PhD
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.cuilahore.edu.pk/handle/123456789/47
This collection archives the complete set of theses produced by students of the COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus.
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Item Linking Personal Demands and Personal Resources with Job Performance: Mediating Role of Basic Need Satisfaction and Work Engagement and Burnout(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Muhammad Waqas; FA12-PMS-005; Dr. Zafar-Uz-Zaman Anjum; LHR TP 5938Purpose- This study aims to examine the function of personal demands and personal resources on job performance through the mediating effects of basic need satisfaction (BNS), work engagement, and burnout by integrating the self determination theory. This study postulates that personal demands and personal resources impact work engagement and burnout through basic need satisfaction (BNS) which further help to impact employee performance. Design/methodology/approach – By using judgmental sampling data was collected from sales employees and their supervisors of 8 insurance companies operating in Pakistan. These companies are listed on the security and exchange commission of Pakistan (SECP). Structural equation modeling technique was used to test the model of this study. Investigator used the phantom modeling technique to test the mediating effects. Findings – This study explains the indirect effects in two steps in order to handle the issues of parsimony. In the first step study reveals that personal demands and personal resources have an indirect effect on work engagement and burnout. Personal demands-resources have positive effect on the work engagement through basic need satisfaction but negative on the burnout through basic need satisfaction. In the second step serial mediation analysis suggests that BNS, and work engagement fully mediated the relationship of personal demands- resources and employees in-role performance. However, no mediation exists between personal demands-resources and employees’ in-role performance via BNS and burnout. Originality/value – This research is unique in a way that it has explored the effect of personal demands and personal resources on employees’ work engagement and burnout through BNS. Moreover, this research has found the serial mediation between personal demands-resources and employees’ in-role performance through BNS and work engagement and burnout.Item Prediction and Indirect Costs of Bankruptcy: A Multi-Stage Approach to Financial Distress(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Umar Farooq; FA12-PMS-009; Dr. Muhammad Ali Jibran Qamar; LHR TP 5948This dissertation investigates corporate failure from three perspectives using a sample of non-financial firms listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange. First, the dynamic behaviour of different stages of financial distress were explored. Second, a prediction model of multistage financial distress was developed. Third, impact size and determinants of indirect cost of financial distress were studied. To investigate these three perspectives, the data of 321 on going and 91 delisted non-financial firms is extracted from annual publications of State Bank of Pakistan during 2002-2015. This research starts with the proposed dynamic framework of multistage financial distress showing multiple adverse heterogeneous events leading a healthy firm closer to bankruptcy progressively. It is found that initially healthy firms face profitability problems or mild liquidity issues. While continuity of both the problems leads to severe liquidity that results in bankruptcy. This research also developed a machine learning model to forecast such profitability problem, mild liquidity and severe liquidity. In doing so, criticisms on prior prediction models particularly regarding sampling, feature selection and model selection are explored using Systematic Literature Review. This research contributes by applying recommended solutions of such criticisms to obtain more accurate multistage financial distress prediction model. Results showed that the proposed model predicted multistage financial distress with 84.06% accuracy. This accuracy increased to 89.57% when relevant cut-off values were applied. Furthermore, the indirect cost of financial distress was studied using the sample of on going firms that were healthy in the previous year and documented positive gross profit. To measure indirect cost, appropriate measure of distress, receivable and inventory management are used based on the recommendations of Systematic Literature Review. Results showed that healthy firms do not lose their market share when faced with profitability problems or mild liquidity issues. Conversely, leverage showed a nonlinear relation with indirect cost. It was also found that healthy firms that remain healthy should increase their receivables and inventory to capture more market share. However, results revealed that firms facing profitability problems should follow industry averages for receivables management and hold more inventory x to recover from profitability problems. Conversely, healthy firms that face mild liquidity issues can decrease their receivables and inventory to enhance their liquidity position without affecting market share. This dissertation provides useful practical implications for managers to respond during financial distress. The results will help stakeholders to recognize intensity of financial problems earlier in order to respond accordingly. Moreover, this dissertation provides useful insight that how managers can minimize the adverse effects of indirect cost of financial distress in terms of loss of opportunistic market share.Item Identification And Recommendation Of Issues(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Muhammad Zohaib; SP18-RBA-009; Kashif Luqman; LHR TP 5686Textile industry in every