Impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on attitudes and behaviors of pharmacists working in MNCs

Purpose This study aims to find out how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are perceived by pharmacists and how it influences employees’ organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and role of perceived supervisor support in the study. Design/methodology/approach Pharmacists of different hierarchical levels from five multinational pharmaceutical industries in Pakistan were selected as study samples. Data were collected from 136 pharmacists working in Punjab Region. PLS-SEM was used to test the hypotheses. Findings The results from this study found that CSR was a predictor of affective organizational commitment (AOC) and OCB. AOC fully mediates the relationship between CSR and OCB. While perceived supervisory support did not moderate the relationship between AOC and OCB. Pharmaceutical firms can promote commitment toward organization and OCBs by initiating CSR activities. Research limitations/implications This research is one of the innovative studies that empirically examine the predicting role of CSR and moderating role of perceived supervisory support on employees’ attitude and behaviors in the pharmaceutical companies’ context. Moreover, this research will also help the management by adopting CSR activities as core element in shaping employees attitudes and behaviors. Originality/value It is a significant study shifting the focus of research into organizational behavior context and further influences employee’s attitudes and behavior because of perceived CSR in the pharmacy industry.

Acceptance of Islamic banking as innovation: a case of Pakistan

Purpose This study aims to investigate the factors that determine the customer adoption of Islamic banking in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach This paper aims to use a sample of 540 Islamic bank customers located in the biggest city of Pakistan (Karachi). This study is based on the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory and analyzed the role of five attributes (compatibility, relative advantage, complexity, observability and trialability) along with the consumer awareness about the customer adoption of Islamic banking. Additionally, the present research also considers Islamic banking as a new idea (innovation) in Pakistan under the framework of DOI theoretical assumptions. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are applied to the sample data. The theoretical framework is then tested using structural equation modeling. Findings The findings of the study revealed that all five attributes of the DOI theory are positively and significantly related to the customer adoption of Islamic banking. The customer awareness also proved its importance in the hypothesized model by representing a positive and significant relationship. Originality/value The present study provides a useful guideline for the Islamic bank managers and the academicians to better understand the customer adoption of Islamic banking.

Waqf as a framework for entrepreneurship

Purpose This paper aims to add to the existing body of literature on this subject by advocating how waqf-based entrepreneurship can be practiced in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach The paper begins by presenting an overview of waqf and its role in entrepreneurship and proceeds by proposing a model of waqf-based entrepreneurship which is synthesized from various models existing in the Islamic world. Findings The paper concludes by recommending waqf-based entrepreneurship as an alternative socio-economic framework of society’s wellbeing. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to the preliminary aspects of waqf entrepreneurship. Practical implications Waqf organization may be able to finance its own businesses through crowdfunding and other methods and also disburse waqf funds to small and large ventures. Social implications The waqf system is a social tool that not only finances social development projects but also has social economic alternatives to assist poor and underprivileged groups in the society. This paper is toward such a socio-economic direction. Originality/value This paper might be considered the first attempt to detail the practical aspect of waqf entrepreneurship, in terms of enterprises to be financed, and how the funds to be accumulated.

The impact of task level demands, work group level support and affective commitment on emotional exhaustion among services managers

Purpose This study aims to explain the effects of affective commitment as a mediator between task-level job demands (quantitative workload, qualitative workload, feedback and role conflict) and emotional exhaustion among service mangers. Design/methodology/approach Sub-scales of task-level demand and work group-level resources have been selected from job demands and resources indigenous scale. While emotional exhaustion was measured with the subscale of Maslach burnout inventory. For this purpose, data were obtained from 239 respondents to check the relationship between variables. Amos 21 was used to analyze the model fit among variables. Findings The results of the study show that there is a significant positive relationship between high task-level demands and emotional exhaustion. The results also signify that affective commitment partially mediates the relationship. Research limitations/implications The present study is cross-sectional in design, whereas longitudinal studies would be effective to explain causality relationship. Term of service managers is also not well defined. Data were collected as per the convenient sampling technique. Originality/value The research is based on PhD thesis by the author.

The relationship between board of directors’ structure and company ownership with corporate social responsibility disclosure

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of the structure of board of directors and company ownership on social responsibility disclosure of listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach The variables of the study included independent board of directors, institutional ownership, managerial ownership, family ownership and family-managerial ownership. The study population consisted of 125 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange during the years 2009-2014. Content analysis used to measure social responsibility disclosure level and test hypothesis was performed using multiple regression analysis. Findings The results demonstrated that there was no significant relationship between any of the independent variables and the level of social responsibility disclosure. This study empirically shows managers, investors and other stakeholders that if business owners are made of different groups, namely, institutional ownership, managerial and family ownership, it will not affect the social responsibility disclosure in annual reports. Originality/value The outcomes of the current study may bridge the gap between social responsibility disclosure and ownership structure in a developing country like Iran.

