Context Of Jordan Research Articles

The economic impact of COVID-19 on Syrian Refugees in Jordan: A review of existing evidence and policies

The global COVID-19 crisis has precipitated an economic downturn in many countries, subsequently raising concerns about the potential challenges faced by marginalized populations, such as refugees, in accessing essential healthcare, hygiene facilities, and critical health information and safety guidelines within the context of Jordan. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to investigate and evaluate the specific economic hurdles related to COVID-19 that refugees are encountering. This inquiry will serve as a valuable foundation for shaping public health interventions aimed at containing the virus’s spread and guiding policymakers on strategies to enhance the well-being of refugees in Jordan. This paper offers a comprehensive examination of Syrian refugees in Jordan, including an analysis of the policies implemented by Jordan concerning Syrian refugees in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the report assesses whether international assistance, both through bilateral and multilateral channels, can mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Jordan’s capacity to continue hosting Syrian refugees. It also delves into the economic consequences of COVID-19, covering aspects such as poverty, education, the health sector budget, healthcare accessibility, essential needs, livelihoods, the labor market, and food security among Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Not a place for respectable people, but the ends of the earth converge there: insights from Wisad Pools into the nature and context of Jordan’s Black Desert Neolithic

New data, recovered by the Eastern Badia Archaeological Project, from substantial structures at Wisad Pools have provided insights into the nature and context of eastern Jordan’s Black Desert Neolithic cultural complex, dating to between c. 7000 and 5000 cal. BC. Hunter-herder-trapper communities, with economies based partially on ante-mortem exploitation of domestic sheep, were adept at maintaining a balance between local and non-local adaptations in shaping a networked culture that was deeply rooted in its local environment. Evidence for trans-regional connections with the Levant and Mesopotamia raises the possibility that longer-term habitation sites, like Wisad Pools, were instrumental in linking the western and eastern arms of the Fertile Crescent via direct routes across the steppe. At least one structure excavated by the Project displays evidence for sophisticated architectural planning, demonstrating awareness of basic geometric principles. New radiometric assays suggest that adaptive processes were profoundly influenced by episodes of climatic and environmental change, including the longer 8.2 ka event. Emerging data from north-west Saudi Arabia require Wisad Pools to be examined in the context of Arabian Neolithization, considering the possibility that the Black Desert Neolithic was a point of departure for some aspects of that process.

Understanding the effects of variation orders on construction project success: insights from the Jordanian context

The construction industry is renowned for its complexity, involving multiple variables, stakeholders, and uncertainties. Variation Orders (VOs) have emerged as crucial factors affecting construction projects, yet their implications extend beyond time and cost. This study delves into the significance of VOs impacts on construction project performance and success, particularly within the context of Jordan. 97 construction professionals from different Jordanian organizations participated to determine the prevalent VOs impacts and those severely affecting project performance and success. The results indicated that the most significant effects of VOs are time overrun, cost overrun, extra money paid for contractors, productivity degradation, quality decrease, and stakeholder dissatisfaction. The factor analysis emphasized the interdependencies among the investigated impacts. The current study holds significant importance for practitioners and researchers in construction and project management. It empowers practitioners with tools to manage projects more effectively by defining the critical importance of schedule, cost, productivity, quality, and stakeholder management. It emphasizes their role as foundational elements for project success and supports researchers in advancing knowledge and practical solutions for the challenges faced in the dynamic construction environment. This study recommends investigating other project types and VO attributes to reach a comprehensive understanding, and then develop an integrated solution.

