Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how the exclusionary work environment characterized by ostracism impacts full-time faculty experiences and responses in higher educational institutions working in eastern and collectivist culture of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the data were gathered form 25 ostracized full-time faculty working in the public and private universities in Lahore, Pakistan via in-depth semi-structured interviews. The interviews are subsequently recorded, transcribed and analyzed by thematic analysis using NVivo 11 Plus software. Findings Prosocial work outcomes coupled with high intensity of negative psychological impacts were traced based on the re-inclusion expectations, long-term relational contract, the socially interdependent, collaborative and collectivist culture of academic settings. However, the faculty indicated, in case of chronic exposure to ostracism they will engage in negative outcomes such as withdrawal, decrease in performance and resignation. Research limitations/implications The results of this study can be used by the university administration to develop an inclusive and non-discriminatory culture. This can be done by devising policies for information sharing, better formal and informal relationships in full-time teaching faculty along with grievance mechanism to minimize the occurrence of workplace ostracism. Originality/value The study promotes the understating of exclusionary work environments in academic settings. It has shown that the full-time faculty from all levels, specifically lecturers, experience workplace ostracism. This study has highlighted the specific contextual factors and temporal trends that shape the unique nature and responses (i.e. more social exclusion, prosocial responses and higher psychological distress) to ostracism in scantly researched academic settings in Pakistan.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the benefits of social media to enhance knowledge exchange in the organizations. Moreover, the current qualitative inquiry elaborates the orientation of doctors about social media applications and knowledge exchange in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach The constructionism approach based on grounded theory followed by qualitative design is used to investigate the exposition with the help of 22 non-directive and semi-structured interviews from the doctors of Bahawal Victoria Hospital. The cases are selected by using convenience sampling and thematic analysis is done using NVivo-11 plus. Findings The results end up with four major themes. The social media applications, at the first door, extend communication and relationship among employees. Moreover, these applications are equally beneficial for acquiring existing and new knowledge. Additionally, social media applications advance knowledge exchange by promoting knowledge sharing and transfer. Research limitations/implications This study is equally beneficial for employees and management to promote knowledge exchange through social media applications. The effective and efficient use of social media applications helps organizations to boost knowledge strength among employees and can address various critical issues. Originality/value This is an attempt to sightsee the unattended dimension (i.e. knowledge exchange) in the context with social media. The social media applications are popular all over the world and pace of their usage is increasing day by day but their real contribution toward organizational well-being is still lacking in contemporary literature.

Purpose This study has advanced the role of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) as a precedent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) performance in the emerging economies. This study aims to use the action regulation theory (ART) to show that active social networking of SME owners acts as a conduit in the above-mentioned relationship and how the social skills of SME owners improve their ability to leverage on entrepreneurial orientation and strengthen their social networking. Design/methodology/approach A three-wave time-lagged survey approach was deployed to collect data from SME owners in the service and manufacturing sector of Pakistan through cluster sampling. The analysis of results was carried out by Models 1 and 4 of Hayes (2017) PROCESS macro. Findings The findings revealed a positive association in the IEO of SME owners and their performance through a partial mediating role of active social networking. Furthermore, SME owners’ social skills played a moderating role in linking IEO of SME owners and active development of social networks. Originality/value Based on ART, this study has targeted a scantly examined psychological perspective in SME performance research and it has shown that by having entrepreneurial orientation and social skills, SME owners can develop active social networks that are an important yet neglected performance precursor in the emerging economy of Pakistan.

Purpose In current era, firms are facing difficulties in aligning their capabilities with the hallmarks of the knowledge-intensive economy. Notwithstanding the fact that employees’ creativity ensures competitive advantage through innovation, firms are unable to reap the required level of performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the linkage among knowledge processes, employee creativity and firm performance. Moreover, the current quantitative study measures the moderating effect of a knowledge-intensive culture on knowledge processes and employee creativity. Design/methodology/approach Surveys were conducted in eight services sector organizations operating in southern Punjab, Pakistan, and responses were obtained from 197 employees selected at random. To test the exposition using an empirical data analysis approach, three core hypotheses are drawn, and to test these hypotheses, multiple regression analyses, Preacher and Hayes (2004) mediation analysis and Aguinis (2004) guidelines were applied on 197 responses. Findings The results explain that knowledge processes have a positive impact on firm performance and employee creativity partially mediates their stated relationship. Moreover, a knowledge-intensive culture has a strengthening effect on the relationship between knowledge processes and employee creativity. In-depth investigation outlines that knowledge acquisition, sharing and application are more influencing processes to enhance firm performance. Furthermore, knowledge conversion and protection do not hold significant relevance with firm performance but are supportive elements for other processes. Research limitations/implications In order to have a sustained performance, firms have to initiate steps to promote employees’ creativity by deploying an optimal mix of knowledge processes and flourish a knowledge-intensive culture in routine organizational life. Moreover, knowledge processes are important to promote creative behavior in employees that will lead to incessant innovation and firm performance. Originality/value This study gives meaningful thoughts to unexplored areas in the field of knowledge management. First, the indirect effect of knowledge processes on firm performance through employees’ creativity. Second, the importance of knowledge processes to enhance employees’ creativity in the presence of a knowledge-intensive culture. This study gets together the dynamic constructs in the field of knowledge management, such as knowledge-intensive culture and employee creativity, and describes the linkage between knowledge processes and firm performance.

