The Impact of Organisational Climate on Employee Engagement and Performances in a Multinational Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company in Thailand

This research aims to support the company to improve employee engagement by exploring antecedent issues that have not been previously captured by the company survey. Organisation climates are chosen since they focus on intrinsic values such as purpose and work harmony, i.e. internal communication, learning and development, and perceived organisation support, to close the engagement gap and translate them into feasible actions. In addition, the study further explores the performance indicator beyond conventional measures. Conventionally, the benefit of engagement is measured through self-rating questions, e.g. organisational commitment and job satisfaction. However, it lags off the link between those measurements and tangible benefits. The internal survey data are analysed by the structural equation model (SEM) to identify the relationship between antecedents and consequences, and then linear regression is applied to correlate each factor to the observed performance. To provide a complete understanding of each relationship, interviews are conducted to find an insightful view of the model outcome. The result emphasises the strong relationship between engagement and organisational commitment, especially organisation engagement. Learning and development show contradicting results from the previous study and the outcome cannot clear the myth that higher engagement leads to better performance but it has shown a promising correlation between engagement and performance. The finding could help the management team and HR department better understate the priority for each antecedent which also links to the benefits of engagement that ultimately supports future HRM

A conceptual framework of leaders’ emotional labor: The role of authentic leadership and procedural justice.

In this thesis a conceptual framework of leaders’ emotional labor is explored; therein it is specifically focused on the role of authentic leadership and procedural justice as linking variables between leaders’ emotional labor and follower outcomes. The framework is tested with three empirical studies. Generally, the model is supported. In line with Study 1 leaders’ emotional labor was related to followers’ perceptions of their authenticity. However, therein followers’ gender has to be taken in account. In line with Study 2, authentic leadership was related to followers’ emotional exhaustion through procedural justice, whereby this further depended on the emotional demands the employee was confronted with. In line with Study 3, and in terms of the framework, there is evidence that procedural justice links leaders’ emotional labor to followers’ emotional labor, as procedural injustice impacts the use of surface acting and service performance; although differently than expected. Therefore, the model offers a good starting point for future research and highlights open research questions which should be addressed

Explaining volunteering in old age : a social reinforcement perspective

Volunteering has been widely accepted as potentially a very good means to engage older persons and to maximize their contribution to society. There is a need to understand the entire process of volunteering, the reasons that motivate older persons to participate in volunteer services and activities and to appreciate why committed elderly volunteers continue to involve themselves in volunteering. The present study attempts to explore the possible motivational and sustainable aspects in the process of volunteering guided by a social reinforcement perspective. It further aims to propose an explanatory model for the initiation and sustainability of volunteering involving older persons in Hong Kong. A theoretical framework of the study focuses on the social reinforcement perspective within the cognitive-behavioral approach in explaining the volunteering process in terms of antecedences, pre-conditions, actual experience and consequences of volunteering. A questionnaire was distributed to explore the different aspects of volunteering, including the patterns of volunteer services, volunteer involvement, reasons for and effects of volunteering and personal profile of the volunteers. The target of the study was hospital volunteers aged 60 or above. The research design was a mail questionnaire survey using self-administered procedures. A total of 287 elderly respondents, 63 men and 224 women aged 60 to 86 years, drawn from the database of the Hospital Authority were assessed. The response rate was 30.3% with 1,359 valid responses. The study showed that older volunteers satisfied the pre-conditions for volunteering, such as having good health, free time and financial stable. The present study revealed that a great majority (74%) of the older volunteer respondents was inspired by altruistic reasons of wanting to help and to feel contented and approximately half were initially motivated by the altruistic motive of social responsibility. Social motives of seeking social exposure, making new friends and sharing of experiences were other important initial reasons. These factors were sustained when respondents reported the reasons for their continued participation in volunteering. The respondents perceived obvious positive changes in physical, psychological, cognitive and social well-being and they were satisfied and gratified with the volunteering experiences. The research also revealed the positive changes in volunteer’s life satisfaction, exposure and experience, self-appraisal and confidence. The positive outcomes of volunteering, such as enhanced self-esteem, life satisfaction and personal exposure help to affirm the initial intention of volunteering, which in turn reinforces the continual participation in volunteer services with the evidence of consistent findings of both initial and continual participation in volunteering

