Industry Of Pakistan Research Articles

Revolutionizing Retail: Examining the Influence of Blockchain-Enabled IoT Capabilities on Sustainable Firm Performance

Blockchain has revolutionized the field of supply chain management, allowing firms to optimize their operations and achieve enhanced levels of efficiency and environmental responsibility. This study investigates the relationships between the functionalities of the blockchain-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) and many aspects of the supply chain, namely, supplier integration, internal integration, customer integration, and sustainable logistic capabilities. It also analyses the impact of these correlations on the supply chain performance and sustainability of firms. This study is grounded in an empirical inquiry carried out using a questionnaire survey of the retail industry in Pakistan. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the data. The findings indicate a direct correlation between the use of BC-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities and the integration of the supply chain, as well as logistic capabilities. Furthermore, there is a strong and meaningful correlation between blockchain-enabled supply chain integration and sustainable logistic capabilities and firm performance. The research findings indicate that the combined impact of digital innovations results in higher levels of corporate performance and sustainability. By embracing digitization through blockchain technology, business organizations can attain supply chain excellence. This integration enhances the adoption of environmentally beneficial actions, minimizes waste, and decreases carbon emissions across supply chains, thus reinforcing the connection between sustainable firm performance and environmental sustainability. As a result, the enterprises may execute sustainably through improved logistical capabilities and effective integration. The results hold great theoretical and practical significance for improving supply chain management efficacy and accomplishing multiple SDGs, including SDG-8, SDG-9, SDG-11, and SDG-12.

Impact of grit on workplace happiness: A moderated mediation model

Employee happiness as well as well-being at the workplace is an emerging concept in the management and psychology domain. This article aims to analyze the impact of grit on employees’ workplace happiness via psychological capital (PsyCap), moderated by coaching culture and theorize by trait activation theory. Data were collected from 272 employees working in the public and private sectors of the service industry in Pakistan. For statistical analysis, we conducted reliability, correlation, and process Hayes. Employees who were highly engaged and grittier, satisfied at work, and feel happy while PsyCap fully mediated this relationship between grit and happiness at work. Coaching culture on the other side moderate this relationship between grit and workplace happiness through PsyCap such that the relationship is strong for the high value of coaching culture than when it is low. It's been found that grit is a greater indicator of future success than Intelligence. Therefore, it is the need of the hour that organizations developed PsyCap in employees through proper training and coaching. Encourage them to think long-term as well as short-term and teach them how to prioritize their work accordingly. Thus, in today’s dynamic business environment, this study contributes potential for organizational survival and growth.

Reverse Logistics Practices: A Dilemma to Gain Competitive Advantage in Manufacturing Industries of Pakistan with Organization Performance as a Mediator

Reverse logistics is a known supply chain practice and has been proven effective in recent decades. In developing countries, these practices are already employed and considered beneficial for the business or firms. The reverse logistics concept creates value for customers and firms. Considering this, this study intends to highlight reverse logistics practices in Pakistan and examine the reverse logistics impacts on competitive advantage with the mediating role of the firm’s organizational performance in Pakistan’s manufacturing industries. In this study, plastic bottle manufacturing firms working in Pakistan were selected to collect the data. Hence, to collect the data from these firms, a survey technique was sought to determine the impact of reverse logistic practices on competitive advantage with the mediating role of organizational performance. A structured and adapted questionnaire was used in this regard. Organizational performance was assumed as the operational and financial performance of these firms. Data were collected using a convenience sampling technique, and the targeted population was the middle-level employees of bottle manufacturing firms. The statistical tool was adopted as the study was quantitative, and results were extracted numerically. IBM SPSS and AMOS version 24 were used as supporting statistical analysis and interpretation tools. Data analysis demonstrated that out of 219 respondents, 68 were supervisors, and others were middle managers. Statistics show that most females were supervisors, and most males were middle managers. “Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)” was performed to examine the fit of the three-factor model, showing good fit indices (Chi-square/df = 2.71, CFI = 0.902, TLI = 0.896, RMSEA = 0.081), which indicates that the model fits the data well. According to the study’s findings, a significant impact was examined between reverse logistics and competitive advantage, and a mediating role was confirmed between those variables. This study poses unique strengths in theoretical and practical ways and helped enrich the available literature and findings.

The Influence of Internal Corporate Social Responsibility Factors on the Innovation Climate of Employees in the Healthcare Industry

This study examined the relationship between employee innovation and employee-initiated corporate social responsibility (CSR) elements in medical diagnostic enterprises in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research identified nine variables of employee-driven CSR, including communication, empowerment, and work satisfaction. Theoretical framework of the study based on theory of corporate social responsibility and expectancy theory of motivation. It evaluated their effects on the atmosphere for employee innovation using statistical analysis by using SPSS and after collecting data by using a survey questionnaire. The study population was employees working in the healthcare industry in Pakistan. The findings showed that employee-driven CSR and innovation were significantly correlated, with work satisfaction having the most impact. Overall, this quantitative study provides important insights for both theoretical understanding and practical application in fostering innovation through CSR initiatives. It emphasizes the critical role of job satisfaction as a key motivating factor for innovation within the framework of employee-driven CSR in the medical diagnostics sector.

The Impacts of Ethical Sales Behaviour on Customer Loyalty in the Life Insurance Industry in Pakistan

The life insurance industry in Pakistan is highly competitive, with customer loyalty playing a crucial role in long-term success. Ethical sales behaviour emerges as a key differentiator, potentially fostering trust and driving positive customer experiences. This research investigates the relationship among ethical sales behaviour, customer trust in company and trust in sales agent, which directly affect customer loyalty in the life insurance industry. The quantitative survey targets customers of five major life insurance companies, ensuring a representative sample across diverse demographics. The questionnaires were sent to all companies customer on a random basis. The questionnaires are distributed with the help of office employee of the companies.The finding of the study shows that there is a direct and positive relation between sales agent ethical sales behaviour and customer loyalty. Furthermore, the trust of the customer in the sales agent and trust of the customer in a company has direct positive mutual relation and customer trust both affect customer loyalty. By demonstrating the tangible benefits of ethical sales behaviour, the study can encourage companies to implement and prioritize ethical practices. The identified key drivers of customer loyalty can guide training programs and performance evaluations for insurance agents, ultimately fostering a culture of ethical conduct within the industry.

Role of logistics innovation capabilities in supply chains operations at manufacturing firms

This study aims to examine the impact of Logistics Innovation Capabilities and mitigating the disruption risk in supply chain operations in the manufacturing Industries of Karachi Pakistan. With the fast growth in Pakistan's economy and vision 2025 seeks to enhance the national transport infrastructure and logistics network system. The demand for logistics services in Pakistan has been steadily expanding. Pakistan's Industry focuses more on adopting logistics innovation capabilities to provide their customer with better services. Quantitative research is designed to study the link between the capabilities of dependent and independent variables to minimize the risk. By empirically analyzing survey data SPSS is a popular method to validate the study model. The impact of innovation in logistics technologies has a huge positive influence affect by firm performance, environment uncertainty, technology implementation & customer side. Through Logistics Innovation capabilities, many empirical studies have been conducted to minimize the supply chain risk. This study provides empirical support for dependent and independent variables. Our results can help Pakistan's manufacturing industry develop logistics strategies and adopt innovation capabilities to reduce supply chain risk.

Exploring ‘Employee Voice’ of Informal Female Workers of the Textiles Industry in Pakistan: A Grounded Theory Approach

Firm restructuring and labour subcontracting has paved the way for the rise of informalisation in the female-dominated textiles industry of Pakistan after the expiry of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). Despite the emergence of low quality of employment available for women in the informal economy, there is a dearth of knowledge on their position at the workplace, namely ‘employee voice.’ This study therefore explores the employee voice of informal female workers of the stitching and ginning sections of the textiles industry in Pakistan in the post ATC period. A grounded theory approach, involving 25 in-depth interviews with informal female workers and employers, is used to explore employer-employee interactions. The findings reveal that the core requirements of the ‘capability for voice’ of informal female workers centre on ‘decisions of employers’, ‘bearing of tradition’ and ‘worker performance’. The grounded theory clarifies the procedure and identifies the interaction of the above categories to form the contextual conditions that direct the expectations of employers and female workers in the informal labour market. The expectations of a ‘perfect fit’ of informal female workers, within the hierarchy of the textiles industry, gives rise to a situation of ‘tolerance/no voice’, despite the negative workplace culture. The findings indicate that strategies to advance gender equality in Pakistan must consider informalisation of the labour market through a gender perspective.