economy plays a dominating role and responsible for generating huge volume of employment and GDP. In 2017 growth was seen specially in apparel exports with notable movements in china’s textile where consignments reached a new high record and representing Vietnam’s ongoing rise as a primary exporter. Behind this outstanding growth key intention was changing trends and patterns in apparel manufacturing (Lu, 2018). Total contribution of Pakistan textile industry in overall exports is 60 percent 9.6 billion dollar (Khan & Khan, 2010). Pakistan a 4th biggest manufacturer and producer of cotton in the whole world with intrinsic advantage of proving quality cotton. Every industry success depends on the availability of raw material in the local market specially when that raw material is produced in excessive amount. Pakistan with this advantage gives to textile manufacturing industries to reduce their input cost and increase profitability.Item Impact of HRM Practices on Customer Service Outcome through Mediation of Emotional Performance and Moderation of Organizational Justice(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Sara Azhar; FA11-PMS-004; Dr. Imran Haider Naqvi; LHR TP 5947The economy worldwide has become increasingly service oriented and organizations are facing the challenge of providing exceptional customer service. Given the strong links established between employee‘s emotional performance and customer service outcome, there remains a need for clear understanding of the processes by which the employees comply with emotional demands at work. Scholars have developed an integrated conceptual framework highlighting how HR practices (related to three broad HR domains i.e. ability-enhancing HR practices, motivation-enhancing HR practices and opportunity-enhancing HR practices) should elevate emotional performance. The AMO framework suggested that ensuring the employee's discretionary effort needed three components: employees had to have the necessary skills, they needed appropriate motivation and employers had to offer them the opportunity to participate. To address this research gap in the literature, this research has examined the impact of those HR practices on customer service outcome in the banking sector of Punjab, Pakistan. This study also proposed and analyzed the mediating effect of emotional performance on the relationship between HR practices and the customer service outcome. Moreover, moderating effect of organizational justice was also examined on the above relationships. Furthermore in the domain of social exchange theory (SET), organizational justice is related with the standard of mutual social interaction between the employees and their organizations. The research used a quantitative method through survey instrument and 467 usable questionnaires were collected from the employees and same numbers of questionnaires were also collected from customers of banks of Punjab, Pakistan. Partial Least Squares (PLS) was employed to analyze the data. The results implied that motivation-enhancing HR practices and opportunity enhancing HR practices are linked with customer service outcome but ability-enhancing HR practices are not linked directly with customer service outcome. The results further suggested that emotional performance mediated the relationship of ability-enhancing HR practices and motivation enhancing HR practices with the customer service outcome. Emotional xi intelligence component of emotional performance mediated the relationship between opportunity-enhancing HR practices and customer service outcome but emotion regulation component of emotional performance did not mediate this relationship. Results also indicated that relationship between ability-enhancing HR practices and customer service outcome was not moderated by the organizational justice, but the relationship between opportunity and motivation-enhancing HR practices and customer service outcome was moderated by the organizational justice. By summarizing the results of this research and building a link to its useful applications, the study is also useful and important for policy makers, academicians and practitioners for further improving and developing the customer service outcome. The implications of this research may benefit all category of stakeholders; the academic community may have deeper insight that how AMO framework of HR practice with the help of emotional performance as mediator and organizational justice as moderator functions to have impacts on organizational performance; and also for HR managers to employ findings of this investigation for practical execution to achieve significant customer service outcome in the organizations especially those facing tough competition in the market. Findings of this research, if applied can manipulate the satisfaction and interest of customers of the banking sector of Pakistan.Item The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Organizational Performance: Moderating Effect of Responsible Leadership and Corporate Governance(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Muzhar Javed; FA13-PMS-009; Dr. Muhammad Amir Rashid; LHR TP 5800The mixed and inconsistent findings on corporate social responsibility and organizational performance (CSR-OP) relationship have exposed the universal approach as tenuous and questionable. Scholars argued that all CSR initiatives of all the organizations, all the time cannot be rewarded and they suggested contingency approach to determine under which conditions CSR could come along with benefits. Researchers suggested the use of moderating variables to control the ambiguity surrounding CSR-OP relationship. Stakeholder theory underpins this research. This study tested the direct effect of aggregate and segregated CSR on organization’s financial and non-financial performance. It also investigated the moderating effects of responsible leadership and corporate governance