Search

Purpose: The promising factor for success in a prevailing knowledge-based economy is the excellence in customer service. Private universities are now becoming customer- and service-oriented organizations due to the competition. Therefore, many educational institutions treat their students as customers and restructure their educational practice based on the concept of market consumption. Therefore, many educational institutions treat their students as customers and restructure their educational practice. The purpose of this study is to determine the students' preferences as customers while studying at private universities and factors that affect their intentions to study at private universities when they adopt the student-as-customer concept. Design/methodology/approach: The research model is analyzed with structural equation modeling. The analysis is done with the application of the measurement model and the structural model. The measurement model is first evaluated by examining scale reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity, whereas the assessment of the structural model is conducted for determining the predictive power and analyzing the hypothesized relationships between the proposed constructs through path analysis. Findings: In the paper, seven path shows a significant and positive relationship. However, four relationships are positive but insignificant. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature theoretically as well as methodologically. Moreover, it is among the first research that is being conducted in Karachi. Secondly, this study developed a hybrid model by integrating one theory and a conceptual model to determine the factors affecting students' attitudes toward acceptance of the student-as-customer concept and their intentions. Therefore, this paper is useful in filling the gap in the higher education literature and also provides direction for universities to consider and prepare for the consequences of the concept's adoption associated with the number of students who intend to study at their universities.

Improvement in social media (SM) platforms and their ability to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reach a large audience has led to changes in how entrepreneurial firms carry out their regular activities. Studies on entrepreneurship and SM adoption are relatively new and fragmented; however, there is scant interest from managers, scholars, and governments for future research work in this area in emerging countries. This study aims to investigate the role of SM adoption and innovation capabilities (IC) in improving SME performance. We employ the resource-based view (RBV) as a basis for the conceptual model and infer relationships between entrepreneurial orientation (EO), SM adoption, IC, and SME performance. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to collect data through a web-based survey and quantitative analysis was employed to generalise the results. The proposed relationships are tested on a sample of 431 randomly selected SMEs, applying the PLS algorithm, bootstrapping, and blindfolding techniques using SmartPLS 3.0. The findings reveal that SME performance could be improved by EO, SM adoption, and IC. Additionally, SM adoption significantly mediates the EO–SME-performance relationship, and IC moderates the SM-adoption–SME-performance association. This paper also makes several theoretical and practical contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E‐waste is the world's fastest‐growing waste stream, and it contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health. Research has shown that the vast majority of consumers are unwilling to dispose of e‐waste, preferring to keep obsolete products at home rather than returning them to manufacturers for recycling. Despite the evident importance of this area of research, there is yet to be a systematic assessment of e‐waste disposal behaviour that summarises the relationships among constructs in the forms of antecedents, decisions, and consequences from the perspective of consumer behaviour. With this knowledge gap in mind, the current paper's goal is to provide a comprehensive examination of available studies on consumer e‐waste disposal behaviour. In particular, the purpose is to promote e‐waste disposal behaviour by looking at how such behaviour has been utilised as a construct in the literature and what theories, contexts, characteristics, and methodological approaches have been used to strengthen this behaviour. Towards this aim, we used VOSviewer to examine N = 43 research publications on e‐waste disposal behaviour published in Scopus‐indexed journals between 2000 and 2021, noting discrepancies, identifying major research gaps, and developing comprehensive research agendas (provided in the form of testable propositions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan is the utmost salient player in the sustainable environment sector of Pakistan, as it raises awareness on front burner issues of pollution, devastation of industrial waste, global warming, depleting forests, species, and natural resources. It works in the realm of protection of endangered species, natural habitat, protection, and conservation of natural resources inclusive of wetlands, other water reservoirs, forests, and eco-system of Mother Nature. It is facing serious challenges of its long-run sustainable survival and attainment of its objectives in the developing countries like Pakistan, which is the aim of this inquiry to explore. Although it has established strategic relationships with its several stakeholders, but government for instance, does not entertain environment as its top priority; it is partnering with the corporate sector, private sector organizations, NGOs, local communities, and schools to universities but out of millions of micro and small to large-scale commercial entities, it has received contributions cum sponsorships from only three hundred (300) partners in 2016 (WWF, 2017). There are individual members cum donors too, but WWF's major initiatives and programs are undertaken with financial assistance of multilateral donor agencies including European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In this qualitative probe in the form of a case study, data is garnered from extant secondary sources, whereas in the primary data sources, interviews have been conducted from WWF officials and queries were raised from the representatives of public and private (for profit and not for profit) sectors in the meeting of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The findings indicate that despite enormous contribution of WWF-Pakistan towards eco-system and environment, its own sustainable development seems under menace, since it is not receiving the desired level of cooperation and sponsorships from the domestic stakeholders. However, the environmental degradation in Pakistan stands at the peak level and the entire eco-system is under serious menace of climate change to global warming, which exerts deep impact on the lives of populace, habitat, and economic output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational scholars have empirically outlined the significance of support features and psychological capital on individual outcomes. In the present study, we attempted to address the dearth of research on Ph.D. students' engagement via empirically testing the crucial role of supervisor support and psychological capital. A total of 125 Ph.D. students of 11 different nationalities were recruited from a public university in Malaysia. The application of structural equation modeling to test the mediated model revealed that research supervisor's support positively enhanced Ph.D. students' academic psychological capital. Accordingly, the study also found a positive relationship between academic psychological capital and Ph.D. students' engagement. Notably, the study reported academic psychological capital positively mediated the relationship between supervisor support and Ph.D. students' engagement. The study has addressed the research gap with critical findings pertaining to how students' psychological capital can be of prominent significance for Ph.D. students' well-being. Contributions and implications of the study are outlined with reference to how supervisor support can foster Ph.D. students' academic psychological capital and thereupon their engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As inculcating green intention and behaviour among individuals, particularly potential entrepreneurs (students), has recently become a hot topic of discussion, it is essential to contribute to this debate by offering empirical evidence. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to examine how green mindfulness (GM) and spiritual intelligence (SPI) enhance environmental self-identity (ESI). This study also examined the role of GM and SPI in developing green entrepreneurial intention (GEI). The study investigated whether ESI could mediate the relationship between GM, SPI, and GEI. The study gathered information from 202 students at King Faisal University's Business Administration and Applied Colleges in Saudi Arabia using a self-administered questionnaire for these objectives. The study employed partial least-squares structural equation modeling to analyse the data. The study revealed some interesting findings. It was discovered that GM has a direct and significant positive association with ESI and GEI. Furthermore, it was also reported that SPI has a positive and significant connection with ESI, but no positive relationship with GEI. ESI revealed the existence of a meaningful positive relationship with GEI. Finally, when examining the mediating role played by the ESI, the study reported the inability of the ESI to mediate the relationship between GM and GEI. At the same time, it was able to fully mediate between SPI and GEI. The study provides a set of recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders. The study is considered one of few studies investigating the key factors influencing GEI among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of TikTok is more widespread now than ever, and it has a big impact on users' daily lives, with self-perceived identity and personal values being topics of interest in light of the algorithmically curated content. This mini-review summarizes current findings related to the TikTok algorithm, and the impact it has on self-perceived identity, personal values, or related concepts of the Self. We pass through the contents of algorithmic literacy and emphasize its importance along with users' attitudes toward algorithms. In the first part of our results, we show conceptual models of algorithms like the crystal framework, platform spirit, and collective imaginaries. In the second part, we talk about the degree of impact a social media algorithm may exert over an individual's sense of self, understanding how the algorithmized self and domesticated algorithm are trying to sum up the dual development of this relationship. In the end, with the concept of Personal Engagement and the role of cognitive biases, we summarize the current findings and discuss the questions that still need to be addressed. Performing research on the topic of social media, especially TikTok, poses ethical, cultural, and regulatory challenges for researchers. That is why we will discuss the main theoretical frameworks that were published with their attached current studies and their impact on the current theoretical models as well as the limitations within these studies. Finally, we discuss further topics of interest related to the subject and possible perspectives, as well as recommendations regarding future research in areas like impact on personal values and identity, cognitive biases, and algorithmic literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effect of innovation on the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mediates this relationship. In order to evaluate our assumptions, a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was applied to a sample of 769 Spanish SMEs through a telephone survey conducted with company managers. The findings show that innovation and CSR have an impact on performance. Additionally, to these strong direct effects, CSR has a side effect that strengthens the beneficial effects of innovation on performance. Finally, the results demonstrate significant implications for both SME managers and owners, as they help them to develop innovation-related strategies, which will lead to higher organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, small and medium service firms face difficulty sustaining their performance. Additionally, the literature on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in SMEs is scarce. Moreover, the role of cost leadership strategy as a mediator lacks researchers' attention. Therefore, this research aims to examine the relationship between EO and SMEs performance with the mediating role of cost leadership strategy. Based on the contingency theory, a theoretical model has been drawn. A survey approach with a questionnaire technique has been adapted to achieve the study objectives. The data were collected from 283 service SMEs in three states of Malaysia. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed to analyze the empirical data. The study findings highlight that risk-taking and open innovation have no direct relationship with SMEs' performance. However, through the mediation role of cost leadership, risk-taking and open innovation have a significant association with performance. Furthermore, the findings indicate that proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy have a positive and direct relationship with performance, whereas in the presence of cost leadership, competitive aggressiveness has a partial mediating effect. The empirical findings are helpful to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation in Furniture SMEs in East Java, Indonesia, towards competitive advantage. This study uses a quantitative approach with the survey method. This study uses primary data that is self-reported using a self-administered survey by distributing questionnaires directly to 84 owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Furniture in Western East Java, Indonesia. A measurement used the structural equation model (SmartPLS 3.0) to analyze data. Five hypotheses were proposed, and only four had positive significant and positive effects on competitive advantage, that is, the influence of entrepreneurial orientation consisting of proactiveness, innovativeness, aggressiveness, and autonomy. In contrast, the hypothesis related to risk-taking towards the competitive advantage of SMEs Furniture has no positive and significant effect. The findings of this study show that the dominant influence of the entrepreneurial orientation dimension is aggressiveness. The theoretical implication of this research is that furniture business players need to continuously improve their aggressiveness in entrepreneurship according to the theoretical findings in this study, such as introducing innovative products made from local materials and following market trends. This research adds to the theory of aggressiveness in entrepreneurship to encourage innovations that will make industries that use local natural resources more competitively and help government policies. Aggressiveness is required by the furniture business to improve competitiveness for a labor-intensive industry with reliable local content to spur economic growth in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the relationship between trade intensity, energy consumption, income per capita, and carbon dioxide emissions from 1970–2016 for the Portuguese economy. Considering the arguments of monopolistic competition, the article tests the hypotheses of trade and energy consumption on climate change. We use the autoregressive distributed lag-ARDL model, quantile regression, and cointegration models such as fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), canonical cointegration regression, and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) as an econometric strategy. The econometric results have support with the literature review. The variables used in this research are integrated with the first differences, as indicated by the unit root test. The empirical study proves that trade intensity contributes to environmental improvements. However, energy consumption presents a positive impact on CO2 emissions. The econometric results also demonstrated that a sustainable environmental system exists in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]