Factors influencing color selection in clothing for adolescent girls; A case of Luangwa District in Lusaka Province [PDF] CHOLA MARTINA, PROF. KANYATI MALVEN, MWANZA LAWRENCE K.
Clothing is a factor in everyday human life and interactions with others. Clothing is a systematic means of transmitting information about the wearer. Adolescent girls dress to succeed role of attraction to their opposite sex. This study was designed to find out factors influencing the way they dress. This study aimed to determine factors influencing clothing selection among primary and secondary school learners in rural areas with reference to Kataro secondary school, Luangwa primary school, and Feira day secondary school in Luangwa district. The main objective of this study was to identify the physical, psychological, and socio-economic factors influencing pupils ‘clothing selection. The study was confined to 3 randomly sampled schools in Feira constituency, Luangwa district of Lusaka province, in which a total of 200 learners were selected randomly. The study established that sources of information on clothing that learners use include family members, friends, tailors, and window shopping and fashion magazines. The physical characteristics of the clothes influencing clothing selection include item construction and finishing, fabric quality, and cleaning and care. Psychological factors such as smart looking, acceptable style personal beliefs and values, latest style, and unique outfits influenced clothing selection.
To adolescents, clothes serve a wide variety of functions. Adolescents use clothing to express themselves and to obtain social approval. It is also part of their self-image and a means to declare their self-importance. Further, clothing is a key way to identify with and compare oneself to peers. Of all age groups, adolescents are most likely to devote a disproportionate amount of time and attention to clothing and appearance, McCabe & Ricciardelli, (2011).
Keys words: Adolescents, Clothing, Color, Fabric, Factors, Fashion, Influencing, and Selection
AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY OF DHOFAR AUTOMOTIVE [PDF] Syeda Umme Habiba, Mohammed Javad Hesam, Nasser Sulaiman Ali Al Qamshuii, Al Moalla Abdullah Mohamed Al Dughaishi, Badriya Al Balushi
The Nobel covid-19 had devastating effects on every business sector let it be the food, fashion, clothing, or automotive industries. Oman like other countries took all the necessary steps required to minimize the spread of the virus by implementing policies and regulations around the Sultanate. The study highly focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the automobile industry by taking Dhofar Automotive as an example to present the research objectives. Both primary and secondary sources are used to collect data for this project. Primary data is collected using interviews and questionnaires by interviewing the managers and circulating the online questionnaire among the employees of Dhofar Automotive. The secondary data i.e., the financial data is collected from financial reports, published in journal articles, newspaper articles, websites, and books. The qualitative analysis is done through thematic and descriptive analysis. The SWOT and PESTEL analysis were also conducted to analyze the qualitative data. The quantitative analysis of the statistical data like dates, GDP, growth rate, economic rate, etc. is conducted. The data analysis is done using SPSS and MS excel tools. This study aims to determine the impact of covid on the selected automobile company, how it managed to survive over 3 years of the pandemic, how it sustained its business, how the company determined the most profitable year in the pandemic, micro and macro factors that influenced their activities and possibly suggests some IT tools that the company can implement to develop and sustain in the future.
The Effects of Total Quality Management
on Business Sustainability in National Bank of Oman
(NBO) [PDF] Ayman AL-Bahri
For organizational performance in public and private organizations, Total Quality Management has been identified as a key indicator. TQM has become a crucial part of growth and development due to the growing expansion of the financial sectors of Oman. TQM practices which may differ in financial firms are said to be important for the effective adoption of TQM. Therefore, this study is carried out and the purpose of this study is to conduct a survey to investigate the effects of total quality management on business sustainability in the National Bank of Oman (NBO). The data underlying this study is collected by using questionnaire survey in National Bank of Oman. The findings of this research reveals that there is effect of TQM on business sustainability also the total quality management and sustainability are important approaches to the success of the performance of the National Bank of Oman. The results of this research show that TQM and sustainability have a positive impact on organizations.
