Conference Proceedings
Permanent URI for this community
This Community features the proceedings of conferences hosted by the KNUST or other bodies but had staff from KNUST attending and making presentations
Members of the KNUST community are strongly urged to submit their presentations and conference proceedings to the repository office, Prempeh II Library for upload
Browse
Browsing Conference Proceedings by Issue Date
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemThe impact of training and development on job performance (A case study of the Judicial Service of Ghana)(2009-08-05) Kennedy, JosephThe Judicial Service of Ghana as a Public Service Institution is the organ responsible for the day to day administration of the Courts and Tribunals of the land. To achieve the above function of the Judicial Service of Ghana, part of its budgetary allocation has been earmarked solely for training of judges, magistrates and judicial staff to enhance their capacity to perform their duties effectively and efficiently so as to achieve the vision and mission statements of the Service. To this effect, the judicial training institute which has the mandate to promote effective training of judges, magistrates and judicial staff, has over the years conducted and continue to provide training to judges, magistrates and judicial staff to build their capacity to perform their functions effectively. Notwithstanding the huge investment in training by the Judicial Service of Ghana, the service is confronted with a lot of challenges in achieving its vision and mission statements. These challenges include delays in the processing of court cases and the need to constantly upgrade the skills of judicial staff, judges and magistrates to cope with new trends in efficient justice delivery. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of the huge investment made in training on job performance of judicial staff. The researcher used both primary and secondary sources of for the conduct the research. The research findings revealed that the training conducted by the Judicial Service of Ghana for its employees was very negligible. The research further recommends that the frequency of Training provided by the Judicial Service of Ghana should be improved to ensure that more employees have access to Training and Development. Again, Training and Development offered by the Judicial Service of Ghana should ensure a better understanding of the Mission and Vision statement of the Judicial Service of Ghana so that, employees can identify themselves with the organizational values in the discharge of the duties.
- ItemCommunity participation in project preparation and management in the Upper West Region.(2010-07-12) Aalangdong, Edmund NibeneeOver the last two decades Ghana and many other Sub-Saharan countries have undergone several economic restructuring through the assistance of the International Monitory Fund, World Bank and other international bodies. Most of these assistance have come in the form of aids, projects and financial assistance, all aimed at reducing the poverty among its people. The Upper West Region of Ghana, which is currently the poorest Region with 9 out of every 10 of its people being poor, is no doubt one of the major beneficiaries of donor assistance and government supported projects and the two study areas, Sissala East and Wa municipality, have experienced their fare share of such projects. The six selected communities: Kassanpouri, Sentie, Tumu, Bugubelle, Bamahu and Nakori are active areas of development interventions in the Region as a result of endemic poverty found in these areas. The study therefore tried to do an analysis of community participation in project preparation and management among these projects in these communities to ascertain the impact of these projects and to determine the level of community involvement in the implementation of the projects under study (EU micro project- donor project, Village Loans and Savings Association- NGO project and Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty- Government project). The categorization of these projects into Government projects, donor projects and NGO projects is to help ascertain among these projects, the one that involves much more community participation in its operations. Data collected from both secondary and primary source from six purposively selected rural communities in the Upper West Region were analysed and some of the major findings include: Government Supported Projects, LEAP in Sentie and Kassanpouri • The study revealed that the government supported projects (LEAP) was totally an initiative government brought down to the beneficiary communities. The communities were only in support of it since they felt it was free money that would bring them some relief. Donor Supported Project, EU micro project in Tumu and Bugubelle Relatively the donor supported projects offered more beneficiary involvement in the projects’ activities. • The study revealed that the EU project was conceived and initiated by the government in collaboration with the donors. The projects (a three unit classroom block and a CHPs compound) at the community level were however initiated by the community members themselves through community animations conducted by the Project District Coordinator. It is worth noting that even though the communities did not initiate the projects at the national level, the facilitating agencies (Sissala East District Assembly and project coordinator), through participatory methods were able to facilitate the communities into accepting and owning the projects. NGO Supported Projects, Village Loans and Savings Association (VLSA) in Bamahu and Sentie • The study revealed that the project was an initiative of Plan Ghana and Care International with support from Barclays UK with the aim of inculcating in people the habit of savings culture. The communities were in support of it since they knew it was for their own benefit. Re-Orientation of the Governmental Implementing Agencies, the need for a policy dialogue between donors and recipient governments on the need for beneficiary participation at all stages of the project cycle and the involvement of beneficiary communities in procurement processes to ensure transparency are among some of the recommendations proposed in the study. It is anticipated that the implementation of the proposed recommendations in this study would help ensure adequate community participation in project preparation and management.
