Oussama Saoula, Muhammad Farrukh Abid, Munawar Javed Ahmad and Amjad Shamim
This study aims to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial education (EE), financial support (FS) and role models (RMs) on one’s attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE) and on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial education (EE), financial support (FS) and role models (RMs) on one’s attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE) and on entrepreneurial intention (EI) based on the theory of planned behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, quantitative research design, a deductive approach and purposive sampling have been used to collect data from 352 individuals from various Malaysian higher education institutions. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.
Findings
The findings have provided interesting insights into how EE, FS and RMs have a significant impact on one’s ATE and their EI. Surprisingly, RMs did not emerge as a significant predictor of EI. However, it is worth noting that mediating relationships were of significance, indicating that one’s ATE plays a substantial mediating role between EE, FS, RMs and EIs.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the few that investigate the relationships between RMs, FS and EE in relation to enhancing EIs through the mediating role of one’s ATE in Malaysia. Based on the findings of this study, stakeholders in Malaysia’s education sector are being urged to develop policy guidelines for the designing and teaching of entrepreneurship education as well as to develop FS mechanisms for business start-ups. They are also being encouraged to expose students to entrepreneurial RMs to improve their ATE and their EIs.
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Oussama Saoula, Amjad Shamim, Munawar Javed Ahmad and Muhammad Farrukh Abid
Entrepreneurship is an important paradigm for enhancing the economic well-being of nations. However, despite heated debate about the significant role of entrepreneurial education…
Abstract
Purpose
Entrepreneurship is an important paradigm for enhancing the economic well-being of nations. However, despite heated debate about the significant role of entrepreneurial education (EE) in developing favourable entrepreneurial intention (EI), little is known about the role of individuals’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ES), entrepreneurial motivation (EM) and family support (FS), which the authors investigated in this study.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has used a quantitative research design to collect data from 334 young people from various Malaysian higher education institutes using a purposive sampling technique and a deductive approach based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).
Findings
The findings revealed interesting insights into the criticality of young people’s ES, EM and FS in learning methods, techniques and skills to start new enterprises. Moreover, EE was a significant mediator of the relationship between individual self-efficacy, FS, EM and EI.
Originality/value
This study is among the few to contribute to strategic management scholarship by designing a framework based on the idea that EE relies on diverse factors, particularly ES, EM and FS. These factors encourage Malaysian young people to seek the necessary education to develop favourable EI and launch successful businesses.
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Lisanne Koers, Solveigh Steffens, Saskia Tamerus and Helena Forslund
Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) has the potential to enable closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) and decrease environmental impact, but it is only applied on a small scale. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) has the potential to enable closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) and decrease environmental impact, but it is only applied on a small scale. The purpose of this paper is to explore and develop a framework of challenges and corresponding mitigations encountered by Business-to-Consumer (B2C) retailers when transitioning to PaaS.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collection drew on a qualitative interview study with two industry experts and four PaaS B2C retailers from different Dutch industries.
Findings
A framework was developed linking 26 challenges in eight clusters—financial, product-related, supply chain-related, consumer-related, human resources, research and development/technology, regulatory and industry-related—to 24 mitigations. The mitigations were elaborated, and theoretical insights for matching challenges with mitigations were provided.
Research limitations/implications
This study expands PaaS literature to the generally under-researched retail context. It contributes to CLSC literature by applying it to a less-studied context, thereby revealing many supply chain-related challenges and mitigations encountered by B2C retailers.
Practical implications
The framework offers practical guidance to retail managers for overcoming or preventing challenges in PaaS, in their endeavours toward adopting environmentally sustainable practices.
Social implications
The study creates awareness about environmental sustainability and the potential to reduce societal impact, in which a PaaS-enabled CLSC is one step.
Originality/value
Studying PaaS and CLSC in a retail context is timely and novel.
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Wahid Ullah, Takaaki Nihei, Muhammad Nafees, Rahman Zaman and Muhammad Ali
This study aims to investigate risks associated with climate change vulnerability and in response the adaptation methods used by farming communities to reduce its negative impacts…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate risks associated with climate change vulnerability and in response the adaptation methods used by farming communities to reduce its negative impacts on agriculture in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used household survey method of data collection in Charsadda district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, involving 116 randomly selected respondents.
Findings
Prevalent crops diseases, water scarcity, soil fertility loss and poor socio-economic conditions were main contributing factors of climate change vulnerability. The results further showed that changing crops type and cultivation pattern, improved seed varieties, planting shaded trees and the provision of excessive fertilizers are the measures adapted to improve agricultural productivity, which may reduce the climate change vulnerability at a household level.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitation of this study was the exclusion of women from the survey due to religious and cultural barriers of in Pashtun society, wherein women and men do not mingle.
