Jiwat Ram, Numan Khan Afridi and Khawar Ahmed Khan
Big Data (BD) is being increasingly used in a variety of industries including construction. Yet, little research exists that has examined the factors which drive BD adoption in…
Abstract
Purpose
Big Data (BD) is being increasingly used in a variety of industries including construction. Yet, little research exists that has examined the factors which drive BD adoption in construction. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap in knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected from literature (55 articles) were analyzed using content analysis techniques. Taking a two-pronged approach, first study presents a systematic perspective of literature on BD in construction. Then underpinned by technology–organization–environment theory and supplemented by literature, a conceptual model of five antecedent factors of BD adoption for use in construction is proposed.
Findings
The results show that BD adoption in construction is driven by a number of factors: first, technological: augmented BD–BIM integration and BD relative advantage; second, organizational: improved design and execution efficiencies, and improved project management capabilities; and third, environmental: augmented availability of BD-related technology for construction. Hypothetical relationships involving these factors are then developed and presented through a new model of BD adoption in construction.
Research limitations/implications
The study proposes a number of adoption factors and then builds a new conceptual model advancing theories on technologies adoption in construction.
Practical implications
Findings will help managers (e.g. chief information officers, IT/IS managers, business and senior managers) to understand the factors that drive adoption of BD in construction and plan their own BD adoption. Results will help policy makers in developing policy guidelines to create sustainable environment for the adoption of BD for enhanced economic, social and environmental benefits.
Originality/value
This paper develops a new model of BD adoption in construction and proposes some new factors of adoption process.
Details
Keywords
Naureen Akber Ali, Anam Feroz, Noshaba Akber and Adeel Khoja
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented mental health repercussions in the lives of every individual including university students. Therefore, study…
Abstract
Purpose
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented mental health repercussions in the lives of every individual including university students. Therefore, study on students’ psychological state and its associated factors during the pandemic are of importance. This study aims to discuss the aforementioned issue.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was done on a total of 207 university students of Pakistan to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, concerns or fears amidst COVID-19 and mental distress. Validated tools; Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)-Depression were used to assess stress, anxiety and depression, respectively.
Findings
Around 14% of the university students were experiencing severe stress and anxiety, while 8.2% had severe depression. The authors found that stress among university students was related to psychiatric illness or symptoms (OR = 5.1: 1.1, 22.9) and unpredictability due to the pandemic (OR = 3.7: 1.2, 11.2). The significant determinants of anxiety were psychiatric illness/symptoms (OR = 6.6: 3.4, 12.9), implementation of public health measures (OR = 3.7: 1.1, 11.6), employed mothers (OR = 2.4: 1.1, 5.0) and lack of support from university administration (OR = 2.2: 1.0, 5.0). While the factors associated with depression included psychiatric illness or symptoms (OR = 8.4: 3.3, 21.5), unpredictability due to pandemic (OR = 6.8: 2.2, 20.7), impaired social support system (OR = 3.7: 1.3, 10.4) and studying without a scholarship (OR = 2.1: 1.0, 4.4).
Research limitations/implications
These findings call for an urgent need to develop appropriate interventions and educational programs that could address the psychological needs of students.
Practical implications
The study directs the role of university and faculty in dealing the mental health needs of the student in COVID-19 pandemic time.
Social implications
Educational programs are important that could address the psychological needs of students in COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
University students reported mental distress during COVID-19 pandemic which shows that younger people are at risk of COVID-19 repercussions. Moreover, several stressors (i.e. impaired social support system and lack of support from universities) were revealed that could be mitigated by implementing appropriate strategies.
Details
Keywords
Prashant Kumar Gupta and Seema Sharma
The authors present a systematic literature review on microfinance institutions’ (MFIs) effect on poverty and how they can ensure their sustainability. The purpose of this article…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors present a systematic literature review on microfinance institutions’ (MFIs) effect on poverty and how they can ensure their sustainability. The purpose of this article is to review the effect of MFIs on poverty in South Asian countries. The analysis and review of the selected corpus of literature also provide avenues for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 95 papers from 49 journals in 4 academic libraries and publishers were systematically studied and classified. The authors define the keywords and the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the identification of papers. The review includes an analysis of the selected papers that give insights about publications with respect to themes, number of themes covered in individual publications, nations, scope, methodology, number of methods used and publication trend.
Findings
The literature indicates the positive effect of microfinance on poverty but with a varying degree on various categories of poor. The relation between poverty and microfinance is, however, dependent on the nation under the scanner. While sustainability and outreach co-exist, their trade-off is still a matter of debate.
Originality/value
This is the first systematic literature review on MFIs’ effect on poverty in South Asian nations. Additionally, the authors discuss the literature on the trade-off between sustainability and outreach for MFIs.
Details
Keywords
Nida Fatima and Raza Ali
This study aims to explore how businesswomen running micro and small enterprises (MSEs) use social media (SM) to engage customers. The study also investigates how SM (vs…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how businesswomen running micro and small enterprises (MSEs) use social media (SM) to engage customers. The study also investigates how SM (vs traditional media) and customer engagement improve business performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study is based on interviews with businesswomen.
Findings
Businesswomen use SM actively but not effectively. SM are used primarily for advertising and promotion. External factors, such as family and friends, are more influential in the decision of women to use SM in business. Women mostly use defensive rather than offensive strategies. Effective use of SM in conjunction with conventional marketing tools can improve customer engagement and increase business performance.
Practical implications
The research findings are valuable for marketing managers, women entrepreneurs and micro and small businesses in making decisions to effectively use SM.
