614 research outputs found
Pore-scale analyses of heterogeneity and representative elementary volume for unconventional shale rocks using statistical tools
We express our appreciations to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Nigeria (PTDF), for funding this work.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Simulation of pore-scale flow using finite element-methods
I present a new finite element (FE) simulation method to simulate pore-scale
flow. Within the pore-space, I solve a simplified form of the incompressible
Navier-Stoke’s equation, yielding the velocity field in a two-step solution
approach. First, Poisson’s equation is solved with homogeneous boundary
conditions, and then the pore pressure is computed and the velocity field
obtained for no slip conditions at the grain boundaries. From the computed
velocity field I estimate the effective permeability of porous media samples
characterized by thin section micrographs, micro-CT scans and synthetically
generated grain packings. This two-step process is much simpler than solving
the full Navier Stokes equation and therefore provides the opportunity to
study pore geometries with hundreds of thousands of pores in a computationally
more cost effective manner than solving the full Navier-Stoke’s equation.
My numerical model is verified with an analytical solution and validated on
samples whose permeabilities and porosities had been measured in laboratory
experiments (Akanji and Matthai, 2010). Comparisons were also made with
Stokes solver, published experimental, approximate and exact permeability
data. Starting with a numerically constructed synthetic grain packings, I also
investigated the extent to which the details of pore micro-structure affect the
hydraulic permeability (Garcia et al., 2009). I then estimate the hydraulic
anisotropy of unconsolidated granular packings.
With the future aim to simulate multiphase flow within the pore-space, I also compute the radii and derive capillary pressure from the Young-Laplace
equation (Akanji and Matthai,2010
Data Analysis and Neuro-Fuzzy Technique for EOR Screening : Application in Angolan Oilfields
This study is sponsored by the Angolan National Oil Company (Sonangol EP) and the authors are grateful for their support and the permission to use the data and publish this manuscriptPeer reviewedPublisher PD
A pressure-projection pre-conditioning multi-fractional-step method for Navier-Stokes Flow in Porous Media
Open Access via the Elsevier AgreementPeer reviewe
The Bleak Nature Of Hrm Practices In Organisational Management Of Casual Labour Employments
The purpose of this study is to investigate the morbid use of numerical labour flexibility with a specific focus on
casual labour employment. Scholarly enquiries into labour casualization have often been assessed from a labourmarket flexibility perspective and/or managerial control of labour. In contrast, this research attempts to add to
literature by unveiling the experiences facing these organisational cohort from narrative accounts of employees. In
doing so, 20 interviews were conducted with casual staffs employed as security guards, cleaners and shelve
stackers at one of the Shoprite supermarket subsidiary operating in Nigeria. The findings exposed ebbing HR
practices regulating working conditions of these set of workers based on the low skill nature of their job roles.
Consequently, practical implications of the study proposes demands for HR managers to reconceptualise HRM
best practices that would accommodate and support casual labourers based on the rising need for firms to remain flexible in response to changing market vagaries
An Organisational Study on the Effects of Intrinsic Customer Service Demands: A Perspective from Emotional Labour Theory
The purpose of this research is to examine employees’ views on adverse
consequences caused by strict compliance to display rules of intrinsic labour demands as
against its appropriate necessities within a call centre context. Using an interpretative
phenomenological methodology for the study analysis, 25 semi-structured interviews were
conducted with telephone agents working in a call centre outlet in Lagos state, Nigeria. Based on
the emotional labour theory, enquires were made about general outcomes experienced from
conforming to organisational rules of emotional management during customer service
encounters. Findings confirmed that the adversarial impact of affective conformity tends to
threaten the positive intentions of these mandatory components of service work. Thus, a
proposed theoretical model emerged from the study’s interpretive accounts Based on these
significant research findings, detailed practical implications were discussed on ways in which call
centre businesses operating in a non-Western context can extenuate poor affective deliveries
arising from mismanagement of emotional labour
A case analysis on the adequacy of work-life balance practices in UK small-and medium-sized enterprises
The purpose of this study is to examine whether work-life balance (WLB) practices are satisfactorily provided in UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the impact of the availability of these work-life policies on turnover intentions. A review of extant literature reveals scarce knowledge in this area of research and this study presents a rudimentary effort to fill this gap.Research Design & Methods: Using qualitative design, the data set comprised of in-depth interviews with thirty-six employees working in small and medium-sized UK convenience stores and supermarkets with less than ninety employees.Findings: Informal nature of human resource management policies emerged from the findings as one of the constraining forces impeding work-life agendas in SMEs and causing low staff retention in UK. Although other themes were found to contribute to retention challenges, however, these additional reasons were not independent, but all considered integrated.Implications & Recommendations: Consequently, the practical implication of devising ways to overcome WLB and retention deficiencies in this context were also explored.Contribution & Value Added: The originality of this work lies in studying the importance of WLB practices to some of these grass root businesses that make up a large proportion of the economy in the UK. As the limitation of this study is that it is wholly qualitative in nature, it is suggested that future research should rely on quantitative designs that provides more internally valid tests via computational techniques
Occupational Stress: A Review on Conceptualisations, Causes and Cure.