Keywords: Effect, Total Quality Management, Sustainability, NBO, Organizational Performance, Financial Firms, Sultanate of Oman
ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT PLANNING PRACTICES AND PROJECT PERFORMANCE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INTENSIFICATION AND FOOD SECURITY PROJECT (SAIP) [PDF] INGABIRE Mary
BSTRACT
In spite of the role of project resource management in order to improve the performance of project but many projects in Rwanda keep failing resulting in loss of millions of dollars for organizations. Project failure is also the main challenge of our country for example, 55% of the executed fail to meet its objectives (RDB, 2020). The research thesis “Project Planning Practices and Project Performance; a case of Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP)” was guided by the following objectives: to determine the effect of human resource planning on performance of SAIP Project, to analyse the effect of financial resource planning on performance of SAIP Project, to determine the effect of material usage planning on performance of SAIP Project and to assess the effect of time management on performance of SAIP Project. The literature review focused on agency theory and resource dependence theory and empirical review based on the objectives of the study. The literature review discusses the conceptual review and research gap. The population of the study is 92 and the sample size which was used in the study is 92. Therefore, researcher used universal sampling to select 92 employees. Questionnaire and documentary review were used as tools of data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistic such as multiple linear regressions was used to analyse data. For the first objective the results indicate that human resource planning has significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β1= 0.246, p-value=0.004<0.05. For the second objective, the results revealed that financial resource planning have significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β2=0.181, p=0.033<0.05. For the third objective, the results revealed that material usage planning has significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β3= 0.395, p=0.000<0.05. For the fourth objective, the results revealed that time management has significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β4= 0.127, p-value=0.031<0.05. The implication in this study is that all target hypotheses were accepted. The findings revealed that SAIP project perform well .These are evidenced by the overall view of respondents on performance of SAIP project was very high with mean score of 4.29 and the standard deviation of 1.16 which implies that there is strong evidence of existing of fact and heterogeneity response that Performance of SAIP project was at very high extent. The researcher suggests that SAIP project should equip the human resources through appropriate and constant training programs addressing the performance of agriculture projects.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INTENSIFICATION AND FOOD SECURITY PROJECT (SAIP) [PDF] MARY INGABIRE
BSTRACT
In spite of the role of project resource management in order to improve the performance of project but many projects in Rwanda keep failing resulting in loss of millions of dollars for organizations. Project failure is also the main challenge of our country for example, 55% of the executed fail to meet its objectives (RDB, 2020). The research thesis “Project Planning Practices and Project Performance; a case of Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP)” was guided by the following objectives: to determine the effect of human resource planning on performance of SAIP Project, to analyse the effect of financial resource planning on performance of SAIP Project, to determine the effect of material usage planning on performance of SAIP Project and to assess the effect of time management on performance of SAIP Project. The literature review focused on agency theory and resource dependence theory and empirical review based on the objectives of the study. The literature review discusses the conceptual review and research gap. The population of the study is 92 and the sample size which was used in the study is 92. Therefore, researcher used universal sampling to select 92 employees. Questionnaire and documentary review were used as tools of data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistic such as multiple linear regressions was used to analyse data. For the first objective the results indicate that human resource planning has significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β1= 0.246, p-value=0.004<0.05. For the second objective, the results revealed that financial resource planning have significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β2=0.181, p=0.033<0.05. For the third objective, the results revealed that material usage planning has significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β3= 0.395, p=0.000<0.05. For the fourth objective, the results revealed that time management has significance positive effect on SAIP project performance as indicated by β4= 0.127, p-value=0.031<0.05. The implication in this study is that all target hypotheses were accepted. The findings revealed that SAIP project perform well .These are evidenced by the overall view of respondents on performance of SAIP project was very high with mean score of 4.29 and the standard deviation of 1.16 which implies that there is strong evidence of existing of fact and heterogeneity response that Performance of SAIP project was at very high extent. The researcher suggests that SAIP project should equip the human resources through appropriate and constant training programs addressing the performance of agriculture projects.
EFFECT OF BUDGETING PRACTICES ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF HOSPITALITY SECTORS OF RWANDA: A CASE STUDY OF NOBLEZA HOTEL & SHAMI APPART’S HOTEL [PDF] Thierry Wamungu
The purpose of this study was to assessing the effect of budgeting practices and financial performance of hospitality sectors of Rwanda. The specific objectives: to examine the effects of participatory budgeting on financial performance of Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel; to determine the effects of corporate budgeting on financial performance of Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel; to analyze the effects of incremental budgeting on financial performance of Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel and to establish the effects of activity-based budgeting on financial performance of Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel. This study was designed as descriptive study for Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel using the survey method; a case study was described the analysis of budgeting practices and financial performance of hospitality sectors, the researcher was acquired knowledge regarding the subject under topic. It is a qualitative analysis that involves careful observation of a situation. All the respondents from the population of Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel to respond to research questionnaires. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data. As far as this study is concerned, the population was comprised of employees of Nobleza Hotel & Shami Appart’s Hotel targeting 60 employees. To describe target population of a study as the point of focus from which a generalization was made regarding the research findings. Thus, a sample size of 60 people as respondents.
