Reviewing the critical challenges that influence the adoption of the e-learning system in higher educational institutions in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: This paper aims to review the critical challenges and factors influencing the successful adoption of electronic learning (e-learning) systems in higher educational institutions before and during the current propagation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This study undertook a literature review concerning the in-depth revision of previous studies published in 2020 and 2021. A total of 100 out of 170 selected research papers were adopted to identify and recognise the factors restricting the application of e-learning systems. Findings: The findings determine and illuminate the most challenging factors that impact the successful application of online learning, particularly during the wide propagation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The review of the literature provides evidence that technological, organisational and behavioural issues constitute significant drivers that frontier the facilitation of the e-learning process in higher educational institutions. Practical implications: The current paper suggests a guide for managers and scholars in educational institutions and acts as a roadmap for practitioners and academics in the educational field and policymakers as this research spotlights the significant factors challenging the e-learning process before and during the pandemic crisis. Originality/value: The provided in-depth literature review in this research will support the researchers and system designers with a comprehensive review and recent studies conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic considering the factors limiting the e-learning process. This paper formulates a valuable contribution to the body of knowledge that will assist the stakeholders in the higher educational institutions' context. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-02-2022-0085. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Fintech in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Literature Review on Usage and Concerns of e-Wallet Payment Transactions

The Fourth Industrial Revolution created many opportunities in many industrial sectors to cope with the digital transformation emergence. The financial industry quickly developed mobile cashless payment transaction systems (e-wallets) that went viral and have been widely used. Compared with traditional payment services, cashless payments offer other advantages encouraging users to utilize the technology more often. In addition, Covid-19 accelerated the adoption of e-wallets as social distancing, and contactless transactions have been advised in response to limit the transition of the virus between people. Accordingly, this research is aimed to identify the main factors that encourage users to adopt e-wallet systems and the main concerns of the cashless technology before and during Covid-19. This research used the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to answer the research questions that rolled around identifying these factors. The papers were selected between 2018 and 2022 as a representation of before and during Covid-19. The analysis of the chosen literature highlighted 31 total factors, 21 factors about e-wallet usage and 10 factors about technology concerns. Based on the identified factors, this paper can be useful for e-wallet technology practitioners in the field to provide better cashless payment services. © 2023 IEEE.

Digital transformation adoption in human resources management during COVID-19

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discover the factors related to human resource (HR) digital transformation (DT) in Bahrain during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to analyze the impact of e-human resource management (e-HRM) on organizational performance. These factors are funding, information technology (IT) infrastructure, technical support, digital skills or talents, organizational culture, employee resistance and top management support. These factors were tested to determine whether they affected HR DT in Bahrain during COVID-19. There are no findings in the researched literature regarding the proposed factors that affect HR DT in Bahrain during COVID-19 in this study. Design/methodology/approach: For data collection, a quantitative method was applied by conducting an online survey and distributing it to HR executives and employees from multiple organizations in Bahrain, both in the private and public sectors. Findings: This study proposes a DT adoption model based on seven factors extracted from the literature review. A questionnaire was deployed, and accurate data were collected, processed and then analyzed. The logit model shows determinants factor to the DT adoption where all variables have a positive effect. Originality/value: Using technology in an organization's HR practices, known as e-HRM or HR DT, is becoming more crucial since the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike European countries, the HR sector in Bahrain is not prepared to adopt the e-HRM process. This paper proposes a model that enables the HR sector to adopt digital technologies. This model is based on the key factors that enable an effective transition to the sector's digitalization (e-HRM). Future research is sought to provide additional insights into the same factors and measure their effect on HR DT during COVID-19 in other countries. © 2022, Adel Ismail Al-Alawi, Mourad Messaadia, Arpita Mehrotra, Sohayla Khidir Sanosi, Hala Elias and Aysha Hisham Althawadi.

The Impact of Economic Climate and R&D Transfer on Entrepreneurship Capacity During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Entrepreneurship capability is a relatively new topic that has piqued the interest of academics, practitioners, and policymakers because of its critical role in economic development in today’s dynamic environment. As a result, this research will examine the impact of the economic climate and research and development (R&D) transfers on the Sultanate of Oman’s entrepreneurial capacity. The investigation was motivated by the dearth of available literature and empirical evidence in Oman. The current study analyzed data from the Oman Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2020, compiled by national experts from various industries. This research followed a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with thirty-six professionals from nine industries who collectively reflect Oman’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The data was then analyzed and descriptively interpreted. The most significant findings indicate that factors affecting the economic climate and the function of R&D transfer affected entrepreneurial capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will enable the current study to provide evidence to aid policymakers in developing nations, notably Oman, in strengthening entrepreneurial capacity and identify areas for the empirical investigation to develop efficient ecosystems to support entrepreneurs. This study recommends that government and non-government stakeholders develop strategies for a post-COVID-19 entrepreneurial revival. This is likely one of the first qualitative assessments of the COVID-19 pandemic’s likely impact on entrepreneurship. As a result, the practical implications and solutions are examined in the context of modern economic, social, and environmental challenges. Additionally, it recommends relevant research areas and makes recommendations on how to empower entrepreneurs to overcome the aforementioned obstacles. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Identifying and Averting the Difficulties in Converting Biotechnological Innovations into Successful Commerce: Case of Bahrain

