Zahid Raza, Khalid Mahmood and Nosheen Fatima Warraich
This paper aims to describe how linked data technologies can change the digital library collections, what are the benefits of linked data applications in digital libraries and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe how linked data technologies can change the digital library collections, what are the benefits of linked data applications in digital libraries and what are the challenges of digital libraries in linked data environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study is based on substantial literature review on the applications of linked data technologies in digital libraries. The search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Google Scholar were used to find the relevant literature for the study. Online databases such as Pro Quest, Science Direct, Emerald and JSTORE were also used to find the relevant literature of the study. Databases of Library Sciences Library and Information Science and Technology Abstracts and Library Information Science Abstracts were also used to find the relevant literature of the study. Library, linked data technologies, Semantic Web, digital library and digital collections were the main keywords which were used to find the relevant literature for the study.
Findings
The evolution of linked data technologies and Semantic Web has changed the traditional role of the libraries. Traditional libraries are converting into digital libraries and digital libraries are in a struggle to publish their resources on the Web using XML-based metadata standards. It has made capable the digital collections to be viewed by machines on the Web just like human. On the emergence of linked data applications in digital libraries, Web visibility of the libraries has been enhanced to provide the opportunities for the users to find their required quality information of libraries round-the-clock on the Web. National Library of France, National Library of Spain, Europeana, Digital Public Library of Americana, Library of Congress and The British Library have taken the initiatives to publish their resources on the Web using linked data technologies.
Originality/value
This study present several key issues for policy makers, software developers, decision makers and library administrators about linked data technologies and its implementations in digital libraries. The present study may play its role to facilitate the users of the Web who are enthusiastically interested to exploit the quality and authentic library resources on the Web round-the-clock. Search engines will also achieve their longstanding goal to exploit the quality resources of the libraries for their Web users to make their Web appearance more credible and trustworthy.
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Muhammad Zahid Raza, Muhammad Rafiq and Saira Hanif Soroya
This study was designed to discover the readiness of the higher education commission (HEC)-recognized journals of Pakistan in terms of human, financial and technological…
Abstract
Purpose
This study was designed to discover the readiness of the higher education commission (HEC)-recognized journals of Pakistan in terms of human, financial and technological resources, technical expertise, institutional support, availability of open access (OA) policy, availability of guidance and training, willingness, motivation and so on for OA journal publishing and to expose the challenges in OA journal publishing.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research approach was used and a structured questionnaire was developed to meet the objectives of this study. A survey method was used to collect data from the editors of all 329 HEC-recognized journals in Pakistan.
Findings
The respondents of all the HEC-recognized journals of Pakistan are neutral and are not of the view that they have sufficient financial, human, technological/infrastructural resources and technical expertise to continue/initiate an OA journal publishing. ‘No academic reward’; and ‘no monetary reward for the editorial staff’ are both enormous challenges for OA journal publishing. The perceived challenges of OA have a negative impact on readiness for OA publishing. The readiness level of the respondents of the OA journals is higher as compared to the readiness level of the respondents of non-OA journals.
Research limitations/implications
This study covered the lists of HEC-recognized journals of 2019. More studies may be conducted based on updated lists of HEC-recognized journals. Qualitative studies may also be conducted to discover the readiness of the HEC-recognized journals of Pakistan for OA journal publishing.
Originality/value
This study is the first comprehensive study on this phenomenon and is an effort to fill this gap to invigorate scholarly literature. It may attract the attention of policymakers, funding bodies, parent institutions of the journals and the HEC regarding the readiness of journals in terms of financial, human, technological/infrastructural resources, technical expertise of the journals and challenges of journals to prompt the OA journal publishing paradigm.
