Wardah Anam, Khurram Shehzad Akhtar, Faheem Ahmad, Abher Rasheed, Abher Rasheed, Muhammad Mohsin, Farooq Azam, Tehseen Ullah and Sheraz Ahmad
The purpose of this study was to produce yarns from three different spinning techniques, i.e.Murata Vortex Spinning (MVS) ring spinning and rotor spinning. Those yarns were then…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to produce yarns from three different spinning techniques, i.e.Murata Vortex Spinning (MVS) ring spinning and rotor spinning. Those yarns were then used to produce fabrics. Then, the effect of silicone softener on tactile comfort of fabric was investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
Three different yarns, i.e. Ring, Rotor and MVS yarns, were used to make fabrics using CCI sample loom which were then subjected to post treatments like desizing, scouring and bleaching. After the completion of the dyeing process, silicone-based softener was used to improve the hand feel of fabrics. The structures of three yarns were evaluated using Scanning electron microscopy. The fabrics were evaluated against compression, bending and surface properties using Kawabata evaluation system.
Findings
The fabric made of MVS yarn depicted more geometrical roughness, coefficient of friction and bending rigidity but less compressibility as compared to fabrics made with other yarns. It was observed that softener concentration has a direct relationship with thickness and bending rigidity of the fabric, and inverse relationship with coefficient of friction and geometrical roughness of the fabric.
Originality/value
MVS yarn has some superior properties over rotor and ring spun yarn like high production rates, high resistance to pilling, clear appearance and stability against deformation but has disadvantage that it has less compressibility. Therefore, softener is applied on the fabric, to address this issue, so that it could also be used for apparels application.
Details
Keywords
Faheem Ahmad Khan, Maria Ahmad and Tahir Saeed
This study aims to investigate the direct effect of the behavior-based sales control system on job outcomes: salesperson’s performance and turnover intentions. The current study…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the direct effect of the behavior-based sales control system on job outcomes: salesperson’s performance and turnover intentions. The current study also intends to integrate these two streams by conceptualizing work engagement as a mediating variable between behavior-based sales control systems and salespersons’ job outcomes in the pharmaceutical sales context.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected through multi-stage stratified random sampling from a sample of 619 salespersons working in 20 pharmaceutical firms (multinational and national) through self-administered questionnaires.
Findings
The structural equation model yielded results indicating that the behavior-based sales control system was positively related to salespersons’ work engagement and negatively to turnover intentions while the relationship between the behavior-based sales control system and salespersons’ job outcomes was mediated by work engagement.
Originality/value
Two relatively separate lines of investigation have appeared in academic literature. The first line centered on sales force control systems and salespersons’ related consequences, whereas the second line of investigation emphasizes work engagement and its consequences. Although both lines are important, a diminutive research effort has been made to join these two different lines of investigation in sales management, specifically, in the pharmaceutical context. Focusing on this, the current research explores the role of an unexplored construct of work engagement in a pharmaceutical sales context. Second, it addresses the need to identify additional mediating variables to clarify the inconsistent relationship between sales control systems and job outcomes, such as job performance and turnover intentions.
Details
Keywords
Faheem Ahmad Khan, Khuram Shafi and Amer Rajput
The purpose of this study is to reveal important insights by examining the relationships of two different field managers’ monitoring styles with performance through salespersons’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to reveal important insights by examining the relationships of two different field managers’ monitoring styles with performance through salespersons’ engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from 318 salespersons’ from 20 pharmaceutical firms. Given the performance-driven nature of the pharmaceutical sales profession, field managers seek to adopt the best monitoring style, which can optimize individual’s performance while providing a healthy work environment.
Findings
The results from multivariate analysis show the evidence of positive relationship between interactional monitoring and salespersons’ engagement. The results also confirm that engagement partially mediates the proposed relationships.
Originality/value
Authors assimilate and extend research and theory on field managers’ monitoring, salespersons’ performance and salespersons’ engagement to advance a model of salespersons’ reactions to different monitoring styles based on self-determination theory. Perhaps in no other field, the salespersons-field managers’ relationship is as important as in the field of pharmaceutical selling. The study offers insights about the important consequence of two different monitoring styles; also the study is one of the exceptional efforts to provide evidence regarding the role of engagement in the relationship between two different monitoring styles and salespersons’ performance.
