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1 – 10 of 16Fakhar Abbas, Syeda Hina Batool and Kanwal Ameen
In the ever-changing circumstances, library professionals need to maintain their competencies in line with the new trends. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a mechanism…
Abstract
Purpose
In the ever-changing circumstances, library professionals need to maintain their competencies in line with the new trends. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a mechanism out of these; social media (SM) is a major channel usually used by the professionals for CPD, more specifically the video conferencing mediums such as YouTube, Skype, Zoom and Google meet. These outreach mediums can be used by library professionals to communicate with each other irrespective of their location. This study aims to highlight the effective use of such channels by library professionals to meet the needs of CPD through a systematic review of prior studies.
Design/methodology/approach
The initial search was carried out in Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA) (n = 94), Google Scholar (n = 20), Search on hand (n = 13), Scopus (n = 1) and Web of Science (n = 0). The keywords combinations were used as a formula, i.e. [(Information professional) (Librarians) + CPD + Continuing Professional Development + Youtube + Skype + Zoom + Google meet + Video conferencing]. This search produced a cumulative of 128 results out of the five main databases and hand searches. Moreover, for the purpose of screening and identification of paper, the preferred-reporting of items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement was used.
Findings
The review findings show that the adoption of these channels for CPD purposes has a significant potential to hone up the skills of the professionals who are well proficient in using modern technologies. The results mentioned YouTube as a leading channel of SM used for CPD, followed by Skype. This review further provided practical implications for the information professionals and suggestions for future research.
Originality/value
This study will not only increase the body of knowledge but also attract the researchers to know about the current scenario that how much library professionals are using SM channels for their continuing professional development as well as assists the stakeholders to devise their policies accordingly.
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Syed Danial Hashmi, Khurram Shahzad and Fakhar Abbas
In the post-#MeToo movement era, heightened awareness regarding harassment at workplace has forced corporations to consider gender-based harassment as a serious issue. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
In the post-#MeToo movement era, heightened awareness regarding harassment at workplace has forced corporations to consider gender-based harassment as a serious issue. This study aims to theorise and test psychological capital as a resource reservoir to cope with burnout experienced in the form of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishments as results of gender-based harassment at workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
Multi-wave data were collected from 304 female employees working in project-based organisations in the information technology industry in Pakistan.
Findings
The analysis shows contradictory findings about the prevalence of sexual harassment when a behavioural measurement approach was used against a direct query method. The results also show that gender harassment leads to burnout causing emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishment among the victims. However, psychological capital helps victims cope with these adverse effects of gender harassment.
Practical implications
Managers need to boost the psychological capital of female workers and devise effective policies to combat gender harassment in the workplace. Enforcement of legislation regarding harassment in the workplace should be ensured, which will also indicate seriousness towards the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 5, that is, gender equality.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to present psychological capital as a resource reservoir to combat the negative effects of gender harassment and has been conducted in less studied non-Western work settings.
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Jawad Abbas and Kalpina Kumari
The current study probes the multi-dimensional link between total quality management (TQM) and knowledge management (KM) and investigates how different TQM's dimensions impacts KM…
Abstract
Purpose
The current study probes the multi-dimensional link between total quality management (TQM) and knowledge management (KM) and investigates how different TQM's dimensions impacts KM processes and how this nexus impacts organizational performance (operational and financial performance) by considering KM as an intermediating variable between TQM and organizational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Six TQM practices are taken from “Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award”, namely leadership, customer focus, strategic planning, human resource management, process management and information and analysis; KM processes include knowledge creation, acquisition, sharing and application and organizational performance comprises operational and financial performance. The researcher put together data from different sized services and manufacturing firms, from small, to medium and large firms located in the United Kingdom (UK).
Findings
The results suggested that a positive correlation existed between TQM, KM and organizational performance. KM is also shown to have quite a strong and positive influence on firm operational and financial performance and partially mediates the relationship between TQM and corporate performance. Dimensional analysis indicates that leadership, strategic planning, customer focus and HRM have a significant positive impact on all KM process, while mixed results have been found for process management and information and analysis. The contextual analysis indicates that except for knowledge creation, TQM plays an equally significant role for the majority of manufacturing establishments and services firms.
Originality/value
The present research makes a significant contribution to the scarce literature on the relationship between TQM and KM (mainly at dimensional level), particularly in the context of the UK, and provides a detailed understanding of the relations between different TQM and KM dimensions, and how their relationship impacts on the operational and financial performance of different sizes of manufacturing and services firms.
