Nadeem Kureshi, Faheem Qureshi and Ali Sajid
The purpose of this paper is to assess the current quality management practices of service sector SMEs in Pakistan, and to provide an insight for policy development for SMEs.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the current quality management practices of service sector SMEs in Pakistan, and to provide an insight for policy development for SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
A focused investigation of 100 SMEs in northern Pakistan was conducted through focused interviews and e‐mail survey. The survey is based on a list of 19 quality management techniques selected through Delphi research.
Findings
A significant gap is reported between the knowledge of quality management techniques and their usage by SME entrepreneurs. The results show strong usage of CRM related techniques while low usage of suppliers' development related and statistically extensive techniques. Significant correlation is found between the usage of TQM and other quality management techniques, particularly six sigma and 5S.
Practical implications
The results offer insight into quality management practices in Pakistani SMEs which represent the broader South Asian business culture that is host to a huge share of outsourcing from developed economies. Besides being of huge value to policy makers in the country, the results are useful for firms in developed economies that outsource their businesses to developing economies in South Asia.
Originality/value
The paper provides an insight into the quality management practices of Pakistani SMEs.
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Faheem Aslam, Skander Slim, Mohamed Osman and Ibrahim Tabche
This paper examines the impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on the intraday efficiency of four major energy markets, namely, diesel oil, Brent oil, light oil and natural gas.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on the intraday efficiency of four major energy markets, namely, diesel oil, Brent oil, light oil and natural gas.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applies the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) to high-frequency returns (30-min intervals) for the period from October 21, 2021, to May 20, 2022. The data sample of 5,141 observations is divided into two sub-samples, before and after the invasion of 24th February 2022. Additionally, the magnitude of long memory index is employed to investigate the presence of herding behavior around the invasion period.
Findings
Results confirm the presence of multifractality in energy markets and reveal significant changes of multifractal strength due to the invasion, indicating a decline of intraday efficiency for oil markets. Surprisingly, the natural gas market, being the least efficient before the invasion, turns out to be more efficient after the invasion. The findings also suggest that investors in these energy markets are likely to show herding, more prominently after the invasion.
Practical implications
The multifractal patterns, in particular the long memory property of energy markets, can help investors develop profitable investment strategies. Furthermore, the improved efficiency observed in the natural gas market, after the invasion, highlights its unique traits and underlying complexity.
Originality/value
This study is the first attempt to assess the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on the efficiency of global commodity markets. This is quite important because the adverse effects of the war on financial markets may potentially cause destabilizing outcomes and negative effects on social welfare on a global scale.
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Naeem Gul Gilal, Faheem Gul Gilal, Jing Zhang, Rukhsana Gul Gilal, Zhenxing Gong and Waseem Gul Gilal
This study aims to investigate a randomized 3 (endorser type: celebrity vs CEO vs expert) × 2 (product type: hedonic vs utility) between-respondents factorial experiment to…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate a randomized 3 (endorser type: celebrity vs CEO vs expert) × 2 (product type: hedonic vs utility) between-respondents factorial experiment to inspect the effects of the endorsers and product types on consumers’ engagement in BRM through brand-relationship variables [i.e. self-brand connection (SBC), perceived product attachment (PPA) and source credibility (SC)]. Marketing in a digital era is witnessing a rising trend of “brand resurrection as revolution” led by consumer power. The successful revitalization of various dead brands provides some new opportunities for companies to engage millennial consumers in brand resurrection movements (BRM) through the right choice of brand endorsers. The new-found love of companies for the revitalization of long-forgotten brands has attracted considerable interest among scholars and marketing practitioners. Despite the brand resurrection’s high practical relevance, little is known in marketing research about how to revive failing brands back to life.
Design/methodology/approach
Using source credibility theory (SCT) as a lens, this study conducted two studies (i.e. Study 1, N = 300; Study 2, N = 300) and builds on an analysis of data from Pakistani millennials. The hypotheses were inspected using both structural equation modeling and SPSS’s PROCESS macro.
Findings
Through two studies, the authors find that the match between endorser types and product types affects customer motivation to engage in BRM via SBC, PPA and SC (i.e. attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise).[AQ2] The results showed that for utilitarian products, both SBC and PPA mediate the link between endorser types and BRM, but for hedonic products, PPA does not play a role. Similarly, the authors’ results indicate that for hedonic products, attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise mediate the link between endorser types and BRM, but for utilitarian products, trustworthiness does not play a role.
