Robert Hinson, Raymond Atuguba, Dan Ofori and Julius Fobih
To contribute to the internet use literature with particular respect to lawyers. This current study seeks to investigate qualitatively, the impact of the internet on the work of…
Abstract
Purpose
To contribute to the internet use literature with particular respect to lawyers. This current study seeks to investigate qualitatively, the impact of the internet on the work of lawyers in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Following several other empirical studies in the general information systems arena, a qualitative design was adopted for this study. A second motivation for adoption of this design was the fact that this research was exploratory in nature and it was the opinion of the researchers that this case study will provide rich insights into the formulations of research propositions for a larger study on internet use and legal practice in Ghana. Interviews were conducted with lawyers who had been called to the bar for before 2003 (we needed to be sure that these lawyers had been practicing for at least two years). Lawyers employed in law chambers, private sector institutions, international organizations, law consultancies, public sector institutions and the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana were contacted as potential respondents for this qualitative study. The first five lawyers in each category who accepted to do the interviews were used as respondents for the study. In all 25 lawyers were interviewed and their views on internet use in respect of the legal profession in Ghana formed the basis of the empirical discussions in this paper.
Findings
Seventy‐eight per cent of the lawyers interviewed agree that the internet improves their productivity. Eighty‐eight per cent of respondents indicated that the internet is useful as a communication tool, whilst 76 per cent of the respondents considered the internet to be very important for getting information. In respect of generating business contacts, it seems the internet (online technologies) is just as important as brick – and – mortar strategies for attracting and retaining clients.
Research limitations/implications
Study has proved invaluable in hypothesis formulation for a larger study on internet use amongst Ghanaian lawyers in 2006. Ultimately, it could give indications for the conduct of e‐business adoption studies amongst lawyers in Ghana.
Originality/value
One of the few studies that focuses on internet adoption by lawyers in a developing country context.
Dan F. Ofori and Robert E. Hinson
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has blossomed in this new millennium. This has been due to: the increasing concern expressed by policy makers about corporate social…
Abstract
Purpose
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has blossomed in this new millennium. This has been due to: the increasing concern expressed by policy makers about corporate social responsibility; the pressure exerted on firms to demonstrate high ethical standards; and for developing countries, the increasing demands on their firms exporting to Europe and other western countries to document adherence to high ethical standards in order to be competitive. This study sought to ascertain and document the extent of recognition, nature and content of socially responsible actions by firms located in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a sample of companies listed in the Ghana Club 100 database, an annual ranking of the most prestigious firms in Ghana. The study adopted an in‐depth, exploratory and comparative approach in examining the CSR issues from the perspectives of local versus internationally‐connected firms in Ghana.
Findings
The key findings of the study were that, although local companies are familiar with the concept and do, indeed, practise some amount of CSR, they subscribe less to the contemporary notion of CSR; they are less strategic, less moral and ethical in their approach to CSR. Thus, internationally‐connected Ghanaian firms seem to have a better grasp of the various dimensions of CSR and how these could be used to business and strategic advantage.
Research limitations/implications
Future research indications might be the fashioning of a CSR typology for Ghanaian firms and an investigation of the relationship between CSR and financial performance.
Originality/value
Reports findings in the first nation‐wide study carried out in the area of CSR and will interest academics and practitioners working in and on the area.
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This study aims to seek to fill a gap in regulatory impact assessment in developing countries by presenting an analysis of how formal regulation impact on the efficiency and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to seek to fill a gap in regulatory impact assessment in developing countries by presenting an analysis of how formal regulation impact on the efficiency and productivity of financial non-governmental organisations (FNGOs) in Ghana. Much has been written about the formal financial sector, but very little is known about the lower end of microfinance and the impact of formal prudential regulation on FNGOs providing microfinance services. The Bank of Ghana (BOG), nevertheless, in the year 2011, extended formal prudential regulation to FNGOs without any empirical basis. This study uses regulatory theories and empirical evidence to aid in the evaluation of whether formal prudential regulation is appropriate for FNGOs operating within the microfinance sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical evidence derived from FNGOs, regulatory agents, consumers and financial lawyers within the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions of Ghana served as the basis of the analysis in this study. Descriptive statistics, frequency counts and percentage scores, were used to analyse the data collected.
Findings
The existing structures of FNGOs in Ghana are unsuitable for formal prudential regulation. The BOG does not have adequate staffing and funding to supervise and monitor the microfinance activities of FNGOs. Formal prudential regulation could impede growth and efficient delivery of microfinance services.
Research limitations/implications
The BOG is the only regulatory agency responsible for regulating the financial market in Ghana, thus access to officers with knowledge in the regulatory regime was very limited.
Practical implications
The study revealed in depth information about FNGOs, microfinance and the impact of formal prudential regulation on FNGOs.
Originality/value
The study is the first to use empirical studies and theories of regulation to assess the impact of extending formal prudential regulation to FNGOs in Ghana. Data from the regulator, the regulated and consumers, the key players in any regulatory process, served as the basis of the analysis in the study resulting in the unravelling of in-depth information on the regulation of FNGOs.
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Esam Emad Ghassab, Carol Ann Tilt and Kathyayini Kathy Rao
Drawing on new insights from the perspectives and experiences of board members, the purpose of this study is to determine the board attributes that influence board roles in…
Abstract
Drawing on new insights from the perspectives and experiences of board members, the purpose of this study is to determine the board attributes that influence board roles in improving the integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) into corporate governance structures. In total, 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with directors of listed Jordanian companies to explore their perceptions of the effect of board of directors' composition on CSR and CSR disclosure (CSRD). The key findings show that boards with a diverse range of directors is essential independent/nonexecutive members, directors with business and/or accounting backgrounds, and foreign members to determine if they aim to better manage their CSR. To take CSR to the next level in the Arab region, we need to strengthen corporate governance mechanisms, and put more pressures on companies to make changes in board composition. For example, we suggest that companies that appoint business-educated and foreign members to their boards tend to engage in more impactful social and environmental-related activities and reflect their sustainable development more effectively. The study responds to calls for further research adopting qualitative methods, such as case studies and interviews in order to obtain a complete and in-depth understanding of the influence of board composition on CSR/CSRD. The findings provide useful insights for practice, policymakers, and future research.
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Meri Indri Hapsari, Amin Hanif Mahmud, Sri Herianingrum, R. Moh Qudsi Fauzy, Siti Ngayesah Ab. Hamid, Arka Prabaswara and Lina Mawaddatul Masfiyah
The purpose of this study is to analyse, firstly, whether education, financial inclusion, financial literacy and financial planning can be antecedents that affect Islamic welfare…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyse, firstly, whether education, financial inclusion, financial literacy and financial planning can be antecedents that affect Islamic welfare and, secondly, whether productivity can be a mediator to improve Islamic welfare.
Design/methodology/approach
This study involved quantitative research using data obtained from a survey. The respondents were 538 Muslim families in East Java, Indonesia. Structural equation modelling was used for the analysis.
Findings
This study tested 13 hypotheses, of which 10 were accepted. The accepted hypotheses refer to the effects of financial literacy on productivity, financial inclusion on productivity, financial planning on productivity, financial planning on Islamic welfare, education on Islamic welfare, productivity on Islamic welfare, financial literacy and productivity on Islamic welfare, financial inclusion and productivity on Islamic welfare and financial planning and productivity on Islamic welfare, as well as the effects of financial inclusion on Islamic welfare. Meanwhile, three hypotheses were not accepted; they refer to the effects of financial literacy on Islamic welfare, the effect of education on productivity, as well as the impact of education and productivity on Islamic welfare.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted only with respondents living in East Java, so the results depict the condition of Muslim families’ welfare in East Java.
Originality/value
Research into the antecedents of Islamic welfare has received little academic attention, so this study explores how education, financial inclusion, financial literacy, financial planning and productivity could affect Islamic welfare among Muslim families.
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Kusdi Raharjo, Nurjannah Nurjannah, Solimun Solimun and Adji Achmad Rinaldo Fernandes
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between Job Design, Job Commitment and Organizational Culture with Human Resource Performance: a study of the construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between Job Design, Job Commitment and Organizational Culture with Human Resource Performance: a study of the construction services provided by national consultants.
Design/methodology/approach
The research population consisted of all employees of a national company offering consultation services, from four big Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises Contractors: PT. Yodya Karya Company, PT. Hutama Karya, PT. Adhy Karya, PT. Waskita Karya Referring to the approach to SEM modeling with an average population of 600 employees for each enterprises, the sample to be used as respondents consisted of 100 employees for each enterprises, and total 100×4 enterprises=400 samples.
Findings
The variables Organizational Culture and Job Design have a significant direct effect on Job Commitment. Likewise, the effect of Organizational Culture and Job Commitment on Human Resource Performance is also significant. However, a different result is shown in the result of the direct effect of the variable Job Design on the variable Human Resource Performance, which indicates that the variable Job Design does not have a significant direct effect on the variable Human Resource Performance. In other words, the intensity of the Job Design value will not affect the intensity level of Human Resource Performance. In addition, a mediating effect of the variable Job Commitment is found on the effect of Job Design and Organizational Culture on Human Resource Performance.
Originality/value
The use of Job Commitment to exercise a mediation effect on the relationship between the effect of Job Design and Organizational Culture on Human Resource Performance, and the research site (no previous research investigating this relationship).
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Pipin Kurnia and Ardianto
This study aims to determine the effect of board gender diversity on cyber security disclosure (CSD) in the banking sector of Indonesia as a developing country that adheres to a…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the effect of board gender diversity on cyber security disclosure (CSD) in the banking sector of Indonesia as a developing country that adheres to a two-tier system.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a panel data of 47 banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2021. The board gender diversity is measured by three proxies, the proportion of women on the board, BLAU Index value and the critical mass of women. The authors used generalized method of moments estimation to eliminate the simultaneous equation bias.
Findings
The results show that the women board of commissioners increases CSD, and the women of board of directors/top management team were significantly negative for CSD.
Research limitations/implications
First, this research was only conducted in the banking sector. The results cannot be generalized to non-financial companies. Second, there is no measurement of the quality of the board from the level of education, experience, expertise and other characteristics of diversity such as age, nationality and religion.
Practical implications
The study has revealed the need for the government’s role in providing oversight of the presence of women on the board so that banks fully comply with Indonesia Financial Services Authority regulations. Banks should also actively launch policies regarding the presence of women on the board to give a positive effect to stakeholders that women play an important role in decision making. Banks must also adjust the composition of female commissioners with a threshold of two people to maximize their function as supervisors.
Originality/value
This is the first research conducted on the banking sector in Indonesia as a developing country that adheres to a two-tier system. The results of this study provide evidence that patriarchal culture is still dominant in Indonesia.
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Dat Tien Doan, Tuyet Phuoc Anh Mai, Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini and Nicola Naismith
This study aims to identify the primary research areas of modern methods of construction (MMC) along with its current trends and developments.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the primary research areas of modern methods of construction (MMC) along with its current trends and developments.
Design/methodology/approach
A combination of bibliometric and qualitative analysis is adopted to examine 1,957 MMC articles in the Scopus database. With the support of CiteSpace 6.1.R6, the clusters, leading authors, journals, institutions and countries in the field of MMC are examined.
Findings
Offsite construction, inter-modular connections, augmenting output, prefabricated concrete beams and earthquake-resilient prefabricated beam–column steel joints are the top five research areas in MMC. Among them, offsite construction and inter-modular connections are significantly focused, with many research articles. The potential for collaboration, among prominent authors such as Wang, J., Liu, Y. and Wang, Y., explains the recent rapid growth of the MMC field of research. With a total of 225 articles, Engineering Structures is the journal that has published the most articles on MMC. China is the leading country in this field, and the Ministry of Education China is the top institution in MMC.
Originality/value
The findings of this study bear significant implications for stakeholders in academia and industry alike. In academia, these insights allow researchers to identify research gaps and foster collaboration, steering efforts toward innovative and impactful outcomes. For industries using MMC practices, the clarity provided on MMC techniques facilitates the efficient adoption of best practices, thereby promoting collaboration, innovation and global problem-solving within the construction field.
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It is well recognized that the construction industry is characterised by inefficient and ineffective service delivery due to various causative factors. Thus this study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
It is well recognized that the construction industry is characterised by inefficient and ineffective service delivery due to various causative factors. Thus this study aims to examine the influential factors affecting public construction project performance in Ethiopia to improve the industry's service delivery.
Design/methodology/approach
From the extensive literature reviewed, 58 potential factors affecting construction project performance have been compiled. Based on the evidence accumulated, the conceptual model of this paper has been developed. By using survey questionnaires, valuable data were collected from the construction industry professionals in Ethiopia; analysed and interpreted with the use of both SPSS and AMOS software.
Findings
It is concluded that failure factors related to the “performance” of the contractor, the “capability” of the owner, the “project design-procurement process,” and project contract management can significantly contribute to the poor performance of public construction projects in Ethiopia. Ten key factors include inadequate contractor capacity, weak project site management and supervision, weak project management skills and capabilities of the owner, additional work orders, delayed payment, lack of comprehensive project plans between parties and incomplete project design, rising material prices, ineffective project schedules, and cost management, rising market prices and devaluation of the currency.
Research limitations/implications
The scope of this study confined to public projects in Ethiopia. It suggests that further research needs to consider public and private construction from a comprehensive perspective in the developing countries.
Practical implications
It provides practitioners with information and guidance on the factors that affect the performance of construction projects.
Originality/value
It provides inclusive evidence related to many factors that affect the performance of public construction projects.