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1 – 10 of 22Mohammad Jamal Khan, Shankar Chelliah, Firoz Khan and Saba Amin
This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of travel motivation on the relationship between perceived risks, travel constraints and visit intention of young…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of travel motivation on the relationship between perceived risks, travel constraints and visit intention of young women travelers.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative study was performed, and data were collected from 416 female university students using convenience sampling. Structural equation modeling with partial least square approach was used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings
The findings revealed that travel motivation has a moderating effect by weakening the negative relationships between physical risk, structural constraints and visit intention.
Practical implications
The findings of this study provide useful insights for destination managers about the influence of travel motivation on the behavioral intention of young women travelers in the case of higher perceptions of travel risks and constraints.
Originality/value
Literature has discussed the intervening role of travel motivations in different contexts. However, studies are scarce in examining the effect of travel motivation in weakening the negative influence of high perceptions of risks and constraints on intention to visit.
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Firoz khan Fasuludeen Kunju, Nida Naveed, Muhammad Naveed Anwar and Mir Irfan Ul Haq
Production industries are undergoing a digital transition, referred to as the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0, as a result of rapidly expanding advances in…
Abstract
Purpose
Production industries are undergoing a digital transition, referred to as the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0, as a result of rapidly expanding advances in information and communication technology. The purpose of this research is to provide a conceptual insight into the impact of unique capabilities from the fourth industrial revolution on production and maintenance tasks in terms of providing the existing production companies a boost by making recommendations on areas and tasks of great potential.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey and a literature review are among the research methods used in the research. The survey collected empirical data using a semi-structured questionnaire, which provided a broad overview of the company's present condition in terms of production and maintenance, resulting in more comprehensive and specific information regarding the study topics.
Findings
The study points out that, the implementation of I4.0-technology leads to an increase in production, asset utilization, quality, reduced machine down time in industries, and maintenance. Sensor technology, big data analysis, cloud technologies, mobile end devices, and real-time location systems are now being implemented to improve production processes and boost organizational competitiveness. Moreover, the study highlights that data acquired throughout the production process is utilized for quality control, predictive maintenance, and automatic production control. Furthermore, I4.0 solutions help companies to be more efficient with assets at each stage of the process, allowing them to have a stronger control on inventories and operational-optimization potential.
Originality/value
The findings of the study was supported by empirical data collected through survey that provides an intangible understanding of the importance of distinctive capabilities from the I4.0 revolution on production and maintenance tasks. In this study, some recommendations and guidelines to enhance these tasks are provided that are vital for existing production companies.
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Mantasha Firoz, Richa Chaudhary and Aamna Khan
The purpose of this paper is to trace the trajectory of research done exclusively on the topic of Workplace Loneliness from 2006 to 2019. Based on the content analysis of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to trace the trajectory of research done exclusively on the topic of Workplace Loneliness from 2006 to 2019. Based on the content analysis of 29 articles, this paper critically assesses, summarizes and consolidates the existing body of knowledge in the field of workplace loneliness.
Design/methodology/approach
This review is organized around five major themes – origin and the conceptual grounding of the construct; emergence of the concept of workplace loneliness, conceptualizations and overlap with the related constructs; measurement tools and techniques; analysis of its predictors, outcomes, mediators and moderators; and development of an integrated model specifying the nomological network of workplace loneliness for clarifying the current state of thinking and guiding future research in the area.
Findings
The concept of workplace loneliness started receiving attention from the year 2006 and gained momentum in 2016. The studies from wide range of countries show that workplace loneliness is not restricted to one geographical location but is a phenomenon that affects people and economies around the world. The review highlights the conceptualization and measurement challenges along with the need for theoretical development of the field. Further, the existing literature fails to provide a comprehensive picture of the predictors, underlying processes, contingencies and outcomes of workplace loneliness.
Originality/value
This study being one of the rare attempts to consolidate the existing body of knowledge on loneliness at work will provide academicians and practitioners with a comprehensive account of the state of research and development on an important and yet neglected issue of workplace loneliness.
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Muhammad Masood Rafi, Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Muhammad Ahmed, Amit Kumar and Firoz Verjee
This paper aims to present the studies which were carried out to determine building typology in Northern Pakistan, which is a seismically active region.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the studies which were carried out to determine building typology in Northern Pakistan, which is a seismically active region.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 41 towns and cities were surveyed to collect the data of building types. Help was also taken from global positioning system and satellite imagery.
Findings
In total, 14 different types of buildings were identified in the region based on the structural system and combination of wall and roof materials; each of them was assigned an appropriate designation. The walls in these buildings were made of block, stone or brick, whereas the roof consisted of corrugated galvanised iron sheet, thatched roof, precast concrete planks or reinforced concrete (RC). Only 6 per cent buildings were found to be engineered RC buildings; this indicates a significance proportion of non-engineered building stock in Northern Pakistan.
