E A Draffan, Abi James, Mike Wald and Amal Idris
A number of participatory research methodologies can be used to assist with developing assistive technologies. These methods vary in the amount that users lead and contribute to…
Abstract
Purpose
A number of participatory research methodologies can be used to assist with developing assistive technologies. These methods vary in the amount that users lead and contribute to the work. Selecting the correct method can be important to ensure the overall success of the project and the engagement of users. The purpose of this paper is to explore factors that can impact on the degree of user participation.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper considers whether criteria, that might influence assistive technology (AT) selection made during an assessment of need, review or purchasing process, could also be used to clarify the appropriate strategies for user involvement when developing assistive technologies. It outlines how this approach has been applied to two research and development projects which aimed to improve AT provision within niche markets.
Findings
The paper demonstrates that it is possible to apply a decision making process to selecting the best participatory research method, based on factors affecting AT need. It reports on the outcomes of the user participation in the two research and development projects and discusses how this design approach has been applied to a third project.
Originality/value
By examining a possible framework for identifying appropriate user-participation approaches, this paper will aid those designing research and development AT projects, whilst encouraging user participation within similar projects.
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Karine Aoun Barakat, Amal Dabbous and Abbas Tarhini
During the past few years, the rise in social media use for information purposes in the absence of adequate control mechanisms has led to growing concerns about the reliability of…
Abstract
Purpose
During the past few years, the rise in social media use for information purposes in the absence of adequate control mechanisms has led to growing concerns about the reliability of the information in circulation and increased the presence of fake news. While this topic has recently gained researchers' attention, very little is known about users' fake news identification behavior. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand the factors that contribute to individuals' identification of fake news on social media.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs a quantitative approach and proposes a behavioral model that explores the factors influencing users' identification of fake news on social media. It relies on data collected from a sample of 211 social media users which is tested using SEM.
Findings
The findings show that expertise in social media use and verification behavior have a positive impact on fake news identification, while trust in social media as an information channel decreases this identification behavior. Furthermore, results establish the mediating role of social media information trust and verification behavior.
Originality/value
The present study enhances our understanding of social media users' fake news identification by presenting a behavioral model. It is one of the few that focuses on the individual and argues that by identifying the factors that reinforce users' fake news identification behavior on social media, this type of misinformation can be reduced. It offers several theoretical and practical contributions.
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Amal Abdullah Hasan, Syed Zamberi Ahmad and Abdullah Osman
This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of transformational leadership (TL) and work engagement (WE) on health-care clinic nurses’ performance and the crucial role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of transformational leadership (TL) and work engagement (WE) on health-care clinic nurses’ performance and the crucial role of these variables in the work environment (WEV).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 353 nurses working across various health-care clinics in the United Arab Emirates. This study used descriptive correlational statistics from the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, the Pearson correlation coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis for model validity, Cronbach’s alpha for reliability and path analysis to determine the results.
Findings
The relationship between TL and job performance among nurses in health-care clinics was strongly influenced by WE. In addition, a moderate WEV increased the positive influence of TL on job accomplishment. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the participants’ demographics characteristics and the main variables of the study.
Practical implications
Health-care management can support and enhance nurses’ job performance through TL, create a more structured WEV and support WE.
Originality/value
This study involves a specific investigation into WE as a mediator, WEV as a moderator and the effect of TL on nurses’ job performance.
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Sharfizie Mohd Sharip, Marinah Awang and Ramlee Ismail
This study aims to extend the investigation on leader communication by assessing the usage of motivating language (ML) by leaders in Waqf institutions in Malaysia.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to extend the investigation on leader communication by assessing the usage of motivating language (ML) by leaders in Waqf institutions in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
Data analysis was carried out using structural equation modelling via the partial least squares. The probability sampling technique was deemed more suitable for this study as the available data was definable for constructing the sampling frame.
Findings
Management effectiveness was shown to have a significant effect on direction-giving and meaning-making language (MML), but not on empathetic language (EL). The findings demonstrate that increasing use of directive and MML leads to greater management performance; however, increased use of EL has no such effect.
Research limitations/implications
The findings should not be taken as a comprehensive solution for improving the management effectiveness of all Waqf institutions. As the study only focused on the aspect of leader communication in Waqf institutions, the findings cannot be generalized to other contexts. Additionally, this study had only examined religious-based non-profit organizations (NPOs) with affiliations to a religious body, mission statements that incorporate religious values, financial support from religious sources and governance structure and employee selection based on religious processes. Hence, the findings cannot be used as a reference in the context of non-religious NPOs.
