Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Maintenance of Health and Safety in Work Places and Their Challenges in American Retail Stores
No full textWorkplace Health and Safety is the discipline concerned with protecting the health and safety of all stakeholders in the workplace from exposure to hazards and risks resulting from work activities. It further entails protecting the wellbeing of employers, visitors and customers. The aim of maintaining health and safety in work places is having a sensible and balanced approach, which reduces risks and protect staff and visitors from harm. Accidents will still occur but in fact, most accidents are the result of ill-considered actions or working practices. In United States of America, The OSH Act, additionally became referred to as Public Law 91-596 covers employers and also workers in the economic sector in all states and also regions. Various areas of employment are covered by OSHA, consisting of charity, disaster alleviation, medication, regulation, longshoring, farming, construction, and also production. Spiritual organizations are additionally covered if they worker people for social functions, such as day care, maintenance or cleaning. It offers the health and wellness, safety and also well-being of individuals, and all individuals legally existing at offices as well as relevant issues. However, there have been challenges encountered by organizations as they strive to maintain health and safety in work places as will be discussed. The study highlighted the theoretical foundation; reviewed literature in this case is on health and safety in work places, the programs on occupational health and safety, as well as the challenges of the programs on organizational performance.
Keywords: Health and Safety, OSH Act, Retail Stores & United States of America
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Modern Contraceptive Methods Dropout among Women of Reproductive Age in Gatsibo District in Rwanda
No full textThe use of modern contraceptive methods is important as it assists couples to give birth to the desired number of children and space pregnancies. Government of Rwanda has put much emphasis on family planning services accessibility as one of the pillars of sustainable development. The purpose of this paper was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with modern contraceptive methods dropout among reproductive age women in Gatsibo District in Rwanda. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. The target population was 122,859 women out of which a sample size of 399 women was obtained using Yamane formula. Questionnaire, focused group discussion and key informant interview were used as data collection instruments. The findings of the study showed the prevalence of family planning methods dropout in Gatsibo district was 30.1% and they were no longer using modern contraceptive methods while 69.9% are still using modern contraceptive methods. Findings also showed that pills are the most used at 37.1% followed by injectable 27.8% and lastly IUD with 13.3%. The findings further revealed that modern contraceptive drop out was significantly more among third social class (35.8%) than first social class category (13%) as the p value = 0.002. The findings similarly indicated that women in the third class social category are 4.26 times more likely to drop out modern contraceptive method compared to those women in first social class category [AOR : 4.26 ; 95%CI : 1.79 –9.92 ; P=0.001]. The paper recommended that the ministry of health to continuously work with Ministry of Public Service and Labour to ensure the increase of health care providers so that the health care are not overloaded, and they can provide high quality of services.
Keywords: Prevalence, modern contraceptive methods, modern contraceptive methods dropout and women of reproductive ag
Livestock production and livelihood of people in Australia
No full textLivestock products are critical to the nutrition, food security, livelihoods and resilience of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. Livestock accounts for 40% of worldwide income from agriculture. Livestock is one of major source of food and income for both economically advanced societies and those developing. Livestock are also source of income, employment and source of export earnings. For low income producers, livestock act as source and store of wealth; means of transport for carrier livestock and source of fertilizers through animal wastes. Demand for livestock products is set to continue increasing owing to rising world population. Globally, agriculture provides a livelihood for more people than any other industry. Growth in livestock sector is needed to raise rural incomes and also to support the increasing numbers dependent on the industry and to meet the food products needed of the faster growing urban populations. The study relied on desktop review technique in exploring the livestock production and livelihood of people in Australia. Journal papers, agricultural reports and livestock production reports were explored. Livestock production will continue to make a significant contribution to food supply globally and in Australia. Livestock continues to support the livelihood of many households in Australia. As a net exporter, Australia has a role in meeting global food security, and animal production will need to increase to meet increasing demand for animal protein and fibre. With further research this can be achieved with lower emissions per unit of product. Livestock production needs to be integrated in national rural policy guidelines and programmes with aim of growing it further. Livestock production has the capability of creating employment opportunities for rural people and sale of livestock products and items generates a lot of income to the people. Livestock is a significant form of livelihood to the people particularly in rural Australia.
