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Branding activities provide space to create internal culture, processes and a kind of organizational system which allows employees to use their abilities to their maximum. Internal corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of an organization increase employee commitment, which ultimately enhances employee retention. There is a need to explore internal branding in relation to internal CSR for the sake of managing employee retention. Therefore, the study empirically examines the underlying associations among internal branding, employee retention and internal CSR. The data are collected from higher education institutions operating in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The sample size was 377 faculties belonging to both private and public sector higher education institutions. The analysis is based on variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that the internal branding practices have a significant impact on employee’s intention to stay within the organization, and intrasample analysis suggests few comprehensible variations with respect to private and public academic institutions. The research article also provides insights to faculty, academic entrepreneurs and marketers, especially those belonging to developing countries and facing issues of branding and employee retention.

The empirical study was undertaken to explore the determinants of non-performing loans (NPLs) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector held by the commercial banks. Stratified sampling technique was used to collect primary data through well-structured survey questionnaire from credit analysts / bankers of 42 branches of 9 commercial banks, operating in the district of Lahore (Pakistan), for 2014-2015. Selective descriptive analysis and Pearson chi-square technique were used to illustrate and evaluate the significance of different variables affecting NPLs. Branch age, duration of the loan, and credit policy were found to be significant determinants of NPLs. The study proposes that bank-specific and SME-specific microeconomic variables directly influence NPLs, while macroeconomic factors act as intermediary variables. The results elaborate various origins of NPLs and suggest that they are primarily instigated by the loan sanctioning procedure of the financial institution. The paper also underlines the risk management practices adopted by the bank at branch level to averse the risk of loan default. Empirical investigation of bank-specific microeconomic factors of NPLs with respect to Pakistan’s economy is the novelty of the study. Broader strategic policy implications are provided for credit analysts and entrepreneurs.

The aim of this paper was to outline the factors that provoke the knowledge sharing intents of employees and contribute toward knowledge sharing processes that result in a better rate of innovation implementation by the organizations. This research follows a holistic approach to study ‘Knowledge Sharing’. Referring to the holistic approach, this study examined the relationship between knowledge sharing enablers, processes, and outcomes. Organizational level factors (Top Management Support, Organizational Rewards) and technology linked factors (Information and Communication Technology use) were studied to show their relationship to knowledge sharing processes (knowledge donating, knowledge collecting) and how knowledge sharing processes relate to innovation efficiency in organizations in Pakistan. Data were collected from employees of Lahore based organizations irrespective of their area of functioning and level of hierarchy in the organization. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypotheses using AMOS 20. The findings of the study indicate that top management support is very important in determining the knowledge sharing behavior of employees. However, organizational rewards and ICT use does not support employees in knowledge sharing activities. Finally, knowledge sharing processes are strongly related to organization innovation efficiency. This study provides guidelines to managers and organizations for establishing a knowledge sharing culture for innovative performance in the long run.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the characteristic role of specialized markets and traders in the internationalization of emerging economies by examining the linkages between supply chain management (SCM) and industrial clustering in China. Design/methodology/approach Multi-method approach was employed as primary data were collected from a case study of Shaoxing textile cluster, and was supplemented with secondary data to triangulate the findings. The proposition that competitive advantages of industrial clusters facilitate effective SCM was explored. Findings The authors reveal that China’s cost advantage is manifested in the entire value chain. The provision of business friendly amenities as a result of synergetic benefits of vertical and horizontal integration of supply clusters promotes competitiveness of SMEs and region as a whole. Moreover, specialized markets and international traders found to play significant role in sustainable cluster development. Research limitations/implications As with fieldwork and case studies, generalization should be drawn with care. Systematic synthesis of relevant case studies is recommended. Practical implications The study endorses the construction of local supply chains and suggests implementation of cluster strategy by focusing on environment-specific execution of triple helix model. Originality/value The article elaborates the linkages between cluster theory and SCM both within cluster and between interspersed clusters. It also explains how specialized markets and global players are enabling concentrated supply networks. The paper recommends extension of “Triple helix + 1 model” by making local community part of the underlying framework.

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Abstract:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perception of healthcare professionals in improving the quality of services in healthcare centers by deploying the platform of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Individual attributes, organizational impression, information, and the system quality of ERP have been used to evaluate the overall influence of integrated planning systems on health care service quality. A mixed methods approach is used to collect and examine data through triangulation. Data for the empirical study was collected from 279 medical professionals of five healthcare organizations operating in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics squared multiple correlations and reliability coefficients were used as data analysis tools. Moreover, the goodness of fit test of the structural model was conducted through AMOS 20. All given dimensions of ERP are postulated to have a positive effect on healthcare service quality. The results reveal that the use of an enterprise planning system has a positive impact on individuals, organizational information quality, and system quality in healthcare services. The study further concludes that a well implemented 'Enterprise Resource Planning System' results in better system output and enables healthcare professionals to provide better healthcare service quality.