Outsourcing Decision in Capabilities Perspective

There are many theories and framework which suggest performance link to strategy and / or resources. In order to succeed in the market, the organization must transform its core strengths into competitive advantages so that it becomes harder for its rivals to snatch its customers and market share. This paper has attempted to integrate the issue of weakness emanating out of the capability frame in terms of strategic decision in outsourcing. With the help of our proposed “Integrated Decision Making Model” for strategic outsourcing,, significant advantage can be achieved by directing investments and efforts in areas where firms perform better as compared to others. Over time, a continued effort to develop core competencies by building strategic capabilities (strengths) and minimizing strategic liabilities (weaknesses), bar the present or future competitors to expand into the company's areas of interest, thus helps to defend the strategic competitive advantages lying in the firm's value chain

Contemporary Issues in Current Account Operations in Pakistani IBs - Sharia Compliant Solution

Contemporary Sharia scholars have three stances about the Current Account Operations in Pakistani Islamic Banks (IBs) i.e., (i) Ijarah based contract (ii) Wadi’ah based contract, and (iii) Qard based contract. This paper is an attempt to delve into the root causes of the differences of scholars and to find the Sharia-compliant solution acceptable for all. Descriptive as well as applied approaches are used in this paper. Clearing of ambiguity on this issue may result in twofold benefits: from the public point of view, it would satisfy practising Muslims which may result in form of huge deposits in this account (ii) from IBs viewpoint the Current Account is a bonus deposit

Influence of Porter’s Diamond Cluster on Pakistan Automotive Industry’s Performance

The purpose of this study was to conduct a theory based contextualization of Porter’s diamond related and supporting industries determinant and investigate the influence of clusters, fostering knowledge and innovation, on the performance of automotive firms in Pakistan. In this empirical study the research methodology entails applying axiology of positivism philosophy, self-administered structured questionnaire after pilot study. The research design was cross-sectional, probability technique was constructed in data collection; data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypothesis was tested through regression model. Size of sample was 194. The study findings noted absence of empirical research on Porter’s diamond in Pakistan in the automotive industry. Related and supporting industries of Porter’s diamond attribute have theoretical and conceptual perspective to provide impetus for firms in automotive industry to realize competitive advantage (CA). The study findings conclusively confirmed the determining force of clusters of related and supporting industries and its significant impact on the performance of the auto sector in Pakistan. The study investigated the automotive industry across multinational corporations (MNCs), private companies and joint ventures (JV). Practical implications are significant for constituencies like practicing managers, academia, and government policy makers. The research study is important owing to its conceptual and practical perspective for industry players and policy makers to help this key large scale manufacturing industry to realize CA by internalizing the related and supporting industries determinant of Porter’s diamond.Keywords: automotive industry, clusters, competitive advantage, national competitive advantage, related and supporting industries.DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-19-05Publication date:July 31st 201

Extraction and characterization of pectin from grapefruit (Duncan cultivar) and its utilization as gelling agent

Globally, agro-industrial by products such as fruit waste has attained immense recognition to be used for the extraction of valuable functional ingredients. Pectin is naturally occurring biopolymer that is widely recognized in food industry as well as in biotechnology. Keeping in view, current research was conducted for extraction, characterization and utilization of grapefruit peel pectin from Duncan cultivar. The extracted pectin was characterized for different parameters that explored its role in value added products. Acid extraction was carried out and then pectin was characterized for equivalent weight, ash content and methoxyl content. With the addition of extracted pectin, jam was prepared and analysed for physicochemical analysis and sensory attributes. The maximum extraction (22.55%) was done from grapefruit peel at temperature-120°C with pH-1.5, while minimum extraction (0.41%) was obtained at temperature-120°C with pH-2. Moreover, adding pectin in jam formulation resulted in significant effect on texture of the final product. Conclusively, pectin holds a great potential to be extracted and utilized in fruit based products for best quality and value addition

Testing for Multiple Bubbles in Inflation for Pakistan

Detection of bubbles in financial markets is an issue of great importance as these split an enduring impact to every sector of the economy leading to substantial losses. In Pakistan, price level has seen abrupt changes which hurts the economic efficiency whereas inflation rates are usually high. So, it is important to detect bubbles present in inflation to have a check whether the hike in inflation is demand driven or there is a prevailing price exuberant behavior that results in sudden boom in inflation. There are very limited studies on detecting bubbles in inflation series for Pakistan. So, the present study takes a lead and address this very important issue by making use of recently developed state of art GSADF approach proposed by Phillips et al. (2015). The empirical analysis is based on five different series which cover inflation rates such as consumer price index (CPI) for the general, the food and the non-food items, the sensitive price index (SPI) and the wholesale price index (WPI). This approach is best suited for testing multiple bubbles as opposed to earlier methods that are designed to test for the presence of only a single bubble in any time series. The empirical findings based on monthly time series data from Jan 2006 to Jan 2019 confirm the existence of multiple bubbles in WPI and CPI non-food. However, for rest of three series, only single bubble has been witnessed. The analysis from the date stamping of bubbles reveal that all bubbles arise during the global financial crisis of 2008 which triggered oil prices resulting in domestic currency depreciation. Some important policy implications are discussed as well

