Muhammad Shoaib Farooq and Maimoona Salam
The relationship between corporate-level green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) and the implementation of cleaner production practices (CPPs) is to a great extent unexplored in…
Abstract
Purpose
The relationship between corporate-level green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) and the implementation of cleaner production practices (CPPs) is to a great extent unexplored in previous literature. This study aims to connect them with the corporate-level green supply chain learning and organizational competitive aggressiveness, presenting a novel interpretation of social ethics and morality in CPPs.
Design/methodology/approach
To thoroughly explore this novel relationship, this study has used PLS-SEM for examining the moderated-mediation of competitive aggressiveness and green supply chain learning.
Findings
Findings based on the data collected from 176 German firms have largely confirmed our propositions. Suggesting that there is a strong positive relationship between corporate level GEO and CPPs. Furthermore, our findings have confirmed that green supply chain learning mediates the macro-level relationship between GEO and CPPs. Moreover, it is also confirmed that the mediation of green supply chain learning in the macro-level relationship between GEO and CPPs is negatively moderated by competitive aggressiveness.
Originality/value
This study offers a first-hand view of negatively moderated-mediation of competitive aggressiveness. Therefore, its findings are extremely relevant for policymakers in the domain of morality, social ethics, corporate-level GEO, sustainability, corporate-level green supply chain learning and CPPs.
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Muhammad Farooq, Asrar Ahmed, Imran Khan and Muhammad Munir
This study aims to investigate the impact of dividend policy on a firm’s participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR)-related activities in the context of Pakistani…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of dividend policy on a firm’s participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR)-related activities in the context of Pakistani firms. Furthermore, the role of the board governance mechanism in dividend policy-CSR is investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
The study’s sample consists of 115 nonfinancial Pakistan Stock Exchange-listed firms from 2010 to 2021. A multidimensional financial method is used to assess the firm’s CSR engagement, and dividend policy is assessed using the dividend payout ratio and dividend yield. The authors used the fixed effect model and the random effect model to fulfill the study’s objectives. Furthermore, the system-generalized method of moment estimation technique is used to test the robustness of the result. In addition, the authors perform reverse causality analysis and investigate the effect of financial constraints on the dividend policy–CSR relationship.
Findings
The authors find that dividend policy has a significant positive impact on CSR. The authors also find that dividend policy is significantly positively associated with components of CSR, i.e. donation, employee welfare and research and development. Furthermore, the authors find that the board governance mechanism strengthens this positive relationship between dividend policy and CSR.
Practical implications
The government and authorities must mandate or at least encourage enterprises to pay dividends as doing so not only keeps shareholders happy but also encourages firms to make CSR initiatives to balance stakeholders. Furthermore, the regulator should take steps to strengthen the board governance structure as it strengthens the positive dividend policy–CSR relationship.
Originality/value
Although little previous research has focused on the CSR-dividend policy link, the authors believe that this is the first study to look at the influence of dividend policy on CSR and the moderating impact of board governance mechanisms in an emerging country, namely, Pakistan.
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Muhammad Adnan Afzal, Khalid Hussain, Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Farooq Rehan and Shoaib Masood Khan
This study examines the impact of five dimensions of decent work on the faculty engagement in Pakistan’s higher education institutions. Furthermore, it examines the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of five dimensions of decent work on the faculty engagement in Pakistan’s higher education institutions. Furthermore, it examines the moderating influence of intrinsic religiosity on the associations above.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employed a cross-sectional approach to collect data from 542 faculty members working with higher education institutions through electronic and in-person questionnaire administration.
Findings
The findings indicate that safe interpersonal working conditions, opportunities for free time and rest, adequate compensation, and the availability of healthcare services significantly positively impact the level of work engagement among faculty members. Additionally, the research revealed that intrinsic religiosity reinforces the previously established significant associations.
Research limitations/implications
The research acknowledges specific constraints that could impact the applicability of its findings, including the utilization of a cross-sectional methodology, the dependence on self-reported information, and the possibility of sample biases. Subsequent investigations may rectify these constraints to provide a more all-encompassing comprehension of the subject matter.
Practical implications
The findings possess practical significance for the management of HEIs in cultivating an ideal working atmosphere for faculty members. Ensuring adequate compensation, secure working environments and healthcare accessibility is underscored to enhance faculty engagement. Furthermore, acknowledging the significance of intrinsic religiosity can improve faculty engagement.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the current body of literature by investigating the complex relationship among decent work, faculty engagement, and intrinsic religiosity in the specific context of higher education institutions in Pakistan.
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Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Imran Khan, Qadri Aljabri and Muhammad Tahir Khan
This study aims to examine the impact of corporate governance on the speed of adjustment (SOA) of capital structure in a developing market, Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of corporate governance on the speed of adjustment (SOA) of capital structure in a developing market, Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The study's sample includes 173 non-financial enterprises that were listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) between 2011 and 2020. The capital structure of the sample companies is determined by the ratio of total debt to total debt plus the market value of equity. Corporate governance is measured by board size, independence, CEO duality, management ownership, blockholders ownership and institutional ownership. A two-step difference GMM model was used to achieve the study's objectives.
