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Article
Publication date: 6 May 2021

Ahmed Hashem El-Monshed and Mostafa Amr

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families especially their mothers face numerous and pervasive challenges. Difficulties to access quality care…

290

Abstract

Purpose

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families especially their mothers face numerous and pervasive challenges. Difficulties to access quality care, financial burden, issues of adulthood and their child’s behaviors may produce significant stressors to mothers. This study aims to assess perceived stress among mothers of children with ASD in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt on 94 mothers of children with ASD using a structured questionnaire of the socio-demographic and clinical features of the studied mothers and their children and the perceived stress scale (PSS).

Findings

The mean total PSS score of mothers was 31.97 ± 12.39 and the level of autism had a statistically significant relation with stress perceived by the studied mothers.

Research limitations/implications

The findings in this study were based on caregivers’ self-reporting. As such, inaccurate reporting might have biased the findings. The main limitations of this study include non-participation and dropout. During data collection, some mothers declined to participate in the study. Also, the current study was conducted in one hospital. This represents a loss of valuable information and may weaken the generalizability of the current study findings. Another limitation is the use of a convenience sample in the study. With the use of convenience sampling, there is an increased risk of bias, as study participants may not accurately reflect the characteristics of the total population.

Practical implications

Caregivers’ education programs through media and press should be developed for mothers of children with ASD to help those who experience levels of stress by presenting knowledge about ASD and treatment and training on adaptive coping methods and teaching communication and problem-solving. Recognizing levels of stress and parent counseling may be a useful strategy. Regular periodic meetings should be conducted between mothers and hospital personnel to promote proper communication. One key policy implication, this paper can derive from this study is the need for cooperation between the Ministry of Health, social welfare and other relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide support for families of individuals with ASD such as financial aids. It is also recommended that future study would benefit a larger sample to enhance external validity. As well, future qualitative research is recommended to more fully understand the lived experience of mothers of children with ASD.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence that mothers of children with ASD experienced high perceived stress. Caregivers’ education programs through media and press should be developed in Egypt for mothers of children with ASD.

Details

Advances in Autism, vol. 7 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-3868

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Article
Publication date: 20 May 2020

Muhammad Bilal Zafar and Ahmad Azam Sulaiman

This paper begins with a challenge to explore the scope and dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Islamic banking and design a CSR disclosure index, which may…

1266

Abstract

Purpose

This paper begins with a challenge to explore the scope and dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Islamic banking and design a CSR disclosure index, which may gauge the level of CSR disclosure in Islamic banking.

Design/methodology/approach

It adopts a two-fold approach to develop the CSR disclosure index for Islamic banking, such as “identification” and “prioritization.” In the ambit of identification, it relies on the existing literature related to CSR and Islamic banking. However, it undertakes analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method for prioritization through the sample of 104 experts related to Islamic banking of Pakistan.

Findings

It concludes the CSR index for Islamic banking contains five dimensions, including 79 items across 20 sub-dimensions. The results of AHP indicate that the CSR dimensions are important for Shariah governance, employee, community, customer and environment. Moreover, within dimensions, the most important sub-dimensions are Shariah compliance, customer service and quality, green investing/banking, customer relationship, training and development and poverty alleviation.

Practical implications

The CSR disclosure index of this study has important implications for academicians, such as it paves the ways for further investigations and practical usage of index to gauge the level CSR disclosure of Islamic banking. Moreover, it delineates the spectrum of responsibilities for managers of Islamic banking under the domain of CSR.

Originality/value

The proposed CSR disclosure index is comprehensive and stresses on the social responsibility of Islamic banking toward stakeholders. In nutshell, this study offers what is expected from the practitioners of Islamic banking in the domain of social responsibility.

Details

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8394

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 26 April 2024

Sultan Mohammed Althahban, Mostafa Nowier, Islam El-Sagheer, Amr Abd-Elhady, Hossam Sallam and Ramy Reda

This paper comprehensively addresses the influence of chopped strand mat glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) patch configurations such as geometry, dimensions, position and the…

383

Abstract

Purpose

This paper comprehensively addresses the influence of chopped strand mat glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) patch configurations such as geometry, dimensions, position and the number of layers of patches, whether a single or double patch is used and how well debonding the area under the patch improves the strength of the cracked aluminum plates with different crack lengths.

