The transformational leadership role in achieving organizational resilience through adaptive cultures: the case of Dubai service sector

Purpose>This empirical research draws on the existing theory of transformational leadership, adaptive culture and organizational resilience, and investigates the effect of the elected TQM leadership style "transformational leadership” through the mediating effect of adaptive culture on organizational resilience, that is the key of survival during crises like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted the business globally.Design/methodology/approach>This study exploited a cross-sectional online questionnaire of a random sample of Dubai service firms, with the unit of analysis being at the firm level. In total, 379 usable responses were received. Regression analysis was conducted to test hypotheses.Findings>The overall findings of this study supported that transformational leadership is positively associated with both adaptive culture and firm's resilience and significantly impacts them. Adaptive culture was found partially mediating the effect of transformational leadership on organizational resilience.Practical implications>The research findings provide important insights to practitioners (managers and leaders) to better improve their transformational qualities, as these qualities are expected to improve the organizational adaptive cultures and capacity of resilience.Originality/value>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first studies to examine the transformational leadership effect on organizational adaptive culture and firm's resilience. This investigation expands the boundaries of leadership style theory into new arenas, attempting to partially address the identified knowledge gap in this vein.

Guest editorial: Mass collaboration and knowledge management: reflections to achieve best practices

[...]the WHO and government organizations highly recommended working from home by using available ICT collaboration tools to protect people's health, whereas economic, educational and various activities were being carried out normally (WHO, 2020). [...]MC technologies and solutions will help to shorten the time and give more collective power to creating, sharing and exploiting new knowledge for dealing with this situation (Sulaiman, 2020). [...]we are specifically interested in reflections on how world countries, organizations and individuals rebuild their collaboration experiences to create, share and exploit new knowledge, through review the best practices and lessons learned to promote global experiences (Borjigen, 2015;Scuotto, 2017;Zamiri and Camarinha-Matos, 2019). The use of collaborative online technologies in different contexts assists to streamline the services delivery and KM activities at all levels: public/private organizations, businesses and citizens;most recently, it has been considered a life-sustaining tool to manage the crisis (i.e. COVID-19) as it is able to enhance the service delivery, collaborative efforts, communications, information sharing and KM activities (Mensah et al., 2021).

An Empirical Study of Factors Influencing the Perceived Usefulness and Effectiveness of Integrating E-Learning Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using SEM and ML: A Case Study in Jordan

The purpose of this research paper is to identify and test the factors influencing the perceived usefulness and perceived effectiveness of adopting an e-learning system from the perspective of teachers in public and private schools as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic year 2019/2020. Based on the findings and best practices, the study intends to make appropriate recommendations to decision-makers. Its significance stems from the use of scientific tools of research and investigation, and it aims to ensure the quality and effectiveness of Jordanian schools' e-learning systems. The study's hypotheses were verified by electronically collecting 551 questionnaires from teachers in Jordan. To test the study hypotheses, the empirical validity of the research model was set up, and the data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.0. Structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and machine learning (ML) methods were used to test the study hypotheses and validate the properties of the instrument items. Nineteen variables and one mediating variable were studied. The study found that independent variables pertaining to technology (relative advantage, compatibility, top management support, communication technologies, competitive pressure, technology competence, information intensity, and work flexibility) and moderating variables pertaining to the teacher's personal income and those pertaining to school (school size, education program, and work sector) had a positive effect on teachers' perceived usefulness of adopting e-learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, independent variables pertaining to technology (complexity and collaboration technology), moderating variables pertaining to the teacher (age, education level, and gender), and moderating variables pertaining to school (educational stage, number of students) were not supported.

Evaluating Electronic Customer Relationship Management System Success: The Mediating Role of Customer Satisfaction

This study evaluated the relationships among variables in electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM) success. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of technological readiness, privacy, COVID-19, customer pressure, trust, level of service quality, and customer satisfaction. Quantitative research methods were applied in examining the causal associations among the primary variables of the study. We used a sample approach called purposive sampling. Data was obtained from 390 completed questionnaires collected from employees, who took part in CRM technology activities, working in Jordanian firms. Data was analyzed via AMOS software version 22, and hypotheses were examined by applying structural equation modelling (SEM). Results revealed that technological readiness, COVID-19, customer pressure, and customer satisfactions had a positive effect on e-CRM success system. Moreover, the study showed that technological readiness, privacy, and level of service quality positively affected customer satisfaction. Additionally, the mediation of customer satisfaction on the association between trust and success of e-CRM system, and also between level of service quality and e-CRM system success, was demonstrated. Practical implications: In practice, this study can help managers and practitioners in implementing e-CRM systems. Moreover, it can drive further empirical studies on the relations among technological readiness, privacy, COVID-19, customer pressure, trust, and level of service quality, besides customer satisfaction. Only few studies had looked into the variables in the success of e-CRM system, in emerging industries of developing countries, specifically, among technological readiness, privacy, COVID-19, customer pressure, trust, level of service quality, and customer satisfaction. These gaps were addressed in this study. The current model is also relatively constrained, so it may be expanded in further studies. For instance, the construct of culture might be incorporated to the model to make it more thorough in its examination of the topic at issue.

