scholarly journals Top Management Capabilities and Firm Efficiency: Relationship via Resources Acquisition

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-118
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sualeh Khattak ◽  
Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah

Considering the deficiency of resources in SMEs, a number of studies have been shown interest in the determinants of external resources acquisition but the results are fragmented. Particularly, the role of Top Management Capabilities (TMC) in resource acquisition and efficiency in the SME sector has been neglected. This study discusses the role of TMC—being intangible resources in SMEs’ efficiency with a mediating role of resource acquisition. This research is quantitative in nature and collected cross-sectional data through a structured questionnaire from 311 owners and managers of Pakistani SMEs. After analyzing the model using AMOS, the results indicate that TMC significantly facilitate firms in resource acquisition and enhance their efficiency; however, resource acquisition partially mediates the relationship between TMC and SMEs efficiency. This research recommends that SMEs should focus on TMC (instead of blindly investing money in other strategies) in order to acquire valuable tangible and intangible that are necessary for long term survival and efficiency. Further implications are discussed for owners, managers and practitioners.

Author(s):  
Bilal Ahmad Ali Al-khateeb ◽  
Mohammad Abdel-Hammed Ali Al-Hussein

The main purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of situational characteristics on the relationship between communication strategies and information choice strategy of the Arab tourists in Malaysia. The study adopted a cross-sectional design with a quantitative survey approach. Overall, the study finds that situational characteristics significantly mediate the influence of information source on the information choice strategy of the Arab tourists but not on the relationship between information source and information choice. The study therefore concludes among others that situational characteristic can only explain the influence of information channels on the information choice strategy but not on the influence of information source on the information choice strategy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-330
Author(s):  
Bogdan Oprea ◽  
Dragos Iliescu ◽  
Vlad Burtăverde ◽  
Miruna Dumitrache

Purpose Boredom at work is associated with negative consequences, therefore it is important to investigate whether employees engage in job crafting behaviors that reduce boredom and what are the individual differences associated with these behaviors. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire study was designed to examine the mediating role of job crafting in the relationship between conscientiousness and emotional stability and boredom among 252 employees (Study 1) and in the relationship between Machiavellianism and psychopathy and boredom among 216 employees (Study 2). Findings The results showed that conscientiousness is negatively related to work-related boredom. This relationship is mediated by job crafting. Neuroticism and psychopathy are positively associated with boredom at work, but these relationships are not mediated by job crafting behaviors. Research limitations/implications The study was based on self-reported measures, which might raise questions of common-method bias, and the research samples contained mostly women and young employees, which raises questions about generalizability of our findings. At the same time, the cross-sectional design does not allow causal inferences. Practical implications Organizations can select employees based on their personality for jobs that predispose to boredom and give them enough autonomy to be able to craft them. Moreover, they can identify employees who need support to manage their boredom and include them in job crafting interventions. Originality/value Traditionally, boredom at work has been considered as resulting from characteristics of tasks and jobs. The findings indicate that some employees can make self-initiated changes to their work in order to reduce their boredom and possibly its negative consequences.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 6933
Author(s):  
Esther Villajos ◽  
Núria Tordera ◽  
José M. Peiró

Traditional Human Resource Management (HRM) focusing on maintaining the status quo is no longer in the spotlight. Sustainable HRM has become the new approach, emphasizing the need to attend to organizational results directed toward reaching different goals and integrating the needs of diverse stakeholders. Moreover, in response to the challenges that organizations face in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments, Human Resource (HR) practices can contribute to the development of idiosyncratic deals (negotiation of individual HR practices) that might facilitate employees’ creativity and eudaimonic well-being in the long term and, thus, the sustainability of these organizations. Thus, the aim of this study is to test the mediating role of idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) in the unfolding relationship between HR practices, eudaimonic well-being and creative performance. Using a longitudinal database (three waves), the hypotheses are tested using structural equations modeling. The results support the idea that HR practices function as an antecedent for i-deals. More specifically, i-deals fully mediate the relationship between HR practices and eudaimonic well-being. In turn, i-deals and eudaimonic well-being fully mediate the relationship between HR practices and creative performance, which suggests that, through i-deals, HR practices become more beneficial for both employees and employers. In conclusion, these results are important for sustainable HR development, because HR practices enhance i-deals, which increase well-being, enhancing performance in the long term.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Mayor

