Muhammad Asif, Cory Searcy, Ambika Zutshi and Niaz Ahmad
This paper seeks to describe an integrated management systems (IMS) approach for the integration of corporate sustainability into business processes.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to describe an integrated management systems (IMS) approach for the integration of corporate sustainability into business processes.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive review of published literature was conducted. Building on existing research, the paper presents an original framework for structuring the integration of corporate sustainability with existing business infrastructure. The framework is supported by a detailed set of diagnostic questions to help guide the process. Both the framework and the diagnostic questions are based on the “Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act” cycle of continuous improvement.
Findings
The paper highlights the need for a systematic means to integrate sustainability into business processes. Building on that point, the paper illustrates how an IMS approach can be used to structure the entire process of managing, measuring, and assessing progress towards corporate sustainability.
Practical implications
The paper should be of interest to both practitioners and researchers. The framework and diagnostic questions will help guide decision makers through the process of building sustainability into their core business infrastructure. Since the framework and diagnostic questions provide the flexibility to accommodate specific organizational contexts, it is anticipated that they will have wide applicability.
Originality/value
The paper makes several contributions. The framework provides a systematic approach to corporate sustainability that has not been elaborated on in previous publications. The unique set of diagnostic questions provides a means to evaluate the extent to which corporate sustainability has been integrated into an organization.
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Niaz Ahmad, Muhammad Usman Awan, Abdul Raouf and Leigh Sparks
The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for the measurement of service quality in pharmaceutical supply chains.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for the measurement of service quality in pharmaceutical supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 413 pharmaceutical retailers working in the two biggest cities of Pakistan responded to a survey. Confirmatory factor analysis developed a valid and reliable service quality measurement scale with four dimensions and ten items.
Findings
Findings of this research are consistent with other service quality studies. There is no universal set of dimensions and items that determine service quality across a section of service industries. Service quality measurement must be adapted to fit the context.
Research limitations/implications
Convenience sampling was undertaken for this research. This research contributes to the measurement of service quality by developing a valid and reliable measurement scale in a previously ignored sector.
Practical implications
The scale developed in this research can be used by pharmaceutical distribution companies in Pakistan to measure, control and improve the service quality provided to pharmaceutical retailers.
Originality/value
This research provides framework to researchers to build up more pharmaceutical supply chains service quality scale development studies in similar situations so that more concrete generalizations can be made.
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Muhammad Usman Awan, Abdul Raouf, Niaz Ahmad and Leigh Sparks
The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical success factors of total quality management (TQM) in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan. The paper…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical success factors of total quality management (TQM) in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan. The paper also seeks to contribute to reduce the existing lack of TQM studies in developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
A 29‐item survey questionnaire is sent to 90 pharmaceutical distributors. Response rate is 56.7 per cent. Confirmatory factor analysis deletes one item in the scale purification process.
Findings
Data analysis reveal that “process design” (PD) is critical TQM success factor in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan. Like other studies in developing countries, top management in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan does not adequately support the TQM implementation.
Research limitations/implications
The research is based in Pakistan only. Convenience sampling is done. The response size of the study is small (n=51) though the response rate and significance are high. Small response size prevents more complex analysis such as structural equation modelling.
Practical implications
Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies are more focused on “PD”. Increased top management support is required for proper TQM implementation.
Originality/value
This research provides framework to researchers to build up more TQM critical success factor studies in similar sector and situations so that more concrete generalizations can be made.
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Shahid Farid, Rodina Ahmad, Mujahid Alam, Atif Akbar and Victor Chang
The purpose of this study is to propose a sustainable quality assessment approach (model) for the e-learning systems keeping software perspective under consideration. E-learning…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose a sustainable quality assessment approach (model) for the e-learning systems keeping software perspective under consideration. E-learning is becoming mainstream due to its accessibility, state-of-the-art learning, training ease and cost effectiveness. However, the poor quality of e-learning systems is one of the major causes of several failures reported. Moreover, this arena lacks well-defined quality assessment measures. Hence, it is quite difficult to measure the overall quality of an e-learning system effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
A pragmatic mixed-model philosophy was adopted for this study. A systematic literature review was performed to identify existing e-learning quality models and frameworks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with e-learning experts following empirical investigations to identify the crucial quality characteristics of e-learning systems. Various statistical tests like principal component analysis, logistic regression, chi-square and analysis of means were applied to analyze the empirical data. These led to an adequate set of quality indicators that can be used by higher education institutions to assure the quality of e-learning systems.
Findings
A sustainable quality assessment model for the information delivery in e-learning systems in software perspective has been proposed by exploring the state-of-the-art quality assessment/evaluation models and frameworks proposed for the e-learning systems. The proposed model can be used to assess and improve the process of information discovery and delivery of e-learning.
Originality/value
The results obtained led to conclude that very limited attention is given to the quality of e-learning tools despite the importance of quality and its effect on e-learning system adoption and promotion. Moreover, the identified models and frameworks do not adequately address quality of e-learning systems from a software perspective.
