1993 research outputs found
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Assessing Aptitude: A Critical Analysis of the Effectiveness of HRM Competency Frameworks in Civil Service Recruitment, Selection, Retention and Promotion.
Human Resource Management (HRM) competency frameworks have gained substantial traction as tools for assessing, developing, and managing employee performance across various sectors. Within the UK Civil Service, where the recruitment, retention, and promotion of talent are pivotal for effective governance, the implementation of competency frameworks holds particular relevance.
This dissertation aims to critically evaluate the effectiveness of HRM competency frameworks in the context of UK Civil Service operations. Through a comprehensive literature review, analysis of existing frameworks, and empirical research, this study seeks to uncover the impact of competency frameworks on recruitment practices, employee retention strategies, and promotion processes within the UK Civil Service.
As a result of the literature review and action research, a conclusion is drawn, with the findings endeavouring to inform policymakers, HR practitioners, and stakeholders about the strengths, limitations, and potential improvements in the utilisation of competency frameworks within this unique organisational context. A series of recommendations for future researchers and the Civil Service key decision makers concludes this dissertation in an attempt to effect change
Collaboration Between the Automotive and Public Transit Sectors to Enhance Sustainable Workforce Training and Development Opportunities in Detroit, Michigan
The purpose of this research is to answer the question of how collaboration between the automotive and public transit sectors can enhance sustainable workforce training and development opportunities in Detroit, Michigan. This collaboration can play an important role in making Detroit’s automotive industry and community more sustainable from an economic, environmental, and social perspective. The research was conducted through qualitative methods from literature reviews and information collected in semi-structured interviews with subject matter expert participants in the automotive, public transit, government, academic, and non-governmental organization (NGO) sectors. The research indicates that this collaboration can improve the diversification of the local economy in Detroit, and help future-proof the automotive industry and workforce of the city
Evaluation Of The Role Of Digital Support Tools In Supporting The Mental Health And Wellbeing Of Welsh Ambulance Call Handlers Following Traumatic Or Abusive Telephone Contacts With Patients Or Their Families.
The psychological health and overall wellbeing of emergency response workers and call handlers are crucial, particularly after being involved in traumatic or abusive events or incidents. This research assesses the efficacy of digital support tools that the Welsh Ambulance Service University NHS Trust (WAST) could put in place to assist staff members, in particular, emergency call-handlers, in managing the psychological effects of these encounters. This study uses a mixed methods approach to investigate how these digital tools could be used, their perceived advantages, and their drawbacks. Quantitative data was gathered through surveys given to 999 and 111 call handling staff members, which evaluated mental health outcomes, satisfaction levels, and utilisation trends. Qualitative information was obtained through in-depth MS Teams interviews, offering a thorough grasp of user experiences and the contextual elements affecting the effectiveness of current support mechanisms.
Emergency call handlers for the Welsh Ambulance Service University NHS Trust (WAST) frequently encounter distressing and hostile calls, resulting in considerable emotional and psychological strain. This study assesses how digital support tools might assist call handlers in coping with trauma, analysing their availability, efficacy, and effects in comparison to traditional support systems like peer support and counselling. The research utilises survey responses and semi-structured interviews to delve into the experiences of call handlers, concentrating on their current coping mechanisms, the obstacles they face in using digital tools, and gender-related variations in stress responses.
This study aims to assess the existing digital support tool offering, to highlight possible shortcomings in mental health support for emergency call handlers. It also intends to propose ways to incorporate digital interventions into current well-being programmes, ensuring that call handlers can access effective and evidence-based support systems. Recognising the role of digital tools in boosting resilience and mental health among emergency responders is vital for enhancing workforce sustainability and overall job satisfaction.
