Shamsul Huq Bin Shahriar, Silvia Akter, Nayeema Sultana, Sayed Arafat and Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Khan
Human resources (HR) management has encountered unforeseen obstacles and issues in recruiting, retaining, training and developing workforces under the “new normal” due to pandemic…
Abstract
Purpose
Human resources (HR) management has encountered unforeseen obstacles and issues in recruiting, retaining, training and developing workforces under the “new normal” due to pandemic circumstances followed by the Russo–Ukrainian War and global economic turmoil. As the world is now well-equipped with technological advancements and internet-based connectivity, many pandemic disruptions have been avoided through rapid adaptation of technological systems. Despite the constructive outcomes of this contemporary approach to learning and development (L&D), this study explores the further depths of massive open online courses (MOOC) platform adoption in human resource development initiatives during pandemic times.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach was adopted to understand the employee and HR perspective on the changes in L&D approaches in organizations. To gather the primary data, respondents were divided into two clusters; different sets of questionnaires were developed for interview sessions.
Findings
Results suggest that employee L&D was much more improvised with distance or online learning, including organizational e-learning systems and MOOC platforms. To accomplish their HR development goals, organizations went through significant transformations during the Coronavirus pandemic; organizational attempts to initiate online training and MOOC-based learning fostered positive results in employee capacity development, process improvement, employee engagement and motivation.
Originality/value
This research will assist organizations in developing interactive training methods as an effective replacement for traditional training. Additionally, it will assist readers, practitioners and HR specialists in understanding how MOOCs are changing the L&D ecosystem.
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Sardana Islam Khan, Timothy Bartram, Jillian Cavanagh, Md Sajjad Hossain and Silvia Akter
The purpose of this paper is to examine the perspectives of 26 business owners, managers and supervisors on “decent work” (DW) in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the perspectives of 26 business owners, managers and supervisors on “decent work” (DW) in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative study draws on a framework of ethical human resource management and situated moral agency to establish the ways in which RMG workers are afforded DW. This study uses semi-structured interviews to assess the prospect of DW through applying the ILO’s four-pillar framework of DW.
Findings
Findings indicate there is a concern among owners and managers of the need to reconcile internal and external pressures to maintain and improve DW. It is evident that ethical practices and moral agency are not self-initiated but in response to mounting political and legal pressures and those of external stakeholders. Employers favour the concept of workers’ participation committees as one means to communicate and negotiate with workers rather than recognise trade unions.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to six organisations in the RMG sector in Bangladesh, but there are implications for all RMG sector organisations to promote reform and DW for all workers.
Practical implications
DW necessitates major national and international stakeholders to negotiate and cooperate to ensure the long-term competitiveness and survival of the Bangladeshi RMG sector.
Originality/value
The study calls for reform in a developing country where many workers are denied DW.
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Tamanna Parvin Eva, Silvia Akter, Mashruha Zabeen and Shamsul Huq Bin Shahriar
The purpose of this study is to explore learner-centered emerging technologies, methods of learning with artificial intelligence (AI), student engagement and concerns related to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore learner-centered emerging technologies, methods of learning with artificial intelligence (AI), student engagement and concerns related to the assessment process at public and private universities in Bangladesh.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed a qualitative research approach to investigate innovations in learning, student engagement and assessment concerns. Respondents were categorized into three clusters: Cluster-A comprised students from various academic levels, Cluster-B included faculty members with online teaching experience and Cluster-C consisted of information and communication technology (ICT) experts from university information technology (IT) departments. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews.
Findings
The research findings indicate the widespread acceptance and utilization of learner-centered technologies, with online and hybrid learning offering flexibility, accessibility, self-paced learning and better student engagement opportunities. While AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are valued for clarifying theoretical concepts, concerns exist regarding their ethical use, particularly in completing assignments. The assessment process faces challenges related to online exams, with concerns over cheating prompting calls for AI-supported solutions. However, there is a gap between commitment and action in regulating unethical AI usage, highlighting the need for clearer guidance and investment in technological solutions for an effective assessment process.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations of this study include the inability to quantify the satisfaction level with the emergence of learner-centered technologies, which could be better explained through a quantitative study.
