Talent management, work engagement and voluntary turnover at a Namibian Financial Institution

Abstract: ABSTRACT The Namibian financial industry operates in a very competitive and unpredictable environment—one in which employers face limited availability of the specialised employee skills to perform the required operations effectively to achieve strategic objectives. The main objective of this research was to determine the relationship between talent management, work engagement, and voluntary turnover at a Namibian financial institution. A quantitative research approach was followed, with data gathered from employees at the institution (n = 91). Three measuring instruments—a talent management measure, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and a voluntary turnover intention questionnaire—were administered. In general, it appears that participants were deployed in job positions aligned with their career choice, that respondents could associate themselves with the brand of their institution, and received adequate performance feedback. Although the respondents indicated moderate to high levels of work engagement, about half of them considered quitting their jobs. The results also showed that the employees perceived a lack of talent mindset, talent retention strategies, and inadequate compensation from their employer. Talent management, work engagement, and voluntary turnover were significantly related. This research emphasises the importance of adequately assembled talent management practices and strategies to enhance positive individual outcomes

Exploring the determinants of an organisational talent culture for a Botswanan local government institution

Abstract: Orientation: Talented employees are essential for the service performance of local government institutions. Conducive organisational talent cultures can enable talent to deliver value-based services that meet public expectations. Research purpose: To explore the determinants of an organisational talent culture for a Botswanan local government institution. Motivation for the study: Research on organisational talent culture determinants in Botswana local government institutions is lacking. Research design, approach and method: This research adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional research design. A self-developed questionnaire was used to measure the organisational talent culture determinants of a Botswana government institution (N = 405). The data was analysed using SPSS Statistics software. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analyses, linear regression analyses and multivariate analysis of variances (MANOVAs) were applied to the data. Main findings: The factor analyses provided support for six organisational talent culture determinants: leadership talent mindset, success orientation and strategic intent, institutional values, dynamic operational capabilities, administrative governance and general people management practices. The results showed a weak application of all the organisational talent culture determinants. Leadership talent mindset was a significant predictor of organisational talent culture determinants. Significant differences exist between selected organisational culture dimensions based on the demographic characteristics of the participants. Practical/managerial implications: The vital role of public sector leadership in enabling a conducive organisational talent culture is emphasised. Contribution/value-add: This research contributed to the limited empirical knowledge on organisational talent culture determinants in public sector institutions

Relating job satisfaction and organisational commitment : the moderating and mediating roles of positive individual strengths

Abstract: Orientation: This rapidly changing world requires local government institutions to focus on positive work-related states to enhance quality service delivery. Research purpose: The main objective of this article was to explore how individual traits and psychological strengths (i.e. adult state hope, meaning in life and work locus of control) moderate or mediate the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational commitment in a Botswana local government institution. Motivation for the study: The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced employers to rely on the foundations of positive organisational psychology to navigate employee well-being more effectively during times of unprecedented crisis. Research approach/design and method: A quantitative research approach was followed. An adapted Minnesota job satisfaction questionnaire, organisational commitment questionnaire, adult state hope scale, meaning in life questionnaire and work locus of control scale were distributed to public sector officials of a Botswana local government institution (N = 405). Main findings: Adult state hope, meaning in life and work locus of control partially mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Practical/managerial implications: Management should create a workplace culture that can promote job satisfaction amongst public officials. Job satisfaction influences essential individual and outcomes organisational in public sector institutions. Contribution/value-add: This research is original and provides evidence for the use of positive psychology constructs (i.e. adult state hope, meaning in life and work locus of control) combined with job satisfaction to enhance organisational commitment

Identity exploration and development in TESOL teacher education: A three-dimensional space narrative inquiry perspective

This study explores the professional identity development of five non-native English-speaking teacher learners from different backgrounds who were studying for a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics/TESOL at an Australian university, following the three-dimensional space narrative inquiry framework (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000). The study aims to address how identity work could be utilized in teacher education to enrich teacher learners’ learning experience and prepare them for better developing their teacher selves. Participants attended two one-hour story-telling sessions aimed to elicit various aspects of their experience within the teacher education program such as native/non-native issues, transition in time and space and changes in expectations, and the learning environment. Their stories, structured and analyzed following the three-dimensional space narrative inquiry framework (Interaction, Continuity, and Situation) revealed their growth, satisfaction, and tensions resulting from becoming part of the community of practice in the Australian teacher education program. This research highlights the role of conducting identity exploration interventions within the context of teacher education in assisting TESOL teachers to construct and reconstruct their professional identity. It also suggests classroom activities designed based on the three-dimensional space narrative inquiry framework to make identity work a crucial part of teacher development within teacher education courses

NK-, NKT-and CD8-derived IFNγ drives myeloid cell activation and erythrophagocytosis, resulting in Trypanosomosis-associated acute anemia

