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1 – 5 of 5Mohammad Tajul Islam, Mohammad Rafiqur Rashid and Md Rafiqul Islam Rana
The properties of polyester/cotton (PC) fabric after chemical treatments as lining in woolen suits has been investigated, as the purpose of this paper is to study the influence of…
Abstract
Purpose
The properties of polyester/cotton (PC) fabric after chemical treatments as lining in woolen suits has been investigated, as the purpose of this paper is to study the influence of different finishing agents and their concentration on the properties of PC fabrics.
Design/methodology/approach
Three different chemical finishes such as anti-slip finish, softener and moisture management finish were applied to currently popular 80/20 PC pocketing fabric at three different concentration levels. A total of 60 seams were produced from 2/1 twill woolen shell fabric and chemically treated lining. Six important tests defining comfort and seam’s quality of lining fabric were chosen, namely, seam strength, seam slippage, stiffness, drape, water vapor transmission (WVT), abrasion resistance to study its properties and testing were done as per standardized test methods.
Findings
Chemical treatments affect the properties of PC fabric used as lining significantly in terms of seam strength, seam slippage, WVT and abrasion resistance. Among the three applied chemical finishes softener, at 20, 40 and 60 g/l, was found to be the best choice to make PC fabric suitable in terms of seam performance, durability, drape and comfort for use lining in suits with economic advantage.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to understanding the properties of relatively cheap 80/20 PC pocketing fabric used as lining in a suit.
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Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana and Song-yi Youn
This study explores the role of knowledge management capabilities (KMCs) in enhancing competitive advantage and organisational performance in fashion retailing. Employing the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the role of knowledge management capabilities (KMCs) in enhancing competitive advantage and organisational performance in fashion retailing. Employing the resource-based view (RBV) and knowledge-based view (KBV) perspectives, it investigates the interplay between managing knowledge effectively and fashion products’ complexity. The goal is to provide new insights into optimising KMC for greater agility and success in the fashion retail industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The study analysed survey data from 322 US fashion retail professionals using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
The results revealed that knowledge infrastructure capability enhanced both competitive advantage and organisational performance significantly. In contrast, knowledge process capability did not significantly affect competitive advantage, it improved organisational performance. Importantly, product complexity moderated the relationship between competitive advantage and organisational performance negatively.
Practical implications
This study underscores the necessity for retailers in the fashion industry to enhance their KMC to bolster competitive advantage and organisational performance, while it also acknowledges product complexity’s effect on these strategies. These insights offer actionable guidance for industry leaders to optimise knowledge management to navigate the rapidly evolving retail landscape.
Originality/value
This research offers novel insights into the interplay of product complexity and KMC in fashion retail and highlights the unique effects on competitive advantage and organisational performance valuable for both academia and industry.
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Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana and Jung E. Ha-Brookshire
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between the social power of apparel buyers from developed countries and the psychologically defensive workplace…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between the social power of apparel buyers from developed countries and the psychologically defensive workplace behavior (PDWB) of the suppliers from a developing country.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was used to collect 205 responses from the professionals who were working in the apparel exporting companies in Bangladesh. Data were analyzed quantitatively.
Findings
The results showed that the exercise of buyers' reward and coercive power was associated with the suppliers' perfectionistic workplace behavior. The exercise of buyers' coercive power was associated with the suppliers' arrogant-vindictive workplace behavior. The exercise of buyers' reward power was associated with the suppliers' narcissistic workplace behavior, and coercive power was found to be statistically suggestive.
Research limitations/implications
This study purposely used convenient and snowball sampling techniques to collect data from Bangladesh only. Future researchers could focus on random sampling from different countries to improve the generalizability of the research.
Practical implications
This study will help apparel buyers to better negotiate with Bangladeshi suppliers regarding maintaining proper workplace conditions and compliances. It will also help industry professionals to better educate suppliers on how to deal with workplace pressure.
Originality/value
This study adds to the literature on social power and PDWB, specifically related to the apparel manufacturing industry, and will help illustrate the impact of workplace behavior in terms of corporate social responsibility beyond the usual measurement of the codes of conduct and compliance issues.
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Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana and Jung E. Ha-Brookshire
This study investigates the relationships between knowledge management capabilities (KMC), supply chain agility (SCA) and disruption mitigation performance (DMP) in the U.S…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the relationships between knowledge management capabilities (KMC), supply chain agility (SCA) and disruption mitigation performance (DMP) in the U.S. fashion retail industry (FRI) during turbulent times, such as a pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was used to collect 320 responses from U.S. fashion retail professionals. Structural equation modeling was used for analysis.
Findings
Among the two KMCs, knowledge infrastructure capabilities act as enabling factors for knowledge process capabilities (KPC) in U.S. fashion retail settings. The KPC were found to be positively associated with SCA, and SCA was positively associated with both pre- and post-DMP of U.S. fashion retailers.
Originality/value
This study adds to the literature on KMC, SCA and DMP from the FRI context and illustrates the impact of effective organizational knowledge management for supply chain (SC) disruption mitigation through agility in a volatile market.
Practical implications
The results inform fashion retail companies on how to transform their organizational dimensions through effective management of knowledge, i.e. digital escalation and innovation, to establish an agile and sustainable SC to mitigate future market disruptions.
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Md. Bokhtiar Hasan Aarif, Muhammad Rafiqul Islam Rafiq and Abu N.M. Wahid
This paper aims to examine whether the Sharīʿah indices outperform the conventional indices as evident from Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). To achieve the objective, the study, first…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine whether the Sharīʿah indices outperform the conventional indices as evident from Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). To achieve the objective, the study, first, assesses the risk adjusted returns of the Sharīʿah and conventional indices and compares the same between the two indices. Second, it examines the short-run and long-run associations between the two indices.
Design/methodology/approach
The DSEX Sharīʿah index and DSE broad index of the DSE are used as representatives of the Sharīʿah and conventional indices, respectively. The study uses monthly data for the period 2014–2018 and applies a number of techniques such as risk adjusted returns, Johansen’s cointegration test, vector error correction model, Granger causality test, forecast error variance decomposition and impulse response functions techniques.
Findings
The study reveals that albeit there is no significant difference in simple mean between the two indices, the Sharīʿah index outperforms its conventional counterpart based on the risk adjusted returns. The two indices are associated only in the long-run, while no causal relationship is spotted between them. The overall results show that the Sharīʿah index has dominance over the conventional index in Bangladesh.
Research limitations/implications
The study could use more pairs of indices, including additional variables such as financial crisis and macroeconomic variables.
Practical implications
The study has important implications to investors, especially the religious Muslims and ethical ones, who are suggested to invest their funds in the Sharīʿah index without sacrificing returns, rather be monetarily more benefited. Moreover, the other investors can generate diversification benefits by adding both Sharīʿah and conventional indices in their portfolios in the short-run.
Originality/value
Unlike previous studies, this study endeavors to use a comprehensive methodology to conduct its analysis. Moreover, this is supposedly the first ever effort to conduct such a study in the context of Bangladesh.
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