Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
Total quality management (TQM) is a widely accepted philosophy of performance improvement through employee and customer satisfaction. TQM widened the quality concept from products to the entire range of organizational activities and extended the customer experience to beyond the product. As the employees at work can play a major role in adding quality to products including services, the successful integration of the human factor with quality programs is very critical to organizations. This study is an attempt to understand the satisfaction on TQM practices in their companies, as perceived by public sector employees in India. The data collected from 265 employees of 10 public sector companies using the method of stratified random sampling is analyzed through structural equation modelling (SEM). It is evident from this study that the employees of public sector companies are more satisfied with the effectiveness of education and training, leadership, and customer focus, out of a total of six factors taken up for the study. The study also highlights the scope for improving employees’ satisfaction with the other factors. The outcome of this study provides valuable input for the managers in reviewing their current TQM practices and making improvements for the future.
Moral Development at the Workplace through Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation: A Grounded Theory Study
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
This study aims to examine how Buddhist mindfulness meditation influences the ethical temperament of its practitioner at the workplace. By adopting a constructivist grounded theory approach, we found six elements of Buddhist mindfulness meditation and three mechanisms underlying the ethical temperament of the participants at the workplace. Our findings suggest that Buddhist mindfulness meditation helps practitioners pursue a spiritual purpose guided by moral principles. Moreover, it helps them to overcome temptations and pressures against moral actions and makes them sensitive to the wellbeing of others. This study advances the literature of Buddhist principles and workplace ethics by identifying the mechanism of ethical behavior at the workplace influenced by mindfulness meditation.
This study aims to examine how Buddhist mindfulness meditation influences the ethical temperament of its practitioner at the workplace. By adopting a constructivist grounded theory approach, we found six elements of Buddhist mindfulness meditation and three mechanisms underlying the ethical temperament of the participants at the workplace. Our findings suggest that Buddhist mindfulness meditation helps practitioners pursue a spiritual purpose guided by moral principles. Moreover, it helps them to overcome temptations and pressures against moral actions and makes them sensitive to the wellbeing of others. This study advances the literature of Buddhist principles and workplace ethics by identifying the mechanism of ethical behavior at the workplace influenced by mindfulness meditation.
Effects of macro-financial shocks on bank liquidity creation: evidence from Mongolia
.
Dimensions of Brand Equity: A Hybrid Approach
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
Subjectivity and emotionality of a brand influence the subconscious motivation of customers. It determines brand loyalty, value of the brand, and sustainability of relationship with the customers. This study explores the qualitative dimensions of brand and aims to analyze the impact of qualitative dimensions of a brand on brand equity. In the present study, a sample of 450 respondents were taken who have positive inclination towards Apple iPhone. The variables of the study were extracted using qualitative research while data were processed using SPSS 20 statistical software. The hybrid approach is used in the study as it delivers better result. The proposed model was validated and the results of the study depict that brand friendliness, emotionality, brand trust, and alignment with the brand personality significantly influence brand equity. The study brings important insights about invisible, intangible, and subjective attributes of the brand. The study can be further used to build another inclusive model by incorporating both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the brand.
Subjectivity and emotionality of a brand influence the subconscious motivation of customers. It determines brand loyalty, value of the brand, and sustainability of relationship with the customers. This study explores the qualitative dimensions of brand and aims to analyze the impact of qualitative dimensions of a brand on brand equity. In the present study, a sample of 450 respondents were taken who have positive inclination towards Apple iPhone. The variables of the study were extracted using qualitative research while data were processed using SPSS 20 statistical software. The hybrid approach is used in the study as it delivers better result. The proposed model was validated and the results of the study depict that brand friendliness, emotionality, brand trust, and alignment with the brand personality significantly influence brand equity. The study brings important insights about invisible, intangible, and subjective attributes of the brand. The study can be further used to build another inclusive model by incorporating both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the brand.
The influence of founders’ human capital on the performance of new technology-based firms in China, South Korea and Japan: an exploratory study
.
A Qualitative Review of Market-based Company Life Cycle Models
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
Understanding the stages of the life cycle of companies is fundamental to their management and performance, since the characteristics of companies vary according to the moment they are going through. With this focus, the purpose of this article is to identify and analyze the models of the different company cycles found in the literature presenting comparisons with a life cycle model proposed by an author present in the industrial market. The company life cycle models were identified through a systematic literature review that aimed to rescue the perception of several authors. The authors have a similar approach on the subject of the study, and their proposals come from the 1980s and 1990s, characterizing a time gap on the subject. The article contributes to the research on the company life cycle, as it presents models identified in the literature, as well as a perspective of the stages of companies emphasizing a life cycle model used by industries in the market. The article identifies similarities and differences between company life cycle models used in the market and used others in academic scientific circles. The results of the article provide the characteristics of the company life cycle stages to managers of industrial organizations, helping to understand the organization’s moment in the market, as well as to understand the next stages to be developed.
