Talat Islam, Jawad Tariq and Bushra Usman
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanism between transformational leadership (TL) and organizational commitment (OC) using job characteristics as a mediator and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanism between transformational leadership (TL) and organizational commitment (OC) using job characteristics as a mediator and participative and directive leadership (DL) as moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a questionnaire-based survey to collect data from 563 employees working in the banking industry.
Findings
The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings confirmed the mediating role of job characteristics and moderating role of both participative and DL styles between TL and OC.
Research limitations/implications
The data for this study were collected at one point of time and it has implications for the policymakers and bankers.
Originality/value
The study is novel as it highlights the importance of job characteristics, participative and DL styles in understanding the relationship between TL and OC.
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Only 13 percent of the world’s employees are engaged in their work, which has become a challenge for the managers of today. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate…
Abstract
Purpose
Only 13 percent of the world’s employees are engaged in their work, which has become a challenge for the managers of today. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of employee engagement between perceived learning environment and extra-role behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative study collected data from 563 employees using a questionnaire-based survey on a convenience basis.
Findings
The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results of the study show that employees’ perception of learning environment urges them to perform beyond their formal job descriptions (i.e. extra-role behaviors) regarding proactivity, knowledge sharing and creativity. In addition, employee engagement performs the mediating role between learning environment and extra-role behaviors.
Research limitations/implications
The data for this study were collected at a single point of time (cross-sectional), which limits the inferences about the causality.
Originality/value
This study is perhaps the first attempt to empirically investigate the mediating role of employee engagement between the relationship of the learning environment and extra-role behaviors such as knowledge sharing, proactivity and creativity.
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Aamna Tariq, Jawad Manzoor, Muhammad Ammar Aziz, Zain Ul Abideen Tariq and Ammar Masood
The security of applications, systems and networks has always been the source of great concern for both enterprises and common users. Different security tools like intrusion…
Abstract
Purpose
The security of applications, systems and networks has always been the source of great concern for both enterprises and common users. Different security tools like intrusion detection system/intrusion prevention system and firewalls are available that provide preventive security to the enterprise networks. However, security information and event management (SIEM) systems use these tools in combination to collect events from diverse data sources across the network. SIEM is a proactive tool that processes the events to present a unified security view of the whole network at one location. SIEM system has, therefore, become an essential component of an enterprise network security architecture. However, from various options available, the selection of a suitable and cost-effective open source SIEM solution that can effectively meet most of the security requirements of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is not simple because of the lack of strong analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, the authors first review the security challenges faced by different SME sectors and then consider a comprehensive comparative analysis of the capabilities of well-known open source SIEM solutions. Based on this, the authors provide requirements based recommendations of open source SIEM solutions for SMEs. This paper aims to provide a valuable resource that can be referred to by SMEs for the selection of a SIEM system best suited to their organization’s security posture.
Findings
Security requirements of SMEs vary according to their network infrastructure; therefore, every open source SIEM solution would not be suitable for an SME. Selection of a SIEM solution from available open source solutions based upon the security requirements of an SME network is a critical task. Therefore, in this work, a meaningful insight for the selection of an appropriate SIEM solution for SMEs is provided.
Originality/value
Major contribution of this work is the mapping of the security requirements of the SME sectors under consideration, against the open source SIEM options to provide meaningful insight for SMEs in the selection of an appropriate solution.
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Seemab Yousaf, Muhammad Khalid Anser, Muhammad Tariq, Sakhawat Ur Rehman Sahibzada Jawad, Sadaf Naushad and Zahid Yousaf
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of technology orientation (TO) on firm performance (FP). This study also aims to identify the mediating role of firm…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of technology orientation (TO) on firm performance (FP). This study also aims to identify the mediating role of firm innovativeness (FI) in the relation between TO and FP.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative approach has been adopted for analyzing the impact of TO on FP in software houses located in two big cities of Pakistan. Mean, standard deviation, correlation and regression analysis were used.
Findings
Results proved that of TO predicts FP and FI mediate the relationship between TO and FP.
Practical implications
This study used cross-sectional further studies may be conducted using longitudinal research design for achieving in-depth insights.
Social implications
Software houses should focus on TO and innovativeness for improving their performance.
Originality/value
This research guides the way to improve performance TO and innovativeness of software houses based on the empirical results.
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The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the paradoxical and dynamic nature of gender and leadership in India through a critical review of Indian film Mardaani.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the paradoxical and dynamic nature of gender and leadership in India through a critical review of Indian film Mardaani.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper offers a critical review of an Indian film and relates the analysis to the context of gender and leadership in India.
