Resource Managers Research Articles

Leveraging invasive mussel contaminant survey data for stepwise prioritization of chemicals of potential concern in the Great Lakes basin.

Historical and ongoing anthropogenic activities coupled with advancements in analytical techniques have led to the detection of large numbers of contaminants in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Consequently, identifying and prioritizing chemicals likely to cause ecological harm represents a challenge for natural resource managers. Previous prioritization efforts have focused on contaminants in sediment, water, and passive samplers, which may not be representative of compounds that bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. Consequently, the present study adopted a stepwise method to prioritize chemicals of potential concern detected in dreissenid mussels from samples collected across the Great Lakes from 2009-2018. The stepwise method considered environmental fate, detection frequency and exceedance of toxicity quotients based on ecotoxicological effect concentrations. Overall, a total of 153 compounds out of 267 analyzed were detected in dreissenid mussels, 47 of which had water quality effect concentrations, 56 had apical effect concentrations (Tier 1 ECOTOX or apical screening), 17 had non-apical effect concentrations (Tier 2 ECOTOX, Cytotoxic Burst, and ToxCast) and 33 had estimated effect concentrations (QSAR, estimated screening and pharmacological potency). Of the compounds with water quality effect concentrations, 9 were designated as high priority including the herbicide atrazine and 5 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that were previously identified as potentially hazardous within other matrices. Similar contaminants were identified as high priority in a related study of native unionid mussels in the Great Lakes. A total of 27 compounds were low priority, suggesting that these contaminants do not warrant further action based on this dataset. Overall, these findings will facilitate the development of management strategies to mitigate the effects of contaminants on aquatic organisms within the Great Lakes.

10. Spatio-temporal evaluation of marine coastal resources for effective management toward development of a sustainable Blue Economy in Small Island Development States: A case study of the Republic of Mauritius

10. Spatio-temporal evaluation of marine coastal resources for effective management toward development of a sustainable Blue Economy in Small Island Development States: A case study of the Republic of Mauritius

Investigating the effectiveness of contract administration at construction stage to averting substandard construction performance: in Shagar city public building projects

ABSTRACT The construction industry frequently faces challenges such as cost overruns, delays, and poor quality due to design and construction errors, inadequate management, and insufficient resources. Effective contract administration is vital for mitigating these issues and ensuring successful project delivery. This study investigates the effectiveness of contract administration in Shagar City public building projects, identifying factors affecting it, assessing the impact of substandard contracts, and developing improvement strategies. For this study, descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of the data to measure and determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The method is used to analyze the responses in actual numbers using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V 27) software supported by an Excel sheet. The research highlights significant problems in Shagar City’s construction industry, including contract documents and communication, contract administration resources, performance, supervisory and changes, quality control and disputes, financial impacts, safety and functionality, social and reputational impacts, etc. The study found that unclear contract documents, inadequate communication, inconsistent procedures, limited resources, and ineffective dispute resolution mechanisms contribute to substandard construction performance. To improve contract administration, the study recommends establishing clear and standardized contract documents, enhancing communication and collaboration, implementing efficient dispute resolution mechanisms, providing adequate resources, and promoting ethical conduct.

