Explore the vast range of titles available.

PurposeThrough the lens of the leader–member exchange theory, this study assessed the relationship between inclusive leadership (IL) and project success by incorporating the mediating roles of psychological empowerment (PE) and psychological safety (PS).Design/methodology/approachTime-lagged data were collected from 328 employees working in project-based organisations across the information technology industry. Structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 26 was employed for data analysis.FindingsBy using the SEM approach, the confirmatory factor analysis had verified the distinctiveness of the variables used in this study. The findings displayed that IL increased project success both directly and indirectly through the mediating roles of PE and PS.Originality/valueThis study addressed two research questions that have been left unanswered in the literature. The initial research question is “how IL enhances project success?”, and this study found that IL enhanced project success. The second research question is “what are the suggested mechanisms for IL to promote project success?” This study has proven that IL enhanced project success through two important mediating mechanisms, namely, PE and PS.

The study focuses on the relationship between leader-member exchange and innovative work behavior of project employees with mediating role of employee engagement and moderating role of self-efficacy. This study was conducted in the IT sector of Pakistan. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 230 employees of IT projects. The research findings highlight the actions that need to be taken to increase the innovative work behavior of project employees. Results indicate that leader-member exchange is positively linked with innovative work behavior while employee engagement mediates the relationship between leader-member exchange and innovative work behavior. In addition, the results confirmed the moderating role of Self-Efficacy between employee engagement and innovative work behavior. The positive exchange between leader and member can contribute positively toward the outcomes, especially in project-based organizations where every project is unique and requires the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

In the current era of accelerated economic growth, project success - successful completion of the final product for which the project was initiated - is the ultimate goal of every organisation. It is essential for organisations to keep project-based employees motivated and focused on successfully accomplishing the project objectives. This research examined the association between psychological empowerment of project-based employees and project success. We explored the mediating role of knowledge sharing to explain the intervening mechanism between psychological empowerment and project success. We also tested the moderating role of employee creativity along with conditional indirect effects by performing a moderated mediation analysis. Using a time-lagged research design, multiple-source field data (N = 327) were collected from employees of project-based organisations in Pakistan. The findings of the study showed a positive association between psychological empowerment and project success and significant mediation of knowledge sharing. Project employees with high creativity are likely to achieve project success when they possess higher psychological empowerment too. Results concluded that psychological empowerment is positively associated with project success directly as well as indirectly through its impact on knowledge sharing. The study has its importance and implications for management specialists and project employees at all levels.

Stunting, characterized by impaired growth and development due to malnutrition and illness, is a significant public health concern with profound implications for cognitive and physical development. This issue is particularly severe in refugee settings, where food insecurity and limited access to healthcare exacerbate the problem. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of stunting among children aged 2 to 5 years in an Afghan refugee camp in Kohat, Pakistan. A cross-sectional observational design was employed, collecting data from children aged 2 to 5 years who had resided in the camp for at least six months. A pre-validated, standardized questionnaire was administered to parents or guardians to gather data on socio-demographic factors, dietary intake, and health history. Stunting was defined as a height-for-age Z-score less than -2 SD from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards. Anthropometric measurements were taken following WHO guidelines. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of stunting. Out of 384 children, 153 (40%) were found to be stunted. The prevalence was slightly higher among boys (80 out of 153, 52%) compared to girls (73 out of 153, 48%). Significant predictors of stunting included a lack of parental education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for fathers 1.8, 95% confidence level (CI) 1.2-2.9; AOR for mothers 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.4), a history of infectious diseases (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.0), and low dietary diversity (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.7). The study highlights the high prevalence of stunting among children in the refugee camp, underscoring the need for comprehensive interventions targeting healthcare improvement, parental education, economic support, and dietary diversity to reduce stunting rates and improve children's health outcomes.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal condition primarily affecting preterm newborns, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing NEC in premature infants. Secondary objectives included assessing the impact on mortality, late-onset sepsis, duration of hospital stay, and weight gain. The study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institute, Peshawar, from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, involving 102 preterm infants. Participants were randomly assigned to receive daily oral probiotics (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species) or a placebo. The incidence of NEC was significantly lower in the probiotic group (7.8%) compared to the placebo group (21.6%; p = 0.04). The probiotic group also showed significant reductions in late-onset sepsis (13.7% vs. 29.4%; p = 0.03), shorter hospital stays (42.5 vs. 48.1 days; p = 0.02), and greater weight gain (15.3 vs. 13.4 grams/day; p = 0.01). These findings support the integration of probiotics into neonatal care, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Data-driven innovations (DDI) have significantly impacted firms’ operations thanks to the massive exploitation of huge data. However, to leverage big data and achieve supply chain innovation, a variety of complementary resources are necessary. In this study, we hypothesise that supply chain innovation (SCI) is dependent on firms’ big data analytics capabilities (BAC). Furthermore, we propose that this relation is mediated by two crucial capabilities of agility and adaptability that enable firms to efficiently meet the challenges of supply chain ambidexterity. Finally, we also test the moderating role of technology uncertainty in our research model. We collected data from 386 manufacturing firms in Pakistan and tested our model using structural equation modelling. The results confirmed our initial hypotheses that agility and adaptability both mediated our baseline relationship of BAC and big data innovation in supply chains. We further found support for the moderating role of technology uncertainty. Furthermore, technology uncertainty moderates the relationship between BAC and SCI. This study extends the current literature on digital analytics capabilities and innovation along the supply chain. Practically, our research suggests that investment in big data can result in affirmative consequences, if firms cultivate capabilities to encounter supply chain ambidexterity through agility and adaptability. Accordingly, we suggest that managers belonging to manufacturing firms need to build up these internal capabilities and to monitor and assess technology uncertainty in the environment.

