School of Business
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Publication Open Access Analysis on Current and Future Training Needs in Health Sector of Sri Lanka(SRAC - Romanian Society for Quality, 2022-08) Rajapakshe, W; Weerarathna, R. S; Pathirana, G.Y; Malage, M. HSri Lanka holds a unique position in South Asia as one of the developing nations to provide universal health. Government spending on welfare mainly involves compromising or constraining a country's development budget. It requires sound management strategies to utilize limited resources, including the human resource of the health sector. Training and development of health professionals can be identified as a critical component in strengthening the quality of health services. Fewer studies exist on Training Needs Analysis (TNA) on health professionals in Sri Lanka, and this study assessed the Training Needs of Sri Lanka's healthcare professionals. This is a cross-sectional study collecting data from 240 health sector professionals in Sri Lanka. The Hennessey Hicks Training Need questionnaire was used to obtain data. Data from the source was analysed through the oneway ANOVA to compare the training needs of various professional groups, and the Word Cloud Online tool was applied to analyse the open-ended questions. The study identifies published research evaluation, communicates with patients, identifies viable research, introduces new ideas, prioritizing works, assessing patients' needs, using technology, undertaking health promotion activities, collecting research information, and undertaking administrative duties as current training needs. While computer literacy training, training on new medical equipment, awareness programs on workplace stress-reducing, training on quality assurance certifications like ISO, programs on effectively communicating with patients, management training, and language training were identified as future training needs of professionals in the health sector. The study concluded that, continuous training programs as the preferred approach to access the performance gap. It also demonstrates that this awareness of information regarding the training needs is beneficial for the health sector policymakers, managers, employees, and the community. Having a better understanding of their job roles, performance needs, and involvement in the decision-making process is likely to motivate healthcare sector employees to improve service quality. These benefits will be reflected in positive outcomes on service quality, improving the overall healthcare system in the country.Publication Open Access A Study on Work Life Balance and Employees’ Job Satisfaction: Case of ABC Tyre Manufacturers(researchgate.net, 2022) Jayasinghe, S. J. A. N. S; Weerarathna, R. S; Somawardana, W. S. DThe study explores the relationship between work life balance and employees’ job satisfaction with special reference to supervisory category in ABC Tyre Manufacturers. These employees have resigned from the company, due to job dissatisfaction associated with improper work life balance. This study empirically evaluated four dimensions of independent variables (working environment, workload, welfare system and societal impact) and four dimensions of the of the dependent variable (co – workers, independence, company policies and social services). The research study was conducted with eighty samples through simple random sampling among two hundred supervisory category employees. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed randomly among a sample of 80 supervisory category employees and data were collected accordingly. The findings indicated the impact of work life balance on employees’ job satisfaction and derived a strongly positive relationship between work life balance and employees’ job satisfaction. The importance of providing good work life balance arrangements in an organization was highlighted. Improving employees’ satisfaction, enhancing their performance, and collaborations were recommended to increase productivity in an organization.Publication Open Access Employee Happiness Heals the Turnover Intention: A Study of the Machine Operators of a Leading Apparel Company in Sri Lanka(researchgate.net, 2022-03-08) Weerarathna, R. S; Somawardana, W. S. D; Weerasinghe, W. A. P. DHappiness is a highly valued goal for most inhabitants as identified in most cultures. Feeling fulfilled is essential to social existence, and most people appear to be fairly content most of the time. A high rate of turnover among employees signals a major weakness in achieving organization's goals. This is because employees are the key players in determining organizational performance and survival. In ABC Apparel Company, it was identified that the employees who were machine operators' position have resigned frequently due to several reasons related to work. As a result of preliminary research, researchers identified several factors that make employees unhappy resulting in intention to leave their job. The main objective of the study was to find the impact of employee happiness on turnover intention. The research study was conducted in ninety (90) samples using simple random sampling among five hundred sixty (560) employees in the machine operator position. A selfadministered questionnaire was distributed randomly to a sample of ninety (90) employees who were in the machine operator position used in this study, and data was collected accordingly. Findings proved that employee happiness impact on turnover intention and a relationship exists between employee happiness and turnover intention. The importance of having employees happy within an organization was highlighted from this studyPublication Open Access Business Performance of Boutique Hotels after Easter Sunday Attacks in Western and Southern Province in Sri Lanka(researchgate.net, 