scholarly journals THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT ON THERMOGRAPHY BUSINESS

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-167
Author(s):  
Rūta Poželaitė ◽  
Erika Jonuškienė
Keyword(s):  
Bank Lending ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Economic Environment ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Clustering Methods ◽  
Market Growth ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Construction Companies

Lithuanian economy survives a recession, business is increasingly difficult to operate in the Lithuanian market. One of the first who suffered the consequences of the economic recession is construction business pushing into difficulties business-related businesses and residents. Due to economic downturn the prices of the construction decreased, consumer spending power diminished, bank lending conditions became tighter, which further undercut the market for construction services. Economic growth has changed the attitude of the population to a warm home, quality of the construction. Although thermography used in the construction industry allows construction companies to ensure their quality of work, people find their homes of poor thermal insulation, moisture retention and more effective to plan for repairs, to check the quality of work carried out by builders and trou-bleshooting to save heat energy and reduce heating costs, but demand for thermography was not great. It is therefore important to find out how the socio-economic environment influences the business of thermography, whether the socio-economic environment al-lows it to develop, or, otherwise, whether it is becoming a threat, reducing the demand for thermography. The aim of this paper is to explore the socio-economic impact on the business environment of thermography business. The methods used in the study were: scientific literature review, secondary data analysis, questionnaire, interview, comparison, clustering methods, PESTLE analysis.The business environment of thermography business can be defined as the business envi-ronment including the global environment and macro environmental factors which affect the entire business, affect success or failure of a business and which the company could not control, and micro-factors that directly affect the company and which the company could influence. The interaction of Lithuanian social and economic environments makes opportunities and threats for thermography business. The poor economic situation influ-ences increasing unemployment, therefore the consumer purchasing power reduces and the incentive to emigrate increases, thus reducing the market of thermography business. As well as the economic situation of the country results in the construction sector in its production decline and increase in bankruptcies of construction companies seeking ways to cost reduction, which reduces the market of thermography business. But the need to save energy, the desire to live in warm housing is still a small possibility of market growth, even in crisis conditions.

Participatory Ergonomics: Current Approaches to Improving Organizational Effectiveness and Quality of Work Life

1988 ◽  
Vol 32 (13) ◽  
pp. 755-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ogden Brown
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Organizational Effectiveness ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Participative Management ◽  
Participatory Ergonomics ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Single Approach

Participatory ergonomics is an idea whose time has come! There are many approaches which have been utilized by organizations to improve productivity and enhance quality of work life. Participation itself is not a new idea, but because of current organizational and environmental forces for change, new organizational philosophies are emerging which are developed, designed, and operated with participation of the employees concerned and which do result in improved organizational effectiveness and quality of work life. Organizations in the turbulent environments of today must be able to quickly adapt to conditions of change. Many major forces for change have emerged which significantly impact managerial philosophies and behaviors. In this decade, in fact, the rules of business have changed drastically and permanently. Market conditions, foreign competition, and high growth markets are major forces in today's environment along with societal values, composition of the labor force, type of product, and the general business environment itself. An effective approach to management would suggest that it address these forces for change in order to adapt and succeed. No single approach utilizing participatory techniques is universally effective: a contingency approach is advocated. Basic assumptions underlying a contingency model include the notion that no single approach will be effective under all circumstances, and that most approaches utilized today will be effective under a certain set of conditions. It appears that some form of participative management meets current needs primarily because it best suits the labor force, today's technologies, and current societal conditions. The major participative management approaches discussed include quality circles (currently the most popular), job enrichment strategies, cooperative union-management quality of work life programs, gainsharing plans, and the development and operation of self-managing work teams. Also discussed is an emerging innovation in participative management, use of the parallel organization. There are other methods available, to be sure, but these appear to be the principal participative approaches of today. Most participatory approaches and techniques are not new. What is new and very important is the commitment on the part of the organization to adopt what may become organization-wide change strategies through the use of participatory management strategies. The ultimate goal, of course, is to achieve improved organizational effectiveness, product quality, and enhanced quality of work life.

scholarly journals Mapping and Examining the Subcontracting Process Adopted by Iraqi Quasi-Governmental Construction Companies

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.20) ◽  
pp. 364
Author(s):  
Taha S. A. Al-Obaidi ◽  
Anthony Higham
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Process View ◽  
Quality Of Products ◽  
Key Techniques ◽  
Operational Processes ◽  
Document Review

