Resource Strategies Research Articles

The ripple effect of strain in times of change: how manager emotional exhaustion affects team psychological safety and readiness to change.

Managers assume a pivotal role during periods of organizational change, yet there exists a notable gap in our understanding of how their emotional exhaustion may impact their capacity to generate readiness to change within their teams. Grounded in the conservation of resources theory (COR), this study explores the crossover effect of managers' emotional exhaustion on team readiness to change. We expect this to occur through higher levels of laissez-faire leadership, which impacts the teams' psychological safety. Data was gathered within a Canadian governmental organization undergoing two significant changes-cultural change and digitalization-with a specific focus on leadership as a pivotal factor in preparing teams for change. Employing surveys from 372 team members and 62 managers affected by this change, we conducted path analysis to empirically test the proposed model across 74 teams and their respective managers. Managers' emotional exhaustion has a negative indirect effect on team readiness to change. The double mediation pathway implies a positive relationship on laissez-faire leadership, which hinders psychological safety. In turn, psychological safety hampers team readiness to change. Managers must invest significant resources to fulfill their roles and responsibilities during strategic change. Those who feel exhausted during change may look for ways to protect some of their resources by reducing the time and energy they invest leading their team. This self-preserving resource strategy has detrimental consequences on teams' effectiveness during change due to an indirect crossover effect that affects the levels of psychological safety on the team.

Transnational networks of human resources and knowledge in East Asia: a case study of Taiwan merchant Wang Xuenong (1870–1915) and his trading company

Abstract Taiwan is an island and trade has always been the locomotive of its economic development. From the 1620s to the 1960s, cane sugar was Taiwan's most representative export commodity. Yet little attention has been paid to the business strategies of sugar traders and the changes in their thinking. How did the Takow (Kaohsiung) merchants who first went to Japan and Hong Kong to conduct cross-border trade in person learn about international trade and build a network of human resources that crossed borders, especially after the 1870s? And how did they face the great changes of an era in which tradition and modernity were intertwined, so that, following the regime transfer in the 1890s from the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese empire, they were able to expand their business territory and become major sugar merchants in southern Taiwan? This article examines the career of Wang Xuenong—a well-known sugar merchant in Taiwan during the Meiji period (1868–1912). It attempts to explain, from the perspective of cross-cultural knowledge transfer and human resource strategies, why and how sugar merchants such as Wang, who had gone to Japan in the early years of the Meiji Restoration for purposes of cross-border trade, introduced a trading company system that incorporated a mixture of East Asian and Western elements. It further investigates how they expanded their business from the sugar trade into a wider commercial domain that included mechanical rice milling and steamship transport. Finally, it looks at how their actions affected a transformation of Taiwan's commercial culture from the late Qing Dynasty to the early days of Japanese rule, and the historical significance of these changes in Taiwan's transitions towards industrialisation and modernisation.

Detection, Generation, and Control of Disinfection By-products of Reclaimed Water

At the time when water resources are in short supply,wastewater recycling is both an important environmental protection strategy and also a resource strategy. Disinfection is essential to ensure the biological safety of reclaimed wastewater by killing pathogens and preventing the spread of waterborne diseases. However,the disinfection process could inevitably produce toxic disinfection byproducts(DBPs)due to the reaction between the disinfectants and wastewater organic matters. Regarding wastewater DBPs,this study reviewed their identification methods,formation conditions(including precursors,the effect of water quality,disinfectants,and operational parameters on DBPs),and control methods(including source control,process control,and end control). In addition,future research trends of wastewater DBPs were discussed.