Originality/value
This study’s originality and value stem from its thorough investigation of innovations in learner-centered education considering the emergence of AI and student engagement, uniquely focusing on the perspective of a developing country.
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Shamsul Huq Bin Shahriar, Sayed Arafat, Nayeema Sultana, Silvia Akter, Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Khan, J.M. Ekram Hossain Nur and Syful Islam Khan
In 2020, the education system was preliminary halted by the COVID-19 crisis and went through radical improvisation, and online-based distance learning was the only plausible…
Abstract
Purpose
In 2020, the education system was preliminary halted by the COVID-19 crisis and went through radical improvisation, and online-based distance learning was the only plausible initiative to continue educational activities ensuring health guidelines properly. However, in reality, such desperate measure in case of a lower-middle-income developing nation lacking proper structural capabilities raised some issues and concerns for both pupils and mentors, and this study aims to explore the practice of online-based distance learning in private universities of Bangladesh and the challenges associated with it.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory research is qualitative in nature. A total number of 89 undergraduate level university students from different private universities were divided into two main clusters and interviewed in depth.
Findings
The findings of this paper revealed that common developing country syndromes like improper technological infrastructure development, limitation to devices or internet accessibility and financial hindrances can disrupt the harmony of the online learning experience. Also, the lack of tech literacy has created a huge tension and psychological inertia among both the teachers and the students.
Social implications
The coronavirus pandemic event, with its dreadful influence, is creating immense mental pressures for students to cope well with the online learning system. Comprehending the underlying challenges affiliated with online-based distance learning and enabling faculties or respected personnel with training and development programs to handle impediments better way, this learning initiative can ensure the best outcomes.
Originality/value
The significance of this study lies in comprehending the feasibility of online-based education regarding lower-middle-income developing nation context and the realism of such learning process's acceptability considering its actual effectiveness.
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Zeshan Ahmad, Belal Mahmoud AlWadi, Harish Kumar, Boon-Kwee Ng and Diep Ngoc Nguyen
The digital transformation of family-owned small businesses (F-OSBs) has become a critical area of research to maintain their economic contribution in today’s rapidly evolving…
Abstract
Purpose
The digital transformation of family-owned small businesses (F-OSBs) has become a critical area of research to maintain their economic contribution in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. This study examines the effect of internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the digital transformation of F-OSBs by mediating strategic agility and moderating artificial intelligence usage.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to collect primary data from 378 descendent entrepreneurs of F-OSBs in Pakistan’s five major cities.
Findings
The study revealed that leadership ability, internet marketing, technology utilization, and artificial intelligence used by the F-OSBs can contribute to their digital transformation, but e-commerce ability does not. The strategic agility of the descendant entrepreneur enhances the abilities of e-commerce, leadership, and technology utilization, leading to the digital transformation of F-OSB. However, strategic agility reduces the role of Internet marketing in digital transformation. Artificial intelligence usage moderates leadership’s ability to improve strategic agility but increases technology utilization for strategic agility and digital transformation of F-OSB.
Practical implications
The digital transformation through a combination of strategic agility and artificial intelligence can increase the F-OSBs' proactive approach to respond to changing market conditions even during economic recessions like COVID-19.
Originality/value
This study broadens the existing literature by examining the effect of descendent entrepreneur’s internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy, strategic agility, artificial intelligence usage, and their interplay on the digital transformation of F-OSB through the unified theory of acceptance and the use of technology.
