Frank Bezzina - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Frank Bezzina

Frontiers in Psychology, Sep 27, 2023

Presenteeism has often been considered as the correlate of absenteeism and associated to producti... more Presenteeism has often been considered as the correlate of absenteeism and associated to productivity loss. This study sought to reexamine the psychometric properties of the 6-item Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6), a popular measure which has been translated in a number of languages. The study adopted a cross-sectional design with 268 participants aged 18-65 working in a multinational IT company with headquarters based in Poland. The respondents participated willingly in an online questionnaire on a presenteeism health-related productivity measure (SPS-6), job resources (peer support), job demands (workto-family conflict), engagement and burnout. Their responses were subjected to statistical analyses. Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the SPS-6 is better represented by two singular and independent components, namely completing work and avoiding distractions, rather than an aggregated measure of healthrelated productivity. In fact, the aggregated measure had convergent and discriminant validity issues. We also assessed, via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the explanatory role of the SPS-6 within the wider well-being discourse by subjecting its' factors as outcomes using the JD-R framework. Here, burnout was better at explaining its relationship to avoiding distractions and completing work compared to engagement, while avoiding distractions was more dominant than completing work in explaining indirect pathways. Given the convergent and discriminant validity of its two-dimensional measures, we argue that the SPS-6 is a better assessment of health-related productivity in the light of presenteeism when keeping both components separate rather than adding the scores from both dimensions to provide a global score as has been the practice so far. In addition, the SEM findings suggest that both SPS-6 components may require different theoretical explanations. This study supports a growing chorus of scholars who argue the need to look deeper into the presenteeism phenomenon, not least its measures.

Psychology of Leaders and Leadership

... Given the growing importance on entrepreneurship and the lack of empirical research in Malta ... more ... Given the growing importance on entrepreneurship and the lack of empirical research in Malta on entrepreneurial profiles, this study seeks to characterise the entrepreneurial profile of Maltese entrepreneurs (company owners and self-employed persons) and employed ...

Journal of Corporate Governance, Insurance, and Risk Management

This paper analyses the modifications of financial audit reports of Maltese companies between 200... more This paper analyses the modifications of financial audit reports of Maltese companies between 2005 and 2009. It examines the audit reports of a random sample of 374 limited liability companies registered with the Registry of Companies in Malta. The study shows that the average 2005-2009 modification rate in Malta stood at 22.4%, this representing an increase over previous periods. Most modified reports were noted in the case of private exempt and international trading non-exempt companies. Generally, private exempt companies had their audit report qualified on the basis of a limitation of scope, whilst most international trading companies had their reports qualified on the basis of disagreement with management. Furthermore, the “small company qualification” (which has been long abolished) was still incorrectly being used in Maltese audit reports till 2009. The results therefore show that there is still room for improvement in audit reporting in Malta. Whilst the Big Four audit firms...

Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, 2019

People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the ... more People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers. Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal. If the publication is distributed under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the "Taverne" license above, please follow below link for the End User Agreement:

Public Administration, Governance and Globalization

Public administrations lay the foundation of how the country is run (Holmberg & Rothstein, 20... more Public administrations lay the foundation of how the country is run (Holmberg & Rothstein, 2012). As a result, public sector reform is an integral part of the governments’ efforts and initiatives to modernise the Public Service by rendering it more citizen-centric and responsive to the rising aspirations of society. Any Public Service reform cannot be analysed in a vacuum, it must be reviewed in parallel with a contextual analysis of the external environment (Kaufmann & Zoido-Lobaton, 2010). The aim of this chapter is to expose the institutional reforms through the neo-institutional theory that provides a theoretical perspective of organisational behaviour that is influenced by other organisations, the key stakeholders, and the wider economic and social force (Greenwood et al., 2012). The societal and external impact of Public Service reforms are discussed in the coming chapter.

This chapter provides a deeper understanding of the success and the degree of impact attained by ... more This chapter provides a deeper understanding of the success and the degree of impact attained by the introduction and implementation of a variety of public services. It also contributed towards suggesting improvements that may be made to enhance the user-oriented relationship by focusing on the particular needs of each demographic sector. This Chapter is based upon original research and is organised into two major segments. The first segment evaluates the methodology and other demographic considerations; and the second segment analyses and discusses the research findings. The results suggest that generally the respondents’ perception reflects a positive outlook on the provision and execution of government-provided services to the wider community over recent years. Respondents, specifically Government employed individuals, appeared to be highly conscious of major projects, measures and initiatives implemented by the state, particularly those that relate to digital and social measures...

This Chapter illustrates that a variety of reforms have been introduced regarding Civil Service S... more This Chapter illustrates that a variety of reforms have been introduced regarding Civil Service Systems and HRM Public Service Reforms. These have contributed and strengthened the thrust towards enhancing professionalism in HRM practices within the Public Service. However, despite these important reforms, several other reforms are required to strike a balance between the exigencies of the Public Service and the improvement of the wellbeing and performance of public officers through telework, work-life balance, family-friendly measures and training. Government is the largest employer in Malta; thus, this balance is difficult to achieve, particularly when considering the reliance that a small island state has on the Public Service. This challenge is further accentuated with the unanticipated circumstances, significantly the crisis of COVID-19 that has highlighted the need to invest more in human resources management and new ways of conducting normal work practices. Programmes intended...

This chapter provides a detailed review and analysis of all the major reforms that were initiated... more This chapter provides a detailed review and analysis of all the major reforms that were initiated and subsequently implemented by Malta’s Government from the year 2013 onwards, regarding policy making, coordination and implementation. It expands on the theme of the previous chapter that focused on the interaction of public policy with the public administrative framework. The Government’s progressive and contemporary policy design augmented the quality level through the application of standards; the reprioritisation of the political agenda; and the revamping of how key policy sectors are managed. These have changed significantly the country’s political direction. Significant advancement has been made in implementing national policies so that Malta is more compliant with EU directives. The structural reforms have resulted in a substantial increase in all revenue streams reflecting the sustained and robust performance of the Maltese economy. Despite all the policy reforms, the only con...

The item forms part of the research report project: ESF 3.47 Unlocking the Female Potential Project

The aim of this chapter is to determine whether the Solvency II rules and implementing measures h... more The aim of this chapter is to determine whether the Solvency II rules and implementing measures have had any influence on the maturity level of organisation’s risk management. In fact this study sought to understand the status of the organisation’s risk management maturity prior to and after the introduction of Solvency II and the relevant implementing measures.

Several studies on the prevalence of allergic conditions have identified that allergic conditions... more Several studies on the prevalence of allergic conditions have identified that allergic conditions are on the increase worldwide. The aim of this study was to study the effect of classroom humidity and temperature levels on schoolchildren in Malta. Our cohort included 191 children. Standardised ISAAC health questionnaires were answered by the children’s parents. Lung function tests, acoustic rhinometry, exhaled NO, exhaled CO and nasal lavage were performed on the participating children. School building characteristics were also studied. A significant association was noted between a high relative humidity exposure and nasal cross-sectional areas (p=0.003), and doctor diagnosed allergic rhinitis (p=0.002), indicating the presence of allergic rhinitis, as was increased indoor temperature (p=0.003). Increased indoor temperature was also associated with increased exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) (p<0.001) indicating uncontrolled asthma. In conclusion, increased classroom temperatures and...

Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi

The purpose of this paper is to explore gender differences in learning experiences among students... more The purpose of this paper is to explore gender differences in learning experiences among students participating in international study mobility programs. It was undertaken by university students from several institutions of higher learning around Europe in the context of internationalization and intercultural education, which has become a central tenet among European institutions. The research on gender differences in student approach to international study mobility was carried out among 440 university students from five European universities within the context of the Competent student: Experienced Graduate: International Labor Market Key Competency Workshops project, conducted within the framework of the International Partnership Project on Student Mobility financed by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange. Taking into account both potential competences that are developed during Short–Term Study Abroad (STSA) programs and the usefulness of specific modes of learning duri...

Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2017

Asthma is common in children with allergens and mould influencing the development of the disease.... more Asthma is common in children with allergens and mould influencing the development of the disease. Since children spend most of their time outside their homes within the school environment, school indoor air quality can directly influence their respiratory health. This study aims to identify microbiological contaminants in Maltese schools. The association between contaminants, respiratory health and school characteristics has been analysed. Five primary schools were selected with 9 to 11 years old students participating. Standardised health questionnaires, lung function tests, and school characterisation were performed. Dust samples were analysed for fungi, bacteria and allergens were performed. Penicillium/Aspergillus/Paecilomyces/Variotii (PenAsp) group had the highest median indoor concentration followed by Mycobacterial and Streptomyces species. There was a significant negative correlation between PenAsp and Mycobacterium spp levels in all the participating schools (r = −0.42; p = 0.03). Cat allergen in classroom dust correlated positively with the number of cat owners (r = 0.43; p = 0.041). High exposure to fungi, bacteria and allergens was significantly associated with upper and lower airway atopy. School/classroom characteristics and cleaning protocols were significantly associated with exposure to these pollutants. In conclusion, fungi, bacteria, endotoxin, cat and dog allergens have been found to have a direct influence on school indoor air quality in the Maltese Islands. A significant association was observed between these contaminants and upper and lower airway atopy. Specific school, classroom, cleaning and maintenance characteristics have been identified as having a direct impact on indoor air quality.

$Research paper thumbnail of Evidence of the fractal market hypothesis in European industry sectors with the use of bootstrapped wavelet leaders singularity spectrum analysis$

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals

This chapter critically reviews literature concerning several ideas, methodologies and instrument... more This chapter critically reviews literature concerning several ideas, methodologies and instruments that have been used to understand the societal impact of public services and Public Service reform; or that can be associated with related potential. These are namely the Net Promoter Score (NPS), Service Quality (SERVQUAL), Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) and trust in Public Services. A plethora of studies document the relevance of these societal impact metrics to private enterprise; whilst there is evidence of a growing support for deployment in the public sector and in gauging users’ experience of private and public e-services. A headline finding of the literature review is that conceptual complexities ought not to be ignored; for example, the many possible interpretations of ‘satisfaction’ and the empirically ambiguous association between trust in public services and trust in government. The use of the term ‘customer’ for users of public services emerged as debatable. Another main fin...

This Chapter is about the various Organisation and Management government reforms that have been i... more This Chapter is about the various Organisation and Management government reforms that have been implemented in the Public Service. It reviews and considers these government reforms from a broad organisational and management perspective by focusing on three main reform features, namely, the structural reforms that have directly and indirectly impacted the Public Service; the national government policy reforms that required the complimentary coordination of Malta’s public administration; and the specific organisational and management reforms within the Public Service. The research reveals that the Public Service by implementing these various organisation and management government reforms have optimistically responded to the emerging challenges by proposing and initiating both policy-oriented and legislative solutions. The ultimate objective of the Government was to mitigate the bureaucratic administrative process and, in parallel, evolve a dynamic vertical and horizontal service-based...

Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Mr. Anton Falzon, Executive Secretary of the Zejtun Loca... more Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Mr. Anton Falzon, Executive Secretary of the Zejtun Local Council, for inspiring us to conduct this study. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Michael Cohen, the President of the Local Council Association, for helping us in gaining access to the local councillors and majors and the survey respondents for providing us with the necessary information to carry out this study. We are also grateful to Prof. Godfrey Pirotta, Prof. Edward Zammit and Dr. Edward Warrington from the University of Malta for providing us with valuable information on Malta’s system of government and administration. Finally, we would like to thanks the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback.

Expert Systems with Applications

Frontiers in Psychology, Sep 27, 2023

Psychology of Leaders and Leadership

Journal of Corporate Governance, Insurance, and Risk Management

Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, 2019

Public Administration, Governance and Globalization

The item forms part of the research report project: ESF 3.47 Unlocking the Female Potential Project

Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi

Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2017

$Research paper thumbnail of Evidence of the fractal market hypothesis in European industry sectors with the use of bootstrapped wavelet leaders singularity spectrum analysis$

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals

Expert Systems with Applications

European Management Journal, 2015

Taking as its premise that the role of academics as instructors is crucial in forming students’ c... more Taking as its premise that the role of academics as instructors is crucial in forming students’ conceptions of research methodology, we consider differences in conceptions are held by academics involved in its teaching and reflect on associated implications. Drawing on a web based questionnaire data collected from purposive sample of 190 predominantly European Management academics with an expressed interest in research methodology, we reveal differing conceptions about the nature of research and research methodology that are likely to be practically significant; differences between those with qualitative and quantitative expertise being the most salient. Finding fault with one methodology on the basis of the epistemological and ontological beliefs of the other does little to promote understanding or appreciation of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies. Rather, we argue, academics involved in management research methods and methodology teaching need to adopt a pluralist stance in which the legitimacy of different methodologies is both recognised and actively acknowledged.