| 1. |
- Aminu Sanda, Mohammed, et al.
(author)
-
Lean instrumentation framework for sensor pruning and optimization in condition monitoring
- 2011
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In: The Eighth International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Machinery Failure Prevention Technologies. - Longborough, Glos : Coxmoor Publishing Co.. - 9781618390141 ; , s. 202-215
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper discusses a lean instrumentation framework for guiding the introduction of the lean concept in condition monitoring in order to enhance the organizational capability (i.e. human, technical and management trichotomy) and reduce the complexity in the maintenance management systems of industrial companies. Additionally, decision-making, based on severity diagnosis and prognosis in condition monitoring, is a complex maintenance function which is based on large data-set of sensors measurements. Yet, the entirety of such decision-making is not dependent on only the sensors measurements, but also on other important indices, such as the human factors, organizational aspects and knowledge management. This is because, the ability to identify significant features from large amount of measured data is a major challenge for automated defect diagnosis, a situation that necessitate the need to identify signal transformations and features in new domains. The need for the lean instrumentation framework is justified by the desire to have a modern condition monitoring system with the capability of pruning to the optimal level the number of sensors required for efficient and effective serviceability of the maintenance process. It is concluded that there are methodologies that can be developed to enable more efficient condition monitoring systems, with benefits for many processes along the value chain.
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| 2. |
- Aryeetey, Majoreen, et al.
(author)
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Learning towards enabling work-family life balance for female professionals in Ghanaian organizations
- 2012
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In: Business and Management Quarterly Review. - 2180-2777. ; 2:4, s. 1-13
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to identify the challenges inhibiting professional female employees from maintaining good work-life balances, and also to develop a framework that organizations can use to understand such gender-oriented challenges towards the design of alternative work arrangements to enhance the retention of professional female employees. An exploratory approach was used with data collected through a survey. The study revealed that conflicts between work and non-work obligations, such as family responsibilities, are sources of stress which could motivate professional female employees to quit their jobs. Flextime, compressed workweeks and telecommuting were also identified as the most preferred types of alternative work arrangements. It is concluded that many professional female employees in Ghana have knowledge of work flexibility initiatives, such as alternative work arrangements, but these are not practiced effectively in their organisations. It is recommended that organizations adopt appropriate alternative work arrangements as a motivational tool to help retain their professional female employees, not only to improve the quality of their work-life balance, but also to enhance their productivity in their organizations.
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| 3. |
- Kilu, Rufai Haruna, et al.
(author)
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Examining Gender Equity Research in Ghanaian Mines: A Meta–Analytical Approach
- 2014
-
In: UGBS Conference on Business and Development 2014. - Accra : University of Ghana Business School (UGBS). - 9789988195618 - 9789988195649 ; , s. 264-271
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gender-oriented persons constitute majority of the Ghanaian population yet underrepresented in mining exploration, underground mining and mineral processing. In Ghana, the 2010 population and housing census figures on gender participation proportion in mining stood at 0.6% for females as compared to 2.0% for males. The purpose of this study is to create understanding on the politics of employing gender oriented persons in mine work, as well as identifying the organizational and socio-cultural challenges facing them. The study employed a meta-analysis technique for data collection. The results showed that some mining companies advertised their mining jobs openly expressing preferences for male employees due to general physical hardness of the conditions under which the mineworkers operate. In addition, the work demonstrates prevalence of organizational and socio-cultural barriers affecting effective participation of gender oriented persons in the mines. It is, therefore recommended the need to promote gender mainstreaming and gender equality as part of development strategies in Ghanaian mines, a situation that might enable gender oriented persons to earn a decent living from a decent workplace, allowing escape from poverty and improvement in their standard of living.
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| 4. |
- Sackey, Jocelyn, et al.
(author)
-
Human factors challenge in entrepreneurship development: an explorative study in a developing economy context
- 2013
-
In: Business and Management Quarterly Review. - 2180-2777. ; 4:1, s. 40-52
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explored the barriers to entrepreneurial development in Ghana with the aim of building a knowledge base for successful entrepreneurship development initiatives in a developing economy context. An exploratory approach was used with both retrospective and qualitative data collected through a survey. The results showed that the functionalities of the numerous schemes initiated to support individual entrepreneurs‟ growth were constrained due to the inherent constraints in the design of the guiding frameworks for such schemes. The study also showed that the several policies and structures initiated differently by various governments since Ghana's independence in March 1959 could not help enhance entrepreneurial development, because the entrepreneurial environment created for entrepreneurship development was not very friendly to the individual entrepreneurs, By implication, the study provides learning on the need to bridge the distance that exist between the designers/implementers of entrepreneurship development policies/frameworks and the individual entrepreneurs (humans).
