Human Systems Management - Volume 38, issue 3

Authors: Iqbal, Kashif | Peng, Hui | Hafeez, Muhammad | Hashim Khan, Noor | Ahmad, Khurshaid | Iqbal, Zeeshan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has become an international student destination, a phenomenon that requires researching its consequences and implications. This study investigates influences on international students’ decision to leave or to stay in China after completing their studies. Through a snowball sampling technique, empirical data were gleaned from 283 foreign students in different universities in China. Using a binary logit model, the results show that the majority of respondents wish to stay and to work in China. While most foreign students value high wages, many prefer the working conditions and lifestyle in China. Yet some students are cynical …about the limited job opportunities for foreigners in China, which compel them to leave after completing their studies. Despite its limitations, this empirical study not only provides pertinent future-research paths but also policymaking recommendations. Show more

Keywords: Brain-gain migration, logit model, random utility theory, China

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180472

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 197-208, 2019

Authors: Liu, Li | Su, Xin | Akram, Umair | Rasool, Hassan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: As a singularly important tourism group, women have unique perceptions and preferences, regarding the travel-information platforms that influence their tourism decisions. Based on the societal-development capital, technology acceptance and societal psychology constructs, this article proposes and empirically assesses an innovative research framework, in the tipping-points context. The empirical study discloses important effects by the pivotal virtual community, informational and environmental factors in China. The results show that collegial group centrality has a positive effect on participative behavior, while the latter, along with perceived usefulness and imitation of others, have positive effects on usage behavior. Besides, gender plays a moderating role …in the relation between collegial group centrality and imitation of others-usage behavior. Despite the study’s limitations, these empirical results enable future researches to conduct comprehensive, dynamic studies of women tourists in the virtual tourism communities. And accurate perceptions of personalized needs of specific groups of tourists can substantially benefit travel application or ‘app’ operators. Show more

Keywords: Female tourist, tourism app, tipping point, behavior of crowds

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180465

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 209-220, 2019

Authors: Memon, Aasma | An, Zhang Yong | Memon, Muhammad Qasim | Yan, Binbin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  Information technology capability (ITC) enhances firm performance, reflecting the constructs’ positive relation. Namely ICT enables continual improvements in uncertain environments, despite its extant shortcomings. This article assesses the role that ITC plays in firm performance, mediated by capital availability and sustainable competitive position (SCP). Research hypotheses are tested through structural equation modeling, using the analysis moments of structure (AMOS) statistical software, applied on the data collected from 316 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan, through a structured questionnaire. The results show that ITC might significantly contribute to SCP and firm performance, wherein capital availability and SCP play their mediating …roles, strengthening the positive relation between ITC and SCP. These relations’ unconcealment suggests that owners, managers and partners of SMEs and other policymakers must promote ITC’s self-development, in order to effectively enhance financial capital productivity and to achieve superior performance in turbulent markets. The results generalizability is restricted to SMEs in Pakistan, yet it would be challenging to explore this study’s relations in other emerging economies. Most encouraged are researchers willing to test the study’s model in other industries, especially in non-profit organizations in developed and emerging economies, in order to expedite ITC’s potential contribution to firm performance. Show more

Keywords: IT capabilities, financial availability, sustainable competitive position, firm performance

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180463

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 221-233, 2019

Authors: Iqbal, Kashif | Peng, Hui | Danish, | Hafeez, Muhammad | Ahmad, Khurshaid | Tang, Liang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: By using panel data over the 2001–2016 time-period, this study investigates the dynamic relations between corruption, income inequality and the decline in South Asia. Namely, the panel data are subjected to the Chow probability test, the fixed-effect model, random-effect GLS regression and the Hausman test. The empirical results show that economic growth is adversely affected by income inequality, i.e., they show the significant effect of the Gini coefficient on economic decline. It is evident that income maldistribution leads to decline, yet corruption seems to have a positive effect on economic growth. Despite its limitations, the study yields both future-research directions …and policymaking recommendations toward curbing the decline in South Asia. Show more

Keywords: Corruption, income inequality, economic growth, fixed-random effect model, South Asia

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180425

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 235-241, 2019

Authors: Mtar, Kais | Smondel, Aymen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  Relying on the matching method that D.B. Rubin developed in 1974, this study empirically evaluates the impact of the just-in-time (JIT) inventory-control technique on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), engaged in manufacturing. Data were gleaned from two merged databases: ‘Diane’, and the ‘Organizational Change and Computerization’ survey, the latter carried out in 2006 by The French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). Ergo, the study sample consists of 1109 manufacturing SMEs, operating in France. One of a few works of its kind, the empirical study’s contribution highlights the positive effect of JIT implementation on SME …turnover, SME value added and SME labor productivity. Despite its limitations, the study offers pragmatic policymaking recommendations for manufacturing SMEs, as well as pertinent future-research directions. Show more

Keywords: Just-in-time, manufacturing management, performance, matching estimator, matching method

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180413

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 243-255, 2019

Authors: Shafqat, Muhammad Mobeen | Xia, Enjun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  This empirical study’s intent was to assess the role that remittances play in the economic growth and self-development of low-income country regions. The diverse results in previous studies necessitate using a proper methodological approach. Namely panel co-integration analysis allows gauging the long-run interactions among growth, remittances, and self-development. Having confirmed, via the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, the dynamic equilibrium of the data, gleaned from 31 low-income countries over the 1991–2015 time period, the cointegration between economic growth and remittances was established through the Johansen panel test. Pertinent to heterogeneous cointegrated panels, the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) results show …that remittances have a significant, positive effect on long-term economic growth. Besides, the study’s empirical results also unconceal the significant, long-term effects of economic growth and remittances, facilitating self-development in low-income regions, in terms of finance, savings, trade, and labor-force participation, except that of household consumption. And an endogeneity test strongly suggests the need for policymaking towards obtaining maximum benefits from the increased inflows of remittances. Despite its limitations, the study offers pragmatic policymaking recommendations, along with future research directions. Show more