In today’s dynamic business environment, a process view has become a mandatory requirement for any organization striving to excel and stay ahead of the competition. By focusing on improving operational processes, organizations can enhance their overall performance and establish a robust competitive advantage through cost and time reduction alongside increasing the quality of products. With a view of improving the performance of Iraqi Quasi-Governmental Construction Companies (IQGCCs) through instituting the process view. This research, particularly, was designed to map examine the subcontracting process currently in use by IQGCCs. To achieve this aim, three of IQGCCs were selected as case studies to collect the required data. Semi-structured interviews with experts from different management levels of these companies supported by document review and focus groups were the key techniques employed to gather and validate the field data. Four factors, namely: government restrictions, authority distributions, management system and communication system, were identified as the key underpinning causes of the current challenges and barriers to efficiency in the subcontracting process. Accordingly, more studies to improve the efficiency of the current subcontracting process are extremely required. 

Understanding TQM implementation barriers involving construction companies in a difficult environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1137-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Stuart Dilawo ◽  
Zahra Salimi
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Implementation Practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that affect TQM implementation in construction companies and it suggests solutions for TQM implementation in a difficult environment. Design/methodology/approach Studies were carried out at six large construction companies who ply their trade in Southern Africa and in-depth investigations were conducted to assess TQM implementation practices and associated TQM barriers. Interviews were conducted on directors and key personnel that play important roles in TQM implementation in their respective organisations. The empirical study also utilised a number of organisational documents which added rigour to the findings. Findings This study identified three core categories and ten main barriers affecting TQM implementation in Southern Africa construction companies. The core categories are motivation, infrastructure and penchants and tendencies while the factors are lack of quality support, poor TQM knowledge and TQM awareness, poor information sharing, temporary workers, overdependence on contract document, poor data collection measurement, undefined TQM roles and responsibilities, award to lowest bidder tendency, poor business environment and corruption. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted based on companies plying their trade in Southern Africa and mostly around Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. It does not study companies in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa and Botswana. Practical implications TQM cannot be exported wholly from another region to a new setting without taking into consideration the local factors associated with that setting. For successful TQM implementation in construction in Southern Africa, characteristics of this region have to be known. This study illuminates a number of TQM implementation barriers associated with construction especially applied to this difficult environment. Application of this knowledge would enhance TQM and heighten competitive advantage initiatives. The proportions highlighted in this study therefore help build up the TQM implementation awareness. Social implications At society level, the findings of this study indicate societal problems such as corruption and business environment which require wide level approaches to deal with these barriers. In addition, if TQM applied in road construction projects, the quality of the roads will be improved, this in turn will have direct impact on quality of life in the society, better roads means easier access to hospitals, schools and public places, better transport and movements of goods and services, etc. It can also save money for the country in long run and economic benefits to the society. Originality/value The factors identified in this study are based on current TQM implementation practices at established construction companies in Southern Africa. They provide a practical basis for guiding TQM in construction companies operating in difficult environments.

Nurses quality of work life: scale development and validation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanjundeswaraswamy TS
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Measuring Instrument ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Fit Index

PurposeThis is a systematically conducted study to design, develop and validate a measuring instrument to assess the nurses quality of work life (QWL) and determine the vital components of nurses' QWL.Design/methodology/approachIn this methodical study, vital dimensions of nurses QWL are identified using Pareto analysis; data and information were collected from 474 nurses through the structured questionnaire. By conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the number of dimensions and items was reduced. Through the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using SPSS 21 software, nine predominant dimensions were confirmed, they are work environment, working condition, work–life balance, compensation, relationship and cooperation, stress at work, job satisfaction, career development and organization culture. Additional structural equation modeling (SEM) was done to determine the interrelationships between extracted nine components using AMOS. By performing different statistical tests like reliability test, content validity, construct validity, convergent, divergent validity and multicollinearity, the proposed nine-component nurses QWL instrument was validated.FindingsThe proposed measurement model explained 73.18% of total variance; reliability of the instrument Cronbach's alpha value is 0.902. Model fit indices like chi-square df (CMIN) = 685, df = 523, CMIN/DF = 1.310, goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.965, adjusted goodness-of-fit index (AGFI) = 0.937, parsimony goodness-of-fit index (PGFI) = 0.918, incremental fir index (IFI) = 0.933, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.921, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.931 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.036 fulfill the acceptable criteria. The nine factors nurses QWL measuring instrument is reliable and statistically valid.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected from 474 nurses, poor responses and time constraints.Practical implicationsHospitals are trying to improve the quality of patient caring by enhancing the nurses' skill sets, knowledge and attitude to meet global challenges. In this unstable business environment, hospitals face challenges like the high attrition rate and skilled nurses shortage. In this scenario, this study provides a valid instrument to measure the QWL of nurses to know the status of QWL, which will help to build a strategic plan to improve retention rate and to attract the talented workforce to the hospitals.Originality/valueAs a result, the scale developed in this study contributes to the body of the literature on nurses QWL. It seems to be more advantageous for carrying out further research in this field.

