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The purpose of this research is to develop an enhanced understanding of the drivers of trust and loyalty in a conventional and Islamic banking setting.

The study’s sample included South African retail bank customers who had Islamic or conventional products and who were 18 years or older. A field services company collected data from respondents through the distribution of self-administered questionnaires and a total of 949 questionnaires were deemed suitable for data analysis. SmartPLS 3.2.7 and Hayes Process Macro for SPSS tested the study’s hypotheses.

Comparing conventional banking customers with Islamic banking customers, the path from trust to customer loyalty was statistically significantly different across customer type, while the paths between trust and customer orientation, information sharing, and service fairness were not statistically significantly different across customer type. A closer examination of the path coefficients reveals that the relationship between trust and loyalty is stronger for conventional banking customers than for Islamic banking customers.

The findings of the study guide both conventional and Islamic banks in South Africa on how banks should redesign their purpose as the providers of financial resources to their customer segments. It highlights the need for these banks to secure a more focused approach on how to deliver financial resources and consulting services to customers in a trusting, engaging and reliable manner.

The study provides insight into Islamic and retail bank customers’ perceptions of the drivers of trust and loyalty and how these constructs’ interrelationships differ between Islamic and conventional banking customers.

The purpose of this study is to assess and contrast the impact of various factors, including both bank-specific and macroeconomic factors, on the financial performance of Islamic and conventional banks (I&CB) in countries with a dual banking system.

A general least square model is applied to a large data set of 103 I&CB operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, comprising unbalanced annual panel data spanning the period from 2015 to 2020. The financial performance index (FPI) derived from capital adequacy, asset quality, management efficiency, earnings, and liquidity (CAMEL) ratios is used as the dependent variable.

Key factors, such as overhead expenses, gross domestic product (GDP) and retained earnings, exert a substantial influence on the financial performance of both I&CB. Moreover, the findings suggest that certain parameters, including deposits, inflation and cellular banking usage, significantly impact on the financial performance of conventional banks, while bank size specifically affects the financial performance of Islamic banks.

While this study provides valuable insights, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. The research focuses on a specific region (MENA) and may not be universally applicable to other geographical areas or banking systems. The study’s findings are based on historical data and might not fully reflect current or future market conditions. Additionally, the choice of variables and methodology may introduce bias or limitations, as with any empirical study. The theoretical implications of the research paper lie in the distinct ethical principles that constitute the foundation of Islamic finance. The ethical opposition to Riba is poised to have extensive implications, influencing market stability, commercial and economic impact and contributing to responsible banking practices within the Islamic banking sector. The study suggests that adherence to these sacred principles not only aligns with ethical considerations but also fosters social responsibility within Islamic banking institutions. This holds significance for broader societal and economic impacts, as responsible banking practices contribute to sustainable and equitable economic development.

The study underscores the significance of efficient overhead cost management for conventional banks, particularly in the context of a rapidly evolving digital banking environment. The call for adaptation and innovation in operational strategies aligns with the broader principles of efficiency and effectiveness emphasized in Islamic finance.

In essence, the theoretical and practical implications of the study surpass the narrow focus on financial performance, resonating with the broader societal and economic landscape within the Islamic banking sector. The integration of ethical principles not only reinforces the unique identity of Islamic finance but also positions it as a model for responsible and sustainable banking practices in the MENA region and beyond.

CAMEL ratios are used to build an FPI to evaluate bank performance, providing a more precise and comprehensive assessment compared to traditional return ratios like return on assets or return on equity. Second, the authors conduct a thorough analysis covering factors across bank-specific, financial and macroeconomic dimensions. Thus, the study stands out by not only examining bank-specific factors but also by considering external factors such as GDP, interest rates and the development of the financial sector. The focus on the MENA region allows us to offer generalizable findings, highlighting distinctions between I&CB and considering a period with boom years (2015–2019) and a recession year (2020).

This study explores the relationships between corporate board characteristics (CBCs) and corporate social responsibility budget (CSRB) of selected Bangladeshi banks. CSRB was regarded as the sole dependent variable. In contrast, CBCs was separated into three independent constructs: board members' age (BMA), board members’ educational level (BMEL) and the number of board meetings per year (NBMY). A single moderator, corporate reputation (CR), was used to assess the moderating impact on the direct relationships.

Annual reports from 2017 to 2021 (5 years) of 25 selectively listed Bangladeshi banks were used as study samples. Further, the researcher conducted informal interviews with 251 board members of those selected banks using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study used “multiple regression analysis” to evaluate the moderating effects on the three direct relationships and “Pearson's correlation coefficient” to assess the immediate impacts.

