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The COVID-19 pandemic created a significant economic decline and altered market behavior, forcing buyers and dealers online. The traditional local market merchants are not fully equipped with e-commerce business techniques and strategies, which is a barrier to their e-commerce behavior and success. The study aims to help small-medium firms adapt to an uncertain economic environment instead of reducing or shutting down business-like in Pakistan. From health to education, economy to domestic and social protection, various researches have been done since 2020. The researcher used primary data sources and did a Quantitative study after collecting the 240 samples size of data from the successful e-commerce players of Pakistan. The results confirm that customer satisfaction is essential for entrepreneurs to succeed, as customers were not satisfied with online shopping during COVID-19. Customer knowledge management (CKM) and job satisfaction (JS) are studied as potential and realized capacity variables. CKM act as a strategic asset to collect and assimilate the external customer knowledge. In contrast, satisfied employees act as a valuable asset that dynamically responds to changing customer needs and business environment by efficiently utilizing their knowledge and skills and reaching business success which is mirrored in customer satisfaction. Conclusive results enable practitioners to perceive the business success during economic crises in the organization’s absorptive capacity.

Dealing with expropriating investors’ money is a demanding issue in the corporate sector. This study aims to unveil the barriers to putting expropriations to halt, extract the structure underlying the relationships among barriers, and classify them. The study design entails a literature survey, primary data collection, modeling of the issue, and analysis. This study uses Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Matriced Impacts Cruise’s Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) to address this issue. The study uses a non-probability-based purposive sampling technique. The data were collected from a panel of experts consisting of 12 chief financial officers recruited from companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Pakistan, from July to September 2022. We find that a “complicated legal system” is the most critical barrier to putting expropriations to a halt, followed by barriers such as “flawed hiring” and “lack of media attention.” In addition, the least critical are barriers such as “loopholes in laws,” “ineffective law enforcement,” “politicized accountability,” and “lack of international coordination.” It is an original and valuable study based on real-time data collected from the respondents having hands-on helm of the companies’ financial affairs. This is a seminal practical study for policymakers and other stakeholders to understand the barriers to halting corporate scandals and explain expropriations.

Workplace incivility has gotten a lot of attention in recent decades. Researchers have looked at many forms of aggressive conduct in the workplace and their negative impacts on individuals and businesses. The goal of this study was to see how incivility among supervisors leads to work withdrawal and when this link might be mitigated. We argued that supervisor incivility indirectly influences work withdrawal behavior through job insecurity, and that emotional intelligence moderates this connection. This study attempted to evaluate the influence of supervisor incivility on the job withdrawal behavior of personnel working in several banks Lahore by drawing on affective events theory and conservation of resource theory. Data were gathered from 350 workers of banks in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura to test our assumptions, and SPSS 24 was used to generate and analyze data with Hayes Process. The findings revealed a strong link between supervisor incivility and job insecurity but no link between supervisor incivility and work withdrawal behavior. The idea of moderation was validated, since emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between job insecurity and job withdrawal behavior. There are also suggestions for more empirical studies and theoretical and practical ramifications.

This study aims to generate a list of enablers of quality enhancement of higher business education in Pakistan and build a structural model of enablers to prioritize them. It also intends to impose direction and hierarchy on the inter-relationships of the enablers. The study's design consists of a literature review, data collection from primary sources, and qualitative analysis. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) coupled with Matriced' Impacts Cruise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) is used as a research methodology. The classical procedure of ISM and MICMAC is applied to primary data collected by a field survey from a panel of experts recruited from folks of stakeholders of business education. Results of the literature show that eighteen critical enablers enhance the quality of higher business education in Pakistan. Results of ISM show that the enabler 'job placement of graduates' occupies the top-level of the ISM model being least critical. In contrast, the enabler 'intra-academia linkages' occupying the bottom of the model is the most vital. Results of MICMAC show that all enablers, except 'job placement of graduates, are classified into linkage clusters, whereas 'job placement of graduates' is classified as an independent cluster. Overall results of the study show that enablers of quality enhancement of higher business education in Pakistan are agile and not settled. The study has profound theoretical, managerial, and practical implications for all stakeholders of business education. It also provides a research framework for future studies concerning subject phenomena. The discussion about the structural model culminates into policy guidelines for the regulators. The study is subject to some methodological/data/resources limitations like the limited review of literature, collection of data from a medium-size panel of experts from Pakistan only, using majority rule for aggregating responses, answering only that what is related to what, other common limitations of qualitative studies, shot period and absence of financial support. The authors conduct this study in a real-life field setting is built on the original dataset and address the efficient issue of phenomenon understudy differently. It is theory-building research, therefore, does not require prior theory. It exploits simple elementary concepts of Boolean algebra, set theory, and graph theory that generates new in-depth information for stakeholders.

