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Outsourcing HR Activities: A Case of Service Sector Organizations in Pakistan
Get PDFThis study aims to identify the factors that service sector organisations in Pakistan consider when determining the outsourcing of human resources (HR) activities and assessing future preparations for it. A quantitative research design was employed to collect and analyze data from HR managers currently working in service sector organizations in Pakistan. The findings reveal that factors such as experience, cost, quality level, specialization, and strategic focus significantly influence the decision to outsource HR activities. To enhance future organizational tendencies toward outsourcing HR processes, this study recommends clarifying that outsourcing does not equate to removing work from an organization; rather, it allows the organization to concentrate on its core business processes while gaining access to specialized services and knowledge, thereby illustrating the concept of outsourcing and how its advantages can be maximized
Role of Project-Based Work Environment on Employee Well-Being and Employee Performance
Get PDFPurpose of this research is to gain insight into how variations in project work environment and employee psychological wellbeing influence performance outcomes in project-driven work settings. Additionally, this study has tested the mediating role of employee psychological wellbeing between project work environment and employee performance in a project-based organization. The model is tested empirically over a sample size adhered to the 10-times rule, with ten respondents per item in the 16-item questionnaire, ensuring a total of 160 respondents working in project-based organizations. Smart PLS 4 is used for applying partial least square-based structural equation modelling (SEM) and SPSS 24 software is used for descriptive data analysis. Findings from SEM revealed that altogether project work environment and employee psychological well-being explain a higher percentage of variance in employee performance and that there is a partial and significant mediating effect of psychological wellbeing between work environment and employee performance in a project-based organization. This research seeks to contribute valuable insights to both academia and organizational practitioners, for enhancing employee performance, and wellbeing in project-based organizations
Competency Mapping in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Tool for Achieving High Performance in Software Development Sector, Pakistan
Get PDFThis study focuses on competency mapping in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), aiming to identify the challenges in competency mapping and design a Competency Mapping Model for managers to achieve high performance in Pakistan’s IT sector (software development). The rapid advancement of AI has transformed global IT operations, creating a need for evolving competencies. Using a qualitative grounded theory approach with semi-structured interviews analysed through NVivo, the study identified that AI-powered tools enhance competency mapping by linking competencies with skills, detecting skill gaps, and integrating performance data to identify development needs. Continuous training and learning programs can then address these gaps, foster adaptability and align individual growth with organisational objectives. This research paper proposes a dynamic, AI-driven competency mapping model where skills, competencies, performance, and training are continuously monitored to adapt to technological transformations, AI-driven skills shifts, and evolving organisational needs, ultimately driving high performance. In Pakistan, IT organisations must strategically align workforce skills and competencies with emerging technological demands to remain competitive
Through the Grey Prism: An Intersectional Analysis of Gender, Age, and Healthcare Inequities in Rural Multan, Pakistan
Get PDFThis study investigates gender-based health disparities among older individuals in rural Multan, Pakistan. The study\u27s goals are to examine the impact of gender on health status, identify disparities in healthcare service accessibility across socioeconomic groups, and investigate the effects of ageing and dietary intake on health perceptions. Additionally, it identifies gender-specific barriers to healthcare utilisation and investigates the Impact of the social support system and external variables on health outcomes. Methodologically, a quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, utilising a structured interview schedule with 385 respondents aged 60–80 years. Data collection involved rigorous validity and reliability testing of a 66-item questionnaire administered in English and Urdu. Statistical analyses facilitated exploration of health disparities and predictors among elderly males and females. Significant health inequalities are influenced by demographic factors, including ageing, gender, education levels, occupation status, and socio-economic strata. The study underscores the impact of traditional mechanical and emotional gendered roles, limited healthcare access, and socio-economic constraints on health outcomes in the rural areas of Multan city
Awareness of Patients’ Rights and the Respect and Dignity Experienced at Hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan
Get PDFPatients’ experience is often underwhelming when they are encountered by healthcare systems of a densely populated city like Karachi. One of the methods to improve healthcare is by empowering patients to know their rights and ensure they are treated with respect and dignity. A survey was carried out to ascertain how factors such as gender, age, level of education and monthly household income could influence both awareness of patients’ rights and the respect and dignity they receive at hospitals, and how these variables are associated with each other. By using the PMDC code for patients’ rights as a questionnaire and the NHS Essence of Care tool for respect and dignity, a questionnaire was drafted that could determine the level of respect and dignity that patients receive in hospitals. It was found that there was a difference in the different groups in gender, level of education and monthly household income when it came to how aware they were of their rights. Finally, a positive association was noted between awareness of patients’ rights and the respect and dignity they receive at hospitals. This research proves that there is tremendous potential in working to improve patient awareness of their rights and the quality of services in hospitals in Karachi, for which further research is imperative
