Business, Management and Accounting, Management Information Systems
42
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Strategic Foresight for FinTech Governance: A Scenario-Based MCDA Approach for Kuwait Salah Kayed, Zaid Alhawwatma, Amer Morshed, Laith T. Khrais Fintech, 2026 This study investigates how strategic foresight can enhance FinTech governance and policy resilience in emerging economies, using Kuwait as an illustrative case. It aims to identify which foresight interventions should be prioritized across alternative futures to strengthen innovation, security, and institutional adaptability within the digital finance ecosystem. A scenario-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework is applied, combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Expert evaluations were conducted to assess five foresight interventions against eight policy and performance criteria across three plausible scenarios: Optimistic Growth, Status Quo, and Crisis and Contraction. Sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the stability of intervention rankings. The results reveal distinct priorities under each scenario: SME-oriented digital finance platforms and talent development dominate under growth and stability, while cybersecurity investment becomes paramount during crisis conditions. Regulatory fast-tracking maintains a consistent, moderate influence across all contexts. These outcomes underscore the need for adaptive, context-sensitive policy design that accommodates uncertainty. The framework provides policymakers with a structured approach to align FinTech strategies with long-term national visions such as Kuwait’s Vision 2035, while offering transferable insights for other emerging economies. The study’s originality lies in integrating strategic foresight and MCDA for FinTech governance—a methodological and practical contribution to foresight-informed policymaking.
Evaluating environmental-economic efficiency in utility-scale solar energy systems: Evidence from India and Jordan Amer Morshed, Laith T. Khrais Environmental Economics, 2026 Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractAligning environmental objectives with economic performance is an ongoing challenge in the renewable energy transition, especially in emerging solar markets facing operational inefficiencies and uneven policy implementation. This paper examines the environmental and economic efficiency of large-scale solar energy conversion projects by employing a Material Flow Cost Accounting methodology based on ISO 14051 standards. Based on the operating and financial performance data of 83 solar energy conversion projects (46 from India and 37 from Jordan) covering the period 2017–2023, avoidable energy loss costs due to dust settling, heat stress, grid curtailment, and plant downtime have been estimated and quantified cumulatively in both settings. The findings indicate a technical efficiency of 88.4% and 77.9% with an average energy loss potential of 128 and 274 gigawatt-hours per year in both settings of Jordan and India, respectively, causing an economic loss potential of 9.2% and 18.7%, respectively, collectively amounting to a financial loss potential of about 54.6 million annually. Systematic plant maintenance and coordinated use in electric grids increased output potential by about 16% and lowered costs by 13%, with efficient management options collectively leading to an 11.5% increase in financial returns in Jordan and a 19.3% boost in India’s financial performance. Based on findings, MFCA methodology is indeed capable of interlinking environmental protection with economic performance for efficient, sustainable energy policymaking within developing nations.
Artificial intelligence-driven predictive analytics and institutional performance in Gulf financial systems: Evidence from GCC financial institutions Amer Morshed, Laith T. Khrais Banks and Bank Systems, 2026 Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThe integration of artificial intelligence-driven predictive analytics has redefined financial management and decision-making across Gulf economies. This study compares the performance of artificial-intelligence-based and traditional predictive models using data from twenty financial institutions from six Gulf Cooperation Council countries. A quantitative cross-sectional design was adopted, and analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) across all indicators. Predictive accuracy increased from 83.5 to 91.5 per cent (F = 4.23 × 10²⁹), operational efficiency from 12 to 19.5 per cent (F = 1.31 × 10³¹), risk-management effectiveness from 7.0 to 9.3 points (F = 2.69 × 10³⁰), and customer satisfaction from 6.5 to 8.5 points (F = 1.69 × 10³⁰). Regression analyses confirmed these outcomes: model type produced significant coefficients for predictive accuracy (β = 8.21, p < 0.001), operational efficiency (β = 7.46, p < 0.001), risk-management effectiveness (β = 2.29, p < 0.001), and customer satisfaction (β = 1.84, p < 0.001). The overall model explained 84 per cent (R² = 0.84) of the variation in institutional performance, confirming the strong predictive power of artificial-intelligence models. These results demonstrate that intelligent predictive systems significantly enhance accuracy, efficiency, and stakeholder value. The study concludes that transparent and ethically governed analytical frameworks are essential for sustainable financial competitiveness and responsible innovation in the Gulf region.
Enhancing Sustainability and Transparency in Food Supply Chains through Blockchain-Based Traceability, Smart Contracts, and Decentralized Data Security in E-Business Environment Laith T. Khrais, Ahmad Ali Salih, Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Elnokirah, Lama Talal Khrais International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, 2026 Currently, the pandemic of sustainability concerns is being considered along with the issues related to transparency and efficiency in the global food supply chain. Despite growing research on blockchain in food logistics, few studies integrate traceability, smart contracts, and decentralized security into a single model for enhancing sustainability and transparency. This study bridges that gap. In addition, blockchain technology is a transformational solution that facilitates stakeholders to build trust, operational efficiency, and traceability. From a management perspective, this research also examined the part that blockchain plays in the food supply chain, including its possible effect or impact on sustainability, ethical sourcing, transparency, and efficiency in the food retail chain. This study’s methodology is a quantitative research approach. The method in the study was purposive sampling, while survey questionnaires were used. A total of 280 participants have participated in the study. In this research, key blockchain applications, such as traceability systems, decentralized ledgers, and smart contracts, are examined. Besides, blockchain improved the rate at which the supply chain worked through removing inefficiencies, automating transactions, and enhancing workflow efficiency. It also reinforced trust by proper and clear product traceability and compliance with the regulatory standards and ethical sourcing. The results, however, suggest that blockchain technology holds the ability to undermine the handling of the supply chain, where efficiencies in resource management and sustainable practices, fair trade, and convenient coordination are facilitated. Apart from the above, blockchain technology offers a solid and suitable platform for boosting sustainability in operational efficiencies and streamlining the food supply chain to the farthest point. But the ongoing adoption process continues to shape the future of resilient and transparent food systems.