Originality/value
This study investigates customer engagement from the owner/manager’s perspective in contrast to the general customer-centric approach. The study contributes analysing an important and scarcely explored area, which is the use of SM by women-run MSEs in less developed countries to engage consumers.
Propósito
Este estudio explora cómo las mujeres de negocios que dirigen micro y pequeñas empresas (MSE) utilizan las redes sociales para atraer a los clientes. El estudio también investiga cómo las redes sociales (frente a los medios tradicionales) y la involucración de los clientes mejoran el rendimiento empresarial.
Metodología
Este estudio cualitativo se basa en entrevistas con mujeres empresarias.
Conclusiones
Las mujeres empresarias utilizan las redes sociales de forma activa, pero no eficaz. Las redes sociales se utilizan principalmente para la publicidad y la promoción. Los factores externos, como la familia y los amigos, influyen más en la decisión de las mujeres de utilizar las redes sociales en los negocios. Las empresarias utilizan sobre todo estrategias defensivas en lugar de ofensivas. El uso eficaz de las redes sociales junto con las herramientas de marketing convencionales puede mejorar el compromiso de los clientes y aumentar el rendimiento de la empresa.
Implicaciones prácticas
Los resultados de la investigación son valiosos para las directivas de marketing, las mujeres empresarias y las micro y pequeñas empresas a la hora de tomar decisiones y para utilizar eficazmente las redes sociales.
Originalidad
Este estudio investiga el compromiso del cliente desde la perspectiva del propietario/gerente en contraste con el enfoque general centrado en el cliente. El estudio contribuye a analizar un área importante y escasamente explorada, que es el uso de las redes sociales por parte de las microempresas dirigidas por mujeres en los países menos desarrollados para involucrar a los consumidores.
目的
本研究探讨了经营微型和小型企业(MSEs)的女商人如何使用社交媒体来吸引客户。该研究还调查了社交媒体(相对于传统媒体)和客户参与如何提高企业绩效。
方法
这项定性研究是基于对女商人的采访。
研究结果
女商人积极使用社交媒体, 但并非有效。社交媒体主要用于广告和推广。外部因素, 如家庭和朋友, 对妇女在商业中使用社交媒体的决定更有影响力。女性大多使用防御性而非进攻性策略。将社交媒体与传统的营销工具有效地结合起来使用, 可以提高客户的参与度, 增加企业的业绩。
实践意义
研究结果对营销经理、女企业家和小微企业做出有效使用社交媒体的决定很有价值。
原创性
本研究从业主/经理的角度调查了客户参与度, 与一般的以客户为中心的方法不同。该研究有助于分析一个重要的、很少被探索的领域, 即欠发达国家的妇女经营的微型企业使用社交媒体来吸引消费者。
Details
Keywords
Md. Maruf Hossan Chowdhury, A.K.M. Shakil Mahmud, Eijaz Khan, Mohammad Hossain and Zapan Barua
Grounded in dynamic capability view, this research develops a decision support model, which enables determining consistent and sufficient configurations of resilience strategies…
Abstract
Purpose
Grounded in dynamic capability view, this research develops a decision support model, which enables determining consistent and sufficient configurations of resilience strategies to mitigate vaccine operations and distributions (O&D) challenges and thus improve O&D performance (i.e. O&DP).
Design/methodology/approach
Through qualitative in-depth interviews, the authors first identified challenges and resilience strategies related to vaccine O&D. Next, using the quality function deployment technique, three quantitative case studies were performed to determine the most important challenges and resilience strategies. Finally, utilising fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, the authors determine sufficient conditions of challenges and strategies leading to improve vaccine O&DP.
Findings
The findings reveal that strategies alone are not effective instead a combination of strategies and nullification of challenges is needed to enhance vaccine O&DP. Further, the findings revealed that not only the presence of challenges, but also the lack of strategies reduces the vaccine O&DP.
Practical implications
The authors' findings will assist the health service decision-makers for strategizing an effective and efficient vaccination program by selecting the right combination of challenges and resilience strategies.
Originality/value
The authors' study develops a novel decision support model and offers significant learning for the future vaccine O&DP.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Sohail Nadeem, Rab Nawaz Lodhi and Zobia Malik
This research was initiated by motivation from a real business problem that delves into lean management practices in dairy farm operations. It investigates how lean management…
Abstract
Purpose
This research was initiated by motivation from a real business problem that delves into lean management practices in dairy farm operations. It investigates how lean management practices can be applied as an improvement strategy in the dairy business to evaluate its impact on performance, where profitability is a decisive factor.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the qualitative design, a 5-phase action research methodology was used in this study, where multiple data collection sources were used, including focus group discussions, on-site observation or Gemba walks and process mapping. The impact is evaluated by comparing the key performance measures with the same period before and after research.
Findings
The research revealed that lean management practices can significantly improve dairy business performance. It explained vital aspects of lean management practices and their sequence with examples of first-hand applications. It explained, how lean management practices were applied in dairy farm operations. Furthermore, the research resulted in significant benefits, in terms of quality, cost and profitability.
Practical implications
This research was conducted in a real business setting in the field environment, to improve dairy business performance. It was a distinctive application of lean management practices to solve a national problem. This could be used as a road map to bring continuous improvement at the national level to improve the performance of food value chains.
Originality/value
This research is unique because it addresses the methodological, population and empirical gaps in dairy farm operations. It adds value to the existing knowledge base by sharing best practices, developed and implemented for the first time to the best of our knowledge, like high-level process mapping and performance measures at different levels. Furthermore, the solutions can be simulated in related farm operations to bring breakthrough improvements in dairy business performance.