The current state of E-commerce in Jordan: Applicability and future prospects

This study aimed at determining the current state of e-commerce in Jordan, as well as its future prospects. The research population consisted of all Jordanian industrial, service and/or trade companies that have a registered website. The population size was 712 companies. A total of 118 questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected companies and 95 were returned. Cronbach alpha measure was used to test the reliability of the organizational questionnaire and was calculated to be 0.80 reflecting stability and consistency of the scale and indicating the goodness of the measure. Other statistical tests were used to test the research hypotheses such as One-Sample t-test, Independent-Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Chi-Square and Bivariate Correlations (Pearson). The research indicated that Jordan has adequate and efficient e-commerce requirements in general, but there is no suitable and appropriate Community Culture in order to reach E-commerce Readiness Stage. Some recommendations are then made based on research findings

The impact of the International Food Policy Research Institute's research program on rural finance policies for food security for the poor

This study examines the contributions of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) between 1993 and 2001 to analysis, outreach, capacity building, and training related to the role of rural finance in poverty reduction. The IFPRI multicountry research project on Rural Finance Policies for Food Security for the Poor involved data-intensive research by more than 14 research fellows on the impacts of access to rural financial services in countries. This report examines the contribution of the program within four countries where microfinance research and outreach activities were conducted and its contribution to global knowledge about rural finance and food security....It addresses issues of critical importance: (1) does microfinance have an impact on the poor, and is this impact achieved through better risk management as well as increased income generation?, (2) does the structure of financial service providers matter in supporting this impact?, and (3) how can the microfinance industry be made more sustainable?.... Malawi, Bangladesh, Ghana and Nepal were selected for analysis of research impacts." taken from Authors' Abstract.Evaluation Methodology ,Social sciences Research Evaluation ,Research institutes ,Capacity building ,Training ,Rural poor Research ,

Active labor market programs : policy issues for East Asia

The study debates on active labor market programs (ALMPs) as a valuable employment policy tool intended to increase the quality of labor supply, and demand, versus the disincentive, and dependent passive measures in combating unemployment. While ALMPs have been implemented to varying degrees in East Asia, they still cannot be considered an important policy instrument; yet, careful consideration by policymakers to such programs, could prove responsive to the economic crisis, and to the longer-term requirements of development. An overview of ALMPs is provided, with key issues reviewed for design consideration. The study discusses the techniques used to evaluate ALMPs, and summarizes the evidence on their impacts, identifying key variables associated with successful outcomes in the region. Recommendations suggest the following issues for the formulation of an active labor market policy: setting priorities, by initially developing strong employment services; identifying the roles of the public, and private sectors, which leads to more diverse, innovative, and cost-efficient services, closely oriented to labor demand, but focused on public priorities; promoting partnerships, and dialogue within coordinated policies, and strengthened administrative and operational capacities, provided a balanced public, and private financing is in place.Banks&Banking Reform,ICT Policy and Strategies,Health Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Labor Standards

Destination management systems : towards a holistic effectiveness evaluation

This study aims to enhance the understanding of destination management system (DMS) effectiveness and its evaluation. Upon review of the literature, it was established that DMS effectiveness and its evaluation has not yet been researched adequately. Informed by an interpretive approach, this study contributes to research particularly by investigating what constitutes effectiveness and explores the aspects (factors and relationships) that need to be considered in a holistic DMS effectiveness evaluation. Based on a qualitative case study strategy, this study adopts a comprehensive approach that considers multiple stakeholder groups’ perspectives. The research evidence is collected through a case-study of the Egyptian DMS experience (the Touregypt project). The Touregypt project gives insights to the understanding of three DMS cases that have not been researched before in DMS literature: first, an actual DMS application in a developing country; second, a public and private sector partnership experience; and third, a failed DMS experience (the system has failed in the course of this research).Prompted by the interpretive approach, this study tried to explore DMS effectiveness based on the perspectives, attitudes and experiences of the multiple stakeholder groups (Hesse-Biber and Leavy 2010). Accordingly, the empirical data was collected through a multi-method approach that includes interviews, observation, archival document analysis (including Touregypt forum analysis), and website analysis. Data has been analyzed guided by discourse analysis, complemented with the general inductive approach of Miles and Huberman (1994). Following an interpretive theory-building strategy, the analyzed data has been further interpreted in the light of prior theories of DMS and information systems research, particularly the Delone and MacLean IS effectiveness theory (1992, 2003, and 2004).The main contribution of this study to knowledge is a theory based model that enhances the understanding of DMS effectiveness evaluation. The suggested model identifies the aspects (factors and relationships) that need to be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of DMS. Also, the results of this study give insights to the understanding of DMS effectiveness by shedding light on what constitutes effectiveness and the possible relationship between such constructs