The Impact of Resource Management on Water Supply Project Performance

Resource management has become a critical focus globally as nations strive for sustainability and efficiency in utilizing their natural assets. Despite significant efforts to improve water accessibility in Rwanda, water supply projects continue to face high failure rates, particularly due to inadequate resource management. The general objective of the study was to examine the effect of project resource management on performance of water supply projects in Rwanda, specifically, Financial Resource Management, Human Resource Management, and Material Resource Management. The study used Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory and Goal setting theory. The target population was 273 people who were members of the Water for All Rwanda Project. To find the right amount of data to collect, the researcher used Slovin's formula to get a sample size of 162 respondents. The sampling technique that was used in the research was stratified sampling to put respondents into their appropriate groups. Then the researcher proportionately selected respondents using simple random sampling. The study made use of a questionnaire, interviews, and documentation research to collect data. The study adopted descriptive and correlational research design. The researcher did a pilot study with 10% of the total sample size equal to 16 respondents. Content Validity Index was 0.8 and the overall reliability coefficient was 0.814 for all items. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics of correlation and regression analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The findings for three hypotheses were at ?=.05 that: There is no significant effect of financial resource management, human resource management and material resource management on performance of water supply projects in Rwanda were rejected since P=0.000<0.05, confirming that they have a significant positive influence on performance of water supply projects. The study revealed that there is significant effect of financial resource, human resource, and material resource management on performance of water supply projects in the Water for All Rwanda Project. It is recommended that the Water for All Rwanda Project focus on enhancing financial resource management by improving funding timeliness and strengthening financial monitoring mechanisms to ensure efficient resource allocation. Future research needs to examine the effects of community involvement on project implementation of water supply projects.

Exploring development of spatially stratified wind turbine collision risk prior distributions for eagles: An application of adaptive management.

Exploring development of spatially stratified wind turbine collision risk prior distributions for eagles: An application of adaptive management.

Bioregional‐scale acoustic monitoring can support fire‐prone forest restoration planning

In many forests globally, resilience‐focused restoration is necessary to prevent fire‐driven regime shifts. However, restoration planning is challenged by limited resources for monitoring biodiversity responses to management intervention and to natural disturbances. Bioregional‐scale passive acoustic monitoring, when combined with automated species identification tools and management‐relevant habitat data, can be a tractable method to simultaneously monitor suites of complementary indicator species and rapidly generate species‐specific information for resource managers. We demonstrate these methods by mapping the occurrence of ten avian indicator species while examining the impact of fire history on patterns of occurrence across 25,000 km2 of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Monitoring complementary indicator species with rapidly developing bioacoustics technology and relating their occurrence to policy‐ready habitat metrics have the potential to transform restoration planning by providing managers with high‐resolution, ecosystem‐scale information that facilitates adaptive management in an era of rapid environmental change.

Examining Knowledge Management Mainstreaming and Its Influence on Employee Performance in Food Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

Aim: This study examined the extent of knowledge management mainstreaming and its influence on employee performance in food manufacturing firms in Kenya. Methods: The study adopted a post-positivism philosophy and employed an explanatory research design with a stratified proportionate sampling technique. A sample of 384 respondents was selected using Fishers' formula from a target population of 12089 employees from 52 food manufacturing firms. A pilot study covering 40 respondents from 10 food manufacturing firms was conducted. A structured questionnaire administered through drop and collect-later technique was used to collect primary data exposed to descriptive analysis yielding thematic narratives. Results: The results revealed that 75% of firms had largely adopted knowledge management practices with knowledge resources showing the strongest influence on employee performance, followed by processes. Regression models showed that while knowledge management infrastructure explained 41.8% of the variations in employee performance, knowledge processes influenced 45.5%, and knowledge management resources accounted for 62.2% of variations in employee performance. Conclusion: The study concluded that all firms had adopted knowledge management practices to varying extents which had a positive impact on employee performance. Employees emphasized the need for enhanced adoption of knowledge management to optimize performance. Recommendation: The study recommended industry ICT managers to ensure enhanced adoption of information technology infrastructure among employees. Human resource managers should restructure processes and aspects that promote open communication, knowledge sharing, and mentorship. Heads of finance in the firms should ensure budgetary allocation for adequacy of knowledge resources to sustain effective knowledge management systems that optimize employee performance.

