Social Media (SM) is considered one of the most discussed topics in today’s business environment, mostly because of the recent developments and improvements in computer and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) technologies. However, very little is known about Social Media’s (SM) role in creating Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (SMEs’) financial sustainability. Drawing upon the Technology Organisational and Environmental (TOE) framework, the authors constructed a comprehensive model that examined the role of different factors in the adoption of SM by SMEs in developing countries (using Pakistan as an example). Using a questionnaire survey of 383 owners/managers of SMEs in Pakistan, the research findings determined the different factors (i.e., organisational, technological, and environmental), which can impact the adoption of SM by SMEs. In line with previous research studies, the results of structural equation modelling show that technological factors such as perceived benefits of SM, compatibility of SM, cost, and trust have a substantial effect on SMEs’ SM adoption. Similarly, both organisational factors: top management support and technological competence, are strong predictors of SM adoption in SMEs. Finally, environmental factors (i.e., competitor pressure, customer pressure, and information intensity) positively impacted SM adoption by SMEs. The effect of SM adoption on SMEs’ financial sustainability was also tested and found to be positive and significant. Several theoretical and practical implications for owners/managers and other stakeholders regarding SM’s successful implementation by SMEs are highlighted within the paper.
Expansionary monetary and fiscal policies are necessary for economic and environmental development. The present research studies the impact of monetary policy and fiscal policy on Territory-Based CO2 (TBC) and Consumption-Based CO2 (CBC) emissions in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies from 1990–2019. The cointegration is corroborated through various tests, and long-term relationships are found in both TBC and CBC models. Government expenditures have long-term positive effects on both TBC and CBC emissions and short-term positive effects on TBC emissions in the region. Money supply negatively affects the TBC and CBC emissions in the long run and positively affects TBC and CBC emissions in the short run. Hence, monetary policy needs a long time to have positive ecological effects in the GCC region. Moreover, fiscal policy in both the long and short run and monetary policy in the short run have scale effects in GCC economies. Therefore, we recommend reducing fiscal measures and encouraging monetary policy in the long run to have positive environmental outcomes in the region.
9 August 2018 in Problems and Perspectives in Management
This research aims to assess direct and indirect influences of organizational culture on job performance, as well as to evaluate the impact of each sub-element of organizational culture on such performance. It is argued that employees performance derives, on the one hand, from a long-term perspective related to changes that organizations manage and implement during their process of growth. A second dimension of organizational culture can be given through organizational values, routines and distinctive aspects of culture that allow organizations to create solid competitive advantages. Since most studies in this field were held in Western work cultures, this paper will be devoted to the analysis of this relationship within an Arabic cultural environment and more specifically within a Saudi context. A quantitative study tool, based on a comprehensive research questionnaire, was used and the sample was selected from various government departments being operative in Alkharj. The findings indicate a positive relationship between organizational culture and job performance. Likewise, four organizational culture sub-elements, namely Managing Change, Achieving Goals, Coordinating Teamwork and Cultural Strength, were found affecting positively on job performance, but with varying and distinct intensity. Only Customer Orientation was found negatively associated with job performance.
Patents support technological innovations in any economy and would also support a clean environment. We investigate the effects of economic growth, patents, industrialization, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in 17 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economies by applying spatial econometrics. We substantiate the Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) in the domestic economies and the whole MENA region as per direct and total estimates. Moreover, urbanization increases CO2 emissions in local economies and reduces neighboring nations’ emissions. The total effect of urbanization is found to be insignificant. Industrial value added increases CO2 emissions in domestic and neighboring countries, as well as in the whole MENA region. Patents increase CO2 emissions in domestic economies. However, patents reduce CO2 emissions in neighboring countries and the MENA region. Thus, patents have a pleasant effect on the environment in the whole MENA region. It is suggested that the MENA economies focus more on patents to reduce CO2 emissions. Moreover, urbanization and the industrial sector should be checked to protect the environment.
Entrepreneurship is crucial for alleviating job challenges among business graduates and for sustaining a growing local economy. However, different factors support and encourage students to be entrepreneurs. Modern technologies such as social media are becoming more popular with young people in enterprise creation. However, the connection between social media use and business among the youth of developing countries has yet to be noticed. This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial education (EE), attitudes toward sustainable entrepreneurship (ATSE), and sustainable entrepreneurial intentions (SEIs); as well as examining the moderating effect of social media adoption on this relationship. To put the proposed concept to the test, data was collected from 314 business graduates from Pakistani universities. Structural equation modeling using AMOS (Version 26) was utilized to test the proposed hypotheses. The study findings show that student attitudes concerning sustainable entrepreneurship mediate the association between EE and sustainable entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, the results illustrate that social media moderated the relationship between the research participants’ attitudes concerning sustainable entrepreneurship and their desire to practice sustainable entrepreneurship. The study makes significant contributions to the field that scholars can use to initiate future research projects.
1 November 2011 in International Journal of Marketing Studies
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the customer satisfaction of banking industry in Pakistan general, and Faisalabad particular, based on various levels of customer perception regarding service quality. This is an empirical study based mainly on primary data collected through a well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire has been personally administrated on the a sample size of 132, chosen respondents on a convenient basis from four Pakistani banks, i.e. Alfalah Bank Limited, Faysal Bank Limited, National Bank Limited, and The Bank of Punjab. This paper makes a useful contribution as there are only few studies dealing with the assessment of service quality in conventional banking sector of Pakistan .The result indicates that customer perceive highest satisfaction in the responsiveness area and lowest in the tangibles area. In order to achieve higher levels of service quality, the bank managers should redesign their strategies about customer satisfaction with respect to service quality.
About Me
Department of Business Administration, Community College, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
Department of Business Administration, Community College, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia