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The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Chinese listed family firms on lean innovation strategies. Additionally, the authors also examined the moderating role of CEO compensation on the family ownership and lean innovation strategies relationship.

Data is obtained from CSMAR database about Chinese family firms listed at Shenzhen Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange. Panel data comprising of firm year observations from 2007 to 2016 is analyzed using STATA.

Family firms are proactive towards research and development investment (innovation input) as well as towards patent applications (innovation output). Moreover, family firms show propensity towards patent applications and towards converting their R&D investment into granted patent applications. CEO compensation negatively moderates the nexus between family firms and lean innovation which seriously needs to be addressed to reduce agency costs.

The study has focused on Chinese market only. The study is useful for policy makers to address the serious concerns identified in the conclusion section, i.e. effectiveness of CEO compensation in addressing the lean innovation strategies in emerging economy like that of China.

Given the usually considered conservative approach of family firms towards innovation, this is the first study which has tested the moderating role of CEO compensation on family firms and lean innovation relationship in an emerging economy. This study is unique because it provides a detailed analysis of lean innovation process by splitting the process into different stages. The negative moderating impact of CEO compensation raises new concerns to resolve agency conflicts.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the empirical relationship between family firms and lean innovation (i.e. generating more output with less input) as well as the moderating role of the executive's compensation.

Panel data for ten years (2007–2016) have been collected from the CSMAR database. This study concludes the findings using descriptive statistics, correlation and panel data analysis techniques applying statistical software STATA.

Results show that family firms are not motivated to follow lean innovation strategies until unless the executives are compensated well. We further find that family firms are more likely to pursue a lean innovation strategy, and they demonstrate a superior record of converting R&D inputs as granted patents, and; both input and output innovation are significantly affected by executive compensations. However, this study shows an insignificant negative relationship of propensity to patents with the moderating effects of executive compensation.

This research has been conducted on the emerging Chinese market. The study is useful for policymakers and managers to devise such strategies which can make the role of executive's more effective to reduce the agency cost and reap the benefits of innovation input more effectively (Petersen, 2009). Also, family firms are heterogeneous, and the research outcome may be applicable for both advanced and emerging economies.

The previous family firm's research paid less attention to the role of the executive's compensation on the relationship of family firms and lean innovation. Moreover, they prioritize insight into how executive's compensation affects different proxies of innovation. This study sheds new light on the paradoxical findings of family firms and lean innovation by analyzing the significant role of executive compensation.

The rise in industrialization, economic development and urbanization has altered the composition of atmospheric air. Air pollutants have significantly impacted Pakistan's urban areas, resulting in the lowest air quality index readings. To understand disinclined behavior such as using air purifiers and wearing masks, this study aims to explore the relationship between individual personality traits and mass media effects.

This study used a cross-sectional survey with a model based on previous theories. Data from 2,000 adults were self-administered and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

PLS-SEM confirmed six hypotheses, revealing mass media's direct and mediating roles in promoting critical psychological perceptions for protective behavior. The empirical results indicate that neuroticism, agreeableness and openness traits reinforce adherence behavior by intensifying threat perception.

This paper highlights significant implications for media campaign planners and provides more precise and comprehensive theoretical guidance. In the context of environmental challenges like smog, the findings illustrate how an understanding of personality traits can improve the efficacy of public health interventions through adherence to behaviors like mask-wearing and air purifier use. Addressing individual psychological characteristics when creating mass media campaigns to encourage public adherence to health protection measures related to environmental hazards.

Despite health campaigns and awareness, public compliance with measures like mask-wearing and air purifier use remains minimal. This study explores untapped mass media effects based on individual personality traits to understand this behavior.

On the basis of behavioural agency theory and resource-based view, this study investigates the influence of family firm birth mode (i.e. indirect-established or direct-established), family entering time on R&D investment and the moderating role of the family entering time on the relationship between birth mode and R&D investment.

