Principles and Principals: Does Self-Concept Compete or Complement Brand Experience When Shaping Consumer Brand Relationship, Brand Preference and Customer Satisfaction?

This study aims to investigate the direct and indirect effect of brand experience on consumer brand relationship, brand preference and customer satisfaction through self-concept. Non probability sampling technique was applied. The primary data were collected from 297 (n = 297) Pakistani customers. The proposed theoretical model was tested using structural equation modeling in PLS Smart. Results showed that brand experience has strongest direct effect on consumer brand relationship, followed by brand preference, and then customer satisfaction. The results of indirect effect revealed that the self-concept emerged as a stronger driver for brand experience and consumer brand relationship, then for brand preference and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the implications for academicians and practitioners are discussed. Keywords: Brand experience, consumer brand relationship, brand preference, customer satisfaction, self-concept

The Role of Management Practices of Higher Education Institutions in Knowledge Storage and Knowledge Accessibility

This study aims to explore the management practices of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with regard to knowledge storage and knowledge accessibility. Data were gathered from public sector HEIs in Peshawar using semi-structured interviews. Based on previous studies, themes and management practices were identified for knowledge storage and knowledge accessibility. Data were analyzed using content analysis, wherein matching themes and emergent themes were identified. The findings of the study revealed that emergent themes in technological perspective for knowledge storage were MOODLE platform, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), databases for storage of HEIs’ own journals, Campus Management Solution (CMS), faculty members’ and students’ email groups, and social media. While emergent themes in non-technological perspective for knowledge storage were libraries of HEIs at their central and departmental levels. Similarly, emergent themes in technological perspective of knowledge accessibility were MOODLE, HEC smart university project, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), databases for accessibility of HEIs’ own journals, firewall deployment for internet, Campus Management Solution (CMS), faculty members’ and students’ email groups, and social media. While emergent themes in non-technological perspective for knowledge accessibility were libraries of HEIs at their central and departmental levels. Finally, it was found that there are some management practices for knowledge storage and knowledge accessibility which need to be followed by the HEIs for effective knowledge storage and accessibility.&nbsp

Nature and extent of perceived stigma among epileptics in Pakistan

Background: Epilepsy is one of the oldest disorders known to mankind. Often the social stigma (whether a “felt” stigma or an “enacted” stigma) attached to epilepsy is a greater handicap to the person with epilepsy compared to the disability associated with seizures or the side-effects from medications. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived sigma and discrimination among epileptics of Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan in the year 2016. A standardized pretested semi-structured questionnaire was completed by 120 epilepsy patients selected through purposive sampling from Department of Neurology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Informed verbal consent was obtained prior to the interview. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22 and Microsoft excel.Results: The average age of the sample participants was 18-50 years. Almost two third (68%) of the respondents were male. More than half (55%) of the sample was educated up to matriculation. Among them 28.5% were married. Three fifth (60%) of participants were unemployed.  More than half (60%) of the respondents reported discrimination in educational opportunities and three fourth (78.5%) in job opportunities. Results indicated that (75%) participants encountered social problem like being discriminated (30%), or segregated (11%) in performance of daily tasks and were avoided (58.8%) to get marry more often with the belief that people with epilepsy are infectious.Conclusions: The study concludes that there is significant perceived stigma among epileptics living in a big metropolitan city of a developing country. The nature of stigma includes discrimination in education, marriage and job opportunities. There is a need for public awareness programmes to address this ignored facet of epilepsy, since it has both medical as well as social implications

Spontaneous recovery from depression in women: a qualitative study of vulnerabilities, strengths and resources

Objective: To gain insight into the perceived vulnerability and restitution factors for anxiety/or depression.Methods: Focus group discussion of seven married women recovered spontaneously from anxiety and/or depression, belonging to a lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi.Results: Poverty, unemployment, abuse and on going difficulties were perceived as risk factors for depression. A reliable social support system, positive thinking approach, faith, prayers, and experiencing a turning point event were reported as factors that promoted recovery from anxiety and/or depression.CONCLUSION: Individual vulnerabilities, strengths and resources can have an important role in recovery from anxiety and/or depression in women

The Impact Of Ethical Values On The Corporate Social Responsibility In Public Sector Of Pakistan

This research paper shows that ethical values in the organization have impact on the CSR activities of the organization. All the parameters, the researchers use in the  research is well tested and exercised before. To explain the  point of view in well understandable manner, a structured model is derived from the literature on the topic of the research. This result also helps the public sector organizations of PAKISTAN to understand the reasons and causes of few CSR activities in this sector. Also gives them some recommendation to improve their processes for establishing the CSR culture in their organizations. Key words: Corporate social responsibility, Ethical values, Motivatio

How do Companies Promote Luxury Brands in United Arab Emirates?

