ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An investigation into the effect of effective procurement management on the performance of christian health association of ghana (chag) facilities

Although there has been an increase in scholarly interest in private procurement over the past two decades, research output in this developing discipline is still relatively modest when compared to comparable research conducted in the private sector. The purpose of this study is to investigate the v extent to effective procurement of goods and services by CHAG facilities helps improve overall organisational performance. The sample of the study constituted Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) facilities staffs whose job functions relates to the procurement function. The researcher selected about 60 respondents based on their willingness and availability as well as their knowledge of the subject matter of the study. Out of the questionnaires administered, fifty (50) questionnaires were retrieved representing 83.3% response rate. This was as a result of the sampling techniques adopted for the study. The findings revealed that the extent of procurement management practices is high at Christian health facilities in the Volta region. Also, it was revealed that staff of Christian health facilities partly attribute their performance to their effective procurement management practices. It could be seen that direct effect of effective procurement management practices on performance. This implies that effective procurement management practices to a great extent contribute to performance at Christian health facilities in the Volta region. It was therefore recommended that Christian Health Association of Ghana facilities should establish a procurement structure and reforms which should be managed by qualified procurement experts to ensure that procurement process is done. They should also recruit and engage eligible staff who have the requisite knowhow and are familiar with the procurement processes with their job descriptions clearly defined in their respective designations and adopt electronically-based procurement system to make their procurement process effective. Keywords: Procurement; Health facilities; Performance; Effective;

Source: KNUST
An investigation into the effect of training and development on teachers’ intention to leave and performance: A case study of selected basic schools in Kintampo South District.

The persistent turnover of teachers from the teaching field after years of training and further studies, remains a major concern. The study investigates the relationship between teachers’ development and intention to leave and its effect on students and teachers performance in the Kintampo South District. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, questionnaire was used to collect data from one hundred and fifty (150) teachers while fourteen (14) head teachers from selected schools, and the Kintampo South District Director of Education were interviewed using purposive sampling method. The results showed that, non-professional teachers are more likely to leave the educational sector after their training than the professional ones. However, the study also revealed that a significant number of professional teachers intend to leave the sector after further studies. It was observed in Kintampo South District that there is a positive relationship between training and development and intention to leave, that is, the more teachers are trained and developed, the more likely they will leave or habour the intention of leaving the service. The study also found out that training and development has positive relationship on both teachers’ and students’ performance. Furthermore, teachers’ intention to leave has a negative impact on students’ performance. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that GES should collaborate with tertiary institutions for the alignment of the academic calendars of all Sandwich Programmes with that of GES so that teachers who are enrolled will not lose any classroom engagement with the school children while on sandwich programmes. Also measures should be put in place to regulate Distance Learning for the Basic school teachers. There should also be proper monitoring of teachers on leave to strengthen and enforce the study leave bond policy.

Source: KNUST
An investigation into the effects of grievance and its management procedures in Senior High Schools in the Okwahu East District.

In any organization where a group or individuals come together to work towards achieving a common goal, problems may arise, leading to complaints and dissatisfaction which may at the end result in grievances. Grievances arise in every organization but its proper management or handling through the appropriate grievance management procedures is vital for the maintenance of a productive and unified working environment. This research sets out to investigate the effect of grievance and its management procedure in Senior High Schools by identifying the nature and causes of grievances, determine the grievance management policy, strategies, grievance management practices and channel of receiving complaints and finally to examine the effect of grievances on job performance. A total of 150 respondents made up of academic staff from five Senior High Schools in the Okwahu East District were conveniently selected for the research. Out of this only 121 respondents returned their questionnaire. Questionnaire was the main method of data collection. The data was analyzed using SPSS and descriptive statistics with tables used to present the data. The study showed that poor working environment was the most common cause of grievances in the schools and the nature of grievances that mostly occur in the institutions were linked to employers‟ failure to fulfill expectations in the conditions of service. It was also revealed that grievances are settled at the head of section, top management, middle management and immediate supervisor levels through rules and laws guiding the institution. The effect of grievance, however is that it affects performance and productivity if not settled to the satisfaction of the aggrieved. The study suggests that employers should deviate from bending the rules and laws in the contract agreement or the conditions of service in all manner of situations to prevent bias. It is also recommended that amendments are made in the contract agreement occasionally to satisfy all employees. The study again suggests that organizations create a very conducive working environment that will be friendly to employees to minimize grievances.

