Haider Abbas, Christer Magnusson, Louise Yngstrom and Ahmed Hemani
The purpose of this paper is to address three main problems resulting from uncertainty in information security management: dynamically changing security requirements of an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address three main problems resulting from uncertainty in information security management: dynamically changing security requirements of an organization; externalities caused by a security system; and obsolete evaluation of security concerns.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to address these critical concerns, a framework based on options reasoning borrowed from corporate finance is proposed and adapted to evaluation of security architecture and decision making for handling these issues at organizational level. The adaptation as a methodology is demonstrated by a large case study validating its efficacy.
Findings
The paper shows through three examples that it is possible to have a coherent methodology, building on options theory to deal with uncertainty issues in information security at an organizational level.
Practical implications
To validate the efficacy of the methodology proposed in this paper, it was applied to the Spridnings‐och Hämtningssystem (SHS: dissemination and retrieval system) system. The paper introduces the methodology, presents its application to the SHS system in detail and compares it to the current practice.
Originality/value
This research is relevant to information security management in organizations, particularly issues on changing requirements and evaluation in uncertain circumstances created by progress in technology.
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Quratulain Amber, Abdul Baseer Qazi, Nadeem Javaid, Iram A. Khan and Mansoor Ahmad
This study aims to examine the role of ethical leaders on the knowledge-sharing behavior of public sector employees. Ethical leaders engender knowledge-sharing behavior of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the role of ethical leaders on the knowledge-sharing behavior of public sector employees. Ethical leaders engender knowledge-sharing behavior of employees by influencing their psychological capital.
Design/methodology/approach
To explore the mechanism by which ethical leaders shape the knowledge-sharing behavior of employees, cross-sectional self-reported data (n = 339) are collected from employees working at decision-making positions in federal ministries in Pakistan.
Findings
Analysis results indicate that ethical leaders influence public employees to share knowledge with colleagues. Moreover, the mediary role of ethical values, organizational identification and altruism is evident, however, the mediary role of self-efficacy is not evident from results.
Practical implications
This implies that policymakers should be cognizant of the indirect mechanism by which ethical leaders positively influence the behavior of public employees. This knowledge helps them consider the recruitment, promotion and training of employees, especially the leaders, in line with the required ethical value consideration in public sector organizations.
Originality/value
This research is based on originally collected data from the field.
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The concept of Takaful has a long history. It is linked with the era of Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago. The globalization and development of socio-economic systems have made…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of Takaful has a long history. It is linked with the era of Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago. The globalization and development of socio-economic systems have made business activities more complex in response to emerging human needs and requirements. Similarly, Takaful insurance has fully commercialized and become an important indicator of the international financial market. The purpose of this study is to understand the Takaful mechanism and progression of its procedures to date since its inception.
Design/methodology/approach
This study seeks to examine the origin, evolution and historical developments of Takaful mechanism, operations, models and governing framework with extant literature review from previous studies and current practices.
Findings
The modern Takaful insurance first began in Sudan back in 1979. The Takaful operations must abide by the Sharia laws and work under the supervision of the Sharia Supervisory Board. Since its evolution, Sharia scholars have introduced various Takaful models that are going to be explained in this study. Moreover, several Islamic organizations, including the “Islamic Financial Services Board” and the “Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions,” have provided guidelines and supervision to develop and strengthen the Takaful industry further. The study acknowledges Takaful as a growing insurance industry with huge potential and promising future in both Pakistan and the international market.
Practical implications
During the analysis, various deficiencies and loopholes were identified, which are responsible for the unmatched growth of conventional insurance. They can be eliminated with the joint efforts of industrial players, Sharia scholars and Takaful insurance companies. Hence, Islamic scholars and academic researchers are encouraged to develop and modify the current practices of Takaful mechanism according to current market demands and consumer approach. The research efforts will help Takaful operators to develop more innovative Takaful products adhering Sharia compliance. Consequently, it will help to access more consumer market and further enhances the Takaful growth.
Originality/value
This study is an effort to provide a basic understanding of the mechanism of Takaful models. The study helps to comprehend how Takaful models have evolved and been modified over the course of time. Moreover, it provides a base for further development and improvement in current practices of Takaful models, which will result in increased progress for the Takaful industry.
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This study aims to compare types and levels of risk and risk management practices (RMPs) including the recognition, identification, assessment, analysis, monitoring and control of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to compare types and levels of risk and risk management practices (RMPs) including the recognition, identification, assessment, analysis, monitoring and control of risk in both Islamic and conventional banks.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey was conducted among the Islamic and conventional banks in Qatar, together with an analysis of archival data extracted from the Thomson Reuters Eikon database for the period 2009-2018. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and regression analysis.
Findings
Islamic banks encounter unique types and levels of risk that are not encountered by conventional banks. In Islamic banks, risks such as those of operation and Sharia non-compliance are perceived to be higher, while in conventional banks other risks such as those of credit and insolvency are higher; other risks, for example, liquidity risk, are faced by both. RMPs are determined by understanding risk and risk management, risk identification, risk monitoring and control and credit risk analysis, but not by risk assessment and analysis. However, the RMPs of the two types of bank are not significantly different, except in the analysis of credit risk.
Research limitations/implications
The study contributes to the debate in the literature by developing a better understanding of the dynamism of risk management in Qatari banks, which can be extended to similar contexts in the region. However, the relatively small sample size in only one country limits the possibility of generalizing the findings. The survey methodology is based on the perception of bankers rather than their actual actions and does not provide in-depth analysis for each type of risk, especially credit risk. However, using archival data, in addition to those from the survey, minimises the bias that would result from depending on one source of data.
Practical implications
The study provides valuable insights into the different types and levels of risk, as well as the RMPs in Islamic and conventional banks, which can help in guiding the future development and regulation of risk management in the banking sector of Qatar and its region.
Originality/value
The study helps to explain the mixed results of previous studies that compare types and levels of risk and RMPs in Islamic and conventional banks. Using different types of data and analysis, it provides evidence from one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It also addresses the concerns over RMPs in banks since the global financial crisis.
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Ting‐Yi Chang, Yu‐Ju Yang and Chun‐Cheng Peng
In keystroke‐based authentication systems, an input device to enter a password is needed. Users are verified by checking the validity of the password and typing characteristics…
Abstract
Purpose
In keystroke‐based authentication systems, an input device to enter a password is needed. Users are verified by checking the validity of the password and typing characteristics. However, some devices have no standard desktop keyboard such as personal digital assistants and mobile phones. With these types of electronics, the system cannot successfully work in the authentication phase while the registration process is implemented based on a computer keyboard. This results in a reduction of system portability. The purpose of this paper is to employ the rhythm clicked by a mouse as another identifiable factor to authenticate a user's identity.
Design/methodology/approach
Mouse click can be replaced by a stylus and fingers on touch screens or numeral buttons on mobile phones. A total of 25 users participated and the click data are based on time instances of pressing and releasing the mouse button, which are captured while the user clicks a rhythm. Three features are calculated using these click data, and a reasonable amount of results with neural networks and other classifiers shows the click characteristics are able to function as another identifiable factor.
Findings
A reasonable amount of results with neural networks and other classifiers shows the click characteristics are able to function as another identifiable factor.
Originality/value
The paper presents a personalized rhythm click‐based authentication system.
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Linda S. Al-Abbas and Ahmad S. Haider
The purpose of this study is to examine the most frequent countries and prevalent discourses in the context of homosexuality in the headlines of Arabic-language media outlets.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the most frequent countries and prevalent discourses in the context of homosexuality in the headlines of Arabic-language media outlets.
Design/methodology/approach
This study combined both corpus linguistic (CL) quantitative and critical discourse analysis (CDA) qualitative approaches to analyse five thousand two hundred news headlines that were retrieved from the Factiva news database from 2010 to 2019.
