The Trust of the Information from Employer Rating Platforms
Employer rating platforms are an important source of information for potential candidates to collect and provide information about the employer. The information is beneficial and different to official company information. The research investigates the reasons to use employer rating platforms by individuals. Trust is important for the exchange of information and use of employer rating platforms. The analysis of empirical data obtained in survey has been done with indicators of central tendency or location. For empirical data analysis it used ANOVA, t-test and Spearman correlation coefficient to investigate the significance of differences in evaluations between demographic groups. The researc…
Total quality management tools and techniques for improving service quality and client satisfaction in the healthcare environment: A qualitative systematic review
The aim of the given research is to analyse total quality management tools for improving service quality and client satisfaction in healthcare settings through a systematic qualitative review. Data was collected through the web of sciences (WOS), Scopus, EBSCO, PubMed, and Medline. Initially, we found 573 articles from all the sources, but after eliminating the non-relevant articles, only 24 usable articles were finalized. Furthermore, 12 articles were purely related to TQM, service quality, and client satisfaction. This study concludes that TQM practices and tools improve service quality and client satisfaction in healthcare organizations. This study provides excellent managerial and pract…
Downstream Intra-organizational Product Market Competition Between Employees: A Theoretical Approach
To investigate the downstream internal competition and its effect on firm’s performance comprehensive literature review has been conducted. The concentration is on recognized social dimensions, similar focus is on communications, interactions and interrelationship between departments and business units. The Integration of intra-organizational competition and internal social comparison balances the literature review. Although it is quite controversial to practice and encourage internal competition having it’s sustained effect on behavioral of employees. The basis of literature review relies on human tendency to compare and coordinate work activities inside firm’s boundaries. The literature e…
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) in Construction Workers and Main Causes
Construction industry still is characterized with physically demanding work duties despite the ongoing modernization of new technology. Construction work requires physical and psychosocial effort, working in compulsory and awkward postures. WRMSD are the most common health problems among employees in construction. The aim of this study was to determine WRMSD reasons caused by physical load and psychosocial risks at work for painters and tilers in the construction enterprise. Results of the study shows that causes of WRMSD in employed in construction, are not only physical risks at work, but also psychosocial risks, as well as individual attitude towards one’s own health.
Code of Breakthrough Innovations
Innovations make a significant contribution to economies, while at the same time 85% of innovations in the market are unsuccessful. This is a record high number of unsuccessful innovations, considering the high macro-level support of innovations and researches, devoted to innovations. The study analyzes in detail the technological essence of innovation process, its constituent components, the elements of commercially viable innovations and their interrelations with the aim to find the common thread of successful innovations in the market. The result is the conclusion that there is a specific algorithm that is repeated in the context of commercially successful innovations. The study offers t…
Insomnia management for ageing employees with job stress
In Latvia, the number of aging employees suffering from sleep disorders caused by job stress and poor sleep hygiene is increasing. The non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment is prescribed for these employees in the sleep management. The aim of this research is to clarify the efficiency of using psychotherapy with learning and observing sleep hygiene, combined with the melatonergic drug during a six-week treatment course applied to 25 both male and female intellectual workers over 65 years suffering from insomnia caused by job stress. For the patients representing Group "A" cognitive hypnotherapy, intervention for improving coping with job stress and usage of the melatonergic drug was…
Physical Workload Analysis in Processing Operations: Metal Processing Manufacturing
The aim of this study is to perform physical workload analysis in metal processing industry operations (assembly operators, packaging operators and inspection staff) using objective ergonomics research methods based on the heart rate monitoring and muscle fatigue. The study was carried out in a medium sized metal manufacturing enterprise in Latvia in the department of manufacturing of ironing boards. Assembly, packaging operators and inspection staff agreed to take part in the objective heart rate monitoring and muscle myotonometry measurements. Results show that workers are at high risk of developing WMSDs, since they are subjected to heavy manual work and load on muscles during work. Acco…
Possibilities of Using Lean and Efficiency Improvement Methodologies in Service Area
According to The Toyota Way (Liker, 2004), Lean is a philosophy that was initiated by Henry Ford and later finalized by Toyota in Japan in the 50s and 60s. years. Lean helps to gain a competitive advantage, reduce production costs, deliver high quality products to the customer, and ensure profitability by implementing Lean thinking and tools. Lean and related efficiency improvement methodologies (Lean) are used most in the industrial manufacturing companies and operations, there is little work that researched use of Lean in the service industry. The main goal of the study is to research use of Lean among service area companies in Latvia, define prerequisites for success and measure relevant…
The effects of a medical hypnotherapy on clothing industry employees suffering from chronic pain.
