Strategic Information System: A source of Competitive Advantage

This literature review highlights the importance of Strategic information system (SIS) in business strategies. Strategic information system helps organizations to develop their generic strategies in order to attain competitive advantages. On the other side, Literature review focus on the business model and the role of strategic information system and highlights the role of information technology in the competitiveness of business model and the role of information technology in business process re-engineering. This literature also highlighted the importance of information technology in the development of Virtual organization. Keywords: Strategic information system, Information Technology, Business Process Re-engineering, Virtual Corporation, DE

Open Innovation Challenges: Empirical Evidence from Malaysian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME's)

At present, open innovation (OI) practices have gained traction in all industries, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, only a few Malaysian SMEs practice OI and there is limited literature available on OI practices in Malaysian SMEs. To address this issue, the main objective of the current study is to reveal the challenges of OI and the role of financial constraints in Malaysian SMEs. To achieve this objective, this study implemented the quantitative approach and adopted the cross-sectional research design. Questionnaires were used to collect data from three hundred (300) data managerial staff of Malaysian SMEs. Cluster sampling was used to collect the data. It was found that Malaysian SMEs faced various challenges during the implementation of the OI system. These challenges included motivating spillovers, maximizing internal innovation, and incorporation of external knowledge and intellectual property (IP) management. Moreover, it was found that sufficient finance is needed to resolve these challenges. Hence, this study contributes in the body of knowledge by developing a framework for SMEs to facilitate OI and by identifying the constraints in this framework. Therefore, the current study can be used for Malaysian SMEs to improve their OI system

Measuring student satisfaction at university level students: Evidence from university of Gujrat, Pakistan

Purpose of this study is to measure the impact of different services and facilities offered by university on overall satisfaction of students of bachelor level.This study used the concept of service-product bundle to measure the satisfaction of students through the survey.SPSS was used to analyze the results to determine the aspects of services and facilities provided by universities to which students were satisfied.Multiple regression and correlation analysis were employed to determine the relationships between dependent and independent variables.The aspects of services and facilities which contribute significantly towards student satisfaction are lecture room facilities, facilitating goods and implicit services, while additional facilities and explicit services were the facilities which do not contribute significantly towards student satisfaction at university level.The service-product bundle concept is a reliable and valid tool or method to design a survey for measurement of student satisfaction at university level and to facilitate management of universities to determine the areas, where they need to utilize their resources for improvement to capture the perceived level of student satisfaction. Concept of service-product bundle utilization puts responsibilities strictly on the service provider, rather than the service user for questionnaire design and content

Entrepreneur as an authentic leader: A study of small and medium sized enterprises in Pakistan

The aim of this paper is to explore the authentic leadership styles of an entrepreneurs and its impact on employee’s commitment and satisfaction. By using the authentic leadership model, this study seeks to give a tentative test of the connection among employees’ awareness of the business creator as an authentic leader and the employees’ attitudes. Findings are that the opinion of employees’ about authentic leadership serves as the intoxicating analyst of employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment

HESITANCY TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING, A STUDY OF PAKISTANI CONSUMERS

To study the influence of Perceived cost, risk, convenience and enjoyment on online consumer purchases. Being more convenient online shopping seems painless compared to in store shopping, why consumers are still reluctant to shop online?.A sample of 220 questionnaires was filled from different departments at University of Sargodha. Respondents were asked to fill the questionnaire based on four factors (Perceived cost, Perceived risk, Perceived convenience, Perceived enjoyment), there were 2 general questions. Out of 220, 207 questionnaires were returned. One sample test is applied in this study to check the reliability of independent variables. Analysis was also done on basis of gender and their ages. The most important factor out of four, which can persuade the customer's online buying decision, is delivery cost for purchased items and it has negative relationship with dependent variable, moreover perceived risk has also negative relationship with dependent one. Perceived convenience and Perceived enjoyment has positive relationship with online shopping preference. As online shopping is easier to do but due to extra delivery cost and risk factors consumers do not adopt online shopping and these factors should be minimized to promote online shopping. Online shopping should be promoted and to gain the consumer confidence, delivery cost and risk factor should be minimized. As online shopping is easier to do as compared to offline shopping but people still reluctant to use internet for online shopping, so to promote online shopping delivery cost and risk factor should be minimized to gain consumers attraction and confidence. People want to experience online shopping but it won’t be promoted until delivery cost and perceived risk factors be reduced. A little work has been done on exploring the factors that influence the online buying decision. These factors are called situational factors and include delivery charges, risk factors, convenience factors and enjoyment factors. In Pakistan consumers are not too much affiliated to online shopping as compared to European countries and not too much researches have been done related to online shopping in Pakistan , so this research been conducted to promote online shopping

Effect of NPK, organic manure and their combination on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of chilli (Capsicum Annum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at the research area of department of horticulture, Institute of tropical agriculture and forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China, during the winter season 2016-2017. The research was arranged in randomized complete block design with nine treatments of organic manures in combination with NPK fertilizers having three replications. The highest yield was recorded with T9 treatment (N: P: K 100:50:50+FYM@8 ton per hectare). Plant height at harvesting, number of branches plant-1, number of fruits plant-1, fruit width, fruit length and fruit weight increased significantly with T9 treatment (N: P: K 100:50:50+FYM@8 ton per hectare). Similarly application of NPK100%+FYM@8 ton per hectare increased oleoresin yield and ascorbic acid content. Application of FYM@8 ton per hectare in combination with NPK100% increased the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, S, and Fe) as compared to control. Similar results were also found in other organic manures along with inorganic fertilizer. The highest net return (Rs. 30183 per hectare) was achieved with the application of NPK100%+FYM@8 ton per hectare followed by NPK100%+ PM@6 ton per hectare, NPK100%+VC@10 ton per hectare and NPK100%+C@7 ton per hectar