Given the complex nature of the concept - occupational stress (also known as work or job stress), it
appears a daunting task reaching a unified definition of work stress because of the acknowledged fact
that a singular approach may not be able to encompass the breadth of the phenomenon. To this end, the
purpose of this paper is to provide a general review of some of the challenges surrounding the
conceptuality of occupational stress in literature. Subsequently, the established knowledge regarding the
nature and causes of occupational stress were examined in light of the conceptual typology of Murphy
(1995) and Michie (2002) that portrays various sources of workplace stress which has been categorized
as emanating from the context and content of work. These stress sources are consequentially known to
produce dire organisational and extra-organisational outcomes such as low morale, poor performance,
career uncertainty, absenteeism, health problems, work-life conflict, turnover and other reverses that
undermine competitive objectives of business. As solutions, stress curative measures are discussed to
assist managers to understand the significance of providing effective stress management interventions
that can enhance employee well-being and organisational productivity
Realities of work life balance in Nigeria: perceptions of role conflict and coping beliefs
The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of Work-Life
Balance (WLB) practices in a developing nation of Nigeria. Evidently, on the
threshold of widened globalization propensities, work-life research is beginning
to spread outside the western context. Thus, a qualitative approach was employed
by conducting 61 in-depth interviews with Nigerian employees (41 women and 20
men) working in frontline employments in the banking, telecommunications and
insurance sectors about their perceptions of WLB. The findings showed that though
conflict situations existed more than work-family enrichment, but under different
circumstances due to the long legacy of national challenges facing Nigeria. The
apparent role conflicts have generated various coping strategies adapted by participants of study to moderate their perceived work-life conflict and this paper seeks
to add to the compendium of WLB discourse on a global scale by examining key
barriers detected to hinder its workable practices in Nigeria
An exploratory study of work-life balance in Nigeria: Employees’ perspectives of coping with the role conflicts
Using a phenomenological methodology, the purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of work-life conflicts (WLC) in Nigeria. Evidently, work-life research is a social concept originating from the western societies but over the years, advanced management and business studies are beginning to emerge showcasing the relevance, significance and challenges of Work-Life Balance (WLB) practices in developing nations. Against this backdrop, 51 in-depth interviews were conducted with employees working in the Nigerian service industry (ie banks, call center, hotel services and insurance firms) about their cultural perceptions and knowledge of work-life balance. Study findings manifested views alleging the prominence of role conflict situations rather than desired expectations of available social incentives for appropriate management of employees’ work and family affairs. This were attributed to the adverse macro environmental conditions entrenched in so many social-economic upheavals found to be plaguing Nigeria as a whole. Thus, the antecedents of these national issues have necessitated personal coping strategies utilized by participants of current study as moderating buffers against role imbalances encountered. Thus, this paper provides a preliminary study that provides an academic platform for further research into circumstances instigating role conflicts in African societies by presenting major impediments detected to hinder workable WLB practices in Nigeria
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