Mr. Muhammad Alam successfully completed his PhD thesis defense on 29^th May 2024, at the Department of Graduate Studies, AUSOM.

Thesis Title: Brand Hate in Service Industry: Antecedents and Consequences.

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Saman Attiq. NUST, Islamabad

Internal GEC Members:Assist. Professor Dr. Moin Ahmed Moin, (AU-Multan)
Assist. Professor Dr. Danish Habib (AU-Kamra)

External GEC Member: Prof. Dr. Waseem Hassan , University of Central Punjab, Lahore
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kashif , NUST, Islamabad

Mr. Muhammad Awais Ahmed successfully completed his PhD thesis defense on 31th May 2024, at the Department of Graduate Studies, AUSOM.

Thesis Title: Social Exchange Perspective of Organization-Oriented Citizenship Behavior and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: A Mediated-Moderated-Moderation Model.

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Assist. Professor Dr. Amir Ishaque, Air University, Islamabad

Internal GEC Members:Professor Dr. Noshaba Batool, Chair Dept. Graduate Studies, Air University, Islamabad
Assist. Professor Dr. Muzzammel Shah, Air University, Islamabad

External GEC Member:Prof. Dr. Arif Khattak , Bahria University, Islamabad.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fuwad Bashir , SZABIST, Islamabad

Mr. BABAR MASOOD successfully completed his PhD thesis defense on 29^tht August 2024, at the Department of Graduate Studies, AUSOM.

Thesis Title: Social Exchange Perspective of Organization-Oriented Citizenship Behavior and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: A Mediated-Moderated-Moderation Mode.

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Saad Hassan Air University, Islamabad

Internal GEC Members: Assist. Professor Dr. Amir Ishaque, Air University, Islamabad
Assist. Professor Dr. Muzammel Shah, Air University, Islamabad

External GEC Member: Prof. Dr. Khurram Shahzad , (RIPAH University) Islamabad.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fuwad Bashir,(SZABIST), Islamabad

The Department of Graduate Studies at AUSOM hosted an enlightening seminar titled "Towards Becoming a Skilled & Successful Project Management Professional: Your Journey Towards Achieving Your Career Goals." The event was designed to equip aspiring professionals with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the field of project management. The seminar provided an in-depth look at the various stages of a project management career, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for those dedicated to pursuing excellence in this field.

The guest speaker, Mr. Ammar Mehdi, brought a wealth of experience to the seminar, sharing his extensive knowledge gained from over 20 years in the industry. As a Mechanical Engineer with a focus on managing engineering projects, Mr. Mehdi's expertise spans Human Resource Management (HRM) practices and Knowledge Management within complex projects. Currently serving as the Principal Engineer at the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, his practical experience provided attendees with a realistic view of what it takes to succeed in the demanding world of project management. Mr. Mehdi emphasized the importance of continuous learning, effective communication, and strategic planning in navigating the complexities of project management. Moreover, He highlighted the critical role of HRM in managing teams and ensuring project success, as well as the significance of Knowledge Management in maintaining a competitive edge in today's fast-paced environment. Attendees left the seminar with a clearer understanding of the steps they need to take to achieve their career goals and the importance of cultivating both technical and soft skills to become effective project management professionals.

Mr. Malik Zeeshan Ahmad successfully completed his PhD thesis defense on 29^th August 2024, at the Department of Graduate Studies, AUSOM.

Thesis Title: Impact of Workplace Ostracism on Instigated Incivility: Mediation of Negative Emotions and Moderating Roles of Narcissism and Perceived Organizational Support.

