Naceur Jabnoun and Mohamed Khalifah
Quality awards played an important role in improving quality in private and public organizations. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated four quadrant strategy…
Abstract
Purpose
Quality awards played an important role in improving quality in private and public organizations. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated four quadrant strategy adopted by Sheikh Saqr Program for Government Excellence (SSPGE) for improving government performance in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaima (RAK) in the United Arab Emirates.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology of this case is unusual as it mixes the experience of the authors with theory and literature. The first and second authors are, respectively, the senior consultant and the director general of SSPGE. The authors hereby present the integrated strategy developed and implemented by SSPGE in order to improve government performance in RAK. This paper first presents this improvement strategy along with the relevant literature, and then it outlines the results of its implementation.
Findings
The use of the four quadrant strategy helped government organizations in RAK achieve as successful launching of the government department award based on the EFQM excellence model. The average total score for all government departments was 311.0 in 2008. This indicates a huge improvement from the self-assessment score in 2007. It was also 106 points higher than the initially projected score for self-assessment in 2008. The average score consistently increased and reached 414 in 2012 indicating a 33 percent increase from 2008.
Practical implications
This paper outlines a four quadrant strategy that was successfully implemented by a government excellence program. This strategy can be used in other government excellence programs. It may also be adapted for use in large public and private organizations.
Originality/value
Most researchers focus on excellence strategies in organizations while this case addresses the strategy of an excellence program. This case also shows the importance of integration between the various awards categories, projects, and activities organized by the program. It also presents a successful case of linking activities of the program to the theoretical concepts of quality and excellence.
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The purpose of this research is to address the notion of leadership in Muslim countries. It seeks to develop a model for understanding leadership in Islamic culture and discusses…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to address the notion of leadership in Muslim countries. It seeks to develop a model for understanding leadership in Islamic culture and discusses the factors which give rise to two types of leadership: the prophetic and caliphate.
Design/methodology/approach
The article briefly surveys the socio‐economic and political forces which facilitate the emergence of certain leadership styles. The paper, then, suggests a model of leadership relevant to Islamic culture.
Findings
Two types of leadership were identified. Furthermore, the paper addresses the conflict between idealism and realism and the rise of authoritarian leaders.
Practical implications
This paper offers policymakers and researchers various avenues on how to address the issue of leadership in an Islamic culture and presents a theoretical model for understanding issues pertaining to leaders and leadership in Muslim societies. Specific propositions pertaining to the effect of culture and society on leadership are offered.
Originality/value
The paper offers a genuine reflection on the nature of leadership. The issue of leadership and its linkage to culture has often been overlooked in the literature. In part, this is because most of the literature on leadership has been focused primarily on personality‐based relationships and relationships between leaders and followers. In this paper, it is argued that culture shapes personality and gives meaning to contextual and relational aspects of leadership.
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Abbas J. Ali and Abdullah Al‐Owaihan
The purpose of this paper is to present a coherent but critical treatment of Islamic work ethic (IWE). It explores the nature of IWE in the context of cultural and political…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a coherent but critical treatment of Islamic work ethic (IWE). It explores the nature of IWE in the context of cultural and political evolution and offers a cultural and religious perspective pertaining to organization and management.
Design/methodology/approach
It briefly investigates the economic and cultural conditions that facilitate the emergence of work ethics and the centrality of trade in Islamic culture. The paper, then, reviews the pillars and foundations of IWE and investigates various empirical studies conducted in various countries.
Findings
IWE has economic as well as moral and social dimensions. These along with basic elements of IWE seem to provide the faithful with a sense of worthiness and strengthen organizational commitment and continuity. That is, work is viewed not as an end in itself, but as a means to foster personal growth and social relations.
Practical implications
Offers managers and consults various avenues on how to design teamwork and new methods of change that focus on producing results which reinforce existing commitment and enthusiasm. As justice and generosity in the workplace are considered virtues, issues of a hiring and firing become part of a broader concern with consequences far beyond the organization.
Originality/value
IWE is a multidimensional concept. It links an organization's prosperity and continuity to societal welfare. Its four elements – effort, competition, transparency and morally responsible conduct – have the promise to strengthen commerce and economic progress in today's world.
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This research is designed to answer questions: do Islamic teachings offer relevant perspectives on human resource (HR) issues? Are the treatments of HR issues in Islam compatible…
Abstract
Purpose
This research is designed to answer questions: do Islamic teachings offer relevant perspectives on human resource (HR) issues? Are the treatments of HR issues in Islam compatible with evolving organizational concepts? Do current HR practices in countries with Muslim majority (CMM) resemble Islamic prescriptions? It aims to address these and other questions in line with early Islamic instructions.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper surveys Islamic texts and treaties. It then compares Islamic instruction to what prevails in Christianity and Judaism.
