scholarly journals Factors affecting the employability of private university graduates: an exploratory study on Bangladeshi employers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Sajjad Hosain ◽  
Mohitul Ameen Ahmed Mustafi ◽  
Tania Parvin

Purpose This paper aims to identify the factors that can affect the overall graduate employability (OGE) of the private university graduates of Bangladesh. The authors carefully selected six such employable factors after searching the existing literature. Those six factors: academic performance (AP), technical skills (TS), communication skills (CS), personality (PE), leadership & motivational skills (LMS); and teamwork and problem solving skills (TPSS), had been considered as the independent variables while OGE had been considered as the single dependent variable. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected the primary data from a valid sample of 360 employers through a structured questionnaire working as the hiring managers. Those respondents were selected on a random basis. The authors used exploratory factor analysis to validate the items under those independent variables and structural equation modeling with AMOS (24) to test the hypothesized relationship between each independent variable and the dependent one. Findings After proper statistical analysis, the results revealed that AP, PE, CS and TPSS can positively and significantly influence the OGE of Bangladeshi graduates while LMS and TS have positive but insignificant influence over OGE. Research limitations/implications Based on the findings, this paper can help scholars in further investigating the employability factors. Practical implications This explorative study will guide the fresh graduates in developing their required employability skills while assisting the employers in recruiting suitable candidates with the required skills and performance. Originality/value This is one of the few attempts that focused on the employability factors of private university graduates in Bangladesh. The authors are well confident that this empirical paper can shed some light on the fresh graduates’ employability and conducting further investigations on it.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-107
Author(s):  
Dewi Andriani ◽  
Dedi Purwana ◽  
Dewi Susita

In accordance with the demands facing global challenges, lecturers are one of the important factors for creating competent university graduates, and the main role of colleges/universities is teaching, research and community service and directed to expand knowledge and open new avenues of science and technology. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that affect the productivity of lecturers producing international scientific article in Private Universities by using the Structural Equation Modeling. The data used are primary data by conducting surveys with a total of 310 respondents, and the analysis used includes validity, reliability, multiple linear regression, sobel tests, and hypothesis testing. The results showed that the positive direct effect of  Reward System, Transformational Leadership Style, Communication and Motivation on Lecturer Productivity. Furthermore. From the four exogenous variables, Communication proved to be the most dominant influence on Productivity, amounting to 5,132, and also the results of the study showed that the positive indirect effect through Motivation was a moderating variable.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajitabh Dash

PurposeThis study has a principal objective of exploring and analyzing the factors affecting adoption or acceptance of eco-friendly electric vehicles in India.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were gathered through a predesigned questionnaire from 355 vehicle owners of Delhi using simple random sampling method. Statistical softwares like SPSS and AMOS were used to analyze the primary data collected for the study. Statistical techniques like exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were usesd to infer a meaningful conclusion from the investigation.FindingsThrough this study, a statistically significant relationship between environmental concern, knowledge of EV, subjective norm and attitude toward electric vehicle were investigated. Similarly attitude is responsible for a significant variation in adoption decision.Practical implicationsThe findings of the present study underscore the requirement for marketers to build up a systematic strategy for easier adoption of electric vehicles in India. On account of this, this study developed a model of potential determinants of adoption decision toward EVs in India, based on statistically significant evidences.Originality/valueThis study adds to the body of literature by exploring and testing the factors affecting the adoption of eco-friendly products like electric vehicle that were not emphasized earlier in Indian context and second by growing theoretically consistent operationalization for the marketing of electric vehicles. These upgrades brought about a last model with an unrivaled illustrative power.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Adabere ◽  
Kwame Owusu Kwateng ◽  
Esther Dzidzah ◽  
Francis Tetteh Kamewor

PurposeThe introduction of information technology (IT) in port operations has been a tremendous contributor to transformation in world trade. This study was carried out to examine the influence of IT on the efficiency of seaport operations.Design/methodology/approachThe study is quantitative in nature, and it relied on a closed-ended self-administered questionnaire to collect primary data. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the theoretical model and hypothesis.FindingsThe results indicate that IT has a positive direct effect on port operational efficiency (OE) and an indirect effect on port OE through organizational culture (OC). The mediating role of OC is statistically insignificant.Originality/valueThis is among the first few attempts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that provides researchers with a contemporary view of IT and seaport operations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 492-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqar Ahmed ◽  
Arsalan Najmi ◽  
Hafiz Muhammad Faizan ◽  
Shaharyar Ahmed

