Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling.
During the COVID-19 crisis, the apparel industry faced many challenges. Aggressive cost-cutting strategies became a top priority, and in turn, these influenced stressors and adversely affected business sustainability. This study examines the impact of aggressive strategies during the COVID-19 pandem...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286717 |
| _version_ | 1827400149587984384 |
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| author | Wasantha Rajapakshe D S M Karunaratna W H G Ariyaratne H A Lakshani Madushika G S K Perera P Shamila |
| author_facet | Wasantha Rajapakshe D S M Karunaratna W H G Ariyaratne H A Lakshani Madushika G S K Perera P Shamila |
| author_sort | Wasantha Rajapakshe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the COVID-19 crisis, the apparel industry faced many challenges. Aggressive cost-cutting strategies became a top priority, and in turn, these influenced stressors and adversely affected business sustainability. This study examines the impact of aggressive strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic on business sustainability in the apparel industry of Sri Lanka. Further, it investigates whether the relationship between aggressive cost-cutting strategies and business sustainability was mediated by employee stress, considering aggressive cost reduction strategies and workplace environmental changes. This was a cross-sectional study with data collected from 384 employees in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to analyze the direct and indirect effects of aggressive cost reduction strategies and workplace environmental changes on sustainability with mediating effects of stress. Aggressive cost reduction strategies (Beta = 1.317, p = 0.000) and environmental changes (Beta = 0.251, p = 0.000) led to an increase in employee stress but did not affect business sustainability. Thus, employee stress (Beta = -0.028, p = 0.594) was not a mediator in the relationship between aggressive cost-cutting strategies and business sustainability; business sustainability was not a dependent variable. The findings proved that managing workplace stress, particularly improving stressful working environments and aggressive cost reduction strategies, can enhance employee satisfaction. Thus, managing employee stress could be beneficial for policymakers to focus on the area(s) required to retain competent employees. Moreover, aggressive strategies are unsuitable to apply during crisis to enhance business sustainability. The findings provide additional knowledge to the existing literature, enabling employees and employers to predict causes of stress and serve as a significant knowledge base for further studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:56:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01eb5b35aec54c80a92fc1b646d7a858 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:56:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-01eb5b35aec54c80a92fc1b646d7a8582023-12-24T05:33:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01186e028671710.1371/journal.pone.0286717Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling.Wasantha RajapaksheD S M KarunaratnaW H G AriyaratneH A Lakshani MadushikaG S K PereraP ShamilaDuring the COVID-19 crisis, the apparel industry faced many challenges. Aggressive cost-cutting strategies became a top priority, and in turn, these influenced stressors and adversely affected business sustainability. This study examines the impact of aggressive strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic on business sustainability in the apparel industry of Sri Lanka. Further, it investigates whether the relationship between aggressive cost-cutting strategies and business sustainability was mediated by employee stress, considering aggressive cost reduction strategies and workplace environmental changes. This was a cross-sectional study with data collected from 384 employees in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to analyze the direct and indirect effects of aggressive cost reduction strategies and workplace environmental changes on sustainability with mediating effects of stress. Aggressive cost reduction strategies (Beta = 1.317, p = 0.000) and environmental changes (Beta = 0.251, p = 0.000) led to an increase in employee stress but did not affect business sustainability. Thus, employee stress (Beta = -0.028, p = 0.594) was not a mediator in the relationship between aggressive cost-cutting strategies and business sustainability; business sustainability was not a dependent variable. The findings proved that managing workplace stress, particularly improving stressful working environments and aggressive cost reduction strategies, can enhance employee satisfaction. Thus, managing employee stress could be beneficial for policymakers to focus on the area(s) required to retain competent employees. Moreover, aggressive strategies are unsuitable to apply during crisis to enhance business sustainability. The findings provide additional knowledge to the existing literature, enabling employees and employers to predict causes of stress and serve as a significant knowledge base for further studies.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286717 |
| spellingShingle | Wasantha Rajapakshe D S M Karunaratna W H G Ariyaratne H A Lakshani Madushika G S K Perera P Shamila Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling. PLoS ONE |
| title | Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling. |
| title_full | Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling. |
| title_fullStr | Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling. |
| title_short | Aggressive strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel industry of Sri Lanka using structural equation modeling. |
| title_sort | aggressive strategies of the covid 19 pandemic on the apparel industry of sri lanka using structural equation modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286717 |
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