After analysis, the results revealed that all the three independent components, BMA, BMEL and NBMY, have substantial positive relationships with the dependent variable, CSRB. Moreover, it was identified that CR can moderate (strengthen) all the three direct relationships. 

Corporate governance (CG) and CSR are two hot topics both in academia and practice. This study highlighted the corporate board characteristics and CSR budget, two new dimensions of CG literature that are required to be paid more attention to. The researcher expects this study to enhance the literature focused on these newer dimensions of CG that might benefit both academics and practitioners.

Intellectual capital (IC) plays a crucial role in today’s volatile business landscape, yet its measurement remains complex. To better navigate these challenges, the authors propose the Integrated Intellectual Capital Measurement (IICM) model, an innovative, robust and comprehensive framework designed to capture IC amid business uncertainty. This study focuses on IC measurement models, typically reliant on secondary data, thus distinguishing it from conventional IC studies.

The authors conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis across Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCO Business Source Ultimate in February 2023. This yielded 2,709 IC measurement studies, from which the authors selected 27 quantitative papers published from 1985 to 2023.

The analysis revealed no single, universally accepted approach for measuring IC, with company attributes such as size, industry and location significantly influencing IC measurement methods. A key finding is human capital’s critical yet underrepresented role in firm competitiveness, which the IICM model aims to elevate.

This is the first SLR focused on IC measurement amid business uncertainty, providing insights for better management and navigating turbulence. The authors envisage future research exploring the interplay between IC components, technology, innovation and network-building strategies for business resilience. Additionally, there is a need to understand better the IC’s impact on specific industries (automotive, transportation and hospitality), Social Development Goals and digital transformation performance.

This study aims to investigate the effects of board cultural diversity (BCD) and board gender diversity (BGD) of the board of directors on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in the European banking sector using resource-based view (RBV) theory. In addition, this study analyses the linkages between BCD and BGD and knowledge sharing on the board of directors to improve ESG performance.

This study selected a sample of European-listed banks covering the period 2021. ESG and diversity variables were collected from Refinitiv Eikon and analysed using the ordinary least squares model. This study was conducted in the European context regulated by Directive 95/2014/EU, which requires sustainability disclosure. The original population was represented by 250 banks; after missing data were excluded, the final sample comprised 96 European-listed banks.

The findings highlight the positive linkages between BGD, BCD and ESG scores in the European banking sector. In addition, the findings highlight that diversity contributes to knowledge sharing by improving ESG performance in a regulated sector. Nonetheless, the combined effect of BGD and BCD negatively impacts ESG performance.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to measure and analyse a regulated sector, such as banking, and the relationship between cultural and gender diversity for sharing knowledge under the RBV theory lens in the ESG framework.

This paper aims to address two fundamental questions: (1) How has Bahrain's industrial policy evolved during the 21st century? and (2) what factors contribute to this evolution?

Utilizing secondary data, this paper identifies key decision-makers responsible for economic policy in Bahrain and delineates the evolution of Bahrain's industrial policy throughout the 21st century. Subsequently, it employs a series of interviews with elite civil servants engaged in the formulation and implementation of Bahrain's economic policies to understand the reasons behind the observed changes.

Since assuming the role of Crown Prince in 1999, Sh. Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has been the key economic decision-maker in Bahrain. During the 21st century, Bahrain has shifted away from decisions closely aligned with the Washington Consensus towards those more in line with classical industrial policy. Interviews reveal that the private sector's underperformance in job creation, coupled with fiscal pressures, has driven this departure from the Washington Consensus. Moreover, the early successes of the interventionist Saudi Vision 2030 and Bahrain's own success in technocratically managing the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated this transition.

Insights into the determinants of Bahrain's industrial policy can guide policymakers in refining future strategies. Recognizing the positive role of intellectual developments in academic economics literature becomes crucial for informed decision-making.

This paper fills a gap in the existing literature by providing answers to its research questions, particularly considering the significant changes witnessed in Bahrain's industrial policy post-pandemic.

The study aims to determine whether audited organizations experience differences between external audits and official controls.

A survey among 100 organic food producers was conducted to explore differences regarding the usability of external audits and official controls. The survey was conducted in 2020 using the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) method supplemented by the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) method. Organizations processing organic farming products in Poland were chosen for the study.

Three primary benefits associated with external audits and official controls were identified, i.e. (1) enabling and initiating activities related to the improvement of the organization, (2) improving the financial performance of the organization and (3) enhancing credibility. For most organizations, the assessment of these features was at the same level for both external audits and official control. However, if these assessments differed, commercial audits were assessed at a higher level than official controls.

The study is limited to only one specific type of manufacturing organization and one European country.