Findings
Islamic prescriptions view the interests of employees and employers as complementary. Workers are treated as the creators of value in the marketplace and by necessity the primary force for economic growth and prosperity. It is argued that the application of the philosophy of ehsan in the workplace offers a useful framework for positively safeguarding societal concerns.
Practical implications
This paper offers practitioners and researchers various avenues on how to address the issues of HR in Islamic societies. In contrasting Islamic and Western HR foundations, the paper identifies certain minefields.
Originality/value
This paper offers a unique insight on the nature of HR instruction and policies. In this paper, it is argued that Islamic prescriptions on HR, if internalized, may guard against violating human dignity and ensure a fine balance between organizational and societal interests.
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Waqf has the quality of perpetuity so waqf properties cannot be sold, bought or given as a gift to others. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that the property is fully used…
Abstract
Purpose
Waqf has the quality of perpetuity so waqf properties cannot be sold, bought or given as a gift to others. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that the property is fully used and properly managed by the Malaysian Islamic councils. To properly manage these properties, it is essential for the councils to have a proper reporting. Unfortunatley, this is not the case in the present situation for waqf. It was found that there is a lack of reporting on waqf matters. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the Islamic governance can contribute to the sufficient and adequate of waqf reporting.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper described what is being practised at present for waqf reporting. A series of Islamic governance literature was proposed in reinforcing waqf reporting.
Findings
This paper fulfils a gap in prior research by discussing several systems in Islamic governance to achieve transparency in waqf reporting. The findings of this paper may provide a significant contribution to any organisation that act as a trustee for waqf.
Practical implications
This paper provides an opportunity for further theoretical approach in defining and describing the role of governance in the reinforcement of waqf reporting. The paper has recommended several strategies towards better governance in Islamic council, and these suggestions can be offered to the councils for improvement.
Social implications
This research will be of interest to policy makers, especially Government and State Government. Given the current debate in Malaysia on the most appropriate forms of regulation for the Islamic sector, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the role of Islamic governance in the system of regulation.
Originality/value
This paper examined several governance system in Islamic governance to be applied in any Islamic organisation. This paper specifically deals governance issue that should be practised by present councils to prevent lack in waqf reporting. This system discusses the ways Islamic councils should perform since the system was originally implemented by a previous, distinguished caliph, Umar Al-Khattab.
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Zohora Azmin Shompa, Mohamed Aslam Akbar and Hazwani Mohd Mohadis
This paper aims to investigate the principles guiding sustainable waste management practices within the framework of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. The purpose is to address the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the principles guiding sustainable waste management practices within the framework of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. The purpose is to address the environmental challenges arising from economic expansion, population growth and resource consumption, which often lead to unsustainable waste management practices and hinder economic growth. The focus is on aligning waste management principles with the ethical objectives outlined in Shari’ah.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a qualitative content analysis method and an inductive approach to outline the constituent elements that formulate the framework, this study investigates the objectives of Maqasid al-Shari’ah to identify underlying elements crucial for sustainable waste management.
Findings
The study reveals how the principles embedded in Maqasid al-Shari’ah provide a foundation for effective waste management practices. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating these principles into human behavior to ensure that waste management aligns with the Shari’ah viewpoint. The insights shed light on the role of Maqasid al-Shari’ah in managing waste sustainably and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the field by offering a unique perspective on waste management practices through the lens of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. The study’s originality lies in its exploration of how Islamic ethical objectives can guide sustainable waste management, providing a framework that goes beyond conventional approaches. The incorporation of a comprehensive literature review enhances the authenticity and novelty of the proposed waste management framework.
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Azniza Hartini Azrai Azaimi Ambrose, Mohamed Aslam Gulam Hassan and Hanira Hanafi
The purpose of this paper is to formulate a model for waqf financing of public goods and mixed public goods in Malaysia which constitute the country’s federal government…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to formulate a model for waqf financing of public goods and mixed public goods in Malaysia which constitute the country’s federal government expenditures. The model is built on the basis of understanding the concept of waqf, learning from waqf institutions of the past and present and addressing specific Malaysian waqf issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses both primary and secondary data. The primary data originate from semi-structured interviews of waqf academicians from the Islamic economics and Islamic finance fields, waqf government officials and private sector institutions that are involved in waqf management. The secondary data come from the Malaysian Federal Constitution, law enactments, books, e-books, bulletins, journals, conference proceedings, government reports and websites.
Findings
By synthesizing the data, it is found that return from cash waqf investment in unit trust can be used to finance 11 items of federal government expenditures. The overall process can be managed by Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia through a collaboration with an Islamic unit trust firm.
Practical implications
This research shows how waqf can practically assist the Malaysian federal government in financing public goods and mixed public goods. It indirectly shows an alternative source of financing for these goods. Other economies can also learn and adapt from the model developed in this paper.