Design/methodology/approach

Single-edge cracked aluminum specimens of 150 mm in length and 50 mm in width were tested using the tensile test. The cracked aluminum specimens were then repaired using GFRP patches with various configurations. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) was adopted to simulate the repaired cracked aluminum plates using composite patches to obtain the stress intensity factor (SIF). The numerical modeling and validation of ABAQUS software and the contour integral method for SIF calculations provide a valuable tool for further investigation and design optimization.

Findings

The width of the GFRP patches affected the efficiency of the rehabilitated cracked aluminum plate. Increasing patch width WP from 5 mm to 15 mm increases the peak load by 9.7 and 17.5%, respectively, if compared with the specimen without the patch. The efficiency of the GFRP patch in reducing the SIF increased as the number of layers increased, i.e. the maximum load was enhanced by 5%.

Originality/value

This study assessed repairing metallic structures using the chopped strand mat GFRP. Furthermore, it demonstrated the superiority of rectangular patches over semicircular ones, along with the benefit of using double patches for out-of-plane bending prevention and it emphasizes the detrimental effect of defects in the bonding area between the patch and the cracked component. This underlines the importance of proper surface preparation and bonding techniques for successful repair.

Graphical abstract

Details

Frontiers in Engineering and Built Environment, vol. 4 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2634-2499

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Article
Publication date: 8 June 2015

Ghada Barsoum

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it seeks to voice the concerns of educated youth in Egypt as they describe their work options and preferences. Second, it seeks to…

1881

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it seeks to voice the concerns of educated youth in Egypt as they describe their work options and preferences. Second, it seeks to highlight the gravity of the policy gap in addressing work informality, drawing on some of the international experience in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research in the form of in-depth interviews, desk-review of policies, and descriptive statistical analysis of a recent national survey of labour in Egypt.

Findings

A large proportion of educated youth work within the realm of informality and there is a clear policy gap in addressing this issue. Contrary to what would be expected, young people value access to social security and work stability. They face systemic hurdles related to access to such benefits. Because of the legacy of guaranteed government hiring of the educated in Egypt, young people express a great appreciation of work in the government, for virtually being the only employer offering job stability and social security in the labour market.

Research limitations/implications

This paper addresses a gap in the literature on youth employment in Egypt, where there is a dearth of research focusing on the lived experience of employment precariousness. The majority of studies in this field relies on statistics with little qualitative research voicing the views of this group.

Practical implications

Reforms are more urgent than timely to extend social security and other measures of social protection to workers within the informal economy.

Originality/value

The paper builds on primary data and provides insights about the way educated youth perceive their working conditions and options. The paper also provides a discussion of the social security system in Egypt, its coverage, and possible reform approaches.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 35 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

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Article
Publication date: 10 December 2024

Rehab Mostafa Zahran, Hisham Amr Bahgat, Tamer Mohamed Abdel Aziz and Heba Allah Essam E. Khalil

Urban design professionals face the challenge of creating responsive human settlements amidst complex, ever-evolving interactions between numerous factors, which makes each…

44

Abstract

Purpose

Urban design professionals face the challenge of creating responsive human settlements amidst complex, ever-evolving interactions between numerous factors, which makes each project a “wicked problem,” requiring designers with specific skills to solve them effectively. This paper explores how integrating “Living Labs” and “Learning Playing techniques” equips urban design students with the needed competencies to address these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed a literature review focusing on urban design theories related to “wicked problems,” design thinking and soft skills. Through this review, the authors developed the “Urban Design Thinking Soft Skills (UDTS) matrix” and identified pedagogical approaches using Living Labs and Learning Playing Techniques. An award-winning community design studio at Cairo University served as a case study to test and validate the UDTS matrix. Interviews were conducted to further investigate the effectiveness of incorporating these approaches.

Findings

The study found that integrating Living Labs principles and Learning Playing Techniques (termed “Joyful Living Labs” in this context) are effective pedagogical methods. Interviews provided evidence supporting their value within urban design curricula for the Egyptian context.

Originality/value

This paper proposes the UDTS matrix as a framework to equip students with the necessary soft skills for tackling complex urban design challenges. Furthermore, it introduces the concept of “Joyful Living Labs” as a potential pedagogical approach specifically suited for the Egyptian context.