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| 5. |
- Sackey, Jocelyn, et al.
(author)
-
Relational impact of job stress on gender based managerial effectiveness in Ghanaian organizations
- 2011
-
In: Proceedings of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. - 2010-376X .- 2070-3740. ; :60, s. 2074-2083
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explored the relationship between occupational stress and the perceived effectiveness of men and women managers in Ghanaian organizations. The exploration is underlined by attempt to understand the degree to which male and female managers in Ghanaian organizations experience occupational stress at the workplace. The purpose is to examine the sources and extents of occupational stress experienced by male and female managers in Ghana. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The results showed that female managers in Ghana are more likely to report of more stress experiences in the workplace than their male counterparts. The female managers are more likely to perceive role conflict and alienation as job stressors while the male managers perceived blocked career as a major source of workplace stress. It is concluded that despite the female managers experiencing enormous level of occupational stress, there was no significant differences between their managerial effectiveness and that of the male.
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| 6. |
- Sackey, Jocelyn, et al.
(author)
-
Social support as mental health improver for managerial women in the organizational work environment
- 2011
-
In: Business Intelligence Journal. - 1918-2325 .- 1918-2333. ; 4:2, s. 362-368
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study assessed the relationship between social support and mental health (depression, anxiety and somatic anxiety) relative to its impact on managerial women in Ghana. The objective is to seek answers to the question as to whether the availability of social support in the work environment can help improve the mental health of women. This is because the lack of spousal support for working women is found to have a direct connection to diminished mental health. The findings show that spousal support provided women with a sense of security and stability at home and also reduced their possibility of being confronted with role conflict. It is thus, concluded that the career progression of women managers can be greatly enhanced when they receive spousal support, encouragement and guidance in addition to those from superiors and co-workers.
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| 7. |
- Sackey, Jocelyn, et al.
(author)
-
Sustenance of human capital: Social support as a managerial stress reliever for women in developing economies
- 2011
-
In: Research and Practice in Human Resource Management. - 0218-5180. ; 19:2, s. 1-23
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although women managers in Ghana represent a unique set of human capital, the adverse consequences of job stressors on their performances make their sustenance in organisations a key human resource challenge. Similar to many developing countries, the gender orientation of managerial employees in Ghana has changed in the last two decades with many women breaking through the hierarchical glass ceilings to occupy management positions in their organisations. This category of women employees, who also retain their sociocultural roles as wives and mothers, represents a unique set of sustainable human capital that needs to be socially supported in their organisations. The dual roles played by these women managers generate added stress to their organisational performances with detrimental consequences, not only to their physical and mental well-being, but also to their sustenance as resourceful human capital. This added stress to the work of managerial women in the organisation represents a human resources management problem for which the appropriate support coping mechanism must be found. This problem was explored by examining the relationship between the job characteristics symptoms of stress and the moderating effects of social support among managerial women in some organisations in Ghana. The findings of this study indicate that the exposure of managerial women to many job stressors have harmful effect on their health and impact negatively on their productivity. The stresses of the managerial women was reduced and their career progressions enhanced by the supportive relationship that existed between them and their superiors.
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| 8. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
-
Activities enhancing the productiveness of maintenance process for high technology equipment in deep mines
- 2011
-
In: MPMM 2011: Maintenance Performance Measurement & Management. - Luleå : Luleå tekniska universitet. - 9789174393798 ; , s. 213-218
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to find out whether in the course of task performances, miners engage in activities influenced by their tacit knowledge to enhance the quality of the maintenance process for high technology equipment in deep mines. Guided by an organizational activity theoretical framework, data was collected by observing and interviewing four different mineworkers engaged in rock drilling and roof bolting activities in an underground mine. An interpretive descriptive analysis was conducted to understand the mineworkers activities when engaged with their work. It is found that the miners use their acquired experiences to find ways of maintaining and managing the machines they use for optimum work performance. It is concluded that an employee’s tacit knowledge, when made visible, can help determine the horizon of possible actions that can influence either positively or otherwise on the maintenance process.
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| 9. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
-
Conceptualization of actors’ emerging-object-of-activities as hidden exploitative resource for managing organizational change
- 2011
-
In: Global Journal of Strategies and Governance. - 1923-6042. ; 2:1, s. 31-41
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper discusses the concept of an “actor’s emerging-object-of-activity” and its potential use towards increased understanding and learning of the complexity of organizational change management in organizations. The argument that organizations, as activity systems, offers managers of organizational change an antidote to simplistic interpretations of the nature of individual knowledge and action, and organizational cultures and competencies was critically appraised. Paths for understanding the hidden challenges posed by actors’ emerging objects of activities” in the management of new organizational practices are hypothesized. It is concluded that by recognizing the importance of human interpretive activity to organizational change, the role of organizational influences in conditioning such interpretive activity will be understood and managed.
