CSRC Publishing: Open Journal Systems (Center for Sustainability Research and Consultancy)
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1354 research outputs found
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Relationship between Classroom Management Practice and Student’s Critical Thinking Skills at Higher Education Level
No full textPurpose: The major objectives of the study were to assess the classroom management practices of the teachers, to assess the critical thinking skills of the students and to measure the effect of teachers’ classroom management practices on the development of students’ critical thinking skills.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The research approach was quantitative and correlational research was used. The population of the research was based on 7294 faculty members serving in HEC recognized universities of Islamabad. Sample of 447 teachers was selected by using stratified-sampling technique. Researcher used classroom management practices scale based on 45 items and critical thinking skills assessment scale based on 47 items.
Findings: The data revealed that the classroom management had no effect on Critical Thinking Development. Teacher’s cohesiveness had 0.1% negative effect, teacher’s support had no effect, teacher’s involvement had also no effect, teacher’s skill related to investigation had 0.1% effect, task orientation had 0.2% effect, teacher’s co-operation had 0.2% negative effect and teacher’s equity had 0.2% positive on student’s critical thinking development. However none of the above mentioned effect was statistically significant. Teachers need to learn how to manage positive learning environment. For this purpose, teachers need to use regular feedback, appreciations, and interactive classroom discussions and peer learning methods
Impact of Boundary Permeability and Organizational Support on Employees' Telework Intentions: The Moderating Role of Virtual Work Climate
No full textPurpose: This study aims at determining the effects of boundary permeability and organizational support for the teleworkers’ intention to persist in teleworking with particular consideration to the moderating influence of virtual work climate. Since the advent of telework and more so throughout and after the COVID-19 outbreak, it is essential to identify factors that affect continuation intentions of telework to support organizations that seek to have effective teleworking policies.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional survey research design used and data gathered from 210 employees in different organizations. Self-developed questionnaires based on structured questions used to measure the degree of boundary permeability, organizational support for telecommuting, virtual work climate, and teleworkers’ intentions to continue with teleworking. In order to further examine these variables, both regression and moderation analyses performed.
Findings: The findings show that boundary permeability has a positive impact on the employees’ telework continuation intention. On the other hand, organizational support for telecommuting did not have the direct significant correlation with the telework intentions. Further, virtual work climate found not to moderate the boundary permeability and telework intentions, indicating that other factors may determine the impact of virtual work environment on the teleworking outcomes.
Implications/Originality/Value: This research forms part of this literature by focusing on the concept of boundary management in telework arrangements and by raising doubt over the direct relationship between organizational support and telework intentions
Idle Time and its Repercussions on Youth in South Africa: A Recipe of Unemployment Crisis
No full textPurpose: This paper aims to examine the repercussions of idle time on youthful population through critically analyzing the status quo of youth unemployment in South Africa. Youth unemployment has become a major source of concern in South Africa and around the world. The unemployment challenge has thus left many young people in limbo, a state of misery, idleness, and social death. It subsequently exposed many young South African to socially immoral activities such as, inter alia, drug and alcohol use, deceit and theft. Idle time, the period people wastefully spend doing nothing productive, vehemently led many young people to perish, and ostensibly resulted into the economic stagnation in South Africa. This paper fastened its philosophical argument on the biblical aphorism that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper adopted a qualitative desktop-based research methodology as well as document analysis as data analysis tool.
Findings: The results established that the persistent challenge of youth unemployment has pushed South Africa’s economic development into a downward spiral toward underdevelopment and vulnerability. Therefore, the country lacks a holistic approach to address idleness and unemployment, to unlock the potential of its youthful population, stimulate economic growth and development.
Implications/Originality/Value: It is therefore concluded that youth unemployment has become a serious dilemma in South Africa, that it subjected majority of young people to idleness and encourages them to engage in immoral activities such as crime, making them more susceptible to the onset of drug and alcohol use. The paper recommended that the government should adopt effective mechanisms to engage unemployed youth into the economic mainstream, to enhance development and reduce idle time tragedies
Causality Assessment of Bankers’ Perceptions and Bank Specific Indicators on the Non-Performing Loans: An Empirical Analysis of the Commercial Banks of Pakistan
No full textObjective: Non-performing loans have become a chronic problem in the banking industry of Pakistan over the last few decades. In this aspect, the study assessed the causal impact of Banks’ specific factors and bankers’ perceptions on non-performing loans.
Methodology: The study is based on the data collected from 170 bankers of ten Commercial Banks of Pakistan. From bankers’ perspective, the study reported that the manager’s capability, the society’s orientation, interest waiver, and lenient credit terms have a negative impact on non-performing loans.
Findings: In the light of finding the study suggests that the banks need to strengthen their internal control system and accountability arrangement for selecting genuine borrowers. Besides, the banks need to address moral hazard i.e. the borrowed funds are being used for the intended purpose.
Implications: The study concludes that the banks may formulate an effective loan policy and revamp procedures within different phases of the “loan cycle”
Using SARIMA Modeling and Forecasting of Metrological Parameters: A Conceptual Framework
No full textObjective: The current study aims to predict the metrological factor of temperature in the region of Karachi
Methodology: using the Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model. Daily maximum and minimum temperature data from the region from 1st January, 2012 to 31st December, 2022 using as training data for the model. These datasets are clean and modify to obtain monthly averages of the maximum and minimum temperature data for the region. These datasets using for the model development. The two datasets pass through time series analysis separately and best fitted models are developing for both.
Finding: The study shows the presence of seasonality in the temperature data alongside the presence of a growing mean in the minimum and maximum temperature dataset, signifying global warming over the past decade.
Implications: These results will help in future studies regarding the variations in temperature in Karachi and in developing strategies to accommodate for such variations in the regio
Implementation of Performance Management Systems in Small Medium and Micro Enterprises
No full textPurpose: Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) often struggle with performance measurement which can result in a high failure rate. This study aimed to examine the role of owner-managers in understanding performance management, the implementation processes of Performance Management System (PMS), and what challenges associated with applying PMS within SMMEs they faced. SMMEs will greatly benefit from a reliable PMS that can streamline day-to-day operations and facilitate effective decision-making through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Design/Methodology/Approach: A qualitative approach was applied for the research methodology to understand the perspectives of owner-managers within SMMEs. The study employed a purposive, non-purposeful sampling technique to select twelve (12) participants. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants’ consent to collect data.
Findings: The collected data was subsequently analyzed using content analysis to scrutinize and interpret the findings. The research findings of this study found that owner-managers hold a general understanding of PMSs.
Implications/Originality/Value: The implementation of PMSs in SMMEs presents a significant challenge, particularly in identifying pertinent KPIs
Bridging Consumer Choices: The Role of Sustainable Packaging Logistics and Trust in E-Commerce Industry of Pakistan
No full textPurpose: The study aims to investigate the impact of packaging, logistics, and ethical sources on consumer purchase behavior through Trust in the e-commerce industry of Pakistan. It
Design/Methodology/Approach: It is a quantitative, deductive, and cross-sectional study. The convenience sampling technique used to collect the data through a self-administrated questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling through Smart PLS-4.0 with a sample of 214 participants.
Findings: The results revealed that packaging, logistics, and ethical sourcing have an impact on consumer buying behaviors. The results also supported the mediation role of Trust in the model.
Implications/Originality/Value: The results provide insight for the e-business owners and potential businesspersons to focus on these things to improve their respective sales and maintain the Trust of the customers. The study contributed to the existing body of literature and discussed the limitations and future direction for the researchers
Islamic Microfinance as a Tool for Financial Inclusion: A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Microfinance
No full textPurpose: Microfinance has played a substantial role in providing financial facilities to marginalized populations, particularly in emerging countries, by offering credit, savings, and insurance to individuals who don’t have access to traditional banking services. This study compares the effectiveness of conventional and Islamic microfinance in poverty reduction, with a emphasis on Pakistan’s microfinance sector.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study examines the influence of both conventional and Islamic microfinance by studying existing literature and evaluating their contributions to financial inclusion, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. Key financial instruments such as Qard al-Hasan, Zakat, and Waqf in Islamic microfinance are studied alongside the lending mechanisms of conventional microfinance.
Findings: While conventional microfinance has joined to economic growth by promoting small enterprises and enhancing financial inclusion, it has been criticized for high interest rates and the cycle of indebtedness. In comparison, Islamic microfinance, based on Shariah principles, promotes ethical finance by prohibiting interest (riba) and highlighting risk-sharing, social responsibility, and financial inclusion. Findings specify that Islamic microfinance has a broader influence among the ultra-poor and aligns more effectively with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, challenges such as regulatory constraints and limited infrastructure delay its widespread implementation.
Practical Implications: The study suggests that integrating Islamic financial principles with conventional microfinance can generate more inclusive and sustainable model for poverty reduction in Pakistan and other developing nations. Policymakers and financial institutions should address regulatory blocks and invest in infrastructure to improve the approachability of Islamic microfinance.
Originality/Value: This paper delivers a comparative analysis of conventional and Islamic microfinance, highlighting their corresponding strengths and limitations. It contributes to the enduring discourse on ethical finance and its part in sustainable development, mainly in the situation of developing economies
Role of Sustainable Green Supply Chain Practices in Enhancing Firm Performance and Competitive Advantage: The Mediating Role of Green Motivation and Corporate Culture
No full textPurpose: As firms increasingly adopt sustainable strategies to meet environmental regulations and market demands, challenges such as lack of investor interest, insufficient leadership awareness, and technical barriers hinder the full implementation of green initiatives. By analyzing the effects of green supply chain practices on both environmental and economic performance, this study aims to bridge the gap in existing research, which often overlooks the role of internal corporate dynamics in driving sustainable outcomes.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Data is collected from supply chain professionals and corporate leaders across various industries, using a structured questionnaire. A quantitative-method approach will be employed, with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) used to analyze the relationships between GSCM practices, corporate culture, employee motivation, and firm performance.
Findings: The findings are expected to reveal that green motivation programs, sustainable corporate culture, and employee engagement play significant roles in enhancing the effectiveness of GSCM practices, leading to improved firm performance and competitive advantage.
Implications/Originality/Value: This study contributes to both theory and practice by highlighting the importance of aligning internal green initiatives with external sustainable supply chain practices. It provides valuable insights for firms seeking to leverage sustainability as a strategic tool to gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace. Future research directions and practical recommendations for corporate leaders and policymakers will also be discussed
Influence of Collateral on Microfinance Credit Rationing among Registered Smes in Kakamega County, Kenya
No full textPurpose: To establish the influence of collateral on microfinance rationing of credit among registered SMEs in Kakamega County, Kenya
Methodology/Approach: This study used causal and descriptive designs. The study adopted primary data where questionnaires were used to collect data. Regression analysis as well as descriptive methods were applied. Data was presented using tables.
Findings: Collateral and credit rationing relationship(R=0.693, P=0.000). This implies that collateral had a significant effect on credit rationing. This led to rejection of hypotheses H01
Implications: The study proposed that management of SMEs in Kakamega County should establish a credit policy manual to facilitate the recovery of debts, irrespective of the size of the organization. SMEs in Kakamega County management should observe collateral base to strengthen their borrowing power.