Abstract Background Problems associated with pain in several body regions due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs), repetitive movement and negative stress at work are quite common in many manufacturing industries of Latvia, int.al. clothing industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficiency of the psychotherapeutic intervention using medical hypnotherapy (MH) program for mind-body relaxation with pain-blocking imagery, cognitive restructuring of unpleasant physical and emotional experience. Methods 300 sewers and 50 cutters with chronic pain were involved in the study. Self-rated WRMDs symptoms, pain intensity and interference were assessed using the extended version o…
Stress at Work and Physical Load in Professional Sport
Various professional sports have reached a high level of development. Stress at athletes’ work partly characterizes quality of psycho-emotional work environment. Psychological effects caused by stress frequently change into physical effects. At the same time, it should be noted that athletes do not receive adequate attention from the occupational health and safety point of view. The aim of the research was to investigate influence of work stress and physical load on professional volleyball athletes during trainings in comparison with volleyball competitions. The results reveal that the volleyball players are generally exposed to physical load (94%) and 82% - to work stress and other psycho-…
Four Conceptual Perspectives of Innovation Components
The study provides a detailed analysis of high impact to market innovations, without sorting whether these are innovations of low or high technological progress. The research base sample includes a detailed analysis of 58 consumer product innovations that reached a high market impact over the period 2014–2017, i.e. the consumers purchased them considerably more than other innovations. The study examines the components of these innovations in detail; they are also grouped into 4 basic groups. It is concluded in the study that the high impact to market innovations are made up of recurring 34 components. The study also concludes that the open innovation components only partly overlap with the …
Successful Creation and Communication of Human Resources Strategies in Germany
Human resources strategy is very important for companies and need to be accepted by the employees. The human resources strategy is responsible for the success of the company. This paper investigates the opportunities to involve employees in the human resources strategy creation and to communicate the human resources strategies via different communication channels. The paper compares the different opportunities to present the human resources strategy e.g. online based and offline based channels and compares by the different options to involve employees in the creation of human resources strategy.
Human Factor and LEAN Analysis at Industrial Manufacturing Plants
The aim of the research was to find out effective identification and prevention of ergonomics problems in industrial metal processing manufacturing plant, based on human factor workload analysis and LEAN failure mode and effect analysis. Creation of safe, effective work places, emphasizing human oriented approach and implementing ergonomics in business process management is one of the main conditions for sustainable development of an enterprise. For the research were chosen packaging, assembling and quality control manufacturing plant operations due to main complaints from workers about physical overload, intensive work pace and task complexity. Human factor analysis provides holistic under…
Human Resource Development Opportunities in Latvian Health Care Organization
The aim of the research was to investigate the existing human resource management in a health care organization and develop guidelines for improvement, based on the analysis of the theory and empirical research results. In the research a leading health care organization in Latvia was selected. In total, the organization employs over 1300 people, including more than 600 doctors. The study analyzed in two departments: medical center and health center. Several research methods were applied, incl. SWOT analysis, survey and statistical data analysis. The results of the research indicate that employees lack knowledge and motivation that affects their development and career opportunities in the or…
Barriers to the Development of Regional Competitiveness in the Context of Regional Economies - EU, Latvia, Region Vidzeme Case Study
Innovation potential and the creation of new knowledge, which is considered to be one of the main drivers of economic development, is particularly emphasized in region development [1, 2, 3]. However, in effect regions face significant barriers to the development of innovation and smart specialization. Despite strong institutional support impulses, the current contribution of regions to national competitiveness is debatable. As an example, the study analyses one of the regions of the EU Member State Latvia (Vidzeme), its contribution to national productivity and the main obstacles to the development of the region’s innovations - smart specialization. The results obtained in the context of a …
Causes of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Textile Industry