DETECTION OF POSSIBLE POLLUTING MICROPLASTICS IN THE PARAGOMINAS STREAM, MUNICIPALITY OF THE SAME NAME, PARÁ, BRAZIL

Emerging pollutants such as microplastics – MPs (particles < 5mm), have currently raised the concern of water resource managers, especially in urban areas. The problem becomes more serious when there is no information and data about the possible presence or absence of them in urban waters. This gap was fundamental for the execution of this research in the Paragominas stream, in the homonymous municipality, in addition to determining the four objectives: To identify: 1) the possible origins of the MPs in the two environmental matrices; 2) the presence or absence in the two environmental matrices: water and sediments in five areas of the urban stretch; 3) the shapes and colors, and 4) the possible environmental changes that their presence can cause in surface waters. The method used was investigative with quantitative and qualitative scope and observational nature. The data obtained and analyzed in the five areas (24.255 items) of the urban section indicated that there is the presence of MPs. The greatest magnitude occurred in surface waters (23500 items/m3); the lowest, in sediments (755 items/kg); Regarding the shape, the fibers had a greater magnitude (96.60%), with a predominance of the color blue (44.13%). In the distribution by areas, A4 – Green Lake, presented, in water, the highest magnitude (8050 items/m3), and the lowest, in A2 – Avenida Selecta (2300 items/m3). As for sediments, the fibers highest magnitude occurred in A1 - Constantino Pereira do Sacramento Highway (320 items/Kg), and the lowest, in A5 – Padre Carvalho Street (25 items/Kg). This is the first study on this topic, in this stream, and can be used by municipal managers and develop actions that allow and control the abundance of MPs and avoid additional costs both in health and in the treatment of water for public supply.

The Role of Institutional and Geographic Proximity in Enhancing Creating Shared Value (CSV) Initiatives Within Local Industrial Clusters: A Study of Japanese SMEs

Creating Shared Value (CSV), a contemporary management strategy aimed at generating both economic and social value, has gained increasing attention in the context of sustainable regional development. This study examines the implementation of CSV within local industrial clusters, specifically investigating the influence of institutional and geographic proximity on the sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Utilizing surveys conducted across 11 industrial clusters in Japan and employing structural equation modeling, the impact of proximity on CSV initiatives was explored. The findings reveal that firms within these clusters enhance their sustainability by fostering iterative knowledge transfer and technological collaboration, particularly with geographically and institutionally proximate organizations. Moreover, the study highlights that a clear understanding and alignment of sustainability-oriented goals within institutional proximity strengthen the synergy of management resources through alliance capabilities, ultimately leading to the simultaneous creation of social and economic value. This research underscores the critical role of proximity in shaping effective and sustainable CSV initiatives within local industrial clusters, providing valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers aiming to promote regional sustainability and resilience.

Collaborative and Stepped Care for Mental Disorders: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Outpatient Care (the COMET Study).

Collaborative and stepped care (CSC) models are recommended in guidelines because of their documented effectiveness in treating depression and anxiety disorders. The evidence for their efficacy against other mental disorders is limited. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a collaborative and stepped care model (COMET) for patients with depressive, anxiety, somatoform and/or alcohol-related disorders and related comorbidities in the outpatient care setting in Germany. We conducted a prospective, cluster-randomized, controlled, parallel-group superiority trial; the subjects were patients in primary care practices. The primary outcome was the change in mental health-related quality of life, assessed with the SF-36 Mental-Health Component Summary Score (MCS) at six months in the intention-to-treat population. The secondary outcomes were symptom severity, remission, and response. 41 primary care practices were randomized either to COMET (the CSC group, n = 20) or treatment as usual (the TAU group, n = 21). 615 patients were recruited (CSC: n = 307; TAU: n = 308). Data were available for 62% (CSC) and 55% (TAU) of the subjects at six months. No significant difference was found between groups with respect to the primary outcome (-1.96 [95% confidence interval: [-4.39; 0.48], p = 0.113) or any of the secondary outcomes. We found no superiority of CSC in the treatment of the mental disorders addressed in this study. Methodological issues, including differences at baseline and high dropout rates, make these findings challenging to interpret. Future studies should ensure comparability of groups, allocate resources for quality management, and investigate more suitable outcome measures, with attention to factors of implementation.