Source: KNUST
An investigation into the effects of organisational learning practices on organisational development within selected manufacturing firms in the Ashanti Region.

In a harsh global business environment, where learning has not only become relevant but crucial, organisations that fail to learn and utilize acquired knowledge to develop their systems, structures and products pay dearly. The development of an organisation therefore is pivoted to its learning ability. The general objective of the study therefore, was to determine the effect of organizational learning on organizational development within selected manufacturing firms in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Fifteen manufacturing firms were selected for the study, using quota sampling technique. Two hundred respondents were further sampled from these organizations using convenience sampling with a response rate of 82%. This quantitative research utilized questionnaires to guide and facilitate data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS and running multiple regressions. The study identified Organizational learning practices which include invitation of people to contribute to organizational vision, knowledge sharing, effective information flow and adequate recognition for taking initiative. Organizational learning disciplines were also found to be existent with personal mastery and systems thinking being the most prominent blocks. The study further revealed that learning environment mediates the relationship between organisational learning practices and organisational development. Organizational development was analysed on three dimensions namely organizational effectiveness, competence and improvement. All three dimensions were found to be existing in the selected firms and thus, it can be said that the selected firms are developing. It is thus recommended that, the learning environment should be elaborately planned and that the rationale behind learning practices be better communicated to workers. This could be achieved if organizational values are aligned with the learning drive to promote learning in the organization. Effective interpersonal relations should be also encouraged to help foster openness and knowledge sharing as a value.

Source: KNUST
An investigation into the relationship between training and development and organisational effectiveness in a public Tertiary Educational Institution in the Central Region of Ghana.

Despite the variations in the educational systems of various countries, the educational sector plays a very critical role in the socioeconomic development of every society. Tertiary education in particular contributes to the growth of the economy through the adoption of combination of research and training which allows for an important flow of knowledge and practice. Hence, there is the need for tertiary educational institution to be effective in the delivery of their various mandates. Training and development are such factors that contribute to the effectiveness with which tertiary institutions perform their roles. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of training and development on organizational effectiveness by using evidence from the Cape Coast Polytechnic, a public tertiary educational institution in the central region of Ghana. The study therefore reviewed literature on the concepts of training and developments. Employing quantitative methods of analysis, the study conveniently sampled 114 staff of the Cape Coast Polytechnic by the use of a structured questionnaire as the main research instrument. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyze the data quantitatively. The study found that the Cape Coast Polytechnic uses both on-the-job and offthe-job training methods in training and developing its employees. These training activities were found to be effective and positively affected the effectiveness of the institution by improving employees’ skills and competence; improving staff relation and improving the quality of services delivered. However, there were certain challenges such as inadequate resources in the form of funds and training materials to effectively train and develop the staff of the Polytechnic as expected. It is recommended that management of the Cape Coast Polytechnic should plan for future training and development by developing a training policy to guide in the training and development of its staff. Also, training and development should be seen as an instrument for establishing and signaling when and how work practices should change

Source: KNUST
An investigation into the use of personal pronouns in political discourse – a study of inaugural addresses of two Ghanaian presidents.

This study examined personal pronoun choices in the inaugural addresses of two presidents in Ghana. The main focus of the study was to determine the references of personal pronouns used in the speeches as well as to determine relationships that were established in the speeches by the use of personal pronouns. The theory of indexicality as explained by Kaplan (1989a) was the main framework used to support this study. The qualitative research design was the main approach used in the study. The results suggest that politicians create various identities of themselves and others through the exploitation of personal pronouns. Personal pronouns were contextually exploited in terms of genericness, definiteness and specificity suggesting both inclusive and exclusive use of the pronouns. The study then explored social meanings and attitudes such as political ideologies, power, identity and statesmanship in the speeches. This research is expected to be useful in universities and international educational organizations to generate better insights into grammar and semantics in other fields of study.

