Management Staff Members Research Articles

Role of resilience in healthcare workers' distress and somatization during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study across Flanders, Belgium.

AimTo evaluate the impact and the possible role of psychological resilience in the COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak on healthcare workers’ mental and physical well‐being in Belgium.DesignThis cross‐sectional, survey‐based study enrolled 1376 healthcare workers across Belgium from 17 April 2020 to 24 April 2020.MethodsThe study sample consisted of direct care workers (nurses and doctors), supporting staff and management staff members. The main outcomes are resilience, distress and somatization.ResultsHigher educational level was associated with lower symptoms of distress and somatization. Physicians exhibited the lowest risk of experiencing heightened levels of distress and somatization. Controlling for confounding factors, higher levels of resilience were associated with a 12% reduced chance of increased distress levels and 5% lower chance of increased somatization levels. Our results suggest the potentially buffering role of mental resilience on those working on the frontline during the COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak.

DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF LEAN MANUFACTURING ON NAIROBI BOTTLERS LIMITED'S RESULTS.

Purpose: The study aimed at determining the impact of lean manufacturing on Nairobi Bottlers Limited’s results.
 Materials and methods: This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The management staff Nairobi Bottlers Limited were the target population of the study. The population of the study was 308 management staff members. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to pick 93 participants. The area of study was the County of Nairobi. Regression analysis of the data was carried out using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer software.
 Results: The study found out that standardization of products, waste reduction procedures, mechanization of the production line and ccapacity building among staff and system was embraced by NBL.
 Recommendations: The study recommends that standardization of, that waste reduction procedures, that mechanization of the production line and capacity building among staff and system should be increased by NBL.

Drogprevenció a védett szerveknél. Elemző-értékelő esettanulmány a katasztrófavédelem állományában előfordult kábítószerkereskedelmi tevékenység többrétű vizsgálatával

A tanulmány a katasztrófavédelem hivatásos állományában megjelenő kábítószerfogyasztási és kábítószerkereskedelmi tevékenység jelenségét és lehetséges okait mutatja be egy, a Nemzeti Védelmi Szolgálat munkája során előfordult eset kapcsán, továbbá tárgyalja a megelőzés lehetőségeit, jogszabályi környezetét és a jelenleg is kihívást jelentő kérdéseket, valamint szemlélteti a Magyar Honvédség jó gyakorlatát. A tanulmány hangsúlyos eleme annak a folyamatnak a bemutatása, ahogyan a jelenség begyűrűzik a hivatásos állomány fiatal tagjai közé, továbbá a személyes motívumok feltárása. Az esettanulmány ismerteti a kábítószer-kereskedelem tárgyában elítélt volt hivatásos tiszt önreflexióját, amely az eset kapcsán benne felmerülő, a büntetőjogi következményeken túlmutató, etikai, lelkiismereti dilemmáiról, tanulságairól szól. A tanulmány vizsgálja az ügy felderítésétől kezdődő szakaszt a büntetőeljáráson át egészen az elítélést követő szakaszig, mind jogi, mind emberi oldalról és bemutatja, a büntetőeljárás hatásait után egy szervezet, valamint az elítélt volt tűzoltó életére. Mindehhez a Nemzeti Védelmi Szolgálat által tett feljelentés és annak nyomán lefolytatott, jogerős ítéletekkel lezárt büntető ügy, valamint az elkövetővel készített mélyinterjú szolgáltat alapot. A tanulmány rávilágít arra, hogy problémakör éppúgy érintheti a Nemzeti Védelmi Szolgálat további védett állománycsoportjait, mint a jelen esetben feldolgozott katasztrófavédelmi szervet.

EXECUTION OF SENSITIZATION PROGRAMMES OF ADVENTIST RELIEF AGENCY ON FEMALE CIRCUMCISION IN NYAMIRA CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN NYAMIRA COUNTY, KENYA

