Quest Journal of Management and Social Sciences

The Impact of Workforce Diversity Management on Organizational Performance: A Study in Nepalese Hospitality Sector

Rheet Rijal — 2023-12-31

Background: The 1960s and 1970s in the United States marked a pivotal era in recognising the importance of workplace diversity and equal opportunities, leading to the establishment of the President's Committee on Equal Employment and the enactment of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This historical backdrop has evolved into a contemporary emphasis on diverse dimensions, such as demographic, cultural, and cognitive aspects, underscoring its critical role in improving organisational performance—an insight extended to the study's focus on Nepal's hospitality sector.

Objectives: This research aims to investigate the impacts of workplace diversity on organisational performance with the mediating role of inclusion and employee engagement solely.

Methods: The study followed a positivist research paradigm, deductive reasoning, a causal-comparative research method, and snowball sampling techniques for its procedural operations. The study's target populations were the staff employed in hospitality sectors in Nepal. The study incorporated 439 as a sample size. The structured survey questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics like percentages, frequency, and structural equation modelling. In order to analyse the data, SPSS 20 and AMOS 22 were used.

Results: The study supports hypotheses related to the positive influence of workforce diversity on employee inclusion, the positive effects of employee inclusion and engagement on organisational performance, and the partial mediation role of both employee inclusion and engagement in the relationship between workforce diversity and organisational performance. However, the study rejects hypotheses suggesting a direct impact of workforce diversity on employee engagement and organisational performance in the Nepalese hospitality sector.

Conclusions: The crucial role of fostering employee inclusion positively impacts loyalty and effort. While workforce diversity may not directly impact organisational performance, focusing on inclusion can lead to better outcomes. Organisations are urged to prioritise creating inclusive environments for enhanced employee commitment and to better align with the needs of a diverse customer base.

Implications: This research benefits human resource (HR) managers and businesses as it furnishes information that can be utilised to enhance legislative frameworks and establish measures for monitoring employee diversity policies. The findings of this study also aid established and emerging businesses in determining crucial considerations related to staff diversity. Employees currently employed will benefit from this research as it sheds light on the significance of staff diversity in terms of organisational success and growth.

Paper type: Research Paper

Key Words: Quantitative research, Diversity management, Gender, Age, Hospitality.

Leadership Style and Organizational Justice: Does Gender Matter?

Ritu Goyal — 2023-12-31

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between leadership style and organizational justice among bankers in commercial banks in Kathmandu Valley. It also investigates the effect of gender on the study variables.

Design/Methodology/Approach: It uses a quantitative approach comprising a self-administrated questionnaire to test hypotheses from 151 bankers. Correlation and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) are used for data analysis.

Findings: The results suggest that a positive relationship between leadership style and organizational justice exists. Moreover, it is found that there exists a significant difference between male and female bankers in transformational leadership but not in transactional leadership. Further, gender has significant differences among bankers in relation to organizational justice and its sub-dimensions.

Implications: This research could help understand the importance of leadership in banks to prevail in organizational justice. It reflects the importance of creating a diverse workforce, especially the necessity of female employees to promote fairness in the organization.

Keywords: Leadership style, Gender, Transactional leadership, Transformational leadership, Organizational Justice

Paper Type: Research Paper

Career Adaptability and Employees’ Turnover Intention in Nepalese Private Commercial Banks

Ujjwal Bhattarai — 2023-12-31

Purpose - Career adaptability is an important concept in organizational behaviour, especially in today's quickly changing work environment, and firms worldwide face the challenge of retaining employees due to high turnover intentions. Drawing on Career construction theory, this study analyses the association between career adaptability and employee turnover intention in Nepalese private commercial banks.

Design/Methodology/Approach -The explanatory research design examined the causal relationship between the career adaptability dimension and employee turnover intention. Cross-sectional data were collected from 380 respondents by using a convenience sampling technique. The data was analyzed quantitatively using structural equation modelling.

Findings - Results show concern, curiosity, and confidence play a significant role in predicting turnover intention. Surprisingly, control does not seem to have a relevant influence on turnover intention.