Empirircal investigation into y-the integration of cloud-based artificial intelligence in auditing

Purpose- The increasing prevalence of cloud computing and the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence technologies have opened up novel prospects for enhancing auditing methodologies. This research aims to scrutinize the consequences of incorporating cloud-based artificial intelligence (CBAI) in auditing, focusing on its implications for audit clients, auditors, and the overall audit process. Methodology- A method of quantitative research was utilized in this study, where 322 questionnaires were distributed to external auditors in Jordan. The objective was to collect information on the potential enhancements brought about by cloud-based artificial intelligence in the auditing field. The study employed convenience random sampling, a technique involving the collection of data from readily available members of the population, which, in this context, refers to external audit offices in Jordan. Jordan has a total of 454 audit offices with a diverse range of auditors, including partner-owner auditors, assistant auditors, and certified auditors. The analysis of the gathered data was conducted using SmartPLS software, which employs structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings- The study's outcomes reveal the potential for cost savings associated with the adoption of CBAI, as well as the streamlining of audit procedures and the enhancement of overall efficiency. Moreover, the research observes the transformation of auditors' roles, with a shift towards a greater focus on analytical and advisory responsibilities, departing from traditional manual tasks. These findings underscore the potential advantages for audit clients, auditors, and the audit process, underscoring the significance of embracing these technologies to advance the auditing profession in the digital age. Conclusion- The study investigates how CBAI influences audit quality and efficiency through a thorough examination of data sourced from a sample of external auditors operating within the context of Jordan. Additionally, it delves into the significant advancements that CBAI can introduce to the auditing field, encompassing its potential for data storage and analysis, the improvement of communication between auditors and clients, the adoption of innovative audit techniques, and the shift from manual to digital auditing methodologies. Keywords: Cloud-based artificial intelligence, Auditing, Auditors, Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, Audit quality. JEL Codes: O30, O33, O35

A framework for social sustainability on the building level: a contextual approach

Purpose This study aims to build on a contextualised approach for revealing the particularities of social sustainability indicators on the building scale within the particular context of Jordan, focusing on the buildings of the Dahiyat Al Hussein suburb. Design/methodology/approach This study relied on a review of the relevant previous research as well as global, regional and local rating tools, followed by working with a diversified participant base comprising experts as well as users through Delphi rounds and analytic hierarchy process-based assessments. Findings This study resulted in several key indicators that were classified into three main categories: environmental friendliness, comfort and convenience and social blend. It resembled a step on the path towards the standardisation of context-specific social sustainability indicators, an effort that would be further supported by future research addressing other development within Jordan. Originality/value The sustainability debate has, for long, acquired the undivided attention of its key stakeholders. With the continuous rise of global attention, the conceptualisation of sustainability has grown more specialised in both function and scale, and sustainable measures have been developed at the macro and micro levels. With the further spread of the concept, recognition of its contextual differences between various countries became more vivid, where the social dimension attains particular importance.

Problematic Public Debt in Jordan

Current research aims to highlight the impact of public debt on the Jordanian economy exploring whether public debt is problematic for the Jordanian economy. For this purpose, a systematic review is conducted based on the previous relevant articles selected from the SCOPUS database. Based on the process of classification, selection, and eligibility process of thirty-one articles are finally included as the leading articles being reviewed by the current research. This review helped generate an opinion about the impact of public debt (PD) on economic growth (EG) in light of previous literature and then discussing these findings in the context of the Jordanian economy highlighted the impact of Jordanian public debt. The findings indicate that although there are contrary views reported in the literature about the relationship of public debt with different economic factors and especially economic growth, the context of Jordan’s public debt is problematic for the Jordanian economy. The current study has significant implications for government officials and policymakers so that they can plan accordingly keeping in mind the negative impact of public debt.

Lines of Credit and Family Firms: The Case of an Emerging Market

Lines of credit constitute an integral part of a firm’s liquidity policy; however, there is limited research on lines of credit in emerging markets. This study fills this gap by examining firm incentives to access and draw from lines of credit using the context of Jordan, a bank-based emerging market, focusing on the impact of family firms. To account for the endogeneity of family control, this study estimates the probability of accessing a line of credit using seemingly unrelated bivariate probit regression and its usage using treatment effect regression. The article documents that family firms are less likely to obtain a line of credit and their drawdowns are smaller compared to non-family firms. These findings support the agency’s view on having and using lines of credit. Other findings are consistent with a substitution effect between internal and external liquidity sources which implies a cost wedge between the two sources of liquidity.

