Research Journal of Management and Economics Archives (RJMEA)

Micro Rebates versus Lump Sum Discounts: Channel Profit Implications in Consumer Electronics Supply Chains

Azra Askar — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores, how micro rebates and lumpsum discounts have had an uncertain impact on profit generation in regard to the channel distribution in the consumer electronics business. The two pricing methods have been found to be used extensively, and hence they can have a different impact on profits, consumers and channel operations. The research question which seeks to be answered is the pricing strategy that can assist manufacturers, retailers and distributors in maximizing their profits. The research is carried out using a vast amount of data consisting of multiple companies in the consumer electronics industry over a period of three years, and it implements a quantitative strategy to investigate the financial effect of micro rebate versus lumpsum discount at various supply stations in the long run. The research question revolves around the manner in which the micro rebates and lumpsum discounts influence the channel in consumer electronic supply chain profits. To find out the effects of the pricing strategies on the earnings, the difference-in-differences (DiD) design is employed, using the data obtained and summarized on the basis of the sales reports and pricing strategies applied by the electronics manufacturers, retailers and distributors. The three years were used to analyze 150 products where some of the key variables included sales volume, inventory turnover and price sensitivity. The results indicate that using micro rebates causes a greater increase in the volume of sales when compared to lumpsum discount, whereas a lumpsum discount enhances the margins of the retailer. Interaction effect implies that the best profit maximizing strategy differs with the supply chain position of the retailer and consumer engagement strategy. The paper comes to the conclusion that micro rebates should be used when it is directed to obtaining a market share and lumpsum discounts should be used by retailers that want boost their margins. More studies are required regarding long term consumer preferences and consumer brand loyalty. The conclusion points to an incremental discount being used to allow retailers and manufacturers to maximize their profits within a certain channel. The research has been a pioneer, in that it compared micro rebates to lumpsum discounts in the supply chain of consumer electronics.

Social Visibility and Carbon Budget Compliance: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Internal Surcharges on Business Travel

Basharat Waseem , Hina Khan — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper analyzes the role of social visibility of carbon surcharges in business travel decisions in terms of how this can affect employee adherence to in-house carbon budgets. With the shift in how limits are defined in organizations by moving away towards hard limits, behavioral nudges are becoming more apparent to achieve sustainability objectives. This study will examine how the exhibit of carbon surcharge to colleagues can lead to an improvement in the adherence to organizational carbon allocations. The crude longitudinal data (a quasi-experiment founded on difference-in-differences [DiD] analysis) of a multinational professional services company is used. This implies that the researchers will be using 6,800 employees in a period of 24 months by examining the impacts of an internal carbon surcharge policy on the behavior of travelling. The policy introduced was done in two phases where in the treatment group, surcharge costs were made visible to the team leaders and peers during booking whereas in the control group, surcharges remained invisible. DiDs were modified on the basis of job roles, business units and destinations. Findings demonstrate that the visible carbon surcharges produced a 22.6% decrease in high-carbon trip reservations ( p < 0.01 ) and 15.3 percent decrease in average carbon emissions per trip. Peer supervision of managers incurred a more positive compliance. However, the change in the control units, was not significant. The findings show that the social visibility is the most impactful element in the compliance behavior besides the financial implication. The society enforces social transparency as a social checking mechanism. Socially visible internal carbon surcharge is better than mere imposition of them.

ESG DISCLOSURE STRATEGIES OF KSE-100 FIRMS: DOES GREEN-HUSHING ENHANCE TOBIN’S Q?

