https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71683 2026-04-04T21:13:00Z 2026-04-04T21:13:00Z Sarmento, M. Pedro, Maria Isabel Pinto, Euridiney https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/72134 2021-03-24T09:06:37Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Integration and socialization of new employees in the bank sector Authors: Sarmento, M.; Pedro, Maria Isabel; Pinto, Euridiney Abstract: The objective of this research was to investigate the growing importance of integration and socialization of new employees, to determine the benefit that the integration and socialization model has brought to the commercial banks at an African State - São Tomé and Principe (STP), and also to assess the appreciation of employees on the model of integration of new employees. The empirical research is based on an interview and a survey. The target of the interview are the 8 human resources managers of the all commercial banks that operate in the African State - São Tomé and Principe (STP). The survey sample are 82 employees of the 8 commercial banks. The main results show that employees and managers of commercial banks of STP agree with the integration plan, and older employees are collaborative in the integration and socialization of their new colleagues. This work is innovative in STP, since the authors did not find any research concerning this theme. This work allows to understand the importance to have an initial program of integration and socialization for new collaborators in STP banks, which will contribute, from the beginning, for increasing the motivation, satisfaction and performance of the employees resulting in productivity improvement and cost savings.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Guerreiro, António Saúde Guerreiro, Gertrudes https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/72133 2021-03-24T08:58:49Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Impact of information technology investments on firm productivity in peripherals countries : the case of Portugal Authors: Guerreiro, António; Saúde Guerreiro, Gertrudes Abstract: IS/IT investments are seen has having an enormous potential impact on the competitive position of the firm, on its performance, and demand an active and motivated participation of several stakeholder groups. The shortfall of evidence concerning the productivity of IT became known as the ‘productivity paradox’. As Robert Solow, the Nobel laureate economist stated “we see computers everywhere except in the productivity statistics”. An important stream of research conducted all over the world has tried to understand these phenomena, called in the literature as «IS business value» field. However, there is a gap in the literature, addressing the Portuguese situation. No empirical work has been done to date in order to understand the impact of Information Technology adoption on the productivity of those firms. Using data from two surveys conducted by the Portuguese National Institute of Statistics (INE), Inquiry to the use of IT by Portuguese companies (IUTIC) and the Inquiry Harmonized to (Portuguese) companies (accounting data), this study relates (using regression analysis) the amounts spent on IT with the financial performance indicator Returns on Equity, as a proxy of firm productivity, of Portuguese companies with more than 250 employees. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the Portuguese situation concerning the impact of IS/IT on the productivity of Portuguese top companies. Empirically, we test the impact of IT expenditure on firm productivity of a sample of Portuguese large companies. Our results, based on firm-level data on Information Technology expenditure and firm productivity as measured by return on equity (1186 observations) for the years of 2003 and 2004, exhibit a negative impact of IT expenditure on firm productivity, in line with “productivity paradox” claimants.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Usman, A. S. Tasmin, R. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/72132 2021-03-24T08:58:08Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The relevance of Islamic micro-finance in achieving the sustainable development goals Authors: Usman, A. S.; Tasmin, R. Abstract: Despite the impressive score card of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it goes to suggest that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires targeted efforts in reaching the most vulnerable people worldwide. In Muslim societies, Islamic Micro-finance has been regarded as an important tool for the empowerment of poor people especially women, towards developing micro enterprises. The main objective of this study is to explore the conceptual framework on the relevance of Islamic Microfinance in achieving the SDGs. This study identifies different products of Islamic Micro-finance used to address diverse deprivations, leading to individual’s personal development, increased productivity and income, and participation in economic and social life. The methodology of this study is based on analysis of relevant literatures. The finding of the study indicates that Islamic Micro-finance is a growing market niche with potentials to develop human capabilities towards empowerment, knowledge and skills, self-reliance and social cohesion. The empowerment enables the clients to manage their economic life effectively and reduce stress.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Savvakis, Manos Alexias, Giorgos Koutra, Lina https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/72131 2021-03-24T08:57:11Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Embodiment and visual impairment : economic considerations and the social construction of blindness Authors: Savvakis, Manos; Alexias, Giorgos; Koutra, Lina Abstract: This study examines the multiple and energetic ways the visually impaired persons perceive the image of their body in relation to their social identity. It as well examines the issue of disability, blindness and chronic disease regarding the social construction of everyday life of these people. The contribution is based on the qualitative sociological analysis of empirical material that was collected mainly in the form of semi-structured interviews with participants that experience severe difficulties with their vision. Triangulation was applied in order to ensure increased reliability and validity of the results. People with vision problems construct their social identity based on a strong relationship to their senses and bodies. More particularly, the interpretative schemes of the participants in research reveal that they follow concrete strategies promoting personal care and hygiene in order to increase the possibilities to interact with other social groups. Visually impaired people, as the interviews reveal, seem to emphasize more on their personal experiences than their external appearance, always compared to subjects with “normal” vision levels. The findings demonstrate that there is a significant difference in the ways people with visual impairment understand social reality and interact with others according to whether they have this problem since their birth or faced it at a later stage of their biography. The results may allow investments in medical economy with important repercussion in the well being of these people and in this sector of socio-economics. These investments may assist these people to get socially included and be energetic and active instead of being dependant and passive. That implies that some of these people may be included in some tasks with economic value.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z