Business Commons^™

Role Of Technological Revolution In Transport And Communications Development, Mohamad B. Chami

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The arousal of technology has changed a lot of aspects in human life and has drastically changed its path through a revolution that changed the whole world. This revolution took place in various aspects while affecting significantly the global economy and from those fields that considerably affect the life of human beings in the previous and current centuries are Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and transportation. It is these two factors that play a major role in the economy of countries and dominate the lives of societies in the world. Thus, this paper studies the impact of the technology revolution …

Big Data, Customer Centricity And Sustainability In The Banking Industry, Lina Soubra

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Due to the huge progress in technology particularly the internet, people around the globe are generating huge amount of data that reflects their personal and unique behaviors. The analytics of big data that has facilitated capturing this rich data on customer in real time helped shifting the business model of banks towards customers. In parallel, nowadays customers are more aware of the need to safeguard the planet for the future generations and are exerting pressures on businesses including banks to become green and sustainable banks. Although banking industry has adopted sustainable development to save its reputation globally that has been …

A Review Of Knowledge Risk Conception, Rabih A. El Khatib, Alaaeldine Abbass Ali, Nehale Mostapha

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Knowledge is regarded as a critical source of sustainable competitive advantage. However, knowledge has a negative aspect as well. Organizations face a variety of risks as a result of a lack of knowledge, its disappearance, incorrect application, or other consequences of knowledge-related use. Various knowledge risk dimensions were reported in the literature. The authors summarized and analyzed the theoretical perspectives on knowledge risks based on certain criteria such as comprehensiveness, clarity and flexibility. This research has provided an extended knowledge risk taxonomy of Durst and Zieba (2018). The taxonomy now includes a strategic knowledge risks group that embraces knowledge loss, …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Continuing Professional Development In The Pharmaceutical Workplace: A Cross-Sectional Study In Lebanon, Georges Hatem, Mathijs Goossens, Diana Ghanem, Roula Bou Assi

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Continuous Professional Development in the pharmaceutical workplace and the direct impact on the pharmacists’ personal and professional progression and to assess their perceptions toward various CPD methods and their incorporation into this recent learning pathway. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Lebanon within three months from July 2017 till September 2017 using a survey as a tool. Overall 142 participants were conveniently selected frequency matching national government estimates of pharmacists’ work location and gender . Results: Among the respondents, 38.7% reported that they have learnt through CD/DVD, …

The Effect Of Students-As-Customers Concept On The Quality Of Education At Universities, Abeer Ahmad Sherry

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

In the field of education, particularly in higher education, marketization refers to higher education institutions using marketing practices in their policy and academic service, and mainly by regarding students as customers. Several factors have shifted the perspectives toward the students-as-customers approach. The main causes are the increased competition, decreased government funding, and the increased cost of education. However, adopting the concept of students as customers resulted in a misconception of the relationship between universities and students and many reviews perceive it as degrading for the educational standards. The aim of this paper is to clarify the issue of whether students …

Customers Loyalty: Does Value Co-Creation Become Indispensable For Universities?, Ayman Mahmoud Bazzi, Alaaeddine Abbas Ali, Nehale Mostapha

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

This paper investigates the direct and indirect relationships between customers` participation in value co-creation activities (CPVCA) and their loyalty. Quantitative research approach is adopted, while the population consists of all the Lebanese private universities` students. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 403 students, nominated according to convenience sampling technique. The study proposed scale validity and the relationships between variables were examined depending on PLS-SEM. The findings reveal a direct significant relationship between CPVCA and customers` loyalty; in addition, to indirect relationship, through the partial mediating role for customers` satisfaction and relationship strength. Research implications and limitations are presented.

The Feasibility Of Using A Phenomenological Approach To Explicate The Experience Of Being-In-Community: Experience Of Reviving The Marine Heritage In Bahrain, Islam Hamdy Elghonaimy, Layal Tahsine Ahmed Channaa

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

The strategic location of Bahrain and its wealthy marine and coastal environment were the main drivers for the country’s flourishment before the discovery of oil. For a long time, Bahrain has functioned as a pioneer maritime trade center and represented a significant trade transit route between the east and west that transfers the affluent marine productions. This mainly formed an eminent cultural heritage for the country reflected within its inveterate maritime history and the authentic bond between the Bahraini grandparents and the sea. Unfortunately, along with the life evolution, this bond became weak and the biodiversity of the country’s marine …

Extensive Descriptive Literature Review Revealing The Impact Of Banking Secrecy On Money Laundering: Prominence On The Lebanese Banking Sector, Nour Mohamad Fayad, Sara Karam Nassredine

