UM Research (University of Mindanao)
Not a member yet
175 research outputs found
Sort by
Beyond the Worksheets: Exploring the Women’s Contribution in the Office Administration of Cooperatives
Full text linkThis qualitative descriptive study explores the significant contributions of women in office administration within cooperatives in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. Grounded in feminist theory, the research examines how gender norms and workplace structures shape women’s roles and influence cooperative operations. Through in-depth interviews with five women in managerial positions, the study uncovers key themes, including contributing to a balanced workplace, organizing office operations through attention to detail, and navigating gendered role assignments. The findings highlight that women play a crucial role in fostering collaboration, enhancing organizational efficiency, and strengthening cooperative success. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as SDG 5 which focuses on gender equality, SDG 10 which centers on reduced inequalities, and SDG 16 which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions, the study provides valuable insights for workplace improvements. The implications for practice emphasize the need for cooperatives to recognize and support women’s contributions by implementing targeted training programs, promoting fair task distribution, and ensuring a more inclusive and balanced work environment. Furthermore, reinforcing equal opportunity policies and cultivating a gender-sensitive organizational culture can help sustain these positive changes. These practical measures will not only enhance administrative efficiency but also empower women in their professional roles, fostering transformative progress within cooperatives
Predicting the Academic Stress of Higher Education Students through Gender and Parental Involvement
Full text linkThis study explores how academic stress affects higher education students, focusing on gender differences and the role of parental involvement. Prior research shows that academic pressure can lead to poor well-being, lower grades, and higher dropout rates. Stress from negative factors such as heavy workloads, high expectations, and time management challenges particularly affect students. Interestingly, female students tend to report higher levels of stress compared to male students, possibly due to greater parental involvement and societal pressures. Grounded in Tend and Befriend Theory, the study examines how gender, program of study, and parental involvement impact academic stress through quantitative descriptive-predictive method. Using mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis, the results show that both gender and parental involvement play a big role in students\u27 stress levels. Female students, especially those with parents who have high expectations, tend to experience more stress. Surprisingly, the stress levels of students have no significant difference when differentiated according to the students’ enrolled program. The study emphasizes the need for parents to balance their expectations with supportive involvement to help reduce stress. Schools should also offer programs that teach students how to cope with academic pressures, particularly those students who are most affected by stress such as the female students. Future research should look at how different forms of parental involvement impact stress and include a more diverse range of students
Selection of Insurance Company Among Variable Unit Life Policy Holders: An Exploratory Factor Analysis
No full textThis study delves into the factors influencing the choice of insurance companies by variable unit life (VUL) policyholders, a topic of widespread interest among all policyholders. The research aims to shed light on the buying preferences of VUL policyholders and explore the practical implications that emerge from the study\u27s findings. A total of 277 participants, pre-qualified by enumerators from various bancassurance firms in Davao Region with active VUL policies, were selected through a combination of stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Employing exploratory factor analysis, the study identified critical variables considered by policyholders in their selection of insurance companies. Out of 46 items evaluated by participants, 12 were highlighted, leaving 34 items that revealed eleven dimensions significantly influencing the decision-making process for choosing a life insurance company offering VUL products. The key factors identified include customer service relations, employee expertise, the service culture of the company, product portfolio, marketing activities, product features, the brand name of the company, employee professionalism, company ownership, company tenure, and additional services offered. These elements represent the criteria policyholders prioritize when selecting an insurance company for their VUL policies
Factors affecting technical efficiency among selected universal banks in the Philippines
Full text linkThe banking sector is the backbone of the financial system, playing a pivotal role in fostering socioeconomic development. In an increasingly competitive global market, understanding and improving bank efficiency is essential for sustainable economic growth. This study examines the factors influencing the technical efficiency of universal banks in the Philippines from 2016 to 2021. Using a two-stage analysis, technical efficiency scores were computed through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), followed by a Tobit regression to determine the impact of key factors: capital adequacy, loan quality, inflation rate, and real GDP rate. The findings reveal that among these factors, only loan quality significantly affects technical efficiency, with higher loan quality ratios negatively impacting efficiency due to increased default risk. The results highlight the need for universal banks to optimize their loan portfolios while maintaining robust credit risk management. These insights provide practical implications for policymakers and banking practitioners to enhance operational efficiency and resilience in the Philippine banking sector
Exploring the dimensions of financial literacy of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
Full text linkThis paper aims to explore the dimensions of financial literacy (FL) among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Utilizing a mixed-method research design, preliminary qualitative interviews with OFWs became the basis in the development of a 50-item scale responded by 250 OFWs to extract the FL facets through an approach called dimensionality reduction technique. Under this, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used and 46 items were found to successfully load across five dimensions after 15 rotations, labelled as Factor 1: proactive financial engagement, Factor 2: prudent financial management, Factor 3: strategic financial improvement, Factor 4: experiential financial competence, and Factor 5: breadwinner\u27s financial dilemma. The five constructs were revealed to jointly explain 62.918% of the variance. With these findings, the study underscores the need to develop a specific tailored FL intervention to enhance OFWs\u27 financial wellbeing in the UAE. This work yields policy and practical implications pertinent to policymakers, educational organizations, and financial institutions interested in promoting FL among migrant workers
