Review of Applied Management and Social Sciences (RAMSS) (E-Journal)
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397 research outputs found
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Strategic Cuts and Economic Cycles: Unpacking the impact of Retrenchment on Firm Performance
Full text linkThe study examines the impact of retrenchment strategy on the performance of the firm contextualizing economic volatility. Retrenchment is a famous turnaround strategy for the firms facing crisis. However, there is scarcity of literature about the effectiveness of retrenchment in an environment where macroeconomic instability is sustained. This scarcity is more prevalent in emerging economies. Results has been analyzed using the sample of 56 non-financial firms listed on Pakistan stock exchange (PSX) during 2010 to2022. For estimation purpose pooled OLS and fixed effects methods are used. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis is used to investigate the moderating impact of macroeconomic variables. The results indicate that the retrenchment strategy increases firm performance. However, under deteriorating macroeconomic conditions particularly in declining GDP and rising inflation the effectiveness of retrenchment becomes negative. Hence, it emphasizes that turnaround strategies are contingent especially in the context of emerging economies. Thus, challenging the universal applicability of turnaround strategies. The study also emphasizes the role of external economic environments in shaping organizational decision making and outcome. 
AI-Enhanced Learning Environments and their Effects on Students’ Cognitive Engagement and Academic Achievement
Full text linkThis study examined the effects of AI-enhanced learning environments on students’ cognitive engagement and academic achievement in undergraduate courses. A quantitative research design was employed, and a sample of 200 students was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires measuring cognitive engagement and academic performance and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate to high levels of cognitive engagement among students, with slight variations across gender and academic level. Regression analysis demonstrated that AI-enhanced learning environments significantly predicted academic achievement, explaining 36% of the variance in student performance. Additionally, Pearson correlation analysis indicated a strong positive relationship between cognitive engagement and academic achievement (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), highlighting engagement as a key factor in enhancing learning outcomes. The findings suggest that AI integration in education supports personalized, interactive, and reflective learning, contributing to improved academic performance. The study provides implications for educators and policymakers to implement AI tools effectively, ensuring equitable access and promoting sustained cognitive and academic growth
The Role of Language in Shaping Educational Outcomes Across Social Groups (e.g., Language Barriers in Immigrant Communities
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This study analyses how language influences educational outcomes across social groups, particularly in immigrant communities where language barriers limit academic development and social integration. Immigrant students' educational issues and how language proficiency affects academic performance, social interactions, and cultural identity will be examined. We used qualitative research and semi-structured interviews with 14 immigrant kids, instructors, and educational administrators to gather their perspectives. Language barriers' implications on academic comprehension, involvement, and performance and social integration issues including peer relationships and teacher-student interactions were frequent motifs and subthemes in thematic analysis. The study explored language-related cultural tensions, as students tried to assimilate into the prevailing language and culture while preserving their own. Despite access and resource constraints, language assistance programs like ESL classes can help immigrant students, according to research. The findings strongly suggest that immigrant students' complex needs demand a personalised language help system, more inclusive education, and greater cultural sensitivity. Conclusion: Language affects educational performance and suggests ways to improve immigrant kids' experiences in different educational settings
Examine how Socio-economic Inequalities and Access to Healthcare Affect Hospitalization Rates and Patient Outcomes in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Full text linkThe influence of socio-economic disparities on the rate of hospitalization and patient outcomes in rural and urban hospitals is being studied with special emphasis on income, education, and employment status. This study captures the importance of healthcare infrastructure and resources such as staffing levels and medical equipment to determine the impact of these factors on quality care and patient outcomes. This study employed a quantitative approach by utilizing self-administered questionnaires on responses from 200 health workers and administrators in Punjab. The data analysis involved correlation and regression analyses and post hoc statistical procedures to examine associations between socio-economic status and health care outcomes. Correlations were seen with lower socio-economic status and higher rates of hospitalizations and suboptimal results in rural hospitals, for which the correlation coefficients were at 0.45 for income and at 0.55 for employment status. Through regression analysis, socio-economic factors were also found to correlate with predictive hospitalization rates at ? = 0.38, p < 0.05. The study underscores the significant disparity in healthcare access and patient care that exists between rural and urban settings. It also offers policy recommendations aimed at enhancing resource allocation and healthcare access in underserved areas
Behavioral Finance and Investor Decision-Making: Psychological Biases in Stock Markets
Full text linkThe paper has described how psychological biases such as overconfidence, loss aversion and herd behavior affect decision making among investors in stock markets and how the biases depend on demographic factors and investor financial literacy. Quantitative research design was taken and sample size of 280 individual investors based in different large cities i.e. Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad was sampled. A questionnaire containing various sub-questions was used to compile the data on psychological biases, demographic, financial literacy, and investment behavior. Stratified random sampling helped them represent the whole population in terms of age, gender, level of experience, and education. The outcomes revealed that the psychological biases played a an exceptionally important role in affecting the investor decision making because it was observed that the overconfidence biases are the factors that motivate people to engage in risk taking behavior, loss aversion are the factors that make people stay cautious in making independent decision and the herd behavior are the factors that make people follow the majority direction instead of making their own analysis. Based on regression analysis, the demographic variables that affected how investors responded to these biases are age, education and experience, with older, more educated and experienced investors showing a stronger ability to control making a biased decision. These ANOVA findings indicated that financial literacy strongly influenced investment behavior and the most rational and informed decision was made by highly literate investors. Overall, the article highlights the importance of financial education, the understanding of behavioral biases, and focusing on demographic factors to make more effective decisions as an investor and, thus, make the market more efficient
Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Among Employees and Its Impact on Organizational Commitment
Full text linkCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a crucial aspect of organizational strategy and identity, and its impact on employees the nearest internal stakeholders has not been adequately studied. The study examines the perception of the employees about the CSR initiatives and the impact of the perception on their affective, normative and continuance commitment to their organizations. Based on the Social Identity Theory and Social Exchange Theory, the method used for this research is qualitative method where the researcher used document analysis of internal corporate messages, CSR reports, and publications oriented towards employees in selected institutions. The results indicate that perceptions of employees about authenticity, transparency, and moral congruence of CSR is very critical in defining organizational commitment. By including storytelling, dialogic communication, and narratives based on values, the employees have a higher degree of emotional involvement, moral responsibility and commitment to their organizations. In contrast, the perceived inconsistencies or insincerity of the CSR messages diminish the trust levels and undermine the identification. The study also highlights that CSR communication is a moral discourse and identity-making process that articulates employee values to organizational mission. Theoretically, the study contributes to knowledge of CSR as a social identity signifier and a social exchange, whereas the practicality offers practical lessons to managers in planning authentic and participative CSR programs that enhance internal unity and retention
The Future of Auditing: How Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Technology Are Revolutionizing the Industry
Full text linkThis is an exploration of the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology on audit practice, i.e., how the two technologies are re-defining audit practice in Punjab. The study used a qualitative thematic analysis approach in probing the experience and perception of 12 professional auditors who worked in public and private audit firms. Data were collected through the help of semi-structured interviews conducted through telephonic interviews to achieve a rightfully detailed, adaptive interview on the subject of consideration. Results show Blockchain and AI technologies are significantly helping in auditing effectiveness by the help of automation of labor-intensive work, greater accuracy, and auditing in real time. Interviews emphasized the role of AI as a utility to uncover fraud, predictive insights, and prescriptive recommendations, and Blockchain to ensure integrity and transparency of data. But discussed as well were questions such as integrity, AI bias, and bringing new technology into mature systems. All of those aside, the auditors were optimistic about the future of auditing and called out training, organizational readiness, and ethical leadership to be prepared to capture the greatest value from these innovations. The study concludes that while AI and Blockchain are revolutionizing auditing practice, very careful consideration needs to be taken in order to overcome the obstacles in existence in order to effect a seamless shift to the technologies
The Emotional cost of Automation Exploring Teacher Anxiety and Role Identity in AI- Augmented Classrooms
Full text linkThe current study examined the impact of AI integration on the classes into the expression of teacher anxiety and the role identity of in-service teachers in the state of Pakistan (Punjab). It used a quantitative and cross sectional correlation design according to which the sample examined a stratified randomisation of 384 researchers who worked in the government and the private schools and colleges representing the secondary and higher secondary sectionsThe sample was also gender wide, qualification and experienced wise with most of the teachers being at mid-age of the career and held masters. The results showed there were critical relations between teacher anxiety-role identity (r= -0.42) and AI-integration (r= -0.35) and the role- identity-AI integration (r= 0.47). The perception of AI as the tool of facilitation served as a significant predictor of whether a person would adopt it ( 0.48, p < 0.001) and explained the variance to 23 percent using regression analysis. Chi-square results indicated that the higher the rate of AI integration, the higher the anxiety levels especially among the experienced teachers. The interviewing process pointed to the absence of anxiety as not being qualified but having problem coping with the new technologies without relevant institutional support. The findings are in concordance with Technology Acceptance Model in the sense that perceived ease of use along with perceived usefulness are factors that highlight a very important role
Natural Resources, Technological Innovation and Environmental Quality: A Case Study of Developing Countries
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This study aims to analyze the influence of natural resources and technological innovation on environmental degradation in developing countries between 1996 and 2020. It uses natural resources, technological innovation, per capita GDP growth, urban population, renewable energy consumption, and trade openness as the dependent variables while environmental quality as the independent variable. Using GMM, the generalized method of moments, in estimating the relations between the chosen variables, indicated causal relations of the Granger causality test. A reliable source provided world development indicator data. The research shows that natural resources, technological innovation, renewable energy use, and growth in per capita GDP directly affect the quality of the environment. , and urban population, while negative association exists in the case of trade openness against environmental degradation. The trade openness is negative and significant on environmental degradation. It means that environmental quality improvement goes hand in hand with a decline in trade openness. The natural resources positively and significantly affect the environmental deterioration. Additionally, As technological innovation increases, environmental damage increases
From Clicks to Connections: Exploring the Role of Social Media and e-WOM in Shaping Brand Engagement through Total Customer Experience in South Punjab
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This study examines the combined effects of social media (SM), electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), and total consumer experience (TCE) on brand engagement. Considering the S-O-R model as the framework of the study, data was collected from 350 participants from South Punjab using a mix of physical and online surveys. With the use of SPSS and PLS-SEM, the positive impact of SM and eWOM on the BE is exhibited and the role of TCE as a mediator. The vital role of customer experience in manifesting digital intercommunications into extensive brand connections was the highlighted result. The results of this research provide the developing reservoir of research on digital engagement by providing useful data for businesses to foster customer association by the strategic utilization of SM and eWOM. Upcoming studies might need to take in mind multiple kinds of cultural and industrial factors, probe extra mediators and moderators, and use longitudinal and analytical techniques. By contributing applicable strategies for businesses to grip SM and eWOM, this study contributes to expand the body of knowledge on digital engagement. Future studies could investigate these dynamics in different cultural or industrial contexts, investigate additional mediating or moderating constructs, and adopt longitudinal or more intricate analytical techniques to gain a deeper understanding of these relationships