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| 10. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Conceptualization of the attractive work environment and organizational activity for humans in future deep mines
- 2011
-
In: International Journal of Human and Social Sciences. - 1307-8046. ; 5:2, s. 256-262
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize a future-oriented human work environment and organizational activity in deep mines that entails a vision of good and safe workplace. Future-oriented technological challenges and mental images required for modern work organization design were appraised. It is argued that an intelligent-deep-mine covering the entire value chain, including environmental issues and with work organization that supports good working and social conditions towards increased human productivity could be designed. With such intelligent system and work organization in place, the mining industry could be seen as a place where cooperation, skills development and gender equality are key components. By this perspective, both the youth and women might view mining activity as an attractive job and the work environment as a safe, and this could go a long way in breaking the unequal gender balance that exists in most mines today.
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| 11. |
- Sanda, Mohammed Aminu
(author)
-
Dictating Impact of Systemic (Trans)formations on Management Re-engineering in R&D Firms
- 2014
-
In: World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology: International Journal of Social, Human Science and Engineering. - : Science Press. - 1307-6892. ; 8:1, s. 203-214
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper examines challenges to the implementation and internalization of benchmarked management practices by research organizations in developing economies as transformative tools towards commercialization. The purpose is to understand the contributing influence of internal organizational factors from both situational and historical perspectives towards the practice implementation constraints, and also to provide theoretical understanding on how systemic formations and transformations in the organizations’ activities influenced the level to which their desired needs are attained. The results showed that the variability in the outcomes of the organizations’ transformation processes was indicative of their (in)ability to deal with the impacts of cumulated tensions in the systemic interfaces of their organizational activity systems. It is concluded that the functionalities of the systemic interfaces influence the functionality of the organizational activity system.
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| 12. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
-
Dynamics of organizational change and employee identity retention in R&D organizations
- 2011
-
In: International Journal of Information, Business and Management. - 2076-9202 .- 2218-046X. ; 3:1, s. 22-38
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to understand the dynamics of employee identity retention and its impact on organizational change in a Research and Development organization. The role played by social embeddedness in enhancing employees’ retention of self-identities and shaping their attitudes in resisting an orientation shift of organizational values and norms from that of civil services to distorting new public management orientation was assessed. The findings showed that the employees’ resistance was influenced by their personal core values which were distrustful towards the organizations change process. Senior staff members were reluctant to forego their independence of working as individuals by adopting a teamwork culture. It is concluded that as a result of the employees holding tight to their self-identities and failing to relate to new organizational norms, the production that emerged from the commercialisation process was not in consonance to the organization’s transformation needs.
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| 13. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Enhancing social collaboration between humans and technology in the digitization of deep mining activity
- 2011
-
In: Proceedings. - : International society for cultural and activity research. ; , s. 106-108
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper discuses the use of organizational activity theory to address concerns on the best way to digitized human work that can lead to the creation of a harmony between the human, technical and the social system, towards increased productivity in the deep mine industry. The aim is to develop the requisite knowledge on the use of social networking technologies (new communication models) to design highly digitised work activity in which open collaboration can be enhanced between the human and the technological functions of the work that will make cross value chain optimisation a reality. Data is collected using observation and video-recording of miners’ activities, as well as recorded interviews techniques. The systemic-structural activity theory (Bedny and Karwowski, 2007), which focus on both the sociocultural approach to activity study and the individual-psychological approaches to activity study, which are basic to the study of human work is used. The main unit of analysis is the mine production activity. The sub-unit of analysis is carried out at two levels. These are the “object oriented” activity level, and the “subject-oriented” activity level. The object-oriented activity is analyzed from the perspectives of individual miners using technological tools (highly mechanized equipments) in breaking the rocks (material objects). The subject-oriented activity is also analyzed from the perspectives of the individual miner and his subjective interaction with the communication models and the technological tools as social objects. It is argued that since organizations possess technologies for accomplishing work, organizational activity then emphasizes a work system design in which technology affects social relations in organizations by structuring collaborative processes which are important components of an organization. It is then concluded that the systemic-structural activity theory can help understand how to optimize a work system’s design, such as the digitized mine activity, in terms of its sociotechnical system characteristics.
