THE REASONS FOR TRADITIONAL GAMES LOSING POPULARITY: A CASE STUDY OF SKHY (CALF) IN NIHAGDARA, KP (PAKISTAN)

Traditional games including Kabaddi, Chilli, and Skhy etc., played in Nihagdara (District Dir Upper) have been under pressure for the last two decades due to the advent of modern games such as cricket, volleyball, and video games.  The fervor for modern games seems to be cultural than concerns about health, psychological wellbeing, and social interaction.  Skhy (Calf), which was so popular in Nihagdara, has particularly suffered over the last years.  This study explores the reasons for the downfall of traditional games with special focus on Skhy in Jatgram, Rambial, and Maskari.  Using the case study method, the research collected data from both adults and youngsters through interviews and focus group discussion.  Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics (Frequency Distribution) to make sense of how and why Skhy became unpopular.  The results show that cultural onslaught has been the main reason for downfall of traditional games including Skhy in addition to the apathy of local community in preserving its traditions and sports

IMPACT OF INTERPERSONAL JUSTICE ON ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOUR, TURNOVER AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT WITH MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

Abstract This paper aims at investigating the causal as well as correlational relationship between interpersonal justice (independent variable) and organizational citizenship behavior, turnover and organizational commitment (criterion variables). It also examines the moderating role of perceived organizational support. To do this data was collected from a large public healthcare organization having 3000 employees. 180 close ended questionnaires were administered to randomly selected employees and 103 questionnaire perfectly filled in from all respects were selected for analysis. Apart from descriptive statistics, correlational and regression analysis were made using SPSS.Data substantiated the existence of significant positive relationship of interpersonal justice with perceived organizational support, organizational citizenship behavior and turnover. However, its’ relationship with organizational commitment appeared insignificant. The results of this study are quite consistent with the literature.Key words: interpersonal justice perceived organizational support (POS), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), turnover and organizational commitment.Â

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR: FINDINGS FROM DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Agricultural production plays an important role both in national and global economies. The efficient and safe methods of sustainable agricultural production is crucial, and the use of information technology is imperative to meet this end. Among the available information technology tools, this study highlights the IT based cognitive solutions supported with the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for sustainable solutions in the agriculture sector of developing economies. For this purpose, a systematic review of 87 papers has been conducted in the chosen last 20 years from 2000 to 2019 to identify the major trends, challenges, limitation related to the applicability of AI supported cognitive solutions in the agricultural industry of developing countries. The results derived from the systematic literature review represents some major flaws in the existing technological & cognitive solutions being used for agriculture means in the developing economies, with special emphasis on the lack of advanced AI techniques that are required for development of robust and precise farming methods. This is due the farmers’ inability to use sustainable technological solutions that are limited by the high cost of available technological tools. Moreover, contrary to other disciplines of science, a human expertise is scare and very costly in the agriculture industry. Hence, there is a need to actively introduce the concept of AI in the agriculture sector by making AI more viable and affordable for the farming community in the developing economies. Besides, there is also a need to create a centralized AI model for the agriculture industry which will integrate AI into a single central system for the entire economy that could be used in various enterprises of the agriculture industry.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR: FINDINGS FROM DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Agricultural production plays an important role both in national and global economies. The efficient and safe methods of sustainable agricultural production is crucial, and the use of information technology is imperative to meet this end. Among the available information technology tools, this study highlights the IT based cognitive solutions supported with the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for sustainable solutions in the agriculture sector of developing economies. For this purpose, a systematic review of 87 papers has been conducted in the chosen last 20 years from 2000 to 2019 to identify the major trends, challenges, limitation related to the applicability of AI supported cognitive solutions in the agricultural industry of developing countries. The results derived from the systematic literature review represents some major flaws in the existing technological & cognitive solutions being used for agriculture means in the developing economies, with special emphasis on the lack of advanced AI techniques that are required for development of robust and precise farming methods. This is due the farmers’ inability to use sustainable technological solutions that are limited by the high cost of available technological tools. Moreover, contrary to other disciplines of science, a human expertise is scare and very costly in the agriculture industry. Hence, there is a need to actively introduce the concept of AI in the agriculture sector by making AI more viable and affordable for the farming community in the developing economies. Besides, there is also a need to create a centralized AI model for the agriculture industry which will integrate AI into a single central system for the entire economy that could be used in various enterprises of the agriculture industry.

