Industrial Supervisors Research Articles

An altered deal? Examining industry perspectives of post-COVID higher education internships in Australia

COVID necessitated a shift in how industry, higher education, and students collaborated on work integrated learning (WIL) initiatives, specifically internships. In a post-pandemic environment, how has this shift altered the traditional dynamics of the WIL internship? This study examined the experiences of 165 industry supervisors of undergraduate student internships undertaken in Australia over 3 years (2021-2023). It explored how such experiences differed across three defined modes. The study aimed to identify implications for higher education institutions and whether such WIL experiences – and the relationships which underpin them – need recalibrating in the ‘new normal’ post-pandemic environment. Results show that students experience similar outcomes in terms of workplace productivity, irrespective of internship mode. The results suggest allocated tasks differed across the three internship modes. There is a lack of willingness for organisations to extend offers of employment to students undertaking WIL via online modes as compared to in-person. This has implications for the tripartite relationship between student, higher education institution, and industry as one of the primary motivators for organisations participating in such programs is to access a pipeline of future talent. Do these dynamics alter the long-standing deal between industry and higher education?.

A framework for skills development for employability in Botswana’s competitive accounting environment

Orientation: The accounting labour market has undergone a metamorphosis in recent years, leading to new demands for generic skills. Universities have responded to the new demands by implementing several reforms in the accounting curriculum to address skills gap. Despite these major reforms, educational expectation gap is persistent in Botswana.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for skills development for employability in the competitive and dynamic accounting environment in Botswana.Motivation for the study: A skills gap was identified, implying the need for a framework for skills development for employability in the competitive and dynamic environment, thereby improving the graduate’s pervasive skills.Research design, approach and method: This study employs a qualitative research approach to extract and analyse key themes, quotes and insights from recent reports submitted to Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) by students and industrial supervisors. Utilising thematic data analysis, this research systematically examines the qualitative data gathered to elucidate the effectiveness of competency frameworks as perceived by both parties.Main findings: Institutions of Higher Learning in Botswana are mandated to equip students with job market-relevant skills. However, graduates often fall short in critical areas such as advanced cognitive abilities, socio-behavioural competencies and information technology (IT) proficiency, hindering their effective transition from academia to the workforce.Practical and/or managerial implications: The contribution and societal impact of this study are summed up in a proposed framework for skills development for employability in the competitive and dynamic accounting environment in Botswana.Contribution and/or value-add: The proposed framework is designed so that universities can equip students with soft skills needed in ever changing accounting environment.

Job stress matters: Understanding how job stress moderates the relationship between person-environment fit and innovative work behavior in the Thai food industry

This study investigates the impact of person-environment fit and job stress on innovative work behavior within Thailand's food industry. Through a comprehensive survey conducted among supervisors in the food industry, validated scales were utilized to measure person-environment fit, job stress, and innovative work behavior while controlling demographic variables. Employing hierarchical regression analysis and moderation analysis, the study examines the direct and moderating effects of person-environment fit and job stress on innovative work behavior. Results reveal a significant positive relationship between person-environment fit and innovative work behavior, with job stress moderating this relationship. Notably, specific points of interaction between job stress levels and person-environment fit are identified, shedding light on nuanced dynamics within the food industry. This research introduces a novel approach by integrating the Job Demands-Resources Model with person-environment fit theory to explore how specific stressors unique to the food industry can influence innovation. The study also pioneers the use of industry-specific measures for assessing job stress and innovation, which were developed and validated within this context. This research contributes to both theoretical and practical knowledge by enhancing our understanding of innovation mechanisms in the food industry and providing actionable insights for fostering creativity and innovation among employees. The study's originality lies not only in its emphasis on the context of the food industry but also in its development of tailored theoretical and methodological approaches to address the sector's unique challenges and opportunities.

Occupational health staff's involvement contributes to supervisor's perceived organizational support in Japanese workforce: a prospective cohort study.

