Nadim Akhtar Khan, Sumaira Jan and Iram Amin
The paper aims to explore and identify the contributions to the literature available about trends in science and technology research at various levels.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to explore and identify the contributions to the literature available about trends in science and technology research at various levels.
Design/methodology/approach
A deep scan of literature was carried out in an attempt to identify considerable works that have been published concerning various facets related to science and technology research. Varied search terms like “research”, “research and research output”, “science and technology research”, “research collaboration”, “research in universities”, “importance of science and technology research”, “issues in research”, etc. were used for retrieving the literature from a range of online scholarly databases, search engines and allied web sources.
Findings
The literature review reveals that a considerable amount of literature has been published related to science and technology research. However, keeping in view immense advancements and innovations in science and technology, scholarly output is still in its emergent phase.
Practical implications
It is apparent from the study of existing literature that there is still vast scope for advanced exploration on the topic and the study paves the way for the concerned organizations and institutions (like universities, libraries and publishers) at national and international level to take substantial measures to boost research in the field of science and technology.
Originality/value
The paper is the first ordered and makes an endeavour to review the literature and provides a summary of emerging trends in science and technology research.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Zubair Alam, Muhammad Rafiq, Sumaira Rehman and Sobia Nasir
In this study, the situation strength theory (SST) has been applied to assess the predictability of empowering leadership (EL) in explaining intrapreneurial behaviour (IB) under…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, the situation strength theory (SST) has been applied to assess the predictability of empowering leadership (EL) in explaining intrapreneurial behaviour (IB) under the strong situation effect of job autonomy (JA).
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed theoretical framework was assessed using cross-sectional survey data from 237 engineers employed in Pakistan's automotive firms. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) was used to analyse the survey data.
Findings
The study's results revealed a positive relationship of EL with JA and IB. Drawing from the conceptualisation of SST, JA serves as an organisational strong situation by offering sufficient cues and significantly intensifies the relationship between EL and IB.
Practical implications
The study contributes by establishing the requirement of strong organisational situations for nurturing IB in organisations. The study's outcomes are useful for academia, practitioners and industry to identify strong situations for employees' organisational behavioural outcomes like IB to dampen the personality impacts of employees on organisational processes. Hence, the study offered a major shift or an alternative in existing human resource practices, from personality assessments to creating cues from strong situations for fostering human behaviours. This will impact organisational human resource management scope during talent management, selection, promotion and employment.
Originality/value
The present study is novel from the IB investigation due to situational response in organisations, as assessed by employees. The study contributes towards SST by extending its epistemology to explain IB as an outcome of EL. The present study offers important empirical evidence for the role of the strong organisational situation of JA.
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Keywords
Debbie Keeling, Amna Khan and Terry Newholm
Internet forums are an important arena for information exchange between consumers. Despite healthcare being one of the most accessed information categories on the internet…
Abstract
Purpose
Internet forums are an important arena for information exchange between consumers. Despite healthcare being one of the most accessed information categories on the internet, knowledge of exchange between patients in online communities remains limited. Specifically, little is known about how patients negotiate knowledge in online forums to understand and manage their diseases. This paper aims to illustrate this by presenting data that demonstrate the construction of tacit knowledge within online health communities, and how consumers exercise their “voice” within complex professional services.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports an exploratory single case study of an online discussion forum for breast cancer sufferers, in which participants discuss their experience with healthcare services and related pharmaceutical products. Textual data were collected and analysed from the forum retrospectively from an 11-month period, entailing contributions from 252 participants.
Findings
The paper challenges prevalent managerial and professional perspectives that evaluate online health information in terms of its correspondence with conventional medical information. In the absence of normative assumptions that broadly guide health service encounters, forum participants negotiate their understandings in the context of their personal experience.
Practical implications
This novel culture offers potential for developing rich and sometimes more appropriate understandings of health than available from the medical establishment. It discusses how service providers can exploit such opportunities towards improving service provision, facilitating the consumer voice within a complex service.
Originality/value
Re-evaluating the value of online forums, the paper identifies the mechanisms through which health consumers co-create knowledge within online communities, and how these mechanisms can inform and complement future service provision.