Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of intellectual capital and knowledge management on competitive advantage with the mediation role of innovativeness in the Pakistan manufacturing industry. Moreover, differentiation strategy is used as a moderator between innovativeness and competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach The data was collected from 387 manufacturing firms in Pakistan through questionnaires. Purposive random sampling was used to collect data. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method is used to test the proposed hypotheses. This study followed multiple regression analyses to see the influence of intellectual capital, knowledge management, innovativeness and differentiation strategy on competitive advantage. Findings The results elucidate that intellectual capital and knowledge management significantly determines innovativeness and competitive advantage. Moreover, innovativeness significantly mediates between intellectual capital, knowledge management and competitive advantage. Besides, innovativeness significantly determines competitive advantage. Business strategies significantly lead to competitive advantage. Finally, business strategies significantly moderate between innovativeness and competitive advantage. Practical implications The research highlight an important issue that how manufacturing sector management uses intellectual capital, knowledge management, innovativeness and business strategies in determining competitive advantage. Besides, it covers the gap and assists the management of the manufacturing sector to focus on exogenous constructs to examine competitive advantage. Originality/value This study adds value to the body of knowledge by focusing on predictors that impact competitive advantage. This initial study determines intellectual capital and knowledge management influence on competitive advantage and innovativeness as a mediator by using resource orchestration theory. Moreover, differentiation strategy is used as moderating variable between innovativeness and competitive advantage. The managers, students and researchers can obtain benefits from this study.

PurposeThe authors observe the influence of intellectual capital (IC) on innovation performance with the mediating role of interorganizational learning (IOL) in the Pakistani automotive industry. Besides, industrial Internet of things (IoT) technology is used as moderating variables between IOL and innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modeling (SEM) presents scholars with extra flexibility and enhanced research conclusions. SEM is described as a statistical methodology and the best tool used for hypothesis testing. The authors used partial least squares SEM for testing hypotheses. The simple random sampling technique followed to collect data from respondents, and 492 questionnaires were used for analysis.FindingsThe outcomes reveal that IC enhances innovation performance and IOL. Moreover, IOL increases innovation performance. IOL significantly mediates between IC and innovation performance. Industrial IoT technology improves innovation performance. Finally, industrial IoT technology strengthens the positive association between IOL and innovation performance.Practical implicationsThis study concentrates on the issue of how managers use IOL and industrial IoT technology to take higher advantage of IC that increases innovation performance.Originality/valueThis is the initial study that builds a theoretical framework to integrate IC, IOL, industrial IoT technology and innovation performance. Although prior researchers observe the association between IC and innovation performance, less concentration was paid to understand the role of interorganizational leadership and industrial IoT technology in leveraging organizational IC.

Purpose This study aims to revisit the corporate social and environmental disclosure (CSED) practices of Pakistani companies using unique CSED index which measures the CSED through three dimensions such as theme, news type and nature of information. In addition, the effect of board composition, ownership structure and corporate characteristics on CSED was tested through performing multiple regression analysis. Design/methodology/approach For this purpose, data were collected from annual reports of top 120 companies’ selected based on market capitalization for three years period of 2013-2015. Findings Based on the descriptive statistics, the results found that overall level of CSED in Pakistan is moderate. However considering CSED using three dimensions, the results demonstrate that highest level of disclosure on the basis of theme is reported in terms of human resource category as compared to other categories where, as in terms of news type and nature of information, analysis shows that companies in Pakistan feel resistant to disclose bad news, monetary and non-monetary aspect of CSED information. Using multiple regression analysis, the results found that all the variables have hypothesized relationship with CSED except government and institutional ownership. The variables such as chairman as non-executive director, board diversity, appointment of independent director as audit committee chairman, CSR committee, industry type and firm size are found to have significant influence on the CSED practices in Pakistan. Research limitations/implications These results imply that the CSED phenomenon is still lacking behind. Under individual categories of CSED, descriptive statistics found that environment is still not a matter of concern for companies operating in Pakistan. In addition, the results demonstrate that CSED practices are only performed by very few companies in Pakistan based on standard deviation. In addition, appointment of non-executive and independent director as chairman of board and audit committee and representation of foreigners on the board should be encouraged in order to improve CSED practices in Pakistan. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature in developing country like Pakistan through using unique CSED index and also making comparison of financial versus non-financial sectors. The author suggests that regulatory authorities in Pakistan must take reasonable steps to make the company’s operations environment-friendly.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the internal control disclosure (ICDISC) practices in South Asia and compare those disclosure practices across enforced setting (India) versus comply or explain setting (Pakistan and Bangladesh). Further, whether the audit firm size moderates the relationship between ICDISC practices and board & audit committee effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach To achieve these objectives, a sample of 100 non-financial companies was selected from Pakistan and India for three years’ period (2013-2015), whereas 93 companies were selected from Bangladesh based on market capitalization. The ICDISC index has been used which is based on the COSO framework. Findings Results of univariate analysis show that public sector companies in South Asia tend to disclose significantly more internal control information as compared to private sector companies. In terms of enforcement variable, the results of Mann–Whitney test show that companies listed in enforced setting have disclosed significantly greater extent of overall as well as individual categories of ICDISC as compared to companies listed in comply or explain setting. Based on multivariate analysis results for overall sample, it was found that board and audit committee characteristics and ownership by government have positive significant effect on ICDISC except representation of female or foreigner on audit committee which was found negatively significant. In addition to this, listing on foreign stock exchange and enforcement effect emerged as significant variables to influence ICDISC. Finally, the results of additional analysis state that the role of board and audit committee for influencing ICDISC has been moderated by the external auditor size in South Asia. In addition, enforcement variable is highly positively significant for companies having non-big four audit firm. Research limitations/implications These results imply that enforcement variable acts as an important alternative external control mechanism when companies do not have big four audit firm as their external auditors. Originality/value This is very first study on ICDISC in South Asia which explores the effect of enforcement and governance on ICDISC practices of firms. It also contributes toward the literature that the regulation on reporting of internal control can be effective in developing country only if there is strong penalty for non-compliance by regulatory authorities.

Purpose The organizations focus on environmental factors as stakeholders exert pressure to reduce the environmental influence arising from production tasks. This study aims to see the influence of the environmental management control system (MCS) package and perceived environmental uncertainty on green performance with the mediating role of green dynamic capabilities in Pakistani manufacturing organizations. Moreover, this study aims to see the moderating role of investment in environmental management between green dynamic capabilities and green performance. Design/methodology/approach The partial least square structural equation modeling technique is used to test hypotheses. The data was collected through questionnaires using simple random sampling, and a total of 404 questionnaires were used in the final analysis. The data was collected from September 2021 to November 2021. Multiple regression analysis followed to see the influence of environmental MCS package, perceived environmental uncertainty, green dynamic capabilities and investment in environmental management on green performance. Findings Environmental MCS package, green dynamic capabilities and investment in environmental management are positively related to green performance. Despite this, perceived environmental uncertainty is negatively related to green performance. Moreover, green dynamic capabilities significantly mediate between environmental MCS package, perceived environmental uncertainty and green performance. Finally, investment in environmental management significantly moderates between green dynamic capabilities and green performance. Practical implications This research covers vital issues that how top management uses the environmental MCS package, perceived environmental uncertainty, green dynamic capabilities and investment in environmental management in determining green performance. Originality/value This research adds value to the existing literature by focusing on predictors that determine green performance. This pioneering study observes the influence of environmental MCS package and perceived environmental uncertainty on green performance and green dynamic capabilities as mediators by applying natural resource-based view theory. Moreover, investment in environmental management is used as a moderator between green dynamic capabilities and green performance. Finally, this study can benefit management, industrial policymakers and academicians.

This paper aims to study the impact of merger & acquisition activity on post merger financial performance (absolute & relative) of companies engaged in the non-financial sector of Pakistan. There are total 16 companies selected which were engaged in the merger & acquisition during the period

Drawing upon the resource-based view and the situated learning theory, this study examined the effect of green human resource management (HRM) practices on the firm environmental innovativeness. The moderating role of organizational innovative culture on the relationship between green HRM and firm environmental innovativeness was also assessed. A survey of 212 furniture manufacturing companies in Malaysia was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results from the data analysis suggest that green HRM practices are positively associated with the firm environmental innovativeness. The positive effect of green training and green compensation on firm environmental innovativeness was found to be increased by moderating the role of organizational innovative culture. The present study clarifies key green HRM practices that can assist the environmental innovativeness in Malaysian furniture manufacturing firms and advances related research by proposing and examining an overarching model to enlighten such synergies and the moderating role of organizational innovative culture. The findings further extend the scope of green HRM research to promote innovation in the manufacturing firms. The theoretical and practical implications of green HRM are presented to enhance the environmental innovativeness.

The objective of study is to find out the impact of trade credit on a firm’s financial performance and how this effect diversifies when enterprises acquire bank loans to finance the trade credit channel. To achieve the objective, we employ the data of 6,654 non-financial-sector firms from 12 Asian economies and apply fixed-effects model to estimate the regression. The statistical output of the model provides consistent evidence that the firms that adjust their trade credit activities through bank financing perform better financially. Acquisition of bank loans to expand the trade credit activities is a healthy financial activity because it provides financial setbacks in case of any fluctuation in trade credit. However, acquiring bank loans when firms have no operational need for such types of funds can disturb their financial health. Briefly, the analysis provides novel evidence that efficient usage of bank loans into physical business activities can intensify financial efficiency of corporate firms. The analysis provides financial guidance to corporate managers that before entering into any trade credit terms, they should ensure the availability of bank loans because it provides a strong financial pace against any financial shock.