Work-related Abilities Research Articles

The Role of Tracer Studies in Enhancing the Quality of Education: A Case in State Islamic Higher Education

A key factor in creating and improving higher education quality is data and information from tracer studies, which are also alumni feedback. Nowadays, educational institutions must to generate graduates with both academic proficiency and practical work-related abilities. This study aims to determine the extent to which the role of tracer studies in improving the quality of study programs at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The survey approach is being used in this descriptive qualitative study. It can be inferred from survey results that data and information from tracer studies can be used as a medium for quality improvement study programs at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. These indicators included aspects of lecture activities and facilities, aspects of foreign languages, aspects of learning experiences that support work, and aspects of graduate competence.

Building a Sustainable Future: Unraveling the Link between Environmental Awareness and the Cultivation of Employability and Green skills-A Literature Review

Environmental awareness as a strong predictor in influencing students’ green skills preparation to meet the demands of skills required in the green industry. It is undeniable that employers nowadays prefer workers who possess environmentally friendly skills to promote awareness of sustainable development in various aspects of life, such as the environment, social, and economic domains. This article aims to explore how to build a sustainable future by examining the relationship between environmental awareness and the development of work-related abilities (green skills) based on existing literature. The method used is a literature review of published articles from various academic databases such as Google Scholar, Emerald, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, Scopus, and ResearchGate. Findings from the literature review indicate that environmental awareness has a strong correlation with the formation of green skills, particularly in energy, communication, leadership, waste management, and management skills. Contributions from educational institutions are needed to generate policies that stimulate environmental awareness among students, thereby fostering the development of environmentally friendly skills.

신뢰 수혜와 혁신행동

In current turbulent business environments, innovative behavior is critical to the long-term survival and growth of an organization. This study investigates the effect of being trusted by coworkers on an individual’s innovative behavior. Based on the social network perspective, we develop hypotheses regarding the effects of being trusted on employees’ innovative behavior in two dimensions of the trust relationship in a work team: competence-based trust from work-related abilities and compassion-based trust from emotional bonds between Coworkers. We also examine the moderating role of leader-member exchange differentiation (LMXD) as an upper-level context influencing trust networks and employees’ innovative behavior. For this, we collected data from 102 employees from 19 teams in 10 Korean firms and tested our research model using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Our results reveal the positive effect of receiving competence-based trust on innovative behavior. However, contrary to our expectations, being trusted in compassion-based trust relationships has no significant effect on employees’ innovative behavior. Moreover, results of this study show different moderation effects of LMXD alongside the two types of trust. All in all, LMXD mitigates the positive effects of competence-based trust but strengthens the negative effects of compassion-based trust on employees’ innovative behavior. We go on to discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Burden of multiple sclerosis: impact on the patient, family and society

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disease that significantly influences the health-related quality of life of individuals, their families, and society. AimThis study aimed to identify the burden of MS on patients’ and caregivers’ quality of lif e. MethodsA total of 104 individuals were included consisting of 60 patients with MS (pwMS) diagnosed according to the revised McDonald criteria and 44 caregivers. After collecting the detailed history of all participants, complete general and neurological examinations were performed. Work-related difficulties of the patients including physical, cognitive, and psychological barriers were studied using the 23-item Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ-23), and caregivers were asked to complete the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI). ResultsPwMS with higher disabilities have higher statistically significant cognitive impairment and work-related difficulties. In addition, CSI has a significant positive correlation with the age of pwMS (r = 0.48, P = 0.001) and the disability of illness (r = 0.81, P<0.001), and a significant negative correlation with the cognitive affection (r=-0.48, P<0.001), thereby indicating, a significant association between the burden on caregivers and workplace problems assessed by the MSWDQ-23 score reported by PwMS (r = 0.74, P = 0.01). ConclusionAs MS is a debilitating disease affecting the psychological and physical conditions of the patients, as well as work-related abilities, it significantly affects both patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life.

