Interprofessional nursing education and the role of swift trust and task conflict in team creativity: the mediating role of team interactive behaviors

PURPOSE

This paper aims to explore the impact of interprofessional healthcare collaboration among nurses on patient healthcare services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

Data were gathered through a randomly distributed questionnaire (N = 248), constructed using established scales or the variables under study. The sample consisted of nurses and patients from various hospitals and clinics across the UAE. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 28) and Amos (Version 29) software, employing factor analysis, reliability testing and mediation analysis.

FINDINGS

The study reveals a positive relationship between swift trust (ST) and its dimensions with both team interactive behavior (TIB) and nurse team creativity (TC). TIB was found to significantly mediate the effect of ST on TC. Additionally, based on closed-ended questions, a positive correlation was observed between team task conflict (TTC) and TC. However, no significant impact of TTC on nurse TC was identified through open-ended questions.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

This research presents a unique analysis of the influence of interprofessional collaboration on patient healthcare services in the UAE, offering valuable insights for policy improvement by enhancing nursing conditions. Furthermore, the study contributes to the existing literature by examining the relationship between ST, TIB, TTC and TC.

Transformational leadership and work engagement as mediators on nurses' job performance in healthcare clinics: work environment as a moderator

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of transformational leadership (TL) and work engagement (WE) on health-care clinic nurses' performance and the crucial role of these variables in the work environment (WEV).

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

Data were collected from 353 nurses working across various health-care clinics in the United Arab Emirates. This study used descriptive correlational statistics from the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, the Pearson correlation coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis for model validity, Cronbach's alpha for reliability and path analysis to determine the results.

FINDINGS

The relationship between TL and job performance among nurses in health-care clinics was strongly influenced by WE. In addition, a moderate WEV increased the positive influence of TL on job accomplishment. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the participants' demographics characteristics and the main variables of the study.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Health-care management can support and enhance nurses' job performance through TL, create a more structured WEV and support WE.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

This study involves a specific investigation into WE as a mediator, WEV as a moderator and the effect of TL on nurses' job performance.

Government regulation and organizational effectiveness in the health-care supply chain

Purpose

In the context of the debate on ensuring health-care efficiency, this study aims to identify and prioritize factors and subfactors that influence organizational effectiveness (OE) in the health-care supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

For the purpose of this qualitative study, triangulation was applied to identify, explore and systematically analyze the OE-related practices used by diverse stakeholders along the health-care supply chain. Sixty-two OE practices were thus identified. Subsequently, these were grouped in six different nodes before the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used to identify the weightings of specific practices (and related factors) and their impact on OE.

Findings

The findings suggest that external factors associated with government regulation, including government directives and branding, are the most critical factors that influence OE-related practices, while cost-related factors are the least important.

Originality/value

The originality of this study derives from the introduction of system theory supported by a modified supplier-input-process-output-customer (SIPOC) framework. Two important factors – government regulation and branding – have been introduced to the existing SIPOC chart as a valuable process structure for the health-care chain.

Conceptualising the relationship between green dynamic capability and SME sustainability performance: the role of green innovation, organisational creativity and agility

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework that establishes the linkages among green dynamic capability (GDC), green innovation (GI), organisational creativity (OC) and organisational agility (OA), which influence small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sustainability performance (SP) in trade and service sectors in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conducts a search of existing literature regarding SMEs SP. A conceptual framework is provided that can be used by SMEs to enhance their SP driving sustainable business growth.

Findings

A framework for SMEs sustainability is proposed, which demonstrates the connection between GDC and SME SP, with GI and OC as mediators and OA as a moderator.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited in terms of the scope of SME sustainability in the context of the trade and service sector. Future empirical study should be conducted to validate the proposed framework and hypotheses in this study.

Practical implications

This study forms the basis for the enhancement of SMEs SP in relation to boosting their GDC, GI, creativity and agility.

Originality/value

This paper presents a comprehensive framework that leads to the conceptualisation of SME SP. It will help practitioners and academics to better understand the causes of SMEs SP.

Empowering resources recombination through dynamic capabilities of an enterprise

Purpose

This study aims to provide insights on the importance of reconfiguring new and existing enterprise resources in a heterogeneous manner. This will lead to improved efficiencies, strategies and resource usage as such leading to more synergetic and innovative outcomes. This study highlights the importance of dynamic capabilities (DC) during the process of resources recombination (RR). It suggests that DC can be a source of competitive advantage, but the effect is contingent on the RR capabilities of enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from 349 faculty members of higher education institutions (HEIs) from seven states in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS was employed as a statistical tool to analyze the structural model.

Findings

The findings confirm the proposed role of DC in the realization of RR, in integrating and reconfiguring internal and external organizational skills and resources for efficiency and performance, since DC helps RR to reconfigure the resource base by extending, creating, and modifying innovative RRs.

