Muslim and non-Muslim consumers’ perception towards introduction of Islamic banking in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Mbawuni ◽  
Simon Gyasi Nimako
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Benefit ◽  
Empirical Field ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

PurposeThis study aims to examine consumer perception of introduction of Islamic banking (IB) in Ghana, which is a new and emerging form of banking in many non-Islamic countries. Design/methodology/approachEmpirical field data were collected from a sample of 975 respondents using self-administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS version 16. FindingsMuslim respondents have significantly positive perceptions of IB compared to non-Muslims and have stronger intentions to adopt IB in Ghana than non-Muslims. Non-Muslims have high perceived benefit of IB. Non-Muslim respondents do not perceive potential threat of violence associated with the introduction of IB in Ghana. Although non-Muslims perceive IB that would make Islam popular, they do not perceive it as a means of Islamizing bank customers. Relatively, non-Muslims appear to have low knowledge of IB, unfavourable attitude towards IB, are reluctant to comply with Sharia law and consequently have weaker intentions to adopt IB. Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to descriptive analysis and to only Ghana. Future research should quantitatively model IB adoption and switching factors using samples from other developing countries. Practical implicationsIB institutions could focus on attracting a niche of Muslim consumers at its initial stages. Moreover, to facilitate the introduction of IB, the Bank of Ghana and other relevant stakeholders, in addition to establishing effective governance structures, must promote consumer education to enhance consumer knowledge of IB and correct misconceptions about IB among consumers, particularly non-Muslim customers. Originality/valueOne unique contribution of this study is that it provides an initial empirical exploration of consumers’ attitude and perceptions of IB in Ghana, which is an under-researched area.

scholarly journals Exploring sustainable post-end-of-life of building operations

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchini Senarath Jayasinghe ◽  
Raufdeen Rameezdeen ◽  
Nicholas Chileshe
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Conceptual Research ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the synergies between post-end-of-life of building (PEoLB) concepts and operations to achieve sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using 65 articles published between 2006 and 2017, and it has been subjected to descriptive and thematic analysis. Findings The descriptive analysis revealed that the majority of the articles were about (60 per cent) PEoLB operations, followed by (23 per cent) PEoLB concepts. Only 17 per cent of the articles have dealt with PEoLB-related strategic approaches. The thematic analysis elaborated on the literature development; interrelationships between PEoLB concepts and operations; impediments of introducing sustainability on these operations, remedial measures and information-based strategic approaches to achieve sustainability. Based on the findings, a conceptual framework for sustainable PEoLB operations is proposed. Furthermore, four areas of potential future research are discussed. Research limitations/implications This study presents a future research agenda including best practices to plan PEoLB operations and the development of optimisation models, risk management and information-based strategic approaches. Practical implications The proposed conceptual research framework triggers and nurtures potential pathways to introduce sustainable PEoLB operations under sound information flow. This could create a basis for future empirical studies in filling the identified gaps in literature. The framework could also assist practitioners in mitigating risks associated with transportation, storing and contamination of salvaged materials through enhanced information flow. In addition, the framework provides some managerial guidance to organisations seeking ways of establishing sustainability during reverse logistics (RL) operations. Originality/value This paper presents an SLR of an emerging area of research that encapsulates closed-loop supply chain through sustainable RL operations. The study highlights the interrelationships between PEoLB concepts and operations. It develops a robust approach to effectively manage the PEoLB operations underpinned by a sound information flow to facilitate sustainability.