Practical implications
This paper contributes to the theoretical enhancement of existing literature about leader communication towards improving institutional effectiveness. The current study has empirically tested the model through the integration of the ML theory. Thus, the leader’s choice of language improves employee motivation and ultimately institutional productivity and effectiveness.
Originality/value
There is a glaring gap in empirical studies on the relationship between ML usage by leaders and management effectiveness specifically in the context of Malaysian organizations. Based on rigorous searches using the Scopus and Web of Sciences databases, it was found that past studies investigating the said relationship had focused more on Western countries. This is a crucial gap that must be addressed to gain a deeper understanding of the effect of ML on management effectiveness, especially in the Malaysian setting.
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Amal Dabbous and Karine Aoun Barakat
The spread of fake news represents a serious threat to consumers, companies and society. Previous studies have linked emotional arousal to an increased propensity to spread…
Abstract
Purpose
The spread of fake news represents a serious threat to consumers, companies and society. Previous studies have linked emotional arousal to an increased propensity to spread information and a decrease in people’s ability to recognize fake news. However, the effect of an individual’s emotional state on fake news sharing remains unclear, particularly during periods of severe disruptions such as pandemics. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature by elucidating how heightened emotions affect fake news sharing behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
To validate the conceptual model, this study uses a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 212 online questionnaires and then analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique.
Findings
Results of this study show that positive emotions have indirect effects on fake news sharing behavior by allowing users to view the quality of information circulating on social media in a more positive light, and increasing their socialization behavior leading them to share fake news. Negative emotions indirectly impact fake news sharing by affecting users’ information overload and reinforcing prior beliefs, which in turn increases fake news sharing.
Research limitations/implications
This study identifies several novel associations between emotions and fake news sharing behavior and offers a theoretical lens that can be used in future studies. It also provides several practical implications on the prevention mechanism that can counteract the dissemination of fake news.
Originality/value
This study investigates the impact of individuals’ emotional states on fake news sharing behavior, and establishes four user-centric antecedents to this sharing behavior. By focusing on individuals’ emotional state, cognitive reaction and behavioral response, it is among the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to offer a multidimensional understanding of individuals’ interaction with news that circulates on social media.
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For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), achieving export manufacturing competitiveness is a major challenge. This paper aims to provide a framework that can be used to study…
Abstract
Purpose
For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), achieving export manufacturing competitiveness is a major challenge. This paper aims to provide a framework that can be used to study the export competitiveness for food manufacturers.
Design/methodology/approach
The revealed comparative export advantage (RXA) and the constant market share (CMS) measures are used in a case study set in the Trinidad and Tobago’s food and beverage sector to study export manufacturing competitiveness.
Findings
When using the RXA and CMS measures to assess the current state of export manufacturing competitiveness in SIDS, specific product groupings should be used in the analysis to obtain a more accurate assessment of competitiveness than that provided when using aggregate commodity groups. Furthermore, the export market section of the conceptual framework provides a structured approach towards studying the distribution effect element of the CMS analysis.
Research limitations/implications
Trade data are heavily used, which is subject to a number of well-documented limitations. In addition, there is no mandatory registration for companies operating in the case country, which results in under-reporting of industrial activity, and so limits the use of the framework in studying the exporting companies and the export products. Finally, a single case study limits the generalizability of the findings.
Practical implications
In particular, policymakers responsible for designing interventions for increasing export manufacturing competitiveness can use the framework to consider specific strategies as they relate to the exporting companies, the export products and the export markets.
Originality/value
This paper brings together three basic elements that contribute to export manufacturing competitiveness in the form of the conceptual framework.
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Miftachul Huda, Nasrul Hisyam Nor Muhamad, Puji Isyanto, Razaleigh Muhamat, Nurazmallail Marni, Mohamed Ahmad Kilani and Jimaain Safar
Increasing diversity leads to local, national and transnational challenges requiring a novel and explicit problem-solving approach. Practical wisdom, which emerges from an…
Abstract
Purpose
Increasing diversity leads to local, national and transnational challenges requiring a novel and explicit problem-solving approach. Practical wisdom, which emerges from an integration knowledge and ability through religious awareness, can promote peaceful coexistence in diverse societies with adequate theological and educational infrastructures. This paper aims to critically examine practical wisdom as the religious awareness to underlying building harmony in the diverse society.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature from refereed and peer-reviewed journals and articles was reviewed using thematic topic analysis to propose a model of the practical wisdom as a foundation for building harmony in a diverse society.
