Search

COVID-19 forced almost all forms of firms to opt for digitized business models. This impact wasalso found true for SMEs. In fact, the impact of pandemic was much drastic and therefore use of ebusiness models was opted not only to succeed but also to survive in the times of crises. However, thereis severe knowledge and research gap with respect to the use of e-recruitment during pandemic andfirm’s sustainability. Especially with respect to SMEs the research inventory is not satisfactory to highlightimpact of e-recruitment on firm’s performance or sustainability. However, sustainability was the realissue and area for concern specially for SMEs at the wake of pandemic. Thus, this study has beenconducted purposively to reflect the impact of e-recruitment through social media platform onsustainability of SMEs at the wake of pandemic. The research population includes top management ofSMEs operating in Karachi and data has been collected through loose quota sampling. Analysis of datahas been done through structural equation modeling which indicated that Facebook is perceived as aneffective tool for e-recruitment by SMEs amid COVID-19

In recent years, business organizations have been compelled to compete in the competitive environment and to advance innovativeness, provide improved product and service quality and respond effectively to dynamic demands and preferences. Studies on corporate entrepreneurship are now common in Pakistan. Although most of the studies tend to explore the link between corporate entrepreneurship & a firm’s growth, however, there is also a need to check the relationship of corporate entrepreneurship with other elements of growth. Therefore, this study tries to explore the effect of innovation as a part of corporate entrepreneurship on customer’s satisfaction with the reference of middle-level management of public sector banks. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire which was analyzed through SMART-PLS. The results indicate that there is a definite relationship between corporate entrepreneurship and customer satisfaction, whereas the support of top management is also a potent variable in the context of public sector banks. This study, therefore, will be beneficial for increasing understanding and theory building criteria. The empirical findings of the study also reflected that innovation is a significant predictor of customer satisfaction and moderation of top management support is significant to foster customer satisfaction. The study offers managerial implications and future research recommendations on the basis of the findings.

The chapter is written purposively in order to highlight the development of social innovation as the idea of discipline and work process. The chapter highlights not only the academic evolution of social innovation but also highlights the role of universities in the development of social innovation in developing sides of the world. Therefore, the chapter is much different from the other chapters that are written to highlight the birth, introduction, and growth of social innovation and the social innovation process. In fact, the purpose of this chapter is not only to emphasize the introduction of social innovation as the term and idea, but the chapter also defined factors that assist in the growth of social innovation in the developing world.

The role of higher education is to benefit society at large to generate sustainable socio-economic returns. Therefore, research and knowledge creation must be rendered to achieve anodyne to overcome social challenges and foster new and better practices. Hence, social innovation is the need of society, especially from higher education providers. Especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, there is a need of social innovation by all stake holders in order to attain a sustainable economy. Although, to provide catalyst to the model of social change and innovation, there is a need of an entrepreneurial model for higher education. However, most of the prior studies with the reference of education are not related with the innovation but with societal impact and produce educational change. Thus, this chapter has been written purposely to describe social innovation by higher education providers. The chapter also includes various examples of social innovation with respect to the higher education sector in order to make readers understand the importance of social innovation in the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 worlds.

Social innovation and social entrepreneurship were rarely discussed till the 19th century. However, the topic has been in the limelight extensively since 1950. Moreover, the linkage between social innovation and social entrepreneurship still needs to be explored, especially in developing sides of the world where social entrepreneurship is required to optimize social and economic parameters. In fact, there is a severe increase in the level of opportunities for social entrepreneurship. The increase in the level of opportunities is massive, especially due to globalization. Therefore, this chapter has been written purposefully to reflect the role of social entrepreneurship with examples and opportunities for social entrepreneurship with reference to the developing sides of the world.

The growing technological advancement and marketing strategies are creating great competition between companies. Marketers constantly focus on developing attractive marketing strategies to promote their products and services to increase their customer base. SMS marketing lies in one of these strategies of marketers to reach each individual in order to make them their loyal consumers by offering their required products or services. As there are different kinds of consumers with different needs, consumption styles and preferences. And every country has its own culture, lifestyle, and consumer perceptions. This study covers the importance of SMS advertising and to know the responses of Pakistani youth and adults towards SMS advertising. Messages sent by advertisers to inform about their product, new innovation or launch are not accepted everywhere by some people. The aim of this study is to determine the acceptance and rejection attitudes of youth and adults towards SMS advertising and how SMS advertising influences consumers to purchase the product.

This study is based on applied research and investigates the effect of some vital retail marketing variables such as store environment, product display & promotional activities on consumers impulsive buying behaviour. Within this relationship, the moderating role of income is also tested. Although previously there are several studies associated with the topic, the subject matter has remained a persistent topic of interest to marketers and firms alike. To gather the data, a survey technique was employed, and the data was collected through secondary authentic sources from consumers visiting selected prominent retail shops from the study area. Thus, the ever-evolving consumers’ demand and the nature of the subject it is legitimate to consider the study as one of the pervasive in nature as the study is potent in the increase of knowledge in the area of business as well as in academia. Moreover, as with all secondary data studies, this study is also supplemented with some limitations as the data collected from developing countries like Pakistan is not coherent with the other economies although the value of the paper has not been overshadowed and this can be used for applicative reasoning. Similarly, the sample size for the study is 200 respondents and AMOS, SEM, CFA, SPSS & SMART PLS softwares are used for data analysis. The major reason for the application of the software is the theory-building approach associated with the study. Relatedly, the paper is supported by descriptive as well as inferential analysis in order to make the findings of the study potent and reliable. The use of the software indicated that there is a relationship between the store environment, product display & promotional activity. Similarly, income plays a strong moderating role in the relationship under study.

CPEC is one of the most important topics for research in social science today due to its dominance and prominence in regional studies. There is a heap of research inventory in this area of interest. Although most of the prior studies highlighted opportunities, threats and obstacles associated with CPEC, none of these indicated the potential threats that CPEC imposes on India. Therefore, this study has major importance in the literature as it is associated with the issues which the corridor might create for India. Although there are no prior studies in this regard, there is some evidence regarding the impact of CPEC on India, as no study is complete without addressing negative consequences of CPEC for India. Therefore, researchers bring all these stances together in order to formulate proper framework to address potential threats of CPEC for India. This is highlighted majorly through the support of public opinion and also through associating possible negative impacts of CPEC (on India) with secondary data. The study uses quantitative approach therefore for analysis of public opinion SMART PLS-SEM has been incorporated and results highlighted that youth believes that CPEC is able to produce several threats to India. Although the legal chasm of Gilgit & Biltistan might diminish the extent of these threats.

Purpose of the study: Quality Enhancement Cells (QECs) are prudent and play a dynamic role in the advancement of quality in higher education. This study examined the role and significance of QEC's in HEIs in an emerging economy like Pakistan. Methodology: This study is conducted on the perceived benefits of Self-Assessment Reports (SARs) to have an initial guideline for further investigation on the role of QECs. The research model for this study has been formulated from the outcomes of SARs devised in a previous similar study. The model was evaluated through quantitative analysis using SmartPLS, determining SARs benefits associated with academia and students. Main Findings: The empirical findings indicated that faculty perception regarding SARs and their benefits are positive and the relationship between the assessed variables is significant. Applications of this study: The study findings will benefit the policymakers in HEIs to induct SARs as an organizational development tool. Novelty/Originality of this study: This research is novel in its nature as limited research work regarding SAR and QEC evaluation in Pakistan has hindered the research-related activities and strategic planning in this area.

Pandemics always create dreadful effects not only on human life but also drastically influence businesses and industries. Historical evidence has apparently indicated that the outbreak of Spanish flu, SARS, MERS, and Ebola viruses, all created radical impacts on businesses around the globe, leaving behind the economic structures into miseries and deprivations. Similar is the case of COVID-19 outbreak which instigated from China and dispersed all over the globe. In Pakistan, the first case was reported in March 2020 and since then the government has relentlessly tried to impose lockdown and social distancing in order to avert the harm. It has been substantiated that the public isolations and lockdowns have not only yielded negative impacts on the economy but also on different forms of business and employment. Therefore, this study is aimed to analyze potential impacts of COVID-19 on different forms of industries in Pakistan through gathering the public opinion as the source of data. The study is one of the preliminary studies therefore it is based on descriptive design in order to show perceived impact of outbreak of virus. Results indicated that the pandemic is harmful and affecting most of the business in negative manner however there are some businesses which are burgeoning on opportunities emerged from the pandemic and attaining growth due to the spread of the virus.

COVID-19 caused a severe decline in the world's economy as the virus prevails throughout the world and hampered every form of business and operation. However, the middle and low-income countries received more severe impacts due to the unavailability of facilities and resources. Hence the need to focus on the significance & role of MFIs become more critical in low-income and developing countries. Therefore, this chapter has been written specifically for emerging and developing sides of the world. Hence the chapter has great significance as it does not only describes the MFIs and the challenges they are facing but also the impact of these challenges on the performance of MFIs during COVID-19

COVID-19 causes severe harm to every industry and business function. However, the industries that received the most severe impact were the tourism and hospitality industry. Especially, international tourism has suffered a lot due to the spread of COVID-19 as well as due to travel restrictions. On the other hand, the traveling industry is one of the major contributors to the world's GDP as well as one of the largest employers. Although due to the severe hit from COVID-19 the negative impact has also been shifted to stakeholders of the tourism sector. Hence the chapter has been written purposively to reflect the detailed impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry not only in terms of financial matters but also with respect to employment, growth, and future challenges.

COVID-19 produces severe negative impacts on almost all businesses as well as related activities and functions. Although education is the sector that is ranked among those sectors that received the hardest hit due to the outbreak of the pandemic. In fact, the transition from a physical model of teaching to online teaching is too quick to handle for institutions, faculty, staff as well as students. Hence the need of understanding the impact, implications, and challenges is legitimate and proper emphasis is desired on these points so to formulate better strategies to combat any future challenges. This chapter is one of the initial ways to present all the related challenges and ways to combat these challenges that are raised by the outbreak of the pandemic not only for the institutions but also for the students of the higher education industry.

Office ergonomics is treated as one of the two most important factors along with work environment. Although there are several studies on both factors but most of the studies are found to be focusing on elements from both factors simultaneously. Therefore, there is a requirement of research work which might focus on these two elements separately. Hence this is the study which is intensively focusing on impact of office design elements on employee performance with reference to NADRA, Karachi. The reason behind selection of NADRA as the point of reference for data collection is the study of as study of Jaffri (2015), indicated the severe lacking office design elements in NADRA, Pakistan. Although prior study was not done on extensively upon managerial level employees, neither it has detailed inventory of variables. Therefore, legitimate to declare the current study is one of the pervasive one and use of SMART PLS is also making the study unique in comparison to any other done in this domain. Results of the study are significantly different from the study conducted in 2015 and thus it is legitimate to induce post-positivism as the philosophical stance with this study.

Change in climate produces significant harm to the world as well as to business and industry. Therefore there is a need to develop a leadership mechanism that may use internally as well as external resources to reduce the negative impacts o climatic harm from society, industry, and stakeholders. Thus macro-level leadership perspectives are considered and among these macro-level perspectives are the most impactful in sustainable leadership. However, most of the research conducted under this vein is associated with western sides or developed sides of the world. Moreover, it is also difficult to understand and relate several criteria in a unanimous way to sustainable leadership. Hence, the chapter has been formulated to provide readers systematic and comprehensive view of sustainable leadership in order to make them understand the antecedents and outcomes of sustainable leadership.

The purpose of the chapter is to elaborate in detail on the Green HRM Practices and their impact on the organization as well as on stakeholders. Therefore, the chapter is based on detailed literature from developed, developing, and underdeveloped sides of the world. However, in order to relate Green HRM practically to the contemporary concept, this chapter only emphasized those factors that are reflected by most of the published work from renowned and esteemed research work. Initially, writers develop the concept of HRM and mention its significance and then relate work with the most impactful elements of Green HRM. Moreover, the chapter also includes some real-life examples and case studies to foster learning and understanding related to Green HRM practices.

Supplier selection is one of the most important elements of the procurement process which has the ability to influence the performance of the entire supply chain management. Thus, it is considered as one of the major factors in the supply chain strategy in multinational organizations. Contrarily, least attention is given to the subject by the companies originated in Pakistan. Lack of research in this domain is also impairing this issue. Regardless of the importance of the supplier selection subject, the state-owned companies in Pakistan, are specifically, paying least concern towards it. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the importance of different factors of supplier selection, by the state-owned enterprises working under the city government of Karachi. In order to simplify the model, researchers predominantly focused on the generic criteria for supplier selection and further included some other variables like HSSE/ ISO policies and flexible contract terms to the research model. Moreover, moderation has also been used in order to replicate the model effectively with the scenario of Karachi. After adoption of the generic model of supplier selection, Hayes model has been used for the analysis of data. The study findings reveal that the organization working under the City Government of Karachi have different criteria and preferences for supplier selection. Hence the research is pervasive in nature and can be adopted by policy makers and technocrats in order to improve the supplier selection process of state-owned enterprises.

This study is based on applied research and intends to find out the impact of entrepreneurial education on the behaviour of university students with the mediation of intentions of students toward entrepreneurship. Although there are several studies associated with the topic, but the paper is unique because the data is based upon a specific geographical location, Karachi which is a metropolitan city of Pakistan. There is a severe dearth of entrepreneurial mindset in Pakistan and investigative studies related to the region in previous literature. The data for this study has been collected through a close-ended questionnaire. The study is pervasive in nature as the study is potent in the increase of knowledge in the area of business as well as universities. However, the study was supplemented with some limitations as the data collected from a developing country like Pakistan was not coherent with other economies. Although the value of the paper is not overshadowed, this can be used for applicative reasoning for universities and other academies. The sample size for the study is 150 to 200 software houses that have been used for the purpose of data analysis. However, the paper is supported by descriptive as well as inferential analysis in order to make the findings of the study potent and reliable enough. The use of the software indicates that there is a relationship between entrepreneurial education and the behavior of university students toward entrepreneurship.

Catering Business is one of the fastest growing businesses hence managing this with limited resources in tough market conditions is a big challenge for entrepreneurs. Same is valid for Pakistan where the industry is dominated by giants like Hanif Rajput Caterers and United Caterers etc. Tikka-Inn is treated as one of the new and fastest growing parts of the industry. Therefore this study has been purposively designed on Tikka-Inn, in order to demonstrate the challenges pertaining to new entrepreneurs. Hence in order to validate findings of the case, data achieved through systematic interviews has been linked with the company’s records and available research literature. After all the association and validation findings of the study indicated that scarcity of financial resources is still a major issue for the entrepreneurs coupled with the intense level of competition, conditions of the city and regularity issues which entails entrepreneurs to device proper mechanism to overcome these hurdles especially in the category of catering and food retail business.

Big-Data is one of the most useful technologies available nowadays to understand behaviorsand patterns. However, in addition to its societal benefits technology might also be used bypractitioners in industrial settings. The Retail industry is also treated as the one which might receive major benefits from the use of Big-Data and therefore this study is purposively associated with implications of Big-Data for the retail sector. The Study uses store layout as the dependent variable as it has the most influence on purchase as the real purpose of Big-Data is to analyze behavior and patterns, therefore, the selection of variable is legitimate. However, the technology is not well-known in emerging markets like Pakistan therefore study is linked with quota sampling and uses SMART-PLS to analyze results. Results indicated that Big-Data was perceived as the potent tool for operations of the organized retail sector of Karachi.

Big-Data is the recent trend in data sciences prevailing all over the globe. The tool aids significantly in optimization of knowledge and has predominant use in optimization of knowledge and productivity. However, there is lack of understanding of concept and its application in Pakistan as indicated by Gallup Pakistan (2018) and stream of data is going to be doubled in two years’ time Tankard (2012). Therefore, there is a definite need of research which optimizes understanding associated with technology and its application from the context of Pakistan. Hence considering the application of big-data in retail sector this study aims to explore the impact of sentiment analysis through relating impact of big-data with effective assortment s of online stores. Although data has been collected from IT experts associated with online retail sector via quota sampling and SMART-PLS has been incorporated for the purpose of analysis. Results of the study highlights that big-data is perceived as the major tool for the betterment of assortment in online retail stores although data scientist and their applicability might diminish the impact of the use of big-data.