Prioritization of financial performance determinants in Indian SMEs

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-190
Author(s):  
Vishal Vyas ◽  
Priyanka Jain
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Competitive Strategies ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Determinants ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Hierarchy Process ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Purpose This study aims to quantify and prioritize the financial performance (FP) determinants in Indian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach Analytic hierarchy process, a multi-criteria decision-making tool, was used. Experts were allowed to express the opinion regarding the relative importance of each factor and sub-factors by making pairwise comparisons through a structured questionnaire based on a nine-point scale. Findings Market orientation (0.4529) was perceived as the most important FP determinant followed by the entrepreneurial orientation (0.3382) and corporate social responsibility (0.2089) in SMEs. Research limitations/implications This study can be considered as a pilot study because it is confined to Indian SMEs. Future research studies can incorporate the opinion or insights of other stakeholders and may target the SMEs situated in different geographical areas. Practical implications The inferences drawn in this study would clarify the conceptual and contextual applicability of competitive strategies in SMEs. Indeed, proposed hierarchy and developed framework would guide the SMEs in strategic planning. Moreover, it would help in repositioning and alignment of core strategies duly with business objectives. Originality/value The study represents the foremost step and a unique effort in the area of development of hypothetical model (a hierarchal model) with the framework considered to prioritize the FP determinants in SMEs.

scholarly journals Career capital development of women in the Arab Middle East context: addressing the pipeline block

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Payyazhi Jayashree ◽  
Valerie Lindsay ◽  
Grace McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Coaching Strategies ◽  
Career Capital ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Arab Middle East

PurposeTaking a career capital approach, this paper addresses the issue of “pipeline block” frequently experienced by women seeking career advancement. Focusing on the Arab Middle East (AME) region, the authors take a contextually relevant multi-level approach to examine these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative, interview-based approach, drawing on data obtained from women leaders from the AME region. Drawing on Bourdieu's capital-field-habitus framework, we explore how women in the AME developed career capital in particular organisational fields.FindingsThe findings show the importance of human and social capital, as well as the influence of habitus for women's career advancement in specific fields. The study also highlights the unique contribution of cultural capital in helping women to navigate organisational fields where it is necessary to both challenge, and conform to, traditional norms.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the study include assumptions of homogeneity across countries of the AME, whereas differences are known to exist. Future research should consider these contextual differences, and also include a study of women who were not successful in gaining career advancement.Practical implicationsThe study’s multi-level approach highlights practical implications for women, organisations and society. For organisations, the authors propose some context-relevant coaching strategies that can help women to attain leadership positions.Social implicationsThe study’s multi-level approach highlights practical implications for women, organisations,and society. Focusing on organisations, the authors propose some context-relevant coaching strategies that can help women to attain advancement in their careers.Originality/valueThe study demonstrates originality in the findings by showing how women overcome the pipeline block in relation to their career advancement. The use of the Bourdieusian framework, an in-depth qualitative approach, and the AME context also add to the study's originality.

The impact of non-urgent patients in emergency departments' operations

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Higor Leite
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeGlobally, the presence of non-urgent patients in emergency departments (EDs) is considered one of the main reasons for creating excessive waiting times and overcrowding in units. This paper aims to understand the impact of non-urgent patients in EDs' operations.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on qualitative case studies conducted within two Brazilian EDs, and uses interviews and observations to access the data.FindingsFrom a thematic analysis, three key themes emerged: characteristics of non-urgent demands in EDs, negative aspects of non-urgent patients in EDs, and the impact of the healthcare system model on EDs. These themes bring to light the impact that non-urgent patients have in EDs' operations, and provide theoretical and practical implications.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this work is bound by the understanding of the non-urgent demands in EDs. Therefore, a benchmarking approach (investigating state-of-the-art practices to avoid such impact) was not applied but was suggested for future research instead.Practical implicationsThe research provides significant contributions to practitioners and policymakers, aiding future discussions to improve healthcare coverage and performance.Social implicationsThe research provides significant contributions for managers and policymakers, aiding future discussions to improve healthcare. For instance, the use of well-known techniques (e.g. lean, six sigma) are discussed and suggested to enhance healthcare capacity and performance. Furthermore, the policymakers are called upon to evaluate the healthcare access and provide regulations that involve innovative approaches to widen healthcare access.Originality/valueBased upon empirical data, this research extends the discussions related to non-urgent patient in EDs and is not limited merely to descriptive analysis, but by providing practical propositions and discussions related to the impact of these patients' presence in EDs' operations. Finally, the research provides a range of suggestions for future research related to the EDs' operational performance.

