Research Papers by Wafa Khurram
Innovativeness of born global SMEs is considered as prime factor of sustainable competitiveness a... more Innovativeness of born global SMEs is considered as prime factor of sustainable competitiveness among born global SMEs. However, little empirical knowledge is found on how transformational leadership and its subdimensions mediate this relationship ,specifically in born global SMEs in Malaysia. This study, therefore, intends to fill the gap by introducing and analyzing a tentative research model for transformational leadership as a mediator to innovativeness and sustainable competitive advantage of born global SMEs. A quantitative research design has been employed to analyse data received from an expansive survey of 212 born global SMEs. Findings inform practitioners and academicians to consider innovativeness as élan vital for fostering long-term competitiveness of born global SMEs. Transformational leadership is reflected to intervene the relationship in first level analysis. However, multidimensional mediation analysis revealed partial mediation of only intellectual stimulation and individual consideration. We discuss the outcomes in context of born global literature and Malaysian culture.
This study endeavours to evaluate the individual as well as synergistic role of international ent... more This study endeavours to evaluate the individual as well as synergistic role of international entrepreneurial capability and positive psychological capital (PsyCap) in achieving sustained competitive advantage of born global firms in Malaysia. A tentative research framework for evaluating sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs is developed through extant literature review on significance of international entrepreneurial capability and positive psychological capital for firms’ sustained competitiveness. Data from a careful survey of born global SMEs in Malaysia has been analysed using exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Findings suggest that sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs in Malaysia has strong positive association with both entrepreneurs’ international entrepreneurial capability and psychological capital. However, insignificant interaction of PsyCap implicates its probable effectiveness through ‘build and broaden’ viewpoint. Originality of this study is twofold: Firstly, it extends the existing knowledge on capability evolution in born global firms by linking its association with sustained competitiveness from entrepreneur’s capability viewpoint. Secondly, it attempts to integrate interdisciplinary theories of capability view and psychological capital in investigation of sustained competitiveness among born global SMEs.
Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, 2014
... Wafa Khurram ... family needs, less wages etc) (Orhan & Scott, 2001) that have le... more ... Wafa Khurram ... family needs, less wages etc) (Orhan & Scott, 2001) that have less potency to show positive development in terms of growth and sustainability as compared to pull factors (need for achievement, need for independence, growth prospects) (Nasser et al., 2009). ...
Proceedings of the 2013 International Conference on Information, Business and Education Technology (ICIBET-2013), 2013
Sustainable growth of firms (SMEs) is highly related to the Technopreneurship development robustn... more Sustainable growth of firms (SMEs) is highly related to the Technopreneurship development robustness in a region. Where importance of innovative capability in development of a technology based firm had been considered inevitable, the essentiality of managing this innovative capability for long-term business success has evolved vividly in the recent years. Literature reveals dire need of research on attaining sustainable growth in women owned SMEs. In pursuit of resolving this issue, this study provides a conceptual framework suggesting the significance of developing and managing innovative capability for sustainable growth of women owned technoprises (SMEs).
Women have prolific potential to uplift national economic and innovative growth by participating ... more Women have prolific potential to uplift national economic and innovative growth by participating in technology entrepreneurship development. However the prospective benefits of this women technopreneurship reside greatly on the sustainable growth of the women owned technoprises and factors affecting it. This empirical study is a novel attempt to juxtapose significance of social capital and innovative capability in achieving sustainable growth of women owned technoprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Data was collected by selecting 250 women owned firms through convenience sampling and distributing questionnaires through mail survey method. To investigate the direct and indirect (through innovative capability) effect of social capital on firms' sustainable growth, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was employed. Significant direct relationship of social capital and innovative capability with firms' sustainable growth was found. Nevertheless, strong mediating role of innovative capability was also proved. Insinuation for future research and policy recommendations are also given.
