The nexus between circular economy innovation, market competitiveness, and triple bottom lines efficiencies among SMEs: evidence from emerging economies.

Recently, the trend of circular economy innovation (CEI) drive SMEs to initiate more sustainable practices to attain market competitiveness but rare attention has been paid in emerging economies. Hence, this study plans to explore the impacts of CEI on the triple bottom lines (TBL) efficiencies in the light of market competitiveness among the production SMEs in emerging economies. The study complied data by using a survey-based technique in Pakistan, Malaysia, and China. With a sample of 306 for each segment, data were evaluated with PLS-SEM to clarify results. The findings reveal that CEI has positive significant effects on the market competitiveness and TBL efficiencies among the production SMEs in emerging economies. The findings also clarify that market competitiveness mediates the relationship between CEI and the TBL efficiencies. The findings elaborate the theoretical foundations for environmental-based production SMEs to formulate more sustainable strategies in the light of CEI to gain market competitiveness. It also clarifies the understandings of policy makers and environmental regulators by providing a novel precursor to frame the environment-based TBL guidelines for SMEs. It adds to the UN sustainability agenda by elevating the role of CEI as a novel domain among emerging economies grounded on the resource-based view theory.

Integrating the technology acceptance model for social media-based learning with authentic leadership development: symmetric and asymmetric modeling.

Introduction: The growing trend of social media use has influenced all segments of society, including education, during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, authentic leadership is an emerging concept in positive psychology for dealing with emergencies in the digital era. The possibility of a relationship between the two was checked in preservice teachers studying in a teacher education department of a university in Pakistan. The conceptual framework of the study was built around teaching acceptance model (TAM) and Authentic leadership theory. Methods: The survey method suited the aim of the research, and questionnaires aided us in gathering participant self-reporting responses. We conducted two surveys, and in between them, a course was taught online using social media as a teaching and learning platform. The survey results checked preservice teachers' positive intentions toward social media-based learning, and the post-course survey studied the development of Authentic leadership attributes among the preservice teachers. Technology acceptance was measured across three constructs: ease of use, usefulness, and positive intentions. The results also reported the development of three authentic leadership characteristics: ethics, self-regulation, and self-awareness. Results and discussion: This study is among the pioneering studies integrating TAM (i.e., the acceptance of social media-based learning) with leadership theory (i.e., authentic leadership). It also adds a methodological contribution by combining symmetrical (i.e., partial least squares structural equation modeling) and asymmetrical (i.e., fuzzy set qualitative comparative technique) for data analysis. The study's findings are valuable for teacher education institutions, as they help prepare future teachers to become authentic leaders capable of addressing future crises by leveraging education through social media-based teaching and learning platforms.

Impact of corporate social responsibility on sustainable competitive advantages: The mediating role of corporate reputation.

This study investigates the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable competitive advantage (SCA). Moreover, building on the stakeholder theory, this study investigates the mediating effects of corporate reputation (CR) between the relationship of corporate social responsibility and sustainable competitive advantage. We used a questionnaire survey to collect data from the employees working in the construction industry of Pakistan. Using the sample of 239 respondents, a structural equation modeling technique was used to verify the hypothesis relationship. The findings indicated that CSR directly and positively influences sustainable competitive advantages. Moreover, corporate reputation positively mediates the connection between corporate social responsibility and sustainable competitive advantage. This research fills knowledge gaps and highlights the significance of CSR in fostering sustainable competitive advantages within the construction industry.