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In many developing and developed countries, small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a very important part of the economy and are commonly referred to as the lifeblood of the…
Abstract
In many developing and developed countries, small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a very important part of the economy and are commonly referred to as the lifeblood of the economy. SMEs in Nigeria have contributed around 48% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) in recent times and account for about 17.4 million jobs. Considering how much they contribute to national economies, it is expedient to seek ways in which they can derive value from innovative technologies to further strengthen their position. Web 2.0 technologies and associated social media applications such as social network sites, microblogging, weblogs and similar technologies are known to improve communication and collaboration among employees and customers. SMEs typically have a small budget for branding, advertising and corporate communication. Consequently, social media provides a ready and inexpensive tool that can be used to communicate with customers and for internal communication and collaboration. Several studies in the area of diffusion of innovations to SMEs argue that they do not usually use adopted technologies to its full potential and as such do not add as much value to the business. Extant research on corporate communication using social media focuses on large organizations’ adoption and use of the technology with little focus on SMEs. This contribution aims to fill this gap by considering how SMEs in Nigeria adopt and use social media to improve corporate communication.
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Mukta Kulkarni, David Baldridge and Michele Swift
The provision of accommodation devices is said to aid organizational inclusion of employees with a disability. However, devices that are meant to enable might only partially…
Abstract
Purpose
The provision of accommodation devices is said to aid organizational inclusion of employees with a disability. However, devices that are meant to enable might only partially facilitate productivity, independence, and social inclusion if these devices are not accepted by the user's workgroup. The authors outline a conceptual model of accommodation device acceptance through a sociomaterial lens to suggest conditions influencing workgroup device acceptance.
Design/methodology/approach
To build the model, the authors draw upon the sociomateriality and disability literature to frame accommodation devices as experienced in ongoing interactions, representing the goals, feelings, and interpretations of specific workgroups. The authors also unpack attributes of devices—instrumentality, aesthetics, and symbolism—and propose how each of these can pattern social conduct to influence device acceptance. The authors then draw upon the disability literature to identify attributes of workgroups that can be expected to amplify or diminish the effect of device attributes on device acceptance in that workgroup.
Findings
The conceptualization, which the authors illustrate with examples particular to visual impairment, presents implications for who and what serves as a gatekeeper to accommodation device acceptance and thereby workgroup inclusion.
Originality/value
Prior research has focused on conditions under which devices are requested by users or made available by organizations, undergirded by the assumption that devices are well-specified once provided and that they operate relatively predictably when used in various workgroups. The authors focus instead on what happens after the device is provided and highlight the complex and dynamic interaction between an accommodation device and the workgroup, which influences device and user acceptance.
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The purpose of this paper is to identify the issues and challenges in humanitarian logistics and to develop a framework for effectively managing the humanitarian logistics in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the issues and challenges in humanitarian logistics and to develop a framework for effectively managing the humanitarian logistics in disaster relief supply chain operations in India.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a framework to manage humanitarian logistics effectively in disaster management through qualitative analysis. First, the author examines the challenges facing the humanitarian logistics and supply chain through the reviews of the literature on various disasters. Then, the author presented a framework based on the best practices and initiatives taken worldwide in the preparedness and response stage of the humanitarian supply chain to manage and reduce the aftermath of any disaster in context to India.
Findings
A framework has been developed to manage humanitarian logistics in the disaster relief operation, which would improve the humanitarian supply chain in India and help to effectively manage natural disasters in the preparedness and response stage at the state and district levels.
Research limitations/implications
The paper mainly emphasises on the preparedness and response stage of disaster supply chain management in Indian context.
Practical implications
None of the disaster incidents can be stopped from taking place, but the impact can be minimised by proper preparedness and effective response during the operations of humanitarian logistics. With this hope, the framework has been developed, which if implemented would help to plan and manage any disaster incident in an effective manner, which ultimately would save millions of lives and cost in terms of infrastructure, property, assets etc.
Originality/value
As natural disaster incidents are occurring frequently in Indian states, there is an urgent need for a framework to manage the logistics operations effectively and efficiently during any disaster relief operations. Limited literature is found on developing and presenting a framework focusing on the preparedness and response phase of disaster supply chain management in context to India. Hence, this paper is believed to be the first to fulfil this gap with main emphasis on the preparedness and response stage of disaster supply chain management in Indian scenario.