Mohamed A. Mansour, Mohamed M. Abd‐Elaziz, Ramadan Abdalla and Sameh Elsayed
The purpose of this paper is to deal with unsteady double diffusive natural convection in a square enclosure filled with a porous medium with various boundary condition effects in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to deal with unsteady double diffusive natural convection in a square enclosure filled with a porous medium with various boundary condition effects in the presence of heat source or sink.
Design/methodology/approach
Finite difference method was employed to solve the dimensionless governing equations of the problem. The effects of governing parameters, namely, amplitude wave length ratio, dimensionless time parameter, Darcy number, buoyancy parameter and heat generation/absorption parameter on the streamlines, temperature and concentration contours, as well as Nusselt number and Sherwood number, were considered.
Findings
The sinusoidal variations of the temperature and concentration remove the singularities which appear in the case of fixed temperature and concentration.
Originality/value
The paper's results are validated by favorable comparisons with previously published results. The results of the problem are presented in graphical and tabular forms and discussed.
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The stock market anomalies have been studied across the globe with intermingled results for individual markets. The present study has investigated the financial year effect for…
Abstract
Purpose
The stock market anomalies have been studied across the globe with intermingled results for individual markets. The present study has investigated the financial year effect for Indian stock markets by testing month-of-the-year-effect anomalies.
Design/methodology/approach
The oldest stock exchange's index returns (Bombay Stock Exchange [BSE]) have been tested using ordinary least squares (OLS) and autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity in mean (ARCH-M) models with Student's t and Student's t-fixed distributions for the period between 1991 and 2019. The Glosten, Jagannathan and Runkle-generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GJR-GARCH) model has been further used to find out existence of the leverage effect in returns.
Findings
The findings indicated no evidence for anomalies in the Indian stock market which may be used by investors for making unusual returns. However, the volatility in returns has shown weak but significant results due to the financial year impact. The leverage effect has not been found in the financial year cycle change over. The Indian market may be said to be moving towards a state of efficiency, leaving no scope for investors to gauge bizarre profits.
Research limitations/implications
The study has incorporated the Indian context for testing anomalies during the start and end of the financial year cycle. The model may be extended further to developed and developing nations’ markets for testing efficiency in their stock markets during the same cycle.
Originality/value
The paper may be the first of its kind to test for the financial year effect on standalone basis for Indian markets. The paper also adds to the existing literature on testing events’ effect.
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Hanan AlMazrouei and Richard J. Pech
The purpose of this study is to examine issues of skills and cultural awareness amongst expatriate managers working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study explores…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine issues of skills and cultural awareness amongst expatriate managers working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study explores expatriate management and leadership experiences within a predominantly Islamic context and the adjustments that have had to be made by the new arrivals before they could effectively undertake their senior functions within their organisations. Rapid economic growth and recent prosperity in the UAE has resulted in the recruitment and placement of large numbers of expatriate managers.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were utilised to explore the experiences of expatriate managers in the UAE. These experiences have been interpreted to provide lessons and advice for new arrivals to the UAE, particularly those who are about to be placed into senior management positions.
Findings
The findings from our interviews of expatriate managers and leaders reveal a great deal regarding Islamic principles and religious practices, the Arabic language, the preference for a paternalistic management style, customs around issues of female dress and issues of time management. A number of strategies are provided for managing these sensitive cultural issues in the workplace.
Practical implications
This research provides an important examination of the effects of the UAE national culture on expatriate managers and how they have adjusted when managing local staff.
Originality/value
This article adds to the disciplines of management and human resources by focussing on cross-cultural sensitivity and awareness, specifically within the context of the UAE.
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The study examines socio-spatial appropriations in dwellings of Cairo, which were undertaken to expand dwellings affordances and accommodate new utilitarian demands during…
Abstract
Purpose
The study examines socio-spatial appropriations in dwellings of Cairo, which were undertaken to expand dwellings affordances and accommodate new utilitarian demands during lockdown. The study questions whether those appropriations impacted dwellers' conceptions of dwellers' dwellings and scrutinizes how those appropriations could feedback the design of dwellings post-pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopted a mixed-method approach and was constructed over two phases as follows: first, in-depth interviews with 20 participants to acquire qualitative data about the adopted appropriation strategies and the subsequent actualized affordances and second, an online quantitative survey answered by 133 respondents to quantify the frequency of the adopted appropriation strategies and test the relationship between appropriations and mental conceptions of dwellings.
Findings
The study identifies five main appropriation strategies undertaken by dwellers and builds upon them to recommend favorable design features of dwellings post-pandemic. Those are: securing unscripted spaces, reviving dormant spaces, space compartmentalization, temporal programing of space and space esthetic personalization. The study also affirms a relationship between undertaking appropriations and improved mental conceptions of dwellings. Finally, the study suggests recommendations for space use optimization which could be deployed in existing dwellings and could ultimately be considered for designing post-pandemic dwellings.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in the study's opportune documentation and analysis of such an exceptional condition. Thus far, very few studies have tackled socio-spatial practices in dwellings during lockdown, let alone the impact of the pandemic on the design of future dwellings.
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Adem Sav, Neil Harris and Bernadette Sebar
– The purpose of this paper is to explore work-life conflict and work-life facilitation among employed Muslim men, a growing ethno-religious minority in Australia.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore work-life conflict and work-life facilitation among employed Muslim men, a growing ethno-religious minority in Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is guided by the interpretive paradigm and is qualitative in nature. The primary data collection method was semi-structured in-depth interviews and 20 participants participated in the study.
Findings
Australian Muslim men experience both work-life conflict and facilitation simultaneously; however, facilitation is reported more frequently. Work flexibility, work and family support, and religiosity promote work-life facilitation. In contrast, workload and work hours lead to feelings of conflict, with workload being the stronger antecedent. Importantly, religious values and beliefs are an underpinning influence on participants’ experiences.