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Subhabrata Ghosh and Krishna Singh
Sustainability promotes specific and balanced circumstances which favours the survival of human population with the surrounding Mother Nature with proper synchronization. This…
Abstract
Sustainability promotes specific and balanced circumstances which favours the survival of human population with the surrounding Mother Nature with proper synchronization. This practice ensures the use of all available natural resources in an equilibrated manner to satisfy the present needs along with the requirements of the succeeding generations. Agricultural sustainability reckons the role of healthy environment; society and economy in an integrated manner to promote food security and socio-economic development of the rural individuals. Normal agricultural practices have an unfathomed burden on the environment. This leads to various forms of environmental degradation like air and water pollution, soil depletion, climate change and loss of biodiversity. The sustainable agricultural practices aim to protect the environment, expand the Earth’s natural resource base and preserve or improve fertility of soil. Sustainable agriculture comprises with environmentally friendly farming methods that allow crops to be produced without harming natural systems. This prevents adverse impacts on soil, water, biodiversity as well as surrounding or downstream resources. In this present article we will analyse all issues related to mitigating environmental degradation through agricultural sustainability. Along with the proper assessment for agricultural sustainability is very crucial to understand the real scenario. This helps to take necessary measures for designing and its actual execution. The study constructed a composite index of agricultural sustainability by applying the principal component analysis method. Significant differences in agricultural sustainability were found among the states in India. It is important to mention that agricultural sustainability improved for all states in 2019 compared to 2016.
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Sujood, Samiha Siddiqui, Sehar Nafees and Naseem Bano
Following a crucial COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the coronavirus has affected every academic institution, particularly libraries and information centres. To address this…
Abstract
Purpose
Following a crucial COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the coronavirus has affected every academic institution, particularly libraries and information centres. To address this unprecedented scenario, libraries’ staff has decided to provide their services via digital access while staying close to the users. To predict users’ intention to use digital libraries after COVID-19, the authors combined the technology acceptance model (TAM), the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and perceived risk.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via a paper-based questionnaire using a convenient sampling method which was distributed at two major libraries; Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University and Dr Zakir Husain Library, Jamia Millia Islamia in India.
Findings
Empirical findings suggested that all the proposed hypotheses were supported, and the integrated model had strong explanation power as the proposed model explained a 74.5% variance in users’ intention to use digital libraries after COVID-19.
Research limitations/implications
This study offers substantial information to librarians, digital libraries, universities, institutes and other stakeholders and sheds light on the potential for a developing nation to transition to an economy with a strong digital infrastructure. The scope of the study is constrained to the users in India only, hence, leading to the possibility that it may be challenging to generalize the findings.
Originality/value
According to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is one of the few studies to predict users’ intentions for using digital libraries after COVID-19 by applying the integrated model of TPB and TAM in an emerging economy. It helped understand the users’ attitudes towards using the digital services and resources available at the respective libraries. It also contributed considerably to the argument that users have grown accustomed to harnessing digital libraries during the post-COVID-19 period.
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Abdul Zahid Khan, Faisal Mahmood, Rahat Hussain Bokhari, Rabia Mushtaq and Raza Abbas
The importance of e-government projects has been realized in the developed as well as in the developing countries of the world. The successful implementation of e-government…
Abstract
Purpose
The importance of e-government projects has been realized in the developed as well as in the developing countries of the world. The successful implementation of e-government projects is a challenging task. Public sector organizations are facing different sorts of challenges while executing e-government initiatives. The purpose of this paper is to explore issues/challenges related to e-government project implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to understand the challenges of the e-government project, as mentioned in past research. The findings of this SLR helped in developing a proposed framework for e-government challenges. The proposed framework encompasses challenges and issues related to four main aspects such as technological, organizational, project management and enabling environment. These aspects need to be further explained for their remedial measures. For this purpose, an exploratory case study was conducted. The unit of analysis was one of the e-government projects of the ministry of IT. The interviews of the senior and middle management involved in the implementation of this project were conducted and transcribed.
Findings
The case study findings endorse a framework proposed. The findings of this research reflect the importance of creating a shared vision, adequate funding and good project management practices as an essential aspect of e-government implementation. Further, the importance of user-related issues such as involvement, capacity building and technical skills was also found critical in successfully executing and sustaining such initiatives in the organization. Further study findings provide necessary guidance for the senior management, which may help to develop effective strategies for the e-government projects in the organization.