2022-05) Weerarathna, R. S; Jayasinghe, S. J. A. N. S; Ellepola, K. R. W. M. R. T. K; Balasuriya, N. N. M; Uddeepa, K. W. G. E; Kanumale, S. N. M. U. I; Somawardana, W. S. DThe tourism sector of Sri Lanka had rapid growth and was identified as the largest source of income in Sri Lanka. Easter attack, which took place in April 2019, resulted in a severe hit to the boutique hotels in Sri Lanka. The purpose of conducting this study was to identify how boutique hotels in Sri Lanka are working to regain their business performance after the Easter Sunday attack. The data for this research were assembled employing a strategy of qualitative data. Data were collected through twelve face-to-face semi-structured interviews and analysed based on content analysis by using Word cloud. Many employees in the tourism sector have lost their jobs due to this attack. The majority of the owners stated that now they are focusing more on local customers instead of foreigners. Owners use social media platforms and special discount packages (credit card and visa card discounts) to attract local customers. Banks and financial institutions have offered some loan schemes for hotels to regain their performance. The outcomes will offer assistance for the individuals who are predominantly or indirectly related to the boutique hotels of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. In addition to that, this research will assist proper understanding about if the hoteliers have to face crises like the Easter Sunday attack again how they manage their business performances by using considerable factors of boutique hotels in Sri Lanka. Since the revenue generated from the tourism industry is more important to the Sri Lankan economy, the respected authorities can focus more on the boutique hotel sector and make arrangements to re-establish the lost revenues in the Sri Lankan economy. The main limitation was that only two provinces were taken, which would not be adequate to give an overall representation of all the population. Therefore, it is recommended for future researchers to increase the sample size and focus on more provinces/areas when doing further research on this topicPublication Open Access ‘Fall to Rise’ : A Quest to Revive Performance of Sri Lanka’s Boutique Hotels in Post-Easter Attack(researchgate.net, 2022-06) Weerarathna, R. S; Jayasinghe, N; Ellepola, T; Balasuriya, N; Uddeepa, E; Kanumale, UThis study aims to identify the factors influencing the business performance of boutique hotels in Sri Lanka, in particular, those factors that impact the most posteaster Sunday attacks. Three major factors were identified based on past literature; these were operators’ experience and strategies, financial structure and marketing strategies. During May to July, 2020, data were collected via a questionnaire to respondents, who are owners of 53 boutique hotels. Snowball sampling was used and data were analyzed using SPSS stastical software and multiple regression was used to identify the factors that influence the performance of boutique hotels the most. The study findings conclude that the -operator’s previous experience and strategies- is the factor that influences business performance the most. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate how boutique hotels have regained their business performance in the aftermath of the easter Sunday attack. The analysis revealed that boutique hotels have adopted the local market strategy, the social media marketing strategy, discounts and promotional strategies, the employee lay off strategy and the employee training strategy to regain business performance post-easter Sunday attacks. This study is significant for boutique hotel owners to maximize their profits and for the government to implement better tourism-related policies.Publication Open Access Factors Affecting the Selection of Human Resources Management as an Area of Specialization: A Conceptual Model(2020-12-23) Fernando, W. S. K; Jayasekara, M. K. V. R; Sumanarathne, W. G. G. M. J; Senevirathne, H. B. M. C; Pathirana, G. Y; Weerarathna, R. SIn modern times, the trends in students’ choice of specialization in the bachelor’s degree are changing rapidly. Therefore, this research study attempts to build a conceptual framework to uncover the relationship between students’ choice of specialization in Human Resources Management (HRM) and the factors that influence students’ decision making when selecting the area of specialization. This concept paper examines the independent variables (influential factors) which impact the selection of HRM as an area of specialization. The conceptualization supports the theoretical framework created to identify the personal factors, academic factors and social factors which lead to the selection of the area of specialization. The primary importance of this paper is that the conceptual framework can be used in other countries for academic purposes.Publication Open Access Effects of glass ceiling on women career blooming in Sri Lankan Academic Sector(researchgate.net, 2020-01-31) Lakmali, T. A. H; Madawala, R. M. D. A. K; Wickrama Arachchi, D. C; Weerarathna, R. SThe term Glass Ceiling (GC) refers to an invisible barrier that hinders and blocks women from being promoted to higher managerial level positions. This study is wholly focused on the central problem of the effects of Glass Ceiling on Women Career Blooming. The research problem marked under the study is to find out the effects of Glass Ceiling on women Career Blooming, in the Sri Lankan academic sector. The structure of this study was entirely designed according to the conceptual framework, created using information from past literature. Level analysis is used to discover whether there is an effect of Family Factors, Organizational Factors, Individual Factors and Educational Factors on Women Career Blooming. The sample of the study consists of 214 women lecturers from two selected universities. Data were collected in the form of a structured questionnaire