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Article
Publication date: 4 December 2023

Majid Ghasemy and Ke-Hai Yuan

Although numerous studies have been conducted to explore the impact of various factors on employees' turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, the…

Abstract

Purpose

Although numerous studies have been conducted to explore the impact of various factors on employees' turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, the relationship between these two constructs remains largely unexplored. Considering the significance of these constructs, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors aimed to investigate their association within an academic environment using a dynamic modeling approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows a quantitative approach and utilizes a longitudinal survey design. The authors utilized a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and employed the parametric efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) methodology to estimate the dynamic model using data gathered from lecturers associated with both public and private universities in Malaysia. In order to offer methodological insights to applied higher education researchers, the authors also compared the results with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation.

Findings

The findings of the authors' study indicate a reciprocal relationship between turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, with intention to remain with the organization being a stronger predictor. Moreover, situational factors were found to have a greater influence on eliciting turnover intention within academic settings. As anticipated, the use of the PLSe2 methodology resulted in higher R2 values compared to ML estimation, thereby reinforcing the effectiveness of PLS-based methods in explanatory-predictive modeling in applied studies.

Practical implications

The authors' findings suggest prioritizing policies that enhance training and consultation sessions to foster positive attitudes among lecturers. Positive attitudes significantly impact judgment-driven behaviors like turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization. Additionally, improving working environments, which indirectly influence judgment-driven behaviors through factors like affective work events, affect and attitudes, should also be considered.

Originality/value

This study pioneers the examination of the causal relationship between turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, their stability over time and the association of changes in these variables using a dynamic CLPM in higher education. It introduces the novel application of the cutting-edge PLSe2 methodology in estimating a CLPM, providing valuable insights for researchers in explanatory-predictive modeling.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2023

Majid Ghasemy, James Eric Gaskin and James A. Elwood

The direction of causality between job satisfaction and job performance (known as the holy grail of industrial psychologists) is undetermined and related research findings in…

Abstract

Purpose

The direction of causality between job satisfaction and job performance (known as the holy grail of industrial psychologists) is undetermined and related research findings in different organizational contexts are mixed. Based on the ample literature, mainly from Western countries, on the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance, a non-recursive bow pattern model was utilized to investigate the direct relationship between these two variables in an Asia–Pacific higher education system.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is quantitative in approach and survey in design. Additionally, to meet the statistical requirements of non-recursive bow pattern analysis, the authors added welfare as a theory-driven instrumental variable to introduce exogenous variability. Using the efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) estimator, the authors fitted the model to the data collected from 2008 academics affiliated with Malaysian public universities and polytechnics.

Findings

The results showed that while job satisfaction is considerably influenced by welfare, it is not a significant predictor of job performance directly. In addition, a meaningful positive correlation between the disturbance terms of job satisfaction and job performance was observed, suggesting the existence of other factors that could increase both job satisfaction and job performance. The findings' theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and a list of theory-driven evidenced-based policies in this regard is provided.

Originality/value

This is the first study to test a non-recursive bow pattern model and examine the holy grail of industrial psychology based on the PLSe2 methodology, as a parametric approach to partial least squares (PLS), in a higher education context. This study also provides higher education researchers with the advantages of the PLSe2 method, especially in causal-predictive modeling, in the context of applied higher education research.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 April 2024

Majid Ghasemy, James A. Elwood and Geoffrey Scott

This study aims to focus on key approaches to education for sustainability (EfS) leadership development in the context of Malaysian and Japanese universities. The authors identify…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to focus on key approaches to education for sustainability (EfS) leadership development in the context of Malaysian and Japanese universities. The authors identify key indicators of effective EfS leadership development approaches using both descriptive and inferential analyses, identify and compare the preferred leadership learning methods of academics and examine the impact of marital status, country of residence and administrative position on the three EfS leadership development approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative in approach and survey in design. Data were collected from 664 academics and analysed using the efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) methodology. To provide higher education researchers with more analytical insights, the authors re-estimated the models based on the maximum likelihood methodology and compared the results across the two methods.

Findings

The inferential results underscored the significance of four EfS leadership learning methods, namely, “Involvement in professional leadership groups or associations, including those concerned with EfS”, “Being involved in a formal mentoring/coaching program”, “Completing formal leadership programs provided by my institution” and “Participating in higher education leadership seminars”. Additionally, the authors noted a significant impact of country of residence on the three approaches to EfS leadership development. Furthermore, although marital status emerged as a predictor for self-managed learning and formal leadership development (with little practical relevance), administrative position did not exhibit any influence on the three approaches.

Practical implications

In addition to the theoretical and methodological implications drawn from the findings, the authors emphasize a number of practical implications, namely, exploring the applicability of the results to other East Asian countries, the adaptation of current higher education leadership development programmes focused on the key challenges faced by successful leaders in similar roles, and the consideration of a range of independent variables including marital status, administrative position and country of residence in the formulation of policies related to EfS leadership development.

Originality/value

This study represents an inaugural international comparative analysis that specifically examines EfS leadership learning methods. The investigation uses the research approach and conceptual framework used in the international Turnaround Leadership for Sustainability in Higher Education initiative and uses the PLSe2 methodology to inferentially pinpoint key learning methods and test the formulated hypotheses.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 November 2022

Majid Ghasemy

This longitudinal study aims at assessing the impact of openness to experience and neuroticism on affective states experienced by the academics from the Malaysian public…

Abstract

Purpose

This longitudinal study aims at assessing the impact of openness to experience and neuroticism on affective states experienced by the academics from the Malaysian public universities during the first strict COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The author collected data for openness to experience and neuroticism at the beginning of the lockdown, and for positive and negative affect, when the lockdown ended. The author used the efficient partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLSe2-SEM) methodology to fit the model to the screened data (N = 291).

Findings

The results showed that openness to experience had a negative effect on negative affect and a positive effect on positive affect. The author also observed that neuroticism had a positive effect on negative affect and a negative effect on positive affect. These findings provided support for the proposition of the impact of personality traits on affective states amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in academic settings.

Practical implications

The study shows that careful assessment of lecturers' personality traits should be considered during the process of selection and recruitment since these factors, theoretically and empirically, trigger affective states which, in turn, lead to behaviors and attitudes.

Originality/value

This is the first study on examining the impact of academics' personality traits on their affective states. Also, it is amongst the few longitudinal studies on evaluating personality traits during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a methodological novelty, the author used the PLSe2 methodology to test the model and compared the results with maximum likelihood (ML) results.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 15 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 November 2023

Majid Ghasemy and Lena Frömbling

Guided by the affective events theory (AET), the purpose of this paper was to explore the impact of interpersonal trust in peers, as an affective work event, on two affect-driven…

Abstract

Purpose

Guided by the affective events theory (AET), the purpose of this paper was to explore the impact of interpersonal trust in peers, as an affective work event, on two affect-driven behaviors (i.e. job performance and organizational citizenship behavior toward individuals [OCBI]) via positive affect during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in the Asia–Pacific region.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is quantitative in approach, and longitudinal survey study in design. The authors collected data from lecturers in 2020 at the beginning, at the end and two months after the first Covid-19 lockdown in Malaysia. Then, the authors utilized the efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) estimator to investigate the relationships between the variables, while also considering gender as a control variable.

Findings

The findings show that positive affect fully mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust in peers and job performance and partially mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust in peers and OCBI. Given that gender did not demonstrate any significant relationships with interpersonal trust in peers, positive affect, job performance and OCBI, the recommended policies can be universally developed and applied, irrespective of the gender of academics.

Originality/value

This research contributes originality by integrating the widely recognized theoretical framework of AET and investigating a less explored context, specifically the Malaysian higher education sector during the challenging initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the authors adopt a novel and robust methodological approach, utilizing the efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) estimator, to thoroughly examine and validate the longitudinal theoretical model from both explanatory and predictive perspectives.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 September 2022

Majid Ghasemy, James A. Elwood and Geoffrey Scott

Given the increased emphasis on embedding the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the curriculum, research, engagement activities and operations of higher…

Abstract

Purpose

Given the increased emphasis on embedding the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the curriculum, research, engagement activities and operations of higher education institutions, this comparative study aims to replicate an earlier international study of Turnaround Leadership for Sustainability in Higher Education (TLSHE) in the unique context of Malaysia and Japan. This paper also presents a case for closer focus on developing Education for Sustainability (EfS) leaders in institutions of higher learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a quantitative comparative research. The authors collected data for EfS-related variables from lecturers affiliated with Malaysian and Japanese public and private universities. Building on the data and results from the TLSHE study, this study made a series of within- and between-sample descriptive comparisons from different angles and levels. To generalize the findings, this study used gender and experience outside higher education as control variables and compared the academics from the Malaysian and the Japanese institutions through the path modeling framework.