Do family and peer academic social supports predict academic motivations and achievement of first-year college students?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott C Marley ◽  
M Jean Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Academic Motivation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Supports ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study examines family and peer academic social supports as correlates of academic motivation and first-semester GPA.Design/methodology/approachUsing a correlational design, 468 first-semester college students completed an online survey. Demographic characteristics, high school GPA and first-semester GPA were gathered from institutional data and linked to student survey responses.FindingsBivariate and multiple regression analyses revealed that family and peer academic social supports are predictive of academic motivation and first-semester GPA. The relationships identified were small- to medium-sized and of theoretical and substantive interest.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of the study are the measures are self-reported and the study is correlational, the latter limiting the strength of causal inferences. However, the study provides further understanding of the importance of college students' family and peer social supports in relationship to academic motivation and achievement.Practical implicationsThe research has practical implications for higher educators developing programs to improve family and peer social support. If future research establishes causal relationships, interventions to enhance family and peer academic supports may prove beneficial in promoting academic motivation. Further, encouraging families to broadly discuss academic topics may be ineffective in terms of academic self-efficacy and achievement for historically underrepresented students.Originality/valueThis study makes a unique contribution to the literature by establishing relationships between family and peer supports with academic motivation. Statistical interactions between family and peer supports and with demographic characteristics in predicting academic motivation were identified. If the interactions are replicable, the findings provide avenues for future correlational and intervention research.

Web-based financial reporting disclosure by Islamic banks in Oman: level of compliance

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 77-83
Author(s):  
Adel Sarea ◽  
Ugi Suharto ◽  
Iqbal Thonse Hawaldar ◽  
Abdulhadi Ibrahim ◽  
Zakir Hossen Shaikh
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of web-based Online Financial Reporting Disclosure (OFRD) in Islamic banking in Oman. Design/methodology/approach A checklist was developed to measure the level of Web-based Online Financial Reporting Disclosure in Islamic banking consist of 70 items (Appendix). The sample of the study consists of Islamic banking in Oman. Findings The findings of the descriptive analysis indicated that the overall level of web-based online financial reporting disclosure was 69%. Practical implications The practical implication of the results are helping the authorities to put more efforts toward the quality of web-based online information to satisfy all parties. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, there is no similar research done to explore the level of web-based online financial reporting Disclosure (OFRD) in Islamic banking in Oman

scholarly journals Advantages and potential challenges of data management in e-maintenance

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arian Razmi-Farooji ◽  
Hanna Kropsu-Vehkaperä ◽  
Janne Härkönen ◽  
Harri Haapasalo
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Maintenance Systems ◽  
Industry Leader ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to understand data management challenges in e-maintenance systems from a holistically viewpoint through summarizing the earlier scattered research in the field, and second, to present a conceptual approach for addressing these challenges in practice. Design/methodology/approach The study is realized as a combination of a literature review and by the means of analyzing the practices on an industry leader in manufacturing and maintenance services. Findings This research provides a general understanding over data management challenges in e-maintenance and summarizes their associated proposed solutions. In addition, this paper lists and exemplifies different types and sources of data which can be collected in e-maintenance, across different organizational levels. Analyzing the data management practices of an e-maintenance industry leader provides a conceptual approach to address identified challenges in practice. Research limitations/implications Since this paper is based on studying the practices of a single company, it might be limited to generalize the results. Future research topics can focus on each of mentioned data management challenges and also validate the applicability of presented model in other companies and industries. Practical implications Understanding the e-maintenance-related challenges helps maintenance managers and other involved stakeholders in e-maintenance systems to better solve the challenges. Originality/value The so-far literature on e-maintenance has been studied with narrow focus to data and data management in e-maintenance appears as one of the less studied topics in the literature. This research paper contributes to e-maintenance by highlighting the deficiencies of the discussion surrounding the perspectives of data management in e-maintenance by studying all common data management challenges and listing different types of data which need to be acquired in e-maintenance systems.

