http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/20 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:19:51 GMT 2026-04-07T20:19:51Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1169 Career Planning and Performance of Academic Professionals of Higher Education in Bangladesh Sheikh, Md. Imran Career planning has traditionally been defined as the process of evaluating personal strengths, values, and aspirations, setting up goals and objectives, determining the steps required to achieve them, and compiling this information into a written career plan that will be reviewed and updated on a regular schedule. Since the previous few decades, it has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of human resource management. The overall objective of the study was to examine the impact of career planning phenomena on the performance of academic professionals. This study aimed to explore the key dimensions of career planning for academic professionals. Besides, this study intended to assess the effect of career planning dimensions on the job satisfaction of academic professionals. Again, another purpose of the study was to examine the effect of career planning dimensions on the performance of academic professionals. In addition, this research wanted to measure the effect of job satisfaction on the performance of academic professionals. Moreover, this study was also designed to assess the mediation effect of job satisfaction between career planning dimensions and the performance of academic professionals. Furthermore, the present study also tried to examine the moderating role of motivation on the relationship between job satisfaction and the performance of academic professionals. The study employed a post-positivist research paradigm to address the issues underlying the career planning and performance of academic professionals in various job satisfaction and performance-related activities after carefully assessing the ontology, epistemology, methodology, and axiology of all four study paradigms. Therefore, this study used a mixed-methods approach as the outcome of one method complementing another method. Thus, this research employed a qual→QUAN-based approach as it belongs to the category of mixed-methods. The planned research was primarily qualitative, but the researcher would supplement its findings with quantitative data. For the qualitative study, the researcher conducted 21 in-depth interviews to collect the data for this study. The qualitative data was processed and analyzed with the help of NVivo 12 Pro software. Then, content analysis was performed for data analysis with the help of an interpretive phenomenological approach. After the completion of the qualitative study, a total of 459 respondents were used to analyze the quantitative data through the help of semi-structured questionnaires. The quantitative data was processed and analyzed by using the IBM SPSS 26 application program; the measurement model and structural relationship were analyzed with the help of SmartPLS version- 3.2.9. Thus, this study used a PLS-based SEM technique for quantitative data analysis. Besides, mediation and moderation effects were analyzed with the assistance of PROCESS macro in IBM SPSS 26. Therefore, the G*Power 3.1.9.2 software is utilized to conduct an analysis of the effectiveness of the research model. This Thesis is Submitted to the Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS), University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1169 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1168 Drought Characterization and Agricultural Adaptation in Northwest Bangladesh Chowdhury, J.M. Adeeb Salman Climate change and frequent drought has been detected as a global problem due to extreme climate variability. In recent years, Bangladesh has already shown an increased frequency of droughts, mainly observed in the northwest region. Drought mainly is a slow onset natural disaster that creates threats to agro-ecological properties. The aims of the study are to comprehend the trends of variation in two meteorological variables (Rainfall and Temperature) during the period 1960–2021 as well as analyzing current drought situation, characterization and future prediction of drought in the northwest region. The meteorological data of five stations have been collected from Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Dhaka. Finally, 375 sample household are selected for investigating farmer’s perception, drought impacts and adaptation strategies. Four upazilas (sub-districts or parts of district) are taken randomly (Tanore, Shapahar, Chirirbandar, and Nachole) from the northwest drought prone district for primary data collection through questionnaire survey. Different types of linear and non-linear trend detection test are applied for identifying variation in the climatic parameters such as linear trend analysis, non-parametric Mann-Kendall (MK), Kendall’s tau, Sen’s slope estimators, Spearman’s rho (SR) test, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model (future prediction). Further, sequential Mann-Kendall test is also executed to detect trend variations and abrupt deviations over time in rainfall stations. During the period 1960-2021, Rajshahi station is detected lowest annual average rainfall (1460 mm) but the annual average in the northwest region is 1768 mm. The rate of change assessed by Sen’s slope estimator is -5.50 mm/year in the Rajshahi station, which is found highest significant decreasing trend. Cropping seasonal rainfall analysis, only the Rabi season (80%) are found most negative trend in all selected stations. In the northwest region, the annual average temperature is 24.96C. Among the five stations, Rajshahi station is detected highest maximum annual average temperature (26.57C) during 1960-2021. The trend analysis test indicates that except Dinajpur station, increasing trends are observed in both the annual and seasonal temperature analysis, apart from that only Bogura and Rangpur stations found positively significant at 5% level of significance. The degree of change has discovered by the Sen’s slope estimates varies from -0.003C/year to 0.017C/year. The Kharif season is showed a significant positive trend in all recorded stations, while the Rabi and pre-Kharif seasons are continued both increasing and decreasing trends. The spatial distribution of seasonal rainfall and temperature are identified by Geographical Information System (GIS). Drought characterization and monitoring using precipitation-based index (SPI), for 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 months at different time scales measure the severity of lack of precipitations of different weather stations of northwest region. Transition probabilities of dry state of SPI values, and probabilistic characterization of different state of selected station using Markov chain analysis. The drought interarrival time and mean drought interarrival are increasing from lower to higher SPI series in all study stations. SPI 12 and SPI 24 are found longer months of drought duration exist high probability that the same state will continues for the next state, like ‘severe drought’ would follow ‘severe drought’ and ‘extreme drought’ would follow ‘extreme drought’ period respectively. Survey based, farmers’ perceptions about climate change are identical to the meteorological trends in the mentioned period except for Dinajpur station. Study showed, drought is mainly affecting increased cost of production, declining ground water levels, crop failures, scarcity of soil water, lower income and food scarcity etc. The multinomial logistic model (MNL) results are found that age, education, income, family size, farming experience, access to climate, farmer-to-farmer extension, social mobility, and loan subsidies directly influenced adaptative