A regionally coordinated allocation strategy for medical resources based on multidimensional uncertain information

In the face of an emergency, regionally coordinated allocation is an important prerequisite for maintaining the normal order of production and living. Considering the complexity and uncertainty of the emergencies in local governments, this paper establishes a two-stage process for allocating medical resources. In the first stage, cooperative regions with incomplete weights and multidimensional uncertain information ranked via a novel decision-making method. The second stage is an optimal strategy which the optimization model is established to minimize the cost incurred by the local government considering two components of cost. The first stage is the reserve cost for the local government to prepare a certain amount of flexible procurement materials to respond to a public health emergency. The second is the scheduling cost when cooperative regions support medical resources. Theoretically, the optimal allocation of the reserve of different kinds of medical resources is deduced at the lowest cost. Through numerical simulation and sensitivity analysis, we explore the impacts of attribute weights, resource reserve capacity, unit costs, and the number of cooperative regions on the demand for different kinds of medical resources and the total costs incurred by local governments. This study provides a regional coordinated allocation framework and theoretical reference for government departments responding to the emergencies.

Why are employee assistance programmes under‐utilised and marginalised and how to address it? A critical review and a labour process analysis

AbstractThe exploding employee demands on mental health services and the under‐utilised employee assistance programmes (EAPs) stand in stark contrast. Despite widespread coverage and awareness of EAPs, their low utilisation rates have marginalised them in organisations' human resource strategies. This study explores why employees are resistant to using EAPs from the perspective of dynamic contention, drawing on insights from labour process theory. Through a critical review of the literature, it yields a picture of neither perfect managerial control nor condition‐altering resistance in EAPs. In addition, despite their potential to mediate between labour and management, EAPs often align too closely with management, fail to provide avenues for employee input, and struggle to adapt to changing work dynamics. The study concludes with suggestions for effectively leveraging EAPs' constructive broker role to strategically bridge labour and management and address their under‐utilisation and marginalisation.

Scarcity of P-fertilisers: Humic-complexed phosphate as an adaptive solution for wheat and maize under rainfed conditions

The current context of food security and global geopolitical crises calls for proactive efforts to seek adaptive strategies for limited resources in agriculture. The production of phosphatic-based fertilisers has caused a substantial depletion of natural phosphorus (P) reserves, raising concerns about price increases due to the growing demand for P. The aim of the study is to assess whether the use of liquid organo-mineral P-complexes can be an adaptive strategy to address the issue of the limited P-fertiliser resource. A complete randomised block design was implemented with three replicates, spanning two contrasting cropping seasons under a Mediterranean climate with reduced tillage and rainfed conditions. The study aimed to assess the response of a durum wheat–maize rotation to various rates of liquid organo-mineral P-complexes (humic-complexed phosphate; HCP) in comparison to granular triple superphosphate (TSP). The evaluation focused on several parameters, including P availability, plant architecture, dry matter accumulation, grain yield and yield components and P use efficiency (PUE) for both durum wheat and maize. The results revealed that applying HCP at a rate of 4 or 8 kg ha−1 increased soil P availability on average by 66% and 144%, respectively, compared to the control (no P-fertilisation), although a significant interaction with the monitoring year emerged. For wheat, applying HCP at a rate of 8 kg ha−1 of P resulted in higher grain yield (+15%), protein content (+0.9%) and P uptake (+48%) than the control on average considering both monitoring years. In the season characterised by favourable rainfall patterns, the application of HCP at 5 or 10 kg ha−1 of P for maize showed similar effects in terms of soil P availability, dry matter accumulation, grain yields and PUE. Conversely, in the season marked by a deficiency in summer precipitation, low PUE for maize was observed for HCP fertilisers, although they remained positive, unlike the case of TSP. Using HCP in conservation agriculture appears promising as an adaptive solution to address P-fertiliser scarcity, especially amid food security challenges and global crises. However, further studies are required to validate these findings in diverse pedo-climatic contexts and cropping systems.