Predictors for E-Government Adoption of SANAD App Services Integrating UTAUT, TPB, TAM, Trust, and Perceived Risk.

Using mobile applications in e-government for the purpose of health protection is a new idea during COVID-19 epidemic. Hence, the goal of this study is to examine the various factors that influence the use of SANAD App As a health protection tool. The factors were adopted from well-established models like UTAUT, TAM, and extended PBT. Using survey data from 442 SANAD App from Jordan, the model was empirically validated using AMOS 20 confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM) and machine learning (ML) methods were performed to assess the study hypotheses. The ML methods used are ANN, SMO, the bagging reduced error pruning tree (RepTree), and random forest. The results suggested several key findings: the respondents' performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived risk, trust, and perceived service quality of this digital technology were significant antecedents for their attitude to using it. The strength of these relationships is affected by the moderating variables, including age, gender, educational level, and internet experience on behavioral intention. Yet, perceived risk did not have a significant effect on attitude towards SANAD App The study adds to literature by empirically testing and theorizing the effects of SANAD App on public health protection.

Exposure Detection Applications Acceptance: The Case of COVID-19.

The pandemic's context is rife with numerous dangerous threats and high fear levels, influencing human decision-making. Such characteristics are identified by investigating the acceptance of exposure detection apps from the technology acceptance model (TAM) perspective. This study purposed a model to investigate protection technology acceptance, specifically exposure detection apps in the context of COVID-19. Quantitative study approach and a cross-section design targeted 586 participants from Saudi Arabia. As the study model is complex, the study hypotheses were analysed using the structural equation modelling-partial least squares (SEM-PLS3) approach. The findings support the entire model hypothesis except the link between social media awareness and exposure detection apps' intention. Mediation of COVID-19 anxiety and influence was confirmed as well. The current paper contributes to the technologies acceptance domain by developing a context-driven model comprising the major pandemic characteristics that lead to various patterns of technology acceptance. This study also fills the literature gap regarding mediating effects of social influence and COVID-19 anxiety in the relationship between trust in government and exposure detection apps implementation, and between COVID-19 anxiety and exposure detection apps implementation, respectively. The results may assist government agencies, health policymakers, and health organisations in the wide world and specifically Saudi Arabia, in their attempts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic spread.

An Empirical Investigation of Reasons Influencing Student Acceptance and Rejection of Mobile Learning Apps Usage

Sustainable learning and education (SLE) is a relatively new ideology based on sustainability principles and developed in response to the United Nations' recently proclaimed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result, technologies should be adopted to equip educational institutions with the tools necessary to attain SLE. Recently, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected educational systems globally, leading them to embrace more innovative technological methods to meet academic demands while maintaining SLE principles. Mobile learning apps (MLA) refers to using the unique capabilities of mobile apps to engage and collaborate towards establishing robust online learning. However, the effectiveness of MLA depends on learners' acceptance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that could affect MLA acceptance. In order to analyze the collected data from 415 Jordanian students among schools and universities, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The empirical findings confirm that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significantly influenced by self-efficacy and perceived compatibility. Furthermore, perceived usefulness is significantly influenced by perceived convenience and perceived ease of use. Additionally, perceived enjoyment significantly influences the behavioral intention to use MLA. On the other hand, perceived compatibility has no significant influence on perceived enjoyment. Finally, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived compatibility have no significant effect on behavioral intention to use MLA. This study addresses a critical research gap in the distance learning acceptance literature by proposing an exhaustive model in the post-COVID-19 era that can help to improve students' performance and outcomes in Jordanian schools and universities.

AGILE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE: EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

Each paper must start off with an (with the exception of case studies). The The concept of organizational agility in UAE has been investigated widely in relation to the oil and gas sector and the information technology industry in which the most recent explorations were within the digital marketing field, however, limited research studies investigated organizational agility in relation to organizational excellence in service sector specifically healthcare settings. This study is planned to empirically test the impact of organizational agility on achieving organizational excellence in healthcare services organizations in the UAE healthcare services sector. A quantitative research design, using the surveys-based methodology by adopting two questionnaires to quantify the responses and opinions of the study participants. The study found that organizational agility practices that emphasize extensive sensing agility, and response agility when considered as a comprehensive system, have a significant positive effect on organizational excellence in the UAE healthcare services sector. While agile concepts that have not been explored extensively with respect to the healthcare sector, the study findings emphasized two forms of agility applicable for healthcare settings, sensing agility, and response agility where most of the efforts can be deployed by organizations to achieve excellence. Accordingly, top management in a healthcare setting should precede organizational excellence efforts with organizational agility initiatives. That is because agile organizations are the trend and agility is the valid reason for survival in such a turbulent environment accordingly management should invest in technology, communication channels, and highly mobile resources which are considered as the main enabler of organizational agility.

