Economic Aspects of a Resource Sharing Manufacturing Network under Turbulences

Nowadays, manufacturing companies face more difficulties than ever. Unrest in global supply chains triggered by fluctuating customer demand, raw material shortages and crises (Covid pandemic, global warming, wars) complicate the utilization of production resources necessary for economic success. Also, the rapidly changing environment causes existing production plans to be adapted, which results in order changes, causing additional costs for manufacturers. One solution to cope with these problems is cooperation and sharing resources: requesting capacity from partners when having shortages and offering them temporarily in case of excess capacity. In this paper, a platform-based resource sharing mechanism is investigated from the economic perspective. In the mechanism, requests and offers are matched by a central platform applying a complex matching logic. The platform provides valid alternatives based on the incoming ordersthat the requesting company can choose from. Companies are rating each other's performance after each interaction based on delivery accuracy;choosing between resource offers is made based on the cumulated rating about the offeror and the price of the offer. Within this paper, the aim is to investigate the resource sharing mechanism from the economic point of view based on an approach to the responsiveness of a supply chain structure to turbulence, to support decision-makers trying to cope with unexpected changes. For this purpose, here the mechanism is briefly introduced, and basic concepts about turbulences in supply chains are also presented. Cost types related to resource sharing manufacturing companies are distinguished, and the model is validated with agent-based simulation. A simulation experiment is performed to investigate the use-case of outsourced jobs having different price levels. Based on the experiment, it can be concluded that there is a price level limit in such a resource sharing federation, under which it is worth it to collaborate with partners by outsourcing certain jobs to them. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

How Cultural Intelligence Facilitates Employee Voice in the Hospitality Industry

Drawing upon person-environment fit, specifically demands–abilities fit, this paper examines the impact of hospitality employees' cultural intelligence (CQ) on their voice behavior and job satisfaction. Data were collected from domestic contact employees working for restaurants in three major cities in the United States. The results of the PLS-SEM model show that CQ has a positive effect on employees' voice behavior through self-efficacy. Further, CQ has a positive effect on job satisfaction through a sequential mediation of self-efficacy and voice. This study contributes to the CQ and voice literature, utilizing CQ as a person's ability to meet job requirements. This study also has important practical implications for hospitality practitioners who depend on employee voice for the success of organizations in today's ever-changing global environment.

Working in person during the COVID-19 pandemic: The job demands and resources of reopening the economy

This study investigated the effects of working in person during the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived job demands and resources for employees. The job demands-resources (JD-R) model of employee stress indicates that workplace stressors can result in various negative employee outcomes when not adequately buffered by job resources. We extended this model to working in person during the COVID-19 pandemic. We posited that two job demands related to working in person during the pandemic (i.e., the perceived risk of transmitting the disease and job insecurity) would directly influence employee stress. Moreover, we expected that these added job demands would negatively impact employee well-being when organizations do not provide adequate resources to mitigate the risk of disease transmission. Through the lens of pandemic, we contended that any workplace in which employees are susceptible to transmitting the disease may be considered a high-risk environment. Applying previous literature of occupational stress in high-risk workplaces, we discussed how the current health crisis in the United States may increase burnout for employees. To this end, we proposed a model of employee well-being, on which we conducted a path analysis to determine how working in person during the COVID-19 pandemic impacts one's occupational stress and burnout. Analyses indicated that our proposed model did not possess good fit. However, results supported the overall notion that job demands resulting from an increase in perceived risk of the pandemic does indeed increase general work stress, which in turn, increases employee burnout. Implications for reducing the harmful effects of job demands by providing resources which mitigate risk are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Content and process approach to the job demands-resources model of emotional labour: A conceptual model

IMPACTThis article's conceptual model provides a holistic lens for exploring the work environment of emotional labour (EL). Research has demonstrated high levels of burnout and mental health issues among EL workers. The negative outcomes associated with EL work are even more pronounced in the present Covid-19 landscape. By understanding EL workers' cognitive processes, organizations stand a better chance of promoting work engagement, well-being, and effective organizational functioning. Practically, organizations may have to provide training and support to line managers to enable them to evolve within the same mindset as EL workers. Senior managers also have to exhibit visible support to workplace initiatives to allow for consistent implementation of job resources.

