Search results

This research aims to understand the smartphone security behavior using protection motivation theory (PMT) and tests the current PMT model employing statistical and predictive analysis using machine learning (ML) algorithms.

This study employs a total of 241 questionnaire-based responses in a nonmandated security setting and uses multimethod approach. The research model includes both security intention and behavior making use of a valid smartphone security behavior scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) – explanatory analysis was used in understanding the relationships. ML algorithms were employed to predict the accuracy of the PMT model in an experimental evaluation.

The results revealed that the threat-appraisal element of the PMT did not have any influence on the intention to secure smartphone while the response efficacy had a role in explaining the smartphone security intention and behavior. The ML predictive analysis showed that the protection motivation elements were able to predict smartphone security intention and behavior with an accuracy of 73%.

The findings imply that the response efficacy of the individuals be improved by cybersecurity training programs in order to enhance the protection motivation. Researchers can test other PMT models, including fear appeals to improve the predictive accuracy.

This study is the first study that makes use of theory-driven SEM analysis and data-driven ML analysis to bridge the gap between smartphone security’s theory and practice.

Due to increase in operational risk, banks are facing huge losses. In order to avoid losses, banks need to manage operational risk. This study aims to analyze the impact of operational risk management (ORM) processes, which include identification, assessment, analysis, monitoring and control in the presence of corporate governance (CG) that can also contribute to effective ORM practices.

Operational risk management processes are used to manage operational risk along with CG. Primary data are collected through questionnaire from (167) operational risk managers of commercial banks. Multiple linear regressions has been run to analyze the data.

Results indicate significant impact of CG and operational risk identification (ORI), monitoring and control on ORM practices in commercial banks of Pakistan.

The study suggests policy makers to improve the ORM framework by CG. Beside this, in order to lessen operational risk, proper identification, monitoring and control of operational risk could also contribute.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between students’ use of social media, their academic performance and creativity in the digital era.

This research used a survey strategy for collecting primary data required for this study from 334 students of undergraduate programs at Chinese universities who were sampled through a non-probability convenience approach.

The findings of the study reveal that students’ use of social media is positively associated with students’ academic performance and creativity. In addition, intrinsic motivation was found to be a mediating reason in the relationships between students’ use of social media and students’ academic performance and creativity.

This study explored an important role of intrinsic motivation as a mediator in the relationships between students’ use of social media and their positive outcomes. Studying the use of social media by students to their positive study outcomes is also practically important for students, educationalists and other policymakers.

This paper aims to review 68 archival studies on the impact of audit committees (ACs) on firms’ consequences [(non)financial reporting, performance and audit quality] in European firms.

Applying a stakeholder agency-theoretical framework, the author differentiates between three categories of AC variables: presence; composition; and resources, incentives and diligence.

The author finds that AC composition, (non)financial reporting and audit quality are dominant in the literature review. Other inputs or outputs are either too low in amount or yielded heterogeneous results, hindering clear tendencies. However, there are indications that financial expertise is positively related to financial reporting and audit quality, in line with agency theory and European regulatory assumptions.

In the discussion of potential future research, the author emphasizes, among others, the need for the recognition of innovative and sustainable AC variables, inclusion of moderator and especially mediator variables and reaction to endogeneity concerns by advanced regression models.

As the European Commission currently discusses extended regulations on AC duties and composition, this literature review highlights the huge impact of financial expertise on financial reporting and audit quality. In view of the increased monitoring duties of sustainability reporting, both business practices and regulatory bodies should increase the sustainability expertise of ACs.

This analysis makes useful contributions to prior research by focusing on attributes of AC and their impact on firms’ outputs in the European capital market, based on a differentiation between mandatory one-tier/two-tier systems and the choice model. The findings support the promotion of European evidence-based regulations, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

Pakistan has experienced financial liberalization with rapid ups and downs in economic growth due to domestic issues during the last 2 decades. Motivated by inconclusive and conflicting time-driven findings about the performance of the business groups, this study examines the performance of business groups in Pakistan for a relatively long period from 2003 to 2018.

The study uses 3,821 firm-year observations from non-financial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). For the estimation, pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) with industry- and year fixed effects and two-step system generalized methods of moments (GMM) are used.

The study finds that group-affiliated firms outperform independent firms in accounting performance, while underperform in market performance. The outperformance is mainly driven by medium-sized business groups, while underperformance is driven by small and large business groups. Further, the study documents that the underperformance in terms of market performance of firms affiliated with small and large groups is greater before the economic downturn, while outperformance in terms of the accounting measure of firms affiliated with medium-sized groups is greater during the economic downturn. These findings support our time-driven concerns. Overall, the authors' findings are consistent with institutional and transaction cost theories.

Business groups are important channels to reduce market inefficiencies. Business groups may enhance the affiliated firms' resources and resistance capacity through active utilization of the internal capital market, specifically when market conditions are not ideal for affiliates. However, effective utilization of internal capital markets depends on group size. Therefore, investors should deliberate on the size of business groups and diversification within business groups.

The authors extend the literature by providing fresh evidence related to the performance of business groups in the Pakistani context while accounting for the role of the size of business groups.

The aim of this paper is to explore and analyse the challenges in effective implementation of blockchain by human resource management (HRM) functions. This paper also aims to assess the interplay between the barriers in causing the challenges during blockchain execution.

