THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS: THE LINK BETWEEN MISSION STATEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

The strategic planning process requires development of a mission statement for the organization. The mission statement incorporates the organization’s purpose and vision for the future. A nineitem mission statement evaluation scale was developed to measure the completeness and quality of an organization’s mission statement. Further, the link between the completeness and quality of an organization’s mission statement and the organization’s financial performance was investigated. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between the completeness and quality of the mission statement and the organization’s financial performance. Strategic managers can expect that the result of improving their organization’s mission statement will be improved financial performance of the enterprise

BIM for deconstruction: an interpretive structural model of factors influencing implementation.

Transitioning from demolition to deconstruction practices for end-of-life performances is gaining increasing attention following the need for the construction industry to minimise construction and demolition waste. Building information modelling (BIM) presents an opportunity for sustainable deconstruction. However, the notion of BIM for deconstruction (BIMfD) is still in its infancy in the United Kingdom. Although a few studies on BIMfD are evident, a focus on identifying the underlying factors necessary for successful implementation of BIMfD is lacking. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyse the underlying factors necessary for BIMfD implementation in the UK construction industry. It employed a four-stage research design. The reviewed literature explored extant views on BIM implementation factors to identify an initial list of possible factors influencing BIMfD implementation. Subsequently, a mix of questionnaire, focus group discussions and structured interviews were employed at various stages to refine and contextualise 15 factors necessary for BIMfD implementation in the UK construction industry. The contextual interrelationships among the factors were evaluated using interpretive structured modelling (ISM). This evaluation culminated in a BIMfD implementation factor model. The findings identified BIMfD experts, responsiveness of business models to innovative practices and industry’s acceptance to embrace change as the principal factors influencing BIMfD implementation in the UK. The implications of the findings attest that BIMfD experts and advisors must champion the adoption and implementation of BIMfD in the UK and business models need to become more responsive to accommodate BIMfD innovative practices. A BIMfD framework was conceptualised. Even though the BIMfD framework was designed from the UK perspective, the global construction industry can leverage the outcomes of this study. This paper, therefore, brings to the fore, a hierarchical BIMfD implementation factor model to support improved deconstruction practices in the construction industry

Application of Aeromagnetics as a Basin Depth Discriminating Tool Prior to Seismic Exploration: A Case Study of Central Niger Delta, Nigeria

Eight aeromagnetic maps and high resolution softcopy aeromagnetic data of the same area with available drilled well depth data were used for subsurface depth investigatuion in the Central Niger Delta, Nigeria. The data was processed, filtered and transformed to other grids using either Oasis Montaj  and/or USGS potential field software with their associated extension  packages. Anomaly Separation, Spectral Analysis, Euler Deconvolution, Horizontal Gradient Magnitude were done using the relevant softwares.The results of  spectral analysis, euler deconvolution and horizontal gradient depth maps generated clearly indicates that the well bottom (well B) depth of 3.234km compared with the different thematic magnetic basement depth from spectral 4.2km, Euler 6.421km, and HGM 4.0kmis effective in basement depth discrimination. The result show a unique closeness in comaparism  between already drilled depth with interpreted magnetic depth results. This indicate that the method can be reliable as a basin depth determining tool in virgin  sedimentary basins prior to seismic exploratioin

Psychological Strategies for Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts among Administrators in Tertiary Institutions: A Case of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria

The study was aimed at studying the psychological strategies for resolving interpersonal conflict among administrators in Tertiary Institutions with Nnamdi Azikiwe University as the case study. Gaining an understanding of these strategies may assist administrators of educational programs in handling interpersonal conflicts in more constructive and helpful ways. It may also provide the basis for further development of formal theory and the potential for theory testing. The conflict resolution strategies scales inventory of Howart and London (1980) guided data collection. The sample comprised of 20 administrative officers and secretarial staff of NnamdiAzikiwe University Awka. The descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the opinion, while the inferential t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses. The respondents in their opinion confirmed the five strategies for resolving interpersonal conflict. Thus we conclude that conflict can be resolved using any of the psychological strategies. The researchers hence, recommend the use of the strategies by counsellors especially in group counselling processes. Keywords: Administrators; Institution; Interpersonal conflicts; Psychological strategies; Resolving

Selection of maize genotypes resistant to pink stem borer and sugarcane borer.

Maize is an important economic crop grown in Nigeria. Its production is dramatically affect by the pink stem borer—Sesamia calamistis (Hampson, Noctuidae) and sugarcane borer—Eldana saccharina (Walker, Pyralidae) that are endemic in Southeastern Nigeria. In areas of stress, existing genotypes may marginally do well due to their inherent capabilities. Therefore, it is possible to find useful genes in such areas of stress, since such genes have been responsible for the survival of host crops over the years. Evaluation study was conducted for a range of agronomic characteristics and resistance attributes for 209 local maize collections from Southeastern Nigeria along with three improved check varieties. Field trials were conducted at three locations in a total of four environments in 2001. Highly significant genotypic variances as were noted in all the traits, are indicative of the magnitude of variation that exists among the genotypes, thus providing the opportunity of selection for desirable traits. Furthermore, four traits, namely, leaf feeding, ear damage, stalk lodging and yield were used from across the environments to construct a rank summation index (RSI), which was used to rank the entries for resistance to stem borers. This RSI led to the identification of 11genotypes which represents the best 5% of the 212 genotypes in resistance ability. Genotype AMA TZBR-WC1 (from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan) had the best overall resistance levels, followed by genotypes SE NG-77 and SE NG-67 (from Umuahia North), SE NG-62 (from Ikwuano), SE NG-148 (from Ukwa West), SE NG-106 (from Bende), SE NG-119 (from Isiala Ngwa), SE NG-33 (from Ikwuano) and SE NG-65 (from Umuahia North)

