94 research outputs found
Customer Relationship Management Practices in University Libraries of Pakistan
No full textThe purpose of this study was to appraise the prevailing status of customer relationship management (CRM) practices in university libraries of Pakistan to increase strong and mutual beneficial relationship with user. Moreover, correlates of CRM practices with types, categories, and geographical locations of university libraries were also explored. This study adopted cross-sectional survey research design using a questionnaire. The survey questionnaire was emailed to the in-charge/head librarians of all 193 university libraries in Pakistan and response rate was 74%. The results were consolidated at the analysis stage. The results have demonstrated that current status of CRM practices (customer focus, organizational focus, customer feedback management) is in the adolescence phase, while information technology infrastructure is inadequate for absolute implantation of CRM programmes and strategies. The data indicate that CRM practices are linked with university libraries types and geographical locations private sector university libraries are concentrating more on organizational focus as compared to public sector while university libraries of Islamabad Capital Territory are having good IT Infrastructure from KPK Province and AJK region respectively. The study suggests that all academic institutions should formulate a clearly specified user care and satisfaction policy. In Pakistan, Information Management / Library & Information Sciences schools and library associations should conduct ongoing training, workshops, seminars, and conferences on CRM strategies, practices, programs, tactics and mechanism, defined in this study. University top management must encourage, provide financial resources and train staff for smooth running and implementation of CRM. Complete IT infrastructure, CRM software and models should be adopted as per market demand. CRM models may be developed for Pakistani university libraries or such models may be opted with some amendments from other pure business CRM models
Tourism Development in BRICS: Unraveling the Role of Foreign Direct Investment & Trade
No full textThis article presents the findings of a study that utilized a panel ARDL (autoregressive distributive lag) model to scrutinize the association of foreign direct investment (FDI), trade, human capital, government expenditures, with tourism in the BRICS nations. The research analyzed data spanning the period from 1995 to 2020 and unveiled crucial insights into the dynamics influencing tourism development in these countries. The results revealed that FDI, trade, and human capital demonstrated positive associations with the tourism sector, in the short and long time period. These factors played a significant role in boosting tourism activities within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China, India & South Africa) nations. However, an inverse correlation was observed between government expenditures and tourism during the same time frame, suggesting the need for careful allocation and optimization of public funds to enhance the sector's growth and performance. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between various determinants of tourism development in BRICS countries, providing valuable implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders
Investigating Organizational Commitment of Information Professionals working at University Libraries in Pakistan
No full textThis study investigated the organizational commitment of information professionals working at university libraries in Pakistan. Survey method was adopted using a questionnaire to collect data from 329 information professionals of Punjab and Islamabad. The questionnaire contained 18-items measure of organizational commitment, developed by Meyer, Allen and Smith (1993), along with certain demographic variables. Each statement was measured on 5-point Likert scale (e.g. 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3= Neutral, 4=Agree, 5= Strongly Agree). The collected data were analysed by applying descriptive as well as inferential statistics in SPSS. Results indicated that information professionals were slightly committed to their organizations and most of these had emotional attachment with the organization. There were no significant mean differences in the index of organizational commitment based on age, gender, sector, area, and continuing education. However, the qualification, designation, experience, employment nature, and salary of the participants appeared to be predictor of organizational commitment. These results are important for university administration especially human resource department who work for retention of productive and committed employees and ensure strategic human resource development. This study would make worthy contribution in the existing research on organizational commitment in general and information professionals in particular
Does Job Satisfaction Predict Organizational Commitment? An Information Professionals’ Perspective
No full textThis study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment among information professionals working at university libraries in Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire contained items related to job satisfaction and organizational commitment along with demographic variables. All the professionals working in university libraries of Punjab and Islamabad were considered as study population. It was decided to collect data from all these professionals. The questionnaire was administered either through personal visits or through email. A total of 329 questionnaires retuned which were used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for data analysis. The results revealed job satisfaction appeared to be a statistically significant but positive predictor of organization commitment among survey participants. The facets such as promotion, supervision, and job itself also appeared to be the positive correlative of overall organizational commitment. Conversely, the three facets of job satisfaction pay, fringe benefits and colleagues were not significantly correlated with overall organizational commitment as well as with all its facets. These results are useful for human resource departments of universities who work strategically for retention of satisfied and productive employees for their institutions. This study would make worthy contribution in the existing research on library management
