Economics

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4627

Browse

Has files: No

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 27
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Multidimensionality of urban poverty: an inquiry into the crucial factors affecting well-being of the urban poor in Sri Lanka
    (International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, United Kingdom, 2015) Semasinghe, W.M.
    Although, identification of the nature of poverty in a specific setting is crucial for poverty analysis and designing targeted poverty reducing programs, there is no consensus among researchers, policymakers etc. on the dimensions of poverty, due to the multidimensionality and the universality of the phenomena. Even the criteria for selecting dimensions used in the literature remain controversial. Although, the poverty has been greatly discussed recently in Sri Lanka as in many other developing countries, most of the analysts have focused mainly on the identification of incidence and trends of poverty based on uni-dimensional approach. It is hard to find the methodical attempts which are made to identify the border aspects of well-being and poverty of mankind. The main objective of this paper is to identify the dimensions of urban poverty in the light of conventional methodologies and historical knowledge. Qizilbash’s ‘core poor’ framework was applied in this analysis. Findings revealed that shelter, clean drinking water, children’s education, health service, environmental pollution, addiction to drugs/ alcoholism, uncertainty about the future, sanitation, domestic violence and stability of livelihood are the crucial factors of well-being of urban poor.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    FIXED POINT THEOREMS FOR DISCONTINUOUS MAPS ON A NON-CONVEX DOMAIN
    (Metroeconomica, 2013) Fujimoto, T.
    This paper introduces economists to some ?xed point theorems for discontinuous mappings with non-convex images on a non-convex domain. These theorems have recently been developed based on a new approach by mathematical economists and mathematicians. The new method of proof is ?rst transformed into a sort of metatheorem, which is then used to obtain a set of necessary and suf?cient conditions for a map to have a ?xed point. Some ?xed point theorems for discontinuous maps are then explained in more concrete cases. The formulations are intended for easier applications towards economic models involving discontinuity as well as non-convexity.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Teaching Strategies in Higher Education
    (2011) Saxena, V.N.
    Most universities follow the approaches of student-centered learning, group working, maintaining log-books, role playing and various forms of practical work. Higher education in universities has moved from elite to mass education and shifted from employment training into Higher education delivery. The delivery of service with regard to teaching the rhetoric is one of innovations. The faculty needs to instill a deep approach to learning by providing students with varied stimulating learning environments The objective is to evolve an action plan for teaching adults in Higher Education as per their needs and catering to the preference of different types of learners. This paper focuses on measure of person?s intelligence which includes Intelligence quotient, Emotional Intelligence, Creative intelligence and Cybernetic Intelligence. The adults undergo learning through a cycle of four phases: Experimenting, Reflecting, Theorizing and Planning. The phase at which they start their cycle depends on their personal preference or style. A questionnaire has been developed to ascertain the preference style of learning of an individual and thereafter how to cater to the preference of different types of learners. The paper discusses the designing and delivery tools of lectures for students in Higher Education so as to provide credible content, in a logically structured and interesting manner. It discusses the design tools bearing in mind that they have to be treated as adults and not simply as students. A flow chart has been designed indicating the planning process and action plan for the entire program. The constituent elements of excellent teaching contain certain traits required by an innovative faculty: - humility, courage, impartiality, open-mindedness, empathy, enthusiasm, judgment and imagination.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The Need for an Effective Management Framework for Enhancing the Quality of Higher Education
    (2010) Weerakoon, Y.M.S.K.