The literature review shows some conceptual differences between audits and official controls, but the results of this study show that the business environment does not perceive these differences as significant. Thus, the value of the study is reflected in the conclusion that both external audits and official controls are considered useful and credible approaches to monitoring the quality within the organization, which allows us to state that external evaluation is generally seen as an opportunity to improve the performance of the organization.

Halal certification is an acknowledgment of the halalness of a product or service issued by a halal regulator based on Islamic law. This study aims to investigate the intentions of consumers and regulators toward blockchain-based halal certification. Blockchain is useful for storing and verifying halal certificates, thereby increasing trust in products or services because the public cannot change or access data once it is stored.

This study uses a triangulation approach by distributing online questionnaires to consumers as a research instrument of a quantitative approach processed with smart partial least squares. Meanwhile, the qualitative approach is carried out through observation, in-depth interviews with the Ministry of Religion’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) and Halal Examination Agency (LPH), and forum group discussions (FGDs) with several related parties.

The observation results show that most consumers expect the government to provide an easy-to-use application to check halal food products and restaurants. Consumers’ intention to use this technology is influenced directly by attitudes and indirectly by their beliefs. Furthermore, the results of interviews and FGDs reported that LPH was not ready to apply blockchain technology, while BPJPH strongly supported adopting blockchain technology in the certification process.

This finding recommends that the Indonesian government apply blockchain technology to gain transparency and accountability regarding the halal product process.

This study fills the research gap by observing three perspectives from different stakeholders and using a triangulation approach to analyze the need for adoption of blockchain-based halal certification of halal food products.

It is observed that bank transactions are at the top of the list as consumers' online transactions increase day by day. We assume that creating an emotion-rich experience will be more effective in ensuring brand awareness, brand associations, perceived quality and brand loyalty, which affect the creation of consumer-based brand value. In this study, it is aimed to determine the relationship of the emotional brand experiences of internet banking users in the brands they use on creating consumer-based brand equity.

The data in the answers of 484 participants among the 504 people who filled out the questionnaire on social media with the snowball sampling method and were determined to have consistent answers and stating that they used internet banking, were analyzed by SPSS and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

The emotional experiences of internet banking users in Turkey with the internet brand they use have a relationship on all four dimensions (brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand associations and perceived quality) that make up consumer-based brand equity. In this study, the relationship was determined as brand awareness, brand loyalty, perceived quality and brand associations, respectively. The dimensions of the relationship of internet banking users emotional brand experience and consumer-based brand equity were supported.

The research was carried out with internet banking users in Turkey. The results of this research can be compared with studies to be conducted in different countries and with different product brands. In addition, the level of contribution can be increased by investigating the emotional brand experience by comparing positive and negative emotions.

As online connection allowing instant access to unrecognized places and being able to reach brands from long distances instantly makes the emotional experience that can create emotional attachment between the brand and the customer, and brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand association and perceived quality, which are the dimensions of consumer-based brand equity affected by emotional experience, much more important. This importance is increasing day by day as the positive emotional experience to be created in banking services is directly related to access to money. Banking transactions are generally considered as cognitive transactions, and decisions are made and implemented within a cognitive context. However, the findings of this research suggest that decisions should be made and implemented that will enable consumers to gain experiences that can affect their emotions as well as their cognition.

Considering the importance of strategies and tactics that prioritize the creation of consumer-based brand equity in marketing theory, the importance of adding emotional brand experience to these strategies and tactics is supported by the results of this research as originality value. Although the effect of brand experience on consumer-based brand value has been widely researched in the literature, the fact that the effect of brand experience, especially emotional brand experience, on consumer-based brand experience in internet banking transactions has not been sufficiently researched and that this effect has been investigated specifically for Turkey, unlike the literature, increases the original contribution of the research.

The aim of this study is to offer evidence-based knowledge of the most popular research topics in studies on spiritual leadership (SL) and the research approaches and theories in use. Another aim is to create a comprehensive research framework covering the antecedents and outcomes of SL, as well as the underlying mechanisms and conditional factors. This study also synthesizes future research avenues presented in the literature.

This study used a systematic literature review method. The presented analysis covered both bibliometric studies and in-depth manual content analysis. In total, 274 articles indexed in the Scopus database were analyzed, with a particular focus on 126 empirical papers.

This study shows that most of the research took place in developing countries and focused on the links between SL and workplace spirituality, employee well-being and engagement. It provides a complex research framework which orders previous variables according to their levels. Future research is required that would use a multilevel research approach and determine the impact of SL on society and the leaders themselves, as well as determining the reverse impact of organizational performance on the development of SL.

This study takes advantages of both bibliometric and in-depth content analysis to expand the understanding of the state of the art in SL research. It demonstrates how different factors contribute to SL and how they subsequently influence outcomes. It also offers numerous future research directions which go beyond those identified so far in the literature to further develop the theory of SL.