Browsing by Author "Mordi, Chima"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals: insights from a developing country(Journal of Employee Relations: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2020-05-06) Akanji, Babatunde; Mordi, Chima; Ajonbadi, Hakeem AdeniyiPurpose – Given the limiting conditions of the gender roles confronting professional working women and drawing on spillover theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of work-life balance with an emphasis on the causes of the imbalances, perceived stress, and coping techniques experienced by female medical doctors in an African context – Nigeria, a geographical location that is considered under-researched. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative data is based on one-to-one in-depth interviews with 52 Nigerian female medical doctors. Findings – Based on the findings of the thematic analysis, it is clear that time squeeze, as a well-known factor in the medical profession, exacerbates negative work-home interference. However, other themes, such as patriarchal proclivities and task-pay disparity, that affect female doctors but are rarely considered in studies on work-life balance also emerged as sources of stress and work-family conflicts, leaving these doctors to devise individual coping methods as mitigating strategies. Research limitations/implications – The study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the limited literature on the implications of stress and work-family incompatibilities facing women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian, with an extremely pronounced culture of masculine hegemony that is contrary to western cultures. The article unveils the socio-cultural difficulties of the work-life demands facing women specific to the Nigerian society and experienced with a different level of intensity. Originality/value – The majority of the research on work-life balance has been undertaken in western countries and has focused on various professional groups and organisations, including the health sector. Nevertheless, work-life balance is a novel concept within the Nigerian work environment, where female medical doctors, as a professional group, are rarely studied. The article also provides valuable insights into the macrocontextual features influencing the work-life balance of Nigerian professional women.Item Exploring cultural values in conflict management: a qualitative study of university heads of departments(Emerald : Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, 2021-05-21) Akanji, Babatunde; Mordi, Chima; Ajonbadi, Hakeem; Adekoya, Olatunji, DavidPurpose In seeking to understand the impact of culture on conflict management (CM), extant organisational management research has, for the most part, confined itself to using the one-dimensional collectivism/individualism model of Hofstede's cultural theory. The purpose of this present study is to extend this knowledge area by adopting the more comprehensive analysis of Hofstede's fourfold dimensional typology – power distance, individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity/femininity – as a conceptual lens to investigate how national culture impacts the interpersonal CM of those in leadership positions in higher education institutions. Specifically, this article explores the extent to which cultural values influence the CM practices of university heads of departments (HODs). Design/methodology/approach Adopting a qualitative approach, 36 interviews were conducted with heads of different departments across a variety of disciplines in selected Nigerian universities. Findings The study's results conceptualise how underlying cultural norms – promoting paternalism, servility and social relations – influence the conflict-handling strategies adopted by university HODs. It consequently emerged from the thematic analysis that in Nigeria, conflict-handling decisions are shaped by status-based dictates, a normative emphasis on communality, masculine hegemony and religious motivation – as opposed to Western cultures, where these benevolent and integrative values play a far smaller role. Research limitations/implications The study focussed on a small group of research subjects. Although the sample is not a sample that enables generalisation, the findings provide theoretical insights into how cultural ascendancy could frame conflict resolutions. This research is especially relevant as it runs in a culture significantly different from the ones that originally were investigated and in which managerial books and mainstream practices emerged and, thus, can contribute to challenge and enhance theory. Originality/value The study seeks to advance knowledge of the interface between culture and CM in a sub-Saharan African context where literature is scarceItem The Impact of COVID-19 on the Work-Life Balance of Working Mothers: Evidence from Nigerian Academics(Personnel Review - Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022-03) Akanji, Babatunde; Mordi, Chima; Ajonbadi, Hakeem; Adekoya, OlatunjiPurpose – Given the limiting gender role conditions arising from the prevalence of patriarchy in Nigeria and the shift to workers staying at home due to the deadly spread of COVID-19, this article explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work-life balance of professional mothers using the work-home resources model as a conceptual lens. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative data is based on telephone interviews with 28 married female university academics with children. Findings – Our findings reveal that the confinement policies enforced due to the need to combat the spread of COVID-19 and patriarchal norms deeply embedded in the Nigerian culture have exacerbated stress among women, who have needed to perform significantly more housework and childcare demands alongside working remotely than they did prior to the pandemic. The thematic analysis showed a loss of personal resources (e.g. time, energy, and income) resulting in career stagnation, health concerns, and increased male chauvinism due to the abrupt and drastic changes shaping the ‘new normal’ lifestyle. Research limitations/implications – The study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the emerging global discourse on the profound negative consequences of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of millions, with a focus on the stress and work-family challenges confronting women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian – unlike western cultures. Originality/value – The article provides valuable insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected professional working mothers in the Sub-Saharan African context, where literature is scarce.Item The Nature and Outcomes of Emotion Work in Customer Service Management(Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series, 2015-01) Akanji, Babatunde; Mordi, Chima; Taylor, AgnesThe purpose of this paper is to explore views of call centre employees working in Nigeria on the nature and consequences of emotional labour management during customer service interactions. Literature reveals lack of knowledge of this research area in an African context while a significant number of similar studies exist in Anglo-Saxon countries. Thus, this study was conducted in one of the Nigerian call centres. Using a social constructivist paradigm for the research analysis, semi-structured interviews were carried out among 50 Nigerian call centre agents. Findings revealed differences in terms of how affective delivery experiences was conceptualised and also perceived as a predictor of work stress when emotions are excessively regulated. In addition, organisationally-based solutions that can extenuate the negative after-effects of affective delivery that impairs well-being were suggested. In essence, the implication of the study is to unveil how call centre organisations existing in non-Western regions can better target and improve emotion work intrinsic of these frontline jobsItem Reviewing Gaps in Work-Life Research and Prospecting Conceptual Advancement.(Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series, 2015-07) Akanji, Babatunde; Mordi, Chima; Ojo, StellaWithin various organisational, behavioural and management studies, work-life balance is still a discursive subject. Focal themes and implications of most research findings on this social concept often discloses the need for working adults to consolidate efforts in finding the right balance between their work and non-work roles while organisations are scrutinised on implementing a variety of work-life practices and policies that can foster workplace well-being. However, gaps in accentuating its meaning, the dominance of role conflict realities and continuous emphasis on negative work-life outcomes still proliferates studies of this nature. Thus, the modest ambition of this paper is to assess trends in research evidencing gaps in work-life literature and what prospects are available to overcome such hiatus in work-life theory, practice and policy development. This review concludes by stimulating scholarly minds on potential collaborative solutions and proactive changes that human resource managers and employees’ alike can capitalise on for a more sustainable and fulfilling enactment of a win-win work-life situation.Item Working with emotions: cultural employee perspectives to service management expectations(Employee Relations, 2021-10) Akanji, Babatunde; Oruh, Emeka Smart; Mordi, ChimaPurpose Drawing on the emotional labour theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of cultural orientation on emotion regulation and display processes for service employees. Design/methodology/approach Based on a Nigerian study where literature is scarce, data were gathered from semi-structured interviews conducted with 40 call centre service agents. Findings The findings identified three key values around reinforcing social cohesion, anticipated self-curtailment, hierarchy and expressions of servility based on broader societal needs to promote relational harmony when managing customer relations during inbound calls into the call centre.Research limitations/implications The extent to which the findings can be generalised is constrained by the limited and selected sample size. However, the study makes contributions to the service work theory by identifying the extent to which communication of emotions is informed in large parts by local culture and seeks to incite scholarly awareness on the differences of emotional display rules from a developing country other than western contexts. Originality/value This paper is among the first to focus on the interface between culture and emotional labour from a Sub-Saharan African context.