A Technology-Enabled Concept of Open Educational Resources Development in Primary and Secondary Schools

With the rapid development of technology, education is facing unprecedented changes. The development of technology has led to a new era in educational resources for primary and secondary schools, providing students with richer, more flexible, and more personalized learning experiences. In this paper, we will elaborate on the strategies of technology-enabled primary and secondary education resources in terms of digital education resources, quality course resources, teacher training and development, teaching tools based on IT application, education resource sharing, innovative laboratory construction, home-school cooperation resources, and education equity resources. This is in order to achieve intelligent aggregation and personalized recommendation of educational resources, so as to optimize the allocation of educational resources, improve the quality of teaching, and stimulate students' interest in learning. Through the implementation of these strategies, it is expected that the efficiency of primary and secondary school educational resources will be improved, enhancing the results of teaching, meeting the personalized needs of students, and promoting the modernization of education.

Innovative human resource practices and employee productivity: Case of SMEs from Oman

This study investigates the role of innovative human resource (HR) strategies in driving productivity within Oman's small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). It aims to explore the effects of such HR practices on the performance and satisfaction of employees. By thoroughly examining the relationship between innovative HR strategies and employee productivity, this research provides useful guidance for companies looking to improve their workforce's efficiency and effectiveness. The study used a quantitative method, gathering data through a structured survey. A total of 383 participants completed the survey, which detailedly evaluated how innovative HR practices influence employee productivity, ensuring the findings were clear and reliable. The analysis showed that these HR practices have a positive and significant effect on various aspects of employee performance, including their commitment, skills, alignment with company goals, and job satisfaction. This contributes to existing knowledge by applying the concept of innovative HR practices in Oman's unique business environment. The results underline the importance of adopting innovative HR strategies for SMEs in Oman to boost their success.

KEY TALENT RETENTION DRIVERS IN DIGITAL START-UPS IN MALAYSIA: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ORGANISATIONAL COMMITMENT AND PERSON-ORGANISATION FIT

The paucity of research on talent retention in digital start-ups in Malaysia is considerably high. This study, therefore, aims to investigate relevant key antecedents that have affected talent retention, particularly in the context of the ongoing endemic. A hypothetical deductive study, using a survey involving 207 respondents who are employees currently working in digital start-ups in Malaysia. Data obtained were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that a supportive work environment was directly affecting talent retention, with career development also affecting indirectly the retention of digital personnel through organisational commitment. However, the findings also indicated that neither career development had no significant effect on talent retention nor person-organisation fit had any mediating effect. The outcomes of the study provide evidence that employees engagement drivers are playing vital roles in affecting the talent retention in digital entrepreneurship. It also serves as a guide for the formulation of human resource strategies on talent development and retention. Thus, Malaysian digital entrepreneurs would be able to gain insights on how to leverage the engagement drivers in order to retain great talents.

Morphological and biochemical changes in Quercus humboldtii in response to warmer and polluted urban areas in a tropical Andean city

Abstract The rapid growth of urban population has significantly changed human settlement patterns, leading to a decline in air quality and changes in climatic conditions in urban areas. Trees are recognized as nature-based solutions because they can remove particles from the air and regulate the climate. However, trees are negatively affected by pollution and temperatures, which represent a challenge for urban planning, management, and human health. To assess the impact of urban pollution and warmer climates on functional traits, we conducted a study using Quercus humboldtii, an endangered tree species endemic to Colombia and Panamá that dominates Andean forests and urban green areas in Bogotá. We selected three localities with contrasting pollution levels and climate conditions and measured 10 morphological and biochemical traits in six individuals at each location. Our findings revealed that Q. humboldtii adjusted morphological and biochemical traits in response to the environmental challenges posed by urban environments. The functional strategies varied between individuals with thin and large leaves and acidic pH in the colder and unpolluted native forest, while others displayed a conservative resource strategy (high leaf dry matter content) and neutral pH in the warmer and most polluted locality. Despite these differences, several traits indicate that Q. humboldtii is not a species tolerant to pollution. This is further supported by the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) values. Our results suggest that Q. humboldtii should be planted in areas of Bogotá with low pollution levels in order to promote its long-term survival and support ecosystem services.

Human Resource Development Strategy For Women MSMEs Based On Local Wisdom On The Surabaya Coast

Women are human resources with potential that can be utilized in various fields. Women's MSMEs can potentially improve coastal communities' welfare, independence, and empowerment. To overcome these challenges and obstacles, women's MSME businesses on the coast of Surabaya must develop several strategies for human resources for MSME actors on the coast. The research method in this study was quantitative; questionnaires were distributed to female MSME actors on the coast of Surabaya in Tambak Wedi, Kedinding, Nambangan, Bulak, Kenjeran, and Wonorejo. Eighty-two female MSME actors have filled out the questionnaire appropriately, and the data entered is processed and analyzed using SEM PLS. This research shows that the training variable has a significant positive effect on the development of human resources for female MSMEs on the coast of Surabaya. Meanwhile, other variables, such as education, health, motivation, and involvement, do not influence the development of human resources for female MSME actors on the coast of Surabaya

INNOVATIONS IN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT: A REVIEW

This review paper explores the transformative landscape of innovations in hospital management, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping healthcare's current and future state. The significance of innovations, spanning technology integration, human resource strategies, and patient care advancements, is examined. Challenges such as resistance to change and financial constraints are addressed, with proposed solutions highlighting the importance of change management and strategic financial planning. The paper identifies future research and innovation areas, including artificial intelligence integration and blockchain technology. Emerging trends, such as the Internet of Things and telehealth expansion, underscore the dynamic trajectory of hospital management. The review concludes by advocating for a collaborative and innovative approach, positioning hospitals to navigate challenges and usher in a future characterized by enhanced patient care, operational efficiency, and technological advancement.
 Keywords: Hospital Management, Innovations, Healthcare, Technology Integration, Patient-Centric Care

Российско-китайское сотрудничество в области торговли энергоресурсами в условиях действия западных санкций

Since 2014, Russian energy companies have faced challenges due to sanctions imposed by Western coun-tries. However, after the outbreak of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2022, sanctions took on an avalanche-like nature, posing a serious threat to the development of the Russian energy sector. This forced Russia to reorient its export flows of hydrocarbons, especially natural gas. Sanctions in the energy sector had a significant impact not only on Russia’s energy industry but also on the global market for energy resources. They led to a reconsideration of the trading strategy for energy resources between Russia and China. This article highlights and characterizes the challenges posed by anti-Russian sanctions to the cooperation between Rus-sia and China in the supply of Russian gas after the start of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in Feb-ruary 2022.

Phytosociological Analysis of Functional Components in Silvipastoral Land Use Systems of Himachal Pradesh, India

Phytosociological studies are important for devising suitable conservation strategies of the plant genetic resources. Himachal Pradesh is a north-western Himalayan state with diverse landscape having rich and unique floristic diversity. Silvipastoral systems are one among the most prominent agroforestry land use systems which contributes significantly in productivity, ecological balance and livelihood of local communities. Thus, to know the status of floristic and phytosociological diversity in these land use systems, the present study has been conducted from April 2018 to March 2022 in 12 selected villages in Himachal Pradesh. Total number of plant species recorded in study area was 1046 (including 114 tree, 170 shrub and 762 herb species), belonging to 108 families and 538 genera. Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Lamiaceae were the five most dominant families. Maximum tree density recorded for species Myrica esculenta (980 ind. ha-1) at site 3, Grewia optiva (660 ind. ha-1) at site 2 and Grewia optiva (640 ind. ha-1) at Site 1 Naun, Mandi, followed by Bauhinia variegata (630 ind. ha-1) at Site 2 Banalgi, Solan in zone-II. On the basis of IVI, Cedrus deodara (252.30) was most dominant species followed by Quercus oblongata (193.11), Pinus wallichiana (164.68) and Myrica esculenta (149.10). Among the shrubs Hippophae salicifolia (119.24) was most dominant species followed by Berberis lycium (96.14) and Berberis aristata (90.98). However, Achyranthus aspera (107.66) was most dominant herb species followed by Commelina benghalensis (97.50) and Sonchus asper (44.01). The lowest value of IVI was observed for Capsella bursa-pastoris (9.63) and Tanacetum dolichophyllum (10.54). According to CAMP (Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritization), 2013 nine species viz., Angelica glauca, Berberis aristata, Dioscorea deltoidea, Polygonatum cirrhifolium, Hyoscyamus niger, Bunium persicum, Ephedra gerardiana, Juniperus communis and Selinum vaginatum are threatened and requires conservation and management efforts. In past no study was conducted on floristic and phytosociology diversity of silvipastoral systems of Himachal Pradesh. Hence, present study will definitely act as base line data for further in-depth studies on restoration of degraded lands and silvipastoral system management and improvement programs.

