Mushtaq Ahmed and Muhammad Ishfaq Khan
This study aims to investigate the impact of ethical leadership on employees’ pro-social rule-breaking behavior, focusing on the mechanisms of psychological empowerment and the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of ethical leadership on employees’ pro-social rule-breaking behavior, focusing on the mechanisms of psychological empowerment and the moderating influence of ethical climate within the organization.
Design/methodology/approach
Conducting a survey across three waves, the research involves 515 nursing staff in various Pakistani hospitals. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is used for data analysis.
Findings
Contrary to expectations, this study uncovers a positive association between ethical leadership and employees’ pro-social rule-breaking behavior. The relationship is mediated by psychological empowerment, and ethical climate is found to moderate this association.
Research limitations/implications
While challenging traditional assumptions, this study acknowledges limitations related to sector focus and employee perspectives. Future studies are encouraged to explore multiple sectors and incorporate management perceptions for wider generalizability.
Practical implications
The results highlight the need for organizations to consider the unintended consequences of ethical leadership. Managers are advised to be mindful of employees’ psychological dynamics and the organizational environment to navigate the complex interplay between ethical leadership and pro-social rule-breaking.
Social implications
Understanding the paradoxical influence of ethical leadership extends beyond organizations to broader societal implications. The research encourages organizations to adopt strategies aligning ethical leadership with desired employee behaviors.
Originality/value
This study challenges established perceptions of ethical leadership, prompting a reevaluation of its universally perceived positive nature. It emphasizes the paradoxical influence of ethical leadership on organizational dynamics. The mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating effect of ethical climate contribute to the understanding of the relationship between ethical leadership and employees’ pro-social rule-breaking.
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Zeeshan Riaz and Muhammad Ishfaq Khan
The purpose of this paper is to examine the asymmetric impact of service failure severity and agreeableness on consumer switchover intention with the mediating role of consumer…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the asymmetric impact of service failure severity and agreeableness on consumer switchover intention with the mediating role of consumer forgiveness in the aftermath of service failure.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 364 university students were given a hypothetical service failure situation and their response was collected through a standardized questionnaire. Multiple regression and Preacher and Hayes (2004) mediation analysis tests were conducted to analyze data.
Findings
The findings reveal that service failure severity has a direct positive impact on switchover intention and it also has an indirect impact on switchover intention through consumer forgiveness which it tends to weaken. On the other side, agreeableness has a direct negative impact on switchover intention, and it inhibits switchover intention indirectly too by stimulating forgiveness.
Research limitations/implications
A cross-sectional study involving convenience sampling has been conducted through self-report measures. Generalization of the research findings shall therefore be done with caution.
Practical implications
Severity of failure hampers forgiveness and therefore service managers should check factors that may challenge the tolerance level of consumers. While gauging satisfaction in post failure scenario, it is equally important to gauge consumer forgiveness.
Originality/value
This study is among the initial endeavors to explore forgiveness in service failures context. Also it is the first validation of a direct positive relationship between agreeableness and forgiveness in a South Asian country.
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Muhammad Usman Arshad, Fahad Najeeb Khan, Muhammad Ishfaq, Muhammad Nadir Shabbir and Syed Mehmood Raza Shah
This study aims to explore the firm's specific, opacity and economy-specific variables to explain the variation in South Asian market returns and indicate that how the difference…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the firm's specific, opacity and economy-specific variables to explain the variation in South Asian market returns and indicate that how the difference in adoption of accounting standards refers to the effect of the movement in stock returns.
Design/methodology/approach
Following the scope of the study, factor analysis, fixed effect, Driscoll and Kraay standard errors (DKSE) and Panel Corrected standard error (PCSE) models have been inducted to determine the influence of firm-specific, opacity and economy-specific variables on stock returns. The sample of study comprises 1,885 firms from five countries located in the South Asia region with the period 2005–2018. To ensure the reliability of data, firm-specific data have been collected from DataStream International, while an international country risk guide was used to compile the data for economy-specific variables.
Findings
This study concluded that firm-specific variables showed a consistent and significant association with stock return except for beta, accrual and momentum while earning aggressiveness was the only factor in opacity measure to capture the variation in stock return. The implementation of international accounting standards seemed to be significant and proves to be helpful to enhance the quality of accounting information.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this study comprised the estimation error by avoiding the firm's observations with negative equity in case of earning opacity and majority (more than 50%) of the observation belongs to a single market as India out of final sample which leads to having biasedness in findings.