While belongingness is a predictor of mental and physical health, the lack of social bonds is an issue for many people in occidental countries. This issue calls for global and affordable solutions. In this study, we notably investigated (a) the presumed positive relationships between agentic and communal interactional motives and belongingness, and (b) the mediating role of self-reported non-verbal immediacy—an indicator of availability to interact—in these relationships. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data were collected by means of questionnaires to test these hypotheses (NCrossectional = 344; NLongitudinal = 126) using the General Belongingness Scale, the Non-verbal Immediacy Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Results supported the hypotheses: Interpersonal motives and non-verbal immediacy are associated cross-sectionally to belongingness, non-verbal immediacy mediates the interpersonal motives—belongingness relationship and positive changes in non-verbal immediacy are also related to increased belongingness. Practical and research implications are discussed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules M. Nazzaro ◽  
Edward A. Neuwelt

✓ In this analysis, the authors review studies over the last 50 years addressing the association between long-term survival and type of surgical management in adults with supratentorial intermediate or high-grade astrocytomas. Earlier reports are included because they are repeatedly referenced in current works and clearly are an important basis upon which present attitudes are predicated. Because recent work has definitively demonstrated the significance of prognostic variables on outcome, the handling of such factors in studies that investigated survival data according to degree of surgery is emphasized. Study design, experimental methods used, and methods of data analysis are also examined. This analysis shows that there is little justification for dogmatic statements concerning the relationship between increasing patient survival times and aggressive surgical management in adults with supratentorial intermediate or high-grade astrocytomas, if patients receive postoperative radiotherapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 829-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
John C. Munene ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi ◽  
Charles Akol Malinga

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach The current study used cross-sectional research design and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. The study applied structural equation modeling through bootstrap approach in AMOS to establish the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion. Findings The results indicated that social capital significantly mediates the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Therefore, it can be deduced that social capital among the poor play an important role in promoting financial intermediation for improved financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications Although the sample was large, it may not be generalized to other segments of the population. Data were collected from only poor households located in rural Uganda. Besides, the study was cross-sectional, thus, limiting efforts in investigating certain characteristics of the sample over time. Perhaps future studies could adopt the use of longitudinal research design. Practical implications Financial institutions such as banks should rely on social capital as a substitute for physical collateral in order to promote financial inclusion, especially among the poor in rural Uganda. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence on phenomenon not studied in rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa where the poor use social capital embedded in customs and norms for doing business. The results highlight the importance of social capital in mediating the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda.


2021 ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Cernas-Ortiz Cernas-Ortiz ◽  
Lau Wai-Kwan

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social connectedness outside of work and job satisfaction in Mexican teleworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method was correlational, non-experimental, and cross-sectional. Employing an online, self-administered survey, the data were collected in a non-probabilistic sample of 214 individuals. The results suggest that the relationship between social connectedness outside of work and job satisfaction is positive and mediated by positive affective well-being. The mediating effect of positive affective well-being is not moderated by optimistic attributional style. Social connectedness outside of work is important to keep job satisfaction high. Therefore, organizations should facilitate a frequent interaction of their teleworkers with others outside the work domain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Chen ◽  
Rui Cheng ◽  
Bo Hu

Long-term home isolation has had a certain impact on adolescents' enthusiasm for interpersonal communication and desire for self-disclosure during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between adolescents' self-disclosure and loneliness during COVID-19, and to analyze the mediating role of peer relationship in it. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 830 Chinese adolescents (males: 47.5%, Mage14.25 years; females: 52.05%, Mage 14.19 years; Age range 12-15). Participants completed a self-reported survey that included sociodemographic, Jourard Self-Disclosure Scale, UCLA, and Peer Relationship Scale. The results showed that in the period of COVID-19, adolescents' self-disclosure affects loneliness through peer relationship, that is, the level of self-disclosure can significantly predict loneliness through peer relationship, and peer relationship plays a complete mediating role.


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