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The impact of employees' working relations in creating and retaining trust: the case of the Bahrain Olympic Committee
Introduction: This thesis investigates the impact of employees’ working relations in creating, maintaining and retaining trust in the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC).
Aim: The main aim of this thesis is to determine how the three groups of Organisational Trust variables, namely Social System Elements (SSE), Factors of Trustworthiness (FoT) and Third-Party Gossip (TPG), affect employees’ Organisational Trust (OTR) in the BOC and promote Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB). To answer this main aim, a conceptual framework was created that focused on exploring the following research aims: (1) the interrelationship between SSE and FoT, (2) the effect of SSE on OTR, (3) the impact of TPG on OTR and (4) the effect of OTR on overall OCB.
Methodology: The study uses a mixed-method case study research style that included in-depth semi-structured interviews with 17 managers, an online questionnaire survey with 320 employees of the BOC and an analysis of the BOC’s Annual Reports from 2015 to 2018.
Results: The qualitative and quantitative findings indicate, firstly, that there is a significant interrelationship between SSE and FoT, establishing that SSE’s perception of organisational justice (OJ), including that FoTs benevolence and integrity as the most important factors in yielding employees’ trust in the BOC. Secondly, it has been established that SSEs have significant direct and indirect effects on OTR. Thirdly, negative and positive TPG concurrently occurred in the BOC and the prevalence of negative TPG poses more impact on OTR. Finally, this study’s findings demonstrated OTR’s effect in generating OCB, including that Civic Virtue was rated as the most preferred of the five OCB themes; this indicates the managers’ and the employees’ strong emotional attachment and support of the activities taking place at the BOC.
Contributions: Overall, this thesis substantially contributes to OTR literature, particularly in the context of the Middle East. It also proposes several insightful recommendations for future research and practical implications for practitioners in the field of Organisational Trust
Antecedents of customer loyalty in the manufacturing industry
This thesis concerns the study of customer loyalty and its antecedents in the UK
manufacturing sector. It adopts a critical realist perspective to the study of customer loyalty,
locating the concept in the relationship marketing and social psychology literatures. The
findings generated by the literature review and the results of an exploratory qualitative study
leads to the development of a conceptual framework in which functional, social and
emotional relationship value, customer satisfaction, and moderator variable, relationship age,
are believed to influence the level of customer loyalty in the manufacturing industry.
The conceptual framework is tested empirically using a quantitative survey design in the
context of the UK manufacturing industry. Data is analysed through application of the partial
least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling technique.
From a theoretical perspective, the study makes a number of valuable contributions to the
relationship marketing literature. The study confirms the importance of social and emotional
relationship value aspects on customer satisfaction and loyalty outcomes in the
manufacturing industry. The findings offer a new theoretical perspective of the role social and
emotional value play in creating loyal customers and the role emotional value performs in
buyer’s feelings of satisfaction in the B2B domain. The findings also suggest that customer
satisfaction acts as a partial mediator in the relationship between customer value and
customer loyalty. Moreover, a new theoretical concept of emotional value featuring frustration
and human touch in addition to interpersonal relationships is also evidenced from the
research results. Furthermore, the study also shows that the theory of consumption values
can be applied to the B2B manufacturing domain.
The results propose that behavioural loyalty can be expressed through customer satisfaction,
and functional and emotional elements of relationship value. Whereas, attitudinal loyalty can
be conveyed by customer satisfaction, and functional and social components of relationship
value. These relationships are in turn also partially mediated through customer satisfaction.
The results also indicate that all three dimensions of functional, social and emotional value
influence customer satisfaction outcomes.
Overall, the study provides recommendations on how to maximise customer loyalty through
strategic combinations of relationship value. It also provides guidance on how to improve
customer satisfaction through different elements of relationship value in the manufacturing
industry. From a practical viewpoint, the research study findings offer suppliers important
guidelines and a toolkit for establishing, developing, and maintaining successful relationships
with their customers in the manufacturing industry
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Relationships, Assets and Social Capital: A Case Study Review of Youth Mentoring
Youth mentoring, where young people (mentees) work with adult mentors to achieve change, is a popular government and third sector intervention. Past research, concentrating on quantitative analysis of US programmes, concludes that mentoring achieves significant but modest change. Such research assumes that changes from mentoring can be externally identified and measured, often without hearing the views of those involved.
This study investigates the experiences and expectations of mentoring from the perspective of mentees, mentors, referring agencies and programme coordinators. Using social capital theory (Bourdieu, 1986; Coleman, 1988; Putnam, 2000), the study explores how mentoring relationships are built and their role in bringing about change.
