Yasir Ahmad and Memoona Rauf Khan
In large enterprises, the notion is that an organization’s business strategy is a significant determinant of its human resource (HR) practices. However, there is limited evidence…
Abstract
Purpose
In large enterprises, the notion is that an organization’s business strategy is a significant determinant of its human resource (HR) practices. However, there is limited evidence in the literature of such linkages for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and extent of the relationship between the types of business strategies used and HR practices, namely, staffing, training and employee relations among SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have collected data from 168 SMEs manufacturing autoparts and purposively chosen three SME case studies to derive in-depth observations of business strategies and HR practices. Quantitative results from the survey indicate that these SMEs exhibit a logical relationship between the strategic posture of the SMEs and their adopted HR practices.
Findings
This study illustrates that SMEs operating in the risky and lesser developed labor markets of a lower-income country such as Pakistan adopt certain practices that differ considerably from firms operating in more competitive automotive markets using highly skilled labor. The findings suggest that there is a significant potential to be realized through strategically managing HR practices to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
Practical implications
Education of supervisors and management and suitable skill level of labor in tandem with continuous cutting edge industrial training appear to be the most successful business strategy followed by Prospector and Analyzer SMEs. For greater efficiency they need to have dedicated HR management, and financial and auditing services. Meanwhile, public sector entities as well as representative business bodies need to provide targeted practical technical and financial training and assistance to strengthen Defender and Reactor SMEs and improve their range of outputs.
Originality/value
This study contributed to the SMEs’ management literature in the context of Pakistan because there are very few studies that have examined the impact of business strategy on the HR practices in SMEs manufacturing autoparts in the automotive industry of Pakistan. The case study approach captures detailed insights and identifies the areas where the SMEs in developing countries perform differently than the SMEs in developed countries.
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Sajjad Ali Qureshi, Afshan Naseem and Yasir Ahmad
Technological advancements have benefited businesses all over the world in how they set up production lines, create new products/services and trade goods. Multinational…
Abstract
Purpose
Technological advancements have benefited businesses all over the world in how they set up production lines, create new products/services and trade goods. Multinational corporations can communicate instantly with their distant operations by utilizing information technology tools and communication networks. Businesses have taken a significant shift and new factors have emerged which affect company's competitiveness. In case of resorting to an outsourcing option, a comprehensive approach for valuing the essential criteria is often missing. While specifically focusing on the decisions that have a huge impact on company's performance, it is crucial to pay close attention to the ways of selecting suppliers. The purpose of research is to choose the optimal manufacturing alternative from a set of possibilities.
Design/methodology/approach
The current research utilizes the Delphi technique for collection of vital criteria such as “quality”, “cost”, “delivery”, “warranties and claims”, “supplier profile”, “relationship and communication” and their respective sub-criteria. The purpose of research is to choose the optimal manufacturing alternative from a set of possibilities. In this regard, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique is employed.
Findings
The current research enlightens that outsourcing can yield promising beneficial results. The results highlighted that in Hi-tech public sector organizations, international alternative is found best in almost all criteria especially in vital criteria such as “Quality”, “Cost”, “Delivery”, “Supplier Profile,” etc. Similarly, in case the outsourcing is done to a Domestic alternative, still the Domestic alternative is found effective in comparison to in-house manufacturing setups. The research showed unexpected results. Because previously it was assumed that in-house manufacturing would be more beneficial. However, the current findings support the “NASA” strategy which moved toward outsourcing to private sector.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations of the proposed methodology also produce opportunities for further exploration of the topic. One key limitation of the research described in this study is that the parameters and their sub-parameters interdependency were not taken under consideration. This means that quality and cost are not dependent upon each other. However, in reality quality and cost are interlinked. This means if quality is increased, cost is also increased. Similarly, for products having zero percent of re-claim, the product would have to be manufactured with high quality.
Practical implications
The study is advantageous for both suppliers and purchasers, in any type of businesses where decision-making problem are under consideration. This model aids suppliers in revealing, how they can expand their profile, by focusing on the current research's selection criteria. In this way alternatives profile can now be perfected. Moreover, buyers can now rank suppliers on their quality management, financial status and other essential factors in order to conduct purchasing decisions. For the decision maker, the results illustrate which critical factors to evaluate when screening suppliers by applying current model techniques.
Social implications
It is obvious that nearly almost every industry is forced to look for alternatives for all of its operations if outsourcing is an option. The study's findings have major benefits for all industries with an important role in manufacturing and supply chain operations. These objectives will serve the industries well and they will be able to prioritize their alternative selection criteria based on their operations. The findings of this study can assist any organization in their selection of vendors by providing a more detailed explanation of the impact that various criteria have on the decision-making process.