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which sensitization programmes of Adventist Relief Agency on female circumcision have been executed in Nyamira Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists in Nyamira County, Kenya. This study adopted a theoretical framework based on social change, social control theories. This study adopted mixed methods approach which includes both quantitative and qualitative methods which encompassed concurrent triangulation. Concurrent triangulation enabled the researcher to adopt descriptive survey research design. The target population in this study was 7 Conference management staff, 3 ADRA programme implementation officers, 60 church pastors and 700 church lay leaders. The sample size consisted of 18 church pastors and 210 lay leaders which was 30% of the target population whereas all the 7 Nyamira Conference management staff members and the 3 ADRA programme implementation officials were purposively included in the study. The study used questionnaires and oral interviews to collect data from the respondents. A pilot study was conducted for reliability and validity of the research instruments. The instruments were piloted in the churches within Nyamira Conference whose pastors and lay leaders did not participate in the study utilizing simple random sampling to select respondents. To ensure reliability of the findings, the data was subjected to cronbanch alpha index. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.7878 was obtained and this implied that the research instruments were reliable and therefore the researcher adopted the research instruments. It was established that there were sensitization programmes on female circumcision in Nyamira County. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that there is need to support the sensitization programmes of Adventist Relief Agency on female circumcision in Nyamira Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists in Nyamira County. Based on the findings of this study it was recommended that the Nyamira Conference management of the Seventh Day Adventist church should strive to encourage and support the sensitization programmes by the Adventist Relief Agency on female circumcision in the area of jurisdiction. 
 
 <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0778/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The Impact of Government Policies on the Growth and Development of SMEs interprises in Bauchi State Nigeria

Every business or start-up was e-ray by the government official ranging from local, state and federal level in Nigeria. Therefore, for SMEs to operate it’s a perquisite to follow the due process from registration by ministry of commerce and industry at state level and the various agencies responsible for registration. This challenge represents both widespread personal misfortune for individuals and a lost opportunity for critical national and global economic development. This study examines the challenges that affect the growth and development of small and medium enterprises in Bauchi state, Nigeria .The study was guided by an epistemological research philosophy adopting a positivist research paradigm. The research design was cross-sectional survey design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target population for this study was 754 registered small and medium scale owned enterprises registered with the Bauchi state government by December 2019 and the sample size was 172 respondents derived using Fisher’s formulae. This study used a self-administered, closed, and open-ended questionnaire to obtain quantitative data. The study used descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, median and proportions using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 and Microsoft Excel. Regression analysis and correlation analysis were used to determine the direction and strength of the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables.. The questionnaires were administered among the seventy (70) management staff members of the one hundred and seventy two (172) selected SMEs in Bauchi state Nigeria through purposive sampling method, and this was done personally by the researcher. Descriptive and inferential statistics was use to analyze and interpret the data use in this research. The study reveals that government policies is a major challenges that help SMEs to grow and achieve its stated objectives in global competitive environment. On same vain this study is so keen and motivated to established evidence on these challenges ascertain especially, in a context of current phenomena SMEs face in Bauchi state. Finally, the study will utilize the element of contingency theory, as these SMEs require sound institutional framework to mitigate these challenges. However, anecdotal evidence shows that SMEs in developing countries like Nigeria are faced with a lot of challenges that have hampered their growth in recent times. Among these challenges are: intermittent power supply, indiscriminate tax levies government policy, low accessibility to loans from financial institutions and inability to keep proper financial records. The study reveals that Government policies have a significant impact on the growth and development of SMEs in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Subsequently, the study recommends that management of SMEs should adopt good strategy in order to overcome these challenges.

Probable Evidence of Fecal Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a High-Rise Building.

The role of fecal aerosols in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been suspected. To investigate the temporal and spatial distributions of 3 infected families in a high-rise apartment building and examine the associated environmental variables to verify the role of fecal aerosols. Epidemiologic survey and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses on throat swabs from the participants; 237 surface and air samples from 11 of the 83 flats in the building, public areas, and building drainage systems; and tracer gas released into bathrooms as a surrogate for virus-laden aerosols in the drainage system. A high-rise apartment building in Guangzhou, China. 9 infected patients, 193 other residents of the building, and 24 members of the building's management staff. Locations of infected flats and positive environmental samples, and spread of virus-laden aerosols. 9 infected patients in 3 families were identified. The first family had a history of travel to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epicenter Wuhan, whereas the other 2 families had no travel history and a later onset of symptoms. No evidence was found for transmission via the elevator or elsewhere. The families lived in 3 vertically aligned flats connected by drainage pipes in the master bathrooms. Both the observed infections and the locations of positive environmental samples are consistent with the vertical spread of virus-laden aerosols via these stacks and vents. Inability to determine whether the water seals were dried out in the flats of the infected families. On the basis of circumstantial evidence, fecal aerosol transmission may have caused the community outbreak of COVID-19 in this high-rise building. Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong.