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the factors affecting Muslim consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for Halal food, products and operations by employing theory of reasoned action.Design/methodology/approachThis study has used quantitative research methodology and collected data from 350 questionnaires from a densely populated city of Pakistan. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results show that the concerns about Halal, religiosity, perception of usefulness of Halal and product ingredients have a significant impact on WTP for Halal foods, while attitude has an insignificant impact on WTP. Moreover, the extent of demand for Halal certification is significantly affected by WTP.Originality/valueThe study highlighted the concerns of the Muslim consumers with respect to Halalness of the products and operations despite living in a Muslim country. It is recommended that the policy makers, food authorities and health institutions should conduct regular inspections of foods, products and producers’/manufacturers’ operations to ensure that all the procedures from manufacturing of the raw material till the finished goods follow Islamic principles to make them completely Halal.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aasif Ali Bhat ◽  
Kakali Majumdar

PurposeThe present study tries to develop a model that assesses the factors that determine support for tourism development by residents of the Kashmir region.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data have been collected (n = 650) from the residents of the top five tourist destinations through a pre-tested questionnaire by a multistage convenient sampling method. A model has been drafted and tested through the technique of structural equation modeling by applying the social exchange theory as a theoretical framework.FindingsThe results revealed that residents who perceived more benefits were more expected to support tourism development, and residents who perceive more costs were less expected to support tourism development, thus supporting the social exchange theory.Originality/valueThe results of this study are extremely useful for the local government and tourism institutions in the future planning of tourism development and also fill the vast gap in the tourism literature with a theoretical base.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongdan Liu ◽  
Matthew Tingchi Liu ◽  
Andrea Pérez ◽  
Wilco Chan ◽  
Jesús Collado ◽  
...  

PurposeThe clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, although manufacturers and retailers are trying to revert this tendency by applying ethical fashion principles. Drawing on the knowledge–attitude–behavior (KAB) model or practice, this study aims to predict Chinese consumers' purchase intention of ethical fashion by employing and extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB).Design/methodology/approachThe extended TPB model incorporates knowledge of ethical fashion and trust in the fashion industry and two critical variables in ethical fashion literature to explain the purchase intention of ethical fashion. Primary data from 245 Chinese respondents were collected in 2019. The model was tested and analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsResults show that the extended TPB model has higher predictability than the original TPB model. Attitude toward ethical fashion and subjective norm significantly predicts purchase intention while perceived behavioral control (PBC) does not. In addition, trust of ethical fashion is positively related to attitude toward ethical fashion and purchase intention, whereas knowledge of ethical fashion plays a significant role in predicting trust and the three TPB factors. The subjective norm was found to have the most significant impact on consumers' intention to purchase ethical fashion, which shows that social pressure from one individual's reference group is the most dominant factor in forming consumer's purchase intention on ethical fashion.Originality/valueThe findings enrich the past literature on ethical fashion that trusting belief is a salient determinant of consumers' attitude toward ethical fashion and purchase intention of ethical fashion products. The findings also supported the applicability of KAB and TPB in the domain of ethical consumption in the context of a developing country.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-632
Author(s):  
Debarun Chakraborty ◽  
Wendrila Biswas

