Categoryissue 2023-05, publication

dr Marta TUTKO – Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, ul. Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków, Poland; e-mail: marta.tutko@uj.edu.pl
mgr inż. Rafał KOSTKA – ArcelorMittal Poland S.A., Al. Piłsudskiego 92, 41-308 Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland; e-mail: rafal.kostka@gmail.com

Received 19.10.2023. Accepted 23.10.2023

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the article is to explore the effects of the employee suggestion system (ESS) in the steel sector company. Three research objectives were established: (1) presentation of ESS, (2) displaying ESS effectiveness indicators and (3) identification of the effects of ESS.
Design/methodology/approach: The case study research strategy was adopted. One case, ArcelorMittal Poland S.A., i.e. the Steel Plant, was analyzed.
Findings/conclusions: 1. ESS at the Steel Plant was introduced in stages and contains all the elements to call it formalized. 2. Three effectiveness indicators used in the analyzed company, i.e. number of submitted ideas per week, per line and per impact category, give a general view on the effectiveness of ESS. 3. Many positive effects of ESS were identified. The improvement of working conditions was considered to be the most important effect.
Research limitations: The limitation concerns the research method used, which is not generalizable in the conventional sense. In this study, the danger of a false generalization stems from the fact that only one case was analyzed.
Practical implications: The presented ESS characteristics and indicators used to measure its effectiveness may serve as practical guidance for other organizations in developing system assumptions. The displayed positive effects of ESS may encourage other organizations to consider implementing the system.
Originality/value: This is one of the first known studies to investigate the effective ESS in the steel sector.

Keywords

effectiveness indicator, employee suggestion system, steel sector, steel plant, Poland

dr inż. Agata SZKIEL – Uniwersytet Morski w Gdyni, ul. Morska 81-87, 81-225 Gdynia, Polska; e-mail: a.szkiel@wznj.umg.edu.pl

Received 7.09.2023. Accepted 10.10.2023

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to assess students’ perceptions of the method used at the Faculty of Management and Quality Science at Gdynia Maritime University (FMQS GMU) to collect their opinions on the quality of teaching and the work of academic staff.
Design/methodology/approach: A survey method was used to achieve the aim of the study. The research tool was a survey questionnaire designed for the study.
Findings/conclusions: Students of FMQS GMU consider the Teaching Quality Assessment Questionnaire as an important tool to improve the learning process, but they do not participate in the evaluation and are not interested in its results. The main factors limiting students’ participation in the survey are the lack of recognition of the evaluation results as a real activity to improve the quality of education, the large number of questionnaires addressed to students and the time-consuming nature of the evaluation. Students would be encouraged to participate in research primarily through the Dean’s day off, release from classes by the year supervisor and funding for student objectives.
Research limitations: A survey of students’ opinions on the questionnaire-based assessment of teaching quality was conducted among students in only one faculty and only one university. Studies carried out in other universities using different questionnaires and different survey instruments (questionnaires used to assess the quality of teaching) may give different results.
Practical implications: FMQS GMU can use the results of the survey to identify and implement measures to increase student participation in the survey and their involvement in course quality assessment. Such measures are necessary to increase the reliability of research results and their usefulness in improving the educational process, and to increase the commitment of Faculty’s teaching staff to their teaching duties. They can also inspire other universities to improve the systems they have in place to collect student feedback on course quality.
Originality/value: FMQS GMU has not yet conducted surveys to gauge students’ opinions on the quality of teaching. Thus, the factors that determine the degree of student participation in the course quality assessment process and the benefits that motivate students to increase their participation in the survey were not identified.

Keywords

quality of education, university, student survey, teaching evaluation, education

dr hab. Aleksander LOTKO – Uniwersytet Radomski im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego, Wydział Inżynierii Chemicznej i Towaroznawstwa, ul. Chrobrego 29, 26-600 Radom, Polska;
e-mail: aleksander.lotko@uthrad.pl
dr hab. inż. Krzysztof MELSKI – Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Poznaniu, Instytut Nauk o Jakości, al. Niepodległości 10, 61-875 Poznań, Polska; e-mail: krzysztof.melski@ue.poznan.pl
dr hab. Małgorzata LOTKO – Uniwersytet Radomski im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego, Wydział Inżynierii Chemicznej i Towaroznawstwa, ul. Chrobrego 29, 26-600 Radom, Polska;
e-mail: m.lotko@uthrad.pl

Received 2.10.2023. Accepted 23.10.2023

Abstract

Purpose: Segmentation of students according to the values of predictors of choosing a field of study, determining the importance of these predictors and indicating its consequences for university marketing.
Design/methodology/approach: The research was carried out using an original questionnaire on a sample of 240 students of the Poznań University of Economics in the fields of product quality and development (JiRP) and production management and engineering (ZIP). Classification trees and the CART algorithm were used to develop the ranking of predictors and the characteristics of the obtained segments.
Findings/conclusions: A model for classifying students according to predictors related to the criteria for choosing a field of study was built. The most important predictors turned out to be: (1) the name of the field of study, (2) the possibility of obtaining a professional title of engineer and (3) sources of information about the future field of study.
Research limitations: Small sample size (240 students) and only 2 fields of study included.
Practical implications: Providing recommendations important for effective university marketing activities. In the JiRP field, the decisive predictor is the possibility of obtaining a professional engineering title, while in the ZIP field, the name of the field of study is such a predictor.
Originality/value: Application of classification trees in the study area. Obtained student segmentation, ranking of choice predictors and indication of marketing implications of the results of these analyses.

Keywords

post commodity science, choosing a field of study, segmentation, university marketing