School of Business

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/3194

Browse

Filters

20232

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.Sri Lanka

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Factors affecting job performance of Sri Lankan IT professionals working from home
    (PLOS ONE, 2023-12-12) Jayanandana, N; Jayathilaka, R
    This study investigated the influence of the physical work environment, work life balance, work flexibility, and effective communication on the job performance of IT professionals in Sri Lanka’s IT industry who work from home (WFH). A standard questionnaire was used to collect data from 293 IT specialists in 50 different IT organizations in Sri Lanka, and a stepwise probit model was employed for data analysis. According to the findings, both the physical work environment and work life balance had a significantly positive effect on job performance. A one-unit increase in the physical work environment and work life balance increased the likelihood of high job performance by 0.21% and 0.19%, respectively. In contrast, work flexibility had a negative effect on job performance, with an increase of one unit resulting in a 0.18% decrease in the likelihood of high job performance. The positive impact of effective communication on job performance was less significant. The study emphasises the significance of providing a conducive work environment and promoting work life balance to enhance the job performance of IT professionals in Sri Lanka’s IT industry who WFH.
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling
    (PLoS ONE, 2023-06-21) Rajapakshe, W; Karunaratna, D. S. M.; Ariyaratne, W. H. G.; Lakshani Madushika, H. A.; Perera, G. S. K.; Shamila, P
    During the COVID-19 crisis, the apparel industry faced many challenges. Aggressive cost-cutting strategies became a top priority, and in turn, these influenced stressors and adversely affected business sustainability. This study examines the impact of aggressive strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic on business sustainability in the apparel industry of Sri Lanka. Further, it investigates whether the relationship between aggressive cost-cutting strategies and business sustainability was mediated by employee stress, considering aggressive cost reduction strategies and workplace environmental changes. This was a cross-sectional study with data collected from 384 employees in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to analyze the direct and indirect effects of aggressive cost reduction strategies and workplace environmental changes on sustainability with mediating effects of stress. Aggressive cost reduction strategies (Beta = 1.317, p = 0.000) and environmental changes (Beta = 0.251, p = 0.000) led to an increase in employee stress but did not affect business sustainability. Thus, employee stress (Beta = -0.028, p = 0.594) was not a mediator in the relationship between aggressive cost-cutting strategies and business sustainability; business sustainability was not a dependent variable. The findings proved that managing workplace stress, particularly improving stressful working environments and aggressive cost reduction strategies, can enhance employee satisfaction. Thus, managing employee stress could be beneficial for policymakers to focus on the area(s) required to retain competent employees. Moreover, aggressive strategies are unsuitable to apply during crisis to enhance business sustainability. The findings provide additional knowledge to the existing literature, enabling employees and employers to predict causes of stress and serve as a significant knowledge base for further studies.