Influence of Working from Home Culture on the Effectiveness of Virtual Onboarding of New Employees

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a global disaster with extraordinary consequences for corporations and their people. The stresses of working from home during a pandemic are heightened for newbies entering new occupations and organizations. To address the issues concerning the rapid adoption of virtual onboarding in employment relations and human resource management practices, the paper seeks to determine whether there is a positive relationship between online orientation and training and holistic support with virtual onboarding in the context of multinational companies operating in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey of 110 individuals of diverse profiles from various multinational companies (MNCs) in Bangladesh is undertaken using Google Forms. The data was analyzed using SPSS 26.0. It was discovered that online orientation, online training, and holistic support play an important part in carrying out a successful virtual onboarding process for newcomers working from home. It was also found that having a strong relationship with peers, and senior coworkers is a key aspect of obtaining the assistance that new employees require in the workplace as they start. It is expected that the managers in the MNCs may regain workers' trust by strengthening their virtual or onboarding operations as a whole. The frameworks offered can guide managers in better responding to employees' needs. The successful use of virtual onboarding among the MNCs in Bangladesh is a little-explored research domain. The study findings address the gap by highlighting its effectiveness and encouraging the implication of virtual onboarding of the employees working from home in the MNCs. The study does not rule out the potential of other factors influencing virtual onboarding effectiveness, nor focus on any particular professional groups. The online survey makes it difficult to provide information on the sample's representativeness. Further research and inquiry are required to confirm the findings

Approaches to the Application of Corporate Governance Regulations

To enhance good corporate governance practices, companies, as well as countries, have adopted and promulgated regulations and codes of best practices. To implement these regulations and practices, regulators adopt various approaches which can be broadly classified into voluntary, mandatory, and hybrid. This study examined the aforementioned approaches with particular attention to their strengths and weaknesses. The study employed a qualitative methodology using the doctrinal research method. The doctrinal method relied on primary and secondary sources. The primary sources included legislations and corporate governance codes while the secondary sources included books, e-books, journals, and articles. This methodology was deployed in appraising, interpreting, and applying these various sources of material used in the study. The study found that there are different variations and modifications to the approaches to the application of corporate governance regulations and practices. To facilitate a more efficient and effective corporate governance regime, a combination of the rule-based and principle-based approaches to the application of corporate governance is required.

Definitions and Concepts of Organizational Sustainability: A Literature Analysis

This research paper provides a comprehensive literature review that thoroughly examines the definitions and different concepts of organizational sustainability. This paper also looks at how research gaps are addressed in the literature with a particular emphasis on issues of organizational sustainability. Overall, organizational sustainability, including issues and aspects related to sustainability, is discussed. Individual authors provide their perspectives on various aspects of organizational sustainability from their field research, case analysis, and creative search. It also includes a greater knowledge of how real economic activity concerns and political dynamics can inhibit decision-making related to operational or practical sustainability. Several sustainability viewpoints from around the world have provided a genuine mechanism for organizations to increase their financial success while minimizing their impact on the environment and society. This study urges that knowing an organization's ability to change and self-regulate on critical issues for long-term sustainability can help solve the socio-ecological dilemma. This study shows how firms approach sustainability and what fundamental issues still need to be resolved. The research has provided novel and unusual insights into the factors contributing to organizational sustainability. Additional value is generated by estimating progress toward the idea of organizational sustainability, identifying impediments, and analyzing various real-world examples of measures to enhance advancement toward that concept

The Implications of Farm Production and Farmers' Characteristics on Poverty Reduction in Benue Division, Cameroon: A Multiple Correspondence Analysis Approach

The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of farm production and Farmers' Characteristics on Poverty Reduction in the Benue division in the Northern region of Cameroon. Data were collected from 399 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire through a stratified sampling technique of 12 sub-divisions in the Benue division. We adopted a survey research design. To estimate our results, we used Multiple correspondent analysis (MCA) and the OLS technique. The results reveal that there is a positive relationship between farm production and poverty reduction in Benue state. An increase in farm production will lead to a 2.19% reduction in farmers' poverty in Benue and this result is significant at a 5% level of significance. Similarly, the farmer's characteristics reveal that gender, farmers' experience, and educational level also significantly affect poverty reduction. In this light, there is a need for the government to train and deploy more extension workers in the various sub-divisions and communities in Benue division, to increase farmers' access to these services. This can be done by imparting specific skills to produce dominant food crops and livestock in the Benue division through workshops and seminars

Navigating Challenges of Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Management and Its Strategic Solutions

Bangladesh faces multifaceted challenges in managing its border with Myanmar, ranging from informal trade to cross-border crime. The Rohingya influx and turmoil inside Myanmar further exacerbate the challenges. The present study aims to explore multidimensional cross-border issues in border management and their consequences for national security, focusing on relevant and strategic solutions for improving Bangladesh-Myanmar land border management. This study employed a qualitative research approach, descriptive in nature, to acquire insight into the complexities of border management. Thematic analysis of different sources has been conducted for this study to identify some crucial challenges of Bangladesh-Myanmar border management, such as informal trade, drug trafficking, turmoil inside Myanmar, Rohingya influx, cross-border crime, infrastructural inadequacy, poverty, etc. Such challenges may create regional instability. Moreover, these pose a significant threat to Bangladesh's socioeconomic, political, and health security. Proactive diplomatic efforts for successful Rohingya repatriation, the development of border infrastructure, the socioeconomic development of the bordering community, and their engagement in the border management process are imperative for a strategic solution to the persistent challenges. Implementing these measures can benefit effective border management and help ensure peace, stability, and cooperation in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border area

