Shah Muhammad Kamran, Hongzhong Fan, Butt Matiullah, Gulzar Ali and Shafei Moiz Hali
This paper not only draws conclusions from the available literature but also offers some new factors as well, which are not included in the existing literature. To be more…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper not only draws conclusions from the available literature but also offers some new factors as well, which are not included in the existing literature. To be more precise, the purpose of this paper is to ascertain factors behind the clustering of the motorcycle industry, a low-tech and low investment industry. This paper weighs the government’s policies, role of factors of production, infrastructure, geography and other drivers for the subject industry and associated industries in the geographic location of Hyderabad.
Design/methodology/approach
For collection of data, a questionnaire was designed to survey the cluster (n=250) after reviewing the literature and conducting interviews of experts of the motorcycle manufacturing industry, i.e. owners, managers, auditors, suppliers, etc.; a component matrix was developed to reduce the dimension of factors and measure the correlation, which helped to weigh the influence of factors. A confirmatory factor analysis proposed four factors as the best fit.
Findings
The study conjectured a new viable factor for industrial clustering: “ethnic community,” as it acts as a catalyst to diffuse knowledge, experience and skills within the industrial cluster.
Research limitations/implications
This research does not find the weightage of the factors for industrial clustering, i.e. it does not calculate the influence of factors behind the industrial clustering.
Practical implications
The above findings aim to stimulate policy makers and researchers alike to further pursue the line of inquiry developed in this paper.
Originality/value
A first-time confirmatory factor analysis is used to find the reasons of industrial clustering. Root mean square error of approximation is used to test the model fit. Most importantly, it is the research about an emerging industrial cluster.
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This paper aims to consider data for listed companies in Bahrain Bourse to determine whether companies practice earnings management (EM). Further, the effect of a set of corporate…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to consider data for listed companies in Bahrain Bourse to determine whether companies practice earnings management (EM). Further, the effect of a set of corporate governance characteristics on EM practices is examined.
Design/methodology/approach
The EM level was measured using discretionary accruals (DA) [calculated using the Modified Jones (1995) Model]. The study sample consisted of 20 companies listed during the period 2011-2015. Panel regression model was used to test the study hypotheses and achieve the study aims.
Findings
EM is negatively correlated with board size, confirming that a larger board is associated with a lower level of EM practices. Further, board independence is positively correlated with EM, suggesting that the larger the number of independent directors, the higher the level of EM practices. In addition, internal ownership is positively related to EM, confirming that the higher level of internal ownership increases EM practices. CEO duality does not appear to have any effect on EM in Bahrain Bourse. More interestingly, the findings reveal that companies practice EM through income-increasing DA.
Research limitations/implications
Financial data and data related to other corporate governance characteristics are lacking.
Practical implications
The results of this study provide empirical support for the development of new regulations and amendments and necessary corrective decisions regarding the effectiveness of applying corporate governance code in Bahrain Bourse. More specifically, this study reveals an urgent need for new amendments to restrict EM practices in Bahrain Bourse.
Originality/value
This study enriches the EM literature by covering Bahrain as an Asian country, which has not been sufficiently examined in relation to this topic. Further, this study provides a clear picture of the level of EM practices in Bahrain Bourse to multiple parties.
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Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Mudassar Gulzar, Zeeshan Asghar, Z. Ali, Waqar Azeem Khan and Abdul Sattar Dogonchi
The purpose of this study is to elaborate mixed convection impact in stratified nanofluid flow by convectively heated moving surface. Rheological relations of second-grade fluid…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to elaborate mixed convection impact in stratified nanofluid flow by convectively heated moving surface. Rheological relations of second-grade fluid are used for formulation. Magnetic field, heat absorption/generation and convective conditions are considered for modeling.
Design/methodology/approach
Convergent solutions are achieved using homotopy procedure.
Findings
The authors found opposing behavior for radiation and thermal stratification variables against thermal field.
