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Article
Publication date: 6 March 2020

Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja, Mohammad Khurrum Bhutta and Shahzad Naeem Qureshi

Lean (TQM and JIT) and agile manufacturing (AM) are viewed as strategic capabilities that can help firms to meet diverse set of market demands. However, the question whether lean…

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Abstract

Purpose

Lean (TQM and JIT) and agile manufacturing (AM) are viewed as strategic capabilities that can help firms to meet diverse set of market demands. However, the question whether lean manufacturing and AM are complementary or competing capabilities is still open to discussion. This research proposes an integrated research framework that draws on complementary theory, theory of systems, and concept of fit to examine this question regarding these two strategic capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 248 apparel exporting firms, and the proposed model is evaluated using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results show that lean manufacturing, AM, and supporting management and infrastructural practices have positive and complementary effects on firm's performance. Further, results depict that lean manufacturing and AM complementarity is a complete organizational synergistic phenomenon, and piecemeal implementation of these initiatives may lead to suboptimal or unsatisfactory results. Results also indicate that there is no significant direct (correlated and uncorrelated) relationship of management, infrastructure, lean manufacturing, and AM practices with firm's performance and support that lean manufacturing and AM are not competing paradigms.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on cross-sectional data from one industry. Future research should collect data from diverse sectors in different countries.

Practical implications

This study provides a key insight for manufacturing managers that piecemeal implementation of lean manufacturing and AM does not yield optimal outcomes. In addition, study suggests that lean manufacturing and AM complementarity builds on strong foundation of strategic management and internal and external infrastructure. Therefore, managers should focus on development of skilled and empowered human resources, technological advancements, and learning and virtually integrated organizations for effective implementation of lean manufacturing and AM.

Originality/value

Proposed framework is one of the first, if not the first, that seeks to resolve the question: whether lean manufacturing and AM are complementary or competing capabilities. Complementary effects of lean manufacturing and AM along with management, internal infrastructure, and common external infrastructure practices have positive impact on performance. This study also segregated infrastructure practices into internal and common external infrastructure practices.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

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Article
Publication date: 18 February 2022

Tahir Iqbal and Shabir Ahmad

Mismanagement and corruption in disaster relief operations (DROs) have created a demand for transparency and visibility in humanitarian logistics and supply chains. The global…

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Abstract

Purpose

Mismanagement and corruption in disaster relief operations (DROs) have created a demand for transparency and visibility in humanitarian logistics and supply chains. The global relief organisations and recent research endorse the adoption of digital solutions in DROs. The purpose of this research is to examine the moderating role of digitalisation in enhancing transparency in humanitarian logistics and supply chains of DROs in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the quantitative research method, the data were collected from 340 disaster relief workers through survey questionnaires using the snowball sampling technique. The data were analysed in the SmartPLS3 software of PLS-SEM.

Findings

The findings suggested that in Pakistan, where corruption and mismanagement in humanitarian logistics and supply chain have been the greatest concerns of all the stakeholders, digitalisation of the DROs is a way forward to create transparency in the system and build the trust of the donor organisations and public.

Research limitations/implications

The sample included only 340 disaster relief workers, future researchers may test the proposed model on a larger sample size and from different stakeholders' perspectives such as the disaster victims, government agencies and NGOs.

Social implications

The ultimate beneficiaries of a digitalised and transparent humanitarian logistics and supply chain will be the society as a whole and particularly the victims of the disasters. By adopting the appropriate technologies in DROs, the victims will receive timely and entitled resources, and early warnings will save many lives.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the body of knowledge by providing the first empirical evidence of examining the moderating role of digitalisation in creating transparency in humanitarian logistics from one of the top ten most disaster-affected nations.

Details

Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, vol. 12 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-6747

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2005

David Camilleri, Mohammad Iqbal Tahir and Samuel Wang

The purpose of this study is to provide further evidence on the importance of international diversification, and to determine the optimal allocation of assets in a portfolio…

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide further evidence on the importance of international diversification, and to determine the optimal allocation of assets in a portfolio comprising domestic (Australian) and international assets. The study focuses on stock index futures contracts in five countries ‐ Australia, USA, UK, Hong Kong and Japan. Daily data for the five selected contracts over the period from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2000 is employed in the study. Consistent with previous studies, the results confirm the importance of international diversification and indicate that the portfolio risk is reduced considerably when more international assets are added sequentially to the portfolio. Empirical analysis also shows that the optimal asset allocation results in higher risk reduction and better returns when compared with an equally weighted portfolio.

Details

Asian Review of Accounting, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1321-7348

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 10 May 2019

Miranti Kartika Dewi, Melina Manochin and Ataur Belal

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of volunteers and its impact on related accountability practices towards beneficiaries by a large humanitarian non-governmental…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of volunteers and its impact on related accountability practices towards beneficiaries by a large humanitarian non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a qualitative case study design. The empirical evidence comes from rich fieldwork carried out in an Indonesian NGO. The authors collected the evidence mainly via 46 interviews and five focus groups.

Findings

The authors found that the case NGO drew heavily on the social and cultural capitals of volunteers in the process of serving its beneficiaries, which, in turn, facilitated the enhancement of its accountability to the beneficiaries. The authors also found that volunteers play a bridging role to reduce the distance between NGOs and beneficiaries.

Research limitations/implications

For NGO managers, this study provides necessary empirical evidence on the positive role played by the volunteers in the development and operationalisation of accountability to the beneficiaries. In the authors’ case, beneficiary accountability is enhanced by the social conduct and practices performed by the NGO’s numerous volunteers. Beneficiary accountability is of significant concern to the policy makers too. This study shows that volunteers and NGO can work in a reciprocal relationship where social and cultural capital can be mobilised to each other’s advantage. To facilitate beneficiary accountability, NGOs can draw on the socio-cultural capitals held by the volunteers who appear to share the same norms and expectations with the beneficiaries. This process can also lead to the building of social and cultural capital by the volunteers themselves as they achieve great satisfaction and gain valuable experience in this process that could lead to greater satisfaction in their spiritual and material lives.

Originality/value

The authors extend the previous literature on beneficiary accountability by highlighting the under-researched role of volunteers in such accountability practices. In this paper, the authors first discuss the facilitating role of volunteers in enhancing NGOs’ accountability towards beneficiaries. Then, this is illustrated empirically. In addition, the authors argue that although Bourdieusian concepts like field and capital have been widely used in the analysis of various organisational practices the concept of habitus received limited attention particularly from the context of developing countries. The authors undertake an examination of the habitus of volunteers in the Indonesian case organisation and explore their linkages with the field and associated capitals.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

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Available. Content available
Article
Publication date: 1 August 2006

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Abstract

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 15 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

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Article
Publication date: 29 October 2019

Ravinder Singh and Kuldeep Singh Nagla

The purpose of this research is to provide the necessarily and resourceful information regarding range sensors to select the best fit sensor for robust autonomous navigation…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to provide the necessarily and resourceful information regarding range sensors to select the best fit sensor for robust autonomous navigation. Autonomous navigation is an emerging segment in the field of mobile robot in which the mobile robot navigates in the environment with high level of autonomy by lacking human interactions. Sensor-based perception is a prevailing aspect in the autonomous navigation of mobile robot along with localization and path planning. Various range sensors are used to get the efficient perception of the environment, but selecting the best-fit sensor to solve the navigation problem is still a vital assignment.

Design/methodology/approach

Autonomous navigation relies on the sensory information of various sensors, and each sensor relies on various operational parameters/characteristic for the reliable functioning. A simple strategy shown in this proposed study to select the best-fit sensor based on various parameters such as environment, 2 D/3D navigation, accuracy, speed, environmental conditions, etc. for the reliable autonomous navigation of a mobile robot.

Findings

This paper provides a comparative analysis for the diverse range sensors used in mobile robotics with respect to various aspects such as accuracy, computational load, 2D/3D navigation, environmental conditions, etc. to opt the best-fit sensors for achieving robust navigation of autonomous mobile robot.

Originality/value

This paper provides a straightforward platform for the researchers to select the best range sensor for the diverse robotics application.

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 17 July 2023

Kanza Abid, Zafar Iqbal Shams, Muhammad Suleman Tahir and Arif Zubair

The presence of heavy metals in milk causes many acute and chronic physiological dysfunctions in human organs. The present study aims to investigate the heavy metals in cow's and…

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Abstract

Purpose

The presence of heavy metals in milk causes many acute and chronic physiological dysfunctions in human organs. The present study aims to investigate the heavy metals in cow's and buffalo's milk of two major cities, Karachi and Gujranwala, Pakistan to estimate metal intake by humans from this source.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 48 milk samples from 2 cities were drawn from animals' udder to avoid contamination. Each sample was digested with nitric acid at 105 oC (degree Celsius) on a pre-heated electric hot plate to investigate the metals by atomic absorption spectroscopy (flame type). Air-acetylene technique analyzed chromium, cadmium and lead, and the hydride method analyzed arsenic in the milk samples.

Findings

The results revealed the highest mean lead concentration (19.65 ± 43.86 ppb) in the milk samples, followed by chromium (2.10 ± 2.33 ppb) and arsenic (0.48 ± 0.73 ppb). Cadmium was not detected in any sample, assuming cadmium's occurrence was below the detection level. The concentrations of all the metals in the samples of the two cities do not differ statistically. Lead concentrations in the buffalo's milk were higher than in cow's milk (p < 0.05). However, the concentrations of arsenic and chromium between buffalo's and cow's milk do not differ statistically. The present study reveals a lower level of metals in the milk than those conducted elsewhere. The mean concentrations of all the metals met the World Health Organization's (WHO) safety guidelines (1993).

Research limitations/implications

Although cadmium causes toxicity in the human body, cadmium could not be measured because cadmium's concentration was below the detection level, which is 1 ppb.

Practical implications

This study will help reduce the toxic metals in our environment, and the sources of heavy metals, particularly from the industrial sector could be identified. The feed and water consumed by the milking animals could be carefully used for feeding them.

Social implications

This study will help reduce the diseases and malfunction of human organs and organ systems since these heavy metals cause toxicity and carcinogenicity in humans. Arsenic and chromium cause cancer while lead causes encephalopathy (a brain disease).

Originality/value

The study reports heavy metal concentrations in the two attributes of four independent variables of raw milk samples that were scarcely reported from Pakistan.

Details

Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, vol. 42 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1985-9899

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Article
Publication date: 1 March 2001

Farrukh Tahir

Commonwealth countries in Asia are a mixed group, small in number but varying in size from Singapore to India. This paper starts by looking briefly at the current status of…

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Abstract

Commonwealth countries in Asia are a mixed group, small in number but varying in size from Singapore to India. This paper starts by looking briefly at the current status of distance education in universities in Commonwealth Asia and then presents an overview of the current status and place of environmental education in a sample of higher‐education institutions in some Commonwealth countries. Finally, the paper describes a survey conducted in a number of higher‐education institutions specialising in distance education in Commonwealth nations across Asia, with subsequent considerations of trends seen in Pakistan.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 2 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

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Article
Publication date: 9 January 2024

Ubais Parayil Iqbal, Sobhith Mathew Jose and Muhammad Tahir

Commercial banks are the financial powerhouses of a nation that can create a penetrating impact at the grassroots level. This study aims to investigate the demand-side drivers of…

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Abstract

Purpose

Commercial banks are the financial powerhouses of a nation that can create a penetrating impact at the grassroots level. This study aims to investigate the demand-side drivers of green banking purchase intention by extending the popular theory of planned behavior (TPB) model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a mono-method research approach to collect customers’ cross-sectional responses using structured questionnaires. The data were further analyzed using CB-SEM.

Findings

This study points out that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and environmental concern are demand-side factors that drive the intention of individual customers to adopt green banking services. The moderating roles of collectivism, age and gender are also discussed in this study.

Research limitations/implications

The present study’s results suffer from mono-method bias as they are based on primary data analysis alone. This limitation can be addressed by incorporating a mixed-method approach.

Practical implications

Several policy suggestions are offered based on the findings on improving green banking adoption among individual customers. The proper incorporation of these guidelines will expedite a nation’s aspirations for sustainable economic growth.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the demand-side factors that drive Omani customers’ intention to adopt green banking. Moreover, this study extends the TPB with environmental concern and personal values to examine the green banking adoption by individual customers.

Details

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8394

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Article
Publication date: 4 April 2018

Bushra Rafique, Mudassir Iqbal, Tahir Mehmood and Muhammad Ashraf Shaheen

This review aims to focus on recent reported research work on the construction and function of different electrochemical DNA biosensors. It also describes different sensing…

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Abstract

Purpose

This review aims to focus on recent reported research work on the construction and function of different electrochemical DNA biosensors. It also describes different sensing materials, chemistries of immobilization probes, conditions of hybridization and principles of transducing and amplification strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The human disease-related mutated genes or DNA sequence detection at low cost can be verified by the electrochemical-based biosensor. A range of different chemistries is used by the DNA-based electrochemical biosensors, out of which the interactions of nanoscale material with recognition layer and a solid electrode surface are most interesting. A diversity of advancements has been made in the field of electrochemical detection.

Findings

Some important aspects are also highlighted in this review, which can contribute in the creation of successful biosensing devices in the future.

Originality/value

This paper provides an updated review of construction and sensing technologies in the field of biosensing.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 39 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

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