    This paper shows the need for a management-framework to enhance the employability of Sri Lankan graduates. According to sources including World Bank, graduate-unemployment rate is higher than the national unemployment-rate in Sri Lanka. The graduate-unemployment in certain subject-disciplines is as high as 45.5% due to graduates lacking transferable skill expected by the employer as studies have revealed. To identify why the transferable skills are not being effectively developed in graduates, teaching practices in Sri Lankan higher education (HE) were studied using Biggs?s Constructive Alignment model. Data collected from a sample (n=56) of lecturers from six Sri Lankan universities. The study revealed that though the expectations from the graduates by both employers and the lecturers aligned with that of each other Constructive Alignment is largely being absent in HE. The importance of a management-framework to address graduate-unemployment, and to prevent the occurrence of third university student-led-insurgency, is discussed in the paper.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    THINKING TOWARDS STAKEHOLDER SATISFACTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: AN APPLICATION OF PERFORMANCE PRISM
    (2010) Singh, K.; Weligamage, S.
    Quality of service and customer satisfaction is key concerned area in the today?s business. When considering education, quality of educational service and stakeholder satisfaction can be taken as more important. Most of the performance management systems are fails to address and consider the entire stakeholder needs after considering the importance and contributions of all stakeholders to the organization. The Performance Prism Model can be used as one of performance management and measurement tool which is closely looking at measurement from a stakeholder perspective. Performance prism model is taking consideration of two ways process as first identify the what are the want and needs of stakeholders and second to identify what are the organizations wants and need from its stakeholders. The purpose of the study is to review the performance prism model and to identify the possibility of application of this model into higher educational institutions. Finally presents the interrelation between stakeholder need, organizational capabilities, existing process, strategies and stakeholders? role. The study concluded that use of performance prism model can be highly benefited in an academic institution and the process should start from identifying stakeholder needs, and then formulate strategies using existing capabilities and process and finally deliver better value with the support of all stakeholders in the system.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    THE ROLE OF INTUITION IN DECISION MAKING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON ACADEMIC STAFF IN A MALAYSIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
    (2010) Tat, H.H.; Hooi, P.S.; Rasli, A.D.; Chin, T.A.; Yusoff, R.M.
    Decision making is the process of deciding something important by a group of people or an organization. An empirical study was investigated to analyze intuitive decision making style among academic staffs at five various faculties in one of the public universities in Malaysia. Its objectives are: to identify intuitive decision making style among academic staffs; to identify difference intuitive decision making style based on age, gender, race, working experiences, professional level and field of expert; and lastly, to identify relationship between intuitive decision making style and situational factors. 94 academic staffs of five various faculties were involved in this study. Data were collected using questionnaire and SPSS was used for data analysis. The findings show that out of four situational factors, two of them, i.e. information and risk factors were found to have significant relationship with intuitive decision making style. Recommendations of the study are highlighted and further research discussions are also suggested.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    A CASE OF AN ACCOUNTANCY STUDY PROGRAMME IN SRI LANKA TO IMPROVE RELEVANCE AND QUALITY OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: A NEW DIMENSION ON INSTITUTIONAL VIEW
    (2010) Senaratne, S.; Gunarathne, A.D.N.
    The quality enhancement of undergraduate education is presently, a much discussed area in Sri Lanka, with the implementation of the World Bank funded Improving the Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education (IRQUE) Project. In this context, this study explores the case of IRQUE Project of Department of Accounting (DA), University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) in relation to the institutionalization of good practices resulted through its interventions. The study examines the institutionalization of these practices in DA by drawing inferences from New Institutional Sociology (NIS) (Scapens,2006) with specific reference to the works of DiMaggio and Powell in relation to institutional isomorphism. The study finds that DA has developed and adopted many good practices through the interventions made through the IRQUE Project to improve the quality and relevance of B.Sc. Accounting (Special) Degree Programme. Further, the study suggests that institutionalization of these good practices in DA, reflects all three forms of isomorphism viz. coercive, mimetic and normative as proposed by DiMaggio and Powell (1983).
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    IMPACT OF JOB DESIGN ON EMPLOYEES? PERFORMANCE (WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE KALMUNAI ZONE)
    (2010) Ali, M.A.M.H.; Aroosiya, M.A.C.F.
