Global Business Review

Shah, Deval; Bansal, Antima; Chitranshi, Jaya; Rajagopal, K.

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241268966

In the contemporary corporate landscape, the notions of telework, job engagement and work–life balance have emerged as the most compelling concepts. These concepts have been found to significantly enhance employee performance and provide organizations with a strategic competitive edge. Recognizing the relevance of these considerations to the working world, the current study addresses the gap in the literature on telework and work–life balance in the Indian context. The present study makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature on flexible work arrangements, including flexible scheduling, family obligations and job commitment. The study aims to fill a gap in the existing literature by exploring the relationship between telework and work–life balance in the Indian context. While some research is available on telework and work–life balance, there is a lack of specific studies focusing on the Indian context. This study recognizes the importance of understanding the unique cultural and organizational factors that may influence telework and work–life balance in India.Also, the information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITES) industries are well-positioned to maintain their use of telework as a competitive advantage as the globe gets past the pandemic’s initial effects. These industries can strengthen their competitiveness, spur innovation and guarantee long-term success in a global economy driven by digitalization by incorporating remote labour into their fundamental operational plans. IT and ITES businesses have a chance to reimagine the future of work in the post-COVID age by establishing new benchmarks for adaptability, productivity and resilience.This analytical study adopts a cross-sectional time horizon and focuses on individual employees within the IT/ITES sector. The study employed a survey methodology, utilizing a questionnaire developed by the author to collect data. A total of 217 employees participated in the study, with a convenient sampling technique being utilized to ensure a representative sample. The data were then analyzed further with an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The study identified telework, work facilitator, working situations and job engagement as significant constructs in predicting work–life balance. Implications for research and practice are discussed. This study provides academics with useful insights for theory formation and verification of telework, work–life balance and job engagement.Four key factors were identified through the utilization of EFA: Telework, work facilitators, working situations and job engagement. The aforementioned factors offer significant insights into the fundamental dimensions that influence the work–life balance within this industry. The present study incorporates diverse work arrangements, such as adaptable working hours and telecommuting alternatives, alongside conducive organizational cultures and policies that prioritize family support. The identification of work facilitators as a distinct factor underscores the significance of organizational support in establishing an environment that empowers workers to effectively harmonize their professional and personal obligations. The present study’s results indicate that gender may not be a decisive factor in shaping telework, work facilitators, working situations or job engagement in the IT/ITES industry, since there is no discernible connection between gender and these variables.Because the study was restricted to the IT/ITES industry, its conclusions might not be easily applied to other industries. Additionally, as the investigation relied on self-reported data, it may have been impacted by biases and a tendency to behave in a way that appears appealing to others. Prospective research endeavours could investigate the relationship between gender and work–life balance components in a variety of contexts and examine additional demographic characteristics that may influence these elements.The study’s findings could potentially provide valuable information for both employers and employees in the IT/ITES sector. Employers may gain insights into the factors that contribute to work–life balance disparities, enabling them to implement policies and practices that support healthier work–life integration for their employees. Employees, on the other hand, may benefit from a better understanding of how their demographic characteristics intersect with work–life balance factors, allowing them to make informed decisions about their career and personal life.This study captures the potential of telework in emerging economies for increasing job engagement. A unique and modern insight into how telework affects the technology space is what makes the work stand out from the static framework in the literature. How telework and its variables affect work–life balance and job engagement of the employees and how the organizations have a positive impact on productivity, is the novel factor in the study.

Changani, Shubhi; Kumar, Rakesh

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241245558

All regions are experiencing a boom in social media adoption, and marketers are continuously seeking innovative approaches to grow their network of loyal customers through online brand communities. The present study aims to examine how social media marketing activities may lead to brand loyalty. In this connection, the study investigates the role of brand community engagement and self-brand congruency. The data were gathered using a survey based on a questionnaire from 245 social media users following certain brand community pages on various social media platforms. Analysis of data set was conducted using structural equation modelling via Amos 23.0 and SPSS 20.0. Additionally, moderated mediation was assessed using SPSS’s Process macro. The findings reveal that social media marketing activities significantly influence customer’s loyalty towards the brand. However, this effect was found to be mediated through brand community engagement. Additionally, the outcome of the moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that the indirect impact of social media marketing activities on brand loyalty through brand community engagement was moderated by self-brand congruency. The study produces novel insights into the intricate relationship between social media marketing activities, brand community engagement, brand loyalty and self-brand congruency, significantly providing a roadmap for managers, guiding them to strategically craft brand experiences, adapt to consumer trends and foster emotional attachments with the brand.

