Intention for international assignment among workers in Ghana: Modelling the role of motivators, demotivators and cultural disposition.

This study examined intention for international assignment among workers in Ghana by modelling the role of motivators, demotivators and cultural disposition on such intentions. The cross-sectional survey design was used to sample 723 workers drawn from Northern Ghana. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire. The Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse the data collected. The study found from individual workers' and developing economy perspectives that cultural disposition influences motivation for accepting international assignments and expatriates' intention to accept international assignments. Motivation and demotivation among workers were also found to have had a statistically significant relationship between expatriate intention and significantly mediated the relationship between cultural disposition and expatriate intention to participate in international assignments. Cultural disposition was, however, found to have a non-significance relationship with expatriates' intention to accept an international assignment. It is therefore recommended that human resource managers should make international assignments attractive for workers and expose workers to cross-cultural training through job rotations, working in teams and experiential training. It is expected that such opportunities prepare individuals for an international assignment.

Post-Covid Lockdown Assessment of Blended Learning Approach for Distance Education in Ghana: implications for human resource managers and curriculum implementers.

This study assessed the blended learning approach for distance education and its implications for human resource managers and curriculum implementers. The study used the descriptive survey design from the quantitative approach. A sample of 552 was drawn from a study population of 2208 postgraduate students pursuing their distance programme countrywide with public universities. Data was collected with a self-developed questionnaire and was analysed with Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). It was found that there was a significant relationship between challenges with face-to-face and the usefulness of face-to-face, challenges with online learning intention and the usefulness of online intention (decision to continue or discontinue with online learning as against the traditional face-to-face mode). Also,  there was a significant relationship between the challenges of online intentions and the usefulness of online learning; the usefulness of face-to-face and usefulness of online learning, and the usefulness of online learning and challenges with online learning. It was further found that challenges with both face-to-face sessions and online learning needed to be resolved to ensure successful blended learning for postgraduate distance learners. It was therefore recommended that the human resource managers and curriculum implementors should ensure that the right type of courses are taught on the online platform and the remaining courses are taught using the face-to-face mode. It was further recommended that more postgraduate study centres be opened to reduce challenges associated with face-to-face sessions. Also supports in terms of online tools, internet data and requisite skills should be provided to minimise challenges associated with online learning among postgraduate distance learners.

Challenges and coping strategies among distance education learners: Implication for human resources managers.

This study examined challenges and coping strategies among distance education learners and their implications for human resources managers. The quantitative and descriptive survey design was adopted, and a sample of 1358 university students pursuing distance programmes was drawn from a study population of 44,458 distance undergraduate and postgraduate students. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire, and the data obtained was analysed with Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study found that instructional challenges, psychlogical challenges, socio-religious challenges and institutional challenges had a statistically significant relationship with coping strategies and educational output among distance learners. Coping strategies also obtained a statistically significant relationship with educational output. The four main effective coping strategies identified among distance learners were problem-focused, emotion-focused, preventive and proactive coping strategies. It was recommended that human resource managers provide orientation, counselling on coping strategies, decent and suitable teaching and learning facilities, supply modules and communicate assessment feedback on time, and provide competent and committed course tutors to help reduce challenges faced by distance learners.

Effect of Occupational Health and Safety on Employee Performance in the Ghanaian Construction Sector.

The contribution of the construction sector to the socio-economic development of Ghana cannot be underestimated. However, these benefits are not without challenges such as frequent industrial accidents and diseases leading to the loss of lives of workers and or influencing employee and organisational performance. Construction firms are therefore required to ensure workers' health and safety at the construction sites. This study therefore explores the influence of occupational health and safety (OHS) on construction workers' performance in Ghana. This study employed the descriptive research design from the quantitative approach, and a sample of 120 employees was drawn out of 200 workers from the sector. Means, standard deviations and multiple standard regression were used to analyse the data. The study found that OHS policies in the construction sector had a statistically significant effect on employee performance and related well with best international practices. However, the construction sector lacks regular health and safety induction, orientation and refresher courses for construction workers. Hence there were still occupational accidents and diseases affecting workers in the sector. For fear of being sacked, workers hardly report pains and injuries suffered at the construction sites. Also, construction workers felt that the high cost of training could explain why employers were not providing regular refresher training and induction training on OHS in the workplace. The study, therefore, concluded that more efforts were required from the management of construction firms than workers, as opposed to the position of Heinrich Domino's theory, to ensure occupational safety and health in the sector. It was recommended that the management of construction companies in the sector should prioritise the health and safety of workers over the economic concern with regard to the cost of training.