Originality/value
No such analysis has yet been reported.
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M. Mudassar Gulzar, Shagufta Jabeen, Muhammad Waqas, Sabir Ali Shehzad, Tasawar Hayat and Ahmed Alsaedi
The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the effects of entropy generation and nonlinear mixed convection on the boundary layer flow of second grade fluid induced by stretching…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the effects of entropy generation and nonlinear mixed convection on the boundary layer flow of second grade fluid induced by stretching sheets. Heat transfer effects are accounted in view of viscous dissipation and nonlinear thermal radiation.
Design/methodology/approach
Optimal homotopic asymptotic method procedure is adopted to obtain the analytical solution of nonlinear ordinary differential equations.
Findings
It has been noticed that Hartmann and Brinkman number has reverse characteristics against entropy generation and Bejan number.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no such analysis has been reported to date.
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Rehan Zahid, Masjuki Hj. Hassan, Abdullah Alabdulkarem, Mahendra Varman, Md. Abul Kalam, Riaz Ahmad Mufti, Nurin Wahidah Mohd Zulkifli, Mubashir Gulzar, Muhammad Usman Bhutta, Mian Ashfaq Ali, Usman Abdullah and Robiah H. Yunus
There is a continuous drive in automotive sector to shift from conventional lubricants to environmental friendly ones without adversely affecting critical tribological performance…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a continuous drive in automotive sector to shift from conventional lubricants to environmental friendly ones without adversely affecting critical tribological performance parameters. Because of their favorable tribological properties, chemically modified vegetable oils such as palm trimethylolpropane ester (TMP) are one of the potential candidates for the said role. To prove the suitability of TMP for applications involving boundary-lubrication regime such as cam/tappet interface of direct acting valve train system, a logical step forward is to investigate their compatibility with conventional lubricant additives.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, extreme pressure and tribological characteristics of TMP, formulated with glycerol mono-oleate (GMO), molybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), has been investigated using four-ball wear tester and valve train test rig. For comparison, additive-free and formulated versions of polyalphaolefin (PAO) were used as reference. Moreover, various surface characterization techniques were deployed to investigate mechanisms responsible for a particular tribological behavior.
Findings
In additive-free form, TMP demonstrated better extreme pressure characteristics compared to PAO and lubricant additives which are actually optimized for conventional base-oils such as PAO, are also proved to be compatible with TMP to some extent, especially ZDDP. During cylinder head tests, additive-free TMP proved to be more effective compared to PAO in reducing friction of cam/tappet interface, but opposite behavior was seen when formulated lubricants were used. Therefore, there is a need to synthesize specialized friction modifiers, anti-wear and extreme pressure additives for TMP before using it as engine lubricant base-oil.
Originality/value
In this study, additive-free and formulated versions of bio-lubricant are tested for cam/tappet interface of direct acting valve train system of commercial passenger car diesel engine for the very test time. Another important aspect of this research was comparison of important tribological performance parameters (friction torque, wear, rotational speed of tappet) of TMP-based lubricants with conventional lubricant base oil, that is, PAO and its formulated version.
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Mahnoor Mahmood Bhatti, Kanwar Hamza Shuja, Muhammad Aqeel, Zainab Bokhari, Syeda Nasreen Gulzar, Tabassum Fatima and Manahil Sama
Gaslighting a form of abusive manipulation both emotional and psychological is a growing phenomenon in recent times. However, as of yet, there is a scarcity of a valid and…
Abstract
Purpose
Gaslighting a form of abusive manipulation both emotional and psychological is a growing phenomenon in recent times. However, as of yet, there is a scarcity of a valid and reliable instrument which can measure the severity of gaslighting in victims of interpersonal relationships abuse. The purpose of this study is the development of an instrument which can effectively measure gaslighting in victims and is psychometrically reliable and valid.