Originality/value
The current study focused on developing a better understanding of the challenges commonly faced by organizations during e-government adoption and implementation related to organizational, project management, enabling environment and technological aspects.
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Amirreza Rezaei, Saba Ahmadi and Hamid Karimi
This study aims to determine the effect of online social networks on university students’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). This research aimed to develop and test a…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the effect of online social networks on university students’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). This research aimed to develop and test a behavioral model in the context of online social networks, where students’ attitudes, knowledge and behavior influence their ERB.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest design and a random parallelization control group. The research used a questionnaire to assess ERB, environmental attitudes and environmental knowledge. The researcher randomly assigned 120 students to an experimental and a control group of equal size. Both groups initially completed a pretest. The experimental group was trained in environmental issues over four months (an academic semester) via an online social network.
Findings
The findings indicated that the social network had a significant effect on motivating ERB. Additionally, it improved environmental attitudes. According to the results, online social networks such as Facebook can significantly aid in teaching and learning environmental issues in formal academic settings.
Originality/value
Online social networks facilitated significant cognitive progress in environmental education. The primary objective is to educate students about ERB.
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Sumreen Zia, Raza Rafique, Hakeem-Ur- Rehman and Muhammad Adnan Zahid Chudhery
There is a growing trend in online shopping in developing and underdeveloped economies. Measuring web retail service quality is vital to enhance and retain online customers for…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a growing trend in online shopping in developing and underdeveloped economies. Measuring web retail service quality is vital to enhance and retain online customers for higher profits. As a result, it is essential to understand e-service quality and its relationship with other e-commerce-related variables identified as customer satisfaction, word-of-mouth (WOM), loyalty and repurchase intention. The main objective of this research is to validate the psychometric properties of E-TailQ and ES-Qual scales to measure e-service quality in the context of an emerging economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was administered by surveying online customers through a convenience sampling approach. The sample data consisted of 329 valid responses. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM).
Findings
The results suggest that both the scales are valid, reliable and adequate and confirm the psychometric properties of E-TailQ and ES-Qual scales in an emerging economy context. There is a positive and significant relationship between latent variables (E-TailQ and ES-Qual) and customer outcome variables like satisfaction, loyalty, WOM and repurchase intention. Additionally, the coefficients of the E-TailQ scale have higher values than ES-Qual scales in all dimensions. The perceived quality proved to be a precedent of satisfaction to a lesser extent than other scales' constructs, and it proved to be a superior predictor of WOM for the E-TailQ scale and loyalty for the ES-Qual scale. Overall, when measured by the ES-Qual scale, perceived quality could explain much of the sample's satisfaction, loyalty and repurchase intention compared to E-TailQ.
Research limitations/implications
One of the significant limitations of this study is related to the data collection, as individual responses were collected at one particular point in time. Thus, it is impossible to verify the development of perceived service quality outcomes over a specific time. Another possible limitation is the selection of only two widely used scales, although other options are available in the literature. Finally, developing a new scale to address future challenges might be another alternative.
Practical implications
The results obtained in the study will help managers assess customer satisfaction, the reputation of the business through WOM, and customer intentions for the repurchase that will lead to loyalty by emphasizing e-service quality. It will enable them to design strategies for improving business performance. The developed instrument will assist in identifying the gaps and describing how service quality can achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
Several studies in the literature have used E-TailQ and ES-Qual scales to measure e-service quality in developed countries. Only a few studies addressed the validity of these widely used competing scales in an emerging economy like Pakistan. This study addresses the literature gap by addressing the reliability and validity of these scales and assesses the impact of e-commerce-related variables. Besides, the study reveals insights into the literature by addressing multiple dimensions of e-service quality and summarizes a deep understanding of each scale item that affects the perceived quality in a developing economy like Pakistan.
