Rosemond Boohene, Regina Appiah Gyimah and Martin Boakye Osei
Lack of extant studies on the moderating role of emotional intelligence on the relationship between social capital and firm performance necessitated this study. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Lack of extant studies on the moderating role of emotional intelligence on the relationship between social capital and firm performance necessitated this study. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between social capital and small and medium-scaled enterprises’ (SMEs’) performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 1,532 SMEs were selected through simple random sampling technique from a population of 5,009 SMEs. Structural equation modelling using AMOS was used to analyse the relationship between the variables.
Findings
The results revealed that social capital has a positive and significant relationship with emotional intelligence. Moreover, the study also showed that emotional intelligence has a positive and significant relationship with SME performance. Finally, the study found that emotional intelligence enhances the relationship between social capital and SME performance.
Practical implications
SME owner/managers are advised to enact policies that encourage the establishment of meaningful social networks and also help employees understand their emotions while creating social capital as both would help improve the performance of their firms.
Originality/value
This paper breaks new ground by identifying emotional intelligence as an enabler of SMEs performance where there is adequate social capital.
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Ebenezer Afum, Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah, Charles Baah, Innocent Senyo Kwasi Acquah and Martin Boakye Osei
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct and mediation effects of small- and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) ecopreneurship posture (EP), green inbound practices…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct and mediation effects of small- and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) ecopreneurship posture (EP), green inbound practices (GIP), green production practices (GPP), green outbound practices (GOP), community-based performance (CBP) and green competitiveness (GC).
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical data for the study were garnered by utilizing questionnaire from Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs. Structural equation modeling, specifically partial least squares is applied to test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
The findings suggest that SMEs' EP, GIP and GPP have significant positive effects on CBP and GC. However, while GOP has a significant effect on GC, it has no significant effect on CBP. Moreover, the mediation result demonstrates that while GIP and GPP significantly mediates the relationship between SMEs' EP and CBP, GOP does not provide any mediation mechanism through which SMEs' EP influence CBP. The result further confirms the mediation roles of GIP, GPP and GOP between SMEs' EP and GC.
Originality/value
This research offers novel empirical evidence by exploring the mediation roles of GIP, GPP and GOP between EP, CBP and GC through the lenses of the natural resource-based view and stakeholder theoretical perspectives.
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Benedict Osei Asibey, Augustina Boakye Dankwah and Seth Agyemang
The purpose of this paper was to examine rural women’s perceived quality of antenatal care (ANC) and its influence on the extent of ANC in the Amansie Central District in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to examine rural women’s perceived quality of antenatal care (ANC) and its influence on the extent of ANC in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 120 women attending postnatal care at selected public health facilities. Structured interviews were used to obtain data. Crude odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was generated to determine the odds of women’s utilisation of ANC with their perceived service quality. The association between women’s background characteristics and ANC use was determined and assessed using Pearson’s χ2 (2) test.
Findings
Majority of the women (58.3 percent) utilised ANC for at least four times during pregnancy. Women’s education (p=0.027), religious affiliation (p=0.006), source of income (p=0.012) and insurance status (p=0.023) all had a positive relationship with ANC use. Women who perceived ANC quality as good were three times more likely to have four or more ANC visits than those who perceived quality as poor (OR= 3.042, 95% CI=0.181–0.647, p=0.001).
Originality/value
Ghana has had numerous policy interventions that address the accessibility and quality of ANC service. However, little is known about the extent to which they are observed and about the quality of service from users’ perspective. Most existing literature on ANC use in Ghana focusses on socio-economic factors that influence utilisation. This paper will be the first to examine the perceived quality of ANC provided, and its influence on the extent of ANC visits among rural women in Ghana.
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Naana Amakie Boakye-Agyeman and John Tiah Bugri
The success of every business depends to a large extent on its corporate real estate (CRE), given that, it is the physical assets that support its operations. To achieve this…
Abstract
Purpose
The success of every business depends to a large extent on its corporate real estate (CRE), given that, it is the physical assets that support its operations. To achieve this success, organizations must adopt a strategic approach to CRE management. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of adoption of strategic corporate real estate management (SCREM) practice in Ghana based on the views of CRE managers.
Design/methodology/approach
The embedded mixed method approach was adopted for the study. In total, 72 CRE managers were selected from 35 institutions in 5 sectors (tertiary education, health, banking, security and service industry) where real estate is a requirement for accreditation using a multi-stage sampling technique.
Findings
An analysis of the existing practices underpinning SCREM in Ghana showed that SCREM has not been adopted completely in Ghanaian institutions. No organization has a complete systematic structure in place for SCREM as the practice is evolving. This finding correlates the global trend that CRE is not strategically managed like other corporate resources.
Practical implications
Current SCREM practices in Ghana, as divulged by this research, provide useful insight into the current status quo of SCREM and what must be done to ensure that CRE achieves its attribute of value adding.
Originality/value
The paper outlines the elements of SCREM practice, adding to the limited literature on the practice in Ghana and worldwide. It also sets the stage for further research in SCREM practice and CRE performance.