Design/methodology/approach
Since the aim of the study was the development of a scale first a sample of eight women who were victims of domestic abuse was taken for the focus group. Afterwards using purposive sampling a sample of 20 women for the pilot study and a sample of 150 women for the main study was taken with age range 18–40 (M = 23.38, S.D = 4.03). For the development of scale theoretical basis along with a focus group was conducted to establish an item pool. Afterwards, subject matter experts helped in establishing contend validity followed by Velicer’s minimum average partial (MAP) method and maximum likelihood factor analysis (FA) was performed for the establishment of the factorial structure of the instrument.
Findings
Velicer’s MAP method and Maximum Likelihood FA suggested two factor structures including peer disagreement and loss of self-trust. Instrument displayed high alpha reliability of α = 0.934, with α = 0.927 and α = 0.854, for the subscale, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
Though all necessary steps were taken to minimize the limitations of the present study, however, some limitations do exist which needs to be addressed. The foremost limitation of the present scale is that it is being developed with only a female sample, however, the inclusion of a male sample in future studies can help in identifying whether men also are victims of gaslighting from peers and other family members or not. The second limitation is of validity though necessary validities have been established future studies should study on establishing further validities to further refine the instrument. Additionally, the scale has only been validated and tested on female samples future studies should be conducted on other specific groups or samples to develop norms. Moreover, testing the scale on other cultures could also help in establishing cross cultural validation of the instrument. Finally, though the scale assumes a higher level of scores suggests a higher level of victimization, a proper cutoff score can help in further identifying proper victims from the normal level of gaslighting.
Practical implications
The present instrument has its applicability in several domains the most important being in the criminal justice system as gaslighting comes under gaslighting and even in the UK is considered as a criminal offense. This instrument can help in determining the severity of gaslighting in victims. Likewise, it can be used in clinical settings for psychologists to identify possible cases of gaslighting victims which can enable them to provide specific help and treatment for them. Moreover, researchers can also benefit from the instrument as it can enable them to explore gaslighting with other possible variables which can help them explore the concept of gaslighting even further.
Originality/value
This paper is a novel study and has been completed with the purpose of evaluating the effects of gaslighting in victims of interpersonal relationships abuse as the earlier measures are either not psychometrically valid or cannot be generalized to a wider population. The present established scale is an effort to construct an instrument that can be used worldwide.
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Saba Gulzar, Kanwal Hussain, Ather Akhlaq, Zuhair Abbas and Shagufta Ghauri
Recent advancements in the field of organizational psychology have transformed the employees’ perceptions related to the reactions of the employment relationship. The main aim of…
Abstract
Purpose
Recent advancements in the field of organizational psychology have transformed the employees’ perceptions related to the reactions of the employment relationship. The main aim of the study is to explore the consequences of psychological contracts among the nursing staff and how to provide better patient care and quality service in the health-care system as nurses play a pivotal role in the context of Pakistan. Significantly, this study attempts to bridge the research gap by exploring consequences of psychological contracts. Drawing on the social exchange theory, this study examined the psychological contracts of nurses and their reactions to the perceived violation.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopted a qualitative method and was based on an exploratory approach. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews from 21 nurses working in public, private and charity hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. The thematic content analysis is employed for the analysis of data by using NVivo software.
Findings
The study identified the relational and transactional elements related to the psychological contract of nurses who predominantly consisted of supervisor support, autonomy, tangible/intangible rewards and trust. The intrinsic motivation which relates to their devotion to work was found as an additional element to balance their psychological contract. This research also establishes that the psychological contract of nurses is being violated in their work settings.
Practical implications
By highlighting the importance of psychological contract breach, the findings demonstrate that health-care institutions should take measures to cope with psychological contract breach issues at the workplace.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the body of knowledge by exploring psychological contract breach. Substantially, there are rare studies conducted on psychological contract breach among nurses in developing country context (Pakistan). However, this study adds to the previous studies related to the psychological contract of nurses in the context of Pakistan by using social exchange theories. Finally, this study enables the management of healthcare to balance the psychological contract issues effectively.
