Modeling the Soft Skills of Green Procurement Professionals using Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach

Author(s):  
Surajit Bag

Green procurement demands a creative attitude and innovation oriented culture which is still missing in many organizations. It is noted that most of the procurement professionals lack essential soft skills which are more important than hard skills. Human resource managers need to develop appropriate teaching methodologies for procurement professionals to enhance the essential soft skills. The purpose of this study is to identify the essential set of soft skills required for green procurement practices. Interpretive structural modeling approach was applied to find the interrelationships. This study also provides deep insight to human resource managers and will be helpful in developing training programs for procurement professionals.

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Matsouka ◽  
Dimitrios M. Mihail

The purpose of this article is to investigate the views of university graduates and human resource managers (HRMs) on graduates’ employability in terms of the soft skills required by the labour market. Soft skills (personal attributes that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance and career prospects) are necessary in the labour market in addition to hard skills (professional knowledge, tools or techniques). In this study, 178 graduates from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and 29 HRMs from Greek companies took part. The research tool was a questionnaire exploring participants’ views on the demand for soft skills as a decisive factor in employability. The findings identify differences between the views of the graduates and the HRMs. The graduates tended to overestimate themselves, while the employers argued that graduates lacked the necessary skills. The findings are discussed in relation to the changes needed in higher education institutions and the importance of appropriate interaction and collaboration between companies and universities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Sandilyan ◽  
Sutheeshana Babu S.

In this empirical study, the authors made an attempt to examine the challenges faced by the human resource managers and employees as well as the benefits extended to the employees in the non-star hotel segment in the city of Kolkata It was also endeavored to ascertain the standards maintained by these hotels specifically the hygiene, safety, work environment and to mandatory legal and regulatory compliances. The results show that while these hotels were profitable and enjoyed a healthy market, the human resource practices were unhealthy and discriminatory in nature. Employees were neither provided with minimum wages and benefits nor have the establishments shown any interest in adhering to the mandatory compliances. This could largely be attributed to predominance of largely unskilled or inadequately qualified employees and a large pool of outsourced manpower.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1834-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Attri ◽  
Bhupender Singh ◽  
Sunil Mehra

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ascertain and analyze the interactions among different barriers of 5S implementation in manufacturing organizations. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, 15 barriers affecting the implementation of 5S in manufacturing organizations have been identified from literature analysis and discussion with academic and industrial experts. Afterwards, identified barriers were validated by using nation-wide questionnaire-based survey. Then, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach has been utilized to find out the interaction among the identified barriers in order to develop hierarchy-based model. Findings The research identifies several key barriers which have high driving power and weak dependence power. In this concern, these barriers entail extreme care and handling for successful implementation of 5S. Financial constraints, lack of top management commitment, and no proper vision and mission are found to be the key barriers. Research limitations/implications The developed ISM model is based on experts’ opinion. This developed hierarchy-based model requires further validation by using structural equation modeling approach or by performing detailed case studies. Originality/value In this paper, ISM-based structural model has been recommended for Indian manufacturing organizations, which is a novel exertion in the area of 5S implementation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-428
Author(s):  
R Wordsworth ◽  
BJ Erasmus

This article reports on the results of a survey conducted among human resource practitioners in South Africa regarding their involvement in and experience of business ethics and unethical behaviour in their organisations. The results of the study concur with the theoretical perception that human resource managers have an important role to play in the institutionalisation of good ethical behaviour in the organisation, with the majority of respondents reporting that the human resource department is a primary resource for ethical initiatives and that human resource professionals are involved in the formulation of ethics policies. The article provides some insights in terms of the role of the human resource managers in the management of ethics. In so doing, an attempt is made to address the question of whether human resource managers should be the drivers of ethics initiatives in the organisation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
Fanny YF Young

Business adaptability and adjustability is highly important for the business development. It was suggested human resource managers and executives could pay an important contribution to this area. The aim of this study was to search the literature to see how the human resource managers and executives can improve the business adaptability and change of the companies. The internet was searched using various search engines like Google Scholars, Proquest and Google using keywords like human resource management, business adaptability and adjustability and business resilience. All selected papers were individually studied and any relevant materials were identified. Result showed that there were roles of human resource managers and executives in building business adaptability and adjustability such as acting as strategic partners, employee sponsors or advocates, change mentors and there were contributions which include transition the human resource department to a profitability factor; making profit to the company and engaging in people-focused approach to business continuity planning for crisis.


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