Findings
This result shows that there are several discussions with specific objectives of practical wisdom as the result of core understanding of religious awareness underlying the potential solutions in the diverse society; the significant essence of practical wisdom as the core element for building harmony; exploring how practical wisdom should be a wide particular element in building integrity and harmony in the diverse society.
Originality/value
Practical wisdom can establish peaceful and respectful relations amongst diverse segments of the population. It is, therefore, crucial for scholars and practitioners to explore practical wisdom in depth and devise ways of promoting this important characteristic at a social level through the exchange of common ideas and goals.
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Mohit Srivastava and Ladislav Tyll
This paper aims to develop a thorough understanding of industry-specific networking behaviour on the internationalization performance of Czech small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a thorough understanding of industry-specific networking behaviour on the internationalization performance of Czech small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a profile deviation-ideal profile methodology to explore the ideal networking behaviour profile of different industries. The authors argue that firms adhering to ideal profiles performed well in the international market, while firms deviating from the ideal profile performed poorly. Data were collected through an online questionnaire specifically targeted at Czech SME executives. The authors attempted to explore these issues by using four aspects of networking behaviour to test the ideal networking behaviour profile of five different industries (automotive, telecommunications, construction, audit and finance and transportation).
Findings
The authors have identified different ideal networking behaviour profile for three industries, which underpinned supported the hypothesis that each dimension of networking behaviour should be fine-tuned for each sector to achieve to attain maximum benefits and performance in the international market.
Originality/value
Although previous studies supported the role of networking behaviour in improving internationalization performance, multiple studies had also provided conflicting results on how networking affects different industries and it is unclear how and why networking affects these various industries differently. The authors believe that the results research provides empirical evidence in proving that different networking dimensions should be fine-tuned as per industry to achieve the highest performance in the international market. The authors believe that the findings broaden the current understanding of the role of networks in the internationalization. The authors believe that the findings extend the current understanding of the role of networks in the internationalization of SMEs.
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Muhammad Iqmal Hisham Kamaruddin, Sofiah Md Auzair, Mohd Mohid Rahmat and Nurul Aini Muhamed
The purpose of this study is to examine the role of financial governance practices in influencing both financial management and Islamic work ethic practices to affect Islamic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the role of financial governance practices in influencing both financial management and Islamic work ethic practices to affect Islamic social enterprises (ISEs) accountability.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaires were administered to financial officers of 102 Malaysian ISEs. Data was analysed using Smart-PLS to examine the relationships between financial management, Islamic work ethic, financial governance and accountability.
Findings
Results of this study indicate direct relationship only exist between Islamic work ethic and accountability. The relationship between financial management and accountability are indirect through financial governance. Hence, the data proves that financial governance has a mediating role on both the relationships between financial management and Islamic work ethic with the accountability of the ISEs.
Research limitations/implications
The study has highlighted the greater role of financial management, Islamic work ethic and financial governance practices over accountability to achieve public trust, especially for Malaysian ISEs.
Practical implications
ISEs need to have good financial governance practices besides financial management and Islamic work ethic practices to achieve good accountability.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the field of management and social accounting by providing empirical evidence on the ISEs practices specifically on financial management, Islamic work ethic, financial governance and accountability. This framework thus presents amongst the first attempts in studying accountability issues in ISEs.
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Amal El Mallouli and Hassan Sassi
The Moroccan monetary authorities have implemented an Islamic banking system since 2017 as an alternative to the conventional system. However, the adoption of Islamic banking…
Abstract
Purpose
The Moroccan monetary authorities have implemented an Islamic banking system since 2017 as an alternative to the conventional system. However, the adoption of Islamic banking products and services is not widely accepted by customers. The purpose of this study is to propose a conceptual framework to understand the determinants of Islamic banking products and services adoption in Morocco.
Design/methodology/approach
This study develops a conceptual framework based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI). Thus, with reference to an extensive literature review done regarding adoption studies, the proposed research model integrates perceived attributes of innovation (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and observability) suggested by the DOI theory. It also integrates other relevant variables that should be considered in the context of this study. These include knowledge, perceived risk and customer involvement.
Findings
The proposed conceptual framework demonstrates and justifies the relevance and the applicability of Rogers’ DOI to understand consumer decisions to adopt an innovation in general as well as Islamic banks in particular.
Originality/value
Several studies have examined the factors influencing the adoption of Islamic banks; however, those carried out in the Moroccan context remain very limited. The majority of these studies examine the intention to adopt in the future, whereas the present study seeks to establish a conceptual research model that examines the determinants of current adoption of Islamic banking in Morocco and the continuity of this adoption over time. The novelty of this study is to develop a modified model based on DOI theory which, according to the existing literature, has not yet been tested in the Moroccan context.