Details
Keywords
Seyi S. Stephen, Ayodeji E. Oke, Clinton O. Aigbavboa, Opeoluwa I. Akinradewo, Pelumi E. Adetoro and Matthew Ikuabe
The chapter introduced stealth construction as a transformative concept emerging in the construction industry, emphasising resilience and efficiency through innovative…
Abstract
The chapter introduced stealth construction as a transformative concept emerging in the construction industry, emphasising resilience and efficiency through innovative technologies, cutting-edge materials, and advanced methodologies. Drawing parallels to stealth aircraft, stealth construction aims to create buildings and infrastructure that blend seamlessly into their environments, minimising environmental impact and enhancing sustainability. This approach integrates smart materials, strategic planning, and covert practices throughout all construction stages, ensuring robust, adaptive, and discreet structures. Stealth construction represents a significant paradigm shift by prioritising energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and resilience against natural disasters and cyber threats. It combines modern aerospace engineering principles with diverse construction practices to achieve construction invincibility, setting new standards for the industry regarding sustainability, security, and aesthetics.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Asim Faheem, Shabir Ahmad and Hafsa Tayyab
Amidst the stressful work environment in the healthcare sector, employees struggle to maintain prosocial behavior and work reattachment. The potential role of awe and mindfulness…
Abstract
Purpose
Amidst the stressful work environment in the healthcare sector, employees struggle to maintain prosocial behavior and work reattachment. The potential role of awe and mindfulness in addressing these issues remains unexplored. This study investigates how coworker prosocial behavior affects work reattachment while considering the mediating role of mindfulness and the moderating role of awe.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a quantitative research design, data were collected through a survey questionnaire from 356 healthcare professionals in Pakistan. The data were analyzed in SPSS and AMOS for reliability and validity statistics, as well as for hypothesis testing.
Findings
The findings revealed a significant link between coworker prosocial behavior and work reattachment. Mindfulness acted as a mediator between coworker prosocial behavior and work reattachment, while awe had a positive moderating effect on these relationships.
Practical implications
The findings emphasize the need for fostering these elements to manage stress, support employees and improve work reattachment.
Originality/value
The existing literature lacks empirical evidence regarding the impact of coworker prosocial behavior on employee outcomes, and this study contributes by examining the roles of awe and mindfulness in the healthcare sector.
Details
Keywords
Ishfaq Ahmed, Talat Islam, Rabia Afzal, Imlak Iqbal and Muhammad Asim Faheem
The authors examined how employee led exchange benefits the organizations. Specifically, the authors aim at investigating the mediating role of family supportive supervision…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors examined how employee led exchange benefits the organizations. Specifically, the authors aim at investigating the mediating role of family supportive supervision between employee performance and taking charge behavior. The authors further examined leader-member exchange (LMX) as a boundary condition between employee performance and family supportive supervision.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data from 295 employees and their supervisors working in various public sector organizations of Pakistan on a convenience basis. Specifically, data on family supportive supervision and LMX was collected from employees; whereas, data on employee performance and taking charge was collected from their supervisors between June–September 2021.
Findings
The statistical analysis reveals that high-performing employees are reciprocated by the high family-supportive supervision which increases their work-life balance and they further reciprocate by showing a propensity to take charge. In addition, LMX is noted to strengthen the association between employees' performance and family supportive supervision.
Practical implications
This study explains how managers can extend the stream of employees' performance by highlighting the role of family-supportive supervision and LMX. The managers through high LMX and provision of family-supportive supervision can boost the employees' outcomes from job performance to extra-role performance (i.e. taking charge).
Originality/value
This study adds value to the existing body of knowledge by considering performance as a predictor of various organizational-level consequences. Recent studies have considered the negative consequences of employees' performance, while the positive aspect has been called for an investigation.