Practical implications

The study has important implications for resource managers and policymakers of HEIs. By prioritizing DC, firms can develop novel products and services as a result of a heterogenous mix of new RR. Additionally, since firms have limited resources in ever-changing, complex environmental conditions, this study provides explicit directions on how enterprises can strategically manage their resources in an innovative manner to attain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Originality/value

Insights from the DC and RR perspective in HEI sectors, particularly in the Middle East region, are scarce. This is the first empirical study to delve in this area and exemplify the relationship between these significant constructs.

Perceived corporate social responsibility and innovative work behaviour: the role of passion at work

Purpose

Perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) reflects personal views towards CSR activities that impact emotion, attitude and behaviour. This paper aims to investigate how perceived CSR predicts innovative work behaviour (IWB).

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a survey questionnaire to collect data from Gen Y 508 nurses working in the United Arab Emirates health-care sector. This study used a structural equation model to examine the study’s hypotheses.

Findings

Perceived CSR was found positively and significantly related to employees’ passion at work (PAW). This study also found that PAW positively and significantly mediates the relationship between perceived CSR and IWB in the organisation.

Research limitations/implications

This study’s main limitation is that it used only quantitative methodology to examine the hypotheses. Thus, this study suggests mixed-method investigations in future research.

Practical implications

This study suggests that organisations should significantly engage in CSR-related activities, as it increases employees’ PAW and cause IWB to be in full swing. Passionate Gen Y nurses will improve the quality of patient care services with productive, IWB.

Originality/value

The study’s findings give an insight into how Gen Y nurses’ perceptions of CSR would affect their attitudinal and emotional variables. This study contributes to the knowledge domain of IWB in the organisation. Passionate Gen Y nurses will add value to the health-care system by implementing IWB.

Identification of terrestrial gastropods families found in district Swat, Pakistan

Very little is known about the malacofauna in district Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, situated in the Northern part of Pakistan. The Swat valley possesses a variety of suitable environmental conditions, providing different types of habitats for both flora and fauna. Taken into consideration these points, the present study was conducted to explore the terrestrial snails diversity in agricultural and non-agricultural fields in the lower Swat valley. A total of 417 shells were collected from three sites: Kokarai, Kanju Township, and Deolai. Based on conchological features, three families: Bradybaenidae, Hygromiidae, and Zonitidae were identified using different terrestrial snail keys. In Kokarai and Deolai, shells of members of all the above-mentioned families were found from agricultural fields. In Kanju Township, shells of members of the family Bradybaenidae and Zonitidae were found. From these findings, it was concluded that district Swat possesses a significant malacofauna which was unexplored before and aided more to the existing literature on malacofauna. It also supports the idea that the agroecosystem is rich in species diversity. Further in-depth and extensive study is recommended to be carried out for a detailed taxonomy of the described terrestrial gastropod families.

A quality function deployment strategy for improving mobile-government service quality in the Gulf cooperation council countries

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive mobile-government (m-government) service-quality factors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and develop an integrated strategic plan for improving the quality of m-government services from a customer perspective in the GCC.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was used in this case study of m-government services in the GCC. Data were collected using focus groups and questionnaires for three similar m-government applications (one from the United Arab Emirates, one from the Saudi Arabia and one from Oman). The house of quality tool, including technical benchmarking, was applied as part of the quality function deployment (QFD) approach to identify customer requirements, translate them to technical requirements and develop a strategic plan for improving the quality of m-government services.

Findings

The results revealed that “real time” had the highest priority for deployment, while “tangible service,” contrary to expectations, had the lowest priority for deployment.

Research limitations/implications

Study findings are limited to the m-government services delivered to citizens. There is scope for further study into m-government services delivered both to businesses and other governments.

Practical implications

The findings imply that the m-government decision makers must involve citizens in all service-development processes to ensure that service delivery meets citizens’ expectations.

Originality/value

Most previous studies regarding m-government service-quality dimensions have used information system service-quality dimensions. This study is one of the pioneering studies to have successfully derived m-government service-quality factors using the QFD matrix.

Understanding the Technology Receptivity in Higher Education

This article seeks to investigate factors that predict students' attitudes and intentions to use technology in higher education in the UAE context. A survey research was conducted on a sample of public and private University students using blackboard learn system and other educational technologies in the UAE. A model was developed, and structural equation modeling was used to ascertain the goodness of fit of the model. Computer literacy, ease of use and usefulness were hypothesized to impact the electronic satisfaction and retention of a student with Blackboard and other technology based educational platforms. Perceived usefulness and perceived computer literacy to e-satisfaction and retention was found to be statistically significant. This paper emphasizes technology implementation and receptivity in higher education students in a developing country context, and makes tentative suggestions and recommendations on how policy makers might respond to current and future technology needs.