Research limitations/implications
The surveys were conducted in some of the selected areas. Other areas are beyond the scope of this work.
Practical implications
The presence of a huge deficient building stock in Pakistan indicates a major seismic risk. The seismic losses are largely dependent on the earthquake resistance of existing buildings and building stock. An inventory of existing buildings and their types can help in assessing seismic vulnerability of the built environment, which may lead to the development of policies for seismic risk reduction.
Originality/value
Presently, housing encyclopaedia does not exist in Pakistan. As a result, housing typology in the country is not known. The presented study addresses this gap in part. Housing typology surveys were conducted to study the typical construction practices in the selected areas and to determine the proportions of different building types in the overall building stock.
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Praveen Kumar and Mohammad Firoz
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the certified emission reduction (CERs) disclosure and reporting practices followed by Indian firms.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the certified emission reduction (CERs) disclosure and reporting practices followed by Indian firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on all 131 Indian firms who received the CERs under the CDM of UNFCCC. The content analysis is being used to examine the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of CERs within the financial statements.
Findings
The study found that there is generally no uniformity of accounting for CERs. The firms adopted a diversity of accounting practices. More specifically, majority of companies (40.46 per cent) recognised CERs as the other income; a very high non-disclosure rate (91.60 per cent) for valuation of CERs inventories was found as only four companies (3.05 per cent) provided accounting treatment for CERs inventories at lower of cost or net realisable value followed by three companies (2.29 per cent) accounted for these inventories at Net realisable value at the end of the reporting period; similarly, a very high non-disclosure rate (92.36 per cent) for how companies account for expenses incurred in earning these credits was found.
Research limitations/implications
The study will be useful for a wide array of audiences ranging from accounting standard setter to the auditors. The present analysis is based on secondary data, as we examined only annual reports of the sample companies to know how they recognise their earned CERs within the financial statements. So, we did not cover the opinions of various key persons of companies like an accountant, auditors etc. which could be a limitation of this study in validating CERs disclosure practices followed by the Indian firms.
Originality/value
To the best of the author's knowledge, the present study is a first of its kind to analyse the carbon credit disclosure practices in the context of a developing country.
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Md. Mofakkharul Islam, Md. Ibrahim H. Mondal and Firoz Ahmed
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize chitosan, N-octyl chitosan (NOCh) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) derivative from prawn shell wastes and identify their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize chitosan, N-octyl chitosan (NOCh) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) derivative from prawn shell wastes and identify their applications as modifiers on cellulosic fibres, jute and cotton, to develop quality textile fibres.
Design/methodology/approach
Chitosan was obtained by deacetylation of chitin. NOCh was obtained by reductive amination of chitosan. Water-soluble CMCh was prepared by reacting chitosan with monochloroacetic acid in aqueous alkaline media at ambient conditions. Chitosan, NOCh and CMCh were applied on cellulosic fibres, and structure and physico-chemical characteristics of chitosan derivatives and modified fibres were investigated and analysed.
Findings
The molecular weight, degree of deacetylation and ash content of prepared chitosan were 1,39,958 Da, 85 and 2.33 per cent, respectively. The moisture content, water holding capacity and total nitrogen content were above 10, 450 and 6.5 per cent, respectively. Average degree of substitution of CMCh was 0.82 as determined by titrimetric analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed characteristic peaks of carbonyl group at 1,659 cm−1, –NH2 at 1,600 cm−1, symmetric stretching of C-H in the methyl group at 1,520 cm−1 and carboxylic group at 1,737 cm−1. Thermograms showed moderate thermal stability in treated fibres compared to untreated fibres. Surface morphology of the modified fibres exhibited smoother surface due to the absorption of chitosan, NOCh and CMCh.
Originality/value
Modification of jute and cotton by sorption of NOCh and CMCh introduced new functional groups on the fibre surface with chemical bonding, which was confirmed by FTIR. Surface morphology of the fibres was carried out by scanning electron microscopy. As the modified fibres also showed good dyeability and colour fastness as well as other properties, the chitosan derivatives as a textile modifier would be helpful to avoid synthetic petroleum-based chemical modifiers as well as to manage the environmental pollution from prawn shell waste and other toxic chemicals.
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Fauziah Rabbani, S.M. Wasim Jafri, Farhat Abbas, Firdous Jahan, Nadir Ali Syed, Gregory Pappas, Syed Iqbal Azam, Mats Brommels and Göran Tomson
Organizational culture is a determinant for quality improvement. This paper aims to assess organizational culture in a hospital setting, understand its relationship with…
Abstract
Purpose
Organizational culture is a determinant for quality improvement. This paper aims to assess organizational culture in a hospital setting, understand its relationship with perceptions about quality of care and identify areas for improvement.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a cross‐sectional survey in a large clinical department that used two validated questionnaires. The first contained 20 items addressing perceptions of cultural typology (64 respondents). The second one assessed staff views on quality improvement implementation (48 faculty) in three domains: leadership, information and analysis and human resource utilization (employee satisfaction).