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Kwasi Agyeman-Boakye, Ernest Kissi and Ivy Abu
The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Project Management Office (PMO) functions on project performance in businesses in Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMIC…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Project Management Office (PMO) functions on project performance in businesses in Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) using Partial Least Square–Structural Equation Modelling (PLS–SEM).
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing close-ended questionnaires in a cross-sectional survey, 256 project professionals from 10 business sectors in Ghana views were elicited. The questions were developed through a comprehensive literature review and involved 27 PMO functional measures grouped into 6 and 19 project performance measures grouped into 6. Data collected was then analysed using the PLS–SEM to validate the hypothetical relationship.
Findings
The PLS–SEM model supported 13 (t > 1.65) out of 36 hypotheses investigating the relationship between PMO functions and project performance. Variations in the PMO functions moderately (R2 = 0.34) explained the performance of projects. The aggregate activities of the PMO had the highest significant influence on environmental performance (R2 = 0.467). The topmost PMO function was identified as monitoring and controlling project performance, and it was significantly associated with cost (ß = 0.265, p < 0.05), quality (ß = 0.291, p < 0.05) and project scope (ß = 0.265 p < 0.05) performance.
Research limitations/implications
This research has brought more illumination to the functions of PMOs and its influence on project performance. The results suggest that PMO activities, when tailored to the business context, can significantly change project performance variables.
Originality/value
Most research on PMO and project performance has been limited to developed countries or a single sector. This study uniquely expands the business sectors and focuses on LMICs.
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Yuchuan Du, Han Wang, Qian Gao, Ning Pan, Cong Zhao and Chenglong Liu
Resilience concepts in integrated urban transport refer to the performance of dealing with external shock and the ability to continue to provide transportation services of all…
Abstract
Purpose
Resilience concepts in integrated urban transport refer to the performance of dealing with external shock and the ability to continue to provide transportation services of all modes. A robust transportation resilience is a goal in pursuing transportation sustainability. Under this specified context, while before the perturbations, robustness refers to the degree of the system’s capability of functioning according to its design specifications on integrated modes and routes, redundancy is the degree of duplication of traffic routes and alternative modes to maintain persistency of service in case of perturbations. While after the perturbations, resourcefulness refers to the capacity to identify operational problems in the system, prioritize interventions and mobilize necessary material/ human resources to recover all the routes and modes, rapidity is the speed of complete recovery of all modes and traffic routes in the urban area. These “4R” are the most critical components of urban integrated resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The trends of transportation resilience's connotation, metrics and strategies are summarized from the literature. A framework is introduced on both qualitative characteristics and quantitative metrics of transportation resilience. Using both model-based and mode-free methodologies that measure resilience in attributes, topology and system performance provides a benchmark for evaluating the mechanism of resilience changes during the perturbation. Correspondingly, different pre-perturbation and post-perturbation strategies for enhancing resilience under multi-mode scenarios are reviewed and summarized.
Findings
Cyber-physic transportation system (CPS) is a more targeted solution to resilience issues in transportation. A well-designed CPS can be applied to improve transport resilience facing different perturbations. The CPS ensures the independence and integrity of every child element within each functional zone while reacting rapidly.
Originality/value
This paper provides a more comprehensive understanding of transportation resilience in terms of integrated urban transport. The fundamental characteristics and strategies for resilience are summarized and elaborated. As little research has shed light on the resilience concepts in integrated urban transport, the findings from this paper point out the development trend of a resilient transportation system for digital and data-driven management.
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Godslove Ampratwum, Robert Osei-Kyei and Vivian W.Y. Tam
Critical infrastructures are susceptible to unexpected disruptive events that affect their functional performance. Public–private partnership (PPP) offers opportunities for…
Abstract
Purpose
Critical infrastructures are susceptible to unexpected disruptive events that affect their functional performance. Public–private partnership (PPP) offers opportunities for stakeholders to build resilience by proactively coordinating and positioning the capabilities of the stakeholders. Partnerships are mostly riddled with risks that affect the performance and goal attainment of the partnerships. The purpose of this study was to develop a risk assessment model for PPP in critical infrastructure resilience (CIR) using fuzzy synthetic evaluation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a quantitative approach to analyse survey responses from respondents. Mean score ranking, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and fuzzy synthetic evaluation were used to analyse the responses from respondents.
Findings
This study identified seven risk categories; Political, Financial, Ethical, Bureaucracies and red tapes, Legal, Coordination and Institutional as the critical risk categories that may frustrate the partners in a PPP arrangement from performing their responsibilities. A risk assessment model was also developed in the form of a risk index equation to ascertain the risk level of using a PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience in Ghana. It was found that the risk level in using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience is high.
Practical implications
The outcome of this study can be used as an informative and guiding tool to streamline any future PPP arrangement or even amend current PPP arrangements in critical infrastructure resilience.
Originality/value
The study has drawn attention to the risks in using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience within the Ghanaian context. It has also established a risk index to assess the risk level of using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience. This risk index can be used to ascertain the risk level in different countries. In addition, no research has been conducted to empirically test the risks in using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience thus making this study a novel contribution to the critical infrastructure resilience research domain.
