Managers Of Institutions Research Articles

Strategic Transition to Sustainability: A Cybernetic Model

As the importance of the transition to sustainable development is increasingly recognised by individuals, organisations, and society as a whole, there is a growing need to examine its impact at micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. There is an urgent imperative to ensure the sustainability of growing economic inequalities, a degraded environment, and people living in uneven conditions in different societies. The authors, therefore, highlight the strategic role and essential contribution of organisations, and universities/higher education institutions in particular, in achieving sustainable development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Universities/higher education institutions play a key role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, and they form the crucial architecture of contemporary practices in national economies and beyond. Policy makers, university/higher education institution governors, managers, and professors shape students and create new social contexts, and these must be oriented towards sustainability. This paper aims to explore the strategic role of organisations, in particular, universities/higher education institutions, as a key link between personal and social responsibility and, thus, as a powerful enabler of sustainable development. The authors examine the strategic transition to sustainability of two higher education institutions, the University of Maribor and the University of Economics—Varna, and conduct a qualitative case study research to develop a cybernetic model of the university’s/higher education institution’s transition to sustainability, which reflects the organisation’s growing commitment to achieving the Sustainability Development Goals. The model includes seven successive stages: pre-awareness, awareness, focusing, implementation, reaching out, transparency and disclosure, and continuous improvement. The study shows that sustainable development, i.e., sustainability governance, management, and operations, are indispensable for implementing the strategic concept of sustainability in an organisation and for achieving the strategic transition to sustainability as explained in the proposed cybernetic model.

The climate crisis and human health: Survey on the knowledge of nursing students in the Comunidad de Madrid

BackgroundClimate change is an evolving phenomenon that impacts the quality of life and human health, especially of the vulnerable and marginalized, the chronically ill, children and women worldwide. International health organizations are including the mitigation of climate change in their agenda and healthcare professionals are having a progressively active role in this fight, by generating knowledge, training and advocacy. It is becoming increasingly important for healthcare students to understand how the environment influences health and the measures and precautions that the health community can implement in the fight against climate change in order to meet the future needs of populations and communities. AimThe main objective is to describe the degree of knowledge and interest of nursing students of the Comunidad de Madrid about climate change in order to explore their need for training and education on the subject, and ultimately meet the future needs of patients and healthcare institutions. Setting/participantsThe population sample selected consists of nursing students of any year of 14 different universities in the Comunidad de Madrid. Design and methodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using the “International Health Survey” questionnaire, validated and published by the principal investigator from George Mason University, reformulated, under permission, for the study population. The data collection has been carried through direct contact with institution's directors. ResultsSurvey's results have shown participants to have lack of training and education regarding the effects of climate change, while demonstrating concern, interest and motivation in learning. Results also reveal differences between students based on gender, the year of attendance, and the type of university (public, private, or affiliated). ConclusionIncluding climate change education in the nursing school curricula of Comunidad de Madrid would benefit healthcare institutions as future nurses will be prepared to meet the needs of populations and communities and be active in reducing the effects of climate change.

Increasing Self-Medication Knowledge of Administrators in the Child Social Welfare Institution

Child Welfare Institution (CWI) managers often provide self-treatment or self-medication when foster children experience mild symptoms of illness. In its implementation, self-medication often results in inaccuracies. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the self-medication knowledge capacity of CWI managers in Bengkulu City. The aim of this activity is to increase knowledge about self-medication by CWI managers. This activity provides knowledge about how to manage medicines properly and correctly. The training was given using the Active Human Learning Method which was attended by 30 people. Based on the pretest results, the average score was 5.73, while the posttest results showed an increase in the average score to 7.27 and was tested by an independent t-test (p=0.000). Increasing this knowledge is important in supporting rational drug use programs. Keywords: Child Welfare Institutions, knowledge, self-medication.

Effectiveness of Formal Professional Development Activities in Vietnam: What Affects EFL Lecturers’ Perceptions

In the era of constant innovation in English language education, teacher professional development (PD) is of critical importance as it possibly contributes to changes in teachers’ attitudes and practices as well as changes in teaching and learning outcomes. Given this perspective, a vast number of teacher PD activities have been provided by administrative levels in Vietnam with a hope that teachers’ capacities will be enhanced for better teaching and learning. However, how effective these formal teacher PD activities are might be perceived differently by the stakeholders. The present study aims to investigate how EFL lecturers perceive the effectiveness of the formal PD activities provided for them and the reasons for their perceptions. The study employed the qualitative approach in which the data were collected via interviews with fourteen teachers from different universities. The findings showed that the provided PD activities were effective to a certain extent as perceived by the participant EFL lecturers. Their perceptions were affected by the elements of PD activities, the coherence between specific elements of PD activities and lecturers’ personal context or social context. The research findings possibly inform EFL lecturers, institution managers and PD organizers in Vietnam and comparable contexts about how to maximize the effectiveness of formal teacher PD activities.

