CSRC Publishing: Open Journal Systems (Center for Sustainability Research and Consultancy)
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1354 research outputs found
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Role of Urban Farming in Promoting Sustainable Economic Development
No full textPurpose: This study investigates how urban farming can address interconnected issue such as urbanization, food insecurity, unemployment, and environmental degradation, and how it can contribute to sustainable economic growth by examining its economic, environmental. And societal impacts.
Design/Methodology/ A qualitative desk research methodology was employed, using data from academic publications, scientific books and credible websites. The study explores how urban farming supports ecological sustainability, job creation, food system resilience and income generation, in urban settings.
Findings: The result shows that urban farming enhances local economies, supplies fresh and affordable agriculture produce, strengthens community engagement and promotes tand interhe development of green urban infrastructure. Also, broader adoption is hindered by challenges such as limited land access, inadequate legislative support and low public awareness.
Implications/Originality/Value: The study emphasizes the necessity of multi- stakeholder collaboration, targeted governmental support and integrated urban planning to unlock the full potential of urban farming as catalyst for sustainable economic growth. Also provides recommendations for future research and development in this are
Exploring the Perceptions of Private Hospitals on the Adoption of Activity-based Costing (ABC)
No full textPurpose: To investigate the perception of private hospitals on taking ABC as a tool to recognize and assign costs.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Structured interviews were conducted with financial managers of private hospitals from which information was gathered using qualitative approach. This method enabled the researchers to gain a better insight into the participants' experiences and beliefs surrounding ABC.
Findings: Cost visibility, financial accuracy, and operational efficiency are the identified beneficial factors in the implementation of ABC. ABC aids in this by providing hospitals the ability to classify their activities into value-added or non-value-added, thereby facilitating decision-making. Nonetheless, with so many hospitals sticking with conventional costing method because they come across as convenient and familiar. The transition to ABC will definitely require initial investment through training and skill in the long run but the long-term benefits of ABC in terms of financial management make it a worthy consideration.
Implications/Originality/Value: The findings of the study show that even though private hospitals acknowledge the advantages of the ABC system for improved financial management, the transition phase/procedure and a resistance to change affect the application of ABC system. Adoption of ABC has the potential to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making in healthcare
Adoption of Industry 4.0 Technologies: The Role of Artificial Intelligence, Green Supply Chain Practices, Sustainability, and Organizational Culture in Emerging Markets
No full textPurpose: The dynamic relationship between the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, green supply chain practices (GSCP), organizational culture and sustainability performance is researched, and the focus is on emerging markets context. It explains how these variables influence each other in the pursuit of sustainability within organizations during digital transformation.
Design/Methodology/Approach: There was a basis of a quantitative research methodology which adopted the use of structured questionnaires that were distributed to 358 professionals from the manufacturing, logistics, energy and IT sectors. This was assessed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on the data in order to test the direct and mediated relationships between the constructs.
Findings: Results indicate that Industry 4.0 technologies imprint positively on the implementation of the organizational culture and sustainability performance. It is found that GSCP significantly mediates the link between adoption of technology and sustainability outcomes and also strengthens organizational culture.
Implications/Originality/Value: This study has implications for managers who can use this roadmap to align technology adoption to the internal culture and green practices to achieve sustainability goals. For emerging markets where institutional support is emerging this model is very applicable, both advancing academic theory and practice.  
Mutual Funds Volatility and Risk-Adjusted Returns: Evidence from the Pakistani Open-Ended Fund Market
No full textPurpose: This study examines the volatility and risk-adjusted returns of all open-ended mutual funds in Pakistan over the short-term (90 days) and long-term (365 days) periods. It uses the Sharpe ratio as the primary performance metric. Its purpose is to analyze the open-ended fund behavior across different time horizons and categories.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The data is extracted from the MUFAP for the year 2024 and utilizes the Sharpe Ratio for the comparison of the risk-adjusted performance among fund types, including equity and allocation funds.
Findings: The findings show that generally long-term investments give higher and more stable risk-adjusted returns as compared to short-term, which are marked by high volatility. Equity funds display the widest performance range, with outcomes ranging from exceptional gains to heavy losses. Allocation funds give moderate and more consistent returns, whereas cash funds and fixed income offer low but stable performance.
Implications/Originality/Value: The results show the significance of long-term investing and informed fund selection in emerging markets like Pakistan. This study contributes to the existing literature on mutual fund performance in Pakistan by comparing the performance over short and long-term periods and provides practical insights for investors and policymakers
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding the Nutritional Needs of Pregnant Women
No full textPurpose: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the nutritional needs of pregnant women.
Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study design was used among 177 participants who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The study population consisted of pregnant women attending the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital.
Result: The analysis was done using SPSS version 21. The study was presented through frequency tables, bar charts and pie charts. The study found that of the 177 pregnant women surveyed, the majority of respondent were between the ages of 23-27 years. Gravida status showed 40.7% primary gravida and 59.3% were multi gravida. Only 57.1% (n=101) of the respondents had knowledge about consuming extra food during pregnancy. The 68.4% (n=121) of the respondents had believed that pregnant women should increase their food intake and (n=31.6%) of the respondents had poor nutrition practices during pregnancy.
Conclusion: The participants had insufficient knowledge and moderate attitude but had poor practice's regarding the nutritional needs of pregnant women. So it’s important to educate pregnant women that they can adopt healthy dietary habits
Analyzing the Causes of Fire Accidents and Prevention Strategies in Pakistan: Exploring Mitigation Measures
No full textPurpose: This research aims to explore the causes of fire incident in Pakistan occurring in commercial markets and intends to find effective remedies for mitigating such cases. By studying historical data, conducting site visits and engaging with fire-fighting rescue team experts, we seek to identify common reasons behind these fires. Fire incidents in commercial markets substantial risk to life, economic stability and property.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Qualitative method was use in this study to analyze the all data that collect through survey and visit the fire effect places. Population and sampling method are included.