Capital Structure, Firm Size, Profitability, and Tax Avoidance: Investigating the Oil and Gas Industry of Pakistan

Capital Structure, Firm Size, Profitability, and Tax Avoidance: Investigating the Oil and Gas Industry of Pakistan

Sustainability Amplified: Servitization, Integration and Buyer-Supplier Nexus

This study examines the dynamics of buyer-supplier relationship connectors and sustainable supply chain performance, with the moderating role of the level of Servitization and the mediating role of Supply Chain Integration. A purposive sampling survey conducted by a well-structured questionnaire has been administered through a sample of 120 organizations. The manufacturing industries of Pakistan, including, automotive, textile, chemical, electronics, and pharmaceutical were selected for data collection. Using the theoretical lens of Social Exchange Theory, the outcomes reveal that a positive relationship exists between buyer-supplier relationships and sustainable supply chain performance. The results imply that companies that actively engage in building strong and collaborative relationships with their suppliers are expected to achieve higher levels of sustainability in their operations. Moreover, through a mediated moderating model, supply chain integration and servitization emerged as significant mediators and moderator among buyer-supplier relationships and sustainable supply chain performance. Besides the theoretical contribution, this study offers substantial evidence to policymakers regarding how to improve and reshape their relations to accomplish supply chain integration and enhance sustainable supply chain performance.

Mindfulness and creative process engagement: the mediating role of workplace relational systems

PurposeDespite widespread recognition of the importance of mindfulness in organizational science literature, little is known about how mindfulness motivates individuals to configure information processing and team member exchange relationships to increase creative process engagement. Drawing on motivated information processing theory, this study conceptualizes and empirically examines whether and how mindfulness motivates individuals toward creative process engagement.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data through an online survey from 311 respondents working in the Research and Development (R&D) departments of organizations in multiple industries in Pakistan. For analytical purposes, the authors have applied the structural equation modeling technique.FindingsThis study advances a different view of individual mindfulness on the creative process engagement in the following ways. First, mindfulness enables individuals to self-regulate in specific situations and become effective in fostering creative process engagement. Second, this study extends research on relational information processing by linking it to mindfulness and creative process engagement. Relational information processing partially mediates the relationship between mindfulness and creative process engagement. Third, this study highlights that mindfulness motivates individuals to focus more on developing quality working relationships, but they seem less willing to participate in idea generation and problem-solving solutions.Originality/valueThe study findings provide implications for research on mindfulness, creativity and motivated information processing to enhance individuals’ creative process engagements. The authors also discuss the implications for executives on the relational and creative benefits of mindfulness.

Green threads of change: Unravelling the gendered and experienced moderators in the sustainable symphony of green HR practices and environmental responsibility

This study employs a quantitative methodology to investigate the intricate relationships between Green Human Resource (HR) Practices, Green Culture, and Environmental Sustainability. The independent variable, Green HR Practices, is delineated into four components: green recruitment, green training, green reward, and green empowerment. The mediating role of Green Culture is explored in the context of two dependent variables: Proactive Organization-Centered Environmental Sustainability and Reactive Organization Eco-Centric Environmental Sustainability. Additionally, gender and experience are introduced as moderators, influencing the relationship between Green Culture and the two dimensions of Environmental Sustainability. Utilizing a purposive sampling technique, data were collected from 357 participants from industries in Pakistan. The analysis was conducted using Warp-PLS 8.0 software. The results reveal significant direct and indirect effects of Green HR Practices on both and, with Green Culture acting as a mediator. The study further unveils the moderating influence of gender and experience on the relationship between Green Culture and Environmental Sustainability. Key findings include the identification of specific Green HR Practices that significantly impact environmental outcomes. The mediating role of Green Culture elucidates the pathway through which these practices influence sustainability. The moderation effects of gender and experience underscore the nuanced nature of these relationships, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies. The study contributes to the growing literature on sustainable HR practices by offering insights into the mechanisms driving environmental sustainability within organizations. The findings have practical implications for HR practitioners, highlighting the importance of cultivating green organizational culture and considering individual differences in the implementation of sustainability initiatives.

