Development of a Dynamic Model of Quality Control Circles: A Case of ABC Packaging Company

Quality control circles are considered an effective tool in the organization to best utilize the potential of the workforce. The objective behind using quality control circles is to use employees’ brains to generate savings and create an impact on the bottom-line of the company. The framework of the quality control circles shown in Table 2 proposed the structured seven steps strategy to use the workforce's potential for continuous improvement in the organization. Companies confront multi-faceted issues and challenges in the operational processes and corporate excellence thus mainly depends upon the effective and efficient quality controls to overcome the product, process, machine, and material related issues that hamper the production efficiency, quality of the product, and overall productivity of the company. This paper attempts to develop the system dynamics model of quality control circles based on normalized data of the case company. Participation in quality control circles is voluntary in nature and passion to learn and improve is the intrinsic motivation for employees and organizations to join these circles. Employee involvement to participate and produce creative ideas in these circles is the key to the success of these quality-enhancing programs (Jerman et al. 2019) and model outcome depicts the same story. The quality control circle model indicates that a set of inter-related and interdependent skills and behaviors are a necessary condition to increase participation in the quality control circles and productivity of projects under consideration. The computer-based software STELLA is used for programming the model of quality control circles using the generic structures of the company under study. Underlying feedback structures and interactions among various variables makes the model closer to the real-life setting

Strategies, market orientation and capabilities: business performance perspectives from Pakistan, a developing market economy

The aim of this thesis is to study, in the context of a developing market economy, the relationship of Marketing Orientation, Strategic Orientation as well as marketing capabilities with business performance, individually as well as simultaneously and compare these with the proposed relationships suggested in the developed markets of the western world. The findings suggest that there is a strong relationship between these independent variables with performance but these are not always positive and in some cases not even significant. This in many areas contradicts the proposed positive influence of the above mentioned variables on business performance that is normally taken for granted in developed markets. This result is, however, in line with the results of a few studies carried out in the developing market context. For example a study by Usha and Haley (2006), notify that successful managers in their study argue that best practices developed for information-rich Western markets were not effective in information-void emerging markets. Further, the thesis in response to developing better understanding of the role of Market Orientation in the affairs of the firm especially in a developing market economy, sought to test its influence on strategic orientation and marketing capabilities. The study found a strong relationship in the hypothesised direction though there is also evidence of reciprocal causality. The strong influence of Market Orientation on strategic orientation that a firm adopts is in line with the results of a few studies noticeably studies by Morgan and Strong (1997) as well as by Hoon and Lee (2005). The thesis has in a small way tried to broaden the knowledge base in the areas of strategy and marketing by bringing insights from a developing country perspective, which is currently lacking in the literature. It is hoped that the implications of the research will have significant value for both academics and practitioners in the field of marketing and strategy especially in these developing countries. The thesis, finally proposes that this study is one step in many, needed to develop a mid range theory, and it is hoped that this will become a building block in the overall framework, which would make such studies more rigorous, both theoretically and methodologically in the future

Strategies, market orientation and capabilities: business performance perspectives from Pakistan, a developing market economy

The aim of this thesis is to study, in the context of a developing market economy, the relationship of Marketing Orientation, Strategic Orientation as well as marketing capabilities with business performance, individually as well as simultaneously and compare these with the proposed relationships suggested in the developed markets of the western world. The findings suggest that there is a strong relationship between these independent variables with performance but these are not always positive and in some cases not even significant. This in many areas contradicts the proposed positive influence of the above mentioned variables on business performance that is normally taken for granted in developed markets. This result is, however, in line with the results of a few studies carried out in the developing market context. For example a study by Usha and Haley (2006), notify that successful managers in their study argue that best practices developed for information-rich Western markets were not effective in information-void emerging markets. Further, the thesis in response to developing better understanding of the role of Market Orientation in the affairs of the firm especially in a developing market economy, sought to test its influence on strategic orientation and marketing capabilities. The study found a strong relationship in the hypothesised direction though there is also evidence of reciprocal causality. The strong influence of Market Orientation on strategic orientation that a firm adopts is in line with the results of a few studies noticeably studies by Morgan and Strong (1997) as well as by Hoon and Lee (2005). The thesis has in a small way tried to broaden the knowledge base in the areas of strategy and marketing by bringing insights from a developing country perspective, which is currently lacking in the literature. It is hoped that the implications of the research will have significant value for both academics and practitioners in the field of marketing and strategy especially in these developing countries. The thesis, finally proposes that this study is one step in many, needed to develop a mid range theory, and it is hoped that this will become a building block in the overall framework, which would make such studies more rigorous, both theoretically and methodologically in the future

INTERPRETATION OF ELEMENTS UPSETTING EXPORT GROWTH IN PAKISTAN

Exports are the important instrument of economic growth.Instabilities in export earnings present uncertainties in an economy.These uncertainties bring significant impact over the economicbehavior by poorly upsetting the proficiency of investment and in turnhave an adverse effect on economic growth. The core objective of thisstudy is to find the impact of some of the key macroeconomic variablesthat affect exports growth of Pakistan. The data is from the year 1972-2012. Johansen Juselius (1990) test is implemented for getting thedesired results. The results show that all of the variables sustain apositive relation to Export. Conclusion drawn is the need of obligatorysteps required to be taken by the Government so as to build a nationon the footings of strong export receipts