Socio-economic determinants of cocoyam farmer’s strategies for climate change adaptation in Southeast Nigeria

The study assessed cocoyam farmers’ strategies for climate change adaptation in Southeast Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 384 respondents for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and interview schedule and analysed using mean, frequency count, percentages and multinomial logit regression analysis. Findings showed that respondents were mainly women (67%), married (92%) and between the ages of 41 and 60 (52%) with a mean household size of six (6) persons. Mean number of years spent in school was 10 years. The majority (40%) earned monthly income of ₦20,000 and below. The average farming experience was 21 years with mixed cropping (71%) as the major cropping system while combination of livestock and crop production (48%) was the major farming activity done. Farm size was mainly one hectare and below (64%) which was accessed mainly through inheritance (76%) and farm labour sourced through hired labour (50%). Major crops cultivated was cassava followed by maize and yam. Major adaptation strategies used by the cocoyam farmers in the study area included increased use of organic manure (42%), frequent weeding (10%), application of indigenous knowledge (20%), use of information from extension agents (16%), use of fallowing (9%) and application of multiple cropping (3%). Choice of adaptation strategies used by cocoyam farmers was influenced by age, gender, location of farmer, monthly income and labour. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that sex and location specific adaptation strategies that are within the financial status of the farmers should be emphasized

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Campylobacter jejuni and coli isolated from diarrheic and non-diarrheic goat faeces in Venda region, South Africa

A total of 200 freshly voided goat faeces samples were collected in the study and were examined for the presence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. The samples were obtained randomly from 2 farm settlements in Venda region, South Africa in 2008 to 2009. All samples were analyzed with the mCCDA media with Campylobacter supplement in microaerophilic condition provided by the Campygen gas envelope (Oxoid). Of the total 200 samples, the recovery rate was 29% (58 of 200) for all samples. Of the 200 samples, 155 (77.5%) were non-diarrheic and 45 (22.5%) were diarrheic faeces. From the 45 diarrheic faces, 41 (91.1%) were positive for campylobacters and of the 155 non-diarrheic faeces, 17 (11.1%) were positive for campylobacters. In all, 58 Campylobacter species comprising 33 (56.9%) Campylobacter jejuni and 8 (13.9%) Campylobacter coli strains were from diarrheic and 2 (3.4%) C. jejuni and 15 (25.9%) C. coli were from non-diarrheic faeces. There was no statistical correlation between the incidence of C. jejuni in diarrheic faeces and non-diarrheic faeces. Rate of resistance of C. jejuni and C. coli to six regularly used antibiotics in human and veterinary campylobacteriosis; ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid and erythromycin were 40.0, 47.1%, 57.1, 43.5%, 48.6, 56.5%, 42.9, 43.5%, 34.3, 34.5% and 14.3, 17.4%, respectively. In comparison, a significantly higher frequency of resistance to gentamycin was recorded among the C. jejuni and C. coli isolates (57.1 versus 43.5%) respectively, at p < 0.005 from goats in all farms. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and kanamycin was higher among the C. coli than C. jejuni strains but the difference was not statistically significant. Comparable occurrences of resistance were observed among C. jejuni and C. coli to erythromycin and nalidixic acid. High prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in goat could be of public health significance in the Venda region. The observed multi-drug resistance and especially resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in this study pose a threat of transfer of antibiotic resistance to human pathogens because of the close contact between goats and man.Key words: Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, microaerophilic, veterinary campylobacteriosis, fluoroquinolones, Venda regio

Investigating Government Sectoral Spending and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

This paper investigated the empirical relationship between government sectoral spending and economic growth in Nigeria following cointegration approach and ending with error correction framework. The result of the study confirms a longrun relationship between GDP and its explanatory variables which are government expenditures on Education, Health and Agriculture.  The explanatory variables conform to apriori expectation and were individually statistically significant in explaining changes in GDP. This implies that government expenditures on Education, Health, and Agriculture in Nigeria has been productive over the period covered.  Based on these findings, the study recommends among other things, that there is the need for improved and committed funding of the Educational, Health and Agricultural sectors for a more vibrant economy. Keywords: Government Expenditure, Stabilization and Economic Growt

Babel of Niger State

This paper is a preliminary report on an ongoing research being carried out in the Faculty of Languages and Communication Studies of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria. The research is on ‘Language education and translation in Niger State’. The languages involved in the research are: Arabic, English, French, Gbagyi, Hausa and Nupe. The aim of this research which is funded by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is ‘to help improve the outcome of language education and translation in Niger State in both quality and quantity’ As a preliminary inquiry, the research team visited 78 institutions of learning at all levels (primary, secondary and tertiary) in all the three geopolitical zones of Niger State, as well as media houses located in the capital, Minna, and obtained responses to the questionnaires they took to the institutions. While pursuing the aim and objectives of their main research, the team deemed it necessary to consider the position (and the plight) of the multiplicity of other languages of Niger State (than the three major ones – Gbagyi, Hausa and Nupe) in relation to Nigeria’s language policy in education. The team found that there are conflicting reports on these languages with regard to their exact number, their location, their status, and even their spelling. The team learned that there are at least 38 languages in Niger State, some of which have several dialects as well. This side-line research concluded, therefore, that it would be a tall order to insist on implementing certain aspects of the national language policy in education in respect of the users of these languages, some of whom do not even speak Hausa, the most widely spread of the three major indigenous languages in the State. This research recommended, therefore, that the Niger State Government should consider establishing a language policy, and drawing up a specific plan, that will enable it to implement relevant aspects of the national language policy in education.Key Words: Languages, Niger State, Language policy, Educatio