Moderating effects of organizational learning capability on the relationship between innovation, branding and SMEs performance in sports industry of Pakistan

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a catalytic role in strengthening the economy of developing counties. The performance of SMEs depends on various factors. Among those factors include innovation and branding practices. This study aimed to investigate the nature of relationship that exists between Innovation, Branding and SMEs performance in sports industry of Pakistan. Furthermore, the study intended to examine the moderating effects of organizational learning capability on relationship between Innovation, Branding and SMEs performance. A structured questionnaire representing dimensions related to innovation, branding, organizational learning capability and SMEs Performance was designed. Survey method was used to conduct study on 352 SMEs in sports industry of Pakistan. Multiple Regression analysis was employed in order the study the nature and strength of relationship between Innovation and SMEs Performance, as well as between Branding and SMEs Performance. Results indicated that both Innovation and Branding have a significant positive effect on SMEs performance. Hierarchical Regression Analysis was utilized to see the moderating effects of Organizational Learning Capability on relationship between Innovation, Branding and SMEs performance. Findings revealed that Organizational learning Capability does not moderate the relationship between Innovation, Branding and SMEs performance. These results imply that SMEs must emphasize on bringing innovations and embracing branding practices if they desire to enhance their performance. The study also contributed to the theory as it extended Resource Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Perspective and the Theory of the growth of the firm by integrating three distinct literature streams pertaining to Innovation, Branding and Organizational Learning

Effectiveness of Nerve Blocks for Management of Head and Neck Cancer Associated Neuropathic Pain Disorders; a Retrospective Study

Introduction: A portion of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC)-associated pain may not experience relief in symptoms with non-invasive modalities. A nerve block is a procedure in which a local anesthetic agent is injected along the nerve track to preferentially block sensory transmission. The literature on the effectiveness of nerve blocks in the management of HNC-related pain is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nerve blocks in management of breakthrough HNC-associated trigeminal or cervical neuropathic pain disorders. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent a nerve block or infiltration procedure in the regions of head and neck for management of breakthrough HNC-associated trigeminal or cervical neuropathic pain disorders in the Orofacial Pain Medicine clinic, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, between November 2018 and November 2019 was completed. Information regarding demographics, diagnosis, and pain characteristics was extracted and reviewed. The Fisher-exact test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for analysis between independent and dependent variables. Results: A total of 27 participants were included in the investigation, of which 66.7 % were males. The average pre-procedure pain score was 6.85 ± 2.54. Following intervention, 81.5 % of the participants experienced greater than 75 % relief in pain for longer than 48 hours. The mean immediate post-procedure pain score was 0.26 ± 1.02 and the average duration of relief was 6.10 ± 6.50 weeks. The significant effect of nerve blocks was found to be statistically associated with the concurrent use of amitriptyline (p = 0.017). Conclusion: Nerve blocks, as an adjunctive therapy to pharmacologic treatment, can provide significant relief to patients with breakthrough HNC-associated trigeminal and cervical neuropathic pain disorders. However, the duration of relief experienced by the participants is inconsistent. The beneficial effect of nerve blocks appears to be more common in patients that were concurrently using amitriptyline

COMPARISON OF DOCUMENTED PATIENT CARE BEFORE AND AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF END OF LIFE CARE PATHWAY FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AT SHAUKAT KHANUM MEMORIAL CANCER HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE

Purpose: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Cancer primarily deals with cancer patients and has various departments which provide best-integrated lifesaving care. However, when patients who have been given all possible medical and oncological treatment still progress their disease, they are then referred for best supportive care to palliative care department. The aim of this paper was to audit documented care for palliative patients before and after implementation of end of life care (ELC) pathway.Materials and Methods: We used a retrospective method to audit 45 terminally ill patients over a period of 3 months. Then, a re-audit was done over a period of 3 months and data were collected for patients who were started on SKM-ELC pathway.Results: Results show that the implementation of ELC pathway, 67% of the patients were not prescribed PRN medications for symptom control, 20% of the patients were not reviewed for the need of assisted nutrition and for 20% of the patient’s primary team were not even notified that the patient is dying. After the ELC pathway implementation, it was found that 100% of patients were reviewed for PRN medications and assisted nutrition. Oncologists were timely notified that the patient is dying.Conclusion: In summary, we can say that implantation of ELC pathway has significantly improved documented patients care in all aspects.Key words: Cancer, care for dying, end of life care, goals of care pathwa

Gender Role Portrayal in Television Advertisement: Evidence from Pakistan

This study aims to observe the gender role portrayal in food and non-food television advertisement in Pakistan, in order to find out gender discrimination (if any) and association of gender with different content variables. Content analysis of selected TV commercials was used to fulfill the purpose of this study. Services of two independent coders (business graduates) were utilized to code content variables for a sample of 103 commercials (54 food and 49 non-food commercials). Based on the extant literature, seven content variables were selected for this study including: main product user, voiceover, primary character, end comment, soundtrack level, activity level and aggression level. The gender role portrayals in both food and non-food commercials have been compared and discussed. There exists gender discrimination in Pakistani television advertisement, where males dominate more. The reason behind this phenomenon is expected to lie in social and cultural values. This male dominance is higher in food advertisement as compared to non-food advertisement. Results also favor the association of male character with the relatively higher activity and aggression levels in television commercials. The findings of this study are supportive for key players in advertising industry like advertisers and advertising agencies, for self-regulation of their advertising campaigns with respect to gender role. However, more important implication for them is to know about the forces of traditional cultural values and preferences of target audience, for effective planning of the commercials and forecasting their impact. Such knowledge can provide them a better base to assess the need for self-regulation of their advertising campaigns, guiding them towards making more successful commercials. This study reflects the true picture of gender discrimination in Pakistani television advertisement. It has been concluded using a well defined methodology, provides original data for Pakistan and can be considered a good reference for further analysis