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| 14. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
How is the Firm Dealing with the Merger? A Study of Employee Satisfaction with the Change Process
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Management and Strategy. - : Sciedu Press. - 1923-3965 .- 1923-3973. ; 2:2, s. 28-37
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to understand the degree to which employees’ satisfaction with merger-inducedorganizational changes impact on their productivity and the merged-firm performance. This is because, the introductionof market-driven business reforms in many developing economies has seen the emergence of growth-drivers that includesthe search for new markets, increasing competition in local markets, new investors’ interest in emerging markets, andhence the desire for firms to merge. The results showed that human resource issues are important aspects of mergerswhich, if it is not well handled, may impact negatively on employee satisfaction with consequent repercussions onproductivity and the success of the merger. It is concluded that employee satisfaction to a merger-induced organizationalchanges could be enhanced by instituting effective two way communication system and using participatory approachesin job redesign processes. By implication, merger-induced change has human factor challenges that merging firms needto understand.
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| 15. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
-
Impact of value-based transformational leadership in privatizing government institutions in a developing economy: a case study
- 2010
-
In: Business and Management Quarterly Review. - 2180-2777. ; 1:3, s. 1-13
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to explore the kind of leadership that could infect positive changes in the work environments of government research organizations undergoing privatization in most developing countries in order to enhance the commercialisation of their production activities. An interpretive analytic framework was used as an appropriate platform to build a qualitative design. Qualitative data was collected through taped-recorded interviews with seventeen senior staff members identified as key actors in the organization's privatization processes, and analysed using an interpretive description qualitative approach. The results showed that the organization's managers used charismatic and values-based leadership approaches during the transition period of commercialisation process and was viewed by their subordinates as leaders who were true to their own values and who also went on to help those they led to articulate what they valued. It was concluded that an amalgamation of transformational and value-based styles of leadership approach could be used by managers of government agencies in most developing countries to infect positive changes in their work environments when managing the privatization of their organizations. The study has shown that value-based transformational leadership could be used by managers of challenged government research and development organizations in most developed countries to infect positive changes in their work environments and which could help facilitate their efforts towards the privatization of their organizations' activities.
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| 16. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Innovation and knowledge creation in the integration of technological, organizational and human systems
- 2010
-
In: Fiscar conference proceedings. - Helsink : School of art and Design, Aalto University. - 9789526000213 ; , s. 186-187
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This paper explores the thinking that since a production system consists of technical components, information, materials and humans, then by looking at the design and creativity in the work activities of mining firms, spaces for innovation and knowledge-creation can be identified that can result in a holistic perspectives on the operation, maintenance, engineering and control of components of the system, that is, mine of the future (Abrahamsson & Johansson, 2008). This is because world's metal mining industry is currently challenged with the prevailing thinking that by replacing humans with machines at all levels in the value chain, a rapid increase of automation and integration of various processes and unit operations can occur, and which by implication can enhance the firm becoming economic viable and competitive. The main objective of this study is to develop the requisite knowledge that allows for the instilling of open collaboration between functions and new communication models in the workforce through the widespread use of social networking technologies in the production systems that will make cross value chain optimisation a reality. Analysis of contradictions (Engeström, 2001) is used to identify the key systemic components of the organization's activity systems for which possible conflicts and troubles can emerge in the technological, organizational and human systems integration processes. In this analysis, the objective for the integration process is appraised against the emerged objectives of actors who carry out the required practices. In this appraisal, methods for creating awareness and insight in an organizational resistance (Abrahamsson, 2009) are used to stimulate creativity and innovativeness in the companies' organizational processes. Two levels of activity (i.e. object-oriented and subject-oriented) are analysed by considering who is engaged in that activity, what their intentions, goals and motives are, and what type of activity they are involved in. Object-oriented activity is analysed from the perspective of a subject using tools on a material object, where the subject of activity is the individual or group of individuals engaged in that activity. Subject-oriented activity (i.e. social interaction) is analysed from the perspective of two or more subjects involvement in an activity constituted through information exchange, personal interactions and mutual understanding. Thus in the analysis of object-oriented activity, inter-subjective relationships are considered, since the object-oriented and subject-oriented aspects of activity continuously transform into one another during task performance (Bedny & Karwowski, 2004).It is argued that by taking a holistic view of the system's functions, production systems can be designed to create harmony between the technical and the social system. It is argued that such design system cannot be conceived as adaptable to humans, but rather to regard humans as resources and/or possibilities of designing better systems (intelligent automation). The understanding here being that a production system must be seen to consists of humans/people and technology (i.e. it must be seen to consist of production processes, infrastructure and flows of digital signals, information, material, energy, products as well as human work and learning). It is therefore concluded that a holistic knowledge (i.e. design) of intelligent production systems entailing the integration between technical, organizational and human systems, as well as deep specialized knowledge in each area can be developed and implemented. The base of such design should also be the acquisition by industries of new mental images of their personal-selves based on new technologies and modern work organizations that support both high productivity and good working conditions. References1. Abrahamsson, L. (2009). Some short texts on mining, production systems and human work science ... Working Paper. Dept. of Human Work Sciences, LTU.2. Abrahamsson, L. & Johansson, J. (2008). Future Mining - Workers' Skills, Identity and Gender When Meeting Changing Technology. Proceedings, First International Future Mining Conference Sydney, NSW, 19 - 21 November 2008: p 213 - 220.3. Bedny, G. Z., & Karwowski, W. (2004). Activity theory as a basis for the study of work, Ergonomics, 47(2), 134-153.4. Engeström, Y. (2001). Expansive learning at work: Toward an activity theoretical reconceptualization. Journal of Education and Work, 14(1), 133-156.5. Jarzabkowski, P. (2003). Strategy as social practice: An activity theory perspective on continuity and change. Journal of Management Studies, 40(1), 23-55.