Strategy-implementation & Employee Performance among Commercial Banks Sampling the Centenary Bank of Uganda

This research article examines the effect of strategy-implementation on employee performance among commercial Banks, with reference to the Centenary Bank of Uganda. It thus seeks to establish the effect of strategy resource allocation, strategy communication and strategy supervision on employee performance at the Centenary Bank. A descriptive research design was used and data collected from a sample of 123 respondents. Data was analyzed by using frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, Spearman’s rank correlation and regression analysis with the help of SPSS version 25. The research-study found a statistically significant and positive relationship between strategy resource allocation (rs = 0.648, p = 0.000); strategy communication (rs = 0.504, p = 0.000); and strategy supervision (rs = 0.398, p=0.010) and employee performance. 53.8% of the variations in employee performance is jointly explained by the predicator variables. It went on to conclude that strategy resource allocation, communication and supervision have a significant positive effect on employee performance at Centenary Bank. The research-study recommends that the Bank has to allocate resources that will reward employees who excel in implementing strategy in their departments. Further, it has also recommended that an open-door policy that allows employees to receive timely communication on matters relating to strategy should be implanted. This will help in ensuring that they are perpetually informed about new developments in the strategy. Strategy supervision during strategy-implementation thus needs to be strengthened.

Hydrogeochemistry and Water Quality Index for Groundwater Sustainability in the Komadugu-Yobe Basin, Sahel Region

The assessment of hydrochemical characteristics and groundwater quality is crucial for environmental sustainability in developing economies. This study employed hydrogeochemical analysis, geospatial analysis, and groundwater quality index to assess hydrogeochemical processes and quality of groundwater in the Komadugu-Yobe basin. The pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC) were assessed in situ using a handheld portable electrical conductivity meter. The concentrations of the major cations (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+), were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The major anions (chloride, fluoride, sulfate, and nitrate) were analyzed via ion chromatography (IC). Total alkalinity and bicarbonate were measured in situ using a HACH digital alkalinity kit by the titrimetric method. Hydrochemical results indicate some physicochemical properties of the groundwater samples exceeded the maximum permissible limits as recommended by the World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Gibbs diagrams indicate rock–water interaction/rock weathering processes are the dominant mechanisms influencing the groundwater chemistry. Groundwater is predominantly Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO−3 water type, constituting 59% of the groundwater samples analyzed. The groundwater quality index (GWQI) depicted 63 and 27% of the groundwater samples as excellent and good water types for drinking purposes, respectively. This study further relates the interaction between geology, hydrochemical characteristics, and groundwater quality parameters. The results are essential to inform a sustainable management strategy and protection of groundwater resources.

Influence of surface water and groundwater on functional traits and trade-off strategies of oasis communities at the end of the Keriya River, China.