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Muhammad Faisal Javed, Mohammed Jameel, Muhammad Ijaz Khan, Sumaira Qayyum, Niaz B. Khan and Tufail Ahmad Khan
This study aims to focus on second grade fluid flow over a rotating disk in the presence of chemical reaction. Uniform magnetic field is also taken into account. Because of the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on second grade fluid flow over a rotating disk in the presence of chemical reaction. Uniform magnetic field is also taken into account. Because of the smaller magnetic Reynolds number, induced magnetic field is negligible. Heat equation is constructed by considering heat source/sink.
Design/methodology/approach
Suitable variables are used to transform nonlinear partial differential equations to ordinary ones. Convergent series solutions are attained by applying homotopy analysis method.
Findings
Trends of different parameters on concentration, velocity and temperature are shown graphically. Skin friction coefficient and local Nusselt number are calculated and investigated under the effect of elaborated parameters. An elevation in the value of magnetic field parameter causes collapse in the velocity distributions. Velocity distribution in increasing function of viscoelastic parameter. Temperature and concentration profiles are decreasing functions of viscoelastic parameter. Concentration distribution reduces by increasing the chemical reaction parameter. There is more surface drag force for larger M, while opposite behavior is noted for β.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, such consideration is yet to be published in the literature.
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Samnan Ali, M. Amaad Uppal and Stephen R. Gulliver
E-learning has gained much focus from educators and researchers, with many extolling e-learning over traditional learning. Despite this focus, implementation of e-learning systems…
Abstract
Purpose
E-learning has gained much focus from educators and researchers, with many extolling e-learning over traditional learning. Despite this focus, implementation of e-learning systems often fails. The purpose of this paper is to consider a range of barriers, impacting the success of e-learning implementations, yet to the best of the authors’ knowledge no conceptual framework is able to consolidate existing research.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper undertook an in-depth review of literature concerning e-learning implementation barriers. Papers were extracted from established peer-reviewed journals and open sources. Articles not related to e-learning implementation barriers were discarded. A total of 259 papers were identified, published between 1990 and 2016. Hermeneutics and data-driven qualitative content analysis was used to define 68 unique barriers.
Findings
The 68 unique barriers were thematically grouped into four conceptual categories, i.e. Technology (T), Individual (I), Pedagogy (P), and Enabling Conditions (EC). These four categories led to the conceptualization of “TIPEC” framework, which highlights the key concepts hindering e-learning implementation and delivery. Results show that most articles only consider a narrow range of success barriers.
Practical implications
The proposed TIPEC framework acts as a guide for education practitioners, system developers, policy makers, and researchers. It provides stakeholders with a summary of e-learning barriers.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need for a conceptual framework that consolidates all current research related to e-learning implementation barriers.
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By any count or criterion, Pakistan is a national security state. It always was. The country has fought four wars with India, and it continues to suffer the devastating…
Abstract
By any count or criterion, Pakistan is a national security state. It always was. The country has fought four wars with India, and it continues to suffer the devastating consequences of confrontation with its formidable neighbor – India; it has been put under siege for more than 40 years by the terrorist and religious extremist groups; it has suffered long spells of military rule; its political structure remains fragile; its civil society organizations are vulnerable, weak, and toothless; and its media, universities, research institutes, and judiciary are under huge stress. Given the state of affairs, the realization is rather slow to grow that human development strengthens national power and national security much more than weapons. It is in this context that a study on food insecurity in Pakistan has been undertaken. It aims to explain as to how a predominantly agricultural country has been reduced into a food resource poor country, and how has the neglect of social, economic, and cultural sectors made Pakistan more insecure. This study covers a number of related issues as well, but it mainly looks for answer to two questions: first, should food insecurity be studied in isolation as a separate issue or as a part of the larger issue of governance, security, and people; and second, isn't there a need to drastically restructure the economic, political, and security landscape and framework to significantly diminish poverty, illiteracy, and food insecurity in the country?
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Yusra Jamil Memon, Sarwar M. Azhar, Raheela Haque and Niaz Ahmed Bhutto
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between subjective norms (SNs), attitude (ATT) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) in predicting intention to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between subjective norms (SNs), attitude (ATT) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) in predicting intention to choose halal-labeled products. Additionally, this research is an attempt to address the moderating influence of religiosity (RG) on relationship between theory of planned behavior constructs and halal purchase intention.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected through a survey. To find the factors that affect purchase intentions of Pakistani consumers regarding halal purchase intention partial least squares (PLS) path modeling has been used in the study.
Findings
The results state that TBP constructs, i.e. (ATT and PBC) have significant and positive and influence over halal purchase intentions. However, SN did not have positive and significant influence over halal purchase intention. Furthermore, no moderation effect of RG could be found in this study. Findings suggest that RG has not moderated the relationship between TBP constructs and halal purchase intention.
Research limitations/implications
This study has incorporated three antecedents of TBP. However, extended theory of planned behavior can also be tested to predict influence on consumer halal purchase intentions in Pakistan. Moreover, other variables, e.g. country of origin can also be added to examine the moderation effect on TBP constructs and halal purchase intention.
Originality/value
This research identifies the rationale behind internally perceived factors that influence purchasing halal product, it further adds to an understanding of content specific (halal products) purchase intention. The practical implications include the possible approaches that managers need to address while promoting Halal labels and this will influence marketing strategies in general and communications specifically.