ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The impact of workspace design on service quality

This study was conducted to understand the relationship between workspace design and service quality and to find out whether the delivery of good quality service is affected by the design of a workspace. This was done by studying four salons; Angels Beauty Salon, Lily's Salon and Beauty Bank. The theoretical framework used in this study was adopted from Bitner's work, "A framework for Understanding Environment - User Relationships in Service Organisations," (1992). Through observation and surveys the study showed that ambient conditions were rated averagely low in most case except for a few cases as compared to spatial layout and functionality factors which were generally rated high. However, the relationship between workspace design and service quality was not as strong as was expected and what had been discussed within literature. Most of the data collected was qualitative and sought to find the kind of relationship that exists between workspace design and service quality. This study will be a blueprint for salons around Osu whose customers are usually students, to understand the factors to be considered when designing the workspace and to understand the relationship between workspace design and service quality. If all organisations especially in the services industry are paying attention to this, the companies can provide even better services to customers and also it will form as a competitive advantage to them unlike the organisations who know little about the subject area.

Source: Ashesi
Implementing a customized classroom literacy acceleration program (CCLAP) at Fidelity Juvenile College, Berekuso

In developing countries like Ghana, low literacy rates and high poverty especially in rural areas tend to go hand in hand. Efforts to solve this problem of low levels of literacy have mainly been along the lines of out of school instruction, popularly called ‘extra classes’ in Ghana. This paper examines how a Customized Classroom Literacy Acceleration Program (CCLAP) woven into the general education curriculum, thus implemented during regular classroom hours improves literacy in a small underprivileged school in Berekuso. The findings indicate an improvement in literacy of second graders provided some targeted instruction as part of the general curriculum. This paper concludes with recommendations for further research involving more learners, classrooms and subject areas.

Source: Ashesi
Improved logistic management for NANAPATT Mattresses

NANAPATT Mattresses is an enterprise that started active operations in 2018. It was founded by Mr Moses Tetteh Berimah. It has a main branch and one subsidiary branch, both located in Madina, Ghana. It deals in the sale of foreign new mattresses and aims at providing its customers with quality mattresses of different sizes. Over the years, it was realized by the company that they were incurring high costs in their logistics management process, especially during the process of acquiring new consignments from the harbour. The hiring of different trucks to receive these consignments is costly because the prices they demand differ, and these differences are huge and keep increasing. Another issue that was noticed was that customers who made purchases faced difficulties transporting the mattresses to their various destinations. This project aims at improving the logistic management process of NANAPATT Mattresses. Some solutions to curb such gaps in logistics include; identifying an efficient and affordable transport company that would be responsible for transporting consignments on arrival from the harbour to the shops, purchasing trucks that would be used in transporting mattresses and also helping customers with their new purchases among others. The decision to outsource a business process is primarily based on the availability of resources in the business, how critical the process is and so on. The solution is a designed logistics framework that NANAPATT Mattresses can adopt in their transport process and inventory management. The aim is to explain the importance of taking outsourcing decisions and how they can be implemented. The solution includes decisions on multiple sourcing, the All shipments via intermediate distribution centre with storage transportation design and the Periodic inventory systems. (Chopra, 2016).

Source: Ashesi
Improving customer satisfaction at Mahorgany Health Foods Ltd

Mahorgany Health Foods Ltd is an organic health food store and restaurant that specializes in freshly made vegan foods, with strengths such as cleanliness and good presentation, a convenient location, and considering culture in meal design. However, the management of Mahorgany, in an interview, noted issues with the level of customer satisfaction, mainly caused by long serving time. Data collection during needs assessment was by interviews and observation. Managers, employees, and customers were the three groups of participants interviewed. The Ishikawa diagram and service blueprint were used to analyze the data. The results confirmed that the low level of customer satisfaction was caused by long-serving time, but also by consistent unavailability of menu items, and mediocre customer service stemming from poor employee attitude. The literature review looked at the effect of customer satisfaction on restaurants and how service quality affects customer satisfaction. It focused on the link between customer service and customer satisfaction, and that between wait time and customer satisfaction. It then evaluated the various service quality and service mapping models that could be used to improve customer satisfaction. The proposed solution uses a service blueprint to tackle the three contributing factors of low customer satisfaction affecting Mahorgany. The blueprint of Mahorgany was re-designed to include work scheduling, employee training, warming equipment, and a double menu system. This service blueprint, if adopted with the help of committed management, will improve the level of customer satisfaction experienced by the customer at Mahorgany.

