This study investigates the relationship between financial well-being among Generation Y in Karachi, focusing on three key variables: financial awareness, experience, and skills. It aims to identify the mediating role of financial capability and the moderating influence of self-control in these relationships. The research is based on social learning and social cognitive theories. Data was collected through a nonprobability purposive sampling method. Information was gathered via online surveys using a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS SEM). Results showed direct effects on financial awareness, financial socialization, and financial capacity. Additionally, positive but statistically insignificant links were observed between financial awareness, experience, skills, and financial capability. Similarly, “the mediating role of financial capability and the moderating effect of self-control on the relationship between financial capability and financial well-being were positive yet statistically insignificant." The study recommends improved financial education, personalized coaching, and a stronger culture of financial mentorship to boost financial well-being. Suggestions include incorporating financial wellness programs into workplaces and educational institutions, leveraging digital tools, sharing success stories, and encouraging collaboration among financial institutions, educational organizations, and employers. This research enhances understanding of financial well-being among Generation Y in Karachi, emphasizing the importance of targeted financial education and the benefits of a comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders. By acknowledging its limitations and advocating for future research on factors such as cultural influences and gender differences, the study enhances its originality and value.

TR and PI are essential factors for the growth and sustainability of both online and offline vendors. PI not only affects purchasing behaviors but also brings several positive outcomes. These include actual purchase, trial purchase, repeat purchase, and loyalty. This study examined the mediating role of TR between emotional and informational antecedents and PI. Given the importance of the research, it also explored the effects of EP, EPRD, WOM, RRS, and SC on PI. Using a quantitative approach, we gathered data from 245 participants within the target population and analyzed it with Smart PLS. The results showed that all proposed hypotheses were supported, except Hypothesis 3: the effect of WOM on PI. While this effect was significant, its direction was negative, contrary to the hypothesized direction. The study also found that EPR, EPRD, and online RRS have a positive influence on TR. Based on these findings, we argue that TR in a brand enhances consumer perceptions, which in turn lead to behavioral intentions. This study makes valuable contributions to the literature by integrating emotional, social, and security-related dimensions into a unified trust-based model of consumer decision-making. The study also offers several marketing and theoretical insights. The recommended marketing strategies will help online vendors improve their marketing efforts to enhance value propositions for their target segments.

The availability of social media to most of the population has significantly increased in the present era. Social media users now have many options to access all kinds of information for their personal and job-related information. Many users seek opinions from social media influencers about goods and services because of their prosocial relationships. Past studies document that, besides other factors, an essential precursor of social media influencers is "intimate relationships between social media users and followers." Thus, the study has examined the effect of "self-disclosure on parasocial relationships and source credibility." It also examined the effect of "parasocial relationship and source credibility on brand trust." In addition, it examined the effect of "brand trust on commitment and brand loyalty." The study has collected a sample of 472 students from leading local universities in Karachi. It focused on them because the students are active users of social media. The study documents that self-disclosure positively affects parasocial relationships and source credibility. Parasocial relationships and source credibility promote brand trust. In addition, brand trust is a significant precursor of commitment and brand loyalty. These findings are crucial for understanding the dynamics of social media influencers and their impact on brand trust and loyalty. It also provides valuable insights for marketers and researchers in the domain of social media influencers.

Firms need help retaining and attracting new customers in the prevailing competitive era. Therefore, besides other strategies, they have started using social media influencers to enhance their brand image and trust. Given its importance, the study has examined the impact of social media influencers (expertise, authenticity, attractiveness, and homophily) on brand trust. It also examined the effect of brand trust on brand commitment and loyalty. The study also examined the moderating effect of brand reputation on brand commitment and loyalty. The study collected data from Karachi’s social media users. The study found that the social media influencer’s expertise and homophily positively affect brand trust. Social media influencer authenticity and attractiveness insignificantly affect brand trust. Brand trust promotes brand commitment and brand loyalty. Brand reputation significantly moderates brand trust and brand commitment. However, brand reputation insignificantly moderates brand trust and brand loyalty. We recommend that firms select authentic and attractive influencers while selecting social media influencers. We also suggest that firms confirm that their recruited social media share entertaining content and keep the followers engaged. Brand trust promotes brand commitment and brand loyalty. Therefore, we suggest that firms focus on increasing brand trust through adequate marketing strategies.