Impact of International and Local Celebrity Endorsements on Brand Credibility and Brand Loyalty
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the impact of endorsement with national and international celebrities in advertisements on brand credibility and brand loyalty. From this perspective, Vivo mobile (for national celebrity endorsement) and QMobile mobile (for international celebrity endorsement) were selected, while the two national and international celebrities included Babar Azam (National) and Esra Bilgiç (International). Primary data was collected from different people (having experience of purchasing QMobile mobile phone and vivo mobile phones) living in Pakistan, having different genders, educational backgrounds, and working experiences with different levels of income through an adopted questionnaire, containing items. The gathered data was analysed through multiple regressions. The findings of the study revealed earning (monthly income) as a significant variable that impacted the customer loyalty for both QMobile and vivo mobile. The study recommends the marketers to pay more attention to the market price rather than the celebrity endorsement to increase their credibility and customers’ loyalty
Exploring the Impact of Self-Regulation on Secondary School Students’ Motivation
Get PDFSelf-regulation boosts student motivation by creating a sense of autonomy, competence, and control over their learning process. Students developing self-regulation abilities are more likely to accept responsibility for their learning process, resulting in greater intrinsic motivation. Therefore, the current study intended to investigate the influence of self-regulation on secondary students’ motivation. The survey comprised secondary students from Karachi\u27s private-sector schools. The researcher used a random sampling design to select a sample of 100 secondary school students. The questionnaire was designed to assemble and analyse the data. The significant findings demonstrated that self-regulation strongly and positively impacts students\u27 motivation to improve learning and educational performance. The study emphasised students\u27 increasing motivation with self-regulation in their learning process, providing helpful information for educators and policymakers to prioritize approaches and educational activities that accelerate self-regulation skills to sustain and increase students\u27 motivation and thereby boost their overall growth and success in secondary school
Listening Anxiety Among Female ESL Students: A Case from Pakistani Girls College
Get PDFEnglish language users are increasing rapidly in Pakistan due to several benefits attached to the English language in education, economy, and media. Even though learners are taught the compulsory subject of English language till the degree level, they face difficulties in four rudimentary language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The present study emphasizes the listening anxiety of English language learners in the Pakistani ESL context with a specific focus on the impact of listening practice on listening anxiety in Pakistani ESL female undergraduate students. Following the pre and post-test design, the listening anxiety levels of the participants were measured before and after the listening practice. The study sample comprised one hundred and fifty undergraduate students of a public sector girls\u27 college in Karachi, Pakistan. The data were collected through a developed scale ‘Foreign Language Listening Anxiety Scale’ (FLLAS) and analysed using the statistical procedure. Two-tailed paired sample t-test and Pearson correlation were run to check the relationship between pre- and post-listening data. The findings reveal a significant decrease in listening anxiety and a negative correlation between listening practice and listening anxiety. The study concludes that second language listening practice has a significant positive effect on language listening anxiety
Revisiting Careers Education from In-service School Teachers’ Perspective: Validation and Reliability of CEIC Scale
Get PDFCareers education focuses on developing and promoting lifelong learning skills and preparing young adolescents for success in the global economy. In-service teachers were intertwined, in line with the capacity building and professional development, with the concept of career education integration into the curriculum. The current study describes the development and validation of the Careers Education Integration into the Curriculum (CEIC) scale to measure in-service teachers’ perceptions of careers education importance, implementation challenges and teaching and learning strategies at middle grade levels. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed four factors, including importance and integration, implementation, current teaching-learning strategies, and prospective teaching-learning strategies, that explained 43.3% of the variance. The findings and practical implications of the study cover the use of CEIC for measuring in-service teachers’ knowledge, attitudes and skills for careers education integration in their classroom settings
Metacognitive Beliefs and Suicide Risk: The Mediating Role of Cognitive-Emotion Regulation Strategies among Students in HEIs in Pakistan
Get PDFThe present study aims to explore the indirect effects of CERS (adaptive & maladaptive skills) on the association between metacognitive beliefs and suicide proneness among students from HEIs in Pakistan. The sample comprised university students with a mean age of 21.5 years recruited from different HEIs in Pakistan using a convenient sampling technique. To assess variables, Wells’ Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ-30), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short and Life Attitudes Schedule- Short (LAS) were used in the Urdu language. Findings indicate that metacognitive beliefs predict the adaptive CERS, maladaptive CERS and suicide proneness. Findings show that adaptive CERS fully mediate the association between metacognitive beliefs and suicide proneness. Furthermore, maladaptive CERS fully mediate the association between metacognitive beliefs and suicide proneness. This study concludes that CERS significantly influence suicidal risk experiences among university students. Specifically, adaptive coping strategies appear to mitigate suicide risk, whereas maladaptive coping strategies tend to exacerbate it. Designing and implementing evidence-based indigenous prevention interventions would help youth address mental health and suicide risk and improve their well-being