Enhancing employees' perceived organizational support (POS) is crucial for organizations, and one effective approach is enhancing supervisors' POS. However, there is limited research focusing specifically on enhancing supervisors' POS. We aimed to investigate the influence of occupational health staff's involvement for supervisors on their POS. A prospective cohort study was conducted using an online survey targeting supervisors in various industries across Japan. We assessed supervisors' POS using 8 effective items of the Japanese version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support. Data were collected on the involvement of occupational health staff in providing supervisors with training on workplace health management and guidance on addressing specific subordinates with health concerns. The association between this involvement and POS was assessed through multiple regression analyses. The study involved 541 supervisors with occupational health staff at their workplace in the final analysis. Training from occupational health staff was significantly associated with an increase in POS at follow-up after adjustment for potential confounders, including demographic variables and POS at baseline. Similarly, guidance from occupational health staff was also significantly associated with increased POS. This effect was particularly notable in small workplaces. Our study indicates that occupational health staff's involvement in supporting supervisors can contribute to enhancing supervisors' POS, especially in small workplaces. These findings suggest that by developing structured systems and establishing specific roles for occupational health staff, organizations may effectively enhance supervisors' POS.

Sustainable supply chain management and organizational performance: the mediating role of competitive advantage in Ethiopian manufacturing industry

PurposeThis research aims to study the impact of sustainable supply chain management on both competitive advantage and organizational performance in the Ethiopian manufacturing industry.Design/methodology/approachThe objectives are achieved through collecting and analyzing data from 221 Ethiopian manufacturing industries. This research employs a quantitative approach, specifically descriptive and causal research methods. The data are collected by questionnaires administered directly to a sample of 221 respondents who are managers and supervisors in the manufacturing industry. In addition, data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling in the Smart-PLS Software version (SmartPLS 4.0).FindingsThe research reveals that SSCM substantially and positively impacts competitive advantage and organizational performance. Furthermore, statistical findings prove the connection between competitive advantage and organizational performance. Moreover, competitive advantage indirectly influences the relationship between SSCM and OP. The results suggest that successfully implementing SSCM can improve competitive advantage and OP.Originality/valueConsidering the triple-bottom-line approach and the mediating effects of competitive advantage, this study is the first to analyze the relationship between SSCM and manufacturing performance in Ethiopia. This study adds to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) on competitive advantage and organizational performance in the manufacturing industry of emerging markets.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on a cross-sectional study, which may prevent the generalization of findings derived from the current study. The analyzed variable in this study quantified OP, which is widely recognized as a very dynamic concept.

Professional learning in engineering internships: what do supervisors learn from their student supervision practices?

ABSTRACT In order to graduate as professional engineers in Australia, engineering students undertake internships as part of their degree programmes. The heart of a productive internship programme is the relationship between the workplace supervisor and the student, yet there are significant gaps in the knowledge about the nature and type of professional learning that takes place for industry supervisors. The aim of this research is thus to develop a clearer understanding of their practices and perceptions of their student supervision, and the types of learning that take place. This study was conducted with industry supervisors of students from the Faculty of Engineering and IT in an Australian university. It adopted a qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews and an online survey. The data were analysed through the lens of practice theory perspectives. Our results show that learning was generally confined to the learning of students. Supervisors generally did not position themselves as potential learners in the internship experiences. The deeper understanding gained from this study calls for more purposeful, relational and values-based learning practices in supervisor-student interactions.

Supervision Strategies for Managing Work-Related Stress in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry

High work-related stress negatively impacts workers’ health and productivity in the Nigerian petroleum industry. Supervisors in the Nigerian petroleum industry who lack strategies to reduce work-related stress significantly lose worker health and organizational productivity. Grounded in person-environment fit theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies Nigerian petroleum industry supervisors use to manage work-related stress. Participants were six supervisors who have successfully used strategies to reduce work-related stress in the Nigerian petroleum industry. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and internal company documents relevant to reducing work-related stress and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings of the study showed that effective job planning, defining priorities, effective communication with workers and mentoring are some of the strategies used by the supervisors in managing work related stress in the Nigerian petroleum industry. To enhance a good work-health life in the industry, the study recommended training workers and supervisors on stress management, defining minimum conditions of service for workers, having an organizational policy on stress management, and collaboration among managers, employees, and clients on work-related stress management.