Details

Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-6862

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Article
Publication date: 11 April 2023

Tarek Salama and Hisham Said

The purpose of this paper is to determine if companies in the modular and offsite construction (MOC) industry are agile or not and its level of application for agility principles…

336

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine if companies in the modular and offsite construction (MOC) industry are agile or not and its level of application for agility principles, which allows for quick responses to the increasingly dynamic nature of industry environments.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes an agility assessment framework for MOC that uses 48 assessment attributes organized into four categories: metrics, drivers, enablers and capabilities. A questionnaire approach was used to disseminate the framework globally in 19 countries and synthesize its relevance to the MOC industry. The questionnaire had 55 complete responses, majority of respondents work in managerial positions for MOC manufacturing facilities and onsite general contractors.

Findings

It was found that the lowest metric score for adapting to change was for cost since controlling cost would be difficult for any changes required after the design freeze stage. The top agility driver was found to be the need to respond to the wide variety of customer expectations, while the lowest driver was the existence of competing priorities. The top agility enabler was vendor partnership, which can be related to current postpandemic supply chain disruptions. Regarding technological capabilities, Europe and the USA acquired better scores compared to Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the MOC body of knowledge by creating an agility assessment tool for MOC firms to analyze their agile approach and environment, identifying the preliminary importance of agility assessment attributes and determining significant agile differences between the main MOC industry groups.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 18 November 2019

Ebtisam Hussein

Years after the 2011 uprising Egypt, it seems that the country’s non-Islamist parties are still included in the political game. After significant alterations in their political…

1226

Abstract

Purpose

Years after the 2011 uprising Egypt, it seems that the country’s non-Islamist parties are still included in the political game. After significant alterations in their political sphere by mid-2013 at the advent of the Muslim Brother exclusion and the subsequent discrediting of Salafi al-Nour party, non-Islamist parties took clear part in the mobilization for presidential elections (2014, 2018) and competed for legislative seats in 2015. Nonetheless, it is difficult to expect them to turn into long-term key political players with clear-cut ideological postures, unique platforms and strong grass root mobilization. With the exception of the electoral gains scored by numbered parties like Free Egyptians’ party and Nation’s Future in 2015 legislative elections, these parties seem to be lagging behind esp. in terms of their popular base; who became winners at the advent of the radical exclusion of the MB from July 2013 onwards.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on archival research and guided by basic assumptions of rational choice institutionalism, mainly game-theoretic versions of the approach. It is divided into four sections, three of them are chronological and the last one is thematic.

Findings

Egypt’s non-Islamists engaged in the post-2011 political sphere, with strong Islamist rivals crippling their political chances in the first two years following the 2011 uprising. They surely capitalized on the exclusion and discrediting of the latter, but they suffered lack of ideological clarity and fragmentation from 2011 onwards with no enough evidence these weaknesses were surpassed after Islamists were “out of their way”. The only strand of non-Islamist parties which came out as “game winners” were those possessing the resources and enjoying overt “friendly” relations with al-Sisi regime. Nonetheless, internal conflicts inside key secularist parties shed light on their capacity to turn into long-term players in Egypt’s political sphere.

Originality/value

Very few papers were published on Egypt’s secularists parties after the 2011 uprising from the perspective of the alteration that occurred in their political environment affecting their political weight and gains. More generally, literature on non-ruling parties in authoritarian contexts mostly reduce these parties to secondary roles allocated by ruling regimes. The paper seeks to overcome both shortages.

Details

Review of Economics and Political Science, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2356-9980

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Article
Publication date: 20 May 2022

Tala Abuhussein and Sima Magatef

This research considers the role of social media platforms and their impact on individuals' eudaimonic well-being, and aims to help develop a social marketing programme in the…

1364

Abstract

Purpose

This research considers the role of social media platforms and their impact on individuals' eudaimonic well-being, and aims to help develop a social marketing programme in the future that would enable students in Jordanian universities to flourish, by focussing on their social media drivers and overcoming their challenges in an attempt to improve their psychological well-being (PWB).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used qualitative research examining lived experiences and behaviours around social media use. The authors conducted 39 semi-structured interviews with students at various universities across Jordan, alongside an online survey with open-ended questions, which were based on six PWB dimensions: environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, self-acceptance, autonomy and positive relationships with others.