Source: Ashesi
Improving efficiency through layout optimization for Les Klar Couture.

Les Klar Couture is a fashion company located in Ghana and noted for its simple, decent but classy designs. Selling at affordable prices, Les Klar hopes to expand its operations worldwide, a few years to come. It, however, focuses on empowering its clients to have confidence in themselves and to dress to suit their body sizes. The company currently runs its main branch at North Industrial Area and is yet to operate at its new branch in Kasoa. However, after conducting a needs assessment test, it was realized that the layout plan adopted in the old branch does not allow the workers to be very efficient due to lack of space. The owner is therefore unsure of which layout plan to adopt for the new branch. Thus, intensive research was carried out to explore and understand how the layout strategies adopted by firms, influences the efficiency of workers. Again, this can have a large influence on the perceptions clients create about a brand. A well designed layout also prevents casualties that may occur in the workplace. Thus, Les Klar adopted a layout plan that encompasses both the office layout and the process-oriented layout for the new branch. An implementation plan in a 3D format was created for the company to enable them to operate the new branch. Part of the solution was however implemented by the company but could not be fully implemented due to unavailability of the remaining equipment. For this solution to work effectively, the company should employ experts to aid with an inventory management system to help them minimize cost and to increase their presence on social media through various forms of advertisements.

Source: Ashesi
Improving how Minkah & Co promotes itself to reach its clientele

Legal advertising in Ghana is banned by the law and seen as a disregard for the legal profession. This study was undertaken with a law firm in Ghana to understand how the firm markets its brand in a country where legal advertisement is illegal. 14 lawyers and 50 individuals helped in the research by filling questionnaires and participating in interviews. The research led to findings that there is an untapped market for legal services on the other outlets such as social media. Suggestions for heightened brand awareness included Search Engine Optimization, Newsletters, Having an Online Presence and Video Marketing.

Source: Ashesi
Improving the distribution system of Bread Boutique Limited through an effective channel structure and local strategy

Bread Boutique Ltd is a wholly owned Ghanaian Bakery Chain that uses state of the art technology to produce assorted bread of the highest possible quality. The company was founded by William Hwanompe in the year 2013 with just one branch at Dansoman. Currently the company has six shops, a bread factory and franchise shops. A needs assessment was conducted in the organization for its customers and potential consumers, and research showed that though the company has potential in managing its resources it needs help in their management skills in distribution. This is because it is not the best and majority of customers argue that the company needs more channels to increase awareness, accessibility, penetration and availability. Literature suggests that with bread distribution, timing is a major factor for induced customer satisfaction and loyalty. It is more of supply based than demand based as it is a convenience good and has very short shelf life. In conclusion, channel management for the bread industry can be tackled strategically, paying attention to the right distribution channels. focusing on the objectives of the company and developing the bread market effectively, which will aid in increasing of sales. Aside developing a strong channel management system, social media is a good platform to build awareness for the company as well as improving its physical availabilities such as creative bill boards.

Source: Ashesi
Improving the football industry in Ghana through franchising,lLicensing and merchandising: A focus on domestic football teams.

Football as a sporting discipline has a large fan following in Ghana. However, Ghanaians patronize European Leagues more than the Ghana Premier League. This phenomenon has given rise to problems like low stadia attendances and high levels of player migration. In defining the sports industry and identifying its primary stakeholders, this study describes the nature of local football landscape. It hints at the drawbacks and flaws that have arisen due to current industry structures and management practices of domestic clubs. Franchising, licensing and merchandising are concepts that have become a fabric of sports innovations. Some benefits of their successful implementation include the increased avenues for capital acquisition and augmented brand enhancement campaigns. By acquiring qualitative data from 3 Accra based teams, this study identifies their current management practices and gauges the place for franchising, licensing and merchandizing in their operations. Also, qualitative data is gathered from 201 respondents with interest football. This data is analyzed to ascertain demographics domestic clubs can target in their merchandizing schemes and suggest viable avenues of commerce. Ultimately, this study proposes ideals local football teams can adopt to improve capital acquisition and augment their brand enhancement campaigns. Correspondingly, the study identifies mediums of commerce and advertising local football teams can utilize in merchandising. Lastly, the role of the media and the GFA in the successful application of suggested tools is discussed in this study. Key words: football, franchising, licensing, merchandising, commodification, media, football

Source: Ashesi
Improving the service delivery of Tenack Beach Resot and Hotels through specific operational intervention.