The findings reveal a range of degrees of involvement with digital assistance resources, emphasising noteworthy advantages concerning accessibility and prompt assistance. On the other hand, difficulties like gaps in technology, variations in individual coping strategies, and the requirement for supplementary conventional support systems were also noted. The study's conclusions include suggestions for improving the digital support offer, making sure it satisfies the variety of demands of WAST call handlers, and developing an encouraging workplace culture that places a high priority on mental health. The purpose of this study is to potentially assist WAST and other emergency service organisations in developing policies and implementing useful interventions
Using guest lectures to enhance student employability: pedagogical considerations
The quest to boost student employability remains a critical focus in higher education. Accordingly, employability is a fundamental yardstick for the performance of universities, which reflects the capability of the institutions to support students in getting and keeping roles suitable to their education while adding value to themselves and society. Although the literature underscores the importance of graduate employability, the significance of guest lectures in meeting this goal – and strategies for convening it – has received limited attention. This study draws on the Self-determination theory (SDT) and pedagogical considerations to propose a framework for setting up impactful guest lectures that bolster student employability. Therefore, we employ the framework to provide guest lectures for a diverse group of 495 postgraduate students in the UK and collect qualitative data for analysis. Through a qualitative deductive approach, we uncovered how using diverse presentation styles while linking theory and practice supports the autonomy needs of students, exposure to the future role supports their need for competence, and linking guest speaker sessions to assignment tasks and co-creative environment supports their relatedness need. Our study offers novelty through an SDT-based framework for implementing guest lecture sessions that engender high levels of participation and engagement
The Gift of Living Water: A study of the relationship between water symbolism and the Spirit in the Gospel of John
As an essential element for life, water functions as a key Johannine symbol to reveal progressively that Jesus is the Word Incarnate which brings about transformation and divine revelation. This dissertation examines the extent to which John deliberately develops an increasingly intimate relationship between water symbolism and the Spirit in the Fourth Gospel. Through a narratological-exegetical approach, this study scrutinises John’s integration of water symbolism into the whole Gospel from the Prologue to the climactic moment of revelation at the Feast of Tabernacles (7:37-39), where Jesus offers the gift of ‘living’ water, identified as the Spirit. After brief consideration of scholarship concerning authorship, dating and the contemporary cultural context, key textual moments are explored beginning with pre-Tabernacles encounters (John 1-4), climaxing at the Tabernacles Festival’s pivotal revelations (John 7) and thence the Spirit’s role post-Tabernacles (John 9-21). John’s masterful literary style incorporating effective use of symbolism, irony, dualisms, double entendres and eschatological allusions supports his high Christology, which demonstrably distinguishes the Fourth Gospel from the Synoptics. The study affirms Jesus as the ultimate vehicle for spiritual transformation and sustenance as the giver of the ‘living’ water, paralleling Ezekiel’s river vision (Ezek 36:23-28), providing the bridge between humanity and the divine
The Mediating Effect of Trust on Factors Influencing the Intention to use FinTech Applications Among Urban Working Professionals in Malaysia
The integration of financial technology (“FinTech”) applications has transformed the financial services landscape, significantly influencing consumer behaviour and business models worldwide. Despite robust digital economy growth in Malaysia, FinTech adoption among urban working professionals remains slower than in developed nations, hindered by concerns over data security and privacy. This study investigates the factors influencing FinTech adoption in this context, focusing on the mediating role of trust.
Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (“TAM”) and extended to include trust as a mediator, the research examines the effects of convenience, perceived usefulness, social
influence, and promotions on adoption intention. Trust is conceptualised as users’ confidence
in the security, reliability, and data protection of FinTech applications. A self-administered survey of 313 urban working professionals was conducted using a structured questionnaire and analysed with multiple regression and structural equation modelling.
The results reveal that convenience and social influence directly and positively affect FinTech adoption, while the impacts of usefulness and promotions become significant only when mediated by trust. Trust thus emerges as a pivotal factor, bridging the gap between perceived benefits and concerns over security and operational reliability. Demographic analysis further indicates that younger and male users are generally more receptive to FinTech services.
The study recommends that FinTech providers prioritise building trust through enhanced security measures, transparent privacy policies, and responsive customer service. Policymakers are encouraged to strengthen data protection frameworks and invest in digital literacy initiatives to foster a secure and inclusive FinTech ecosystem. Limitations include the focus on urban working professionals in Malaysia. Future research should explore FinTech adoption across diverse populations and examine additional mediators such as financial literacy and cultural factors.
This research contributes to a deeper understanding of FinTech adoption in Malaysia and reinforces the central role of trust in advancing financial inclusion and digital transformation
From Services to Customers to the Human Spirit – The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Promoting Harmony: A Case Study of Mercado Éxito in Colombia and the Economy of Love Framework.
