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1 – 10 of 247Waqar Azeem Khan, Mehboob Ali, Muhammad Waqas, M. Shahzad, F. Sultan and M. Irfan
This paper aims to address the flow of Sisko nanofluid by an unsteady curved surface. Non-uniform heat source/sink is considered for heat transfer analysis.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address the flow of Sisko nanofluid by an unsteady curved surface. Non-uniform heat source/sink is considered for heat transfer analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Numerical solutions are constructed using bvp4c procedure.
Findings
Pressure profile inside boundary region is increased when A and K are enhanced.
Originality/value
No such analysis is yet presented.
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Keywords
Waqar Azeem Khan, Muhammad Waqas, Mehboob Ali, F. Sultan, M. Shahzad and M. Irfan
This paper aims to develop a mathematical model featuring Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The idea of curved stretching subjected to time-dependent non-Newtonian…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a mathematical model featuring Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The idea of curved stretching subjected to time-dependent non-Newtonian (Sisko) fluid flow is introduced.
Design/methodology/approach
Shooting scheme is implemented to compute nonlinear systems.
Findings
Velocity profile of Sisko magnetonanofluid enhances for augmented values of curvature parameter.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no such analysis has yet been reported.
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William J. Ritchie, George Young, Ali M. Shahzad, Robert W. Kolodinsky and Steven A. Melnyk
The purpose of this paper is to explore product adoption beliefs and actions of a large retail food organization with both corporate-owned stores and privately held…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore product adoption beliefs and actions of a large retail food organization with both corporate-owned stores and privately held franchise stores.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a case study approach involving survey data collection from 190 corporate-owned and licensed retail outlets that were members of a large, single organization. Ordinary least squares regression and mean differences (t-tests) were used to test the data. Findings were elaborated upon based upon structured interviews.
Findings
Corporate-owned retail outlets invested heavily in food safety innovation, while franchised retail outlets pursued minimal investment to retain product flexibility. The level of adoption is contingent upon ownership structure, as well as institutional forces emanating from the corporate environment, the customer, and peer organizations.
Research limitations/implications
The findings offer greater insight into methodological issues associated with measurement of new product adoption in particular. The authors have shown that it is critical for researchers to clarify the level of analysis of the study. Quantitative survey analysis revealed both safety and economic motivations to be desirable issues in product adoption considerations. However, when quantitative and qualitative results were combined, very different outcomes were realized as ownership structure differences appear to dominate product adoption decisions. Therefore, when conducting plural organizational form research, the data gathering efforts must be carefully undertaken to ensure that critical drivers of phenomena explored are not overlooked.
Practical implications
Adoption of new product adoption involves the complex interplay between ownership structure/control, economic cost/benefit, managerial choice, and societal norms. Often, organizational research relating to adoption of new processes and innovations collects individual-level data. However, this study shows that adoption decisions occur at multiple levels and that the ownership/structural context must be considered.
Social implications
The study has implications from social innovation/responsibility perspectives. Recent press regarding food safety has put pressure on food processing establishments to consider methods of reducing food safety breaches. No doubt, this has alerted the consumer to potential risks in food processing and influenced their preferences in favor of food safety innovations. Nonetheless, perceptions of the importance of “safety” can be interpreted in a variety of ways, leading to differing courses of action. Interviews with corporate-level executives revealed that they preferred both corporate-owned and franchised retail outlets adopt case ready (CR) meats to stem safety concerns. Yet, this aspiration diffused throughout the organization differently.
Originality/value
Multiple organizational structure forms operating within the same organizational entity, or “plural form” organizations, offer unique opportunities for examination. Applying various theoretical lenses, including agency theory, the resource-based theory, and institutional theory, the authors offer rationale for why different structural types within the same corporate entity may differ in their beliefs and actions concerning product safety, cost, and adoption.
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Seyyed Masoud Seyyedi, A.S. Dogonchi, M. Hashemi-Tilehnoee, D.D. Ganji and Ali J. Chamkha
Natural convection heat transfer analysis can be completed using entropy generation analysis. This study aims to accomplish both the natural convection heat transfer and…
Abstract
Purpose
Natural convection heat transfer analysis can be completed using entropy generation analysis. This study aims to accomplish both the natural convection heat transfer and entropy generation analyses for a hexagonal cavity loaded with Cu-H2O nanoliquid subjected to an oriented magnetic field.
Design/methodology/approach
Control volume-based finite element method is applied to solve the non-dimensional forms of governing equations and then, the entropy generation number is computed.
Findings
The results portray that both the average Nusselt and entropy generation numbers boost with increasing aspect ratio for each value of the undulation number, while both of them decrease with increasing the undulation number for each amplitude parameter. There is a maximum value for the entropy generation number at a specified value of Hartmann number. Also, there is a minimum value for the entropy generation number at a specified value of angle of the magnetic field. When the volume fraction of nanoparticles grows, the average Nusselt number increases and the entropy generation number declines. The entropy generation number attains to a maximum value at Ha = 14 for each value of aspect ratio. The average Nusselt number ascends 2.9 per cent and entropy generation number decreases 1.3 per cent for Ha = 0 when ϕ increases from 0 to 4 per cent.