Credit Constraints and Investment-Cash Flow Sensitivity in Declining Economic Conditions: The Role of Reliance on Bank Debt

This paper examines the sensitivity of investment to cash flow in declining economic conditions, focusing on the impact of a firm’s reliance on bank debt. Using the context of Jordan, a developing Middle East and North Africa (MENA) country, the study utilizes the standard Q theory of investment augmented by cash flow, leverage, and liquidity. Then, it allows for differential loading on the cash flow coefficient pre- and post-2008, the year that marks the beginning of declining conditions, and by categorizing companies based on their reliance on bank debt, measured by having access to a bank line of credit. Using alternative estimation specifications, the findings indicate that firms’ investments decreased significantly in episodes of declining conditions. In addition, the findings indicate that firms’ investments exhibited more sensitivity to cash flow during declining conditions, especially for firms with access to lines of credit. The latter finding suggests that firms reliant on bank debt could not compensate for the credit shortages by switching to other sources of external funding and therefore they were compelled to use more of their internally generated funds to finance their investments.

A Systemic Review on Human Capital Investment: The Context of Jordan

This study investigates the relationship between innovation and human capital investment, and to show how the implementation of these two concepts leads to economic development. After carefully examining the extant literature and by utilizing relevant academic-based research databases, a total of 73 papers published in peer-reviewed journals over the last decade were reviewed and analyzed using well-established systematic literature review methodology. The findings identified four main pillars required to support economic development and achieve a competitive advantage using the country’s human capital: Habitation, Opportunity, Power Distance, and Entrepreneurship (HOPE). The findings also indicated that Jordanian culture is highly germane to all four pillars, which can encourage innovative human capital and ensure economic development. This paper is important to the Jordanian community and the Arab world in general, which lacks awareness of the importance of human capital in socio-economic development. The study helps understand innovation and economic development in the region. This paper explores the relationship between innovation and human capital investment, and shows how this combination will lead to the development of Jordanian culture and the economy.

Mobile government public value model for assessing the public institution’s services: Evidence through the context of Jordan

Having a citizen's opinion is considered the most important method to evaluate a public institution's performance. As a contemporary theory regarding public institutions and private organizations, public value theory provides an alternative approach to evaluating organizations' performance. The current research has provided a new insight to assess the Mobile-government applications (m-gov app) by proposing a new model entitled ‘Mobile Government Public Value (MGPV)’ to measure the performance of m-gov apps in developing country settings, specifically Jordan. Depending on several theories engaged with information technology, many determinants have been selected to draw the line for evaluating MGPV in Jordan. Measuring the level of m-gov apps’ usage was estimated depending on its perceived need, awareness, perceived security, social influence and self-efficacy to gauge the weather of creating or increasing the public value of the m-gov app from a citizen's perspective. In the current research, Structural Equation Model (SEM) was selected to obtain the research objectives. The results have indicated that the m- gov apps perceived need, m- gov apps' awareness, m- gov apps perceived security, and m- gov apps social factors played an essential role in creating public value of m- gov apps through the mediation role of m- gov apps use factor. While m-gov apps' self-efficacy factor did not provide a positive effect on creating the public value of m-government apps.

Association between mass collaboration and knowledge management: a case ofJordan companies

PurposeThe key purpose of this research paper was to identify the association between mass collaboration and knowledge management in the context of Jordanian companies. Apart from that, this study also aims to examine the moderating effect of trust and leadership on the association between mass collaboration and knowledge management.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the researcher has followed theprimary quantitative method. For data collection, the researcher has conducted a survey questionnaire, whereas the sample was based on 323 participants from the manufacturing sector of Jordan specifically for data analysis; the technique of structural equation modeling was implemented.FindingsAll the independent variables, including organizational structure, adoptedtechnologies in mass collaboration and collaborative learning techniques, have a significantimpact on knowledge management and leadership. Moreover, leadership was also found to be significantly moderating the association between adopted technologies in mass collaboration and knowledge management. Similarly, trust also significantly moderates the association of organizational structure and adopted technologies in mass collaboration significantly with knowledge management.Research limitations/implicationsAll study respondents were from Jordan, which might limit the generalizability of the findings. The researchers also invited for more researchers in the incorporation of the time sequence in the proposed causal relations and in the organization level through which mass collaboration and knowledge management.Originality/valueThis study promises to make a valuable contribution to the existing literature, as there was a lack of evidence in the previous studies regarding the impact of mass collaboration on knowledge management within the context of Jordan.

