Mohammad Kasem Alrousan, Amro Al-Madadha, Mohammad Hamdi Al Khasawneh and Adiy Adel Tweissi
The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect students’ behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect students’ behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research approach was adopted, an online survey method was used and the data were collected among students at PSUT in Jordan. A total of 511 responses were usable for analysis. A structural equation modeling partial least squares technique was used to examine the hypothesized model.
Findings
The findings reveal that the proposed factors have direct and indirect relationships with behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms. They show that students’ satisfaction has a direct influence on behavioral intention, while other variables such as instructor characteristics, virtual classroom quality, perceived self-efficacy, perceived organizational support, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have an indirect effect on behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted at PSUT in Jordan, which could limit the generalizability of the findings. Furthermore, the present study measured students’ behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms and future research should consider the actual use of virtual classrooms.
Practical implications
The findings of this study offer significant and useful information to policymakers, instructors, developers and students regarding the use of virtual classrooms in universities. Based on students’ needs and readiness, the findings identify which factors to consider when developing an e-learning system to enhance learning and teaching performance.
Originality/value
This study extends existing knowledge by developing a conceptual model to identify the key factors of virtual classroom adoption in higher education institutions in Arab countries. This study contributes to the literature in the context of e-learning by validating an extended technology acceptance model from an Arab countries perspective and considering the differences in culture, learning style and physical environment compared to developed countries.
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Amin Khalifeh, Peter Farrell, Mohammad Alrousan, Shaima Alwardat and Masar Faisal
The paper aims to present a conceptual framework that helps in incorporating sustainability into software projects, highlights the importance of project sustainability and…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to present a conceptual framework that helps in incorporating sustainability into software projects, highlights the importance of project sustainability and provides an extensive review of recent relevant contributions across various fields.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors carried out a systematic bibliographic search on relevant published materials to analyse links between the two disciplines (sustainability and software projects). Furthermore, content analysis was applied to the final selected publications to identify and classify relevant triple bottom line (TBL) aspects to develop the framework.
Findings
The inclusion of TBL-related aspects is the most efficient and effective method used to incorporate sustainability into projects. Most of the relevant contributions in the software literature have focussed on either project product or project process or on one or two dimensions of sustainability rather than the three dimensions of the TBL theory. This study contributes by proposing a conceptual framework that encompasses TBL-related aspects for incorporating sustainability into processes and products of software projects.
Research limitations/implications
Validating the proposed framework empirically could be an interesting research issue. In addition, future works may focus on different types of industries, such as information systems, telecommunications and service sectors, which have seldom been studied in the literature.
Practical implications
Software companies – or other relevant organisations – may use the proposed framework as a measurement tool to evaluate the environmental and social impacts of their current products and project management practices. Consequently, these organisations may pay more attention to incorporating sustainability into their project management practices.
Originality/value
The proposed framework may contribute towards a more sustainable orientation by providing a unique combination of TBL-related aspects that gives academics and practitioners a better understanding of how software projects can be managed sustainably.
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Amin Khalifeh, Husam Ananzeh, Belal Mathani, Mohammed Alrousan, Ahmad Samed Al-Adwan, Mohammad Al Khasaawneh and Fandi Omeish
This study aims to empirically examine the influence of transformational leadership on job satisfaction in Jordanian commercial banks through knowledge sharing as a mediator. The…
Abstract
This study aims to empirically examine the influence of transformational leadership on job satisfaction in Jordanian commercial banks through knowledge sharing as a mediator. The data were collected from 232 employees and then analyzed through regression analysis using SPSS. The results revealed that there is a significant influence of transformational leadership on job satisfaction, as well as a significant influence of knowledge sharing on this relationship. These findings imply that if managers adopt transformational leadership, their subordinates can be satisfied with their jobs, specifically if they facilitate knowledge sharing. This study sheds light on improving organizational performance and employee engagement in a specific context and provides excellent direction for future contributions.
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Hamad Omar Bakar, Zunaidah Sulong and Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous Chowdhury
This paper aims to investigate the effect of financial development (FD) on economic growth and growth-enhancing transmission channels for the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effect of financial development (FD) on economic growth and growth-enhancing transmission channels for the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region in three different periods: the pre-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era (1990–1999), during the MDGs (2000–2017) era and the main period (1990–2017).