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Jorge H.O. Silva, Glauco H.S. Mendes, Paulo A. Cauchick Miguel, Marlene Amorim and Jorge Grenha Teixeira
This article aims to synthesize and integrate current research on customer experience (CX), identifying the intellectual structure of the field, systematizing a conceptual…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to synthesize and integrate current research on customer experience (CX), identifying the intellectual structure of the field, systematizing a conceptual framework and identifying future research opportunities.
Design/methodology/approach
To analyze 629 articles published in peer-reviewed journals in almost four decades, this study employs both bibliometric co-keyword and thematic literature analysis in a complementary way.
Findings
This article maps the CX literature by describing its intellectual structure in terms of three research domains (customer, organizational and technological), their corresponding most relevant research themes and topics. Moreover, this study develops a conceptual framework and research propositions to summarize and integrate the CX literature. This work recognizes technology as an important driver for the development of CX research. Lastly, this article provides future research opportunities for moving the field forward, considering an integrative view among domains.
Originality/value
This paper complements other reviews on CX by using a novel methodological approach (co-keyword and thematic analysis) that enables the identification and visualization of the CX intellectual structure. In addition, the study explores the increasing connection between technology and CX research, by raising evidence that technology, by continuously modifying services and consequently CX, has become a transversal component in the research field. These outcomes may be useful for academics and practitioners.
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Rockson Mintah, Godfred Matthew Yaw Owusu, Rita Amoah-Bekoe and Gorkel Obro-Adibo
This paper reviews scholarly literature on electronic banking (EB) research over a three-decade period. The focus of this review is to evaluate the intellectual structure and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reviews scholarly literature on electronic banking (EB) research over a three-decade period. The focus of this review is to evaluate the intellectual structure and trends and unearth new areas in the research domain of EB.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing data from the Scopus database, a bibliometric analysis was performed on 2,391 research articles published in the EB domain. The articles were examined and synthesized through volume analysis, citation analysis, authorship analysis and the level of collaboration, co-citation analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis. A well-known bibliometric tool, VOSviewer, was used to create and analyse various bibliometric maps, networks and tables.
Findings
This study uncovers the temporal and spatial trends of publications on EB, the most influential documents, authors, productive publication outlets, countries in the domain, the status of collaboration and the major themes that have been studied in the literature. The publication trail over the years has been gauged using overlay visualization.
Practical implications
This paper highlights new concepts that have emerged in EB over the past three decades and suggests future avenues for research in this area.
Originality/value
Research in the domain of EB is empirical, with only a handful of studies being literature reviews. This is the first-of-its-kind study that aims to trace the development of electronic banking over the past 29 years, from 1994 to 2022, through bibliometric analysis and network visualization.
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Evans Kwesi Mireku, Ernest Kissi, Edward Badu, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, Titus Kwofie and Kenneth Eluerkeh
The construction industry is an industry which has gained notoriety when it comes to both physical and mental health problems. Compared to other industries, the construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry is an industry which has gained notoriety when it comes to both physical and mental health problems. Compared to other industries, the construction sector has a higher prevalence of many stressors and mental health concerns. This calls for mechanisms to cope with these concerns. One coping mechanism propounded to help cope and adapt in the face of pressures and challenges is “Mental Toughness (MT)”. While mental toughness has been widely studied in various fields, there is a paucity of comprehensive research examining its significance among construction professionals. Thus, the motivation of this study is to establish the mental toughness characteristics among construction professionals in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The construction industry is an industry which has gained notoriety when it comes to both physical and mental health problems. Compared to other industries, the construction sector has a higher prevalence of mental health concerns. One coping mechanism propounded to help cope and adapt in the face of pressures and challenges is “Mental Toughness (MT)”. While mental toughness has been widely studied in various fields, there is a paucity of comprehensive research examining its significance among construction professionals. Thus, the motivation of this study is to establish the mental toughness characteristics among construction professionals.
Findings
the study's findings revealed 13-factor model characteristics of mental toughness with 43 variables for mentally tough performers in the construction environment. These 13-factor models include Pressure Management (PM), Motivation (M), Emotional Intelligence (EI), Interpersonal self-belief (SB), Tough Attitude (TA), Job-related self-belief (SBB), Ethical Values (EV), Commitment (C), Focus (F), Optimism (OP), Expertise and Competence (EC), Imagery Control (IC) and Resilient (R).
Practical implications
The outcome of this study has significant practical implications for various stakeholders. For construction professionals the identified factors provide valuable insights into the psychological attributes and behaviours that contribute to mental toughness among construction professionals. Understanding these characteristics can empower professionals to develop strategies for coping with stress, maintaining focus, and fostering resilience in challenging construction environments to achieve optimum performance levels consistently.
Originality/value
The originality of this study's findings stems from the fact that it is among the first to provide greater insight into mental toughness characteristics considered by professionals (quantity surveyors, construction managers, engineers, project managers, architects, estate managers) in the construction industry.