Agile Practices and Intention to Stay: Mediation Effects Through Job Characteristics

Agile methods of software development have been used widely over the last decade, and the majority of organizations have now embraced them in their projects. Thus, the current study explored the positive influence of agile practices on individuals' intentions to stay at their employment. In accordance with this objective, the study looked at the role of job characteristics in mediating the association between agile methods and intention to stay. A sample of 486 employees was contacted through online survey using the Google Forms platforms during the period of September 2021 who practice the agile methods while working at their organizations. They provided data on the questionnaires of agile practices, job characteristics, and intention to stay. Findings postulated that agile practices have significant impact on employees’ intention to stay. Results further reported the significant mediation through job characteristics between agile practices and intention to stay. Findings showed that the job when is designed on feedback, skill variety, job autonomy, task identity and task significance mediate an impact of practising agile methods on intention to stay.

Integrated Management of Phosphorus and Potassium for Maize Zea Mays L.

In the existing cropping systems exhaustive crops, like hybrid maize, require more nutrient inputs due to excessive removal of nutrients. Integrated use of organic and inorganic manures may not only satiate the need of such crops but this may also be an economical and environment friendly nutrient source. A field study was conducted during 2008 and 2009 following RCBD with three replications at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Effects of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application from separate and integrated organic and inorganic sources on the maize (Zea mays L.) were evaluated. In the first study poultry manure and press mud as organic amendments; and single superphosphate (SSP) as chemical amendment of P were evaluated in different combinations. In the second study composted wheat and rice straws were integrated with the sulphate of potash (SOP) to be used as the K source. Agronomic, physiological and quality parameters were recorded to establish variations in yield associated with integrated use of organo-chemical P and K fertilizers. In both years the mean grain yield was increased up to 7.48 t ha -1 and 7.2 t ha -1 with the integration of organic and inorganic (25% poultry manure + 75% SSP and 25% composted rice straw + 75% SOP) amendments for integrated P and K management, respectively. The relationship between grain yield and yield components, in both the studies, was highly significant (P<0.05) and positive. In the first study the 5 th treatment (25% poultry manure + 75% SSP) out yielded rest of the treatments due to greater total dry matter production that was resulted from more leaf area duration and higher crop growth rate. Regarding application of K from the integrated sources, treatment containing 25% composted rice straw + 75% SOP gave maximum total dry matter (1928.2 g m -2 ), higher cumulative leaf area duration (218.5 days) and mean crop growth rate (29.01 g m -2 day -1 ). In both studies, there was linear and positive correlation between grain yield and cumulative leaf area duration. Application of 75% SSP with 25% poultry manure and 75% SOP with 25% composted rice straw in both studies showed maximum uptake of P and K, respectively. In both years, the treatment combination of first study, 25% poultry manure + 75% SSP, earned highest net income viz, Rs.84410/- ha -1 and Rs.100695/- ha -1 . Regarding the second study, the integrated use of 25% composted rice straw + 75% SOP earned maximum net income of Rs.77907/- ha -1 and Rs. 84920/- ha -1 , respectively. Results suggested that integration of organic amendments of P and K with inorganic source was significantly better over the separate application of inorganic source.