Source: KNUST
An investigation into the use of alternative dispute resolution methods (ADR) in the Ghanaian construction industry.

The construction industry is a complex and competitive one, where players with diverse backgrounds, work together to achieve the project objective. A project is deemed successful where the project is completed within the original budget and the intended completion date conforming to the performance standards/specifications of the Client/Owner/Employer. The aim of this study is to investigate into the use of Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) in the Ghanaian construction industry. The specific objectives were to: identify the causes of disputes in the construction industry; to ascertain the effects of disputes on construction projects; to identify the appropriate ADR methods available for resolving disputes in the construction industry in Ghana and to identify benefits of ADR methods. Quantitative research strategy was employed. Questionnaires were used to collect data. The software for analysis was Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The tools for analyzing the data collected consisted of descriptive statistics, mean score ranking and Cronbach Alpha. The following were identified as Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods (ADR) commonly used in the construction industry: Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration and Adjudication. From the findings, Owner Related; Contractor Related; Design Related; Contract Related and Human Behaviour Related were ranked to be the most severe causes of disputes. Cost overrun; Time overrun; Destroy relationships; Delay in resolving disputes were ranked to be the severest effects of disputes. Finally, ADR is quicker, less expensive and healthier; and it eliminates the acrimony and confrontation associated with courtroom litigation were the significant benefits of using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism in resolving disputes in the construction industry. It is recommended that due to the complex and technical nature of the construction industry and the issues, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approach is situated for players in the construction industry to achieve the objectives of the parties.

Source: KNUST
An investigation of claim management culture of highways road construction projects in Ghana.

The complexity of construction projects makes claims a common issue in construction projects which Highways road construction projects are no exception. The occurrence of claims can have a number of negative consequences on the delivery of construction projects. The current study investigated into the claims management culture of Highways road construction projects in Ghana. Key construction professionals such as Quantity surveyors, project managers, and engineers involved in the management of claim for A1 B1 road construction firms were selected for the study. The data collected were analyzed into descriptive statistics such as mean, frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics such as relative importance Index was also used to analyzed some of the data. The results revealed different types of claims in Highways road construction projects, these includes, claims due to variation in the scope of work, claims due to error in description or quantities, claims due to change in specifications that affect quality of the work, claims on breech or termination, claims on addition, claims due to design error and claims due to different site condition. The study revealed that the most significant underlying causes of these claims are, Inaccurate design information, poor communications between project participants, Slow client response to decision and Unrealistic time targets. The constraining factors of claim management of Highways road construction projects in Ghana was also revealed and these includes, failure of parties to understand the terms of the contract, claims without supporting contractural clauses and Improper documentation of claims. In order to address the causes and challenges associated these with claims, it was suggested that, there should be proper records keeping. Moreover, parties to construction projects should have good knowledge of the provisions of the contract.

Source: KNUST
An Investigation Of Procurement Practices In The Ghana Health Service: A Case Study Of Juaboso Government Hospital, Sefwi Juaboso

Background: Procurement activities play a major role in the health sector as medicines and health equipment are purchased. However, there are some challenges that emerge from procurement activities, and irrespective of these challenges when the procurement practices are followed, performance is achieved Aims/objectives: The aim of this research is to assess the procurement framework of medicine within Ghana Health Service; a case study of Juaboso Government Hospital, Sefwi Juaboso Methods: A sample size of 187 respondents were engaged in the study by using a convenient sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data from the respondents was a structured questionnaire. Analytical tools used included quantitative, descriptive statistics, and regression analysis. Results: The results indicated that Juaboso Government Hospital follows procurement practices when it comes to their knowledge of procurement principles, procurement planning procedures, supplier partnership, and contract management. There were many challenges that affected the procurement activities of the hospital. The leading challenges emanating from procurement practices included ineffectiveness of the procurement policy, poor accountability, fraud, corruption, and bureaucracy in the procurement system. Knowledge of procurement principles, procurement planning, supplier partnership, and contract management all demonstrated a positive and significant impact on the performance of the hospital. Conclusion: The study finally concluded that the procurement practices of the hospital were better, but with some challenges that need to be addressed. The study recommended that there should be appropriate and updated procurement policies which should be evaluated and monitored.

