Journal of Social and Organizational Matters

Financial Advice in Digital Age: The Role of Finfluencers on Financial Behavioral Intentions

Maryam Mureed — 2026-01-07

This study investigates how well financial influencers can encourage positive financial behaviors. Under the guidance of the social cognitive theory, the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and Parasocial Interaction Theory, it explores how people could be influenced by the traits of finfluencers and then take on their own monetary procedures. The Study emphasis on sustainability consumerism, and financial wellbeing. The data were gathered using the sample of 266 responses through an online questionnaire form via the Structural Equation Modelling (AMOS) analysis. The results indicate that source characteristics (trustworthiness and similarity) and argument quality of the finfluencer message (accuracy and value-adding information) are positively associated with the parasocial relationship between finfluencers and followers. Parasocial relationship is found to function as a mediating variable. The results only highlight the potential of finfluencer marketing as a strategic outlet for banks and financial marketers but do not provide a detailed into that how financial institutions can practically exploit finfluencers’ persuasive ability to encourage people to adopt financial practices.

Faculty Readiness and Pedagogical Transformation in AI-Enabled Personalized Learning: A Phenomenological Study

Farooq Ahmad — 2026-01-11

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the education sector has become widespread, and AI-facilitated individualized learning has become recognized in higher education, transforming instructional and pedagogical decision-making from an alternative perspective. Whereas literature provides potential insights into the role of AI in education, the lived experiences of readiness and pedagogical change by faculty members are yet to be investigated. The current study focuses on the experiences of faculty members of higher education regarding AI-enabled personalized learning in their professional teaching work. The qualitative phenomenological research design was used to conduct deep semi-structured interviews with ten participants selected through purposive sampling techniques from three public sector universities of Punjab, Pakistan. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The results indicate five interactive themes: Becoming Ready, Redefined Teaching, Ethical Negotiation, Hidden Workload, and Institutional Leverage. The faculty preparedness was developed because of the challenge of experience that was not only built through the training but also through the long, gradual experience. Participants described a redefinition of teaching along the lines of facilitation and mentoring and learning design, as well as increased ethical responsibility in the areas of academic integrity, data privacy, and algorithmic transparency. There was ongoing concern over increased cognitive demands and intensification of workload, especially in the early stages of adoption, and institutional support made the difference between facilitating and inhibiting pedagogical change. The study further explores the sense-making of the faculty and professional identity formation in AI-mediated pedagogy, as well as providing policy-relevant information in relation to how AI can be integrated ethically and sustainably in higher education.

Exploring the Influence of Teachers' Soft Skills on Students' Learning Outcomes at the University Level

Zahid Ali — 2026-01-14

This study explores the influence of university teachers' soft skills on students' learning outcomes in Karachi Pakistan’s public sector universities. The primary objective is to understand the perceptions of teachers regarding their use of soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence within the classroom. A qualitative phenomenological methodology was employed, using semi-structured interviews with 08 university teachers from Karachi. Participants were selected through convenience sampling, and the data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that effective communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence significantly enhance student engagement, motivation, and academic success. However, challenges such as time constraints and varying student awareness of soft skills were identified. Despite these challenges, the study highlights opportunities for integrating soft skills training into university curricula, offering recommendations for teachers to incorporate collaborative activities and communication-focused tasks into their teaching strategies. The study emphasizes the growing importance of soft skills in preparing students for professional success and suggests further emphasis on these skills in teacher development programs.

Impact of ICT Training Programs on Teacher's Digital Competence at Secondary Schools of District Shaheed Benazir Abad: Pre-Post Study

Sohail Ahmed Dahri — 2026-01-14

The rapid adoption of technology in the education system has indicated the need of teachers to develop effective digital skills. This is a pre- post study that seeks to determine the impact of an ICT training program on the digital competence of secondary-school teachers in District Shaheed Benazir Abad. One hundred and twenty teachers took part and the standardized Digital Competency Assessment Scale (DCAS) was used to evaluate their competencies before and after the training. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and paired samples t-tests in order to determine the significance of the observed improvements. The outcome indicated that there is a statistically significant improvement in general digital competence after training. Significant improvements were found in the areas of digital content production, online work teams and the use of instructional technology. These results make it possible to think that well-organized, practical ICT training programs showed the possibility to increase the digital competency of teachers and feel more confident and effective in integrating technology into the classroom. The research suggests life-long learning, mentoring after training, and increased access to online resources to maintain and further improve the digital skills of the teachers.