Assistance in the Management of Entrepreneurship-Based Nonformal Educational Institutions and Institutional Digital Marketing

The low knowledge and interest of the community to glance at the existence of Community Learning Centers (CLC) as non-formal educational institutions is often a problem for administrators to maintain the existence of non-formal education in the community. Therefore, it is necessary to assist in the management of non-formal educational institutions based on entrepreneurship and digital marketing as a self-branding effort for community learning center institutions. This activity was carried out by applying training and mentoring methods which were carried out in several stages, namely identification and survey, followed by socialization and implementation, the activity stage, and the last stage was evaluation. This activity was carried out at the Budi Utama Community Learning Center in Surabaya, and attended by managers of non-formal educational institutions throughout the city of Surabaya. The results obtained from this activity were seen through the performance of the speakers, target participants, participants' abilities after mentoring, and the implementation of post-coaching skills by the managers, and overall satisfactory results were obtained and the assisting participating institutions could implement the material well in managing their institutions. So, it can be concluded that this activity can be carried out as an effort to develop potential while increasing the income of CLC institutions so that institutions can experience financial development.

New institutional arrangements and DIY culture: The role of creative economy in the dissemination of culture in the city of Rio de Janeiro

The following article aims to discuss the emergence of new institutional arrangements, aligned with independent practices and DIY (do-it-yourself) culture, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. To this end, the text shows the results of long-term research which observed how cultural policies, guided by the concept of the creative economy, enabled the emergence of new spaces for culture dissemination in the city. In addition, it seeks to understand concrete strategies and practices present in specific case studies of new institutional arrangements, that is, independent culture spaces located in two different regions of the city of Rio de Janeiro. For this article, interviews were conducted with curators and institutional arrangement managers, in addition to a qualitative analysis of the way the networks are used to verify new patterns of dissemination and monetization of the activities carried out by these spaces.

Performance Measurement of Zakat Utilization: The Effectiveness of Zakat Distribution

In this study, we will examine the performance of zakat. The background of the research is the zakat utilization program as one of the programs in the zakat intermediation role, performance must be assessed to see the sustainability of the program. One of them is the effectiveness of the zakat distribution program. The research method used is a case study of zakat programs (BAZNAS) in West Java area, with a descriptive analysis approach. Data collection techniques used were observation, in-depth interviews and documentation. The results of this study are expected to be an innovation that becomes a reference for zakat institution managers to assess the performance of zakat utilization by looking at the effectiveness of the zakat distribution program. Zakat distribution program at BAZNAS of West Java focuses on the economy, health, and education. BAZNAS of West Java is distributed for da’wah and the victims of natural disasters. Zakat utilization at BAZNAS of West Java covers the fields of economy, health, and education. In carrying out the role as a zakat distributor, BAZNAS of West Java still encounters obstacles that hinder the effectiveness of the zakat distribution program. Many measurements are used to assess the effectiveness of its role in zakat distribution, including the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP).
 Keywords: effectiveness, zakat utilization, zakat

TO THE PROBLEM OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT OF SOCIO-CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES DURING THE PERIOD OF MARTIAL STATUS

In the article, in line with the task of training specialists in the management of social groups, communities and society in general, an analysis of the problem of quality management of socio-cultural and educational structures during the wartime period was carried out, in particular, the aspect of social responsibility of managers for the results of their own activities was sharpened.
 Taking into account the Recommendations of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, the list of competencies of managers of socio-cultural and educational structures is outlined; cultural, social and civic competence is defined as the basis of effective interaction of managers with different age groups of people in the process of professional activity. The main task of specialists of this group is the creation of long-term relations between social communities and society in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine, based on their readiness to quickly search for non-standard models of organizing the social, cultural and educational environment and innovative humanitarian and pedagogical technologies.
 In line with the requirements for managers of socio-cultural and educational institutions, the signs of management of the 21st century are highlighted (values, norms, traditions, corporate style, image, organizational culture, corporate team spirit); the requirements for specialists were systematized and the best examples of the world experience of implementing sociocultural and educational projects were clarified (the Anglo-American model of management – the diversity and self-sufficiency of sociocultural complexes, well-known initiatives of charitable foundations, volunteer practice; the European model – types of training and internships in the best sociocultural and educational institutions, multicultural education of managers, etc.).
 A conclusion was made regarding the growth of social responsibility of managers of socio-cultural and educational structures during the wartime period in Ukraine.