Born global internationalization has emerged as the most promising field of the international ent... more Born global internationalization has emerged as the most promising field of the international entrepreneurship literature in developed countries. Recently, it has gained attention of some researchers from emerging economies too, though still at its infancy stage. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for development and sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs in Malaysia to pursue recurring calls for appending born global research in emerging countries and integrating multi-disciplinary theories for appeasing the inconclusiveness and complexity of this global phenomenon. The key assumption guiding this effort is mandatory role of entrepreneur's, being heart and soul of the small firms, in determining speedy internationalization of born global SMEs. Extant review explicates direct and significant relationship of international entrepreneurial capabilities in creation as well as sustained competitiveness of born global firms, yet the role of entrepreneur's psychosomatic resources in is largely unknown. Arguing in the favor of determining role of positive psychological capital in new venture creation and competitiveness and depicting it as a missing link in born global literature, an integrated framework is established. Future research recommendations for empirical investigation of this conceptual framework are given. Limitations and practical implications are also discussed.
This study is an attempt to investigate prevalence of positive organizational behavior in the org... more This study is an attempt to investigate prevalence of positive organizational behavior in the organizations in the service sector of Pakistan. We tested effects of organization based self-esteem, role stressors (role conflict, role overload and role ambiguity), leader-member exchange and perceived organizational support on positive organizational behavior as well as mediation of organization-based-self-esteem in this regard. Moreover, moderation of global self-esteem was also estimated in relationship between organization based self-esteem and positive organizational behavior. Data from 250 respondents from three service sectors of Pakistan (bank, hotel and education) was collected through mail survey and using stratified random sampling technique. Data analysis on the usable 215 questionnaires was made by using hierarchical multiple regression. Significant direct and indirect results through mediation of organization based self-esteem were found only for leader-member exchange, perceived organizational support and role ambiguity. Nevertheless, global self-esteem was not found to moderate the relationship of organization base self-esteem and positive organizational behavior. Implications and future research recommendations are also given.
The burgeoning importance of incorporating Positive Psychology in workplace is recognized by rese... more The burgeoning importance of incorporating Positive Psychology in workplace is recognized by researchers, lately. However, its dire need in developing positive organizational behavior in service organizations of developing regions like Pakistan is established through this study. An assessment of positive organizational behavior of Bank employees was tested in effect of their organization-based self-esteem, Leader-Member exchange and positive organizational support. Furthermore, the mediating effect of organization based self-esteem in relationship of Leader-Member exchange and Positive organizational support with that of Positive organizational behavior was also evaluated. Using Stratified Sampling technique and mail survey method, the data of 100 respondents from the Private and Public Banks of Pakistan was analyzed. Findings showed positive relationship of OBSE, LMX and POS with POB. Furthermore, OBSE was found to mediate the relation between POS and POB. Yet, no mediating role of OBSE was found in relation between LMX and POB. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Total Quality Management (TQM) has been documented as an inevitable success factor for organizati... more Total Quality Management (TQM) has been documented as an inevitable success factor for organizations to endure today's competitive global arena. Where efforts to reinforce hard elements of TQM have ruled the literature and industry previously, the significance of the soft elements of TQM are being recognized lately. This study is an attempt to respond to issues regarding leaders' behavioral integrity in assessing TQM implementation and corresponding organizational performance in the public health sector of Pakistan. Taking the sample of 100 respondents from lower and middle management of public hospitals in Lahore city, the study was carried out by using simple random sampling technique. Findings revealed strong moderating role of Leaders' Behavioral Integrity in the relationship of both TQM philosophy and successful TQM implementation and TQM implementation and organizational performance. Implications and future research suggestions are also discussed.
This study is an attempt to identify the status of genetically modified food consumption in the d... more This study is an attempt to identify the status of genetically modified food consumption in the developing countries like Malaysia. From preceding literature, a theoretical framework was developed to show the effects of perceived risks, perceived quality and social norms on the consumer purchase intention for genetically modified food. The sample of 392 respondents was randomly selected from two leading hypermarkets in Johor Bahru. Results from Multiple Regression revealed that among the three predicting variables, perceived quality and social norms had significant and positive relationship with the consumer purchase intentions while perceived risks did not have any significant relationship with it. A comparative analysis of Muslim and non-Muslim consumers revealed significant difference of the purchase intentions for GMF between the two groups. Implications and future research suggestions are also discussed.