Does ebullient supervision foster thriving, social and creative employees? – it all starts at the top!

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the impact of ebullient supervision on thriving at work, and relational social capital to stimulate employee creativity in the hospitality industry.Design/methodology/approachUsing a purposive sampling approach, data were collected from 391 subordinates and their immediate supervisors in the hospitality industry through a structured questionnaire. To analyze the data, partial least structural equation modeling approach was considered.FindingsResults show that ebullient supervision is supportive in generating personal resources of thriving at work and relational social capital, which later shape employee creativity.Practical implicationsThe empirical findings of this study provide valuable insights for managers in the hospitality industry for human resource development strategy formulation to stimulate creativity in the hospitality industry.Originality/valueThe findings of this study suggest a novel antecedent of ebullient supervision for stimulating creativity in the hospitality industry. Hence, the paper has implications for researchers, practitioners and students.

Black Male Supervisors Navigating Racial Battle Fatigue: A Grounded Theory Approach

AbstractA significantly relevant issue that affects Black men in the workplace is a condition known as racial battle fatigue (RBF). RBF fosters systemic and systematic occupational and economic disparities that are experienced by Black men more regularly than their White counterparts (Smith et al., 2007). This qualitative study utilized a constructivist grounded theory methodology based on interviews with 11 Black male supervisors to understand the meaning of their cognitive and behavioral experiences as they navigated microaggressions, microinequities, and vicarious racism. These experiences contribute to our understanding of RBF. The findings revealed that Black male supervisors in various industries encountered and experienced RBF in the workplace. In addition, this research revealed that participants were subjected to various subtle and overt forms of racial stress due to microlevel and macrolevel RBF. The participants’ stories identified epistemic employment injustice and white fear as obstacles and barriers that Black men in supervisory roles face because of RBF in the workplace. The study also indicated that participants deployed managing and coping strategies to address the emotional contagions and emotional trauma resulting from their experiences. This research has implications for workplace policy change initiatives, cultural training and education, intergroup dialog courses, and clinical health practitioners. Recommendations pertaining to interventions that address trauma, mental health, and maladaptive behaviors are provided.

A Study of the Use of Multimedia in AI Industry in Terms of its Impact on In-Service Education and Work Attitude as Well as Work Performance

To meet the increasing demand for talent with the expansion of domestic artificial intelligence industries in foreign markets, many artificial intelligence industries are training high quality employees. In this respect, the present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using multimedia in the artificial intelligence industry in-service education programs. The participants of the study were composed of artificial intelligence industry supervisors and employees in China. The study focused on a sample comprised of AI industry supervisors and employees in China. Data were collected over a period spanning from the 1st of January 2022 to the 1st of June 2022. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, and 423 valid copies were retrieved, yielding a retrieval rate of 85%. According to the results of the study, it can be stated that artificial intelligence industries can benefit the research results through in-service education and learning and development. Moreover, the results of the current study can help promote work performance of employees to produce the necessary soft power that determines success in the future, and to improve business dilemma and enhance competitiveness of artificial intelligence industries. The results of the study revealed that the use of multimedia in artificial intelligence industry increase the self-confidence of employees, they feel respected, noticed, and supported by superiors, and have a good and pleasant interactive relationship with colleagues. As a result, their work attitudes are positively influenced.

A gender and industry-responsive curriculum model for technical-vocational teacher education program

The study aimed to determine the gender and industry-practice gaps in the Technical-Vocational Teacher Education (TVTEd) program and fill these gaps through a curriculum model to make TVTEd gender and industry-responsive. The study used a mixed method approach where quantitative and qualitative data were utilized to develop the curriculum model. Phase 1 is quantitative descriptive research that focuses on the adequacy and usefulness of the pedagogical and technical skills of the curriculum using the lenses of TVTEd graduates and their supervisors. Phases 2 is a literature review that mapped the gender and industry-practice gaps in TVET. Phase 3 is a qualitative case study research focused on identifying the emerging gender issues constraining gender-responsive curriculum practices. Participants for Phase 1 were seventy-one (71) TVTEd graduates and thirty (30) academic and industry supervisors. Phase 2 scrutinized fifty-five (55) related studies. Participants of the Phase 3 included six (6) technical professors, seven (7) TVTEd graduates, and twelve (12) TVTEd students. Quantitative data were analyzed using statistical treatment (mean score, standard deviation, and weighted mean) and qualitative data were thematized using inductive thematic analysis. The results of the study showed a disparity in the technical skills of the TVTEd graduates, emerging gender and industry-practice gaps in the literature, and contradictions in the subjects (teachers), rules, tools, community, division of labor, and object within the activity system of TVTEd. The consolidated inputs from the four phases of the study were analyzed and utilized in developing a gender and industry-responsive curriculum model for TVTEd.

Contribution of K3 Implementation,the Role of Industrial Work Practice Mentoring and the Value of Productive Training Courses Towards Industrial Work Practice Results of Informatics Engineering Students Department Cokroaminoto Vocational School,Kotamobagu

This research aims to determine the contribution of the implementation of K3, the role of industrial work practice supervisors, and the value of training courses on the results of industrial work practices both individually and collectively. The method used in this research is a quantitative method with data collection techniques used are questionnaires and documentation, while the data analysis technique used is multiple regression analysis with the help of SPSS 24. The results of the research show that there is a contribution from the application of occupational safety and health to the results of industrial practice among Informatics Engineering students at Cokroaminoto Vocational School. The contribution of the application of occupational safety and health to the results of industrial practice is 73.5%. There is a contribution from the role of industrial supervisor teachers to the results of industrial practice for Informatics Engineering students at Cokroaminoto Vocational School. The contribution of the role of industrial supervising teachers to the results of industrial practice is 72.6%. There is a contribution of the value of students' productive training courses to the results of industrial practice for students in the Informatics Engineering Department at Cokroaminoto Vocational School. The contribution of the role of industrial supervisors to the results of industrial practice is 74.4%. There is a contribution from the application of occupational safety and health, the role of industrial supervisors, and the value of students' productive training courses to the results of industrial practice together. The contribution of the application of occupational safety and health, the role of industrial supervisors, and the value of students' productive training courses to the results of industrial practice together is 75.3%, while the remainder is influenced by other variables that are not studied in this research.

Digital Economy Technologies and Financial Security

Problem setting. The transformation of the Ukrainian economic system and the financial sector is connected with the new needs of the state, the globalization of the world financial space, and therefore with new challenges and threats. Analysis of recent research and publications. In their works, I. Andrushkiv, L. Nadievets, L. Haryaga, O. Stoyko, and others dealt with issues of increasing the volume of digitalization, digitalization of financial products, and the specifics of the influence of fintech companies on the financial sector. The issue of security of financial institutions was studied by such domestic scientists as: O. Baranovskyi, Z. Varnaliy, S. Yegorycheva and others. Purpose of the research is to analyze the connection of digital financial technologies to the financial security of the state, to study the positive and negative impact of FinTech on the state economic policy and financial security, and to emphasize the need to adapt regulatory approaches to support a safe financial system. Article’s main body. The article is devoted to the issue of the relationship between digital economy technologies used in the financial sector and the financial security of the state. Positive and negative factors of influence of FinTech on banking, budgetary and monetary security, as components of financial security of the state, are determined. The author concludes that the development of financial technologies has the potential to increase financial security by improving the security of transactions, effective compliance with regulatory requirements, expanding access to financial services, and reducing the potential for money laundering and terrorist financing. Digital technologies are a powerful driver of the principles of transparency of financial relations, which is especially noticeable at the level of public finances. A key role in the formation of the financial security of the state is played by the provision of indicators of budget security, therefore the author paid attention to the consideration of the peculiarities of the openness of the budget. RegTech and SupTech, which in turn are technologies for managing regulatory processes and supervisors in the financial industry. Conclusions and prospects for the development. The author concludes that the regulatory framework should be based on risk assessment, contributing to cyber security, data privacy and protection of consumers of financial services, while contributing to the financial security of the state.