Philanthropy, markets, and Islamic financial institutions: a new paradigm

Purpose There is no consensus among the experts that welfare can be increased through philanthropy or market is sufficient for the achievement of targeted level of welfare. It is still a main quest that giving visible good to one known fellow is better or market ethos have more positive impact on the society where we have needs of thousands of unknown. Markets, in Hayek’s view, are superior to philanthropy – economically, ethically and epistemologically – because they “confer benefits beyond the range of our concrete knowledge” (Hayek 1988, p. 81) and thus provide “a greater benefit to the community than most direct ‘altruistic’ action”. The same can be expected from the ethical and moral financial institutions having the objective not to only increase their profit but also equally trying to serve the community and society. This paper aims to propose a constructive model in which markets, philanthropy and financial institutions work together to enhance welfare, human freedom, flourishing and voluntary social cooperation. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines the conceptual dualisms through which commerce – philanthropy relationship (e.g. modern versus Islamic socialism) and the historical–philosophical context in which they were formulated. This helps integrate philanthropy into Hayek’s theory of economic and social order through financial institutions. Findings This paper explores the foundations of an Islamic view of philanthropic action. This discussion is inspired by the emerging literature of positive psychology and double movement of Polanyi (2001). Research limitations/implications Proper data are not available for the Islamic countries. Practical implications Without abandoning Hayek’s theory of markets, this study sketches a view of commercial society in which markets and philanthropy (“voluntary giving and association that serves to promote human flourishing”) work together to enhance welfare human freedom, flourishing and voluntary social cooperation under the umbrella of Islam and also explores the different dimensions that how Islamic financial intuitions are becoming the instrument for the incremental change of this integration. Social implications This study guides the policy makers that how social and economic welfare can be increased through the interaction of Islamic financial institutions and philanthropy. Originality/value This is an original attempt.

How does materialistic attitude influence the impact of corporate brand on the customers’ intention to donate to corporates’ charity?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of corporate brand equity and corporate brand credibility on customer’s intention to donate the charity program. To understand the complex relationship, this study points out the moderating effect of the materialistic attitude. Design/methodology/approach The empirical study involved a survey of young customers in Indonesia telecommunication industry. The data collection involved face-to-face interviews among 409 respondents in Jakarta Indonesia between December 2015 and January 2016. Findings This study indicates a positive impact of corporate brand equity and brand credibility on their customers’ intention to support the social charity. However, materialistic attitude slightly changes the impact direction of corporate brand on the customers’ intention to participate. Research limitations/implications This research relies on a cross-sectional observation, which was one snapshoot observation in specific time. Second, this study uses interview to help the respondents understand the questionnaires; this may imply on the level of objectiveness of respondents. Practical/implications This paper extends the discussion on the altruism theory and corporate brands by establishing a critical linkage between materialistic attitude, corporate brand credibility and consumers’ intention to charity. Under high materialistic attitude, corporations are encouraged to promote strong business ethics. Originality/value This study makes a contribution to the deepening understanding on altruism theory and conscious corporate responsibility through raising a concern on marketing practices, which entails a potential fraud from charity ethics.

Determinants of household’s education and nutrition spending

Purpose This study aims to estimate the determinants of household spending on education and nutrition. Education and nutrition are noteworthy elements for human development and welfare. Separate estimates are being provided for male and female as gender determines household welfare and gender-based analysis of household spending evaluates the aptitude of decision power as well as measures their influential role in human welfare. Design/methodology/approach Fruits, milk and dairy products are taken as proxy of substantial portion of nutrition. The study used primary urban household-level data that collected from Faisalabad city. The authors used double hurdle model. Findings The findings of the study show that females are more likely to spend on education. Household size and number of children negatively determine the household spending on education and nutrition. Number of employed household members, level of income and education are positively associated with household spending on education and nutrition by male- and female-headed households. A very low public spending on education and nutrition have led to upsurge the hurdles of households in Pakistan. Practical implications The study recommends that government should provide the employment opportunities, especially for females for stable and increased household income that leads to improve the household welfare. Originality/value Several studies have examined the education spending (Mbanefoh et al., 1997; Ichoku and Leibbrandt, 2003; Donkoh and Amikuzuno, 2011; Cisse, 2011), but these studies ignored to investigate the gender role and household spending on nutrition and education. This study is crucial in drawing suitable policy recommendations for household welfare. This study filled the gaps and scrutinized the issues that interrelated with household spending.

Consumer behaviour of Islamic home financing

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the contributing factors that affect consumer behaviour of Islamic home financing in Malaysia. The effects of perceived religiosity on property, perceived Islamic debt principle and perceived maqasid on homeownership on consumer behaviour are examined. Furthermore, the effects of perceived religiosity and consumer behaviour on religious satisfaction are also investigated. Design/methodology/approach Using the theory of Islamic consumer behaviour (TiCB) as a baseline theory identified from the literature, this study proposes a conceptual model of consumer behaviour of Islamic home financing in Malaysia. Data from the 205 usable questionnaires are analysed using partial least squares (PLS). Findings The PLS results suggest that perceived religiosity on property, perceived Islamic debt principle and perceived maqasid on homeownership are instrumental in determining consumer behaviour, thus revealing these factors as “Islamic factors” that represent the TiCB. Furthermore, the effect of consumer behaviour on religious satisfaction is also significant, implying that good behaviour makes people happier – seeking pleasure for doing well that is blessed and approved by Allah (S.W.T). Research limitations/implications Two limitations are available for future studies. First, this study included only Malaysians in East Malaysia, suggesting that further testing of the proposed model should be conducted across different geographies to determine the generalisability of this study’s findings. Second, this study’s contributions are narrowed down to the factors examined. These limitations, however, provide directions for further future research. Practical implications The results provide directions to bank managers to effectively manage Islamic home financing services for the benefit of their customers. Islamic home financing products tend to be used by consumers if the patronage factors investigated are considered more profoundly. Originality/value This study examines the behaviour of consumers of Islamic home financing using the proposed framework derived from TiCB.