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION FUNDING THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP-BASED CURRICULUM AT ISLAMIC EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Funding for the education budget under the auspices of the Ministry of Religion by the government cannot fully cover the need for education costs, so the managers of Islamic education institutions must try to find other alternative sources to be able to cover the lack of education costs. One way to get this alternative source is to carry out education with an entrepreneurship-based curriculum. This study uses literature study research on articles that have the same variables studied. The results of this literature study conclude that the Islamic education institutions that adding an entrepreneurship-based curriculum are able to provide solutions to the problem of managing educational financing. They must be properly managed based on management principles and use the guidance based on Al Quran and Hadist. The Islamic education institution that success conducting all those requirements can even provide students with free school fees and living expenses and graduates from these educational institutions have an entrepreneurial spirit and the provision of skills and expertise to create their own jobs.

Intolerance of Uncertainty Levels in Families of Children with Special Needs During Covid-19 Process

The objective of this study was to investigate the levels of intolerance of uncertainty among families of children with special needs during the Covid-19 pandemic, with respect to various factors. The study utilized a relational survey model and included 250 families of children with special needs who participated in the research during the Fall academic year of 2020-2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic's unavoidable circumstances, data were collected electronically via Google Forms. To gather the data, a "Demographic Information Form" and an "Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale" were administered. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 software. The results indicated that families of children with special needs had a higher level of intolerance of uncertainty, as indicated by the scale's overall scores and the prospective anxiety sub-dimension(p>0.05). The study further revealed that the families' income level and whether one of their relatives had Covid-19 significantly impacted their intolerance of uncertainty levels(p>0.05). However, there were no significant differences based on the families' age, gender, marital status, Covid-19 status, loss of a loved one due to Covid-19, chronic illness, or job loss during the pandemic(p>0.05).Based on studies examining the intolerance of families of children with special needs to uncertainty, efforts can be made to provide psychological support to families of children with special needs.Seminars can be organized for families of children with special needs by institution managers or special education teachers.

Enhancing managerial performance through budget participation: Insights from a two-stage A PLS-SEM and artificial neural network approach (ANN)

Including employees and stakeholders in the budgeting process enhances decision-making, encourages trust, and increases the probability of goal attainment. The present study investigates the simultaneous impact of motivational and cognitive variables of budget participation on managerial performance (MP). Based on goal-setting theory and the literature review, budget goal clarity and commitment have been determined as mediators in linking participation's motivational and cognitive effects on performance, with leadership style as a moderator variable in such interactions. Besides this, it also examined the significance and strength of the associations between budget participation, goal clarity and commitment, and managerial performance by using both PLS-SEM and ANN approaches. Questionnaires were used to obtain primary data from 373 Iraqi Higher education institution (HEIs) managers, with a response rate of 58.37 %. Statistical analysis was performed with PL S-SEM using SmartPLS 4.0, while SPSS was used to implement ANN. The results revealed that budget participation improves managerial performance by promoting goal clarity and commitment. Participative leadership amplifies the positive associations between budget participation and clarity and commitment. This study adds vision to the mediating roles of budget goal clarity and commitment and the moderating role of participative leadership, especially in developing countries such as Iraq. It also contributes to adding insights into the management accounting literature regarding a more complex process explaining the performance of employees generated by their participation in the budgeting process.

Microfinance institutions managers' motivation towards environment protection through green microfinance: the case of the developing country of Cabo Verde

PurposeThe paper explores the beliefs and perceptions of microfinance institution (MFI) managers about environmental threats and the role that green microfinance can play in mitigating them, to assess their influence on these institutions' engagement in green activities.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on protection motivation theory, the study follows a qualitative case study approach, focusing on the MFIs of the developing country of Cabo Verde.FindingsFindings indicate that MFI managers understand and are aware of the environmental threats and identify their customers as the most vulnerable to them. They seem motivated to increase their green activity in the future as it is generally seen as effective in mitigating the problems. However, their response capacity is hindered by limitations such as a lack of financial conditions and technical environmental knowledge.Social implicationsMFIs play an important role in promoting self-employment and breaking the poverty cycle, but their funds are also often used to develop environmentally damaging practices. Green microfinance can contribute to targeting a triple bottom line; considering together people, profit and the planet, provided implementation challenges are addressed.Originality/valueAlthough the environmental behaviour of MFIs has been previously studied, the understanding of the core beliefs of MFI managers that can support their environmental actions is still limited. Thus, the study contributes to advancing the knowledge of green microfinance by considering individual-level factors in understanding organisational greening.