Research Limitations/Implications - The scope of this study is restricted to the banking professionals of Kathmandu Valley, self-reported bias, and cross-sectional data, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The study contributes to the expanding topic of career adaptability and turnover intention by underlining the significance of psychological factors in lowering turnover rates.

Practical Implication- The application of this research is extensive, and organizations can use the findings to improve their recruitment practices and provide the necessary training for workers to adapt to changing careers while considering social and cultural factors, which can aid in retaining employees and enhancing organizational productivity.

Originality/Value - To the author's best knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to examine the association between career adaptability and employee turnover intention in the banking industry by using Structural Equation Modelling and Career construction theory.

Keywords - Concern, Control, Curiosity, Confidence, Employees Turnover Intention, Commercial Banks

Paper Type: Research Paper

Institutionalising the Effects of Remuneration and Welfare Packages on Employees’ Performance in Public Universities in Nigeria

O Salawu Ibrahim — 2023-12-31

Background: Employee remunerations and welfare packages naturally constitute the two major determinate factors that stimulate negative or positive reactions towards employee performance in an organisation.

Objective: The study examines the effects of remuneration and welfare packages on employee performance in Nigerian public universities.

Methodology: The researcher employed a mixed research method. A total of 100 questionnaires were administered to the academics and non-academic staff of the University of Ilorin and Kwara State University Malate through random sampling; hypotheses were tested using simple percentages and chi-square.

Results: This menace has resulted in many negative effects, such as strikes, protests, corruption, dismal performance, slow development, side work, and nonchalant attitude, among other factors, within the staff of Nigerian public universities.

Conclusion: Policies on remunerations should be reviewed, salaries and wages should be paid as when due; also, employees taking home pay should be capable of taking care of their needs, and welfare packages should be improved in order to improve employee performance for an effective, efficient and workable Nigeria public enterprises.

Keywords: Remuneration, University, Welfare, Staff, Employee, Performance.

Emotional Intelligence and Work-Life Balance of Female Staff in Commercial Banks in Kathmandu District

Sudarshan K.C. — 2023-12-31

Background: Women's participation in the workforce is expanding all around the world. Nepali women are actively participating in both household and financial activities. When compared to their male counterparts, Nepalese women suffer from work overload.

Objective: This paper investigates the impact of emotional intelligence on work-life balance among female employees in commercial banks in Kathmandu.

Design/methodology/approach: This research is quantitative in nature and deductive in approach. It followed a cross-sectional survey based on judgmental sampling. SPSS was used to analyse the data collected from 399 usable questionnaires returned from respondents.

Finding: The result showed that self-awareness, self-management, self-motivation, empathy and social skills had a significant positive impact on work-life balance.

Conclusion: Emotional intelligence (EI) enables people to be self-aware, self-regulate, manage a peer-to-peer relationship, motivate themselves and communicate more effectively and accurately to accomplish the given task. Employees who feel more in control of their lives are better equipped to balance work and family. Today, organisations need to take various measures to develop EI in their employees to renew themselves and continuously achieve a harmonious work-life balance.

Empirical Relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth: Evidence from Nepal

Yatish Acharya — 2023-12-31

Background: Foreign direct investment (FDI) is vital for developing countries like Nepal to access foreign capital, drive economic growth through technology transfer, open new investment and research opportunities, and harness their abundant natural resources. With Nepal experiencing a capital shortage, FDI plays a crucial role in bridging the resource gap and stimulating economic activities in the country.

Objective: The study examines the relationship between FDI and economic growth, gross domestic savings (GDS), trade openness, as well as the impact of policy (liberalisation) and security variables in Nepal.

Methods: The study employs data from secondary sources, such as the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and the Central Bureau of Statistics, along with a database on the Nepalese economy from 1996 to 2019. The study utilises the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model for the evaluation and interpretation of the results.

Results: The findings of this study demonstrate a positive and statistically significant relationship between Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP), Real Gross Domestic Saving (RGDS), and Trade Openness (Xm) with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow in Nepal in the long run. Likewise, the Liberalization Policy positively affects FDI, although it lacks statistical significance. However, the presence of poor security conditions during the civil war exerts an adverse impact on FDI inflow.

Conclusion: The empirical analysis provides compelling statistical evidence supporting the claim that Trade openness and RGDP positively impact FDI in the long run. It signifies the potential of FDI as a significant resource capable of contributing to economic growth, with trade openness facilitating the inflow of FDI in the economy. Furthermore, Gross Domestic Saving appears to be a significant determinant of FDI, as it fosters capital formation within the economy, ultimately promoting increased FDI inflows. Likewise, the success of FDI attraction in Nepal is contingent upon effective Liberalisation and Privatisation policies alongside a stable political environment, which collectively play pivotal roles in facilitating and sustaining FDI inflows.

Implications: The study suggests that policymakers should focus on the timely reformation of economic policies and should pay close attention to providing security and ensuring an investment-friendly environment. The government should encourage increased savings through the better facilities of financial institutions and promote international trade and infrastructure development.

Keywords: FDI, Gross Domestic Savings, Economic Growth, Trade Openness, ARDL

Paper Type: Research Paper

Sexual Harassment in Female Students at Tribhuvan University: A Narrative Inquiry Research

Tribhuwon Sharma — 2023-12-31

Background: Higher education establishments in Nepal also disclose information on sexual harassment incidents. Sexual harassment is a detrimental encroachment onto the educational domain that extends beyond scholarly discussions. It is an undesirable, offensive, and frequently menacing behaviour that jeopardises a student's well-being.

Objectives: This study examines the experiences of female students at Tribhuvan University regarding sexual harassment in the classroom. It aims to assess the prevalence of sexual harassment and identify its various forms among female students.

Methods: Adopting a qualitative narrative inquiry research design, we included teachers and students from the Central Department of Education, with information collected from selected female students until data saturation was reached. In-depth interviews were used as the primary data collection method, and both primary and secondary sources were qualitatively and descriptively analysed.

Results: The findings reveal a disturbing reality where female students at Tribhuvan University faced sexual harassment from their classmates, teachers, and university staff. The study identifies three primary forms of sexual harassment: verbal, physical, and cyber sexual harassment. Cybersexual harassment emerges as the most prevalent form, significantly impacting the physical and mental well-being of the affected students.

Conclusion: Sexual harassment occurs in Nepalese higher education institutions, although it is less common among female students who are able to voice their concerns in an articulate and natural way. Those who feel intimidated struggle to voice their opinions or live in fear of facing a higher risk. The detrimental effect of this type of sexual harassment on the personality development of female students is emphasised.

Keywords: Girl student, Sexual harassment, Tribhuvan University, Forms of sexual harassment

Determinants of Investors' Awareness of Online Trading in the Nepal Stock Market: An Empirical Assessment Using Binary Logit Model

Ashish Budhathoki — 2023-12-31

Background: Online trading is becoming a prominent method of conducting stock exchanges through web platforms. While many regions worldwide have embraced online trading, its introduction in Nepal is relatively recent. The Nepalese stock market is considerably smaller than its neighboring nations, highlighting the significance of capital in a country's economic progress.

Objective: The main objective of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence investor awareness of online trading within the Nepal Stock Exchange. The study focuses on investors who engage in stock market activities online, examining the variables of better online trading (dependent variable), facility in online trading, and investors' intention to invest (independent variables) in the context of online trading in Nepal.

Methods: To achieve this objective, the study employed a non-probability convenience sampling technique, selecting 403 samples from the population of online investors. The research process incorporated three key instruments: expert opinions, structured questionnaires for surveys, and observational data collection.

Results: The study's findings reveal that the majority of investors (83.4%) in Nepal possess a comprehensive awareness of online trading. Notably, the primary source of this awareness is brokers, accounting for 58% of investor knowledge dissemination.

Conclusion: This research underscores the growing awareness of online trading within the Nepal stock exchange. Although Nepal's stock market is relatively diminutive compared to neighbouring nations, brokers play a vital role in educating investors about online trading. As investor interest in online trading rises, stakeholders and regulators must adapt to this evolving financial landscape.

Implications: Understanding the factors that drive awareness and participation in online trading is critical for the development and growth of the financial sector in Nepal. Stakeholders must enhance educational efforts and facilitate investor-friendly policies further to bolster the online trading ecosystem in the country.

Keywords: Online trading, Stock market, NEPSE, SEBON, Nepal

JEL Classification: G24; G32

Interplay of Brand Equity, Customer Satisfaction and Brand Loyalty: An Application of Cognitive Dissonance Theory among Male Shoe Customers in Nepal

Binod Gautam — 2023-12-31

Background: In today's marketplace, consumers are presented with a plethora of choices when it comes to purchasing specific products. The customer preferences varying significantly compounds the abundance of options further.

Objectives: The present study assesses and quantifies the intricate interplay between three pivotal elements: brand equity, customer satisfaction, and brand loyalty.

Methods: The study employed an explanatory research design to establish a causal link between brand equity and brand loyalty. Due to an unknown number of shoe customers, non-probability convenient sampling was utilized. Data was collected among 403 male shoe customers residing in Kathmandu valley using a structured questionnaire through Kobo Toolbox for convenience. Analysis was performed using structural equation modelling (SEM) with the partial least square method (version 4.0).

Results: The major challenges customers face when purchasing shoes are the lack of resources, competition from other shoe brands, and the unavailability of branded shoes. The SEM result shows a significant relationship between the perceived value of cost, perceived quality and life congruence with customer satisfaction, while brand identity and trust have not shown a significant relationship. Further, perceived quality, perceived value of cost, and brand identity partially mediate brand loyalty, life congruence fully mediates, and brand trust has no mediation role in brand loyalty. Lastly, respondents primarily buy shoes for special occasions and physical activities.

Conclusion: The study suggests that having a high-quality brand is crucial for customers' loyalty to the shoes. When the brand aligns with the customer's lifestyle, it leads to satisfaction. To enhance the Nepalese shoe market, we recommend increasing brand promotion, using digital product marketing, and focusing on customer-centric activities.

Paper Type: Research Paper

Keywords: Brand equity, Customer satisfaction, Brand loyalty, Perceived quality, Perceived value of cost, Structural equation modelling

JEL Classification: M3, L1

Homemakers’ Participation in Household Decision Making

Anita Dahal — 2023-12-31

Purpose: This study is conducted to identify homemakers’ participation in household decision making who are the member of community-based organization.

Methods: The study was conducted in ward no. 30 of Pokhara Metropolitan City, where the ward represents the smallest unit of local government. The study interviewed homemaker women who were participating in Community-based Organization. The primary data were collected from purposively sampled 120 homemaker women using structured closed ended questionnaires schedule. The collected data are processed and analysed in SPSS software where the test of association (The Chi square test) was performed to find the relationship among the variables of household decision making, together with social-economic and demographic variables.

Findings: The findings show that homemakers included in study have actively participating in household decision making. The Chi square test result indicates that there is no association between age and number of children with level of homemakers’ participation in household decision making. Also, other demographic variables such as marital status, caste or ethnicity, education, and family type have no significance association with household decision making.

Conclusion: From this study we can say that the participation level of the women in household decision making who are the member of community-based organization is high. The participation of women in community-based organization like women’s group, saving and cooperatives, community committees empower the women and support to build confident in household decision making.

Keywords: Homemaker, Participation, Decision Making, Women, Community Based Organisation.

Paper type: Research Paper

Digital Retail Trends: Analyzing Online Shopping Behaviour among College Level - Students in Nepal

Raju Bhai Manandhar — 2023-12-31

Background: Online shopping is a pivotal component of electronic commerce, allowing consumers to purchase products or services directly from sellers over the Internet. It typically involves using a web browser to access digital storefronts hosted by retailers. Its significance continues to grow as technology evolves and consumer preferences adapt to the digital age.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of price, convenience, and security on the online shopping behaviour of college-level students in Kathmandu. Valley.