Employing Humanistic Teaching Approaches to Promote Student Wellbeing in Higher Education

Given the increasing levels of stress, strain and anxiety brought about by "ongoing challenges of living independently, autonomous learning and peer competition [initially for better grades, and thereafter, for better jobs/careers] [as well as the] … financial challenges established by high tuition and living fees”, tertiary-level students from across the world have sadly been experiencing significant wellbeing issues, including mental health complications. There is therefore an urgent need for educators to employ innovative means of engaging students to neutralise stressful situations that may arise from these global tertiary educational trends, as well as the increasingly demanding pressures generated as a result of needing to adjust to new academic environments and teacher–student relationships in a current COVID-19, as well as a future post-pandemic, world. To that end, this chapter will attempt to put forward the suggestion that humanistic teaching approaches would be ideally suited to address this serious malady inflicting the higher education sector. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.

Beliefs about stress moderate the association between COVID-19-related work demands and burnout symptoms in physicians.

The present study set out to investigate the role of different stress beliefs (positive and negative beliefs about stress, as well as perceived control) on the association between central COVID-19-related work demands and burnout symptoms in physicians during the second lockdown of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. N = 154 practicing physicians (mean [SD] age = 37.21 [9.43] years]; 57.14% female) participated in our cross-sectional German-wide online survey and answered questions about sociodemographic factors, their current work situation, their stress beliefs, and their current burnout symptoms. Moderation analyses revealed significant interaction effects between stress beliefs and specific COVID-19-related work demands on the prediction of burnout symptoms, most consistent with respect to perceived control. Positive believes about stress and its controllability were cross-sectional associated with reduced, negative believes about stress however with enhanced associations between COVID-19-related work demands and burnout symptoms. This finding indicates, if confirmed by longitudinal research, the potential of the usage of stress beliefs in prevention programs for physicians in order to mitigating negative effects of chronic stress.

Nursing home staff perceptions of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

AIMS: To explore how nursing home staff perceived their work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this impacted their well-being. DESIGN: A qualitative interview study. METHODS: Interviews were held with twenty-two registered nurses and assistant nurses from five nursing homes in the Netherlands between April 2021 and July 2021. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) were followed. RESULTS: Five themes emerged from the interviews and indicated that working during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted perceived well-being of nursing home staff. Three themes concerned experiences at work: eroding care, additional roles and workplace support. Specifically, the increased workload with additional tasks, the constant stream of new guidelines and constrictive personal protective equipment caused discomfort and anxiety. Two other themes concerned experiences outside of work: work-life interference and social interactions and status. The nurses reported that when they returned home after work, they were tired and worried about spreading the virus while facing limited social interactions and support. CONCLUSION: The social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted nursing home staff well-being by increasing demands in the absence of adequate resources. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The well-being needs of nurses should receive continued attention to ensure the sustainability of healthcare during future crises. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The nursing home managers participated in recommending the topics to be covered during interviews. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? The pressure of stressful working conditions on the well-being of nurses during the pandemic. What were the main findings? Nurses created strategies to cope with declining well-being. However, the available resources did not alleviate the increased demands caused by the pandemic. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? This study is important for healthcare organizations to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected nurses so that they may better prepare for future crises.

Determining the role and responsibilities of the community epilepsy nurse in the management of epilepsy.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to enhance the understanding of the core elements and influencing factors on the community-based epilepsy nurse's role and responsibilities. BACKGROUND: Internationally, epilepsy nurse specialists play a key role in providing person-centred care and management of epilepsy but there is a gap in understanding of their role in the community. DESIGN: A national three-stage, mixed-method study was conducted. METHODS: One-on-one, in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted online with 12 community-based epilepsy nurses (Stage 1); retrospective analysis of data collected from the National Epilepsy Line, a nurse-led community helpline (Stage 2); and focus group conducted with four epilepsy nurses, to delve further into emerging findings (Stage 3). A thematic analysis was conducted in Stages 1 and 3, and a descriptive statistical analysis of Stage 2 data. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative studies checklist was followed for reporting. RESULTS: Three key themes emerged: (1) The epilepsy nurse career trajectory highlighted a lack of standardised qualifications, competencies, and career opportunities. (2) The key components of the epilepsy nurse role explored role diversity, responsibilities, and models of practice in the management of living with epilepsy, and experiences navigating complex fragmented systems and practices. (3) Shifting work practices detailed the adapting work practices, impacted by changing service demands, including COVID-19 pandemic experiences, role boundaries, funding, and resource availability. CONCLUSION: Community epilepsy nurses play a pivotal role in providing holistic, person-centred epilepsy management They contribute to identifying and addressing service gaps through innovating and implementing change in service design and delivery. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Epilepsy nurses' person-centred approach to epilepsy management is influenced by the limited investment in epilepsy-specific integrated care initiatives, and their perceived value is impacted by the lack of national standardisation of their role and scope of practice. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Only epilepsy nurses' perspectives were sought.