Research limitations/implications
The study is conducted with a small sample and hence, lacks the power to generalise findings to the broader Muslim male population.
Practical implications
There is a strong need to modify the traditional western models of work-life conflict and facilitation and workplace policies designed to assist workers when dealing with minorities, such as Australian Muslims. By including religion, the research offers a fresh voice to work-life research and encourages to think about the salience of other life domains beside family, an issue of great concern within the work-life literature.
Originality/value
This is one of the few studies to focus on Australian Muslim men and explore how religion fits into the current understanding of work-life balance.
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This chapter approaches the topic of teaching the Western scholarly tradition in non-Western countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from three perspectives employing the…
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter approaches the topic of teaching the Western scholarly tradition in non-Western countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from three perspectives employing the following metaphors: as a Public Servant motivated by public service to the goals and aims of the country’s development articulated by UAE rulers and its citizens; as Cultural Diplomat, representing the Western tradition and its scholarly achievements while respecting other traditions; and as Intellectual Imperialist, aiming at a colonising incorporation of the UAE into the Western academic world.
Methodology/approach
The main methodology adopted is the Weberian ideal type, located within a comparative and historical context that produces the metaphors as analytically possible perspectives as a western expatriate faculty member. Additional critique is drawn from Bourdieu, Said, Freire, Giroux, Foucault, Goffman and cross-cultural organisation studies.
Findings
The findings consist of an analytic framework consisting of public servant, cultural diplomat and intellectual imperialist as a set of conceptions for analysing possible orientations of Western expatriate academics in developing countries.
Social implications
The implications are threefold: on a personal level, what experientially does each of the metaphors mean for one’s sense of identity, profession, values and relationships; on a pedagogical level, what principles and values distinguish the curriculum and teaching styles as well as orientation to Arab and Islamic scholarship; and politically, what is the potential impact and unintended consequences for the indigenous culture, sovereignty and societal survival of a country under the heavy influence of globalisation. The contention of this chapter is that one cannot avoid adopting one or more of these roles and may even perform in contradictory ways.
Originality/value
The originality is in establishing a new set of analytic categories drawing on post-colonial, diplomacy and critical studies.
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Robert C. Moussetis, Ali Abu Rahma and George Nakos
This paper examined the relationships between national culture and strategic behavior in the banking industry in Jordan and U.S. The study first developed a strategic posture and…
Abstract
This paper examined the relationships between national culture and strategic behavior in the banking industry in Jordan and U.S. The study first developed a strategic posture and secondly a cultural profile for the top management of the research domain. The strategic posture suggested the readiness for strategic response from managers. The degree of readiness was correlated with the constructed cultural profile of the managers and financial performance of the banks. The study found significant relationships between certain national cultural strategic characteristics, (risk propensity, time orientation, and openness to change, uncertainty avoidance and managerial perception of control over the environment) strategic behavior and financial performance.
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This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human resource management (HRM) within Saudi Arabia's distinct socio-legal landscape, which is shaped by Islamic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human resource management (HRM) within Saudi Arabia's distinct socio-legal landscape, which is shaped by Islamic cultural norms, stringent labor laws and a diversifying economy. This context necessitates innovative HR strategies during crises.
Design/methodology/approach
Grounded in the resource-based view, this qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews with 18 HR professionals across various sectors. This approach enables an in-depth exploration of HRM practice adaptations during the pandemic, using purposive sampling to ensure the collection of rich and relevant data.
Findings
Significant shifts towards remote work, the digitalization of HR operations and prioritizing employee health and safety were identified. The analysis revealed key themes, including HR policy changes, resilience strategies, encountered challenges, the importance of communication in employee engagement and strategic learnings. These findings highlight the criticality of adaptability, clear communication and digital transformation in effective crisis management.
Originality/value
This research contributes novel insights into the resilience of HRM practices in Saudi Arabia’s unique socio-legal environment during health crises. It fills a gap in our understanding of how specific regional contexts influence HRM strategies during emergencies, offering valuable contributions to both theory and practice. The study provides practical guidance for HR professionals and policymakers on crafting effective HRM strategies tailored to organizational needs in crisis conditions, thereby enhancing the field’s knowledge on navigating HRM challenges in future health crises.
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Salime Mehtap, Leyla Ozmenekse and Andrea Caputo
Women and disadvantaged minorities within emerging and developing economies often resort to business activity within the informal economy as a way to overcome various barriers and…
Abstract
Purpose
Women and disadvantaged minorities within emerging and developing economies often resort to business activity within the informal economy as a way to overcome various barriers and challenges to formal workforce participation. This paper aims to explore the characteristics, motives, barriers and challenges of female engagement in informal business activities in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative analysis used in this paper is based upon empirical findings from semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 14 female informal entrepreneurs in Amman, Jordan.
Findings
The study revealed that informal female entrepreneurs tend to be both opportunity- and necessity-driven. Generating profit and contributing to the household income seems to be their main motive. Their businesses were funded either through personal savings or from their social network (e.g. husband, family and friends). Promotion of the business relied mostly on word-of-mouth or social media. High inflation, high competition, time pressures and lack of business skills were cited as the biggest challenges. Besides being content with the status quo, lack of knowledge about the procedures for registering a business and fear of bureaucracy were among the main reasons for not legalizing their activities.
Originality/value
There are very few studies that analyse informal micro-entrepreneurship in the Arab world, particularly in the Jordanian context, which is of growing interest due to low number of women in the workforce and the growing number of refugees in the country. This study therefore presents new knowledge around women’s informal micro-entrepreneurship in Jordan and provides recommendations for further research and policy-making.