Unraveling the effects of COVID-19 on the textile industry in South Asia region: a comparative study of major players

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions to global industries, with the textile sector in South Asia being particularly hard hit. While previous studies have focused on the performance of textile sectors in individual countries, there is a gap in the literature on the comparative impact of the pandemic on the textile industry in South Asian nations. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the performance of the textile sector in South Asian countries and identifying best practices for overcoming the pandemic’s adverse effects.Design/methodology/approachUsing a comparative approach, this study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of the textile sector in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.FindingsOur findings reveal that COVID-19 significantly negatively impacts the textile industry in Pakistan and India. However, Bangladesh has shown effective practices to support the textile industry and mitigate the pandemic’s adverse effects.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study hold considerable implications for legislators, leaders, investors and supply chain management professionals operating within the South Asian textile sector. This research has the potential to inform policymakers in formulating strategies to facilitate the textile sector’s resilience during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThis paper provides significant theoretical additions to the current body of literature regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the textile sector in South Asia. The research uses the global value chain (GVC) theory as a theoretical framework to enhance understanding of the impact of global supply chains and interdependencies on the textile sector in the region.

Benchmarking lean construction conformance in Pakistan’s construction industry

PurposeLean construction (LC) is an innovative approach in the construction industry that has shown significant success in developed countries. Although LC has potential in the construction sector of Pakistan, it has not been extensively explored. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by identifying and predicting current lean practices and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of LC implementation in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachUsing robust statistical methods to analyze 92 valid responses, the study reveals that approximately 54% of lean practices are currently in use in the construction industry of Pakistan, with a population mean ranging from 52.7% to 55.6%.FindingsSurprisingly, the research identifies instances where some construction firms in Pakistan are implementing LC practices, even though they have only a limited understanding of its underlying principles. Notably, certain subprinciples, such as visual management, top management commitment to change, employee training, process cycle time reduction and production optimization, are less integrated within the construction industry. Exploring the possibility of implementing LC, recommendations for strategies to implement LC in Pakistan are suggested, aligning with the conceptual model proposed by the researchers.Originality/valueThe novelty of this work offers insights that can serve as a comprehensive guide for developing nations. It provides a structured approach to assess and benchmark LC practices, which, in turn, can contribute to a more efficient and effective construction industry. Moreover, the strategies proposed in this research can aid developing countries in the efficient implementation of LC. This will have a positive implication for both economic and developmental outcomes.

Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure Effect on Corporate Social Performance: Evidence from Non-Financial Industries of Pakistan

This paper will examine the diversified associations between corporate governance and ownership structure impact on corporate social performance in dissimilar industries across Pakistan non-financial. The OLS models regression are estimation to using data from 2011 to 2020, that the non-financial industries of Pakistan. Corporate governance including board independence (BINDP), board size (BSIZE), and audit size and committee (A&COM), and structure ownership including, ownership managerial (MOWN), ownership family (FOWN), and ownership concentration (COWN), inspires of organizations corporate social performance with environmental and social risk market capitalization. Generally, the outcomes significant of ownership structure and corporate governance is recognized in industries of non-financial different at a joint level while examines the organizations with a risk whole risk market capitalization disclosure. That suggest to identifying the ownership structure and corporate governance can risk mitigate the market capitalization disclosure non-financial industries in term of correlation the corporate social performance improving and the developed the benefits with the calculation of identical female director in women on board and family ownership organizations (independent or executive) to the panel. This study also demand consideration to the corporate governance and improve structure ownership to enhance the corporate social responsibility in industries non-financial with market risk capitalization analysis, whereas risk control performance of industries analysis after complement by critical mass and independent directors properties.