The authors collected 2,990 firm-year observations from family firms listed on A-share in China from 2008 to 2016 in the China Stock Market and Accounting Research database. They used pooled regression for data analysis and Tobit regression for robustness checks.

Indirect-established family firms show more inclined behaviour towards R&D investment than direct-established counterparts. Family entering time positively affects the R&D investment of family firms. Moreover, family entering time plays a significant moderating role in the relationship between family firm birth mode (i.e. indirect-established or direct-established) and R&D investment.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is a pioneering study that introduced the concept of family firm birth mode (i.e. indirect-established or direct-established) and family entering time. This work is novel because it differentiated family firms according to their birth modes, an approach which is a contribution to the existing literature of family firms. Moreover, the investigation of the moderating role of family entering time has also produced notable results that help understand the impact of family entering time on different types of family firms. The interpretation of outcomes according to behavioural agency theory also produced useful insights for future researchers as well as for policymakers.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the novel aspects of activation energy in the nonlinearly convective flow of Walter-B nanofluid in view of Cattaneo–Christov double-diffusion model over a permeable stretched sheet. Features of nonlinear thermal radiation, dual stratification, non-uniform heat generation/absorption, MHD and binary chemical reaction are also evaluated for present flow problem. Walter-B nanomaterial model is employed to describe the significant slip mechanism of Brownian and thermophoresis diffusions. Generalized Fourier’s and Fick’s laws are examined through Cattaneo–Christov double-diffusion model. Modified Arrhenius formula for activation energy is also implemented.

Several techniques are employed for solving nonlinear differential equations. The authors have used a homotopy technique (HAM) for our nonlinear problem to get convergent solutions. The homotopy analysis method (HAM) is a semi-analytical technique to solve nonlinear coupled ordinary/partial differential equations. The capability of the HAM to naturally display convergence of the series solution is unusual in analytical and semi-analytic approaches to nonlinear partial differential equations. This analytical method has the following great advantages over other techniques:

• It provides a series solution without depending upon small/large physical parameters and applicable for not only weakly but also strongly nonlinear problems.

• It guarantees the convergence of series solutions for nonlinear problems.

• It provides us a great choice to select the base function of the required solution and the corresponding auxiliary linear operator of the homotopy.

It provides a series solution without depending upon small/large physical parameters and applicable for not only weakly but also strongly nonlinear problems.

It guarantees the convergence of series solutions for nonlinear problems.

It provides us a great choice to select the base function of the required solution and the corresponding auxiliary linear operator of the homotopy.

Brief mathematical description of HAM technique (Liao, 2012; Mabood et al., 2016) is as follows. For a general nonlinear equation:

where N denotes a nonlinear operator, x the independent variables and u(x) is an unknown function, respectively. By means of generalizing the traditional homotopy method, Liao (1992) creates the so-called zero-order deformation equation:

here q∈[0, 1] is the embedding parameter, H(x) ≠ 0 is an auxiliary function, h(≠ 0) is a nonzero parameter, L is an auxiliary linear operator, u_o(x) is an initial guess of u(x) and u ˆ ( x ; q ) is an unknown function, respectively. It is significant that one has great freedom to choose auxiliary things in HAM. Noticeably, when q=0 and q=1, following holds:

Expanding u ˆ ( x ; q ) in Taylor series with respect to (q), we have:

If the initial guess, the auxiliary linear operator, the auxiliary h and the auxiliary function are selected properly, then the series (4) converges at q=1, then we have:

By defining a vector u → = ( u o ( x ) , u 1 ( x ) , u 2 ( x ) , … , u n ( x ) ) , and differentiating Equation (2) m-times with respect to (q) and then setting q=0, we obtain the mth-order deformation equation:

where:

Applying L⁻¹ on both sides of Equation (6), we get:

In this way, we obtain u_m for m ⩾ 1, at mth-order, we have:

It is evident from obtained results that the nanoparticle concentration field is directly proportional to the chemical reaction with activation energy. Additionally, both temperature and concentration distributions are declining functions of thermal and solutal stratification parameters (P₁) and (P₂), respectively. Moreover, temperature Θ(Ω₁) enhances for greater values of Brownian motion parameter (N_b), non-uniform heat source/sink parameter (B₁) and thermophoresis factor (N_t). Reverse behavior of concentration ϒ(Ω₁) field is remarked in view of (N_b) and (N_t). Graphs and tables are also constructed to analyze the effect of different flow parameters on skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, Sherwood numbers, velocity, temperature and concentration fields.

The novelty of the present problem is to inspect the Arrhenius activation energy phenomena for viscoelastic Walter-B nanofluid model with additional features of nonlinear thermal radiation, non-uniform heat generation/absorption, nonlinear mixed convection, thermal and solutal stratification. The novel aspect of binary chemical reaction is analyzed to characterize the impact of activation energy in the presence of Cattaneo–Christov double-diffusion model. The mathematical model of Buongiorno is employed to incorporate Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects due to nanoparticles.

Citizen journalism practices through social networking sites are increasingly becoming an imperative source of public opinion formation. Given the increase in the volume of information sharing on social media during COVID-19, this study aims to grasp the largely unknown interaction of the individual’s trust in citizen journalism practices and public perception formulation. Drawing on this idea, the study has twofold objectives: first, to examine the influence of user-generated information about economic policies of government during COVID-19 as the antecedent of public perception about government performance and second, to identify the moderating role of trust in citizen journalism practices during COVID-19 through social networking sites.

The study used a survey method and a sample of 464 adults were collected through an online administrated questionnaire.

The findings specify that user-generated content that is pro-government economic policies during COVID-19 positively influenced the perception of government performance. On the other hand, user-generated information that criticized government economic policies had a negative influence on public perception.

This study seeks to intensify the understudied phenomenon of how nature and source of the information could interact to influence one’s information processing during a crisis such as pandemic COVID-19. Furthermore, only a little research has been conducted in this area focusing on two mechanisms, namely; citizen journalism and trust in social media user-generated information about prevailing economic insecurities during crisis provided through citizen journalism.

Variations of human-versus-structure and within-humans at the organizational and the project level are critical in shaping the internal arrangement for effectiveness of project-based organization’s (PBOs) governance. Recent discourse presents governmentality at the organizational level and leadership at the project level as human agency of governance, whereas governance structures to be their counterpart. However, project-level mechanisms of governmentality that can help to understand possible variations among these governance dimensions remained veiled. This study uses institutional theory to explore these internal arrangements accommodated by variations of PBOs governance dimensions at the project level.

The study followed Eisenhardt protocols of multiple case study design using an abductive research approach. Considering the heterogeneity of governance as a phenomenon in literature, boundary conditions were established before theorizing the model of the study to avoid ambiguities and define the research scope. Five PBOs were chosen using theoretical sampling, yielding 70 interviews. Data were analyzed by constant comparison with theory, using replication logic and cross-case analysis.

Findings revealed that project managers perform a buffer function for governmentality at the project level. Identified mechanisms of governmentality at the project level included two downward mechanisms, i.e. communication and informal interactions of governors, and two upward mechanisms of adaptation and reciprocity by project managers and project team members. Cross-analysis for variations among PBOs’ governance at the project level revealed seven arrangements showcasing synergies or contrasts.

The study adds to organizational project management literature by advancing the significance of congruence between humans and structures in project governance. Furthermore, the synchronization of the project manager’s leadership style with the governmentality approach and governance structure of PBOs is of crucial importance at the project level. Findings suggest the same by showcasing synergetic versus contrasting internal arrangements accommodated in varying PBOs governance dimensions. Implications highlight that synergies among PBOs governance dimensions and project manager’s styles can minimize conflicts and inconsistencies in governance implementation, whereas contrasts might trigger them.