In Latvia textile industry workers suffer from work-related muscular skeletal disorders (WRMSD). The aim of the research is to study the causes of WRMSDs for the tailor’s profession in a medium- sized enterprise. This research involved 120 tailors. Modified Standardized Nordic questionnaire, Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion, Key indicator method was used for analysis of physical workload during manual handling operations. Main survey results show that tailors suffer from pain in shoulders, wrists and fingers, have repetitive arm movements in sitting compulsory work position. Accordingly to Key indicator method tailors refer to hard work level but Borg scale results indicates the load betwee…
Ergonomic Risks in the Printing Company and Workers’ Wellbeing
The aim of the study was to analyze the ergonomic risks in the printing company and to study the impact of ergonomics risks on employees’ wellbeing. The study involved 67 company workers aged 18 to 67 years. In the study, physical load evaluation methods and questionnaire on welfare and psychoemotional risks at work, adopted by Swedish Environmental Research Institute, were used. It was proved that production workers were subjected to increased physical workload. At work they are exposed to physical pressure on hands, shoulders and back. The workload is more affected by the increase in work tension due to limited time of order execution. It was concluded that ergonomic risks partly affect e…
Personal Gains from Materials in Social Networks
Importance of gains from social networks is analyzed in great extent in many countries by many researchers as social networks are reaching more and more importance. Research methods applied: analysis of scientific publications, survey of social network users on gains from materials in social networks. For evaluations by respondents in survey it was used evaluation scale 1–6 as it is used in grading system in Germany. Survey data results are analyzed by indicators of descriptive statistics – indicators of central tendency or location: arithmetic mean, median, mode and indicator of variability – standard deviation. In the research there were found differences by countries in use of social net…
Effect of intra-organisational competition on organisational performance indicators
The objective of the research is to investigate intra-organisational competition (IOC) emerging from the interactions of internal social comparison (ISC) and intra-organisational evolution (IOE) effecting organisational performance (OP). Communication between subordinates, comparing contribution, ability to perform and business management strategies resulting in IOC. The attention is on recognised social dimensions and equal emphasis is on business management practices. The literature attempts’ to recognise ISC and IOE and its effect on OP balances the conceptual paper. For the purpose Google Scholar, Emerald Insight, EBSCO Host and Science Direct database has been used. Literature relies o…
Ergonomic Indicators and Physical Workload Risks in Food Production and Possibilities for Risk Prevention
The food industry is the most important and largest manufacturing industry in Latvia, producing almost a third of all manufacturing output. Employees in a food production enterprises are exposed to a variety of ergonomic risks: monotonous work movements that can be repeated up to 1000 times a day, overloads that exceeds 30 kg in lifting and moving operations, forced working postures, fast work pace. The aim of the study was to identify ergonomic indicators related to physical load for packers in one medium-sized company producing potato starch in Latvia. When summarizing the results of the survey on burden-lifting rates, it should be noted that, in a shift, 30% of packers lift the burden fr…
Physical Load Among Construction Workers and Analysis with Objective Ergonomics Research Method
There is growing number of work related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in construction industry. Employees in construction professions admit physical load and discomfort in various body parts after the work. Accordingly to Eurostat statistical data 60 % of total work related diseases are attributed to musculoskeletal disorders in Latvia. The aim of this study was to determine physical load of construction auxiliary workers and bricklayers using objective ergonomics research method HR monitoring and subjective ergonomic risk assessment methods. The research involved full time 8 auxiliary construction workers and 7 bricklayers. Analysis of the heart rate monitoring data proved that o…
The Trust of the Information from Employer Rating Platforms
Employer rating platforms are an important platform for potential candidates to collect and provide information about employer. The research investigates the reason to use employer rating platforms by individuals. The focus is on the factor trust for employment rating platforms Trust is important for the exchange of information and use of employer rating platforms. This paper evaluates the factor of trust for the use of employment rating platforms. The analysis of empirical data obtained in survey has been processed with statistical analysis. The research has been done by survey with 514 participants who are living in Germany. The research provide the result that the use of employer rating …
New Innovation Identification Approach Development Matrix