- ItemThe effect of organisational structure on project performance: the case of Aga Ltd.(2011) Aniagyei, WinfredGold production for Anglogold Ashanti Ltd- Obuasi Mine (AGA Ltd) has declined significantly in recent times. One of the strategies adopted to make the mine sustainable is by implementing capital projects in order to meet the medium and long term goals. However studies have shown that an appropriate organisational structure is contingent upon the type of work performed and the environment in which the organisation conducts its’ Business. Hence the major objective of the study is to examine the relationship between the organisational structure and the performance of projects in AGA Ltd-Obuasi. The research adopts an inductive case study approach with both qualitative and quantitative research method for collecting and analysing the data. Sample of the various categories of workers was taken from the Company’s total population using convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Interviews and questionnaires were employed as the main tool of data collection for the study. A Crosstab analysis was adopted for the analyses of the relationship. The study found out that the organisational structure in place of AGA Ltd-Obuasi is mechanistic which relates to projects in a very weak matrix structure due to the nature of its operations, the strategy adopted, the size of the company and the need to respond rapidly to the dynamic complexity of the external environment. However this structure is the source of major problems in implementation of projects as the study revealed and concluded that some of the organisational structure related factors significantly impact inversely to the categories of the key performance index namely time, cost and quality. Based on this, a ‘projectised’ structure i.e a project structure was recommended to be adopted among other recommendation made by the study.
- ItemThe impact of human resource management practices on Teachers’ turnover in private basic Schools: A case study of some selected Schools in Obuasi Municipality(2014-07-24) Akaadom Kwasi, EricThe purpose of the study was to ascertain the impact of human resource management practices on teachers’ turnover intention in basic private schools in Obuasi Municipal Assembly. Specifically, the study sought to assess the impact of human resource management practices on teachers’ turnover intention, and to evaluate the human resource practices, which correlates high with teachers’ turnover, and draw comprehensive measures that can be adopted to improve HRM practices and reduce employee turnover intention. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional case study and exploratory design using quantitative method. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select 200 teachers, head teachers and proprietors to participate in this study. The data were gathered by administering structured questionnaires. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. The results indicated that performance appraisal and training and development were the most commonly used human resource management practices (mean of 3.16 and 3.00 respectively). Results of regression analysis indicate that much of the variation in the dependent variable is explained with adjusted R-square of 0.152 and Fvalue of 6.770 (p = 0.000) indicating that human resource management practices has an effect on teachers’ turnover. The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that employer-employee relationship and performance appraisal were the two human resource management practices that had greater influence on teachers’ turnover. They explained about 15% of the variation in teachers’ turnover.
- ItemExamining the emerging career trajectories in quantity surveying in Ghana(November, 2015.) Nortey, EmmanuelThe Quantity surveying career has been revitalized during the last few years since developing demands for building and variations in the business and the building procedure bid both trials and chances. In Ghana, the profession has reacted to the increasing demands of clients and the public with the emergence of new career trajectories to enable the profession be more valuable in offering extended services. This study therefore purports to examine the emerging career trajectories in the Ghanaian Quantity Surveying Profession with the view to establishing the different aspects of these career trajectories within the Ghanaian profession, also to determine the level of adaptation within the construction industry and its effects on the professional and lastly the challenges associated with its emergence. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in tandem. Using a triangulation of survey, interviews and observations and a simple random sampling technique, data was collected from 75 professionals who have had considerable experience in the field of quantity surveying. The study revealed among others that there are emerging career trajectories such as investment appraisal, procurement services, whole life costing, risk management, value management, facility management, project management, environmental services and costing, technical auditing, sustainability advisors and sub contract administration. Although these emerging career trajectories have been adapted within the construction industry there are however shortages of competencies in some areas such as investment appraisal, environmental services and costing and sustainability advisors. The effect of these services has had positive impressions on the profession as professionals have become more valuable and competent in the rendering of services. However, there are challenges associated with such career paths such as the role of leadership and the competency level of the professional within these emerging trajectories. Informed recommendations such as strategy partnership with countries that has developed these emerging trends, training and iii i development in areas of low competencies level i.e sustainability advisors, environmental services and cost and investment appraisal are encouraged. The profession should also be customer focus since the client satisfaction is the ultimate aim in our service.
- ItemAssessing corporate governance practices in selected microfinance institutions in Ghana(September, 2015) Yankah, Nana Kojo EnyanMicrofinance institutions (MFIs) are playing an increasing role in the delivery of financial services to SMEs in Ghana. They have proven to be a powerful tool for promoting inclusive economic growth and employment generation. However, events such as huge financial scams by Onward Investment Limited in 2012, the PYRAM case and the seemingly bankruptcy of Noble Dreams Financial Services have raised many questions about trust, credibility and governance issues in the financial sector. This study therefore sought to assess governance practices in some selected Microfinance institutions in the Ashanti Region. The research was descriptive in nature. It combined both quantitative and qualitative approaches in the data analysis. The population comprises 170 “Tier 2” Microfinance Institutions operating in the Ashanti region out of which a sample of 4 institutions with a total of 116 respondents were chosen using convenience sampling technique. The main data sources included both primary and secondary. At the end, the study found some conflict of interest situations resulting from the fact that majority of CEO’s in the selected MFIs doubled as chairs of their board. Again the study found that many Microfinance institutions in the Ashanti Region did not have structured policies for reviewing CEOs compensations and performance. Reducing owner concentration was also identified as the most important variable in improving governance practices within MFIs. To address the challenges enumerated, the researcher recommends that MFIs review the role and contribution of non-executive directors to ensure that all directors have a sound understanding of the company’s operations. It is also important to ensure that directors have access to all the information required to function effectively. Auditing of financial statements must be tightened to meet the agreed International Accounting Standards.