Findings

Social media use and advertising were found to positively impact students' self-acceptance and relationships with others but to negatively impact their autonomy. They were found to have different impacts on students' sense of purpose in life and personal growth, depending on the content shared on their platforms.

Originality/value

The ethical debate surrounding social media amongst students indicates that such social marketing programmes might stimulate individuals' sense of control over their environment, encourage openness to new experiences, and give their lives a beneficial direction. The study makes recommendations for the creation of an evidence-based social marketing programme that is extrinsically focussed on increasing resilience, creating an audience persona and building awareness of PWB.

Details

Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, vol. 15 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-4323

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Article
Publication date: 31 December 2024

Mariem Sboui, Ons Baati and Nadia Sfar

Chatbots emerge as a prominent trend within the context of evolving communication settings and enhancing customer experience to improve firms' total quality management strategies…

59

Abstract

Purpose

Chatbots emerge as a prominent trend within the context of evolving communication settings and enhancing customer experience to improve firms' total quality management strategies. Specifically, users’ initial trust in such chatbots is critical for their adoption. Under the realm of technology acceptance theories, the present research aims to investigate drivers (perceived ease of use, performance expectancy, compatibility, social influence and technology anxiety) and impacts (customer experience and chatbot usage intention) of chatbot initial trust, among Generation Z considered as the more tech-savvy generation, in the particular telecommunication services context.

Design/methodology/approach

Research data were collected using an online questionnaire-based survey to test research hypotheses. A sample of 385 students was selected in Tunisia using a convenience sampling technique. Data were then analyzed through structural equation modeling by AMOS 23.

Findings

The results highlighted that, except for perceived ease of use and performance expectancy, all determinants have a significant influence on chatbot initial trust (positive impact of social influence and compatibility and negative impact of technology anxiety). Furthermore, chatbot initial trust positively stimulates customer experience with chatbots and chatbot intention of use.

Practical implications

Our results provide particular insights to chatbot developers seeking to enhance trust-building features in these systems and telecommunication operators to better understand user adoption and improve chatbot-based customer interactions among Generation Z in emergent markets.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to consolidate and enrich the existing body of chatbot initial trust literature by emphasizing the role of customer experience with chatbots and technology anxiety, as two pivotal consumer-related factors that have not yet been treated together in one research.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

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Article
Publication date: 10 December 2018

Hussain Albin Shaikh, Sharon Purchase and Gregory Brush

The purpose of this study is to understand the development of social capital in an Arab business environment, and provide an in-depth description of the nature and role of three…

650

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the development of social capital in an Arab business environment, and provide an in-depth description of the nature and role of three key Arabic business relationship characteristics (ehsan, et-moone and wasta), their impact on each other and key influencing factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design was used, in which face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with innovation teams (22 team members) at six industrial small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, then analyzed (thematic coding) through NVivo.

Findings

The findings suggest that wasta, ehsan and et-moone align closely with the three social capital dimensions (structural, cognitive and relational); thus, developing these three relationship characteristics most likely results in developing social capital. The findings also expand the description of the three business relationship characteristics. Moreover, ehsan, et-moone and wasta appear to influence each other, and are affected by other factors such as an individual’s age and position, and the duration of the relationship. Ehsan has a positive influence on the development of et-moone, while the existence of et-moone appears to be necessary for the establishment of wasta-capital. A high level of ehsan might influence the relationship between et-moone and wasta-use and limit the negative usage of wasta.

Practical implications

International managers can improve the level of ehsan in their organizational and business relationships through assigning incentives and playing the role of moral champion to encourage ehsan behavior. Managers aiming to increase et-moone may choose team members with a high level of ehsan, emphasizing the development of personal relationships, and providing opportunities for socialization both inside and outside the workplace. A high level of ehsan and et-moone will assist managers to develop and use wasta.

Originality/value

This study makes a threefold contribution to the literature. First, it provides an expanded description of the three Arabic business relationship characteristics and how they align closely with the dimensions of social capital. Wasta aligns with the structural dimension and ehsan aligns with the cognitive dimension, while et-moone aligns closely with the relational dimension. Second, it suggests and shows how the three relationship characteristics might interact with each other. Ehsan appears to influence et-moone, and also the relationship between et-moone and wasta. Et-moone appears to have a positive influence on wasta use. Third, the findings also indicate that there might be other factors (e.g. age and position) that influence the interactions between the three business relationship characteristics.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

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