·         Table of Contents (Volume #2, Issue #1)

·         Cover Page (Volume #2, Issue #1)

·         Editorial (Volume #2, Issue #1)

Paper #1

Managing Service Quality, Food Quality, Price Fairness and Customer Retention: A Holistic Perspective

Ammar Ahmed, Rafat Naseer, Muhammad Asadullah and Hadia Khan

Abstract: In this competitive environment, organizations strive to satisfy their customer by providing best quality service at affordable and fair prices with a view to enhance their revenues. To achieve the objective of revenue maximization, organizations strive to identify the factors that help them in retaining their customers. Drawing from the signalling theory of marketing, the current study proposes a novel conceptual model representing the impact of service quality with food quality and price fairness on customer retention in restaurant sector of Pakistan. The paper underlines an important arena of knowledge for academicians as well as organizational scientists on the subject. On the basis of literature available on the variables understudy, the present study forwards eight research propositions worthy of urgent scholarly attention. The conceptualized model of the present article can also be viewed significant in unleashing further avenues for the restaurant management entities, policy makers and future researchers in the domain of managing in the service sector businesses.

Keywords: Management; Service quality; Food quality; Price fairness; Customer retention.

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Paper #2

Awareness and Reason towards Slow Adoption of E-Payment System: Study of Hyderabad

Pireh Panhwer, Adnan Pitafi, Muhammad Saad Memon and Anum Memon

Abstract: E-payment is a convenient and easy mode of payment, due to its convenience it makes everyone’s life easy, because it takes less time to make transaction. This makes a solid case for adoption in many developed as well as developing countries. However, there are many countries who have not successfully implemented it due to lack of facilities and even lack of awareness of customers. Even in a developing country like Pakistan E-Payment system is not so popular because of many operational constraints, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) almost 95% people of Pakistan rely on case on delivery (COD) method and only 5% people use E-Payment system. In Hyderabad many people prefer COD method when they order online. This research aimed to analyze the customer awareness and lack of adoption of E-payment system in Hyderabad marketplace. The survey was conducted using questionnaire that was adopted from existing measurement instruments from past research papers. The questionnaires were distributed to customers and banks of Hyderabad, male and female, aged ranging from 18 to 51 years old. The data is analyzed using SPSS Software. The sample size was 350 respondents of Hyderabad. This study found that system credibility, facilitating conditions, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are the most important factors that affect to the customer awareness and slow adoption of E-payment system. This research will help to understand the reason behind lack of adoption of E-Payment system by studying the customer’s knowledge about the usage of E-payment system and evaluate the reason behind this slow adoption of customers.

Keywords: Technology Awareness; Technology Adoption; UTAUT model; TAM model; E-payment.

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Paper #3

Investigation of Halal Certification and Country of Origin of FMCG Products

Anum Memon, Muhammad Aslam Memon, Adnan Pitafi and Pireh Panhwar

Abstract: This paper aims to investigate various products of key distributors in Hyderabad market accordance with halal Certification and country of origin. The FMCG products are surveyed. As the demand of these products are increasing day by day. With the rapid increase of FMCG sector, Pakistan Being an Islamic country Muslims are at ease as they believe that whatever the product that is available in market is halal. Not give a second thought of country of origin. The research is performed on a survey based study to investigate the FMCG products. In that product are categorized into two categories that are food and non-food products. The survey is conducted in Hyderabad of different super markets that include Dawood super mart, Max bachat, The Grocers, Baig mart, Hamid super store and many other. In this research Food Products that are surveyed includes beverages, Dairy Products, baked Products and snacks. And Non-food products that are surveyed include Cosmetics, Toiletries, Cleaning Product and Fragrance products. Present study found that there is very less products in market are halal certified. It is an alarming time for Pakistan as it is an Islamic country there is no halal certification body that can certify the products. In food category 62 products of Beverages were surveyed out of which only 24% are halal certified, 37 dairy Products were surveyed out of which only 24.3% are halal certified ,30 snack food were surveyed out of which only 30% are halal certified and 84 baked products were surveyed out of which only 50% are halal certified. In Non-food category 69 Toiletries Products were surveyed out of which only 13% are halal certified, 26 Cleaning products out of which 0% are halal certified, 62 Cosmetic products out of which 0% are halal certified, 63 Fragrance products out of which 0% are halal certified. The total number of food products were surveyed was 213. Out of them only 35.2% were halal Certified. The total number of Non-food Products were surveyed was 220 Products. Out of them only 4.09% were halal certified. Pakistan has no regulatory body who can checked the products that are available in market, are Halal certified or not. This research is one of the few studies in context of Pakistan which is investigating the FMCG products accordance with halal certification and country of Origin. The study also provided new findings of Pakistani Market that there are very less products which are halal certified. The result of the study is quite different with other halal studies.

Keywords: Halal awareness; Halal certification; Halal products; FMCG products; Halal business.

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Paper #4

The Influence of Entrepreneurial Supports on Business Performance among Rural Entrepreneurs

Md Lazim Mohd Zin and Hadziroh Ibrahim

Abstract: The present study attempts to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between the four facets of entrepreneurial supports and rural entrepreneurs business performance. The entrepreneurial supports considered in the study are entrepreneurship training, marketing support, business networking, and financial support. A survey among 183 rural entrepreneurs was carried out. Self-reported measures were used to obtain data pertaining to government entrepreneurial initiatives and rural entrepreneurs’ business performance. The multiple regression analysis was used to ascertain the proposed relationships and it was found that all entrepreneurial initiatives such as entrepreneurship training, marketing support, business networking and financial support were significantly related to business performance. Discussion on the findings is highlighted, so as the implications for practice and future research. Towards the end, the paper also highlights limitations of the study that could be taken into consideration by future scholars for further empirical enrichment.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship training; Marketing support; Business networking; Financial support; Rural entrepreneurs.

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Paper #5

Strategic Management of Health and Safety at Work: Critical Insights for HR Professionals in the Construction Sector

Adel Ali Yassin Alzyoud and Habil Slade Ogalo

Abstract: The present article aims to underline the role and importance of health and safety in the workplace particularly in the construction sector. The article is posed to shed light and hence, educate professionals working in the construction sector on one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. The paper outline outline how the sector operates, and the importance of health and safety of employees is in this sector. The paper outlines the various types of hazardous and the acts that could cause health and safety issues for the workers in the construction sector. Following to this, the paper outlines the significant role of human resource department and HR professionals in the sector in this regard. The paper provides an insightful information on some of the core aspects that personnel management professionals in this sector could work on to help avoid any unintended consequences.

Keywords: Strategic management; Health and safety; Construction sector; HRM.

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