Assessment of Water Quality in the Irurá Stream in Different Seasonal Periods: Environmental Impacts and Challenges for Water Management

Objective: This study evaluates the influence of land use and land cover patterns on the water quality of the Irurá stream, an urban water body located in Santarém, Pará, aiming to understand its environmental impacts and challenges for water resource management. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on the principles of environmental management and water resource conservation policies, relying on Brazilian environmental legislation and water quality concepts as defined by CONAMA Resolution 357/2005. Method: Four sampling campaigns were conducted between 2019 and 2020 at six different points along the stream, during periods of high and low rainfall. Eleven physicochemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed and correlated with current environmental regulations. Results and Discussion: The results indicated variations in water quality due to seasonality and the level of urbanization in adjacent areas. Sampling points closer to urbanized zones showed higher levels of thermotolerant coliforms, turbidity, and dissolved solids, reflecting the influence of irregular discharges and the lack of proper sanitation. Research Implications: The findings highlight the need for public policies for integrated water resource management, including basic sanitation measures, riparian forest restoration, and monitoring of irregular discharges. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the environmental literature by presenting an analysis of water quality in an urban water body in the Amazon, providing insights for environmental management and water conservation policies.

Analysis of Irrigation Modernization Readiness Using FAHP Method

Irrigation modernization is a solution proposed to achieve an effective, efficient, and sustainable participatory irrigation management system. The purpose of this study was to measure the value of irrigation modernization readiness (IKMI) and determine the priority order of the Batang Anai Irrigation Area (IA). The IKMI method used 5 criteria for irrigation modernization (reliability of water supply, water and irrigation resource facilities and infrastructure, management of water and irrigation resources systems, water and irrigation resource management institutions, and human resources) and determines the priority order for modernization preparation using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process method. Direct observation activities were carried out for the pillars of irrigation infrastructure and water availability, while interviews and questionnaires were used to assess management systems, management institutions, and human resources. The IKMI value 67.50 for the Batang Anai IA implies modernization is postponed, and irrigation system improvements can be carried out for 1-2 years. The priority order for irrigation modernization is water availability, management institutions, irrigation management, irrigation infrastructure, and human resources. Recommended actions for modernization readiness include checking the water supply system, normalizing irrigation channels, repairing damaged irrigation infrastructure, increasing farmer participation through socialization and training activities, and building synergy between irrigation managers. Keywords: FAHP, IKMI, Irrigation, Modernization, Sustainability.

Perception of communication satisfaction and its impact on employee organizational commitment in two multinational supermarkets chains: an Argentine case

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between communication satisfaction experienced by employees in two leading multinational retailers operating in Argentina and their organizational commitment. Specifically, it identifies which communication approaches best explain or predict employees’ affective and continuance commitment to their organization. Design/methodology/approach The research model combines an adapted and translated version of Downs and Hazen’s communication satisfaction questionnaire as the independent variable and the affective and continuous components of organizational commitment based on Meyer and Allen´s three-component model as the dependent variables. This empirical and causal study surveyed 372 store employees from a French and a Spanish international supermarket chains in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. Findings The results indicate that formal communication management has the greatest impact on affective commitment (AC), while communication with supervisors is also significant, albeit to a lesser extent. Furthermore, these insights reveal that improving formal communication practices is a key resource for managers seeking to influence store employees’ AC in Argentina’s dynamic and challenging retail landscape. Originality/value This pioneering study fills a knowledge gap in organizational communication literature, offering valuable region-specific insights to improve communication satisfaction and commitment among Latin America retail store employees, thereby informing evidence-based management practices.

Mechanisms of meteorological drought propagation to agricultural drought in China: insights from causality chain

Previous studies have overlooked the nonlinear dependency of drought propagation, limiting our understanding of its mechanisms. By establishing a causality chain, this study identifies the nonlinear propagation pathways of meteorological drought to agricultural drought across different climatic zones in China from 2000 to 2018 and elucidates the driving factors contributing to the divergences in propagation characteristics among these regions. The findings indicate a linear drought propagation time (DPT) of approximately two months, occurring around 25 times on average, demonstrating peer-to-peer drought propagation overall. Temperature and surface air pressure emerge as the primary driving factors, accounting for over 50% of the observed drought propagation. The interplay between precipitation (P), soil moisture (SM), and potential evapotranspiration (PET) explains the disparities in nonlinear propagation across different regions. Increased area wetness enhances nonlinear drought propagation, while linear propagation decreases. This study offers crucial insights for improving drought management and agricultural water resource strategies.