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| 17. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
-
Leadership and ‘tipping’ in workplace transformation: a critical review
- 2011
-
In: International Journal of Business and Social Science. - 2219-1933 .- 2219-6021. ; 2:5, s. 18-22
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this is to critically appraise the idea of the “tipping point” from the perspectives of leadership in workplace transformation. It is argued that the desirability of any workplace transformations requires that we clearly understand the nature of the expected changes and the relationship between leadership and change. It is also argued that the sustenance of the regressive character of such transformation might be attributed to its “tipping” in the negative sense in contrast to Gladwell’s positive prescription of the “tipping point” in workplace transformation. It is concluded that the “tipping point” in workplace transformation should be a reflection of the performance indices based on the set objectives for the changes and the timescales and output measures ascribed to them.
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| 18. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Leadership in influencing and managing change in Ghanaian non-bank firms
- 2011
-
In: International Journal of Business Administration. - : Sciedu Press. - 1923-4007 .- 1923-4015. ; 2:2, s. 3-13
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to determine the factors driving changes in the Ghanaian non-bank financial institutions and the roles of leaders in influencing organizational changes in Ghanaian non-bank financial institutions. The findings indicated that leaders are expected to create shared vision, put in place a plan, set strategy and deploy appropriate leadership styles that will inspire confidence in the workforce necessary to achieve set goals. It was found that leaders are not involving their workforce in the decision making process and their contributions were not valued as well. It is concluded that in order to achieve the full benefits of change, leaders create a shared vision and provide the strategies that will achieve results and at the same time galvanize the energies of the workforce towards a common goal.
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| 19. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
-
Managerial self-efficacy and discretionary behavior improving work environment for small firm performance
- 2011
-
In: Information Management and Business Review. - : AMH International Conferences and Seminars Organizing LLC. - 2220-3796. ; 2:6, s. 259-266
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explores the self-efficacies and discretionary behaviours exhibited by managers of small Ghanaian firms with the purpose of understanding how the interplay of these two attributes impacted on employee motivation and performances. The selection of participants was guided by the snowballing technique. Data was collected by distributing self-completion questionnaires entailing managerial self-efficacy and discretionary behavior items to 100 study participants who were managers of small firms in two Ghanaian metropolises. The collected data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the statistical package for the Social Sciences software. The results show that the managers had strong senses of affective attachment to their firms due to the use of their self-efficacies to generate dynamic influences on their firms’ performances. They also exhibit discretionary behaviours that motivate their employees to work together to achieve organizational goals. The study concludes that the absence of interplay between the managers’ self-efficacies and their discretionary behaviours constrains the efficient and effective performances of their firms.
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| 20. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Miners’ tacit knowledge : a unique resource for developing human-oriented lean mining culture in deep mines
- 2011
-
In: 2011 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM). - : IEEE Communications Society. - 9781457707407 - 9781457707384 ; , s. 299-404
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This research explored the significance of retaining aspects of traditional mining culture attributes as value-adding waste in the introduction of lean mining. The purpose was to understand the influences that aspects of human practices derived from miners’ tacit knowledge, and reinforced by traditional mining culture, could have in the molding of a lean culture to facilitate the introduction and sustenance of the lean mining philosophy. Historical and actual data were collected and analyzed by viewing mine culture as attributes, such as values, beliefs, schemas, and implicit theories commonly held among the mine workforce. It is concluded that since the knowledge-oriented human-added value held by individual miners is most commonly transferred through personal experience, such knowledge could be extracted to enhance the development of a human-oriented leaner mining culture to encapsulate the existing lean mining philosophy
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| 21. |
- Sanda, Mohammed Aminu
(author)
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Modeling Managerial Competences for Effective Small Firm Performance in a Developing Economy
- 2014
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In: World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Science Index 89, International Journal of Social, Management, Economics and Business Engineering. - 1307-6892. ; 8:5, s. 1584-1591
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper explores competencies that managers of small firms in Ghana use to enhance operational flexibility towards the attainment of higher productivity. This is because the requisite competence required of such managers to be effective performers continues to be a challenge. Data was collected from managers of three hundred small firms using a standardized self-completion questionnaire and analyzed using the Amos-based structural equation model approach. Findings from factor and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the only competence exhibited by managers toward effective performance is realistic practices evident at the workplace. It is concluded that a manager’s self-confidence andinvolvement in areas that he/she is good at, and his/her possession of skills that enables performance at high capacity are indications of the manger’s effectiveness. The study outcome provides a knowledge base helpful to policy-makers, especially in Ghana, in determining the requisite managerial competences required by small firm managers for effective performance.