Findings

The comparisons showed that except for two domains, namely, contextual factors influencing EfS leadership and the EfS leadership development approaches, the means of all other domains based on the data collected from the Malaysian sample were the highest, followed by means from the international TLSHE sample, and finally the means from the Japanese sample. This study also observed that transparency, engagement with EfS initiatives at different levels, passion for teaching and learning, and creative and lateral thinking were among the top indicators. The inferential tests revealed significant differences between the academics from Japan and Malaysia as well.

Practical implications

The findings of the analyses can be used to ensure that the selection and development of EfS leaders (in this case, lecturers who may be formal or informal EfS leaders), not just at the central but at the local level in the distinctive context of Japan and Malaysia, focus on what counts and the good ideas embodied in the 17 UN SDGs are actually put into practice. This study has also highlighted the policy implications with respect to the gender and the previous work experience of lecturers outside higher education sector in more detail.

Originality/value

This study compares the perceptions of two samples of academics from Asian countries with the perceptions of the international TLSHE sampled EfS leaders in terms of EfS leadership-related issues and therefore, increases the awareness of academic community in this regard. It also highlights the role of lecturers (e.g. professors) as intellectual academic leaders in achieving SDGs. Moreover, this study shows that lecturers’ gender and previous work experience outside higher education should be considered when developing and implementing policies on EfS leadership.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 April 2021

Majid Ghasemy, Ali Derahvasht and Julen Castillo Apraiz

This study, drawing upon affective events theory (AET), examines the relationships between work environment features, work events, affective states and attitudes in the Malaysian…

Abstract

Purpose

This study, drawing upon affective events theory (AET), examines the relationships between work environment features, work events, affective states and attitudes in the Malaysian academic environment. Specifically, the authors examine the impact of supervisory support and welfare on role conflict, the impact of role conflict on affective states and the impact of affective states on job satisfaction using data collected from the international faculty.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 152 respondents through an online platform, and given this study's causal predictive-explanatory nature, the authors apply partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis. In addition, the authors complement their analysis by examining the nonlinear effects within the model as a robustness check.

Findings

From an explanatory perspective, the authors find support for all the hypotheses, implying the applicability of AET in academic contexts. Regarding the predictive perspective, the authors’ model exhibits a high out-of-sample predictive power. Importantly, the robustness check provides additional support for their model.

Practical implications

Given that the international faculty comes from different countries, the authors’ findings suggest that university managers should formulate and implement policies, which encourage and celebrate cultural diversity to increase the international faculty's job satisfaction. Additionally, policies that improve the process of job designs and descriptions need amendments in a way that reduces the role conflict faced by the multicultural faculty which, in turn, leads to negative affect and ultimately to job dissatisfaction.

Originality/value

This article is one of the first research studies focusing on the verification of AET in the context of international higher education. The authors apply the recent evaluative guidelines for a solid and rigorous PLS-SEM analysis and prove that the wandering scholars' emotions matter in achieving desirable organizational outcomes in cross-cultural institutions of higher learning.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 June 2020

Majid Ghasemy, Mahdiyeh Erfanian and James Eric Gaskin

The rapid pace of progress in academic institutions in developing economies has created stressful and relatively toxic workplaces, resulting in different negative organizational…

725

Abstract

Purpose

The rapid pace of progress in academic institutions in developing economies has created stressful and relatively toxic workplaces, resulting in different negative organizational outcomes indicating the need to transform universities into healthier academic workplaces. However, a review of the higher education literature in both developed and developing countries shows that the antecedents and consequences of academics' affective states has been a relatively unexplored area. Hence, our study aims at testing basic tenets of Affective Events Theory (AET) in a higher education context to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study which applies CB-SEM methodology in analyzing the collected data from 2,324 academics in Malaysian higher education sector. We analyzed the data using EQS software package.

