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The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that determines whether how much effort of preventive maintenance action is worthwhile for the consumer over the post-sale product life cycle of a repairable complex product where the product is under warranty and subject to stochastic multimode failure process, that is, damaging failure and light failure with different probabilities.

The expected life cycle cost is designed for a warranted product from the consumer perspective. The product failure is quantified with failure rate function, which is the number of failures incurred over the product life cycle. The authors consider the failure rate function reduction method in their model where the scale parameter of a failure rate function is maximized by applying the optimal preventive maintenance level. The scale parameter of any failure distribution refers to the meantime to failure (MTTF). The first-order condition is applied with respect to the maintenance level in order to achieve the convexity of the nonlinear function of the expected life cycle cost function.

The authors have found analytically the close form of the preventive maintenance level, which can be used to find the optimal reduced form of the failure rate function of the product and the minimum product expected life cycle cost under the given condition of multimode stochastic failure process. The authors have suggested different maintenance policies to consumers in order to implement the proposed preventive maintenance model under different conditions. A numerical example further illustrated the analytical model by considering the Weibull distribution.

The consumer may use this study in the accurate modeling of the life cycle cost of a product that is under warranty and fails with a multimode failure process. Also, the suggested preventive maintenance approach of this study helps the consumer in making appropriate maintenance decisions such as to minimize the expected life cycle cost of a product.

This study proposes an accurate estimation of a life cycle cost for a product that is under the support of warranty and fails with multimode. Furthermore, for such a kind of product, which is under warranty and fails with multimode, this study suggests a new preventive maintenance approach that assures the minimum expected life cycle cost.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

In today's global economy, developing supply chain agility (SCA) and lean practices (LP) as resource-based view and dynamic capabilities are essential for firms to sustain their competitive advantage (CA) and enhance their operational performance (OP). The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how CA is achieved through SCA and LP and how these, in turn, can enhance a firm's OP.

For data collection, the authors adopted the survey method using self-administered questionnaires. Two-source survey data were collected in two rounds (separated by a two-month lag time) from supply chain managers, operational managers and general managers. The purpose of collecting data in two rounds was to reduce common-method bias. Likert scale (1–5) was used in the questionnaire. Smart PLS 3 and SPSS 23 were used for the data analysis purpose.

SCA was found to directly and positively affect OP. LP also positively affected OP. In addition, CA fully mediated the relationship between SCA, LP and OP.

This study encourages the managers of manufacturing firms to adapt LP and their supply chains (SCs) to become agile and leverage the advantages of their implementation to improve their OP and succeed in the market.

This study is one of the first to investigate the effect of SCA and LP on OP. Furthermore, the first study examines CA's mediating impact on the relationship between SCA, LP and OP.

The aim of this case study‐based paper is to study the application of Six Sigma, a breakthrough improvement strategy in the field of cell site construction of a telecom company.

This research provides action research of a Six Sigma project using DMAIC methodology carried out in cell site construction function of a telecom company. The research illustrates how the various Six Sigma tools and techniques were applied in a mutually inclusive manner in one project. The infrastructure department of the company had constructed 900 cell sites last year, out of which 150 were not according to standards and were either disapproved by the operations department or underwent maintenance soon after their use. In 2010, the company spent US$ 0.5 million on rework and maintenance at these sites, thus highlighting the urgency of the problem.

The paper shows how, after the implementation of the Six Sigma project, the company made savings worth US$ 0.45 million.

Six Sigma as a means of waste reduction has gained popularity among researchers and practitioners. The literature on the methodology of Six Sigma and the management approach towards Six Sigma is burgeoning. While various Six Sigma tools and techniques and their application are discussed in literature independent of each other, the need has arisen to observe their systematic application as they apply in a project; every company can use this breakthrough improvement strategy to improve its processes by reducing waste and deriving the financial benefits.

This study aims to examine the influence of intellectual capital and knowledge management on competitive advantage with the mediation role of innovativeness in the Pakistan manufacturing industry. Moreover, differentiation strategy is used as a moderator between innovativeness and competitive advantage.

The data was collected from 387 manufacturing firms in Pakistan through questionnaires. Purposive random sampling was used to collect data. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method is used to test the proposed hypotheses. This study followed multiple regression analyses to see the influence of intellectual capital, knowledge management, innovativeness and differentiation strategy on competitive advantage.

The results elucidate that intellectual capital and knowledge management significantly determines innovativeness and competitive advantage. Moreover, innovativeness significantly mediates between intellectual capital, knowledge management and competitive advantage. Besides, innovativeness significantly determines competitive advantage. Business strategies significantly lead to competitive advantage. Finally, business strategies significantly moderate between innovativeness and competitive advantage.

The research highlight an important issue that how manufacturing sector management uses intellectual capital, knowledge management, innovativeness and business strategies in determining competitive advantage. Besides, it covers the gap and assists the management of the manufacturing sector to focus on exogenous constructs to examine competitive advantage.

This study adds value to the body of knowledge by focusing on predictors that impact competitive advantage. This initial study determines intellectual capital and knowledge management influence on competitive advantage and innovativeness as a mediator by using resource orchestration theory. Moreover, differentiation strategy is used as moderating variable between innovativeness and competitive advantage. The managers, students and researchers can obtain benefits from this study.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of knowledge-oriented leadership on organizational performance of higher education institutions (HEIs) and examine the neglected mediating role of knowledge management (KM) processes and innovation.

Following the quantitative and cross-sectional research design, data were collected through self-administered questionnaire from 312 faculty members of HEIs of Pakistan. The partial least squares structural equation modelling data analysis technique was applied to test the hypothesized relationships.

The results indicate that knowledge-oriented leadership has direct and positive effect on organizational performance. Moreover, the findings reveal that KM processes and innovation partially mediate the effect of knowledge-oriented leadership on organizational performance.

This study underscores the imrportant role of knowledge-oriented leadership in HEIs. Findings of this research suggest that by exhibiting knowledge-oriented behaviours, managers of HEIs can effectively manage their knowledge assets, ensure successful implementation of KM processes and augment product and process innovation leading towards superior organizational performance.

This is amongst one of the first studies that proposes an integrated research model and examines interrelationships amongst knowledge-oriented leadership, KM processes, innovation and organizational performance in the context of HEIs.

With ambidextrous innovation (AI) gaining paramount importance in the manufacturing sectors of emerging markets, this research aim to explore how leadership and management support (LMS) amplify this type of innovation by leveraging knowledge sources (KS). The study further probes the knowledge management capability (KMC) as moderating effect between KS and AI.

Using the convenient random sampling technique of a sample of 340 professionals within Pakistan’s manufacturing realm, data was collated via a structured questionnaire. The subsequent analysis harnessed the power of the variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling approach.

This research underscores the pivotal role of LMS in elevating both facets of AI i.e. exploitative innovation (ERI) and exploratory innovation (ERT). KS emerge as a vital intermediary factor that bridges LMS with both types of innovation. Notably, the potency of KS in driving AI is significantly boosted by an organization’s KMC.

This study fills existing gaps in contemporary research by offering a nuanced perspective on how LMS enrich an organization’s dual innovation spectrum via KS. It sheds light on the symbiotic interplay of leadership, knowledge flows and innovation in Pakistan’s burgeoning manufacturing sector.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The purpose of this study is to introduce a unified framework which integrates knowledge management processes (knowledge creation, sharing, storage and documentation and acquisition), innovation capability (product, process, marketing and organizational and organizational performance (operational, financial and product quality). Then empirically test the effect of knowledge management processes (KMP) on innovation capability (IC), the effect of IC on organizational performance (OP) and the impact of KMP on OP through the mediator (IC).

A questionnaire was designed and addressed to the general managers of the Jordanian companies making up the target population. Statistical techniques employed included confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 24 to test the hypotheses.

The results show that KMP influences IC, IC affects OP and KMP impacts OP through the mediator (IC).

The use of longitudinal data and comparisons with this study would provide further insights that would assist in generalizing knowledge related to the relationships among KMP, IC and Os' P.

If organizations fully comprehend KMP and IC, they would be able to implement them successfully, creating value for their companies and improving OP.

The existing research on KMP and IC is primarily conceptual and descriptive in nature, and empirical research confirming the real impact of KMP when developing IC is lacking. Also. the relationship between innovation capabilities and OP has not been adequately studied. Hence, this study introduces a conceptual framework which integrates KMP, IC and OP and simultaneously empirically tests the relationships among them.

The study aims to analyse the “Top 100” articles that were most discussed on social media in 2020.

This study is based on the data retrieved from the Altmetric database. The data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel for further analysis. Moreover, articles were examined at an individual level to retrieve author affiliations for research collaboration analysis.

The most discussed article on social media for the year 2020 has an Article Attention Score (AAS) of 34775. COVID-19 related studies have dominated the list and it comes as no surprise since COVID-19 became the focal point of many researchers and publishers ever since the pandemic started. These articles have been published across 63 journals with the highest contributions from reputed journals such as Nature, PLoS ONE and Science. The majority (46%) of articles has been published in open access. Finally, the majority of publications are a result of research collaboration.

This study reflects the societal impact of research that could be used as an indicator of research performance.