Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction of Employees in the Construction Supply Chain in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Job satisfaction has received immense attention in organizational research. It is proven as one of the key factors that contribute to productivity. The focus of this study was to examine factors affecting job satisfaction of employees in the local building construction industry in Ghana. Quantitative survey based research approach was used in the study. One hundred and fifty eight (158) employees working in selected construction organisations in the Ashanti Region of Ghana were involved in the study. Primary data was collected through questionnaire instrument and analysed using descriptive statistical tool with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. The findings indicated that non-wage based factors such as recognition, task itself, work environment, supervision and job security appeared to influence job satisfaction than wage paid to the employees in the construction sector. Managers in construction supply chain should make policies and incorporate factors that allow employees to achieve their high-order individual goals in job design to secure employee’s loyalty and improve productivity. Keywords: Construction Supply Chain, Job Satisfaction, Employees, Building Industry, Ghan

Managing Supply Chain Risks: A Perspective of Exportable Pineapple Fresh Fruits in Ghana

Businesses operate in environments that are full of dynamism and uncertainties. These uncertainties constitute risks in the business operations. In the context of pineapple production, risk is inevitably, an integral part of the supply chain and comes in various forms. The principle of risks management recognizes the fact that risks are potential source of threat that undermines corporate strategy. Therefore, the need for systematic and proactive measures to deal with risk is paramount and should not be left to chance. This study assesses the overall supply chain network of selected organisations, identifies the risks inherent along its supply chain, analyses the risks and categorises them  according to their level of impact on the company’s operations   and develops mitigation strategies to dealing with them. Primary data was used for the study through questionnaire instrument. Pareto analytical model with Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) framework was adopted in analyzing the data. The results revealed that lack of good planting materials, timely availability of skilled labours, electricity fluctuation, ineffective pre-cooling and cold chain facilities were the major risks facing most pineapple supply chain in Ghana. The need to develop in-vitro planting facilities, staff development and continuous improvement program through modernization and re-tooling is recommended. Keywords: Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Risk, Pineapple Supply Chain, Exportable, Fresh Fruit

Achieving Quality Education in Ghana: The Spotlight on Primary Education within the Kumasi Metropolis

Background: Ghana being a member of the United Nations, committed to the Universal Primary Education initiative in 2000 and has since implemented series of educational reforms to meet the target for the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2. Despite the numerous government interventions to achieve the MDG 2, many children in Ghana have been denied Quality Primary Education by the state. This has resulted in mass illiteracy among children of Primary School age, unacceptable BECE examination results and overwhelming increase in anti-social behaviour nationwide. With the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches, data was collected through the use of questionnaire and rigorous interview. Sample consisted of 8 Head Teachers, 80 Class Teachers and 40 Pupils from four Primary Schools in Kumasi and it's environ.Most respondents expressed the lack of teaching and learning materials, especially textbooks, workbooks and supplementary readers as setbacks for Quality Primary Education.Head Teachers, Teachers and Pupils of Primary Schools argued that textbooks and supplementary readers are the only tools available for most Ghanaian children to acquire knowledge and skills, absence or limited textbooks and supplementary readers in the primary school  will affect the educational foundation of school pupils. Keywords: Primary Education, Education, Quality, Textbooks, Supplementary Reader

Moderating effect of supply chain complexity in governance mechanisms and operational performance relationship : evidence from a sub-Saharan African market

This study draws on the tenets of transaction cost economics to examine the moderating effect of supply chain complexity on the relationship between formal control and social control mechanisms, and operational performance. The study argues that under conditions of increased supply chain complexity, the effect of formal control mechanism on operational performance is weakened while the effect of social control mechanism on operational performance is strengthened. These propositions are tested on a sample of 331 firms in a sub-Saharan Africa market, Ghana. Findings from the study show that at higher levels of supply chain complexity, formal control and social control have negative and positive effects on operational performance, respectively. These findings provide nuanced perspectives on how the performance consequences of formal and social controls vary under the same organizational circumstance. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rajm202022-12-15hj2021Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS

How interfirm governance mechanisms and capabilities determine supply chain responsiveness in small businesses : evidence from an African market

This paper examines whether supply chain capabilities (i.e., collaboration and coordination) mediate the relationships between interfirm governance mechanisms (i.e., formal control and social control) and supply chain responsiveness in the context of small businesses. Using survey data from 331 small businesses in Ghana, we find that interfirm governance mechanisms are not directly related to supply chain responsiveness. Additional results show that interfirm governance mechanisms have positive indirect relationships, via supply chain capabilities, with supply chain responsiveness. Overall, this paper offers an improved understanding of how interfirm governance mechanisms might contribute to supply chain responsiveness in small businesses.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rajm202022-12-11hj2021Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS

Does purchasing recognition help or hinder purchasing quality performance in developing market SMEs? Effects of resource conditions

Prior studies contend that top managers’ ability to harness purchasing recognition to enhance purchasing quality performance is crucial for boosting competitive advantage. However, there are doubts about the universal benefits of purchasing recognition, particularly in developing market small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This research uses upper echelons theory (UET) to move the literature forward by suggesting that the purchasing recognition-purchasing quality performance link depends on varying conditions of financial resource and environmental munificence. Consistent with the study hypotheses, survey data from one hundred and thirty-eight SMEs in Ghana indicates that financial resource and environmental munificence positively moderate the relationship between purchasing recognition and purchasing quality performance. In particular, the study results show that, under low and high conditions of financial resource and environmental munificence, the link between purchasing recognition and purchasing quality performance is significantly negative and positive, respectively. Theoretical and practical implications alongside the limitations of the results are discussed.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/pursup2023-08-02hj2022Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS