The impact of Organizational Health and Safety Guidelines on Workers Performance. A Case Study of Dow Chemical Company, Dubai UAE

ABSTRACT

This research determined the impact of safety culture on individual workers performance, as an alternative to improving organizational performance and staying afloat, the ever-changing market. The study established if any relationship exists between organizational health and safety and workers’ performance and how this could have been a result of gap in health safety guidelines and relating it with workers performance. Deducing the real impact of organizational health and safety guidelines on workers performance, was then sought through identifying employee training skill gap in the Human Resource Department (HRD), and management’s commitment to workers’ safety in winning hearts. If this would in turn increases their performance, because good safety performance would reduce accident rate and (uninsured) costs.

Keywords— Organizational health and safety, workers’ performance

4th Industrial Revolution: Challenges and Opportunities

ABSTRACT

The world is moving towards a new development era where digital, biological, and physical technologies are driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution and they have achieved an extraordinary development in their respective fields. This paper thus aimed to discuss the 4th industrial revolution, the technological drivers of this revolution, the challenges, and opportunities they bring along and how the organizations around the world are responding to them in terms of technology, firm innovation and creativity. The study applied an ethnographic approach and collected data through contextual interviews. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with three participants of Middle East Propulsion Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The collected data was categorized under four themes and later analysed using NVivo. The study findings revealed that there is awareness on the Fourth Industrial Revolution but not to an extent to fully make use of the endless opportunities that it brings along. Apart from opportunities the organizations must face the challenges and obstacles that come in during its implementation such as security and privacy, skilled workforce, and financial investments. The study concluded that the companies must come up with potential solutions to overcome the hurdles and barriers by devising strategies which are long and short-term both along with specific training programs aimed to acquire the required workforce needed in the implementation of Industry 4.0.

Keywords Industry 4.0, cybersecurity, privacy, technological drivers, challenges, and opportunities

The Impact of Pandemic Protocol on Work Performance of Emergency Medical Technicians: The case of National Ambulance, Fujairah, UAE

ABSTRACT

The pandemic protocols implemented in medical institutions made varied changes in healthcare services experienced by emergency medical technicians, particularly in National Ambulance, Fujairah, UAE, in aiding patients who need medical assistance. This comprises emergency response protocols, patient care protocols, and employee shifting, and workplace interaction. The survey was analyzed quantitatively, while the interview required qualitative analysis. The level of work performance of the EMTs before the pandemic (x=4.19) is slightly higher than their performance during the pandemic (x=4.09); there is a significant difference between the work performance of the participants before and during the pandemic (p-value=0.005). The participants’ changes observed relative to health protocols during a pandemic do not show a significant difference when grouped demographic profiles.

Keywords— Pandemic Protocol, Emergency Medical Technicians

A Systematic Exploration of the Relationship between Cryptocurrency and Cybercrime – An Assessment of the Implications and Issues of Anonymity

ABSTRACT

Cryptocurrencies establish a lot of chances for offenses like money laundering. Cryptocurrencies are not under the control of any government institution. They permit users to anonymously exchange commodities, and they effortlessly transverse frontiers through the Internet. Each of these attributes makes it hard for individual countries to manage cryptocurrencies in seclusion. This research investigates how cryptocurrencies have become a tool and a target for cybercrime. The paper will explores that a relationship exists between cybercrime and cryptocurrencies. Today, cybercrime poses a substantial threat to the global community. It may exploit the CI (Critical Infrastructures) structures that are largely interlinked. Despite the increased interconnectivity enabling easier and more effective communication, it has created vulnerabilities that were not in existence a decade ago. However, not having a standardized definition has made it increasingly complex to establish a policy that will permit more effective interagency cooperation and robust regulations concerning cybercrime. Cybercrime thrives on internet’s anonymity with the utilization of certain browsers, for instance, the Onion Router, to gain access to data that cannot be searched within the daily search engines. The proliferation of cybercrime is based on the heightened utilization of peer-to-peer decentralized cryptocurrency. The study utilizes both secondary and primary data gathered to demonstrate whether a relationship exists between cryptocurrency and cybercrime based on the aspect of anonymity that characterizes cryptocurrency. This systematic study aims to determine whether the aspect of anonymity in cryptocurrencies encourages people online to use it as a tool or target for cybercrime. The sample for the study will be broad to allow for a wide scope of information. The participants will encompass participants from companies that have been victims of cybercrime due to cryptocurrencies (10). 60 – 80 participants that are specialized experts in the internet and technology field, and criminologists that have to solve some of these reported crimes. Cyber criminals behind bars, preferably 20 to 30 respondents. Lastly, the researcher recruited 300 students from the university without a specification on discipline to participate in the survey. Participation in the study will be completely voluntary. The researcher anticipates a 85% response rate to meet the required sample size for the study to draw significant conclusions on the issue. However, a pilot study was deemed necessary before the main study to pre-test the research tools questionnaire and sub structured interview guide. The pilot study encompassed a sample of 20 respondents who will also take part in the main study. Ethical considerations will be observed in the study to increase the validity and reliability of the survey.
Keywords— Cryptocurrency, cybercrime, anonymity, technology