Innovations have become one of the contemporary economics key driving forces behind competitive advantages and have become socioeconomic category of their own. Diffusion of innovations, which is an integral part of the scientific and technological base of national economies, promotes structural changes in economy. Companies have to pay close attention to market trends and have to be able to identify and create new innovations, thus increasing their competitiveness and meeting consumer demands and expectations. The objective of this research is to evaluate the concept of different innovations in organizations and propose a complex approach to identifying innovations in the form of a matrix t…
Measuring Muscle Fatigue in Relation to the Workload of Health Care Workers
Abstract Number of work related musculoskeletal disorders due to ergonomics risks among workers in Europe, including Latvia, is growing. Employees in health care professions admit physical load and discomfort in various body parts after the shift. According to Eurostat statistical data 60% of total work related diseases are attributed to musculoskeletal disorders in Latvia. The aim of this study was to determine the muscle fatigue caused by physical load for surgeons, anaesthetists and geneticists in one of the largest Hospitals in Latvia. The research involved 9 surgeons, 9 anaesthetists and 7 geneticists with chronic pain (for four months or more) in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and l…
Factors and Barriers of Implementing Early Warning, Support and Second Chance Support Systems for SMEs in the Baltic States
COVID-19 creates insolvencies time bomb, even if economies are supported by the state. Following the liquidation or bankruptcy of a business, entrepreneurs in the EU mostly opt for a paid professional job rather than re-establishing their business [1]. Those entrepreneurs who re-establish their business after bankruptcy are experiencing faster growth than start-ups. The study points to significant current barriers and factors influencing the implementation of support, early warning and second chances in the Baltic States. There is a need to increase the competencies of both the businessmen and support providers on crisis management and the support already available in the broadest sense. By…
Integrating Individual and Intra-organizational Learning for Calibration of Organization’s Performance
The pragmatic literature review explores the significance of individual and intra-organizational learning for organization’s performance. Literature review depicts topic actuality, conceptual contribution, research methods and scientific discussions. The relativity of learning for individuals and organization have been evaluated on behalf of selected scientific papers. The articles reviewed for developing literature review have shown similarities of subject knowledge. The comparative analysis of conceptual framework is based on examination of experiments and modelling documented in previous research. Learning is considered as a process of transferring skills and knowledge from recognized in…
Benefits of Employees Social Network Sites Profiles for Job Applicants
This paper investigates the benefits of social network site (SNS) profiles of employees for candidates. The research is interested in identifying the value of information contained within SNS profiles to applicants. The knowledge that potential candidates use SNS profiles during the employment seeking process is important for companies to know how to use such profiles successfully. The digitalization and change of the labor market are new circumstances for companies. That needs innovative and new solutions to support the employment seeking process. The research used an online survey for target group with 362 respondents per analyzed item. This research provides a deeper insight into the ope…
Physical Load and Preventive Measures in Metal Manufacturing Industry
In today’s advanced work environment, workers are still exposed to ergonomic risks in the work environment and employees are exposed physically hard work that includes moving loads and frequent repetitive movements at fast pace. For the ergonomic risk analysis and workload assessment, three work operations with the high physical activity were selected: the welder’s workplace, the ironing board sorting line and the ironing board’s packing station. Subjective and objective ergonomics research methods were used. Research results show that employees in selected work operations are exposed to a fast work speed and often, monotonous movements at the sorting line and lifting heavy loads at the iro…
Assessment of skeletal muscle fatigue of road maintenance workers based on heart rate monitoring and myotonometry
Abstract Objective This research work is dedicated to occupational health problems caused by ergonomic risks. The research object was road building industry, where workers have to work very intensively, have long work hours, are working in forced/constrained work postures and overstrain during the work specific parts of their bodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the work heaviness degree and to estimate the muscle fatigue of workers after one week work cycle. The study group consisted of 10 road construction and maintenance workers and 10 pavers aged between 20 and 60 years. Methods Physical load were analyzed by measuring heart rate (HR), work postures (OWAS) and perceived exertio…