The technological thrust is driving change in the course of action of the policy makers, industry... more The technological thrust is driving change in the course of action of the policy makers, industry, market and the consumers all at the same time. Bio-technological advancements are playing key role in the uplift of many developed economies of the world. It has helped coping with the dilemmas of divergence between availability and consumption of resources. This descriptive study is an effort to see the effect of these advancements in terms of introduction of Genetically Modified Food (GMF) and the related consumers' purchase intentions in Johor Bahru. The effect of perceived quality, perceived risks and social norms was analyzed to assess consumers' purchase intentions for GMF. The sample of 392 respondents was collected from two renowned departmental stores in Johor Bahru. Simple random sampling technique had been used for data collection. Findings revealed that the consumers consider perceived quality as the most important factor in determining their purchase intentions towards GMF. Limitations and implications for future research are also discussed.
Through this study, an effort has been made to join in the scholarly endeavor to identify the rea... more Through this study, an effort has been made to join in the scholarly endeavor to identify the reasons for brain drain generally and specifically in Pakistan. The mushroom growth of intents to leave among the employees has been recognized as one of the most important factors for brain drain, globally. Identifying the importance of leadership and followers' psychological capital in reducing intents to leave, the prevailing perceptions for the role of transformational leadership and the psychological capital of the followers among the employees from Medical and Engineering sector of Pakistan, is studied. Data from 149 respondents was collected by Stratified random sampling and distributing questionnaire by mail survey method. Descriptive analysis showed that most of the employees having high levels of perceptions for transformational leader are stronger in terms of their psychological capacities of hope, optimism, resilience and efficacy than their counterparts. However, the intents to leave are found stronger in more educated and experienced employees with greater levels of psychological capital. It is attributed through findings that intents to leave among the employees of Pakistan may reduce by developing their psychological capital through motivational capacity of transformational leadership nevertheless, implication regarding role of transformational leaders are discussed.
The burgeoning importance of incorporating Positive Psychology in workplace is recognized by rese... more The burgeoning importance of incorporating Positive Psychology in workplace is recognized by researchers, lately. However, its dire need in developing positive organizational behavior in service organizations of developing regions like Pakistan is established through this study. An assessment of positive organizational behavior of Bank employees was tested in effect of their organization-based self-esteem, Leader-Member exchange and positive organizational support. Furthermore, the mediating effect of organization based self-esteem in relationship of Leader-Member exchange and Positive organizational support with that of Positive organizational behavior was also evaluated. Using Stratified Sampling technique and mail survey method, the data of 100 respondents from the Private and Public Banks of Pakistan was analyzed. Findings showed positive relationship of OBSE, LMX and POS with POB. Furthermore, OBSE was found to mediate the relation between POS and POB. Yet, no mediating role of OBSE was found in relation between LMX and POB. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Conference Presentations by Wafa Khurram
The Significance of Total Quality Management (TQM) for organizational performance is inevitable i... more The Significance of Total Quality Management (TQM) for organizational performance is inevitable in the today's competitive global scenario and so is the key role of leadership in its successful implementation. Identifying the importance of leaders' behavioral integrity for TQM in the health sector, the study was conducted on the public hospitals of Pakistan. Taking the sample of 100 respondents from lower and middle management the study was made for the assessment of leaders' behavioral integrity (BI) in the implementation of TQM and corresponding organizational performance. Findings showed that leaders' BI positively moderates the relationship of both TQM philosophy and successful TQM implementation and TQM implementation and organizational performance.