Exploring the linkage between workplace precaution measures, covid-19 fear and job performance: The moderating effect of academic competence.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has created emerging mental health challenges around the world. Like other countries, Pakistan is also confronted with covid-19 calamities. The aim of the study is to examine the impacts of workplace measures (WM) on the job performance (JP) and covid-19 fears (CF) along with the moderating role of academic competence (AC) based on the organizational support theory (OST) and job demand and resources (JDR) theory. A quantitative approach was applied to collect data from 333 banking employees in Gujranwala (Pakistan), and the hypothesis were tested via structural equation modeling using SPSS and AMOS. The study findings indicate that workplace measures significantly affect covid-19 fears except for individual preventive measures (IPM). Similarly, workplace measures significantly impact on job performance apart from information about the pandemic (IAP). Moreover, academic competence insignificantly moderates between workplace measures and covid-19 fears, but a significant moderation is found between information about pandemic (IAP) and covid-19 fears. Meanwhile, academic competence significantly moderates between workplace measures and job performance instead of a relationship between information about pandemic and job performance. However, this study was limited only to the banking sector of Pakistan. So, it will open the doors for future researchers to investigate other cultural contexts and sectors. This research gives a holistic understanding of workplace measures and contributes to the body of knowledge by enlightening the moderating role of academic competence in the banking sector of Pakistan. These useful insights would enable practitioners and policy makers to develop more efficient strategies and workplace measures to enhance job performance and reduce the fears of covid-19 among employees.

Investigating the nexus between information technology capabilities, knowledge management, and green product innovation: evidence from SME industry.

The aim of this study to investigate the relationship between information technology capabilities (ITCs) and green product innovation (GPI). The information technology (IT) capabilities with multiple dimensions, such as IT competence, IT integration, and IT infrastructure, were used in this paper. Moreover, to verify the deep relationship between ITCs and GPI, we used knowledge management (KM) as a mediator. The data were collected through a questionnaire from the senior managers, middle-level managers, and operational staff associated with the small- and medium-sized production industry of Pakistan. We collect data in two waves between January 2022 and July 2022. The data were analyzed through the partial least square structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2.2. The findings of this study conclude. First, in the direct relationship, two IT capabilities, such as IT competence and IT infrastructure, have a positive and significant direct relationship with green product innovation, but IT integration has an insignificant relationship with green product innovation. Second, the results show that three IT capabilities have positively influenced knowledge management. Third, the results confirm that KM has a significant positive effect on GPI. Finally, the outcomes confirmed that knowledge management positively and significantly mediates between all IT capabilities and GPI in the indirect relationship.

Investigating the nexus between critical success factors, supportive leadership, and entrepreneurial success: evidence from the renewable energy projects.

This study focuses on entrepreneurs associated with construction-based renewable energy projects located in Pakistan. The objectives of this research to identify the critical factors that affect the success of entrepreneurs. We used three dimensions of critical success factors such as government support (GS), access to finance (AF), and personality traits (PTs). This study consists of four important direct and indirect relationships. First, we examine the direct relationship between critical success factors (CSFs) and the success of entrepreneurs. Second, we investigate the direct relationship between CSFs and supportive leadership (SL). Third, we also examine the indirect relationship of supportive leadership between CSFs and the success of entrepreneurs. Fourth, we test the direct relationship between supportive leadership and the success of entrepreneurs. In this study, we collected data from 255 entrepreneurs using convenience sampling techniques associated with construction-based renewable energy projects in Pakistan. A five-point Likert scale is used for data collection through a research questionnaire. The direct and indirect path analyses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of this study conclude. First, in the direct relationship, all the critical success factors, i.e., personality traits, access to finance, and government support, positively and significantly impact entrepreneurs' success. Second, the results confirmed that all critical success factors positively correlate with supportive leadership. Third, the results also revealed that supportive leadership significantly and positively mediates the relationship between the three CSFs and the success of entrepreneurs. Fourth, the outcomes also demonstrate that supportive leadership positively affects the success of entrepreneurs. The outcomes of this study also suggest some theoretical and practical suggestions for academicians and entrepreneurial personnel.

The Linkage between Ethical Leadership, Well-Being, Work Engagement, and Innovative Work Behavior: The Empirical Evidence from the Higher Education Sector of China.