African trypanosomes are the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT/Sleeping Sickness) and Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT/Nagana). A common hallmark of African trypanosome infections is inflammation. In murine trypanosomosis, the onset of inflammation occurs rapidly after infection and is manifested by an influx of myeloid cells in both liver and spleen, accompanied by a burst of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines. Within 48 hours after reaching peak parasitemia, acute anemia develops and the percentage of red blood cells drops by 50%. Using a newly developed in vivo erythrophagocytosis assay, we recently demonstrated that activated cells of the myeloid phagocytic system display enhanced erythrophagocytosis causing acute anemia. Here, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism and immune pathway behind this phenomenon in a murine model for trypanosomosis. Results indicate that IFNγ plays a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of erythrophagocytic myeloid cells, as mice lacking the IFNγ receptor were partially protected against trypanosomosis-associated inflammation and acute anemia. NK and NKT cells were the earliest source of IFNγ during T. b. brucei infection. Later in infection, CD8+ and to a lesser extent CD4+ T cells become the main IFNγ producers. Cell depletion and transfer experiments indicated that during infection the absence of NK, NKT and CD8+ T cells, but not CD4+ T cells, resulted in a reduced anemic phenotype similar to trypanosome infected IFNγR-/- mice. Collectively, this study shows that NK, NKT and CD8+ T cell-derived IFNγ is a critical mediator in trypanosomosis-associated pathology, driving enhanced erythrophagocytosis by myeloid phagocytic cells and the induction of acute inflammation-associated anemia

Establishing an online resource to facilitate global collaboration and inclusion of underrepresented populations:Experience from the MJFF Global Genetic Parkinson's Disease Project

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder, currently affecting ~7 million people worldwide. PD is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, with at least 10% of all cases explained by a monogenic cause or strong genetic risk factor. However, the vast majority of our present data on monogenic PD is based on the investigation of patients of European White ancestry, leaving a large knowledge gap on monogenic PD in underrepresented populations. Gene-targeted therapies are being developed at a fast pace and have started entering clinical trials. In light of these developments, building a global network of centers working on monogenic PD, fostering collaborative research, and establishing a clinical trial-ready cohort is imperative. Based on a systematic review of the English literature on monogenic PD and a successful team science approach, we have built up a network of 59 sites worldwide and have collected information on the availability of data, biomaterials, and facilities. To enable access to this resource and to foster collaboration across centers, as well as between academia and industry, we have developed an interactive map and online tool allowing for a quick overview of available resources, along with an option to filter for specific items of interest. This initiative is currently being merged with the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2), which will attract additional centers with a focus on underrepresented sites. This growing resource and tool will facilitate collaborative research and impact the development and testing of new therapies for monogenic and potentially for idiopathic PD patients.</p

Embracing Monogenic Parkinson's Disease: The MJFF Global Genetic PD Cohort

Background: As gene-targeted therapies are increasingly being developed for Parkinson's disease (PD), identifying and characterizing carriers of specific genetic pathogenic variants is imperative. Only a small fraction of the estimated number of subjects with monogenic PD worldwide are currently represented in the literature and availability of clinical data and clinical trial-ready cohorts is limited. Objective: The objectives are to (1) establish an international cohort of affected and unaffected individuals with PD-linked variants; (2) provide harmonized and quality-controlled clinical characterization data for each included individual; and (3) further promote collaboration of researchers in the field of monogenic PD. Methods: We conducted a worldwide, systematic online survey to collect individual-level data on individuals with PD-linked variants in SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35, PRKN, PINK1, DJ-1, as well as selected pathogenic and risk variants in GBA and corresponding demographic, clinical, and genetic data. All registered cases underwent thorough quality checks, and pathogenicity scoring of the variants and genotype–phenotype relationships were analyzed. Results: We collected 3888 variant carriers for our analyses, reported by 92 centers (42 countries) worldwide. Of the included individuals, 3185 had a diagnosis of PD (ie, 1306 LRRK2, 115 SNCA, 23 VPS35, 429 PRKN, 75 PINK1, 13 DJ-1, and 1224 GBA) and 703 were unaffected (ie, 328 LRRK2, 32 SNCA, 3 VPS35, 1 PRKN, 1 PINK1, and 338 GBA). In total, we identified 269 different pathogenic variants; 1322 individuals in our cohort (34%) were indicated as not previously published. Conclusions: Within the MJFF Global Genetic PD Study Group, we (1) established the largest international cohort of affected and unaffected individuals carrying PD-linked variants; (2) provide harmonized and quality-controlled clinical and genetic data for each included individual; (3) promote collaboration in the field of genetic PD with a view toward clinical and genetic stratification of patients for gene-targeted clinical trials. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Using global team science to identify genetic parkinson's disease worldwide.

No abstract available