Journal of teaching and learning for graduate employability, Feb 12, 2024
Higher education providers have redefined their focus to include work-integrated learning (WIL) a... more Higher education providers have redefined their focus to include work-integrated learning (WIL) as an alternative way to prepare graduates for professional and future employment. Although WIL was designed to enhance graduates' work readiness, there is little evidence that the program supports the development of behavioural and employability competencies among participating students. Thus, this study aims to predict the effect of WIL through the partial least square path model on seven employability competencies. The sample consisted of 375 finalyear engineering students from two Nigerian universities who had participated in a WIL program. A two-stage composite-based structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. The average variance extracted and Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio were used to establish the validity and reliability of the instruments. A structural model was used to test the hypothetical constructs' relationship and level of significance. The findings supported all hypothesized direct relationships that WIL enhances graduate employability skills. The study concludes that WIL has immense benefits for students, including developing employability skills (i.e., Analytical, adaptability, communication, fundamental, ICT, interpersonal, and 4IR skillsets) for future employment. Consequently, it was recommended that higher education providers strengthen and establish frameworks for effective work-integrated learning program to enhance graduate employability.
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
This paper focuses on employee engagement in a sector that transitioned from a fully government-o... more This paper focuses on employee engagement in a sector that transitioned from a fully government-owned to a privatized entity while retaining the majority of the legacy staff and bringing in new employees. The electricity sector has always piqued the interest of investors due to its strategic importance to the growth and development of other sectors, particularly in developing countries. This paper investigates some of the factors that influence employee engagement in the Nigerian power and electricity subsector. The study includes 824 employees from Nigeria's downstream electricity sector. Descriptive and ordinal regression analyses were used to determine the relationships between the variables. The study reveals that parameters such as office ambiance, clear communication, tool availability, health, and safety have relationships with or impact employee engagement. As a result, organizations' management must pay attention to and improve on them in order to retain their emplo...
This paper explores the employees' readiness in the manufacturing sector for the fourth industria... more This paper explores the employees' readiness in the manufacturing sector for the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) vis a vis the 10 critical skill-sets identified by the World Economic Forum (WEF). We took a critical review of relevant theories and highlighted pragmatic solutions. Data collection for this study was obtained through a questionnaire among the employees of a brewing production plant in Nigeria. Using the 5-point Likert scale, 231 copies of the questionnaire were administered to workers on site. The study results are reported using a sample t-test to represent the values of Mean (M), Standard Deviation (SD), and Cronbach Alpha to test for the instrument's internal consistency. The analysis results revealed that most skillsets that require continuous career and employability in the 4IR are seen as low among the sampled organization employees, with an average mean score of less than 3.41. Interestingly, service orientation and people management skills are ranked the highest readily available skill among the workers. Many studies look at graduate work readiness, while attention to current employees' context is just beginning to gain traction.
The 21 st -century 4IR workplace is riddled with rampant transformational processes that create m... more The 21 st -century 4IR workplace is riddled with rampant transformational processes that create multiple opportunities and challenges. Globally connected economies demand that learning and development (L&D) specialists transform workforce intelligence and business dynamic capabilities. Although the literature is limited on the evolving role of L&D specialists; however, a baseline study was required to gain a theoretical understanding of what transformation was essential to the L&D evolution. Findings indicate that the L&D specialist job must evolve to include these five roles: co-creators of learning portfolio and strategic knowledge; facilitators of change and innovation culture; builders of relationships and collaboration partnerships; managers of employee networks and communities; and researchers and social scientists. The paper highlights the benefits of the evolved L&D specialist to workforces, businesses, and societies. Conceptually, the paper's contribution is the Transformational Model for L&D Specialists for 21 st Century 4IR Workplaces, clearly indicating how the five roles can be adopted in five steps, with skills and competencies. This paper contributes to theory by adding to the L&D body of knowledge and practically offers stakeholders a model to empower L&D specialists operating in the 4IR workplace. Businesses, employees, and societies can benefit from the theoretical and practical implications offered in this paper.
Measuring human capital development (HCD) return on investment (ROI), risk, and knowledge gaps ac... more Measuring human capital development (HCD) return on investment (ROI), risk, and knowledge gaps across selected occupations in South Africa.
