Muhammad Mohsin Butt, Susan Rose, Stephen Wilkins and Junaid Ul Haq
Multinational corporations (MNCs) that want to compete in markets worldwide should not underestimate the influences of religion on consumer demand. Almost one quarter of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Multinational corporations (MNCs) that want to compete in markets worldwide should not underestimate the influences of religion on consumer demand. Almost one quarter of the world’s population is Muslim so it is important for MNCs to get into the Muslim mind set when operating in countries where Islam has a large influence. The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which consumer-based brand equity in a religious market results from the psychological and behavioural characteristics of consumers rather than from product characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative survey method was adopted, using a total sample of 551 Muslim consumers in Malaysia and Pakistan. A holistic model conceptualising three potential psychological and behavioural predictors of consumer-based halal brand equity (CBHBE) was created and then tested using structural equation modelling.
Findings
The strength of an individual’s religious identity was found to be a strong predictor of consumer halal choice behaviour and perceived self-expressive religious benefits. Consumers’ halal choice behaviour and perceived self-expressive benefits directly predict CBHBE. Moreover, consumer halal choice behaviour partially mediates the relationship between self-expressive benefits and CBHBE.
Practical implications
The authors conclude that firms targeting Muslim consumers can maximise CBHBE by focussing their marketing strategies on the three psychological and behavioural constructs identified in the model. For example, by using halal certification logos and providing convincing information about the halalness of their brand, businesses can facilitate Muslim consumers’ search processes in relation to their choice behaviour.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the existing international branding literature in two main ways. First, it introduces and defines the concept of CBHBE. Second, it identifies and empirically validates the important psychological and behavioural predictors of CBHBE.
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Jie Li, Junaid Ul Haq and Sajjad Hussain
Millennials, a cohort of young consumers, are the primary group of shoppers via e-commerce. This study aims to identify Chinese individual cultural values in millennials and…
Abstract
Purpose
Millennials, a cohort of young consumers, are the primary group of shoppers via e-commerce. This study aims to identify Chinese individual cultural values in millennials and examine the role of perceived shopping (hedonic and utilitarian) values in creating e-loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 296 Chinese millennials who use online shopping websites and apps. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the validity and reliability of the methodology. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
All hypotheses were supported except one: the respondents rejected the impact of the face value on utilitarianism. The findings confirmed that Chinese individual cultural characteristics (face and Yuan) impact perceived shopping values (hedonic and utilitarian). Furthermore, these shopping values significantly influence e-loyalty.
Research limitations/implications
The study's findings suggest some implications that academicians and market practitioners should consider. Additional implications for business managers focus on cultural characteristics, strong local teams, market-based approaches and long-term strategies.
Originality/value
The present work highlights the online shopping behavior of Chinese millennials by exploring e-loyalty, considering its two dimensions.
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Fatima Majeed and Junaid Ul haq
Healthy employees are assets for organizations, especially in service organizations. This study considered variables that lead to psychological, life and workplace well-being for…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthy employees are assets for organizations, especially in service organizations. This study considered variables that lead to psychological, life and workplace well-being for hotel employees. A comprehensive model is proposed for which Job Demand–Resource (JD-R) theory provides theoretical support.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from four hundred and five hotel employees were collected to observe the individual and organizational factors that directly and indirectly result in three types of well-being: workplace, psychological and life.
Findings
Results provide significant positive direct and indirect effects of individual characteristics (personal cynicism and job stress) on psychological, life and workplace well-being. Similarly, organizational characteristics (organizational values and job characteristics) showed positive direct and indirect effects on life and workplace well-being.
Originality/value
The findings provide a strong recommendation for managers to focus on individual- and organizational-level factors that enhance the well-being of employees.
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Junaid ul Haq and Mark A. Bonn
The purpose of this paper is to obtain perceptions from three distinct millennial segments about human and nonhuman brands related to travel. Specifically, inter and intra…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to obtain perceptions from three distinct millennial segments about human and nonhuman brands related to travel. Specifically, inter and intra relationships between human and nonhuman brand credibility and equity constructs were investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
Three millennial generational segments representing 571 respondents familiar with human and nonhuman brands, were investigated to explore their human and nonhuman brand credibility and equity perceptual issues. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the study hypotheses. Multi-group analysis was used to observe group differences.