Older workers' work attitudes and behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic: A mediational model

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about employment uncertainty and various unique stressors for workers, underlining the critical need to understand the implications of the pandemic on workers. Prior research documented the adverse effects of job insecurity and job demands on the well-being, work attitudes, and behavioral outcomes of workers;however, less is known about the effects of these factors on older workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, we surveyed 330 workers over the age of 55 in a U.S. Midwestern state. Results of partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis showed that the COVID-19-related stressors (i.e., job insecurity, job demands) are related to lower work engagement, increased turnover intent, and presenteeism behavior. The practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

High-involvement work practices, work engagement and their effects on bank employees' turnover intentions: the moderating role of functional competence

PurposeThis study aims to propose and examine a research model where work engagement mediates the impacts of high-involvement work practices (HIWPs) on bank employees' turnover intentions. Specifically, the paper assesses: (a) the effects of empowerment, information sharing, rewards and training on work engagement and turnover intention, (b) work engagement as a mediator of the effects of these HIWPs on turnover intention (c) and functional competence as a moderator of the effects of these HIWPs on work engagement.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was employed to gather data from 343 employees working in commercial banks in Bangladesh. The authors applied partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the aforesaid linkages.FindingsEmpowerment and information sharing increase bank employees' work engagement, while training and rewards reduce their proclivity to leave. Work engagement partly mediates the relationships of empowerment and information sharing to turnover intention. Functional competence moderates the relationship between three HIWPs (empowerment, information sharing and rewards) on work engagement.Originality/valueThe paper examines the association between HIWPs and turnover intention, which has been subjected to little empirical inquiry among bank employees during a crisis (e.g. Covid-19 pandemic). The paper provides new insights into the underlying mechanism linking HIWPs and turnover intention and highlights the moderating effect of functional competence. Additionally, the study offers new knowledge on the impact of the pandemic on bank employees' HIWPs. Finally, this paper used data gathered from bank employees in Bangladesh, which is an underrepresented Asian country in the extant service research.

A Lost Opportunity? Collective Demands and Migrant Farmworkers in Costa Rica during the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic induced an overexposure of migrant farmworkers' poor working and living conditions in Costa Rica's northern border area and underscored the country's dependence on migrant labor. This created a unique opportunity to position pro-migrant concerns and demand actions from the state. In this article, we assess if and to what extent the actions of the Costa Rican state were influenced by migrant demands, or whether other priorities guided policy. Based on a novel database on protest and collective action (Protestas-IIS) that is fed with national and local newspaper articles, we analyze the demands made by migrants, the private sector and NIMBY movements, and state responses. Our findings suggest that the latter prioritized market concerns and antiimmigrant interests, thereby underscoring lessons from the literature that migrants are among the politically most disenfranchised in society. Their demands were only partially responded to by the state, and only concerning issues that aligned directly with public concerns, in this case related to health.

Burnout among behavior analysts in times of crisis: The roles of work demands, professional social support, and psychological flexibility

Background The purpose of this study was to apply the Job-Demands Resources model as a framework to examine the relationship between work demands and burnout among behavior analysts working in human service settings during the Covid-19 pandemic. We specifically investigated the work demands-burnout relationship and how psychological flexibility, supervisor support, and coworker support related to burnout, whether as moderators or as mediators of work demands. Method A sample of 298 ABA practitioners participated in a cross-sectional investigation in April-May 2021 and reported sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, information about the impact of Covid-19 on work, work demands, psychological flexibility, supervisor support, and coworker support. We conducted regression-based analyses of moderation and multiple mediation. Results Greater work demands predicted higher levels of exhaustion and disengagement. Psychological flexibility and supervisor support partially mediated the influence of work demands on exhaustion and burnout;neither moderated the influence of work demands on exhaustion or burnout. Coworker support did not function as a moderator or mediator in the work demands-burnout relationship. Conclusions Findings highlight the need for effective caseload management and supervision practices, along with initiatives that create opportunities for increased, positive interaction with supervisors and among colleagues. Providing psychological flexibility skills training may benefit behavior analysts as a burnout management strategy. As a personal resource, however, it may be insufficient to mitigate burnout in times of crisis when work demands are higher than usual. Organizations should consider multi-faceted burnout interventions that address personal and workplace factors to both increase personal/job resources and reduce job demands.