scholarly journals Unemployment and spell duration during the Great Recession in the EU

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Gradín ◽  
Olga Cantó ◽  
Coral del Río
Keyword(s):  
Great Recession ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Unemployment Spells ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
The Eu

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different dynamic characteristics of unemployment in a selected group of European Union countries during the current Great Recession, which had unequal consequences on employment depending on the country considered. Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows Shorrocks’s proposal of a duration-sensitive measure of unemployment, and uses cross-sectional data reported by Eurostat coming from European Labour Force Surveys. Findings – The results add some evidence on the relevance of incorporating spells’ duration in measuring unemployment, finding remarkable differences in unemployment patterns in time among European countries. Research limitations/implications – In this paper unemployment is analyzed for all the labor force. Future research should investigate patterns across specific groups such as young people, women, immigrants or the low skilled. Practical implications – It is generally accepted that the negative impact of unemployment on individual welfare can be very different depending on its duration. However, conventional statistics on unemployment do not adequately capture to what extent the recession is not only increasing the incidence of unemployment but also its severity in terms of duration in time of ongoing unemployment spells. The paper shows an easy and practical way to do it in order to improve the understanding of the unemployment phenomenon, using information usually reported by statistical offices. Originality/value – First, the paper provides a tool for dynamic analysis of unemployment based on reported cross-sectional data. Second, the paper demonstrates the empirical relevance of considering spells’ duration when assessing differences in unemployment across countries or in unemployment trends. This is usually neglected or only partially addressed by most conventional measures of unemployment.

The many faces of suzhi in the Chinese organization and society

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Upton-McLaughlin
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mainland Chinese ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Expatriate Managers ◽  
The Many ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to explore the Chinese concept of suzhi and how it relates to behavioral standards within mainland Chinese society and the workplace. The article provides a general discussion of suzhi and its inherent elements to act as a foundation for the education of expatriate managers and executives and for future research by Chinese human resource management (HRM) scholars. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on the author's first-hand experience and observations from five years of living and working abroad in mainland China with Chinese companies and executives. Findings – The concept of suzhi in China is a reflection of multiple behavioral standards throughout China. And while suzhi's roots are in ancient Chinese culture and Confucianism, it is also subject to influence and change. Practical implications – The paper may serve as a foundation both for expatriate managers seeking to improve HRM practices in foreign companies in China and future scholars who wish to conduct further research on suzhi and Chinese behavioral standards as they can be applied to the workplace. Originality/value – This is an attempt to enlighten expatriate managers and executives in China on the concept of suzhi and its implication for HRM in China.

Digital competences of the workforce – a research topic?

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Murawski ◽  
Markus Bick
Keyword(s):  
Research Topic ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Considering working in the digital age, questions on the consequences for the individual workers are, so far, often neglected. The purpose of this paper is to deal with the question of whether the digital competences of the workforce is a research topic. The authors argue for the thesis that it is indeed a research topic. Design/methodology/approach In addition to a literature analysis of the top IS, HR, and learning publications, non-scientific sources, as well as the opinions of the authors, are included. The authors’ thesis is challenged through a debate of corresponding pros and cons. Findings The definition of digital competences lacks scientific depth. Focussing on the workforce is valid, as a “lifelong” perspective is not mandatory for research. Digital competence research is a multidisciplinary task to which the IS field can make a valuable contribution. Research limitations/implications Although relevant references are included, some aspects are mainly driven by the opinions of the authors. The theoretical implications encompass a call for a scientific definition of digital competences. Furthermore, scholars should focus on the competences of the workforce, including occupations, roles, or industries. The authors conclude by providing a first proposal of a research agenda. Practical implications The practical implications include the alignment of multiple stakeholders for the design of “digital” curricula and the integration by HR departments of the construct of digital competences, e.g. for compensation matters and job requirements. Originality/value This paper is one of very few contributions in the area of the digital competences of the workforce, and it presents a starting point for future research activities.

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