scholarly journals Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa ◽  
Richard Mawoyo ◽  
Karen Nelwin Zablon ◽  
Aggrey Siya ◽  
Olufunke Alaba

Abstract Background Malaria is known to contribute to reduction in productivity through absenteeism as worker-hours are lost thus impacting company productivity and performance. This paper analysed the impact of malaria on productivity in a banana plantation through absenteeism. Methods This study was carried out at Matanuska farm in Burma Valley, Zimbabwe. Raw data on absenteeism was obtained in retrospect from the Farm Manager. Malaria infection was detected using malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test. Measures of absence from work place were determined and included; incidence of absence (number of absentees divided by the total workforce), absence frequency (number of malaria spells), frequency rate (number of spells divided by the number of absentees), estimated duration of spells (number of days lost due to malaria), severity rate (number of days lost divided by number of spells), incapacity rate (number of days lost divided by the number of absentees), number of absent days (number of spells times the severity rate), number of scheduled working days (actual working days in 5 months multiplied by total number of employees), absenteeism rate. Results A total of 143 employees were followed up over a 5-month period. Malaria positivity was 21%, 31.5%, 44.8%, 35.7% and 12.6% for January 2014 to May 2014, respectively. One spell of absence [194 (86.6%)] was common followed by 2 spells of absence [30 (13.4%)] for all employees. Duration of spells of absence due to malaria ranged from 1.5 to 4.1 working-days, with general workers being the most affected. Incidence of absence was 143/155 (93.3%), with total of spells of absence of over a 5-month period totalling 224. The frequency rate of absenteeism was 1.6 with severity rate of absence being 2.4. and incapacity rate was 3.7. Conclusion Malaria contributes significantly to worker absenteeism. Employers, therefore, ought to put measures that protect workers from malaria infections. Protecting workers can be done through malaria educative campaigns, providing mosquito nets, providing insecticide-treated work suits, providing repellents and partnering with different ministries to ensure protection of workers from mosquito bites.

Author(s):  
Huat Bin (Andy) Ang ◽  
Felicity Lamm ◽  
Robert Tipples ◽  
David Nguyen

This article examines gender differences in psychological distress from the impact of stressors. Stress-related illnesses, in particular suicide attempts/successes, are now of major concern in agriculture and attract increased interest from scholars. Many farmers and farm employees have first-hand experience of fatalities, injuries and ill health where stress and fatigue are major contributors. The study was developed through a questionnaire survey, interviews and farm visits. Results from the hierarchical regression models indicated significant gender differences after severity of stressors were taken into account. Male farmers were experienced the impact of psychological strain, whereas the female farmers reported a slightly higher impact of farm stressors. The demographic variables such as marital status, age group, occupational status and size of the farm were not significant factors for contributing toward stressors-strains relationships. This outcome will encourage practitioners who provide services to confront the impact of stressors directly to reduce psychological strain, which likely enhances satisfaction and performance. This research highlights the need to incorporate the frequency and severity of stressors in the work place to understand fully the stressor-strain relationship on individual differences.


2005 ◽  
pp. 53-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kapeliushnikov ◽  
N. Demina

The paper provides new survey evidence on effects of concentrated ownership upon investment and performance in Russian industrial enterprises. Authors trace major changes in their ownership profile, assess pace of post-privatization redistribution of shareholdings and provide evidence on ownership concentration in the Russian industry. The major econometric findings are that the first largest shareholding is negatively associated with the firm’s investment and performance but surprisingly the second largest shareholding is positively associated with them. Moreover, these relationships do not depend on identity of majority shareholders. These results are consistent with the assumption that the entrenched controlling owners are engaged in extracting "control premium" but sizable shareholdings accumulated by other blockholders may put brakes on their expropriating behavior and thus be conductive for efficiency enhancing. The most interesting topic for further more detailed analysis is formation, stability and roles of coalitions of large blockholders in the corporate sector of post-socialist countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
Noora Ahmed Lari ◽  

