Digital Game Based Learning in Business Management Education: A Step from Entertainment to Digital Literacy

Recent years have seen an escalating interest in the use of digital games in pursuit of educational goals. The present research also examined the impact of using digital games on learning in higher education. Female participants (N=46) from a women university in Pakistan were assigned to an experimental condition. The effect of game design with moderating effect of 3D dimension modelling, game contents and social context was examined on learning effectiveness. Results found significant impact of game design with moderating effect of 3D dimension modelling and game contents on learning satisfaction. However, results did not show a significant impact of collaboration on learning satisfaction during the experimental play session. Results are discussed in terms of the potential for higher education learning games and technology to increase students’ perceived learning effectiveness. This study reinforces the use of digital games in higher education. It also emphasize the necessity of further research to evaluate the academic value of digital games in students’ learning and knowledge retention. Keywords: Higher Education, games, learning, Game Design, Game content

Computer users at risk: Health disorders associated with prolonged computer use

By keeping in view the ISO standards which emphasize the assessment of use of a product, this research aims to assess the prolonged use of computers and their effects on human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between extent of computer use (per day) and carpal tunnel syndrome, computer stress syndrome, computer vision syndrome and musculoskeletal problems. The second objective was to investigate the extent of simultaneous occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, computer vision syndrome and musculoskeletal disorders among computer users. The sample in this exploratory study consisted of 120 employees and students. Self administered questionnaire was used as an instrument in this field survey study. The findings confirmed that computer related health disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, computer vision syndrome and musculoskeletal disorders occur simultaneously among prolonged computer users such as employees and students. The simultaneous occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, computer vision syndrome and musculoskeletal disorders is more among employees than students and those who are both employees and students. Employees who use computer daily for more than four hours are more likely subjected to the risks of all these four health disorders. The study concludes that by observing some rules of using computer, minimizing and treating of these disorders are possibleKeywords: Computer, Prolonged use, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Computer Vision Syndrome, Health Disorders, Employees, Students.

Domestic or International Hotels: The Frontrunner of Service Innovation and Customer Choice in Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that measure the preferences of customers for domestic and international hotels operating in Pakistan. A questionnaire derived from previous studies was completed by 200 hotel-customers in Pakistan. Data is analyzed using SPSS software by employing factor analysis with VERIMEX rotation and multiple regressions The results indicate that international hotels have more attributes and are preferred by customers as compare to domestic hotels. The study reinforces and refines the body of knowledge relating the service innovation and customer choices for hotel industry in Pakistan. The study also tries to highlight the relative importance of tangible and intangible factors in the hotel sector It may establish useful base for future empirical work in this field, at least in developing countries

Impact of Servant Leadership on Project Success Through Mediating Role of Team Motivation and Effectiveness:A Case of Software Industry

Project management in today’s intensely competitive environment has compelled organizations to adopt project management approach for better business results. Therefore, current research study aims to investigate the impact of servant leadership on project success with the mediating role of team motivation and team effectiveness in the software industry. A field survey was conducted, using a questionnaire as a survey tool. Data were collected from 219 respondents who have been working as team members of software development projects. The statistical results were obtained using the SPSS Process macro. The results show project managers need to exhibit a servant leadership style due to its strong influence on project success, albeit through team motivation and effectiveness. The findings from this study contribute to the field of leadership and project management along with the field of information systems and software engineering.</p

Bedtime Smart Phone Usage and Its Effects on Work-Related Behaviour at Workplace

The over usage and over dependency on digital devices, like smartphones, has been considered as a growing international epidemic. The increased dependency on gadgets, especially smartphones for personal and official uses, has also brought many detrimental effects on individual users. Hence it is vital to understand the negative effects of smartphone usage on human. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of bedtime smartphone usage on work performances, interpersonal conflicts, and work engagement, via the mediating role of sleep quality among employees. Using a cross-sectional study design, a questionnaire-based field survey was conducted on 315 employees who participated as respondents. The results confirmed the negative effects of bedtime smartphone usage on sleep quality. Along with it, the effects of sleep quality on work performances, work engagements and interpersonal conflicts were also proven to be statistically significant. Regarding the mediating role of sleep quality, it was empirically evident that sleep quality mediates the relationship between bedtime smartphone usage with work performances and interpersonal conflicts. The findings revealed that bedtime smartphone usage reduces sleep quality among the employees, resulting in lower work performances and engagements while contributing to higher interpersonal conflicts. The findings concluded that smartphone usage before sleep increases the prospects of employees to be less productive, less engaged, and have more workplace conflicts. The findings warrant the continued managerial as well as academic research attention, as the smartphones are now used by many organisations to run businesses as well

Determining the Effect of Software Project Managers' Skills on Work Performance.

This study investigates the factors influencing project managers' work performance, including decision-making, analytical, technical, interpersonal, and communication skills, with emotional intelligence as a potential moderator. Conducted within the Pakistani software industry, a comprehensive field survey using a well-designed questionnaire ensured reliable and valid data collection. The statistical findings confirm the positive impact of all five skill sets on project managers' work performance. Notably, emotional intelligence moderates the effects significantly for communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills. This research provides valuable insights into the critical attributes shaping project managers' effectiveness, offering a unique perspective by considering emotional intelligence as a potential enhancer or inhibitor of these skills' impact on work performance

Social Networking Sites as Formal Learning Environments in Business Education

The central objective of this study is to investigate the extent to which social networking sites can affect learning effectiveness, and to what amount this technology can be used as supplementary elements for existing pedagogy methods prevailing in a developing country. The study used a teaching case research method to investigate the effects of Social Networking Sites (SNS) usage on learning outcomes of students in higher education setting in Pakistan. The central hypothesis developed in this study was that, using social networking sites in higher education enhance students’ interest, which ultimately increases their satisfaction and perceived learning performance. These effects are further boosted in the presence of instructor’s support. The results confirmed that Social Networking Sites (SNS) hold a place in teaching and learning in higher education. The study provides a way to maximize the impact of the existing technologies, by providing an understanding of how the different technological tools and learning can impeccably be incorporated in higher education

Domestic or International Hotels: The Frontrunner of Service Innovation and Customer Choice in Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that measure the preferences of customers for domestic and international hotels operating in Pakistan. A questionnaire derived from previous studies was completed by 200 hotel-customers in Pakistan. Data is analyzed using SPSS software by employing factor analysis with VERIMEX rotation and multiple regressions The results indicate that international hotels have more attributes and are preferred by customers as compare to domestic hotels. The study reinforces and refines the body of knowledge relating the service innovation and customer choices for hotel industry in Pakistan. The study also tries to highlight the relative importance of tangible and intangible factors in the hotel sector It may establish useful base for future empirical work in this field, at least in developing countries.Customer preference, Service innovation, Hotel attributes, Factor analysis

A Conceptual Framework for Perceived Crowding in the Service Sector from the Lens of Psychological Reactance Theory

This study explores how perceived crowding affects customers in the service sector. A Semi-structured interview guideline was developed to assemble data from forty customers of banks and telecom franchises. Analysis of the research was carried out by using qualitative research software Atlas. The findings suggest that perceived crowding, including social and spatial crowding, impacts customers behaviour emotionally and psychologically. They demonstrate altered behaviour when present in a crowded environment. Further, it was also found that certain elements helped customers tolerate the effects of spatial and social crowding; either types of customers, environment/infrastructure, or Frontline Service Employees behaviour during service attainment. Additionally, following the assumptions of the theory of psychological reactance, this study proposed a research model for future empirical studies. Findings also suggest that top management must consider the impact that perceived crowding produces on customers. Limitations and future research directions and theoretical and practical implications are also discussed