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1 – 10 of 575The main objective of this study is to present a compact overview analysis of intellectual property laws, specifically copyright-related provisions applicable to generative…
Abstract
Purpose
The main objective of this study is to present a compact overview analysis of intellectual property laws, specifically copyright-related provisions applicable to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the Indian context.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts a qualitative research methodology that is grounded in secondary sources of information. The data were gathered from the Scopus database for a systematic literature review.
Findings
GenAI technology has given rise to numerous questionable issues within the domain of intellectual property that need resolution in the form of policy solutions. Based on the findings of this paper, it can be deduced that Indian copyright laws are not adequate for addressing the rights pertaining to AI and its creations and outputs. Different countries like the United States, European Union and China have approached the regulation and protection of AI-generated content within the realm of copyright law in different ways. The future of law, as it has been established thus far, seems to be on a path of substantial evolution.
Practical implications
The study has implications for policymakers globally as there is a need to create feasible policy solutions that can efficiently safeguard against risks stemming from large language models (LLMs) and other GenAI models, while also promoting innovation, technical advancement and adoption.
Originality/value
The paper discusses the copyright-related issues in GenAI technology in the context of an emerging economy, India.
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Ethiopia has enacted laws on transparency and disclosure of information in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). However, these laws are not strict enough, with the transparency and…
Abstract
Purpose
Ethiopia has enacted laws on transparency and disclosure of information in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). However, these laws are not strict enough, with the transparency and disclosure practices disappointing in the country. Thus, this study aims to investigate the legal framework governing transparency and disclosure in SOEs.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses doctrinal, qualitative and comparative approaches. Domestic legal texts are appraised based on the organization for economic co-operation and development Guideline on Corporate Governance of State-owned Enterprises, the World Bank Toolkit on Corporate Governance of State-owned Enterprises and best national practices. This approach has been further corroborated by qualitative analysis of the basic principles of transparency and disclosure.
Findings
The finding reveals that the laws on transparency and disclosure do not comply with global practices and are inadequate to ensure transparency and discourse in SOEs. They fail to establish appropriate disclosure frameworks and practices at the SOE and state-ownership entity levels. They also indiscriminately subject enterprises to multiple auditing functions and conflicting responsibilities.
Originality/value
To the author’s knowledge, this study is the first legal literature on transparency and disclosure in Ethiopian SOEs. This study assists the state as owner in reforming the laws and uplifting SOEs from their current unpleasant condition. It can also become a reference for future research.
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Adeyemi Adebayo and Barry Ackers
Within the context of public sector accountability, the purpose of this paper is to examine South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs) auditing practices and how they have…
Abstract
Purpose
Within the context of public sector accountability, the purpose of this paper is to examine South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs) auditing practices and how they have contributed to mitigating prevalent corporate governance issues in South African SOEs.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilised a thematic content analysis of archival documents relating to South African SOEs. Firstly, to assess the extent to which the auditing dimension of the corporate governance codes, applicable to South African SOEs, conforms with best practices. Secondly, to determine the extent to which the audit practices of all the 21 South African SOEs listed in Schedule 2 of the Public Finance Management Act, have implemented the identified best audit practices.
Findings
The findings suggest that South African SOEs appear to have adopted and implemented best audit practices to enhance the quality of their accountability in relation to their corporate governance practices, as contained in their applicable corporate governance frameworks. However, despite the high levels of conformance, the observation that most South African SOEs continue to fail and require government bailouts, appears to suggest that auditing has no bearing on poor SOE performance, and that other corporate governance factors may be at play.
Practical implications
The discussion and findings in this paper suggest that the auditing practices of South African SOEs are adequate. However, that SOEs in South Africa continue to be loss-making may imply that this has contributed little to mitigating their corporate governance problems. Thus, policymakers and standard setters, including the Institute of Directors South Africa and relevant oversight bodies should pay attention to better developing means by which to curtail fruitless and wasteful expenditures by South African SOEs through improved corporate governance practices.
Social implications
Most SOEs’ mission statements encourage SOEs to be socially responsible and utilise taxpayers’ monies efficiently and effectively without engaging in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. This study is conceived in this light.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, while acknowledging previous studies, this paper is the first to explore this topic in the context of SOEs and in the context of Africa.
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Corporate governance is the system of rules, practices, and processes used to direct and control a company. It is important to ensure that companies are managed fairly and…
Abstract
Corporate governance is the system of rules, practices, and processes used to direct and control a company. It is important to ensure that companies are managed fairly and transparently, protecting all stakeholders' interests. Joint-stock companies (JSCs) are a type of business organization in which ownership is divided into shares. Shareholders are the company's owners; they have the right to vote on important company matters (e.g., electing the board of directors and approving major financial decisions). International standards for corporate governance have been developed by a number of organizations, including the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). These standards provide guidance on how to establish and maintain effective corporate governance systems.