Projecting the Electricity Demand of the Residential Sector in Thailand During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The residential sector in Thailand has been a fast-growing energy consumption sector since 1995 at a rate of 6% per year. This sector makes a significant contribution to Thailand's rising electricity demand especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study projects Thailand's residential electricity consumption characteristics and the factors affecting the growth of electricity consumption using a system dynamics (SD) modeling approach to forecast long-term electricity consumption in Thailand. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown can be seen as a forced social experiment, with the findings demonstrating how to use resources under particular circumstances. Four key factors affecting the electricity demand used in the SD model development include (1) work and study from home, (2) socio-demographic, (3) temperature changing, and (4) rise of GDP. Secondary and primary data, through questionnaire survey method, were used as data input for the model. The simulation results reveal that changing behavior on higher-wattage appliances has huge impacts on overall electricity consumption. The pressure to work and study at home contributes to rises of electricity consumption in the residential sector during and after COVID-19 pandemic. The government and related agencies may use the study results to plan for the electricity supply in the long term. © 2023 World Scientific Publishing Co.

Teaching demands and resources: early childhood teachers' experiences of remote and hybrid instruction during COVID-19 in the United States

Anchored in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study investigated the remote and hybrid teaching experiences of seven early childhood teachers (teaching preschool-1st grade) during the 2020-2021 school year amidst COVID-19 in the United States. They were all female (Age = 33-54 years, M = 44 years). Each teacher was interviewed for 30-60 min (M = 40 min) virtually via Zoom. Thematic analysis of the data revealed three main themes linked to teaching demands: (1) the challenge of implementing developmentally appropriate practice effectively, (2) the difficulty of managing the increased teaching workload, and (3) the barriers to promoting student engagement. It also highlighted two salient themes related to teaching resources: (1) institutional support, and (2) emotional support from the students' parents. Embedded within institutional support, there were two distinct types: (1) vertical support, referring to the professional and emotional support from education leaders, and (2) horizontal support, referring to the instrumental and emotional support from fellow teachers.

Factors influencing turnover intention among healthcare employees during the COVID-19 pandemic in the private hospitals of Bahrain

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between polychronicity, job autonomy, perceived workload, work-family conflict and high work demand on the health-care employee turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted quantitative research in private hospitals using a self-administered questionnaire, and 264 respondents participated. The authors also used an analysis of moment structures to determine the relationship between independent and moderating variables. FindingsThe results show a significant positive relationship between polychronicity, job autonomy, perceived workload, work-family conflict and high work demand, affecting turnover intention. This study also found the moderating effect of high work demand on work-family conflict and turnover intention. Research limitations/implicationsThis research was limited to hospitals in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the findings highlight the factors associated with health-care employee turnover intention and only five factors were identified. Practical implicationsThis study enhances the theoretical and practical effects of turnover intention. The results provide a competitive benchmark for hospital managers, administrators and governing bodies of employee retention. Social implicationsIt advances economics and management theory by enhancing the understanding of health-care employees' turnover intention in Bahrain. It serves as a basis for future large-scale studies to test or refine existing theories. Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to adopt extrinsic variables in self-determination theory to measure the turnover intention of health-care employees. However, using resources in a crisis can be applied to any disaster.

"Cardioxy" - A Novel and Portable Instrumentation Amplifier based and IoT enabled ECG device

During the COVID-19 pandemic the healthcare facilities all over world collapsed due to shortage of essential biomedical devices. ECG devices are one of those crucial instruments required for tracing electrical activities of heart. Due to the high cost of gold standard ECG devices used in the medical industries, the availability of on-demand ECG devices was not accessible to everyone. Thus, the need of portable, low cost, on-demand ECG device was needful at the earliest. In this paper we propose a novel, versatile, 3-lead, IoT enabled, LM324/LM741 operational amplifiers in instrumentation amplifier configuration Electrocardiogram machine that is aimed towards providing accurate information about the electrical activity of our heart in real time. In this attempt, we have come up with an analogue circuit design consisting of multiple operational amplifier IC based fundamental circuit blocks. The prototype is designed in such a way that the output of ECG can be visualised worldwide using IoT. © 2023 IEEE.