Being rich in energy resources – a blessing or a curse

“Being rich in energy resources – a blessing or a curse” finds that an energy resource curse plagues many EU supplier states. This in turn directly affects Europe’s energy supply security and threatens to engulf Europe in unwanted hostilities at home and abroad. The study addresses seven issues including the evidence suggesting that a curse exists among Europe’s external energy suppliers, active programs to limit that risk, the significance of economic diversification, the applicability of dividend programs, the link between corruption and security of energy supplies, additional possible actions of the Union, and further threats posed by resource cursed countries. It establishes a definitive links between corruption and supply security, poor transparency, and inequality, and proves that a low level of economic diversification is a reliable indicator for the existence of the curse. It also finds that there are examples of excellence in recovering from and even converting the curse to a blessing. In looking at the policy instruments available to the Union, the study determines that the Union does have the technical expertise and financial means to restructure political and economic systems and strengthen public administrations and institutions and found that Europe’s successful implementation of similar past programs could be taken, at least in part, as models for future efforts. Finally, the study recommends the controversial approach of conditionality in the use of aid and finds that the Union should legislate standards for the reporting and auditing of energy exports and imports at home and abroad.Resource Curse; Oil Curse; Energy Security; Energy Policy; EU; European Union; Foreign Policy; Development Policy;

The global information technology report 2014

Executive summary When The Global Information Technology Report (GITR) and the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) were created more than 13 years ago, the attention of decision makers was focused on how to develop strategies that would allow them to benefit from what Time Magazine had described as “the new economy”: a new way of organizing and managing economic activity based on the new opportunities that the Internet provided for businesses. At present, the world is slowly emerging from one of the worst financial and economic crises in decades, and policymakers, business leaders, and civil society are looking into new opportunities that can consolidate growth, generate new employment, and create business opportunities. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) continue to rank high on the list as one of the key sources of new opportunities to foster innovation and boost economic and social prosperity, for both advanced and emerging economies. For more than 13 years, the NRI has provided decision makers with a useful conceptual framework to evaluate the impact of ICTs at a global level and to benchmark the ICT readiness and usage of their economies

A Critique of Administrative Reform Programs in Egypt Implications from Riggs’ Prismatic Model

Egypt underwent many and continuous attempts to reform its administrative system since the fifties of the last century when it sought to adopt the recommendations mentioned in the American Expert Paul Sinker’s Report which embraced legislative and reorganizing tools to reform the bureaucratic system then (Kassem et al, 1996:18).  This paper is a trial to investigate how far Fred Riggs Model- that have been widely used to explain the development of communities- could be used to explain and evaluate the endeavors to reform the government and related public sector in the case of Egypt; i.e., calling attention to the importance of Riggs Model implications in the field of administrative reform. F. Riggs Model –known as the Prismatic Society Model- provides ideas and dimensions for classifying developed and developing communities. The study aims at utilizing these dimensions to judge the maturity of the administrative reforms endeavors that took place during two decades (1990-2010). The main finding of the study is that the reform programs adopted during this period were supposed to be promising; nonetheless, the lack of integration amongst them was the main reason behind the persistent failure witnessed in the Egyptian administrative system till now. Keywords: Administrative Reform, F. Riggs Model, Reform Programs, Egypt

Knowledge Management and The SECI Model: A Study of Innovation in The Egyptian Banking Sector

