Not Getting Stuck in Dryness - Strategies for Coping with Phases of Spiritual Dryness Among Religious Brothers and Sisters in Germany—Findings from Qualitative Interviews

Many believers experience phases of spiritual dryness in their lives coupled with feelings of exhaustion, confusion, and emotional emptiness. Even religious sisters and brothers experience such phases. But how do they cope with phases of spiritual dryness, and what resources do they use to overcome them? In a qualitative study, 30 religious brothers and sisters utilized four main categories of resources: internal reflective resources, internal spiritual resources, external personal resources, and external other resources. A primary strategy does not seem to exist for overcoming phases of spiritual dryness. In the context of this study, therefore, several resources emerged that were used in accordance with the triggers and were applied against the background of the life situation, context and attitudes, perceptions, behavioral competencies, resources, and abilities of the person concerned.

The emotional and social side of analytics professionals: an exploratory study of the behavioral profile of data scientists and data analysts

PurposeAnalytics technologies are profoundly changing the way in which organizations generate economic and social value from data. Consequently, the professional roles of data scientists and data analysts are in high demand in the labor market. Although the technical competencies expected for these roles are well known, their behavioral competencies have not been thoroughly investigated. Drawing on the competency-based theoretical framework, this study aims to address this gap, providing evidence of the emotional, social and cognitive competencies that data scientists and data analysts most frequently demonstrate when they effectively perform their jobs, and identifying those competencies that distinguish them.Design/methodology/approachThis study is exploratory in nature and adopts the competency-based methodology through the analysis of in-depth behavioral event interviews collected from a sample of 24 Italian data scientists and data analysts.FindingsThe findings empirically enrich the extant literature on the intangible dimensions of human capital that are relevant in analytics roles. Specifically, the results show that, in comparison to data analysts, data scientists more frequently use certain competencies related to self-awareness, teamwork, networking, flexibility, system thinking and lateral thinking.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted in a small sample and in a specific geographical area, and this may reduce the analytic generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsThe skills shortages that characterize these roles need to be addressed in a way that also considers the intangible dimensions of human capital. Educational institutions can design better curricula for entry-level data scientists and analysts who encompass the development of behavioral competencies. Organizations can effectively orient the recruitment and the training processes toward the most relevant competencies for those analytics roles.Originality/valueThis exploratory study advances our understanding of the competencies required by professionals who mostly contribute to the performance of data science teams. This article proposes a competency framework that can be adopted to assess a broader portfolio of the behaviors of big data professionals.

Evaluating The Role Of Project Management On Technical And Behavioral Competence In The Success Of Road Construction Project

The objective o to study the role of project management technical and behavioral competencies on project performance. The unique nature of the construction industry, coupled with challenges of global competitiveness, and changing regulatory requirements have created excessive demand for highly knowledgeable and competent project management. Project management is a philosophy and technique that allows users the maximum utilization of their potential with limited sources, together with the increase of profitability. Competency is capacities and attributes that project manager should possess to realize project aims and objectives. Effective project performance can be achieved with relating competency of an individual, requirement of the job and project environment. Findings indicate the role of project management technical and behavioral competencies is undeniable in the success of a project. Besides, technical competencies have a substantial effect on project performance. Projects meet their technical performance goals, efficiency of the project management effort, and projects meet their operational performance goals are perceived as successful projects. Since, both technological factor and ethical factors are the biggest challenge in Sodo Town construction industry, recommended that the sector must have ways to overcome these challenges and all concerned stakeholders work intensively on remedial measures.

Reach for the sky: analysis of behavioral competencies linked to project success

PurposeThe issue of project managers’ competencies has gained much traction in practice and more recently in academic debate. However, they have become analogous to extensive wish lists where a project manager is expected to have an exhaustive list of aptitudes and capabilities. Therefore, identifying and defining the most critical competencies for project success is urgently needed. Moreover, although the vast number of studies emphasize the significance of behavioral competencies, there is a dearth of empirical research and studies within the context of information systems (IS) are scarce. Consequently, the present study aims to investigate the influence of project manager's behavioral competencies for the successful delivery of IS projects.Design/methodology/approachThis research conducted a systematic literature review (2009–2019) of 27 relevant studies incorporating 179 competencies. The authors also collected data from 121 professional IS project managers and used regression analysis and dominance analysis to test the hypotheses proposed.FindingsThe results confirm that behavioral competencies (including leadership, communication, result orientation, emotional intelligence, ethics, creativity and motivation) are significantly and positively related to IS project success. Furthermore, the findings show that emotional intelligence (resilience, stress management and self-control), creativity (resourcefulness, creativity thinking and imagination) and ethics (transparency, honesty and integrity) are the most influential behavioral competencies for IS project success.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first to use a quantitative analysis to empirically investigate project manager's behavioral competencies for project success in the IS discipline. It brings much-needed empirical evidence for the most important competencies for IS project managers.

IT-Enabled Competency-Based Performance Management System

Competency-based performance management system (CBPMS) has become the key tool for every firm to be in a strategically sustained advantageous position. The objective is to identify relevant and important competencies for successful accomplishment of desired tasks. In this chapter a holistic approach is proposed to review the competency-based approach that is based on the framework of relevant work-related and behavioral competencies. CBPMS is explained in terms of sequential steps of framing the competencies which provide better performance advantages with their expected values and thereby measuring the levels of these work related and behavioral competencies present in the job incumbents with the help of IT interventions. Using this approach, an organization will be able to more effectively use their limited resources to reap more benefits from their investments in both people and technology.