Exploring mobile government from the service quality perspective

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify service quality dimensions and their sub-dimensions for mobile government services. Despite studies conducted on mobile services, there is lack of a comprehensive framework of mobile government service quality. Researchers and practitioners must outline a taxonomy of mobile government service quality before they can begin to test their effects empirically. It cannot be assumed that e-government is the same as m-government. Therefore, it is important to understand the dimensions that affect mobile government service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Mobile government service quality dimensions were extracted from the literature on m-government from its development and transition from e-government to service models being used. This helps understand what service quality dimensions are necessary when creating more efficient, reliable, and responsible forms of m-government. The dimensions are demonstrated within a holistic framework of m-government service quality, presented for both academic and practitioner appreciation.

Findings

This paper identifies 20 mobile government service quality sub-dimensions classified within six dimensions.

Originality/value

The literature on mobile government service quality is scarce. With the expectation of mobile subscriptions worldwide reaching 8 billion by 2016, it is the most lucrative time to be researching how the design of mobile government affects service quality. This paper is the first to provide information on m-government service quality dimensions available for assessment.

Strengthening access to finance for women-owned SMEs in developing countries

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight key trends, challenges, and opportunities for advancing women’s entrepreneurship and increasing their access to finance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Due to their high-growth potential, women-owned SMEs in developing countries are of particular interest. The International Financial Corporation and McKinsey built a detailed database for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. The data derived from the readily available global data sets provide coverage of a large number of countries and national statistics.

Findings

– Since financing is an important means by which to pursue growth opportunities, addressing the specific needs of women entrepreneurs (WE) in accessing finance must be part of the development agenda.

Practical implications

– This paper offers valuable practical insights to policy makers to establish a supportive, enabling environment that will facilitate access to financial services for WE in their respective countries; lead efforts to identify, evaluate, and support the replication of successful models for expanding financial services to WE; and lead efforts to gather gender-disaggregated data on small-, and medium-sized enterprise finance in a coordinated fashion.

Originality/value

– The value of this paper is that it offers insightful information about key trends, challenges, and opportunities for advancing women’s entrepreneurship and increasing their access to finance.

Impact of environmental scanning on the organisational performance of local authorities in Malaysia

Purpose

Previous studies on scanning behaviour focused mainly on the performance of the private sector, leaving the public sector, especially local authorities (LAs), largely understudied. Primarily, this paper aims to examine the element of strategic management tools associated with the impact of environmental scanning (ES) on organisational performance in the LAs. It explores the above relationship in the context of public sector organisations in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach has been used for this study where the data were collected through a mail survey (n=75) of local authorities in Malaysia, which consists of four categories – City Council/City Hall, Municipal Council, District Council and organisations that exercise the functions of local authorities.

Findings

Overall, the results show that the scope of general environmental scanning is seen as a prerequisite to the successful alignment of competitive strategies as a result of changing the needs and demands of the larger society, and the diverse nature of businesses. In the context of Malaysian LAs, there is a significant relationship between the environmental scanning (operation) and the overall achievement of the organisation's performance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to the Malaysian context, and, hence, the findings cannot be applied generally.

Practical implications

This study could be used effectively as a road map to assist the council members, senior staff and stakeholders in evaluating their success and steering the organisation's performance and sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper provides important insights into the performance of local governments in Malaysia. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first attempt to look at a more holistic perspective in exploring environmental scanning of LAs in the country. Increased understanding in this area is of critical importance in relation to implementing effectively the current and future modernisation and reform initiatives. It is of interest to both researchers and practitioners.

Businesswomen in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight findings from the dialogue and proceeding research report presented by the Gender and Public Policy Programme partnered with Al‐Sayedah Khadijah Bint Khuwailid Businesswomen Center and Monitor Group at the 2010 Dubai School of Government.

Design/methodology/approach

A selected paper on women entrepreneurship activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was chosen from the proceedings report at the conference for this paper. The programme participants included prominent business leaders and experts from the Gulf region.

Findings

The findings presented in this paper clearly illustrate that Saudi female entrepreneurs are generally confident, educated, optimistic about the future and resourceful. However, they face several main challenges such as gender‐specific obstacles in the regulatory environment, limited access to and use of formal capital and financing mechanisms, and the need for increased integration of sophisticated marketing and technology tools into business operations and greater availability of key support services.

Research limitations/implications

The paper mainly focuses on women entrepreneurs in the KSA. To give a clear picture of the women's entrepreneurial activities in Middle East and North Africa region, the opinions of women located in other countries need to be investigated.

Practical implications

The research has implications for government and non‐governmental organisations, financial institutions or other related business development agencies to formulate effective policy and appropriate strategy to motivate Saudi women to become entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

There are few Arab studies that have focused on growth‐oriented, women‐owned and operated businesses. The selected research paper gives some insight into the issues of women entrepreneurs from an Arab world.