Innovation is necessary for all industries’ growth and sustainability, including the pharmaceutical sector. The study has focused on the pharmaceutical sector of Karachi to examine the impact of product, process, marketing, and organizational innovations on firm performance. It also examined the moderating role of environmental turbulence. The study collected a sample of 423 employees from the target firms. We found: “product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation, and organizational innovation positively affect firm performance.” We also found that (i) environmental turbulence moderates product innovation and firm performance, and (ii) environmental turbulence insignificantly moderates process innovation and firm performance. Past studies exhibit that innovation impacts business performance differently due to intensive competitive markets and environmental influence. Thus, to achieve high business performance, firms must focus on all the dimensions of innovation (i.e., product, process, marketing, and organization). Environmental turbulence, directly and indirectly, affects firm performance. Therefore, firms must deal with it adequately. Keywords: Environmental turbulence, product innovation,

Social media has completely altered how businesses engage with their customers. Social media influencers have become an essential marketing tool for many industries. The consumption of conspicuous products is growing in today’s era. Therefore, most people prefer luxury products as a status symbol, ignoring what brands offer. Consequently, brands spend considerable resources on social media to promote their products and reach a wider audience. However, little research is available on how social media affects customer behavior and how to measure social media effectiveness. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the influence of social media influencers on customer attitudes, behaviors, and purchase intentions toward the consumption of conspicuous products in Pakistan. The study also examined the mediating effect of brand image on consumer attitude and purchase intention. The study used Smart PLS 4 for data analysis on a data set of 200 respondents. The results indicate that social medial Influencer positively affects brand image, consumer attitude and purchase intention.The findings also reveal that brand image mediates (i) social media influencer and consumer attitude and (ii) social media influencer and purchase intention. This research contributes to the current reservoir of knowledge by providing insights into the factors that make social media influencer successful in promoting conspicuous products. The study findings can benefit conspicuous/luxury brands in selecting suitable social media influencer and marketing strategies that enhance their brand image

In the prevailing technology era, travelers prefer airports that provide self-service and other supportive technologies. These technologies increase travelers’ enjoyment and satisfaction and enhance their confidence. Consequently, they develop a positive image of such airports. Given its importance, this study examined the effect of airport self-service technologies (ASSTs) on traveler confidence benefits (TCBs) and the impact of airport-supporting technologies (ASTs) on traveler enjoyment. We also examined the impact of traveler confidence benefits (TCBs) and traveler enjoyment (TE) on traveler satisfaction (TS). The study also explored the effect of traveler satisfaction (TS) on airport image (AI). The study focuses on the local and international passengers traveling from the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. We distributed 450 questionnaires in the local and international lounges on different days and times, and we received 415 questionnaires. The study found airport self-service technologies (ASSTs) promote traveler confidence benefits (TCBs), and airport supporting technologies (ASTs) positively affect travelers enjoyment. The study also documents that traveler confidence benefits (TCBs) and traveler enjoyment stimulate traveler satisfaction (TS). The study also found traveler satisfaction (TS) positively affects airport image (AI)

Job performance is essential for growth, especially in the service sector like hospitals. Apart from other factors, the leadership style affects job performance and other organizational-related outcomes. The literature documents that hospital employees’ job performance has declined. Thus, we have focused on nurses and other healthcare staff, excluding doctors in the healthcare industry. The study’s sample size was 582. The study supports all five hypotheses. We found that “servant leadership and trust positively affect job performance.” Servant leadership positively affects trust. The study also documents that “trust mediates servant leadership and job performance.” At the same time, our results also suggest that “power distance” moderates servant leadership and trust relationship. Based on the direct and indirect effects of servant leadership and job performance, we suggest organizations hire servant leaders. The organizations mustalso regularly conduct counseling sessions for their leaders to focus on the employee’s development and wellbeing. Such attitudes positively enhance job performance and increase employees’ trust. Consequently, employees reciprocate by developing loyalty with the organizations and the leaders.

In the prevailing era of technology diffusion and globalization, firms worldwide are changing their work process, policies, and procedures for growth and sustainability. However, implementing change management is challenging for organizations as they receive resistance from the employees. Many factors promote resistance to change, including job security, uncertainty, and losing rewards and benefits. Bank employees believe in following conventional practices and often have negative attitudes toward organizational change. Given its importance, we identified the antecedents that positively or negatively affect attitudes toward change. The study focused on the leading banks in Karachi. Based on purposeful sampling, we collected a sample of 432 employees of local banks. The study found affective commitment insignificantly affects job satisfaction. Job stress negatively affects job satisfaction and attitudes towards change. Social influence promotes job satisfaction. Job satisfaction and social influence positively affect attitude towards change. And organizational culture insignificantly moderates affective commitment and job satisfaction. The study recommends that organizations implementing change management must share the change management programs with all the stakeholders. Additionally, organizations must find out why employees are against change management. Organizations may face little resistance from employees if they understand why employees are against change management.