Findings
Selected millennial segments were found to have differences in their behavior pertaining to human and nonhuman brand constructs. All hypotheses of the overall model were accepted. For group differences, a significant difference was observed. Gen Z was found to be different in emulating humans and their linked nonhuman brands when compared to both younger and older Gen Y segments.
Research limitations/implications
Study findings contribute to the marketing and tourism branding literature, as do findings related to generational differences.
Practical implications
The authors suggested implications for hospitality and tourism marketing professionals under the headings of emotional attachment, entertaining content, use of social media and exploring brands online. Implications including multicultural, brands with strong values and engaging with brands can be helpful for hospitality managers in attracting millennials.
Social implications
Social implications suggest behavioral differences related to three sub-groups of generational cohorts involving millennials.
Originality/value
This is the first study dedicated to observing millennial perceptions for human and nonhuman brands.
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Sehrish Naz, Muhammad Asrar-ul-Haq, Anam Iqbal and Misbah Ahmed
This paper aims to examine the impact of innovativeness on customer satisfaction through mediation of perceived quality and also examines the effect of consumer involvement and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of innovativeness on customer satisfaction through mediation of perceived quality and also examines the effect of consumer involvement and communication strategy as moderating variables to validate relationship between innovativeness and perceived quality from the perspective of Generation M.
Design/methodology/approach
Cluster sampling method is used and data is collected from 451 graduates studying in different universities of Sahiwal division to know their perception regarding mobile phones brands. Structural equation modelling technique is used, and all analyses are performed using SPSS 23.0 and SmartPLS 2.0 to know the findings of the study.
Findings
This study finds positive significant nexus between innovativeness-satisfaction, innovativeness-perceived quality and perceived quality-customer satisfaction at brand level. This study also finds that perceived quality is a significant mediator between brand innovativeness and customer satisfaction. However, moderating variables do not help to boost the relationship among brand innovativeness and perceived quality to transmit their impact on customer satisfaction.
Practical implications
This study may help to understand the preferences of different generations. Findings of the study can also benefit the firms in investment decisions, brand management and formulation of innovative strategies for future.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is one of the first studies to investigate the integrated model of BI-CS through mediating and moderating variables to know the perception of Generation M regarding smartphone brands in developing economies like Pakistan.
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Inam Ul Haq, Dirk De Clercq and Muhammad Umer Azeem
With a basis in conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of championing behaviour in the relationship between employees’…
Abstract
Purpose
With a basis in conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of championing behaviour in the relationship between employees’ fear of terror and their job performance, as well as the buffering role of their passion for work, as a personal resource, in this process.
Design/methodology/approach
The tests of the hypotheses rely on three-wave, time-lagged data collected from employees and their supervisors in Pakistan.
Findings
An important reason that concerns about terrorist attacks diminish performance is that employees refrain from championing their own entrepreneurial ideas. This mediating role of idea championing is less salient, however, to the extent that employees feel a strong passion for their work.
Practical implications
For human resource managers, this study pinpoints a key mechanism – a reluctance to mobilize active support for entrepreneurial ideas – by which fears about terrorism attacks can spill over into the workplace and undermine employees’ ability to meet their performance requirements. It also reveals how this mechanism can be better contained by the presence of adequate personal resources.
Originality/value
This study adds to burgeoning research on the interplay between terrorism and organizational life by specifying how and when employees’ ruminations about terrorism threats might escalate into diminished performance outcomes at work.
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Muhammad Junaid Ahsan and Muhammad Hasham Khalid
This study aims to examine the impact of an organization’s internal and external corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on employee job satisfaction and organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of an organization’s internal and external corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the social identity perspective, the authors proposed and tested a mediation model to understand the psychological mechanisms underlying the effects of CSR. The study sample comprised 263 employees from Italian manufacturing firms.
Findings
Our findings indicate that external CSR orientation is positively associated with employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Furthermore, the mediating effect of job satisfaction partially explains the positive relationship between external CSR orientation and organizational commitment. Moreover, we found that the positive impact of external CSR on employee outcomes is strengthened when combined with internal CSR.
Practical implications
This research has practical and theoretical implications for organizations seeking to enhance employee engagement and commitment through CSR initiatives and sheds light on how CSR can shape employee attitudes and behaviors toward the organization.