This research paper explores the multifaceted concept of Harmony as it relates to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in an emerging market context, specifically focusing on the perceptions of customers and employees at Mercado Exito in Colombia. It begins by defining Harmony through its social, environmental, and economic dimensions, emphasising their interconnectedness and the need for a holistic approach to achieve balance and well-being. The study investigates how CSR initiatives can promote this practical application of Harmony, while also addressing potential challenges such as greenwashing, cultural context, and the motivations behind CSR engagement. Through qualitative interviews with customers and employees, the research aims to assess the significance of the Economy of Love framework proposed by David Cadman in shaping perceptions of CSR. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of CSR’s role in fostering social responsibility and community engagement in Colombia and provide actionable recommendations for enhancing CSR practices within Mercado Exito. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of integrating values-based approaches into corporate strategies to support sustainable business practices that resonate with stakeholders and drive societal transformation
Towards Developing a Holistic Management Framework for Organizational Digital Transformation
Within the framework of Industry 4.0, the significance of business operations has ascended to a central and pivotal position within the continually evolving sphere of digitalization. This epoch is characterized by the synergistic integration of technologies in novel and unprecedented manners, substantially shaping the course of Organizational Digital Transformation (ODT), frequently guiding it through unforeseeable avenues. The expeditious advancement of ODT has emerged as an imperative strategic mandate for enterprises, notwithstanding the challenges posed by nascent disruptive forces that possess the capacity to upheave traditional industry sectors.
In recent decades, enterprises have progressively adopted digital solutions as a pivotal factor in securing their competitive edge. Nonetheless, a report published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2018 underscores a disquieting truth: a notable majority, exceeding 78% of organizations, fell short of attaining their revenue generation objectives. Of particular concern, 73% grappled with deriving discernible business value from their Organizational Digital Transformation (ODT) initiatives. Even with a wealth of research findings linking the mounting incidence of ODT setbacks and complex undertakings to prevailing management methodologies, a more extensive inquiry is imperative to address this intricate undertaking comprehensively.
Yu's 3H framework, comprising the domains of Heart, Head, and Hand, represents distinct spheres of managerial decision-making that collectively inform the integration of these domains, each exerting varying degrees of influence on organizational performance. The primary aim of this exploratory study is to delve deeply into the nuanced relationship between factors contributing to ODT failures and each of the 3H domains. The data for this research was collected through various literature, focus group interviews and a questionnaire survey. In addressing the research objectives, the study revolves around critical aspects of organizational digital transformation (ODT): understanding ODT failures, identifying key ODT challenges, recognizing significant H domains for ODT, crafting a comprehensive ODT management framework, and effectively managing the identified domains.
This exploration seeks to elucidate a strategic trajectory conducive to the success of Organizational Digital Transformation (ODT) efforts. This investigation postulates the intricate interdependence among these domains by synthesizing insights derived from extant literature, employing the 3H framework as a theoretical construct. It pinpoints essential pathways for organizations to traverse the intricate hurdles associated with digital transformation adeptly. The result of these findings is the conceptualization of a comprehensive management framework. This framework, structured and informed by the study's insights, empowers organizations with a systematic approach to effectively navigate the intricate landscape of ODT. In turn, it fosters the successful implementation of ODT initiatives and bolsters organizational resilience in the face of evolving technological paradigms and disruptive forces
The Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Reducing Work-Related Burnout Among Office Workers in England: A Systematic Review
Background: Work-related burnout is an increasing problem in contemporary workplaces, especially among office workers who encounter rising workloads, high-performance expectations, and digital overexposure. Digital mental health is useful for treating pressure, despair, and anxiety in the workplace, but undertakings and engagement with these interventions remain a concern.
Aim: The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of digital mental health interventions in minimising work-related pressure and reducing burnout among employees in England.
Methods: A total number of 12 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have been selected from databases like Tandfonline, Sagepub, PubMed, Frontiers, ACM Digital library, Springer, NCBI, Frontiers, and Taylor & Francis. Additionally, search terms like “work-related issues”, “stress”, “burnout”, “mental-health intervention”, “England workers”, “workplace culture”, and “reduction of stress”.
Results: The National Health Service (NHS) in England discovered that nearly 46.8% of healthcare workers are feeling unhealthy due to work-related stress, depression, and anxiety. In such a context, interventions like online intervention, Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), and Psychoeducation Interventions help facilitate enhanced mental health in the work settings via interactions and support from others as components of therapy.
Conclusion: Employee mental health and well-being are registered to be improved by personalising digital interventions that enable them to promote workplace distress and increase job satisfaction. The research is significant for leaders in healthcare organisations to comprehend their lacking in executing mental-health interventions among workers and fix these shortcomings