Purpose: The study has two aims: first, it aimed to investigate the impact of contextual factors (such as information quality, service quality, system quality, trust in applications (app) and COVID-19 health anxiety) on the intention to use the Mobile Payment (MP) app, and subsequently, the actual use of the app. Second, the aim of this study is whether the COVID-19 threat has a moderating influence on the relationship between customers' intent to use MP app and the actual use of MP app.Design/methodology/approach: The data are collected through an online survey from 341 Mobile Banking (MB) app users from Pakistan to empirically analyze the relationship between service quality, system quality, information quality, trust in the app, COVID-19 health anxiety and COVID-19 threat, intentions to use MB-app and actual use of MB-app.Findings: The empirical analysis of the data collected from MB-app users from Pakistan shows that service quality, system quality, information quality, trust in the app and COVID-19 health anxiety positively related to intentions to use MB-app, consequently affect the actual use of MB-app. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the COVID-19 threat positively moderates the relationship between intentions to use MB-app and actual use of MB-app.Originality/value: Although, prior research established a positive impact of mobile apps on customer service and consumer satisfaction. Yet, it is not clear which factors influence customers to adopt MB-app. This study contributes to the research on MB-apps based on adaptive structuration theory and examines the technological factors and contextual factors that collectively explain when and how individuals decide to adopt MB-app.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have been forced to use social media and digital applications to carry out routine tasks. This posed several complications and challenges that hindered harmonic interaction between managers and their subordinates. This study investigates the indirect association between toxic leadership and proactive work behavior via psychological safety (PYS). We also investigate the role of perceived insider status (PIS) as a moderator in the association between toxic leadership and PYS as well as the indirect connection between toxic leadership and proactive work behavior. The work is based on the timelag results of 282 supervisor-employee dyads from different small and mid-sized information technology (IT) firms. The results show that toxic leadership has a significant impact on employee PSY and proactive work behavior as well as revealing that PIS substantially mitigated the negative effects of toxic leadership on employee PYS. Similarly, PIS influences the mediating role of PYS in the association between toxic leadership and proactive work behavior of employees. This research is helpful for academics and practitioners involved in human-resource practices in the IT industry.

This study investigates the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in consumers’ satisfaction with life (SWL), particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. It looks into the relationship between consumer EI, impulsive buying (IB), and SWL, particularly during the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic. It also reflects on the mediating role of IB in the indirect association between consumer EI and SWL. The data were collected from 483 public-sector university graduates in Islamabad, Pakistan. Findings reveal a significant association between consumer EI and IB as well as between consumer EI and SWL. In addition, consumer IB behavior played a significant mediating role in the indirect relationship between consumer EI and SWL: When consumers have a high level of EI, their involvement in IB is low, and they are more satisfied with their lives. This study helps consumers to understand how to effectively manage emotions ensuing during shopping experiences to control their buying behavior. The study also broadens our understanding of how EI can help consumers to remain satisfied during the COVID-19 crisis.

This study uses data from the KSE-100 stock index from 2009 to 2021 to investigate the influence of technological advancements, investors' sentiments, and behavioral factors on stock market inefficiency. The study employs a threshold regression model to distinguish between different thresholds of these factors and a Wald test is used to determine the significance of the variances among thresholds. The results indicate that technological advancements, investors' sentiments, and behavioral factors significantly affect the predictability of returns in the KSE-100 index. This study is unique in the context of Pakistan and provides a comprehensive framework for understanding stock market operations. The findings have practical applications for individuals, researchers, managers, institutions, and policymakers seeking to better understand the impact of technology, society, and behavioral biases on stock markets. Furthermore, this study provides unique insights into addressing the issue of market inefficiency by identifying the factors responsible for such behavior.

This empirical investigation examines the mediating mechanisms through which unethical leadership influences employee work deviant behavior in the healthcare sector, specifically focusing on psychological empowerment and performance attitudes as potential mediating variables. Furthermore, the research explores the moderating role of financial job dependency in the relationship between unethical leadership and employee work deviant behavior. Utilizing a systematic stratified sampling methodology, data were collected from 384 manager-employee dyads within healthcare organizations in developing countries. The results demonstrate that both psychological empowerment and performance attitudes serve as significant mediating mechanisms in the relationship between unethical leadership and work deviant behavior. Additionally, the findings reveal that financial job dependency moderates the relationship between unethical leadership and psychological empowerment, although no significant moderating effect was observed in the relationship between unethical leadership and employee workplace behaviors. These findings contribute to the existing literature on organizational behavior and healthcare management while offering practical implications for healthcare administrators seeking to mitigate workplace deviance. The results provide empirically-grounded insights that can inform the development of targeted interventions and management strategies within healthcare organizations.