Leadership qualities and style: a panacea for job productivity and effective service delivery among library staff in academic libraries in South South, Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine leadership qualities and style as panacea for job productivity and effective service delivery among library staff members in academic libraries in Nigeria. This study will help to ascertain the leadership style that is mostly adopted by university library management staff members in university libraries in South South, Nigeria, ascertain the type of leadership style that can be adopted by library management to attain productivity and effective service delivery among staff members in university libraries in South South, Nigeria and identify the leadership qualities that allows for productivity and effectiveness of staff members in university libraries in South South, Nigeria among others.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The target population for this study comprises 672 library staff members from 23 university libraries across the South South region of Nigeria. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to sample the entire population. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire. A total of 672 copies of the questionnaire were administered and total of 623 were duly completed and found useable, therefore there was 93% response rate. The data collected for this study was analyzed using simple percentage/frequency counts and weighed mean.FindingsFinding from the study revealed that the leadership style mostly adopted and practiced by the staff members at the management level in academic libraries in South South, Nigeria is the autocratic type of leadership. Also, Almost all library staff members in academic libraries in South South, Nigeria upholds the view that democratic type of leadership, if practiced by staff members at the management level in academic libraries will allow for maximum job productivity and effectiveness among library staff members, that commitment and passion for their job, excellent communication skills, good decision-making skill, delegation of authority/subordinate empowerment among others are qualities a good leader.Originality/valueThis submission is a work by the researcher and to the best of the researcher's knowledge contains no materials previously published or written by another person.

Análise de múltiplos casos de práticas de avaliação em relação aos padrões internacionais de avaliação da aprendizagem

This article is the result of four case studies in Mexico and Colombia with students from the Learning Evaluation course (Gallardo Córdova, 2017) of an online postgraduate program in education. The study aimed to analyze the participants’ decisions based on the results of a diagnostic questionnaire on learning assessment practices. The students’ decisions relate to the preparation of materials or the change in practices to influence the conduct of the summative and formative evaluation. Eighteen teachers and management staff members participated in the four cases analyzed. The main results were to understand that, in most cases, decision making was more inclined to consolidate the theoretical aspects that sustain the practices, such as the definition of types of evaluation, integration of learning taxonomies, instrumentation, and feedback. Likewise, in terms of international standards stated by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE), especially those related to the Utility, Feasibility and Ethics were integrated into the decision making to educate and sensitize teachers. The complexity and the demand for the time required by the evaluation processes were confirmed, specifically those of a formative nature. It is concluded that the process carried out allows the participants to reflect on the evaluation practices for a continuous improvement.

How do self-initiated expatriates fit into the Japanese traditional HR system? A call for institutional change to achieve mutual understanding

PurposeJapan has recently opened its doors to welcome them in order to reduce the labour shortage in the domestic market. Peltokorpi and Froese (2009) indicated that Japan has a challenging workplace and system for foreigners. It is clear that Japanese firms have not really been ready to take on self-initiated expatriates in spite of their rapid acceptance of them. This research, therefore aims to explore how international labourers have worked in Japan and how well they have really been fitted into the unique Japanese work environment, especially its HR system.Design/methodology/approachThis research examined the issues from the both angle of Japanese firms and from the point of view of international labour through interview-based qualitative research method. The author analysed both data gained from 16 Japanese staff members including human resource management staff members of leading Japanese firms and 40 international workers. The data were analysed through ethnographical investigations of the current situation between Japanese firms and international labour. There has still been a lack of studies using interview-based qualitative method as introduced under the literature reviews.FindingsAlthough the issues occurring in the UK and US as regards pay and discrimination from local workers (e.g. Baruch et al., 2013) seem not to be shared by international workers in Japanese firms, other unique issues have arisen under the traditional HR system. There is a gap between Japanese firms' expectations and international labour' expectations; the former expects the latter to stay for the long term, while the latter prefers variety of job experiences in order to quickly develop skills. Under the traditional Japanese HR system, both sides seem to suffer if they work together for long.Originality/valueThe relationship between international labour in Japan and Japanese firms has been examined. Such both angles brought about expectation gap between both sides as mentioned above. While Japanese staff members have enjoyed the benefits of the secure HR system (Dore, 2000), self-initiated expatriates do not necessarily need these benefits.