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| 22. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Problem-identification workshop as a future-oriented macroergonomic tool for managing the work environment
- 2010
-
In: Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE IEEM. - Piscataway, NJ : IEEE Communications Society. - 9781424485024 - 9781424485024 ; , s. 492-496
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper looks at the challenges that most organizations face in the management of their work environments, with respect to the tools that they can use to effectively capture both the explicit and tacit knowledge held by their employees for subsequent reuse when decisions need to be made. The problem-identification workshop, which is a macroergonomic tool for enhancing the management of work environment in an organization, was tested in an organization. Participants identified organizational problems, proposed solutions to them, realistically assessed the desirability and possibility of these solutions, and finally recommended action plans to the organization for its shortterm, intermediate and long-term design and management of effective work environment towards enhancing work life and productivity in the organization. It was concluded that problem-identification workshop is a good socio-pedagogic method that can be used as an intelligent participatory intervention tool by managers in organizations in the management of their work environments.Keywords - Work environment, problem-identification workshop, participatory ergonomics, acroergonomic tool
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| 23. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Significance of dialectic tensions in transforming the activity systems of R&D organizations across cultures
- 2011
-
In: International Journal of Contemporary Business Studies. - 2156-7506. ; 2:1, s. 6-18
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Research and Development (R&D) Organizations in developing countries have sought to enhance their income generation capabilities by implementing best management practices collated from similar organizations in developed countries. Yet, the efforts of most were found to have been constrained. Using an organizational activity theory framework and a qualitative approach, based on interviews and workshops, an attempt is made to offer an understanding to this phenomenon. Historical analyses on the efforts of three R&D organizations in three countries are carried out from the perspectives of organizational climate and culture re-orientation in their activity systems. The outcome showed that the constraints are reflective of the organizations’ inabilities to identify and successfully manage new developments arising simultaneously in their activity systems during their best management practices implementation processes. Emergence of such new developments are a result of dialectic tension between the institutional and cultural elements in the management practices being implemented and those shaped by past history and engraved in the R&Ds organizational activity systems. By this understanding, effective strategies can be designed to facilitate the cross-cultural implementation of best management practices in R&D organizations.
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| 24. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Towards the integration of technological, organizational and human subsystems of organizations to enhance productivity
- 2011
-
In: 2011 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM). - Singapore : IEEE Communications Society. - 9781457707407 - 9781457707384 ; , s. 1628-1632
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper looks at the challenges that most organizations, especially in the mining industry, face in managing both technological and human activities along their value chains. The aim was to understand how the organization’s technological, organizational and human components could be integrated to enhance collaboration and productive efficiency. Guided by an organizational activity theory framework, qualitative data were collected through interviews in a mining firm. The analysis of contradictions showed that production work in the mine is challenged due to the lack of proper coordination in task executions, with workers constrained in their task undertakings and unable to reduce downtime. It was concluded that firms can use the framework as an effective instrument, not only for organizational activity and work environment analyses, but as a tool for learning how to understand and manage the systemic characteristics of the technological, organizational and human components of their organizational activity systems.
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| 25. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
-
Understanding social collaboration between actors and technology in an automated and digitised deep mining environment
- 2011
-
In: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 54:10, s. 904-916
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this article is to develop knowledge and learning on the best way to automate organizational activities in deep mines that could lead to the creation of harmony between the human, technical and the social system, towards increased productivity. The findings showed that though the introduction of high-level technological tools in the work environment disrupted the social relations developed over time amongst the employees in most situations, the technological tools themselves became substitute social collaborative partners to the employees. It is concluded that, in developing a digitised mining production system, knowledge of the social collaboration between the humans (miners) and the technology they use for their work must be developed. By implication, knowledge of the human’s subject-oriented and object-oriented activities should be considered as an important integral resource for developing a better technological, organisational and human interactive subsystem when designing the intelligent automation and digitisation systems for deep mines.