The Participation of People with Disabilities in the Workplace Across the Employment Cycle: Employer Concerns and Research Evidence

Despite legislation on diversity in the workplace, people with disabilities still do not experience the same access to work opportunities as do their counterparts without disabilities. Many employers have been shown to harbor sincere yet ill-founded views about the work-related abilities of people with disabilities; these negative views are often a result of interrelated concerns that permeate the entire employment cycle. In this paper, we provide evidence-based responses to 11 specific concerns that employers have about people with disabilities, from pre-employment and entry experiences to the final dissolution of the employment relationship. At each stage of the employment cycle, we summarize and evaluate the relevant empirical evidence and provide recommendations for organizations committed to creating more effective, equitable, and inclusive workplaces for all individuals. We also suggest avenues for future research.

Resolving Gender Difference in Problem Solving Based On the Analysis of Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signals

Problem solving is regarded as one of the core work-related abilities and skills, which are highly demanded by the workplace and industry. Current literature suggests that problem solving abilities might differ from one individual to another due to biological factors such as brain activationa, cognitive functions and hormones, as well as due to socio-cultural and socio-economic factors like gender roles, self-perceptions and stereotyping. Hence, this study used electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to investigate the differences in problem solving skills among the Malaysian undergraduates based on their gender differences. 29 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) served as the subjects of the experiments in this research. Specifically, 16 female and 13 male subjects engaged in two main problem-solving tasks: mental arithmetic task and Tower of Hanoi (TOH) task. The EEG data were analysed using partial directed coherence (PDC) and power spectrum estimation (PSE). Based on the results, female subjects achieved only 1% higher performance in mental arithmetic task, while male subjects achieved about 13% higher performance in TOH task. The differences in terms of the functional connectivity between brain regions, i.e. in PDC, as well as the power distribution of 6 EEG waveforms, i.e. delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma and high gamma bands are also highlighted and represented graphically in this paper.

Work-Related Ability as Source of Information Advantages of Training Employers

This paper addresses the puzzle how employers that invest in general human capital can gain an information advantage with respect to the ability of their employees when training is certified by credible external institutions. We apply an established model from the employer-learning literature and distinguish between two ability dimensions: cognitive and work-related ability. We apply this model to the German apprenticeship system and show that cognitive ability certified by external institutions at that the end of apprenticeship training can be signalled to outside employers. Apprenticeship graduates however cannot signal their work-related ability – measured by a small voluntary bonus paid by the training employer – to the outside market. We therefore show that the information advantage on work-related ability explains that training employers can positively select the apprentices they retain. As a consequence, this information advantage induces employers to invest in certified and transferable human capital.

Impact of symptom burden on work-related abilities in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: Results from a substudy of the VIRGO observational cohort study

Limited data exist on the association of symptom burden, daily activity impairment, and work productivity (WP) in patients with advanced breast cancer. This cross-sectional analysis evaluated baseline patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) receiving first-line hormonal therapy or chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy in the VIRGO observational study. The primary PRO study endpoint, symptom severity and interference score, was measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Secondary endpoints included Activity Level Scale (ALS), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI:SHP) scores. Overall, 152 patients (chemotherapy cohort, 104; hormonal therapy cohort, 48) answered questionnaires. Fatigue, decreased sexual interest, disturbed sleep, emotional distress, and drowsiness were the most common severe symptoms, and were of moderate-to-severe intensity in 38.8%–52.0% of patients. Mean percent daily activity impairment was 30% for study patients, and WP impairment ranged from 20% to 40% across indices in employed patients (n, 58). Significant positive correlations existed for MDASI severity and interference scores with activity impairment and WP indices (Pearson correlation coefficients [R] = 0.47–0.82; p < 0.0001). ALS and overall HRQOL correlated negatively with these indices (R = −0.41 to −0.60; p ≤ 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, MDASI symptom interference and ALS were significant predictors of activity and WP impairment. Our results indicate patients receiving treatment for MBC are symptomatic with significant daily activity and/or WP impairment. Symptom severity and interference, functional status, and overall HRQOL were moderately correlated with perceived work-related ability.