Practical implications
The results of this research will help marketing managers devise effective brand endorsers strategies in reviving failing brands. Specifically, this endeavor highlights that understanding brand advertisements merely in terms of celebrity endorsement restricts the full potential that brand advertisements could have and also that a comprehensive understanding must include expert and chief executive officers (CEO) endorsers. Therefore, one of the central contributions of this research is the introduction of expert and CEO endorsers and the evidence that both celebrity (i.e. celebrity and CEO) and non-celebrity endorsers (i.e. experts) have an impact on consumers’ motivation to engage in BRM.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first endeavors of its kind to empirically explore consumer attitude/motivation behind participation in reviving failing brands. The significance of this work is underscored by the fact that numerous dead brands are being brought back by companies because of consumer–brand co-creation movements.
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Muhammad Nawaz Tunio, Iffat Sabir, Aamir Rashid and Faheem Gul Gilal
Purpose: The aim of this chapter is to find out the factors affecting female entrepreneurship in the case of the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) in entrepreneurship…
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this chapter is to find out the factors affecting female entrepreneurship in the case of the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) in entrepreneurship.
Methodology: In this chapter, semi-structured interviews are conducted to reach the final findings of the study.
Findings: Findings entail different six factors that severely affect CSR activities in entrepreneurship in Pakistan. These six factors are the educational system and skills gap, Cultural Mindset and Risk Aversion, Limited Access to Finance, Regulatory and Bureaucratic Hurdles, Political Instability and Security Concerns, and Inadequate Infrastructure. Every factor has its intensity and influence on the entrepreneurial process.
Originality/value: This chapter can be useful for international and local NGOs, academic institutions, financial institutions, government agencies, and entrepreneurs.
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Faheem Muhammad, Muhammad Azher Hassan and Tariq Mehmood
The purpose of this paper is an attempt to cover available literature on natural resource management, which reflects the involvement of Pakistan communities living in different…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is an attempt to cover available literature on natural resource management, which reflects the involvement of Pakistan communities living in different regions for sustainable management in agriculture, forestry and livestock sectors differentiated by women. In addition, it was also highlighted about the lack of access to productive resources for rural women farmers. The conclusion was drawn and key recommendation were suggested.
Design/methodology/approach
It is authors real-life experiences or observations in a given field to support colleagues in a variety of ways including advising, establishing best practices and noting trends.
Findings
It was concluded that there are no opportunities such as training of most advanced launched technologies for the sake of better crop production, dairy and fisheries sector sustainable development, as well as the availability of microfinance to support the women farmers in Pakistan rural areas to make them self-dependent.
Originality/value
The opinions and key recommendations are genuine and useful, which should be adopted for the more bright future of women farmers, especially in Pakistan’s rural area.
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Leadership literature has identified that the servant leadership style can reduce employee negative work outcomes, even in challenging work environments like the health-care…
Abstract
Purpose
Leadership literature has identified that the servant leadership style can reduce employee negative work outcomes, even in challenging work environments like the health-care sector as nurses play an important role in the performance of a hospital. That is why, the efficiency and effectiveness of the nurses are believed to be directly linked to improved health benefits to the public. So, this study aims to investigate the inter-relationship between servant leadership, organizational justice and workplace deviance of nurses in public sector hospitals.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-administrated questionnaire using a drop-and-collect method was used for collecting the data from nurses working in the public sector hospitals of Pakistan using a convenient sampling technique. In total, 370 questionnaires were distributed among the nursing staff, of which 201 completed and usable questionnaires were returned and used for data analysis. Further, the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach is used in this study using SmartPLS version 3 software to test the hypothesized model and determine the direct and indirect effects.
Findings
Results showed a negative relationship between servant leadership and workplace deviance, positive relationship between servant leadership and organizational justice, negative relationship between organizational justice and workplace deviance and that organizational justice mediates in the relationship between servant leadership and workplace deviance.
Practical implications
This study provides valuable recommendations and practical implications to address the nurses’ deviant workplace behaviors in the public sector hospitals of Pakistan.
Originality/value
This study is novel as it shows the significance of servant leadership behavior which has the ability to positively influence organizational justice perception leading to less likelihood of the emergence of nurses’ deviant workplace behavior, specifically in the context of public sector hospitals of Pakistan.
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Smart grid is an integration between traditional electricity grid and communication systems and networks. Providing reliable services and functions is a critical challenge for the…
Abstract
Purpose
Smart grid is an integration between traditional electricity grid and communication systems and networks. Providing reliable services and functions is a critical challenge for the success and diffusion of smart grids that needs to be addressed. The purpose of this study is to determine the critical criteria that affect smart grid reliability from the perspective of users and investigate the role big data plays in smart grid reliability.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents a model to investigate and identify criteria that influence smart grid reliability from the perspective of users. The model consists of 12 sub-criteria covering big data management, communication system and system characteristics aspects. Multi-criteria decision-making approach is applied to analyze data and prioritize the criteria using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process based on the triangular fuzzy numbers. Data was collected from 16 experts in the fields of smart grid and Internet of things.