Originality/value
To the best of authors' knowledge, no previous study has used two approaches (AHP and Delphi study) to propose a model for making manufacturing decisions with domestic, in house and international alternatives in Hi-tech public sector organizations. The model not only benefits the manufacturers for choosing suitable suppliers but also aids suppliers to build their profile in an improved fashion by focusing on the vital attributes. This research benefits managers to improve their ability to make effective purchasing decisions, and also opens new avenues for researchers to further explore such findings in other areas as well.
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This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
Firms operating in developing economies can take measures to manage risk and increase their competitiveness. Particularly important is the need to adopt key human resource practices that best align with their strategic approach in order to enhance overall efficiency.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
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Tengyun Xu, Faziawati Abdul Aziz, Norsidah Ujang, Mohd Fairuz Shahidan, Mohd Fabian Hasna, Mohamed Safar and Aymen Aiblu
This study aims to understand females’ perception on the safety level of urban alleys in Bukit Bintang area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and thus identify the common safety features…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand females’ perception on the safety level of urban alleys in Bukit Bintang area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and thus identify the common safety features present in the alleys.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative approach, based on the descriptive analysis of the safety data, the mean and median were calculated to identify the alleys with higher safety levels and to extract their common features.
Findings
These alleys had certain safety features in common, such as open views, high walls or buildings on both sides, a sense of community or business presence, adequate lighting, human and vehicle presence, safety facilities, cleanliness and moderate greenery.
Originality/value
The study identified these features as key contributors to improved safety levels, which in turn enhance the perception of safety among female users. The findings might assist policymakers or urban planners in managing and building urban alleys in a more effective and safe manner.
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Muhammad Awais Bhatti, Norazuwa Mat and Ariff Syah Juhari
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement (vigor and dedication) between job resources (job characteristics, supervisor and co-worker support…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement (vigor and dedication) between job resources (job characteristics, supervisor and co-worker support, participation in decision making and job security) and job performance (task and contextual) rated by the supervisor.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 364 nurses and their supervisors was used. Structural equation modeling with Amos 17 was used to obtain a model fit with path significance of work engagement as the mediator between job resources and job performance.
Findings
The results found support for the proposed conceptual claim and confirm that work engagement with a two-factor model (vigor and dedication) mediates the relationship between job resources (job characteristics, supervisor and co-worker support, participation in decision making and job security) and with a multidimensional construct of job performance (task and contextual performance) rated by the supervisor.
Practical implications
The findings of this research will help human resource managers and professionals to further develop the working environment, provide job security and opportunities for employees to participate in decision making in a way that enhances employee work engagement, which, ultimately, improves employee job performance.
Originality/value
Past studies have not previously tested the two-factor model of work engagement (vigor and dedication) as the mediating variable between job resources (job characteristics, supervisor and co-worker support, participation in decision making and job security) and job performance rated by the supervisor.
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Kamal Badar, Yasir Mansoor Kundi, Ahmad Nabeel Siddiquei and Ahmad Abualigah
Drawing on conservation of resources and social exchange theories, the authors build and test a theoretical model examining the association of environmentally-specific empowering…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on conservation of resources and social exchange theories, the authors build and test a theoretical model examining the association of environmentally-specific empowering leadership (ESEL) with green creativity as well as the mediating and moderating roles of green knowledge sharing behavior and green psychological climate, respectively, in this association.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected in three different waves from 265 employees working in three-, four- and five-star hotels located in major cities in Pakistan. EFA, CFA and PROCESS macro were utilized to validate the study's research model and to examine the hypotheses.
Findings
The results indicated that ESEL is positively associated with green creativity, and green knowledge sharing behavior is an effective underlying mechanism between the ESEL–green creativity association. Furthermore, this study’s findings suggested that green psychological climate moderates the direct and indirect associations such that the associations were stronger when green psychological climate was more positive rather than less positive.
Practical implications
The study provides important lessons to managers and policymakers about the benefits of ESEL to achieving green employee creativity within the hospitality sector and helps to contextualize the importance and relevance of addressing global challenges in light of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Originality/value
The study is the first to explore the green adaptation of empowering leadership, its effects, mechanisms and boundary conditions.
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Khurram Shahzad, Shakeel Ahmad Khan Ahmad Khan, Yasir Javed and Shakil Ahmad
This study aims to identify the factors influencing the adoption of extended reality (XR) applications in libraries for sustainable innovative services and reveal the challenges…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the factors influencing the adoption of extended reality (XR) applications in libraries for sustainable innovative services and reveal the challenges of adopting XR technology in libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was applied to address the study’s objectives. The 26 most relevant seminal studies published in peer-reviewed journals were selected to conduct the study.