Virtual Health Promotion Work-Integrated Learning Placements: A COVID-19 Consequence or Preparation for the Future?

We explored student and industry supervisors' experiences of virtual work-integrated learning (vWIL) health promotion placements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a descriptive phenomenological qualitative methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eight students and eight supervisors of undergraduate health promotion-related placements at community, not-for-profit and government organizations. We asked participants about the aspects of their placement they found most enjoyable and challenging, their preparation, workload, and thoughts on placement structure. We audio-recorded and had the interviews transcribed. Our thematic analyses revealed four key themes: (1) the impact of COVID-19 on work and study, (2) benefits of vWIL (real-world application and career clarification, transcending barriers and saving time, and feeling less intimidated), (3) challenges of vWIL (experiencing workplace culture, providing support and guidance to students, and relationship building), and (4) recommendations on the evolution of vWIL (increased preparation and consider a hybrid model). Our findings suggest that vWIL is a viable and sound mode of delivery for health promotion-related placements, particularly in situations that inhibit face-to-face learning. It has the capacity to enhance the work-readiness of health promotion graduates while adding flexibility to professional preparation workplace-based training programs, providing opportunity for capacity building locally across rural and remote areas, as well as globally. Future research should examine the effectiveness, practicality, and feasibility of implementing placements across different models including face-to-face, virtual and hybrid.

Do Emotional Intelligence and Academic Persistence Mitigate the Relationship Between Lecturer-Initiated Incivility and Emotional Exhaustion?

Supervisor, co-worker, and customer-initiated incivility in the services industry dominate the literature. Incivility studies in academic institutions are beginning to emerge and students’ initiated incivility has taken the center stage, whereas studies on lecturer-initiated incivility are lacking. This study, therefore, seeks to find out the direct and interactive roles of lecturer-initiated incivility, emotional intelligence, and academic persistence on emotional exhaustion among undergraduates. Data were collected from undergraduate students ( N = 254) across Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria. Moderation analyses showed that both emotional intelligence and academic persistence moderated the relationship between lecturer-initiated incivility and emotional exhaustion. Findings of the study imply that emotional intelligence and academic persistence of students help alleviate emotional exhaustion.

Sistem Kendali Upper Cylinder Berbasis Programmable Logic Control pada Area Section Mill di PT. Krakatau Baja Kontruksi

The smooth production process is one of the factors supporting the success of a manufacturing industry in producing quality products, timely completion of manufacture and low production costs. Industrial machines are an important factor in a manufacturing industry besides reliable human resources (HR) and other supporting facilities, so that industrial machines require special attention that is carried out on an ongoing basis in order to support the smooth operation of an industry. Practical work at PT. Krakatau Steel Construction is carried out in the Maintenance division, especially the electrical parts. In practice, the authors conducted field research by participating directly in the process of caring for and maintaining each machine instrument used by the company, especially field research that discussed the upper cylinder control system based on programmable logic control in the section mill area at PT. Krakatau Steel Construction. . In this study using field research techniques where the author conducted field research by participating directly in the process of caring for and maintaining each machine instrument used by the company accompanied by industrial supervisors and maintenance division employees for 1 month.