The Role of Social Media in Raising Public Health Awareness during the Pandemic COVID-19: An International Comparative Study

The main objective of this research is to investigate the role of social media campaigns (the type of social media platform, type of message, and message source sender) in raising public health awareness and behavioral change during (COVID-19) as a global pandemic across national selected countries (Poland and Jordan). The research utilizes a quantitative method with an exploratory and descriptive design to accumulate the initial data from a research survey given to the respondents from Jordan and Poland. A total of 1149 web questionnaires were collected from respondents in the two countries (Poland 531 and Jordan 618). In addition, multiple regression analysis was used to test the study hypotheses. The findings showed positive relationships between the components of a social media campaign, public health awareness, and behavioral change during (COVID-19) in the two countries at the same time. However, the preferred type of social media platforms, the message types and type of source sender significantly differ among the respondents due to their countries. This is the first study that examines the role of social media campaigns (the type of social media platform, type of message and message source sender) in public health awareness and behavioral change during (COVID-19) as a global pandemic in across national selected countries (Poland and Jordan).

Risk of Fear and Anxiety in Utilising Health App Surveillance Due to COVID-19: Gender Differences Analysis

Although technology trends and acceptance have been considered crucial topics, limited research has examined stress-specific factors such as health anxiety in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic based on people’s attitudes toward a mobile health app using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Accordingly, this study primarily highlights the psychological determinants stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic that affect the usage of a mobile health app. The study followed a cross-sectional design and adopted a snowball sampling technique to collect the data. The findings showed a significant association between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and event-related fear and Tabaud App intention. The relationships between Tabaud App intention and COVID-19 anxiety on Tabaud App usage were also revealed. The study found a significant association between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Additionally, the multi-group analysis showed that only two paths related to Tabaud App intention, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, differed significantly between males and females. Additionally, women experienced anxiety disorders more than men. The study contributes to the previous knowledge on the field by examining the psychological determinants resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that influence using a mobile health app, namely, event-related fear and COVID-19 anxiety. The study results may help governments, health policymakers, and health organisations in Saudi Arabia contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors Affecting the Use of Smart Mobile Examination Platforms by Universities’ Postgraduate Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Study

Recent years have seen an increasingly widespread use of online learning technologies. This has prompted universities to make huge investments in technology to augment their position in the face of extensive competition and to enhance their students’ learning experience and efficiency. Numerous studies have been carried out regarding the use of online and mobile phone learning platforms. However, there are very few studies focusing on how university students will accept and adopt smartphones as a new platform for taking examinations. Many reasons, but most recently and importantly the COVID-19 pandemic, have prompted educational institutions to move toward using both online and mobile learning techniques. This study is a pioneer in examining the intention to use mobile exam platforms and the prerequisites of such intention. The purpose of this study is to expand the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by including four additional constructs: namely, content quality, service quality, information quality, and system quality. A self-survey method was prepared and carried out to obtain the necessary basic data. In total, 566 students from universities in the United Arab Emirates took part in this survey. Smart PLS was used to test the study constructs and the structural model. Results showed that all study hypotheses are supported and confirmed the effect of the TAM extension factors within the UAE higher education setting. These outcomes suggest that the policymakers and education developers should consider mobile exam platforms as a new assessment platform and a possible technological solution, especially when considering the distance learning concept. It is good to bear in mind that this study is initial and designed to explore using smartphones as a new platform for student examinations. Furthermore, mixed-method research is needed to check the effectiveness and the suitability of using the examination platforms, especially for postgraduate higher educational levels.

Influence of Social Media Platforms on Public Health Protection Against the COVID-19 Pandemic via the Mediating Effects of Public Health Awareness and Behavioral Changes: Integrated Model.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing body of literature examining social media in health contexts, including public health communication, promotion, and surveillance, limited insight has been provided into how the utility of social media may vary depending on the particular public health objectives governing an intervention. For example, the extent to which social media platforms contribute to enhancing public health awareness and prevention during epidemic disease transmission is currently unknown. Doubtlessly, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represents a great challenge at the global level, aggressively affecting large cities and public gatherings and thereby having substantial impacts on many health care systems worldwide as a result of its rapid spread. Each country has its capacity and reacts according to its perception of threat, economy, health care policy, and the health care system structure. Furthermore, we noted a lack of research focusing on the role of social media campaigns in public health awareness and public protection against the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan as a developing country. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of social media platforms on public health protection against the COVID-19 pandemic via public health awareness and public health behavioral changes as mediating factors in Jordan. METHODS: A quantitative approach and several social media platforms were used to collect data via web questionnaires in Jordan, and a total of 2555 social media users were sampled. This study used structural equation modeling to analyze and verify the study variables. RESULTS: The main findings revealed that the use of social media platforms had a significant positive influence on public health protection against COVID-19 as a pandemic. Public health awareness and public health behavioral changes significantly acted as partial mediators in this relationship. Therefore, a better understanding of the effects of the use of social media interventions on public health protection against COVID-19 while taking public health awareness and behavioral changes into account as mediators should be helpful when developing any health promotion strategy plan. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the use of social media platforms can positively influence awareness of public health behavioral changes and public protection against COVID-19. Public health authorities may use social media platforms as an effective tool to increase public health awareness through dissemination of brief messages to targeted populations. However, more research is needed to validate how social media channels can be used to improve health knowledge and adoption of healthy behaviors in a cross-cultural context.