Green Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy And Its Outcomes: The Mediating Role Of The Attitude Towards Entrepreneurship

The objective of this research is to investigate the correlation between green entrepreneurial self-efficacy (GESE) and its outcomes, which include innovative work behavior (IWB) and entrepreneurial intention (EI). Specifically, the study will focus on the meditating effect of attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE) using the framework of theory of planned behavior (TPB). Data was collected from 307 employees working in SMEs related to the textile industry in Pakistan. M+ is used to test the research model. The research findings indicated that individuals' belief in their ability to succeed as green entrepreneurs had a beneficial effect on their inclination to engage in creative work practices and pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. Moreover, the attitude towards entrepreneurship served as a mediator in the connection between green entrepreneurial self-efficacy and its resulting effects, namely creative work behavior and entrepreneurial intention. Green entrepreneurial self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to successfully engage in environmentally sustainable entrepreneurial activities. This study suggests that green entrepreneurial self-efficacy can be an effective tool for managers to induce entrepreneurial intention and innovative work behavior. This research added to green self-efficacy, innovation, and entrepreneurial literature and provided understandings into how managers could enhance the green entrepreneurial self-efficacy of employees to boost innovative work behavior and entrepreneurial intention.

The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on the Banking Sector’s Profitability in Pakistan

This research aims to study and analyze the impact of macroeconomic factor on the banking sector’s profitability in Pakistan. Banking sector of Pakistan is the backbone of its economy. The study explains the importance of banking industry of Pakistan and its achievements and evolvement throughout the years. The objective of the study is to examine the macroeconomic factors’ influence on the banking sector in Pakistan and to investigate that whether the profitability is only determined by the bank-specific internal factors or if it is also influenced by macroeconomic shocks and factors of the economy. The study is quantitative and secondary data is employed in order to conduct this paper. The sample size is financial data of scheduled banks in Pakistan from the year 2000 to2022, which is converted in quarter data and 84 observations have been incorporated in the study. “Returns on Assets” (ROA) is selected as dependent variable of this study since it measures profitability of banks. Whereas “Foreign Direct Investment” (FDI), “Exchange rate” (LER), “Inflation” (INF), “GDP growth” (GROWTH), “Liquidity” (LLIQ), “Total Deposits” (LT_DEP) and “Credit’s ratio” (CREDIT) of the banks are selected as independent variables. The data for bank specific variables is collected from the websites of “State Bank of Pakistan” (SBP) and “Federal Reserves of Economic Data” (FRED) while the data for macroeconomic variables is derived from the database of “World Bank” and “Macrotrends”. For empirical analysis, we have applied “Vector Autoregression” (VAR) model, followed by “Multivariate Granger Causality test”, “Impulse Response Function” (IRF) and “Forecast Error Variance Decomposition” (FEVD). The main findings of study reveals that the profitability of Banking sector in Pakistan is more influenced by its own internal factors rather than the external / macroeconomic factors. Amongst macroeconomic variables, “Foreign Direct Investment” (FDI) and “Inflation” (INF) are found to have the significant impact, while “Exchange rate” (LER) and “GDP growth rate” (GROWTH) are found to have insignificant impact on banks’ “Return on Assets” (ROA). All the internal factors of our study i.e. “Liquidity” (LLIQ), “Deposits” (LT_DEP) and “Credit ratio” (CREDIT) are found to have significant impact on profitability, which is measured through “Return on Assets” (ROA). In short, the profitability of banking sector in Pakistan is mainly influenced by bank-specific internal factors of the industry. The macroeconomic factors are only 50 percent % affective on the banks’ performance.