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Worldwide financial institutions face complexity in balancing between business ethical standards on one hand, and the act of competitiveness on the other hand. Thus, while selecting their customers they seek customers that lead them to the optimum position of competitiveness in the market, taking into consideration the act of financial investigation to avoid money launderer customers. Money launderer customers seek to deal with financial institutions to proceed with operating their financial crimes. Therefore, this paper spots the light on “money laundering” alongside with the impact of banking secrecy on money laundering with prominence on the Lebanese banking sector. Thus, in …

Oil Price Fluctuations Impact On The Lebanese Economic Well Being, Hanadi Taher

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

This paper investigates the impact of oil price fluctuation on the Lebanese economic well being during the period from 1988 to 2018 using multivariable ordinary least square method with annual time series. taking the Lebanese GDP per capita as proxy for the economic wellbeing as dependent variable and the crud oil average annual prices as proxy for oil price fluctuations with Labor and gross fixed capital formation as two control variables. The test results show a significant and positive impact for the oil price fluctuations on the Lebanese economic well being and the significant results for control variables. In testing …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding The Use Of Antibiotics: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Rural Area Of Lebanon, Carine Mounzer, Safaa Baydoun, Ranya Amer, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Despite the presence of a national policy restricting the easy access to antibiotics, irrational use of antibiotics continues to be widespread both in human use and livestock production in Lebanon. This study targets the general population in the rural region of Bekaa to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards antibiotic use. A cross sectional questionnaire was completed by 1151 participants, through face-to-face interviews. Study population was randomly selected. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were applied in data analysis. 69.2% of participants had a very poor knowledge about antibiotics. More than 70% believed that viral infections may be treated …

The Impact Of Emerging Technology On Nurses Caring Behavior During Blood Pressure Monitoring For Adult Patients At General Hospitals, Kuwait., Eman Al Awade, Hanan Alnuqaidan, Marthal Johnson, Hoda Diab

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Introduction: The nursing profession has advanced immensely from the onset. Remarkable changes in medical technology facilitated patients’ survival and treatments which were unimaginable during the period of Florence Nightingale. Although, technology empowered the nurses to provide quality care to patients, some of these technologies can break the bond of therapeutic nurse - patient relationship and make it mechanical, instead. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate nurses caring behavior during blood pressure monitoring with manual and electronic devices. Objective: Compare the nurses caring behavior while monitoring blood pressure by electronic and manual devices. Methods: a descriptive comparative design …

Contemporary Organizational Reality Through The Eyes Of Chaos Theory: A Literature Review, Inas Rafik Zein Eddine

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Since the beginning of scientific management, organizations have been managed by linear structures and rigid scientific understandings, where and for decades scientific models have been dominating the way organizations are built and the way organizational reality is foreseen. Primarily, these traditional managerial perspectives have been challenged by the Chaos theory, which came to detect the linearity ruling each and every aspect of organizations' course of work. Indeed, this theory was not sufficiently conceptualized in organizations’ philosophies and practices; however, within the rapid pace of the continuous changes and instabilities around, the attention to it has been on the rise. Amid …

The Mediation Role Of Customer Satisfaction On Service Quality And Corporate Image - An Evidence From Lebanese Private Universities, Lama Mohammad Khawaja, Alaaeldine Abbass Ali, Nehale Mostapha

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

The higher education sector in Lebanon faces a number of challenges due to its rapid expansion, which has had many implications for the development of the sector. However, each university competes for a limited resources. Thus, promoting the image of the university becomes an essential factor for survival. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between service quality and corporate image with customer satisfaction as an intermediary in private universities in Lebanon. A survey of 378 respondents was conducted. A judgmental sample of university students was selected. The framework was tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The …

Optimization Of Supermarket Checkout Counters Using Integrated Greedy Algorithm, Ramzi Fayad, Hadi Abou Chakra

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Supermarkets worldwide are facing a service dilemma whether to increase or decrease their number of counters used at checkouts. A higher number of checkouts will undoubtedly reduce waiting time at checkout, a factor in improving customer satisfaction and service quality but this will come at a cost to the Supermarket. The work conducted in this paper will therefore focus on this tradeoff between improving the customer shopping experience versus the Supermarket Cost and profitability margins. It will do so by using an optimization algorithm that can help find the optimum number of checkouts and utilization of staff resources. The optimization …

An Improvement Of Cross Entropy Thresholding For Skin Cancer, Nancy Aref Zreika N, A. Zreika, Ali El Zaart, Abdallah Al Shakik

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Image processing procedures in medical diagnosis are used to improve diagnosis accuracy. An example of this is skin cancer detection using the thresholding approach. Thus, research studies involved in identification of inherited mutations predisposing family members to malignant melanoma have been performed in the Cancer Genetics field. Melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers, but could be cured when diagnosed early. A fundamental step in image processing is segmentation that includes thresholding, among others. Thresholding is based on finding the optimal thresholds value that partitions the image into multiple classes to be able to distinguish the objects from the background. …

Unsteady Rotational Motion Of A Micropolar Fluid Inside A Right Circular Cylinder Using State Space Approach, Sarah Ahmad Slayi S.A.Slayi, Emad Ashmawy

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

In this work, the unsteady rotational motion of an incompressible micropolar fluid inside a right circular cylinder is investigated. The classical no-slip and no-spin boundary conditions are proposed. The problem is solved analytically using the state space approach together with Laplace transform technique. The inverse Laplace transform is carried out numerically using a numerical technique based on Fourier series expansion. Numerical results for the flow field functions are represented graphically for different values of the time and micropolarity parameters.