THE EXTENT OF INTERNET EXPOSURE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT ST. BENEDICT COLLEGE OF COTABATO, INC. [PDF] Claire A. Macabalang, LPT
The study was conducted to determine the extent of the internet exposure of the High school students at St. Benedict College of Cotabato, Inc. The specific research questions of the study sought to find out the high school students, the level of the internet literacy, the extent of the internet exposure, the advantages and disadvantages of internet and the importance of internet to the respondents. To answer the questions raised in the study, the descriptive survey method of research was used. The self-made questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The respondents are mostly comprised of males, with 50.27 percent than female respondents. More than half of the high school population have a computer with internet connection at home. Out of 254 respondents, only 0.39 percent do not know how to use internet. In spite of integrating computer subjects in the curriculum with hand-outs manipulation.
Results revealed that high school students use internet because of doing research works or school activities. This could mean that the students are required to research assignment, projects and reporting. It was also found that the advantage of internet is helping the respondents to learn, enhance knowledge and discover new interesting ideas. The data revealed as disadvantage that using the internet makes one feel superior and powerful in the classroom over than with their classmates and teachers. The study concluded that the high school students of St. Benedict College, with the help of their teachers are capable of supplementing themselves with interesting knowledge information beyond what is being learned in the confines of the classroom. Recommendations were provided at the end.
Keywords: Education, Information Communication Technology, Internet literacy, Cyberbullying
SELECTED PERFORMANCE VARIABLES: THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO THE NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST RESULTS IN ENGLISH AND ACADEMIC GRADE IN ENGLISH [PDF] Arabia A. Kalaing, MAELT, LPT
The study generally aimed to find out the relationship between the Learners’ National Achievement Test (NAT) Results in English and their Academic Grades in English in relation to the identified performance variables; learner factors, teacher factors, school factors, home factors, and environmental factors. Specifically, this investigation aimed to address the performance level of the learners in terms of NAT in English and Academic Grade in English as well as the relationship between the learners’ NAT scores in English and their academic grade in English. The significant relationship between the learners’ regard and teachers’ regard on the learners’ level of performance in NAT in English were also determined. Based on the findings, an intervention was proposed.
The study is a descriptive-correlational research method. All the facts and data gathered were carefully considered, analyzed, and interpreted. The researcher made inferences and generalizations out of the data gathered. The researcher utilized a self-administered survey questionnaire for the quantitative probe. The questionnaire contained the items in which answers were solicited from the respondents through the identified performance variables that affects their performance in the National Achievement Test.
Based on the data, the study generated the following findings; the learners’ NAT Performance in English was found out to be in the Low Mastery level with a mean of 2.55, the result shows that the learners’ English Academic Performance in Grade 6 is Approaching Proficiency as revealed by the weighted mean on 81.87, the findings also revealed that learners regarded themselves as factors in the NAT result in English as indicated by the overall weighted mean of 2.99 described as agree. In the same way, they also regarded their teachers as factors in the NAT result in English as proven by the overall weighted mean of 3.08 labeled as agree. In addition, the learners also regarded school, home, and environment as all factors in the result of NAT in English. These were justified by the overall weighted means of 3.03 for school factors, 3.17 for home factors, and 2.87 for environmental factors which were all labeled as agree, in the teachers’ perspective, they also regarded the learners, teachers, school, home, and environment as factors to the learners’ NAT result in English as indicated in the overall weighted means of 2.80 for learner factors, 3.26 for teacher factors, 2.98 for school factors, 2.77 for home factors, and 2.76 for environmental factors. All the weighted means have description of agree, there is a significant relationship between learners’ NAT result in English and the learners’ grades in English with computed r-value of 0.279, and the result concerning how the five variables affect the learners’ NAT result in English had the computed r-value of 0.302 which means that there is a significant relationship between learners’ regard in NAT result in English and teachers’ regard in relation to the performance variables; learner factors, teacher factors, school factors, home factors and environmental factors.