Mitigating the impact of cross-culture on project team effectiveness in the Nigerian oil and gas industry: The mediating role of organizational culture and project leadership
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is more than just technology-driven change, disruptive inn... more The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is more than just technology-driven change, disruptive innovation impacts core industries, including the informal sector. Expectedly, the revolution will raise the level of innovation and creativity of the manufacturing SMEs through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Unfortunately, fewer studies attempted to examine the knowledge level of SME's adoption of 4IR technologies, and their benefits to the sector in low-income countries, especially in Africa. This research paper takes a closer look at the expected roles of SMEs. It examines the emerging roles of SMEs in the 4IR towards sectoral growth and intending transformation of the informal sector in Africa. Twenty-nine studies dealing with this range of topics are examined in the framework of a systematic review. Although the reviews showed that the level of awareness on the benefits of adopting 4IR technologies in manufacturing SMEs is increasing, research has not highlighted the specific roles expected of SMEs in the digital revolution, especially in low-income countries like Africa. The study identified from the literature that if SMEs are fully transited into industry 4.0, small businesses in Africa will mobilise future jobs, create a new business model, and promote the internationalization of SME products, among others. The study proposed a framework to facilitate the role of SMEs in the 4IR. A unique regional approach towards governance and cooperation focusing on 4IR to grow the activities of the SMEs for regional development may be necessary for Africa.
The study investigates the impact of encouraging supervisor behavior on enjoying success at work.... more The study investigates the impact of encouraging supervisor behavior on enjoying success at work. Further, it examines the mediating role of psychological well-being on the relationship between family support supervisor behaviour and thriving among Nurses in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. One hundred and fifty nurses participated in the study. The hypothesized model was used to test descriptive and structural equation modelling. Findings failed to support hypothesis one as no direct relationship exists between family support supervisor behaviour and thriving at work. The results supported hypotheses two and three, indicating a positive and significant relationship between family supportive supervisor behaviour, thriving and psychological well-being. Furthermore, psychological well-being successfully mediates the relationship between family support supervisor behaviour and thriving at work; thus, hypothesis four was supported. Family-support supervisor behaviour policies a...
The current shift in the world of work, moving from a conventional to a digitalized workplace, ha... more The current shift in the world of work, moving from a conventional to a digitalized workplace, has necessitated that professionals embrace and prepare for emerging work patterns. This study evaluates the readiness of human resource (HR) professionals for future work, given the emerging trends of the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution in Nigeria. This is particularly important because the HR professionals are responsible for the entire workforce in any organization and there are concerns that if HR is left out in the current transition to the fourth industrial revolution, many business segments will witness setbacks. The study leveraged on primary data and a survey of 218 HR professionals was conducted across organisations using survey monkey. Chi-square test of independence was used to ascertain the HR professionals' readiness, vis-a-vis their current grade level, supervisory responsibilities, and personal development plans. Findings revealed that most HR professio...
Professional certification, a proficiency to validate employees' competency and readiness for... more Professional certification, a proficiency to validate employees' competency and readiness for career development, has recently become a subject of inquiry among researchers. There are concerns about employers' demand for foreign in place of local professional certifications in employment decisions, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study examines the impact of indigenous and foreign professional certifications on employee career development in developing countries like Nigeria. A survey questionnaire was designed to collect data from certified and non-certified human resource professionals in Nigeria. A structural equation modelling analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between the exogenous and homogenous constructs. Findings revealed that local and foreign certifications influence the career development of the sampled employees. However, the model's explanatory power shows that foreign certification has a greater influence on career devel...
The emerging work context of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has increased the industry... more The emerging work context of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has increased the industry's calls for future-capable graduates who can demonstrate digital literacy and innovation knowledge, and other behavioural competencies for employability. Gaps between work integrated learning (WIL) and 4IR competencies in driving graduates' transition to the employment of the future exist in the literature. With a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach, this study examines the nexus between WIL, graduate employability, and future job. It further examines whether 4IR skillsets can boost (mediate) the effectiveness of WIL in enhancing graduate employability. With a correlational non-experimental research design, 375 engineering students from two universities in Nigeria were sampled. A composite-based SEM, comprising measurement and structural assessment model, was used to test the hypothesized model, implemented in SmartPLS software version 3.3.3. The instrument's validity ...
The 21 st-century 4IR workplace is riddled with rampant transformational processes that create mu... more The 21 st-century 4IR workplace is riddled with rampant transformational processes that create multiple opportunities and challenges. Globally connected economies demand that learning and development (L&D) specialists transform workforce intelligence and business dynamic capabilities. Although the literature is limited on the evolving role of L&D specialists; however, a baseline study was required to gain a theoretical understanding of what transformation was essential to the L&D evolution. Findings indicate that the L&D specialist job must evolve to include these five roles: co-creators of learning portfolio and strategic knowledge; facilitators of change and innovation culture; builders of relationships and collaboration partnerships; managers of employee networks and communities; and researchers and social scientists. The paper highlights the benefits of the evolved L&D specialist to workforces, businesses, and societies. Conceptually, the paper's contribution is the Transformational Model for L&D Specialists for 21 st Century 4IR Workplaces, clearly indicating how the five roles can be adopted in five steps, with skills and competencies. This paper contributes to theory by adding to the L&D body of knowledge and practically offers stakeholders a model to empower L&D specialists operating in the 4IR workplace. Businesses, employees, and societies can benefit from the theoretical and practical implications offered in this paper.