The purpose of current flow configuration is to spotlights the thermophysical aspects of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) viscoinelastic fluid flow over a stretching surface.

The fluid momentum problem is mathematically formulated by using the Prandtl–Eyring constitutive law. Also, the non-Fourier heat flux model is considered to disclose the heat transfer characteristics. The governing problem contains the nonlinear partial differential equations with appropriate boundary conditions. To facilitate the computation process, the governing problem is transmuted into dimensionless form via appropriate group of scaling transforms. The numerical technique shooting method is used to solve dimensionless boundary value problem.

The expressions for dimensionless velocity and temperature are found and investigated under different parametric conditions. The important features of fluid flow near the wall, i.e. wall friction factor and wall heat flux, are deliberated by altering the pertinent parameters. The impacts of governing parameters are highlighted in graphical as well as tabular manner against focused physical quantities (velocity, temperature, wall friction factor and wall heat flux). A comparison is presented to justify the computed results, it can be noticed that present results have quite resemblance with previous literature which led to confidence on the present computations.

The computed results are quite useful for researchers working in theoretical physics. Additionally, computed results are very useful in industry and daily-use processes.

The purpose of the current flow configurations is to bring to attention the thermophysical aspects of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Williamson nanofluid flow under the effects of Joule heating, nonlinear thermal radiation, variable thermal coefficient and activation energy past a rotating stretchable surface.

A mathematical model is examined to study the heat and mass transport analysis of steady MHD Williamson fluid flow past a rotating stretchable surface. Impact of activation energy with newly introduced variable diffusion coefficient at the mass equation is considered. The transport phenomenon is modeled by using highly nonlinear PDEs which are then reduced into dimensionless form by using similarity transformation. The resulting equations are then solved with the aid of fifth-order Fehlberg method.

The rotating fluid, heat and mass transport effects are analyzed for different values of parameters on velocity, energy and diffusion distributions. Parameters like the rotation parameter, Hartmann number and Weissenberg number control the flow field. In addition, the solar radiation, Joule heating, Prandtl number, thermal conductivity, concentration diffusion coefficient and activation energy control the temperature and concentration profiles inside the stretching surface. It can be analyzed that for higher values of thermal conductivity, Eckret number and solar radiation parameter the temperature profile increases, whereas opposite behavior is noticed for Prandtl number. Moreover, for increasing values of temperature difference parameter and thermal diffusion coefficient, the concentration profile shows reducing behavior.

This paper is useful for researchers working in mathematical and theoretical physics. Moreover, numerical results are very useful in industry and daily-use processes.

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are widely spread throughout Pakistan with the potential to have a massive impact on Pakistan’s economic future. CPEC projects have, therefore, made it imperative that green practices are adapted to provide sustainability to the CPEC projects. The adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) framework will significantly increase the value attained from CPEC projects through the increased benefits to the socio-cultural and economic conditions of Pakistan without causing harm to the environment. The purpose of this paper is to identify and rank the GSCM practices for implementation in the construction industry of Pakistan according to expert opinion.

This study targets the experts who are employed as supply chain managers in the different construction industries of Pakistan. The opinions of these experts have been extracted through an online questionnaire that was based on six alternatives along with four criteria. The tool of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) that is a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) has been used to analyze the results.

Six alternatives that have been used for this study are green design, green procurement, green production, green warehousing, green transportation and green recycling. The top-ranked alternative as a practice for GSCM is green warehousing followed by green production. The lowest ranked alternative in this study is green recycling. The alternatives have been ranked on the basis of “cc” values derived through TOPSIS.

As the advancement in the construction industry will definitely going to impact the environmental sustainability of the country, the results derived through this research will assist the managers of the construction industry of Pakistan to adopt best practices among green supply chain in order to lower their impact.

Framework using TOPSIS in order to find the best GSCM practice in Pakistan has not been reported before this study.