Role of Corporate Governance in Shareholders Value Creation
No full textThe mechanism of governing corporate affairs in line with strategic goal of shareholders' value creation (SVC) has been pivotal debate among academic and institutional scholars over last few decades. Most of the studies in developing countries including Pakistan, have considered more conventional measures, like firm financial performance to examine the impact of corporate governance (CG). Theoretically, firm financial performance optimization has little role in maximizing SVC, that rarely streams to shareholders' exchequer. Therefore, the study is unique in its nature that identifies market capitalization, the most appropriate measure of value creation for shareholders over long run. The authors gathered panel and longitudinal data pertaining to PSX-100 listed firm over the period of 10 years ranging from 2006-15, which is analyzed using multivariate regression. Hausman and Likelihood tests guide the process of appropriate econometrics model selection. Empirical findings reveal that CG dimensions such as audit committee independence (ACI), managerial ownership (MO) and ownership concentration (OC) have positive impact on SVC, except board size (BS) and board independence (BI). The study offers valuable policy recommendations to make CG practices more effective, however, application of the model proposition at macro and micro level can be a substantial extension to literature incorporating some controlling dimensions.</jats:p
Role of Corporate Governance in Shareholders Value Creation
No full textThe mechanism of governing corporate affairs in line with strategic goal of shareholders' value creation (SVC) has been pivotal debate among academic and institutional scholars over last few decades. Most of the studies in developing countries including Pakistan, have considered more conventional measures, like firm financial performance to examine the impact of corporate governance (CG). Theoretically, firm financial performance optimization has little role in maximizing SVC, that rarely streams to shareholders' exchequer. Therefore, the study is unique in its nature that identifies market capitalization, the most appropriate measure of value creation for shareholders over long run. The authors gathered panel and longitudinal data pertaining to PSX-100 listed firm over the period of 10 years ranging from 2006-15, which is analyzed using multivariate regression. Hausman and Likelihood tests guide the process of appropriate econometrics model selection. Empirical findings reveal that CG dimensions such as audit committee independence (ACI), managerial ownership (MO) and ownership concentration (OC) have positive impact on SVC, except board size (BS) and board independence (BI). The study offers valuable policy recommendations to make CG practices more effective, however, application of the model proposition at macro and micro level can be a substantial extension to literature incorporating some controlling dimensions.</jats:p
THE RECURRENCE OF HEAVY SKIN INDICATIONS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE IN THE PAKISTANI POPULATION
No full textObjective: Consider the recurrence of heavy skin indications and their relationship to the severity of the disease in the Pakistani population.
Methods: 110 outdoor patients visiting the Lahore General Hospital, Lahore were examined during a period from May 2017 to April 2018. BMI was determined by estimating heaviness in kilograms isolated by square of height in meters. The skin appearance of tall patients with Class I (CI) [BMI >30-35.7 kg/m2] and Class II (CII) [BMI 36-41 kg/m2] disease was recorded.
Results: The mean age was 41.85±8.61 years while the mean BMI was 34.52±3.52 kg/m2. A critical contrast for diabetes mellitus, striae and acanthosis nigricans was observed among the CI and CII clusters (p<0.06). BMI showed a significant positive relationship with diabetes (r=0.283, p=0.006) and rash (r=0.316, p=0.002), while diabetes mellitus appeared with acanthosis nigricans (r=0.375; p=0.001) and skin tags (r=0.219, p=0.028). Rash appeared with miliaria (r=0.211, p=0.037) and varicose vein with xanthomas (r=0.281, p=0.006).
Conclusion: Acanthosis nigricans and rashes are more often manifested by heaviness.
Keywords: Obesity, cutaneous manifestations
Industry, Firm, and Country Level Dynamics of Capital Structure: A Case of Pakistani Firms
No full textThe capital structure appears to be one of the most researched and the most controversial areas in modern corporate finance. Prior literature on determinants of capital structure has concentrated on firm and country level factors by employing static modeling. Static modeling has certain limitations, which do not allow companies to establish an optimum capital structure in line with economic uncertainty. This study makes a worthy contribution to the existing body of knowledge by filling the gap in the evolution of capital structure by employing a dynamic framework of the financial sector of Pakistan. In addition, the study brings into focus sectors’ importance in determining the firm’s financial behavior. Based on secondary financial sector data from 2006–2019, the article addresses the issues by employing two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM). The findings of the study validated the existence of dynamic capital structure across the financial sector of Pakistan and reinforced the substantial impact of sectors’ unique environment on leverage mechanism. The results are robust under alternative estimation approaches and offer useful policy implications
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