The emergence of knowledge management (KM) as a practical business discipline is connected to the growing realisation that knowledge is an essential resource for organisations to retain sustainable competitive advantages. The SECI model, proposed by Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) best embraces the nature of KM and of knowledge conversion. This model uses four processes of knowledge conversion: socialisation, externalisation, combination and internalisation to create knowledge in organisations. A review of the relevant literature, however, suggests that the application of the SECI model is suffering from a lack of research in banking, even though this is a knowledge-intensive industry. Since the model was driven from Japanese values, the applicability of the model in different cultural contexts is also arguable. This study aims to examine the use of the SECI model in Egyptian banks and its effect on the innovation process. To examine the model in a different cultural context, Egypt as the biggest Arab country was a suitable research site. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to achieve the research aims. The qualitative data were used to triangulate the quantitative data by detailing the SECI conversion process, and its relation to innovation. Two hundred and ten self-administered questionnaires were used to investigate to what extent Egyptian banks perform the SECI and innovation activities, and 26 semi-structured face-to-face interviews provided details about how the Egyptian banks perform these activities. The survey data were analysed by using Predictive Analytic SoftWare (PASW). Different types of statistical applications were used, namely factor analysis, Cronbach’ alpha, descriptive analysis, multiple regression, t-test and one-way ANOVA. Content analysis was used to analyse the interview data were by looking for noticeable patterns to be connected to the research framework. The findings indicate that the SECI processes were used for knowledge creation in Egyptian banks. However, some self-imposed limitations minimised the benefits of the socialisation and externalisation processes in creating and sharing knowledge. In contrast, internalisation and combination faced fewer limitations, revealing that Egyptian banks focus more on formal rather than informal knowledge. Therefore, the study supports the view of the model as being universal, but the use of each process is subject to the cultural context, leadership support, and types of task. The findings also suggest that the SECI processes - whether separate or as a whole - positively influence the innovation process by increasing the generation of ideas for banking services, products and processes. The internalisation process had the most positive influence on innovation, followed by the combination, externalisation and socialisation processes respectively. Many of the product and process innovations in the last few years were due to the introduction of new technologies

Study of the extended technology acceptance model in the U.S. Navy: Case of combat information system

The U.S. Navy continues to be a major developer and procurer of information systems (IS), yet very limited research has been done to determine the factors that influence technology acceptance by naval personnel. Literature suggests that efforts to embrace information technology in improving decision-making and reducing workload heavily depends on the use of such systems. Moreover, previous research has shown the validity of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and computer self-efficacy (CSE) to model technology acceptance in numerous environments. However, no prior research was done specifically addressing such technology acceptance with military combat IS. Thus, this study examines the applicability of the extended TAM with a CSE construct model to the U.S. Navy’s combat IS. A survey sample of 237 sailors from five (5) different U.S. Navy aircraft carriers was used to assess such extended model on a U.S. Navy’s combat ISs. Results indicate that perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, and CSE were valid antecedents of technology acceptance (as indicated by intention to use). Moreover, high Cronbach’s Alpha was observed on all measures indicating additional reliability of the measures also in the context of military organizations

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE PRACTICES IN EMERGING CAPITAL MARKETS: THE CASE OF EGYPT

Corporate governance is a crucial issue that is being addressed widely by regulators, and capital market participants around the world. Disclosure is identified as one of the challenges facing the implementation of corporate governance especially in developing countries. The current study aims to contribute to corporate governance and disclosure literature by oroviding empirical evidence of the relationship between corporate governance, ownership structure and the voluntary disclosure in an emerging capital market, namely Egypt. The study assesses the extent of total voluntary disclosure and its categories in the annual reports of the most active non financial companies m the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange over four years that witnessed a remarkable initiatives to enhance transparency and corporate governance. It employs a wider theoretical framework based mainly on the political ach and benefits from institutional theory. Using a sample of 182 annual reports of the most active Egyptian listed companies, the findings indicate that while the extent of voluntary disclosure is low, there was a gradual increase in the extent of total voluntary disclosure and its categories over the examined period. However, there is no significant difference between the voluntary disclosure over the four years. This suggests that companies manage their voluntary disclosure policy which is not a random practice but subject to certain influences. The reRression results indicate the board characteristics; board size and board composition; do affect the extent of voluntary disclosure. Interestingly, the findings indicate that the existence of family members on the board has a positive association with the extent of total voluntary disclosure. This suggests that family led companies may have a litigation and reputation cost concern.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo