Search results

1 – 2 of 2
Article
Publication date: 16 December 2024

Muhammad Irfan, Shahira Suman, Shiza Zainab, Javeria Shahid and Yumna Nayab

This study uncovers interdependent mechanisms triggered by excessive use of mobile phones which lower the performance of individuals in business organizations. The quantum of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study uncovers interdependent mechanisms triggered by excessive use of mobile phones which lower the performance of individuals in business organizations. The quantum of cognitive and attentional fluctuations caused by Nomophobia-induced impulsive use of mobile phone that degrades job performance is the focus of this study for suggesting realistic regulatory measures. Similarly, the threshold of allowable smartphone use was determined as a foundation to strike balance between adverse psycho-behavioral implications of blanket ban policy and the cognitive overload of unregulated mobile phone usage.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting the quasi-experimental design, a sample of 159 individuals working in six different organizations was tested under dissimilar conditions using a variety of experimental interventions. Participants were subjected to different intensity of planned interruptions inciting responses through sets of short message services (SMS), messages on Whatsapp, X (formerly twitter), Instagram and emails. The main data obtained from the experiment comprised 636 test performances and 5,724 reactive responses on smartphones along with 642 video recordings as supplementary evidence.

Findings

The analysis of data revealed five underlying inter-related mechanisms impacting performance of individuals, i.e. slow-down of cognitive processing, increased temptation for peripheral activities/side scrolling, widened lag between focus and refocus, depletion of short-term working memory and reduced attention span. The strength of relationships between the mechanisms and intensity of Nomophobia significantly varied with the experimental interventions. Based on the identified mechanisms, organizations were suggested certain regulatory measures to minimize negative effects of Nomophobia-induced impulsive mobile phone usage.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a comparatively smaller sample size (total 159, 27 from each of the six organizations). Though sufficient, yet, the sample size could have been a little larger.

Practical implications

The blanket ban policy adopted by organizations for regulating use of mobile phone has been found to adversely affect performance more than the excessive use of mobile phone. Using mobile phone thrice an hour (1–2 min each) was found to have negligible effects on job performance. Allowing use of mobile phones at workplace (except in highly hazardous areas) can reduce stress, anxiety and depression caused by Nomophobia.

Social implications

To meeting social need, workers may not be denied the facility of mobile phone at workplace, except highly hazardous areas to allow them to remain connected and accessible. This study suggests viable measures to regulate use of mobile phones without depriving them of this vital facility.

Originality/value

The study is unique as it is based on experimental data, contrary to most of the studies relying on self-report methods of data collection. The mechanisms which degrade performance of workers due to excessive use of mobile phones (induced by Nomophobia) have not been explored and how the impact is propagated to the performance of workers is not known. This study has identified the five mechanisms and based on the mechanisms has suggested measures for the organizations to regulate the use of mobile phones in the organizations. This study has found that use of mobile phone thrice in an hour (1–2 min each) affects performance of individuals negligibly. Organizations adopting a blanket ban policy on use of mobile phone increase stress of workers (Nomophobia) that is more harmful for job performance.

Details

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2054-6238

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2019

Mian Sajid Nazir, Javeria Mahmood, Fizza Abbas and Ayesha Liaqat

The upsurge of globalization has made investors cautious toward investing decisions, and, resultantly, sophisticated techniques of forecasting and analyzing the stock markets have…

Abstract

Purpose

The upsurge of globalization has made investors cautious toward investing decisions, and, resultantly, sophisticated techniques of forecasting and analyzing the stock markets have emerged. Particularly, this trend has gained momentum in emerging economies. One such trend is to overcome the investing risks associated with formation of rational bubbles. Bubbles are formed when asset prices inflate to a very high level temporarily, and they ultimately burst. Investors may take advantage of this short-lived phenomenon and gain high returns, but may also suffer as the entire investing value declines when the bubble bursts. The purpose of this paper is to identify rational bubbles in the emerging capital markets of South Asian region.

Design/methodology/approach

The monthly data have been obtained from June 1997 to February 2018 for Pakistan, Bombay, Dhaka and Colombo stock markets, and supremum-Augmented Dicky Fuller test developed by Phillips and Yu (2011) has been utilized to identify the rational bubbles.

Findings

The results revealed the presence of rational bubbles in South Asian equity markets. The current study is of significant nature for the facilitation of investors in future-making investing decisions concerning with the formation of rational bubbles.

Originality/value

Several studies have been conducted on stock markets of developed regions. Specific bubble episodes, which occurred previously, have helped the researchers and investors in gaining plenty of insights. A lot of studies have been conducted on the SAARC region as well. But they have used the conventional unit root test for bubble identification and not used as extensive data as, in this study, have been taken. This research is aimed to study equity prices of the four stock markets to establish the fact that if rational bubbles exist in the index, they are reflected in the returns or not.

Details

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, vol. 36 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2054-6238

Keywords

1 – 2 of 2