Understanding the stages of the life cycle of companies is fundamental to their management and performance, since the characteristics of companies vary according to the moment they are going through. With this focus, the purpose of this article is to identify and analyze the models of the different company cycles found in the literature presenting comparisons with a life cycle model proposed by an author present in the industrial market. The company life cycle models were identified through a systematic literature review that aimed to rescue the perception of several authors. The authors have a similar approach on the subject of the study, and their proposals come from the 1980s and 1990s, characterizing a time gap on the subject. The article contributes to the research on the company life cycle, as it presents models identified in the literature, as well as a perspective of the stages of companies emphasizing a life cycle model used by industries in the market. The article identifies similarities and differences between company life cycle models used in the market and used others in academic scientific circles. The results of the article provide the characteristics of the company life cycle stages to managers of industrial organizations, helping to understand the organization’s moment in the market, as well as to understand the next stages to be developed.
Productivity growth convergence across Indian states: a spatial dynamic panel analysis
.
Assessing the Efficiency of Defined Benefit Private and Public Pension Plans using Data Envelopment Analysis Adjusted Estimator
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
This study uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) adjusted estimator to assess the efficiency of defined benefit private and public pension plans in the Republic of Congo. We also incorporate the industry fund in the assessment. The authors apply constant return to scale (CRS) adjusted estimator input and output orientation. In input orientation, we intellectualize efficiency as the ability of defined benefit pension funds to reduce costs, whereas assets remain constant. In output orientation, we conceive efficiency as raising the return on investment in existing contribution, administrative, and investment cost capacities. CRS-adjusted scores depict that the defined benefit private pension fund is on the efficient frontier regarding its input and output. The defined benefit public and industry pension funds are off the efficient frontier. Hence the private sector ranked first, is more efficient than the public sector, ranked third. The industry sector is less efficient compared to the private sector but more efficient than the public sector. As far as efficiency studies are concerned, this study is the first in sub-Saharan Africa to use the DEA-adjusted estimator to assess the efficiency of defined benefit pension funds.
This study uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) adjusted estimator to assess the efficiency of defined benefit private and public pension plans in the Republic of Congo. We also incorporate the industry fund in the assessment. The authors apply constant return to scale (CRS) adjusted estimator input and output orientation. In input orientation, we intellectualize efficiency as the ability of defined benefit pension funds to reduce costs, whereas assets remain constant. In output orientation, we conceive efficiency as raising the return on investment in existing contribution, administrative, and investment cost capacities. CRS-adjusted scores depict that the defined benefit private pension fund is on the efficient frontier regarding its input and output. The defined benefit public and industry pension funds are off the efficient frontier. Hence the private sector ranked first, is more efficient than the public sector, ranked third. The industry sector is less efficient compared to the private sector but more efficient than the public sector. As far as efficiency studies are concerned, this study is the first in sub-Saharan Africa to use the DEA-adjusted estimator to assess the efficiency of defined benefit pension funds.
Examining Factor Structure and Validity of Psychological Capital and Its Relationship with Learning Orientation
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
This study aims to empirically examine the factor structure and validity of psychological capital in the Indian context. Further, it also examines the linkage of psychological capital with learning orientation. A quantitative methodology was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire from 700 employees of public sector research organisations, information and communication technology companies, and academic universities and colleges in India. The findings reveal that psychological capital construct has a four-factor second-order structure and a synergetic effect on outcomes, and its four factors are related but distinct constructs. The findings also confirm that psychological capital has significant positive influence on the learning orientation of members of the organisation. Further, the level of psychological capital was found to vary across gender, age, work experience and executive level but not with qualification. This research will add into theory a detailed understanding about psychological capital and its relationship with learning orientation. The findings suggest that management should emphasise on preparing psychological capital interventions and trainings based on specific target groups in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.
This study aims to empirically examine the factor structure and validity of psychological capital in the Indian context. Further, it also examines the linkage of psychological capital with learning orientation. A quantitative methodology was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire from 700 employees of public sector research organisations, information and communication technology companies, and academic universities and colleges in India. The findings reveal that psychological capital construct has a four-factor second-order structure and a synergetic effect on outcomes, and its four factors are related but distinct constructs. The findings also confirm that psychological capital has significant positive influence on the learning orientation of members of the organisation. Further, the level of psychological capital was found to vary across gender, age, work experience and executive level but not with qualification. This research will add into theory a detailed understanding about psychological capital and its relationship with learning orientation. The findings suggest that management should emphasise on preparing psychological capital interventions and trainings based on specific target groups in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.
Foreign female English teachers in Japanese higher education: narratives from our quarter
.