Role of University Principals’ Leadership Strategies on Teachers’ and Management Performance: Mediating Role of Support and Rewards in Australia and Pakistan

Leadership strategies of principals in educational institutes is considered an important factor in order to increase support and rewards. Universities in Pakistan suffer from the problems of low support and rewards, due to which most of the teachers and management staff members remain dissatisfied with their principals. This study investigated whether transformational or transactional leadership is better for providing support and rewards to teachers and management staff, along with evaluation of principles’ leadership qualities. For that, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was utilised to assess the performance of principals by investigating 75 management and 75 teachers of 3 universities of Pakistan. Critical review approach was used for comparison between Pakistan and Australia. It was found that transformational leadership is much better as compared to transactional leadership, because it improves interaction and support, as observed in Australia. However, teachers and management staff members in Pakistan reported dissatisfaction, when asked about leadership role of their principals. They said that their principals never motivate them, support them nor reward them in contrast to leadership approaches in Australia.

Beginning teachers’ opportunities for enacting informal teacher leadership: perceptions of teachers and school management staff members

ABSTRACTTeacher leadership is often connected to experienced teachers as it is assumed that a certain level of knowledge and experience is needed. Informal teacher leadership, however, can also be expected from beginning teachers. The aim of this study is to study beginning teachers’ opportunities for enacting leadership. Twelve pairs, consisting of one school management staff member (e.g. principal, administrators, head of departments) and one beginning teacher, were interviewed. For the analyses, three codes describing levels of leadership (witness, participation, ownership) were used to label the situations reported by the novices and staff members in which they experienced and observed leadership. The findings of this study show that it is possible for beginning teachers to enact leadership roles. They do, however, need to develop knowledge and skills for this purpose. To optimise these leadership competencies, teacher education programmes could consider including this more explicitly in their curriculum.

Attitudes Toward Persons With Disabilities Among Community Centers’ Management Staff Members: A Brief Report

This study aims to examine the connections between personal demographic characteristics, knowledge about disability, contact with persons with disabilities, and attitudes toward persons with disabilities among Israeli community centers’ managerial position holders. The sample consisted of 84 managerial position holders working in different departments at Israeli community centers who completed the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities. A moderate negative connection was found between age and attitudes toward disability. No significant association was found between gender or education level and attitudes toward disability. Participants who personally knew a person with a disability showed more positive attitudes on the cognition dimension than those who have no personal connection to a person with disabilities. A moderate positive connection was found between knowledge about disability issues and attitudes toward those with disabilities. Our research concludes that both personal contact with individuals with disabilities and disability knowledge are associated with positive attitudes toward such individuals. Thus, recommendations were made to develop training for community centers’ management and employees to promote more favorable attitudes toward people with disabilities.

The Impact of Cost- driven Strategic Outsourcing on the Organizational Performance of Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

The pivotal roles of the manufacturing sector in economic growth and sustainable development in both developed and developing countries have been documented in the literature. However, the highly competitive environment along with customers' demands for tailored products and services, has forced manufacturing companies, especially in Nigeria to experience slow growth. This study, therefore, seeks to determine the impact of cost drive outsourcing strategy on the organizational performance of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The questionnaires were administered among the one hundred and twenty (120) management staff members of the sixty selected manufacturing companies in Nigeria through a purposive sampling method, and this was done personally by the researcher. Linear regression was used to analyzed and interpret the data used in this research. The study reveals that cost-driven is a major strategy that helps an organization in achieving its stated objectives in the global competitive environment. The findings further show that cost-driven has a significant impact on the organizational performance of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study therefore, recommends that the management of manufacturing companies should adopt strategic and well thought out outsourcing partnerships in order to continuously reduce operating costs for growth.

Relationship between Strategy Implementation and Performance of Kenya Wildlife Service

