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Book part
Publication date: 6 September 2024

Gavriella Rubin Rojas, Jennifer Feitosa and M. Gloria González-Morales

Mindfulness-based interventions are on the rise in workplace settings to enhance Well-Being and address work stress. Their popularity is in part due to the fact that they are…

Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions are on the rise in workplace settings to enhance Well-Being and address work stress. Their popularity is in part due to the fact that they are often assumed to have a net positive impact on both workers’ Well-Being and organizational functioning. However, the majority of workplace mindfulness practice and research focuses on individual-level mindfulness interventions and their associated outcomes, like reduced stress. However, the modern workplace is highly dependent on positive team functioning, and the impact of mindfulness in teams is lesser known. This review differentiates individual mindfulness from team mindfulness and explores how both individual and team mindfulness impact team functioning. The authors review mindfulness and teams’ literature to understand antecedents, correlated mediators, and consequences of mindfulness in team contexts, team processes, and the boundary conditions related to mindfulness outcomes. This review adds to the budding theoretical conversation regarding mindfulness at work and contributes valuable insight into the practical applications of mindfulness in teams.

Details

Stress and Well-Being in Teams
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83797-731-4

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 17 July 2024

Patrick John Bruce, Victor Hrymak, Carol Bruce and Joseph Byrne

The purpose of this study is to provide evidence to support an emerging theory that interpersonal conflict is the primary cause of workplace stress among a self-selected sample of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide evidence to support an emerging theory that interpersonal conflict is the primary cause of workplace stress among a self-selected sample of Irish construction managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Eighteen construction managers working in Ireland were recruited for this study. Using semi-structured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis as the research methodology, the causes of their workplace stress were investigated.

Findings

Participants reported that the principal cause of their workplace stress was high levels of interpersonal conflict between colleagues. The effects of this interpersonal conflict included avoidance behaviour, ill health, absences from the workplace and loss of productivity issues. Deadlines, penalty clauses, lack of appreciation, cliques, costs, communication, temporary contracts and delays were also reported stressors.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of the study is the small sample of 18 construction managers and the limited geographical area.

Social implications

The social implications of this study could be to clearly identify that interpersonal conflict may be under reported in the construction industry, and there is a possibility that it is being misclassified as other workplace behaviours such as bullying, harassment and workplace violence. If this is so, this could aid future researchers in addressing this challenging workplace behaviour.

Originality/value

The current consensus in the literature is that the three main causes of workplace stress are bullying, harassment and violence. However, the role and importance of interpersonal conflict as reported in this study, with the exception of North America and China, is not reflected in the wider health and safety research literature. In addition, interpersonal conflict and its reluctance to be reported is largely absent from construction safety research. The findings of this study may be explained if the workplace stress research community is currently misclassifying interpersonal conflict as a manifestation of bullying, harassment or violence. If this is the case, interpersonal conflict needs further research. This is to establish if this cause of construction-related workplace stress needs to be reconsidered as a standalone phenomenon in the wider family of challenging workplace behaviours.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 July 2024

Zakaria Boulanouar

This study aims to investigate the reality of relationship banking (RB) in the small and medium enterprise (SME) context, specifically how banks organize activities, define SMEs…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the reality of relationship banking (RB) in the small and medium enterprise (SME) context, specifically how banks organize activities, define SMEs and manage the SME–banking relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative methods, this study uses a case study approach, conducting in-depth interviews with relationship managers from major New Zealand banks. The data are analyzed using thematic analysis with a process- and mechanism-oriented lens.

Findings

The study identifies bank criteria for defining SMEs, considering factors such as business complexity, owner/manager ethnicity and business lending. Banks divide their activities into personal and business banking, with the latter further classified as micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses based on borrowing amounts. Three types of RB emerge, namely, micro-business (online/many-to-many) relationship model (RM), small-business RM (one-to-many) and medium-sized business (one-to-one) RM. This study presents a taxonomy of business banking relationship management models that capture the structure and dynamics of the three RB levels.

Research limitations/implications

Interviews may introduce biases or limited perspectives. Findings specific to New Zealand may not universally apply. Future research could explore different regions and assess the impact of these RB models on SMEs’ financial outcomes and satisfaction with banking services.

Practical implications

Findings assist banks in organizing activities and managing SME relationships. Taxonomy aids in categorizing companies and determining appropriate management models. Consequently, tailored services can be provided based on SME needs, offering customized financial packages.

Social implications

RB models prioritizing ethnicity consideration and personalized services contribute to enhanced financial inclusion for SMEs, thereby fostering broader socioeconomic growth and development, partly through the provision of tailored financial packages. Additionally, relationship managers specializing in specific industries can offer valuable insights and assistance to SMEs, fostering mutual trust and collaboration.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to hypothesize, investigate, identify and provide evidence for three RB levels in SMEs. The presented taxonomy contributes to the literature on the SME–bank relationship by providing a structured framework for effective SME relationship management. Insights can help banks develop strategies and practices for serving SMEs, ultimately contributing to their growth and success.

Details

Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1985-2517

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Worachet Onngam and Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of social media analytics on firm performance using a sample of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand. This study…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of social media analytics on firm performance using a sample of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand. This study also investigated whether entrepreneurial orientation (EO) moderated the effects of social media analytics on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used SMEs listed in the Department of Business Development of Thailand as the sampling frame. Probability sampling was used to draw the sample. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 334 firms. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results supported the positive association between social media analytics practices on firm performance. Moreover, this study found that EO moderated this association significantly. In particular, the positive association between social media analytics practices on firm performance was higher for firms that exhibit a high EO than those that exhibit a low EO. This result indicated that firms that implement social media analytics practices achieved higher performance when they exhibited a high EO.

Practical implications

Social media data analytics should be implemented to strengthen the technological competence of firms. Moreover, firms should integrate EO practices into their implementation of social media analytics to increase their ability to generate substantial improvements in their strategic implementation, thereby enabling them to gain sustainable competitiveness in their market.

Social implications

Because SMEs are the driving force for economic growth and development in Thailand, their ability to achieve higher performance when they effectively integrate EO practices into their implementation of social media data analytics could be beneficial for the sustainable development of Thailand, especially in the current data-driven era.

Originality/value

The result that EO moderates the effect in enhancing social media analytics practices’ influence on firm performance provides new knowledge that extends the boundary of research on this topic. The authors provided a theoretical explanation to clarify the way the implementation of social media analytics practices should be integrated with EO to increase the level of performance that firms achieve from such practices.

Details

Journal of Asia Business Studies, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1558-7894

Keywords

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