Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Pakistan: Journal Management System
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The Relationship between Perspective Taking Skills and Language Development in Preschool Children
Full text link Perspective taking is a fundamental skill that helps us to understand others’ thoughts, feelings and perceptions. Past studies have shown that there were significant relations between young children’s perspective taking abilities and age, gender, formal schooling and socioeconomic status. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between perspective taking skills and language development in preschool children. The study sample included 98 three to five-year-old children (53 girls and 45 boys) attending six kindergartens located at the city center of Adana, Turkey. Children came from families with similar demographic characteristics. As data collection instruments, Perspective Taking Test for Children (PTC) and Peabody Picture-Vocabulary Test were used. Data were obtained by individual interviews. Firstly, children were presented the PTC. The next day, Peabody Picture-Vocabulary Test wasapplied to the children. The results show that there was a significant and positive correlation between perspective taking skills and language development of the children. These correlations were high value for the age of three years, moderate for four years old and high for five years old. It was also determined that language development of children predicted their perspective taking skills significantly.Keywords: children’s social skills, empathy, language development, perspectivetaking, theory of min
The Role of Gender in Employee Retention: A Study of Private Hospitals in Karachi
Full text linkThe retaining and draining talent has been the most perplexing saga for the organizations. The corporate arena remained the battlefield between these two positive and negative challenges. In this regard, several strategies are devised by offering lucrative benefits to the talent to stick around with the organization. The objective of this study was to analyse the role of Gender in retention, with specific reference to the private hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. The study further intended to answer if Private hospitals inclined more to retain male or female employees. Employee’s retention policies are planned to increase the employment agreement and decrease the ample expenses concerned with recruiting and training the employees. After implementing managerial behaviour concepts organization can improve retention charges and reduce the related expenses of high turnover. A descriptive, causal study was carried out using purposive sampling to conduct an interview with 50 employees with the help of a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed through SPSS applying Regression model to identify key factors influencing employee retention. The two leading hospitals were the focus of the study. The study found the health care organizations had a particularly subjective approach while allocating salaries among male, female employees. Therefore, it recommends to all organizations whether services or industrial, that the improved job setting by no inequity lead to rises the efficiency of the workers as well as of a business
Causes of Time and Cost Overrun: A Case Study of Health Sector Projects in Peshawar, KP
Full text linkPublic sector projects in KP suffers time delays leading to years of delay and cost overrun of over Rs25 billion, surprisingly close to half of this amount i.e. 11.2 billion is reported in the health sector projects in KP. This paper therefore, explores factors leading to time and cost overrun in the construction and IT projects of Health Department Peshawar, Government of KPK, Pakistan. To explore the causes of cost and time overrun, the study utilized Yin’s case study model thus collecting data through qualitative semi-structured interviews. The study used Miles and Huberman (1994) approach of thematic modelling for data analysis. The finding reveals that factors leading to time and cost overrun are administrative issues, delays in fund release, political Issues, monitoring &control, work site issues, inflationary effects, poor cost estimation, issues from contractor’s side, stakeholders and IT issues. While, certain factors causing overrun in specific to IT projects are resistance by the stakeholders for change, lack of understanding on the part of consumer about the benefit of the project and rapid changes in technology
Modeling Stock Index Using Finite State Markov Chain
No full textExisting stock price models are based on time series methodologies which are hard to estimate and involves lots of assumptions. This study, in contrast, assumes that the stock prices follow stochastic process that possesses Markov dependency with finite state transition probabilities. For this purpose, daily stock index data from Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE) is collected from 2010-2015 and categorized in to 10 state spaces. Based on the results of state transition model, the study highlights the most probable state of return and also its transition into another state. Further, the study used Monte Carlo method of stock index simulations both Markov chain and original stock index. The analysis shows that it is possible to model and forecast stock index by capturing Markov process. The results of the study are helpful for investors in selecting right time of making investment and for academician to think about more sophisticated methods of state identification.
The Corporate Governance Paradox: A Comparative Analysis of Multinational and Domestic Manufacturing Firms in Pakistan
No full textThere are two commonly held views on the quality of corporate governance and profitability of multinational corporations operating in the developing countries. The first view states that the quality of corporate governance practiced by multinational corporations is generally higher than that of domestic companies. The second view postulates that multinational corporations show better financial performance than domestic companies. An inference that can reasonably be drawn from these two views is that there is a positive relationship between the quality of corporate governance and financial performance of firms. The converse side of this coin is that domestic companies have lower profitability due to the poor quality of their corporate governance. But our research into the quality of corporate governance in multinational corporations and domestic companies operating in Pakistan and their respective financial performances divulges an interesting departure from these pervasive inferences. Looking at the issue with a slightly different angle, this paper examines the impact of firms’ location on its corporate governance quality and ultimately their profitability. Our results show a strong positive relationship between firms’ location and financial performance; but they indicate that the quality of corporate governance is better in domestic firms than multinational corporations. Another surprising revelation is a negative and insignificant relationship between corporate governance index and financial performance of domestic firms. We are inclined to deduce that multinational corporations owe their superior financial performance not to the quality of their corporate governance but to other factors not covered by the present research
Al-Ghazali’s Aims and Objectives of Islamic Education
No full textThe Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and our various educational policies have given clear direction on aims of our education system, which should be based on Islamic principles. However, since independence, Pakistan is still unable to devise a system of education the aims of which are derived from Qur’an and Sunnah as mandated by the constitution. As such a dire need is felt to understand the aims and objectives education from our ideological perspective. It has been generally agreed that Al-Ghazali’s thoughts comply with the Qur’anic principles, he is well accepted by vast strata of Muslims in Pakistan and appreciated by west as well. Accordingly, this qualitative study explored educational aims and objectives from Al-Ghazali’s thoughts and philosophy, using content analysis of various writings of and on Al-Ghazali. Based on this research, we can conclude that aim of Islamic education should be associated with the aim of a person’s life. The aim of a Muslim’s life is the success in the life hereafter. Based on this fundamental assumption and guideline provided by Al-Ghazali, we can develop aims and objectives of Islamic education as directed in the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.Keywords: Al-Ghazali, educational philosophy, Islamic education, objectives ofIslamic education
Relationship Between Authentic Leadership and Classroom Management in Public and Private Sector Universities
Full text linkThe study aims at to explore the authentic leadership attributes (ALA) and its impact on classroom management. The objectives of the study were to investigate ALA of leaders and measure relationship between ALA and classroom engagement at university level. The population of the study was 6975 leaders and teachers. The sample of the study was 967. The mixed method approach (convergent parallel design) was used to collect information from sample through modified form of Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ) developed by Walumbwa, Avolio, Gardener, Wernsing, & Peterson (2008) and in-depth interviews. Analysis was done with percentage, Mean, STD, independent sample t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson’s rank correlation and thematic analysis. It was found that r value (.426) which was significant at .000 showed significant positive and average level correlations between ALA and classroom engagement at university level. Based on the results, it is recommended that it may be well to conduct research study on the authentic leadership at primary level, secondary level and college level both at private and public sectors as these areas are in great need of authentic leadership because these sectors suffered a lot due to unethical attitude of the leaders.Keywords: authentic leadership; classroom management; organizationaldevelopment; teacher professional developmen
The Effects of Firm-Specific Factors on the Financial Soundness by using CARAMELS Framework Indicators: A Case of Non-Life Insurance Industry of Pakistan
Full text linkThe study is carried out to identify the relations of firm-specific factors with the financial soundness indicators of CARAMELS framework for the non-life insurance industry, by using a panel data set of 22 non-life insurance companies of Pakistan from 2007 to the year 2016. This study is established on two most applicable panel data techniques (random effects as well as fixed effects models), referring to the Hausman’s test. This test proves that the fixed effect model is appropriate for the analyses of firm-specific factors. Based on the highest number of relationships among variables, fixed effects model’s results propose that three firm-specific factors (age of company, management competence index and operating ratios) have significant relations with the CARAMELS financial soundness indicators. However, seven firm-specific factors (size of the company, equity capital, leverage, market share, investment ratio, premium growth and solvency margin) have insignificant relation with the CARAMELS financial soundness indicators. According to author’s best knowledge, it’s the first study that identifies the relations of firm-specific factors with the CARAMELS financial soundness indicators, that will assist to the scholars, managers and policymakers of the non-life insurance industry of Pakistan to consider the significant factors
Issues of Distance Education Tutors in Pakistan: A Study on Print-Based Distance Education
Full text linkThe aim of the study was to investigate institutional issues relating to tutors of print-based distance education (DE) institutions working in Pakistan. It was a part of descriptive study with mixed design. The present quantitative part comprised of 140 B.Ed tutors of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) from all the regions in Sindh. A five point Likert Scale questionnaire was developed as a research instrument to collect data. Descriptive statistics, in terms of percentages and mean scores, were used. The results revealed non-meritorious & non-criterion based tutor deployment, low remuneration rates, late payments, seldom payment of invigilation remunerations, non-payment of TA, non-professional behaviour & lack of authority of regional centres(RCs), short time for submission of results, inadequate study centres, lack of general & academic facilities at study centres, non-provision of related study materials, lack of monitoring by RCs, unskilful tutors and inadequate university website for tutors. The study recommends criterion-based tutors’ deployment on merit, enhanced remuneration rates, timely payments, and invigilation remuneration, establishing model study centres, sufficient time for result submission, proper monitoring by RCs, provision of study material and training to distance tutors (DTs) and provision of necessary information & guidance for tutors on AIOU website
ATM & Biometric Solutions: A Case Study
Full text linkThe paper highlights security features for biometric systems along with application specific to a bank in Pakistan. Further, a comprehensive view of retinal scanning and application within the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm is discussed. Of the various forms of scanning techniques, fingerprint, iris, and facial have been selected as a security measure. However, the application of retinal scans for security within ATMs in Pakistan is novel. Retinal scans face many issues such as external pressures that can make the implementation of retinal scans difficult, proper technological advancements for implementing of retinal scans, costing and whether it will serve as a barrier and whether the overall concept of implementing retinal scans is a workable idea or not. The sample taken was of 80 close ended questionnaires filled along with 4 focus group discussions. The questions related to technology, economics and situational awareness concepts. The concept of automated houses and the use of objects with artificial intelligence were of special interest. It is shown that external factors especially cost and technological limitations prohibit widespread adoption of biometric based retinal scans and implications for overall privacy and security that is present