THE IMPACT OF THE FIRM GENERATED CONTENTS AND THE USER GENERATED CONTENTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ON BRAND EQUITY ELEMENTS

It is an era of modern communication technology, whereconsumers are well aware and connected to products and brands. Bygenerating content related to products or brands consumers can nowmake or destroy a brand. Communication through online social mediahas shaped the overall communication strategy of the firms, as moreand more firms are struggling hard to understand and control theonline social media communication for better and secured future ofthe brand and the firm. The aim of this study was to measure the impactof the firm generated social media communication and the usergenerated social media communication on the elements of brandequity. A conceptual framework was developed based on Aaker’s BrandEquity model. The constructs and scale items were adopted fromprevious studies and had valid reliability. SEM was performed throughAMOS. Findings of this research revealed that both the firm generatedand the user generated social media communications have a positiveinfluence on the brand equity elements

Impact of Total Quality Management Practices on an Organization Performance

Purpose: Although impact of TQM practices have been founded to improve the organization performance, the management literature has overlooked on the effort of individual level or in form of group outcomes, the purpose of this paper to explore the impact of TQM practices on organization performance in banking sectors. Practices has an impact on three dimensions of employee (physically, psychologically, social) weather well being should be consider as a mediator of the TQM practices and organization performance relationship. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The paper use qualitative data collected from in depth case study via documents analysis and Sami structured interviews with quality expert’s practices about how to enhance the level of performance. Finding: Thepaper shows that impact of TQM practices can lead to both positive and negative motivation outcomes. Furthermore they create trade-off between the three dimensions of well-beings. While they increase employee well being on one dimension they are dramatic to another. Research limitation/Implications: Due to the scope of the research the paper bounded itself to analyzing three TQM practices. Different trade off may exist for other practices. Practical Implications: Many organization introducing TQM practices assuming that they will improve performance. However, the existence of well being trade-off need to be acknowledges and managed. Originality/ Value: This paper show that for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of TQM practices further studies need to contemplate the different dimension of well being separately, as trade-off may occur between them. It further suggests that well being may be an unexplored mediator of the TQM practice and organization performances relationship. Key words: TQM practices, organization performance, motivatio

Determinants of Student Satisfaction while working in Groups

The increasing popularity of team structures in business environment coupled with the common practice of including group projects/assignments in university curricula means that business schools should direct efforts towards maximizing team as well as personal results. Yet, most frameworks for studying teams center exclusively on team level outcomes to address organizational needs. Far fewer studies have examined effectiveness at individual team member level in an educational context. The quantitative study on which this paper is based investigated the impact of team process on the effectiveness of individual satisfaction in group work amongst business students in Hong Kong with work group effectiveness and management educational literature providing the theoretical background. The study surveyed 489 university business students and revealed that all three team process factors, namely workload sharing, mutual support and communication play a positive and significant role in individual satisfaction in team settings. Keywords: Individual Satisfaction; Team Process; Workload Sharing; Mutual Support; Communication; Group Work; Teamwork; Student Projec

Outsourcing and Organizational Performance in Banking Sector of Punjab, Pakistan

Organizations are more competitive these days .To maintain competitive position, Firms are developing new strategies and introducing new techniques. Outsourcing is widely recommended technique for this purpose. Outsourcing, support functions is a common practice in organizations so that the management can focus on its core functions. Outsourcing helps organization’s to improve their performance. This paper explores the impact of outsourcing on organizational performance in banking sector of Punjab, Pakistan. Key words outsourcing, organizational performance, banking, Pakista

Transformational Leadership and Corporate Reputation: Mediation Effects of Employer Branding

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of transformational leadership and corporate reputation on employer branding by testing a hypothesized model. This study employed a quantitative online survey technique. The researcher distributed 350 questionnaires through purposive sampling out of which 132 questionnaires received back for data analysis. Regression analysis was selected to analyze the collected data to test the hypothesis developed from past literature. Results validate that transformational leadership has an impact on employer branding and employer branding has a direct impact on corporate reputation but correlation amid transformational leadership and business reputation goes insignificant when added employer branding showing full mediation of this variable. The present study backs the writings of business reputation that can be developed through transformational leadership and employer branding. The findings would be helpful for organizational leaders in developing strategies to create a corporate reputation

Health Effects Associated with Fluoridated Water Sources - A Review of Central Asia.

