International Research and Academic scholar society

IRASS Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies

Issue-9(September), Volume-2 2025

1. Effects of Visa Programs on Entrepreneurial Activity: A Comparative Re...
13

Salim Masood Nassery*, Vahid Bakhshi Ghourt Tappeh, Akram Zamani
Jaban International Recruitment agency, Isfahan, Iran
1-4
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17015453

Immigration and entrepreneurship are deeply intertwined. Across the United States, Canada, Europe, and other regions, immigrant founders and high-skilled workers contribute disproportionately to new firm creation, innovation, and economic dynamism. Visa programs and related immigration pathways are therefore more than administrative tools: they act as policy levers that shape entrepreneurial ecosystems. This review synthesizes the evidence on how key visa programs—including the U.S. H-1B specialty occupation visa, the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, Canada’s Start-Up Visa, the EU Blue Card, and selected national startup-visa schemes (e.g., UK Innovator Founder, Estonia Startup Visa)—affect entrepreneurial activity. We expand beyond descriptive accounts by comparing program design, examining empirical evaluations, and analyzing how these mechanisms influence firm creation, financing, job growth, and innovation. Our findings suggest that while employment-based visas (H-1B, EU Blue Card) primarily raise innovation capacity through skilled labor inflows, startup-specific visas succeed when linked with clear founder eligibility, stable residency status, and strong ecosystem support. Investor-based visas (EB-5) primarily facilitate capital formation rather than direct entrepreneurial entry. We conclude by identifying research gaps and proposing design principles for immigration regimes that intend to maximize entrepreneurship outcomes.

2. Recurrent Sandstorms and Their Impact on Occupational and Public Healt...
11

Juba Idowu David, Omolara Oluseun Juba*, Olakunle Lawal
Adult Prime Safety Health and Wellness Foundation
5-7
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17042879

Climate change, desertification, and rapid urbanization are driving an increase in the frequency and severity of sandstorms in the Middle East, making an important contribution to atmospheric particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and posing threats to public and occupational health. This paper reviews evidence from peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, and health databases on the health impacts of sandstorm-associated pollution and the effectiveness of interventions to reduce them. The focus is on respiratory, cardiovascular, and psychosocial health outcomes, and current strategies are assessed, including early-warning systems, personal protective equipment (PPE), and occupational safety and health (OSH) frameworks. Results show consistent associations between sandstorm events and increased rates of hospital admissions, occupational injuries, and lost productivity, with a particular impact on outdoor workers and at-risk populations. Nevertheless, regional responses to the health risks of sandstorms are inconsistent and often fragmented, with low levels of public awareness and preparedness, sporadic use of PPE, and weak enforcement of OSH standards. Recommendations for research and practice are provided to inform more integrated, cross-sectorial approaches to reduce health risks and build resilience to sandstorms in affected regions.

3. The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices on Organizational Pe...
19

Ibrahim Omar Hussein*, Abdikani Yusuf Abdulle, Mahdi Mohamed Omar, Abdirizak Osman Warsame, Abdibasid Hassan Aden
Faculty of Economic and Management, Jamhuriya University of Science and Technology, Mogadishu, Somalia
8-18
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17092295

Background: Human Resource Management Practices (HRMPs) are increasingly recognized as a strategic driver of organizational performance (OP) in healthcare systems worldwide. In fragile contexts such as Somalia, HRMPs remain underdeveloped due to weak governance, political instability, and reliance on donor-driven initiatives. This study examines the effect of HRMPs— including recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, and compensation—on the organizational performance of hospitals in Mogadishu. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive research design was adopted. Data were collected from 223 healthcare professionals—including administrators, HR managers, doctors, nurses, and support staff—through structured questionnaires. Snowball sampling was employed, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS software was applied to test relationships between HRMPs and organizational performance. Reliability and validity were confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, factor loadings, and average variance extracted (AVE). Results: Findings revealed that HRMPs significantly predict organizational performance, with recruitment and selection and training and development emerging as the strongest contributors. The measurement model demonstrated robust reliability and validity, with Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability values above 0.70 and AVE values exceeding 0.50. The structural model showed that HRMPs explained 54.1% of the variance in organizational performance (R² = 0.541). Hospitals with structured HR practices achieved better staff productivity, patient satisfaction, and internal efficiency compared to those relying on informal or donor-dependent approaches. Conclusion: The study concludes that effective HRMPs play a critical role in enhancing organizational performance in Somali hospitals. Institutionalizing transparent recruitment, continuous training, equitable compensation, and performance appraisal systems is essential for sustainable healthcare delivery. The findings contribute to theory and practice by extending HRM literature to fragile health systems and providing context-specific recommendations for hospital administrators, policymakers, and development partners.