Plant functional traits reflect the capacity of plants to adapt to their environment and the underlying optimization mechanisms. However, few studies have investigated trade-off strategies for functional traits in desert-wetland ecosystems, the mechanisms by which surface water disturbance and groundwater depth drive functional trait variation at the community scale, and the roles of intraspecific and interspecific variation. Therefore, this study analyzed specific differences in community-weighted mean traits among habitat types and obtained the relative contribution of intraspecific and interspecific variation by decomposing community-weighted mean traits, focusing on the Daliyabuyi Oasis in the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert. We also explored the mechanisms by which surface water and groundwater influence different sources of variability specifically. The results showed that plant height, relative chlorophyll content, leaf thickness, leaf nitrogen content, and nitrogen-phosphorus ratio were the key traits reflecting habitat differences. As the groundwater depth becomes shallower and surface water disturbance intensifies, plant communities tend to have higher leaf nitrogen content, nitrogen-phosphorus ratio, and relative chlorophyll content and lower height. Surface water, groundwater, soil water content, and total soil nitrogen can influence interspecific and intraspecific variation in these traits through direct and indirect effects. As arid to wet habitats change, plant trade-off strategies for resources will shift from conservative to acquisitive. The study concluded that community functional traits are mainly contributed by interspecific variation, but consideration of intraspecific variation and the covariation effects that exist between it and interspecific variation can help to further enhance the understanding of the response of community traits in desert-wetland ecosystems to environmental change. Surface water disturbance has a non-negligible contribution to this adaptation process and plays a higher role than groundwater depth.

Flexible resource optimal allocation strategy for distribution system resilience improvement under failure uncertainty

Extreme disasters have led to huge economical losses to the power system and posed a huge threat to the stable supply of electric energy. Especially for traditional passive distribution network systems, failures of transmission lines, towers, and other equipment will cause large-scale power outages and huge economic losses. In order to improve the ability of the power system to deal with extreme weather disasters, this paper proposes an optimal configuration strategy for the distribution network backup power resource oriented to resilience improvement, considering the uncertainty of equipment failure caused by disasters in the case of a known disaster range. The location and capacity of backup resources can be properly configured to reduce the load shedding of the power distribution network during the disaster process, thereby improving the resilience of the distribution network. The method proposed in this paper is modeled as a two-stage stochastic programming, which includes mix-integer constraints. In the first stage, the optimization problem confirms the capacity and location of the flexible resources. In the second stage, the operational constraints and costs of load shedding are considered. The resilience enhancement method is verified on the improved IEEE-33 node system, and the result shows that the method proposed in this paper can effectively enhance the resilience of the urban power network.

Leaf habit and plant architecture integrate whole-plant economics and contextualize trait-climate associations within ecologically diverse genus Rhododendron.

Plant resource strategies negotiate a trade-off between fast growth and stress resistance, characterized by specific leaf area (SLA). How SLA relates to leaf structure and function or plant climate associations remains open for debate, and leaf habit and plant architecture may alter the costs versus benefits of individual traits. We used phylogenetic canonical correspondence analysis and phylogenetic least squares to understand the relationship of anatomy and gas exchange to published data on root, wood, architectural and leaf economics traits and climate. Leaf anatomy was structured by leaf habit and carbon to nitrogen ratio was a better predictor of gas exchange than SLA. We found significant correspondence of leaf anatomy with branch architecture and wood traits, gas exchange corresponded with climate, while leaf economics corresponded with climate, architecture, wood and root traits. Species from the most seasonal climates had the highest trait-climate correspondence, and different aspects of economics and anatomy reflected leaf carbon uptake versus water use. Our study using phylogenetic comparative methods including plant architecture and leaf habit provides insight into the mechanism of whole-plant functional coordination and contextualizes individual traits in relation to climate, demonstrating the evolutionary and ecological relevance of trait-trait correlations within a genus with high biodiversity.

A review of innovative HR strategies in enhancing workforce efficiency in the US

The future of Human Resources (HR) strategies unfolds against a backdrop of technological innovation, changing workforce dynamics, and evolving organizational priorities. This paper explores critical trends shaping the future of HR, including advanced technology integration, a heightened focus on employee experience, the rise of hybrid work models, an emphasis on skills development, and the evolution of leadership. As organizations prepare for the future of work, the synthesis of technology with a human-centric approach emerges as pivotal. Successful HR strategies will navigate challenges, prioritize employee well-being, foster continuous learning, and align organizational values with the aspirations of a purpose-driven workforce.