Rehan Aftab, Muhammad Naveed and Sajjad Hanif
The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) on small and medium enterprises in Pakistan, which are vulnerable to crisis situations. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) on small and medium enterprises in Pakistan, which are vulnerable to crisis situations. This study also aims to provide policy recommendations to the stakeholders by reviewing the situation of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) after the Covid-19 sudden surge.
Design/methodology/approach
The descriptive study is based on quantitative data technique and primary data collection is undertaken. The survey instrument is adapted from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics public documents. Collected responses from SME owners are descriptively analyzed using appropriate graphs.
Findings
The analysis infers that SMEs in Pakistan have encountered unfavorable implications of Covid-19 in the form of shortage of goods, blockage in transportation, decrease in demand of products and services, decline in profits and sales, limited operations, lockdown and employee’s layoff.
Research limitations/implications
The limited sample and precise use of instruments are few limitations along with valuable implications of this research. The analysis of Covid-19 impact on SMEs is an ongoing phenomenon and aids in proactive planning for the second wave of this outbreak. Financing schemes, youth entrepreneurship loans, retention of skilled staff and proactive planning for adverse future are few recommended measures for revival of the SMEs sector.
Originality/value
The use of a unique sample and quality data set collected using the Bureau of Labor Statistics instrument adds value to the findings of the study and their consistency. The existing body of knowledge in the context of the SMEs sector of Pakistan is strengthened with an analysis of crisis implications for this sector, which remained unaddressed in the past.
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Noor Arshad, Abu Bakar, Saira Hanif Soroya, Iqra Safder, Sajjad Haider, Saeed-Ul Hassan, Naif Radi Aljohani, Salem Alelyani and Raheel Nawaz
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach for mining scientific trends using topics from Call for Papers (CFP). The work contributes a valuable input for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach for mining scientific trends using topics from Call for Papers (CFP). The work contributes a valuable input for researchers, academics, funding institutes and research administration departments by sharing the trends to set directions of research path.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors procure an innovative CFP data set to analyse scientific evolution and prestige of conferences that set scientific trends using scientific publications indexed in DBLP. Using the Field of Research code 804 from Australian Research Council, the authors identify 146 conferences (from 2006 to 2015) into different thematic areas by matching the terms extracted from publication titles with the Association for Computing Machinery Computing Classification System. Furthermore, the authors enrich the vocabulary of terms from the WordNet dictionary and Growbag data set. To measure the significance of terms, the authors adopt the following weighting schemas: probabilistic, gram, relative, accumulative and hierarchal.
Findings
The results indicate the rise of “big data analytics” from CFP topics in the last few years. Whereas the topics related to “privacy and security” show an exponential increase, the topics related to “semantic web” show a downfall in recent years. While analysing publication output in DBLP that matches CFP indexed in ERA Core A* to C rank conference, the authors identified that A* and A tier conferences not merely set publication trends, since B or C tier conferences target similar CFP.
Originality/value
Overall, the analyses presented in this research are prolific for the scientific community and research administrators to study research trends and better data management of digital libraries pertaining to the scientific literature.
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Computer technology in libraries has revolutionised the concept of rapid and accurate information services. In Pakistan, though, computer technology is new and is being…
Abstract
Computer technology in libraries has revolutionised the concept of rapid and accurate information services. In Pakistan, though, computer technology is new and is being successfully introduced in all types of libraries and information centres. This article reviews the literature on the use of computers in Pakistan’s libraries. The literature includes monographs, journal articles, reports, etc. published inside and outside Pakistan, discussing information technology, specific library applications, the activities of individual libraries and automation education. The need for library automation and the problems faced by Pakistani professionals in this respect are also discussed.
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Zeyneb Hafsa Orhan, Sajjad Zaheer and Fatih Kazancı
This paper aims to achieve two goals: first, to evaluate the existing interest-free monetary policy tools in the major Islamic financial hubs of Malaysia, Pakistan and Bahrain…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to achieve two goals: first, to evaluate the existing interest-free monetary policy tools in the major Islamic financial hubs of Malaysia, Pakistan and Bahrain and; second, to suggest how monetary policy tools in Turkey can be used in other countries.
Design/methodology/approach
This study follows a qualitative research method based on literature review, comparison, evaluation and design.
Findings
The policy rate cannot be used due to Shariah concerns. The reserve requirement depends on qard, and the reserves should be kept separately in the central bank. In terms of ijarah sukuk, Shariah concerns should be taken into account and a new structure, as displayed in Figure 3, should be followed. Government investment certificates can be used as an interest-free monetary policy tool. A genuine mudarabah interbank investments can also be used. Wadiah acceptance with no habitual gift can be used as well, and Tawarruq and central bank notes are not preferable due to Shariah concerns as well. Having said that, a Turkey-based tawarruq platform can be structured for others to use instead of applying to London.
Originality/value
This paper’s unique suggestion is to develop an interbank taqaruz market and a taqaruz method with the central bank. It is also unique for Turkey in the subject.
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Ryan Varghese, Abha Deshpande, Gargi Digholkar and Dileep Kumar
Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a booming sector that has profoundly influenced every walk of life, and the education sector is no exception. In education, AI has…
Abstract
Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a booming sector that has profoundly influenced every walk of life, and the education sector is no exception. In education, AI has helped to develop novel teaching and learning solutions that are currently being tested in various contexts. Businesses and governments across the globe have been pouring money into a wide array of implementations, and dozens of EdTech start-ups are being funded to capitalise on this technological force. The penetration of AI in classroom teaching is also a profound matter of discussion. These have garnered massive amounts of student big data and have a significant impact on the life of both students and educators alike.
