Mohamed A. Khashan

Extant research examining the link between board ethnic diversity (BED) and environmental and social (ES) performance has produced contradictory evidence, calling for further investigation and clarification. Drawing on a 6‐year panel of South African listed firms, this study disentangles the prior research findings by demonstrating a U‐shaped relationship between BED and ES performance. In this study, we integrate social identity and critical mass theories to argue firstly that the increase of ethnic diversity may cause communication barriers and distinct social categorizations that hinder boards' ability to make cohesive and impactful ES decisions. However, as ethnic diversity further increases to a very high level, the minority will reach critical mass, and such barriers will diminish, unlocking the advantages of broader perspectives and richer resources, which ultimately drive stronger ES outcomes. Using data from nonfinancial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) between 2015 and 2020, and employing the generalized method of moments (GMM) and two‐stage least squares (2SLS) to address endogeneity and the Heckman two‐stage model to deal with selection bias, we provide robust evidence supporting this nonlinear relationship. Additionally, we show that the negative effects of moderate diversity are mitigated when ethnic directors bring advanced education and international experience to the table—qualities that foster collaboration and bridge divides. Our study contributes to both theory and practice by deepening insights into the nexus between BED and ES performance.

Purpose: Maintaining customer fascination with and devotion to the brand requires more investigation of emotional attachments and authenticity. Using the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) paradigm and self-determination theory (SDT), the present study seeks to examine the influence of brand authenticity (S) and brand love (O) on brand advocacy (R), along with the mediating function of brand love and the moderating effect of the need for uniqueness. Design/methodology/approach: The data collected from 384 smartphone consumers were analyzed via variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: The results indicate that, except for continuity, brand authenticity dimensions exhibit a significant positive influence on brand love and advocacy. The findings demonstrate that brand love is a mediator, whereas the need for uniqueness moderates the examined factors. Originality/value: In the context of smartphone brand advocacy, this study is the initial attempt to investigate the integration of the S-O-R paradigm and self-determination theory (SDT) with consumers’ emotional and cognitive states.

Digital technology has become an essential engine of green development and economic progress due to the meteoric rise of new technologies. Our paper seeks to explore the impact of digitalization on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in different business contexts. Data were collected from listed firms across 19 Asian countries from 2015 to 2024, covering 1839 firms, yielding 18,390 firm-year observations and establishing a balanced panel data set. We used the dynamic panel data model to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings revealed that digitalization has a significant and positive impact on ESG performance. It also revealed that environmental uncertainty moderates this relationship. Moreover, our analysis indicated that the impact of digitalization on ESG performance is stronger for product (vs. service) firms, stronger for B2B (vs. B2C) firms and stronger for firms in IT-intensive industries. In addition, the analysis indicated that the impact of digitalization on ESG performance is stronger in more dynamic, complex and munificent environments. Our examination offers meaningful implications for theory and practice by expanding our knowledge of the complex mechanism underpinning the positive correlation between digitalization and ESG performance.

Purpose: Due to augmented reality (AR) technology improvements, the retail industry has embraced smart retailing as its primary business model. Therefore, organizations must comprehend the intricacies of AR adoption to persuade clients to adopt this revolutionary technology effectively. Thus, the current study proposes and evaluates a comprehensive model that includes unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2), privacy concerns, physical risks and technological anxiety to predict customers’ intention to use AR apps in the retail industry in the Egyptian context. Design/methodology/approach: The current study examines 398 responses from Egyptian shoppers using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Snowball sampling was employed in the existing study. The participants were selected using a “self-selection” strategy, which is an excellent method for research investigations in which the participants freely participate. Findings: Consumers’ intentions to use AR apps in retail settings are positively impacted by task-technology fit, performance expectation, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and hedonic motivation. Conversely, privacy and physical risks negatively affect customers’ intention to use AR apps in retail. Furthermore, technological anxiety serves as a moderator factor in these connections. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, the current study is considered the first to test the role of UTAUT2, privacy and physical risks on users' behavioral intentions toward adopting AR apps in retail. It also examines technological anxiety as a moderator in the retail setting.