Originality/value
This study brings a novel contribution to the field by examining the impact of both internal and external CSR initiatives on employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
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Jun Wen, Hadi Hussain, Junaid Waheed, Waheed Ali and Ihsan Jamil
Recent research validates an increasing knowledge of environmental concerns in manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, only a few studies maintain that green…
Abstract
Purpose
Recent research validates an increasing knowledge of environmental concerns in manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, only a few studies maintain that green human resource management (HRM) practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR) play an important role, especially in the case of developing economies. Thus, this study aims to examine the direct and indirect relationship between green HRM practices and environmental sustainability (ES) through the mediation of CSR in SMEs in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The cross-sectional design of this study considers the mechanism by which green HRM practices affect ES through CSR in the context of Pakistani SMEs. The authors collected data from 320 manufacturing SMEs and used the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique to examine the relationship between variables.
Findings
The empirical findings of this study suggest green HRM practices have a positive and significant impact on ES. Further, the second hypothesis is not supported. In addition to the direct impact, the indirect effect of green HRM practices on CSR is positive and significant. Finally, the authors determine that green HRM practices affect ES through the partial mediation of CSR.
Originality/value
To date, this study is the first to use CSR as a mediator between green HRM practices and ES in the context of Pakistani SMEs. The study has important implications for HRM and government policy makers, suggesting they should improve strategies in favour of the green economy. Furthermore, developing countries could design similar studies with different future sustainability factors.
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Muhammad Shujahat, Saddam Hussain, Sammar Javed, Muhammad Imran Malik, Ramayah Thurasamy and Junaid Ali
The purpose of this study is primarily to discuss the synergic and separate use of knowledge and intelligence, via knowledge management and competitive intelligence, in each stage…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is primarily to discuss the synergic and separate use of knowledge and intelligence, via knowledge management and competitive intelligence, in each stage of strategic management process. Next, this paper aims to discuss the implications of each stage of strategic management process for knowledge management and competitive intelligence and vice versa.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was performed within time frame of 2000-2016. Extracted information from reviewed studies was synthesized and integrated in strategic management model of Fred David.
Findings
A strategic management model with lens of knowledge management and competitive intelligence is proposed. Each stage of knowledge management process has implications for knowledge management and competitive intelligence and vice versa. In addition, synergic and separate use of knowledge and intelligence results in effective decision-making, leading to competitive advantage.
Research limitations/implications
Learning curve of knowledge management and competitive intelligence and being limited to the use of Fred David model are among the many key limitations.
Practical implications
Experts of knowledge management, competitive intelligence and strategic management can use this study to gain competitive advantage based on knowledge and information resources. Organizations should have knowledge management function and competitive intelligence to support the strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation.
Social implications
Readers can take a view for how they can manage their knowledge and information resources from a strategic perspective.
Originality/value
This study proposes a strategic management model with lens of knowledge management and competitive intelligence. The model discusses ways for synergic and separate use of knowledge and intelligence in each stage of strategic management, leading to competitive advantage. In addition, it discusses the holistic and integrated implications of knowledge management and competitive intelligence for each stage of strategic management process and vice versa.
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Oğuz Kara, Levent Altinay, Mehmet Bağış, Mehmet Nurullah Kurutkan and Sanaz Vatankhah
Entrepreneurial activity is a phenomenon that increases the economic growth of countries and improves their social welfare. The economic development levels of countries have…
Abstract
Purpose
Entrepreneurial activity is a phenomenon that increases the economic growth of countries and improves their social welfare. The economic development levels of countries have significant effects on these entrepreneurial activities. This research examines which institutional and macroeconomic variables explain early-stage entrepreneurship activities in developed and developing economies.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted panel data analysis on the data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) surveys covering the years 2009–2018.
Findings
First, the authors' results reveal that cognitive, normative and regulatory institutions and macroeconomic factors affect early-stage entrepreneurial activity in developed and developing countries differently. Second, the authors' findings indicate that cognitive, normative and regulatory institutions affect early-stage entrepreneurship more positively in developed than developing countries. Finally, the authors' results report that macroeconomic factors are more effective in early-stage entrepreneurial activity in developing countries than in developed countries.
Originality/value
This study provides a better understanding of the components that help explain the differences in entrepreneurship between developed and developing countries regarding institutions and macroeconomic factors. In this way, it contributes to developing entrepreneurship literature with the theoretical achievements of combining institutional theory and macroeconomic indicators with entrepreneurship literature.