Findings
There were six main categories of subjects covered by the media in the context of homosexuality, namely crime, extremist groups, legislation, authority figures and scandals, culture and countries. The analysis showed that the countries whose laws criminalize homosexuals were more frequent than those seen to be supportive of homosexuals. The findings revealed that homosexuals are under-covered in the Arab media, and whenever they are present in the news reports, they are depicted negatively.
Research limitations/implications
This study examined the representation of homosexuals in Arabic headlines from 2010 to 2019. Future researchers may investigate their construction in the body of the articles in different periods and languages.
Practical implications
The present research has implications regarding the necessity of objectivity in covering news about minority groups without being influenced by the stock of ideas circulating in the culture where media outlets report.
Social implications
The social implications include enhancing the principles and values of solidarity and respecting all groups in society.
Originality/value
Although there is considerable literature on the representation of homosexuals in media outlets, the number of articles that investigated the same concept in the Arab region is relatively limited to the best knowledge of the researchers. Therefore, this study can add great significance to existing knowledge as it tackles a limitedly investigated topic in the Arab world.
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Syed Ali Abbas, Shabib Haider Syed and Qamar Saleem
This study examines the impact of urbanization on growth and the role of international financial flows in the urbanization-growth nexus.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of urbanization on growth and the role of international financial flows in the urbanization-growth nexus.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies the panel least square estimation to examine the impact of urbanization on growth using panel data from 50 developing countries from 1980 to 2016. Further, addressing the endogeneity issues in panel estimations, the study applies the dynamic System-GMM approach to investigate the role of financial flows in urbanization and their impact on economic growth in developing countries.
Findings
Contrary to the conventional literature, we found a non-linear (U-shaped) relationship between urbanization and growth. Our findings demonstrate that growth is reduced at a lower level of urbanization due to less availability, concentration, and synchronization of production factors. The concentration of physical and human capital and technological advancement in urban areas help developing countries achieve economic growth at a higher level of urbanization. Robust estimations divulged that foreign aid spent on infrastructure development and expanding urban regions helps promote economic growth. Nevertheless, as a resilient factor, remittances buffer the rapid pace of urbanization and reduce growth by resisting the migration of labor and capital from rural to urban areas.
Practical implications
The paper's findings suggest policymakers promote urban infrastructure and development using local and international funds since its increased level spurs economic growth. Further, the results advise policymakers to reduce aid dependency, attract FDI, and facilitate the easy and low-cost transfer of money to promote remittance inflows since both FDI and remittances positively contribute to economic growth.
Originality/value
The paper contributes significantly to the literature by determining the U-shaped relationship between urbanization and growth and highlighting the role of international flows in the urbanization-growth nexus.
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M. Hamad Hassan and Jongsu Lee
The e-Government has a potential to entrench Good Governance in Pakistan. However, this technology could not be successfully developed and implemented in public sector – despite…
Abstract
Purpose
The e-Government has a potential to entrench Good Governance in Pakistan. However, this technology could not be successfully developed and implemented in public sector – despite of efforts made by the Government. Consequently, public sector is suffering from bad Governance, which ultimately affects the Governance as well as e-Government ranking of Pakistan in the globe – as indicated by the UN surveys and other relevant indices. This paper aims to propose a novel techno-policy framework for its successful implementation by considering all relevant critical success factors (CSFs) and determining their relative importance from policymakers’ perspective. Further, it aims to excerpt the root causes of e-Government failure in Pakistan and to derive valuable policy implications for its success in the public sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The techno-policy framework was developed by identifying all the CSFs and assimilating them by deploying the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach. The survey instrument was designed to compare all the CSFs on the basis of AHP scale and to collect the socio-demographic data. An interview based survey of all the concerned stakeholders was conducted to know their perspective about the proposed framework and to determine their relative importance about all the CSFs. Finally, the empirical estimations were performed by using the Expert-Choice decision-making system.
Findings
The analysis of empirical results depicts that among CSFs’ main-categories – Governance is the most important; whereas, the Management and Resources are relatively more important; however, the Socio-Economics is relatively less important for the e-Government success in Pakistan. Further, among CSFs’ sub-categories – Political, Managerial, Legislative, Non-Technical, and Technical are relatively more important than Social, Economic, and Scope for the e-Government success in Pakistan. Lastly, among all CSFs – Political Stability, Managerial Strategy, ICT Policies, Funding, Portal Technology, Education & Skills, Cost, and Autonomy are the most important factors of their respective categories, and which can positively affect the e-Government success in Pakistan.
Research limitations/implications
This study fills the gap caused by paucity of literature in terms of empirical based techno-policy research in the e-Government domain – from implementation perspective. Further, it serves as a prototype for the prospective researchers, who aim to conduct policy oriented research toward e-Government development in their respective regions.
Practical implications
The key findings, policy implications & recommendations of this study are quite valuable and of practical significance for the government, policymakers, practitioners, researchers and all the concerned stakeholders and beneficiaries. Further, this study paves a way forward toward entrenching the Good Governance in Pakistan.
Originality/value
This study contributes in several ways. It highlights the significance of e-Government as a technology for attaining Good Governance in Pakistan. Further, it presents consolidated view of all the concerned stakeholders toward the successful implementation of all e-Government programs in Pakistan. Finally, it provides a guideline for the government agencies to formulate their e-Government policy and strategy as per the needs of all stakeholders in Pakistan.
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Haider Boudjemline, Mohamed Touahria, Abdelhak Boubetra and Hamza Kaabeche
The development of context-aware applications in ubiquitous environments depends not only on the user interactions but also on several context parameters. The handling of these…
Abstract
Purpose
The development of context-aware applications in ubiquitous environments depends not only on the user interactions but also on several context parameters. The handling of these parameters is a fundamental problem in these systems. The key purpose of this work is to enrich the unified modeling language (UML) class diagram with new constructs to provide a universal model capable of coping with the context-awareness concerns.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors provide a review of existing context handling approaches. Afterward, they relied on the UML extensibility mechanisms to propose a heavyweight extension for the UML class diagram. This generic approach allows describing the different context parameters since the modeling phase.
Findings
Existing solutions for context handling apply the contextual constraints on finished applications or tend to be dependent on a specific development process. This paper presents a solution based on UML, which allows dealing with context since the modeling phase, and independently of development processes. This proposal is implemented as an eclipse editor and illustrated through a case study in the healthcare field.
Originality/value
This paper addresses the problem of context handling, and it presents a review of the foremost existing solutions. The paper also presents a heavyweight extension for the UML class diagram, which consists in enriching it with additional constructs, capable of monitoring how applications are linked to context parameters and how the values of these parameters may affect the application behavior.
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Bilal Mukhtar, Muhammad Kashif Shad, Lai Fong Woon, Mehwish Haider and Ahmad Waqas
This study aims to propose a conceptual framework to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green organizational culture (GOC) on green innovation with…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a conceptual framework to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green organizational culture (GOC) on green innovation with the moderating role of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure in the Malaysian manufacturing industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on primary data to be collected from 204 manufacturing enterprises of consumers, products and services sector through a questionnaire that incorporates the five-point Likert scale. The exploratory factor analysis is proposed to be performed using SPSS 24.0 and confirmatory factor analysis is suggested to be conducted using AMOS.21 software to explore the factors and reliability of the items and to confirm the factorial structure of pertinent variables, respectively. Furthermore, partial least square structural equation modeling is proposed to investigate relationships between constructs and latent variables.
Findings
The proposed framework suggests that the comprehensive adoption of CSR and GOC with the moderating role of ESG disclosure has a significant and positive impact on green innovation.
Practical implications
This study provides insights into formulating strategies for enhancing green innovation and serves as a valuable resource for stakeholders for sustainable development in manufacturing enterprises.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, regarding originality, this is the first attempt at conceptualizing the integrated framework of CSR, GOC, green innovation and ESG disclosure for collective examination that is likely to extend the existing literature. Furthermore, this study extends stakeholders and resource-based view theory by proving their utility in the perspective of CSR, GOC, green innovation and ESG disclosure to achieve environmental sustainability.