Findings
The review shows that masculine stereotypes of leadership are simultaneously reinforced and shattered in the Indian context, and that despite all the odds, women’s role in organisations is characterised by dynamism and change. The paper situates this review in the broader context of gender, employment and leadership in India and offers a critical analysis.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis has two implications. First, it indicates that women are equally capable of demonstrating worthy leadership. Second, it highlights that being a leader, or “mannish”, in the workplace does not mean that women are not responsible for the domestic and caring duties at home. In fact, female leaders in India continue to do the double shift by struggling to balance their roles in the workplace and their personal lives.
Originality/value
The paper offers an original analysis of a Bollywood film in the context of gender, culture and leadership.
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Jawad Hassan, Tariq Aldowaisan and Mustapha Nourelfath
The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between reported sigma levels and actual failure rates (FRs) of gamma-distributed processes. The added complexity of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between reported sigma levels and actual failure rates (FRs) of gamma-distributed processes. The added complexity of the non-normality behavior of the gamma distribution is analyzed for the case of the cycle time (CT) of a real procurement process from the oil and gas industry. Then, recommendations and guidelines for the application of Six Sigma methodology for the case study are proposed.
Design/methodology/approach
Sensitivity analysis is conducted to study the relationship between gamma distribution parameters and FRs considering different quality levels. Then, adjustments for implementing Six Sigma programs for gamma processes are proposed. These adjustments consist of first determining the appropriate probability distribution, the standard CT and the due date, followed by setting performance zones and improvement strategies on target gamma parameters that yield the minimal FR.
Findings
For gamma-distributed processes, simply reporting the sigma level is not sufficient to capture the main characteristics of the process. These characteristics include process FR, mean setting, shape, spread and amount of variation reduction (i.e. improvement effort) required. That is why caution must be exercised when dealing with one-sided non-normal quality characteristics such as CT.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the Six Sigma performance has been evaluated for gamma processes to analyze the link between Six Sigma FRs and gamma distribution parameters leading to the development of a modified Six Sigma methodology for non-normal processes.
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Iraqi universities in the aftermath of invasion in 2003 experienced extremely high levels of “post”-war violence and insecurity. The most widely known dimension of this violence…
Abstract
Iraqi universities in the aftermath of invasion in 2003 experienced extremely high levels of “post”-war violence and insecurity. The most widely known dimension of this violence is the shocking assassination campaign that killed hundreds of Iraqi academics. This paper provides an analysis of violence and insecurity in post-2003 that takes a broader optic and considers multiple forms of vulnerability to attack including insurgencies, sectarian conflict, and criminal violence. It also considers the various responses to the security dilemma taken by Coalition forces – principally counter-terrorism and stabilization efforts – and by Iraqi policy-makers and higher education communities, including security measures, politicization, ethno-sectarianization, and displacement.
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Hulya Turkcan, Salih Zeki Imamoglu and Huseyin Ince
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between augmented reality, process innovativeness and operational performance.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between augmented reality, process innovativeness and operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is based on a quantitative approach using a questionnaire survey from a total of 117 firms in the automotive sector. The hypothesized relationships are tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
This study demonstrates that augmented reality is positively associated with process innovativeness, and process innovativeness is positively related to operational performance. Furthermore, it is found that process innovativeness fully mediates the relationship between augmented reality and operational performance.
Originality/value
Although augmented reality attracts great attention from academics and practitioners, the current literature lacks an empirical investigation on how augmented reality creates value for the business. Addressing this crucial gap, this research is the first attempt to empirically reveal the role of augmented reality in facilitating process innovativeness and also unearthing how augmented reality improves operational performance. Therefore, this study offers novel insights into the role of augmented reality in business and provides theoretical and managerial contributions.
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Zaina Nakabuye, Jamiah Mayanja, Sarah Bimbona and Micheal Wassermann
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between technology orientations and export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between technology orientations and export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was adopted for this study. The paper formulates hypotheses from the literature review. These hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from 231 SMEs in Uganda. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and AMOS.
Findings
The findings of this study showed technology orientation has a positive and significant relationship with the performance of Ugandan SMEs and that supply chain agility moderates technology orientation and export performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study discusses the findings, advances limitations and managerial implications. It also suggests future research avenues. It proposes some recommendations to help Ugandan SMEs to form flexible supply chains, use the latest technology and create strong relationship ties with their partners in the supply chain.
Practical implications
The study suggests that managers of Ugandan SMEs should use the latest technology in production, marketing, logistics and supply chain management which will enable them to respond quickly to customer tastes and preferences leading to higher levels of export performance.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on strategic management showing the reliability of scales used and the confirmatory of the factor structure. This study shows that in strategic management technology, orientation is critical in increasing export performance. This study has extended the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theories.