ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Total quality management practices, organisational culture and firm performance; the mediating effect of service/ product innovation

The tenets of tqm are continuous improvement, top management leadership commitment to the goal of customer satisfaction, employee empowerment, and customer focus. The concept of tqm has been well accepted by managers and quality practitioners as a change management quality approach. It plays a vital role in the development of management practices. Some researchers asserted it is an approach to improve the effectiveness, flexibility, and competitiveness of a business to meet customers ‘requirements. It is also seen as a source of attaining excellence, creating a right-first-time attitude, acquiring efficient business solutions, delighting customers and suppliers, etc. It could be deduced from the various definitions that the implementation of tqm across organizations is aimed at achieving customer satisfaction and retention and invariably enhance organizational performance levels. The main objective of the study was to determine how total quality management practices and good organizational culture influence operational performance in the banking sector in ghana. This research is explanatory in nature. Taking the time frame of the study and the need to bring out a finding reasonable for generalization, the researcher selected a sample of 153. The study examined the effect of total quality management on service product innovation and the findings of the study establish that total quality management has a positive and significant effect on service product innovation. Organizational culture has a positive and significant effect on service product innovation. Service product innovation has a positive and significant effect on firm performance. Organizational culture has a positive but insignificant effect on firm performance. Total quality management has a positive and significant effect on firm performance. The study further revealed that service product innovation positively and significantly mediates the relationship between total quality management and firm performance. The study finally assessed the mediating effect of service product innovation on the relationship between organizational culture and firm performance and the findings of the study indicate that service product innovation positively and significantly mediates the relationship between organizational culture and firm performance. The study recommends that top management of organizations should allocate the required resources for quality management to be achieved. Organizations should listen to employees’ suggestions on issues regarding quality management. There must be a clear agreement about the right way and the wrong way to do things in organizations to help the employees to know where there are rewards and punishments as well.

Source: KNUST
Total Quality Management Implementation in the Ghanaian Construction Industry

KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI, GHANA Total Quality Management Implementation in the Ghanaian Construction Industry By Sarah Naa Ashiokai Noi (Bsc Building Technology) A Thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology, College of Art and Built Environment in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, 2016. CERTIFICATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the MSc Construction Management and that to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published by another person, nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree of the University, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. SARAH NAA ASHIOKAI NOI (PG3557015) Signature ………………………………… Date ……………………………………… Certified by: SUPERVISOR - PROF. E. BADU Signature …………………………………. Date ……………………………………….. Certified by: HEAD OF DEPARTMENT - DR T ADJEI- KUMI Signature …………………………………. Date ……………………………………….. ABSTRACT Clients and other project stakeholders today place much emphasis on attaining quality on their projects, within stipulated time and budget. Total Quality Management (TQM) is counted as an advanced system in the field of quality, making it needful for construction companies to implement this system in order to attain quality on their projects. It is against this background that specific objectives were set to investigate the implementation of TQM by identifying quality management practices that improve stakeholder’s satisfaction, its implementation benefits from stakeholders’ perspectives in the Ghanaian construction industry. Questionnaires employed to fulfil the study objectives were developed based on the information gathered from literature review. In the questionnaire, five point Likert scale was used to gather information on the quality management practices that improve stakeholder satisfaction and its benefits. The data obtained were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII). Analysis of the data revealed that the implementation of Total Quality Management had not taken full effect in Ghana, nonetheless the quality management practices identified that improve stakeholders’ satisfaction comprise employing specialists to carry out key aspects of the project, ensuring the use of quality standards, offering a beneficial and safe working environment, ensuring the construction activities meet the required standards and employing on site testing procedures for materials. However, the implementation will require top management commitment, employee involvement and the organizations ability to adapt the TQM change. The benefits gained from implementing TQM comprise reduction in rework and waste, reduction in construction cycle time, reduction in client’s complaints and savings on cost incurred. The study has made a substantial contribution to the knowledge of TQM in the Ghanaian Construction Industry by throwing more light on the practices that can be adopted towards achieving quality on construction projects.

Source: KNUST
Tourism development and its effects on host community: a case study of Kakum National Park in the Central Region of Ghana

Tourism is now the world‘s number one export earner. It has generated an estimated gross output of US 3.5 trillion and the Figure is expected to increase to US 7.0 trillion by 2011 (World Travel and Tourism Council, 2009). In Ghana, it is presently the third largest foreign exchange earner after merchandise exports and remittances from abroad and has become one of the most important and fastest growing sectors of the Ghanaian economy (Bank of Ghana, 2007). The study was carried out to find out the degree of tourism development and its effects onKakum Conservation Area. Two communities along the park were purposively selected. Abrafo-Odumase and Jukwa Mfuom are the southern and the northern gateways to the Kakum National Park. The case study approach was used since the work focused oninteraction between the park and host community. Bothstructured and non-structured questionnaire were administeredto 369 local residents, 168 tourists and an in-depth interview with the Park Manager. The local residents andthe tourists were randomly sampled. In addition, direct observations and transect walks were also used to generate data for the study. The study revealed that the study communities benefited from the Kakum National Park‘s operations in the area of water, electricity extensions, library, market, teachers‘ quarters, employment and revenue generation. Also, household incomes and general quality of life of the people have improved by 10 percent. The environment has also been preserved because by providing economic incentive for protecting natural and cultural diversity, has made conservation efforts possible, as well as providing revenues to continue supporting the conservation efforts.The degradation of local infrastructure results from the heavy traffic of cars and tour buses. The degradation of local infrastructure results from the heavy traffic of cars and tour buses. However, some negative effects are the displacement of the natives from their land, increased social gap, frustration, loss of cultural identity. Unfortunately the local communities are not aware of their cultural heritage and so they imitate tourist‘s social cultural traits. The study recommended that local people should be involved in the tourism development in their area. The people should be involved in the sharing of tourism benefits and local capacity building of the people. Finally, all of the Park's development initiatives should address the socio-economic needs of the communities that surround the Park development in the area.

Source: KNUST
Towards a Reliable and Sustainable Source of Electricity for Micro and Small Scale Light Industries in the Kumasi Metropolis

Access to energy is a key factor in a country‟s socio-economic development agenda. Based on this premise, immediately after independence Ghana endeavoured to ensure that there is reliable and sustainable access to electricity. However, due to the increasing demand for electricity and the effects of climate on the Hydro Electric Power (HEP), Ghana‟s electricity supply has been rendered unreliable and unsustainable. The situation is expected to be more critical in the coming years since demand for electricity is expected to increase considerably by 2030. Thus, there is a growing demand for alternatives that neither depend on the weather nor fossil fuel for survival. The thrust of this study was to contribute to the discourse in search for alternatives that can continuously supply the electricity needs of micro and small scale industries (MSI) for productive activities. The search for the alternatives was preceded with an examination of the effects of Ghana‟s electricity supply and tariffs structure on the operations of MSIs. The study directly interviewed 320 MSIs and 8 institutions for primary data with the help of questionnaires and interview guides to supplement secondary data from literature. The study identified that Ghana‟s intermittent electricity supply is a major challenge to the MSIs. Some of the MSIs interviewed have acquired alternative sources of electricity such as petrol/diesel-powered generators to ensure continuous supply of electricity with extra operational costs ranging from GH¢10.5 to GH¢16.5 every month besides the perceived high tariffs they paid to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Consequently, 82.5 per cent of the entrepreneurs wished for a more reliable and sustainable source of electricity. The study further revealed that Ghana has identified the solution to the intermittent power supply to lie with the exploitation of five non-conventional Alternative Sources of Electricity (ASEs). Subjecting the five ASEs to further analysis revealed that solar energy can immediately be used to supply the MSIs‟ electricity needs. However, its exploitation is constrained by the lack of legislative instruments, high cost and thefts of movable parts. Based on these challenges, the study recommended the immediate passing of the renewable energy bill into law to serve as a regulatory framework for solar energy development. Additionally, the study recommended for the adoption of flexible terms of payment to enable the industrialists to pay for the solar system.

Source: KNUST
Tourists Camp Kwahu - Atibie

The resort has at one time been created for the social requirements of a small upper class. Luxurious furnishing, excellent cooking and refined service were the preliminary condition of it existence. The middle and working class man, however, went out alone in the evening in order to enjoy himself with his friends, drinking and discussing at the round table. In these inns, the quality of the meals played a major role; the dishes were satisfactory when they were simple and nourishing. Today we experience a complete revolution in our social order and in our conceptions of society. In the western counties, the social contrasts are decreasing more and more as the workers become members of the middle class. This development has naturally the greatest influence on the catering table trade. Dining out in a restaurant has become a natural thing for everybody nowadays. The young man, whatever his social status, takes a girl – friend out and the young married woman expect this custom to be continued at least once a month or even once a week, just as the feeling of something special and festive trips in foreign countries are no longer the privileging of a few people. A few years ago the question that the owner of such a facility, conscious of his responsibility, had to ask himself was “which class of people do I want to attract into my facility? He who wants to build for the future must put his question differently. “What are the requirements of the new society I wish to attract?”

Source: KNUST
Towards a sustainable balance between accelerated development and environmental stability in the Dangme West District of Ghana

Dangme West District which is the study area is located in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Falling within a fragile coastal savanna ecological zone, current and potential accelerated development programmes and projects may prove detrimental to the available natural resources, ultimately threatening the sustainability of such development. The study aims at identifying the major current and anticipated environmental effects in the district. Assessment of these effects, various resource and environmental management systems as well as other recommendations to provide solutions to these problems were discussed. The major environmental problems affecting mainly communities have been discussed. Such observable changes as lost of vegetation and forest cover, soil erosion, steam channel behaviour and decline in animal species diversity were outlined and reasons for such degradations interpreted in the light of the various human and economic activities prevalent in the district. Changes in temperature avid increasing unreliability of precipitation have also been discussed. Bushfires, their causes, effects and community feelings were analysed. The problems of sanitation and health as well as the effects of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on the district were also carefully examined. At the end, the study concludes with recommendations to check and reverse the fast deteriorating environmental conditions in the study area.

Source: KNUST
Towards an appreciation of symphonic music: the role of the performing theatre

Sound quality is a fundamental requirement in performing theatre and auditorium designs. Over the last century, a lot of progress has been made in the study of acoustics in relation to performing theatres. Most, if not all, have revealed that acoustics depends to some extent on the geometry of the space under consideration. This dissertation discusses the relationship between geometry, objective parameters such as finishing materials, volume etc. and sound quality in performing theatres. It studies the development of theatre designs over the last century and reveals that for a hall, designed primarily for symphony orchestra musical concerts, to fulfill its function well it must be conceived partly as a musical instrument, like the box of a violin or the sound board of a piano. It concludes that every good performing theatre or auditorium requires more than ordinary architectural design skills; it should solve not only acoustics but also the functional problems of comfort and sightlines as well as the problem of visual coherence, all of which revolves around the shape or geometry of the enclosed space.

Source: KNUST
Towards a sustainable procurement in Ghana

The study made use of physical, scientific and social science tools. In order to assess sustainable procurement issues, structured questionnaires were circulated, targeting procurement staffs in building and civil consulting outfits, few building and civil engineering contractors, government ministries, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and a few manufacturing companies in and around Greater Accra region with building technologists making up the greater percentage. Most of the questions in the questionnaire were designed using Likert scale strategy, which measures respondents’ attitude by asking the extent to which they agree or disagree with most of the issues at stake. The questionnaires were randomly circulated for this study. In all, about 100 questionnaires were circulated of which 56 were received and analysed using descriptive statistical tools like Mean, median, mode and standard deviations. A software called Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the data analysis. From the study, one of the key findings was that majority of the people do not adopt effective sustainable procurement practices. The study found out that, the Public Procurement Act, somewhat succeeded in harmonizing the process of procurement in public entities. To a larger extent, however, it has failed to address issues of Green Procurement, as well as issues of effective monitoring and evaluation of procurement activities. To ensure sustainable procurement in Ghana, the Public Procurement Act must be amended to include effective green procurement elements. There must be effective monitoring and evaluation of procurement activities of firms, as well as instituting effective penalizing mechanisms. Sustainable procurement is key to attaining sustainable development, and its attainment depends on efforts of all stakeholders. Through redesigning of its procurement policies and procedures, Government of Ghana can see many multiplier benefits internally and across society as a whole, including efficiency gains, energy usage reductions, financial savings, improved access to services and better working conditions.

Source: KNUST
Towards an integration of urban transit systems: a case study of Kumasi

Transportation serves as a linkage between the physical separation of human activities in time and space. The excellence of transportation thus consists in accomplishing this and with the least expenditure of time, cost and convenience. Kumasi is Ghana’s second largest city with a population of about 600.000 and an area 15.1 square kilometers. The three main elements of the transportation problem now facing the city are its growing population, growing spatial extent, and dependence on mass transit facilities, which pre-suppose making mass transit a viable service through which the city’s economy can be articulated. Mass transit facilities are, however, inadequate and unless the city acts quickly to remedy the results of past neglect and to provide for the further, tomorrow’s transportation problem is bounded to be even more pressing.

Source: KNUST
Towards an information system for district development: a case study of Techiman District

The initiative for the generation of development plan, programme and budget is being gradually shifted to the district level. This means that authorities responsible for development in the district have to formulate and implement their own decision rather than carry out directive from regional and national levels of government. Decisions however depend on information so the real questions involved in the devolution of responsibility and power to the district level is whether information is available. This question has assumed great importance for district authorities because they are ultimately destined to inherit from the central government, the over increasing problem of low income, unemployment and high inflation rates. Initial response to this difficult present and future situation has been the imposition of all sorts of taxes on already poor populations to finance development projects is a direct reflection of a lack of information about alternatives to taxation for revenue gone rat ion. This study therefore attempts to determine how to improve the information base so that more people can take better decisions. The problem was addressed by investigating the quantity and ua1ity of information currently available at the district level and, the factors which influence them. Organisations in the district were analysed as transmitters and receivers of information end their main problems were then identified, It was found that a considerable amount of data is currently available, However, this was riot suitable as a base for the emerging planning process at ho local level, This is because it is not accessible to the majority of decision - makers in the local government structure. And oven where it is accessible, it lacks accuracy and appropriateness to development planning. Moreover, since various organization use different systems of classification and areal units, there is a problem of delayed, if the information is sought for purpose outside the administrative functions of each organization. Finally, since the current information technology is based on manual methods of storage, processing and retrieval, the total capacity of the system to produce analyses and. syntheses for generating development plans and programmes is severely limited. The recommendations proposed. are to improve structure of the information system by establishing roles procedures and regulations to facilitate the generation, distribution and use of information among all decision - makers in the district; introducing manpower training programmes for the future use of improved information technologies at the district level; and establishing a format for the classification of information and the use of areal units to be followed by all organs responsible for collecting information

Source: KNUST