Findings: The results revealed that this entire questionnaire gave significant coverage about the fact of fire incident due to some common reason like Lack of awareness; Electrical faults, Heating material and tools. Findings also revealed that most of cases happen due to human error due to do not have enough knowledge about safety precaution. As well as overloading on a not supporting circuit.
Implications/Originality/Value: So it is conclusion that Scheduled the training season via expert and rescue teams. Everyone have aware about surrounding also emergency exits. Fire extinguisher are in working condition and make a checklist to confirm the working of fire extinguishers with all equipment
Impact of Management Support on the Functionality of Internal Control Units in Ensuring Compliance and Service Delivery
No full textPurpose: This study examines the impact of management support on the functionality of internal control units (ICU) in ensuring compliance and service delivery within the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (ECDRDAR). Institutional Theory point of view is what this study is based on, more especial the New Institutional Sociology (NIS) perspective. The perspective of NIS provides a vigorous framework, which can be used to explain the formal adoption and practical implementation of internal control mechanisms within government departments, the study explores key challenges undermining ICU effectiveness.
Design/Methodology/Approach: To sample the respondents, the study purposive employed sampling method was. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from 150 finance and ICU staff.
Findings: The results indicated that the lack of management support prevents ICU to effectively ensure compliance with controls, the lack of management support reduces the status of ICU within the department, the lack of management support result in a failure to effectively mitigate financial risks and the management failure to support ICU result in non-compliance which negatively affect service delivery.
Implications/Originality/Value: The findings emphasise the need for enhanced training, clearer policy dissemination, and organizational safeguards to mitigate lack of management on ICU personnel
Exploring the Role of Digital Transformation in Sustainability of Islamic Banks: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textPurpose: This study critically interrogates the nexus between digital transformation (DT) and sustainability within Islamic banking, aiming to uncover how emerging technologies catalyze ethical, inclusive, and ESG-aligned financial innovation in developing economies. By contextualizing digital finance within Shariah principles, the review seeks to redefine operational resilience and moral capitalism in the Global South.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a rigorous Systematic Literature Review (SLR) grounded in the PRISMA framework, the research synthesizes evidence from 200 peer-reviewed studies (2015–2025). Advanced bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer, are used to map intellectual structures, identify thematic clusters, and reveal citation dynamics shaping this evolving discourse.
Findings: Findings reveal that while Islamic banks have embraced digital tools to enhance operational efficiency, financial inclusion, and environmental accountability, substantial challenges remain. These include inconsistent ESG reporting, infrastructural gaps, and limited integration of Shariah-compliant sustainability models. Digital innovations like blockchain and mobile banking offer high promises for ethical governance and green finance but require contextual tailoring.
Implications/Originality/Value: This research contributes novel insights by bridging Islamic ethical finance and the digital-sustainability paradigm. It offers a strategic blueprint for regulators, scholars, and financial institutions to recalibrate Islamic banking as a future-ready, inclusive, and digitally native force for socio-economic transformation.  
Dynamics of Robo-Advisory Financial Services in Saudi Arabia
No full textPurpose: The study identifies benefits and limitations associated with robo-advisory services. It also presents the current robo-advisory industry of Saudi Arabia and evaluates its financial performance using multiple indicators from 2017 to 2029.
Methodology: This paper conducts a systematic review to identify the advantages and limitations of robo-advisory services, followed by a comprehensive thematic analysis. It also performs a secondary data analysis to examine the performance of robo-advisory industry in Saudi Arabia.
Findings: The financial services could benefit from adopting robo-advisory services, which offer cost-effectiveness, increased accessibility and scalability, automation, better risk profiling and objectivity. The key limitations of adopting Robo-advisory services include algorithmic bias, a lack of trust and transparency, legal and regulatory issues, privacy and data security concerns, and limited financial literacy. The study shows that the Saudi robo-advisory sector is predicted to record revenues of $34.56 million by 2025, with the penetration rate in the market expected to remain steady after 2022 due to market maturity. However, the assets under management have grown slowly since 2021.
Implications: The study recommends regulatory support and framework enhancements for the sustainability of the industry. A greater focus on technology investment, innovation, and financial literacy is needed
Psycho-Socioeconomic Factors Affecting the Entrepreneurship Intentions and Attitudes of University Students towards online Platforms for Financial Independence
No full textPurpose: This study explored the effect of psychological, social, and economic factors on entrepreneurial intentions and attitudes to use online platforms to become financially independent, driven by the rising significance of entrepreneurship in the economy and the widening potential of internet-based platforms in supporting new initiatives.
Methodology: The cross-sectional survey method was used with all students of public and private sector university currently in final semesters as the population. Multi-stage sampling technique was applied to collect a sample of 372 students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to determine mean differences based on Psycho-Socioeconomic Factors.
Findings: Students with higher self-efficacy, motivation, and risk-taking tendencies showed significantly more positive attitudes toward using online platforms, but these traits did not significantly impact their entrepreneurial intentions. Strong family and peer support, mentorship, and active social engagement were linked to higher attitudes toward online entrepreneurship, yet these influences did not significantly change entrepreneurial intentions.
Implications: Universities, policymakers and stakeholders in the industries can make significant contributions in changing the environment to become more favorable in promoting student entrepreneurship in the digital era by filling these gaps