Details
Keywords
Shadma Shahid, Faheem Ahmed and Uzma Hasan
India accounts for the third-largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. The previous studies about halal consumption have focused on the “food and money…
Abstract
Purpose
India accounts for the third-largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. The previous studies about halal consumption have focused on the “food and money industry” only. Muslim consumers are prohibited from using alcohol, pork and other items in any form; the rising awareness among Muslims has led to the rapid growth in demand of halal cosmetic products around the globe. This paper aims to present a framework of halal consumers’ purchase and explores the factors that Indian consumers consider while buying halal cosmetics.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors carried out qualitative research (focus group discussion and in-depth interviews) in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad to gain deeper insight from the respondents.
Findings
The study found that religiosity and increasing awareness about halal products acts as an influencer for individuals’ halal products consumption along with halal certification and growing education level of Muslim consumers.
Originality/value
The paper has been developed based on the original research work carried out among the halal Muslim consumers in the major Muslim population in metropolitan cities of Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi over the past year.
Details
Keywords
Shatha Qamhieh Hashem and Islam Abdeljawad
This chapter investigates the presence of a difference in the systemic risk level between Islamic and conventional banks in Bangladesh. The authors compare systemic resilience of…
Abstract
This chapter investigates the presence of a difference in the systemic risk level between Islamic and conventional banks in Bangladesh. The authors compare systemic resilience of three types of banks: fully fledged Islamic banks, purely conventional banks (CB), and CB with Islamic windows. The authors use the market-based systemic risk measures of marginal expected shortfall and systemic risk to identify which type is more vulnerable to a systemic event. The authors also use ΔCoVaR to identify which type contributes more to a systemic event. Using a sample of observations on 27 publicly traded banks operating over the 2005–2014 period, the authors find that CB is the least resilient sector to a systemic event, and is the one that has the highest contribution to systemic risk during crisis times.
Details
Keywords
Zhenxing Gong, Faheem Gul Gilal, Rukhsana Gul Gilal and Agha Jahanzeb
Protean career orientation is a key element that helps explain why workers plan and manage their careers. In the field of nursing, a protean career orientation assists nurses in…
Abstract
Purpose
Protean career orientation is a key element that helps explain why workers plan and manage their careers. In the field of nursing, a protean career orientation assists nurses in job search, career mobility and adapting to changing demands. Few studies have explored how nurses’ protean career orientation will lead to job search and how to make better use of the protean career orientation. This study aims to explore how a protean career orientation influences job search via career optimism and the moderating role of mentoring relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of 309 frontline nurses from China. The questionnaire was distributed to nurses through the snowball sampling method. Jamovi 1.2.2 was used for descriptive analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis. The relationships between the variables and their significance were tested using Process Macro 3.3.
Findings
Results show that protean career orientation was significantly related to career optimism and positively related to job search. Career optimism was significantly related to job search. The indirect effect of protean career orientation on job search through career optimism was significant. The interaction between protean career orientation and mentoring relationships was also significantly related to career optimism.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate how nurses’ flexible career orientation significantly impacted job search through nurses’ career optimism. If nurses work in supportive mentoring relationships, the positive effect of the nurse’s protean career orientation on the job search is decreased.
Details
Keywords
Hala Bucheeri and Afsana Faheem
This study aims to explore whether the cultural competency training in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services is sufficient to equip Psychological Wellbeing…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore whether the cultural competency training in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services is sufficient to equip Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP) to support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) service users.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative design was adopted using semi-structured interviews with six PWP participants. Reflexive thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step process was used in data analysis.
Findings
Three themes revealed evaluations of PWP training, factors supporting PWPs’ cultural competency and points of improvement for PWP training. The training briefly and superficially covered cultural competency content; however, it encouraged PWPs to explore potential personal and cultural biases in therapy. PWP training can also be improved by providing more culturally relevant resources and involving BAME service users.
Research limitations/implications
A small sample size (N = 6) was used, impacting the findings’ generalizability.
Practical implications
PWP training does not sufficiently equip PWPs to support BAME service users. PWPs’ reflection of their own ethnic identity and personal experiences, when combined with training, can improve cultural competency. IAPT training should focus on cultural awareness, knowledge and skills to enhance therapeutic experience. Moreover, PWPs should reflect on their identity, personal biases and experiences when working with diverse communities.
Originality/value
This is one of the few qualitative studies evaluating the cultural competencies of PWPs in IAPT.