Mansoor Ahmad

High Performance HRM and Establishment Performance in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis

Purpose – Despite a growing literature on human resource management (HRM) in emerging economies, evidence from Pakistan is limited. There is scant information on both the human resource (HR) practices that indigenous workplaces adopt and their associations with HR-related outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to fill that gap by examining whether universalistic assumptions about the applicability of “high-performance” HR practices are valid in Pakistan, a country with religious values and organizational traditions that differ to those in the west. Design/methodology/approach – This study draws on the, to date, most comprehensive survey of indigenous establishments in Pakistan. The authors use logistic regressions to analyze the data. Findings – Workplaces, in general, adopt several “high-performance” HR practices, such as extensive training, career breaks, rigorous pre-employment candidate assessment, and the sharing of strategic information with employees. Attitude surveys and the provision of training ...

Assessment of KM processes in a public sector organisation in Pakistan: bridging the gap

Abstract Organisations implement Knowledge Management (KM) processes to become more efficient and competitive. Due to differences in the goals and cultural practices between the public and private sectors, KM practices meant for the private sector cannot be applied to the public sector without appropriate modifications and vice versa. This case study assesses the KM processes of a public sector organisation in Pakistan, viz. Planning Commission, by using qualitative and quantitative approaches. The results and findings are based on twenty-six (26) interviews and a questionnaire-based survey of sixty (60) employees. The results highlight KM issues in four KM process areas: knowledge discovery, knowledge capture, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application. The study also identifies gaps that exist for adopting knowledge-based practices in the case study organisation. These are lack of institutional repository, formally designed and implemented training programmes, informal networking, and brainstorming, etc. The paper also proposes illustrative KM mechanisms that would facilitate the Planning Commission in introducing a formal knowledge management strategy to fill the identified gaps.

Perceptions of fine dining restaurants in Pakistan: What influences customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions?

Purpose n n n n nThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between restaurant key attributes, customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The mediating role of customer satisfaction is assessed between restaurants’ key attributes of service quality and behavioral intentions. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nData were collected from a sample of 296 customers dining in the fine dining restaurants of Pakistan through a self-administered questionnaire. The data were then analyzed through regression analysis and gap analysis. Model fitness was checked in SPSS AMOS through CFA. n n n n nFindings n n n n nThe findings suggest that the key restaurant attributes have a significant positive effect on behavioral intentions. Customer satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between key restaurant attributes and behavioral intentions. The findings also suggest that there is a significant gap between the perceptions of customers regarding the importance and performance of key restaurant attributes. n n n n nPractical implications n n n n nThe result indicates that food taste and environmental cleanliness are the cornerstones of fine dining restaurants’ success in Pakistan and are among the strongest predictor of customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions; while improvement efforts should be made in four key areas, i.e., healthy food option, food freshness, food safety and fair price. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nNo comparative study has been directed in fine dining restaurants of Pakistan with respect to the key restaurants attributes, i.e., food quality attributes, service quality attributes, atmospheric quality attributes, and other attributes which have been analyzed in the current study. This research was conducted to investigate the perceptions of customers toward the fine dining restaurants of Pakistan to measure the key restaurants’ attributes that influence customers’ satisfaction and their post-dining behavioral intentions. This study will facilitate restaurants’ managers to understand the stronger and as well as the weaker aspects of service quality and permit them to investigate the factors which contribute toward customers’ satisfaction and their post-dining behavioral intentions in order to build and maintain long-term relationship between restaurants and customers.

Measuring service quality perceptions of customers in the hotel industry of Pakistan

This study looks at the relationship among perceived service quality, perceived price fairness, and customer loyalty. It further examines the role of customer satisfaction as a mediator in the relationship between perceived service quality and customer loyalty, and perceived price fairness and customer loyalty. We argue that customers’ needs are less uniform, and so their expectations, perceptions, satisfaction and loyalty vary across their characteristics. To this end, we draw on a sample of 252 consumers of the hotel industry sector in Pakistan. We employ gap analysis using paired-sample t-test and analysis of variance to test for the variations in the customers’ expectations, perceptions, satisfaction and loyalty. Following that, we test the relationships. Our results identify variances in the expectations, perceptions, satisfaction and loyalty across the customers’ demographics. Customer satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between perceived service quality and customer loyalty, and fully mediates the relationship between perceived price fairness and customer loyalty. Based on results, we drew implication for theory and practice.

Leadership styles, goal clarity, and project success: Evidence from project-based organizations in Pakistan

Purpose n n n n nThe purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of goal clarity in the relationship between leadership styles and project success. The paper draws on full-range leadership theory, and contextualizes leadership styles such as transformational leadership style, and transactional leadership style (active management by exception, and contingent reward) to temporary project environment. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nData are collected (in year 2017) from 248 individuals working in ten large project-based organizations from different sectors, each having multiple units in Pakistan. Respondents comprise functional managers and individuals (who have lead or worked on projects), as well as dedicated project managers. n n n n nFindings n n n n nGoal clarity partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership style and project success. However, in case of the transactional leadership style, there is no mediation as transactional leadership style is not associated with goal clarity. Furthermore, contingent reward is positively associated to project success, while active management by exception is negatively associated to project success. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nResearch suggests that the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between leadership styles (transactional and transformational) and project success are less clear and need to be further explored. This study contributes to literature by answering such calls, and examines possible underlying mechanisms (i.e. goal clarity) in the relationship between leadership styles and project success.

Does e-HRM improve labour productivity? A study of commercial bank workplaces in Pakistan

Drawing on data from a unique, large-scale survey, the purpose of this paper is to examine the links between e-HRM and perceived labour productivity both directly and through the mediating role of HR service quality amongst commercial-bank workplaces in Pakistan, many of which have introduced e-HRM.,The authors use partial least squares structural equation modelling to examine the direct links between e-HRM and productivity as well as the mediated links between e-HRM, perceived HR service quality and productivity.,The authors show that e-HRM practices have a statistically significant, positive effect on managers’ perceptions of labour productivity. The authors also reveal that e-HRM practices influence the quality of HR service, and that the quality of HR services fully mediates the relationship between e-HRM practices and managers’ perceptions of labour productivity.,The results highlight the importance of designing and implementing e-HRM systems so that they support organisation workflow and enable workers to carry out a range of HR and non-HR activities more efficiently. In particular, this study suggests that managers should focus on how e-HRM impacts on HR service quality in a holistic way, as this is the “route” via which e-HRM can improve labour productivity.,Existing research has demonstrated a link between e-HRM and the quality of HR services; however, these studies downplay the potential impact of e-HRM on labour productivity, a key organisational outcome and one that e-HRM aims to improve. This study contributes to the HRM literature by identifying how e-HRM can improve labour productivity by enhancing the perceived HR service quality. This study, therefore, provides the basis for future theory developments in this area.