The Influence of Team Member Resources and Structure on Initial Emergency Response Performance of Fire Fighters in Malaysia

This study examines the determinants of initial emergency response performance among emergency response teams. Specifically, the present study examines the direct relationship between team member resources and team structure variables and initial emergency response performance among 126 firefighting teams employed by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM). This study also explored the role of cohesiveness as a moderator on the relationship between team structure variables and initial emergency response performance. Self-reported measures of team member resources, team structure, and cohesiveness were obtained from team members, while the initial emergency response performance was derived from the official record on emergency occurrence logged by each fire station. A number of different analyses were performed to analyze the data collected. Firstly, factor analysis revealed that personality variables loaded into two dimensions, labeled as emotional stability and extraversion, while leadership, roles, norms, and cohesiveness loaded into single dimensions respectively, and were labeled as leadership, roles, norms, and cohesiveness. Multiple regression and hierarchical multiple regressions were used to test the study hypotheses. In detecting interaction effects, significant beta coefficients and post hoc probing by split sample analysis ascertained the acceptance of interaction effects were used. The results provided general support for the hypotheses of the study, although there were some differences on the direction of relationships. Specifically, extraversion, age diversity, and leadership were significantly and positively related to initial emergency response performance, while weight, cardiovascular endurance, tenure diversity, and norms were significantly and negatively related to initial emergency response performance. Additionally, the results of hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that cohesiveness interacted with age diversity and tenure diversity in predicting the initial emergency response performance. The relationship between team member resources and team structure variables and initial emergency response performance suggests that it would be beneficial to the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM) to manage team dynamics as a measure to improve initial emergency response performance. Contributions, limitations, and implications are discussed

Managing fire safety among religious schools: Issues and policies

In recent years, there were several incidents of fire in religious schools among them were Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Attas, Sekolah Menengah Agama Sultan Zainal Abidin and Sekolah Menengah Agama Nurul Islam. A study conducted by the Ministry of Education has found there were outbreaks of fire in 22 primary and secondary schools as well as in institutions of higher learning for the year 1999 resulting in losses of RM 534,400. This study was carried out to identify fire safety conditions in among religious school hostels in Kedah. An audit approach as well as the use of questionnaire was adopted to collect primary data for the study. The audit results showed that the overall fire safety condition was at 63% compliance level. The audit results also revealed that there was significant difference among the religious; school hostels in term of fire safety compliance level. The items reported were portable fire extinguishers, fire hose reels and fire alarm system. The survey 'identified two important dimensions in the study to improve fire safety at religious school hostels in ranking order are (i) positive attitude towards fire safety and (ii) access to fire fighting

Stimulating Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) research for theory development: Exploration of leadership paradigms

This paper synthesizes major leadership paradigms for the purpose of identifying possible ways of influencing Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCBs) to improve the functioning of organizations.The leadership paradigms were extended to old and modern categories to provide for systematic understanding of their antecedents and potential influence patterns.The leadership approaches reported to have positive relationships with organizational citizenship behaviors include transformational leadership, charismatic leadership, and ethical leadership paradigms.We have found many modern leadership paradigms not to have been empirically investigated for possible relationships with OCB.This paper therefore discusses the dynamics and potentials for researches within the realms of the leadership paradigms and the OCB field

Expanding the Horizons of Supply Chain in Higher Education Institution: Resources and Expatriate Academics (EAs) Outcomes

The ultimate goal of any service industry is to provide quality services to its customers. Applying industry models of supply chain management in higher education institutions (HEIs), this study aims to examine the impact of various resources on expatriate academics outcomes. Internationalisation of higher education sector has created the need to recruit foreign faculty to become part of critical inputs in providing world-class education to students. In this regard, understanding the factors contribute to their effectiveness is imperative for continuous quality improvement. A survey-based quantitative research using a sample of 152 expatriate academics (EAs) employed in 20 Malaysian public universities revealed some important findings. Both the personal (cultural intelligence) and organizational resources (perceived organizational support) are found to be important determinants of EAs work engagement and psychological needs satisfaction which is important for quality service delivery. The findings of this study have made significant contribution to international human resource management practices and policy makers especially to Malaysian HEIs with regards to recruitment and retention of academic expatriates

Human factors influencing fire safety measures

In recent years, there were several incidents of fire in secondary schools in Malaysia. A study conducted by the Ministry of Education has found that there were outbreaks of fire in 22 primary and secondary schools and in institutions of higher learning for the year 1999 resulting in losses of RM 534,400.This study was carried out to identify fire safety conditions in residential colleges in a local Malaysian university.An audit approach as well as the use of questionnaire was adopted to collect primary data for the study. The audit results show that the overall fire safety condition was at 76 percent compliance level. The survey results showed that only predisposing factors such as knowledge, attitude and belief have a positive relationship with the fire safety behavior and lifestyle ( p , 0.5).The survey identified six important elements for fire safety and in ranking order they are: belief in the importance of fire safety, perception on the need for immediate response to fire incidence, knowledge in fire safety, attitude of occupants, social influence, and feedback on fire safety issues

