E-learning adoption during COVID-19 crisis and its effect on achieving students’ performance: Evidence from business collages – Jordanian universities

This study aimed to know the effect of E-Learning with all its components on students’ performance at Business Colleges-Jordanian Universities during at COVID-19 crisis. To achieve study goals, a questionnaire was distributed to the students at Jordanian Universities, (870) valid questionnaires were recovered. The study found that: The level of E-Learning and its components at Jordanian Universities were at middle rates, students’ performance also comes at a moderate level. E-Learning and its components (Technological facilities readiness, Electronic applications readiness, Databases & E-resources readiness, People readiness, E-Learning management system readiness, Evaluation system readiness, teaching methods diversity, Educational curricula and electronic content readiness) have a significant effect on students’ performance at Jordanian Universities at significance (α ≤ 0.05). Whereas sub components of (E-Learning organizational environment readiness and legislations and regulations readiness) have no effect separately on students’ performance. The study recommended Jordanian Universities to improve E-Learning in all its components in the Universities, reinforce using E-Learning in education, and exploit the benefits of E-Learning to improve students’ performance because it is the main alternative to face emerging crises like CoronavirusPeer Reviewe

Knowledge sharing motivational factors among academic staff in Jordanian Private Universities

Numerous scholars and researchers have claimed that motivation can assist successful knowledge sharing among academic staff. Nonetheless, limited empirical research has been conducted to determine the individual and organizational factors that motivate the academics to share knowledge. Therefore, this study determined the individual and organizational factors that motivate the academics to share knowledge. Moreover, this study examined the relationship between knowledge sharing intention and knowledge sharing behaviour among the academics as well as the mediation effect of knowledge sharing intention on the relationship between individual and organizational factors and knowledge sharing behaviour. In this study, the individual factors were based on Lin model, whereas the organizational factors were based on Herzberg motivation theory. Convenience sampling was used to select 303 academic staff of Jordanian private universities to participate in the study. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using self-administered questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha tests using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software were conducted to ensure that the items were significantly valid and reliable. Average variance extracted and composite reliability were also examined to ensure all the constructs have good validity. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The main finding showed that individual and organizational factors are vital in motivating the academics for knowledge sharing. It was also found that there is a positive relationship between knowledge sharing intention and knowledge sharing behaviour among the staff. Furthermore, knowledge sharing intention was found to fully mediate the relationship between reciprocal benefits, knowledge self-efficacy, enjoyment in helping others, recognition, advancement, responsibility, achievement, university policy and administration, working conditions, interpersonal relations, quality of supervision and knowledge sharing behaviour. This study contributes to broadening the body of knowledge by determining that advancement, responsibility, achievement and interpersonal relation should be used to motivate academic staff for knowledge sharing. Universities must be more concerned on these factors as increasing academic staff’s willingness to share knowledge and awareness will lead to better university performance. In addition, universities should provide and implement practical plans and policies to recognize academics’ achievements and select a qualified leader to lead them for successful knowledge sharing

The Effect of Emotional Intelligence Training Program on Social and Academic Adjustment Among First Year Jordanian University Students

The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of an emotional intelligence training programme in increasing the level of emotional intelligence, and its effect on the level of social and academic adjustment among first year students in two universities in the north of Jordan. Using the 2x2~3fa ctorial design, the quasi experimental quantitative study examined three factors which are training group, gender and age. The sample size used for this research consisted of 289 first year students (148 males and 141 females) who voluntarily participated in this study and they were randomly assigned to two groups. The participants involved in the skilled emotional intelligence training group were given nine sessions within the duration of ten days. Participants in the controlled group were not given any training. Six trainers administrated the training sessions in which two highly reliable and valid instruments were used to measure the research variables. The instruments were the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal (EIA), and the Student Adjustment to College Questionnaire (SACQ). The multivariate analyses (MANOVA, Repeated Measure ANCOVA, MANCOVA, and Pearson Correlation) were used to test the research hypotheses at the significant level of p <.05. The multivariate analysis of covariance and the Repeated Measure ANCOVA showed that the training was significantly effective in improving the level of emotional intelligence, but the improvement for social and academic adjustment was not significant. The results also found that the male group showed better overall scores in emotional intelligence, but the differences were not significant. Moreover, the results were also not significant among the three age groups. Finally, there were profound interactions between skilled emotional intelligence, gender and age. Therefore, intervention programmes for this particular population are recommended

Job Empowerment and Its Relationship to Job Satisfaction Among Faculty Members in Higher Education - Saudi Arabia

This study empirically investigates the correlation between job empowerment (JE) and job satisfaction (JS) among faculty members at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal (IAU) in Saudi Arabia. It also explores whether faculty members’ gender and years of experience and their own supervisors’ gender are associated with JE and JS levels. In this study, a descriptive approach was implemented, and a random sample of 345 faculty members at IAU rated their attitudes toward JE and JS using a questionnaire developed by the researchers. The findings indicate that the levels of JE and JS came to a “high” level with means of 3.72 and 3.66 respectively; and that JE is significantly correlated to JS (r=0.81, p&lt;0.001). Further findings revealed statistically significant differences in the responses on JE and JS attributed to gender in favor of the female faculty (p&lt;0.05); as well as a statistically significant differences in the responses attributed to supervisors’ gender (p&lt;0.05). These findings indicate that the female leaders may be more effective than their male counterparts in empowering and affecting the JE and JS levels of their subordinates. The study recommends that upper-leadership need be role modeling practices that support the empowerment of faculty members, such as granting independence and authority in solving problems, and allowing active participation in upper-level committees and workgroups that set the strategies, policies and procedures that governs IAU. This study also recommends further empowerment of academic women into leadership positions to participate in directing the JE and JS practices towards faculty effectiveness in IAU