In this study, we investigate the relationship between ethical leadership (EL), work engagement (WE), well-being, and innovative work behavior (IWB). The significance of these variables has increased in the current era when the influence of technology is exponentially increasing in the education sector. We investigate the role of ethical leadership in determining innovative work behavior. Moreover, we investigate the moderating effect of WB in the relationship between EL and WE. We also examine the mediating impact of WE in the relationship between EL and IWB. We used a questionnaire survey approach to collect data. The target population of this study was the academic personnel, i.e., senior professors, lecturers, and supporting staff associated with the higher education sector located in Zhejiang Province, China. Data were collected in two phases. In the first phase, we sent 300 research questionnaires and received 251 responses. In the second phase, after a three-month interval, we sent 200 questionnaires and received 162 responses. However, over the two phases, we collected a total of 413 questionnaires; 43 were discarded. Therefore, for analysis, we used 370 questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2.2. First, in the direct relationship, results confirm that EL positively influences the IWB. Secondly, WB has a positive and moderating relationship between EL and IWB. Thirdly, we address the relationship between EL and WE. The outcome indicates that there is a positive and significant relationship. Fourth, the results of this study indicate that there is positive and significant relationship between WE and IWB. Finally, the outcomes imply that WE positively mediates between EL and IWB. Ethical leadership and well-being are important for innovative work behavior that supports managers in introducing a supportive workplace environment that promotes good interpersonal relationships with subordinates. Therefore, a good interpersonal relationship between managers and subordinates enhances the work quality. So, ethical leaders provide a supportive work environment to all subordinates regarding their work.

Investigating the nexus between critical success factors, despotic leadership, and success of renewable energy projects.

The aim of this study to examine how critical success factors (CSFs) affect the project success (PS), directly and indirectly, using the despotic leadership (DL) as a mediating variable. Critical success factors with multiple dimensions, such as organizational factors, team factors, technical factors, and communication factors, were used in this study. In this study, we used a questionnaire survey approach. The data were collected from the project directors, project managers, functional managers, and team leaders working in the renewable energy project of Pakistan. For data analysis, we used the partial least squares structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2. The outcomes indicate that team factors and communication factors have a positive and significant relationship with PS in the direct relationship. At the same time, organization factors and technical factors were insignificant in the direct relationship with PS. Moreover, to examine the mediating effects of despotic leadership, we have examined the indirect effects of critical success factors on PS. The findings of this study indicate that DL is not mediated between organizational factors and PS in the indirect relationship. However, DL negatively mediates between three factors (team, technical, and communication) of critical success factors on project success. This paper concludes that despotic leaders go beyond controlling and self-serving behaviour and are engaged in exploitative and unethical acts that can drain project resources, which reduce the success and sustainability of renewable energy projects.

Exploring the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility, Trust, Corporate Reputation, and Brand Equity.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate reputation (CR), and brand equity (BE). Building on the resource-based theory of the firm, this study proposes a theoretical framework. In this framework, CSR is theorized to strengthen CR and brand equity, directly and indirectly, through consumer trust. We used a questionnaire survey approach. In the questionnaire, 17 items were used with a 5-point Likert-Scale (1 stands for "strongly disagree," and 5 stands for "strongly agree"). Data were collected from the consumers of the banking sector in the vicinity of Lahore, Pakistan. To estimate the proposed relationships in the conceptual model, we use structural equation modeling (SEM) through Smart PLS 3.2. The outcomes of this study confirm that CSR significantly impacts CR and brand equity. It is also demonstrated that trust mediates positively and significantly in the relationship between CSR, CR, and BE. Results of the present study have several implications for the senior management, marketing expert, administrators, and policymakers. This study expresses how CSR boosts BE and CR. Moreover, this study also indicates that trust is an important factor that enhances BE and CR.