VALIDATION OF SAFETY CLIMATE FACTORS: A FIRST LOOK AMONG NURSES IN NIGERIA

Purpose – The primary aim of this paper is to validate safety climate factors (management commitment to safety, safety training, safety rules and procedures, safety communication and workers’ involvement in safety) among nurses in select Nigerian healthcare facilities. Design/methodology/approach – A survey of 149 nurses of primary and secondary healthcare facilities in South-south Nigeria was carried out with the use of self-reported measures to obtain data on safety climate factors. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used in ascertaining the validity of the factors in study. Findings – In the present study, it was found that the reliability and validity of the factors were significant notwithstanding that this is a first long among the respondents of the study. Research limitations/implications – Generalizing the findings of this study may be limited to the location from which the respondents are drawn. Also, the present study validated existing safety climate factors, hence did not permit a correlational, causal or longitudinal inferences. Practical Implications – The study highlights some of the most important safety climate factors needed that could determine attendant safety-related behaviours in the healthcare setting. Originality/value – Existing literature indicates the absence of safety climate research in the Nigerian healthcare industry and especially among nurses. Also, as nurses are routinely exposed to occupational hazards and attendant accidents and injuries, this study brings to light the most critical safety climate factors that should be worthy of note in possibly ensuring the safety and health of nurses in the Nigerian healthcare system. Keywords Nigeria, safety climate, nurses, healthcare Paper type Research pape

Adaptive performance on military assignment effectiveness among leaders deputed on United Nations missions

The establishment of United Nation Security Council has witnessed the increase in international peace keeping missions to maintain peace and security among conflicting countries.In the modern peace keeping missions, adaptive performance has been identified as a critical dimension of job performance for military leaders. Military leaders not only working in new cultural environment, but also will be interacting with locals with different cultural values and expectations.Thus, this conceptual paper focus on the cross cultural competences as the determinant of adaptive performance among military leaders on peace keeping missions.Approach: The literature was explored to acknowledge the accessible relationships among cross cultural competence (Culture intelligence, Emotional intelligence, Social intelligence and language proficiency) and adaptive performance among military leaders deputed on United Nations peace keeping missions. Conclusions: This conceptual paper provides an updated review of the literature on cross culture competences and adaptive performance. The practical implications as well as academic contributions were also presented

The effect of international human resource management practices on military assignment effectiveness among leaders deputed on United Nations missions

Human resource management practices HRMP is an important issue related to the performance.The importance of HRM primarily stems from the fact that selecting the right leaders, modern training, and high motivation can facilitate environmental adaptation, thus improving adaptive performance. Researchers focus on strategies for the implementation of international HRMP, including the selection of leaders of peacekeeping forces, training and reward & compensation.Moreover the top four HRMP include efficient recruitment and selection of leaders, contingency and reward systems, training and development, and performance management.Empirical studies also, indicate a strong and positive association between HRMP and performance.Lastly previous studies reveal that efficient implementation of HRMP enhance performance at an individual level (adaptive performance).Approach: The literature was explored to acknowledge the accessible relationships among Human resource management and adaptive performance among military leaders deputed on United Nations peace keeping missions. Conclusions: This conceptual paper provides an updated review of the literature on Human resource management practices and adaptive performance.The practical implications as well as academic contributions were also presented

Impacts of job demands on nurses' performance working in public hospitals

Job demands refers to the degree to which the working environment contains stimuli that require some effort, which suggests that job demands may lead to negative consequences if they require additional effort to achieve work goals.The aim of the study is to analysis the impacts of job demands on nurses’ performance working in public hospitals.In order to achieve the study objective, a survey conducted.Questionnaires distributed to the public sector hospital’s manager in Saudi Arabia.The findings of the study turn out to be true; the study will contribute to both theory and practice.Through the present study, the researcher expects the findings to shed light on the research conducted regression to analysis the impacts of job demands on nurses’ performance

The Effect of International Human Resource Management Practices on Military Assignment Effectiveness among Leaders Deputed on United Nations Missions

Human resource management practices HRMP is an important issue related to the performance. The importance of HRM primarily stems from the fact that selecting the right leaders, modern training, and high motivation can facilitate environmental adaptation, thus improving adaptive performance. Researchers focus on strategies for the implementation of international HRMP, including the selection of leaders of peacekeeping forces, training and reward & compensation. Moreover the top four HRMP include efficient recruitment and selection of leaders, contingency and reward systems, training and development, and performance management. Empirical studies also, indicate a strong and positive association between HRMP and performance. Lastly previous studies reveal that efficient implementation of HRMP enhance performance at an individual level (adaptive performance). Approach: The literature was explored to acknowledge the accessible relationships among Human resource management and adaptive performance among military leaders deputed on United Nations peace keeping missions. Conclusions: This conceptual paper provides an updated review of the literature on Human resource management practices and adaptive performance. The practical implications as well as academic contributions were also presented. Keywords: Human resource management, selection and recruitment, training, reward &compensation and Adaptive Performance