Husam-Aldin Nizar Al-Malkawi and Rekha Pillai
The purpose of this paper is to integrate conventional corporate governance (CG) mechanisms into the Islamic banking framework in order to examine their impact on Islamic banks…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate conventional corporate governance (CG) mechanisms into the Islamic banking framework in order to examine their impact on Islamic banks (IBs) financial performance (IBFP) within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) context.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a sample of 22 full-fledged IBs operating in the GCC countries over an 11-year period from 2005 to 2015. Using panel data approach, the paper develops an empirical model consists of five CG mechanisms and three control variables. The model parameters are estimated using feasible generalized least squares framework.
Findings
The results show that five internal CG mechanisms have statistically significant relationship with IBFP, measured by Q-ratio. Insider shareholding is found to be positively associated with IBFP, while institutional and government shareholdings are found to be negatively related to Q-ratio, the results being consistent with the agency theory, strategic alignment theory and property rights theory, respectively. Moreover, the results reveal that large board size and CSR engagement negatively influence IBFP, once again lending support to agency theory and trade off theory, respectively. The control variables, namely, leverage, size and age are also found to have a statistically significant relationship with IBFP.
Practical implications
IBs are urged to ensure transparency in the provision of innovative products fundamentally in contrast to conventional banking products as well as cater to the untapped markets by weaving Islamic values into the existing CG fabric, as a feasible solution to remain competitive.
Originality/value
The paper examines the relationship between internal CG mechanisms and financial performance of listed and non-listed full-fledged IBs operating in the GCC countries.
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Ethlyn A. Williams, Kate M. McCombs, Rajnandini Pillai and Kevin B. Lowe
This research aims to examine the influence of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) dark triad traits, follower COVID-19 anxiety and self-leadership on follower evaluations of the…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine the influence of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) dark triad traits, follower COVID-19 anxiety and self-leadership on follower evaluations of the effectiveness of organizations’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper data were collected over two time periods. At time 1, mid-October 2021, 650 participants responded to questions on their CEO’s leadership traits and self-leadership. At time 2, (3-week lag) 275 matched individual responses provided followers’ evaluations of the effectiveness of the organization’s COVID-19 response and follower self-leadership.
Findings
CEO dark triad traits had direct and indirect negative effects on followers’ evaluations of the organization’s COVID-19 response (through COVID-19 anxiety). Follower self-leadership mitigated the negative effects.
Research limitations/implications
By examining the moderating role of self-leadership, we can offer organizations evidence-based strategies to mitigate some harmful effects of leaders exhibiting dark triad traits.
Practical implications
Given that organizations are still dealing with the ongoing ramifications of COVID-19 and planning for future crises, our findings emphasize the negative effects of dark traits on COVID-19 anxiety, and in turn, on follower’s evaluation of effective organization response to a crisis, highlighting the importance of top-level leader selection.
Social implications
Our results bolster Manz’s (1986) argument that self-leadership might be key to achieving peak performance in organizations and important for follower well-being.
Originality/value
This study of dark traits is especially important in a crisis context to understand how leaders affect followers’ perceptions about organizational outcomes and factors that might mediate or moderate the negative impact. Despite interest in understanding leadership during a crisis, the majority of research is focused on positive traits of leaders (Palmer et al., 2020).
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The essential investments in new product development (NPD) made by industrial companies entail effective management of NPD activities. In this context, performance measurement is…
Abstract
The essential investments in new product development (NPD) made by industrial companies entail effective management of NPD activities. In this context, performance measurement is one of the means that can be employed in the pursuit of effectiveness.
By using exploratory mixed methods, this study aims to present the investigation of the existing situation of private off-campus student accommodation at the University of…
Abstract
Purpose
By using exploratory mixed methods, this study aims to present the investigation of the existing situation of private off-campus student accommodation at the University of Allahabad (UoA) in Prayagraj city.
Design/methodology/approach
This study explored the geographical variability of student’s private rental housing in Prayagraj city of India through 721 responses from an online semi-structured questionnaire, together with 12 interviews. Moran’s I and LISA were used to determine spatial clustering of rents paid by male and female students.