Purpose Research and development pursuits have always been an integral part of a teacher’s professional development. Today, the higher educational institutes (HEIs) are chiefly prioritizing and providing a sustained support toward research-based and research-oriented learning. But as revealed by the broad outlines of the entire scenario, a fall in research productivity and developmental attempts is witnessed among the faculties of higher educational establishments. To put it succinctly, the motivating aspects that reinforce such activities are not adequately taken care of and have thwarted their progression. The purpose of this paper is to delve deep and explore the factors that inspire teachers toward an enriched research and learning, which equally gets reflected in their teaching practices. Design/methodology/approach This is a descriptive research with a cross-sectional survey on faculties from different HEIs of West Bengal. A questionnaire has been designed with a five-point Likert scale to draw the primary data. Convenience sampling technique has been utilized. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis have been performed with structural equation modeling on the hypothesized research model through AMOS. Findings The major findings of the research have revealed that improved research and development activities of faculties had an immense impact on their teaching quality. The level and accessibility of infrastructure posits a strong influence in augmenting a teacher’s research and developmental endeavors. Working climate influences teachers’ research activities as well their teaching adroitness. Research limitations/implications Results may vary when an extensive study is conducted on teachers of HEIs of two or more states or of the country as a whole. Suppression of the real underlying facts by few respondents may affect the result to a small extent. Practical implications When faculties orient themselves toward research intensive learning and teaching, the students actively get involved in a platform of greater interaction. It elevates their persistence level, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and cognitive skills. Research-based teaching is also instrumental in honing their analytical skills, promoting creativity. Originality/value The study identified a vital role of the higher education institutes in motivating the faculties toward research-based teaching. There is a dearth of empirical research in identifying the factors that enrich the learning patterns and research activities of the teachers. Thus, it can prove to be a constructive study if implemented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1098-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Gahlawat ◽  
Subhash C. Kundu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between participatory HRM and firm performance through a series of mediators. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected from 569 respondents belonging to 207 organizations operating in India. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping via PROCESS were used to analyze the hypothesized relationships between participatory HRM and firm performance. Findings The study has highlighted that participatory HRM in the form of self-managed teams, flexible work arrangements and empowerment results in better organizational climate, heightened affective commitment, reduced intention to leave and enhanced firm performance. Furthermore, it has been established that organizational climate, affective commitment and intention to leave serially mediate the relationship between participatory HRM and firm performance. Practical implications The study gives strong indications that adopting bundle of participatory HRM practices is beneficial for generating positive organizational climate, enhanced employee attitudes and superior firm performance. Originality/value By establishing serial mediation through organizational climate, affective commitment and employees’ intention to leave, this study brings new insights into the interpretation of underlying mechanism existing between participatory HRM and firm performance, thus uniquely contributes to the HRM and OB literature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1457-1473
Author(s):  
Suzanna Elmassah ◽  
Shereen Mostafa Bacheer ◽  
Reynold James

PurposeGroup work (GW) as a collaborative learning method for university students is a much-researched topic in the literature. However, a fairly neglected area is that of students' perceptions of the same. This study purports to bridge this gap in the extant literature via identifying the determinants of these perceptions.Design/methodology/approachUsing primary data gathered from a sample of 443 university students, the study applies the structural equation modeling (SEM) to estimate the impact of both personal traits and past experiences on the students' perceptions.FindingsThe SEM results reveal that students' perceptions of GW are determined by their relevant past experiences not by their personalities. This position is contradictory to other relevant studies undertaken thus far.Practical implicationsAccordingly, the study stresses the need for educators to create positive group experiences among students and to convert their past negative experiences into positive ones.Originality/valueWhilst group work holds significant learning benefits for students, negative perceptions about this rich method could eventuate in students refraining from participating in the same. By isolating the determinants associated with students' negative perceptions of GW, this study provides educationists with a strong case for developing suitable interventions aimed at enhancing students' positive perceptions of GW, and resultantly further maximizing its potential benefits.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Varma ◽  
Gunjan Malhotra

Purpose This study aims to ascertain the mediating effect of task performance (TP) on the linkage between the psychological empowerment (PE) and job satisfaction (JS) of professional accountants. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was collected through a questionnaire-based survey of 132 professional accountants who were the units of analysis for the study. These accountants were domiciled in 11 Indian cities and worked in both service and manufacturing firms. The data was analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method. Findings The study found that TP mediated the linkage between PE and JS, although, contrary to observations in developed economies, one of its sub-constructs – competence – displayed no such mediation capability. Counterintuitively, it was empirically observed that the accountants’ gender had no bearing on the mediating effect of TP. Originality/value The study makes three distinct contributions. First, it empirically confirms that the intrinsic motivation theory applies to accountants in the context of operations in emerging markets. Second, the paper contributes to the accounting behavioral literature by observing that competence, as a sub-dimension of the PE construct, does not significantly impact the JS level of accountants. Finally, the study also contributes to the development of sound business practices by confirming that gender differences do not impact the satisfaction levels of accountants in emerging markets.


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