Practical implications
This study helps the investors to consider the firms with smaller market capitalization and lower book to market ratio and avoid the momentum strategy under firm specific factors. Moreover, earning aggressiveness under opacity domain capture the variation in stock return and must be considered while investing funds.
Originality/value
The influence of adoption of international accounting standards along with firm and economy specific variable in South Asian Equity Markets return was the major contribution. Moreover, the inclusion of DKSE and PCSE models to examine the relevance of the financial and economic informational environment was also considered as a part of major contribution of this study.
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Rizwan Ali, Ramiz Ur Rehman, Madiha Kanwal, Muhammad Akram Naseem and Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmad
This study aims to examine the key determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure of all listed banks that operate their function in an emerging market, Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the key determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure of all listed banks that operate their function in an emerging market, Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applied the principles of systems-oriented theories such as legitimacy, stakeholder and agency theory. The hypothesis is linking the bank’s social disclosure and its determinants are developed. The relevant data was gathered from the bank’s annual reports and Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2008 to 2018. Further, governance attributes and performance measures are used as the predictor variable and the CSR score as the predicted variable. This study applied panel data analysis on the sampled banks to examine the proposed hypothesis for empirical estimation.
Findings
This study’s inclusive results confirm that the hypothesized determinants of board size, foreign directors on board and female directors on board positively impact the CSR disclosure potential. Board size significantly explains the CSR disclosure in all bank samples. The determined performance measures, profitability and liquidity show a significant positive relationship with CSR disclosure except for few exceptions.
Research limitations/implications
This study’s results lack generalizability due to its unique setting; future researchers can extend the research scope in national–international settings and a regional context.
Practical implications
This study enriches the literature on CSR disclosure determinants and is relevant to practice in an emerging context. It can be helpful from a policy perspective; institutions (bodies) that regulate banks should recognize the governance and performance aspects essential to enhancing CSR disclosure and enhancing the bank’s performance hence value.
Originality/value
This research offers empirical evidence that sheds light on the key governance attributes and performance measures that partially affect CSR disclosure and its extent. In doing so, this study’s findings contribute to the literature significantly, along with regulators, shareholders, deposit holders, individual–institutional investors.
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Ishfaq Ahmad, Rida Akbar and Muhammad Ali Javed
The concept of online shopping has been in vogue for the past two decades and is on the rise. Even developing countries like Pakistan are using electronic platforms to buy and…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of online shopping has been in vogue for the past two decades and is on the rise. Even developing countries like Pakistan are using electronic platforms to buy and sell goods and services, and the trend has been increasing ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on the expectancy-disconfirmation theory, this study aims to test the e-service quality (E-SQ) and e-customer satisfaction (ECS) linkage with the mediating roles of functional values (FVs) and hedonic values (HVs).
Design/methodology/approach
The data have been collected from 298 customers of AliExpress and Daraz e-commerce platforms and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM).
Findings
The results of the study showed a significant positive relationship between E-SQ and ECS and indirect linkage through FVs and HVs have also been established.
Practical implications
E-commerce platforms, particularly in Pakistan, should place a strong emphasis on FVs by providing accurate product details, user-friendly navigation, transparent pricing and streamlined transactions. Customers' trust and confidence will increase if they have a smooth and effective online purchasing experience. Customer satisfaction may be influenced by regular platform functionality and usability changes.
Originality/value
The use of functional and HVs is considered to be a novel factor in testing the relationship between E-SQ and ECS.
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Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Akram Naseem and Ramiz Ur Rehman
This study aims to investigate the role of dynamic capabilities (DCs) in the financial performance of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during COVID-19. Furthermore, it took…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the role of dynamic capabilities (DCs) in the financial performance of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during COVID-19. Furthermore, it took chief executive officer gender to moderate the relationship between DCs and financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used the survey approach to collect the data. Regression analysis was used on 563 responses to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results showed that DCs have a significant positive effect on the SME’s operating level and revenues. Moreover, it also moderates the DCs and financial performance during COVID-19. The results revealed that firms that used the DCs during COVID-19 not only survive during the COVID-19 tough time but also enjoyed a decent revenue level.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study to establish the link between DCs and SMEs operating and revenue level during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistani settings.
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Talat Islam, Mubbsher Munawar Khan, Ishfaq Ahmed, Ahmad Usman and Muhammad Ali
This study investigates the mechanism between work-family conflict (WFC) and job dissatisfaction by considering threat to family role as a mediator and role segment enhancement as…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the mechanism between work-family conflict (WFC) and job dissatisfaction by considering threat to family role as a mediator and role segment enhancement as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected from 245 male and 245 female police officers using a questionnaire-based survey method through convenience sampling.
