Ingo Winkler and Mustafa Khalil Mahmood
The purpose of this paper is to explore the work-related identity of temporary agency workers (TAWs), a topic that has received a limited amount of attention in previous research.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the work-related identity of temporary agency workers (TAWs), a topic that has received a limited amount of attention in previous research.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a qualitative method and draws upon interviews with 30 TAWs from four agencies in the south of Denmark in order to link the experiences, as narrated by Danish TAWs, to their identity.
Findings
The study unpacks the components of the TAWs’ work-related identity and provides an understanding of the self-notions that the TAWs mobilize to respond to the conditions of temporary agency work. It identifies six components of work-related identity: Being new and unfamiliar, demonstrating the ability to adapt, dealing with uncertainty, feeling inferior and marginalized, pursuing opportunities, and the necessity to impress others. Both the agency and the user-firm try to regulate the TAWs’ identity as they expect agency workers to be flexible and adaptable persons, who possess a high degree of self-control. In so doing they provide a template for identification that the workers have to respond to. The study shows that TAWs develop this identity along two dimensions: their liminal position between the agency and the user-firm; and prescribed identity templates as TAWs strive for autonomy and craft their own work-related identity.
Practical implications
There are managerial challenges with regard to motivation, tensions between temps and permanent staff, low levels of organizational commitment, well-being, and the performance of TAWs. These challenges can be better understood (and probably solved) when agencies and user-firms would take into account the agency workers’ struggle for identification. The paper demonstrates that the work-related identity of TAWs not only has consequences for their performance but also for their whole life. Furthermore, the constitution of agency workers as flexible resource has consequences for HRM in the user-firm.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the limited amount of knowledge about the meanings that TAWs reflexively attach to themselves as they seek to make sense of the conditions of temporary agency work. Investigating their work-related identity helps to better understand the implications of temporary agency work based on the investigation of the agency workers’ experiences.
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Oualid Abidi, Khalil Nimer, Ahmed Bani-Mustafa, Sam Toglaw and Vladimir Dzenopoljac
The adoption of an entrepreneurial posture supports higher education institutions (HEIs) in their quest for growth. The present study examines the role faculty members play in…
Abstract
Purpose
The adoption of an entrepreneurial posture supports higher education institutions (HEIs) in their quest for growth. The present study examines the role faculty members play in adopting an entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in HEIs within the Kuwaiti academic context and aims to assess whether this orientation contributes to fostering corporate entrepreneurship in their institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were collected to study the relationship between faculty EO and the EO of their respective HEI. Empirical research was conducted based on a questionnaire completed by 341 engineering and business faculty members employed at Kuwaiti universities and colleges. The research model was tested and validated using structural equation modelling (SEM).
Findings
The results show a positive relationship between the faculty EO and corporate entrepreneurship in HEIs, which was negatively moderated by human resource management (HRM) practices. These findings emphasise the need for HEIs in Kuwait to evolve their HRM practices towards enhancing innovation, proactiveness and risk-taking amongst faculty.
Originality/value
This study highlights the strategic renewal perspective in HEI-EO and how faculty initiatives can support it.
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Omar Kachkar and Mustafa K. Yilmaz
This study aims to examine diversity in the composition of Shariah supervisory boards (SSBs) of Islamic banks (IBs). It investigates diversity from two perspectives: existing…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine diversity in the composition of Shariah supervisory boards (SSBs) of Islamic banks (IBs). It investigates diversity from two perspectives: existing composition of SSBs and the regulatory frameworks and standards of selected Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries. Diversity characteristics include education, nationality, gender and age.
Design/methodology/approach
A list of all full-fledged Islamic commercial banks (FFICBs) globally has been carefully prepared and confirmed. Conventional banks with Islamic windows, non-commercial banks, takaful companies and other Islamic financial institutions are excluded. The available profiles of 428 SSB members have been scrutinised and analysed. These board members occupy 522 SSB positions in 238 FFICBs operating in 52 countries around the globe. From the regulatory perspective, 12 national and international Shariah governance frameworks and standards have been examined.