Contributing factors to marketing educators’ teaching performance: insights from executive postgraduate programmes in Brazil

Purpose This study aims to understand how marketing faculty become reference-educators of business executives by exploring the factors that contribute to their teaching performance. Design/methodology/approach Exploratory qualitative research, using in-depth interviews in which the object of the study was the marketing educator, based on three Brazilian business schools. Findings The teaching performance depends on the teaching practice, which is influenced by technical knowledge, pedagogical factors and personal features. The development of a practitioner-educator is a complex process that arises from both formal and informal learning. Research limitations/implications Deepens the understanding of marketing educators’ individual factors, proposing a model to expand the knowledge of the factors shaping a reference-educator. Practical implications Raises awareness among managers of Higher Education institutions of the relevance of the development of its educators considering not only pedagogical skills but also marketing and social skills. Social implications Improvements in education generate a positive contribution to society. Better marketing educators may result in better professionals, which could, ultimately, generate more benefits both for corporations and for society. Originality/value Existing literature has neglected the understanding of how marketing educators’ individual factors may impact on good teaching to create a well-rounded practitioner-educator. This study seeks to address that gap by exploring how marketing faculty, especially practitioners of marketing, become reference-educators, that is, educators identified as exemplars of good practice by their students and peers.

Analysis of Students Performance on Admission Placement

In the present-time, getting admission to study a preferred course of choice in the Nigerian tertiary institutions by prospective applicants is highly competitive. As a criteria, applicants are required to meet the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and five (5) relevant ordinary level credits, including English and Mathematics as a prerequisite before securing admission. However, being wrongly placed for a course that is different from ones choice could negatively affect learning and outcomes. Therefore, proper placement would have tendency of enhancing not only learning and outcomes but also self-esteem; thus improved productivity. This paper has examined students’ performance based on the course sought at entry and course placed to study. The CGPA of 300-Level students in the 2020/2021 session of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Yobe State University was used as a particular case for the investigation. Descriptive and Non-parametric techniques were employed. We found that applicants who sought to study computer science or physics at entry but were placed to study mathematics/statistics performed better than those who sought to study chemistry or biology. However, applicants who sought to study chemistry and placed to study mathematics/statistics are fairly better as compared to biology. Conclusively, the results of this study will inform decision makers and tertiary institution managers towards selecting those suitable to study mathematics/statistics if their preferred courses not secured.

The Housing and Living Arrangement Situation of People with Disabilities in Hungary: Regime Characteristics and Individualized Risks

Our study explores the housing situation of people with disabilities based on life course interviews. Although the focus is mainly on present housing issues and challenges, this is set in a longitudinal perspective highlighting the legacies from the socialist period onwards. The study distinguishes three social policy regimes: the state-socialist, the liberal and the illiberal ones, which, on the one hand had different ideas about disability, while on the other hand, applied different housing policies. Results suggest that the housing of people with disabilities depends on a number of aspects which cannot be controlled by our interviewees. Based on the interviews, we identified three key areas which play an especially important role in shaping the housing opportunities of people with disabilities. These are the resources and motivations of the family of origin; the geographic location of the residence; and institution managers, care-workers, roommates around them.

Non-Work Related Adjustment factors-a strong Predictor of Expatriates’ Commitment in Mission Hospitals in Kenya: The role of Transformational Leadership

Many organisations worldwide rely on the contributions of expatriates, who are crucial in filling skill gaps in business operations. However, expatriates face challenges that stem from cultural differences. This paper models the relationship between non-work-related adjustment factors and the expatriates’ commitment. Previous research provides mixed results on this relationship. Therefore, this paper fills the void by interrogating the influence of transformational leadership on the relationship between non-work adjustment factors and commitment. Based on a sample of 112 expatriates drawn from selected mission hospitals in Kenya, results indicated that non-work-related adjustment factors significantly affected the expatriates’ commitment (β=1.277, p=0.000). Transformational leadership also affected expatriate commitment (β=.951, p=0.000), and finally, transformational leadership moderated the relationship between the non-work related adjustment factors and expatriates’ commitment (β=1.127, p=0.000). The study recommends that human resource managers in the mission hospitals should set up policies on the non-work related adjustment of expatriates in their hospitals. Also, managers of institutions in the home country should prepare their expatriates on cross-cultural adjustment mechanisms to adapt to their commitment to their host country.

