Role of authentic leadership in enhancing employees' voice behavior through psychological capital during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: Considering the importance of employees' voice behavior (VB) and psychological capital (PC) amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this study highlights the role of authentic leadership (AL) in building a psychologically strong workforce that can provide meaningful suggestions for the improvement of organization. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a questionnaire survey to collect the data and recruited 261 participants from the telecom sector Sindh, Pakistan. The data analysis was done using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: The findings of the study supported the hypotheses suggesting that AL can directly influence employees' VB and indirectly via PC. Originality/value: The study was conducted during the COVID-19 in the telecom sector of Sindh, Pakistan. This study contributes by providing useful insights into that AL is an important form of leadership that encourages employees' voluntary behavior and psychological strength during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Impact of Students’ Psychological Distress on Their Academic Performance Through E-Learning Readiness

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal approach in the process of teaching and learning. With the affordable internet technology and superior data accessibility, e-learning has occupied a bigger position in education. This study investigates the interrelationship between student’s psychological distress and academic performance in academic settings in Pakistan. Additionally, the study further seeks to explore the mediation role of e-learning readiness and moderation of change-oriented leadership in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Data were collected from 264 students from Pakistan’s HEIs via a convenience sampling method. The relationships were tested using Smart-PLS 3.2.9. The results supported the negative effect of student’s psychological distress on their e-learning readiness and academic performance via the partial mediating effect of e-learning readiness. Moreover, change-oriented leadership moderated the relationship between psychological distress and e-learning readiness. The indirect effect of psychological distress on academic performance via e-learning readiness at high and low level of change-oriented readiness was also supported by the results. This is one of the initial studies that examines the relationship of states variables in HEIs of Pakistan. Based on the study findings, managerial implications and future research directions are recommended. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Muhammad Mujtaba Asad, Fahad Sherwani, Razali Bin Hassan, and Prathamesh Churi;individual chapters, the contributors.

Unpacking strategic corporate social responsibility in the time of crisis: a critical review

Purpose An increasing number of organizations focus on creating value in economics and growing their aspect, encompassing human, social and environmental perspectives. Traditionally, organizations mostly contained corporate social responsibility (CSR) as their actions only in an economically favorable situation. However, CSR can also be used in an unfavorable time as a strategic process to recover and sustain the organization during a crisis. The purpose of this study is to review six years (2015-2021) articles published on strategic CSR. Design/methodology/approach The literature review of the current study examines through source data and combination findings the role of strategic CSR during a time of crisis. The search was conducted using Google Scholars, Psych Info, Emerald Insight, Science Direct and ProQuest. The study reviewed six years of articles on strategic CSR (2015-2021). Findings The paper concludes by suggesting propositions and a model that indicated that effective communication encourages employees and external stakeholders to participate and enhance their contribution during the crisis and help gain a competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications The present review demonstrated managing crisis by incorporating strategic CSR initiatives. The role of communication is important for understanding the crisis, which builds a trust-based relationship with employees and external stakeholders and enhances their participation and engagement that can help sustain during the crisis. This study will help the organizations during the time of crisis because strategic CSR initiatives reduce the negative effect of the crisis and help achieve organizational competitive advantages. Originality/value The present review bridges the gap in strategic CSR during the COVID-19 crisis interface. This review aims to understand the role of strategic CSR during the time COVID-19 of crisis. This study contributes to the strategic CSR research by giving clarity regarding the managing crises of organizations.

Adoption of E-Learning at Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review

The concept of e-learning offers several benefits;however, the effective adoption of e-learning systems at higher education institutes (HEIs) is a relatively new concept and thus a challenging task. The current paper provides a comprehensive review of the extant literature on adopting e-learning systems at HEIs. Using the PRISMA search technique, owing to the widespread adoption of e-learning since 2005, the relevant articles published from 2005 to 2020 are selected. The paper identifies and puts forward the level of compatibility and readiness of students and teachers in adopting e-learning, factors that motivate and hinder the adoption of e-learning respectively, benefits of adopting an e-learning system, and the strategies for implementing e-learning at HEIs. In this realm of COVID-19 and e-learning, this paper also envisages different strategies, policies, and recommendations for effectively implementing e-learning at HEIs.