Findings
Findings of this paper indicate various levels of diversity in SSBs of the reviewed IBs. The level of diversity in educational background and in the nationality of SSBs can be described as generally acceptable. However, a lack of diversity in gender and age among SSB members is evidently observed in IBs. While the lack of age diversity in SSBs may be relatively justified as a common trend in the composition of corporate boards, SSBs of IBs are seriously lagging behind in gender diversity. On the regulatory level, this study concluded that provisions on diversity as a requirement in SSBs are almost non-existent in the existing regulatory frameworks and standards.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitation of this study is the lack of available information on the SSB members.
Practical implications
This paper provides insights for IBs and policymakers concerned with the corporate governance of IBs and all Islamic financial institutions. First, it offers an excellent bird’s-eye view of the status of diversity in SSBs of IBs. Second, it motivates policymakers and standard-setting bodies to ensure, through the relevant regulatory frameworks, adequate levels of diversity in the composition of SSBs. Diversity in SSBs of IBs and Islamic financial institutions should be given special emphasis, not only in boards and top management positions but also in the workplace. This is of profound significance to the reputation of Islamic finance industry which has been recently under mounting pressure to translate the rhetoric about the Islamic finance industry being ethical, fair, just, equitable and inclusive into genuine implementations.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine the diversity of SSB members from the regulatory as well as from the implementation perspective.
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Wilson Charles Chanhemo, Mustafa H. Mohsini, Mohamedi M. Mjahidi and Florence U. Rashidi
This study explores challenges facing the applicability of deep learning (DL) in software-defined networks (SDN) based campus networks. The study intensively explains the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores challenges facing the applicability of deep learning (DL) in software-defined networks (SDN) based campus networks. The study intensively explains the automation problem that exists in traditional campus networks and how SDN and DL can provide mitigating solutions. It further highlights some challenges which need to be addressed in order to successfully implement SDN and DL in campus networks to make them better than traditional networks.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a systematic literature review. Studies on DL relevant to campus networks have been presented for different use cases. Their limitations are given out for further research.
Findings
Following the analysis of the selected studies, it showed that the availability of specific training datasets for campus networks, SDN and DL interfacing and integration in production networks are key issues that must be addressed to successfully deploy DL in SDN-enabled campus networks.
Originality/value
This study reports on challenges associated with implementation of SDN and DL models in campus networks. It contributes towards further thinking and architecting of proposed SDN-based DL solutions for campus networks. It highlights that single problem-based solutions are harder to implement and unlikely to be adopted in production networks.
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Sanjay Chaudhary, Amandeep Dhir, Nicola Farronato, Melita Nicotra and Marco Pironti
The importance of knowledge-based assets and the capability to leverage them has been the subject of scholarly interest in entrepreneurial orientation literature. The authors…
Abstract
Purpose
The importance of knowledge-based assets and the capability to leverage them has been the subject of scholarly interest in entrepreneurial orientation literature. The authors attempt to understand the dominant themes in the prior literature and propose directions for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors performed a systematic review of 79 studies to answer the research questions: (1) What are the predominant themes in the literature on the role of intellectual capital and entrepreneurial orientation? (2) What are the potential fields of future research?
Findings
The findings suggest that current research engages the topics of intellectual capital, the capability to leverage knowledge assets and entrepreneurial orientation. The thematic analysis reveals the role of knowledge management, organizational learning, intellectual capital and absorptive capacity in entrepreneurial firms. The authors propose a theoretical model to explain how intellectual capital and its management influence firm-level entrepreneurial behavior.
Originality/value
Understanding the association between intellectual capital and the capability to leverage knowledge assets is crucial in a dynamic business environment. Effective deployment of knowledge is vital while searching for new entrepreneurial opportunities.
