Cyber-bullying is a form of cyber-crime that has been propagated through extensive use of social networking sites (SNS). Despite the implementation of sophisticated security…
Abstract
Purpose
Cyber-bullying is a form of cyber-crime that has been propagated through extensive use of social networking sites (SNS). Despite the implementation of sophisticated security measures and government compliances, privacy intrusion is petrifying. Therefore, the purpose of this paper attempts to explore as follows: why cases of bullying are still snowballing year after year? Is it possible that advances in security measures are making users more vulnerable? Or, is it a social media addiction, which is making users vulnerable to cyberbullying?
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed research framework is grounded in the technology threat avoidance theory (TTAT). An empirical survey of 365 social media users was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to understand the impact of security measures, voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) and addiction on perceived vulnerability (PV) to cyber-bullying.
Findings
The findings indicate that security measures play a significant role in propelling users to disclose their personal information voluntarily, which, in turn, results in social media addiction, which further exposes users to cyberbullying. Moreover, the study unravels gender differences in perceived vulnerabilities to cyberbullying.
Practical implications
The findings of the current research contribute to a better understanding of gender differences in the awareness of security measures, addiction intensities, level of self-disclosures and propensity to cyberbullying victimization. Additionally, prevention and intervention efforts may benefit from using a more targeted approach to identify potential male and female victims that experience different forms of bullying on SNS.
Originality/value
In addition to other constructs, the current research investigates the role of user security measures (USM) and website security measures (WSM) on the PV to cyberbullying, typically, the role of these measures is to prevent the users from becoming the victims, whereas the research unravels that they could be the possible reasons for the increased number of cases in India. To the best of the knowledge, such conflicting roles of security measures have not been discussed earlier.
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Pallavi Srivastava and Shilpi Jain
Scrum, an agile software development method, has gained major interest among software development organizations. The scrum master should be well equipped with specific leadership…
Abstract
Purpose
Scrum, an agile software development method, has gained major interest among software development organizations. The scrum master should be well equipped with specific leadership traits and exhibit leadership behavior to effectively manage his/her team. However, in a distributed team, which is spread across geographies, having scrum master to lead the project team at each location is not viable. Therefore, every member in the team is expected to have the capability to become one. This paper aims to explore the leadership mechanisms desired for effective functioning of distributed self-organized scrum team members, leading to project success and overall customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research methodology with an open-ended questionnaire is followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews. The unit of analysis is a scrum master.
Findings
The qualitative findings unearth the kind of leadership mechanisms required for scrum masters and the team members in a self-organizing scrum team, leading to their project success and customer satisfaction. It includes a set of leadership approaches and behaviors explicitly related to the role of scrum masters. Both inductive and deductive approaches are used to develop a leadership framework applicable for distributed self-organized scrum teams.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed framework can be empirically tested with a large number of teams and more software organizations.
Practical implications
Organizations can use these identified specific leadership approaches and behaviors as parameters for identifying and selecting the potential scrum masters. They can be further trained on them to be an effective scrum master.
Originality/value
There is scant literature on the leadership mechanisms necessary for distributed scrum teams and their impact on project performance. This paper addresses this gap.
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Saraf Pavan Kumar, Shilpi Saha and Amitabh Anand
This study aims to assess the moderating and mediating role of supportive culture (SC) in the relationship between participation in decision-making (PDM) and job satisfaction (JS…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the moderating and mediating role of supportive culture (SC) in the relationship between participation in decision-making (PDM) and job satisfaction (JS) and the dimensions of commitment, such as affective commitment (AC), normative commitment (NC) and continuance commitment (CC).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 712 employees working in different public sector undertakings (PSUs) across India. Necessary condition analysis and partial least square analysis were used to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The findings of the present study indicated that SC is partially mediating the relationship between PDM and JS; PDM and AC. However, SC did not mediate the relationship between PDM and NC; PDM and CC. PDM was positively and significantly related to SC, JS, AC, NC and CC. JS had a significant impact on AC, NC and CC. It is highly desirable for organizations to retain their employees ranging from line managers to top management levels and provide opportunities for everyone to actively use their experience and expertise.
Originality/value
The findings have implications for managers, as well as employees in PSUs, as they demonstrate how several work-related factors can be emphasized to maintain employees' commitment and motivation. Until now, India has paid scant attention to the role of SC as a mediator and moderator between PDM, JS and multiple commitments. This study cautiously collected responses from unbiased employees working in a variety of organizational functional units.
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Shilpi Saha and Saraf Pavan Kumar
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating role of organizational culture in affective commitment and job satisfaction relationship.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating role of organizational culture in affective commitment and job satisfaction relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Responses were collected from 712 employees working in nine different Indian central public sector enterprises /state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by using a questionnaire-based survey. Theoretical analysis is based on social exchange theory and managerial grid theory. Data were analyzed by using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The establishment of organizational culture as a moderator in Indian organizations is unique. This study has utilized data from employees working in different departments of organizations to provide unbiased responses. The results demonstrate that impact of affective commitment on employees’ job satisfaction is moderated by supportive and innovative cultures. Additionally, this research also proves that bureaucratic culture does not play a crucial role in moderating the relationship between organizational commitment and employees’ job satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
Results are relevant to top-level and middle-level management in which people are involved in the governance of the organization, both directly and indirectly. There should be fixed working hours and optimum time management. Due to growing pressure, few employees who have personal obligations toward their families, such as nursing mothers and stressed individuals, should be provided with flexible working hours. In this way, culture can become supportive to cater to different needs of employees.
