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

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

TAM EXTENSION IN E-LEARNING SYSTEM APPLICABLE IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN LEBANON

The paper’s purpose is to investigate the influence of selected elements (Accessibility, personal innovativeness (PI), resistance to change, facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitude) on university students’ to intend e-learning usage. The objective of this paper is to advance a conceptual framework to analyze and to recognize the intention of students to use e-learning in Lebanese private universities. The collection of the data was from 444 private universities students in Lebanon. The SEM analysis had been used to evaluate the influence of these components to intend e-learning system. The results stated that relationships between accessibility on perceived usefulness are not accepted. Furthermore, the associations between (PI) and PEOU are also not accepted. However, all other relationships are accepted in the framework model. Finally, results discussed then conclusions and future research are presente

Knowledge Sharing and Innovation at the Lebanese Banking Industry

Knowledge is considered the main critical resource for competitive advantage. By encouraging a knowledge‐sharing culture within service settings such as banks, the quality of service is enhanced and the opportunities for innovation is created. This research seeks to test the relationship between knowledge sharing (KS) and innovation. A quantitative and explanatory analysis was done by using Structural equations modeling (SEM) to investigate the effect of KS on process and product innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined through a probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. The findings confirmed the vital role played by KS in enhancing innovation. The main implications of the research emphasize that knowledge sharing is the most important predictor of process innovation followed by product innovation. The findings highlight how KS produces better outcomes for banks by mobilizing employees to engage in the innovation of products and processes. It is recommended that banks promote KS by establishing a suitable climate that helps employees to meet and communicate ideas effectively. This motivates them to get involve in process and product innovation, by stimulating them to look for novel ideas and adopt advanced technologies. These findings extend the understanding of the processes through which sharing knowledge stimulate innovation, and also stress on the benefits gained by cultivating knowledge sharing processes to generate more innovative outcomes

FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENT’S INTENTION TO USE E-LEARNING SERVICES: AN APPLIED STUDY ON LEBANESE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

The study’s purpose is to investigate the impact of selected factors (Computer self-efficacy (CSE), subjective norms (SN), perceived enjoyment (PE), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitude) on university students’ intention to use e-learning. The objective of this paper is to advance a conceptual framework to better understand the factors that could affect the intention of students to use e-learning in Lebanese universities. The collection of the data was from 444 private universities students in Lebanon. The SEM analysis had been used to assess the influence of these components to intend e-learning system. All proposed relationships are accepted in the framework expected the relationships between Computer self-efficacy (CSE) and subjective norms (SN) on perceived usefulness are rejected. In addition, relationships between subjective norms and perceived enjoyment on perceived ease of use (PEOU) are rejected. Finally, results are discussed then conclusions and future research are presented

STUDENTS’ LOYALTY: DOES VALUE CO-CREATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS MATTER?

This study investigates the influence for intrinsic and extrinsic motives on customers` participation in value co-creation activities (CPVCA), beside examining the direct and indirect impact for CPVCA on customers` loyalty. Quantitative research approach is used, while the study population encompasses all Lebanese private universities students. A questionnaire was developed to gather data from 403 universities` students who were chosen using the convenience sampling technique. PLS-SEM was adopted to examine the study proposed scale validity and the relationships between its latent variables. The current study results indicate a positive influence for both intrinsic and extrinsic motives on CPVCA. Also, the findings reveal a significant direct relationship among CPVCA and customer loyalty, as well as an indirect relationship via mediating brand experience

Competitive Advantage and Performance, The Role of Value and Rareness of Resources and Capabilities: The Case of Lebanese SMEs

This research aims to examine the competitiveness and the strategic behavior of the Lebanese SMEs, through their possession and exploitation of strategic resource-capability combination attributes. A sample of 285 Lebanese SMEs were obtained through the use of a survey questionnaire and the non-probability sampling to collect primary and quantitative data. The results show that for Lebanese SMEs, not all resources-capabilities are of equal importance when creating competitive advantage. They indicate that only organizational resource-capability combinations are considered as strategic assets and related to differentiation advantage, financial resource-capability combinations are only considered as strategic assets and related to cost advantage, and that cost and differentiation advantage are both related to performance.There were some problems concerning the data collection due to the fact that the Lebanese SMEs owners are not familiar with the research. In fact, this study may have positive implications on the Lebanese SMEs managers’ decisions, where this study can be considered as a guideline that will help them revise their strategic choices, behaviors, capabilities and resources, vis-à-vis of competition and to readjust their strategy if it does not work well. Indeed, the value of this research is that it is the first to empirically study the Resource-Based View in Lebanon from the Lebanese SMEs context, which is considered as suitable context, given its crucial contribution to the whole economy. It is one of the rare studies that reflects SMEs challenges and problems that inhibit them from improving their performance. Keywords: Value, Rareness, Competitive advantage, Performance, Lebanese SMEs DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-18-14 Publication date:June 30th 202

THE MEDIATION ROLE OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ON SERVICE QUALITY AND CORPORATE IMAGE - AN EVIDENCE FROM LEBANESE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

The higher education sector in Lebanon faces a number of challenges due to its rapid expansion, which has had many implications for the development of the sector. However, each university competes for a limited resources. Thus, promoting the image of the university becomes an essential factor for survival. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between service quality and corporate image with customer satisfaction as an intermediary in private universities in Lebanon. A survey of 378 respondents was conducted. A judgmental sample of university students was selected. The framework was tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that the service quality influences both customer satisfaction and the image of the company. In addition, customer satisfaction is partially involved in the relationship between service quality and corporate image . This study suggested that marketers should focus on service quality and customer satisfaction to strengthen the corporate image when adopting their strategies at private universities in Lebanon

THE EFFECT OF LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE, CO-WORKER COOPERATION AND LOCUS OF CONTROL ON EMPLOYEE OUTCOMES IN LEBANESE SMES: PERCEPTIONS OF POLITICS AS A MEDIATOR

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the nature of the relationships between three variables (leader-member exchange, locus of control and co-worker cooperation) and two employee outcomes (job satisfaction and turnover intention). It also examines whether these relationships are mediated by perceptions of politics. Design/methodology/approach – Survey data was obtained from 300 employees from Lebanese SMEs located between Tripoli and Beirut. Mediation was tested using Baron and Kenny (1986)’s framework. Findings – Results revealed that leader-member exchange and co-worker cooperation are positively related to job satisfaction and negatively related to turnover intention. Locus of control, on the other hand, is negatively related to job satisfaction and positively related to turnover intention. Also, perceptions of politics partially mediated some of these relationships while it fully mediated others. Originality/value – This study extends research on organizational politics to Eastern cultures by examining SMEs in a country like Lebanon. It also attempts to explain inconsistency in the literature by adding a mediating variable to the model of determinants and employee outcomes. That is, it suggests that the effect of leader-member exchange, locus of control and co-worker cooperation on outcomes is through the mechanism of perceptions of politics

CUSTOMERS LOYALTY: DOES VALUE CO-CREATION BECOME INDISPENSABLE FOR UNIVERSITIES?

This paper investigates the direct and indirect relationships between customers` participation in value co-creation activities (CPVCA) and their loyalty. Quantitative research approach is adopted, while the population consists of all the Lebanese private universities` students. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 403 students, nominated according to convenience sampling technique. The study proposed scale validity and the relationships between variables were examined depending on PLS-SEM. The findings reveal a direct significant relationship between CPVCA and customers` loyalty; in addition, to indirect relationship, through the partial mediating role for customers` satisfaction and relationship strength. Research implications and limitations are presented