Findings
The findings showed that access to digital collections, skill development, marketing, innovation and sustainable development factors influence the adoption of extended reality applications in libraries. The study illustrated that technical challenges, financial challenges, the unavailability of staff expertise and lack of institutional support caused barriers to the adoption of XR in libraries.
Originality/value
The study has added valuable literature to the existing body of knowledge. It has provided a framework to efficiently adopt extended reality in libraries for the delivery of sustainable, innovative services to library patrons.
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Yasir Abdullah Abbas, Nurwati A. Ahmad-Zaluki and Waqas Mehmood
This paper examines the relationship between the extent and quality of the four dimensions of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) namely community, environment…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the relationship between the extent and quality of the four dimensions of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) namely community, environment, workplace and marketplace with the long-run share price performance of Malaysian initial public offering (IPO) companies.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilised secondary data by the content analysis of the annual reports and Datastream of 115 IPOs listed from 2007 to 2015 in Malaysia. The IPO’s performance was determined by calculating the return measures under the equally weighted and value-weighted schemes of the mean abnormal returns and buy-and-hold abnormal returns covering the three years post-listing using the event-time approach.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that Malaysian IPOs experience substantial overperformance and underperformance when both the IPO performance measures are benchmarked against the matched companies and market. The results indicated that the extent and quality of the community and environment CSRD dimensions are positively and significantly correlated to the IPO’s performance. On the other hand, the extent and quality of the workplace and marketplace CSRD dimensions are negatively and significantly correlated to the IPO performance.
Practical implications
Malaysian regulators could benefit from these findings in their endeavour to carry out a reform process on CSRD to improve its quality. The results of this study are important to investors, regulators, non-government organisations, communities and policymakers. They also enhance the understanding of companies about the importance of disclosing greater CSR information to improve their performance and profitability.
Originality/value
To the researchers' best knowledge, this study provides new insights into the association between CSRD and the performance of Malaysian IPO companies, which is considered important.
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Sajida Parveen, Bilal Ahmad, Tahira Iram and Yasir Rasool
The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamics behind the violence against the share of women in their inherited land. This study explores the subject matter from the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamics behind the violence against the share of women in their inherited land. This study explores the subject matter from the perspective of actual victims and law experts in the domain.
Design/methodology/approach
Informed by the interpretivist paradigm, the authors studied the subject matter through qualitative inquiry. Through semistructured interviews, data were collected from 16 women who have been deprived of their share in inherited land and 11 law experts who have been dealing with property-related court cases.
Findings
Thematic analyses through NVivo-11 evinced five themes related to the possible causes of women depriving of their property rights. From the victims’ perspective, the major causes of violence against women’s share in their inherited property rights are fear of income disaggregation, male dominance, forceful gifting, relational bond and fear of physical violence. Law experts’ views on the subject matter were somehow in convergence with the views of the actual victims. They reported a lack of social support, court delays and lack of knowledge about the law as the major causes of violence against women’s inherited property rights.
Originality/value
A reasonable volume of research is available on the subject of women’s empowerment. However, little attention is paid to investigating the causes of violence against women sharing in their inherited property rights – and suggesting some suitable ways to resolve the problem. Against this backdrop, this study is intended to explore the dynamics behind the violence against the share of women in their inherited land from the perspective of actual victims and law experts in the domain.
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Yasir Abdullah Abbas, Nurwati A. Ahmad-Zaluki and Waqas Mehmood
This paper aims to examine the relationship between the community and environment disclosures and the long-run share price performance of Malaysian initial public offering (IPO…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the relationship between the community and environment disclosures and the long-run share price performance of Malaysian initial public offering (IPO) companies.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used secondary data through the content analysis of the annual reports and DataStream of 115 sampled IPOs listed on Bursa Malaysia from 2007 to 2015. The present study incorporated weighted least squares and quantile least squares to evaluate the relationship between the community and environment disclosures and IPO performance.
Findings
The results show a positive and significant relationship between the extent and quality of community disclosures and IPO performance; while the extent and quality of environment disclosures have a negative and positive relationship, respectively, with IPO performance. These results suggest that community and environmental activities can be considered an effort to enhance Malaysian IPOs.
Practical implications
These results suggest that Malaysian IPO companies should be involved consistently in corporate social responsibility disclosure, i.e. community and environmental activities, as they have a significant impact on the performance of Malaysian IPOs. The findings can facilitate financial institutions and regulatory agencies in driving companies to be more responsible regarding community and environmental disclosures.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides new insights into the relationship between the community and environment disclosures and the performance of Malaysian IPO companies.