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Article
Publication date: 5 June 2009

Sarah Quinton and Mohammed Ali Khan

Organisations now regard having a web site as mandatory but as more businesses create websites the real challenge lies in driving traffic to a specific web site. Little research…

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Abstract

Purpose

Organisations now regard having a web site as mandatory but as more businesses create websites the real challenge lies in driving traffic to a specific web site. Little research attention has been paid to the issues for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of how to increase traffic to their web site. This paper addresses the issue of web site traffic generation for SMEs which have limited resources to determine how SMEs might make more effective use of search engine marketing (SEM) tools to increase web site traffic.

Design/methodology/approach

An investigation of specific SEM tools, including press release distribution and directory submission, that are available to SMEs was conducted. This research paper follows a mixed methods approach incorporating Pearson's product moment correlation conducted on web site traffic and backlinks data as well as qualitative analysis of interview transcripts of three SME organisations and their use of search engine optimisation across different industries.

Findings

The findings indicate that a combined use of both press release distribution and directory submission does increase traffic generation to a web site. A tentative model is proposed which requires further testing.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates the synergy that can be created from two easily accessible and low cost SEM tools for SMEs in order to improve web site traffic generation.

Originality/value

The value of this research lies in the fact that the tools used in the creation of the model are within the means of small organisations and therefore highly relevant to SMEs.

Details

Direct Marketing: An International Journal, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-5933

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 10 November 2016

Veena Mani and Mathangi Krishnamurthy

This chapter is a collation and review of literature that can be considered to form the terrain of sports studies in India. It attempts two broad tasks: firstly, to aggregate…

Abstract

This chapter is a collation and review of literature that can be considered to form the terrain of sports studies in India. It attempts two broad tasks: firstly, to aggregate these studies, and secondly, to predict the very possibility of a sociology of sport in India. To this end, this chapter is classified into three separate yet intertwined themes: modernity and nationalism; sub-nationalisms or regional nationalisms; and gender, masculinities, and culture. The first section looks at questions of modernity and nationalism within the Indian context through a close reading of studies on sports like field hockey and cricket. The second section is a critical look at the role of sub-nationalisms in complicating the notion of a singular nationalism, as played out in the domain of football in India. Lastly, the chapter examines questions of gender, especially masculinities, as a consistent yet plural presence in all of these literatures. These themes are neither exclusive nor all encompassing, and the chapter produces them in continuity as well as in rupture with one another. It concludes by speculating upon the possibilities and challenges for a sociology of sport in India, with suggestions for possible methodological interventions.

Details

Sociology of Sport: A Global Subdiscipline in Review
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78635-050-3

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 February 2018

Mohammed Y.A. Rawwas, Basharat Javed and Muhammad Naveed Iqbal

The purpose of this paper is to expand previous theories of motivation and religious ethics by examining the moderation effect of Islamic work ethic (IWE) on the relationship…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand previous theories of motivation and religious ethics by examining the moderation effect of Islamic work ethic (IWE) on the relationship between perception of politics (POP) and job satisfaction, and turnover intention and negligent behavior (NB).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 260 workers employed in various sectors in an Asian country. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the main effect of the five hypotheses. In addition, moderated models are used to identify factors (IWE) that may change the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

Findings

Results revealed that POP was negatively related to job satisfaction, and positively related to turnover intention and NB. IWE was positively related to job satisfaction, and negatively related to turnover intention (confirming previous research findings), and NB (a contribution of the current study). Furthermore, when the moderator variable of IWE was introduced to the relationship between POP and job outcomes, the influence and direction of the POP were altered (a major contribution of this study). In other words, the moderator variable strengthened job satisfaction and reduced both turnover intention and NB of organizational workers.

Originality/value

When the moderator variable of IWE was introduced to the relationship between the POP and job outcomes, the influence and direction of the POP were altered (a major contribution of this study).

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 47 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 March 2017

Valerie Priscilla Goby, Hamad Mohammed Ahmad Ali, Mohammed Ahmad Abdulwahed Lanjawi and Khalil Ibrahim Mohammed Ahmad Al Haddad

The aim of this study is to conduct an initial investigation of information sharing between the vast number of expatriate employees and the small minority of local employees in…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to conduct an initial investigation of information sharing between the vast number of expatriate employees and the small minority of local employees in Dubai’s private sector workforce. Research on the impact of the workforce localization policy has highlighted the frequent marginalization of locals within the expatriate-dominated private sector. One form of this is the reluctance of expatriates to share information with local recruits, and the authors conducted this study to assess the reality and extent of this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed a brief interview survey to probe how Emirati employees secure workplace information and whether they experience information withholding on the part of expatriate colleagues. The authors also explored whether any such experience impacts on their attitudes to working in the private sector since this is a key factor in the success of the localization policy. Complete responses were received from 0.9 per cent of the total local private sector workforce.