Findings
Through applying the reduced form model approach, we discovered that corporate governance variables have a considerable negative impact on the speed of targeted leverage adjustment in sample firms. Additionally, to check the robustness of results, the two-stage technique used to examine this corporate governance-SOA relationship. Furthermore, we discovered that smaller enterprises modify their capital structure more than larger firms. Furthermore, corporations prioritize short-term debt adjustment above long-term debt adjustment.
Practical implications
The study's findings provide further information to company managers and investors on the relationship between corporate governance quality and the pace of adjustment towards targeted leverage across Pakistani enterprises. Furthermore, this study adds new information from growing countries such as Pakistan to the existing literature, which can help regulatory authorities and policymakers improve the quality of corporate governance. It is commonly known that improving the quality of corporate governance practices improves the firm's capital structure, which benefits all stakeholders.
Originality/value
In the context of developing economies, the academic literature lacks research that examine the impact of corporate governance on dynamic capital structure decisions. This study intends to fill this gap.
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Muhammad Imran Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Qadri Al Jabri, Saif Ullah and Mazhar Hussain
A company’s dividend policy is determined not just by its strategy but also by the qualities of its managers, particularly overconfidence. As a result, the purpose of this study…
Abstract
Purpose
A company’s dividend policy is determined not just by its strategy but also by the qualities of its managers, particularly overconfidence. As a result, the purpose of this study is to explore the impact of CEO overconfidence on dividend policy using the dividend payout ratio and dividend yield ratio.
Design/methodology/approach
The study’s sample includes 170 non-financial enterprises listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange between 2011 and 2022. Furthermore, we used corporate governance and firm-specific factors as control variables. The fixed effect model based on the Hausman test result and dynamic system GMM estimation technique was employed in the analysis. Furthermore, the dividend dummy variable and alternative proxies of dividend payments are used to ensure the results are robust.
Findings
The findings indicate that CEOs’ overconfidence positively impacts dividend payout and dividend yield ratios. Further analysis reveals that board size and remuneration committee significantly impact dividend payment among corporate governance control variables, while block holding has a negative effect. Among firm-specific control variables, the results suggest that firm size, profitability, and market-to-book ratio are significantly positively associated. In contrast, the coefficient of variation and debt ratio are inversely associated with dividend payments.
Practical implications
Managerial overconfidence benefits shareholders by increasing dividend payouts, but firms may struggle in the long run if they do not have adequate retained earnings to meet capital requirements. Dividends and retained earnings must be balanced to make enough funds available for long-term investment in capital-intensive projects.
Originality/value
Although little previous research has focused on the managerial overconfidence-dividend policy relationship, the authors believe this is the first study to test this relationship generally in emerging markets, particularly Pakistan.
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Muhammad Farooq, Qadri Al-Jabri, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Asad Afzal Humayon and Saif Ullah
This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and the financial performance of both Islamic and conventional banks in the context of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and the financial performance of both Islamic and conventional banks in the context of an emerging market, i.e. Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
This study includes 300 bank-year observations from Islamic and conventional banks over the period 2010–2021. The dynamic panel model (generalized method of moments [GMM]) was considered the primary estimation model that solves simultaneity, endogeneity and omitted variable problems as most governance variables are endogenous by nature. Hence, static models are considered biased after conducting the DWH test of endogeneity, and considering dynamic panel GMM is valid proven by Sargan and Hensen and first-order (ARI) and second-order (ARII) tests.
Findings
Based on the regression results, the authors discovered that board size, female participation in the board and director remuneration have a significant positive impact on bank performance, whereas board meetings have a significant negative impact. Furthermore, the board governance structure of commercial banks is found to be more passive than that of Islamic banks.
Practical implications
The study’s findings added a new dimension to governance research, which could be a valuable source of knowledge for policymakers, investors and regulators looking to improve existing governance mechanisms for better performance of conventional and Islamic banks.
Originality/value
The goal of this study is to add to the existing literature by focusing on the impact of female board participation and other board governance mechanisms in both conventional and Islamic banks on bank performance.
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Nhlanhla Mzameleni Nhleko, Oluwasegun Julius Aroba and Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita
Through the review of several journal articles on the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and how it impacts students’ motivation to continue with their…
Abstract
Purpose
Through the review of several journal articles on the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and how it impacts students’ motivation to continue with their studies or to drop out of their academic program, this study aims to review the literature on the impact of ICTs on student motivation at a university.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a systematic literature review steered by the PRISMA guidelines. This paper uses both Durban University of Technology subscription-based and publicly available papers. The research articles examined were published between 2018 and 2023 in Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect.
Findings
Reviewed literature bespeaks that ICTs can increase student motivation by enhancing interactive, engaging and individualized learning. Digital technologies that engage students and offer a more engaging learning environment include instructional apps, online simulations and multimedia content. Using ICTs may be useful in lowering university dropout rates.
Originality/value
The systematic review yielded valuable insights for both academic research and real-world applications in education regarding the Durban University of Technology. The study offers a comprehensive analysis of the nexus between ICTs and student motivation.