The Effect of Emotional Intelligence and Academic Social Networking Sites on Academic Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of digital platforms for educational purposes, and increased use of smartphones and social media has affected the academic performance of students. In this study, we explored how emotional intelligence can, directly and indirectly, influence academic performance, with academic social networking sites (ASNS) as a mediator. METHODS: A survey questionnaire comprising 42 items was used to collect data on emotional intelligence, ASNS, and academic performance. In total, 305 undergraduate university students participated in the study. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (SmartPLS-SEM 3.2.2) was used to measure the effects of emotional intelligence and ASNS. RESULTS: Two dimensions of emotional intelligence, namely, self-regulation and self-awareness, showed significant positive effects on academic performance. Similarly, emotional intelligence and subscales of self-regulation, self-awareness and social skills showed a positive effect on ASNS. Likewise, ASNS showed a significant positive effect on academic performance. Looking at indirect influence, three dimensions of emotional intelligence, including self-regulation, self-awareness, and social skills, exerted a significant positive indirect influence on academic performance. Thus, outcomes of this study indicate that ASNS worked as a mediator between emotional intelligence and academic performance. CONCLUSION: Emotional intelligence contributes directly and indirectly to increased academic performance. Together with emotional intelligence, ASNS played a positive and significant role in nurturing academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring the Relationship between Despotic Leadership and Job Satisfaction: The Role of Self Efficacy and Leader-Member Exchange.

This study explores the effects of despotic leadership (DL) on employee job satisfaction (JS) using self-efficacy (SE) as a mediating variable and leader-member exchange (LMX) as a moderated variable. Building on the social learning and social exchange theory, our research proposes a research model. In this model, despotic leadership affects employee job satisfaction both directly and indirectly through self-efficacy and leader-member exchange. We used a questionnaire survey analysis approach to collect data. Data were collected from the employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Guangdong Province, P.R. China. A pilot test of 20 participants with similar demographics as the final sample was performed to test the usability of the questionnaire. We distributed 500 questionnaires among the target population. In total, 230 usable questionnaires were returned, resulting in a response rate of 53%. To estimate the proposed relationships in the theoretical framework, we used SPSS and AMOS. The results of this study confirmed that despotic leadership has a negative impact on employee job satisfaction. Moreover, the outcomes of this study indicate that self-efficacy has a mediating effect between despotic leadership and employee job satisfaction. Similarly, the results also confirm that LMX has a moderating effect between despotic leadership and employee self-efficacy. Therefore, we conclude that the community is understanding of the mechanism of despotic leadership, identify the mechanism to effectively deal with its negative effects, broaden the relevant research on the antecedent variable of self-efficacy, and provide practical enlightenment enterprises to retain and employ people.

Impact of remittances on carbon emission: fresh evidence from a panel of five remittance-receiving countries.

The present study aims to investigate the impact of remittances on CO2 emission by incorporating financial development, economic growth, industry value added, and agriculture value added in it. This research covers the 37 years of panel data of five countries, i.e., India, the Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, from 1980 to 2016. The data were collected from the World Bank database. The panel cointegration technique and panel autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model have been employed to check long-run relationships. The estimated result of the panel cointegration approach confirms the existence of a long-run relationship among remittances received, financial development, economic growth, industry value added, agriculture value added, and CO2 emission. The findings of the study indicate that an increase in received remittances, economic growth, and value-added agriculture help in mitigating carbon emissions from the selected panel countries. However, improving the financial system and adding more industries result in the high emission of CO2. On the contrary, the short-run ARDL estimation shows that CO2 emission increases at a significant level with the increase of remittances inflow and agriculture value added, while in the case of financial development, economic growth, and industry value added, this increasing effect in CO2 is at an insignificant level. Moreover, dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) is used in this study for robust analysis and found the same long run result like ARDL. Additionally, this study also provides some important recommendations to economic policymakers to reduce CO2 emission in the selected remittance-receiving countries.

How Toxic Workplace Environment Effects the Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of Organizational Support and Employee Wellbeing.