Reliability and validity of a physical capacity evaluation used to assess individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illness

Physical capacity evaluations (PCEs) are important and frequently offered services in work practice. This study to investigate the reliability and validity of the National Taiwan University Hospital Physical Capacity Evaluation (NTUH PCE) on a sample of 149 participants consisted of three groups: 45 intellectual disability (ID), 56 mental illness (MI), and 48 no disability (ND). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Cronbach alpha, and one-way ANOVA were calculated where appropriate. Results indicated that most subtests of the NTUH PCE had good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC, 0.75-0.95), with the exception of subtests of the position tolerance section for ID and MI groups and the hand coordination section for the ND group. Good internal consistency was shown on strength, mobility, and hand coordination sections (alpha, 0.96, 0.90, and 0.95, respectively), with the exception of the position tolerance section (alpha=0.37). The known group validity of the NTUH PCE in people with disabilities was satisfactory. In conclusion, although some improvements are needed in some subtests, the NTUH PCE is suitable for measuring physical work-related abilities of people with disabilities.

Employment status and work-related difficulties in stomach cancer survivors compared with the general population

Little was known about work situation and work-related difficulties, including housework after stomach cancer diagnosis. We aimed to compare employment status and work-related difficulties between stomach cancer survivors and the general population. We enrolled 408 stomach cancer survivors from two hospitals 28 months after diagnosis and 994 representative volunteers from the general population from 15 geographic districts. Working was defined as being employed (including self-employed) and nonworking as being retired or a homemaker. Nonworking was significantly higher among stomach cancer survivors (46.6%) than in the general population (36.5%). Compared with the general population, the survivors had more fatigue in performing both housework (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.08; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.01–4.29) and gainful work (aOR=4.02; 2.55–6.33). More cancer survivors had reduced working hours (aOR=1.42; 95% CI=4.60–28.35) and reduced work-related ability (aOR=6.11; 95% CI=3.64–10.27) than did the general population. The association of nonworking with older age and being female was significantly more positive for survivors than for the general population. Among survivors, poorer Eastern Cooperation Oncology Group Performance Status and receiving total gastrectomy were positively associated with nonworking. Stomach cancer survivors experienced more difficulties in both housework and gainful employment than did the general population. Our findings on stomach cancer survivors’ work-related difficulties and the predictors of nonworking will help physicians guide patients towards more realistic postsurgical employment plans.

An empirical test of a correspondence model of expatriate managers' work adjustment

We develop and empirically test a model of expatriate managers' work adjustment. In this model we relate the fit between work-related abilities and needs of expatriate managers as well as the fit between the job requirements of, and incentives associated with, an international assignment to the level of expatriate managers' work adjustment. We test this model with data gathered by means of an electronic survey among 118 German expatriate managers. The empirical findings largely support our theoretical model. The paper enhances our understanding of expatriate managers' work adjustment and its antecedents and contributes to the theoretical and empirical basis of research into expatriate management.

Work-Related Abilities in Schizophrenia and HIV Infection

Schizophrenia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection both are associated with high rates of neurocognitive impairment. These impairments predict unemployment in both disorders, independent of other disease-related factors that may affect employment. In this study, we investigated work-related abilities and previous employment patterns in 27 unemployed patients with schizophrenia, 27 demographically matched unemployed HIV-infected participants, and 27 nonmatched employed HIV seropositive (HIV+) participants. All subjects were administered a computerized and hands-on assessment of vocational abilities and a comprehensive work history interview. Compared with the employed HIV+ group, the two unemployed groups had lower estimates of maximal lifetime job functioning. In terms of current vocational abilities, the employed HIV+ subjects generally performed best, followed by the unemployed HIV+ subjects and the patients with schizophrenia. Although the unemployed schizophrenia subjects had the most decline in vocational abilities (from estimated lifetime maximum level), the patterns of decline were similar in the two unemployed groups and were suggestive of parallel impairments in frontal-subcortical functioning.

Occupational Congruence and Personal Task-Related Attributes: How Do They Relate to Work Performance?

This study investigated the combined and unique contributions of occupational congruence, work-related ability, and personality to predicting two measures of work performance (peer ratings and superior ratings), using data collected for 359 military officers. The results indicate that personality and congruence relate to performance as rated by both superiors and peers (i.e., the introversion-extroversion personality factor correlated r = -0.15, p &lt; .01 with peer ratings; one congruence measure correlated r = 0.19, p &lt; .01 with superior ratings; and three congruence measures correlated r = 0.60, r = 0.43, and r = 0.45, p &lt; .01 with peer ratings). The ramifications of the results are discussed in the context of the combined theoretical framework suggested by Tziner and Meir.