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This study aims to document the effect of educated workforce on the decision of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to use external auditors to verify their financial statements.

This paper uses the probit regression models and the data from 141 developing countries to test the arguments presented in this paper. The data is provided by the World Bank’s Enterprise Surveys and is collected during the period between 2006 and 2020.

The paper shows that SMEs with inadequate access to educated workforce are more likely to use external auditors to verify their financial statements. The findings are robust to the comprehensive inclusion of relevant controls and to a number of sensitivity tests. The sensitivity tests include dividing samples based on SME’s size, country’s gross domestic product and country’s location. The results also remain qualitatively the same after correcting for potential endogeneity concerns. Furthermore, the paper shows that the relationship between access to educated workforce and the choice of external audit is moderated by several SME-specific characteristics, such as its size, ownership concentration, managerial experience and tax-related problems.

This is an initial attempt to highlight the role played by the quality of workforce on the choice of external audit among SMEs in an international context. Most of prior literature on this topic focuses on the publicly listed firms.

The aim of this paper is to document the impact of competition on managerial practices adopted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The paper uses the data provided by the World Bank’s Enterprise Surveys to test the arguments presented in this paper. The data were collected during the period between 2013 and 2014 and the sample consists of firms from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Yemen.

The authors show that SMEs with higher exposure to competition are more likely to adopt better managerial practices than SMEs with lower exposure to competition. The authors argue that competition disciplines the managers by exposing firms to the possibility of bankruptcy and/or the loss of market share to competitors. Therefore, these firms are compelled to adopt good managerial practices to protect themselves against negative impact of competition. The results show that positive impact of competition on managerial practices is confined only to the competition that comes from foreign competitors. Local competitors or competitors from informal sector have no significant impact on the adoption of good managerial practices.

An important contribution of this paper is that it documents how various types of competition affect SME’s decision to adopt better managerial practices. Another important contribution is highlighting of the role played by the competition in shaping the management practices among SMEs in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

This paper aims to examine the impact of bank’s capital buffer on return on equity (ROE) in the context of Islamic and conventional banks in GCC countries.

The authors collect data from 83 commercial banks comprising of 49 conventional banks and 34 Islamic banks for the period 2010–2019. The final data set comprises of 744 bank-year observations. The authors apply generalized methods of moments estimation technique and panel least square to analyze the data.

The authors document that Tier-1 capital, total regulatory capital (TRC) and equity to asset ratio (EAR) negatively affect banks’ ROE. However, the impact disappears for conventional banks and sustains for Islamic banks if these two clusters of banks are treated separately. Furthermore, the negative impact of equity capital on earning is more pronounced for large and listed commercial banks.

Findings of this research imply that Islamic banks in GCC countries has scope to manage equity capital more efficiently. Hence, they should concentrate on using banks equity wisely to successfully compete with the conventional banks.

Since the global financial crisis of 2009, Islamic banks of GCC countries have been reporting lower ROE compared to their conventional counterparts. On the other hand, Islamic banks maintain higher level of Tier-1 capital, TRC and EAR. This evidence hypothetically suggests that Islamic banks are overly cautious in managing their capital buffer that results in lower ROE. To the best of the author’s/authors’ knowledge, no other study in the literature tests this hypothesis in the GCC context.

The purpose of this paper is to study in depth about frugal lifestyle and analyze it within the framework of the principles of Islamic consumption ethics.

This research uses a textual–contextual approach to explore the concepts of frugal and Islamic consumption by studying various existing literature.

The research findings highlight both similarities and notable differences between frugal and Islamic consumption. While they share aspects such as materialism, avoidance of materialism and support for sustainable consumption, the contrast lies in the fact that Islamic consumption is rooted in faith and devotion to Allah SWT. Unlike the primarily individual-focused and worldly orientation of frugal concepts, Islamic consumption is motivated by a commitment to individual desire and social balance, also well-being in both the present and the hereafter. Islamic consumption places an unique emphasis on social solidarity, a feature absent in the individualistic long-term goals of a frugal lifestyle.

This study offers a valuable contribution to marketers, particularly those who are engaged in the Islamic marketing field. Marketers are keen on understanding frugal consumers as a potential emerging market segment.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is considered the first attempt to link the idea of frugality with the Islamic ethical principles of consumption. It highlights how Muslims should comprehend the concept of frugality accurately, avoiding misinterpretations that portray it solely as a means to combat materialism and consumerism, as has been commonly understood.

This research aims to investigate the influence of green human resource management (HRM), with analysis and description of job position, recruitment, selection, training, performance assessment and rewards on sustainability with the resource-based view (RBV) theory as underlying theory. The extent to which absorptive capacity strengthened the “green HRM-sustainability” link as a buffering mechanism was also examined.

The study model was tested with empirical data gathered from 253 Indonesian oil and gas firms. The elicited data were analysed using structural equation modelling using partial least squares (PLS).

Resultantly, the (i) analysis and description of job position and (ii) recruitment positively influenced sustainability. Absorptive capacity also influenced the strength of the moderated relationship between (i) recruitment and (ii) training and sustainability.

As far as we know, this is the first study which assigned the moderator role of absorptive capacity in a relationship between green HRM and sustainability in oil and gas firms in Indonesia. Notably, the theoretical and practical implications of applying the empirical outcomes to the oil and gas sector were extensively discussed.

The chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between organizational socioecology, green technological innovation, and environmental regulations. It emphasizes the significance of organizational strategies in enhancing performance, particularly in contexts where environmental sustainability is a priority. The research delves into the theory of organizational socioecology, suggesting a convergence with sociological perspectives in organizational research. This approach underscores the interdependence between organizations and society, especially in the realm of environmental responsibility and climate change. A key aspect of the study is the exploration of green technological innovation in product and service development, aiming to reduce environmental impact. The dynamics of adopting green innovation are influenced by numerous factors, including government policies, market conditions, and organizational characteristics. The chapter examines the impact of environmental regulations on organizational behavior and innovation, discussing how these regulations can drive organizations towards green innovation, thus balancing the need for economic growth with environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the role of government subsidies and incentives in encouraging organizations to adopt green technologies and practices. The effectiveness of these mechanisms in fostering a more sustainable and innovative organizational landscape is analyzed. Additionally, the article provides a comparative analysis of various theories and models related to organizational innovation and sustainability, integrating insights from different disciplinary perspectives. By combining empirical data with theoretical frameworks, the article assesses the effectiveness of organizational strategies in enhancing green innovation and meeting environmental regulations. It offers practical implications for organizations striving to align their practices with sustainability goals, contributing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of sustainability and organizational change.

The rapid evolution of digital innovation has significantly revolutionized the business landscape for entrepreneurs. Embracing digital innovation is crucial for all stakeholders to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) and promote sustainability. However, there is little understanding of how entrepreneurial leadership in developing nations has proactively responded to the challenge of digital innovation. Based on Drucker’s productivity theory, this study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership (EL), digital orientation (DO) and digital capability (DC) as predictors of digital innovation (DI). The proposed model aims to establish the causal connections between variables and elucidate the complex interplay between digital innovation and the resulting outcome of sustainable performance (SP).

Two research studies were carried out in the Chinese IT industry to assess the efficacy of the theoretical framework among IT workers. Study 1 utilized a three-week, two-week time-lagged design (N = 299), while Study 2 used a two-week, four-week survey design (N = 341). The study used Smart-PLS 4.0 for data analysis.

The results showed that entrepreneurial leadership significantly impacts employee digital orientation and digital capabilities, fostering digital innovation. Moreover, digital innovation has a significant impact on sustainable performance.

The study’s findings allow authors to contribute to the existing scholarship on employee digital orientation, digital capabilities, digital innovation and sustainable performance in an emerging economy.

The low-income groups in developing nations need microcredits to support their family needs. As banks avoid providing microcredits due to high costs, microfinance institutions are the last resort for this segment of society. The cost of borrowing for the borrowers is indeed high. However, these microfinance institutions play a significant role in financial inclusion. In Muslim countries where financial inclusion takes a hit as a portion of society does not want to indulge in usury transactions, Islamic microfinance institutions play a vital role. In this chapter, the focus is on the Islamic microfinance institutions and their role in achieving the objectives of Shari'ah (maqasid al-Shari'ah) along with the fulfillment of goal of financial inclusion. A case study of Akhuwat Foundation found that the institution offers different interest-free microcredit products along with free healthcare and clothing to the needy segment of society. In this way, not only that the financial inclusion is achieved but also the objectives of Shari'ah are fulfilled. The study provides key facts to the academia and microfinance industry in achieving financial inclusion and fulfilling maqasid al-Shari'ah altogether, in which the banking sector is lacking.

This study aims to demonstrate the impact of Sharia-compliance (SC) on attracting various types of investment, including foreign, family, institutional, royal, government and large individual investments.

The sample comprises 168 nonfinancial companies listed in the financial markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 2009 to 2019, totaling 1,848 observations. The researchers used the ordinary least squares panel data method, with additional tests conducted using the two-stage least squares method.

The results indicate a negative relationship between SC and both foreign and institutional investments. Conversely, there is a positive relationship between SC and both family investment and large individual investor investment. Furthermore, the study found no significant relationship between SC and both government and royal investments (RIs).

The study enhances understanding of the role of Sharia-compliant companies in attracting investment. For managers of such companies, there is a need to make their firms more appealing to diverse investor types. Current and potential investors in Sharia-compliant companies should be aware of the investor nature controlling these companies. This study is beneficial for policymakers and regulators to assess the impact of Islamic Sharia-imposed restrictions on financial decision-making in companies. Policymakers should develop and monitor indicators of companies’ adherence to SC law in the six GCC countries and should also issue rules to enhance Sharia-compliant companies’ commitment to governance and transparency.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to address the impact of SC on attracting different investment types. It includes six distinct investment types, notably RI, a significant variable in GCC countries’ business environment due to the considerable wealth and influence of royal family members.

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of knowledge management practices, organisational commitment and capacity building on employee performance in the hotel industry. This study also investigated the mediating role of organisational commitment and capacity building between knowledge management practices and employee performance.

A quantitative approach and questionnaire survey were used to collect data from hotel employees from Malaysia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to collect data from 291 participants, and partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse the hypotheses.

The results of this study confirm that knowledge management practices positively and significantly affect knowledge-employee performance. Employees achieve this performance through the mediating influence of organisational commitment and capacity building culture.

This study offers several implications for Malaysian practitioners and policymakers regarding learning and knowledge management practices in the hospitality industry. The results suggest that organisations can manage knowledge assets and key processes of the organisational environment to create and use knowledge to improve sustainable employee performance through knowledge management practices.

This study sheds light on the knowledge management literature by examining the effect of knowledge management practices on organisational commitment, particularly in the hospitality industry in Malaysia.