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Emotional Intelligence in the Oil and Gas Industry

ABSTRACT

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to a collection of skills that deal with emotions and emotional data. Organizational scholars have paid close attention to EI, and research has explained its meaning and illuminated its importance in organizations. The author defines EI and explain the abilities that make it up in this article. The researchers compared and contrasted two methods to calculating EI: performance-based and self-report. The validity generalization, situation-specific, and moderator models are used to organize the results of how EI is related to work requirements. The support for the latter two models implies that, in order to adequately understand how EI applies to requirements, the organizational background and employee dispositions should be considered. The author recognizes controversies in this field, explains how findings solve some of them, and suggest future research to address the others. Finally, the researcher offers some recommendations for future research on the role of EI in organizations.

Challenges Faced in Recruitment Within the Education sector of the UAE

ABSTRACT

The study explains the current requirements to become an educator in the UAE. The teachers in UAE are required to have a Bachelors in Education along with minimum experience in their respective field. Along with that their qualification degree must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UAE, the country’s embassy in UAE, and international cooperation. Teachers are also required to provide criminal clearance from their home country. One of the key requirements introduced by the Ministry of Education is the Teachers Licensing System. All teachers in UAE are required to be registered under the TLS system. This study focuses on the challenges faced in the recruitment of the right educator within the Education Sector of the UAE. The challenges are divided into 5 areas/aspects. The first area is the challenges faced while recruiting in the Education sector in the area of planning and budgeting. The second area covered is challenges faced in terms of position description (required qualifications and skills). The third area focuses on challenges arising due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth area covered challenges in hiring a fresh graduate in the education industry and the last area covered challenges arising due to cultural adjustments while recruiting in the education industry. The researcher used quantitative research for this study. The survey was sent to around 30 participants who are involved in recruitment within the education sector. The results were analyzed using an excel sheet. The researcher used a frequency table to analyze the degree to which a particular challenge is faced by the recruiters of the education industry. The significant findings made was that the hiring managers of today are facing key challenges concerning increased qualification requirements and lower budgets. One of the important challenges faced is to hire from abroad. The survey suggested that cultural adjustment is a big aspect of recruitment that often goes unnoticed.

Exploration of the Socioeconomic Challenges, Incremental Technological/Digital impact and Critical Incidents Influencing the Lottery Gambling and Gaming industry― An Empirical Perception of Casino Owners, Employees and Guests Betting Habit in Premier Lotto, Plc Nigeria

ABSTRACT

In the present exploratory mixed research study conducted in the locality of Surulere LGA, Lagos state metropolis, Nigeria, the socioeconomic challenges, critical incidents and technological factors influencing gambling participation and prevalence were studied. In the separate quantitative cross-sectional survey, 160 questionnaires were administered to respondents sampled randomly in a population composed of gambling participants and guests. 126 questionnaires were successfully filled and collected (response rate 78.75%). Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the data collected and socio-econometric analysis using a formulated predictive binary logistic model to assess the likelihood of gambling participation (a dichotomous outcome variable) using seven different socio-economic predictors (age, marital status, education level, and income level). The predictive analysis was statistically significant, X2(7) = 35.792, p˂0.05 and the model explained 36.8 percent (Nagelkerke R2) of the variance in gambling participation and correctly classified 84.9 percent of cases. Accounting for the good fit of this model, the Hosmer & Lemeshow test the null hypothesis and revealed that the model fits (X2(7) = 7.824, p>0.05) perfectly with the observed data group membership. Four variables (age, marital status, education level, income level, and distance to gambling outlet) contributed to the test significance. The predictive model revealed that males (Exp(B)=1.620) are likely to participate in gambling and gaming activities than their female counterpart; those that have low level of education (Exp(B)=8.344) are more likely to engage in gambling and gaming activities than those with advanced level of education. The model supported the fact that those earning and surviving on lower income (Exp(B)= 9.521) are more likely to gamble than those on higher paycheck as established in other studies. The socioeconomic impact assessment of gambling participation and prevalence in the study area revealed that of the 95 respondents who claimed to have been gambling in the past 12 months, 31% were at high risk of problem gambling as they scored above 7 gambling severity index (GSI) score, 57% were moderate risk (3-7 GSI score point) while 12% were at low risk of problem gambling as they scored below 3 points on GSI score card. Technology advancements and digital media were found to have improved customer’s gambling experience
Exploration of the Gambling Industry in Nigeria
in the country while the industry have benefitted from same in improving gambling business operations. Gambling business activities and the industry operations have contributed to socioeconomic development breathing new hope into people as well as assisting the government in reducing employment rate through creation of jobs.