decisions. The most significant adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers are irrigation facilities, agronomic management, drought-tolerant rice varieties, adopting new technologies, and alternative enterprises of land use change. Finally to protect farmers from natural disasters, especially drought, sustainable water management plan, credit support from government and NGO’s, less water consuming crops, new crop varieties and re-excavation of traditional ponds must be implemented in the study area. This Thesis is Submitted to the Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS), University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1168 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1165 Service Quality Determinants and Customer Satisfaction of Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh Rouf, Md. Abdur The major focus of any service sector is the customers. Well-being or satisfaction of consumers is the fundamental objective of mobile financial service organizations. Today's consumers are educated and smart. They command satisfaction in all the services. In case of mobile financial services, it is difficult for the customer to evaluate the service before selecting the facility or experiencing services provided by the mobile financial service organizations. If the users are not satisfied, they will not use the facilities of mobile financial service organizations. Mobile financial services are crucial as they directly deal with financial activities of people and also provide the advanced financial services by integrating the traditional banking with wireless telecommunication technology to ensure quick and secured money transaction process. Therefore, it is very much necessary for the mobile financial service provider to deliver the quality services to satisfy the customers. Service quality and customer satisfaction are very important concepts that mobile financial service organizations must understand if they are to grow and remain competitive in the business environment. It is very important for companies to know how to measure these constructs from the customers' perspective so as to understand their needs and satisfy them. Service quality is considered to be very critical to any modem business because it contributes higher customer satisfaction, profitability, reduced cost, improved customer loyalty and retention. The main purpose of this study is to assess customer satisfaction and service quality using SERVQUAL model and Gap model employing a structured equation model. Other purposes include identify the important and contemporary service quality dimensions that contribute to higher satisfaction for mobile financial service users. The non-probability convenience sampling technique and survey through questionnaire have been used to collect responses. For the analysis employing covariance-based structural equation modeling, 600 of the distributed questionnaires that were completed and usable were selected. The study explores and confirms that among the nine dimensions of the extended SERVQUAL model eight dimensions (visibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, security, user interface and customization) affecting quality of mobile financial services and service recovery has no impact on customer satisfaction. The findings provided support for eight out of nine hypotheses. The results of the study indicate that customer satisfaction was substantially influenced by these factors, including visibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. This Thesis is Submitted to the Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS), University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1165 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1162 Building Brand Advocacy Through Relationship Marketing of Mobile Financial Service Recipients in Bangladesh Saha, Rajesh Kumar The mobile financial services (MFS) industry in Bangladesh serves as the study's context. This study aims to examine the association between brand advocacy and relationship marketing components. Bangladesh's economy has significantly improved and has made steady progress since gaining independence in 1971. The nation has seen a shift in financial services due to economic expansion, including retail banking, SME banking, agent banking, and the most recent Mobile Financial Service (MFS) with the blessing of technological development. This MFS is also going through an unconventional expansion phase. This industry has clearly been showing promising and steady growth. This MFS sector is increasing parallelly with the nation's economic growth. Establishing an enduring relationship with clients is the core aim of relationship marketing. In recent decades, this idea has gained much attention from academics and has emerged as a novel phenomenon in service marketing literature. According to the theory, keeping current clients is more accessible and more profitable than finding new ones. However, little research has been done on implementing relationship marketing to attract new clients. The main goal of this study is to determine how relationship marketing may develop brand advocates. In response, a theoretical framework based on the SOBC model and social learning theory has been developed in this thesis to investigate how relationship marketing affects brand advocacy. This model incorporates nine constructs, and to comprehend the relationships between those constructs, it establishes 22 hypotheses. The explanatory sequential mixed-methods (QUAN-qual) approach is used in this study designed to accomplish the objectives. 404 MFS clients were chosen by systematic random sampling technique from six upazilas in Bangladesh as a sample for the quantitative study. Both online and offline questionnaires were used to gather data. A pilot study with 46 MFS clients was conducted to test the validity of the questionnaire prior to the final survey. The structural equation modeling method based on partial least square is implemented to analyze the direct relationships presented in the research model. Results confirmed 16 out of 19 hypothesized relationships that were proposed. The PROCESS macro for SPSS is used to evaluate indirect relationships. The results demonstrated that brand loyalty has a significant mediating role between relationship marketing constructs and brand advocacy. Following the quantitative phase, a qualitative method is employed to support the findings of quantitative study. 11 in-depth interviews in the qualitative phase are carried out following a semi-structured interview schedule. Qualitative data is analyzed using NVIVO software. The initial analysis of the qualitative data validated the indicators and constructs included in the theoretical model and provided a rationale for the observed relationship between constructs in the theoretical model. There are significant theoretical, methodological, and practical implications to this research. The results point to two important conclusions: first, the relationship marketing phenomena directly relates with brand advocacy, and second, this relationship is significantly mediated by brand loyalty. The study's findings expand the body of knowledge on relationship marketing and provide valuable insights into various aspects. The study's findings also suggest that MFS companies can gain dual advantages by implementing relationship marketing strategies. By prioritizing client retention, MFS companies can effectively acquire new clients. This thesis can now be a starting point for additional research projects to deepen our understanding of relationship marketing. This Thesis is Submitted to the Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS), University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/1162 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z