Findings
Results of this study reveal prevalence of unregulated with poor quality of off-campus housing in general and expensive rents in the proximity of UoA.
Research limitations/implications
Obtaining less responses from the female students was one of the important limitations.
Practical implications
A win-win strategy might be formulated with a mix of innovative solutions inclusive of public private partnerships and social economy solutions woven with need-based rental housing, rekindled as the affordable rental housing complexes after COVID-19 pandemic.
Social implications
This study is highly beneficial to improve liveability in the student housing segment.
Originality/value
This paper develops extensive understanding on the potential student housing segment in the Indian cities. Additionally, this paper demonstrates weak coordination between the central government policies, educational administrators and municipal officials.
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South Africa has been hailed as possessing one of the most progressive and visionary Constitutions in the world. It recognizes the right of everyone to have access to health care…
Abstract
South Africa has been hailed as possessing one of the most progressive and visionary Constitutions in the world. It recognizes the right of everyone to have access to health care services. It also recognizes, in detail, various rights of accused, arrested and detained people, including the right to adequate medical treatment. However, despite the constitutionally entrenched rights, we (as civil society) are painfully aware that this does not magically transform the social conditions of the poor and marginalized amongst us. In fact, we have learnt that it is not only food, shelter and healthcare that cost money, but rights also. For without access to legal services in order to enforce one’s rights, they often remain not much more than paper ideals. This is recently demonstrated in the case of EN and Others v Government of the Republic of South Africa and Others , more commonly called the Westville Correctional Centre case (WCC case). This article will examine this case, and the implications of the right to adequate medical treatment for prisoners in South Africa, by addressing the factual background to the litigation, the legal and policy framework, the key issues that arose and the legal remedy.
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Jacques Zeelen, Hieke Wijbenga, Marga Vintges and Gideon de Jong
This paper aims to explore the role of a small‐scale project around storytelling as a form of informal education in five health clinics in rural areas of the Limpopo Province in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the role of a small‐scale project around storytelling as a form of informal education in five health clinics in rural areas of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The aim of the project is to decrease the stigma around HIV/AIDS and to start an open dialogue in local communities about the disease.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an exploratory study using a qualitative approach, which was carried out in 2005/2006, that focused on perceptions of participants from the audience of the project and health practitioners.
Findings
The research findings emphasize the importance of involvement of a storyteller who can play an influential role in local rural communities by breaking the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and providing people with little or no education with simple but effective messages about the disease. Stories are embedded in local traditions and make use of metaphors, like dialogues between animals. Beside, stories are a form of “edutainment”: education enriched with entertainment.
Research limitations/implications
Owing to budgetary and time constraints insight into the impact of the project on the way the members of the audience protect themselves and deal with the essential issues of sexuality and relationships in their daily life as a result of storytelling was not gained.
Originality/value
Owing to its personal approach a project around storytelling in rural areas in South Africa is vital, because it seems to suit the local context better than nationwide health educational programmes which are normally disseminated through mass education.
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Aparna Bhatia and Khushboo Aggarwal
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of investment in Intangible Assets on the corporate performance of Indian companies for a period of twelve years from 2001 to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of investment in Intangible Assets on the corporate performance of Indian companies for a period of twelve years from 2001 to 2012.
Design/methodology/approach
Intangible assets have been measured using the “Intangible Assets Monitor” method developed by Sveiby (1997).
Findings
The results of panel data regression model reveal that Intangible Assets affect performance of companies positively after controlling for firm size, age, leverage, physical capital intensity, market share, risk, industries and dummy year.
Practical implications
The study is of immense importance to corporate managers in improving managerial insight into the significance of investment in Intangible Assets. The results direct Indian managers to understand and realize the importance of Intangible Assets and keenly invest in research and development, technology, software, advertising, customer relationship management and human resources to further augment their performance.
Originality/value
Specifically considering India, the research related to the association between Intangible Assets and performance is undersized. Thus, the present study would contribute to the existing literature comprehensively.
