The Impact

An increasingly complex and competitive funding environment has led many public research organisations to intervene in the organisation of scientists’ work. Government scientists represent a major component of the public research workforce but little is known of how workers in this sector have fared amid institutional and organisational change. Government scientists have applied research objectives but must still meet the profession’s requirements for legitimisation through independent research and peer-reviewed publishing to be recognised professionally as ‘scientists’. This study examines the impact of organisational change and downsizing in an Australian government science agency on the professional status security of its scientists. It uses a mixed method approach involving one focus group, 22 in-depth interviews and 803 survey responses. It finds that structural change reduced scientists’ professional status security and that a context of job insecurity and limited external employment opportunities inhibits individual scientists’ capacity to resist adverse changes to their work conditions.

scholarly journals Impact of Diversity Management on Employees’ Engagement: The Role of Organizational Trust and Job Insecurity

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
Ayman Alshaabani ◽  
Khadija Aya Hamza ◽  
Ildikó Rudnák
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Organizational Trust ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
The Impact

The frequent world changes raised by globalization, new technology development, and the increase in migration movements have generated an immensely diversified workforce. To face these challenges, managers started to seek the best strategies to effectively run this mixed environment and implement the leading diversity management policies for human resource management sustainability, which is also considered as very constructive in boosting employees’ performance, motivation, satisfaction, as well as their work engagement. Consistently, this paper examines the impact of service companies’ diversity management systems on employees’ engagement and the moderating role of organizational trust and job insecurity in that relationship. As we opted for a quantitative study, we managed a survey based on a questionnaire dedicated to 580 employees working in Hungarian companies, specializing in Marketing, Management consulting, IT, and logistics services, to effectively assess the hypothesis concluded from the literature review. With the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) as a data analysis tool, our findings reveal that diversity management has a positive significant effect on Employees’ engagement and that organizational trust and job insecurity truly and significantly mediate that association. Along with social exchange theory, our research contributes to affirming that by implementing proper diversity management practices and by ensuring a trustworthy environment and outstanding work conditions, managers are constructively able to assist their employees, raise their involvement, and minimize the level of job insecurities.

scholarly journals Helping Students FIG-ure It Out: A Large-Scale Study of Freshmen Interest Groups and Student Success

AERA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233285842110218
Author(s):  
Lovenoor Aulck ◽  
Joshua Malters ◽  
Casey Lee ◽  
Gianni Mancinelli ◽  
Min Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Minority Students ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Racial Minority ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Racial Minority Students ◽  
Freshman Seminars ◽  
Enrollment Rates ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Freshman seminars are a ubiquitous offering in higher education, but they have not been evaluated using matched comparisons with data at scale. In this work, we use transcript data on over 76,000 students to examine the impact of first-year interest groups (FIGs) on student graduation and retention. We first apply propensity score matching on course-level data to account for selection bias. We find that graduation and re-enrollment rates for FIG students were higher than non-FIG students, an effect that was more pronounced for self-identified underrepresented racial minority students. We then employ topic modeling to analyze survey responses from over 12,500 FIG students to find that social aspects of FIGs were most beneficial to students. Interestingly, references to social aspects were not disproportionately present in the responses of self-identified underrepresented racial minority students.

scholarly journals The Impact of Work Characteristics on Social Distancing: Implications at the Time of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5074
Author(s):  
Keisuke Kokubun ◽  
Yoshinori Yamakawa
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Work Characteristics ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to spread globally. While social distancing has attracted attention as a measure to prevent the spread of infection, some occupations find it difficult to implement. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between work characteristics and social distancing using data available on O*NET, an occupational information site. A total of eight factors were extracted by performing an exploratory factor analysis: work conditions, supervisory work, information processing, response to aggression, specialization, autonomy, interaction outside the organization, and interdependence. A multiple regression analysis showed that interdependence, response to aggression, and interaction outside the organization, which are categorized as ”social characteristics,” and information processing and specialization, which are categorized as “knowledge characteristics,” were associated with physical proximity. Furthermore, we added customer, which represents contact with the customer, and remote working, which represents a small amount of outdoor activity, to our multiple regression model, and confirmed that they increased the explanatory power of the model. This suggests that those who work under interdependence, face aggression, and engage in outside activities, and/or have frequent contact with customers, little interaction outside the organization, and little information processing will have the most difficulty in maintaining social distancing.

When do job insecure employees adapt to change?

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi N. Lavigne ◽  
Victoria L. Whitaker ◽  
Dustin K. Jundt ◽  
Mindy K. Shoss
Keyword(s):  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Adaptive Performance ◽  
Work Behaviors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Tasks ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between job insecurity and adaptive performance (AP), contingent on changes to core work tasks, which we position as a situational cue to employees regarding important work behaviors. Design/methodology/approach Employees and their supervisors were invited to participate in the study. Supervisors were asked to provide ratings of employees’ AP and changes to core tasks; employees reported on job insecurity. Findings As predicted, changes to core tasks moderated the relationship between job insecurity and AP. Job insecurity was negatively related to AP for those experiencing low levels of change, but was not related to AP for those experiencing high levels of change. Counter to expectations, no main effect of job insecurity was found. Research limitations/implications This study employed a fairly small sample of workers from two organizations, which could limit generalizability. Practical implications The study identifies changes to core tasks as a boundary condition for the job insecurity–AP relationship. Findings suggest that organizations may not observe deleterious consequences of job insecurity on AP when changes to core tasks are high. Originality/value Few researchers have examined boundary conditions of the impact of job insecurity on AP. Furthermore, inconsistent findings regarding the link between job insecurity and AP have emerged. This study fills the gap and expands upon previous research by examining changes to core tasks as a condition under which job insecurity does not pose an issue for AP.

Rural women entrepreneurs in Oman: problems and opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suhail M. Ghouse ◽  
Omar Durrah ◽  
Gerard McElwee
Keyword(s):  
Rural Women ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Opportunities ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Traditional Roles

PurposeThis paper examines the challenges associated with rural women entrepreneurs in Oman. The study is based on women living in rural and highland areas who aim to move beyond their traditional roles in the family seeking avenues for growth and development. It identifies several problems encountered by rural women entrepreneurs and the impact on their future business opportunities.Design/methodology/approachA mixed research approach involving quantitative and qualitative elements was adopted for the study. The research is based on 183 survey responses and personal interviews with 8 rural women entrepreneurs. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted to analyse the quantitative responses and depict a model featuring the intensity of the problems affecting business opportunities. Seven short cases based upon the interviews with rural women entrepreneurs are also detailed.FindingsSeveral problems experienced by rural women entrepreneurs were identified hampering their business ventures, linked to personality, family, educational, socio-cultural, facilities, legal, financial and economic, organizational and geographical, out of which household, organizational and geographical linked problems were most significant. Entrepreneurial opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs are discussed.Practical implicationsThe research suggests that the policymakers should holistically consider how the rural women engaged in informal business for various means can be better supported and sustained by overcoming associated problems, can achieve business opportunities and contribute to regional socio-economic development.Originality/valueThere is a limited literature available on rural women entrepreneurship in an Arab context. The study provides an overview of the challenges and problems experienced by these women and the support areas required to overcome them for their sustainability in this region.

English learners’ readiness for online flipped learning: Interrelationships with motivation and engagement, attitude, and support

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110274
Author(s):  
Lianjiang Jiang ◽  
Haoran Meng ◽  
Nan Zhou
Keyword(s):  
English Learners ◽  
Flipped Learning ◽  
Learner Readiness ◽  
Learner Motivation ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Motivation And Engagement ◽  
Learner Attitude ◽  
High Level ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

As one variant of the conventional flipped model, online flipped learning is increasingly implemented and it becomes important to explore how learners may be ready for it and how learner readiness may relate to motivation, attitude, and support. Informed by a multidimensional conceptualization of learner readiness and motivation and engagement, this study investigates the current situation of learner readiness, focusing on the moderating roles of learner attitude and environmental support in moderating the interrelationships between learner readiness and motivation and engagement in online flipped learning. Based on survey responses from 6,364 English learners across 11 Chinese universities, the results reveal that the students exhibited a generally high level of readiness for online flipped learning, though with significant demographic differences. The results also indicate that learner attitudes and environmental support moderated the impact of learner readiness upon learner motivation and engagement in online flipped learning. The findings call for attention to examine closely what dimensions of learner readiness could shape what aspects of motivation and engagement rather than simply assuming a linear causal relationship between readiness and motivation and engagement. A potential polarizing effect in online flipped learning is also highlighted, with implications discussed.

