PATH ANALYTIC INVESTIGATION OF THE INTENTION TO ADOPT E-GOVERNMENT SERVICES THROUGH MOBILE APPLICATIONS IN QATAR (TAM REVISITED)

The aim of this research is to examine the factors that affect user's intention to use e-government services through mobile applications in Qatar. Based on valid responses from 1,340 adults out of a representative sample size of 7200 (response rate=18.6%) in Qatar aged 18 to 77 years old, this study uses factor analysis and structural equation model to identify the variables that influence users' intention to adopt mobile applications in Qatar. Findings of this study indicate that factors Path Analytic Investigation of the Intention to Adopt E-Government Services through Mobile Applications in Qatar (TAM Revisited) http://www.iaeme.com/IJARET/index.asp 128 [email protected] affecting the intention to adopt e-government services through mobile applications are: awareness, perceived trust, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of mobile applications. The present study supports the hypothesis through the findings that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use leads to mobile application of e-government adoption. The present study adds a relevant and a novel contribution to the field of technology acceptance by encompassing the TAM theory to smartphone applications. The paper concludes with recommendations for institutional policy and future research

Improvement in Environmental Management Performance in Ashghal Projects

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) of Qatar is responsible for countrywide infrastructure and public building projects starting from their planning stages and through design, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance stages. This includes highways, local roads, surface water drainage networks, foul sewers, treated sewage effluent systems, schools and hospitals. Considering the large number of projects with construction activities ongoing at the same time, it is a challenge to develop a unique and standardized tool for monitoring of environmental management performance of each project, each department or Ashghal wide. Being a supportive department to all other Ashghal departments, with a main role of ensuring the conformity of projects to environmental regulations and standards, Quality and Safety Department (QSD) of Ashghal has started several initiatives to improve environmental management performance of projects. This paper provides a brief information about some of those initiatives, such as a portal for monthly reporting of environmental management performance (EPMS), a unique annual award which was developed to increase awareness for sustainable practices in construction and assist in guiding minimization and/or reduction of adverse environmental impacts caused by construction projects (Ashghal Green Award); and a list of Ashghal approved third-party environmental service providers which will be used as a vendor list in all Ashghal projects. In addition, Ashghal QSD chemical and microbiological laboratories as well as mobile noise and air quality monitoring trucks serve to support projects departments to improve environmental impacts resulted from construction activities on the environmental sensitive receptors located within or nearby the project

Path Analytic Investigation of the Intention to Adopt E-government Services through Mobile Applications in Qatar (TAM revisited)

The aim of this research is to examine the factors that affect user's intention to use e-government services through mobile applications in Qatar. Based on valid responses from 1,340 adults out of a representative sample size of 7200 (response rate=18.6%) in Qatar aged 18 to 77 years old, this study uses factor analysis and structural equation model to identify the variables that influence users' intention to adopt mobile applications in Qatar. Findings of this study indicate that factors affecting the intention to adopt e-government services through mobile applications are: awareness, perceived trust, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of mobile applications. The present study supports the hypothesis through the findings that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use leads to mobile application of e-government adoption. The present study adds a relevant and a novel contribution to the field of technology acceptance by encompassing the TAM theory to smartphone applications. The paper concludes with recommendations for institutional policy and future research. This article has been published in June 2020 at the Scopus Indexed International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET)

Impact of leadership gender stereotyping on managing familial conflict, matrimonial strategies, divorce decisions and marital satisfaction in Qatar

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the direct and indirect effects of leadership style and gender roles on managing familial conflict (MFC), as well as how such conflict resolution affects divorce decisions and overall marital satisfaction (SF) in Qatar. Design/methodology/approach: A 20-item questionnaire, corresponding to 20 indicators for six latent variables, was administered to 550 married couples in Qatar. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity were calculated. The path analysis was measured using structural equation modeling. Findings: Matrimonial strategies adopted by spouses positively affected familial conflict resolution, and successfully MFC both positively affected marital SF and reduced the inclination to seek a divorce. However, men were not found to be visionary leaders in familial relationships regarding conflict resolution. Leadership gender stereotyping did not positively influence the perception of women's competency (WC). The WC did not positively affect the managing of familial conflict. Research limitations/implications: This study provides strategic insights regarding how MFC in Qatar influences marital SF. Understanding the determinants of divorce decisions and marital SF furthers understanding of how married couples can sustain healthy relationships. Originality/value: This study empirically correlates three fields of family research: gender role; conflict resolution and marital SF. It explains how divorce issues have escalated in Qatar and explores the influence on modern social life of sexism, patriarchal roots and Oriental androcentrism. Many factors must be considered when examining matrimonial strategies (MSs), especially if there is debate over the ideal number of children. Strategizing models can curtail conflict that might lead to divorce

Interest in volunteering for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar: a nationally representative study of motivations

Qatar is the first Muslim and Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup. The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the organisation responsible for providing the required infrastructure, host country planning and operations, is already offering volunteering opportunities across numerous activities, events and tournaments. However, few studies have examined citizens and resident expatriates’ attitudes toward volunteering for such mega-events in both Qatar and the rest of the Arabian Gulf. In the following paper, we address this research gap by exploring the determinants of Qatari citizens and expatriates’ interests in volunteering for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Drawing on two waves of nationally representative surveys from Qatar, we explore various elements that affect Qataris and expatriates’ interest in volunteering. In general, and after controlling for a wide range of demographic variables, our study found that previous volunteering experiences, interest in football, and positive attitudes about Qatar hosting the games had the strongest effect on the respondents’ interest in volunteering for the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar. The study provides a non-Western perspective and insight into volunteering motivations and, as such, is an important tool for event organisers developing volunteer recruitment and retention strategies.We would like to thank the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) for funding this study and allowing us to use the data for publication purposes. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.Scopu