Influencing Factors Affecting Women Participation in Political Party Leadership in Northern Ghana (Published)
This study explored factors that influence women participation in political party leadership in four constituencies of Tamale in the Northern Ghana of the Republic of Ghana. Quantitative research was employed along with questionnaire administered. Ordinary least squares method of regression with a dependent variable as women participation in political party leadership roles were applied. The independent variables were religious affiliations, educational background, financial status, and level of social stereotype as well as the leadership skills of the respondents. The results showed that religious affiliations, financial status and leadership of the women were positively related to women participation in political party leadership roles and statistically significant at 1% level. Also, social stereotype was found to be negatively related but statistically significant at 1% level of significance. Education was found to be negatively related but statistically insignificant. The study therefore recommends that political parties should support the women contestants financially and also set a minimum requirement, in terms of the educational level of women, to encourage and promote education among the younger ones. Political parties should also be admonished to take a second look at the quota system of governance to integrate more women into the political arena.
Keywords: Influencing Factors, Northern Ghana, Participation, Political Leadership, Women
NEXUS OF CHANGE MANAGEMENT ON ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN) (Published)
Most business managers have seen change becoming a regular aspect of organizational life and they must constantly monitor and respond to these changes appropriately. The overriding goal is to optimize the output of the people involved in this process and reduce the risk of failure in achieving the desired change. Change management is usually seen from an organizational context and refers to the process of developing a planned approach to change in an organization. Business environment has become much more turbulent, uncertain and demanding change is inevitable in an organisation. Business operates in a dynamic environment and organisation that fails to recognise the inevitability of change is doomed to fail. This paper is designed to examine the nexus of change management on organisational performance and survival in Nigerian universities using University of Ilorin as a case study. Both primary and secondary sources of data constitute the main source of data gathering. Random sampling technique was used in selecting the sample size. Regression analysis was used to analyse the data obtained and the testing of one hypothesis formulated. The results obtained reveal a strong negative relationship between changes introduced through Computer Based Test in the University.This research recommends that before embarking on any change, the university should attempt to maintain useful customs and informal relationship, build trust, encourage participation, provide information in advance, make only necessary changes, guarantee against loss, provide counselling, allow for negotiation between the University Management and the staff and students.
Keywords: Change Management, Computer Based Test, Counselling, Negotiation., Participation, Transformation
DEFINING THE REAL NEEDS OF WOMEN SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN VIETNAM: THE IMPORTANCE OF GRASSROOTS PARTICIPATION AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION (Published)
In response to gender gap and hardship due to heavy production and domestic tasks of women smallholder farmers in developing countries, this study was conducted under the auspices of the Gates Foundation with an original goal of formulating labour saving strategies and innovations for the rural women in Vietnam. The first five steps of a systems-based Evolutionary Learning Laboratory (ELLab) framework together with other management tools were employed in the first phase of the project during April 2013 to April 2014. The project has identified actual challenges and needs of the target group using appropriate systems approaches, including a flexible use of stakeholder analysis and engagement, and a log-frame approach for evaluation. Interestingly, saving labour was not identified as the highest priority for the women and was ranked second after the need for increasing their income. The outcomes of the study served as feedback and a rationale for reframing the project goal and objectives to address the ‘real issues’, ‘real needs’ and thus appropriate intervention strategies to address the identified challenges of the women farmers in the research area. Process steps of issue identification, rethinking and reframing of the project approach, goals and objectives are discussed and analyzed to prove the value and validity of the unique ELLab processes as an appropriate framework to deal with complex problems in the context of interconnected economic, environmental, social and cultural factors. The findings have not only brought about practical solutions for the women, but also formulated context-based recommendations for funding agencies and local governments.
Keywords: Collaboration, Decision processes, Labour, Participation, Stakeholders, Women smallholder farmers.