Modeling snow optical properties from single wavelength airborne lidar in steep forested terrain

Airborne lidar is a powerful tool used by water resource managers to map snow depth and aid in producing spatially distributed snow water equivalent (SWE) when combined with modeled density. However, limited research so far has focused on retrieving optical snow properties from lidar. Optical snow surface properties directly impact albedo, which has a major control on snowmelt timing, which is especially useful for water management applications. Airborne lidar instruments typically emit energy at a wavelength of 1,064 nm, which can be informative in mapping optical snow surface properties since grain size modulates reflectance at this wavelength. In this paper we present and validate an approach using airborne lidar for estimating snow reflectance and optical grain size at high spatial resolution. We utilize three lidar flights over the Boise National Forest, United States, during a winter season from December 2022 to March 2023. We discuss sensitivities to beam incidence angles, compare results to in situ measurements snow grain size, and perform spatial analyses to ensure reflectance and optical grain size varies across space and time as anticipated. Modeled optical grain size from lidar performed well (Root mean squared difference = 49 μm; percent mean absolute difference = 31%; n = 28), suggesting that aerial lidar surveys can be useful in mapping snow reflectance and optical grain size for dry snow, and may support development of other remote sensing technologies and aid water resources management.

The ifo Human Resources Survey

Abstract This paper documents the methodology, content, and evolution of the ifo Human Resources (HR) Survey, a quarterly survey conducted by the ifo Institute since 2008 that targets human resource managers in German firms. While the ifo Institute’s traditional business surveys capture general management perspectives, the ifo HR Survey fills a crucial gap by focusing on personnel management strategies, recruitment practices, and workforce development. The survey consists of regular questions about personnel flexibilization instruments, on the company, or about further training measures complemented by special modules addressing current policy issues and labor market challenges. The paper describes the survey’s panel composition with currently about 900 companies across manufacturing, trade, and the service sector, and explains the weighting procedures used to ensure representativeness of the German economy. Additionally, it provides insights to the extensive set of standard and special questions fielded since 2008 covering aspects like the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic changes, and technological transformation. The micro data is available through the LMU-ifo Economics & Business Data Center.

Advancing the Risk Analysis for Alien Taxa (RAAT) framework

The Risk Analysis for Alien Taxa (RAAT) framework was developed to collate scientific information and interpret it in the context of South African regulations on biological invasions. Feedback from the past four years has shown RAAT to be a valuable tool for making evidence-based, transparent recommendations, but one that can be improved. We describe the changes made in creating RAAT v2.0. We note several issues that we suspect will apply to many similar processes, namely the need to i) clarify descriptions; ii) remove superfluous questions; and iii) add questions to fully justify recommendations. We also stress what RAAT v2.0 does not do—the framework does not summarise management best practices nor does it, or South Africa’s regulatory lists, provide sufficient information to prioritise management resources. We strongly recommend that explicit feedback mechanisms are set up to ensure that similar such frameworks can be improved over time.

Talent development through intrapreneurship: a human-capital approach in French SMEs