Design/methodology/Approach: The study employed an analytical research design and targeted college-level students from the different colleges of the Kathmandu Valley involving online shopping. We selected 400 respondents using a convenience sampling technique. Primary data has been collected by adopting a well-structured questionnaire mainly containing a five-point Likert scale. We applied correlation and regression approaches to analyze and interpret the data to obtain the outputs of the study.

Findings: The study reveals an association between price, convenience, and security with online shopping behaviour. The result also showed that online shopping behaviour is significantly influenced by two main factors, namely convenience and price. Nevertheless, security is a relatively insignificant determinant of online shopping behaviour. However, gender does not affect all the variables.

Conclusion: In summary, for college students, online shopping behaviour is significantly influenced by price and convenience, with security playing a minor role. Online shopping companies should focus on user-friendly website design and stable pricing to attract and retain customers. A well-designed marketing mix aligned with customer expectations is crucial for effective online business. Government support for network infrastructure and online business policies is also essential.

Keywords: Online shopping behaviour, price, convenience, security, and students

Economic Growth, Public Expenditure, and Infrastructure on Provincial Financial Development of Nepal

Ram Prasad Gajurel — 2023-12-31

Purpose: Financial development is inevitable to finance the domestic resources in the development of Nepal at the provincial level. This paper intends to evaluate the nexus of financial development at the provincial level with economic growth, public expenditure, and infrastructure.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The targeted variables––financial development is a proxy by branches of banks and financial institutions and other regressors––economic growth (a proxy by annual growth in gross domestic product), public expenditure (proxied by current and capital expenditure), infrastructure (proxied by road networks, number of schools, electricity production) are considered throughout 2019 to 2023 across the seven provinces of Nepal. A fixed effect panel data model (FEM) is taken to estimate the intended outcome. To check the heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and cross-sectional dependency (CD), the CD test and Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) are regressions that are also performed.

Findings: The stylised facts, as a whole, indicate that the growth nexus has had a negative impact. However, infrastructure exerts a more significant influence on the financial development of Nepal's provinces. Additionally, combined public spending that is neither capital nor current has helped advance financial development in the provinces.

Value/Originality: The results of the study highlight the necessity of prioritising infrastructure improvements and effective combined public spending to support financial development in Nepal's provinces. It offers unique insights not previously explored in Nepalese academia. Updated and relevant data are collected and applied to the different channels to evaluate the nexus of financial development at the province level of Nepal.

Recommendation: Policymakers should give due consideration to the effective mobilisation of fiscal resources with proper fiscal discipline in every aspect. Moreover, enhancing the allocation of development finance has the potential to stimulate financial development across all areas herein examined.

Keywords: Economic growth, public expenditure, infrastructure, financial development, fixed effect model

JEL classification: H54, H72, G21, O47, C33

Human Resource Management Practices and Performances in Nepalese Financial Institutions

Dipendra Karki — 2023-12-31

Background: This study explores the dynamic relationship between human resource management practices and employee performance in Nepalese financial institutions. It investigates eight key elements, including Financial Compensation, Non-Financial Compensation, Leadership, Coaching, Empowerment, Participation, Organization Culture, and Motivation to address the research objectives.

Objectives: The primary aim of this research is to analyse the impact of various human resource practices on employee performance in Nepalese financial institutions. Eight hypotheses are formulated, each targeting the relationship between Employee Performance and one of the essential components.

Methods: The primary data collection instrument for this study is a structured questionnaire. This survey is being conducted on employees at various financial institutions in Nepal. The sample comprises 405 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures, such as correlation analysis, regression analysis, and One-Way ANOVA, are used to analyse the collected data.

Results: Regression analysis reveals a significant positive relationship between financial compensation and employee performance, emphasizing its crucial role. Conversely, no substantial relationships are found between employee performance and non-financial compensation, leadership, coaching, empowerment, participation, organisational culture, or motivation. The ANOVA test highlights the significance of job position, particularly in managerial roles, on employee performance.