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Bushra Naeem, Muhammad Aqeel, Aneela Maqsood, Ishrat Yousaf and Saima Ehsan
This study aims to explore the indigenous needs of married women in Pakistan due to the public health challenges they face due to marital conflict. The research focuses on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the indigenous needs of married women in Pakistan due to the public health challenges they face due to marital conflict. The research focuses on investigating psychometric properties and cross-cultural validation of the revised dyadic adjustment scale’s (RDAS) Urdu translated version to assess marital relationship quality between married madrassa and non-madrassa women. The study examines empirically validated two-factor model (RDAS) between married madrassa and non-madrassa women (Busby et al., 1995; Hollist et al., 2012; Isanezhad et al., 2012; Christensen et al., 2006) and (Bayraktaroglu and Cakici, 2017). These studies approach including consensus, satisfaction and cohesion.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigators executed the study into two phases: a pilot test and the main survey.
Findings
The pilot study's findings specified that the Urdu translated version of the revised DAS indicated a decent internal consistency (a = 0.70). The overall revised DAS maintained a stronger test-retest correlation and tested it over 15 days (r = 0.95). The main study recorded 300 respondents' responses from madrassa and non-madrassa married women using a purposive sampling approach and recruited them from the locality of various madrassas and housing societies of Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The study findings showed higher intercorrelations between total and subscales of the revised DAS. It further compared the groups with a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) method and examined the revised DAS structure in married madrassa and non-madrassa women.
Practical implications
This study contributes to scientific knowledge and helps develop and validate indigenous cross-cultural instruments to examine marital life quality. It offers practical and reliable information about Pakistani couples' emotional attachment and marriage adjustment issues.
Originality/value
The study applied a three-factor solution, and it demonstrated a robust factorial validity in the context of Pakistani culture, which is a novel contribution to the literature.
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The purpose of this paper is to address the key issues, how organizational networks influence the strategic business performance (SBP) through the mediating role of organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address the key issues, how organizational networks influence the strategic business performance (SBP) through the mediating role of organizational flexibility, and the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Contextualizing small and medium enterprises in developing countries, the authors have developed and tested a theoretical model of SBP to provide a framework for analyzing its major antecedents.
Design/methodology/approach
This research used a quantitative approach with cross-sectional data. The authors used correlation, regression and Baron and Kenny Approach (Causal Step Approach) for analyzing the data collected from 737 CEOs/MDs/owners of different small and medium enterprises to test the theoretical model developed for this study.
Findings
Findings revealed that organizational flexibility mediates the relationship between organizational network and SBP. Furthermore, stronger EO strengthens the relationship between organizational flexibility and SBP.
Originality/value
This study contributes in two ways: first, it provides empirical evidences that how to flourish the mechanism of SBP in SMEs. Second, this work contributes to understand the effects of organizational networks, flexibility and EO on SBP.
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Syeda Arooj Naz and Saqib Gulzar
The impact of Islamic finance on economic growth is an ongoing debate. The purpose of this study is to empirically evaluate how the development of Islamic finance affects the…
Abstract
Purpose
The impact of Islamic finance on economic growth is an ongoing debate. The purpose of this study is to empirically evaluate how the development of Islamic finance affects the long- and short-run economic growth of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The institutional variables, Islamic banking development (IBD), Islamic bond market development (IBM) and Islamic stock market development (ISM), are considered as measures of Islamic financial development, and real gross domestic product (GDP) is taken as measurement proxy of economic growth. The quarter time series data from Q1:2006 to Q4:2021 is analyzed through Autoregressive distributed lag model, Bounds test, ECM and Pairwise granger causality test.
Findings
The findings of this study indicate that in the long run, there is a significant and positive correlation between IBD and ISM with the real GDP, though ISM negatively cointegrated with real GDP in the short run. In contrast, IBM and real GDP did not find cointegrated in the long run, though the relationship is significant but negative in the short run.
Practical implications
The findings highlight Islamic financial development in Pakistan can contribute to the country's economic development, and this can be achieved by improving the infrastructure, increasing skilled professionals, creating a favorable legal environment and ensuring financial sector stability. Investors can diversify their investments and mitigate risk by adding Islamic financial instruments to their portfolios.
Originality/value
This pioneering study simultaneously measures the cause and effect relationship between Islamic financial development indicators (Islamic banking, Islamic bond and Islamic stock) and economic growth in Pakistan.