The Importance of Innovative Work Behavior in Era Industrial Revolution 4.0

Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) is a concept in Industrial Revolution 4.0 to encourage business growth, competitiveness, and success. Organizations that prioritize innovation and encourage creativity are expected to thrive in the current dynamic and unpredictable business environment. This study aims to provide ideas, suggestions and contributions to researchers who examine IWB variables, making it easier for researchers to determine the antecedent and consequent variables as well as the sectors to be studied. This study uses a literature review method to investigate the antecedents, consequences, and sectors that are involved in IWB by reviewing 44 articles from the Scopus database that have been reviewed. In addition, this study uses a bibliometric technique in order to find IWB’s compatibility. Results indicate that IWB has 63 antecedents and can be classified into three factors: individual, organizational, and leadership. As for consequences, it shows 6 consequences which also consist of digital literacy and competitive advantages apart from performance. Sectors that engage in IWB are predominantly telecommunication and manufacturing. It is hoped that IWB could expand to all sectors especially public sectors such as public services

Business Model Innovation and Firm Performance: The Role of Mediation and Moderation Factors

Business model (BM) innovation is vital for today’s businesses. However, BM innovations can be irreversible, and therefore, in comparison to product, service or process innovation, entail bigger risk and ambiguity. Understanding the way in which BM innovation exerts influences over firm’s performance would help business-owners to be more effective. Based on a systematic literature review, a model to examine how BMI impacts firm performance through mediating and moderating factors was developed. Based on in-depth analysis of 37 articles, we identified twenty moderating factors classified in four groups, i.e., Firm- Characteristics, Industry-Characteristics, BM Implementation, and BM Practices, and ten mediating factors, categorized in three sub-groups, i.e., Revenue Growth, Efficiency Growth, and Enhancing the Organizational Capabilities. This paper offers the grounding for empirical research as well contribute to the development of tools to assess the effectiveness of the BMI

Customer satisfaction in Hospitality

La presente tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo principal analizar la satisfacción del cliente en tres hoteles de diferente categoría, desde tres a cinco estrellas, situados en la ciudad de San Petersburgo en Rusia. La estructura de la tesis doctoral se presenta en tres partes bien diferenciadas: (1) Se realiza una profunda revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre la satisfacción del cliente centrándose particularmente en las ciencias sociales y la economía, analizando también las diferencias observadas por regiones geográficas comparando los resultados de la literatura internacional con los obtenidos en revistas científicas rusas; (2) se analiza después las peculiaridades que presenta esta literatura en un contexto más adecuado al objeto de estudio de esta investigación cómo es el turismo donde se presenta un análisis bibliométrico así como un estudio de los principales determinantes y consecuencias de la satisfacción en el campo del turismo; y (3) se presentan dos aplicaciones empíricas utilizando los resultados obtenidos mediante la aplicación de un modelo híbrido multicriterio basado en la lógica borrosa y en la técnica de comportamiento global obtenida por la comparación existente con las soluciones ideales observadas en el conjunto de la muestra analizada. De esta forma, la parte empírica presenta dos trabajos que analizan el papel que juega el género y la edad en la satisfacción experimentada en los hoteles analizando de forma global el conjunto de los hoteles incluidos en la muestra, así como los resultados obtenidos para los hoteles de tres y cuatro estrellas. Los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir que la edad y el género influyen de manera decisiva en la satisfacción del cliente discutiéndose importantes implicaciones de gestión que tienen que considerarse por los agentes económicos implicados.La present tesi doctoral té com a objectiu principal analitzar la satisfacció del client en tres hotels de diferent categoria, des de tres a cinc estrelles, situats a la ciutat de Sant Petersburg a Rússia. L'estructura de la tesi doctoral es presenta en tres parts ben diferenciades: (1) Es realitza una profunda revisió sistemàtica de la literatura sobre la satisfacció del client centrant-se particularment en les ciències socials i l'economia, analitzant també les diferències observades per regions geogràfiques comparant els resultats de la literatura internacional amb els obtinguts en revistes russes; (2) s'analitza després les peculiaritats que presenta aquesta literatura en un context més adequat a l'objecte d'estudi d'aquesta investigació com és el turisme on es presenta una anàlisi bibliomètrica així com un estudi dels principals determinants i conseqüències de la satisfacció en el camp del turisme; i (3) es presenten dues aplicacions empíriques utilitzant els resultats obtinguts mitjançant l'aplicació d'un model híbrid multicriteri basat en la lògica borrosa i en la tècnica de comportament global obtinguda per la comparació existent amb les solucions ideals observades en el conjunt de la mostra analitzada . Així, la part empírica presenta dos treballs que analitzen el paper que juga el gènere i l'edat en la satisfacció experimentada en els hotels analitzant de manera global el conjunt dels hotels inclosos en la mostra, així com els resultats obtinguts per als hotels de tres i quatre estrelles. Els resultats obtinguts permeten concloure que l'edat i el gènere influeixen de manera decisiva en la satisfacció del client discutint importants implicacions de gestió que han de considerar-se pels agents econòmics implicats.The main objective of this dissertation is to analyze customer satisfaction in three different hotels, from three to five stars, located in the city of Saint Petersburg in Russia. The structure of the doctoral thesis is presented in three distinct parts: (1) A thorough systematic review of the literature on client satisfaction is carried out, focusing particularly on the social sciences and economics, also analyzing the differences observed by geographic regions by comparing the results of the international literature with those obtained in Russian scientific journals; (2) we analyze the peculiarities presented by this literature in a context more appropriate to the object of study of this research as is the tourism where a bibliometric analysis is presented as well as a study of the main determinants and consequences of satisfaction in the field of tourism; and (3) two empirical applications are presented using the results obtained through the application of a multicriteria hybrid model based on the fuzzy logic and on the global behavior technique obtained by the existing comparison with the ideal solutions observed in the analyzed sample. Two empirical exercises are presented that analyze the role of gender and age in the satisfaction experienced in hotels by analyzing overall the hotels included in the sample, as well as the results obtained for hotels of three and four stars. The results obtained allow us to conclude that age and gender decisively influence client satisfaction by discussing important management implications that have to be considered by the economic agents involved

Paradox of Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Value Chains: Perspectives of Not-for-Profit Actors

The study explores strategic partnerships themes for Sustainable Agricultural Value chains (SAVC) dimensions. Acknowledging the role of stakeholders, business and Not-for-Profit actors, and their engagement in such partnerships, this study focuses on the latter’s perspective. Literature review followed by five exploratory case studies are used to examine SAVC partnership themes. The study identifies three themes influencing strategic partnerships: the interaction between partners through cooperation, coordination, and collaboration; management of information flow between partners; and product flow management with demand-supply coordination between partners. The level of information sharing between partners also influences SAVC value creation. The findings extend value chain literature by stressing the theoretical association between the identified antecedents and partnership in the sustainability value chain in general and the SAVC in particular. The exploratory case studies provide real-life perspectives and a practical framework in the context of SAVC. Managers, policymakers and international funded programmes can also benefit from the current key findings and the new framework as a referential basis to form a partnership strategy in agricultural sectors. This research suggests a further test for the conceptual framework using large-scale surveys in diverse geographic contexts and looking at trans-border value chain partnerships, especially in different country contexts that influence sustainable development and partnerships in SAVC.publishedVersio

Nonprofit-business collaboration strategy: operationalising a strategy for nonprofit organisations

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs)1 have become a key provider of public services (Kelly, 2007). In recent years, however, the environment in which NPOs operate has become increasingly challenging due to a number of factors, including an increase in uncertainty over government funding policy (Akingbola, 2004, Anheier, 2009), an intensification in rivalry between NPOs (Chew and Osborne, 2009), and a lack of employee commitment (Kong, 2008). Osborne et al. (2012) have found that in response to such challenges NPOs are, for instance, re-engineering their operations to reduce overhead costs, achieving economies of scale through merging with counterparts, emphasizing the leadership role of trustees, and replacing government funding with new and untraditional streams of income. This chapter concerns the latter in regard to nonprofit business collaboration (NBC), specifically how and under what conditions NPOs can collaborate with businesses to support their organizational sustainability. As a strategic option for NPOs, this aspect of NBC inquiry has been largely overlooked (Al-Tabbaa et al., 2014, Cantrell et al., 2008, Harris, 2012). The chapter is organized into three principal sections. In the first, we review the NBC literature and present the concept of NBC as a tripartite value-creation mechanism. Importantly, we use this review to identify a salient gap in the nonprofit and NBC literatures: NBC from the perspective of the NPO. In addressing this gap, the second section introduces a conceptual framework that we developed to assist NPOs in developing and operationalizing an NBC strategy. The framework is based on the three elements of strategy: context (the environment in which an organization operates), content (the choices to achieve the strategy purpose) and process (the formulation and implementation of the chosen strategy) (Pettigrew, 1985, Pettigrew and Whipp, 1991). However, using this concept of strategy to study public services providers (e.g., NPOs) can be criticized due to its manufacturing origins (Beck et al., 2008, Dart, 2004). Therefore, we review the service management approach (Osborne et al., 2013, Osborne, 2009, Thomas, 2012) to demonstrate how our framework, and it theoretical foundation , is still relevant to NPOs, thus enhancing its validity. We conclude the chapter with an evaluation of NBC-related risks and threats to NPOs and consider implications for future research and practice