Children with Intellectual Disabilities and Role of Public Sector Institutions: An Exploratory Study from District Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which are expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. The intellectual disability normally originates from the age of 18 years and restricted learning activity, including acute deficiency or restrictions in individual expertise in numerous fields such as cognitive, language, motor, psycho- social, and particular functioning of everyday living. People with intellectual disabilities have to face a lot of discrimination in Pakistan due to inadequate involvement of the public and private sectors. Keeping in consideration the importance and sensitive nature of the issue, the present exploratory study aims to understand the role of public sector institutions regarding children with intellectual disabilities in district Lahore. Primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with managers of different public sector institutions. The results presented through thematic analysis, and findings highlighted that several gaps existed in services, such as lack of proper mechanisms in the institutions, absence or pathetic check and balance, professional practitioners, training and guidelines, poor and inappropriate infrastructure, and limited participation in sports and extracurricular activities. The study strongly recommended that there should be a review and strict enforcement of policies, awareness among parents, and effective rehabilitation is necessary.

Neural network modeling of motivation of key executives of regional government institutions as a regression problem

Subject. This article deals with modeling of the motivation of top managers of regional government entities to bring the interests of the population and the State into line. Objectives. The article aims to create a neural network model of motivation of key executives of regional government institutions for the regression problem. Methods. To simulate the criteria of intangible and material motivation of the top managers of regional government institutions, as well as the criteria for the region's strategic potential, we used neural networks. Results. The article presents the results of neural network modeling of the motivation of top managers of regional government institutions, which in the case of the regression problem are more accurate than the classification task. Relevance. The results obtained can be useful to regional government entities to develop a rational system of financial and non-financial incentives of their senior leadership.

FORMATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL READINESS OF FUTURE HEADS OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

The article deals with the problems of forming the professional readiness of future heads of preschool education institutions for managerial activities in the context of their professional training. The structural components of the professional readiness of future heads of preschool education institutions for managerial activities are highlighted. Particular attention is paid to the actualization of the innovative potential of future heads of preschool education institutions, their creative attitude to successful management activities.Attention is focused on creating a favorable innovative educational environment in a higher education institution for the formation of managerial professional skills. The definitions of the concepts of “readiness” and “professional readiness” are characterized. The significance of the competence approach in the formation of professional readiness of future managers of preschool education institutions for management activities is actualized.
 Keywords: professional training; professional readiness; manager; preschool education institution; managerial activity; managerial competence; competence-based approach; innovative potential; creative attitude to work.

Legal Support of Effective Management of an Educational Institution in Wartime Conditions

The article is devoted to the analysis of the legal provision of effective management of an educational institution of Ukraine in wartime conditions, which consists of the effective application of situational management and elements of anti-crisis management. It was found that from February 24, 2022, the full-scale war of the russian federation against Ukraine exacerbated the problem of legal provision of effective management of an educational institution. An analysis of modern research on the issues of legal regulation and ensuring the effective management of an educational institution in war conditions was carried out (for example, information and analytical reports of the State Education Quality Service of Ukraine and reports on the quality of higher education from the National Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education). It was determined that the management of educational institutions in wartime conditions is characterized by: constant observation, detection and localization of problematic phenomena that occur in the educational environment of an educational institution; prevention of crisis situations. It was found that the current legal acts do not sufficiently regulate and ensure the effective management of an educational institution during wartime. An analysis of the existing legal provision regarding the management of an educational institution under martial law was carried out. It was concluded that in Ukraine there are gaps in the legal management of an educational institution in wartime conditions, namely: lack of necessary documents, recommendations, courses for teachers regarding actions in wartime conditions; lack of a strategy for compensating educational expenses of education seekers at the state level, etc.; lack of a permanent mechanism for the simultaneous functioning of various forms of education; lack of recommendations regarding the actions of educational institution managers and teaching staff in the event of destruction or damage to an educational institution; lack of recommendations regarding the targeted actions of educational institutions, employees of educational institutions, education management bodies, who found themselves in temporary occupation; there is no understanding of the possibilities of using autonomy in the development of management of an educational institution with existing legal support.