AI Chatbots as Informatics-Enabled Marketing Service Systems: Trust, Transparency, and Youth User Responses Journal of Logistics Informatics and Service Science, 2026 This manuscript examines how young consumers respond to AI chatbots in social commerce by conceptualizing chatbots as informatics-enabled front-line service systems.Building on a unified model that assigns Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) as the system structure, the Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM) as the ethical-cognition mechanism, and Trust Theory as the service-outcome logic, we test how two service-design choices-identity disclosure (transparency) and conversational tone (personalized vs. generic)-shape trust and perceived manipulation, and ultimately purchase intention.Using a 2x2 between-subjects experiment with UAE youth (18-25), standardized chatbot dialogues were generated and pretested using a large-language-model workflow to ensure consistent stimuli; this design enables controlled comparison but does not fully capture the adaptivity of live chatbots.PLS-SEM results show that transparent AI disclosure and empathetic personalization increase trust and reduce perceived manipulation; trust is the dominant mediator linking design cues to purchase intention, while perceived manipulation imposes a significant negative effect.Digital literacy attenuates the negative influence of manipulation on intention, highlighting a boundary condition relevant for service governance.The results can also be used to inform guidelines for the development and delivery of service systems, which involve the provision of transparency by default, personalization that is explainable, the adaptation of tone to the needs of the user, and the development of an escalation process.
Sustainable investment strategies in a pandemic: a comparative study of Islamic and conventional mutual funds in Malaysia Haider Mohammed Baniata, Mohammad Othman, Nawaf Abdallah Aljundi, Anas Ahmad Bani Atta, Ahmad Bani Ahmad, Ahmad A. I. Shajrawi, Laith T. Khrais Discover Sustainability, 2025 The goal of work is to analyze the differences and similarities in the money flows of Islamic (IMF) and conventional mutual funds (CMF) throughout two intense events: the global financial crisis (GFC), and the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemics have been extremely uncommon. Therefore, this work offers novel guide on what effect a global infectious malady can have concerned mutual funds’ flow. The entire sample comprises 87 equity IMFs and 83 equity CMFs in Malaysia, encompassing the two crises from January 2005 to October 2020. This work uses panel regression analysis (fixed-effect and random effect). The main findings are both crises led to a decrease in the money flows for both IMFs and CMFs. The outcomes indicate that viral pandemics effect mutual funds, similar to the earlier financial crises. However, the impact of both crises was less on the flows of IMFs than on the flows of CMFs. The implications of this paper provide managers with an overall view about investors behaviour, especially during extreme events. Thus, it helps them to build their strategies based on the behaviour and preferences of investors. The implication to investors is that it allows investors to decide in directing their money to suitable funds, such as Islamic funds, especially during these extreme periods. This work`s novel contribution is that it’s the first research exploring the effect of the COVID-19 crisis as well as the financial crisis and fund flows in Malaysia.
Evaluating the Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Transition and Green E-Business on Urban Sustainability Laith T. Khrais, Abdullah M. Alghamdi Sustainability Switzerland, 2025 This research investigates the environmental and socioeconomic influences of green e-business practices and renewable energy transition on urban sustainability. Moreover, the primary purpose of this study is to evaluate how technology innovation, resource efficiency, government policy and incentives, and renewable energy help in sustainable urban development. This study followed a quantitative research design that applied “structural equation modeling” (SEM) to examine the connection between critical variables. Stratified random sampling was utilized to select the sample size. Additionally, surveys have been conducted on urban stakeholders to collect the relevant data. Furthermore, to analyze the collected data SPSS has been utilized. Significantly, the results highlight that adopting renewable energy, supported by technological innovation and government policies, remarkably contributes to urban development and sustainability. In addition, government incentives and policies were observed to influence resource sustainability and efficiency positively. At the same time, adopting renewable energy was strongly associated with improved socioeconomic and environmental outcomes. Furthermore, technology innovation has a considerable role in resource management and strongly assists in urban sustainability. However, green e-business practices exhibited no direct influence on urban sustainability or resource efficiency, encouraging a focus on the roles of technological innovation, government support, and renewable energy for achieving better urban sustainability. Therefore, this study offers valuable information for urban planners, businesses, and policymakers, highlighting that integrated strategies emphasizing technological innovation, policy support, and renewable energy can drive better urban development and sustainability.
The Role of Organizational Culture in Digital Transformation and Modern Accounting Practices Among Jordanian SMEs Elina F. Hasan, Mohammad Abdalkarim Alzuod, Khalid Hasan Al Jasimee, Sajead Mowafaq Alshdaifat, Areej Faeik Hijazin, Laith T. Khrais Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 2025 This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on modern accounting practices among Jordanian SMEs, focusing on the moderating role of organizational culture. Digital transformation using AI, blockchain, and cloud computing improves operational efficiency, real-time financial reporting, and decision making. However, the integration of these technologies poses challenges such as skill gaps, cost constraints, and cultural resistance. A quantitative survey of 480 employees in managerial roles from Jordanian SMEs shows that organizational culture plays a dual role as a driver and moderator of digital transformation. The findings confirm the role of digital transformation in reshaping modern accounting practices. Also, this study shows that to get the most out of digital transformation in accounting, a culture of innovation and continuous learning is required.
How covid-19 affected entrepreneurship prosperity process in the digital economy: A case study of middle east International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 2021
Toward a model for examining the technology acceptance factors in utilization the online shopping system within an emerging markets International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 2018