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Inakshi Kapur and Pallavi Tyagi
The ability to create and sustain competitive advantages depends on cultivating employee’s capabilities. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can foster an organisation-wide culture…
Abstract
Purpose
The ability to create and sustain competitive advantages depends on cultivating employee’s capabilities. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can foster an organisation-wide culture of exploring new opportunities and creating new learnings. Sustainable competitive advantages should be based on long-term behavioural changes rather than ad hoc adjustments made for short-term gains, enabling employees to become a source of unique and inimitable advantages. This study aims to explore how each external environment impacts the dimensions of EO. The study also introduces environmental jolts as a dimension of the external environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors considered a sample of 39 organisations in IT companies from India to study the external environment’s effect on their EO. Using covariance-based structural equation modelling, the authors measured the impact of external environment variables on EO. A total of 250 responses were found suitable for analysis.
Findings
Certain crucial factors were identified through an extensive analysis of the relationships between individual factors of the external environment and EO. Technological opportunities showed a strong positive association with all factors of EO, whereas dynamism of the environment had a positive relationship with innovativeness and proactiveness. Environmental jolts showed a negative impact on innovativeness and risk-taking propensity.
Research limitations/implications
EO has been developed and researched extensively in the Western context as a unidimensional construct. In the present study, the relationship between the external environment factors and each dimension of EO has been analysed individually, thus following a multidimensional approach. Moreover, environment jolts as a factor of the external environment have been introduced, and their effect on the dimension of EO has been studied. Finally, the implications of encouraging entrepreneurial behaviours to develop sustainable competitive advantages have been discussed.
Originality/value
The research explores the multidimensionality of the EO construct and also introduces environmental jolts as a dimension of the external environment.
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Walter Leal Filho, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, Subarna Sivapalan, Halima Begum, Theam Foo Ng, Abul Quasem Al-Amin, Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Ayyoob Sharifi, Amanda Lange Salvia, Qudsia Kalsoom, Mustafa Saroar and Samara Neiva
It is still unclear how Asian universities incorporate the theory or practice of sustainable development (SD) in their research and education programmes. To address this gap, the…
Abstract
Purpose
It is still unclear how Asian universities incorporate the theory or practice of sustainable development (SD) in their research and education programmes. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to report on a study that has examined how universities in Asian countries handle and address matters related to SD.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a bibliometric analysis and an online survey-method. The online survey data were analysed through descriptive analysis and one-sample student’s t-test.
Findings
The study indicates that there is considerable variation among the Asian countries regarding sustainability practices in higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEIs in far eastern countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are perceived to demonstrate more sustainability practices.
Research limitations/implications
Even though a substantial number of participants participated in the survey, it did not cover all Asian countries. The online survey was carried out over a limited period of time, and not all HEIs in the field may have received information about the study.
Practical implications
Asia is the largest continent facing a number of sustainability challenges. In this context, the contribution of HEIs is very important. The findings of the current study may serve as a baseline for Asian HEIs to take more initiatives towards SD goals, as HEIs are responsible for the education and training of hundreds of thousands of students who will be occupying key positions in industry, government or education in the coming years.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the existing literature in two distinct ways. First, it was possible to develop a comprehensive instrument to measure sustainability practices in HEIs. Second, this study has filled the gap of the scarcity of studies regarding sustainability practices in HEIs in Asia.
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Taseer Muhammad and Farwa Haider
The main purpose here is to explore the unsteadiness characteristics in magnetized flow of Reiner–Rivlin nanofluid. Energy and concentration expressions are modeled by utilizing…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose here is to explore the unsteadiness characteristics in magnetized flow of Reiner–Rivlin nanofluid. Energy and concentration expressions are modeled by utilizing Buongiorno model for nanoscale particles. Additionally, Joule heating and activation energy are also deliberated.
Design/methodology/approach
The bvp4c solver in MATLAB is employed for graphical and numerical outcomes.
Findings
A similar trend of temperature field is seen against thermophoresis and Brownian movement parameters. Thermal transport rate decreases via Prandtl number. Augmentation in mass transport rate is noted through unsteadiness parameter.
Originality/value
To the best of author’s knowledge, no such consideration has been given in the literature yet.