EMPLOYEES SUPPORT AS A DETERMINANT OF MERGER SUCCESS: EXPLORING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND ITS INTERVENTIONS DURING POST-MERGER INTEGRATION

Mergers is an extreme form of organizational change, which usually has an adverse impact on the merging organizations employees’ wellbeing. In literature it was argued that organizational integration after merger, which is referred to as Post-Merger Integration (PMI) is usually resisted by employees, which is considered as a major contributor to the high failure rates of mergers. It was further argued that employees’ resistance toward integration is attributed to stress, uncertainty, ambiguity and lack of clarity on the changes that merger and integration initiate. Therefore, PMI activities were assumed to psychologically traumatize employees and jeopardize their sense of belonging, attachment, commitment and identification to the new organization, which affects the performance of the new organization by driving negative employees’ workplace attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, the new organization should demonstrate it supportiveness and appreciation toward the employee’s to promote constructive behaviors and attitudes, by demonstrating the organizational support toward the employees which is investigated in this study under the notion of perceived organizational support, employees’ involvement in decision making. This study will build into the body of knowledge by answering the following research questions: What is the role of positive employees’ perception of change during post-merger integration in determining merger success? What is the role of corporate interventions in supporting constructive employees’ behavior during post-merger integration? What are the underpinning mechanisms that explain how organizational context and mindful interventions enhance the employees support for merger which in turn ensure the merger success? In the attempt to answer the latter research questions this study hypothesizes that employees perceived organizational support and involvement in decision making during post-merger integration contribute positively to the overall merger success by creating stronger identification and organizational trust to encourage favorable attitudes and behaviors in the workplace which support the new organization in reaching the intended objectives of merger. The hypothesized model was statistically a good fit for the collected data from the merger of the two biggest offshore oil companies in the emirate of Abu Dhabi during post-merger integration phase. Therefore, this research provided evident that the success of merger during integration is largely impacted by human management factors, rather than market and financial factors alone, as largely conceptualized in literature. Results from this study will be of a significant importance to companies embarking on major organizational changes and merger in particular in the Arabian Gulf region and the Middle East region in general. Similar studies to the context of this research are scarce in literature and to the best of the researcher knowledge this is the first study which have looked at the success of merger during post-merger integration from human management perspective in the oil and gas industry in the Arab World

Space Station Asgardia 2117: From Theoretical Science to a New Nation in Outer Space

Space Station Asgardia 2117: From Theoretical Science to a New Nation in Outer Spac

Association between Body Mass Index and Bone Mineral Density in Patients Referred for Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Scan in Ajman, UAE

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a good indicator for measurements of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) which measures the density of minerals present in the bones using a special scan. This study was conducted to assess the association between BMI and status of BMD among 101 individuals who underwent Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. 39 subjects had normal and 62 had low bone mineral density. BMD was low in 82.4% of people with normal BMI, 78.1% among overweight, and 44.2% among obese. There was a statistically significant association between these two variables (P < .001). Low BMD was recorded in 59.1% of females and 76.9% of males. Association between advancing age and lower BMI is an important risk factor in the occurrence of low BMD

As the Grapefruit Turns Sixty, It’s Time to Get Serious About Clean Up in Outer Space

The ability to physically interact with an on-orbit object is an idea that has been stymied by its great cost. Yet the rewards are incalculable. Autonomous on-orbit servicing (OOS) vehicles can potentially repair or salvage an ailing satellite or remove it from orbit. The former can help recoup the considerable investment that goes into the development and construction of a satellite, and the latter would reduce space debris. In short, the development of OOS should be promoted. This paper will explore the legal ramifications and complications of unmanned on-orbit servicing missions. After reviewing the international framework and the current state of the affairs, this paper suggests that States have an obligation to repair, salvage or cause to be de-orbited defunct space objects and proposes an organizational framework that will promote compliance with efforts to clean up the junkyard that surrounds our planet

Closer Together or Further Apart? Club Convergence in The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Countries

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the per capita income convergence of 57 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over the period 1990–2017 and to investigate the determinants of convergence club formations. Design/methodology/approach – The authors applied the methodology of Phillips and Sul (2007, 2009) to identify the convergence clubs and estimated several-ordered logit models to determine the key drivers. Findings – The results support existence of two convergence clubs and one diverging unit, indicating that 30 and 26 member countries form two separate groups converging to their own steady-state paths. They also suggest a significant productivity divergence between these clubs. The authors showed that the number of convergence clubs started to decline after the global financial crisis in 2008. Moreover, they found that fixed capital formation, education and political stability are key drivers of convergence club membership. Practical implications – There is a strong need for large-scale policy interventions to close the gap between leading and lagging clubs of the OIC. A substantial investment in human and physical capital seems necessary for lower-income OIC countries. Originality/value – This is the first empirical study on the existence of convergence clubs among member countries of the OIC

Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Following Scorpion Sting Envenomation; a Case Report and Review of Literature

Background: Scorpion sting envenomation generally causes treatable local and systemic effects; however, in rare cases, the victims might experience sequels in end organs such as central nervous system. In the present paper, a case of relatively self-limiting demyelinating polyneuropathy following a Butidae sting is presented and the possible mechanisms are discussed.  Case Presentation: A 19-year-old man presented to emergency department of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman with severe throbbing pain at the base of his right big toe after a scorpion sting. His initial examination revealed normal vital signs and the systemic examinations were unremarkable. Few minutes later, he developed profuse sweating, slurred speech, blurred vision, increased salivation and restlessness. Repetition of measurement of vital signs showed a blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg, heart rate of 140 beat per minute and a respiratory rate of 18 per minute. The patients received scorpion antivenom and cholinergic hyperactivity manifestations. Shortly after, the patient developed involuntary jerky movements in both lower associated with fasciculation. Nerve conduction study was suggestive of demyelinating polyneuropathy. In later days, involuntary jerky movements of lower limbs improved gradually but fasciculation remained. On a follow-up visit after four months, the patient still complained of occasional fasciculation. Discussion: One explanation for the development of peripheral nerves demyelination in our patient is the inflammatory response triggered by scorpion venom. In addition, this complication can be attributed to direct cytotoxic effects of scorpion venom toxins. Antimicrobial peptides in scorpion venoms are shown to be highly toxic to human cells, which in our case might have damaged the nerve sheet. Conclusion: Severe scorpion sting envenomation may lead to severe systemic effects and end organ damage. Medical toxicologists should be prepared to diagnose and treat such sequels