Originality/value
Till date, organizational culture as moderator has received very less attention in India. The establishment of organizational culture as a moderator in Indian SOEs is unique. The results add to the growing literature of commitment from non-western context as this study is based on Indian samples. This study has utilized data from employees working in different departments of organizations to provide unbiased responses.
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Shilpi Chakraborty and Shiva Ji
This study delves into 17th-century colonial port cities – Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta – examining the impact of British imperialism on urban sustainability and heritage…
Abstract
Purpose
This study delves into 17th-century colonial port cities – Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta – examining the impact of British imperialism on urban sustainability and heritage conservation. It explores historical development, spatial organization, and connectivity.
Design/methodology/approach
This study intricately explores the interplay among urban sustainability, morphology, and heritage conservation using space syntax analysis. It focuses on examining White and Black Town dispersion during British imperialism.
Findings
The investigation reveals varying degrees of dispersion of White and Black Towns, with Calcutta exhibiting the most consistent distribution among the three cities. These findings underscore the profound influence of British imperialism on the spatial organization of colonial port cities, offering valuable insights into their historical evolution and layout.
Research limitations/implications
While this study provides valuable insights, it is limited by its focus on the colonial period and the specific cities of Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta. The findings may not be directly generalizable to other contexts or time periods. Additionally, the study’s reliance on historical data sources may present data accuracy and completeness challenges.
Originality/value
This study contributes to understanding colonial port cities, guiding sustainable urban development, heritage preservation, and equitable resource access for global sustainability. By focusing on the historical impact of British imperialism, the research provides original insights into the spatial dynamics of these cities, contributing to the broader discourse on urban sustainability and heritage conservation.
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Amrit Thapa, Mary Khan, Will L. H. Zemp and James Gazawie
This paper provides a snapshot of educational and economic trends across South Asia with an exploratory and comparative approach. Before COVID-19, South Asia was the world’s…
Abstract
This paper provides a snapshot of educational and economic trends across South Asia with an exploratory and comparative approach. Before COVID-19, South Asia was the world’s fastest-growing regional economy, concurrently achieving major strides in poverty reduction and access to education. Despite the region’s economic and educational accomplishments, the countries of South Asia fall short of international benchmarks in public education expenditure, resulting in a persistent lag in educational quality that hampers individuals, the workforce, and overall economic productivity. The paper highlights themes in the literature, including context-specific evidence for the various theories of economic growth, the returns to education, and educational inputs (e.g., teachers and private schools) that highlight how spending can be leveraged to increase educational outcomes. In addition, it examines the relationship between education, poverty, and marginalization factors that explain why some populations are deprived of education and its benefits. We provide a broad perspective of the dynamics of the economics of education and the related challenges in this region. This discussion aims to enhance the understanding of the inefficiencies in South Asia’s educational systems and, ultimately, in the development of the region’s human capacities.
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Everyone is extremely concerned about environmental protection and health safety due to the rise in living standards. Plant-derived natural dyes have garnered much industrial…
Abstract
Purpose
Everyone is extremely concerned about environmental protection and health safety due to the rise in living standards. Plant-derived natural dyes have garnered much industrial attention in food, pharmaceutical, textile, cosmetics, etc. owing to their health and environmental benefits. The present study aims to focus on the elimination of the use of synthetic dyes and provides brief information about natural dyes, their sources, extraction procedures with characterization and various advantages and disadvantages.
Design/methodology/approach
In producing natural colors, extraction and purification are essential steps. Various conventional methods used till date have a low yield, as these consume a lot of solvent volume, time, labor and energy or may destroy the coloring behavior of the actual molecules. The establishment of proper characterization and certification protocols for natural dyes would improve the yielding of natural dyes and benefit both producers and users.
Findings
However, scientists have found modern extraction methods to obtain maximum color yield. They are also modifying the fabric surface to appraise its uptake behavior of color. Various extraction techniques such as solvent, aqueous, enzymatic and fermentation and extraction with microwave or ultrasonic energy, supercritical fluid extraction and alkaline or acid extraction are currently available for these natural dyes and are summarized in the present review article.
Originality/value
If natural dye availability can be increased by the different extraction measures and the cost of purified dyes can be brought down with a proper certification mechanism, there is a wide scope for the adoption of these dyes by small-scale dyeing units.
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Through a critical reading of a twentieth-century Bengali artist’s autobiography, this paper aims to attempt to demonstrate how commercial art and the consumption ethos symbolized…
Abstract
Purpose
Through a critical reading of a twentieth-century Bengali artist’s autobiography, this paper aims to attempt to demonstrate how commercial art and the consumption ethos symbolized by that art represented an archetypal bhadralok insignia. A close examination of this insignia reveals how the dynamics of modern liberal values mediating through the colonial capitalist structure in relation to the regional particularities of Bengal opened up a new space of cosmopolitanism, where there is an attempt to reframe cultural practices in the light of a broader global history of interrogation, reason, change and emancipation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is a historical analysis of primary sources.
Findings
It was found that the bhadralok-led Bengal School of Art influenced commercial art of early postcolonial Bengal.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to the region of Bengal.
Originality/value
This paper makes contributions to one of the less-researched, but very important areas, of business history in India.