Originality/value
A hexagonal enclosure (complex geometry), which has many industrial applications, is chosen in this study. Not only the characteristics of heat transfer are investigated but also entropy generation analysis is performed in this study. The ecological coefficient of performance for enclosures is calculated, too.
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Khuram Shahzad, Tahir Ali, Marko Kohtamäki and Josu Takala
This study aims to present an integrated framework and investigate the enabling roles of governance mechanisms (i.e. contract, interdependence, trust and communication) in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present an integrated framework and investigate the enabling roles of governance mechanisms (i.e. contract, interdependence, trust and communication) in the choice of effective conflict resolution strategies (CRS) that in turn facilitate buyer–supplier relationship (BSR) performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Using Web-survey, data are collected from 170 Finnish small- and medium-sized enterprises that have key relationships with suppliers. This study uses structural equation modeling to test the research framework and hypotheses of the study.
Findings
The results based on empirical evidence demonstrate how the firms’ choice of CRS depends on the governance mechanisms. The problem solving approach is the most preferable choice, while the legalistic approach remains the last resort influenced by different governance mechanisms. Interdependence and trust between firms drive them to compromise while resolving inter-organizational conflicts. The selected strategies by firms may also either reinforce or deteriorate relationship performance.
Practical implications
Supply chain managers should recognize the context in which these choices of CRS are made, as it guides them to anticipate their partner’s behavior as well as influences their strategy choice decisions when coping with conflicts. A trustworthy environment supports in providing a certain level of confidence while interdependency drives firms to compromise. The legalistic strategy can hurt the partner’s feelings and diminish relationship performance.
Originality/value
Conflicts in BSR have become inevitable, but the existing literature is missing evidence on how companies use CRS to enhance relationship performance. Hence, this study differs from those of earlier conflict studies, as it provides a more integrative perspective of buyer–supplier conflict resolution process. This study argues that relationship governance mechanisms can be connected to the choice of effective CRS when tensions arise. Moreover, by assessing the relationship between CRS and relationship performance, this study offers valuable insights to understand that effective strategies enable partners to mutually adapt constructive approaches that facilitate cooperative behavior and accommodate both parties’ interests and needs.
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Mohsin Shahzad, Ying Qu, Abaid Ullah Zafar, Saif Ur Rehman and Tahir Islam
Enhancing green innovation for corporate sustainability is one of the recent issues globally. Knowledge management has been determined as a core factor that hamstrings…
Abstract
Purpose
Enhancing green innovation for corporate sustainability is one of the recent issues globally. Knowledge management has been determined as a core factor that hamstrings green innovation. The existing literature was limited to expose the importance of the knowledge management process for corporate sustainable performance. Thus, this paper aims to examine the role of the knowledge management process for corporate sustainable performance with the integration of green innovation and organizational agility following the resource-based view theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional design was used in this study. Data were gathered through convenience sampling from 475 respondents of multinational manufacturing corporations of Pakistan, analyzed by using structural equation modeling.
Findings
This study revealed that the knowledge management process and its all constructs (acquisition, dissemination and application) lead toward green innovation; further, green innovation influences corporate sustainable performance and its all constructs (environment, economic and social). Green innovation partially mediates the association between the knowledge management process and corporate sustainable performance. Besides, organizational agility has a positive effect on green innovation and corporate sustainable performance but was not found moderating these relations. The study educates that organizations investing in innovative technologies and adopting greener strategies are not only adequate for achieving sustainable performance, soft issues such as knowledge management and organizational agility but also important factors in the current knowledge base economy.
Originality/value
This study is an attempt to examine the previously undiscovered multi-dimensional relationships among the knowledge management process, green innovation, organizational agility and corporate sustainable performance. The presence of a positive correlation among these constructs was observed, proving the conceptual framework for this study.
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Qasim Ali Nisar, Nadia Nasir, Samia Jamshed, Shumaila Naz, Mubashar Ali and Shahzad Ali
This study is undertaken to examine the antecedents and role of big data decision-making capabilities toward decision-making quality and environmental performance among…
Abstract
Purpose
This study is undertaken to examine the antecedents and role of big data decision-making capabilities toward decision-making quality and environmental performance among the Chinese public and private hospitals. It also examined the moderating effect of big data governance that was almost ignored in previous studies.
Design/methodology/approach
The target population consisted of managerial employees (IT experts and executives) in hospitals. Data collected using a survey questionnaire from 752 respondents (374 respondents from public hospitals and 378 respondents from private hospitals) was subjected to PLS-SEM for analysis.