Originality/value
This paper attempts to revive the function of waqf as a provider of public goods and mixed public goods from Islamic history. Inadvertently, this paper also introduces waqf as a possible fiscal tool.
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Mohamed Branine and David Pollard
The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and contents of Islamic management practices and their consequent implications for human resource management (HRM) in Arab…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and contents of Islamic management practices and their consequent implications for human resource management (HRM) in Arab countries. In addition, it aims to examine the implications for multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Islamic countries and the impact of globalisation before proceeding to an analysis of managerial problems in Arab countries and the need for understanding Islamic management principles by Arab (national) and international managers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper takes the form of a qualitative approach based on an extensive review of relevant literature and the employment of examples from selected Arab countries.
Findings
The study reveals that a gap exists between the theory of Islamic management and the practice of management in Arab countries. Management in Arab countries is informed and heavily influenced by non‐Islamic traditional and national cultural values and norms of different countries and by Western management thinking rather than Islamic principles derived from the Holy Quran (words of God) and the Hadith (words of the Prophet Mohamed).
Research limitations/implications
The paper argues that one of the main reasons for the lack of progress in most Arab and Islamic countries is the mismatch between global integration and local responsiveness because of an excess forward diffusion of Western management and business practices with little understanding and, hence, the implementation of Islamic management principles by both local and international managers in Arab countries. It adopts the view that there is a gap between the knowledge possessed by national and international managers in order to manage locally and what is required from the local workforce to be managed effectively. The main limitation of this study is the lack of empirical research evidence to support the points deducted from this review of literature.
Practical implications
Understanding Islamic management principles could help to develop a more appropriate type of management best practice in Arab and Islamic countries while still benefiting from the transfer of relevant Western management techniques and Western technology. The paper also argues that a reverse diffusion of management knowledge and skills by managers of MNCs is very important for the effective management of human resources in host countries. National cultural contexts and different views of work values have made a major impact on the ability of firms to address HRM issues in different cultural settings.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the comparatively sparse literature on Islamic management and its applications by identifying key issues for HRM implementation and in developing Western understanding of Islamic management systems.
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This paper aims to provide a reflective discussion on the different avenues of blockchain application in Islamic finance in promoting trust and transparency for increased…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a reflective discussion on the different avenues of blockchain application in Islamic finance in promoting trust and transparency for increased accountability between parties involved in the delivery of Sharīʿah-compliant products and services.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper discusses on blockchain benefits in Islamic finance while providing an illustration with smart Sukuk. Having identified the advantages of the development of Islamic financial technology (i-FinTech), this study ends by debating a couple of challenges (computational codification of Sharīʿah principles and environmental impact) that have to be addressed to promote the development of a real sustainable Islamic FinTech.
Findings
This paper also identifies two challenges in using blockchain in i-Fintech. The first challenge refers to the extent to which Sharīʿah principles can be computationally encoded. Blockchain makes public all transactions that ease Sharīʿah compliance checks and determine if these transactions are Islamic in nature but this check can be done only after their operation. The second challenge is related to the algorithmic protocol used to validate smart contracts (including smart Sukuk). This situation calls into question the principles of Maqasid al-Sharīʿah according to which transactions should not harm society.
Originality/value
In the current debates related to the development of Islamic FinTech, this paper also identifies two challenges in using blockchain in i-Fintech.
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Mohamed Nour El-Barbary, Mariko Ikeda and Yasufumi Uekita
The paper aims at identifying the underlying factors that differentiate the local people's demographic and socio-economic characteristics, which influence their sense of place…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims at identifying the underlying factors that differentiate the local people's demographic and socio-economic characteristics, which influence their sense of place (SoP) toward different types of cultural heritage sites in different urban regions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on the sequential explanatory design, using quantitative and qualitative methods, respectively, to investigate the research themes in-depth. A total of 201, 207 and 228 questionnaires were collected on religious, non-religious/memorial and historic commercial buildings, respectively, at two different quarters in Historic Cairo, followed by 20 semi-structured interviews with a representative sample of local people in each quarter.
Findings
The authors found an apparent similarity in the significant characteristics that influence the local people's SoP levels toward the different historic buildings at the same quarter and a notable variation between both quarters. Also, many factors determine the local people's influential characteristics on their SoP toward the different cultural heritage sites (e.g. the sites’ distance from the person's residence/workplace, economic value, people's awareness about its history, type of activities and targeted gender, feeling of stability and regions' characteristics)
Practical implications
Identifying these underlying factors and priority local groups can assist policymakers in ensuring a sustainable management/conservation of the different cultural heritage sites.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the causality of a significant correlation between local people's characteristics and their SoP levels toward the different types of historic buildings, apart from their religious symbolism or historical value, using the sequential explanatory design.