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The study aims to assess a sustainable green financial environment by exploring the underlying structure of monetary seismic aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is qualitative and uses a review of literature, primary data collection methods, and qualitative analysis techniques as the study's overall design. The data is collected by one-to-one interview using a matrix style questionnaire from a panel of experts based on the purposive sampling technique. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) combined with Matrices' Impacts Cruise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) is used for assessment, modeling, and analysis of data. The monetary aftershocks, namely, "more cash in hand required," "decreased travel costs," "shift to more certain or fixed revenue streams," "lower rent costs," "more zealous monitoring of cash collection cycle," and "decreased entertainment costs," occupy level I (top of the model being least critical shocks), and "tedious regulations" occupy level VIII (bottom of the model being the most vital). Other aftershocks form the middle of the model being moderate critical. Analysis of MICMAC shows that monetary seismic aftershocks high fees for assistance regarding SOPs, tedious regulations, and more downtime due to pandemic alerts are independent. This study addresses the core issue from within the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides new important information regarding the structure of a sustainable green financial environment that is useful for economists, financial analysts, commercial and central bankers, accountants and finance managers from the organization's public/and private sectors, local and international community, and researchers of the domain. It provides an informative structural model and classification of critical aftershocks. There are specific data/methodological/resource-related limitations of the study. The study's data are collected from a focus group; the study's methodology is qualitative and indicates relations among variables that do not quantify the associations. The study is a typical initiative of academic researchers with limited financial/physical resources; therefore, the generalizability of the study results is accordingly limited. The study is based on original, essential data and innovatively and creatively approaches the problem. It provides a unique model of an unprecedented phenomenon for reverberating the sustainable green financial environment.

PurposeThe study aims to investigate the barriers in implementing social distancing at the workplace as an aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic period.Design/methodology/approachStudy design consists of a review of literature, data collection and analysis. It encompasses identification, verification and analysis of the relationships among the barriers. Data have been collected from a panel of experts on matrix-type questionnaires from workplaces. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) augmented with “Matrice d' Impacts Croise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (Cross Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification)” (MICMAC) for structural analysis.FindingsThe literature has identified twenty major barriers to implementing social distancing at the workplace. The research findings reveal/show that the barrier “matter of disrespect” occupies the bottom level in the ISM model. Therefore, it is the most critical barrier; whereas, employees with disabilities and “herding culture” are crucial as they occupy the next lowest level, therefore, are crucial. Moreover, there are ten barriers positioned in the middle of the model having moderate-severe effects, and seven falls on the top level of the model having relatively less severe effects. Results of MICMAC affirm and avow the results of ISM.Research limitations/implicationsThe study will have profound theoretical and practical implications for stakeholders since it provides lot of new useful and valuable information, gives relational insights and determines priorities subject to usual limitations of survey research.Originality/valueIt is an original attempt to make some sense of practicability of social distancing for stakeholders including policymakers, frontline health workers and public at large.

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.

The purpose of the study is to gauge the unemployment level of selected one hundred and thirteen countries. The design of the study includes a survey of the literature, extraction of relevant data and analysis. The study follows a quantitative paradigm of research that uses secondary data set taken from the website of World Development Indicators (WDI). The analysis encompasses selected countries based on the availability of data. The data has been analyzed using Grey Incidence Analysis Model, commonly known as GRA. For interpretation of the results, the methodology has been augmented with the scheme of ensigns (i.e. classification of countries into Extremely Low, Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, Very High, Extremely High) of the level of unemployment. Results show that J&APR have an extremely low level of unemployment and member countries of SADC have an extremely high level of unemployment. Pakistan fall under the ensign of very low, therefore have a low level of unemployment. It is valuable to study equally useful for governments, academia and the international community. This study provides critical new information on the phenomenon.

The province of Punjab is considered the breadbasket of Pakistan. This study is aimed to evaluate and hierarchicalize the districts of Punjab based on agricultural indicators. It follows a ranking approach that uses secondary cross-sectional data obtained from Punjab Development Statistics 2016. This study has employed Grey System Theory and used GRA. It is a seminal study that uses a unique methodology that has integrated thirteen different indicators of agricultural development in one mathematical model and assigned a distinct composite grade to every district. Findings revealed that district Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar have the highest Grey Relational Grade (GRG), hence depict the best agricultural performance in Punjab, whereas district Mianwali has the lowest GRG and accordingly least performance. This research provides insight to the policymakers, which will help them to take corrective measures and/or adjust the agricultural development policies

“Cause” is the word of positive-valence stimuli and increasing the like-hood intend to be a pair with it. Linking of consumer purchase with social cause is common and in rising trend. It’s a favorable tool of an organization to engage consumer and make his emotional attachment in charitable cause and increase sales volume. Previous Cause Related Marketing (CrM) literature has examined the CrM in term of consumer or in term of brand or purchase, we could not find any study which is investigating the mediating role of specific time between CrM and attitudes of consumers towards brand, ad, offer and cause involvement. Present study examines the best use of CrM according to time in beverages industry on soft drink on a holy occasion of Muslims (i.e. Ramazan). An already established questioner was used for collection of data. Mall intercept convenience technique is use to gather data. It’s a multiple group analysis study, data was collected two times, once during event and once after the event, sample size was remain same both times. Morgan’s formula is used to select the size of samples. Results of study show that CrM has influence on customer attitude which was being measured in three types, furthermore these attitudes has positively influence individual’s intention to buy a specific brand in a specific time period. This study will be provided a best use of CrM campaign according to time. Research will also direct the marketers to use of CrM on a specific time to tackle their customer’s attitude.

The study aims to assess and analyze the social outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study uses the discourse of comprehensive literature review to identify the outcomes, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) for developing a structural model and Matrices' Impacts Cruise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) for analysis, classification of societal outcomes, and corroboration of results of ISM. Data from fifteen experts was collected through a survey questionnaire. As a result of the literature review, a list of sixteen outcomes was generated and verified by a panel of experts. Results of ISM revealed that the outcomes, namely, "emotional instability," "mental health self-harm," loneliness reduced recreational activities, obesity, and "increased screen time" come at the top of the model; therefore, they are less vital outcomes, whereas the most significant outcome which is at the bottom of the model is "employment instability"; hence it has a major impact on the society. The remaining outcomes fall in the middle of the model, so they have a moderate-severe impact. Results of MICMAC validate the findings of ISM. Overall findings of the study reveal that "employment instability" is the crucial social outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an original attempt based on real-time data, which is helpful for society at large, researchers, the international community, and policymakers because this study provides a lot of new information about the phenomenon. The study includes understanding society at large, policymakers, and researchers by illustrating the complex relations and simplifying the connections among a wide range of social outcomes of COVID-19.

Purpose: In this research study, author tried to analyze and investigate the issues of COVID-19 pandemic and its possible affect on economies especially in context of Pakistan. The basic purpose of this research is to examine and understand the COVID-19 issues and its consequences worldwide economies. This study was conducted using grey relational analysis. Methodology: GRA is used to calculate the correlation among two or more constructs. The core part of this research is pre.and.post.COVID-19.implications on world economies as well as on Pakistan’s economy. Furhermore, in this study author tried to analyze that which year was the most destructive year for economies. For analyze and investigation, author gathered six years secondary data and apply GRA research methods to conclude the results. Findings: After successfully concluded the outcomes which showed that like other countries in the world Pakistan’s economy also affected due to business were shutdown and governments imposed lockdown in country-wise which eventually caused export declined. Due to this reason, impact on Pakistan’s economy went to nosedown even growth rate down to negative. Economy of any country highly depending on its exports so, in order to evaluate any country economic condition, exports of this country may highly considered. Conculsion: Therefore, at the end it was concluded that the year 2020 was the most destructive year for any country especially for Pakistan which affect the economy most.

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.

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.

The purpose of this study is to structure a model of relationships among barriers in the implementation of CG in Pakistan. It also points out a key barrier in embarking on the regime of CG. The design of research consists of a literature review, data collection and analyses. Modeling methodology entails ISM coupled with MICMAC. Findings revealed that “lack of investigation about the rights of minority shareholders” is the most critical barrier since this occupies the bottom of the model. Whereas, barriers namely “basic shareholders rights are not often protected, minority shareholders rights are often violated, lack of autonomy on the part of the auditors and rules requiring equity ownership disclosure are not followed” are least critical since they occupy the top of the model. MICMAC analysis revealed that three barriers fall in the independent quadrant, six in the linkage, six independent and two in autonomous. This study is helpful to regulators and corporations to successfully embark on the regime of CG.

Aim of the study is to apply ISM on disordered chaotic hierarchy of employees’ emotional behaviors that result in failed mergers. It is an exploratory research that uses in depth literature review for identification of behaviors, ISM for exploring causal relations, analyzing interactions & prioritizing them and MICMAC analysis for classifying them on the basis of their driving-dependence power. Findings revealed that: there are total eighteen employees’ emotional behaviors, having four levels hierarchy where job insecurity, feeling of degradation and jealousy occupy bottom of ISM model, hence, are most critical whereas, shame and compassion occupy top i.e. relatively less critical. MICMAC revealed that two behaviors are dependent, two are independent, fourteen are autonomous and no ambivalent. This study is useful for organizations which are in process of mergers or acquisitions. This study is unique as it takes the matter holistically and develops pertinence wise hierarchicalization of behaviors. The paper offers three main contributions: i) it provides comprehensive conceptual understanding of constructs of the phenomenon and underpins complex relationships among behaviors, ii) developed a model of hierarchicalization of emotional behaviors and iii) developed driving-dependence diagram on the continuum of weak-strong.

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.

This study aims to investigate employees’ physical behaviors under the environment of mergers. Chaotic recognition and disorderly hierarchicalization of critical physical behaviors of employees resulting into unsuccessful mergers is the problem under investigation. Employees have power to dictate the fate of mergers; therefore, it is imperative to scientifically underpin the patterns of their physical behaviors while during execution of mergers. The study follows positivist approach as research philosophy. It has identified and developed a hierarchy of physical behaviors that emerge into employees during organizational mergers. It is an empirical study based on formalized in-depth analysis. A specially designed questionnaire has been used for collecting data from a medium sized heterogeneous panel of experts on mergers. Technique of discourse of literature has been employed for identification of behaviors, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) for hierarchicalization whereas cross-impact matrix multiplication analysis (MICMAC) for investigation of driving and dependence power. Total eleven behaviors have been identified. ISM model depicts that bottom is occupied by conflict, middle by reduced organizational commitment and top by lower productivity. It means that conflict among employees is the most critical physical behavior, reduced organizational commitment is linking and lower productivity is least critical for mergers. MICMAC revealed that five behaviors fall in driving, four in dependent, one in linking and two in autonomous quadrant. The study is based on limited number of experts’ opinion, however, that may be envisaged on larger population for statistical investigation. The study provides insight to the policy makers, planners and executers of mergers.

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.

The study has been conducted to empirically test mediating role of organizational commitment between corporate social responsibility (CSR) & proactive personality and job performance. It is a quantitative study designed to evaluate multiple regression equations based on data collected from two major service sectors of Pakistan i.e. banking and telecom. Partial Least Squares (PLS) based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) has been employed as technique of analysis. The results showed that CSR and proactive personality positively affect job performance and organizational commitment partially mediates the relationship between them. The study provides new valuable insights to management of service sector organizations. It provides insights that how implementing CSR and proactive managers improve performance of employees

Aim of the study is to identify what are the barriers in promoting tourism in Pakistan and imposing structure on complex interrelationships among these barriers. It is an exploratory study which uses literature discourse for identification of barriers, binary matrices for structuring issue and cross impact matrix multiplication applied to classification for analyzing driving-dependence power. Discourse of literature revealed that there are sixteen barriers important to address the issue in hand. Communication barrier and unfavorable government policies occupy bottom in the interpretive structural model that are highly important and need utmost attention. Eight barriers fall in dependent, four in independent, three in linkage and none in autonomous quadrant of driving-dependence diagram. The study is useful for policy makers and tourists’ agencies to handle current issues prevailing in tourism industry and promote it accordingly. It is a foremost attempt in Pakistan to structure the issue on the basis of opinion of expert from within stakeholders.

Quality has always been center of gravity for superior competitive advantage. TQM has captured attention of both practitioners and academicians because it is an important management practice for improving performance. This research is aimed to provide insight of the challenges faced by readymade garment industry of Pakistan for implementation of TQM principles. In depth literature, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Matriced' Impacts Croise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) analyses have been employed to investigate the phenomena under study. Discourse of literature revealed that there are twenty challenges in implementation of TQM. Lack of employee trust in senior management is the most critical challenge to be addressed that occupies bottom of the model. Lack of formalized strategic plan for change and lack of leadership occupy highest position in the model hence attracts least attention. MICMAC analysis revealed that lack of consistency of purposes autonomous, lack of evaluation procedures and benchmark indices and obsolete technology are independent and all other challenges fall in linking quadrant. Whereas no such challenge is exclusively categorized as dependent, however, most of the linking factors have high degree of dependence as well. This study is useful for the organizations which are in process of implementing TQM practices.

The aim of this study is to investigate the Impact of Brand Image, Service Quality and Trust on Customer Loyalty, Moderating Effect of Perceived Price Fairness and the Mediating Effect of Customer Satisfaction on telecommunication sector of Pakistan. This research is helpful to capture and retain the satisfied and loyal customer and it is useful to identify the factors through which telecommunication sector may improve its performance. The survey research design method was used in this study. It involves a questionnaire for the collection of data from the respondents. Convenience-based Sampling was used in this research data was collected with the help of a questionnaire from 250 customers in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan (Warid, Zong, Mobilink, and Ufone Telenor). Correlation analysis was conducted utilizing SPSS to analyze the data. It is revealed that the correlation between customer loyalty and three independent factors that are quality service, brand image, and trust is very strong and mediator customer satisfaction in this relationship had an effect on customer loyalty. There exists a strong relationship between three dimensions of independent variables and the dependent; we can say that there is a strong effect of a mediator and moderator on these relationships. There is also a very strong correlation between customer loyalty and customer satisfaction.