In the ever-evolving landscape of vehicular networks, this article introduces an efficient shared key generation mechanism, utilizing the working principle of Kirchhoff Law Jonson Noise (KLJN). The proposed Multiple-Resistor KLJN scheme for vehicular networks utilizes a dedicated KLJN line to establish a secure connection between the certificate authority and the Road Side Units (RSUs) for generating and sharing secure keys. The proposed KLJN-based key distribution scheme eliminates the need for digital certificate verification, offering an unconditionally secure key exchange scheme. The lifetime of the secure key is a crucial parameter in the network, influenced by the Key Generation Rate (KGR) and the capacity of a single Road Side Unit (RSU) to handle vehicles. Our analysis demonstrates that the incorporation of modified KLJN circuitry significantly enhances the frequency of secure bit exchanges while simultaneously reducing the maximum lifetime limit of the KLJN key. This improvement leads to enhanced security levels without compromising the operational efficiency of the network.

PurposeThrough the lens of social exchange theory, this study aims to assess the relationship between proactive personality and innovative work behavior by incorporating the mediating role of work engagement and moderating role of transformational leadership between proactive personality and work engagement.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 259 employees working in Pakistani small-medium enterprises (SMEs). The purposive sampling technique was used to collect data. For hypothesis testing, Preacher and Hayes process macro was employed.FindingsConfirmatory factor analysis verified the distinctiveness of the variables used in this study. The findings show that a proactive personality had a positive influence on innovative work behavior directly and indirectly through work engagement, and transformational leadership positively moderates the relationship between a proactive personality and work engagement in such a way that with high transformational leadership behavior relationship will be strengthened.Originality/valueThis study has addressed three research questions that have been left unanswered in the literature. The initial research question is “how proactive personality enhances innovative work behavior?” This study found that proactive personality enhanced innovative work behavior. The second research question is “what are the suggested mechanisms for proactive personality to promote innovative work behavior?” This study has proven that a proactive personality enhanced innovative work behavior through an important mediating mechanism, namely work engagement. Finally, the third question of the study is “does transformational leadership moderate the relationship between proactive personality and work engagement? The study shows that transformational leadership positively moderates between proactive personality and work engagement.

PurposeThe success of projects is a major challenge for information technology (IT) project-based businesses (PBOs). Employees' negative emotions (NE) disrupt the employees' usual work activities by creating obstacles to routine operations. Organizations should take steps to lessen these NE. The current study assessed the mediating role of NE and the moderating influence of employee mindfulness in the association between despotic leadership (DL) and IT project success (PS).Design/methodology/approachTime-lagged data were collected from 341 employees working in various IT-based project organizations in Pakistan using purposive sampling.FindingsResults were consistent with the authors' hypothesized framework, as DL increases employees' NE, which in turn negatively affects IT PS. In addition, mindfulness plays a buffering role in mitigating the damaging impact of DL on NE.Originality/valuePrevious researchers focused on the positive aspects of leadership and its influence on PS and paid limited attention to the dark leadership style. The authors' study's findings help understand how project-based organizations can reduce employees' NE.

This study investigates the relationship between project employee mindfulness and project success using innovative work behaviour as a mediator and the project manager’s inclusive leadership style as a moderator. Project Manager with high inclusive behaviour will strengthen the relationship of employee’s mindfulness and innovative work behaviour. The data were collected in three-time intervals from a total of 347 information technology project employees. The study findings validated the proposed model wherein employee personality traits, such as mindfulness, have a key impact on the initiation of project employees’ innovative work behaviour. Information Technology projects require innovation due to rapid technical improvements. The study confirms that innovative work behaviour adds to the project’s success. Furthermore, inclusive leadership helps mindful employees become innovative. Thus, the leadership roles should also be emphasised in IT projects.