Nabil Baydoun, William Maguire, Neal Ryan and Roger Willett
The purpose of this paper is to draw together available data as a means of comparing the state of corporate governance in five countries; Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to draw together available data as a means of comparing the state of corporate governance in five countries; Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. This comparison provides a basis for analyzing the efficacy of corporate governance and government regulation in the region.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors construct a measure of corporate governance using the OECD's 2005 survey data, which includes these and many other countries in the sample. The authors analyze the resulting measures in the light of ongoing institutional developments in each country.
Findings
Based on the corporate governance measurement scale, Oman is the clear leader among the five countries, followed by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain and Qatar rank fourth and fifth, respectively.
Originality/value
This paper adds value by transforming the data in the OECD survey, thus adding to the limited information available on corporate governance and related issues in the Arabian Gulf.
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Aminu Mamman and Nabil Baydoun
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceived impact of globalization amongst Nigerian bank managers and professionals. Managerial and organizational cognition (MOC…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceived impact of globalization amongst Nigerian bank managers and professionals. Managerial and organizational cognition (MOC) literature is used to evaluated perceptions of impact.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts a survey methodology to gather the information needed to achieve the objectives of the paper. Descriptive statistics and statistical analyses are used to evaluate various relationships.
Findings
Respondents view the outcome of globalization as unfair. They also view globalization as endangering the economy and cultural values of Nigeria. However, they see the benefits of globalization in terms of transfer of good management and business practices as well as flow of foreign direct investment. They also seem to believe that globalization is open enough to accommodate other economic and political systems. However, they also believe that globalization hinders nation states to formulate polices favourable to the economy. Similarly, the majority do not believe that the world will be a better and fairer place if all countries adopt the philosophy and principles underpinning globalization.
Research limitations/implications
Managers' interpretation of the impact of globalization can influence their decisions and ultimately organizational strategy. Depending on the perceived benefits of globalization, managers who can influence government policy would try to lobby against excessive liberalization that might affect their local market position.
Originality/value
There is an attempt to link macro‐ and micro‐dimensions of globalization research. A multidisciplinary approach opens up the possibility for researchers from management discipline and other disciplines (e.g. economics, sociology and politics) to team up and study globalization. Future research should adopt both a quantitative and qualitative methodology. For example, the use of in‐depth interviews should reveal more information on how respondents perceive the impact of globalization on values and beliefs. Future studies should also target policy makers and senior executives across industries and the non‐governmental organization sector.
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Adel Khelifi, Slaheddine Khlifi, Nabil Khelifi and Hamdi Essaieb
This study aims to propose a national frame of reference for the accreditation of engineering programs (EPs) in Tunisia. It uses as a benchmark the structure used by the world’s…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a national frame of reference for the accreditation of engineering programs (EPs) in Tunisia. It uses as a benchmark the structure used by the world’s leading accreditation systems such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur. It provides a comprehensive framework for academic institutions to evaluate the performance of their programs. In addition, it suggests the procedures, steps and timeline for the application process and defines the required documents that should be submitted.
Design/methodology/approach
The study analyzes the standards applied by well-established accreditation agencies such as ABET, Commission Titre Ingenieur and European Accredited Engineer, studies the perceptions of academicians who participated in six workshops and uses the results of surveys and interviews to characterize their opinions about accreditation. A sample population of 146 faculty members, experts and policymakers from 23 different higher education institutions in Tunisia, who had participated in the workshops mentioned above, was solicited to participate in the survey. The opinions of 51 respondents who responded to the survey were analyzed. This methodology led to the establishment of a proposed national frame of reference for accreditation of EPs.
Findings
Analysis reveals that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) provides authorization (“habilitation”) to institutions allowing them to offer their educational program. However, it is inaccurate to consider this procedure as accreditation because it is more of a licensure process. In addition, the MHESR grants the “habilitation” to those institutions that successfully apply. The National Authority for Assessment, quality assurance and accreditation Instance Nationale de l’Evaluation, de l’Assurance Qualité et de l’Accréditation (IEAQA) is not involved in this process, which makes the latter’s role trivial.
Practical implications
This frame of reference will help the MHESR to evaluate the EPs based on a comprehensive analysis of well-established accreditation systems, to improve its “habilitation” process by splitting it into two parts as per international practice, namely, licensure and accreditation and to make the existence and role of the IEAQA much clearer.
Originality/value
This study is the foremost study to propose a comprehensive frame of reference for accrediting EPs in Tunisia.
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Essia Ries Ahmed, Md Aminul Islam, Tariq Tawfeeq Yousif Alabdullah and Azlan Bin Amran
This paper aims to investigate the influence of the determinants (pricing, type of structure, Shariah auditing, Shariah risk and Shariah documentation) and the sukuk legitimacy…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the influence of the determinants (pricing, type of structure, Shariah auditing, Shariah risk and Shariah documentation) and the sukuk legitimacy among Islamic financial institutions using a qualitative approach. The paper further explained the significance of the determinants on legitimacy, evaluated the relationship between sukuk characteristics and sukuk legitimacy and examined the moderating effect of Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) on the relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a purposive sampling technique to select the target respondents required for the survey (semi-structured interview). This technique is applied by selecting members of SSBs among Islamic financial institutions. A total number of ten members are selected as the sample size for the study based on their experience and basic knowledge of Fiqh Al-Mua’malat and its application in Islamic financial institutions.
Findings
The findings revealed that the determinants have a significant impact on the sukuk legitimacy, meaning that there is a positive and significant relationship between the determinants and the sukuk legitimacy. In addition, this study indicates the empirical evidence of the moderating effect of SSB on the relationship between the determinants and the sukuk legitimacy.
Practical implications
This study has added to the literature by examining the determinants of sukuk legitimacy while evaluating the moderating effect of SSB on the relationship. Besides, this might add benefits to the numerous Islamic financial institutions relating to the amendment of its regulatory frameworks with the view to pushing the sukuk market investors to move toward asset-backed structure. In addition, the SSB in central banks must also focus its attention regarding the sukuk legitimacy and its application among the various Islamic financial institutions.
Originality/value
This study has added a new discussion to the body of knowledge, i.e. examining the sukuk legitimacy and its relationship with sukuk determinants; hence, an approach that is not widely discussed in the previous studies. Furthermore, conducting such research in the field of Islamic finance provides novelty in the literature among both emerging and developed economies including Malaysia. This is because to the best knowledge of the researchers, there was no empirical study (within the literature) that combined these variables and evaluated their empirical significance. Accordingly, this would enlighten the Islamic Ummah and propel the society’s intensity toward contributing to knowledge and might further provide clarification on the determinants and the sukuk legitimacy to prospective scholars, precisely on the moderating effect of SSB on the relationship between determinants and legitimacy of sukuk.