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Mine Sertsöz, Mehmet Fidan and Mehmet Kurban
Improvements on the energy efficiency of the induction motors bear on not only these motors but also on the whole industry as a result of preference of these types of motors. In…
Abstract
Purpose
Improvements on the energy efficiency of the induction motors bear on not only these motors but also on the whole industry as a result of preference of these types of motors. In recent projects, energy efficiency of the induction motors is approaching to 90 per cent. The first necessary condition of the efficiency improvements is an accurate estimation of energy efficiency. This study aims to estimate the energy efficiency of induction motors by using three innovative estimation methods.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for 307 motors were taken from three different companies and their torque, power, power factor and speed data were used. Three hybrid models were created by estimating the error of three autoregressive (AR)-based efficiency estimation models with the back-propagation artificial neural network (ANN) structure. In these proposed hybrid models, the AR models were supported with artificial neural networks to obtain a minimum estimation error. These three hybrid models were called as AR1-ANN, AR4-ANN and residual-ANN.
Findings
Without hybridization of AR models by back-propagation ANNs, the best estimation result was obtained by residual model. On the other hand, for the proposed hybrid models, the best estimation was obtained by AR1-ANN, followed by AR4-ANN and finally the residual-ANN according to ME values.
Practical implications
Proposed AR-ANN hybrid models relieve of longtime experiments for the energy efficiency measurement of induction motors. Furthermore, these AR-ANN models give more accurate results than the available methods in the literature. Engineering value of this research is three different issues in finding energy efficiency. The first one is minimizing of the test cost, the second one is no requirement the test equipment and the third one is not interrupting the motor. Every company that needs motors can use these estimation methods due to the advantages.
Originality/value
Novel three AR-ANN hybrid models for energy efficiency estimation were studied. These novel methods give better response than the other methods which were used for estimation of induction motors in the literature.
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Manoochehr Najmi, Rahim Ehsani, Ahmad Sharbatoghlie and Mohammad Saidi‐Mehrabad
The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated dynamic model, based on empirical findings, which can be used in research centers for evaluating the performance of research…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated dynamic model, based on empirical findings, which can be used in research centers for evaluating the performance of research projects by using multiple attribute utility theory.
Design/methodology/approach
In developing the model, the measures by which the performance of research projects could be evaluated are identified by Delphi method and group decision making. These measures are categorized into three general success factors of time, cost and quality. Then a multi‐attribute utility function is applied to integrate these dimensions to determine the utility resulting from the performance of the project.
Findings
Through literature review it is evident that some evaluation techniques such as checklists, scoring models, analytical hierarchy process and engineering economic techniques have been developed for evaluating performance of projects. The present model complements and improves upon the existing models.
Research limitations/implications
The parameters of model are determined based on research center's policy but they may be changed for other research centers. So the model depends on the expert's view. The model is not considered advantageous in situations where project gets ahead of program.
Practical implications
The model is tested in an engineering research institute and the comparison is made with the results of the existing models.
Originality/value
The advantage of proposed model is its flexibility, dynamism and the capability to revise the model based on any changes in the objectives and policies of the research center.
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Francisco J. Conejo, Enrique A. Gamboa and Andrea Insch
This study provides insights into the most salient elements of the Costa Rican bar servicescape/barscape (atmosphere). This is done qualitatively via six focus groups, six expert…
Abstract
This study provides insights into the most salient elements of the Costa Rican bar servicescape/barscape (atmosphere). This is done qualitatively via six focus groups, six expert interviews, and six on-site observations. Results indicate that servicescape elements traditionally covered by the literature are of secondary importance. Participants instead emphasized social elements (other patrons, staff), supplemented by ambience elements (music, lighting, colors, noise, air, odors, scents). Moreover, the underlying socialization interest steered ambience preferences. Results support the increasingly important social servicescape notion. Generalizing traditionally studied servicescape elements across cultures and hospitality settings, as conventionally done, may result suboptimal. Commonalities might exist. However, research should be specifically contextualized to gain more nuanced servicescape understandings. Relating servicescape preferences to macro, meso, and micro considerations further enhances how servicescapes are understood. This study is the first to explore Latin-American barscapes. Notably, it expressly links servicescape preferences to patronage motives. It thereby uncovers why certain servicescape elements become important.