Keywords: Livestock production, livelihood, Australi
Influencing Financial and Organizational Strategy: Virgin Group, United Kingdom
No full textThe paper assessed the influence of organizational strategy with a Virgin Group, United Kingdom. Capabilities and resources that include, resources, brand name, innovation and capabilities. Models have been used to analyze the common resources and capabilities that link the separate Virgin companies including VRIO Analysis Model, Value Chain Analysis Model and Mckinsey 7s. In addition, the paper looks into the diversification criteria, changes for Virgin Group, franchise organization, Virgin and the corporate parent and the ways of overcoming barriers. The paper finds that the Virgin Group besides includes value to its interest in the brand name and additionally moreover used the trademark name to assist removed obstacles to entrance. The Virgin trademark name is a consumer's lead character in addition to in a similar way as recommendation prior to the brand name is much valued with the British market. In the Virgin Group, the approach of inspiration, the high degree of flexibility at work, the bargain of obligation as well as versatility for employees as well as the informality and disrespect for conventions. The recommendations in the management system are to structured leading monitoring as well as likewise integrate along with methodical method just how to handle Virgin team.
Keywords: Finance, Organizational Strategy, Virgin Group & United Kingdo
Voluntary Non-Financial Disclosure and Performance of Financial Firms Listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Germany
No full textA country’s accounting and disclosure system is part of its financial system and more generally its institutional infrastructure. Economic theory suggests that, in well-functioning economies, the elements of the institutional infrastructure evolve to fit and reinforce each other. Thus, the accounting system is likely to be geared towards the informational and contracting needs of the key parties in the economy. Due to the existence of private information channels, financial statements are less important in terms of monitoring economic performance and assume other roles, such as determining dividends. However, for this reason, arm’s length or outside investors relying primarily on public disclosures are not as well informed in the German system as they are in Anglo-American economies. Since 2005, listed German groups have been required to prepare their consolidated accounts under International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRSs. The study was a literature based which sought to empirically assess the effect of voluntary non-financial disclosure on performance of financial firms listed on Frankfurt stock exchange, Germany. The study established that Non-financial reporting by German companies has long been a voluntary matter. As of fiscal year 2017, the CSR Directive Implementation Act makes it mandatory for some 500 large German companies. Non-financial reporting by German companies has long been a voluntary matter. Since the early 2000s, German companies have published non-financial information mostly as CSR or sustainability reports. Publishing comprehensive non-financial information will be mandatory as of fiscal year 2017 for some large German companies as a result of the CSR Directive Implementation Act. The CSR Directive Implementation Act obliges large companies of public interest, in particular, capital market-oriented companies, credit institutions, and insurance companies to publish non-financial information. The study concluded that since stock volatility is linked to information asymmetries and to a higher risk of a company, this analysis implies certain practical implications for both managers and regulators regarding the importance of specific disclosure strategy in capital markets. The study also concluded that the level of disclosed information, the interpretation and the effectiveness of forward-looking information depends on the reputation of a company. Companies disclosing nonfinancial information through sustainability reporting practices provide markets with data on their social, environmental, and governance performance. The study recommended that there is need to have a proper execution of regulatory framework which in turn increases the proper governance disclosures leading to an effective management system.
Keywords: Voluntary, non-financial disclosure, performance, financial firms, listed Frankfurt stock exchange, Germany
Capital Structure and Productivity of Listed Commercial Banks in Canada
No full textProfitability serves as one of the determinants of both capital structure and stock returns in Canada. This paper looks at bank specific profitability. Researchers take into consideration two actions of financial institution performance: bank productivity (determined as profits separated by properties), and financial institution passion margins (measured as web interest income split by assets). It is commonplace to highlight that in order for a company to have the needed sources in regards to properties, they need to elevate the capital. The years given that the onset of the global financial situation has actually brought about significant architectural adjustments in the financial sector. The crisis revealed considerable weaknesses in the financial system of Canada as well as the prudential framework, bring about too much financing and also risk-taking unsupported by ample capital as well as liquidity buffers. The impacts of the crisis have taxed financial growth, monetary stability and also financial institution performance in several territories including in Canada, although the headwinds have begun to subside. Technical adjustment, increased non-bank competitors as well as changes in globalization are still broader ecological difficulties facing the financial system. Regulators have reacted to the crisis by reforming the international prudential structure and improving supervision. The study was a literature based in which literature from far and wide were reviewed to derive study themes. The findings revealed that Banks in Canada have boosted their durability to future risks by significantly accumulating funding and also liquidity barriers. The boosted use anxiety testing by banks and also managers since the situation additionally attends to greater strength on a positive basis, which ought to aid support credit circulations in excellent as well as hard times. Furthermore, progressed economic situation financial institutions have moved to even more stable funding resources and also purchased more secure as well as less complex assets. Several of these changes may be driven partly by intermittent aspects, such as accommodative monetary policy, and also hence may lessen as conditions transform. Qualitative evidence indicates that financial institutions have significantly enhanced their threat management and also internal control practices. Although these modifications are tough to analyze, scientists point to substantial range for further enhancements, in particular because of the inherent unpredictability regarding the future development of risks. The research concludes that the financial obligation ratios make contrast of the overall debt with the complete properties owned by the company and a low proportion shows that a company depends much less on debt while a high percentage suggests that a firm count a lot more on financial debt money. The findings of this research study have important policy implications on the individual banks in Canada, the industry and the macro levels. Since most of the reviewed studies found a negative correlation between the financial leverage and the firms value, the research study recommend that bank financial managers should decrease the finance leverage they employ in their capital structure in order to increase firms value.
Keywords: Capital, Structure, Productivity, Listed, Commercial, Banks, Canada
Employee Empowerment on Performance of Selected Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textThis study aimed at investigating the effect of employee empowerment on performance of selected pharmaceutical manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objective of the study was to determine the effects of employee empowerment on performance of selected pharmaceutical manufacturing firms in Kenya. This study was anchored on Kurt Lewin theory. Cross-sectional research design was adopted. The total population comprised of 281 respondents who were selected from the procurement departments of the 27 pharmaceutical manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County. Simple random and stratified sampling technique were adopted to select respondents of the study from each firm. Respondents were stratified into four strata which comprised of procurement directors, managers, supervisors and officers. The ideal sample size of 165 respondents was calculated using Israel formula. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. R-square and F-tests were tested to establish the relationship between variables. The analyzed data was presented in form of tables and figures. The results revealed that there existed a significant positive relationship between organizational agility practices and performance of selected pharmaceutical manufacturing firms. Employee empowerment was positively and statistically significant (r= 0.601, p<0.05). The study concluded that despite employee empowerment had a significant impact on firm performance, to some extent training, motivating, delegating and providing conducive working environment among workers were practices that were embraced on a small extent. The study recommended that for pharmaceutical manufacturing firms to perform effectively, they should embrace much on training, recognition, delegation and motivating of the workers.
Keywords: Employee Empowerment, Firm Performance, pharmaceutical manufacturing firms, Nairobi City County
Effect of Expert Service on Performance Outcomes among Mobile Telecommunication Firms in Kenya
No full textOutsourcing decisions are often driven by the need to access external expertise. The lack of competence in human resource management area is compensated by external specialists who have invested more to this competence development than companies' managers so they can professionally perform human resource management function. This study sought to assess the effect of expert service on performance outcomes among mobile telecommunication firms in Kenya. A descriptive survey design of cross-sectional nature of three mobile telecommunication firms was conducted. The target population was 312 managers in three mobile telecommunication firms operating in Kenya. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 25.0. The study found a positive and significant relationship between expert service motive and performance outcomes. The study concludes that expert service affects performance outcomes. The study recommends that telecommunication firms should outsource human resources as it allows the firms to enhance expertise and improve service quality as well as providing competitive advantage. HR outsourcing enables organizations to gain access to expertise that would otherwise be difficult and expensive to acquire and sustain. However, telecommunication companies need to be careful when outsourcing the expertise since the loss of expertise and skills can have an adverse impact on organizational competitiveness, increase its dependency on external parties and reduce the ability to maintain internal synergy and creativity.
Key words: Expert Service, Performance Outcomes, Mobile Telecommunication Firms, Keny
The Joint Effect of Employee Rewards, Engagements, Competence and Job Demands on Job Performance of Nurses in Kenyan National Referral Hospitals
No full textThe severe shortage of nurses, increase workload, rising out- migration, inadequate facilities and persistent industrial action undermining nurses' ability to provide dignified and competent healthcare. To guarantee quality and safe patient centered treatment, health professionals including nurses must have broad and deeper competences, be optimally deployed and adequately rewarded. The study was thus motivated by the need to establish the relationship between employee rewards, engagement, competence, job demands and job performance of nurses in national referral hospitals in Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. The study was carried out in all the four National Referral Hospital in Kenya namely Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and referral Hospital Mathare Teaching and Referral Hospitals and National Spinal Injury. The target population for this study was 2,757 nurses in all the four national hospitals obtained through data query by the Human Resource department at the Ministry of Health and preliminary visit to HR departments of respective hospitals for data verification. A sample of 296 respondents was selected using Cochran formula (1963). Primary data was collected through semi structure questionnaires that were administered to the nurses. During data analysis, the study utilized both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics provided percentages, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of the demographic characteristics and inferential statistics illustrated the regression analysis. The results revealed that the joint effect of employee rewards, engagements, competence and job demands on job performance of nurses is greater than the individual effect of employee rewards on job performance of nurses in Kenyan national referral hospitals. From the foregoing, the study concluded that several antecedent variables predict job performance. The study recommended that managers to evaluate potential leverage of each variable affecting job performance based on organizational context and improve them. In addition, the managers to determine the direction and strength of the relationship between predictor variables of job performance for some have negative effects.
Keywords: Employee Rewards, Engagements, Competence, Job Demands, Job Performance, Nurses & Kenyan National Referral Hospital
Effects of Electronic Human Resource Management Practices on Organizational Performance: A Case of University of Maryland Programs, Nairobi Kenya
No full textThe purpose study was to determine the effect of Electronic Human Resource Management (EHRM) practices on organizational performance at University of Maryland Programs (UMB), Kenya. The objectives of the study were to identify the existing Electronic Human Resource Management practices in University of Maryland Programs; to examine the level of performance in UMB; to establish how EHRM practices contribute to organizational performance in UMB. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The researcher used a stratified sampling technique. The sample size of the study was 107. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires. The validity and reliability of the instrument were measured by the Cronbach Alpha test. The collected data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPPS) twenty third edition. The study found that 88.7%, of the respondents were aware that e-recruitment was used at UMB to a large extent as indicated while 83.5%, of the respondents were aware that e- e-compensation was utilized at UMB to a large extent and finally 84.1% of the respondents were aware that e-recruitment was used at UMB to a large extent Secondly, the indicators of organizational performance at UMB were found by the study to include workforce agility, organizations productivity, organizational effectiveness and organizational flexibility as agreed by 75.3%, 61.9%, 69.0% and 67.0% of the respondents. Finally, 76.8%, 76.05%, 76.3% and 74.6% of respondents agreed that e-recruitment, e-training, e-compensation and e-performance were implemented had effect on organizational flexibility, organizational effectiveness, workforce agility and organizational productivity at UMB. The study recommended that UMB to focus on E-performance management since it has a significant relationship with organizational effectiveness.
Keywords: Electronic Human Resource Management Practices, Organizational Performance, Maryland Programs, Keny