With increased competition in the hospitality industry, many hotels have had their fair share of struggles to be the number one option in their customer’s mind. Due to this competition, pricing is no longer an essential but rather quality services and experiences. With Tenack Beach Resort’s vision in upgrading its star rating by 2020, it is on course in improving its facilities and experiences, but through research, a gap in their services was discovered. The project was carried out to identify the fail points and bottlenecks of the hotel’s service delivery process that needed urgent attention. Semi-structure interviews, observations, and internet research were conducted to obtain information and also understand the operations of the hotel goes through in delivering its services. A department in the hotel that needed urgent attention was the restaurant. The restaurant was the main focus because first of all, it was the hotel’s primary source of income. Also, the restaurant was the department that had the most complaint and lastly based on the research, improving the restaurant would increase its revenue. In solving this problem, a service blueprint was created first to understand the process customers go through, the difficulty they encounter in experiencing the services, the activities that go on in the backend and the support process available in the restaurant. After that, a new service blueprint was created and the fail points, waiting time and potential problem areas were eliminated from the blueprint. In addition to the solution, key performance indicators were also established to ensure that the works of each department were measured, and measurements could inform them of the areas to improve and the areas to maintain.

Source: Ashesi
Improving value fulfillment in the healthcare industry; The case of mPharma Co..

mPharma is a group purchasing organization (G.P.O.) with the mission of making prescription drugs easily accessible and affordable for all. The company seeks to provide quality and accessible drugs to users on the African continent. By forming partnerships and relationships with key partners, mPharma is able to cut down costs get quality products right from the manufacturers or key country suppliers. A needs assessment conducted revealed that, a business unit, Mutti, that had a different target segment as compared to their principal business unit is in need of an efficient way of delivering products and services very well to clients in other to increase value and increase their customer base of a hundreds. Literature reviews studied showed that, client provision and access to products and services were critical factors that benefited the customer base of a company. Other models used by global companies that related to this area were explored as well. And the end of this study, the writer proposes a solution to address value delivery in Mutti. The solution sought to increase value fulfillment and product delivery. By employing a solution framework prior to implementing the solution, the writer hopes to eliminate redundant processes in Mutti. The solution seeks to improve value fulfillment once certain conditions and recommendations are followed.

Source: Ashesi
The influence of celebrity endorsement on consumer buying behavior in the Ghanaian fashion industry

This research paper explores the influence of celebrity endorsement on consumer buying behavior in the Ghanaian fashion industry. The objective of the research is to assess the effects of celebrity endorsement and give recommendations to Ghanaian fashion companies about how they can effectively use it. The study’s population consists of all female students of three universities: Ashesi University, Wisconsin University and University of Ghana; out of which a sample of 156 was selected through convenience sampling technique. The study involved both primary and secondary research. Secondary research comprised critical review of past literature on celebrity endorsement and consumer buying behavior. The primary research involved the administration of questionnaires. Data was analyzed by using R statistical tool and Microsoft Excel. The study established that celebrity expertise, celebrity attractiveness and celebrity credibility have a positive effect on consumer buying behavior. The study finally recommended cosmetic companies about how they should find out the kind of celebrities that their target customers prefer. For instance respondents declared that actors and actresses, sport starts and musicians are the most influential celebrities to them. Hence, the cosmetic companies should consider to use such celebrities. Also, celebrities who endorse cosmetic products should make sure that they prove to society that they use the endorsed products so that the customers will believe them. Lastly, cosmetic companies should make sure that they use effective adverts which will be recalled by consumers and they should also use celebrities who are attractive, credible and skilled.