Business challenges among halal cosmetic and personal care entrepreneurs

The growth of halal cosmetic and personal care industry encourage the entrepreneur cosmetic and personal care applying halal certification standard to increase their business performance. Yet, a study and efforts to explain halal cosmetic and personal care challenges remain scant compared to other halal product such as food, slaughter, and financial banking system.This conceptual paper explores the business challenges faced by the entrepreneurs in halal cosmetic and personal care. The source of this study based on a library study review from available statistics, annual reports as well as reliable articles. Overall, there are several challenges faced by entrepreneurs in this industry that is fulfill consumer demand, understanding shariah requirement, market competition, and organization capability

Empirical Investigation on the Relationship Between Strategic Orientations and SMEs Performance in Nigeria

This study examines the relationship between strategic orientations and SMEs performance in Nigeria. The debate on entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation to firm performance will for a long time remain area of research. The population of this paper consists of 3,723 of all the SMEs operating in Kaduna and Sokoto state North West Nigeria. Out of which 351 sample questionnaires were administered to respondents concerning the entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation to SMEs performance. 218 questionnaires were returned. The number of valid questionnaires is 213. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to determine the effect of the variables of the study. The findings of the paper indicated that entrepreneurial orientation promoting SMEs performance in Kaduna and Sokoto state North West Nigeria. Similarly, the result shows a statistically significant positive influence of entrepreneurial orientation to SMEs performance. While market orientation has no relationship with SMEs’ performance in Kaduna and Sokoto state North West Nigeria. The findings will provide the government, policy maker(s) and other SMEs’ stakeholders with the important variables of these entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation to SMEs performance in Nigeria. Implications and Suggestions for future research direction were discussed Keywords: Strategic orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation, Small and Medium Performance

Investigating the Effect of Entrepreneurship Development on the Relationship between Market Orientation, Total Quality Management and SMEs Performance in Kano

This paper investigates the effect of entrepreneurship development on the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) performance in Kano. The issue of Market Orientation (MO), Total Quality Management (TQM) on the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) performance in Kano state will be an interesting area of research as a centre of commerce in Nigeria. The paper sample consists of 8,286 of all the SMEs operating in Kano state. Out of which 367 questionnaires were administered to respondents concerning the MO and TQM to SMEs performance, 297 were returned. The numbers of the valid questionnaires are 291. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to determining the effect of the variables of the study. The findings of the paper indicated that entrepreneurship development factors: MO and TQM promoting SMEs performance in Kano state. The results showed a statistically significant positive influence of both MO and TQM to SMEs performance. The finding provides the government, policy maker, SMEDAN and SMEs owners/ managers with the important variables of this MO and TQM to SMEs performance in Nigeria. This paper also made some recommendations for future research

Empirical Investigation on the Relationship Between Strategic Orientations and SMEs Performance in Nigeria

This study examines the relationship between strategic orientations and SMEs performance in Nigeria. The debate on entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation to firm performance will for a long time remain area of research. The population of this paper consists of 3,723 of all the SMEs operating in Kaduna and Sokoto state North West Nigeria. Out of which 351 sample questionnaires were administered to respondents concerning the entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation to SMEs performance. 218 questionnaires were returned. The number of valid questionnaires is 213. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to determine the effect of the variables of the study. The findings of the paper indicated that entrepreneurial orientation promoting SMEs performance in Kaduna and Sokoto state North West Nigeria. Similarly, the result shows a statistically significant positive influence of entrepreneurial orientation to SMEs performance. While market orientation has no relationship with SMEs’ performance in Kaduna and Sokoto state North West Nigeria. The findings will provide the government, policy maker(s) and other SMEs’ stakeholders with the important variables of these entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation to SMEs performance in Nigeria. Implications and Suggestions for future research direction were discussed Keywords: Strategic orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation, Small and Medium Performance

Relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, firm resources, SME branding and firm’s performance: is innovation the missing link?

Innovation is regarded as an engine for driving economic growth.Innovation is considered equally important for the large enterprises as well as the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).Role of innovation becomes of even greater importance in the context of the business environment of developing countries such as Pakistan, where most of the SMEs do not embrace rigorous innovation and at the same time there is lack of sufficient external support to encourage innovation.It has been discussed that despite of healthy economic contribution to Pakistan’s Economy, SMEs are facing a low growth trap.Innovation can come up as a potential solution specifically for Pakistani SMEs and generally for SMEs in developing countries in other parts of the world. This paper reviews the literature in a thorough manner in a bid to build a novel conceptual framework proposing that innovation has causal linkages with entrepreneurial orientation, firm resources, branding and firm performance. On the basis of literature review, four thoughtful research propositions have been presented in this paper. The proposed framework can lead to very useful insights as it proposes that branding may lead to innovation as opposed to generally believed concept of innovation leading to branding. This paper is built on the underpinning theories like Resource Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Perspective, and Theory of Economic Development. This paper also provides useful implications for the entrepreneurs as well as external institutions responsible for ensuring higher extent of innovation in SMEs in Pakistan