Findings

A notable lack of information sharing emerged with 58 per cent of respondents reporting their expatriate colleagues’ and superiors’ reluctance to share information with them, and 63 per cent describing experiences of discriminatory behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The authors identify key cultural and communication issues relating to localization within Dubai’s multicultural workforce. These include the broader cultural factors that determine how Emiratis conceptualize information sharing. Future research can pursue this issue to help inform the development of supportive information sharing practices. Such practices are an essential part of the creation of a diversity climate, which is necessary to sustain localization.

Originality/value

This study is a pioneering attempt to empirically investigate the information sharing practices that Emirati private sector employees experience. It suggests that the exclusion of citizens from the workplace through practices such as “ghost Emiratization” reverberates in the workplace through a lack of information sharing.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 June 2019

Niaz B. Khan, Zainah B. Ibrahim, Mian Ashfaq Ali, Mohammed Jameel, Muhammad Ijaz Khan, Ahad Javanmardi and D.O. Oyejobi

Over the past few decades, the flow around circular cylinders has been one of the highly researched topics in the field of offshore engineering and fluid-structure interaction…

Abstract

Purpose

Over the past few decades, the flow around circular cylinders has been one of the highly researched topics in the field of offshore engineering and fluid-structure interaction (FSI). In the current study, numerical simulations for flow around a fixed circular cylinder are performed at Reynolds number (Re) = 3900 with the LES method using the ICEM-CFD and ANSYS Fluent tool for meshing and analysis, respectively. Previously, similar studies have been conducted at the same Reynolds number, but there have been discrepancies in the results, particularly in calculating the recirculation length and angle of separation. In addition, the purpose of this study is to address the impact of time interval averaging to obtain the fully converged solution.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents the LES method, using the ICEM-CFD and ANSYS fluent tool for meshing and analysis.

Findings

In the current study, turbulence statistics are sampled for 25, 50, 75 and 100 vortex-shedding cycles with the CFL value O (1). The recirculation length, angle of separation, hydrodynamic coefficients and the wake behind the cylinder are investigated up to ten diameters. The drag coefficient and Strouhal number are observed to be less sensitive, whereas the recirculation length appeared to be highly dependent on the average time statistics and the non-dimensional time step. Similarly, the mean streamwise and cross-flow velocity are observed to be sensitive to the average time statistics and non-dimensional time step in the wake region near the cylinder.

Originality/value

In the current investigation, turbulence statistics are sampled for 25, 50, 75 and 100 vortex-shedding cycles with the CFL value O (1), using large eddy simulation method at Re = 3900 around a circular cylinder. The impact of time interval averaging to obtain the fully converged mean flow field is addressed. No such consideration is yet published in the literature.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 August 2021

Hanudin Amin

Using the maqasid-based consumer preference index (MCPi), this study aims to investigate customer preference for Islamic home financing.

Abstract

Purpose

Using the maqasid-based consumer preference index (MCPi), this study aims to investigate customer preference for Islamic home financing.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study, based on valid 1,034 usable questionnaires and the MCPi, evaluates consumer choice for the supplied Islamic home finance products by 16 Islamic banks in Malaysia.

Findings

According to the findings, all banks have a moderate value of MCPi. Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad is at the top of the list, followed by Maybank Islamic, Commerce International Merchant Bankers Islamic and Malaysia Building Society Berhad.

Research limitations/implications

The MCPi is used in this study to test a new technique to measuring consumer preference. The contributions are confined to these particular variables – Educating Customer, Establishing Justice, Promoting Welfare and Fulfiling Islamic Debt Policy. The research also has limitations in terms of the facility’s general setting. Future research may shed light on these issues from new angles.

Practical implications

This research offers banks a new way to manage their products based on maqasid al-Sharīʿah.

Originality/value

In the context of Malaysia, this study introduces the MCPi, a new measure of consumer preference for home financing.

Details

International Journal of Ethics and Systems, vol. 38 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9369

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 May 2021

Abderrahman Hassi, Mohammed Amine Balambo and Mohammed Aboramadan

Given the growing importance of spirituality and religion-related factors in the workplace, this paper aims to analyze the effects of spirituality, intrinsic religiosity and…

Abstract

Purpose

Given the growing importance of spirituality and religion-related factors in the workplace, this paper aims to analyze the effects of spirituality, intrinsic religiosity and Islamic work ethics (IWE) on employee job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on these theoretical concepts and perspectives, the authors hypothesized that employee intrinsic motivation mediated these proposed effects. To verify these propositions, the authors examined data collected from 224 full-time employees working for various organizations in Morocco. The authors conducted structural equations modeling (SEM) analyses using the AMOS 24 platform and Bayesian analyses to investigate direct and indirect effects.

Findings

First, the authors found that only IWE has positive and significant direct effect on job performance. Second, the findings indicate that employee intrinsic motivation does not mediate the relationship between the independent variables of spirituality and intrinsic religiosity and the dependent variable of job performance. These results may be because of the fact that Islamic principles and values are implemented and more reinforced in the Moroccan workplace than new and modern concepts such as intrinsic religiosity and spirituality.

Research limitations/implications

The present paper used a cross-sectional methodology, which did not allow testing causation between the constructs under study.

