Muhammad Idrees Asghar, Haris Aslam and Amer Saeed
This research aims to understand how competencies for supply chain professionals are developed and how they can affect the manager's performance, especially the manager's…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to understand how competencies for supply chain professionals are developed and how they can affect the manager's performance, especially the manager's resilience in times of significant supply chain disruptions.
Design/methodology/approach
A research model was developed based on a comprehensive literature survey in the area of individual competencies grounded in the knowledge-based view of the firm. We tested our research model using a quantitative, survey-based study with a sample of 175 Pakistani supply chain managers. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM).
Findings
The analysis identified corporate training and knowledge sharing as the main antecedents of supply chain professional's competencies. It also showed that these competencies result in higher performance in the form manager's resilience and job performance.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides a valuable framework for organisations to focus on skill-developing training and promoting a knowledge-sharing culture among employees to achieve desired performance levels.
Originality/value
This study is unique as no prior research studied such a comprehensive model of antecedents and consequences of supply chain professionals' competencies.
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Usman Haider, Syeda Hina Batool, Amara Malik, Khalid Mahmood and Muhmmad Safdar
Reporters are considered unique in terms of their information needs and seeking from other groups of masses. As they are running information business, the purpose of the study is…
Abstract
Purpose
Reporters are considered unique in terms of their information needs and seeking from other groups of masses. As they are running information business, the purpose of the study is to know about their skills of seeking, evaluating and engaging with information effectively and efficiently.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with electronic media reporters from 20 news channels to assess their information literacy skills (IL) and personal information management practices (PIM).
Findings
The results indicated that the study’s participants considered themselves as information literate. They perceived themselves competent and confident in IL skills for the overall scale and on its all sub-dimensions as well. Interestingly, the study findings show that IL skills affect PIM practices positively. However, they were less competent in advanced searching techniques (i.e. use of Boolean logic, truncation etc.) and cloud-based storing tools and applications.
Practical implications
The study has inferences for information professionals, educators, media owners and other stakeholders. Policymakers in electronic media, particularly media libraries should offer training opportunities by organizing workshops, seminars etc. to enhance their advanced IL as well as PIM skills at workplace.
Originality/value
Very few studies investigated the IL phenomenon beyond its skills and assessment aspects. The present study uniquely identified impact of IL on PIM practices of working electronic media journalists.
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Sana Azeem, Malik Asghar Naeem, Abdul Waheed and Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers inhibiting the adoption of green building and measures to promote this approach in Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers inhibiting the adoption of green building and measures to promote this approach in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
Barriers and measures were identified and examined by using a combination of research methods, including literature review, questionnaire survey, and in-depth interviews with the construction industry-related practitioners working in Pakistan. Ranking technique and factor analysis were used to identify the significant issues associated with the adoption of green building practices.
Findings
As per the survey results, the most critical barrier is “lack of awareness among people about the importance and advantages of adopting green building practices,” followed by “lack of incentives from government” and “lack of green building codes and regulations,” respectively. The results also indicate that most important measure to promote the adoption of green buildings is “creation of public awareness toward green initiatives through seminars, workshops, and discussions,” followed by “availability of green building codes and regulations (mandatory to apply)” and “financial incentives and penalties by the government (e.g. soft loan, tax) for promoting green building practices,” respectively.
Research limitations/implications
Research limitation is that its findings, other than Pakistan, cannot be generalized to other developing countries.
Practical implications
Findings of the research will be helpful in sensitizing the regulatory agencies, the policy makers, and the building construction practitioners about the barriers to adoption of green building practices. The suggested measures will help in devising policies and economic measures to promote the construction of green and environment-friendly buildings.
Social implications
This research will help the common people to know about the importance of green buildings that may lead to a deviation from the practice of traditional buildings to a widespread trend of building green buildings. This will lead to drastic reduction in demand for energy and considerable monetary savings for the common people.
Originality/value
The findings of this study are expected to contribute valuable information to decision makers for the better understanding of key issues that call for more attention in the promotion of efforts of green building practices in Pakistan. The results are based on the perception of local stakeholders, but might also be helpful for policy makers in other countries.
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Shahzeb Mughari, Muhammad Asif Naveed and Ghulam Murtaza Rafique
This research examined the effect of information literacy (IL) on academic engagement (AE), cognitive engagement (CE) and academic performance among business students in Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
This research examined the effect of information literacy (IL) on academic engagement (AE), cognitive engagement (CE) and academic performance among business students in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from business students, recruited through a proportionate stratified convenient sampling technique, of the top 13 business institutions in Pakistan. The questionnaire was personally administered by visiting each institution with permission for data collection. A total of 554 responses were received and analyzed using the partial least squire-structural equation modeling approach.
Findings
The results exhibited that these business students perceived themselves as information literate. Furthermore, IL of business students appeared to predict positively their AE, CE and academic performance.
Research limitations/implications
These results provided empirical and pragmatic insights for business educators, business librarians and accreditation bodies about IL effectiveness in academia. These findings may also inform policy and practice for IL instruction programs being carried out in business-related educational institutions not only in Pakistan but also in other countries of South Asia as they share similar characteristics.
Originality/value
This research would be a great contribution to the existing literature on IL, especially in the academic context as the interrelationship between IL, AE, CE and academic performance has not been investigated so far.