Source: Ashesi
Influence of financing methods on the value of commercial properties: A case of Airport City

The real estate industry is lucrative industry as the developing economy continue to boom. It has being likened to the rise and fall of most economies. In Ghana, the industry is a relatively young one, and has shown signs of growth and expansion. It is a capital intensive industry, where availability of finance is crucial in determining the viability of any development. In valuing real estate developments, focus is placed on four main factors, that is: location, structural quality, use/purpose and legal ownership. Even though the industry is capital intensive, the mode of financing is considered in the valuation of developments. The focus of this thesis was thus to investigate how the methods of financing influence the value of commercial properties, using Airport City, Accra, as a study area. It sought to establish a relationship between the methods of financing and the valuation of commercial properties. The research also considered the methods of financing and valuation at Airport City, Accra, and concluded by making recommendations for developers and Valuers. Having analysed data collected using thematic and narrative analysis, it was found that, for developments within the study area, there is indeed a relationship between the method of financing and the value of commercial properties. It was thus recommended that developers consider what method of financing they adopt in determining the value of their properties.

Source: Ashesi
Integrated marketing plan for Care Unit.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Care Unit Ghana is a Non-Governmental Organization founded by Ebenezer Attoh in 2013. It aims to improve the delivery of quick responses to healthcare issues in Ghana, through the use of well trained first aiders and first aid kits. However, the main vision or objective of the organization is to to preserve life and prevent avoidable deaths especially in communities that lack proper healthcare facilities. In its attempt to achieve this objective, the organization holds first aid training sessions or workshops with businesses such as banks, schools and churches, to train their employees on how administer care or first aid to an ill or injured person, using a first aid kit. A thorough study of the market and a needs assessment conducted revealed that the organization has a low customer base which is mainly because the demand for the services of the organization has plummeted since its establishment. The study also revealed that the root cause for this problem is that the organization lacks a well-structured service marketing promotional plan. The purpose of this project is to develop an integrated service marketing plan that will help increase awareness about the organization and its services, which will eventually increase its customer base and maintain it. It has been proposed that a service marketing plan, that focuses on improving promotion using the integrated marketing communication mix, will be the most effective in increasing the customer base of the organization. This is also intended to help the organization achieve its vision of preserving life and prevent avoidable deaths, especially in communities that lack proper healthcare facilities.

Source: Ashesi
The internet usage among secondary school students: a case study on Labone Secondary School

Ghana which is considered as one of the fastest developing country in Africa is also considered as one of the fastest growing countries in West Africa in terms of internet usage. This study is conducted to understand the internet usage among secondary school students. The internet is becoming a platform for various activities and secondary school students are beginning to access the internet for various types of information from various parts of the world and as a means of communication to other people in different place. However, it is not being used to achieve an optimum result that can reflect in the lives of students. The internet has extremely increased the amount of information it provides and it has also developed to serve as a platform for various activities for all age groups in the society. The use of the internet keeps on advancing and improving to suit the needs of various individuals; adolescents, teenagers, youths, the elderly. Various research on developed countries have shown that teenagers go online to find various types information. Notwithstanding, a small amount of research has been done on the online practices of secondary school students. Students use the internet to entertain and educate themselves, nevertheless, this study will explore and provide current information on the internet access among secondary students from a senior high school that is situated in Accra, Ghana.

Source: Ashesi
An inventory management optimization strategy for LittyMart enterprise

This research initially analyzed the current state of the inventory management practices at LittyMart. LittyMart is a limited liability Company that deals in items such as kitchen napkins and underwear for both sexes. This project aims to help optimize the firm’s inventory by creating a simple and efficient tool. Amid the strength of the firm are a good marketing strategy, diverse product list, and good relationship with trading partners. The Weakness of the firm includes the occurrence of holding excesses inventory and stock-outs. The firm also has the opportunity to diversify into other products and also open stores in different market locations. Threats of competition, changes in consumer behavior and supplier manufacturing terms are imminent. The firms operate in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) of Ghana’s informal sector, more specifically, Mokola, which is the number one goods trading hub in the country. The needs analysis used interviews and observations as the methods of data collection and the findings show that LittyMart has captured a considerable market share due to its long years of operation. The results also indicate shortfalls in managing inventory. The survey purposively selected workers of LittyMart for the study, as well as customers and some competitors. Workers were interviewed and surveyed to help the researcher understand the current inventory practices of LittyMart. In addition to that, direct and indirect Competitors, as well as customers, were interviewed to understand the macro environment of the firm. The literature reviewed focused on inventory optimization strategies relevant to Small and medium enterprises (SME’s). The tool was built featuring the ABC and EOQ models. The final tool was then developed using Microsoft Excel, which is stored on Google drive. Google drive permits individuals to log in to make changes. The tool, when implemented, will reduce overstocking and inventory cost thereby increasing profitability.

Source: Ashesi