Jehan Ara Jan — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper discusses the impact of the green-hushing effect on the market value of the listed firms in the KSE-100 index of Pakistan. Green-hushing is the garnering of environmental sustainability practices by companies that even seem to under-report various environmental sustainability protocols and practices. As ESG reporting is set to be a global norm, firms in emerging economies and especially those companies in regions where emerging disclosure regulations are imposed are subject to striking a balance between responsibility toward the environment and control in deciding what to disclose. The article applies the signaling and agency theory to study whether selective silence concerning ESG brings any additional value to firms in terms of measurement by Tobin Q. The process utilizes panel data (2018-2022) of 86 companies (N = 430 firm-year observations) that examines ESG performance, voluntary disclosure content, and media exposure. The new index ESG Silence Index (ESI) is presented to grasp the divide between the environmental performance and reporting. Estimates indicate that ESI scores are significantly related to the increased popularity of Tobin Q (0.142, p < .01) in those industries with the poor ESG regulation and less publicity of media. This implies that since an institution has a permissive oversight, under-disclosure of matters regarding ESG can be viewed as a strategic approach by investors or efficiency. The research extends the ESG knowledge by measuring the degree of green-hushing and connecting it to market valuation in South Asia, which can be applied by managers that need to balance transparency and discretion trade-off when reporting on ESG.

TOURNAMENT BONUSES IN LAHORE-BASED SOFTWARE HOUSES: SPRINT VELOCITY AND DEVELOPER SATISFACTION

Mansoor Ali Durrani — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the impact of tournament-like bonuses on the speed and developer satisfaction in agile software development teams in Lahore, Pakistan. A quasi-experimental panel study was conducted over 9 months with 142 participants from small software organizations. The research examines whether performance-based bonuses improve sprint productivity and how they affect developer satisfaction. The study uses a mixed-method approach, including Jira metrics (velocity, bug rates), employee satisfaction surveys, burnout questionnaires, and HR exit logs. A difference-in-differences (DiD) estimator and placebo checks were applied to ensure robustness. Results indicate that while sprint velocity increased (beta = 1.12, p < .01), developer satisfaction decreased significantly (beta = -0.89, p < .05) over the 9-month period. Additionally, employee attrition increased by 4.7%, highlighting the negative long-term effects of performance-based contests. The findings suggest that while tournaments may boost short-term productivity, they may lead to lower morale and higher turnover. Software companies need to consider justice and fairness in the design of incentive systems to maintain developer satisfaction.

CROSS-TRAINING NURSES IN KARACHI’S TERTIARY-CARE HOSPITALS: IMPACT ON PATIENT BOARDING TIMES

Salma Jillani — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The current study seeks to examine how cross-training of nurses affects the boarding times of patients in Karachi tertiary-care hospitals in Pakistan. With the support of cross-training, the research examines the current possibility to increase the operational efficiency and minimize delays in treating patients by diversifying the roles of the nurses. An assessment of the effect of cross training on boarding times of patients used a quasi-experimental pre post design. The most critical research question addressed is; does, or does not, cross training of the nurses at the tertiary-care hospitals in Karachi result in reduction in the boarding times of patients? The data was obtained in two tertiary-care hospitals in Karachi after a six months’ time frame. The study used a sample of 100 nurses, 50 of whom are part of the experimental group (the cross-trained nurses) and 50 nurses in the control group. The amount of patient boarding time was measured, as well as the performance of professional tasks by nurses and the level of patient satisfaction. Regression analysis was also used to measure the effect of cross-training on boarding times that gave consideration to the size and workload intensity of the hospital. The practice of cross-training led to a 15 percent reduction in the times when patients board (p<0.05). Moreover, the efficiency of nurses in performing their duties rose by 12%, and the number of patient satisfaction marks rose to 10%. The strategy of cross-training of nurses alleviated the boarding time of patients and enhanced operational efficiency within the hospitals of Karachi. The study proposes cross-training as one of the viable methods in any hospital to enhance operations and patient outcomes. Data was taken in two hospitals, and 100 nurses took part in the study in six months. The cross-training method decreased the number of patient wait times in the boarding system by 15 percent and the patient satisfaction level went up markedly by 10 percent. The type of cross-training can make hospitals very efficient and eliminate the delay of patients. The study provides information about the impacts of cross-training in the Karachi healthcare system, the field that has never been researched before in the literature.