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The paper studies types and mechanisms of vertical and horizontal multilevel institutional governance (IG) (multilevel governance [MLG]). The relation with exports is reviewed and…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper studies types and mechanisms of vertical and horizontal multilevel institutional governance (IG) (multilevel governance [MLG]). The relation with exports is reviewed and quantified to attempt prioritizing institutional reforms fostering merchandise exports in Egypt.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper studies data (from 1996 till 2020) to estimate impact of IG on Egyptian merchandise exports using two autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models: to test the World Governance Index (WGI) composite index, followed by its main indicators; and to determine governance priorities in Egypt. “Institutional” approach is adopted to assess mechanisms boosting Egyptian exports. Design comprises three sections – (1) conceptual and literature review, (2) main MLG mechanisms and (3) key findings of empirical results – to find out which institutional reforms enhance exports competitiveness in Egypt.
Findings
Among MLG different levels of governance, the macro level is highly related to boosting exports competitiveness. Institutional differentials between countries and regions affect competitive edge. In Egypt, results show that IG priorities that could foster exports are the rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness and political stability and absence of violence.
Practical implications
By adopting IG mechanisms, i.e. legislative, organizational and digital; and instruments, e.g. National Single Window, Time Release Standards and others, Egyptian exports could reach new heights.
Originality/value
Exports competitiveness does not rely solely on monetary and fiscal factors; IG dynamics could be more important in Egypt. ARDL model for Egyptian merchandise exports using WGI 2021 dataset.
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Saranne Cooke, Alison Sheridan, Mark Perry, Siva Barathi Marimutha and Mary Louise Conway
This paper aims to examine how directors operationalise Australian corporate governance guidelines to follow their self-regulatory responsibilities.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine how directors operationalise Australian corporate governance guidelines to follow their self-regulatory responsibilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This study consists of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 41 directors of ASX200 companies.
Findings
This study sheds light on how directors behave when grappling with the challenges they face as they work within a non-mandatory governance code. It adds to the literature by finding that while most of the good practice guidelines detailed by the ASXCG are well understood and enacted, in practice directors focus on ensuring strong relationships, minimising risk and managing the tensions they face in responsibly managing remuneration.
Practical implications
This study highlights the three R’s and the workings of the code, it also reveals the dynamics of managing uncertainty at the board level. At the implementation level, these insights will help board members to reflect on where attention is focused within guiding principles.
Originality/value
This study contributes to corporate governance studies by filling the gap between what should happen – as per governance guidelines – and what does happen in practice in top level Australian corporations. In making visible what exercises directors most as they operationalise their responsibilities in Australia, a country with a non-mandatory “if not, why not” governance code, the authors demonstrate how self-regulation plays out.
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Abdulnaser Ibrahim Nour, Mohammad Najjar, Saed Al Koni, Abullateef Abudiak, Mahmoud Ibrahim Noor and Rani Shahwan
The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of governance mechanisms on corporate failure.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of governance mechanisms on corporate failure.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a hypothesis-testing research design to collect data from the annual reports of 35 companies listed on Palestine Exchange from 2010 to 2019. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed, along with correlation analysis to evaluate linear relationships between variables. The variance inflation factor was used to test multicollinearity, and binary logistic regression was utilized to develop the research model.
Findings
There is a significant positive relationship between board of directors' independency, institutional ownership and the quality of external audit, and corporate failure reduction. No significant relationship has been found among corporate governance variables such as board size, board meetings' frequency, board members' remuneration and audit committee existence, and corporate failure reduction.
Research limitations/implications
Several empirical research studies have developed models to predict corporate failure using accounting and financial data. However, limited research has empirically investigated the impact of the different mechanisms of governance on corporate failure prediction.
Practical implications
The research highlighted the significance of companies' commitment to governance principles and their impact on predicting failure. The study suggests that decision-makers and managers can adopt different governance mechanisms to support corporate success and avoid those that may lead to negative consequences and failure.
Originality/value
This research is the first in Palestine to use a comprehensive list of corporate governance mechanisms to predict the failure of companies listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2019.
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Mohamed Mihilar Shamil, Dulni Wanya Gooneratne, Dasitha Gunathilaka and Junaid M. Shaikh
This study examines the effect of board characteristics on the tax aggressiveness of listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange in Sri Lanka.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the effect of board characteristics on the tax aggressiveness of listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consists of 264 firm-year observations of non-financial listed companies in Sri Lanka from 2014 to 2019. The dynamic panel system GMM technique was used to test the hypotheses, and further analyses were performed using the propensity score matching technique.