Highlights
Total quality management (TQM) enhances firms' knowledge management (KM) capabilities
KM partially mediates the relationship between TQM and firms' performance
Leadership, customer focus and process management indicated insignificant impact on knowledge creation
TQM and KM are equally important for all sizes manufacturing and services firms
Total quality management (TQM) enhances firms' knowledge management (KM) capabilities
KM partially mediates the relationship between TQM and firms' performance
Leadership, customer focus and process management indicated insignificant impact on knowledge creation
TQM and KM are equally important for all sizes manufacturing and services firms
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Jawad Abbas, Kalpina Kumari and Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi
Based on the principles of the human capital theory, this study investigates the role of the quality management system (QMS) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the principles of the human capital theory, this study investigates the role of the quality management system (QMS) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing successful employability attributes among graduates. Considering industry as a prominent stakeholder in academia, the authors took industry–academia collaboration as the mediating variable.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the European Foundation for Quality Management model, the author analyzed how QMS in public HEIs located in London, the United Kingdom (UK), impacts business management, computer science and engineering students' employability. Following the nonprobability convenience sampling technique, this study included data from 324 local and international students.
Findings
The structural analysis identified QMS as a significant factor in enhancing students' employability, and industry–academia collaboration is found to act as a partial mediator in this relationship.
Originality/value
The management of HEIs in developing countries can take valuable guidelines from this study and integrate QMS in their institutions in developing their students' employability, as it is being done by HEIs in the UK.
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Muhammad Waqas, Sadaf Rafiq, Chen Ya and Jiang Wu
In recent years, the use of mobile devices for academic persistence has grown to be an indispensable element of students’ learning, highlighting the broad acceptance and…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the use of mobile devices for academic persistence has grown to be an indispensable element of students’ learning, highlighting the broad acceptance and adaptability of mobile technology in learning environments. The current study examines how college students in rural areas use mobile devices and how self-efficacious they are when seeking online information. Additionally, the study investigated the connection between mobile devices usage (MDU), mobile devices self-efficacy (MDSE) and online information seeking behavior (OISB) on the basis of demographic differences.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was used by deploying a five-point Likert scale for measurement, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.26 was used for data analysis. A variety of statistical methodologies, including t-tests, ANOVA and correlation coefficients, were conducted to inspect and assess MDU, MDSE and OISB across gender and age groups. Data from 331 students at the public sector college in a rural region was gathered using a questionnaire. A total of 315 legitimate replies were received.
Findings
The study's conclusions showed that the respondents used their mobile devices for educational purposes less frequently. Nonetheless, the respondents' degrees of MDSE and OISB appear to be high. Furthermore, a strong link was demonstrated among the MDU, MDSE and OISB. On the contrary, there was a negative correlation link between MDU and both MDSE & OISB, while a positive correlation between MDSE and OISB was found. The results also showed substantial variance in all research components based on age and gender, indicating that male and younger respondents performed more efficiently than female and adult respondents.
Originality/value
These results indicate that information literacy guidelines and a variety of educational initiatives should be put together by the government, educational policymakers, librarians and educators, with a focus on how to use mobile devices for learning and information seeking. This will make it possible for students to more efficiently find the information using their portable devices.
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Shahrokh Nikou and Monika Luukkonen
Due to high demand for international talents and skilful workforces, many countries around the world, especially the ageing populations are now looking for new ways and strategies…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to high demand for international talents and skilful workforces, many countries around the world, especially the ageing populations are now looking for new ways and strategies to attract more international talent. Drawing on push-pull factor theory, integrated with theory of reasoned action (TRA), this research examines international students' intention to stay or to leave the host country after completion of the students' studies.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model has been proposed and evaluated aimed at understanding the factors that influence the decision-making of international students studying in Finland. Data were collected from a sample of 292 international students in Finland and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data and examine the relationships between various constructs in the model.
Findings
The SEM results show that several factors influence students' decision to stay or leave the host country after graduation. Aspects related to host country, institutional and economic factors and social influence (norms) directly impact students' attitude towards staying. In addition, attitude towards staying not only has a direct impact on the intention to stay, but also mediates the relationship between different pulling factors and students' intention to stay in the host country. Moreover, challenges and barriers (such as local language, challenge of finding employment and challenge of assimilating into the community or making friends) have a negative impact on the decision to stay in the host country.
Originality/value
This study uses push-pull theory in the Finnish context, contributing to the growing body of literature on international education policies and practices. The findings highlight the need for a more holistic approach to supporting international students, one that considers the students' unique needs and experiences in the host country and provides the students with the necessary resources and support to succeed.
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Irfan Ali and Nosheen Fatima Warraich
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of mobile self-efficacy on personal digital archiving (PDA) practices of undergraduate students.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of mobile self-efficacy on personal digital archiving (PDA) practices of undergraduate students.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a quantitative research design for achieving the objectives. The population consisted of undergraduate students from public sector universities (the top five) of Punjab, Pakistan, listed in the Higher Education Commission recognized general universities. The data were analysed by using SmartPLS, mobile self-efficacy was the independent variable that consisted of two constructs (basic mobile phone operations and using the internet and emails). PDA practices was the dependent variable (information backup, clearing and deleting).