Water fluoridation is a common practice in different parts of the world, mostly as a means of decontaminating water. It has been used in developed, as well as in developing countries. In recent years however, other countries have minimized, even eliminated its use due to health issues. In Central Asia, usage of fluoride is profoundly extant, thus occasioning the citizens’ exposure to various health risks. An excessive level of fluoride causes various health issues, mostly on dental and skeletal fluorosis which often leads to vulnerabilities in the bones and teeth. Studies also indicate that excessive levels of fluoride have been known to contribute to poor neurological development among children, hip fractures to older adults, as well as osterosclerosis. Moreover, the review has concluded that fluoride contamination in groundwater is very high in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In contrast, fluoride levels are below threshold value of 1.5 mg/L in Bangladesh. Fluorosis cases have been observed in Nepal but available data is quite unsystematic and incomplete, thus rendering them of no statistical significance. In India, districts such as Kerala, Gujrat, Bakresh (West Bengal), Khudra (Orissa), Manikaran (Hima Pradesh), Unkeeher (Mahar) and Tattapani (Chattisgarh) are currently facing a high level of fluoride. In Pakistan, fluoride data of 29 major cities are reviewed and 34% of the cities show fluoride levels with mean value greater than 1.5 mg/L where Lahore and Quetta are having the maximum values of 23.60 mg/L and 24.48 mg/L, respectively. Sri Lankan dry zone is polluted with fluoride having maximum value of 8.00 mg/L. Considering these verities, health authorities urgently need to establish alternative means of water decontamination in order to prevent associated health problems

Factors affecting online shopping behavior of consumers in Pakistan

Online shopping trend is very popular now days. This process requires a medium for buying goods and services that is internet. There are many factors that can influence consumer’s online buying behavior. These factors may vary from individual to individual. Financial risk, product risk, Convenience, Non-delivery risk and return policies are key factors discussed in this study. Risk of losing money and financial details has depressing effect on online shopping behavior. . Product and convenience risk are essential and considerable risk issues for not shopping online. Key words: Online shopping, Consumer behavior, Pakista

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery: Results with Zero-Profile Spacer/Cage

Objective:  Study provides proof to support the promised benefits of employing stand-alone zero-profile cages in multilevel ACDF procedures, as the stand-alone zero-profile device has proven safety and a reduction of the risk of dysphagia in single-level ACDF surgeries. Materials and Methods:  This is a retrospective descriptive study, conducted at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Lahore, Pakistan. Data of 36 patients evaluated for post-operative dysphagia and fusion, who had multi-level ACDF surgery employing stand-alone zero-profile cages. Results:  Total of 36 patients underwent ACDF surgeries. 86.1% (31/36) patients operated for 2 levels and 13.9% (5/36) patients operated for 3 levels. Dysphagia developed postoperatively in 2 (5.6%) patients in which zero-profile stand-alone cages were used. Fusion was achieved in 94.4% (34/36) patients. Conclusion:  Stand-alone zero-profile cages in multi-level ACDF surgeries have a good outcome in terms of post-operative less dysphagia and higher fusion rates. Keywords:  Anterior Cervical Discectomy (Decompression) And Fusion (ACDF), Zero-Profile Cages, Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Procedural Management Based Marketing Strategies for Lays Chips Company in Pakistan

This paper mainly focuses on the marketing strategy of lays company in Pakistan. Lays is a potato chips manufacturing company operating all over the world with huge marketing setup in Pakistan. To define a business model, it must be a set of strategies and plans, which any business adapt to making the market share and the market place. A business should choose the strategies which define itself different from the competitors. In this study, we will discuss lays chips digitalization that how this chips company is offering its services digitally through social media platforms in Pakistan. Value proposition also involved primarily in the lays company in the shape of chips packaging, discounts, more wide range of customer attractive strategies and tours in a very comfortable way. This research also focuses giving best ever potato chips in Asian regions.&nbsp

The Outcome of Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Transpedicular Screw Fixation (TPSF) in Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures

Background & Objective:  This study aimed to determine the outcome of percutaneous transpedicular screw fixation (TPSF) in patients with thoracolumbar fractures. Material & Methods:  A total of 157 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were included from the Department of Neurosurgery, LGH, PINS, Lahore. Patients were evaluated with plain X-rays, CT, and MRI scans. Neurological status was documented preoperatively and postoperatively. All patients were treated with Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Transpedicular screw fixation. Data for operative time and per-operative blood loss was obtained through the operative notes. The severity of postoperative pain and length of hospital stay were also documented. Results:  Out of 157 patients, 69.4% were male and 30.6% were female. The 141 (89.8%) were traumatic from road traffic accidents/falls, and 16 (10.2%) were pathologic. The 128 (81%) patients were discharged on the first day, 23(15%) were discharged on the second day, and 6(3.8%) on the third day. 79% of patients had a single level of spine fracture whereas, 20% had 2 spinal fracture levels. The average operative time for MIS percutaneous TPSF was 55 minutes. Postoperative pain was markedly reduced as compared to traditional open surgery and no patient had any new neurological deficit. The mean blood loss was 25 ml and none of the patients needed a postoperative blood transfusion. Conclusion:  Percutaneous transpedicular instrumentation is an ideal surgical approach for thoracolumbar spinal stabilization. Keywords:  Thoracolumbar Fractures, Percutaneous Transpedicular Screw Fixation, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Road Traffic Accidents (RTA)