Factors Influencing Outsourcing Of Accounting Functions In Lebanese Small Medium-Sized Enterprises, Rasha Mohamad Mahboub Mrs.

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Accounting functions (AF) play a significant role in aiding firms to sustain competitive advantage (CA). However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face troubles handling basic AF. This is primarily due to their dearth of proficiency and infrastructure. Consequently, outsourcing has come to be a substantial aspect of the thorough strategy of any SME to leverage its CA. In spite of the fact that outsourcing became very popular topic, this area has not been studied fully in emerging countries like Lebanon specifically in the industrial sector. Thus, this research aimed at examining the main factors affecting AF outsourcing in the Lebanese …

Establishing A New Restoration Strategy To Use Nanomaterials In Reviving Damaged Buildings Post-Disaster, Khouloud Walid Darwiche

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Nanotechnologies are a new solution of many problems of contemporary society, by creating products and processes for more specific uses with less environmental impact throughout their life cycle. The use of new technology such Nanotechnology in the restoration of damaged buildings post-disaster will be a contemporary solution to achieve sustainable development. After the explosion of Port of Beirut in August 4, 2020, it is necessary to search a new technology that restore and retrofit damaged buildings and in the other hand, to achieve the architectural quality, comfort and energy saving, in addition to its impact on energy consumption rates, its …

The Advantages And Limitations Of E-Commerce To Both Customers & Businesses, Majed Al Tamer

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

One of the major new trends affecting the business world, the consumers and the economy is the emergence of e-commerce. In this paper, we will analyze both its advantages and limitations, clarifying the future impacts of this rapidly growing phenomenon. We will clarify the advantages that e-commerce helps businesses achieve, such as increasing their customers, penetrating new markets, reducing financial costs as well as enhancing customer satisfaction levels and retention rates. We will also showcase the various advantages that e-commerce provides customers such as the grater accessibility to a wider variety of products from numerous vendors, enhanced connivance in the …

Effect Of Corporate Social Responsiblity Activities On Employee Engagement In The Lebanese Pharmaceutical Field, Ola Bazaza

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

This paper seeks to explore the interrelationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee engagement; first theoretically by reviewing the literature and secondly by surveying different respondents from across Lebanon working in different pharmaceutical fields. The aim of this paper was to seek a correlation between corporate social responsibility and how it would impact employee engagement and enthusiasm and if it would result in better return towards society. The data collected from the surveys was computed using SPSS program and the results in hand were analyzed in order to seek out the relation between the two studied factors. The results …

Descriptive Literature Review To Classify And Analyze Growth Of Chinese Firms From 1990’S Until 2018, Sara Karam Nassreddine, Nour Mohamad Fayad

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

This paper presents an understanding of the economic situation of the Chinese firms and their growth model, using a descriptive research model with an extensive literature review of factors argued to be generating growth and persistent high-growth in China. The selection of reviewed and embedded papers included several quantitative, as well as qualitative papers for analysis from the 1990s until 2018. Thus, the descriptive literature review was used as the methodology by which researchers present the history of the firm’s development and discuss the work of others using scientific arguments and comments. The examination has revealed that numerous factors discussed …

Optimised Retrofit Strategies For Energy Reduction And Comfort In Dwellings For Future Climate Scenario In Southeast England, Bahaa El Dine Abou El Khoudoud

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

This paper aims to find an optimum retrofit scheme utilising adaptation and mitigation techniques to a Sub-urban English old house, for an inevitable future climate change. It seeks its aims by investigating the energy performance, as well as the summertime comfort of old dwellings in current and future weather predictions. Studies shows that pre-1990 building stock represents one of the least energy-efficient, as these houses were built before the introduction of building envelope directives in building regulation. Specifically, uninsulated semi-detached houses of the inter-war period can potentially be an essential target for retrofits to reach the 2030 carbon emission goal. …

Hand Sanitizers Use During Covid-19 Pandemic: Knowledge, Preference, And Adherence Of A Sample Of The Lebanese Population., May Saab, Souraya Domiati

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Purpose: Preventive measure has been a gold stone in reducing the spread of Coronavirus disease of 2019. These measures include quarantine, social distancing, face mask use, and most importantly hand hygiene. Consequently, alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been used abundantly. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, preference, and practice toward hand sanitizers of the Lebanese community, during the pandemic period.

Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out from mid of May to mid of June 2020. Adult Lebanese residents from the 5 main Lebanese districts were invited to participate in the study. The questionnaire included demographic data, 5 …

Exploring Customer Relationship Management In Two Private Hospitals In Kuwait, Yassmin Diab

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

The private hospital industry in Kuwait is an important contributor in the economy of the country. There has been a major increase in the number of private hospitals and clinics in the past four years, and more hospitals are launching new services in the private healthcare sector. In order to succeed in this sector, it is important for an organization to focus on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for thriving in the competitive market. A customer relationship management strategy is believed to give a competitive edge to hospitals, as customers nowadays make their decisions based on the type and strength of …

Prevalence Of Varicose Veins Among Nurses Working In Different Hospital Departments: A Cross Sectional Study, Maya Maziad, Hiba Deek

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Varicose veins are common among people working in professions requiring long standing hours like nursing. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of varicose veins among nurses working in different hospital units and identify the protective and risk factors to varicose vein development. A Cross-sectional design with self-reported questionnaires was implemented; 110 nurses at Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Osseiran Hospital working at units assumed to have the longest standing hours such as Emergency Department, operating rooms and medical and surgical units participated in the study. The participants were surveyed on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history and current …

Audit Report Lag: Do Company Characteristics And Corporate Governance Factors Matter? Empirical Evidence From Lebanese Commercial Banks, Rasha M. Nouraldeen, Mohamed Mandour, Wagdi Hegazy

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

The objective of this study is to investigate the determinants (company specific characteristics and corporate governance factors) of audit report lag (ARL) in a developing country, namely, Lebanon. This paper adds and contributes to the limited literature that investigated the determinants of ARL in the developing Middle East countries through focusing on the Lebanese context. The study is carried out depending on a sample of Lebanese commercial banks operating in Lebanon, covering the period from 2012 to 2017. The researchers used the multiple regression analysis to examine the impact of the explanatory variables on ARL. The results show a significant …

The Impact Of Corporate Governance On Earnings Management In Islamic And Conventional Banks, Christina A. Al Hajjar, Ekramy S. Mokhtar, Mohamed M. Mandour

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the association between internal corporate governance and earnings management and to compare earnings management practices in Islamic banks versus conventional banks in the MENA region.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses an unbalanced panel data of 20 Islamic banks and 100 conventional banks, from eleven countries in the MENA region over the period 2012-2017. Discretionary accruals are used to measure earnings management by estimating loan loss provision. Regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings – The results indicate that Islamic banks provide fewer earnings management practices compared to conventional banks. Besides, the …

The Effect Of Leader-Member Exchange, Co-Worker Cooperation And Locus Of Control On Employee Outcomes In Lebanese Smes: Perceptions Of Politics As A Mediator, Sakina El Jisr, Abdul Rahman Beydoun, Nehale Mostapha

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the nature of the relationships between three variables (leader-member exchange, locus of control and co-worker cooperation) and two employee outcomes (job satisfaction and turnover intention). It also examines whether these relationships are mediated by perceptions of politics.

Design/methodology/approach – Survey data was obtained from 300 employees from Lebanese SMEs located between Tripoli and Beirut. Mediation was tested using Baron and Kenny (1986)’s framework.

Findings – Results revealed that leader-member exchange and co-worker cooperation are positively related to job satisfaction and negatively related to turnover intention. Locus of control, on the other hand, is …

The Role Of Country Of Origin, Perceived Value, Trust, And Influencer Marketing In Determining Purchase Intention In Social Commerce, Ali A. Abou Ali, Alaa A. Ali, Nehale Mostapha

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

The paper aims to improve understanding about the causes why customers intend to purchase online through social media networks. The study examined factors affecting purchase intention namely: country of origin effect, trust, perceived value, and influencer marketing on the willingness of buyers to purchase clothes through social commerce. A questionnaire was established for data collection, and 400 forms were collected in Lebanon, and were analyzed using SEM to examine the relationships in the conceptual framework suggested. Results designated that country of origin, trust, and perceived value were three significant precursors of customers’ purchase intention in the context of social commerce. …

Financial Structure And Systemic Risk: Evidence From Selected Mena Region Countries, Maggie J. Houshaimi

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Against the context of the consecutive world financial crisis, this paper aims to evaluates the merits of market-based against bank-based financing by analyzing the correlation between financial structure and systemic risk of eleven countries within the MENA region. Within the study three hypotheses are tested; first, if financial structure and systemic risk are significantly related, second, if this relation is non-linear relationship and the third one is if bank financing doesn’t contribute to systemic risk above the threshold financial structure value. To our knowledge no paper has addressed this issue in the selected countries. This paper uses a balanced panel …