Findings
Findings revealed that data management challenges (leadership focus, talent management, technology and organizational culture for big data) are significant antecedents for big data decision-making capabilities in both public and private hospitals. Moreover, it was also found that big data decision-making capabilities played a key role to improve the decision-making quality (effectiveness and efficiency), which positively contribute toward environmental performance in public and private hospitals of China. Public hospitals are playing greater attention to big data management for the sake of quality decision-making and environmental performance than private hospitals.
Practical implications
This study provides guidelines required by hospitals to strengthen their big data capabilities to improve decision-making quality and environmental performance.
Originality/value
The proposed model provides an insight look at the dynamic capabilities theory in the domain of big data management to tackle the environmental issues in hospitals. The current study is the novel addition in the literature, and it identifies that big data capabilities are envisioned to be a game-changer player in effective decision-making and to improve the environmental performance in health sector.
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Muhammad Farrukh, Mohammad Saud Khan, Ali Raza and Imran Ahmed Shahzad
In the past, a plethora of studies has investigated the organizational and individual outcomes of high-performance work systems (HPWS). However, less is known about the…
Abstract
Purpose
In the past, a plethora of studies has investigated the organizational and individual outcomes of high-performance work systems (HPWS). However, less is known about the mechanism through which HPWS impacts employees’ behavior, particularly intrapreneurial behavior (IB). Drawing on the social exchange theory, this study aims to fill this gap by investigating the mediation effect of perceived organizational support (POS) on HPWS-IB linkages.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected with the help of structured questionnaires from employees working in service industries such as banking and insurance.
Findings
HPWS was conceptualized as a higher-order measurement model that includes four lower-order dimensions, namely, information sharing, decision-making participation, job security, training and development. Partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Results showed a positive and significant effect of HPWS on IB. Moreover, POS significantly mediated the HPWS-IB link.
Originality/value
Despite an increasing number of studies on the role of human resource management (HRM) practices in enhancing innovation and creativity, there has not been enough research on how HPWS affects IB at the individual level in the presence of POS. Thus, this research is the first of its kind to investigate the mediating role of POS in HPWS-IB linkages in the Malaysian context.
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Faisal Shahzad, Ijaz Ur Rehman, Waqas Hanif, Ghazanfar Ali Asim and Mushahid Hussain Baig
This study aims to empirically investigate the effect of financial reporting quality (FRQ) and audit quality (AQ) on the investment efficiency (IE) for the firms listed on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to empirically investigate the effect of financial reporting quality (FRQ) and audit quality (AQ) on the investment efficiency (IE) for the firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange during the period 2007-2014.
Design/methodology
The authors use pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression which cluster at the firm and year level to test the hypotheses. For sensitivity check, the authors also account for reverse causality and cross-sectional dependence by using the GMM and FGLS regression methods. Furthermore, the authors built their theoretical arguments based on alignment hypothesis of the agency theory and resource-based view of the firm.
Findings
The findings suggest that higher FRQ and AQ are associated with higher IE. The results for these particular estimates are robust when tested using alternative estimation techniques. Overall, the outcomes of this study are in line with the arguments presented by the alignment hypothesis of the agency theory and resource-based view of the firm.
Practical implications
This study is fruitful for policymakers’ and investors. This study finds that the audit done by the Big 4 also reduces the information gap and, thus, reduces the moral hazard and adverse selection problems, thereby enhancing the IE.
Originality
The authors extend the debate on determinates of IE and highlight two monitoring mechanisms: FRQ and AQ. The authors further extend the literature on the economic consequences of AQ in terms of IE, as proposed by Francis (2011). For the first time, this study investigates the impact of AQ on IE in a setting where minority shareholder risk of exploitation is high relative to other markets in Asia.
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Muhammad Usman, Bilal Akbar, Sajjad Miran and Qazi Shahzad Ali
Wind energy has become a distinguished field of energy among the alternative energy resources. Despite economical disadvantages, the production of wind energy is desired…
Abstract
Purpose
Wind energy has become a distinguished field of energy among the alternative energy resources. Despite economical disadvantages, the production of wind energy is desired to fulfill the demand of the energy. Low reliability is a big issue in the development of wind energy technology that has affected wind farm operations. The purpose of the study is to find the reason for the low reliability and high downtime for wind turbines.
Design/methodology/approach
The systems engineering approach has a high success rate in handling complex systems such as wind farms. A failure finding model is presented based on the systems engineering, with the focus to analyze the failures at the interfaces. The required data have been collected by reviewing the literature.
Findings
Gear box interfaces are a vital reason for the higher downtime and frequent failures of wind turbines, and the bearing and the lubricant in the gear box are affected because of their inappropriate combination.
Originality/value
The reliability and the maintainability of the wind turbine is a topic of major importance. The study is an attempt to contribute to a more sophisticated solution to the reliability problem of the wind turbine. Moreover, it shows the importance of interfaces in designing the complex systems.
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