Comparative Analysis of CSR Disclosure and Its Impact on Financial Performance in the GCC Islamic Banks

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been developed and promoted since the 1960s, as part of the changing nature of the corporate working environment, with the objective of corporations having their share in contributing to social good in the economy and in society. CSR, as a concept and practice, is directly related to Islamic banking operations, since Islamic finance is located within Islamic moral economy, which essentialises social justice. The Islamic banking sector, therefore, is required by the nature of Islamic injunctions and principles to produce outcomes that are in line with the larger social expectations, namely CSR, with the objective of delivering long-term economic benefits but also to help society. The main aim of this research, therefore, is to analyse the CSR attitudes and practices of Islamic banks in the GCC region through their CSR disclosure practices. This research further aims to examine empirically the impact of CSR disclosure practices of the GCC Islamic banks on their financial performance. In fulfilling the research aim, annual reports of GCC Islamic banks for the period 2000- 2011 are scored by using content analysis. The CSR disclosure index is constructed based on the eight dimensions developed for this purpose. Despite the high expectations of full disclosure and accountability, the research findings do not produce encouraging results in terms of CSR or the social outcome of Islamic banks in the GCC region. The majority of GCC Islamic banks disclose significantly less than required, as CSR disclosure indices for all the Islamic banks remain very low in comparison to the overall score but also for each of the CSR dimensions included in the indices. While examining the impact of CSR disclosure practices on financial performance of Islamic banks in the GCC region, the results indicate the positive relationship between CSR disclosure and financial performance. These results are in line with the set hypotheses and discussed theoretical framework that predict a positive link between corporate social and financial performance in the Islamic banking industry

Formation of concept of provision of economic security of organization : personnel aspect

Under the modern business conditions, characterized by constant changes and increase of the quantity of risk factors, organizations – for the purpose of conduct of successful activities – have to pay special attention to issues of provision of economic security. The article proves importance of personnel aspect of economic security of organization is proved and deter-mines main causes of personnel risks. Classification of factors, which influence personnel security of organization, is shown. For the purpose of minimization of personnel risks and prevention of threats, the authors offer regulation of personnel labor: special attention is paid to such component of personnel security as “selection of employees”, which, in authors’ opinion, is the most vulnerable aspect. As a result of thorough analysis of collected material, the authors offer a scheme of the process of management of personnel security with specific stages and sub-systems of management.peer-reviewe

Multiphase composite coatings: structure and properties

The paper discusses the results of the research into the formation of ion-plasma multiphase coatings. The types of the formed structures are found to be not so diverse, as those formed, for example, in alloy crystallization. The structures observed are basically of globular type and, more rarely, of unclosed dissipative and cellular structures. It is shown that the properties of the coating formed in deposition are largely determined by its surface energy or surface tension. Since the magnitude of the surface tension (surface energy) in most cases is an additive quantity, each of the elements of the coating composition contributes to the total surface energy. In case of simultaneous sputtering of multiphase cathodes, high entropy coatings with an ordered cellular structure and improved mechanical properties are formed

Multiphase composite coatings: structure and properties

The paper discusses the results of the research into the formation of ion-plasma multiphase coatings. The types of the formed structures are found to be not so diverse, as those formed, for example, in alloy crystallization. The structures observed are basically of globular type and, more rarely, of unclosed dissipative and cellular structures. It is shown that the properties of the coating formed in deposition are largely determined by its surface energy or surface tension. Since the magnitude of the surface tension (surface energy) in most cases is an additive quantity, each of the elements of the coating composition contributes to the total surface energy. In case of simultaneous sputtering of multiphase cathodes, high entropy coatings with an ordered cellular structure and improved mechanical properties are formed

Effect of ion irradiation on tribological properties of composite coatings

The paper discusses the results of the research in the effect of ion irradiation on tribological properties of multiphase ion-plasma coatings. It is shown that all the investigated coatings behave differently under ion irradiation: the Zn-Al, Fe-Al, Zn-Cu-Al coating is radiation-resistant and the friction coefficient does not virtually change; the Cr-Mn-Si-Cu-Fe- Al coating exhibits twofold increase in the friction coefficient, and that for Mn-Fe-Cu-Al coating decreases threefold. These changes are related to changes which occur in the coating surface under ion bombardment

Introspectiveness of Higher Education Students: Study and Development

The change in strategic guidelines in Russian education is associated with a revision of the goals of teaching and upbringing. However, the emphasis of reforms has shifted towards the formation of the required professional competences at this stage in the development of the education system of the Russian Federation. We think that it is possible to achieve the set goal of higher education through the development of the introspectiveness as a quality of the personality of students. The formation of the introspectiveness in a future specialist will have an effect on the successful mastery, expansion and transformation of social experience, as well as the internal plan of action. Thus, demonstrating the formed introspectiveness as a personality trait, the student is able to organize his educational activities independently, activities to cognize the surrounding reality and his inner world, as well as self-determine in various life situations, including the development of general cultural and professional competences. In this regard, the emphasis in the issue of developing the introspectiveness of students is made on specifying the conditions that must be created at a higher education institution for the manifestation and formation of this personality quality. The purpose of the article is to study the level of the introspectiveness of university students and develop psychological and pedagogical conditions that develop this personality quality. The leading techniques for the study of this problem were the following: Q-sort Technique; the technique for diagnostics of an individual measure of the introspectiveness degree. At the stage of the ascertaining experiment, the levels of the introspectiveness of university students were revealed. The results of the ascertaining experiment convincingly demonstrated the need to organize special work to develop the introspectiveness of students. The authors substantiated that the success of developing students’ introspectiveness is ensured by the created psychological and pedagogical conditions. A model of developing the introspectiveness as a personality quality of a future professional has been developed and tested. The results of this study create opportunities for further development of the problem in the context of the organization of lectures in the learning process for students of different courses and types of specialization. The article is intended for psychologists, tutors, education managers

Extent and patterns of community collaboration in local health departments: An exploratory survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Local public health departments (LHDs) in the United States have been encouraged to collaborate with various other community organizations and individuals. Current research suggests that many forms of active partnering are ongoing, and there are numerous examples of LHD collaboration with a specific organization for a specific purpose or program. However, no existing research has attempted to characterize collaboration, for the defined purpose of setting community health status priorities, between a defined population of local officials and a defined group of alternative partnering organizations. The specific aims of this study were to 1) determine the range of collaborative involvement exhibited by a study population of local public health officials, and, 2) characterize the patterns of the selection of organizations/individuals involved with LHDs in the process of setting community health status priorities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Local health department officials in North Carolina (n = 53) responded to an exploratory survey about their levels of involvement with eight types of possible collaborator organizations and individuals. Descriptive statistics and the stochastic clustering technique of Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were used to characterize their collaboration.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Local health officials vary extensively in their level of collaboration with external collaborators. While the range of total involvement varies, the patterns of involvement for this specific function are relatively uniform. That is, regardless of the total level of involvement (low, medium or high), officials maintain similar hierarchical preference rankings with Community Advisory Boards and Local Boards of Health most involved and Experts and Elected Officials least involved.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The extent and patterns of collaboration among LHDs with other community stakeholders for a specific function can be described and ultimately related to outcome measures of LHD performance.</p