Rida Akbar

This study explores the determinants to consumer uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in urban developing economies, like Pakistan. It dwells on the antecedents of consumer attitude towards electric vehicles (EVs)- purchase price, charging infrastructure and government incentives and subsidies- and the relationship it has on EV adoption. In addition, it considers the mediating role of consumer attitude and moderating role of consumer innovativeness between the last two and adoption of EVs. We analysed the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) using a quantitative, survey-based methodology and a sample of 300 respondents in the Pakistani cities. The results show that the three predictors play a significant role in consumer attitude which in turn solely mediates the effect on the adoption. Consumer innovativeness has a profound influence in moderating the attitude-adoption relationship and more so among highly innovative people. The study provides useful information to policymakers and the stakeholders in the automotive industry in the resource-deprived, price-sensitive developed markets.

The high rate of the spread of e-commerce sites in Pakistan has changed the overall consumer buying behavior especially amongst the Generation Y and Z. This paper analyzes how online customer evaluations, pricing issues, reputation of the seller, and product quality affect the e-commerce buying choice through the mediating variable of customer trust. One used 300 respondents of Pakistani Gen Y and Z consumers in the fashion/clothing industry to gather the data using a structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings affirm that customer trust is significantly affected by all the four independent variables which, in their turn, have a strong predictive power of purchase decisions. More so, the relationship between the customers is completely mediated by customer trust. The research provides empirical evidence to the world of e-commerce in a developing economy setting.

Management control refers to a broad range of formal and informal strategies and methods that try to influence how people behave inside an organization. Management Control Systems (MCSs) are used to keep personnel focused on company goals. Previously, MCSs were primarily concerned with the internal environment; however, the importance of the external environment, such as the market and the customer, has been acknowledged. The focus of management control was largely on the firm's internal functions, but certain research studies looked at the potential influence of external forces on the organization. The research conducted in the control domain has pointed out the possible impact of external forces on the organization, particularly the market and customers. Based on latest research, customers can influence the actions and behaviors of company. The value of customer control in modern times cannot be emphasized, but it is still a poorly understood concept. Customer control is defined in this study as the power given to the customer to assess the workforce. This development has been expedited by technological advancements that facilitate interaction with customers. The aim of this short theoretical paper is to provide an overview to the importance to the customer control and how it is different from traditional MCSs.

An increasingly popular idea in management is "customer control," which describes the power consumers have on goods, services, and employees behavior. The dynamics between customer input, employee attitudes, and service delivery outcomes are the main subject of this study, which looks at how consumer control affects workers and organizational procedures. The study uses sentiment analysis to find organizational behaviors and emotional reactions in seven participants' semi-structured interviews. The results show that although customer control improves operational effectiveness, personalization, and service quality, it also poses problems for performance management, employee motivation, and mental health. For a business to succeed over the long term, it is essential to strike a balance between the advantages and disadvantages of customer control. This study contributes to the literature on value co-creation by providing managerial insights into the complexities of customer control and its implications for employee behavior. Future research should explore strategies for managing the long-term psychological and operational impacts of customer control.

In response to the challenging and uncertain business landscape, organizations, particularly in Pakistan's banking sector, are compelled to enhance employee engagement for sustained competitiveness. This study, conducted in six major Pakistani banks, delves into the impact of despotic leadership on employees' work engagement, considering the mediating role of perceived job insecurity. Addressing four research questions and hypotheses through a deductive approach and a cross-sectional design, the study sampled 625 employees via judgmental sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis in AMOS revealed that despotic leadership significantly diminishes work engagement. Moreover, the study highlighted the partial mediating effect of perceived job insecurity on the relationship between despotic leadership and work engagement. The findings offer practical insights for human resource decisions, emphasizing the need for leadership development and careful policy reviews to foster improved work engagement. Additionally, the study contributes to knowledge enhancement by integrating recent literature reviews, advancing understanding in the field.

In the rapidly evolving global and Pakistani IT sectors, the challenge of integrating technology adoption with effective service recovery mechanisms has become increasingly prominent. This study addresses the gap in understanding how readiness for technology adoption (RTA), structural empowerment (SE), and top management commitment (TMC) collectively influence Service Recovery Performance (SRP) in Pakistani software houses. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the research quantitatively analyses the relationships between RTA, SE, SRP, and the moderating effect of TMC through a survey of employees within the sector. Findings reveal a positive relationship between RTA and SE, and between SE and SRP, affirming the pivotal role of structural empowerment in mediating the impact of technology readiness on service recovery. Moreover, TMC was found to significantly moderate the SE-SRP relationship, enhancing the effectiveness of empowerment practices in service recovery contexts. These results underscore the importance of cohesive strategies that incorporate technology readiness, employee empowerment, and management support to enhance service recovery outcomes. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the interconnected roles of RTA, SE, and TMC in improving SRP, particularly within the context of emerging markets. For policymakers and business leaders, this research highlights the necessity of fostering an organizational culture that supports technological advancements, empowers employees, and is backed by committed leadership to navigate service recovery challenges effectively, thereby sustaining customer satisfaction and competitive advantage.