Impact of Perceived Educational Value and Usability of AI Tools on Undergraduate Students’ Learning Autonomy

Syeda Sapna Shah — 2026-01-14

The rapid adoption of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the sphere of higher education promises to stimulate better learning progress, as well as promote the development of autonoetic learning. However, the extent of student perception towards AI tools impacting their self-directed learning trends is not researched to an adequate extent. To investigate these relationships, it is a quantitative research design that used a correlational approach. A total of 370 undergraduate students of a number of universities were used as a sample, and stratified random sampling was applied. The data collection was conducted on the basis of a modified questionnaire resolving the vision of AI tools regarding their educational and usability worth, and learning autonomy of students. The instrument was tested and showed a sufficient degree of reliability. Regression analyses also revealed that the perceived educational value and usability of the AI tools were positively related to the student learning autonomy and thus implied that the students perceiving AI tools as relevant and easy to use are more likely to engage in self-directed learning. Based on the results of the conducted research, it is suggested that teachers and curriculum developers should integrate AI technologies that are pedagogically applicable and easily available, and learning institutions should provide resources and information on how learners can use such technologies. The next study should study new variables such as AI literacy, subject-specific situations, and longitudinal implications in order to gain a better insight into the influence of AI in autonomous learning encouragement.

China's Soft Power in South Asian Governance

Iqra Kousar — 2026-01-15

The position of China in South Asia has changed into preferences molding rather than commanding. The nation is employing joint structures, development efforts, training of administrators and specific publicity to make it attractive to the regional governments. This is slowly transforming local bureaucratic practices, directions of policy, and leadership into a way that fits the Chinese way of developing. The region where such an approach has easily rooted is South Asia because the governments of this region have been facing institutional challenges, in addition to seeking external support in order to realize economic growth, political stability, and increased regional integration. In Pakistan, this trend is concentrated in the middle-point, and in this case, the CPEC structures, the existing security relationships, and the diplomatic consultations of the seniors placed a conducive platform of Chinese administrative power. This paper is a discussion of how these interactions can lead to common development priorities, administrative skills transfer, and changes in the manner in which regional diplomacies operate. The analysis is informed by qualitative approaches that are guided by the Soft Power Theory and the Governance Theory. The results point out that the three most crucial aspects are symmetric engagement, strong institutions, and steady strategic planning. Essentially, soft governance in China presents the South Asian states with an actual outlet through which they can consolidate their institutions, perfect administrative processes, and development work with more confidence and clarity.

Pakistan's Economic Relations with the United States: Dependency, Challenges, and Policy Constraints

Ambreen Aman — 2026-01-15

The economic connection between Pakistan and the United States is the focus of this research. It points out the reliance of Pakistan, main problems, and restrictions of policies. It also depicts how the economic consequences have been affected by aid conditionality, structural adjustment programs, and geopolitical factors such as Pakistan's proximity to China and strategic location. The research adopts a qualitative approach and is guided by the theories of dependency and political economy. The findings suggest that US aid has been a blessing in the growing economy but it has also been very unpredictable and linked to the US strategic interests thus limiting Pakistan's autonomy in policy making. The research has emphasized the need for economic diversification, strengthening of institutions, and strategic diplomacy as the ways to maximize US aid and investment, reduce dependency, and thus lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth in Pakistan.

Financial Development, Green Finance, And Carbon Emissions: Renewable Energy as a Mediating Mechanism In A Green Economy Framework