Rakgoale, Thabiso Isaac; Bag, Surajit; Pretorius, Jan Harm C

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241246253

Many digitalization programmes fail in the implementation phase due to unforeseen obstacles. This study examines the barriers that affect the successful implementation of digitalization using the interpretive structural model and also evaluates the interrelationships among the barriers in the implementation of digitalization. Previous articles in the discipline of digitalization were used in the literature to mainly draw barriers found during the implementation phase of digitalization. Interpretive Structural Modelling results helped to find different levels of barriers and their influence on the system. The high cost of digital technologies and political instability were identified as the leading barriers affecting the successful implementation of digital systems in South Africa. The findings will aid in decision-making for problem-solving to eliminate the most critical barriers to improve the implementation process.

Balon, Virendra; Bagul, Avinash; Kumar, Rupesh

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241231107

This study aims to identify the key barriers influencing green supply chain management (GSCM) practices for the construction industry. The study is based on a survey of 20 manager-level employees from the Indian construction industry. Considering the extensive literature review and expert opinion, 15 key barriers influencing GSCM practices were identified and the interrelationship among them was established using multi-criteria-based Interpretative Structure Modelling methodology. Furthermore, by using Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied for Classification analysis, the barriers were classified as autonomous, dependent, linkage, and independent barriers to understand their relative importance. The barriers were grouped into a three-group hierarchy and it was found that the lower group of barriers, that is, green design, suppliers and green materials, certifications, and financial constraints were highly influencing GSCM practices implementation. The study can help construction practitioners develop a supply chain strategy focusing on critical barriers hindering the adoption of GSCM practices.

Gupta, Priyanka; Bamel, Umesh

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241246248

Self-regulation has gained much prominence due to its necessity and significance in eLearning environment. The nature of eLearning mandates higher self-regulation to attain efficacy. In this article, we study the Online Self-regulated Learning Quotient (OSLQ) scale as it is a pioneering scale that has been verified for studying self-regulation in eLearning environment. The literature delineates the need to empirically examine the reliability and validity of the OSLQ in various contexts. This study was conducted in two phases on business school students from tier one management institutes in India. In phase 1, we performed qualitative analysis through focus group discussions on a sample of 24 respondents to check the content validity of the scale. In phase 2, we performed quantitative analysis on a sample of 528 respondents. Exploratory factor analysis in phase 2 of the study confirmed six factors. Confirmatory factor analysis in phase 2 of the study confirmed scale validity. Based on the findings, we conclude that OSLQ is a valid and reliable scale to assess self-regulation among Indian students in eLearning context. These findings have added to the theoretical legitimacy of the scale. In terms of practical implication, our findings suggest that OSLQ may be employed in an Indian context. This has significant implications for future research in self-regulation studies in India, especially in the context of eLearning.

Singh, Jaskirat; Singh, Manjit

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509231222609

Financial exclusion of low-income groups in urban areas remains a key policy challenge in India. This study examines the potential of e-payment systems and the Jan Dhan Aadhaar Mobile (JAM) trinity in enhancing access of the urban poor to social welfare schemes, thereby alleviating poverty. A survey of 585 economically weaker section households across 12 cities in Punjab state was conducted. The results indicate greater awareness of mobile and UPI payments compared to cards, but adoption gaps exist across demographic segments. Younger educated male earners perceive individual benefits like convenience and government benefits like transparency in e-payments. Integrating innovative e-payments in welfare programs increases the reliability of transactions, leading to positive multiplier effects on income, assets and skills and reducing vulnerabilities for the urban poor. The findings highlight the need for targeted initiatives by policymakers and Fintech firms to digitize payments and customized implementation measures to promote adoption among low-income citizen groups. This includes digital literacy programs, trust-building, co-creating tailored products and integrating e-payment mechanisms into social schemes. Thus, leveraging Fintech innovations through strategic policies and cross-sector partnerships can significantly advance financial inclusion to create a more equitable digital economy where the urban poor are not left behind.