Conclusions: This study emphasises the critical role of an effective financial compensation system in improving employee performance in Nepalese financial institutions. While several human resource practices showed no significant impact, it emphasises the need to tailor these practices to specific job functions. These findings have significance for Human Resources Managers, guiding them in optimising practices for improved employee performance and organisational productivity.

Keywords: Compensation, Leadership, Empowerment, Motivation, Employee Performance

Paper Type: Research paper

JEL Classification: G21, J32, J33, M52, M54

Does Temptation Associate with Unethical Intention? A Mediating Role of Monetary Intelligence: Evidence from MBA Students in Nepal

Bhanu Dabadi — 2023-12-31

Purpose- The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of Monetary Intelligence (MI) between Temptation (TEM) and Unethical Intention (UI) among MBA students in Nepalese Business Schools.

Design/ Methodology/ approach- The research applied a cross-sectional survey research design to collect data from 341 MBA students in Nepali Business Schools. The purposive sampling method was used to reach the respondents. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the stated hypotheses.

Finding- The study revealed that TEM has a significant influence on UI. However, MI and TEM do not significantly influence UI. Likewise, the specific indirect effects and total effects are not significant. Therefore, the results of the mediational analysis illustrated no effect (no mediation) results.

Practical implications- This study focuses on understanding the significance of MI in relation to TEM to trigger UI among MBA students at Nepali Business Schools. This paper paves the path for undertaking complex higher-order constructs in the existing PLS-SEM literature. Likewise, human resource managers could develop their recruitment, training, and performance appraisal mechanism based on understanding the temptation of prospective employees and their possibility of engaging in unethical behaviours.

Originality- This paper has investigated Temptation (reflective-formative), Monetary Intelligence (reflective-formative), and Unethical Intention (reflective-reflective) to explain the mediational mechanism of MI with TEM and UI. The present study is among the earliest studies to examine unethical intention in the Nepali context.

Keywords: Monetary intelligence, formative construct, reflective construct, temptation, unethical intention

JEL: M10

Remittances and Happiness: Investigating Socioeconomic Impact of Remittances in Jiri Municipality through Survey Data

Bikram Karki — 2023-12-31

Purpose: In recent years, international migration, notably in economically less developed countries like Nepal, has surged since 1990. Remittances, a vital income source, now constitute a quarter of Nepal's GDP. This research examines their diverse impact on the socioeconomic development of migrant households in Jiri Municipality, Dolakha district. This study tries to address the dimensions such as living standards, education, healthcare, happiness and overall well-being through remittances.

Design/ Methodology: This study used a quantitative approach based on a post-positivist philosophy. Data was collected from 240 respondents, equally divided between remittance-receiving and non-receiving households using structured self-administered questionnaires. A binary logistic regression model was employed to analyse the impact of remittances on various aspects of recipient households, including living standards, education, healthcare, sanitation, empowerment, and overall happiness.

Findings: The study's results indicate that unemployment was the foremost catalyst for migration, followed closely by various poverty-related factors in the study region. Notably, income from remittances exceeded earnings from other sources. The remittances coefficient was highly significant at the 1 per cent level. Furthermore, households receiving remittances demonstrated a significantly greater probability of enjoying improved living standards, enhanced access to quality education, better healthcare and sanitation facilities, increased empowerment, and overall greater happiness than those lacking remittance inflows.

Conclusion: This study highlights remittances' pivotal role in boosting socioeconomic development in Jiri Municipality, Dolakha district. The findings revealed that remittance income surpassing other earnings led to improved living standards, better education, enhanced healthcare, increased empowerment, and greater happiness in recipient households. These findings emphasize remittances' resilience and transformative impact in rural Nepal, highlighting the potential for government initiatives to harness remittances for further local community development.

Research limitations/ implications: This study highlights the resilience of remittances in the study area and reaffirms their constructive role in advancing socioeconomic development within Nepal's rural regions. A detailed study could provide valuable insights to the government for formulating a robust plan to foster remittance-led development in Nepal.

Keywords: Migration, Remittance, Living standard, Empowerment, Happiness

JEL Classification Codes: I3, F24, O1, R5