Hira Khan — 2026-01-22

In the past five years, there has been an increasing interest in green financing as many companies, nations, and organizations view the green economy as essential to achieving the Paris Agreement objective of 1.5°C global warming and below 2°C. Today, however, the production of non-renewable energy is a CO₂ demanding process, contributing about 2% of world CO₂ emissions. We cannot advance toward a green economy by maintaining processes that produce greenhouse gases. Energy production must be done as cheaply and with the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions feasible, most likely necessitating the usage of renewable energy sources. The study about modeling aims to comprehend how renewable energy use mediates the effects of foreign direct investment, green finance, economic growth, natural resources rent, international trade, and urbanization on environmental degradation while examining the moderation of financial development by employing a two-stage moderated mediation model in the particular case of 79 nations. The selection of the sample period and countries is based on the availability of annual data covering the twenty-one years 1999-2019. We obtained the necessary data for our variables from reputable sources, namely the World Bank, (2022) and the OECD, (2022). With the insights gained from our study, government agencies, institutions, policymakers, and other organizations could implement more sensible, suitable, and effective measures to promote environmental safety. The findings of the study state that green financing have positive impact on reducing pollution. Hence, modernization increases CO₂ emissions, which cause a threat to environmental quality. The researchers suggest that there must be a standardized measure of production, distribution, and consumption. There is a need for green economy measures, and the government must initiate steps towards green-friendly products/ projects. Those are less harmful to the economy.

The Impact of Organizational Commitment on Teachers’ Presenteeism in Punjab: Effect of Presenteeism on Employee Morale

Remissa Musaddiq — 2026-01-22

The research aims to investigate the effect organizational commitment has on the presenteeism exhibited by the school teachers in schools of Punjab. It further examines the effect presenteeism has on the morale of teachers. Presenteeism, which is a situation where employees come to the workforce either by their own will or of force, even when they are not well, is an emerging concern in the education industry as it has an effect on the productivity and the well-being of the employees. Data was collected from public and private schools of Punjab using questionnaires. PLS-SEM was used to conduct the analysis. It resulted that there exists a significant direct relationship between organizational commitment and presenteeism. High levels of commitment cause teachers to exhibit higher presenteeism and vice versa. The study also demonstrates that teacher morale is negatively affected by the increased presenteeism. This in turn, influences the motivation and job satisfaction negatively. The research also lays emphasis on inculcating organizational commitment, thus reducing presenteeism and enhancing their morale. This study is beneficial for policymakers, school leadership, and management. It is useful in devising policies to reduce the negative effects of presenteeism and enhance the morale of teachers. The study will be equally beneficial at the strategic level at both the provincial and national levels.

Combatting Misinformation in Marginalized Communities: Insights from Interdisciplinary Experts Through In-depth Interviews

Rana Umair Nadeem — 2026-01-23

Misinformation is becoming a crucial problem in the digital areas and has been affecting digital media users' social and political behavior. The academics keenly focused on the various types of information in the US presidential elections in 2016 and the pandemic. It has become an important issue not only in developed countries but also in third-world countries. The marginalized communities have socioeconomic, religious, political, educational, and cultural factors, which may increase the exposure to misinformation among social media users. To find out the conceivable solutions to minimize misinformation in marginalized groups by focusing on the causes and impacts, this research aims to conduct in-depth interviews of (N = 15) experts across various fields such as communication, media, psychology, IT, and computer sciences. This comprehensive study will help to understand the psychological mechanisms behind the dissemination and exposure of misinformation, moreover, data experts will provide support in investigating the designs, trends, and the power of misinformation through the analysis. The ultimate goal of the study would be to provide effective approaches and solutions for marginalized communities to minimize the diffusion of misinformation. The insights collected from the interviews could provide support for the development of awareness programs, educational strategies, and training sessions.

The Impact of Female leadership on Organizational Culture and Psychological Empowerment of Employees and Job Satisfaction in Organizations; Bibliometric Analysis

Kynat Raza — 2026-01-22

To outline the knowledge structure and determine the necessary thematic clusters of the field of psychological empowerment, organizational behavior, gender equality, and women leadership, offering scholars a critical and detailed picture of its intellectual development and future perspectives. A quantitative bibliometric methodology implemented using Scopus as the data repository and VOSviewer for high-level data visualization and clustering. The research employs co-occurrence analysis of keywords.A total of 275 articles were analyzed. There is a steady and strong positive trend in publications, with an initial period of less than 18 publications followed by significant and then dramatic growth. India (195 documents), the United States (190 documents), and China (170 documents) are the most productive countries. The Bucharest University of Economic Studies and the Universidad da Beira Interior are important institutional contributors. The research offers scholars a critical and detailed picture of the intellectual development and future perspectives of this crucial field of organizational psychology, which can guide future research and understanding. (Implicitly, the identification of thematic clusters aids structured knowledge acquisition). The study implements a quantitative bibliometric methodology (in contrast to conventional systematic reviews) to handle a large volume of data and employs co-occurrence analysis of keywords to outline the knowledge structure and determine thematic clusters.