Learning experiences of women entrepreneurs amidst COVID-19

Purpose COVID-19 pandemic triggered unexpected crises, which were beyond the imaginations of a common man. It changed the order of routine life and the business world. In this challenging condition, the survival of the small business was at high risk. Following experiential learning theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore women's entrepreneurial learning obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges experienced by them and strategies undertaken to transform businesses. Design/methodology/approach To explore Pakistani women entrepreneurs' lived experiences and learning during the COVID-19, researchers used a qualitative interview design. The interviewees reported their experiences about the effects of COVID-19 on their business and entrepreneurial learning from such a crisis. Findings The findings of the study indicate new fractions of knowledge from the novel learning of the female entrepreneurs throughout the experience of the COVID-19. The transformation from manual business dealings and financial transactions to virtual dealing and the online transaction was the addition of novel learning. Furthermore, the analysis provides insights into the challenges experienced by women entrepreneurs, strategies undertaken and lessons learned from COVID-19. The life lessons learned showed the importance of technical skills and their business operations during the crisis. Research limitations/implications This study is very specific in its context and limitations of this study offers new avenue for research to extend study in different perspectives. First, interviews were conducted from women entrepreneurs running businesses in sub-urban cities of Pakistan, where study can be extended to include both male and female in a comparative study which can expose new dimensions. Second, this study is conducted in the sub-urban areas of the Sindh province of Pakistan, which can be extended to other areas of the country because Pakistan is multicultural and multilingual, which offer different gender specific factors for entrepreneurial activities in general terms but in case of the Covid-19 situation, there exists great variations and social stratifications. Third, this study can be extended to other developing or developed countries or comparative study can provide a new flavor of knowledge. Practical implications The study's finding offers few implications for the entrepreneurs, societies and government at large. Although the pandemic crisis has had devastating effects on health and lifestyle activities, there is always a ray of coming to innovative approaches to fulfill the entrepreneurial desires and serve the community. Thus, entrepreneurs are encouraged to contribute to the economy as a part of society through their sustainable products and services for the greater good. There is also a need for some social policies to find entrepreneurial ways to deal with the COVID-19 crisis that integrates value co-creation for society (Ratten, 2020b). Government and society should also intervene and play their role to encourage women entrepreneurs to feel a sense of empowerment, contribute to family income, alleviate poverty, create jobs and help in economic growth. Originality/value This study's unique contribution and origin are to explore the COVID-19-related entrepreneurial learning experiences of women entrepreneurs in a developing country (Pakistan). Moreover, this study theoretically contributes to the development of experiential learning theory by expanding its insights during COVID-19.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with covid-19 in children: The spectrum of clinical presentation, myocardial involvement and treatment outcome

Objective: To determine the spectrum of clinical presentation, multisystem involvement and treatment outcome in children with MIS-C. Study Design: A descriptive cohort study Place and Duration of Study: Conducted at The Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore from May 15, 2020 to November 22, 2020. Material and Methods: Children (aged 0-16 years) with features of this new inflammatory syndrome who fulfilled the WHO criteria for MIS-C and required admission to hospital were prospectively identified. Demographic and clinical data were collected from patient records and entered on a predesigned proforma and results were analyzed on SPSS 20. Results: A total of 24 patients were enrolled in the study. Majority were males (17/24, 70%). Mean age of presentation was 7.3 years. Six patients (25%) had a positive PCR for SARS CoV-2 but none of the patients had been symptomatic with classic COVID-19 respiratory symptoms in the 6 weeks prior to admission. Comorbid conditions were present in only 2 patients (8%). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were positive for 23/24 patients (96%). Despite being clinically unwell, with laboratory evidence of elevated C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimers, no pathological organism was isolated in any of the 24 children. There were two major presentations: one as atypical or typical Kawasaki disease (18 of 24, 75%) and a more severe second one with shock or low cardiac output (6 of 24, 25%). Common presenting features were fever, body aches, and abdominal pain. Four out of 24 (16%) patients had sufficient criteria for typical Kawasaki disease, whereas 18 children (75%) presented more sub acutely with presentation resembling Kawasaki disease;all had at least two features of classic Kawasaki. Myocardial dysfunction seen in 3 patients (12%) and pericardial effusion was observed in 5 patients (20%). Coronary artery dilatation was seen in 12 (50%) patients. All 6 children with shock-like presentation had coronary artery involvement. Twenty children (83%) received intravenous immunoglobulin within the first 2 days of their stay. Thirteen (54%) patients received therapeutic anticoagulation (enoxaparin) on the basis of the high risk of thromboembolism and number of D-dimers. There was one death (4%). Conclusion: The SARS-COV 19 pandemic led to the identification of a new and potentially life-threating childhood disease, referred to as MIS-C. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment with IVIGs has shown a good early outcome. .

Distance learning is here to stay: Shall we reorganize ourselves for the post-covid-19 world?

Distance learning achieved academic recognition in 1892 when the first college level program was introduced. Later, due to rapid technological advancements in the late nineteenth century, the most prestigious institutions across the world introduced distance learning. The Covid-19 pandemic has expedited distance learning in the education landscape following a sudden closure of academic institutions;and soon online delivery of courses was initiated at all levels of education. In the current scenario, distance learning is very likely to stay beyond the covid era, and authors envision a "hybrid" model of education with blended learning i.e. a combination of face-to-face and online teaching. The necessity to follow social distancing will force us to limit the class room activities as well as hands-on practical training sessions to a reduced number of students. It will require the void to be filled through distance learning education.