Purpose: The current study used the Stimuli-Organism-Response (S-O-R) paradigm to analyze value co-creation and customer gratitude influence on hotel guests' online reviews. It also examines the price fairness perception moderating influence on value co-creation and consumer gratitude. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 436 customers using an Internet-based questionnaire. PLS-SEM was utilized to assess hypotheses based on WarpPLS.7 software. Findings: The findings demonstrated that value co-creation (co-production and value in use) significantly impacted customer gratitude and willingness to post positive online reviews. Gratitude positively influenced customers’ willingness to post online reviews. Gratitude mediated the relation between value co-creation and willingness to post positive online reviews. Price fairness perception moderated the relationship between value co-creation dimensions and customer gratitude. Originality/value: The S-O-R framework underpins this study to measure the effects of co-production and value in use (stimuli) on consumer gratitude (organisms) and willingness to post positive online reviews (response). No prior studies examined this paradigm in an emerging market like Egypt. In addition, the study investigated the fair price fairness perception as a new moderating variable. Theoretical and managerial consequences are addressed.

Purpose: The success of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is determined by the numerous facilitators and obstacles that influence physicians' intentions toward using these technologies. This study examines physicians' intentions to use EHR by applying the extended technology readiness and acceptance model (TRAM) factors, the result demonstrability, colleagues' opinions, perception of external control, and organizational support.Design/methodology/approach: Convenience sampling was used to collect data from physicians in Egypt (n = 520). To evaluate the model's hypotheses, this study used the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method with WarpPLS.7.Findings: The results revealed that positive TR factors (innovativeness and optimism) positively affect perceived usefulness and ease of use, while negative TR factors (discomfort and insecurity) negatively impact perceived usefulness and ease of use. Furthermore, the result demonstrability and colleagues' opinions positively influence perceived usefulness, while the perception of external control and organizational support positively influence perceived ease of use. In addition, significant relationships between perceived ease of use and usefulness and adoption intention were identified.Originality/value: This is the first study to apply the TRAM to understand physicians' adoption intentions to use EHR systems. Moreover, this study determined the different roles of positive and negative TR affecting physicians' cognition regarding using EHR systems.

Purpose: While scholarly studies focus on the role of technology in digital transformation, an important direction of research still requires examining HR-related factors in this regard specifically. This study aims to analyze factors pertaining to human and organizational resources in the context of digital transformation within healthcare enterprises. The study examines the possible impacts of organizational energy (OE) and human resource flexibility (HRF) on digital transformation (DT). The study also seeks to investigate the influence of organizational inertia (OI) on the relationships being examined, according to the theory of change principles. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical study used a survey method on 355 Mansoura University Hospitals employees, Egypt. The study data were analyzed using structural equations modeling with WarpPLS V. 8.0. Findings: The results showed that all OE dimensions directly affected DT and HRF dimensions. Through HRF, OE indirectly affected DT. The study also found that all dimensions of OI negatively moderated the OE-DT and HRF-DT relationships. Based on the study's results, theoretical and practical implications were drawn. Originality/value: This study develops a novel model to empirically investigate the quantitative relationships between OE, HRF, OI, and DT. This study provides an addition to understanding how human resources and organizational mechanisms work in technology-based experiments such as digital transformation and adds contributions in this regard to the health sector in particular.

Given the increasing academic and applied interest in convenience foods, this research aims to examine the personal and extrinsic factors concerning the consumption of frozen convenience foods (FCF). The study relies on theories to reveal the connection between the attributes of FCF and the real purchase behaviour of Egyptian customers. A total of 608 Egyptian customers participated in the methodological survey investigation. This study employed partial least square‐multi‐group analysis to compare different groups of respondents according to purchasing frequency. The study findings revealed the identification of important pathways of consumer behaviour towards frozen foods related first to its different attributes and second to the contradictory effect of both health awareness and the influence of advertising. The study presented its theoretical and practical contributions in this regard. Using the model, researchers drew four potential scenarios validating the theory and impacting business.

Purpose: Because the success of m-payment services depends on the enablers and barriers that affect user satisfaction, the present research explores the effects of perceived value and sacrifices on users' satisfaction with m-payment services. The predicted relationships among perceived value, perceived sacrifices, users' satisfaction, continuance intention, word-of-mouth (WOM), shopping effectiveness, quality of life (QOL) and stickiness were established based on the mobile technology acceptance model (MTAM) and the value-based adoption model (VAM).Design/methodology/approach: A representative data sample of 430 Egyptian banking clients was analyzed to test the hypotheses using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).Findings: The findings revealed that all perceived value constructs significantly positively affect users' satisfaction. Moreover, all perceived sacrifice constructs significantly negatively affect users' satisfaction. Users' satisfaction, in turn, has a significant positive effect on continuance intention, WOM, shopping effectiveness, QOL and stickiness with m-payment services.Originality/value: This is the first study to examine several levels of m-payment outcomes, including m-payment, consumer and bank outcomes, based on the integration of MTAM and VAM models.