scholarly journals Ways to Improve Vietnam’s Competitiveness and Economic Recovery in the Context of a Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 112-122
Author(s):  
Phan Quang ◽  
Marina Buyanova
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Scientific Paper ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
The World ◽  
Huge Impact ◽  
Effective Development

There is currently no official research and publication by an authoritative organization on the state of the world economy in crisis. The economic downturn and negative growth of many leading countries show the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy. Solving the problem of Vietnam’s economy’s recovery from this situation actualizes the issue of justifying effective development strategies. This is indeed a complex process that results in achieving a competitive position compared to the ASEAN region. The content of the scientific paper is based on the materials from current sources, i.e. international organizations and periodicals, summary data from publications of the Vietnamese statistical office, as well as historical and economic literature. The factors ensuring the country’s competitiveness were analyzed on the basis of ratings of international organizations whereby it is possible to determine the most competitive elements of the Vietnamese economy and propose priority directions for state development. Key recommendations include structural reforms aimed at changing the growth model from a factor to productivity, improving the quality of technologies and human resources, as well as improving the business environment, ensuring macroeconomic stability, upgrading infrastructure and encouraging innovation.

scholarly journals Determination of Expert Group Preferences in the Multi-Criteria Model for the Analysis of Local Economic Environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-280
Author(s):  
Jelena Stanković ◽  
Žarko Popović ◽  
Sanja Kostevski
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Weight Coefficient ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Economic Environment ◽  
Expert Group ◽  
The Subject

Abstract Local economic environment is characterised by a range of economic, social, political and demographic parameters, based on which we can perform its analysis. Heterogeneity of relevant characteristics of the local economic environment imposes multiple criteria analysis as one of the suitable tools for the evaluation. Assessment of local economic environment often falls within the scope of group decision-making, as it is usually performed on the basis of an analysis of preferences of economic subjects or relevant experts on the issue of the economic environment at the local level. Regardless of whether it is based on economic subjects or expert group, in order to form a multi-criteria model, it is necessary to generate preferences of individuals into a single weight coefficient, which shows groups’ preference on the importance of each criterion. The subject of this paper is determination of weight coefficients in the multi-criteria model for the analysis of local economic development based on the preferences from a group of experts, by applying adequate statistical tools, and then by ranking local governments according to the quality of business environment perceived by the expert group.In addition to descriptive statistics and testing the significance of differences, in the paper is applied multi-criteria method Simple Additive Weights - SAW.

scholarly journals Personnel Function Audit as a Quality-Promoting Tool in Human Resource Management in a Local Government Unit

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-192
Author(s):  
Agata Przewoźna-Krzemińska
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
New Challenges

Abstract With progressive globalization, changes in the business environment and growing competition, modern companies have been facing challenges and the need for anticipating changes and new threats in the market. Consequently, enterprises operating in a situation of uncertainty are forced to analyze everything that is happening both outside and inside the organization in detail. Managers should pay attention to the atmosphere in the enterprise, communication, cooperation, motivation, etc. The ability of the organization to utilize and manage human resources rationally in order to improve the effectiveness and quality of work is critical. New challenges in the organization, diversity of activities, implementation of new or appropriate rebuilding of old methods (functions) can be ensured by their audit, especially HR audit, whose task is to examine all issues related to the implementation of the personnel function. The aim of this paper is to discuss an audit of personnel functions conducted in a local government unit and to present guidelines, effects and results aimed at improving work and its quality. The paper has a theoretical and empirical character.

scholarly journals Reshaping workplaces: workplace innovation as designed by scientists and practitioners

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Dhondt ◽  
Geert Van Hootegem
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Economic Environment ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Current Thinking ◽  
Organisational Model ◽  
Workplace Innovation ◽  
The Right

Current thinking in several disciplines (organisational economics, sociology, psychology)about organisations is starting to converge. Organisations are no longer considered a blackbox, adapting to the economic environment as will-less objects. There is a role to play formanagers to choose the right organisational model. There is still some confusion in theresearch field regarding which organisational model will be most suited for future societaldemands. Workplace Innovation is positioned as a solution, not only stressingorganisational performance, but also delivering better quality of work. This article proposesa research agenda to help this positioning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document