Teachers' teleworking job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

This research takes insights from the job demand resource model to examine the teleworking job satisfaction of teachers for the period of COVID-19 pandemic. This study evidenced that teachers' satisfaction with teleworking has been reduced as a consequence of the job demand increase. In contrast, access to adequate resources has allowed them to confront the challenges of teleworking, thus increasing their job satisfaction. The adverse effect of job demands on teleworking job satisfaction is buffered by job resources as teachers' required extra means to confront unexpected and increased job demands. The technological gap between younger and older teachers was uncovered.

Energy demand supply of small-scale medical centers in epidemic conditions of Covid-19 with hybrid renewable resources

The energy supply of healthcare facilities is of great importance under different circumstances. In this study, supplying the energy of a clinic using maximum renewable resources under normal and crisis conditions is examined. This paper is novel in that it designs an energy system specifically for times of crisis. The proposed clinic is located in two different regions in Iran. This paper considers a solar panel, wind turbine, battery, inverter, and controller for electricity generation from renewable resources, a steam boiler for heating needs, and a diesel generator as a backup system. Scenarios, including changes in the type of controller and the price of different parts, were examined. In the optimal scenario, where the clinic is in normal conditions in terms of patient acceptance, the net present cost and cost of energy were estimated to be $2.57 million and 0.0606 $/kWh for Rasht, and $3.09 million and 0.0732 $/kWh for Shiraz, respectively. In a new scenario, in a critical time of the COVID-19 outbreak, the net present cost and cost of energy were calculated to be $4.29 million and 0.0608$/kWh for Rasht, and $5.31 million and 0.0755 $/kWh for Shiraz, respectively. Also the clinic will generate an annual income of $0.12 million by selling excess energy produced in this scenario during normal conditions. © 2023 The Author(s)

The experiences of nurses during the COVID-19 crisis in India and the role of the state: A qualitative analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The study documents the lived experience of nurses coping with the double burden of external demands and internal stressors while providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. METHODS: This qualitative study interviewed 18 female nurses who worked in the COVID wards of a major hospital in India. The one-on-one telephonic interviews were conducted with respondents based on three broad open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: (i) external demands such as availability, utilization, and management of resources; (ii) internal psychological stressors, such as emotional exhaustion, moral anguish, and social isolation; and (iii) promotive factors such as the roles of the state and society, and of patients and attendants CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that despite limited resources and facilities, nurses ploughed through the pandemic with their resilience and the state's and society's promotive factors. To improve health care delivery in this crisis, the role of the state and healthcare system has become important to prevent the workforce from crumbling. The sustained attention of the state and society is required to reinstate motivation among nurses by raising the collective value of their contribution and capability.

Antecedents of Nurse Managers' Work Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The responsibilities of nurse managers are complex. Their actions are crucial to providing the best possible care to patients and to the success of health care organizations. Thus, nurse managers' work engagement is essential. However, understanding of the antecedents of nurse managers' work engagement is lacking. The job demands-resources theory posits that work engagement is contingent upon job resources and demands. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore which job demands and resources exert a major influence on nurse managers' work engagement. Considering the literature, job resources and demands potentially relevant to nurse managers' work engagement were identified. To investigate the associations between these potential antecedents and nurse managers' work engagement, the study employed a cross-sectional survey. The dataset for analyses comprised 408 nurse managers in Germany and was analyzed by multiple linear regression. The study variables accounted for 26% of the variance in nurse managers' work engagement. Positive associations were detected between the job resource of empowering leadership and nurse managers' work engagement. Regarding job demands, lack of formal rewards and work-life interferences had negative effects on work engagement. The findings suggest that the job demands-resources theory can explain nurse managers' work engagement. However, not all job resources and demands considered were determined to be influential. In conclusion, empowering leadership should be promoted in the work environment of nurse managers. Nurse managers should be provided engaging financial and nonfinancial rewards. Work-life interferences should be systematically mitigated.