Findings
The analysis consisted of two major parts: first the assessment of measurement model and second the structural equation modelling analysis. A significant impact of mobile self-efficacy (basic mobile phone operations, using internet and email) was found on all the sub-constructs (information backup, information clearing and information deleting) of PDA practices. However, using internet and email has no significant impact on the information clearing practices of undergraduate students of Pakistani universities.
Originality/value
This study is a valuable addition to the extant literature because no comprehensive research has been carried out on the impact of mobile self-efficacy and PDA through mobile phones. It also contributes theoretically in the form of the development of a validated instrument on mobile-based PDA. Additionally, it possesses practical value for information literacy instruction programs.
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Mehdi Dehghan, Jalil Manafian Heris and Abbas Saadatmandi
The purpose of this paper is to use He's Exp‐function method (EFM) to construct solitary and soliton solutions of the nonlinear evolution equation.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use He's Exp‐function method (EFM) to construct solitary and soliton solutions of the nonlinear evolution equation.
Design/methodology/approach
This technique is straightforward and simple to use and is a powerful method to overcome some difficulties in the nonlinear problems.
Findings
This method is developed for searching exact traveling wave solutions of the nonlinear partial differential equations. The EFM presents a wider applicability for handling nonlinear wave equations.
Originality/value
The paper shows that EFM, with the help of symbolic computation, provides a straightforward and powerful mathematical tool for solving nonlinear evolution equations. Application of EFM to Fitzhugh‐Nagumo equation illustrates its effectiveness.
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Nan Xu, Fakhar Shahzad and Rui Hu
To meet environmental performance (EP) goals, this study aims to identify the complex interaction between green Industrial Internet of Things (GIIoT), circular economic practices…
Abstract
Purpose
To meet environmental performance (EP) goals, this study aims to identify the complex interaction between green Industrial Internet of Things (GIIoT), circular economic practices (CEPs) and dynamic capabilities (DC). This study analyzes how technological, operational and cultural compatibilities enhance GIIoT adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from diverse Chinese manufacturing firms (n = 339) through a quantitative survey. The research model was proposed, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Moreover, the robustness of the structural model is further tested using Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis and importance performance map analysis.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that higher organizational compatibilities boost GIIoT adoption and EP. DC was assessed as a higher-order construct to examine its mediation of GIIoT adoption and EP. DC positively mediates GIIoT adoption-EP. Similarly, CEP’s positive impact on EP, partially mediating the relationship between GIIoT adoption and EP, has also been proved.
Originality/value
This research bridges current understanding and contributes useful insights for fostering environmental sustainability inside manufacturing firms and advances the theoretical understanding of technology adoption, sustainable development and dynamic capacity theory. It illuminates the way forward to harmonize and successfully integrate technology, CEP and EP. This research advances the area and gives decision-makers practical advice for creating sustainable and technologically sophisticated organizations.
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Massimiliano Matteo Pellegrini, Francesco Ciampi, Giacomo Marzi and Beatrice Orlando
Effectively handling knowledge is crucial for any organization to survive and prosper in the turbulent environments of the modern era. Leadership is a central element for…
Abstract
Purpose
Effectively handling knowledge is crucial for any organization to survive and prosper in the turbulent environments of the modern era. Leadership is a central element for knowledge creation, acquisition, utilization and integration processes. Based on these considerations, this study aims to offer an overview of the evolution of the literature regarding the knowledge management-leadership relationship published over the past 20 years.
Design/methodology/approach
A bibliometric analysis coupled with a systematic literature review were performed over a data set of 488 peer-reviewed articles published from 1990 to 2018.
Findings
The authors discovered the existence of four well-polarized clusters with the following thematic focusses: human and relational aspects, systematic and performance aspects, contextual and contingent aspects and cultural and learning aspects. The authors then investigated each thematic cluster by reviewing the most relevant contributions within them.
Research limitations/implications
Based on the bibliometric analysis and the systematic literature review, the authors developed an interpretative framework aimed at uncovering several promising and little explored research areas, thus suggesting an agenda for future knowledge management-leadership research. Some steps of the paper selection process may have been biased by the interpretation of the researcher. The authors addressed this concern by performing a multiple human subject reading process whose reliability was confirmed by a Krippendorf’s alpha coefficient value >0.80.
Originality/value
To the best knowledge, this is the first study to map, systematize and discuss the literature concerned to the topic of the knowledge management-leadership relationship.
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