Practical implications
Reducing climate change vulnerability and developing more effective adaptation techniques require assistance from the government. This help can be in the form of providing basic resources, such as access to good quality agricultural inputs, access to information and extension services on climate change adaptation and modern technologies. Consultation with other key stakeholder is also required to create awareness and to build the capacity of the locals toward reducing climate change vulnerability and facilitating timely and effective adaptation.
Originality/value
This original research work provides evidence about farm-level vulnerability, adaptation strategies and risk perceptions on dealing with climate-change-induced natural disasters in Pakistan. This paper enriches existing knowledge of climate change vulnerability and adaptation in this resource-limited country so that effective measures can be taken to reduce vulnerability of farming communities, and enhance their adaptive capability.
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Syed Hussain Mustafa Gillani, Malkah Noor Kiani and Saifullah Abid
Pakistan has long been regarded as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations promotes conservational…
Abstract
Purpose
Pakistan has long been regarded as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations promotes conservational agricultural practices (CAP); however, they received little attention. Therefore, this study aims to explore the antecedents of farmers’ intention to adopt CAP with empirical evidence to enhance CAP in developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a random sampling strategy, the data has been gathered from 483 Pakistani’s farmers of the most agriculture-producing province, Punjab and Sindh via a questionnaire survey. Regression-analysis (Haye’s process approach) is implied for testing the hypothesis.
Findings
The findings indicated that a farmer’s environmental orientation positively affects the farmer’s intention to adopt CAP. Furthermore, the farmer’s attitude towards agricultural production and the farmer’s belief in climate change also positively moderate the relationship.
Practical implications
Based on findings, this research suggests a need for efforts by the government to encourage farmers to engage themselves in technical support for the adoption of CAP. The educational campaigns and training sessions need to be arranged by the government for this purpose. This may help the farmers to adopt strategies relating to climate change concerning their education, credit access and extension services.
Originality/value
This paper explores the antecedents of farmers' intention for CAP in Pakistan. The empirical evidence previously missing in the body of knowledge will support the governments, researchers and FAO to establish a mechanism for enhancing CAP in developing countries like Pakistan. Further research is recommended to explore the outcomes of farmers' intentions to adopt more CAP to gauge the effectiveness of adaptation strategies
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Muhammad Imran Malik, Faisal Nawaz Mir, Saddam Hussain, Shabir Hyder, Asim Anwar, Zia Ullah Khan, Noman Nawab, Syed Farjad Ali Shah and Muhammad Waseem
This paper aims to examine the mediating role of environmental concern in the relationship of green purchase awareness and purchasing behavior of fast food consumers keeping in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the mediating role of environmental concern in the relationship of green purchase awareness and purchasing behavior of fast food consumers keeping in view the theory of planned behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative, cross-sectional design is used by collecting primary responses through a validated questionnaire. In all, 1,008 male and female buyers of fast food were sampled. Structural equation modeling is applied.
Findings
The results revealed that green purchase awareness has a positive relationship with green purchase behavior, and environmental concern has no mediation in the relationship. Upon having awareness, the respondents adopted green or pro-environmental behavior, but at the same time, they were found having least concern for the protection of environment.
Research limitations/implications
This is a cross-sectional study with questionnaire. Multiple sources of data collection results in weakening self-reporting bias.
Practical implications
Implications count toward individuals, enterprises and society at general.
Originality/value
The study highlights the issue of not having concern for the protection of the environment even after having green purchase awareness. This is the first time the environmental concern is examined as a mediator in the selected relationship. The contradictory results of having no environmental concern differentiate this study from others.
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Razia Fakir Mohammad, Preeta Hinduja and Sohni Siddiqui
The pandemic's health and social issues have significantly altered the character and manner of teaching and learning in higher education across the country. The use of technology…
Abstract
Purpose
The pandemic's health and social issues have significantly altered the character and manner of teaching and learning in higher education across the country. The use of technology to replace or integrate face-to-face learning with online learning has become a necessary requirement for promoting and continuing learning processes. Furthermore, integrating technology is a goal of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to make teaching and learning more innovative and sophisticated. This paper is based on a systematic review grounded in a synthesis of research papers and documents analyzing the current status of teachers' pedagogy through online learning modes in the context of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
Through content analyses of academic studies in higher education and reflection on the online teaching experiences, this study discusses how students' learning is associated with teachers' teaching approaches in the modern era of digitalization and innovation.
Findings
The review and analysis suggest that online teaching is not viewed as an innovative phenomenon; rather, teachers simply teach their traditionally designed face-to-face courses through the use of technology. The paper suggests that transforming teachers' pedagogical insight to make online learning sustainable is an urgent need for higher education.
Originality/value
The analysis provides a basis for consideration of teacher learning and quality education (SDG #4) to fulfill the nation’s agenda for sustainable development. The analysis helps educators and administrators in higher education institutions reflect on their policies and practices that have short- and long-term effects on students' learning outcomes.