    The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of job design on employees? performance in the school of Kalmunai Zone in Sri Lanka and which factors of job design highly influence on employees? performance in the organizations. To analyze this condition, one hypothesis was formulated using deductive approach. The study was conducted by using a random sample of five school in Kalmunai Zone. Type of investigation was correlational and it was cross-sectional on time horizon. The unit of analysis was organizational level; each school. Teachers served as respondents on behalf of the firm. Measures of the study were of good quality after assuring reliability and validity. Data were collected from 103 respondents which was 100% response rate. In order to test the hypothesis that was concerned with relationship between perceived level of job design and perceived degree of employees? performance the Pearson Product- Movement Correlation technique was applied. The results of the study showed a significant and positive relationship between perceived level of job design and perceived degree of employees? performance in the schools. Found relationship was significant (correlation coefficient was .363 that was significant at 0.01 level) implying that a school should adopt an effective task identity, autonomy and feedback in order to improve teachers? performance.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Personality Dimensions as Predictors of Job Satisfaction Of IT Employees in Sri Lanka
    (2011) Ubayachandra, E.G.; Silva, H.W.N.S.
    Under this study an attempt was made to investigate into relationship existing between personality dimensions and job satisfaction of IT employees attached to leading companies in Sri Lanka. For this purpose, four companies namely Ind. And financial system Sri Lanka ltd, Millennium Software Ltd, John Keels Computer service (pvt) Ltd, and Virtusa (pvt) Ltd. For the convenience of analysis, a sample consisting of 125 employees were selected by using simple random sample technique. Out of these four companies 32 employees were selected from Millennium Software Ltd. while 31 employees per each of other three companies were selected for the analysis. As this study is empirical in nature, a great attempt was made to collect primary data as much as possible by administering a detailed questionnaire which was subjected to a pilot study with a view to clarify reliability and validity of questions. In addition, further information was collected through a series of interviews held with senior management and other low level employees. For collecting additional information an endeavor was made to associate secondary data too. For this purpose, related documentary evidences such as electronically stored data /data mining were used. The focal problem of the study is existence of number of bottlenecks in software development industry in Sri Lanka. The key purpose of the study was to examine the correlation between personality dimensions and job satisfaction. Specific objectives were to identify the correlation between job performance and job satisfaction and to make a better set of suggestions to improve job performance and job satisfaction through the development of personality. Accordingly two research questions consistent with so-called objectives were addressed. They are, is there any relationship between personality dimensions and job satisfaction? What is the relationship between job performance and job satisfaction? The Big-Five personality dimensions were applied to conceptualize the respective theme of the study. For presenting data out of the descriptive statistical tools percentage values, mean, mode and standard deviation were used. Furthermore, in testing hypotheses the well known chi-square test was completely employed. Resulting from the analysis it was found that there is a direct relationship between personality dimensions and job satisfaction of IT employees in Sri Lankan leading companies. The most significant finding is that emotional stability, extraversion and consciousness dimensions are consistently valid predictors for all job categories there. All these dimensions are positively correlated with job satisfaction. And also it was noted that job performance and job satisfaction are almost interrelated each other.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Emotional Intelligence and Employee Productivity: An Educator?s Perspective
    (2011) Rebello, F.S.
    Emotional intelligence is essential factor responsible for determining success in life & at work place. Psychological wellbeing seems to play an important role in shaping the behavior & performance of individual?s work-life environment. This study is undertaken to understand the performance level of teachers/lecturers in educational institutions in Maldives, the study focuses on understanding emotional intelligence of teachers/lecturers, its connectivity to their performance on the job. This paper examines the impact of four significant aspects of Emotional Intelligence that is self awareness, self management, social awareness and relationship management. Data for this study was collected through questionnaire and the respondents were the school heads of Academic Institutions. The results revealed that there is connectivity between emotional intelligence and employee productivity. A teacher/ lecturer with better emotional intelligence can perform better in-terms of class delivery, leading the team & building trust among colleagues and the surrounding network.