Improving Entrepreneural Marketing Learning: A Study of Business Graduates, Pakistan

This research aims to investigate the desire of students to be an entrepreneur with respect to the two dimensions of entrepreneurial mindset & satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues i.e. variables using model in department of business administration of university of Sargodha. Investigation was executed on 130 suitable responses. Reliability of scale was tested by means of Cronbach’s Alpha statistic. Correlation investigation was done to study the association among entrepreneurial mindset & satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues (independent variables) and desire to be an entrepreneur. Additionally Regression investigation was done to examine hypothesis. The statistical examination of the study discovered that there is a significant & positive relation among entrepreneurial mindset & desire to be an entrepreneur. Further this research reveals that satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues has greater impact on student’s desire to be an entrepreneur. The study has payed attention on the students of business department. Extra investigation is desired at different department’s level with an increased sample size that will help in increasing its generalizability. This research shows that by giving greater focus on satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues, will ultimately lead to the student’s desire to be an entrepreneur. Training & knowledge of entrepreneurial marketing would make students competent for new startups. This investigation is the pioneer that studies the desire to be an entrepreneur from student’s perspective in Pakistan

Effect of animal manure, crop type, climate zone, and soil attributes on greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils A global meta-analysis

Agricultural lands, because of their large area and exhaustive management practices, have a substantial impact on the earth's carbon and nitrogen cycles, and agricultural activities consequence in discharges of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Globally, greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions especially carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from the agricultural sector are increasing due to anthropogenic activities. Although, the application of animal manure to the agricultural soil as an organic fertilizer not only improves soil health and agricultural production but also has a significant impact on GHGs emissions. But the extent of GHGs emissions in response to manure application under diverse environmental conditions is still uncertain. Here, a meta-analysis study was conducted using field data (48 peer-reviewed publications) published from 1989 to 2019. Meta-analysis results showed that poultry manure considerably increased CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions than pig and cattle manure. Furthermore, application of poultry manure also increased (¯(〖lnRR〗^ ) =0.141, 95% CI =0.526-0.356) GWP (global warming potential) of total soil GHGs emissions. While, the significant effects on CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions also occurred at manure rate > 320 kg N ha-1 and > 60% water filled pore space. The maximum concentrations of CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions were observed in neutral soils (¯(〖lnRR〗^ ) =3.375, 95% CI =3.323-3.428), alkaline soils (¯(〖lnRR〗^ ) =1.468, 95% CI =1.403-1.532), and acidic soils (¯(〖lnRR〗^ ) =2.355, 95% CI =2.390-2.400), respectively. Soil texture, climate zone and crop type were also found significant factors to increase GHGs emissions. Thus, this meta-analysis revealed a knowledge gap concerning the consequences of animal manure application and rate, climate zone, and physicochemical properties of soil on GHGs emissions from agricultural soils.Awais Shakoor would like to express his gratitude for the grant provided by the University of Lleida, Spain. The authors would like to appreciate the valuable comments from the editors and anonymous reviewers to improve the quality of this study

The Role of Radiology (X-Ray versus Computed Tomography) in Medicolegal Cases Presented at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Objectives:  A prospective observational study was aimed to assess the role of plain radiographs and computed tomography in detecting head injuries presented at the medicolegal office at the Forensics and Radiology Departments, Gambat Medical Hospital, Sindh. Material and Methods:  All cases referred from the Medicolegal Office (MLO) with head injury were included. All victims underwent X-ray head and computed tomography skull was done with 1 or 1.5 cm thick axial sections without administration of intravenous contrast. The radiological reports of X-ray head and CT scans were documented and comparatively evaluated. Results:  Mean age was 38.63 ± 3.91 years. In 51 (45.13%) cases, X-ray was able to detect skull fracture, while CT scan detected 64(56.64%) skull fractures. There were 54 (84.3%) true positives, 3 (2.6%) false positives, 10(8.8%) false negatives, and 40 (40.7%) true negatives. The accuracy of X-ray to detect skull fracture was 88.50%. Conclusion:  X-ray had a sensitivity and specificity of 84.38% and 93.88%, respectively. It is a reliable tool to detect skull fractures in victims of assault in comparison with CT scans. X-ray is also associated with low dose radiation exposure as compared with CT scan which delivers 70 times more exposure than the former

Precautionary behavior toward dengue virus through public service advertisement: Mediation of the individual’s attention,iInformation surveillance, and elaboration

The study examines the role of a health-related promotional campaign launched in Pakistan in the context of advertising campaign to improve precautionary behavior toward dengue virus (PBDV). The focus of this study is to investigate the mediation of individual’s attention, information surveillance, elaboration, and also the moderation of demographic features (e.g., gender, educational level, and dengue affected survival) in the relationship between the exposure of dengue-related public service announcements (DPSA) and PBDV. Telephonic interview technique was used to establish a representative sample (N = 1,251) from Punjab (dengue-affected province of Pakistan) using a computer-assisted telephone survey software. The outcomes clarify the application of cognitive mediation model in the context of health communication. The findings revealed that individual’s attention and information surveillance have considerable mediating effects on PBDV and DPSA relationship. Surprisingly, however, there is no indirect effect of elaboration on PBDV. The findings provide practical recommendations to public organizations while designing health communication strategies