Assessing disaster management preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis of local government unit employees in Digos City, Philippines
Full text linkThis study assessed the perceived disaster preparedness of local government employees in Digos City, Philippines, and examined demographic variations. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing stratified random sampling to gather data from 218 employees through a standardized survey questionnaire. The instrument measured three dimensions: disaster knowledge, disaster skills, and family preparedness. Findings revealed a high overall level of perceived preparedness. Among the dimensions, family preparedness scored highest, followed by disaster skills and disaster knowledge. Statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated no significant differences in perception based on age or most categories of marital status. However, a significant disparity was found between male and female respondents, identifying gender as a notable factor influencing preparedness perceptions. The study concludes that while local government employees in Digos City perceive themselves as highly prepared, this perception is not uniform across genders. This underscores the necessity for disaster management policies and training programs to integrate a gender-sensitive approach. Investing in the targeted capacity-building of this frontline workforce is crucial for enhancing overall community resilience
Predictors of Acceptance of Learning Management System in Higher Education Learning
No full textThe purpose of the study is to identify important factors that determine college students’ acceptance of learning management system(s) in learning in a COVID-19 pandemic setup. In addition, acceptance of LMS was determined using external variables (personal IT innovativeness, social support, client convenience, system quality, interface quality, service quality, and management support) and two measures of acceptance (perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use), according to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This study employed the descriptive-causal method of research, and the respondents were a random sample of 365 college students from a state university in Davao Oriental. Mean scores, Pearson correlation analysis (with heatmap), and regression analysis were statistical tools. Students rated the external variables service quality and management support highly, while the rest were rated moderately, according to the survey results. In terms of usefulness and usability, technology acceptance was mediocre. While all external variables were found to be significant positive correlates of LMS acceptance, personal IT innovativeness, system quality, and interface quality were found to have a significant influence on LMS ease-of-use. Almost all external variables, with the exception of management support, were found to significantly influence the usefulness of the LMS
Organizational culture and work-life balance as determinants of employee retention among microfinance employees in Kapalong, Davao del Norte
Full text linkThis study aimed to determine the level of organizational culture and work-life balance and their influence on employee retention among 82 microfinance employees in the municipality of Kapalong. Employing a descriptive-correlational research design and utilizing random sampling, the study assessed six dimensions of organizational culture—organizational supportiveness, emphasis on rewards, performance orientation, innovation, stability and communication, and job satisfaction—as well as four dimensions of work-life balance—leave policy, flexible work arrangements, welfare policies, and family responsibilities. Results revealed that both organizational culture and work-life balance were rated at a high level across all indicators. Similarly, employee retention—measured through organizational retention strategies, compensation-related strategies, and personalized retention strategies—was also rated high. Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between both organizational culture and work-life balance with employee retention. These findings suggest that cultivating a supportive organizational culture and promoting effective work-life balance policies are critical in enhancing employee retention and fostering a productive, committed workforce within the microfinance sector
Personal loan preference of bank borrowers: A conjoint analysis
Full text linkIn Mati City’s financial sector, personal loans play a crucial role in addressing needs like education and home improvements. This study uses conjoint analysis to examine bank borrowers\u27 preferences, identifying key factors that influence loan choices and offering insights for banks to optimize their products and marketing strategies. Given the city\u27s evolving economy, understanding localized borrower preferences is essential. The study presents respondents with hypothetical loan scenarios featuring attributes such as collateral, loan period, interest rates, payment modes, and income requirements. This helps determine the relative importance of these factors in borrower decision-making. Findings reveal variations in how borrowers prioritize loan attributes, highlighting unique local considerations. The study also segments borrowers based on preference patterns, enabling banks to develop tailored financial products. Additionally, it emphasizes trust-building, community engagement, and financial education to enhance borrower awareness and literacy. Banks can design personalized loan offerings and customer-centric strategies, enhancing financial inclusion and economic growth by leveraging these insight
Efficiency and productivity indices of university academic units: A case of a Philippine autonomous university
Full text linkThis study employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess the technical efficiency of various academic units at the University of Mindanao, specifically examining the performance of its colleges and branch campuses in utilizing resources to maximize educational and research outputs. The evaluation considers key input variables such as faculty numbers, budget allocations, and student enrollment, while outputs include graduation rates, publication counts, and community engagement initiatives. The results reveal significant variations in efficiency among academic units. The College of Engineering consistently demonstrate high efficiency scores, effectively optimizing resources to produce strong academic outputs. In contrast, some branch campuses exhibit lower efficiency due to constraints in faculty expertise, limited research activities, and underutilized financial resources. Additionally, the study applies the Malmquist Productivity Index to track efficiency changes over time, revealing that colleges with strong faculty development programs and strategic funding allocation—such as the College of Arts and Sciences Education—show sustained or improving efficiency trends. Meanwhile, units with slower adaptation to technological and pedagogical advancements struggle to maintain productivity. These findings provide valuable insights for university administrators and policymakers, enabling them to refine resource distribution, strengthen faculty development, and implement targeted interventions to enhance institutional effectiveness