and six interviews were conducted. Regression and level analysis were used to analyze the gathered data. Research findings reveal that Glass Ceiling and Women Career Blooming have a negative relationship. Furthermore, the findings reveal that family and organizational factors have a significant effect on women Career Blooming and individual and educational factors have a moderate effect on women Career Blooming. By taking into consideration the research findings of the study, suggestions for future studies, limitations of the study and future recommendations have been made.Publication Open Access Factors affecting the level of stress among undergraduates in Sri Lanka with special reference to covid-19(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2021-12-03) Madhusanka, A. K. P; Jayasuriya, N. U; Ravishanka, M. K. U; Pothupitiya, S. N; Weerarathna, R. S; Dunuwila, V. RTo combat the rapid spread of COVID-19 infections universities and higher educational institutes in Sri Lanka had to suspend all on campus activities and had to tranfer into online learning. This resulted in a swift change in undergraduates’ life style and they had to face many new challenges in their academics which created severe mental pressure. Therefore, the objective of the research is ‘to assess the factors influencing the level of stress among undergraduates in Sri Lanka’. The study looks into this mental pressure in terms of the stress levels of undergraduates which is considered to be the dependent variable whereas their online learning experience and university workload are the independent variables. The study takes a quantitative research approach as its primary data is collected through an online questionnaire created from Google Forms and answered by 384 undergraduates. The questionnaire provided data on the online experience and university workload variables and it included the DASS-21 scale (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale) which measured the stress level of the undergraduates. Descriptive statistics was conducted on the data through the Microsoft Excel. Based on the data analysis, it was found that the stress levels of undergraduates were; 3% normal, 20% mild, 36% moderate, 21% severe and 20% extremely severe. Therefore, it could be said that 41% of undergraduates faced high stress levels that were beyond what is regular and it negatively affected to the way how they could face challenges and carry out their day to day lives. It should be noted that undergraduates appeared to have much higher stress levels as a result of the pandemic.Publication Open Access Accounting Education towards Sustainable Labour Markets in Sri Lanka(researchgate.net, 2021-01-11) Perera, K. A. J. O; Perera, U. L. N. L; Guruge, N. H. G; Subashini, S; Madhavika, W. D. N; Weerarathna, R. SThe quality of Accounting Education determines the quality of Professionals in the field of Accounting. During last few decades with the effect of globalization, many technological advancements occurred in every industry. It directly affects the job profile of sustainable labor market of Accounting field where work becomes challenging and complex to achieve. Babike [1] proved that as Accounting Academics have become more important in the re-contextualization of the new global. The purpose of this article is to identify which qualifications are preferred by the employers out of Professional Accounting Qualification and Academic Accounting Qualification in Sri Lankan sustainable labor market. The present study adopted interpretation in philosophy and the inductive approach. The data collection was based on primary data and was collected through online interview method. Researchers selected convenience sampling method since more than 80% of listed companies in Colombo Stock Exchange are in Western Province. Based on the convenience sampling technique researchers have selected ten listed companies and interview ten Finance Managers in respective companies. Thematic Analysis technique was used to analyze the data by using the NVivo software application. The findings of the present study suggest that many employers prefer Professional Accounting Qualifications rather than Academic Accounting Qualifications. The main reason for the choice is candidates with Professional Accounting Qualifications are more capable in handling tasks and the assigned job role due to the training offered through Professional Accounting Qualification when compared to Academic Accounting Qualifications. As an implication the respected authorities in Sri Lankan educational sector can implement Accounting trainings component for Academic Accounting Education. This may also be useful to future researchers to identify the perceptions of the employers.Publication Open Access Factors Affecting the Selection of Human Resources Management as an Area of Specialization: A Conceptual Model(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2020-12-23) Weerarathna, R. S; Fernando, W. S. K; Jayasekara, M. K. V. R; Senevirathne, H. B. M. C; Sumanarathne, W. G. G. M. J; Pathirana, G. YIn modern times, the trends in students’ choice of specialization in the bachelor’s degree are changing rapidly. Therefore, this research study attempts to build a conceptual framework to uncover the relationship between students’ choice of specialization in Human Resources Management (HRM) and the factors that influence students’ decision making when selecting the area of specialization. This concept paper examines the independent variables (influential factors) which impact the selection of HRM as an area of specialization. The conceptualization supports the theoretical framework created to identify the personal factors, academic factors and social factors which lead to the selection of the area of specialization. The primary importance of this paper is that the conceptual framework can be used in other countries for academic purposes.