Luxury – a word most brands would want to be characterized as. Being a social marker, luxury brands play a key role in the creation of human identity – it influences how they dress and enables them to signify a certain lifestyle. In the past it was fairly easy to brand luxury, as competition was moderate and consumers were quite easy to define and the tendency of consumers to remain loyal and uncritical towards a single-brand.[1] Keeping the above in view, the study was designed to analyze the promotional strategies of three well known automotive brands present in United Arab Emirates. The study indicated that the companies used almost the same modes and mediums for promoting their respective brands. [1] Reference: Kapferer & Bastien, 2009, p. 18 & Okonkwo, 2007, p. 3, 6

What matters when examining the performance of salespersons? Analyzing the boundary conditions of personal dispositional factor

PurposeThis study intended to examine the effect of developmental and evaluative purposes of performance appraisal (PA) on job meaningfulness (JM). Furthermore, the study also aimed to assess the moderating effect of personal dispositional factors, that is, internal and external loci of control between developmental and evaluative PA and JM.Design/Methodology/ApproachA total of 295 questionnaires were received from salespersons working in national and multinational pharmaceutical companies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were gathered using a time lag study design using a convenience sampling technique. Data collected via questionnaires were analyzed using PLS-SEM to assess measurement and structural models for testing hypotheses.FindingsResults revealed that developmental PA significantly influenced JM, while evaluative PA failed to influence JM. Furthermore, there was a moderating effect of the external locus of control (ELOC) on the relationship between developmental PA and JM, while the rest of moderating hypotheses failed to influence the relationship of developmental and evaluative PA with JM.Practical implicationsThe results can be used as a building block in order to bring positive work outcomes in the form of meaningful work. Organizations should use their PA as a development tool, instead of instrumental or evaluative PA, for making the work more meaningful to the employees.Originality/ValueThe extant literature is limited in terms of assessing the dimensions of PA (developmental and evaluative) in predicting workplace outcomes. Also, examinations of multidimensions of the locus of control are limited in the existing literature between HR practices and work outcomes. The current study has filled these gaps in the contemporary literature

Prevalence of and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women in a lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To study the prevalence of, and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women.Design: A cross sectional survey.SETTING: A lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1218 women between the ages of 18-50 years.METHODOLOGY: Systematically every third household was identified from which a woman was randomly selected. The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire were administered verbally by trained interviewers for assessing the prevalence of, and associated factors for anxiety and depression.Results: A prevalence of 30% was found. Increasing age, lack of education and verbal abuse were the associated factors found to have an independent relationship.CONCLUSION: Providing education and reducing domestic abuse could lead to decrease in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women

Development of zerovalent iron and titania (Fe0/TiO2) composite for oxidative degradation of dichlorophene in aqueous solution: synergistic role of peroxymonosulfate (HSO5−)

Abstract Binary composite of zerovalent iron and titanium dioxide (Fe0/TiO2) was synthesized for the catalytic removal of dichlorophene (DCP) in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The as-prepared composite (Fe0/TiO2) exhibits synergistic effect and enhanced properties like improved catalytic activity of catalyst and greater magnetic property for facile recycling of catalyst. The results showed that without addition of PMS at reaction time of 50 min, the percent degradation of DCP by TiO2, Fe0, and Fe0/TiO2 was just 5%, 11%, and 12%, respectively. However, with the addition of 0.8 mM PMS, at 10 min of reaction time, the catalytic degradation performance of Fe0, TiO2, and Fe0/TiO2 was significantly improved to 82%, 18%, and 88%, respectively. The as-prepared catalyst was fully characterized to evaluate its structure, chemical states, and morphology. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that in composite TiO2 causes dispersion of agglomerated iron particles which enhances porosity and surface area of the composites and X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) results revealed successful incorporation of Fe0, and oxides of Fe and TiO2 in the composite. The adsorption–desorption analysis verifies that the surface area of Fe0/TiO2 is significantly larger than bare Fe0 and TiO2. Moreover, the surface area, particle size, and crystal size of Fe0/TiO2 was surface area = 85 m2 g−1, particle size = 0.35 μm, and crystal size = 0.16 nm as compared to TiO2 alone (surface area = 22 m2 g−1, particle size = 4.25 μm, and crystal size = 25.4 nm) and Fe0 alone (surface area = 65 m2 g−1, particle size = 0.9 μm, and crystal size = 7.87 nm). The as-synthesized material showed excellent degradation performance in synthesized wastewater as well. The degradation products and their toxicities were evaluated and the resulted degradation mechanism was proposed accordingly. The toxicity values decreased in order of DP1 \u3e DP5 \u3e DP2 \u3e DP3 \u3e DP4 and the LC50 values toward fish for 96-h duration decreased from 0.531 to 67.2. This suggests that the proposed technology is an excellent option for the treatment of antibiotic containing wastewater.Graphical abstrac