Absenteeism and Turnover: Alpha Battery Ltd

Alpha Battery Ltd (ABL), automotive battery manufacturer located in SITE, Karachi is one of the largest manufacturers in Pakistan. Turnover of employees has been one of the problems the company had to tackle. This problem was compounded by its close proximity to disturbed localities of Karachi and adverse working conditions of the manufacturing premises. The turnover was further aggravated by the ethnic composition of the labor class, since the inherent characteristics of the work force is an important consideration while hiring the laborers.The management of ABL was able to solve this problem by identifying the root cause of the turnover by a series of organizational development measures comprising of changing the composition of the workforce, reducing the shift timings and providing incentives to the work force. These measures led to improvement in level of job satisfaction of the working class which eventually controlled the turnover problem.Keywords: Automotive Battery Manufacturer, Adverse Working Conditions, Composition of Work Force, HR Initiatives, Turnover

Effect of accumulated Stomach Gas due to Positive Pressure Ventilation in Children on Oximetery Values

stomach gas in children, undergoing positive pressureventilation with face mask, helps in improving the arterialoxygen saturation. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental studywhose procedures were performed at Combined MilitaryHospital, Lahore and Mardan, from May 2005 to Nov 2006.Fifty children scheduled for surgery were included. Agerange of patients was between 06 months to 02 years.Patient status was American Society of AnaesthesiologistsI and II. All were ‘nil by mouth’ for the past 4-6 hours.In 25 cases undergoing positive pressure ventilation, thestomach gas was removed by nasogastric tube (Group A).In the other 25 cases the stomach gas was not removed(Group B). Oximetery was done during the conduct ofanaesthesia. Average value of each case was determinedand the data compared and analyzed. Results: 80% of patients in whom stomach gas wasremoved showed 100% oxygen saturation (SPO2) and theremaining 20% patients had 99% saturation. Whereas thegroup in which stomach gas was not removed, 48%patients showed 100% saturation, 32% patients had 99%and 20% patients had 98% oxygen saturation. Conclusion: Positive pressure ventilation with facemask in children can cause gaseous distension ofthe stomach. Removal of this gas can help improve theoxygen saturation

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: A surgical certainty

This study aims to assess the clinical presentation and the outcomes of a surgical correction of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). A retrospective review was carried out on the charts of six patients admitted for ALCAPA surgery at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from March 2017 to May 2018.Dyspnoea, palpitation, poor feeding, fatiguability, pallor and a murmur of mitral regurgitation were the main presenting features. The pre-operative median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 64%. Coronary reimplantation was performed in all the patients with a mitral valve repair being done in only one patient. The mea n LV EF was 66 .3%,p ost- ope rativel y. Mitra l regurgitation (MR) improved in patients post-operatively with trace in 2 patients and mild MR in one. Surgical correction by coronary re-implantation yields favourable outcomes in ALCAPA and significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality rates associated with the disease

Outcome of ganglion impar block in chronic coccydynia

Background: Chronic coccydynia is an annoying condition and is characterized by pain in the tail bone. Most cases are treated conservatively initially but failed conservative management calls for interventions of various type. One of the interventions in the armamentarium of the orthopaedic surgeon is a ganglion impar block. The present study aimed at assessing the outcome of ganglion impar block in chronic coccydynia.    Methods: This prospective study of five years duration included 27 patients with chronic coccydynia with failed conservative treatment. Visual analogue score (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to quantify pain and the improvement in symptoms. Minimum final follow-up was two years. Results: The mean VAS and ODI scores pre-injection were 5.98±1.86 and 52.13±2.13, respectively. The mean VAS and ODI scores at final follow-up were 2.47±1.65 and 23.59±2.34, respectively. The improvement in the above objective scores was found to be statistically significant with a p=0.00257 for VAS score and 0.00425 for ODI score. One patient developed syncope post-injection and one patient complained of superficial injection site pain which persisted for three weeks. No significant or major complication was encountered. Conclusions: Ganglion impar block appears to be a very impressive modality of treatment for chronic coccydynia in view of the simplicity, ease and reproducibility of the technique along with minimal complication rates. However, randomized control trials with large sample size are recommended