Female Learners’ Language Anxiety in English Language Classroom at Tertiary Level in Bangladesh

Since the mid-20th century, anxiety has been identified as one of the debilitating factors for the success of second language acquisition (SLA) when researchers focus on the role of affective filters, namely motivation and personality factors, in enhancing learners’ cognitive capacities. This study focuses on the speech anxiety of female students in English language classrooms at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. This qualitative research used semi-structured interview techniques to investigate the individual perception of second language learners towards their speaking skills performance in the classroom or social settings. The sample size was 20 female respondents selected from two private universities in Bangladesh through purposive sampling. In order to investigate the learners' anxiety and the related factors behind anxiety systematically, an interview profile has been made where 20 sub-questions are framed under the associated themes of research questions. The findings of this research show not only their views on learners' anxiety but also a wide range of sociocultural and pedagogical factors that demotivate them from speaking in English in the broader social context.  It further focuses on the role of the education system of Bangladesh in facilitating the teaching and learning of English speaking at the tertiary level properly. Finally, this study provides insight into the field of SLA showing some pathways to mitigate the speech anxiety of female learners at tertiary levels

Participation in Sports Betting and Youth Welfare Nexus: An Endogenous Switching Regression Model in Kenyan Perspective

This paper seeks to establish the nexus between sports betting participation and youth welfare in Kenya. The focus of the study is the youth based in the Kajiado North constituency which has the highest youth population within the Nairobi metropolitan statistical area. There are 9 universities around the region. The study sample size is 341. Endogenous switching regression estimation is adopted to determine the association between sports betting participation and youth welfare.  From the regression analysis, this study obtains a significant and negative coefficient of -1.4971 relating to sports betting and youth welfare. This suggests that sports betting negatively affects youths' overall welfare in a 1.49 percent greater manner than those who abstain from it. It is important to address the factors that lead the youth to participate in sports betting, particularly control of commercials by making it mandatory that they issue disclaimers that doing so may worsen one's welfare. It is also essential to properly educate young people on financial management in order that they may channel their money toward worthwhile endeavors rather than sports betting

Artificial Intelligence and Public Relations Synergy: A Study in the Context of Bangladesh

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of public relations (PR) has brought a massive change in communication. This paradigm shift is not merely a technological advancement but a fundamental transformation in how public relations practitioners (PRPs) interact with stakeholders to communicate effectively. The study's primary objective was to examine the extent to which PRPs in Bangladesh utilize AI in their routine activities to achieve organizational goals. This research elucidates the current landscape by surveying a diverse sample of PRPs, thereby disclosing the degree to which AI technologies have been incorporated into PR practices. The study revealed that the utilization of AI in the field of PR in a variety of institutions in Bangladesh is less anticipated. Inadequate knowledge was also discovered in the investigation. This research contributes to the ongoing conversation regarding the influence of AI on the future of PR. It offers valuable insights for professionals and organizations that are striving to navigate this transformative journey effectively

Sexual Harassment in Bangladesh: A Note on Legal Perspective

This paper offers a description of sexual harassment in Bangladesh. Here the existing laws related to the issue have been analyzed, and a comparative approach to molestation has also been discussed. Different surveys have indicated the increasing rate of sexual harassment in Bangladesh. Countries, such as India, and Pakistan are having specific laws and relevant provisions to mitigate such offenses. Despite having laws regarding such offenses, most countries are unable to fight the social ailment of sexual harassment. The secondary data finds that in 2017, 54.7% of women living in urban areas faced the violence of physical, psychological, financial, and social nature, and received unusual words from the stranger and sometimes also from the known person. Sexual Harassment is taking place in different places including workplaces, educational institutions, and online platforms. The existing legislation regarding such offenses may not be adequate in the current situation as the nature of such offenses has been changed. This paper provides recommendations for amending necessary provisions to mitigate such problems. It highlights different surveys on the issue and elucidates the provisions of sexual harassment. Data have been collected from newspaper articles, journal articles, websites, and case references. The comparative perspective of sexual harassment in different countries has also been discussed in this paper.

Academic Stress and Students' Mental Health: Insights from Private University Students in Bangladesh

The mental health of students is an issue of concern worldwide. At the tertiary level, students face several stresses, including academic stress.  Frequent changes in curriculum and examination systems put pressure on students’ mental health. In this study, we aim to explore the relationship between mental health and academic stress. The study is conducted on the students of six private universities located in Dhaka and Chattogram. An adopted questionnaire is used to measure the academic stress and mental health of the students. A Google form questionnaire designed in a five-point Likert scale is sent to the students by using convenient sampling techniques. SPSS version 23 is used for statistical analysis. A total of 297 responses are considered for statistical analysis. Multiple Regression Models are used to analyze the data. The study finds a positive significant correlation between four dimensions of academic stress and the mental health of the respondents. The finding provides educational institutions with an insight into creating mechanisms through which actual and potential mental health issues among students can be addressed. The study includes a small sample size and is conducted only on business students of private universities. Further research may be conducted on the students of other disciplines of both public and private universities and a larger sample