Purpose: The prime focus of this chapter is to extensively review and analyse the vast literature available on the utilities of AI in health care, learning, and development. The specific objective of thematic exploration of the literature is to explicate the principal facets and recent advances in the development and employment of AI in the latter. This chapter also aims to explore how the EdTech and healthcare–education sectors would witness a paradigm shift with the advent and incorporation of AI.
Design/Methodology/Approach: To provide context and evidence, relevant publications were identified on ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar using keywords like AI, education, learning, health care, and development. In addition, the latest articles were also thoroughly reviewed to underscore recent advances in the same field.
Results: The implementation of AI in the learning, development, and healthcare sector is rising steeply, with a projected expansion of about 50% by 2022. These algorithms and user interfaces economically facilitate efficient delivery of the latter.
Conclusions: The EdTech and healthcare sector has great potential for a spectrum of AI-based interventions, providing access to learning opportunities and personalised experiences. These interventions are often economic in the long run compared to conventional modalities. However, several ethical and regulatory concerns should be addressed before the complete adoption of AI in these sectors.
Originality/Value: The value in exploring this topic is to present a view on the potential of employing AI in health care, medical education, and learning and development. It also intends to open a discussion of its potential benefits and a remedy to its shortcomings.
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Muhammad Rafiq Awan and Khalid Mahmood
The purpose of this paper is to explore leadership style, organizational culture and job commitment in university libraries of Pakistan and the relationships among them.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore leadership style, organizational culture and job commitment in university libraries of Pakistan and the relationships among them.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured questionnaire was developed and self administered to 115 professional librarians. Hypotheses were tested through t‐test, Pearson chi‐square and ANOVA.
Findings
The results show that the library professionals were not very sensitive about any relationship among these three variables at their workplace. A majority of the professionals perceived that their chief librarians had an autocratic style of leadership and libraries tend to adopt an achievement and bureaucratic culture. Most of the library professionals seemed to be highly committed with their organizations. It means that they favored result‐oriented culture.
Research limitations
The research was limited to university libraries in Pakistan's province of Punjab and federal capital Islamabad.
Originality/value
The study is useful to understand leadership style, organizational culture and job commitment in university libraries.
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Describes the library and information science education through the distance teaching system offered by Allama Iqbal Open University in Pakistan. The only open university in the…
Abstract
Describes the library and information science education through the distance teaching system offered by Allama Iqbal Open University in Pakistan. The only open university in the country has offered Certificate and Bachelor’s programmes in the subject since 1988 and is planning to offer Master’s and some other advanced programmes in the future. The paper presents a brief history of the University and the establishment of the Department of Library and Information Sciences. Syllabi and objectives of various LIS courses are provided. The system of education, including admissions, study materials, regional services, tutors, study centres, assignments and examination is also described. Enrolment data up to spring 1996 are analyzed (by area and gender). Opinions of senior library professionals in the country about these LIS courses are also cited.
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Nimra Sarwar, Sajid Haider, Muhammad Hanif Akhtar and Khuda Bakhsh
This study aims to examine moderated-mediation between ethical leadership (EL) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Specifically, a moderating effect of high performance…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine moderated-mediation between ethical leadership (EL) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Specifically, a moderating effect of high performance managerial practices (HPMPs) on the indirect effect of EL on OCB through employees’ psychological empowerment (PE) was tested.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 267 bank employees including subordinates and their supervisors. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that PE mediates the relationship between EL and OCB, and HPMPs enhance OCB by increasing the effect of EL on employees’ PE.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to human resource management and leadership literature by explaining the moderated-mediation mechanisms between EL and OCB. The findings help to understand how HPMPs enhance employees’ OCB by strengthening the effect of EL on PE. Limitations are related to external validity and cross-sectional nature of data.
Practical implications
Organizations’ use of HPMPs makes ethical leaders more effective in enhancing employees’ PE and, subsequently, their OCB.
Originality/value
Previous research lacks evidence on the indirect effect of EL on employee OCB through PE. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has examined the moderating effect of HPMPs on the abovementioned indirect relationship. This study has addressed the abovementioned research gap.
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Abuelhassan Elshazly Abuelhassan and Ali AlGassim
Based on social exchange theory (SET) and conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study aims to examine the unique combined impact of procedural justice (PJ) and distributive…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on social exchange theory (SET) and conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study aims to examine the unique combined impact of procedural justice (PJ) and distributive justice (DJ) on proactive customer service performance (PCSP) and general self-efficacy (GSE) in the hospitality industry. It also estimates these variables’ joint effect on PCSP controlling GSE.
Design/methodology/approach
The study’s results were derived from a sample of 380 frontline supervisor–subordinate dyads, placed in 18 five-star hotels, through three-wave data collection. The hypotheses and construct validity were generated through structural equation modeling.
Findings
The combined impact of DJ and PJ on GSE and PCSP was significantly positive, and GSE mediated the relationships between DJ and PCSP as well as PJ and PCSP.
Practical implications
To improve service employees’ GSE and PCSP, hospitality management should guide and encourage managers to highlight and maintain organizational justice (OJ) in all their strategies and operations. DJ and PJ are advised to appreciate service employees’ GSE and extra-role behaviors (e.g. PCSP) through providing organizational resources.
Originality/value
This paper offers unique practical and theoretical contributions to the hospitality industry and associated literature by implementing SET and COR theory with OJ, GSE and PCSP constructs.