Practical implications

Organizations and managers alike ought to resort to IWE insights with the objective to increase the performance of their Muslim members.

Originality/value

This paper is novel as it represents a study on spirituality in a non-Western context. It also uses a relatively sizeable sample (N = 224) of full-time employees in the workplace.

Details

Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, vol. 12 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-0817

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2022

Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed, Mohammed A. Aldoghan, Mohamed A. Moustafa and Bahadur Ali Soomro

This study investigated the factors affecting online learning (OL) and stress and anxiety (SaA) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the factors affecting online learning (OL) and stress and anxiety (SaA) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative study and a survey questionnaire to collect the cross-sectional data. The authors sent 500 survey questionnaires to the respondents of which 262 samples were returned. This represented a 52% response rate. Finally, this study used 260 valid samples to derive this study’s findings.

Findings

Through structure equation modelling analysis, this study’s findings demonstrate that lack of time and support, technical problems and lack of technical skills negatively affect OL. In addition, this study’s findings show that cost and access to internet has a significant effect on OL. Finally, this study’s findings show that among Saudi Arabian university students OL is the significant predictor of SaA.

Practical implications

This study’s findings offer university authorities meaningful ways to identify replacements for the usage of harmful devices to lessen psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. By pointing out students’ significant challenges and barriers during OL, this study’s findings support the smooth and parallel running of OL. Such challenges cause deprivation and frustration among the students. Therefore, to some extent, it may be a violation of their human rights. In this way, this study’s findings demonstrate how to overcome these violations.

Originality/value

By exploring the significant challenges faced by Saudi Arabian university students, this study’s findings offer an original and empirical contribution to the literature.

Details

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, vol. 16 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4902

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 August 2021

Imran Khan, Najmonnisa Khan, Fawaz Jazim, Yaser Hasan Al-Mamary, Mohammed Abdulrab and Abdullah Mohammed Al-Ghurbani

The purpose of this paper is to explore external factors: organization technical support, organization administrative support, organization infrastructure and resources, and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore external factors: organization technical support, organization administrative support, organization infrastructure and resources, and organization ICT policy’s effect on the commitment in use of technology among the faculty staff Hail university, Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey approach was used to collect data. A sample of 300 fulltime employees, having administrative and teaching responsibilities participated using a self-completion questionnaire. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), correlation and multiple regressions to determine the impact of external factors on the commitment in use of technology.

Findings

Overall, the results provided evidence that organization technical support, organization administrative support, and organization infrastructure and resources have a significant positive impact on the commitment in use of technology. However, organization ICT policy has an insignificant negative impact on the commitment in use of technology. The findings could be generalized on other public sector universities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected from one public sector university of Hail province, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Only four external factors were taken into consideration in investigating its influence on the commitment in use of technology. There could be other external/environmental factors which might be useful to underpin the theory and advance literature.

Practical implications

In-service and trainee faculties should take an advantage of using learning management system. Faculty should create a positive learning environment in their online classes so the learners can take a benefit out of the immense investment on ICT by ministry of higher education. Apart from giving training to teaching staff in use of technology, learners should also be given a platform to increase and improve their digital literacy. Workshops can be conducted frequently for both faculties and learners. Faculty can offer additional and out of the class support to their reluctant and weak students in order to assist them in the use of technology.

Originality/value

Technology integration after COVID-19 outbreak has significantly changed the education sector throughout the world. The use of technology now is unavoidable at primary, secondary and at tertiary level. This study provides an exclusive viewpoint concerning the external/environmental evidence based findings that have not been investigated empirically in the Saudi Arabian context. The current study also provides statistically a theoretical five-component model to understand the phenomena in the field of information communication technology.

Article
Publication date: 2 February 2022

Ali Mohammed Ali, Manar Hamid Jasim and Bashar Dheyaa Hussein Al-Kasob

The purpose of this paper is to present an applied method to design the low-speed contact between a mass and surface of a beam using an analytical solution based on the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an applied method to design the low-speed contact between a mass and surface of a beam using an analytical solution based on the first-order shear deformation beam theory. Also, a simulation of impact process is carried out by ABAQUS finite element (FE) code.

Design/methodology/approach

In theoretical formulation, first strains and stresses are obtained, then kinetic and potential energies are written, and using a combination of Ritz and Lagrange methods, a set of system of motion equations in the form of mass, stiffness and force matrices is obtained. Finally, the motion equations are solved using Runge–Kutta fourth order method.

Findings

The von Mises stress contours at the impact point and contact force from the ABAQUS simulation are illustrated and it is revealed that the theoretical solution is in good agreement with the FE code. The effect of changes in projectile speed, projectile diameter and projectile mass on the results is carefully examined with particular attention to evaluate histories of the impact force and beam recess. One of the important results is that changes in projectile speed have a greater effect on the results than changes in projectile diameter, and also changes in projectile mass have the least effect.

Originality/value

This paper presents a combination of methods of energy, Ritz and Lagrange and also FE code to simulate the problem of sandwich beams under low velocity impact.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology , vol. 22 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

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