Based on the findings of the study, the researcher concluded that there is a need for the teachers, school, home, and the learners’ environment to work collaboratively and be supportive of the learners’ academic grade in English so that the learners would maximize the English learning opportunity leading to higher English grades that would capacitate them and eventually will get high a score in the NAT examination.
Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, this study offers the following recommendations; the schools where the study was conducted must strengthen the NAT review of the learners to improve their performance in NAT, the school administrators may consider providing conducive school environment for learning for the environmental factors can weaken or accelerate learners’ learning, the learners should improve their studying habits in English so that they will get higher score in the NAT in English, the teachers must use varied teaching strategies in English to increase learners’ interaction and comprehensibility of the lessons that would help them performed well in the NAT in English, the parents must be supportive in the academic and extra-curricular activities of their children to motivate the students to perform well in school which will also lead them to excel in the NAT, and the future researcher shall conduct similar study to other setting to further validate the result of this study.
Keywords: National Achievement Test, National Achievement Test Results, Performance Variables for Secondary Students, Home Factors, Environmental Factors, School Factors, Learner Factors, Teacher Factors, Academic Grade in English.
A study on non-compliance with national building code in private housing reconstruction at indrawati rural municipality of sindhupalchok district [PDF] Bikram rawat
Non-compliance with the Building Standards compromised the National Reconstruction Authority’s objective of ensuring earthquake resistant housing construction. Identical to all earthquake affected municipalities, the Indrawati Rural Municipality has some cases of non-compliant households with the building codes. Against this backdrop, this study examined factors behind non-compliance with the Nepal National Building Code and its magnitude in the given context of technical assistance and economic condition. For achieving the stated objectives, this study collected primary data from house owners, contractors, consultants, municipality and NRA technicians. The secondary data was collected from various different sources.
It was found that there were four hundred twenty-two non-compliant houses. Among them the highest caseloads were concentrated in wards number 7 (16.7%) whereas ward number 1 had less than 1%. The higher construction cost and inadequacy of housing grant were the major contributing factors. None of the non-compliant households could secure concessional loan which forced them to rely on cooperatives, private lenders or other informal lenders which exposed them to exorbitantly high interest rate.A number of caveats were also identified in technical assistance: non-motivated, ill-trained and inadequate number of technicians was another contributing factor. In the federal context, all municipalities have to adopt the building permit system for ensuring compliance with the building code. In addition, intensive hand holding is required for planning and designing the house and supervising the construction for which adequate provision of technicians in the municipality is indispensable. Households’ access to finance has to be enhanced employing various instruments such as initiating rural housing insurance could be one of them.
Key words: Non-compliance, Seismic-resilient, Concessional loan, technicians
EVALUATION OF THE OPTIMAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY IN THE ACCUMULATION PHASE [PDF] Jihun Lim, Jongwook Lee
The importance of the individual asset management in the accumulation phase is becoming more crucial in recent years due to increasing longevity risk. This paper investigates the optimal static investment strategy of individuals in the accumulation phase under several as-sumptions on the labor income stream, pension contribution, and financial market. We employ two kinds of measures in the evaluation of different investment mix. First, we use certainty equivalent measure to evaluate welfare effects of using a certain investment strategy over others. Second, we also employ ruin probability which measures the chance of reaching zero wealth before the time of death. Our analyses based on the utility measure suggest that a risk-loving individual should optimally invest all the assets to stocks while a 25% risky investment is optimal for a very risk-averse individual. We also find that a full risk-free investment may lead to a disastrous situation if we consider the ruin probability during post-retirement period. Our study implies that government should make more efforts to boost the financial literacy of the people to invest more in stocks during their working period.
EFFECT OF MORTALITY IMPROVEMENT ON THE BUDGET PROJECTION OF THE BASIC PENSION IN KOREA [PDF] Alex Lee and Jongwook Lee
In Korea, basic pension provides a stable income to the elderly who have low saving to live in their post retirement period. Given the worsening longevity risk and aging problem in Korea, sustainability of the basic pension system is of great importance. Therefore, this study investigates how the budget projection of the basic pension system will be impacted by different assumptions on the mortality im-provement. We employ several previously published mortality tables to derive different speed of mortality improvement. Subsequently, we apply the estimated future mortality rates to forecast the number of elderly populations as well as the future budget projections. Our results reveal substantial differences in budget projections depending on the assumptions of the mortality improvement, indicating that correct forecast of the mortality rates is the key to budget projection of the pension system.