This study explores the effects of a toxic workplace environment (TWE) on employee engagement (EE). Building on conservation of resources (COR) theory and organizational support theory (OST), this study proposed a research model. In this research model, a toxic workplace environment negatively affected employee engagement, directly and indirectly, through organizational support (OS) and employee well-being (EW). In this study, we used a quantitative research approach, and data were collected from 301 workers employed in the small and medium-size enterprises of China. To estimate the proposed relationships of the research model, we used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 3.2.2). The results of this study confirmed that a toxic workplace environment has a negative impact on employee engagement. Moreover, the findings of this research confirm that organizational support and employee well-being significantly mediate a toxic workplace environment and employee engagement. The conclusions of this study are as follows: First, the direct relationship between a toxic workplace environment and employee engagement confirms that if employees are working in a toxic environment, they will spread negative feelings among other co-workers. The feelings that come with a toxic workplace environment, i.e., harassment, bullying, and ostracism, can be detrimental and lead to unnecessary stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety among the workers. Second, employee well-being will affect employee behaviors that enhance employee engagement with the work as well as with the organization. Third, organizational support also increases employee engagement with the work as well as with the organization. So, it is also confirmed that when workers perceive the support from the organization, their sense of belonging to the organization is strengthened.

Exploring the Relationship Between Value Modularity, Knowledge Transfer, and Firm Innovation Performance: Evidence From China.

This study aimed to explore the influence the value modularity and a firm's innovation performance, directly and indirectly, using knowledge management as mediating variable. Moreover, in this study, we used the resource integration ability as a moderator between the relationship value modularity and firm innovation performance. We collected data from the Chinese state-owned and state-controlled high-tech firms from 2011 to 2018. In this study, we used the gray comprehensive evaluation method to test the degree of value modularity, and hierarchical regression analysis is used to analyze the relationship among variables. The outcomes of this study indicate that value modularity and firm innovation performance has inverted U-shaped and significant association. Similarly, results also confirm that knowledge acquisition and knowledge internalization mediate the relationship between value modularity and firm innovation performance. The finding of this research also confirms that resource integration ability negatively affects the relationship between value modularity and firm innovation performance. This paper enriches the research of the value modularity and gives certain inspiration to knowledge management. At the end of this study, we also suggest some significant practical implications.

Exploring the Relationship between Innovative Work Behavior, Job Anxiety, Workplace Ostracism, and Workplace Incivility: Empirical Evidence from Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between workplace ostracism (WO), workplace incivility (WI), and innovative work behavior (IWB), using job anxiety as a mediating variable. Building on the conservation of resource (COR) theory, this study proposes a theoretical framework. In this framework, workplace ostracism and workplace incivility are theorized to strengthen innovative work behavior, directly and indirectly, through job anxiety. Data were collected from the workers of small and medium sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs located in Pakistan. To estimate the proposed relationships in the conceptual model, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) through AMOS-21. The outcomes of this study confirmed that workplace ostracism and workplace incivility had a negative impact on innovative work behavior. It was also confirmed that job anxiety mediates in the relationship between workplace ostracism, workplace incivility, job anxiety, and innovative work behavior. At the end of the study, we thoroughly discussed the conclusions, practical implications, limitations, and future research directions of the study.

The Relationship between Workplace Violence and Innovative Work Behavior: The Mediating Roles of Employee Wellbeing.

