Mohammad Oqla Al-Smadi

In recent years, the digital transformation of financial institutions has gained the attention of researchers and practitioners all over the world. This study investigates the impact of organizational, environmental, and technological factors on the digital transformation process of Jordanian banks. The approach used in this study is quantitative, and an online questionnaire was forwarded to employees in 15 Jordanian banks. The convenience sampling method was utilized to collect data from 286 participants with a response rate of 35%. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for analysis. The results show a significant positive relationship between organizational, environmental, and technological factors and digital transformation, which confirmed the imperative role of organizational, technological, and environmental factors in the digital transition process in Jordanian banks. The results highlight the need for Jordanian banks to develop explicit strategies that involve the integration of new technologies, regulatory frameworks that encourage modern technology adoption, and dealing with different environmental factors. The study thus proposes recommendations for Jordanian banks to achieve maximum benefit from digital transformation and manage the difficulties arising from this transformation in the changing banking sector.

The significance of companies’ readiness for digital transformation is becoming more widely recognized. This study, focusing on insurance companies in Jordan, aims to investigate the impact of organizational readiness on digital transformation. The study participants were staff members from various departments and administrative levels within the insurance companies, and the study population included all insurance companies in Jordan. This study uses convenience sampling to gather the required data by distributing an online questionnaire of 39 questions. A total of 245 valid responses were received and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results of the study prove that change valence positively influences digital transformation. The results also show that change efficacy, incorporating resource, IT, and cognitive readiness, positively affect digital transformation. Moreover, the results confirm that contextual factors incorporating cultural, strategic, and partnership readiness positively impact digital transformation. Further, employees’ work experience moderates the relationships between organizational readiness constructs and digital transformation. These results indicate that the insurance companies in Jordan should implement a comprehensive approach that encompasses an organizational rehabilitation strategy.

The purpose of this study is to examine the market efficiency of cryptocurrencies, specifically at a weak level. The study focuses on six prominent cryptocurrencies selected based on their significant market capitalization: Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB-USD), Ripple (XRP-USD), and Cardano USD (ADA-USD). The analysis utilizes unit root, Ljung–Box, variance ratio, runs, and the Brock–Dechert–Scheinkman (BDS) tests to assess different aspects of market efficiency. The data spans from September 2017 to April 2023, encompassing a wide time frame to capture potential shifts in market behavior. The results of all the tests, except the BDS test, indicate that the tested cryptocurrencies' markets are inefficient. However, the BDS test yielded different results, suggesting that BTC and ETH exhibit market efficiency compared to the other cryptocurrencies. This discrepancy indicates that the BDS test may be capturing different aspects of the time series behavior. The practical implication is that investors and market participants should exercise caution and consider the varying levels of efficiency when making decisions regarding these cryptocurrencies. Also, investors should consider a range of factors, including technical and fundamental analyses, when making investment decisions in a dynamic and evolving market.

This study explores the challenges facing the current e-payment systems and investigates the main factors that support using the e-payment system. This study used a cross-sectional approach. An online survey was conducted on Yemeni consumers as part of the collection of data. The data from 486 questionnaires were analyzed using smartPLS4 and Jamovi software for structural model analysis and statistical analysis. According to the PLS-SEM results, the structural model shows that R² is 0.757, which explains the variances in behavioral intention via all the constructs. Statistically, the intention to use e-payment systems is significantly and positively influenced by performance and effort expectancies and social influence. In contrast, facilitation conditions are significantly and negatively correlated with behavioral intention. This is attributed to consumers’ view of the infrastructure of Internet services, which does not contribute to the behavioral intention and acceptance of using electronic payment in Yemen. Contrary to expectations, age does not moderate the relationship between performance expectancy, social influence, and intention to use e-payment systems; hence, the related hypothesis was not supported. This study provides valuable suggestions for policymakers, designers, developers, and researchers, enabling them to better understand the critical aspects of using the electronic payment system. This study developed a model for predicting the likelihood of acceptance of electronic payments in a country that has not given adequate attention to this issue. An application and evaluation of the UTAUT model in Yemen are presented in this study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the compliance level of corporate governance rules and examine the impact of this compliance on risk taking of corporations in Jordan. This study used panel data of the listed corporations in Amman Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2017. Corporate governance index was constructed to gauge the compliance level of corporate governance rules. The results show a good level of overall compliance of corporate governance rules. As for the compliance of the categories of corporate governance rules, rules of transparency and disclosure are ranked first, while rules of general meeting assembly are ranked fourth. The regression results report a negative influence of corporate governance and corporate risk taking. In addition, four governance variables concerning the features of the board of directors are used in the study. The results reveal a negative impact of the size of the board of directors, independence of the board, and committees of the board on corporate risk taking. It is expected that the outcomes of the study can be used by management of the corporations in addition to the Jordanian Securities Commission that seek to enhance confidence in the Jordanian capital market.

This study aims to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and financial stability in Jordan by using Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) technique. The analysis is based on time series from 2006 to 2017. Jordanian financial inclusion index is developed to assess the level of financial inclusion, whereas financial stability was measured by Jordanian financial stability index proposed by Central Bank of Jordan. The results show a weak significant and positive impact of financial inclusion on the financial stability in Jordan. Additionally, five control variables are used in the study. The results show a negative impact of domestic credit to private sector, income inequality, financial integration, and global financial crisis on financial stability. In contrast, real GDP per capita has a significant and positive impact. It is expected that the findings of the study can be used by policy makers and supervising authorities to realize the objectives of the national strategy of financial inclusion in Jordan.

This study investigates the determinants of foreign portfolio investment in Jordan using series of data covering the period from 2000 to 2016. Eight independent variables were employed. They are: aggregate economic activity, inflation, interest rate differentiation, stock market performance, risk diversification, country creditworthiness, governance, and corruption. The regression results show that good and stable macroeconomic environment attracts foreign investors. In addition, foreign investors prefer to invest in the capital market which provides an opportunity of risk diversification. A country that has enough liquidity to meet its obligation, and has well-governed environment attracts more portfolio investment. The results of the study provide empirical evidence about the factors that have a significant impact on the flow of foreign portfolio investment to Jordan. These factors can be utilized when formulating polices by the specialized authorities who are seeking to attract more portfolio investment.