International Journal of Academic Research in Management

Number 3, 2013

12
Gap Analysis of Employee-Organization Congruence Factors: Perspective of Factory employees in Sri Lankan Apparel Sector

Authors: Perera Gamage Dinoka Nimali , Khatibi Ali , Navarathna Nimal , Karuthan Chinna

Abstract

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Number of views: 604

This article presents a gap analysis of the employee-organization congruence (EOC) factors in the Sri Lankan Apparel Sector from the perspectives of factory employees. This study seeks to assess the gap of EOC factors based on an organizational culture profile instrument to measure five constructs: innovation, supportiveness, team orientation, outcome orientation and rewards. After conducting a pilot study, the instrument was administered to 322 factory workers who were selected based on the random sampling method in seventeen apparel firms. The analysis started with a descriptive analysis followed by factor and reliability analyses. Paired sample T-test and non parametric test were used for analyzing the gap in employee-organization congruence factors. The study revealed that overall, all congruence factors are incongruent (negative) and the gap is between .6 to .8.

15
Philosophy and Content of the Global Program "Seven Summits" in Tourism Education of Kazakhstan

Authors: V.N.Vukolov

Abstract

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Number of views: 597

Nowadays it can be considered that the initial phase of tourism industry development in the Republic of Kazakhstan is already over. Even permanent skeptics have no doubts about necessary development of this important segment of economy and the social sphere. Therefore, it is time to move from unreasonable attempts to earn (who can) money for arranging travel to the creation of methodologically and theoretically meaningful tourism industry. The main part of this comprehending process is training the specialists in tourism industry at management level, carried out at universities. Under the methodological ground of the process we understand the bearing on philosophical laws and principles which define the positive component of tourist activity. In our opinion, the leading philosophical law of this activity is the law of the unity and struggle of opposites. It is believed that in tourist activity there are three major players (participants): tourist (client); tour operator (author of tourist programs), travel agent (seller of tourist programs). They are all united in tourist activity, but in practical purpose they are opposite. Therefore, the research process of tourist activity (based on the philosophical law of unity and struggle of opposites) should focus on the following issues: a) to identify the contents of the most attractive tourist and social impact of tourism programs, b) to formulate the content of the basic training of tour operators and travel agents so that they can satisfy positive desire of tourists in socially effective way, realize their business goals and eliminate the contradictions between the participants of the tourist activity. Methodological basis of the content of training the future managers of tourism enterprises should be real (as far as possible complex) tourist programs. Transcontinental tourist multipurpose trip can be used as such a program. During the last seven years the global tourist program "Seven Summits" has been used as a methodological basic in training students on «Tourism» specialty.

16
The Art of Singing from the Same Song Sheet During Changes; Some Empirical Evidence of a Real Live Project

Authors: J R Marriott , A J Du Plessis , D Nielson , S Sukumaran

Abstract

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Number of views: 594

The need of organisations to find better returns and greater utilisation through capacity management is a constant and all pervasive aspect of contemporary management. All organisations are finding that management of its assets, in all forms, is becoming an imperative that is changing the focus of all who manage and work within the organisation. The reality of this is often a shock and becomes a change process of ensuring that all concerned share the same vision, the same direction and understand the vital aspects of the performance measures that are now being utilised. This paper utilises a metaphor of a choir that must sing in harmony and concert otherwise the resulting disharmony will lose the business competition and the choir will be forced to disband. Just as a financial institution will look for the best return from its investment portfolio, a project management organisation was researched as a case study; the paper demonstrates the combination of two fields of financial management study (project management and change management) create a useful tool for gaining the support of fellow managers, and workers from different levels, and functions of the business and from various divisions to achieve the desired improvement in return of investment of assets used by the organisation.