Source: KNUST
An investigation of the effects of breaking the bias on employee motivation and productivity in an organization

For years now, biases have influenced the judgment and decision-making of many organizations. Individuals are notoriously poor at recognizing and controlling their own biases; in fact, the brains of humans are designed to promote fast, efficient information processing (Tyner, 2020). This has resulted in an unsafe working environment and has forced many employees to either resign or lose interest in their work. In most organizations, pay gaps, promotions, recruitment, leadership roles, bonuses, and other benefits are determined by gender, race, origin, colour, age, religion, and others (Kenny & Nnamdi, 2019). With all these things, going on, people still refuse to accept that they are being biased. Bias exists in most of our activities, and it is impossible to perform our duties without some degree of bias in any form. It’s crucial to be aware of the various biases that exist in the workplace and the impact they have on the organization. Although “breaking the bias” was the theme for the 2022 International Women’s Day, this movement started way back in 1917 during World War I, when thousands of women in Russia gathered to underscore the need for global compassion and peace and to condemn the mindless deaths of millions of soldiers in the ongoing war (Mullens, et al., 2013). This was an effort to promote inclusion and diversity at the workplace. Many organizations adopted this mantra, and there has been progress in fighting stereotypes and any other form of bias at the workplace. Employee motivation is also a factor that affects productivity at the workplace. This study focuses on examining the employees’ knowledge of bias, breaking the bias, and how they can influence employee motivation and productivity.

Source: KNUST
An investigation of the use of financial statement for decision making in smes; a case study in the kumasi metropolis.

Financial statements contain relevant data on potential risk and return connected with various actions and play a big part in the success of a company, especially for SMEs. Financial statements give a realistic and impartial view of an enterprise's or firm's genuine business status. Through a sample of 288 respondents from 253 small and medium scale enterprises drawn from 3 industries, around the Kumasi metropolis, the study investigates the use of financial statement for decision making in small and medium scale enterprises. The study makes use of logit analysis and a principal key factor that analyses the various objectives of the study. The study concludes that owners who generate their financial statement less frequently are more competent and comfortable to read them and this overall confidence translates to organisations with increased revenue. The study's conclusions should be useful to small and medium-sized businesses.

Source: KNUST
An investigative study on project management practice of subcontractors in Accra

ABSTRACT Buildings for commercial purposes or residential use have become complex and sophisticated. They require efficient and effective management to successfully complete them. The complex and sophisticated nature has made it necessary for prime contractors, sponsors or consultants of projects to acquire the services of subcontractors to execute specialize part of the bigger project. Air conditioning, fire system, electrical system and plumbing are some of the specialize aspect of building projects which are usually sublet to subcontractors to execute. Often than not, the attention is on the prime contractor when it comes to project management in the construction industry. This study will shift the attention from the prime contractors and focus on the subcontractors. The main objective of this study was to investigate how subcontractors are currently managing projects and also find out criteria or parameters subcontractors will use to judge a project as successful or not. A quantitative structured questionnaire was developed to collect data from participants. The participants are workers from subcontracting companies. The data collected was analyzed with SPSS. The study found out that subcontractors practice project management but do so in the informal way. There is no basic processes or methodology that is adopted by subcontractors. There is always someone in the project management position but such people are not certified project managers and most with less knowledge base in project management practice. The management of their projects are done through experience. In the area of success criteria, the study found out that meeting client‘s requirements, completing the work within time and completing within budget were the top three criteria subcontractors consider in judging how successful a project was. The study after conclusion recommended further studies into the activities of subcontractors in each of the knowledge areas separately in order to get full details on the activities of subcontractors when it comes to practicing project management.

Source: KNUST