A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CUSTOMER ORIENTATION ATTITUDE OF SELECTED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN GHANA

The overall objective of the study was to compare the customer orientation attitude of selected private and public Universities in Ghana. Besides, the study also examined the probability of private or public Universities being more customer oriented than the other. The study employed the use of the descriptive design. Data was collected from three private and public Universities in Ghana. The study used standardized questionnaires as the main source of data collection instrument. In terms of the analysis of data, the study employed the use of the statistical package for social sciences version 21. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The findings revealed that that there is a statistically significant difference in the customer orientation behaviour (t (420)= -1.049, p>.05) of private universities (M= 6.78, SD= 0.002) and public universities ((M= 7.02, SD= 0.82). Again, the predicted odds that a student from a public university is Exp(B) =0.303, however since the coefficient is (-1.192), that is negative, thus, a student from a public university is 30% less than likely to perceive themselves as customers compared with a student from a private university. Recommendations as well as areas for further study have been presented. Article visualizations

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE STUDENT’S DECISION TO PURSUE, SUSTAIN OR TERMINATE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY

The overall purpose of the study is to determine key factors that influence students in the quest to continue their relationship with their university or to quit. The study employed the use of the descriptive design. Data was collected from three private and public universities in Ghana. These were to ensure equal representation from both sectors. The study used standardized questionnaires as the main source of data collection instrument. In terms of the analysis of data, the study employed the use of the statistical package for social sciences version 21. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. it is evident that fulfilment was significant in determining student continues relationship with university (β= 0.713, p=0.014). Furthermore, the table also reveals that there was a positive and significant relationship between maximum academic support individuals had and their continuous relationship with university (β= 0.511, p=0.000). Thus, maximum academic support individuals had was significant to their investment behavior after controlling for all other demographics. This was in line with the assertions of Tandoh (2011) when he indicated that factors such as fulfilment, reward for hardwork, fulfilment and the likes can affect hugely the continuous relationship with university by individuals. Article visualizations

ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE ON MARKET ORIENTATION CULTURE AT GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION (GBC)

Leadership has been observed to be a critical factor in influencing several organizational outcomes. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence leadership is likely to have on the marketing orientation attitude of an organization using Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) as the case study. One of the key backdrops to this study was the fact that Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has been criticized for long to have lacked a sharp marketing edge on the market, thus, the corporation lacks the ability to capitalize the governmental cushion it has as well as the numerous affiliates it can boast of. The study approached quantitatively using closed-ended questionnaires to collect data from the respondents. The researchers also espoused the correlational design to establish the relationship between the two study variables. Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were adopted in selecting the sample. A total of 150 respondents were targeted purposively and conveniently. Data was analyzed using correlation analysis. The study revealed that there was an insignificant relationship between leadership style and market orientation. Furthermore, the organization was low on marketing orientation culture.  Article visualizations

EFFECTS OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE ON EMPLOYEE JOB INVOLVEMENT

Employee outcomes have been described to be a nexus of several factors. The study sought to as ethical leadership and organizational involvement as possible antecedents of employee job involvement. The study also enquired about the job involvement level of managers and non-managers. Various banks in Ghana were selected for the study. The study comprised of 192 respondents who were mainly leaders and subordinates from selected banks who were selected using the purposive sampling and simple random sampling technique respectively. Data collected from the field was analyzed using regression and independent ample t-test. The findings of the study indicated that there was a positive relationship between ethical leadership and employee job involvement. Furthermore, the study revealed a positive relationship between organizational climate and employee job involvement. Ethical leadership proved to be a more significant antecedent to employee job involvement than organizational climate. Furthermore, the study also found that there was no significant difference in employee job involvement due to respondents’ position as manager or non-manager. It was recommended that leaders should take into consideration their behaviors within the organization as these go a long way to affect employee behavior. Further, firms can develop thinking walls where quotes about ethical leader behavior which impacts organizational climate will be announced. Limitations as well as area for further study have been discussed.  Article visualizations

Factors that Influence Household Demand for Locally Produced Brown Rice in Ghana

Brown rice has a higher nutrient content than milled rice. This study determines the factors that influence the demand for local brown rice. The study achieves this by investigating the patterns of consumption of brown rice, attributes of the product that influence its consumption, factors that affect its consumption and the institutional support in the rice industry. Primary data on the attributes, factors and patterns of consumption of brown rice was obtained from respondents in the Volta and Greater Accra Regions using semi-structured questionnaire. Information on the functions of identified local institutions was obtained from the institutions. The data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, Tobit model and the Chi-square test. The results of the study showed that taste is the major attribute that influence people to consume brown rice. Brown  rice consumers are mostly those who have brown rice as a traditional diet. One of the attributes of brown rice that is keen as far as its consumption is concerned is its healthful benefits. The results of the Tobit regression model showed that the price of brown rice and the technical attributes of both brown rice and white rice (colour, taste, nutritional value, texture) and socioeconomic characteristics particularly (income) explain the share of brown rice in total rice consumption. Awareness creation of brown rice was found to be through friends and relatives. Acceptability ratio was found to be low.  The results obtained from the chi-square test indicate that the local institutions that were important in brown rice development were the University of Ghana Agric Research Station (UGARS), MoFA, GTZ, JICA, ACDI/VOCA, AgSSIP, FINATRADE, USAID, GAWU, MFCS Ltd., and FBOs. It is therefore recommended that the media should be used more in the awareness creation of brown rice. Advocacy groups should do more in order to sensitize people on the healthful benefits of brown rice. The research also showed that most of the service organizations perform their functions effectively and therefore the government should continue to partner the donor agencies to enhance cooperation among brown rice promoters. These institutions are to cooperate with each other in order to enhance their operations. The Local Governance institutions such as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies should provide support to the Department of community development, cooperatives and advocacy groups to lift up the campaign. Keywords: brown rice, consumption pattern, nutritional content, demand, awareness creation, demand