Research Issues within Contemporary Management

Introduction

Management research is an indispensable part of the strategies applied to implement policies geared towards addressing pertinent issues in society which helps to solve business problems and add to management knowledge. Therefore, research mainly focuses on identifying gaps in a market and exploring possible solutions. As the philosophy and marketing techniques and methods in other fields cannot find applicability in the healthcare services, healthcare needs their own approach and implement certain features that are not found in other industries. The current report was aimed at applying management research principles to address post pandemic marketing challenges and strategies in healthcare industry in UAE. The report first conceptualized the management research process and how it could be applied to the current problem and suggested a responsive research process which may result in a potential solution for the problem. During this period, the researcher was looking to highlight the challenges, strategies and actions required to be implemented in the organization.

Financial Risk Management in SMEs in Dubai a study on a contracting company based in Dubai

ABSTRACT

The topic of management of financial perils and risk for small & medium enterprises (SMEs) was largely limited in the business literature. This research aimed to study the present state of management of financial management in Dubai’s small & medium enterprises. In the commercial and economic development, expansion, and growth of Dubai, small & medium enterprises (SMEs) are key. Nevertheless, only in a risk-free operating environment can this be possible. This study looks at the relation between Dubai’s financial risk and SME sustainability. A series of risks are facing SMEs which require objective and conscious efforts to manage risks. A financial risk management evaluation of an organization was developed, resulting from an analysis of the semi-structured questionnaire survey, which was assisted by a research interview. SME entrepreneurs were recommended to treat management of risk as an integral segment of corporate governance. Regulators should also focus on minimum standards for SME corporate governance.
Keywords— Financial Risk Management, SME, contracting company

Disruptive consumption patterns revolutionizing online and contactless food deliveries mechanism amidst covid-19 virus.

An empirical study examining food portal efficiencies in fine dining restaurants in the United Arab Emirates.

ABSTRACT

The devastating impact of the pandemic on the foodservice industry, especially fine dining, has left outlets to succumb, with no hope of reopening again, and those few with a will to survive are doing whatever it takes to bring their products to home-bound consumers. This study examines the efficiencies of variables that shape online food portals and delivery mechanisms adopted by fine dining restaurants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which formerly relied upon experiences offered in-house, but due to the nature of this highly contagious virus, restrictions and guidelines imposed by the UAE government, the fine dining restaurants are forced to shift their products and services online and home deliveries. Driven by technology and the internet, the key enablers of the strategic transition to online ordering and home deliveries include food quality, home delivery efficiencies, and value creation. By means of surveys on 51 respondents and interviews of 4 fine dining restaurants, the paper outlines the limitations and challenges of online food portals. It studies the effects of lack of ‘personalization’ in consumer dining experiences and UAE consumers are given an opportunity to voice their perception of the value of online fine dining products and services. Findings expose the substantial optimistic correlation between the quality of food and home delivery efficiencies in addition to a considerable positive relationship revealed between value creation and customer satisfaction. Moreover, these significant affirmative relations were shown to drive revenue, generate profits, and promote growth of the fine dining online and home delivery division. Overall, the study provides fine dining restaurants in UAE useful comprehensions for running an online food ordering system effectively amidst and post-pandemic. The study proposes a well-strategized hybrid model and can fully cater to and satisfy both online and offline consumers as the culture of virtual shopping and experiences will not vanish even after the virus has been successfully conquered.

Keywords— the pandemic, fine dining, food quality, home delivery, value creation, online portals