Nile Journal of Business and Economics, May 3, 2020
This study aimed at investigating how firms can manage sustainable innovation through workers' au... more This study aimed at investigating how firms can manage sustainable innovation through workers' autonomy and knowledge management. Data for this study was collected from 391 employees working in two brewing firms in Nigeria. Participants were made to respond to questionnaire on workers' autonomy, knowledge management and innovation. The study was cross-sectional, and it adopted both quantitative and qualitative approach. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on impact of workers' autonomy and knowledge management on firm level innovation (product, process and administrative innovation). Indepth and key informant interviews were conducted using interview guides. Regression was used to analyze data from the quantitative source, while the qualitative data was content analyzed. Workers' autonomy and knowledge management had positive impact on process and administrative innovation in the two breweries. Autonomy and knowledge management had no impact on product innovation. Findings from in-depth and key informant interviews provide no support and revealed why workers' autonomy and knowledge management do not have impact on product innovation in the brewing firms but provide support for process and administrative innovation. The practical implication of these findings and recommendations for future research on workers' autonomy and knowledge management to enhance creativity and innovation were discussed.
The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent to which organizational innovation and human r... more The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent to which organizational innovation and human resource management are related; the state of human resource management and innovation in Africa particularly in Nigeria; how effective human resource management can enhance innovation in the organization. Its key focus is to explore the extant literatures that analyses the possible relationship between human resource management and innovation in the organization and particularly to identify the key human resource management practices and how they can enhance innovation in the organization. This paper build a number of research questions particularly in the area of the awareness of organizational innovation by human resource practitioners in Nigeria, few findings were nib in the bud from the existing literatures as well as the practical experience which will serve as the basis for future research. This paper establishes how some selected human resource function such as recruitment and sel...
Awareness and Knowledge of Coronavirus Pandemic as Correlates of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Nigerian Perspective
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2020
COVID-19 has caused unprecedented changes to our society today more than ever, imposing new relat... more COVID-19 has caused unprecedented changes to our society today more than ever, imposing new relationshiorder and causing untold economic and psychological har
COVID-19 lockdown and psychological distress: how Nigerians fared
International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, 2020
COVID-19 has recently caused unprecedented changes to our society causing untold economic and psy... more COVID-19 has recently caused unprecedented changes to our society causing untold economic and psychological hardship. This study examined COVID-19 knowledge and gender differences on psychological distress (PD); and how social isolation and age influenced PD among 289 respondents in Nigeria. Majority of respondents have the knowledge of the disease (94.5%), modes of transmission (98.9%) symptoms (94.5%), suggesting prevalence of adequate knowledge of COVID-19. Government responses to the pandemic and palliatives were perceived to be largely insufficient. On the effect of knowledge on PD, the results revealed negative relationship while gender was significant on PD. Social isolation and age, both significantly shows positive relationship with the level of PD, indicating that PD increases as social isolation intensifies, and could worsen among the elderly. The study concludes that government needs to intensify awareness creation as well as incorporate psychological assistance to ease the fear and anxiety, thereby improving better health outcomes.
Social Demographic Factors and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Adoption Constrains Amongst Small and Medium Scale Farmers in Nigeria
This study examined the probable effects that socio-demographic factors and constraints has on IC... more This study examined the probable effects that socio-demographic factors and constraints has on ICTs employed in farm activities among two local governments of Edo State, Nigeria. A random sampling technique was used to collect data from 75 small and medium-scale farmers through 150 structured questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that farmers in the location sampled uses ICT in farm activities, with the frequency of use influenced by age, educational status, and other allied factors. The result of ANOVA shows that educational variation is a strong factor (p< 0.05) influencing the adoption of ICT in the regions. Against the backdrop of these findings, it is suggested that a holistic approach towards the use of ICT in farm activities be developed and supported by government with respect to ICT infrastructural acquisition, farm extension services, ICT training, and financial support to farmers. These me...
Effective dissemination of knowledge among healthcare professionals using information and teleco... more Effective dissemination of knowledge among healthcare professionals using information and telecommunication technology has been identified as an important tools to improve qaulity service delivery. This study provide succinct explanation of the constraints of using information technology in the management of knowledge among diverse healthcare professionals in federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The study specifically focus on factors militating against the effective use of information technology application to manage knowledge to promote interprofessional collaboration for improved quality service deleivery. Cross-sectional data were collected from 479 healthcare workers across the federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Using the Relative Importance Index (RII), the results show that inadequate ICT infrastructure (R = 0.79), inadequate technical support (R = 0.78), ICT illiteracy (R = 0.77), inadequate management support (R= 0.76), behavioural and personal characteristics (R = ...
Uploads
Papers by Waliu Adegbite