Ashraf Mishrif and Asharul Khan
The border closure and lockdowns due to Covid-19 pandemic resulted in partial closure of many industrial and commercial complexes, halted the performance of key strategic sectors…
Abstract
Purpose
The border closure and lockdowns due to Covid-19 pandemic resulted in partial closure of many industrial and commercial complexes, halted the performance of key strategic sectors such as logistics and supply chains, and thus disrupted the global value chains and the economy. The authors argue, however, that the pursuit of survival has driven companies to innovate and use digitization to overcome the negative consequences of the pandemic. More specifically, in this paper the authors aim to assess the success and challenges faced by companies in digitization policy design, adoption and implementation and their effects on firms’ operation, outputs and customer base during Covid-19.
Design/methodology/approach
Sixty-one samples of the companies surveyed between 10 January and 30 April 2021 were analyzed, using the Krushkal–Wallis test and Independent-Samples Mann–Whitney U test to identify the relationships between variables including operation, overall output, customer base, digitization policy, technology use and implementation costs of new technologies.
Findings
Results revealed a positive impact of digitization on the operation and overall outputs, while no effect was observed on the customer base. Analysis also showed that only 1.8% of companies were able to fully implement digitization, and that the cost of technology prevented most companies from using emerging technology or implementing their digitization policy.
Research limitations/implications
While the research has practical implications, it is not without flaws. For instance, the outcome of technology varies as per geographic area and people. The study was conducted in the Sultanate of Oman, a developing country in the Middle East region; therefore, it is difficult to generalize the outcomes suited to developed countries. The developed countries usually have a population quite used to the advanced technologies so some of the issues raised in the study might not work in the logistics and supply chain sectors of the developed countries. Such countries need separate studies.
Practical implications
The findings will have implications for both supply chain companies as well as the technology providers. The supply chain companies will invest in technology infrastructure and add technology as an important component in their business models. The technology providers will consider the costs of implementation and adoption issues of technology in the supply chain companies.
Originality/value
To the best of authors' knowledge, no work has been produced on logistics and supply chain companies considering the technological sustainability during the time of Covid-19. The study will improve understanding of the digitization policy design, adoption and implementation and their effects on logistics and supply chain companies’ performance.
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Erhan Akkas and Hazem Al Samman
This paper aims to investigate and provide an objective appraisal of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Islamic and conventional financial institutions and Islamic windows in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate and provide an objective appraisal of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Islamic and conventional financial institutions and Islamic windows in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The panel data techniques are conducted country-wise in each financial institution type: random-effect model, fixed-effect model and Hausman test.
Findings
The results of the first phase analysis that extends from 1 January 2020 to 30 October 2020 show that Islamic financial institutions are less exposed to the repercussions of the COVID-19 outbreak than the conventional and Islamic window financial institutions in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Moreover, the Islamic financial institutions in Saudi Arabia and Oman have not been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The second phase analysis for the COVID-19 outbreak that extends from 1 November 2020 to 17 March 2021 confirms the disappearance of the negative impact of COVID-19 on Islamic financial institutions in Bahrain and Oman.
Practical implications
The findings present that Islamic banks are not as resilient in the COVID-19 pandemic as in the 2008 financial crisis. It can be suggested that regulatory authorities, financial institutions and other key policymakers in the GCC countries should focus on implementing regulatory reforms related to human capital, innovative products, research and development to further develop individuals, societies and institutions within the framework of Islamic ontology to be more resilient in such crises.
Originality/value
This paper provides a different perspective from existing literature on the pandemics and financial institutions by comparing the stock prices in Islamic and conventional financial institutions and Islamic windows in GCC countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this paper should be considered as a contribution to filling a gap in the literature.
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Linda Smail, Mouawiya AlAwad and Wasseem Abaza
This study aims to understand the factors influencing university students’ entrepreneurial intentions in a rapidly developing entrepreneurial country.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the factors influencing university students’ entrepreneurial intentions in a rapidly developing entrepreneurial country.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey of 324 Emirati students was conducted. Using a structural equation analysis, the study identified strong associations between positive attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived university and country-level support for entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. However, the relationship between social norms and intention was not direct, but an indirect relationship was found when coupled with self-efficacy and attitudes.
Findings
The findings suggest that increasing public awareness and promoting entrepreneurship as a viable career option will significantly impact students’ entrepreneurial intentions in the UAE. Furthermore, providing practical educational and resource opportunities can facilitate the process of starting a business.
Originality/value
This study contributes to entrepreneurship research by providing a unique perspective on the interrelationships among social, government and economic influences in an entrepreneurial context.
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Salman Bahoo, M. Kabir Hassan, Andrea Paltrinieri and Ashraf Khan
The purpose of this paper is to propose a model of the Islamic sovereign wealth funds (ISWFs) based on Islamic finance principles to modify the precarious image of SWFs from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a model of the Islamic sovereign wealth funds (ISWFs) based on Islamic finance principles to modify the precarious image of SWFs from Muslim countries. The Shariah laws are the cardinal direction for this study.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied a qualitative research technique that consists of three approaches: exploratory case study approach to critically examine and rank the existing status of SWFs; descriptive analysis; and content analysis to present a model of ISWFs in comparison of conventional SWFs.
Findings
The authors propose a model of the “Islamic Sovereign Wealth Funds” based on four key pillars: the major Shariah principles; the Islamic corporate governance framework; the Islamic transparency and disclosure framework; and the Islamic corporate social responsibility framework. Furthermore, the authors argue that the potential effect of the ISWFs on Islamic finance and economy will be positive.
Research limitations/implications
The model is an initial work and idea to convert SWFs from Muslim countries into ISWFs, which required an in-depth policy review by governments.
Practical implications
The findings of the paper are useful for policymakers and governments of the Muslim countries to overcome the issues and criticism on SWFs by converting them in ISWFs.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature related to Islamic finance and sovereign wealth fund by presenting a first model of ISWFs for Muslim countries.