Ten barriers are discovered from the past studies. Based on the expert views on the identified barriers interpretive structural modelling (ISM) is administered to understand the interplay of these 10 challenges resulting in ineffective or non-implementation of HR blockchain.

The application of ISM has helped in categorizing the variables into strategic, operational and performance outcomes. Results of ISM indicate key barriers like lack of expertise, data privacy, technical infeasibility, complexity in implantation and lack of used cases.

The research is limited to 10 barriers. There can be other barriers that can also be studied. Second, the research is proposing a conceptual model that needs further validation.

This paper has significant implications for the theoretical and practical body of knowledge. So far, most studies are exploring and describing HRM from a digital perspective. Most HR studies are on artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and smart HRM. Previous studies on blockchain for HRM are mostly describing the advantages of going for it.

Based on the findings, it can also be suggested that policy formulators must advance the technical regulatory framework. Blockchain technology can be effectively implemented only if the top management is committed to it because they can only frame the rules and right control framework, affirm the governance process and strategize improvement.

The study offers insights into the organization's decision makers for effectively implementing blockchain into their HR systems. Some specific recommendations based on the results are also made. The paper is an innovative attempt to analyse the barriers to HR blockchain.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of family business exposure on individuals' entrepreneurial intentions (EIs). By applying the institutional framework at the micro level, this study proposed the mediation of three types of institutional forces (coercive, normative and mimetic) between the relationship of family business exposure and EIs.

Data were collected from 367 university students in Pakistan. The survey design was used for the data collection. The measurement and hypothesized models were tested using the structural equation modeling technique in Mplus 7.0.

The findings of this study revealed that family business exposure positively influenced the institutional forces (coercive, normative and mimetic) which further developed the individuals' EIs. However, family business exposure did not affect the EIs directly that showed the full mediation of institutional forces between the relationship of family business exposure and EIs.

This is the first study in its nature which applied institutional theory from the macro level to the micro level within the context of family business. The results revealed the institutional forces as the underpinning mechanism which explains the relationship between family business exposure and EIs.

The research analyzes the influence of three environmental triggers, i.e. awareness, concern and knowledge on environmental attachment and green motivation that affect tourists' pro-environmental behavior in the Pakistan’s tourism industry. Furthermore, this study has analyzed the moderating role of moral obligation concerning environmental attachment and green motivation on tourists' pro-environmental behavior.

Data were gathered via a structured questionnaire by 237 local (domestic) tourists of Pakistan. Furthermore, the data were examined by employing SmartPLS.

Findings demonstrate that all three environmental triggers have a positive and significant relationship with environmental attachment and green motivation. Accordingly, environmental attachment and green motivation promote tourists' pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, the moderating role of moral obligations has also been incorporated in the study. The finding reveals a strong and positive relationship among environmental attachment and tourists' pro-environmental behaviors during high moral obligations. In contrast, moral obligations do not moderate association between green motivation and tourists' pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, competent authorities should facilitate tourists to adopt environmentally friendly practices; which will ultimately promote pro-environmental behavior.

This study provides useful insights regarding the role of tourism in fostering environmental attachment and green motivation that sequentially influence tourist pro-environmental behavior. Secondly, this research has employed moral obligations as a moderator to identify the changes in tourists’ pro-environmental behavior based on individuals' ethical considerations. Hence, the study provides an in-depth insight into tourists' behavior. Lastly, the present research offers effective strategies for the tourism sector and other competent authorities to increase green activities that can embed the importance of the environment among individuals.

Globally, women suffer from a lack of knowledge about breast cancer (BC), its symptoms and treatment. The purpose of this paper is to examine how people living in rural and less developed areas in Pakistan perceive BC. The study investigates the level of knowledge about BC in rural communities and analyses how the prevalent perceptions and beliefs impact women's lives and delay the diagnosis.

This study is based on 42 in-depth interviews with the women who have undergone BC treatment during the past five years. The participants were interviewed were the residents of the northern Sindh, southern Pakistan.

Findings show that BC was perceived as a contagious disease transmitted through touching or being physically close to the patient. Some women were abandoned by their husbands because of this perception. Faith in fatalism and the perception that BC is an incurable disease were common in communities with low socio-economic status. This is likely to affect the prevention and early detection of BC.

The study shows a strong co-relation of awareness with the prevalent perceptions regarding BC. Therefore, we recommend promoting health literacy and introducing culturally specific interventions in remote communities to enhance their understanding of the available treatment and help remove misconceptions about BC.

The paper aims to review prior literature on the impact of audit quality and climate change reporting on corporate performance. It also aims to offer avenues for future research.

Based on the systematic literature review, bibliometric investigation and forest plot, the authors systematized the scientific knowledge from 183 papers.

Earlier studies either focused on audit quality and corporate performance or discussed the link between climate change and corporate performance. However, the way that audit quality and climate change can together influence corporate performance is yet to be examined. The authors fill the gap by examining the possible link between audit quality and climate change and establishing the influence of it on corporate performance from the existing literature.

Because of the immense importance of the company's contribution to climate change, the research findings will open up avenues for future research. In addition, findings will be useful for world policymakers in strengthening or modifying existing corporate responsibility policies.