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Muhammad Ramzan and Diljit Singh
The purpose of this paper is to investigate and determine the levels of information technology (IT) in Pakistani libraries. More specifically, the paper focuses on the status of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate and determine the levels of information technology (IT) in Pakistani libraries. More specifically, the paper focuses on the status of computers and other commonly used hardware, e‐mail, internet, library software, automated user services, expenditure on IT and online resources available in academic libraries of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The data are collected through a questionnaire survey of 288 (sample of 682) academic libraries across Pakistan. A total of 219 (76 per cent) valid responses are used for data analysis and interpretation using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).
Findings
The paper finds a low level of IT availability, especially the absence of computers, e‐mail and internet in few libraries. Similarly, the libraries are far behind to achieve excellent IT levels. It is found that libraries need to be fully automated using standard library software/management systems. However, access to online resources through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is found extensive and comprehensive. The data indicate the need to enhance libraries' IT expenditure.
Practical implications
The findings can be utilized to evaluate the status of different IT tools and applications. The statistical data are very useful and authentic source for planning to improve the libraries' IT infrastructure, library automation and in reducing the gap in levels of IT application in different type of libraries.
Originality/value
This is a first comprehensive study that provides a complete picture along with statistical data regarding IT applications (computers and other common hardware, software, e‐mail, internet, other information access technologies, applications and online resources available) in academic libraries of Pakistan.
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Asma Javed, Qian Li, Sarmad Ejaz, Abdul Basit, Shermeen Hasan, Fodor Zita Júlia and Md Billal Hossain
Due to extensive industrial activities, the manufacturing sector is deteriorating the environment through resource depletion and rising pollution levels which led to a significant…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to extensive industrial activities, the manufacturing sector is deteriorating the environment through resource depletion and rising pollution levels which led to a significant transition toward green supply chain practices (GSCP). Therefore, internal and external GSCP and green training (GT) gaining momentous attention. This study aims to explore the interconnections among the internal and external GSCP, GT, green innovation (GI), pro-environmental behavior (PEB), competitive advantage (CA), green knowledge sharing (GKS), green self-efficacy (GSE), environmental and financial performance (EP) and (FP).
Design/methodology/approach
To check the hypothesized model, researchers used cross-sectional data based on survey questionnaires which were gathered from Pakistani manufacturing firms. The theoretical framework was validated through the utilization of partial least square structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings suggest that internal and external GSCP and GT are correlated with GI, PEB, CA, EP and FP. Additionally, this study discovers that PEB and GI act as intermediaries among internal and external GSCP, GT and CA. GKS positively moderates the connection among internal and external GSCP, and GT, GI, and PEB. Similarly, GSE also serves as a moderator among between PEB and GI.
Research limitations/implications
This study is a significant contribution to the literature by studying potential mediators and moderators that improve the association among outlined constructs. Moreover, findings suggest that firms should adopt an integrated and holistic green approach to combat environmental deterioration, maintain environmental integrity and attain sustainable development.
Originality/value
There is a scarcity of studies concerning the holistic framework of interrelated constructs studied in this research and it is the pioneer research to offer insights with an innovative model and empirical evidence.
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Nur Adilah Liyana Aladdin and Norfifah Bachok
This paper aims to explore on stagnation point flow of Ag-CuO/water over a horizontal stretching/shrinking cylinder by adding the effect of chemical reaction, B together with the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore on stagnation point flow of Ag-CuO/water over a horizontal stretching/shrinking cylinder by adding the effect of chemical reaction, B together with the magnetic field, M.
Design/methodology/approach
A set of reduced ordinary differential equations from the governing equations of partial differential equations is obtained through similarities requirements. The resulting equations are solved using bvp4c in MATLAB2019a. The impact of various physical parameters such as curvature parameter,
Findings
The findings expose that the duality of solutions appears in a shrinking region (
Practical implications
The hybrid nanofluid has widened its applications such as in electronic cooling, manufacturing, automotive, heat exchanger, solar energy, heat pipes and biomedical, as their efficiency in the heat transfer field is better compared to nanofluid.
Originality/value
The findings on stagnation point flow of Ag-CuO/water over a horizontal stretching/shrinking cylinder with the effect of chemical reaction, B and magnetic field, M is new and the originality is preserved for the benefits of future researchers.
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Ramadevi B., Sugunamma V., Anantha Kumar K. and Ramana Reddy J.V.
The purpose of this paper is to focus on MHD unsteady flow of Carreau fluid over a variable thickness melting surface in the presence of chemical reaction and non-uniform heat…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on MHD unsteady flow of Carreau fluid over a variable thickness melting surface in the presence of chemical reaction and non-uniform heat sink/source.
Design/methodology/approach
The flow governing partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary ones with the help of similarity transformations. The set of ODEs are solved by a shooting technique together with the R.K.–Fehlberg method. Further, the graphs are depicted to scrutinize the velocity, concentration and temperature fields of the Carreau fluid flow. The numerical values of friction factor, heat and mass transfer rates are tabulated.
Findings
The results are presented for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid flow cases. The authors conclude that the nature of three typical fields and the physical quantities are alike in both cases. An increase in melting parameter slows down the velocity field and enhances the temperature and concentration fields. But an opposite outcome is noticed with thermal relaxation parameter. Also the elevating values of thermal relaxation parameter/ wall thickness parameter/Prandtl number inflate the mass and heat transfer rates.
Originality/value
This is a new research article in the field of heat and mass transfer in fluid flows. Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model is used. The surface of the flow is assumed to be melting.