Findings

Our results provided substantial support for the applicability and relevancy of AET in higher education domain. Specifically, welfare and supervisory support were identified as the two work environment features which significantly and equally contribute to academics' job satisfaction. In addition, the results showed that positive affect, in comparison with negative affect, was three times stronger in influencing academics' job satisfaction.

Practical implications

Given the considerable role of positive affect in our study, higher education policy makers are urged to make relevant policies to transform universities into more emotionally safe workplaces. In addition, policies should be formulated in a way that encourages supervisory support and decreases workloads to ensure that the conflicts in general are reduced among academics.

Originality/value

This work is the first large-scale study testing the main tenets of AET in the higher education context. In addition, it addresses the problem of multivariate normality and solves this problem based on the robust methodology which corrects standard errors and fit indices, thereby providing more precise and unbiased results.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2022

Majid Ghasemy and Lena Frömbling

During the Covid-19 outbreak, universities around the globe were closed or went online due to lockdowns implemented to curb the pandemic's spread. This study aims to examine the…

Abstract

Purpose

During the Covid-19 outbreak, universities around the globe were closed or went online due to lockdowns implemented to curb the pandemic's spread. This study aims to examine the changes in Malaysian academics' job and life satisfaction during a testing four-month period, from the beginning of the first Covid-19 lockdown until two months after it ended. It also assesses the impact of affective states and age group on these two constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

In this longitudinal study, the authors collected data from 220 academics in Malaysia at three time points in 2020, namely the beginning of the lockdown (April), the end of the lockdown (June) and two months after the lockdown (August). The authors applied multivariate latent growth curve (LGC) modeling to study changes in job satisfaction and life satisfaction. In addition, we added age group, as a time-invariant covariate, as well as positive and negative affect, as two time-varying covariates, to our LGC model. The authors estimated the LGC model using the EQS 6.4 statistical package.

Findings

The results show that both job and life satisfaction were stable over time, although their means were below the average. Positive affect was a significant predictor of both types of satisfaction, and age group was a significant predictor of job satisfaction.

Practical implications

The main implication the authors draw from this study is connected to job and life satisfaction's mean values being below average. In line with the affective events theory (AET), the authors recommend paying particular attention to work environment features, such as providing sufficient infrastructure for employees working from home and keeping social relations intact. Especially young academics should receive sufficient support.

Originality/value

The study is one of a limited number that examined longitudinal effects during the Covid-19 pandemic in the domains of human resource management and organizational behavior. Hence, this study expands our knowledge of employees' affect and attitudes during an unprecedented global health crisis, particularly in the under-researched area of the Malaysian higher education sector.

Details

Evidence-based HRM: a Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2049-3983

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2019

Majid Siavashi and Shirzad Iranmehr

The purpose of this study is to analyze a new idea for external flow over a cylinder to increase the heat transfer and reduce pressure drop. Using wedge-shaped porous media in the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze a new idea for external flow over a cylinder to increase the heat transfer and reduce pressure drop. Using wedge-shaped porous media in the front and wake regions of the cylinder can improve its hydrodynamic, and the rotating flow in the wake region can enhance the heat transfer with increased porous–liquid contact. Permeability plays a vital role, as a high-permeable medium improves heat transfer, whereas a low-permeable region improves the hydrodynamic.

Design/methodology/approach

Therefore, in the current research, external forced convection of nanofluid laminar flow over a bundle of cylinders is simulated using a two-phase mixture model. Four cases with different porous blocks around the cylinder are assessed: rectangular porous; wedge shape in trailing edge (TEP); wedge shape in leading and trailing edges (LTEP); and no porous block case. Also, three different lengths of wedge-shaped regions are considered for TEP and LTEP cases.

Findings

Results are presented in terms of Nusselt (Nu), Euler (Eu) and the performance evaluation criterion (PEC) numbers for various Reynolds (Re) and Darcy (Da) numbers.

Originality/value

It was found that in most situations, LTEP case provides the highest Nu and PEC values. Also, optimal Re and porous medium length exist to maximize PEC, depending on the values of Da and nanofluid volume fraction.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 29 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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