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| 26. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Understanding the dictating impact of systemic (trans)formations in organizational change outcomes
- 2011
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In: Proceedings ISCAR International Conference 2011. ; , s. 94-96
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper uses CHAT to examine and explain the varying outcomes of organizational transformation in four research and technology organizations in four developing countries. The purpose is to provide theoretical understanding on how systemic (trans)formations in the organizations’ activities influenced the level to which their desired needs are attained. The transformation process is underlined by the implementation of a best management practices model (Mengu and Grier, 1997). By implication, the organizations sought to use the model to replace their prevailed-object of activity (i.e., carrying out research under full government funding) with a new object of activity (i.e., to carry out commercial-oriented research activity under reduced government funding, but with the capability to self-generate income). After six years of organizational activity transformation in each of these organizations, their leaps towards the attainment of this new object measured differently and which phenomenon is studied. Data is collected from identifiable groups (agents) such as the management team and staff members by triggering the conflictual questioning of the existing standard practices in the organizations. Comprehensive reading of the internal and public discussion concerning the activities in the organizations are undertaken through participant on-site observations and discussions (interviews) with employees involved in specific activities or having expertise about it, and the conduction of problem-identification workshop (Junk and Mullert, 1987; Sanda, 2006). The historic developments (Engeström, 2001) associated with the transformation that occurred in the organizational activity systems of the four organizations is analyzed. The result shows that the dictating factor in the variable outcomes in the organizations’ transformation processes is the (in)ability to deal with the systemic interfaces in their organizational activity systems. The functionalities of these interfaces are found to influence the functionality of the organizational activity system and the corresponding output that emerges from it.
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| 27. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Unmasking the sociocultural constraints to career growth of married women in Ghanian organizations
- 2010
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In: Advancing Women in Leadership. - 1093-7099. ; 30:22, s. 1-19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the question of how culture and activity can be explored towards understanding the professional career development of married women and the relative constraints associated with such development in the Ghanaian environment. Guided by the cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) framework, data was collected from a sample of 141 married Ghanaian women professionals engaged in white collar jobs in the public and private institutions located in Accra. It is established that the acceptance by the Ghanaian traditional society of the married professional woman as a capable person who can equally perform in an organization and thus need to be trusted, supported and recognized is of relevance to her career development. This observation provides learning on the impact of the inflow of socio-cultural dynamics into a gender-oriented organizational life and the complexities that it generates in understanding the constraints to the professional career development of married women.
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| 28. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu
(author)
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Using activity analysis to identify individual and group behavioral constraints to organizational change management
- 2011
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In: Journal of Management and Sustainability. - : Canadian Center of Science and Education. - 1925-4725 .- 1925-4733. ; 1:1, s. 111-123
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article looks at the constraining influence of internal organizational factors on the management of organizational change. The purpose of the study was to determine the individual and group behavioral-induced situational problems, conflicts and tensions that change managers can identify and also use as innovative tools to enhance their capacity to manage organizational change. Individual and group behavioral factors that constrained the implementation and internalization of a best management practice model in an organization were examined. It is argued that in the organizational change process, the inability of change managers to simultaneously identify the development of situational problems, such as conflicts and tensions induced by individual and group basedbehaviours, and exploiting them as tools to enhance management innovation, is a significant constraint. It is concluded that; by continuously examining individual and group based mediated actions, managers can understand, identify, isolate and manage situational problems in future implementation and internalization of new practices models in their organizations
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| 29. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Using ATMs as Workload Relievers for Ghanaian Bank Tellers: The Customer Behavioral Challenge
- 2011
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In: Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies. - : AMH International Conferences and Seminars Organizing LLC. - 2220-6140. ; 3:1, s. 13-21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explored the issue of whether the use of the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) as a service delivery tool in the banking industry of many developing countries has achieved its intended objective of increasing the effectiveness of customer service provision and reducing the workload of bank tellers. The purpose is to understand customers’ behaviour towards the use of ATM as a banking service delivery tool, and the influence of such customer-usage behaviour on the banks’ human resource capacity building, in terms of employee workload relief and performance. This is because most banks in sub-Saharan African countries have introduced the ATM in bids to satisfying customers’ service needs and making the work of employees easier. Data was collected using questionnaires that were administered to bank customers who use the ATM facility, as well as bank managers. The findings showed that though most bank customers who use the ATM services perceive the ATM as a convenient, reliable, accurate and suitable service delivery tool for their banking transactions; they still underutilize the ATM’s service capacity by choosing to go to the banking halls to make cash withdrawals of amounts that could be obtained from the ATMs. It is also found that by virtue of this customer behaviour of not using the ATM’s to their full potential, the relief that it is expected to provide bank tellers is not realized. It is concluded that because of customer behavioral challenges to the effective utilization of the ATM technology, banks in developing economies not benefiting from its full potential as a customer service delivery tool, and also as a strategic workload reliever for tellers who service customers inside the banking halls.
