A framework for electronic business ethics: a comparison study between the UK and Egypt

The rapid spread of e-commerce has created tremendous opportunities for economic efficiency and customer choice. Use of the global Internet computer network for e-commerce activities provides some advantages to the consumers on their daily life. On the other hand Internet represents a new environment for unethical behaviour. This study investigates the effect of online retailing ethics on customer satisfaction through marketing strategy and transaction cost theory. As well as examining the difference regarding the e-retailing ethics framework among a B2B and B2C in the UK and Egypt. Also, the moderating role of confidence benefits and buying frequency between e-retailing ethics and customer satisfaction. The research model was developed based on the literature review. The results: Ethical problems like security, privacy, reliability, non-deception and corporate social responsibility on Internet are core issues that limit the growth of online retailing. Implications for theory and management have been discussed

E-retailing ethics and its impact on customer satisfaction and repurchase intention: a cultural and commitment-trust theory perspective

Purpose: The theoretical understanding of online shopping behaviour has received much attention. Less focus has been given to online retailing ethics. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop and test a comprehensive model of online retailing ethics. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a survey amongst a sample representative of universities across Egypt. In total, 310 questionnaire were collected and analysed using structure equation modelling using WarpPLS. Findings: The results indicate that the consumer perceptions of online retailing ethics (CPORE) as a second-order construct is composed of five constructs (security, privacy, non-deception, fulfilment/ reliability, and service recovery) and strongly predictive of online consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, the authors find a significant mediating effect of trust, and commitment on the relationship between CPORE and customer satisfaction. The results also show that individualism had moderate effects on the relationship between CPORE and customer satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, power distance had no significant effect. Research limitations/implications: Despite the contributions of this study some research limitations need acknowledgment. First, this study employed a convenience sample. The authors encourage future studies to use random sampling of general consumers. The ethics literature identifies some factors which influence ethical judgments of consumers (e.g. sex, age, and education). Such research could identify how each variable, individually and cooperatively, impacts consumer ethical evaluations of online retailing. The authors did not collect data from non-internet shoppers because the focus of this study was online consumers referring to their latest purchase online. It may be an interesting extension, however, to test this conceptual model for other populations like non-online consumers. Originality/value: This study developed and empirically tested a comprehensive model of CPORE with its multidimensional constructs and evaluated its impact on both consumer satisfaction and repurchase intention via trust and commitment

E-retailing ethics and its impact on customer satisfaction and repurchase intention: a cultural and commitment-trust theory perspective

Purpose: The theoretical understanding of online shopping behaviour has received much attention. Less focus has been given to online retailing ethics. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop and test a comprehensive model of online retailing ethics. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a survey amongst a sample representative of universities across Egypt. In total, 310 questionnaire were collected and analysed using structure equation modelling using WarpPLS. Findings: The results indicate that the consumer perceptions of online retailing ethics (CPORE) as a second-order construct is composed of five constructs (security, privacy, non-deception, fulfilment/ reliability, and service recovery) and strongly predictive of online consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, the authors find a significant mediating effect of trust, and commitment on the relationship between CPORE and customer satisfaction. The results also show that individualism had moderate effects on the relationship between CPORE and customer satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, power distance had no significant effect. Research limitations/implications: Despite the contributions of this study some research limitations need acknowledgment. First, this study employed a convenience sample. The authors encourage future studies to use random sampling of general consumers. The ethics literature identifies some factors which influence ethical judgments of consumers (e.g. sex, age, and education). Such research could identify how each variable, individually and cooperatively, impacts consumer ethical evaluations of online retailing. The authors did not collect data from non-internet shoppers because the focus of this study was online consumers referring to their latest purchase online. It may be an interesting extension, however, to test this conceptual model for other populations like non-online consumers. Originality/value: This study developed and empirically tested a comprehensive model of CPORE with its multidimensional constructs and evaluated its impact on both consumer satisfaction and repurchase intention via trust and commitment

Investigating the impact of oncology phase II trial design parameters on their ability to successfully screen new treatments

Introduction Phase III oncology trials have significantly high attrition rates, where many treatments fail to show efficacy over standard treatments. Design of phase II trials contribute to these inefficiencies and there is much debate regarding optimal phase II design. The effect of the relationship between phase II and III trial endpoints, randomisation, using one-stage or two stages and the operating characteristics of phase II trials in oncology, on the efficiency of the phase II and III process, are all investigated in this thesis. Methods Evaluation of design parameters was based on simulating multiple phase II and III trials until a successful phase III trial is observed, assuming many treatments are available for testing. Phase II and III trials were conducted assuming the true effect of each treatment was drawn from a standard normal distribution. Phase III trials were assumed to be randomised, with a continuous primary endpoint, 80% power and 5% significance level. Specific design scenarios were considered. The effect of the correlation between the phase II and III trial endpoints was explored analytically, by ranging the variance of the true treatment effect, while randomisation, number of stages and operating characteristics of phase II trials were explored using simulations. The number of phase II and III patients required to lead to the first successful phase III trial was used to measure efficiency of design parameters. Results For the scenarios considered, the number of patients required to lead to the first successful phase III trial decreased from 3200 to 1000 patients, on average, as the correlation between endpoints increased from 0 to 1. Randomised single-stage phase II trials required 730 patients to lead to the first successful phase III, while Jung’s randomised two-stage design required 554. A’hern’s exact single-arm single-stage design required 463 phase II and III patients while Simon’s single-arm two-stage design required 438. The type I error, α, and power, 1-β, significantly affected the efficiency of phase II trials. Less stringent α= 0.1,0.15 and 0.2 combined with powers 1-β = 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6 yielded 417 phase II and III patients on average, while stringent α= 0.01 or 0.05 combined with any choice of power required 555 phase II and III patients to lead to the first successful phase III trial. Discussion Understanding the impact of differing design parameters on the efficiency of phase II trials better equips us with the tools needed to improve their design. Based on the scenarios considered Simon’s single-arm two-stage design with a less stringent type I error and small type II error yielded the greatest efficiency in phase II trials

Stakeholder Management: An Insightful Overview of Issues

This paper attempts to contribute towards investigating the existing literature base of stakeholder management (SM), provide a compilation, and define any gaps in this area. Besides, explore different groups of critical success factors (CSFs) and grouping these actors. This study is based on reviewing the literature. Therefore, more than a hundred research papers were searched by the key terms specified in a preceding literature review. Succeeding tours of abstract research surveys resulted in forty-two research papers being picked for the compilation. SM constructs were identified, and the following crucial analysis defined the literature base gaps. The most notable outcomes are the absence of research that has studied BIM-based stakeholder management, especially in mega projects. Additionally, further investigations are still required to study the SM influence throughout the different stages of the project life cycle and study the impact of project type and contract type in SM. However, there is still considerable debate about the SM nature and merits approach. This study presents a comprehensive gathering of all earlier identified SM processes through a structured approach. Additionally, a more realistic and practical methodology for the development and implementation of SM will emerge, and twenty-seven CSFs associated with SM in construction projects are identified. The study is expected to have a theoretical contribution to this subject, especially in the context of the Qatari construction industry

Assessment of Response Strategy in Mega Construction Projects

"Mega Construction Projects (MCPs) that are executed unavoidably face several of the organizational challenges and pressures. Due to the stakeholder pressures in the execution of MCPs, organizations may adopt various strategic responses. Purpose – The objective of this paper is to investigate the common response strategies (RSs) applied in MCPs in the State of Qatar, in addition to overcoming the construction problems and enhance performance during the construction stage. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey is carried out among the most important firms in construction industry in Qatar. Three steps are used to finalize and evaluate the questionnaire before proceeding with the full survey, validity, pre-testing and pilot study. Quantitative data analysis is carried through the Statistical Package for Social Science software (SPSS). Findings – Results define and demonstrate five different types of RSs. They are ranging from passive to active strategies determined by project organization. The RSs include: adaptation strategy, avoidance strategy, compromising strategy, dismissal strategy, and influence strategy. Originality/value – This paper identifies and evaluates the RSs in MCPs that could potentially improve project team more efficiently and effectively.

Methodology for BIM implementation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Purpose The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is considered the most effective contributor to development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). However, the AEC industry is facing myriad challenges due to the vast construction development required for the KSA 2030 vision. Developed countries are using Building Information Modeling (BIM) to mitigate these challenges and reap the benefits of implementing BIM to improve the performance of the AEC industry profoundly. However, BIM is currently rarely used in the KSA. This study aims to develop a methodology to implement BIM in the KSA by exploring stakeholders of factors affecting the implementation. Design/methodology/approach BIM users and non-users were surveyed by means of a questionnaire and structured interviews. The proposed methodology was validated through a further survey and structured interviews with BIM experts.Findings This study proposes a six-step methodology to implement BIM namely; raising awareness; perceived benefits; AEC industry readiness, and the key factors influencing the implementation. Practical implications The proposed methodology is expected to assist project participants in KSA to implement BIM to solve current AEC industry issues, improve performance and reap the benefits of implementing BIM.Originality/value This study makes a crucial and novel contribution by providing a new methodology to implement BIM in KSA that motivates decision makers and project players to adopt and implement BIM in their projects. It paves the way to develop BIM guidance and strategies

A hybrid multiagent approach for global trajectory optimization

In this paper we consider a global optimization method for space trajectory design problems. The method, which actually aims at finding not only the global minimizer but a whole set of low-lying local minimizers(corresponding to a set of different design options), is based on a domain decomposition technique where each subdomain is evaluated through a procedure based on the evolution of a population of agents. The method is applied to two space trajectory design problems and compared with existing deterministic and stochastic global optimization methods

An approach based on Landsat images for shoreline monitoring to support integrated coastal management - a case study, Ezbet Elborg, Nile Delta, Egypt

Monitoring the dynamic behavior of shorelines is an essential factor for integrated coastal management (ICM). In this study, satellite-derived shorelines and corresponding eroded and accreted areas of coastal zones have been calculated and assessed for 15 km along the coasts of Ezbet Elborg, Nile Delta, Egypt. A developed approach is designed based on Landsat satellite images combined with GIS to estimate an accurate shoreline changes and study the effect of seawalls on it. Landsat images for the period from 1985 to 2018 are rectified and classified using Supported Vector Machines (SVMs) and then processed using ArcGIS to estimate the effectiveness of the seawall that was constructed in year 2000. Accuracy assessment results show that the SVMs improve images accuracy up to 92.62% and the detected shoreline by the proposed method is highly correlated (0.87) with RTK-GPS measurements. In addition, the shoreline change analysis presents that a dramatic erosion of 2.1 km2 east of Ezbet Elborg seawall has occurred. Also, the total accretion areas are equal to 4.40 km2 and 10.50 km2 in between 1985-and-2000 and 2000-and-2018, respectively, along the southeast side of the study area