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Ashfaque Ahmed Talpur, Tony Ryan, Sharron Hinchliff, Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh and Parveen Ali
Elder mistreatment (EM) is a complex, universal health and social problem predominantly studied in the indigenous (white) populations of Western countries. This has led to…
Abstract
Purpose
Elder mistreatment (EM) is a complex, universal health and social problem predominantly studied in the indigenous (white) populations of Western countries. This has led to consideration of dominant explanations as universal, potentially masking crucial cultural and ethnic differences. This study aims to fill the gap in elder mistreatment literature for the Pakistani community, offering unique perspectives to inform culturally sensitive policy recommendations.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach, anchored in the philosophical basis of constructivist grounded theory, was used to investigate understandings of EM among Pakistanis in Sheffield, UK. This involved two gender-based focus groups (male = 1; female = 1) and 22 in-depth individual interviews, engaging a diverse participant pool, including older people, family caregivers and community stakeholders.
Findings
This study reveals diverse understandings of elder mistreatment (EM) among Pakistani adults, varying across age and gender groups, with distinguished key forms identified. Reporting EM is crucial, but victims face complex decision-making, hindered by societal and individual barriers, including moral and cultural dilemmas. Access to formal support is limited, emphasising the need for targeted interventions.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to delve into the perspectives of Pakistanis on elder mistreatment. It emphasises the importance of policymakers and service providers integrating considerations of race, ethnicity, culture and gender to develop inclusive services, as indicated by the study’s findings.
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Hasliza Abdul Halim, Noor Hazlina Ahmad and Ali Waqas
This study aims to explore the key factors that hinder technopreneur’s success.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the key factors that hinder technopreneur’s success.
Design/methodology/approach
The finalization of the most appropriate method to conduct any study is based on the nature of the research questions (Shaw, 1999; Morse and Richards, 2002). As this study is exploratory, a qualitative approach was used to collect the data. Morse and Richards (2002) have emphasized that the qualitative technique to collect is useful for in-depth assessment of the participant’s experiences, their understanding regarding the matter and their interpretation of their experiences.
Findings
Technopreneurs face four significant problems that have an impact on their business agility and competitiveness. These four factors are as follows: the entrepreneur’s skills and preparedness; their organization’s insufficient capabilities and talent to deal with the challenges; a lack of support mechanisms from relevant institutions; and, finally, the rapidly changing business environment in terms of technology and competition.
Originality/value
This study explores the hindrance factors through qualitative techniques faced by young technopreneurs in the context of Malaysia. This study will provide deep insight regarding the key issues facing new startups and will be helpful for policymakers.
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The purpose of this paper is to study how board attributes impact corporate social responsibility (CSR). In particular, this paper aims to empirically examine the impact of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study how board attributes impact corporate social responsibility (CSR). In particular, this paper aims to empirically examine the impact of financial performance on the relationship between board attributes and CSR. Board attributes such as board size, board independence, female board representation and CEO-chair duality are included.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses panel data set of 200 French companies listed during 2007–2018 period. The direct and moderating effects were tested by using multiple regression technique.
Findings
The results indicate that significant direct relationships exist among board attributes and CSR. Board independence and female board representation are positively linked with CSR. However, board size and CEO duality are negatively associated with CSR. Findings show, also, that corporate financial performance accentuates significantly the effect of board size, board independence and CEO-duality on CSR, but does not moderate the relationship between female board representation and CSR.
Practical implications
The findings may be of interest to different stakeholders and policy-makers and regulatory bodies interested in enhancing CG initiatives to strengthen corporate social responsibility because it suggests thinking about implementing a broadly accepted framework of good CG practices to meet the demand for greater transparency and accountability. As an extension to this research, further study can examine the impact of ownership structure and audit quality on CSR issues.
Originality/value
This study extends the dynamic relationship between CG mechanisms and CSR by offering new evidence on how corporate financial moderates this relationship.