Perceived Organizational Support as an Antecedent of Knowledge Sharing Behaviors: Achieving Sustainability of Change Management Efforts

Knowledge is the only way organizations gain sustainable competitive advantage in such a hyper-competitive era. Given its importance, the study examines the antecedents to tacit and explicit knowledge and the mediating role of psychological ownership. We have collected a sample of 157 using online Google forms and physically visiting the banks in certain cases. The study used Smart PLS for statistical analysis. Structural equation modeling was performed on Smart PLS for data analysis as the constructs are reflective. The study found that perceived organizational-support positively influences both dimensions of knowledge-sharing behavior – tacit and explicit knowledge. Psychological ownership positively “mediates perceived organizational support and explicit knowledge sharing.” However, we did not find support for the mediating role of psychological ownership between perceived organizational-support and tacit knowledge sharing. The study recommends the HR department must create awareness of the support it provides to employees. HR professionals must build an all-inclusive workplace culture that embodies organizational support. Furthermore, customized incentives such as extrinsic and intrinsic benefits can encourage employees to share knowledge

Time is money: A Conditional Mediation Analysis of Ad Value Moderated by Time Spent on YouTube

Social media usage has increased significantly in the last few years due to its easy access and low cost. Besides other social media forums, YouTube usage worldwide has also increased profoundly. A recent decline in the number of advertisements on YouTube has led to YouTube skepticism about its full-fledged operations in Pakistan. Also, many firms in Pakistan have reduced their advertisement budgets on YouTube. Given its importance, the study has examined the factors affecting YouTube ad avoidance. The study also examined the mediating role of ad avoidance and the moderating role of time spent on YouTube. In addition, the study has also examined the conditional indirect effect of time spent on YouTube.   We collected data based on an e-questionnaire, in which 457 participants completed the questionnaires. Our study found that perceived ad irritation (PAIR) and perceived ad goal impediment (PAGI) positively affect perceived ad avoidance (PAAV). The study also documents that perceived ad information (PAIN) and perceived Ad entertainment (PAEN) insignificantly affect perceived ad avoidance (PAAV). The study proposed four mediating hypotheses, and we found support for only one hypothesis, stating that perceived ad avoidance (PAAV) mediates perceived ad goal impediment (PAGI) and perceived ad avoidance (PAAV). However, our study supports the study found time spent on YouTube (TSOY) moderates perceived ad value (PAVL) and perceived ad avoidance (PAAV). We also found that the time spent on YouTube's conditional mediation Index (CoMe Index) is statistically significant.

Impact of Servant Leadership on Job Performance with Mediating Role of Trust and Moderating Role of Power Distance: A Case of Hospitals in Pakistan

Job performance is essential for growth, especially in the service sector like hospitals. Apart from other factors, the leadership style affects job performance and other organizational-related outcomes. The literature documents that hospital employees' job performance has declined. Thus, we have focused on nurses and other healthcare staff, excluding doctors in the healthcare industry The study's sample size was 582. The study supports all five hypotheses. We found that "servant leadership and trust positively affect job performance." Servant leadership positively affects trust. The study also documents that "trust mediates servant leadership and job performance." At the same time, our results also suggest that "power distance" moderates servant leadership and trust relationships. Based on the direct and indirect effects of servant leadership and job performance, we suggest organizations hire servant leaders. The organizations must also regularly conduct counseling sessions for their leaders to focus on the employee's development and well-being. Such attitudes positively enhance job performance and increase employees' trust. Consequently, employees reciprocate by developing loyalty with the organizations and the leaders.

Impact of Transformational and Transactional Leadership on Work Engagement with the Mediating Impact of Job Satisfaction and Emotional Regulation as a Moderator

The textile sector in Pakistan significantly contributes to GDP and employment generation. Job satisfaction and work engagement in this sector are low. We examined the antecedents that directly and indirectly affect job satisfaction and work engagement. Using scales and measures used in past studies, we collected a sample of 287 respondents from four leading textile units in Karachi. We found “transformational leadership affects work engagement and job satisfaction.” Transactional leadership promotes “job satisfaction and work engagement.” Job satisfaction mediates” (i) transformational leadership and work engagement” and (ii) “transactional leadership and work engagement.” In the context of the moderating role, we found emotional regulation insignificantly moderates “transformational leadership and work engagement” and significantly moderates “transactional leadership and work engagement.” Therefore, we recommend that the textile sector use both types of leadership styles. For complex and interrelated jobs, firms may use a transformational leadership style. And for routine tasks, we recommend using transactional leadership styles

The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Job Performance with a Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction

Despite their contribution toward the economy and employment generation, SMEs in Pakistan suffer due to low productivity and poor job performance. Thus, we examined factors affecting job performance and the “mediating impact of job satisfaction on emotional intelligence and job performance.” We collected a sample of 382 local SME employees and used Smart PLS for data analysis. The study found “self-awareness, self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and job satisfaction positively affect job performance.” Emotional intelligence “affects job satisfaction,” and job satisfaction mediates “emotional intelligence and job performance.” However, “social skills, motivation, and empathy” insignificantly affect job performance. Emotional intelligence helps understand and manage others’ emotions and solve problematic issues. Therefore, firms must arrange seminars and workshops on emotional intelligence for their employees regularly. Although we did not find a significant effect of social skills and empathy on job performance, they still are important precursors to job-related outcomes, and firms must focus on these aspects as well