Abstract 1122‐000242: Effect of Covid‐19 on Stroke Treatment in Australia and New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ela Machiroutu
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Secondary Research ◽  
Stroke Treatment ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Early Adoption ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Introduction : In general, compared to the rest of the world, the impact of Covid‐19 in the Australia and New Zealand regions has been minimal and this may be attributed to their early adoption of social distancing, stable governments, national wealth and geographic isolation. However, this research was designed to validate this perception amongst the stakeholders. Methods : This research included: primary and secondary research. First, secondary research about Covid‐19 and stroke treatment and Australia and New Zealand in particular was conducted and compiled in a Google spreadsheet. Research sources include Stroke Foundation, Brain Foundation, and World Meters. Data collected included the number of stroke and Covid‐19 cases in Australia and New Zealand as well as a list of stakeholders with their contact information. The stakeholders included neurosurgeons, hospitals, neurologists, interventionists, and vascular surgeons. A survey tool and an interview questions were prepared next. The survey request was emailed to stakeholders, requesting the stakeholders for an interview and survey response. Over the following weeks, survey results came in and interviews were conducted. Since only a small subset of stakeholders responded to the survey (6 survey responses and 4 interviews), this study must be considered to be primarily qualitative in nature. The interviews were conducted online using Zoom. After the interviews, I replayed the interviews and took notes of important details. Results : The survey showed that 83% of the doctors worked in a hospital that had a separate stroke unit and that they perform mechanical thrombectomies most often as a treatment for stroke. Most of the doctors suggested that the stroke numbers have not changed significantly since Covid‐19. Yet, 50% of the doctors said that there had been delays in admitting stroke patients. One third believed Covid‐19 may have made an impact on mortality of stroke patients. One of the interviewees revealed that the main barriers to access to stroke care are the time it takes to treat the patient, fewer locations that treat strokes or perform mechanical thrombectomy, and patients’ reluctance to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Another confirmed that she did think there had been delays due to Covid‐19. Conclusions : Counter to widespread perception, Covid‐19 pandemic DID worsen many barriers for stroke treatment in Australia and New Zealand. These regions have insufficient stroke centers and these are not spread out widely enough for accessibility. Stroke deaths have increased during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Barriers such as time, accessibility, and the patient’s fear of hospitals have affected stroke treatment during the pandemic. Several measures can alleviate the impact: stroke awareness is critical. Every hospital needs to have the ability to assess and treat stroke. Hospitals must run simulations to practice and prepare for different scenarios that they could encounter when dealing with stroke patients. In conclusion, stroke treatment has been affected by the Covid‐19 pandemic and it is critical to minimize and overcome these barriers as stroke is one of the leading causes of death in Australia and New Zealand.

scholarly journals Psychosocial Factors in the Development of Low Back Pain Among Professional Drivers

Organizacija ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friderika Kresal ◽  
Tine Bertoncel ◽  
Maja Meško
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Bus Drivers ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Professional Drivers ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background and purpose: Professional drivers as a group are exposed to high risk of developing low back pain due to ergonomic factors and work conditions. The purpose of the study was to examine to what extent the low back pain occurs among Slovene professional drivers as a result of the development of various psychosocial factors. Methodology: The study involved 275 respondents (professional bus drivers, car/van drivers, international truck/lorry drivers, and ambulance car drivers). Hypotheses were tested using multivariate statistical method (regression analysis) and analysis of variance. Data were collected by structured questionnaire comprised of three parts: socio-demographic data, basic psychosocial factors causing low back pain, and incidence, duration and severity of low back pain as a result of psychosocial risk factors, was implemented. Results: The results of quantitative survey suggest that low back pain is mostly caused by lifting and carrying heavy loads, inadequate working conditions, poor physical fitness, regular nights out, shift work, and stress. Only the impact of gender on low back pain distress among professional drivers was confirmed, predominantly among bus drivers and lorry drivers on international routes. Low back pain occurrence was less common, albeit not statistically significant, among professional drivers of vans and passenger cars. Conclusion: Our study suggests that psychosocial factors are also important cause for the development of low back pain among professional drivers and can limit the quality of their social and professional lives.

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