Examining the effects of knowledge, environmental concern, attitudes and cultural characteristics on Kuwaiti consumers' purchasing behavior of environmentally sustainable apparel

Doctor of PhilosophyApparel, Textiles, and Interior DesignKim HillerThis study examined the effects of knowledge of apparel and textile (AT) manufacturing’s impacts on the environment, environmental concern, attitudes toward environmentally sustainable apparel (ESA), and the cultural characteristics of adult, female Kuwaiti nationals on purchasing behaviors of ESA. This study was conducted because Kuwait is a large consumer market for apparel goods and there was a gap in the existing literature on sustainable apparel with regards to Kuwait. To measure the independent variables of knowledge related to the environmental impacts of AT manufacturing, environmental concern, attitudes towards ESA, and the cultural characteristics of Kuwaiti women on the dependent variable of ESA purchase behavior intentions, a mixed methods approach was used. This mixed method approach included a survey instrument featuring five different scales to acquire data through quantitative methods on a population of Kuwaitis acquired through snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were then utilized to acquire further data for a qualitative data analysis. The results were then analyzed through descriptive statistics, regressions, and coding. The data analysis of the quantitative survey responses of the female Kuwaiti nationals showed that their level of knowledge on the environmental impacts of the AT industry was low, their level of environmental concern was neutral, their ESA attitudes were neutral, and their ESA purchase intentions were slightly positive. Regression results found that environmental concern had no relationship with ESA attitudes, knowledge about AT related environmental issues positively influenced ESA attitudes, and both knowledge about AT related environmental issues and ESA attitudes had a positive influence on ESA purchase intentions. Additionally, the cultural dimensions of the surveyed population showed high power distance and collectivism, low long-term orientation and uncertainty avoidance, and intermediate levels of masculinity and indulgence. The qualitative interview revealed that Kuwaiti culture is strongly influenced by the Islamic religion, and the culture supports high levels of consumerism and ostentatious consumption. A majority of qualitative participants did not express any attitudes toward ESA, and none of the participants had purchased ESA products previously. This could be because female Kuwaiti nationals are limited in their knowledge related to AT environmental risks and are generally unaware of ESA and its purpose. The study’s data could be used to provide educators with information through which to tailor curricula towards the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Kuwaiti nationals. Additionally, this information could be essential for manufacturers and retailers of ESA products, so that they can produce and sell ESA affectively in Kuwait

Negotiation for the middle east: a comparative study of cultures and the construction of a negotiation framework for portuguese in Kuwait

The amount of ambiguity present in real life negotiations is intolerable towards the possibility of perceiving the negotiation scenario as a competitive and castrating process for one of the party's. The temptation to find one-size-fits-all prescription of unerring steps towards the negotiation success, offers this process no more than a romantic character or maybe, one relieving mirage of the required multiple factors that the negotiation scenario demands. This dissertation’s objective is based on the identification and analysis of the cultural dimensions that impact specifically, business negotiations that take place between a Kuwaiti and a Portuguese party in the attempt to build a negotiation framework for Portuguese professionals negotiating in Kuwait. We used a multiple case design and analyzed 17 bilateral negotiation situations. The main source of evidence was in-depth and semi-structured interviews and the results are shown in cognitive mapping format. We adapted the interview script and mind map from Falcão (2008) to collect and interpret the data and we used the Dimensions of Culture Questionnaire from House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman and Gupta (2004) and grouped the impacting data collection into five blocks: Preparation, People, Partie, Process, Cultural Perception. We believe that we have made contributions to the study of the negotiation process and it's cross-cultural influence in Kuwait, that has one of the world’s fast-growing economies and most powerful currency. There are not many specific studies available for Kuwait negotiation reality. The size of the sample reflects the number of Portuguese negotiating in Kuwait but at the same time, limits the study. There are areas of study to be developed in the future namely, communication (verbal and non-verbal), leadership (individual and teams) and feedback.A ambiguidade que encontramos presente em negociações na vida real não é compatível com a possibilidade de entender a negociação como um cenário único de competição entre duas partes. A tentação de procurar um receituário infalível de passos a dar em direcção ao sucesso negocial não oferece mais do que um carácter romântico ou uma breve miragem do que o processo negocial exige. O objectivo da presente dissertação prende-se com a identificação e análise das dimensões culturais que influenciam o processo negocial entre uma parte Kuwaitiana e uma parte Portuguesa e a construção de um framework negocial para Portugueses no Kuwait. Utilizámos múltiplos casos de estudo e analisámos 17 situações negociais. Adaptámos o guião de entrevista de Falcão (2008), usámos o questionário de dimensões culturais de House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman and Gupta (2004) e conduzimos entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Concretizámos os resultados em mapas mentais dentro de cinco blocos: Preparação, Pessoas, Partes, Processo e Percepção Cultural. Procurámos contribuir para o processo informativo bilateral da negociação no Kuwait, um país que tem uma das mais fortes economias mundiais. Existe pouca investigação específica para a realidade negocial no Kuwait. O tamanho da amostra reflecte o número de Portugueses a realizar negociações no Kuwait mas limita o estudo realizado. Existem áreas de estudo com interesse a desenvolver no futuro nomeadamente, comunicação (verbal e não verbal), liderança (individual e de equipas) e feedback

A strategic roadmap for achieving the potential benefits of electronic health record system in the state of Kuwait

This research investigates the desired benefits of using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) in Kuwait Primary Health Care Centers and the perceived barriers to its successful adoption. From this, a set of key strategic capabilities are proposed, ranked for priority and urgency as a roadmap for EHR adoption in the State of Kuwait. This thesis examines the organization of the health care system in Kuwait and important issues related to primary health care, including the implementation and current use of the EHR system at Kuwait primary health care centers. International evidence of the EHR system benefits, barriers and capabilities such as interoperability, confidentiality and security were used as the basis for user surveys. The research applied domain theory and research-based improvement strategy as a means of identifying the stakeholders and the priorities area of investigation. The research utilized a quantitative research design focusing on multiple case studies as the survey methodology. Two case study surveys were conducted to identify the main benefits and barriers that affect the adoption of the EHR at international and national (Kuwaiti) levels. The first survey involved international and national decision makers. The second survey involved healthcare professionals working in Kuwait primary health care to assess their view regarding the features of the current system, the benefits and barriers of more complete EHRs. The results of first and second surveys were used to develop a list of key EHR system capabilities and adoption requirements relevant to Kuwait primary care. This list was used for the design of a third survey, for senior stakeholders at the Kuwait Ministry of Health, to identify their strategic roadmap priorities. This research, drawing on the literature of the EHR design and implementation, a study of international initiatives of the EHR adoption and outputs of three case studies, has emphasized the importance of developing a strategic roadmap for Kuwait to achieve the potential benefits of EHRs