The Impact of Instrumental, Adversarial Network Ties, and Emotional Labor on Job Satisfaction

In the present technological era, social networks significantly affect job-related outcomes. Given its importance, we examined the effect of “instrumental ties, adversarial ties, and emotional labor on job satisfaction.” And the moderating role of communicative rationale. We collected a sample of 148 employees from a premier telecommunication company in Balochistan. We used Smart PLS for statistical analysis as we had a small sample size. The study found that “instrumental network closeness and emotional labor” promote job satisfaction. Whereas adversarial network closeness “insignificantly affects job satisfaction.” We also found an insignificant association between the moderating role of “communicative rationale on emotional labor and job satisfaction.” We believe healthy and positive relations provide physical comfort and emotional support. Further, the negative relations may distract employees and minimize their ability to focus on the task, but employees preoccupied with their jobs do not get distracted by such ties

Antecedents to Firm Performance and the Moderating Role of Environment Turbulence

Innovation is necessary for all industries' growth and sustainability, including the pharmaceutical sector. The study has focused on the pharmaceutical sector of Karachi to examine the impact of product, process, marketing, and organizational innovations on firm performance. It also examined the moderating role of environmental turbulence. The study collected a sample of 423 employees from the target firms. We found: "product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation, and organizational innovation positively affect firm performance." We also found that (i) environmental turbulence moderates product innovation and firm performance, and (ii) environmental turbulence insignificantly moderates process innovation and firm performance. Past studies exhibit that innovation impacts business performance differently due to intensive competitive markets and environmental influence.  Thus, to achieve high business performance, firms must focus on all the dimensions of innovation (i.e., product, process, marketing, and organization). Environmental turbulence, directly and indirectly, affects firm performance. Therefore, firms must deal with it adequately.   

A Systematic Review in the World of the Metaverse

Metaverse uses “virtual reality” in e-commerce to create immersive virtual spaces. The philosophy behind it is to make people addicted to virtual 3d reality, and with the options of “teleportation, changing environment, and using cryptocurrency to shop,” this will be the ultimate future of technology. Apart from the benefits of the metaverse, it has many challenges, including “cyber security.” This study has synthesized past literature into nine themes based on a systematic review. All nine themes deal with the potential challenges and opportunities for users, including buyers and sellers. People can live an ideal life in the metaverse, leading to the denial mode of not accepting the real world and prefer living in the metaverse. For example, bald individuals can get a head full of hair in the metaverse. Someone with a disability can walk and fly in the metaverse. All these lucrative features will make virtual life more like heaven and real life like hell

Impact of Social Media Opinion Leaders Influencers on Individual Consumption Decisions of Visually Conspicuous Products

Social media has completely altered how businesses engage with their customers. Social media influencers have become an essential marketing tool for many industries. The consumption of conspicuous products is growing in today's era. Therefore, most people prefer luxury products as a status symbol, ignoring what brands offer. Consequently, brands spend considerable resources on social media to promote their products and reach a wider audience. However, little research is available on how social media affects customer behavior and how to measure social media effectiveness. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the influence of social media influencers on customer attitudes, behaviors, and purchase intentions toward the consumption of conspicuous products in Pakistan. The study also examined the mediating effect of brand image on consumer attitude and purchase intention.   The study used Smart PLS 4 for data analysis on a data set of 200 respondents. The result indicates that social media influencer positively affects brand image, consumer attitude and purchase intention. The findings also reveal that brand image mediates (i) social media influencer and customer attitude and (ii) social media influencer and purchase intention. This research contributes to the current reservoir of knowledge by providing insights into the factors that make social media influencers successful in promoting conspicuous products. The study findings can benefit conspicuous/luxury brands in selecting suitable social media influencers and marketing strategies that enhance their brand image

A Moderated Model: Task Ambiguity and Task Complexity Moderating Servant Leadership and Employees Turnover Intention

Apart from contributing towards GDP and employment generation, SMEs face the challenges of retaining talented employees. Besides other factors, the type of leadership, task ambiguity, and complexity affect employees’ attitudes toward work and organizations. Given its importance, the study examines the effect of “servant leadership, task ambiguity, and complexity” on turnover intention. It also examines the moderating roles of “ambiguity and complexity on turnover intentions” in SMEs in Karachi. We collected a sample of 252 from local SMEs in Karachi. The study found servant leadership negatively affects turnover intention. Task ambiguity and task complexity positively affect turnover intention. Task ambiguity insignificantly moderates “servant leadership and turnover intention. Task complexity significantly moderate servant leadership and turnover intention.  Due to a lack of job description and direction, employees often get confused, adversely affecting their motivation, well-being, and productivity. We suggest leaders delegate jobs by aligning employees’ characteristics, skills, and job requirements. They must be clear about what they expect from the employees by communicating verbally and in writing. Firms must arrange seminars, workshops, and counseling sessions on leadership styles. Such sessions may improve leaders’ attitudes and behaviors toward employees