Cases of a direct strategic direction–performance link may be found in numerous accounts of improvements of organizational performance attributed to changes in leadership. The same case applies to structural adaptations, human resource management, and technology. However, empirical studies into the links between these elements and performance have been lacking. However, Kenya wildlife services have experienced a lot of challenges in achieving its desired objectives more so local customer satisfaction. This study has investigated the effect of strategy implementation on organizational performance in the Kenya Wildlife Service. Four specific objectives guided the researcher and they included to establish the influence of strategic direction on performance; to assess how structural adaptations affect performance; to determine the influence of human resource management on performance; and to find out how technological requirements influence performance in the Kenya Wildlife Service. Theories that were reviewed included organizations theory, dynamic capabilities view, Okumu’s strategy implementation framework, and Higgins’ 8-S strategy implementation framework. The researcher employed a descriptive case study research design with a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The population of interest in this study included all the management staff involved in formulation and implementation of strategy at the Kenya Wildlife Service. The Kenya Wildlife Service has seven deputy directors with 43 management staff under them. This study targeted all of them which translated into a population of 50 respondents in the organization. This study used a census technique which is a procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population as a whole. A total of 50 members of management staff therefore took part in this study. A questionnire was used to collect data through drop-and-pick later method. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics and the results presented in tables and charts. The regression analysis results show that strategic direction, structural adaptations, technology requirements and human resource explains 96.3% of change in performance. Strategic direction has a positive relationship with performance and contributes by a factor of 0.343 to the change in the dependent variable. Structural adaptations also have a positive relationship with performance and contributed to the change in the dependent variable. Human resource management was found to have a negative relationship with performance and contributed to change in the dependent variable. This relationship was however not statistically significant.Technology requirements have a positive relationship with performance and it contributed to the change in the dependent variable. Performance of an organization largely depends on its external and internal customers. KWS seems to have concentrated more on the external customer forgetting its internal customers; the employees. Employee satisfaction is critical for KWS performance and therefore the need to focus on employees’ needs as the organization seeks to satisfy its customers. Motivated employees will have better individual productivity and this will yield improved overall oragizational performance. KWS should review its human resource policy and practices. Its new policy should take good care of employees; motivate them through rewards and incentives. KWS should adopt current technology for better operational performance. It should also be in a position to respond to frequent technological changes in its field.

Reasons for Proficiency Testing Failures in Routine Chemistry Analysis in China.

To understand the reasons for proficiency testing (PT) failures, toward the goal of continuous improvement of laboratory services. Laboratories participating in PT of routine chemistry testing provided by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL) of China were given 3 schemes for handling PT failures in 2016. If they had unsatisfactory PT performance, they were notified and requested to investigate failure errors and submit data regarding those errors. Failure types were distributed as follows, per error group: Clerical, 10.2%; Methodological, 16.2%; Equipment, 23.6%; Technical, 37.4%; PT Evaluation, 0.5%; Unexplained, 11.5%; and Other, 0.7%. Reasons unique to the PT process accounted for 15.6% of all reasons. Corrective actions mainly included correcting calibration, maintaining or changing equipment, strengthening reagent management, rewriting procedures, and retraining staff members. The causes for PT failures relate mainly to laboratory problems, not to the PT process itself. Therefore, PT sponsored by the NCCL is an effective evaluation tool for laboratory performance. Also, laboratories should strive to improve analytical performance.

The application of legislative frameworks for the management of medical records in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Medical records management needs to be governed using a legal framework to avoid records being lost, modified, altered, misfiled and/or damaged, since that may result in a struggle to locate them and wasting time. Medical records management, like any other field, has to be guided by a sound legislative framework. The application of legislation in the management of medical records can help safeguard privacy and confidentiality and curb the loss, modification, alteration, damage and misfiling of records. The study sought to assess the extent to which public hospitals in the Limpopo Province, South Africa apply legislation in the management of medical records. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires completed by records management staff members in the hospitals of Limpopo. This study applied a quantitative research methodology and a survey research design. The study revealed that legal prescripts were not appropriately followed in the healthcare institutions due to a lack of fundamental resources. The study recommended, among other things, the provision of adequate resources and the appointment of suitably qualified records managers and staff or the development of staff capacity to ensure that appropriate legal frameworks are implemented adequately.

Disposal of hospital wastage in Pakistan: A qualitative research

Disposal waste process of Hospitals faced the different issues which raise the questions after the visit of government the hospitals in Punjab of Lahore. This study is used to aware about the issues about the infection wastage which cause about the different disease in Patients. This study is used to aware about the situation the government teaching hospitals of the waste management. In depth interviews conducted by 3 selected hospitals of Punjab Lahore like Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Service Hospital Lahore and Mayo hospital of Lahore from respondents include Medical Superintendent, Executive Director, Deputy Director, Nursing Superintendent and Focal Medical Officer which dealing with the waste management. Main gap which occur in the hospitals about the collection of the wastage and cleanliness of the hospitals. These problems occur by the less trained staff, weak monitoring and different issues which linked with the all staff members. Main results evaluate that to improve the waste management staff members in teaching hospitals of Lahore. The material of this study is, consequently, very essential for development and executing disposal of waste management program by any hospital. Proper distribution of budget and prearrangement of infectious waste management training at any hospital should be spelled out in health policy. A continuous supervision and monitoring could increase the motivation of health staff and ultimately affects their better working output on time.