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| 30. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Using PIW as a strategic participatory tool to capture implicit knowledge in organizations
- 2011
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In: Global Journal of Strategies and Governance. - 1923-6042. ; 2:2, s. 27-41
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper looks at the challenges that most organizations face in the management of their work environments, with respect to the tools that they can use to effectively capture both the explicit and tacit knowledge held by their employees for subsequent reuse when decisions need to be made. The problem-identification workshop (PIW), which is a participatory tool for enhancing the management of work environment in an organization, was tested in an organization. Participants identified organizational problems, proposed solutions to them, realistically assessed the desirability and possibility of these solutions, and finally recommended action plans to the organization for its short-term, intermediate and long-term design and management of effective work environment towards enhancing work life and productivity in the organization. It was concluded that PIW is a good socio-pedagogic method that can be used as an intelligent participatory intervention tool by managers in organizations in the management of their work environments.
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| 31. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Using systemic approach to identify performance enhancing strategies of rock drilling activity in deep mines
- 2012
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In: Advances in Cognitive Engineering and Neuroergonomics. - Boca Raton : CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. - 9781439870167 - 9781439870174 ; , s. 135-144
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper looked at the need for understanding the sociotechnical and psychosocial characteristics of rock drilling activity in deep mines that could lead to the harmonization of the human, technological, and organizational components of the work systems. The aim is to identify performance enhancing strategies that could be used to improve and optimize human-technology collaboration in rock drilling activity in deep mines. Guided by the systemic structural activity theory, data was collected by video recording two skilled miners engaged in two separate rock drilling activities using a high technology drilling machine at a Swedish underground mine. Using the systemic analytical approach, the data obtained were analyzed morphologically and functionally. In the morphological analysis, the constructive features of the rock drilling activity, entailing the logical and spatio-temporal organization of the cognitive behavioral actions and operations involved, were described. In describing the structure of the production drilling activity, the work process was subdivided into tasks. These tasks were analyzed individually in terms of the miners’ mental and motor actions and operations. In the functional analysis, the actions and operations entailed in the rock drilling activity were appraised qualitatively, using systemic principles to identify potential strategies of activity performance. Results from analysis of the miners’ motors actions during the rock drilling activity showed that by using implicit driven strategies, they were able to perform simultaneously two specific tasks that required high levels of concentration and visual control in the normal visual field available to them from inside the protective cabin of the high technology equipment they were using. One task involved the miners’ use of both hands to operate joysticks to control the movements of two robotic arm drills (boomers). The miners other task entailed the visual location of drilling spots on a computer generated drilling surface spots map, and then guiding the robotic arms to the corresponding drill spots marked on the rock surfaces on which the drilling occurs. It is also found that despite the high level of concentration required in performing these two simultaneous tasks, the miners use their implicit knowledge of the rocks and the characteristics of sounds produced by the engagement between the robotic arm drill and the rock surface to enhance their performances. They simultaneously combine their mental actions and motor actions in recognizing and remedying the constraining effects of unfamiliar stimuli during the rock drilling activity. It is concluded that the functional efficiency and effectiveness of rock drilling activity as well as the miner’s productive performance in future automated and digitized deep mines could be enhanced by identifying the implicit characteristics of their performance enhancing actions and operational strategies. Such implicit characteristics of action and operational strategies are used by miners to facilitate the simultaneous functioning of their motor and mental actions, and by implication, enhance their productiveness and task performances in the rock drilling activity in the deep mines. This understanding has future implications in designing a very efficient and effective human-technology collaboration in a highly digitized deep mine work system.
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| 32. |
- Sanda, Mohammed-Aminu, et al.
(author)
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Using systemic structural activity approach in identifying strategies enhancing human performance in mining production drilling activity
- 2014
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In: Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science. - 1463-922X .- 1464-536X. ; 15:3, s. 262-282
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article seeks to identify performance-enhancing strategies that could be used to improve and optimise human–technology collaboration in rock drilling ‘activity’ in deep mines. Results from the analysis of miners’ motor actions during rock drilling activity showed that by using procedurally driven strategies, they were able to perform simultaneously two specific tasks that required high levels of concentration and visual control in the normal visual field available to them from inside the protective cabin of the high-technology equipment they were using. The miners simultaneously combine their mental actions and motor actions in recognising and remedying the constraining effects of unfamiliar stimuli during the rock drilling task. It is concluded that the functional efficiency and effectiveness of rock drilling as well as the miner’s productive performance infuture automated and digitised deep mines could be enhanced by identifying the procedural characteristics of their performance-enhancing actions and operational strategies.
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