Ejigu, Meseret Ebabu; Win, Ei Thinzar

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241229214

Foreign direct investment is the main driver of the growth. The development of Myanmar mainly depends on FDI and domestic investment. The objective of this article is to analyze the relationship between FDI and domestic investment in Myanmar from 1990 to 2020. The mean group estimator ARDL model was applied in this empirical study to evidence the relationship between them. This study employed newly collected sector-specific FDI inflows and domestic investment data for detailed examination. In line with the target of this article, the question arises whether FDI crowds in or crowds out DI in Myanmar. According to the outcomes, FDI and DI have a positive and insignificant relationship in the short-run results. However, they are positive and statistically significant in the long-run. There are unique causalities between FDI and DI; between EMP and DI and between EXCH and DI. Hence, FDI does Granger-cause DI. Thus, FDI crowds in DI in the short- and long-hauls in Myanmar. Therefore, the Government should actively do investment promotion for the investors to attract more FDI inflows into the country by facilitating business to sustain the country’s development and encourage the local businesspeople by educating how to use modern technology to shift from labor- to capital-intensive industries for increasing production and efficiency in Myanmar. Implications of the finding are explained with theoretical contributions, recommendations and research limitation are discussed.

Saripalle, Madhuri; Somya, Surabhi

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241232198

The telecom industry in India has witnessed exponential growth in the past decade; however, its profitability has been on the decline post 2008. This study analyzes the determinants of profitability of the industry during 2010–2022 using the conventional structure-conduct-performance paradigm. We estimate a dynamic panel data model to understand the role of endogeneity and profit persistence in the industry. Our findings are contrary to what the theory predicts and highlight the importance of the regulatory and institutional framework of the industry. Results suggest that there is profit persistence in the industry. The study finds that among conduct variables, export intensity has a positive impact while selling intensity has a negative impact on profitability. While size is not significant, concentration has a negative impact on profitability. Import has a negative impact on profitability. These results suggest that as the telecom industry transitioned from a monopoly to an oligopolistic market with players competing in different domains and services, selling and advertisement intensity has diminishing returns to profitability while export intensity emerges as an important driver of profitability. Results also suggest the importance of the production-linked incentive scheme encouraging exports and the need for regulating concentration and encouraging import substitution.

Chatterjee, Tonmoy; Bhattacharjee, Kinkini; Das, Ramesh Chandra

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509231219318

Traditional macroeconomic theory explains inflation as the result of excess demand surpassing the full employment level of supply. However, achieving full employment doesn’t necessarily mean that the production system is operating at its maximum capacity. When production falls short of its potential, this underutilization is commonly observed in imperfect markets, and it can be one of the factors contributing to inflation. Additionally, excess capacity can have adverse effects on the overall economic system, potentially leading to lower income generation. In light of these considerations, this study develops a theoretical model that incorporates capacity utilization, inflation and per capita GDP (PCGDP) as the key indicators. It empirically investigates whether there are long-term associations and short-term dynamics among these variables in a panel of 28 countries (14 from developed and 14 from developing regions) over the period 2003–2019. The findings reveal that there are clear long-term relationships among the variables. In the short term, capacity utilization and PCGDP are found to influence inflation in the developed countries, but this relationship is not observed in developing countries. Conversely, PCGDP is influenced by capacity utilization and inflation rates in developing economies. Interestingly, there are no causal relationships observed in the panel of all the countries.

Bhatia, Meena; Arora, Ruchi; Mehrotra, Vandana

2024 Global Business Review

doi: 10.1177/09721509241288622

Individual investing decisions are crucial in determining one’s financial well-being, as these choices directly affect their financial health. The current study uses structured equation modelling based on survey data from 288 individual investors. We contribute to the growing body of literature by employing the conditional mediation model to investigate the interaction between financial literacy, firm characteristics, behavioural biases and their impact on investment choices. The study findings substantiate the critical role of a firm’s characteristics in mediating the relationship between financial literacy and investment choices. The findings highlight the importance of financial literacy in enabling investors to make informed decisions, accentuating the mediating role of a firm’s characteristics, which adds novelty to the study.