The State of Qatar has implemented several family policies in order to improve the wellbeing of Qatari families and ensure fair distribution of development benefits for both men and women. However, there is a linkage between female employment outside the home and instability in the marriages of Qatari families. This paper investigates the impact of female employment on marital stability, based on the results of primary data collected in Qatar, a questionnaire that consisted of several sections such as challenges in the workplace, supervisor, family and spouse relations, work motivation and performance. Of the 824 questionnaires that were returned, 807 were completed and valid for analysis. Regression analysis and an ANOVA test have been used to test the relationship between the variables. The results of the research have produced mixed findings about how wives’ employment increases marital instability and have yielded few significant differences on mean scores of discuss on work demands, insufficient time together, housework, financial matters, communication, relatives and rearing children. The results indicates that in general Qatar working women face several challenges in relation to their marital life as part of cultural and social constraints.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-63
Author(s):  
Mariana Sandu ◽  
Stefan Mantea

Abstract Agri-food systems include branching ramifications, which connect in the upstream the input suppliers with farmers, and downstream farmers, processors, retailers and consumers. In the last decades, at the level of the regions, food systems have undergone rapid transformation as a result of technological progress. The paper analyzes the changes made to the structure, behavior and performance of the agri-food system and the impact on farmers and consumers. Also, the role of agricultural research as a determinant factor of transformation of agri-food system is analyzed. The research objective is to develop technologies that cover the entire food chain (from farm to fork) and meet the specific requirements of consumers (from fork to farm) through scientific solutions in line with the principles of sustainable agriculture and ensuring the safety and food safety of the population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-315
Author(s):  
V.V. Smirnov

Subject. The article discusses the momentum in finance. Objectives. The study reveals the impact of financial momentum as the unity of antipodes in the development of the national economy. Methods. The study is based on a systems approach and methods of descriptive statistics. Results. I discover the ultimate goal of globalization, i.e. the substantive simplification of national economies and strengthening of global economic ties. The goals determine the logic tendency of national economies for reducing the interest rate so as to gain the financial momentum and, consequently, fanning the crisis risk in the global financial system. The global financial system became the substance of global economic processes, which determined development opportunities of national economies. I reveal what countries have the high and low financial momentum. Conclusions and Relevance. Being the unity of antipodes in the modern economic development, financial momentum causes countries to lose their economic identity, making them just functions of the global financial system. The cyclical development model of national economies is replaced with the metron model that rests on fluctuating advanced economies with the low financial momentum at its bottom and emerging economies at its top. The findings crystallize the concept and new competencies for a person who decide on the determination and performance of financial regulation activities.


Author(s):  
Ana Rita Damas Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Alexandre Guedes Lopes Henriques ◽  
Teresa Cristina Clímaco Monteiro de Oliveira

Much has been written about the link between HR and performance, however consensus has yet not been found concerning the understanding on how that relationship comes together. Empirically, no direct impact has been found and research has only suggested an indirect impact. Consequently, the Strategic HRM field is particularly interested on the understanding of the mediating variables that impact the organization performance. Besides the integrated and business strategy alignment of the HR function, it should be considered that it is the people (HR) of the organization and not their practices that determine the company´s competitive advantage. (Messersmith & Guthrie, 2010) argue that it is the impact of those practices that represent “the true resource and enable a sustainable advantage over industry rivals”. The objetive of this research proposal is to study the impact of strategic human resources practices on the organization performance through a case study methodology, supported by longitudinal data. Namely, the project aims to achieve a deeper understanding of the variables that affect the process stream during strategy implementation. How the HR practices impact on people? And why human resources are the most valuable asset? These core premises are in line with the most recent economic concerns about people productivity, employment policies and labor flexibility.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Rizqa Raaiqa Bintana ◽  
Putri Aisyiyah Rakhma Devi ◽  
Umi Laili Yuhana

The quality of the software can be measured by its return on investment. Factors which may affect the return on investment (ROI) is the tangible factors (such as the cost) dan intangible factors (such as the impact of software to the users or stakeholder). The factor of the software itself are assessed through reviewing, testing, process audit, and performance of software. This paper discusses the consideration of return on investment (ROI) assessment criteria derived from the software and its users. These criteria indicate that the approach may support a rational consideration of all relevant criteria when evaluating software, and shows examples of actual return on investment models. Conducted an analysis of the assessment criteria that affect the return on investment if these criteria have a disproportionate effort that resulted in a return on investment of a software decreased. Index Terms - Assessment criteria, Quality assurance, Return on Investment, Software product


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