It has been contended that violence is prevalent in the workplace, and there has been increasing research interest into its potential effects. Human interactions at workplaces are apparent. However, the interactions among humans may have positive or negative dimensions. Usually, the positive or negative interactions between workers lead to different outcomes. Sometimes, they lead to a productive working environment; however, in some cases, they lead to toxicity among workers. In this study, we investigate the impact of workplace violence (WV) on innovative work behavior (IWB). Specifically, it examines the impact of the three dimensions of WV, namely, harassment, mobbing, and sabotage. Moreover, employees' wellbeing mediates the relationship between WV (harassment, mobbing, and sabotage) and IWB. A questionnaire survey approach was used in this study. The target population were the workers of SMEs entrepreneurs located in Guangdong Province (China). The results confirm that, in the direct relationship, WV (harassment, mobbing, and sabotage) has a negative relationship with innovative IWB. Moreover, results also confirm that employee wellbeing is mediated between WV (harassment, mobbing, and sabotage) and IWB. Therefore, the empirical results of this paper identify that workplace violence reduces employees' innovative work behavior by reducing their subjective and eudemonic wellbeing, which further broadens the perspective of IWB's motivation analysis. Practical implications for small and medium enterprise organizations have also been discussed in this paper.

Exploring the Relationships Between a Toxic Workplace Environment, Workplace Stress, and Project Success with the Moderating Effect of Organizational Support: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan.

PURPOSE: Researchers have shown great interest in the relationships among a toxic workplace environment, workplace stress, and project success, which have led to an expansive body of research on the topic. In light of this work, the current study explores the effects of a toxic workplace environment (TWE) and workplace stress (WS) as determinants of project success in the renewable energy projects of Pakistan. Based on the resource-based view (RBV) theory, the study proposes and tests a model with organizational support as a moderating variable. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: A 30-item questionnaire survey was administered among staff of ten renewable energy project companies located in the vicinity of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad (Pakistan). The target population was senior managers, middle-level managers, and administrative staff. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate the predictive power of the model. RESULTS: A toxic workplace environment was found to have negative relationships with project success and workplace stress. Organizational support served as a moderator in the relationship between a toxic workplace environment and workplace stress and thus contributed to the success of a project. CONCLUSION: Toxic workplace environment and the resulting workplace stress have a negative effect on project success. Projects undertaken in the energy sector have tight deadlines, which create stress that leads to a range of mental and physical health problems. Workers facing these problems can ultimately suffer from such diseases as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. These issues lower morale and, thus, negatively affect productivity. The provision of organizational support can mitigate the negative effects.

How does energy poverty affect economic development? A panel data analysis of South Asian countries.

This study examines the interaction between energy poverty, employment, education, per capita income, inflation, and economic development using panel data for seven South Asian countries. The present study uses panel data spanning the period from 1995 to 2017, panel cointegration, autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), and penalized quantile regression (PQR) estimators to test for cointegration in the long-run. The estimated results reveal that both panel cointegration approaches (Pedroni and Johansen-Fisher) demonstrate the existence of the long-term relationship between energy poverty, employment, education, per capita income, inflation, and economic development. The ARDL estimates show that energy poverty has a negative influence on economic development in both the long-run and the short-run. The results provide support for economic, social, and environmental policymakers in their decision-making. This study suggests that, in relation to financing the green and low-carbon economy concept, both the public sector and private industries need to make further efforts to use modern, energy-efficient, and green technologies, which are beneficial both for economic progress as well as managing the ecological degradation process.

The Role of Agriculture and Foreign Remittances in Mitigating Rural Poverty: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the role of the agriculture and foreign remittances in mitigating rural poverty in Pakistan. METHODS: The data used relate to the period 1980-2017 and are sourced from the World Bank and the Economic Survey of Pakistan produced annually by the Ministry of Finance. The ARDL technique was used to calculate the effects of agriculture and foreign remittances on rural poverty. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that agriculture helps to mitigate rural poverty in the long run, but that foreign remittances are more effective in reducing rural poverty in the short run. In this paper, results confirm the existence of correlations between agriculture, foreign remittances and rural poverty. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study support the call for the government to introduce agricultural credit schemes for the rural population of Pakistan. Moreover, the government should take steps to enhance diplomatic relations with other countries and simplify policies and visa application procedures for Pakistani workers. Finally, this study suggests the government should simplify procedures for the transfer of foreign remittances to Pakistan.