Papers by Wafa Khurram
Advanced Science Letters, 2017
This study endeavours to evaluate the individual as well as synergistic role of international ent... more This study endeavours to evaluate the individual as well as synergistic role of international entrepreneurial capability and positive psychological capital (PsyCap) in achieving sustained competitive advantage of born global firms in Malaysia. A tentative research framework for evaluating sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs is developed through extant literature review on significance of international entrepreneurial capability and positive psychological capital for firms’ sustained competitiveness. Data from a careful survey of born global SMEs in Malaysia has been analysed using exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Findings suggest that sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs in Malaysia has strong positive association with both entrepreneurs’ international entrepreneurial capability and psychological capital. However, insignificant interaction of PsyCap implicates its probable effectiveness through ‘build and broaden’ viewpoint. Originality of this study is twofold: Firstly, it extends the existing knowledge on capability evolution in born global firms by linking its association with sustained competiveness from entrepreneur’s capability viewpoint. Secondly, it attempts to integrate interdisciplinary theories of capability view and psychological capital in investigation of sustained competitiveness among born global SMEs.
2019 8th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies (ICICT), 2019
While born global literature has profoundly gained scholarly attention for development of born gl... more While born global literature has profoundly gained scholarly attention for development of born global SMEs in emerging economies since last decade, its empirical and theoretical presence in terms of sustained competitiveness of these firms is limited. Sustained competitive advantage of the firm has been numerously linked with its investigations in reference to financial, human and social capital of “what you have”, “what you know”, and “who you know”, yet the empirical enquiry of “who you are” and its significance in determining long-term competitiveness of firm is missing. We present and evaluate an inter-disciplinary research framework employing positive psychological capital (PsyCap) and transformational leadership (TFL) for determining sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs in Malaysia. Using quantitative research design, data from 212 born global SMEs in Malaysia was analyzed. Findings revealed significant relationship of psychological capital with sustained competitive advantage and partial mediation of transformational leadership in this regard. Practical implications emphasize developing “HERO within” by working on PsyCap of born global entrepreneurs to champion sustained competitiveness. Future research recommendations are also provided.
World applied sciences journal, 2014
Women have prolific potential to uplift national economic and innovative growth by participating ... more Women have prolific potential to uplift national economic and innovative growth by participating in technology entrepreneurship development. However the prospective benefits of this women technopreneurship reside greatly on the sustainable growth of the women owned technoprises and factors affecting it. This empirical study is a novel attempt to juxtapose significance of social capital and innovative capability in achieving sustainable growth of women owned technoprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Data was collected by selecting 250 women owned firms through convenience sampling and distributing questionnaires through mail survey method. To investigate the direct and indirect (through innovative capability) effect of social capital on firms' sustainable growth, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was employed. Significant direct relationship of social capital and innovative capability with firms' sustainable growth was found. Nevertheless, strong mediating role of innovative c...
2019 8th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies (ICICT), 2019
The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of social media marketing activities on the... more The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of social media marketing activities on the university brand image and reputation. The mediating effect of the customer value co-creation behavior between the social media marketing activities and brand image of university is also considered. This is cross-sectional study based on time horizon and analysis of the study is conducted with the help of PLS-SEM mode. Data was gathered from 205 students belonging to four reputed public sector universities of the Punjab province, i.e. University of Punjab (PU), University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and Government College University (GCU Lahore). The findings suggest that marketing activities play a significant role in creating university brand reputation, as well as student value co-creation behavior plays mediating role in creating brand image.
Born global internationalization has emerged as the most promising field of the international ent... more Born global internationalization has emerged as the most promising field of the international entrepreneurship literature in developed countries. Recently, it has gained attention of some researchers from emerging economies too, though still at its infancy stage. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for development and sustained competitive advantage of born global SMEs in Malaysia to pursue recurring calls for appending born global research in emerging countries and integrating multi-disciplinary theories for appeasing the inconclusiveness and complexity of this global phenomenon. The key assumption guiding this effort is mandatory role of entrepreneur's, being heart and soul of the small firms, in determining speedy internationalization of born global SMEs. Extant review explicates direct and significant relationship of international entrepreneurial capabilities in creation as well as sustained competitiveness of born global firms, yet the role of ent...
Uploads
Research Papers by Wafa Khurram
Conference Presentations by Wafa Khurram
Papers by Wafa Khurram