The evolving nature of work in the Agri-foodstuffs Sector. The impact of Precision Agriculture and the necessity of acquiring new skills through Lifelong Learning

Tο άρθρο επικεντρώνεται στην αναγκαιότητα απόκτησης συνδυασµού «κάθετων» και «οριζόντιων» δεξιοτήτων, απαραίτητων για τα θέµατα της νέας οργάνωσης παραγωγής και εργασίας στον αγροδιατροφικό κλάδο, ώστε να διασφαλίζεται η επιτυχηµένη σύµπραξη του ανθρώπινου δυναµικού µε τις εξελισσόµενες νέες τεχνολογικές εφαρµογές. Η εργασία στοχεύει, µέσω της διαδικασίας διεξαγωγής εµπειρικής έρευνας οµάδων εστίασης (focus groups), να εξετάσει και να εντοπίσει τα τις ευκαιρίες και τις αδυναµίες των νέων δεξιοτήτων σε σχέση µε τις νέες τεχνολογίες στο ευρύτερο πλαίσιο της αγοράς εργασίας του αγροδιατροφικού κλάδου και κατά πόσο αυτές οι δεξιότητες είναι εφικτό να αναπτυχθούν µέσω προγραµµάτων ∆ια Βίου Μάθησης.The article focuses on the necessity of acquiring a combination of “vertical” and “horizontal” skills, which are of vital importance in the new production management processes and work in the Agri-foodstuffs sector, so as to ensure an efficient relationship between the human resources and the current technological applications. The aim of this paper is to research and pinpoint the opportunities and weaknesses of the required new skills in relation to new technologies in the wider context of the agrifood labour market, and to which extent these skills can feasibly be developed through Lifelong Learning Educational Programmes. The research method of this paper is a qualitative “focus groups” interview method

Rewards for Rehabilitation and Special Education Staff and Their Importance in Employee Motivation

This study examined the rewards for 21 (3 males and 18 females) Greek employees, from different specialties who work with people with special needs either in two rehabilitation centers, a public (n= 9) and a private (n= 5), and or in different public school structures (n=7). For the purpose of this study, three focus groups were set up to determine employees’ perceptions and feelings about rewards and their importance in motivating staff. The conceptual research framework was based on the Total Rewards Model of Towers Perrin. From the focus groups we drew conclusions regarding the rewards that were applied and identified those that were important for motivation. Without exception, all the participants were primarily intrinsically motivated. The findings support the notion that the rewards connected to work environment and learning and development were the most important for their motivation, while the rewards connected to pay and benefits did not seem of great importance for their motivation. The Total Rewards Framework proved to be appropriate and useful in understanding the perspectives of rehabilitation and special education staff on rewards. The usefulness of the results lies in the holistic study of the rewards, which can provide feedback for employers, trade unions, and lifelong learning. The study can, also, provide a perspective for future research into the long-term exploitation of the total rewards model