The impact of transactional and transformational leadership on job related outcomes in the nursing profession

The role of nursing is crucial for providing required cure and care to patients in hospitals. The leadership style influence nurses working abilities and job related outcomes. Considering these arguments the present study aims at examining the relationship between nursing leadership styles (i.e. transactional and transformational) and job related outcomes (i.e. commitment with organization, satisfaction with job and work performance). To do this data was collected from 206 nurses working in different hospitals of Pakistan was collected. Descriptive and inferential statistical treatment was given to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that both the leadership styles (i.e. transactional and transformational) positively and significantly correlated with work performance, organizational commitment and job satisfaction. On the other hand, regression analysis confirms that transformational leadership study has greater impact on job satisfaction and organizational commitment as compared transactional style while, transactional leadership style has greater influence on work performance.Â

IS PRIVATIZATION A PANACEA? PRE AND POST PRIVATIZATION ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of privatization of state-owned enterprise on financial performance, employees’ satisfaction and customer satisfaction.  Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) was taken as the organization for analysis. Five years pre and post-privatization financial figures were analyzed to compare the return on asset, return on equity, earning per share, net profit margin, and dividend payout. To know customer satisfaction level, the questionnaire was personally administered and 102 questionnaires complete from all respects were included for analysis. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 25 employees to determine the satisfaction level of employees. Findings of the study confirmed adverse financial performance after privatization followed by the high level of employees’ dissatisfaction. However, customer satisfaction level was high after privatizatio

AN INCLUSIVE MODEL FOR ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE IN PUBLIC SECTOR TERTIARY HOSPITALS

Quality has taken central stage in contemporary organizations and is one of the key areas of competition. Healthcare organizations, in particular, strive to provide better quality services to their patients in order to gain competitive advantage. Researchers and academicians have yet to agree on how to define and measure quality of service. Attempts have been made to develop standards and measurements to determine the degree of quality of services. However, the literature does not contain a model or standards to measure the quality of health care services. The paper in question presents an inclusive model to measure the quality of service of healthcare organizations. In addition to healthcare services (cure and care) the model encompasses teaching aspect of hospitals as well. This model was developed on the basis of an in-depth and careful study of a large (2400 bedded) public sector teaching hospital spread over a period of two years.  Data was collected from 400 patients, 250 employees, 200 general public, and 250 students through questionnaire followed by in-depth interviews. In addition to all this, various processes and interactions among individuals in the hospital were closely observed. Hospital records were studied. Anything that possibly could contribute to the quality of service in hospital was placed under one of the three dimensions of the model. Since the model has been inductively developed through data triangulation, it can safely be used to measure the quality of health care services with a good deal of accuracy

HRM in the South Asian Context: A Comparison of HRM in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

A recurring question in contemporary organizations is how to deal with HRM (human resource management) in the wake of globalization and an emerging knowledge economy. Many research studies have been conducted to examine the extent to which HRM practices converge and diverge in different socio-cultural contexts. National institutions and local cultures are cited as the major stumbling blocks for HRM convergence. However, it is also true that regional clusters have many things in common (cultural similarity, level of economic development, and geographical proximity etc.) make conditions that ultimately lead to isomorphism in HRM. The study in question attempts to look at the extent of convergence and divergence of HRM in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka that constitute one cluster. The study specifically examines various HRM practices including training, compensation, and employees’ safety in the light of recommendations of International Labor Organization (ILO). The goal of this study is to develop a model of HRM which best describes the situation in the three countries for guiding effective employment, deployment, and development of human resources

The impact of transactional and transformational leadership on job related outcomes in the nursing profession

The role of nursing is crucial for providing required cure and care to patients in hospitals. The leadership style influence nurses working abilities and job related outcomes. Considering these arguments the present study aims at examining the relationship between nursing leadership styles (i.e. transactional and transformational) and job related outcomes (i.e. commitment with organization, satisfaction with job and work performance). To do this data was collected from 206 nurses working in different hospitals of Pakistan was collected. Descriptive and inferential statistical treatment was given to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that both the leadership styles (i.e. transactional and transformational) positively and significantly correlated with work performance, organizational commitment and job satisfaction. On the other hand, regression analysis confirms that transformational leadership study has greater impact on job satisfaction and organizational commitment as compared transactional style while, transactional leadership style has greater influence on work performance.

The Choice of Governing Mechanism: An Organization Economics Perspective

Organization economics, with its two main strands of transaction cost economics and agency theory, primarily deals with the question of how organizations emerge and survive. It focuses on the analysis of competition within hierarchies (organizations) rather than markets and addresses questions such as why organizations exist, how they are managed, why some perform better than others, and why they tend to cooperate. This study attempts to juxtapose other relevant perspectives and organization theories to bear on the same questions. The purpose is to understand where and how organization economics and other perspectives converge and diverge. The study depends on the work of famous scholars contributing to various perspectives for drawing conclusions