Understanding the Furniture Design Process in Ghana

The transformation of information technology now make more employees transacting business indoors this make the use of furniture pieces for longer periods of time and demand complex furniture design. However, complexity could be solved if furniture pieces are well designed through well structured furniture designing process in Ghana. But, little attention is paid to it until just before it is needed. Design process in general is a link of actives involved in solving problems, creating something new, or transforming less desirable situations to preferred situations. To do this, the furniture designers must know how these process work and why. Understanding how furniture design process work and why it is important for furniture designers. This is the purpose of the study. The paper outlines a standard framework for furniture design process. These frameworks clarify the meaning of theory and outline the process. It explains the nature and uses of theory as a general concept to solve complex furniture designing problems. It proposes five potential stages which gives sufficient information for furniture design process, with typical examples. Keywords: furniture design process, understanding, complex, framewor

The Contribution of Higher National Diploma (HND) Furniture Graduates in the Furniture Industry in Ghana

The Furniture industry in Ghana indentified greater importance in HND furniture graduate. However, the expectations of the furniture companies have fall shortened by inefficient delivery of skills and technology by the HND furniture graduates. The HND furniture graduates acquired highest knowledge and skills to facilitate design and production of furniture pieces. The furniture industries in Ghana have devious ways of production of items for indoor and outdoor without specific standards practice and procedures. The aim is to access and analyze the credibility of HND furniture graduate, and the expectation of furniture industry in Ghana. The HND furniture graduates in Ghana have lost focus, and interest to associate with the furniture companies. The furniture industry lack middle level manpower, insufficient ideals, skills and technology to wheel expectation of the industries to meet customer satisfaction. Keywords: furniture industry, HND furniture graduate, performance, furniture companie

Key Factors that Contribute to the Performance of Furniture Companies in Ghana

The Furniture industry in Ghana is not developed to international standards. Traditional apprenticeships make up the majority of the industry. The furniture industry in Ghana is dominated by imported products. This study determined some of the factors that lead to the poor performance of furniture firms in Ghana. The performance of furniture firms in Ghana especially the small sized ones is hindered by limited creativity and innovation, and this results in few unique products, low ability to meet customers’ expectations, and poor performance. These challenges could be solved by engaging the services of more creative, skilled and competent staff. Keywords: Furniture Industry, Ghana, performance

An Examination of Selected Wood Properties of Some Economic Tropical Timber Species.

Characterizing wood is necessary in order to make information available to interested users of a particular timber species. In this study we characterized Aningeria robusta (A.Chev.) Aubrev.& Pelleger,( Asanfena), Terminalia ivorensis A.Chev., (Emeri), Terminalia superba Engl. & Diel., (Ofram), Khaya ivorensis A.Chev., (Mahogany) and Entandrophragma cylindricum Sprague., (Sapele) according to their anatomical and physical properties. This work discussed the macroscopic physical properties in terms of densities (air/oven dry), colour and surface roughness of the five wood species. Cell properties studied included vessel, fibre and parenchyma cell dimensions as well as their pore arrangements. It was clear that, the proportion of fibres per mm2 of the species, as well as their corresponding cell wall thicknesses values seems to bear some relationship with their densities Keywords: maceration; optical microscopy; roughness; wood anatomy; wood densit

The Patronage of Bamboo and Rattan Furniture Products – A Relief of Pressure on Wood use in Ghana

The natural high forest of Ghana has depleted greatly due partly to timber logging for primarily furniture and building construction. Almost all the traditional tree species that are solely harvested for furniture production have grown extinct even in the forest reserves. The lesser used species that are in use as replacement are also gradually becoming scarce, its main source of supply to the timber markets being the ‘bush cut.’ Should there be an implementation of the outright ban on the illegal chain saw operation which unarguably, is behind the dominance of the ‘bush cut’ sources, on the timber markets, acquisition of wood would be very difficult to come by. It is anticipated that if the taste for bamboo and cane products is enhanced  and the manufacturing processes made very efficient, the demand for timber (exploitation and depletion) will decline and therefore the supply of timber would also see a corresponding decrease, a very good “omen” for the country to manage the forests at the socially “optimal” level of timber exploitation and trade. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the level of interest of residents of Accra and its environs in furniture products manufactured from local materials other than wood. Using the convenience sampling method 200 people were interviewed using questionnaires. The study revealed that even though the respondents were aware of the negative impacts of wooden furniture production on the environment, more especially on the natural high forest, it is not time yet to develop taste for furniture produced with the other alternative naturally occurring materials such as bamboo and cane. Keywords : traditional tree species, dominance, manufacturing, environment, Rattan, Bamboo