Findings
Results revealed that threat to family role partially mediates the association between WFC and job dissatisfaction. Role segment enhancement was also noted to weaken the association between WFC and job dissatisfaction. Moreover, the study revealed that male employees are more likely to draw a boundary between their work and family domain, which was not found in their female counterparts.
Research limitations/implications
The survey for this study was conducted in a male-dominant developing country, so results may be different in developed countries. The study has theoretical and managerial implications.
Originality/value
This study adds value to the existing literature on work-family conflicts in the perspective of source attribution and boundary management. Further, to the best of researchers' knowledge, none of the previous studies have examined role segment enhancement and threat to family role among the police workforce.
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Muhammad Akram Naseem, Jun Lin, Ramiz ur Rehman, Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmad and Rizwan Ali
The purpose of this paper is to empirically capture the impact of a chief executive officer’s (CEO) personal and organizational characteristics on firm performance in the context…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically capture the impact of a chief executive officer’s (CEO) personal and organizational characteristics on firm performance in the context of a developing country and to explore whether capital structure mediates the relationship between CEO characteristics and firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to test the hypothesized model, CEO duality, tenure and personal characteristics (age, gender and education) were taken as explanatory variables to study their impact on firm performance. Data were collected from 179 Pakistani companies from 2009–2015. The collected data were processed via panel data regression analysis under fixed effect assumptions.
Findings
Results show that CEO duality has a negative impact on firm performance and that a CEO with a dual role is more inclined toward debt financing. Moreover, a CEO with a longer tenure tends to be opportunistic and prioritize his/her personal interest while making strategic financial decisions, thus creating agency costs for the firm. Furthermore, CEO characteristics like age, gender and education have significant effects on firm financial decisions and firm performance. Finally, the debt and equity ratio partially mediates the link between CEO characteristics and firm performance.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study have limited generalizability due to the specific nature of the sample characteristics.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors knowledge, this study is the first to explore the impact of CEO characteristics on capital structure and firm performance. This work is also the first to explore the mediating role of capital structure in the relationship between CEO characteristics and firm performance by using Pakistani data.
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Ramiz Ur Rehman, Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmad, Jaroslav Belas, Enrico Battisti and Gabriele Santoro
The study aims to examine the role of green learning orientation, green knowledge acquisition and green knowledge management in fostering corporate environmental performance of…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to examine the role of green learning orientation, green knowledge acquisition and green knowledge management in fostering corporate environmental performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China. In addition, this research assesses the moderating role of chief executive officer (CEO) gender between green knowledge management and corporate environmental performance. Finally, this study examines the sequential mediating role of green knowledge acquisition and green knowledge management.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collected the data of 300 SMEs’ CEOs taken from five different provinces in China. The study used a partial least squares regression-based structural equation modelling technique.
Findings
The findings revealed that green learning orientation plays an important role in increasing SMEs’ corporate environmental performance. The results showed that green knowledge acquisition and green knowledge management serially and completely mediate the relationship between green learning orientation and corporate environmental performance.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study addressing the sequence of knowledge orientation, acquisition, management and results in terms of corporate environmental performance. Meanwhile, this study is the first to examine the indirect role of CEO gender on the relationship between green knowledge management and corporate environmental performance. As decisions are taken by the top management and CEO, especially in the case of SMEs, the role of top management and how well top management uses the knowledge acquired by the organization matters significantly.
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Talat Islam, Ishfaq Ahmed, Ahmad Usman and Muhammad Ali
Abusive supervision is found to influence the workplace negatively but how it predicts knowledge hiding behavior is an area that has not gained due attention in the literature. To…
Abstract
Purpose
Abusive supervision is found to influence the workplace negatively but how it predicts knowledge hiding behavior is an area that has not gained due attention in the literature. To this backdrop, this study aims to investigate the effect of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding behavior considering future orientation and Islamic work ethics (IWE) as moderators.
Design/methodology/approach
The data from 396 employees, working in both manufacturing and service sectors, is collected through a questionnaire-based survey in two-lags between November 2019 and January 2020.
Findings
Structural equation modeling highlighted that a positive relationship exists between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding behavior. Moreover, higher levels of IWE and future orientation are found to weaken the said relationship.
Practical implications
This paper provides practical understandings into extenuating the destructive effects of the dark side of leadership (abusive supervision), a prevalent issue in Asian societies, through the lens of personality (future orientation) and belief (IWE).
Originality/value
This study adds value by investigating the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding by demonstrating the moderating effects of IWE and future orientation in the context of Pakistan.