Abdulla Ahmed Al-Ali, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Moza Al-Nahyan and Amrik Singh Sohal
This paper aims to examine the influence of change leadership on organizational culture and change management practices in public-sector firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the influence of change leadership on organizational culture and change management practices in public-sector firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also examines the mediating role of organizational culture on the interactions between leadership and change management programmes in the organization.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical test of the hypotheses using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were applied to data collected from 210 middle-management respondents of public-sector organizations in the UAE.
Findings
The findings suggest that change-oriented leadership has a positive and significant direct effect on planned change (ß = 0.20, p < 0.01) and a positive and significant but indirect effect on planned change (ß = 0.279, p < 0.01) and emergent change (ß = 0.262, p < 0.01) change. Furthermore, hierarchical culture was found to positively and significantly impact directly on both planned (ß = 0.480, p < 0.001) and emergent (ß = 0.245, p < 0.01) change management in the UAE public-sector service organizations.
Practical implications
Based on the study’s findings, the role of the hierarchical culture in effecting change in the UAE public-sector organizations provides new and significant insights into the research literature on organizational culture as regards change management issues and the challenges facing these organizations.
Originality/value
The study makes a significant original contribution toward knowledge on the management of organizational change in UAE public-sector service organizations. It has practical implications for managers and leaders confronting organizational change management in the UAE.
Details
Keywords
Saima Ahmad, Talat Islam, Amrik Singh Sohal, Julie Wolfram Cox and Ahmad Kaleem
This paper develops and tests a model for managing workplace bullying by integrating employee perceived servant leadership, resilience and proactive personality. Specifically…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper develops and tests a model for managing workplace bullying by integrating employee perceived servant leadership, resilience and proactive personality. Specifically, this paper explores servant leadership as an inhibitive factor for workplace bullying, both directly and indirectly in the presence of employee resilience as a mediator. It further explores whether proactive personality moderates the indirect relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an empirical study based on analysis of survey data collected from 408 employees working in services and manufacturing sector organisations in Pakistan. Structural equation modelling was used to test the research model.
Findings
Structural equation modelling results support the proposition that servant leadership helps in discouraging workplace bullying, both directly and indirectly, in the presence of employee resilience as a mediator. However, employee proactive personality moderates this process, such that the association between resilience and workplace bullying is stronger for individuals with high proactive personality.
Research limitations/implications
This study's findings illuminate the strong potential of servant leadership for managing workplace bullying. This potential is attributed to positive role modelling in the workplace, which may assist in building followers' resilience. This study provides evidence to support the importance of leadership in the process by which employees develop better psychological resources to combat bullying at work.
Originality/value
This is the first study that examines the direct relationship between servant leadership and bullying at work. In addition, this study introduced the mediating effect of resilience and the moderating effect of proactive personality on this relationship.
Details
Keywords
Saima Ahmad, Amrik Singh Sohal and Julie Wolfram Cox
While research on the influence of ethical and unethical behaviour on employee well-being abound, we still know little of how well-being is shaped under the dual positive and…
Abstract
Purpose
While research on the influence of ethical and unethical behaviour on employee well-being abound, we still know little of how well-being is shaped under the dual positive and negative behavioural influences in the workplace. To address this limitation, this paper aims to investigate the relative effects of ethical behaviour of leadership and unethical bullying behaviour on employee well-being through the application of the conservation of resources theory.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted in the context of Pakistan by seeking views of 330 employees in academic work settings.
Findings
The data analysis revealed that occurrence of unethical behaviour plays a more potent role than ethical behaviour in shaping employee well-being. These findings lend support to the conservation of resources theoretical perspective by reiterating the salience of resource loss over resource gain in shaping employee well-being.
Originality/value
This study offers a new insight into the management literature by highlighting that combating workplace bullying not only conserves employee well-being, but also allows organisations to capitalise more fully on the positive process enabled by leadership.
Details
Keywords
AlShaima Taleb Taleb Hussein, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Sherine Farouk and Amrik S. Sohal
This paper aims to examine a research model that links knowledge sharing enablers, processes and outcome dimensions in law enforcement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine a research model that links knowledge sharing enablers, processes and outcome dimensions in law enforcement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It attempts to examine the impact of knowledge self-efficacy and top management support on knowledge donating and collecting. It also attempts to examine the effect of these two aspects of knowledge sharing on firm innovation capability.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a quantitative approach, with data collected by questionnaire from 685 police officers in a law enforcement agency in the UAE.
Findings
Knowledge self-efficacy and top management support have a positive impact on knowledge donating and collecting. Only knowledge collecting, however, had a positive effect on firm innovation capability.
Research limitations/implications
The study has significant academic and practical implications. It supports a previous research model that links enablers, processes and outcomes of knowledge sharing, and confirms them in the context of law enforcement in the UAE. It could also help law enforcement agencies to promote a knowledge sharing culture to support innovation in the UAE.
Originality/value
The research model is likely to be particularly valuable in knowledge-intensive organizations such as the law enforcement sector. Knowledge sharing is often overlooked by organizations in the UAE because there has to date been little research in this field.
Details
Keywords
Amrik Sohal, Tharaka de Vass, Prakash Singh, Shahid Al Balushi, Abdullah Said Al Hajri, Yahya Al Farsi and Rashid Al Arbi
Healthcare provision is costly, and patient expectations are increasing. Lean implemented within healthcare settings is one possible solution for dealing with this issue, with…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthcare provision is costly, and patient expectations are increasing. Lean implemented within healthcare settings is one possible solution for dealing with this issue, with much of the current research in this respect mostly focused on developed countries. The research examines the applicability of lean in the healthcare sector of a developing country, specifically Oman.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were conducted with 32 individuals representing four public sector hospitals, along with two major hospital suppliers and the Ministry of Health. The readiness of lean thinking was assessed against seven criteria. Data were then analyzed thematically.
Findings
The authors found that Oman's healthcare sector is strong on leadership support, understanding value and customer groups, ability to undertake an end-to-end process view and engaging in the required training for lean. Interviewees showed awareness of the challenges, including aligning lean with the strategic agenda of healthcare settings, aligning measurement and reward systems to lean thinking and matching demand and capacity levels. The authors conclude that Oman's healthcare sector is ready for widespread application of lean, and if executed successfully, will generate strong strategic and operational outcomes.
Originality/value
This paper provides evidence of the applicability of lean in a very different context to the one that has been generally reported in the literature. The authors propose that lean thinking can be applied in countries and regions with similar cultural contexts such as the Middle East.
Details
Keywords
Maryam Ziaee, Himanshu Kumar Shee and Amrik Sohal
Drawing on information processing view (IPV) theory, the objective of this study is to explore big data analytics (BDA) in pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) for better business…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on information processing view (IPV) theory, the objective of this study is to explore big data analytics (BDA) in pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) for better business intelligence. Supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model is used to identify and discuss the likely benefits of BDA adoption in five processes: plan, source, make, deliver and return.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews with managers in a triad comprising pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors and public hospital pharmacies were undertaken. NVivo software was used for thematic data analysis.
Findings
The findings revealed that BDA capability would be more practical and helpful in planning, delivery and return processes within PSC. Sourcing and making processes are perceived to be less beneficial.
Practical implications
The study informs managers about the strategic role of BDA capabilities in SCOR processes for improved business intelligence.
Originality/value
Adoption of BDA in SCOR processes within PSC is a step towards resolving the challenges of drug shortages, counterfeiting and inventory optimisation through timely decision. Despite its innumerable benefits of BDA, Australian PSC is far behind in BDA investment. The study advances the IPV theory by illustrating and strengthening the fact that data sharing and analytics can generate real-time business intelligence helping in better health care support through BDA-enabled PSC.
Details
Keywords
Fatemeh S. Shahmehr, Amrik Sohal and Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Khaksar
This study aims to explore how not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) adopt service innovation and improve their employee resilience capabilities as a response to environmental…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) adopt service innovation and improve their employee resilience capabilities as a response to environmental changes arising from marketisation of public services.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a multiple case-study research design, this study involved 32 interviews with frontline employees working in a not-for-profit care-providing organisation.
Findings
This study finds that the development of absorptive capacity can facilitate service innovation adoption in NFPs and improve employee resilience in times of transition.
Originality/value
This study offers theoretical insights on service innovation, absorptive capacity and employee resilience in NFPs. It makes practical recommendations that will enable NFPs to help frontline employees better adopt service innovation practices in business models endorsed by the private sector.
Details
Keywords
Sajad Fayezi, Andrew O’Loughlin, Ambika Zutshi, Amrik Sohal and Ajay Das
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of behaviour-based and buffer-based management mechanisms on enterprise agility using the lens of the agency theory.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of behaviour-based and buffer-based management mechanisms on enterprise agility using the lens of the agency theory.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on data collected from 185 manufacturing enterprises using a survey instrument. The authors employ structural equation modelling for data analysis.
Findings
The results of this study show that buffer-based mechanisms used for dealing with agency uncertainty of supplier/buyer not only have a positive impact on agility of enterprises, but are also contingent on the behavioural interventions used in the relationship with a supplier/buyer. Behaviour-based mechanisms also positively impact enterprise agility through mitigating the likelihood of supplier/buyer opportunism.
Practical implications
This study demonstrates that buffer- and behaviour-based management mechanisms can be used as complementary approaches against agency uncertainties for enhancing enterprise agility. Therefore, for enterprises to boost their agility, it is vital that their resources and capabilities are fairly distributed across entities responsible for creating buffers through functional flexibility, as well as individuals and teams dealing with stakeholder engagement, in particular, suppliers and buyers.
Originality/value
The authors use the lens of the agency theory to assimilate and model characteristic agency uncertainties and management mechanisms that enhance enterprise agility.
Details
Keywords
Amrik S. Sohal and Mohini Singh
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) present a majorchallenge for managers; that is, the successful adoption andimplementation of AMT and the translating of technical…
Abstract
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) present a major challenge for managers; that is, the successful adoption and implementation of AMT and the translating of technical benefits into business benefits in the marketplace. There are many factors that are critical to achieving this success. The authors discuss the key success factors and highlight some of the common problems experienced by firms during the planning and implementation of AMT.