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THE EFFECT OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN GHA...
69
Victoria Boateng, Abigail Naa Koshie Odarly Mensah, Francis Osei, Enoch Kwablah Teye*
Presbyterian University, Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Marketing and Corporate Strategy, Gnat Institute for Research and Industrial Relations Studies (Gnat Irirs) Box Ks 6006, Abankro-Ejisu
49-57
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSJMS.v3.i8.0183
Background: The aim of this study is to investigate how employee engagement impacts the performance of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. Specifically, it examines the relationship between employee engagement (cognitive, emotional and behavioural) and important performance dimensions such as productivity, profitability and employee retention.
Design/methodology/approach: The research design adopted was quantitative and involved the use of structured survey questionnaire to get responses from 384 SMEs' employees/managers in Accra, Ghana. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression technique using IBM SPSS version 26.
Findings: The findings show that employee engagement is a key positive factor of organizational performance. There are three dimensions of engagement: cognitive, emotional and behavioural, and they are all statistically significant predictors of firm performance. The results showed that emotional engagement was the strongest, which highlights the significance of psychological safety and organizational commitment in relation to performance outcomes in SMEs in Ghana.
Research limitations/implications: The study has a cross-sectional design where the relationship between the variables cannot be clearly established, the data were collected from selected SMEs in Accra limiting the generalizability of results. Longitudinal designs and samples spread across more regions and sectors in Ghana should be considered for future research.
Practical implications: SME owners and managers should implement structured engagement initiatives (such as recognition programs, participative management, and ongoing education) to build a highly engaged staff that will lead to better performance results. The strategies are especially significant in the context of resource limitations of SMEs in developing economies.
Originality/value: This study is an empirical study on employee engagement and SME performance from a Sub-Saharan African context as it brings nuanced insights to the literature on employee engagement and SME performance on how the dimensions of employee engagement related to performance outcomes in a different way in resource constrained organizational contexts.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION I...
51
Victoria Boateng, Francis Osei, Abigail Naa Koshie Odarly Mensah, Enoch Kwablah Teye*
Presbyterian University, Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Marketing and Corporate Strategy, Gnat Institute for Research and Industrial Relations Studies (Gnat Irirs) Box Ks 6006, Abankro-Ejisu
1-10
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSJAHSS.v3.i8.0260
Background: Internal communication is that channel used to create, process and convey information within an organization.The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of internal communication on employee productivity in HEIs in Ghana. In particular, the study investigates the factors that affect the productivity of academic and non-academic workers in the educational institutions in Ghana, namely, vertical communication, horizontal communication and digital communication channels.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Quantitative explanatory research design was used. The sampling method for data collection was the stratified random sampling technique, where a sample of 412 number of participants was selected from five public universities in the Ghanaians. The descriptive statistics and correlation Pearson and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data while being assisted by IBM SPSS version 26 software. The mediation analysis used Hayes' PROCESS Macro (Model 4).
Results: The findings found that all three vertical, horizontal and digital elements of internal communications have a large positive effect on employee productivity. The strongest predictor was via the digital communication channels and the second strongest predictor was from horizontal communication with peers. The results indicated that internal communication had a partial mediation effect on organizational trust and employee productivity, which illustrated that organizational trust, was a psychological medium in strengthening employee productivity from internal communication.
Research limitations/implications: The study is cross sectional in design and limited to the five public universities in Ghana making it hard to make a cause-effect statement and generalizing the findings to a broader sample for which there are other studies. Longitudinal study designs should be adopted, and the studies should be extended to cover other sub-Saharan countries, such as private HEIs.
Practical impacts: University administration and HR practitioners need to put emphasis on communication system integration, open information sharing and digital communication facilities. Insonia Ways of Communication (OWC) is important to improve staff productivity and institutional performance as it ensures open timelines, and rich feedback loop.
Originality/value: This study fills gaps in the literature related to HEI management and organizational communication through empirical findings in a Sub-Saharan African university setting, and through the finding of the mediated effect of organizational trust in the internal communication-productivity relationship, which has not received much attention in the higher education literature to date.
Perception of Effectiveness of Land Reclamation Strategies and Housing...
159
Kientei, Philip Ayibaemi1, Dappa, Daddy Ibiewotogha2, Imiete Godspower3, Kpang, MeeluBari Barinua Tsaro*4 1-2Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, 3Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Orowurokwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 4*Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Ogoni
37-48
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSJMS.v3.i8.0182
This study examined the perception of effectiveness of land reclamation strategies and housing delivery in South-South Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey design was adopted in the study. The Taro Yamene formula was applied on the target population to determine the sample size for the study. Accordingly, out of 400 copies of questionnaire administered, 395 copies were returned implying that the data for this study was generated through questionnaire administration. Afforestation was found to be largely ineffective, with only 22% of respondents perceiving improvements in environmental sustainability (WM = 2.0) showing poor implementation and weak enforcement as key obstacles. Similarly, drainage and irrigation systems were deemed ineffective for wetland reclamation which was consistent with findings in literature on inadequate infrastructure and poor maintenance. Arising from the findings, implementation and enforcement of stronger policies to ensure land reclamation benefits both low- and high-income populations, revision of regulatory frameworks to promote equitable access to reclaimed land for housing development as well as giving priority to reclaimed land for investment in road, drainage, and utility infrastructure to make the land more suitable for sustainable housing development, reducing environmental risk and improving quality of life were strongly recommended among others.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Balance Scorecard of Manufacturing...
The goal of the study was to examine the effect of Corporate social responsibility on
corporate performance of manufacturing firms from Balanced scorecard perspective. The study
used data from financial statements of firms listed on the Nigeria stock exchange for the period
2005 to 2024. Hausman test, Multiple Regression and various diagnostic tests were conducted on
data set. Result indicates that while the various CSR strategies matter for corporate performance,
their effects differ depending on the measure of performance considered. Social, economic and
environmental costs all have significant effects on Returns on Assets and Net profit Margin, the
effect of social cost is however positive while that of economic cost is negative. Thus, a
mutually exclusive outcome of the social and economic costs exists on corporate performance of
the firms. All independent variables exert significant impacts on internal efficiency; while social
cost had significant negative effect, the effect of economic costs is positive demonstrating a
mutual exclusive effect. Also, SOC, ECC and ENV exert significant and positive effects on
growth thus demonstrating complementary effect All CSR variables have significant effects on
customer loyalty although the effects are mutually exclusive. The findings of the research
highlight the effect of economic and social costs could be mutually exclusive or complementary
depending on the yardstick of measurement. MPS improves for firms that engage in social CSR
initiatives, but not for firms that engage in economic cost CSR initiative. The study also
provided evidence that it is economic costs that improves internal efficiency in terms of overall
resource use by manufacturing firms in Nigeria. This outcome therefore presents a dilemma to
managers who want to improve both financial performance and internal efficiency
simultaneously. We recommend CSR should therefore be considered as a strategic adaptation
rather than a deliberate manipulation strategy of management in order to drive long term
performance, especially in relation to the market performance of firms. Social and economic
Strategy of CSR are complements in terms of market performance of firms. Thus, firms that seek
to improve their market performance do not need to overemphasize the need to engage in social
CSR in order to influence investors’ decisions. These firms can as well employ economic
strategy to generate the same outcome. Economic CSR strategy improves customer loyalty. We
recommend managers should improve production in order to improve their positions before
customers. Results reveal that customer loyalty favors firms with heightened economic activity
necessitating minimization of social costs over time.