Conceptualising responsibility and hostility within work-integrated learning placements for students with disabilities

The expectation for universities to support students’ employability through work-integrated learning placements demands investigation into how opportunities are inclusive to students from a diversity of backgrounds. In this paper, we explore the experiences of students with disabilities during work placements, drawing on qualitative data collected through six focus groups with students (n = 27). Analysed through the frame of stigma, the results show how students bear an unfair burden of responsibility in their placement experiences, as they shoulder consequential decisions to disclose and/or request accommodations to support their learning. In this study, work placement environments were often somewhat hostile, both in relation to their built environments but also through the bias and/or prejudice of others. The results shed light on the difficulties that students with disabilities face in their placements and underscore how educational equity is multi-layered, requiring scrutiny of the student life-course including access to opportunities in professional fields.

Committed, Healthy, and Engaged? Linking Servant Leadership and Adaptive Performance Through Sequential Mediation by Job Embeddedness and Burnout

Research assumes an effect of servant leadership on adaptive performance but has neglected the psychological processes underlying this link. Based on Social Exchange Theory and Job Demands–Resources Theory, this study sheds light on how servant leadership triggers job embeddedness, adaptive performance, and mitigates burnout. It also examines the mediating roles of job embeddedness and burnout between servant leadership and adaptive performance. We used three-wave data of 318 employees and their supervisors in the hospitality industry of Pakistan, applying structural equation modeling to examine six main effect hypotheses and three mediation hypotheses. Our findings suggest that servant leadership practices foster employees’ job embeddedness and adaptive performance, and mitigate burnout. Job embeddedness and burnout sequentially mediate the relationship between servant leadership and adaptive performance. Further unraveling the mechanisms between servant leadership and adaptive performance, this study implies that managers should recognize employee-perceived servant leadership as an influential factor that enhances engagement and well-being and ultimately the adaptive performance of their followers.

Impact of technology use on workforce performance and information access in the construction industry

For decades, labor shortage has been a consistent struggle in the construction industry. At the same time, technological innovations have played a central role in the growth and development of an increasingly diverse construction industry. Existing research indicates that technological adoption is crucial for enhancing project productivity. Despite the importance and potential benefits of technology use, no research has yet studied how technology use on-site impact the worker’s performance and the difficulty of the process to access needed information. The objective of this paper is to analyze and understand the impact of on-site technology use on 1) the self-evaluated performance record (including safety, attendance, quality, productivity, and initiative), and 2) the difficulty of the process to access information, of construction workers and frontline supervisors in the construction industry. To achieve the research objective, 2,780 construction craft workers and frontline supervisors were surveyed using an online questionnaire. The survey participants were asked to self-evaluate 1) their work personal performance record (including safety, attendance, quality, productivity, and initiative), and 2) the difficulty of the process to receive or get access to information. The participants were additionally asked to specify whether different listed information technologies, material technologies, and equipment technologies are used on site. The collected data was then analyzed. Key findings indicate that the on-site use of several technologies had statistically significant impact in increased worker performance and information access. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by empirically quantifying the impact of on-site technology use on worker performance and information access in the construction industry.

The Double-Sided Effect of Empowering Leadership on Constructive Voice Behavior: Focusing on the Mediating Effects of Task Significance and Task Overload.

Focusing on job characteristics, this study examined the double-sided effect of empowering leadership on constructive voice behavior. We obtained and analyzed a total of 294 questionnaire responses from pairs of subordinates and supervisors in various industries in Korea. The results supported our hypotheses that task significance and task overload partially mediate the relationship between empowering leadership and constructive voice behavior. Specifically, we found that empowering leadership can promote constructive voice behavior by inducing a recognition of task significance and can suppress constructive voice behavior by causing task overload. These results confirm that empowering leadership indirectly influences constructive voice behavior through job characteristics. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications and highlight directions for future research.