Design/methodology/approach
The study used the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) approach on 45 SSA countries from 1990 to 2017, using the data collected from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Findings
The long-run effect of the study showed mixed results in pre-MDGs and during MDGs periods but was positive in the main period. For growth-enhancing transmission channels, the results were mixed, although in many cases, institutional (INST) quality, human capital (HC) and foreign direct investment (FDI) were the main transmission channels.
Research limitations/implications
Some of the countries were dropped from the analysis due to data inadequacy.
Practical implications
The empirical results of this study provide evidence that the financial sector has robust positive effect throughout 1990–2017. Furthermore, the financial sector depends on several factors to improve economic growth. The SSA region has to focus on improving HC, INST quality in terms of good governance and create environment that is attractive to FDI since they were the main growth-enhancing channels.
Originality/value
Most of the studies in SSA countries assessed the direct effect of FD on economic growth without considering its transmission channels in different time frames. Moreover, they often used specific variables but not the financial index. This study extended the scope by considering various financial sector transmission channels, in different time periods and the financial index.
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Osama Mohammad Alkhasoneh, Hamiza Jamaludin, Abdul Rahman i Bin Zahar and Mohammed A. Al-Sharafi
Despite the widespread use of social media globally, SMEs exhibit a below-average adoption rate. This raises critical questions about the reasons behind SMEs' limited engagement…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the widespread use of social media globally, SMEs exhibit a below-average adoption rate. This raises critical questions about the reasons behind SMEs' limited engagement with this ubiquitous platform. The primary objective of this research is to explore the factors influencing the utilization of social media by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and assess its influence on brand awareness and customer engagement in the Jordanian context.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilizes a quantitative research approach to examine SMEs' adoption of social media. Data are collected from 290 SMEs in Jordan through paper-based and online surveys employing purposive sampling. The validity of the proposed model is confirmed using a partial least squares (PLS) approach, specifically employing SmartPLS 4 for analysis.
Findings
The results reveal that the examined model successfully captures the dynamics of social media usage among SMEs, shedding light on the significant drivers influencing their decision to use social media in their activities. The findings also underscore the pivotal role of social media usage in SMEs, particularly in enhancing brand awareness and fostering customer engagement within the Jordanian business landscape.
Originality/value
This study significantly contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the practical implications of social media activity, specifically in the context of SMEs. Using the UTAUT2 model to examine the drivers of social media use among SMEs and extend it to assess the broader impact of social media usage on brand awareness and customer engagement adds uniqueness to the study, providing a more nuanced view of social media usage in the SME sector.
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Hamed Mohammed Hamed Mujahed, Elsadig Musa Ahmed and Siti Aida Samikon
This paper aims to examine the determinant factors that influence the adoption of mobile banking by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Palestine. The aim of this paper has…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the determinant factors that influence the adoption of mobile banking by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Palestine. The aim of this paper has supported with the objectives to identify the role of mobile banking practices in enhancing sustainable growth and development of Palestine SMEs; determining the factors that influencing the SMEs as a service and products providers’ intention to adopt mobile banking and proposing a conceptual model for adoption mobile banking development by SMEs sectors in Palestine
Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses were developed guided by the technology organisation-environment (TOE) model. The primary data was collected from 408 SMEs in Palestine using questionnaires and 8 interviews.
Findings
The empirical results are based on partial least squares analysis and statistical package for the social sciences. The findings presented in this paper reveal that SMEs factors, enabling environment and business model are the main determinant factors affecting the intention to adopt mobile banking by the SMEs sector in Palestine.
Practical implications
The main contribution of this study is the concise identification of the obstacles and facilitators to SMEs’ mobile banking, especially in developing countries. A suggestion for further study was made. The findings could be useful to policymakers, government institutions and agencies especially in Palestine and other development partners in designing and directing their policy intervention.
Originality/value
This study contributes significantly to the theoretical understanding of mobile banking through the development of a mobile banking framework for the SMEs’ sector in Palestine. A major contribution of this study is to the existing knowledge and literature in mobile banking by developing a TOE framework for providers (supply-side) factors in general and in particular in Palestine to fill the gaps in past studies.