The purpose of this study is to examine the difficulties encountered by Bahraini entrepreneurs in converting innovative ideas in the biotechnology field to a profitable trade. Methodology - The study applies a qualitative approach. Semistructured, one-to-one interviews with four managers have been done to identify the obstacles they faced. Findings - Initial results prove that some factors, including funding, workforce skills, government regulations, and the Bahraini market environment, significantly affect success in the biotechnology industry. Further analysis suggests that the Bahraini market environment is the more fundamental obstacle compared to the others. Two additional factors, namely time management and infrastructure, have an insignificant effect on Bahrain’s progress in the biotech industry. Practical implications - This study is targeted at regulatory bodies in Bahrain and entrepreneurs to assist them in pinpointing the obstacles faced in the biotech industry and address them subsequently. Originality– This research contributes to innovative entrepreneurship literature relating to the biotech industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, primarily in Bahrain. As the 2030 vision for Bahrain depends on diversification of income sources, it is interesting to examine the difficulties that challenge entrepreneurs once they try to convert innovative ideas in the field of biotechnology into a successful trade story. Recommendation - improving the workforce skills to be competitive in the market with current impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and validating these results quantitively are recommended. © 2020, Arabian Gulf University. All rights reserved.

Student learning outcomes and online engagement in time of crisis: the role of e-learning system usability and teacher behavior

Purpose: This research explores the effect of e-learning Moodle-based system usability on students' learning outcomes with the possible intervening role of teacher's behavior and online engagement. Design/methodology/approach: In this research, the authors followed a quantitative methodology and a deductive research approach. Data were collected from 433 students at different study levels and academic specializations in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Oman. The data have been analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling via Smart-PLS. Findings: The findings of this research show that e-learning system usability affects students' learning outcomes. Moreover, the relationship between these two variables is mediated by teacher behavior and students' online engagement. Originality/value: This study is important as it adds to the understanding of the role of e-learning system usability in predicting student outcomes. From practical perspectives, especially during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study also helps practitioners at private HEIs use e-learning systems more efficiently and effectively to improve students' engagement and learning outcomes. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Public health awareness: knowledge, attitude and behaviors of the public on health risks during COVID-19 pandemic in sultanate of Oman

Purpose - This study aims to measure the level of public awareness about the threat of the emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic among the Omani population. It also aims to investigate the mediating effect of the Omanis' attitudes and behaviors with underlying conditions of COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach - A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data via an online survey of Omani citizens and residents from various geographic areas in Oman, 305 responses were received. SPSS and partial least square-structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. Findings - The study revealed that public awareness regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly influenced by people's perceived risk, information source and health-related knowledge. Further, preventive behavior during the disease spread has a significant direct and indirect impact on their awareness. However, an insignificant mediation effect of public attitude was found between the source of information and public awareness. Research limitations/implications - This study is limited by the scarcity of related literature in the Omani context. It is recommended that future research complete an in-depth study of public awareness regarding COVID-19, using other constructs and/or other data collection techniques. Practical implications - This research will provide governmental health authorities and policymakers with a guideline to establish more efficient pandemic containment strategies to control public behavior toward the COVID-19 pandemic and curb viral prevalence. Social implications - This research will help in improving prevention measures against COVID-19 are recommended to be more educated through a more effective mechanism to raise public attitude regarding pandemic prevalence positively. Originality/value - The originality of this research can be drawn from key findings that indicate that people overall gained knowledge about how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the accuracy of information significantly impacts public awareness.

Anakinra in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy: Results of a prospective, open-label, interventional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anakinra in patients who were admitted to hospital for severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy. METHODS: A prospective, open-label, interventional study in adults hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia was conducted. Patients in the interventional arm received subcutaneous anakinra (100 mg twice daily for 3 days, followed by 100 mg daily for 7 days) in addition to standard treatment. Main outcomes were the need for mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death. Secondary outcomes included successful weaning from supplemental oxygen and change in inflammatory biomarkers. Outcomes were compared with those of historical controls who had received standard treatment and supportive care. RESULTS: A total of 69 patients were included: 45 treated with anakinra and 24 historical controls. A need for mechanical ventilation occurred in 14 (31%) of the anakinra-treated group and 18 (75%) of the historical cohort (p < 0.001). In-hospital death occurred in 13 (29%) of the anakinra-treated group and 11 (46%) of the historical cohort (p = 0.082). Successful weaning from supplemental oxygen to ambient air was attained in 25 (63%) of the anakinra-treated group compared with 6 (27%) of the historical cohort (p = 0.008). Patients who received anakinra showed a significant reduction in inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and high oxygen requirement, anakinra could represent an effective treatment option and may confer clinical benefit. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN74727214.