Research Methodology


Based on data from 75 Greek companies, an empirical evaluation of the impact on training and upskilling of flexible workers and ICT is investigated. We also explore the relationship between general education and subsequent training. In doing so we document the extent to which there is inequality in access to training, which may result in dead-end jobs.

The above relationships are examined using a regression model. Lagged one year rather than contemporaneous explanatory variables were specified in an attempt to alleviate the possibility that the level of training and explanatory variables is jointly determined.

Data Selection

Data were selected from 75 Greek companies, belonging to four industrial sectors making use of ICT: (a) construction (29% of the firms), (b) metallurgy (30% of the firms), (c) oil/ chemical (25% of the firms), and (d) electrical/ electronic (16% of the firms). The companies studied were a random sample picked out from the hall of 892 companies corresponding to the four industrial sectors that employ more than 10 permanent employees, as they are registered in the Greek financial directory of "ICAP."

The survey of the 75 companies was conducted using personal interviews with the CEO and the Human Resources and the Production Managers based on a purpose-designed comprehensive questionnaire.

Each firm reported the level of training offered to a specific job group. The use of temporary workers, self-employed independent contractors, and subcontractors was also measured for each job group. The data are divided into six job groups that were judged appropriate to the industrial sectors examined. These are engineering personnel, financial personnel, technologists, administrative personnel, workers, and auxiliary personnel. In total we have 450 observations. The differences in the types of activities performed in each job group are presented in Appendix A.1.

Measures

Dependent Variable

The variable "training" is a job group level measure and was assessed as the mean time spent for the training of employees of each job group, during the year before the interview. We measured training with three different items:

  1. the training through seminars;

  2. on-the-job training by managers; and

  3. on-the-job training by colleagues.

Cronbach's a equals 0.82 and indicates the reliability of the items used for the variable 'training'.

Independent Variables

"Temporaries," "independent contractors," and "subcontractors" are variables coded 1 if there was use of temporary workers, independent contractors, and subcontractors respectively in the case of a job group, and 0 if there was not.

We measured the use of information and communication technology at the firm's level and we used this measure as a proxy for the variable "ICT" at the task category level. "ICT" at the firm level was measured by three items corresponding to:

  1. the use of information technologies such as LAN, electronic mail;

  2. the use of computer-aided technologies utilized in production such as CAD/CAM, CIM, NC/CNC, and automated material handling systems; and

  3. the use of administrative-based technologies that enable faster and cheaper communication both within an organization and across the supply chain, such as EDI and MRP.

Cronbach's a equals 0.9 and indicates the reliability of the items used for the variable 'ICT'. Binary variables were created to control for job groups.




Social and Economic Transformation in the Digital Era
Social and Economic Transformation in the Digital Era
ISBN: 1591402670
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 198

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