Findings
All four cultural types received scoring, from a mean of 17.5 (group), 13.7 (developmental), 31.2 (rational) to 37.2 (hierarchical). The latter was the dominant cultural type. Group (participatory) and developmental (open) culture types had significant positive correlation with optimistic perceptions about leadership (r=0.48 and 0.55 respectively, p<0.00). Hierarchical (bureaucratic) culture was significantly negatively correlated with domains; leadership (r=−0.61, p<0.00), information and analysis (−0.50, p<0.00) and employee satisfaction (r=−0.55, p<0.00). Responses reveal a need for leadership to better utilize suggestions for improving quality of care, strengthening the process of information analysis and encouraging reward and recognition for employees.
Research limitations/implications
It is likely that, by adopting a participatory and open culture, staff views about organizational leadership will improve and employee satisfaction will be enhanced. This finding has implications for quality care implementation in other hospital settings.
Originality/value
The paper bridges an important gap in the literature by addressing the relationship between culture and quality care perceptions in a Pakistani hospital. As such a new and informative perspective is added.
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Mimma Tabassum, Md Iftakhar Parvej, Firoz Ahmed, Farzana Zafreen and Samina Sultana
COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious threat to peoples’ physical and mental health because of its high death toll all over the world within a very short period. As a…
Abstract
Purpose
COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious threat to peoples’ physical and mental health because of its high death toll all over the world within a very short period. As a result, people may be psychologically stressed, which can affect their quality of life. The main purpose of this study is to quantify the level of stress among the adults (age 18 and above) including all gender, religions and races of Bangladesh during this devastating pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
This online survey-based study collected demographic data and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to determine stress levels over past one month. The total numbers of respondents are 1,148 from May 29, 2020 to June 12, 2020; using the PSS to assess stress levels and to identify the potential variables having association with level of psychological stress, multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed.
Findings
A scary proportion (81%) of respondents suffered from substantial amount psychological stress during this COVID-19 pandemic. It is an undeniable signal for us that, every 4 out of 5 respondents in our study is suffering from different level of psychological stress during this time. Comparing the level of stress, this study finds that elderly (60 and above), women, front-line workers (doctor and other health-care professionals) and second-line workers (public service holders, police and defense and banks or financial institutes) have high psychological stress compared to the other respondents.
Originality/value
This study will help policymakers to provide relevant mental health intervention strategies to cope with this challenge efficiently.
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Yang Woon Chung, Xue Tong Dong and Jeong Kwon Yun
Workplace loneliness has become a concern in diverse work settings. However, workplace loneliness research is in its early stages of development and not much is known…
Abstract
Purpose
Workplace loneliness has become a concern in diverse work settings. However, workplace loneliness research is in its early stages of development and not much is known about the effects of it on organizations and its members, especially in police organizations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between workplace loneliness, anxiety, happiness, task performance, and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Data from police officers in Korea were used to test these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a three-wave time-lagged procedure, the study sample consisted of 227 police officers in South Korea from one regional police headquarters (Yongin Dongbu Police Station) and four substations in the Yongin region. The study tested parallel mediation of anxiety and happiness in the relationships between workplace loneliness and workplace outcomes using the PROCESS macro (Model 4) for SPSS 26.
Findings
The regression analyses with bootstrapping results indicated that police officers' anxiety and happiness served as mediating mechanisms linking workplace loneliness with task performance and OCB.
Originality/value
The police force is a very significant facet within society. However, research has not yet investigated loneliness in the police context. Thus, the study investigated the proximal and distal effects of workplace loneliness by associating workplace loneliness with task performance and OCB via anxiety and happiness.
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The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of workplace loneliness on job performance. This paper also examined the mediating role of employee well-being and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of workplace loneliness on job performance. This paper also examined the mediating role of employee well-being and psychological safety and the moderating role of person–environment fit (PE fit).
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-rated research design was used to collect data. Data were collected from 382 employees and their 97 supervisors of various Indian organizations. The data of job performance was collected from the supervisor of every team. The questionnaire for data collection was distributed at two different time intervals to reduce common method bias.
Findings
The findings of this paper supported the role of PE fit in minimizing the negative effect of workplace loneliness–well-being relationship and workplace loneliness and psychological safety relationship. The model also tested the association between workplace loneliness and job performance when the relationship is moderated by PE fit and mediated by well-being and psychological safety.
Originality/value
This paper examines the workplace loneliness from the lens of PE fit theory.
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