Findings
The results show that the “Big Data Management” criterion has a significant impact on smart grid reliability followed by the “System Characteristics” criterion. The “Data Analytics” and the “Data Visualization” were ranked as the most influential sub-criteria on smart grid reliability. Moreover, sensitivity analysis has been applied to investigate the stability and robustness of results. The findings of this paper provide useful implications for academicians, engineers, policymakers and many other smart grid stakeholders.
Originality/value
The users are not expected to actively participate in smart grid and its services without understanding their perceptions on smart grid reliability. Very few works have studied smart grid reliability from the perspective of users. This study attempts to fill this considerable gap in literature by proposing a fuzzy model to prioritize smart grid reliability criteria.
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Syed Awais Ahmad Tipu and Kamel Fantazy
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of the attributes of supply chain openness on sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of the attributes of supply chain openness on sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected by questionnaire survey from 259 supply chain executives in Pakistan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results indicate that the relative openness of supply chain organizations in Pakistan is very low. Further, all the attributes of supply chain openness have positive but weak association with SSCP. This indicates that there is some awareness of sustainable supply chain but there remains a significant room for improvement with regard to the relationships among different attributes of supply chain openness and SSCP. Pakistani organizations do not fully embrace the concept of supply chain openness in order to achieve SSCP.
Originality/value
The current paper makes three important contributions to the existing literature. First, it empirically examines the attributes of supply chain openness. Second, it contributes to the broader sustainable supply chain management literature by exploring the effects of the attributes of supply chain openness on SSCP. Third, given the limited studies that address sustainable supply chain issues in the context of developing countries, this is one of the few studies that add value to the body of literature in the context of developing countries, such as Pakistan.
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Shefali Arora, Ruchi Mittal, Avinash K. Shrivastava and Shivani Bali
Deep learning (DL) is on the rise because it can make predictions and judgments based on data that is unseen. Blockchain technologies are being combined with DL frameworks in…
Abstract
Purpose
Deep learning (DL) is on the rise because it can make predictions and judgments based on data that is unseen. Blockchain technologies are being combined with DL frameworks in various industries to provide a safe and effective infrastructure. The review comprises literature that lists the most recent techniques used in the aforementioned application sectors. We examine the current research trends across several fields and evaluate the literature in terms of its advantages and disadvantages.
Design/methodology/approach
The integration of blockchain and DL has been explored in several application domains for the past five years (2018–2023). Our research is guided by five research questions, and based on these questions, we concentrate on key application domains such as the usage of Internet of Things (IoT) in several applications, healthcare and cryptocurrency price prediction. We have analyzed the main challenges and possibilities concerning blockchain technologies. We have discussed the methodologies used in the pertinent publications in these areas and contrasted the research trends during the previous five years. Additionally, we provide a comparison of the widely used blockchain frameworks that are used to create blockchain-based DL frameworks.
Findings
By responding to five research objectives, the study highlights and assesses the effectiveness of already published works using blockchain and DL. Our findings indicate that IoT applications, such as their use in smart cities and cars, healthcare and cryptocurrency, are the key areas of research. The primary focus of current research is the enhancement of existing systems, with data analysis, storage and sharing via decentralized systems being the main motivation for this integration. Amongst the various frameworks employed, Ethereum and Hyperledger are popular among researchers in the domain of IoT and healthcare, whereas Bitcoin is popular for research on cryptocurrency.
Originality/value
There is a lack of literature that summarizes the state-of-the-art methods incorporating blockchain and DL in popular domains such as healthcare, IoT and cryptocurrency price prediction. We analyze the existing research done in the past five years (2018–2023) to review the issues and emerging trends.
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Fazal ur Rehman, Farwida Javed, Sadia Ejaz Shiekh and Viktor Prokop
This study aims to explore the impact of cultural practices on consumers’ buying behavior in sales promotional activities toward the fashion clothing brands based on the Theory of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of cultural practices on consumers’ buying behavior in sales promotional activities toward the fashion clothing brands based on the Theory of Black-Box Model under the conditions of COVID-19 at Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has collected data through questionnaire-based survey from 600 consumers of fashion clothing brands using convenience sampling technique in Pakistan and analyzed through PLS-SEM to find results.
Findings
The results confirmed that cultural practices and sales promotional activities have positive significant relationship with the consumers’ buying behavior during the celebration of events, also under the conditions of COVID-19. The study also found that ethnocentrism and xenocentrism are positively associated with cultural practices while social factors, physical factors, product innovation and marketing innovation with sales promotional activities.
Practical implications
The outcomes provide interesting insights about consumers’ assessment toward the sale’s promotional activities and cultural practices of fashion clothing brands during the celebration of events and guide the marketing practitioners to develop the customers edifying and environment-oriented business strategies to boost up the buying behavior in crisis situations.
Originality/value
Although prior research has widely investigated the cultural practices, sales promotion and consumers’ buying behavior in various settings, but to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in these domains.