on the relationship between CSR and organization’s financial and non-financial performance. Data in this study were collected from managers of 361 public listed companies in manufacturing sector of Pakistan and 179 valid responses were analyzed. This study used SEM path analysis to test the hypotheses. Results regarding the direct effects of aggregate and segregated CSR revealed that CSR significantly influenced organization’s financial and non-financial performance. The results revealed that CSR towards employees has a stronger impact on organization’s financial and non-financial performance. Moreover, findings reflected that responsible leadership and corporate governance both significantly moderated organization’s financial and non-financial performance. However, good corporate governance strengthened CSR OP relationship whereas responsible leadership weakened this association. This research theoretically contributes to CSR stream of research. This study has strong implications for business organizations, their managers and other disparate stakeholders. In summary, findings of the study suggest that stakeholder perspective of CSR is a win-win situation for organizations and their disparate stakeholders.Item High Performance Work Systems and Employees Pro-Change Reactions: A Social and Economic Exchange Perspective(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Aqsa Akbar; SP12-PMS-001; Dr. Ghulam Hussain; LHR TP 5916Using Social exchange perspective, this study investigates the impact of High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) on employees‘ pro-change attitudes and behaviors (i.e., Commitment to change and behavioral support for change). It also endeavors to examine the underpinning micro-mechanisms of HPWS and employees‘ pro-change behaviors, suggesting that social & economic exchanges are the important mediating variables. Moreover, this study proposes an integrative moderated mediation model and posits that employees‘ cultural values (power distance and collectivism) moderate the aforementioned two alternative mediation mechanisms. Using random sampling technique, a sample of 591 full-time employees of largest public sector bank of Pakistan undergoing privatization are surveyed during September-December 2017. Proposed hypotheses are tested through Structural Model in AMOS. The results reveal that perceptions of social exchange partially mediate the positive relationship between HPWS –Affective CTC and HPWS-Normative CTC. On the other hand, perceptions of economic exchange fully mediate the HPWS- Continuance CTC.In addition, the relationship between HPWS-Affective CTC and HPWS-Normative CTC via social exchange is stronger for employees scoring high collectivism and low power distant orientation. Similarly, the relationship between HPWS-continuance CTC via economic exchange is stronger for employees scoring low collectivism and vice versa. However, the moderated mediated impact of power distance on HPWS-continuance CTC via economic exchange remained insignificant. In addition, the impact of CTC components on behavioral support for change is found to be statistically significant. In the end, practical and theoretical implications of HPWS- employees‘ pro-change reactions are discussed in the light ofresults.Item Impact of Gratitude on Task Performance: The mediating role of Job Satisfaction with moderating influence of Supervisor Support.(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2021) Sohail Ahmed; SP19-RPM-009; Dr.Ahmad Qamar; LHR TP 6544This study examines the mechanism through which gratitude impacts task performance through mediating role of job satisfaction. Moderation impact of supervisor support has also been studied. Broaden and build theory has been referred to explain how gratitude as a positive emotion increase job satisfaction and social exchange theory has been referred to explain the exchange relationship of supervisor support and tasks performance in return. . Research philosophy used is positivism as data is based on facts. Data collected from construction, power, and oil & gas sector of Pakistan. Sample size was 166. Data was analyzed using WarpPLS. Study has suggested organizations to develop work environment that make employees to feel grateful so that they task performance could be enhanced. Similarly study also suggests managers or supervisors to support their employees that will add extra in their performance while executing routine tasks.Item Impact Assessment Study of Sehat Sahulat Program of the Government of Pakistan(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2023) Fajjar Ali; FA21-RPM-004; Dr, Rana Nadir Idrees; LHR TP 8580It has been estimated that almost 10% of household expenses are spent on health services, and almost 100 million populations are now under the poverty line in Pakistan, so the government needs to initiate programs to better the society (Hasan et al., 2022). The live and major example is Sehat Sahulat Program (SSP) initiated in 2015 under Universal health coverage (UHC) (Hasan et al., 2022). The SSP in Pakistan is a government-led initiative to provide access to quality healthcare services for underserved populations, including low-income and rural communities. As a result, patients who have enrolled in the program have reported improved access to healthcare services and better health outcomes. The major reason for studying the SSP is to evaluate program effectiveness and examine program outcomes. This study will also contribute to research in raising public awareness. There are few researches available on the impact assessment study of SSP, and this study will be conducted in Punjab province (Lahore) to determine its impact on the patient's health. There is a research gap in the impact study of SSP that evidence-based research did not adequately analyze its impact on the province of Punjab (Lahore). As per the evidence-based studies, the gathered