Big data analytics-artificial intelligence and sustainable performance through green supply chain practices in manufacturing firms of a developing country

Purpose This study aims to examine the role of big data analytics (BDA) powered by artificial intelligence (AI) in improving sustainable performance (SP) through green supply chain collaboration (GSCC), sustainable manufacturing (SM) and environmental process integration (EPI). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 249 supply chain professionals working at various manufacturing firms, and hypotheses were tested through a quantitative method using PLS-SEM with the help of SmartPLS version 4 to validate the measurement model. Findings This study identified that BDA-AI significantly and positively affects GSCC, SM and EPI. Similarly, the results showed that GSCC significantly and positively affects SP. At the same time, SM and EPI have an insignificant effect on SP. The GSCC found a significant relationship between BDA-AI and SP for mediation. However, SM and environmental performance integration did not mediate the relationship between BDA and AI and SP. Originality/value This research evaluated a second-order model and tested SP in conjunction with the dynamic capability theory in the manufacturing industry of Pakistan. Therefore, this research could be beneficial for researchers, manufacturers and policymakers to attain sustainable goals by implementing the BDA-AI in the supply chain.

Exploring the Role of Islamic FinTech Innovation Trialability and Compatibility in Enhancing Islamic Financial Inclusion: A Data-driven Approach

The promotion of Islamic financial inclusion (IFI) is a challenge for Islamic banking industry in Pakistan. Although, Islamic banks are trying to enhance IFI, however, a satisfactory level is not achieved. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the role of trialability and compatibility in enhancing IFI. A questionnaire survey was preferred in this study to collected data from clients of Islamic banks in Punjab, Pakistan. 317 valid questionnaires were received and used to obtain findings. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used through Smart PLS to test the study hypotheses. Findings of the study identified that trialability and compatibility has a positive role to promote IFI. Furthermore, compatibility has a positive effect on IFI, however, trialability does not influence IFI directly, it has indirect effect through Islamic FinTech adoption (IFA). Findings of the study provided various important insights for the policymakers to promote IFI.

Examining the Mediating Effect of Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction between Project Manager Emotional Intelligence and Project Success

The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the Project Manager’s emotional Intelligence on HVAC project success in Pakistan settings along with the mediating effect of job satisfaction and organizational commitment to bring clarity to the assessment of the relationship between the Project Manager’s emotional intelligence and project success in Pakistan settings. A quantitative research strategy is applied to collect realistic data from 210 Project Managers (from all the entities involved in the execution phase of the project the important ones being Sub-Contractors, Equipment Distributors as well as Product Manufacturers) of the HVAC industry of Pakistan. The collected data was analyzed and examined by using Structured Equation Modeling through the Partial Least Square method. To analysis the collected data SPSS and Smart PLS software were used. The findings of this study showed that the Project Manager’s emotional intelligence is positively related to project success and suggest the most evident result that there is a healthy and positive effect of Job Satisfaction and organizational commitment towards the success of a project. These suggestions amplify the need of the upper management to understand the significance of the mediating roles and its willingness to take care of necessary steps for letting and giving room to the Intelligence of the Project Manager having a positive outcome on the project success. Originality: This is first study in project management in Pakistan settings and delivers an advanced knowledge of emotional intelligence along with its importance to Project Success

Predicting Generation Z consumers’ food waste reduction behavior through social media marketing activities: a mediated model

PurposeThe present study aims to examine the impact of social media marketing activities (SMMAs) on the adoption of food waste reduction behavior among Generation Z consumers within the restaurant service industry in Pakistan. The study focuses on the impact of social media advertisements and investigates the mediating influence of waste reduction intentions on actual behavior. This underscores the significance of contextual and emotional variables in comprehending consumer behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a cross-sectional research methodology to examine the impact of SMMAs on the behavior of Generation Z consumers in Pakistan’s food service industry with regard to reducing food waste. A study was conducted to investigate the restaurant purchasing behaviors of a sample consisting of 449 individuals belonging to the millennial generation, often known as Generation Z.FindingsThe majority of variables related to SMMA, except for interactivity and personalization, were shown to have a positive impact on individuals’ intents to reduce food waste. The study observed a significant relationship between consumers’ intentions to decrease waste and their actual behavior in waste reduction. Furthermore, this relationship was shown to be influenced by the mediating role of waste reduction intention.Originality/valueExamining how social media affects Pakistani Generation Z’s efforts to reduce food waste is what makes this study distinctive. According to the research, the majority of social media factors positively influence intentions to reduce waste. The relationship between intentions and actual behavior, which highlights the impact of social media campaigns and emotional aspects in promoting waste reduction, is one of the important conclusions.