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Noshaba Batool, Air University

Internal GEC Members: Assist. Professor Dr. Amir Ishaque, Air University, Islamabad
Assist. Prof. Dr. Saad Hassan Air University, Islamabad,, Air University, Islamabad

External GEC Member: Prof. Dr. Arif Khattak, Bahria University, Islamabad
External Local Examiner:. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Majid Khan, COMSATS, Islamabad

The Department of Graduate Studies, AUSOM organized a workshop on Bibliometric Methods. Dr. Muhammad Anwar from Witten Herdecke University, Germany, was our distinguished speaker. Dr. Anwar brings a wealth of experience to this workshop, having published over 42+ research papers in Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) and Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) databases and garnered over 2700 citations. His H-Index of 26 and i10-Index of 33, further highlight the significant impact of his research. Dr. Anwar is also the recipient of the Best Paper Award at the IFERA Conference in Spain.

The event was attended by 60+ MS and PhD students both online and offline, as well as faculty members of AUSOM, all of whom greatly benefited from his insightful lecture. During the workshop, Dr. Muhammad Anwar provided a comprehensive overview of the principles, methods, and applications of bibliometric analysis, shedding light on how it can be used to evaluate research impact, identify emerging trends, and inform strategic decision-making.

Thesis Title: WELLBEING AT WORK: AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK OF WELLBEING ORIENTED HRM PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Dr Muzammel Shah / Dr. Mueen A Zafar

Internal GEC Members: Dr. Noshaba Batool & Dr. Saad Hassan

External GEC Member: Dr. Arif Khatak (Bahria University) & Dr. Khurram Shahzad (RIPAH University)

Thesis Title: No Boundaries, No Breaks: Contextualizing Young Professionals Perspective on Work Life Balance

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Dr. Noshaba Batool / Dr. Suhaib Aamir

Internal GEC Members: Dr. Amir Ishaque & Dr. Muzammel Shah

External GEC Member: Dr. Ikramullah (COMSATS) & Dr. Khurram Shahzad (RIPAH)

Thesis Title: ADOPTION OF HR ANALYTICS: A MEDIATED MODERATED MODERATION MODEL

Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Dr. Amir Ishaque / Dr. Saad Hassan

Internal GEC Members: Dr. Mueen A. Zafar & Dr. Muzammel Shah

External GEC Member: Dr. Muhammad Jehangir (Abdul Wali Khan University) & Dr. Khurram Shahzad (RIPAH)

Thesis Title: Examining the Nexus between Organizational Configuration and Organizational Performance: A Parallel and Serial Multiple Mediation Anaylsis

Summary:: This study endeavors to assess the influence of organizational configuration on organizational performance within the export processing zones of Pakistan. Additionally, it examines the mediating role of high-performance HR practices and employee well-being in the relationship between organizational configuration and performance. Employing a quantitative survey strategy and a multi-stage sampling technique, the research involved 594 middle-level managers across 101cross-sectoral firms in export processing zones of Pakistan. The findings affirm that firms adopting an organic organizational structure, differentiation strategy, and superior high-performance work practices exhibit enhanced employee well-being and superior organizational performance within the Pakistani context.

Thesis Title: Effects of Culture through Promotive Voice on Advisers’ Salience: A Comparison of Growth and Non-growth Firms.

Summary: This is a comparative study exploring the concept of stakeholder salience, particularly focusing on the advisers of a firm. It utilizes Hofstede's five cultural dimensions (individualism, power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation) in relation to the promotive voice of advisers. The research, conducted through a large cross-sectional, cross-country, and cross-sectoral dataset, examines how culture impacts adviser salience and the role of homophily in moderating this relationship. The study, which includes data from both high-growth and low-growth firms during COVID-19, finds that cultural dimensions, except masculinity, affect adviser salience through promotive voice, and that attitudinal homophily also plays a moderating role. This research contributes to the understanding of cultural influences, voice modulation, and stakeholder salience in organizational settings.

The Department of Graduate Studies, AUSOM organized a seminar on Counterculture and Decoding the Agile Mindset. Mr. Waleed Riaz, COO, and Co-founder of DPL, a leading IT services company in Pakistan, was our distinguished speaker. This seminar was aimed to foster strong connections with academia, provide knowledge about cutting-edge management methodologies, and shed light on the effective implementation of Agile principles.

Thesis Title: Antecedents and outcomes of career optimism: A Serial mediation model