Analysis of the interrelationships between enablers and results in King Abdullah II award for excellence model

PurposeThis study aims to validate the KAIIAE model in the public sector and analyse the interrelationships between Enablers and Results in the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence (KAIIAE) model to better understand the dynamic logic behind improving excellence results.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used is structural equation modelling (partial least squares technique), and the data were obtained from the assessment processes for the KAIIAE for 98 Jordanian public organisations.FindingsThe findings showed that the award model has proven to be a reliable and valid framework, as the criteria and sub-criteria were highly correlated. The set of Enablers was strongly related to the set of Results, and the synergies between the critical criteria confirmed the importance of leadership, strategy, and processes for the organisation's excellence results. It was found that the new significant and direct relationships between “People” and “People Results” and between “Partnerships and Resources” and both “Society Results” and “Key Results” improved the understanding and implementation of the model. There was a significant interrelationship between model criteria, excluding the relationship between “Society Results” and “Key Results”, since the government's main objective is to serve society. A new structural model for the KAIIAE with the new relationships was suggested.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper concentrated only on the public sector, although the excellence model has been implemented in the private sector. Features of the different types of organisations were not tested. Furthermore, the variations in size, covered fields, number of employees and provided services need to be investigated further.Practical implicationsGovernment award bodies can use these research findings to develop a new model version for public sector awards by combining a cohesive array of elements for any government organisational need or application. The study suggested adding new criteria or relationships or eliminating those that are not significant and have no impact on public sector organisations. The findings will assure the organisations' managers that the KAII excellence model criteria are highly correlated and synergised for public sector organisations. These criteria perform efficiently once they are considered and implemented in an interconnected manner rather than managing them independently, which makes up their management framework. This knowledge about the validity of the structure of the model allows public sector organisations to benefit fully from the self-assessment processes and improve the organisation's management, enhancing their faith in excellence award models.Social implicationsThis study has contributed to the existing literature on the reliability and validity of business excellence models as a framework for implementing, evaluating, and improving excellence, particularly in the government sector. Several important insights have emerged from this study. The relevant analysis supports a new model structure for excellence in the public sector. Among the model structure relationships, the study identified the existence of new direct relationships between enablers and results. New significant and direct relationships are added to the model that advances the implementation and understanding of the model. Moreover, it informs theory about Excellence Award implementation in developing countries within the context of Jordan – a topic that has previously received limited attention in the international business excellence literature. Since there is limited research on the suitability of implementing the KAIIEA excellence model (that is based on nine criteria of the EFQM model) in public organisations, this work suggested introducing a new modification to the model to suit the characteristics of the public sector.Originality/valueThe considerable prominence of the government sector has drawn attention to the excellence parameters within its organisations. Hence, a lack of studies and inadequate knowledge in the governmental management system have limited testing excellence in the public sector. This paper provides support that the excellence model (KAIIAE model that is EFQM based) is an appropriate framework by identifying direct and significant model interrelationships for the public sector based on the actual and sufficient performance of its entities so as to drive the changes of the next model generation. This is the first study that attempts to comprehend and describe the validation of the KAIIAE model in the public sector.

Assessing factors affecting intention to adopt AI and ML: The case of the Jordanian retail industry

The aim of this research is to evaluate the factors that affect the adoption intention of AI and ML in the context of Jordan’s retail industry. For this research paper, primary data was collected with the help of surveying different retail companies that are operational in Jordan with a sample of 400 participants. The survey questionnaire was based on a Likert scale where five points ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree were provided to the participants. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) used to analyse the impact and significance of the different factors on the adoption of AI and ML in Jordanian retail sector. It has been concluded from this research paper that communication, government regulations, market structure, and technological infrastructure are important factors that influence the adoption of AI and ML in the retail industry of Jordan. However, the results of this research have pointed out that managerial support and vendor relationship do not have a significant influence on the adoption of AI and ML. Limitations: The scope of the research is restricted to the context of the retail industry only. This research has been carried out in the context of Jordan thus it cannot be applied on to other geographical backgrounds. Due to the time and scope limitations, there are restricted factors considered in the framework.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ACCEPTANCE OF E-LEARNING SYSTEM IN JORDAN: A CASE OF TRANSFORMING THE TRADITIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEMS

Purpose of the study: This paper aimed at investigating factors influencing students’ intention to use e-learning within the context of Jordan. The proposed model integrated subjective norms with the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).
 Methodology: The data collected 587 students from Jadara University. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).
 Main Findings: The result has confirmed the direct effect of all variables. Next, the result has also shown that the mediation effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use between subjective norm and the behavioral intention to use the E-learning system was partially supported.
 Applications of this study: The results of the current work may contribute to the improvement of the existing literature in the e-learning acceptance fields, and can be applied as an essential input for the development of the recent e-learning training programs.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: The present work is intended to conclude a series of concrete research data as well as to contribute a new angle to the existing literature on students’ perception of the e-learning system.

Place Attachment and Sustainable Communities

As cities in the developing nations are becoming urbanised at an accelerated pace and intensity, urban planners, design practitioners and policymakers conjoin efforts to satisfy the emergent needs. The design and construction of a sustainable built environment offers adaptive amelioration to the risks of climate change, which ostensibly affects the global South more than the North. Therefore, for developing cities to become sustainably urbanised and planned, socio-economic factors in addition to environmentally devised technological innovations should be comprehensively conceived, to become more consciously assimilated in urban planning and design of residential neighbourhoods in the global South. One of these social factors is place attachment, which has been gaining traction in the last three decades due to the role it plays in understanding the implications of human–place bonding on predicting behaviours, which in turn prepares communities to become resilient and sustainable in the face of possible risks, ranging from climate change displacement to environmental depletion of resources, economic constraints and social tensions. This paper explores the link between place attachment and the creation of more sustainable communities that are civically engaged and environmentally conscientious. As the dynamics of place attachment differ from one context to another, the study employs qualitative methods to mine the place attachment values of several residents of a neighbourhood in Amman, the capital city of Jordan. Through semi-structured interviews with a representative section of the residential communities and photographic documentation, the study analyses the findings from affective and cognitive perspectives, and evaluates their contribution to achieving sustainability. Based on the findings, the research proposes an agenda for future research directions in place attachment studies, providing empirical insight from the context of Jordan.

Contextualizing Efforts at Increasing Socioeconomic Participation in the Context of Jordan

Contextualizing Efforts at Increasing Socioeconomic Participation in the Context of Jordan

Asset liquidity, stock liquidity, and ownership concentration: Evidence from the ASE

This paper examines how ownership concentration influences the relation between stock liquidity and asset liquidity. Liquid assets reduce uncertainty of assets in place and hence improve stock liquidity. However, liquid assets are less costly to turn into private benefits compared to other assets. Therefore, liquid assets may result in increasing the uncertainty of assets in place rather than reducing it. In this paper we examine the impact of asset liquidity on stock liquidity conditional on a company’s ownership structure using the context of Jordan. Jordanian companies listed in the ASE are mostly characterized by highly concentrated ownership. In the absence of investor protection, concentrated ownership allows shareholders with large ownership stakes to exercise control over the firm and hence may result in increasing the uncertainty of assets in place. The uncertainty regarding the usage of liquid assets in cash-rich firms leads to greater uncertainty regarding the firm’s cash flows and hence lower stock liquidity. The findings of this study show evidence that as ownership concentration increases asset liquidity becomes negatively related to stock liquidity.