BackgroundSince the first successful synthesis of Ag(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex in 1993, this class of compounds has been extensively used for transmetallation reactions where the direct synthesis using other metal ions was either difficult or impossible. Initially, silver(I)-NHC complexes were tested for their catalytic potential but could not get fame because of lower potential compare to other competent compounds in this field; however, these compounds proved to have vital antimicrobial activities. These encouraging biomedical applications further convinced researchers to test these compounds against cancer. The current work has been carried out with this aim.ResultsN-ipropylbenzimidazole was synthesized by reaction of benzimidazole with ipropyl bromide. The subsequent treatment of the resulting N-alkylbenzimidazole with ortho/meta/para-(bromomethylene) benzene afforded corresponding bis-benzimidazolium bromides (5-7). The counter anion (Br-) of each salt was replaced by hexaflourophosphate (PF6-) for the ease of handling and further purification (8-10). Each salt (Ligand), in halide form, was further allowed to react with Ag2O with stirring at room temperature for a period of two days to synthesize dinuclear Ag(I)-NHC complexes (11-13). All synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and microanalysis. Molecular structures of compounds 5, 9 &10 were established through single crystal x-ray diffraction technique. All the compounds were assessed for their anti-proliferation test on human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT 116). Results showed that the ligands (5-10) showed mild to negligible cytotoxicity on HCT 116 cells whereas respective silver complexes (11-13) exhibited dose dependent cytotoxicity towards the colon cancer cells with IC50 ranges between 9.7 to 44.5 μM. Interestingly, the complex 13 having para-xylyl spacer was found the most active (IC50 9.7 μM) that verifies our previously reported results.ConclusionsAll the bis-benzimidazolium salts (8-10) were found inactive whereas after bonding with silver cations, the Ag(I)-NHC complexes (11-13) showed a dose dependent cytotoxic activity. This proved that silver practice an important role in death of cancer cells. Also, the N-alkyl/aryl substitutions and ortho/metal/para xylyl units regulate the cytotoxicity.

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In contrast to the much examined external factors as determinants of SME success, the present study brought focus on the entrepreneurial psychological context. This research examines the impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation on the success of SMEs in Pakistan. Moreover, this study emphasize the role of 'action' as a linking bridge to psychological factors and entrepreneurial outcomes, through the role of action characteristics (access to finance, social network, exploration activities, and response performance). Based on 182 responses obtained through a stratified sample of manufacturing SMEs, multiple mediation analysis was used to test the mediation. The results indicated that individual entrepreneurial orientation had a positive impact on SMEs success and all the action characteristics (access to finance, social network, exploration activities, and response performance) mediate this relationship. The study theoretically contributes to emotive perspective, action regulation theory and orientation-action-outcome perspective and offers implications for SME owners, SMEDA and training professionals.

PurposeThe purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the possible organizational outcomes related to knowledge management capabilities (KMCs). It aims at offering the modern-day dynamic organizations a path, through which they can utilize KMC at hand for gaining competitive advantage and positive organizational outcomes. The review is based on previous studies in the field of knowledge management and explains how KMCs are associated with various organizational outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA systematic approach was utilized to collect, examine, interpret and synthesize researches regarding KMCs and their usefulness for various organizational outcomes. The meta-synthesis method was adopted to review 106 research papers after careful selection.FindingsIt was evident from this integrated review that KMCs help in promoting organizational effectiveness, innovative ability, organizational change, value creation, competitive advantage, organizational learning and performance. Furthermore, the current review suggests research avenues and knowledge gaps in current literature to provide future researchers unique research opportunities.Originality/valueThe review revealed a profound opinion that organizations have to develop an optimal mix of KMCs to achieve better organizational outcomes. The study identified how KMCs set a basis and build positive support to enhance the key organizational outcomes such as organizational effectiveness, innovative ability, organizational change, value creation, competitive advantage, organizational learning and performance. However, cooperation bias is one of the most considerable limitations in research studies included in this systematic literature review.