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate talent development (TD) through the lens of intrapreneurship within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the French context. Grounded in the human capital theory, the authors aim to identify challenges, competencies and the role of actors involved in the process of TD. This approach would provide a clearer and more nuanced understanding of how SMEs implement and manage TD while identifying the key competencies associated with these practices. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative methodology, drawing insights from 22 semi-structured interviews conducted with HR managers, talent managers and CEOs across 15 SMEs operating in diverse sectors in France. The data is rigorously analyzed using thematic analysis, enabling the identification of key themes and patterns that emerged organically from the participants’ perspectives. Findings The study results identify three critical approaches for successful TD in SMEs, consistent with the principles of human capital theory. First, SMEs embrace an inclusive approach to TD where all employees are considered for development opportunities, rather than focusing solely on high-potential individuals. Second, SMEs broaden the tripartite competency framework to equip talent with intrapreneurial competencies – cognitive, functional and behavioral – critical for innovation, from idea generation to implementation phases of the intrapreneurial project. Third, SMEs not only emphasize the critical role of line managers in driving TD, but also actively delegate key responsibilities traditionally managed by HR departments or CEOs, positioning line managers as pivotal agents in embedding TD practices into daily operations. This enables line managers to cultivate a culture of intrapreneurship while aligning talent management efforts with the strategic growth objectives of SMEs. Practical implications SMEs should adopt inclusive TD strategies, offering growth opportunities to all employees to foster innovation and adaptability. A structured competency framework, rooted in the French tripartite model – savoir, savoir-faire and savoir-être – equips employees with the cognitive, functional and behavioral skills essential for developing intrapreneurial capabilities. SMEs should implement balanced compensation systems that recognize both individual and team contributions, when line managers with HR responsibilities must ensure that talent needs are identified and aligned with organizational goals through empowerment. To support this, SMEs should provide targeted training and structured resources for managers, enhancing their effectiveness in promoting TD through intrapreneurship. Originality/value This study is among the few that specifically investigate TD through the lens of intrapreneurship in French SMEs, illustrating how organic structures and the delegation of TD responsibilities to line managers can enhance a tripartite competency model. By comparing this model to other international frameworks, the research brings nuanced insights into a more holistic, context-sensitive approach that fosters both collective intelligence and strategic alignment in talent management.

How Green HRM Practices Effect Organizational Citizenship Behaviour in the Indian Service Sector: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Green human resource management practices on organizational citizenship behaviour in the Indian service sector through the mediating role of job satisfaction. Among these, Green recruitment & selection and Green Employee Empowerment are identified as key strategic drivers. This study finds the relationship between Green recruitment & selection, Green employee empowerment, Job satisfaction, and Organizational citizenship behaviour. The data was collected through a questionnaire survey from 300 full-time employees of the Indian service sector. In our study, we used Partial Least Square-Structural equation modeling version software (4.0.1.9) to analyze the data. The finding of this study demonstrates that Green HRM practices (Green Recruitment & selections and Green employee empowerment) significantly enhance job satisfaction of employees and subsequently their job satisfaction positively effects organizational citizenship behaviour among them. This study provides various practical and theoretical implications for employees and Human resource managers who are working in the Indian service sector and how Green Human resource management practices effect employee behaviour in the service sector within an emerging market context.

Modelling participation in waste bank initiatives at public transport hubs to advance circular economy development

This study investigates the factors influencing community willingness to participate (WTP) in waste bank initiatives at public transport hubs, emphasizing their role in advancing smart city waste management and circular economy development. Through a comprehensive survey and the application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the research highlights four crucial adaptability factors: interest level, ability to cope, ability to plan, and ability to learn. Each factor is explicitly defined with specific metrics for measurement, providing a clear understanding of their role in shaping community participation and behavior control. The findings reveal that enhancing community interest through digital platforms and interactive technologies, providing adequate waste management resources, involving the community in the planning process, and promoting continuous education are essential for fostering participation. The study demonstrates that leveraging digital platforms to disseminate real-time information and educational content can significantly boost community interest and engagement. Additionally, equipping communities with necessary tools and resources, such as accessible sorting facilities and professional assistance, enhances their ability to manage waste effectively. Involving community members in the planning process ensures that waste management strategies are tailored to local needs and preferences, thereby increasing their effectiveness. The study offers implications for policymakers and urban planners, providing a framework for developing sustainable waste management practices within public transport systems. By fostering a culture of sustainability and resilience, these practices contribute to creating eco-friendly urban environments, aligning with the broader goals of smart city initiatives and circular economy principles.