data is based on random surveys of public and private hospitals and patients from different cities and areas. For this purpose, the agile methodology theory will be used, and patient perceptions will be conducted. It is qualitative research, and data will be collected from 25 respondents through in-depth interviews with patients. The Convenient sampling technique will be utilized, and a descriptive case study will be done. The results will check the program's effectiveness as perceived by patients of Lahore.Item The Effects of Corporate Governance, Voluntary Disclosures and Information Asymmetry on Agency Cost: A Moderated Mediation Examinatio(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2021) Samya Tahir; FA13-PMS-015; Dr. Sajid Nazir; LHR TP 7860In light of many financial scandals during the last four decades (e.g., Enron, Parmalat, and Crescent Standard Investment Bank Limited), companies are paying more attention to resolve management's opportunistic behaviors in the form of fund expropriation, empire building, and suboptimal investments. Managers are presumed to possess additional information on a firm’s current performance and future prospects, which leads to increase information asymmetry and agency costs. Therefore, the implementation of an appropriate system of corporate governance to reduce information asymmetry constrains agents from behaving opportunistically and, as a result, reduces agency costs. Moreover, effective voluntary disclosures play an additional role in monitoring managerial activities by providing more transparency and understanding to investors and creditors about the company. Based on these arguments, this study aims to investigate the fundamental role that information asymmetry plays as a mediator in the relationship between corporate governance and agency cost. The study further evaluates the role of voluntary disclosures in moderating the mediated relationship between corporate governance and agency cost through information asymmetry. The sample of the study is selected from the non-financial firms (listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange) during the period from 2009 to 2015. The moderated mediation is applied using PROCESS Macro to construct bootstrap confidence intervals at the 95% level to estimate the model and a “simple slope analysis” to visualize the model. The direct relationship shows that despite increasing corporate governance mechanisms, the agency cost of overinvestment is rising. However, the indirect relationship suggests that the corporate governance mechanism promotes transparency by exerting pressure on management to produce information that investors and other stakeholders can use. This creates a monitoring channel that reduces information asymmetry, thus reducing the ability of management and majority shareholders to expropriate the firm’s resources, which mitigates the overinvestment of free cash flow. The positive effect of corporate governance on agency cost in the direct relationship becomes negative in the indirect relationship, xi contingent on increased voluntary disclosures by means of an additional controlling mechanism that mitigates the agency cost. Additionally, a high level (vs. low) of voluntary disclosure index and sub-indices are better able to negatively moderate the mediated relationship. The results support the agency cost hypothesis that states that managers and dominant shareholders make suboptimal investments when disclosure quality is reduced. Despite the efforts of academia, professionals, and regulatory bodies, the disclosure of value relevant information is limited. The insights provide implications for the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance to ensure the effective execution of the governance rules. Likewise, it is important to set voluntary reporting standards in response to calls for additional control devices (i.e., voluntary disclosures).Item ‘Linking Supervisor Feedback Environment (SFE) to Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) & Workplace Deviant Behaviour (WDB) with the mediating impact of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) in the Construction Sector of Pakistan.(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2022) Zillai Husnain; FA18-RPM-021; Dr.Muhammad Usman Bhutta; LHR TP 7662The purpose of this thesis is to estimate the effect of supervisor feedback environment on organizational citizenship behaviour and workplace deviant behaviour of employees working in the Construction sector of Pakistan as well as the mediating influence of leader-member exchange among the association of independent and dependent variables. Construction project managers oversee all aspects of the building process, working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans, establish timetables, and determine labour and material costs. They are responsible for ensuring the project is completed on budget and within scope. Data was collected from different construction employees. A total of 240 completed questionnaires were distributed, with a response rate of 96 percent. The hypothesis was tested using confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modelling. The results show that a supervisor feedback environment has a significant positive impact on organizational citizenship behaviour and workplace deviant behaviour. Furthermore, leader-member exchange was incorporated in the relationship of supervisor feedback, environment organizational citizenship behaviour, and workplace deviant behaviour. The limitation of the study sample involving managers of the construction sector was gathered at one point in time. This study may be conducted as the longitudinal approach. The after effects of this dissertation feature significance of managers of the construction sector to present typical vision and show individualized thought to enhance the behaviour of the organization by the workers.