This study is aimed to conceptually engineer the effects of hot potatoes (bad loans) in the banking system. The study’s research design uses elementary concepts of graph theory comprising of mappings of systemic behavior of contemporary banking. Issues have been formally underpinned, described, and visualized through directed and linear graphs. Findings of the study show that it is an inherent feature of the banking system to generate hot potatoes and allow them to sit there. It creates heat in the system by way of latency, turgescence, propagation, and concurrent cyclicality. These predicaments of systemic crises of banking deteriorate the sustainability of the system. The pilot study (using classical t -Test) conducted as part of this research has validated the theoretical argument aforementioned. The study provides new insights into these die-hard issues. It helps refine the agenda of future research in banking.

This study aimed to analyze stressors to which medical staff is vulnerable due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It also imposes a hierarchy on complex relations among stressors for excavating underlying structure and builds a model of interrelationships contrasting reality. The design of this study comprises a literature survey, data collection from primary sources, and analysis. Stressors have been explored from within current published/unpublished literature and validated by experts through approval vote. Data were collected from the focus group (panel of experts), and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) was used as the research methodology. Findings of ISM are avowed through “cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification” (MICMAC) analysis. As a result of the literature survey, a list of stressors was generated, and a total of 19 stressors qualified as representative of the phenomenon. The results of ISM show that two stressors (i.e., “unavailability of proper personal protective equipment (PPE)” and “lack of proper communication”) emerged as the most critical stressors since they occupy the bottom of the model, whereas, four stressors (i.e., “anxious about isolation/quarantine,” “subject to violent crimes,” “feeling frustrated and powerless,” and “exhausting shifts/hours without clear end”) are relatively less critical since they occupy the top of the model. The rest of the stressors occupy the middle of the model and therefore, have moderate-severe effects on frontline soldiers. The results of MICMAC show that the stressor “subject to violent crimes” is classified in the dependent cluster and the remaining fall in the linkage cluster but no stressor falls in independent and autonomous. Overall results indicate that all stressors are relevant to the phenomenon under this study, but they are currently not settled. This study is invaluable for policymakers, frontline soldiers, researchers, the international community, and society since it provides a lot of new information that is helpful in refining strategies and combating influential stressors.

The study is aimed to analyze the determinants of the effectiveness of SOPs in mass gatherings for containing COVID-19. The overall design of the study involves a literature review, data collection by field survey, structural modeling, and analysis. The study is built on the experts' opinion of a focus group (representing people who recently participated in and are responsible for mass gatherings). The study uses the discussion of the literature review to identify the determinants, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) for developing and analyzing a structural model, and Matrice d'Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquée a un Classement (MICMAC) for corroboration of results of the ISM/classification of determinants. From the literature review, a list of determinants is generated and verified by a panel of experts. The results of the ISM revealed that the determinants “legal environment of the country,” “practicability of SOPs,” “perceived benefit of adapting SOPs,” and “possibilities of avoiding gathering” occupied the top of the model, therefore, they are less critical determinants, whereas “nature of gathering” occupied the bottom of the model, and is thus the most critical determinant. The remaining determinants form the middle of the model, and are therefore moderately severe. The results of MICMAC show that the determinant “perceived benefit of adapting SOPs” is dependent, “nature of gathering” is independent, and all others are linked. The results of MICMAC implicitly substantiate the findings of the ISM. The overall results of the study show that “nature of gathering” is the key determinant. This research does not require a priori theory since it is a theory-building study that uses an inductive approach. It is based on real data and it is useful for local authorities, organizers, participants (attendees/visitors) of mass gatherings, health officials/regulators, researchers, and the community at large. This study has fundamental importance for planning and preparing for such events while ensuring the minimum risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate county-wide health systems using the data set of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall design of study comprises a literature review, secondary data, and a mathematical analysis. It is a cross-sectional quantitative study following a deductive approach. It uses the data of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic taken from the website of Worldometer as of April 8, 2020. The study uses a gray incidence analysis model (commonly known as Gray Relational Analysis, i.e., GRA) as its research methodology. On the basis of the results of GRA, a classification has been made under a predetermined scheme of ensigns: much better, better, somewhat better, fair, poor, somewhat worse, and worse health systems. There are a total 211 countries that have been divided into the seven aforementioned categories. Findings of the study show that Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries fall predominantly under the much better ensign, whereas Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Schengen Area (SA), and/or European Union (EU) countries fall under the worse ensign. Pakistan falls under the ensign of poor. It is an original attempt to evaluate the response of health systems based on real data using a scientific methodology. The study provides valuable information about the health systems of the countries for forming an informed opinion about the health systems herein. The study provides useful new information for stakeholders and a new framework for future research.

Purpose: Health system of a country is backbone of economy. It has fundamental importance in sustainable development of a country. Aim of this article is to excavate future challenges to health system of selected 106 countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: It is a country level comparative analysis of health risk factors. Design of the study includes review of literature, data extraction and analysis. The cross-sectional secondary data has been drawn from website of World Development Indicators (WDI) 2020. Grey relational analysis is used as technique of investigation. Findings: Results show that majorly, member countries of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have exceptionally high grey relational grade, therefore, are considered to be countries having less future health risks, whereas, Southern African Development Community (SADC) have exceptionally low grey relational grade, therefore, have high future health risk. Implications/Originality/Value: It is a unique study using different dataset and methods that provides valuable insights to political governments, researchers and health system managers.

Purpose: The primary objective of the paper is to synthesise the available literature on technology and innovation management in business firms. The study examines and elaborates the sequential relationship between all constructs that ensure innovation and technology management happen in an integrated way. Approach/Design/Methodology: The study employs a qualitative approach of deductive reasoning, based on the reverse engineering method. Existing literature has been used as secondary data to harmonize the constructs as delineated in the conceptual framework for the research. Findings: Several empirical and conceptual studies besides academic contributions have reasonably helped to find that innovation and technology management require essential support of creativity, knowledge and leadership vision. Not only a significant relationship exists but a sequential order is also affirmed for the whole process. Originality / Value: This study presents the mechanism through which organizations can ensure better innovation and technology management. The inclusion of vision, knowledge and creativity in an orderly manner has added another dimension to the subject matter as a new contribution. It will help researchers, academicians and decision-makers to look into the process in a different yet practical manner.

The aim of the study is to reveal the underlying structure of issues of university students taking online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The overall design of the study includes a review of contemporary literature and field survey for data collection and analysis. Discourse of literature coupled with expert opinion has been employed for identification of issues. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is used for the determination of intra-issue relationships and analyzing the underlying structure. Cross impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC analysis) is used as a technique for classifying issues on the basis of driving–dependence power. Results of the literature show that there are 21 major issues faced by the students taking online classes. ISM shows that lack of institutional guidelines, lack of regulators’ guidelines, stress of pandemic situation, and abrupt (not planned) start of online classes are the most critical issues. MICMAC analysis reveals that there is no autonomous issue, 4 (i.e., connectivity issue, shy to use technology, lack of institutional guidelines, and stress of pandemic situation) are independent, 6 other issues are dependent, and the remaining 11 are linking. This is a valuable study having practical implications for regulators, students, parents, and society to understand the current problem. It is an original attempt that contributes toward literature in the form of a structural model and a diagram of classification of issues.

Aim of the study is to evaluate climate selected sixty-six countries of the world. Since climate plays a vital role in economic growth of any country and there is dearth of climate models comparing country-wise position to predict as how climate of country is relatively better than others and how it may change in the future and how will it affect on businesses. Overall design of the study consists of review of literature, data elicitation & analysis. It follows quantitative research philosophy based on secondary data obtained from World Development Indicators (WDI). Grey relational analysis is used method of analysis. A classification is made under a predetermined scheme of ensigns like: much better, better, somewhat better, fair, poor, somewhat worse and worse. Results of the study show that Arabian Countries (AC), mostly member countries of European Union (EE), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) have much better and conducive climate, whereas, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries have worse and unfavorable climate for business. It is an original and valuable study that uses country level data from a reliable source. Results of the study are useful for international business community, political governments, society at large and researchers.

Aim of the study is to evaluate ease of doing business though analysis of trade facilitations by different countries. The scope of the study involves one hundred and twenty-seven countries of the world and uses secondary data taken from World Development Indicators (WDI) 2020. Overall design of study consists of review of literature, data extraction and analysis. This study uses Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) as research methodology. Results show that member countries of OECD performed exceptionally well, whereas, member countries of SADC have exceptionally poor performance on agenda of ease of doing business and trade facilitations. The study is useful for existing and potential business owners/mangers, policy makers and researchers. It uses reliable country level original dataset therefore findings of the study are valuable for stakeholders.

International trade has fundamental importance for all the countries and the analysis concerning international trade particularly concerning tariff barriers is high on the agenda of researchers in the field of economics, business and politics. Aim of the study is to assess the world tariff barriers of 158 countries. Overall design of the study comprises of a crisp literature review, data extraction and analysis. It is a study of one hundred fifty-eight countries that uses secondary data taken from World Development Indicators (WDI) 2020. It uses Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) as research methodology. Results of GRA show that Macao SAR, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Montenegro, Mauritius, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Chile, Peru and Australia have relatively highest grey relational grades meaning thereby, low tariff trade barriers whereas Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Central African Republic, Nepal, Guinea-Bissau, Fiji, Gabon, Barbados, Djibouti, St. Kitts and Nevis have lowest grey relational grade meaning thereby, these countries have high level of tariff based barriers of international trade. Interestingly, all the member countries of European Union occupy the rank of 27 (i.e. all countries have the same rank) which can be explained in the perspective of their union of tariff. Since, they have uniformed tariff policy as against rest of the world, therefore, have same rank. It is a study based on reliable real time data set. The study has value for all stakeholders i.e. international community, local governments, society at large, policy makers, researchers and international institutions.

Aim of the study is to appraise women development in selected thirty-six countries with special reference to Pakistan. The design of the study comprises of survey of literature, data elicitation and analysis. The study uses grey incidence analysis model (usually known as Grey Relational Analysis or simply GRA). The model has been applied on the secondary data extracted from the website of World Development Indicators (WDI). The countries included in the analysis have been selected on the basis of availability of data. From the result of GRA it can be learnt that thirty-six countries of the world are classified into seven different categories. There are five countries (namely Estonia, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Thailand and Ecuador) categorized as countries having exceptionally high women development, whereas, five countries under each next ensign (very high, high, moderate, low and very low). There are six countries (namely Tanzania, Madagascar, Cote d'Ivoire, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan) categorized under the ensign of exceptionally low. Pakistan fall under the ensign of exceptionally low. This study is designed on an original country level data extracted from very reliable source and the results of the study are useful for regulators, researchers, NGOs and other stakeholders of the phenomenon by way of providing deeper and new information.

This study explores importance of Tacit Knowledge (TK) sharing for formal loan makers in Pakistan. Main objective of the study is to expound, conceptualize and hierarchicalize the factors of TK critical to credit decision making. The study follows positivist approach and overall research design consists of literature review, field survey and data analyses. Data was collected from credit officers of Pakistani banks. Following the triangulation approach for confirmation and comparison of results, multiple techniques viz EFA, GRA and RIDIT were employed. Results of EFA showed that there are eight major dynamics of TK. Findings of GRA revealed that TK about recovery of loans is the most important factor hence occupies the highest GRA rank, whereas, the TK about resources of borrowers occupies the lowest rank. RIDIT analysis showed that TK about multitude of business sectors is the most important factor hence occupies the highest RIDIT rank, whereas, TK about capacity to repay the loans occupies the lowest rank. Juxtaposition of results of GRA and RIDIT revealed that TK gained during recovery of loans is one of the most important factors. It is a seminal study in the area of knowledge management particularly in context of Pakistani banks based on original data collected in field setting. The study gives insight of critical factors of TK, which has high value for credit personnel in banks. The results are useful for decision makers in banks, academicians and researchers.

Identifying, ranking, exhuming and classifying the relations among the critical resemblances between Islamic and conventional banking is aim of this study. It also discusses the structure of these resemblances and devises valuable guidelines for discerners. It follows qualitative paradigm of research philosophy and overall design consists of review of literature, data collection and analysis. Literature review is used to prepare a list of resemblances, Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) is employed for ranking, exhuming and modeling the relationships among resemblances, whereas, cross impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) for substantiating the results of ISM by classifying factors into independent, dependent, linkage and autonomous clusters. Through the discourse of literature review a list of eighteen critical resemblances has been prepared. Results of ISM show that resemblance in rating system and resemblance in public perception occupy highest rank therefore are least critical, whereas, resemblance in settlement of cost of funds and similar employee qualification occupy bottom of the model therefore are the most critical. MICMAC analysis validates the results of ISM. This study is helpful to discerners who want to understand differences and similarities between two paradigms of banking. It is equally useful for regulators, management, employees, customers, researchers, religious scholars and society at large being an original attempt by the authors substantiated by real time survey data collected from experts on the issue.

Since last decade, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an inspiring catchall in the eyes of researchers. Many studies have been conducted examining the influence of CSR on stakeholders including customers, suppliers and shareholders. However, only a dearth of research is found that attempted to understand its impact on most important stakeholders (i.e. employees). This study aims to understand the relationships among CSR, organizational trust, organizational identification and organizational commitment. The study conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 758 employees working in the banking sector on a random basis. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling and noted that employee when perceive CSR activities, exhibit trust, identification and commitment to their organization. In addition, organizational trust and organizational identification mediate the relationship between CSR and organizational commitment, while organizational trust mediates the relationship between CSR and organizational identification. The data were collected at one point of time, which restrict researchers to establish causal relationship. The study suggests bankers gain employees' support by engaging in CSR related activities.

Credit is the business and recovery is the core issue of banks. Documentation of transactions is indispensible to effect complete and timely recovery of banks’ credits. The valid credit documentation, that ensures recovery, has fostering impact on the performance of banks. This research study is based on critical review of literature and aframework for the valid documentation of credits has been developed to enhance the performance of banks.

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