Keywords: Remittances, growth, self-development, low-income region, panel co-integration

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180410

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 257-265, 2019

Authors: Mubarik, Muhammad Shujaat | Naghavi, Navaz | Mahmood, Rana Tariq

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In today’s uncertain and ambiguous business reality, both business enterprises and other societal human organizations strive for competitive advantage. To attain it, they develop the capability to pursue innovation, while exploiting other existing capabilities pertinent to their organizational ‘ambidexterity’. This article investigates the role that organizational ambidexterity plays in the relation between intellectual capital (IC) and competitive advantage (CA). Tested is a set of research hypotheses, using sample data gleaned from 233 textile firms in Pakistan. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) unconceals a significant mediately effect that organizational ambidexterity interposes between intellectual capital and competitive advantage, i.e., IC …helps firms become ambidextrous in attaining competitiveness. Noted too are the significant effects of all three IC components on competitive advantage, whereby the highest effect is attributed to human-development capital (HDC), followed by structural capital (SC) and relational capital (RC). These results contribute to much-needed comprehensive-strategy designs that, based on both intellectual capital and ambidexterity, yield a sustainable competitive advantage. Despite the study’s limitations and small sample size, the article offers both future-research directions and policymaking recommendations. Show more

Keywords: Intellectual capital, relational capital, structural capital, competitive advantage, ambidexterity, structural equation modelling (SEM)

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180409

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 267-277, 2019

Authors: Wang, Lei | Zeng, Jianqiu | Strohmaier, David | Salam, Shafaq | Shahzad, Khuram

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  Service innovation is an important driver of enterprise self-development and growth in the current service-attuned economy. And across economic sectors, the prevalence of self-organized and self-governed ecosystems renders service innovation increasingly crucial to such service ecosystems. Scholars study service innovation from the perspective of service ecosystem, yet little attention is paid to systematically researching service-innovation components within service ecosystems, especially the implementation path of such components. Based on service-oriented logic, this study presents a framework for service innovation in service ecosystems, built upon five elements: actor-to-actor (A2A) networks, value proposition, resource integration, institutionalization processes, and information technology (IT). This might …be the first study to use a combination of the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) based Analytic Network Process (ANP) method (called DEMATEL based ANP, or DANP) and the NK model to obtain the optimal path of service innovation in China. Despite the study’s limitations, the results show that enterprises must first develop IT capabilities and innovative value propositions, and then enhance their resource-integration capability and enlarge their A2A networks, as they accelerate their institutionalization processes. Future research must investigate service-innovation components and enhances the idea of service ecosystems, and provides guidelines how to implement service innovation in practice. Show more

Keywords: Service innovation, service-oriented logic, service ecosystem, implementation path, NK model

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180397

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 279-295, 2019

Authors: Khan, Najib Ullah | Shuangjie, Li | Khan, Sher Zaman | Anwar, Muhammad

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  Multiple tangible and intangible determinants affect the survival and success of a small and medium enterprise (SME). In turbulent markets, however, compared to exogenous effects, a firm’s internal capabilities are seen as major sources of economic value creation and sustainable competitive advantage. This study empirically examines the effects of pivotal internal capabilities, namely entrepreneurial orientation, information technology (IT) capability, and intellectual capital (IC), on the financial and non-financial performance of SMEs that operate in the emerging market of Pakistan. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires, from a sample size of 307 SMEs. The study hypotheses were tested through the structural …equation modelling (SEM) technique of AMOS 21. The statistical results show entrepreneurial orientation, IT capability and intellectual capital as significant contributors to both financial and non-financial performance. Despite its limitations, the study offers both future-research directions and policymaking recommendations for practice. Namely each SME ought to focus on self-developing those internal capabilities that render sustainable its competitive posture. Show more

Keywords: Entrepreneurial orientation, IT capabilities, intellectual capital, firm performance

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180393

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 297-312, 2019

Authors: Ali, Rahib | Zhang, Ziqiong | Bux Soomro, Muhammad

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract:  Smoking prevalence is a leading health risk and preventable cause of mortality. As of 1.1 billion global smokers, 80% live in emerging countries. Predictably, 7 million of them will die annually by 2030. Mobile health (referred to as “mHealth”) gets popular in today’s healthcare management uses technology, and to combat smoking peril. Technology, being a societal human system with mutual inter-dependencies among its hardware, software, brainware and support network or net components, is integral to mHealth success. Technology espousal can empower health organizations to assimilate internal and external setups and applications, and the government in lieu of maneuvering healthcare management. …Economic, infrastructure constraints, and high entry barriers in healthcare management has made mHealth’s triumph unclear in emerging countries. We designed a mobile application namely “Smokers’ Mirror” to examine mHealth’s leeway on tobacco control in Pakistan. Using, the technology acceptance model (TAM) pertinent in this study context. Students’ centric, time and budget constraints involved, hitherto, the study findings divulge that mHealth is expedient for smoking cessation. Moreover, Pakistani smokers agree using mHealth, believe, it is useful and easy to use. Concluding from the narrative of this study, we advocate mHealth espousal will yield promising upshots, if integrated within Pakistan’s healthcare policy. Show more

Keywords: Smokers’ behavior, mHealth, technology, technology acceptance model, smoking cessation, healthcare

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-180380

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 313-327, 2019