What do senior management staff members consider to be “interagency collaboration”? From the perspectives of these individuals, an exploration of the context and extent of enablers and barriers to interagency collaboration within their organisations

Introduction: The Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) integrated care initiative, Healthy Homes and Neighbourhoods (HHAN), provides long term care coordination to vulnerable families. The spectrum of care required to optimise the health and social care outcomes for these families well exceeds the capacity of the public healthcare system alone. The HHAN clinicians recognise that needs such as housing, finance, and social supports often preclude these families from addressing physical and mental health issues and as such, work directly with clients to coordinate holistic interagency collaboration to suit each family’s needs. As part of the evaluation of HHAN, this project looks to understand how these endeavours on the “front line” align with the strategic directions of agencies across the network. Theory/Methods: The perspectives as well as the power to influence interagency collaboration will depend in part on an individual’s formal role within an organisation. Using a semi-structured, qualitative interview approach, this aspect of the HHAN evaluation will specifically focus on senior management staff from 12 separate organisations, all of which are networked with the HHAN program in some capacity. The interviews will focus on exploring the participant’s individual definition of “interagency collaboration”, followed by exploring their opinion on context and extent of enablers and barriers to interagency collaboration. Results: Interviews are expected to commence in early September, 2017. Preliminary findings will be presented. We will compare the definitions held by senior level management staff in different organisations and focus on what they believe to be enablers and barriers to interagency collaboration. Discussions: The project will discuss how the definition of interagency collaboration manifests as/or translates to barriers or enablers to engagement and cooperation in practice. Conclusions: We believe perspectives of and definitions held by senior management staff are influenced by their position within an organisation and their formal role which in turn affects interagency collaboration on multiple levels. This study will provide further insights into this concept.

A comparative analysis of the practice and performance of microfinance institutions in Nigeria

PurposeThe successful story of microfinance institutions is often tied to the practice and methods of credit delivery as evidence among international world class microfinance institutions across the globe. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of practice and methods of credit delivery employed by “non- profit” and “for-profit” microfinance institutions on financial sustainability and outreach programmes of the microfinance institutions in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts the survey research design and multi-stage stratified random sampling procedure to collect data from 372 senior management staff, managing directors and board members of microfinance institutions of both groups in Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions analysis.FindingsThe findings suggest that the current practice and methods of credit delivery of microfinance in both “non-profit” and “for-profit” microfinance institutions have an inverse relationship with the financial sustainability and outreach programmes of the institutions. This study provides empirical evidence for the incessant failure of microfinance institutions in Nigeria.Research limitations/implicationsThe study therefore recommends an immediate overhaul of the methodology and practice of microfinance institutions in the country to align with international best practice.Originality/valueIn spite of the huge literature on microfinance in Nigeria, there is not enough evidence to empirically prove that the practice of microfinance has affected the performance of the industry in Nigeria. This study sets out to fill that gap in the literature. The paper examines the practice of microfinancing in Nigeria vis-à-vis the performance of the microfinance institutions, categorized into NGO and microfinance bank “for-profit” institutions using international best practices from countries where microfinance is highly successful as a benchmark for deployment of microfinance in Nigeria, in order to proffer policy direction to stakeholders on steps to take to ensure viability in the microfinance subsector in Nigeria.

From innovation to application of personal cooling vest

Purpose– The Hong Kong government agencies launched a “Cooling Vest Promotion Pilot Scheme” across four industries, namely, construction, horticulture and cleaning, airport apron services, and kitchen and catering industries in 2013. A follow-up questionnaire survey regarding this innovative heat stress controlling measure was administered to evaluate its applicability to these industries. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– The questionnaire surveys were separately administered to frontline workers and management staff. A total of 232 workers from the four industries participated in the full-scale questionnaire survey (A), which aimed to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of cooling vests, worker satisfaction, and willingness to wear cooling vests. The survey was also geared toward eliciting the comments of the workers regarding logistics-related issues. A total of 100 members of the management staff across the four industries participated in the questionnaire survey (B), which aimed to solicit their feedback about the Pilot Scheme and the logistic arrangements for using cooling vests.Findings– On the basis of the survey results, a systems model was established. The model revealed that the applicability of cooling vests mainly depends on the perceived benefits (i.e. worker satisfaction) and logistic costs. The results implied that the existing personal cooling vest failed to satisfy the workers’ needs and incurred potential logistic costs, which likely limited the broad application of cooling vests.Originality/value– The current study employed a systematics thinking approach and provided practical recommendations that could benefit industrial practitioners in the extensive application of an innovative heat stress precautionary measure.