Findings
All four effective tax rate measures' mean values were lower than the statutory tax rate, indicating the likelihood of tax planning. Whether board attributes are likely to mitigate tax aggressiveness is uncertain because the results are inconsistent and depend on the ETR measure. Similarly, the logistic regression results derived using the PSM approach are inconsistent, suggesting that board characteristics may have a limited effect on tax aggressiveness. Hence, the corporate governance-tax aggressiveness nexus is limited in the case of Sri Lanka.
Research limitations/implications
This investigation is limited to non-financial listed companies in Sri Lanka and incorporates only four tax aggressiveness measures. Findings are imperative for policymakers, regulators, and professional bodies to improve corporate governance codes and rules to enhance organisational transparency toward corporate tax payments.
Social implications
Aggressive tax planning by companies will reduce government tax revenue, hinder social progress, and cause public mistrust of large corporations and institutions.
Originality/value
This study provides insight into the nexus between corporate governance and tax aggressiveness in a middle-income economy in South Asia hit by an economic crisis where tax revenue has fallen and tax enforcement is weak.
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Admir Meskovic, Emira Kozarevic and Alija Avdukic
This study aims to investigate the relationship between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, pioneering a new aspect in terms of the impact of the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, pioneering a new aspect in terms of the impact of the National Shariah Board (NSB) on the social performance of Islamic banks. The essential body in the Islamic banks in charge of Islamic governance is the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB). Therefore, in this study, the authors explore how the characteristics of the Shariah board and Islamic governance mechanisms influence the social performance of Islamic banks.
Design/methodology/approach
Panel data methods are applied to the annual data of 43 banks from 14 countries over the period 2012–2018 to explore the impact of Islamic governance on Islamic banks’ social performance. The authors have used all available bank annual reports in the given period. Social performance is measured by Maqasid al-Shariah (in terms of the goals of the Islamic moral economy) index using a comprehensive evaluation framework. Islamic governance is represented by the improved Islamic Governance Score (IG-Score) index, which measures the quality of Islamic governance in Islamic banks. In the research, the authors also introduce the frequency of SSB meetings in IG-Score.
Findings
The findings suggest a strong link between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, illustrating the importance of the Shariah board in achieving maqasid. On the other hand, the research discovered that NSBs are inefficient and the existence of NSB can jeopardize the social performance of Islamic banks. The results of this research imply valuable recommendations for Islamic banks that are keen to improve their social performance.
Originality/value
Besides investigating the impact of SSB governance on the social performance of Islamic banks by using an improved IG score index, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the impact of NSBs on the social performance of Islamic banks.
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S'thembile Thusini, Tayana Soukup and Claire Henderson
In this article, we outline our views on the appropriateness and utility of Return on Investment (ROI) for the evaluation of the value of healthcare quality improvement (QI…
Abstract
Purpose
In this article, we outline our views on the appropriateness and utility of Return on Investment (ROI) for the evaluation of the value of healthcare quality improvement (QI) programmes.
Design/methodology/approach
Our recent research explored the ROI concept and became the genesis of our viewpoint. We reflect on our findings from an extensive research project on the concept of ROI, involving a multidisciplinary global systematic literature review, a qualitative and Delphi study with mental healthcare leaders from the United Kingdom National Health Service. Research participants included board members, clinical directors and QI leaders. Our findings led to our conclusions and interpretation of ROI against the broad QI governance. We discuss our views against the predominant governance frameworks and wider literature.
Findings
ROI is in-line with top-down control governance frameworks based in politics and economics. However, there is evidence that to be of better utility, a tool for the assessment of the value of QI benefits must include comprehensive benefits that reflect broad monetary and non-monetary benefits. This is in-line with bottom-up and collaborative governance approaches. ROI has several challenges that may limit it as a QI governance tool. This is supported by wider literature on ROI, QI as well as modern governance theories and models. As such, we question whether ROI is the appropriate tool for QI governance. A more pragmatic governance framework that accommodates various healthcare objectives is advised.
Practical implications
This article highlights some of the challenges in adopting ROI as a QI governance tool. We signal a need for the exploration of a suitable QI governance approach. Particularly, are healthcare leaders to be perceived as “agents”, “stewards” or both. The evidence from our research and wider literature indicates that both are crucial. Better QI governance through an appropriate value assessment tool could improve clarity on QI value, and thus investment allocation decision-making. Constructive discussion about the utility and appropriateness of ROI in the evaluation of healthcare QI programmes may help safeguard investment in effective and efficient health systems.
Originality/value
The article raises awareness of QI governance and encourages discussions about the challenges of using ROI as a tool for healthcare QI governance.
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