Factors influencing faculty computer literacy and use in Jordan: A multivariate analysis

This study broadens the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) proposed by Davis (1989) by incorporating multiple dimensions of cultural attributes into the model. The study also specifies and expands on the factors that may influence faculty members\u27 computer literacy and computer usage in a developing country, namely Jordan. To operationalize the constructs of the introduced conceptual model, eight instruments were used. They are Igbaria, Zinatelli, Cragg, and Cavaye\u27s (1997) scales of organizational support; Hofsted\u27s (1988) scale of cultural attributes; Igbaria and Parasuraman\u27s (1989) scale of attitudes toward computers; Thatcher and Perrewe\u27s (2002) scale of computer anxiety; Compeau and Higgins\u27s (1995) scale of computer self-efficacy; Igbaria, Zinatelli, Cragg, and Cavaye\u27s (1997) scales of computer perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use; Wright\u27s (1980) scale of computer literacy; and Igbaria, Zinatelli, Cragg, and Cavaye\u27s (1997) scale of computer usage. The data for the study were collected through a field study with Jordanian faculty remembers as subjects. A national sample of 2500 faculty members from 16 universities in Jordan participated in this study. Responses were received from 812 participants, yielding a response rate of 32.5 percent. Sixty five questionnaires were found unusable, and therefore were discarded. A total of 747 questionnaires (or 29.9 percent) were used in the study. A variety of multivariate statistical techniques were employed to assess the validity of 115 research hypotheses. The multivariate statistical techniques include factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis, multivariate analysis of variance and covariance (MANOVA and MANCOVA), and multivariate regression analysis. The results of the data analyses provided support for 42 hypotheses out of the 115 hypotheses that were examined. The supported set of hypotheses revealed that computer literacy and computer usage were directly affected by individual cultural attributes and were also indirectly affected by them through computer beliefs and behavior variables

Transformational leadership and innovation at the Lebanese banking industry

Purpose: Transformational leadership (TL) has been recognized as one of the most important factor influencing innovation. It is argued that this style plays an essential role in developing the process, structure and climate for organizations to become innovative. This research aims to examine the impact of TL on two aspects of innovation namely product and process innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative and explanatory analysis was taken by using the Structural equations modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20 to examine the relationship between TL and innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined by the probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. Findings: The findings confirmed the importance of TL in enhancing innovation in banking sector. The main implication of the research highlights that individualized consideration is the most important predictor of product and process innovation followed by, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, respectively, whereas, intellectual stimulation has insignificant influence on product and process innovation. Practical Implications: Findings point to how transformational style of leadership produce better outcomes for the banks by mobilizing employees to engage in innovative products and processes. Originality/Value: These findings extends the understanding of the processes through which transformational styles of leadership stimulate innovation, and also highlight the benefits gained by cultivating more transformational styles of leadership to generate more innovative outcomes.peer-reviewe

Youth employment in start up ventures in Jordan: an exploratory study

Youth in developing countries are faced with high unemployment rates, even when they possess higher education degrees. In the developing world, small business and entrepreneurial ventures constitute the main drivers of economic development and offer employment opportunities for youth. Nevertheless, when faced with a career decision after their studies, youth seem to prefer careers in established companies over start-ups. As a consequence, start-ups find it more difficult to find and hire the right employees although they are available in the market. This study aims at examining the factors behind youth career decisions to work for a start-up company and provides suggestions for both research and practice. By relying on both entrepreneurship and career decision-making literature, we developed a theoretical model that includes background factors and individual characteristics. Results from a survey on youth graduates from Jordan show that a high school education fostered critical thinking and international exposure, the participation in entrepreneurial events and creativity, which predicted the willingness to work for a start-up

The effect of transformational leadership on innovation : evidence from Lebanese banks

Purpose: Transformational leadership (TL) has been recognized as one of the most important factor influencing innovation. It is argued that this style plays an essential role in developing the process, structure and climate for organizations to become innovative. This research aims to examine the impact of TL on two aspects of innovation namely product and process innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative and explanatory analysis was taken by using the Structural equations modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20 to examine the relationship between TL and innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined by the probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. Findings: The findings confirmed the importance of TL in enhancing innovation in banking sector. The main implication of the research highlights that individualized consideration is the most important predictor of product and process innovation followed by, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, respectively, whereas, intellectual stimulation has insignificant influence on product and process innovation. Practical Implications Findings point to how transformational style of leadership produce better outcomes for the banks by mobilizing employees to engage in innovative products and processes. Originality/Value: These findings extends the understanding of the processes through which transformational styles of leadership stimulate innovation, and also highlight the benefits gained by cultivating more transformational styles of leadership to generate more innovative outcomes.peer-reviewe