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Muhammad Ishtiaq Ishaq, Huma Sarwar, Simona Franzoni and Ofelia Palermo
Considering the significance of the human resource management (HRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) relationship, the aim of this research is twofold: first is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Considering the significance of the human resource management (HRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) relationship, the aim of this research is twofold: first is to measure the cultural differences between HRM, CSR and sustainable performance relationship (study 1) and second is to identify the how HRM instigates CSR and sustainable performance (study 2) in the hospitality industry of UK and Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method approach was used to collect the qualitative and quantitative data from upscale hotels. In Study 1, a multi-respondent and time-lagged strategy was employed to collect the data from 162 Pakistani and 290 UK upscale hotels. In Study 2, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the HRM–CSR–performance nexus.
Findings
The results of Study 1 highlight the significant cultural differences in the relationships of HRM–CSR–performance, while Study 2 explains that ethical culture, shared objectives, transparency, training and development, and economic incentives are the factors that push the employees to take part in CSR-related activities and attaining higher sustainable performance.
Originality/value
This study addresses the debate on the difference between cross-cultural studies related to implementing Western theories in shaping, developing and implementing business strategies, including CSR, HRM and sustainable performance in an Asian context.
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Aneel Manan, Zhang Pu, Jawad Ahmad and Muhammad Umar
Rapid industrialization and construction generate substantial concrete waste, leading to significant environmental issues. Nearly 10 billion metric tonnes of concrete waste are…
Abstract
Purpose
Rapid industrialization and construction generate substantial concrete waste, leading to significant environmental issues. Nearly 10 billion metric tonnes of concrete waste are produced globally per year. In addition, concrete also accelerates the consumption of natural resources, leading to the depletion of these natural resources. Therefore, this study uses artificial intelligence (AI) to examine the utilization of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in concrete.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive database of 583 data points are collected from the literature for predictive modeling. Four machine learning algorithms, namely artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), ridge regression (RR) and least adjacent shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression (LR), in predicting simultaneously concrete compressive and tensile strength were evaluated. The dataset contains 10 independent variables and two dependent variables. Statistical parameters, including coefficient of determination (R2), mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE), were employed to assess the accuracy of the algorithms. In addition, K-fold cross-validation was employed to validate the obtained results, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was applied to identify the most sensitive parameters out of the 10 input parameters.
Findings
The results indicate that the RF prediction model performance is better and more satisfactory than other algorithms. Furthermore, the ANN algorithm ranks as the second most accurate algorithm. However, RR and LR exhibit poor findings with low accuracy. K-fold cross-validation was successfully applied to validate the obtained results and SHAP analysis indicates that cement content and recycled aggregate percentages are the effective input parameter. Therefore, special attention should be given to sensitive parameters to enhance the concrete performance.
Originality/value
This study uniquely applies AI to optimize the use of RCA in concrete production. By evaluating four machine learning algorithms, ANN, RF, RR and LR on a comprehensive dataset, this study identities the most effective predictive models for concrete compressive and tensile strength. The use of SHAP analysis to determine key input parameters and K-fold cross-validation for result validation adds to the study robustness. The findings highlight the superior performance of the RF model and provide actionable insights into enhancing concrete performance with RCA, contributing to sustainable construction practice.
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Muhammad Yasir, Muhammad Naveed Khan, Mostafa A.H. Abdelmohimen and N. Ameer Ahammad
The heat transport phenomenon in which energy transfers due to temperature differences is an important topic of interest for scientists in recent times. It is because of its wide…
Abstract
Purpose
The heat transport phenomenon in which energy transfers due to temperature differences is an important topic of interest for scientists in recent times. It is because of its wide range of applications in numerous domains such as electronics, heat dispersion, thermoregulation, cooling mechanism, the managing temperature in automotive mobile engines, climate engineering, magnetoresistance devices, etc. On account of such considerations, the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) entropy rate for nanomaterial (CoFe2O4/C2H6O2) and hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) is analyzed. The Darcy–Forchheimer relation is utilized to describe the impact of a porous medium on a stretched sheet. Two nanoparticles molybdenum (MoS4) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) are combined to make hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2). Heat flux corresponds to the Cattaneo–Christov model executed through heat transfer analysis. The influence of dissipation and heat absorption/generation on energy expression for nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) and hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) is described.
Design/methodology/approach
Nonlinear partial differential expressions have been exchanged into dimensionless ordinary differential expressions using relevant transformations. Newton’s built-in shooting method is employed to achieve the required results.
Findings
Concepts of fluid flow, energy transport and entropy optimization are discussed. Computational analysis of local skin friction and Nusselt number against sundry parameters for nanomaterial (CoFe2O4/C2H6O2) and hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) is engrossed. Larger magnetic field parameters decay fluid flow and entropy generation, while an opposite behavior is observed for temperature. Variation in magnetic field variables and volume fractions causes the resistive force to boost up. Intensification in entropy generation can be seen for higher porosity parameters, whereas a reverse trend follows for fluid flow. Heat and local Nusselt numbers rise with an increase in thermal relaxation time parameters.
Originality/value
No such work is yet published in the literature.