Digital-Era Leadership Readiness and Decision-Making in Pakistani Banks

Asif Ali — 2026-01-23

Digital transformation is reshaping banking decision-making, yet the role of leadership readiness in enabling this shift remains under-examined in emerging economies. This study reframes leadership readiness for the digital age by examining its influence on decision-making practices in Pakistan’s banking sector. Drawing on Technology Readiness Theory and the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, leadership readiness is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct comprising behavioral openness, digital awareness, and technological capability. Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from leaders and managerial-level employees across public and private banks in Pakistan. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings indicate that leadership readiness has a significant positive effect on the adoption of digital enablers, including AI-supported HR analytics and decision support systems. Digital enabler adoption, in turn, enhances organisational decision-making quality by promoting evidence-based and analytically grounded practices. Mediation analysis further reveals that digital enabler adoption partially mediates the relationship between leadership readiness and decision-making quality, underscoring the central role of technology assimilation in digital-era governance. This study contributes to the literature by positioning leadership readiness as a strategic antecedent of rational decision-making in banking and offers practical implications for leadership development and digital capability building in emerging market contexts.

Environmental Tax, Energy Consumption, and Pollution Reduction: Evidence from Developing Economies

Khawar Abbas — 2026-01-24

The study examines the effect of environmental tax on environmental quality through the mediating role of energy consumption in developing countries from 2000 to 2020. Employing Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR), the effects of environmental taxes on energy consumption patterns and onward environmental upshots are empirically analyzed. The results show that imposition of environmental tax reduces energy consumption and resultantly improves environmental quality. The findings reveal that market-based policy tools strengthen sustainable energy demand and reduce environmental deterioration. The analysis provides insights to formulate effective policy measures to attain the sustainable environment goal.

Investor Overconfidence in the AI Era: Human vs. Algorithmic Decision-Making

Muhammad Asad Ullah — 2026-01-24

We investigate investor overconfidence in the age of artificially intelligent coincident with human–algorithmic and hybrid decision‐making models on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Leveraging behavioral finance literature and advances in AI-based investment tools, the paper explores whether algorithmic behaviors alleviate or change overconfidence when human judgments persist. Based on panel data for PSX investors, 2020:2025, overconfidence is proxied by turnover, holding bias and relative deviation from trading algorithms. The empirical evidence shows that human-only investors have a higher turnover, more portfolio concentration and earn less risk-adjusted returns than algorithm-based portfolios. AI-driven portfolios exhibit better diversification and lower downside risk compared to traditional portfolios, but hybrid investors tend to ignore machine suggestions after an initial period of profit, which is consistent with learning-based overconfidence and illusion of control. Regressions suggest that overconfidence undermines the efficiency gains of AI via discretionary intervention, resulting in higher volatilities and more pronounced draw-downs when under financial stress. In general, the results imply that AI doesn’t remove behavioral biases but rather re-sculpts their manifestation in hybrid decision worlds. Our paper extends overconfidence theory into AI-mediated markets and has significant implications for investors, financial institutions and regulators in emerging markets.

The Reflection of Female Culture and Regional Culture in Joseph Conrad s Novels from the Perspective of Post-Colonialism

Naveed Ali Shah — 2026-01-24

In this paper, the postcolonial female culture and regional culture in Conrad's works are analyzed from the perspective of postcolonialism, and Conrad's growth background and writing background are combined to understand. This study focuses on Conrad's depiction of women and regional culture in Lord Jim, A Stranger at Sea, and Heart of Darkness. It enables him to get rid of the traditional British writers' single narrative perspective, and depicts the cultural picture of the colonial expansion period from the cross-cultural perspective. The analysis of female culture and regional culture in his works will get unexpected results. This study is based on this perspective, through reading and consulting literature in-depth analysis, in order to be able to theoretically enrich the academic research on post-colonial literature, while promoting the relevant regional culture and the further development of female culture.