4. Artificial Intelligence and Strategic Decision-Making: Economic and Re...
11

Obi Martins Okwudiri*, Nwagbala Stella Chinelo Ph.D, Okafor Ifeoma Pethronila Ph.D
Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria
19-27
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17097194

Due to a lack of training or trust in machine-assisted decision-making systems management staff, in particular, often find it difficult to translate AI-generated insights into strategic actions. This study explores Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing strategic decisionmaking among management staff in selected firms in Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigates how predictive analytics influences competitive intelligence and how natural language processing (NLP) affects market analysis capabilities. Adopting a descriptive survey design, data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 55 managementlevel staff across three firms, with 51 valid responses analysed. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC), executed using SPSS (Version 27), were used to evaluate relationships between the variables at a 5% significance level. Findings reveal a statistically significant, strong positive correlation between predictive analytics and competitive intelligence (r = 0.578, p < .001), and similarly between natural language processing and market analysis (r = 0.568, p < .001). These results underscore AI’s capacity to accelerate decisionmaking, improve analytical precision, and generate data-driven insights that align with the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) of the firm. The study concludes that AI technologies, when integrated strategically, can significantly elevate organizational performance. Recommendations include greater investment in diverse AI tools, implementation of ongoing staff training, and development of a cohesive AI infrastructure to optimize strategic decision-making outcomes.

5. Chronicles written with a camera
7

Vakhtang Egiazarov*
Photographer
28-33
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17149469

Photography, since its inception, has transformed from a simple tool for portraitmaking into a powerful medium of cultural documentation, artistic expression, and historical preservation. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, photography serves as a visual chronicle that reflects the social, political, and cultural realities of different eras. It captures the transformations of fashion, architecture, traditions, and collective memory, while simultaneously contributing to the construction of national identity. Through the works of war photographers such as Robert Capa and James Nachtwey, and ethnographic documentation of endangered cultures, photography emerges as both an archive of human experience and an active participant in shaping public consciousness. This paper explores the multifaceted role of photography as a mirror of culture and identity, a document of social change, and a witness to both triumphs and tragedies of history. Drawing on global case studies as well as the Georgian context, the research highlights photography’s ability to bridge the past and present, ensuring that traditions, rituals, and historical events are preserved for future generations. Ultimately, photography is positioned not merely as a technological invention, but as a cultural and historical phenomenon that records time, defines identities, and informs the future.

6. DISMANTLING UNCERTAINTIES ASSOCIATED WITH RAINFALL PROJECTION USING ST...
16

MeeluBari Barinua Tsaro Kpang*, Iniubong Etim Ansa, Rogers Ibifubara Wilcox
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
34-43
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17165711

Downscaling is a quantitative way of relating the large-scale climatic predictor variables to the local scale meteorological variables to overcome the ineffectiveness of the GCM model output. However, despite the high relevance and sophistication of this new method in climatological studies, the results are not completely free of uncertainties. The aim of the study was to assess the level of uncertainties associated with rainfall projection using statistical downscaling techniques under climate change scenarios over the south-south region, Nigeria. The expost-facto research design was adopted for the study while the quadrat sampling technique was used to determine the sample size by stratifying the area into 2° x 2° latitude and longitude intersections and each weather station that fall within the grids (Asaba, Warri, Uyo and Port Harcourt) was calibrated and selected for the study. Data used for this study were mainly secondary data and it includes 30 years rainfall data (1985-2015) which was acquired from the archives of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and large-scale predictors assessed from the archives of the National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The Multiple Regression Analysis was used in the selection of large-scale predictors with strong relationship with the predictand. Consequently, shum, rhum, r850, r500, p5_u, p_u, & p5th were selected as the principal large-scale predictors of rainfall in the area. On the other hand, Wilcoxon signed rank test was employed to perform the uncertainty analysis and the results shows uncertainty associated with rainfall projections in the area at P<0.05 in some of the months. The validation process reveals R and RMSE ranging between, R (0.64-0.91) and RMSE (0.11-0.43) indicating a better performance of the model on seasonal timescale particularly in Asaba at DJF, Warri in JJA while Port Harcourt and Uyo in SON. Based on the findings of the study, development of a local climate management system in preparedness for climate change, climate change planning and policy formuations and committed efforts to maintain B2 scenario with reduced GHG‟s emission were recommended.

7. GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION OF BURKINA FASO, MALI.NIGER, SENEGAL AND GAMBI...
6

Tyodzer Patrick PILLAH*, Isuchukwu C Amen
Department of Public Administration Faculty of Management Sciences Veritas University, ABUJA
44-57
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17221947

This paper examines Local Government Administration in Burkinafaso Division, with a discourse on grassroots development. Specifically, it reported on how effective and efficient local government administration led to grassroots development whereas the contrary leads to community stagnation. Local Government Administration in Division is currently highly ineffective and inefficient due to concentration of power at the center, mismanagement of funds and limited resources. This study provides information on Local Government Administration in Gambia in general and Division in particular. The Integrated Political Economy Framework developed by Denis A. Rondinelli, James, S. McCullough and Ronald in 1989 was adopted to support this work. The framework uses the Public choice theory in conjunction with the Public Policy Approach. The researcher adopted the mixed method of data collection using the case study design. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources included; questionnaires, interview guide, and observation, while the secondary sources included journals, articles, books, magazines and internet sources. Findings revealed that, most communities who are the main beneficiaries of grassroots developments provided by councils do not benefit from the decentralization process. This is because of concentration of power at the center, corruption, and lack of autonomy and resources. Based on the findings, it was recommended that, the 2004 and 2019 law/code on the orientation of decentralization in Cameroon be reviewed to give councils more autonomy. The study provides data that can be used by the citizens to judge the performance of their councils. The study will equally enable the citizens understand the major challenges that their municipalities encounter in the provision of essential services regarding development.





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