A local authority youth mentoring programme in the UK formed the case study for investigating experiences of mentoring and perceptions of change. To allow nuanced exploration of views, an interpretive, qualitative approach was taken. Data were collected from mentors, mentees, referring agencies and coordinators via semi-structured interviews, survey, diaries, focus groups and programme feedback. Data collection and thematic analysis were informed by social capital theory.
Findings indicated that mentees actively participating in the mentoring process benefitted most. Mentees experienced unusual levels of equality in the purposeful and trusting mentoring relationship. Drawing on the relationship’s social capital, mentees enhanced their assets and enjoyed emotional support, learning and challenge. Collaborating with mentors, mentees achieved previously inaccessible outcomes. Assets developed could be used in other relationships.
The study also concludes that social capital and asset acquisition provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mentoring process. By encouraging asset and social capital exchange, mentoring develops mentees’ self-awareness, agency, and confidence, increasing the likelihood of resilience. This knowledge may be transferable to other programmes and relationships. Supporting young people’s knowledge of their needs and strengths through mentoring may contribute to their wellbeing post 2019 Covid pandemic
The effect of corporate governance mechanisms on earnings management practices in Saudi listed companies
The main objective of this thesis is to examine the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on earnings management practices in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this aim, the study first analyses the relationship between the level of compliance with the Saudi Corporate Governance Code (SCGC) and earnings management practices by employing a self-constructed corporate governance index (i.e., the compliance-index model), derived mainly from the 2017 Saudi Corporate Governance Code. Second, the study examines the association between a number of individual corporate governance mechanisms (i.e., the equilibrium-variable model) and earnings management practices in Saudi listed firms. Third, it examines the influence of family ownership on the association between corporate governance mechanisms (measured by a comprehensive governance index) and earnings management practices in Saudi listed firms. Through use of a sample of 112 Saudi listed firms between 2006 and 2017 (i.e., 994 firm-year observations) together with insights from agency theory, the compliance index model produces results showing a statistically significant and negative association between the Saudi Corporate Governance Index (SCGI) and the level of earnings management practices. However, this result does not hold for firms with high family ownership, since the results reveal that the effectiveness of corporate governance (measured by the SCGI) in constraining earnings management is reduced in Saudi firms with high family ownership. In a series of sensitivity analyses, this evidence is robust to (i) alternative earnings management models, (ii) endogeneity, and (iii) alternative proxy for family control.
Regarding the equilibrium-variable model, the results indicate that Saudi firms are likely to have lower levels of earnings management practices if they have a high percentage of strictly independent directors on the boards, a larger board size, and audit committees that meet more often. Additionally, the results show that Saudi firms with higher government ownership, institutional ownership and family ownership have lower levels of earnings management practices. In contrast, the current study did not find any evidence that the strict independence of audit committee index, percentage of directors with multiple directorships, percentage of family directors on the board and percentage of blockholders ownership have any significant relationship with the extent of earnings management practices in the Saudi firms. Also, the study found that non-strict board/audit independence is not effective in reducing earnings management practices in Saudi firms. These results are moderately robust to (i) alternative earnings management models, (ii) endogeneity, and (iii) alternative proxies for strict board independence. Finally, the findings of this study indicate the effectiveness of the governance provisions provided in the 2017 Saudi Corporate Governance Code in improving governance practices in the Saudi context
Vulnerability of the Nigerian coast and communities to climate change induced coastal erosion
Improving coastal resilience to climate change hazards requires understanding past shoreline changes. As the coastal population grows, evaluation and monitoring of shoreline changes are essential for planning and development. Population growth increases exposure to sea level rise and coastal hazards. Nigeria, where the study is situated, is among the top fifteen countries in the world for coastal population exposure to sea level rise. This study provided a novel lens in establishing a link between social factors and the intensifying coastal erosion along the Akwa Ibom State study coast. The mixed-method approach used in the study to assess the vulnerability of the Nigerian coast and communities to climate change-induced coastal erosion proved to be essential in gathering a wide range of data (physical, socio economic, participatory GIS maps and social learning) that contributed to a more robust and holistic assessment of coastal erosion, which is a complex issue due to the interplay between the human and natural environments. Remotely sensed data was used to examine the susceptibility and coastal evolution of Akwa Ibom State over 36 years (1984 -2020). Longer-term (1984- 2020) and short-term (2015-2020) shoreline change analyses were used to understand coastal erosion and accretion. From 1984-2020, the total average linear regression rate (LRR) was - 2.7+0.18m/yr and from 2015-2020, it was -3.94 +1.28m/yr, demonstrating an erosional trend along the study coast. Although the rate of erosion varies along the study coast, the linear regression rates (LRR) results show a predominant trend of erosion in both the short and longer term. According to the 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, loss of land, loss of assets, community disruption and livelihood, loss of environmental resources, ecosystem, loss of life, or adverse health impact are all potential risks along the African coast due to climate change – this study shows that these risks are already occurring today. To quantify the anticipated future coastal erosion risk by 2040 along the study coast, the findings in this study show an overall average LRR of -2.73+ 0.99 m/yr which anticipates that coastal erosion will still be prevalent along the coast by 2040. And, given the current global climate change situation, should be expected to be much higher than the current forecasting.