Determining the antecedents of dynamic supply chain capabilities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the antecedents of dynamic supply chain capabilities (DSCCs). The authors test entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and supply chain learning orientation (SCLO) as two antecedents of DSCCs. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses structural equation modelling to test a hypothetical model. Data are gathered from a survey of 275 operations managers in Pakistan’s turbulent manufacturing industry. Findings The findings suggest that the weaker direct effects of EO, in comparison to the indirect effects, indicate that an SCLO mediates the relationship between EO and DSCCs. Research limitations/implications It is widely accepted that firms do not compete with each other, instead, it is end-to-end supply chains that fight for market dominance. Many scholars use the dynamic capabilities view to understand supply chain level competition. However, the dynamic capabilities view is firm-centric in its examination of how companies transform internal resources to compete in the external environment. The theoretical contribution of this paper is a roadmap of how to build dynamic, supply-chain level and capabilities by determining the key antecedents. This paper explains that DSCCs emerge when buyers and suppliers share strategic orientations. Firms with an EO and the ability to learn with supply chain partners are well-positioned to develop DSCCs. This provides a new angle to theory testing by indicating that dynamic capabilities are enabled by an EO and an ability to learn with supply chain partners. Practical implications Managers are given the building blocks of DSCCs, starting with fostering an entrepreneurially-oriented mindset in the company and then learning with supply chain partners. Entrepreneurially-oriented managers are encouraged to take risks and co-develop innovative ideas with suppliers during the supply chain learning process. Originality/value This study is one of the earliest efforts to determine the strategic orientations that antecede the emergence of DSCCs

Nutraceutical Exploration of Wild Edible Fruits of District Tor Ghar, Nothern Pakistan

The present study deals with the exploration of wild edible fruits consumed by indigenous tribes in district Tor Ghar for curing different ailments. Wild edible fruits are potential source of nutrition and medicine. This is the first ethno-nutraceutical investigation of wild edible fruits of Tor Ghar. Local wisdom was interrogated by group discussions and semi structured interviews to assess the role of wild fruits in healthcare system of the region. Informants were randomly selected from five tribes of the district. It was found that the wild fruits have a great socioeconomic significance owing to their high nutritional and medicinal values. In the current study thirty eight wild edible fruits belonging to 29 genera and 22 families were documented for their ethno-nutraceutical importance. The study also revealed that general body weakness and digestive disorders are mostly cured by consuming wild edible fruits. The highest number of wild edible fruits belong to family Rosaceae (8 plant species). Popularity of wild edible plants among different tribes of Tor Ghar was assessed quantitatively by a statistical relation Fidelity level %age. Fidelity level index shows values for each species in descending order from Jugalans regia( 74.4%) to Buxus wallichiana (17.4%). The most popular wild edible fruit species was found Jugalans regia that scores highest fidelity level value

Nutraceutical Exploration of Wild Edible Fruits of District Tor Ghar, Nothern Pakistan

The present study deals with the exploration of wild edible fruits consumed by indigenous tribes in district Tor Ghar for curing different ailments. Wild edible fruits are potential source of nutrition and medicine. This is the first ethno-nutraceutical investigation of wild edible fruits of Tor Ghar. Local wisdom was interrogated by group discussions and semi structured interviews to assess the role of wild fruits in healthcare system of the region. Informants were randomly selected from five tribes of the district. It was found that the wild fruits have a great socioeconomic significance owing to their high nutritional and medicinal values. In the current study thirty eight wild edible fruits belonging to 29 genera and 22 families were documented for their ethno-nutraceutical importance. The study also revealed that general body weakness and digestive disorders are mostly cured by consuming wild edible fruits. The highest number of wild edible fruits belong to family Rosaceae (8 plant species). Popularity of wild edible plants among different tribes of Tor Ghar was assessed quantitatively by a statistical relation Fidelity level %age. Fidelity level index shows values for each species in descending order from Jugalans regia( 74.4%) to Buxus wallichiana (17.4%). The most popular wild edible fruit species was found Jugalans regia that scores highest fidelity level value

Exploring the Socio-Economic Causes of Child Labour in Automobile Workshops in District Multan Punjab

Child labor is deeply rooted and extremely extensive in Pakistan. The problem of Child Labour in District Multan is quite high and abnormal. Various studies have shown that a large number of children in different age group has been employed in various shops, like Cycle repair workshop, Cars workshop, Motorbike workshop, Trucks workshop, mechanical and electrical workshop. Rickshaw workshop and other places. This study explores the socioeconomic determinants of child labour in automobile workshops. The key variables in the present study were child labour and poverty. The researcher used quantitative method for survey research. The current research was conducted in District Multan, Punjab. Therefore, child labourers were selected in the sampling frame equally. Snowball sampling technique was adopted. A total of 80 respondents were selected from different automobile workshops. The majority of the children were poor and they had no education or little education. Their parents had little education and were poorly paid jobs, unemployed or deceased. In this paper, the causes of child labour have been identified and measures to reduce this curse have been suggested