This study re-conceptualised the European Environmental Agency Driver-Pressure StateImpact-Response (DPSIR) model to show Hazard-Driver-Pressure-State-Impact ResponseObservation causal linkages to coastal erosion hazards. The results showed how human activities and environmental interactions have evolved through time, causing coastal erosion. Removal of vegetation cover/backstop for residential and agricultural purposes, indicate that human activities significantly contribute to the study area's susceptibility, rapid shoreline changes, and vulnerability to coastal erosion, in addition to oceanic and climate change drivers such as sea level rise and storminess. Risk perception of coastal erosion in the study area was analysed using the rhizoanalytic method proposed by Deleueze. The method demonstrates how connections and movements can be related and how data can be used to show multiplicity, mark and unmark ideas, rupture pre-conceptions and make new connections.
This study shows that coastal erosion awareness is insufficient to build a long-term management plan and sustain coastal resilience. The Hino's conceptual model which provides in-depth understanding on planned retreat was used to illustrate migratory and planned retreat for the study coast where relocation has already occurred due to coastal erosion. The result fell within the Self-Reliance quadrant, indicating that people left the risk zone without government backing or retreat plans. Other coastal residents who have not relocated fell within the Hunkered Down quadrant, showing that they are willing to stay in the risk zone and cope with the threat unless the government/environmental agencies relocate them. This study shows that coastal resilience requires adaptive capacity and government support. However, multilevel governance has inhibited government-community dialogue and involvement, increasing coastal erosion vulnerability. The coastal vulnerability index to coastal erosion was calculated using the Analytical Hierarchy Process weightings. It revealed that 67.55% of the study coast falls within the high-very high vulnerability class while 32.45% is within the very low-low vulnerability class. This study developed and combined a risk perception index to coastal erosion (RPIerosion) and participatory GIS (PGIS) mapping into a novel coastal vulnerability index called the integrated coastal erosion vulnerability index (ICEVI). The case study evaluation in Akata, showed an improvement in the overall vulnerability assessment to reflect the real-world scenario, which was consistent with field data.
This study demonstrated not only the presence and challenges of coastal erosion in the research area but also the relevance of involvement between the local stakeholders, government and environmental agencies. Thus, showing the potential for the perspectives of the inhabitants of these regions to inform the understanding of the resilience capacity of the people impacted, and importantly to inform future co-design and/or selection of effective adaptation methods, to better support coastal climate change resilience in these communities. Overall, the study provides a useful contribution to coastal erosion vulnerability assessments in data-scarce regions more broadly, where the mixed-methods approach used here can be applied elsewhere
International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022
This conference proceedings gathers work and research presented at the International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022 (IASSC2022) held on July 3, 2022, in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. The conference was jointly organized by the Faculty of Information Management of Universiti Teknologi MARA Kelantan Branch, Malaysia; University of Malaya, Malaysia; Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia; Universitas Ngudi Waluyo, Indonesia; Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Philippines; and UCSI University, Malaysia. Featuring experienced keynote speakers from Malaysia, Australia, and England, this proceeding provides an opportunity for researchers, postgraduate students, and industry practitioners to gain knowledge and understanding of advanced topics concerning digital transformations in the perspective of the social sciences and information systems, focusing on issues, challenges, impacts, and theoretical foundations. This conference proceedings will assist in shaping the future of the academy and industry by compiling state-of-the-art works and future trends in the digital transformation of the social sciences and the field of information systems. It is also considered an interactive platform that enables academicians, practitioners and students from various institutions and industries to collaborate
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog
2023-2024 undergraduate catalog for Morehead State University
Success Strategies for Information Technology Project Leaders
A growing failure rate of information technology (IT) projects has the potential to create economic loss and low revenue. IT project leaders in the financial industry are concerned that IT project failure has the potential to negatively impact organization expenses. Grounded in Bass’s transformational leadership theory and the Project Manager Book of Knowledge, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies financial industry project leaders used to ensure IT projects succeed. The participants were five participants who had a minimum of 5 years of managing successful IT projects. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and company documentation. Thematic analysis identified five themes: (a) communication of project requirements, (b) planning and analysis, (c) leadership and collaboration, (d) risk management, and (e) governance and continuous improvement. A key recommendation is for skilled project managers to work closely with stakeholders to bridge the projects’ scope, schedule, and cost. The implications for positive social change include the potential for a cascading effect of project success on organizational growth sustaining high-paying jobs and increasing philanthropic giving in communities
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