SACM - United States of America
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9668
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Item Restricted THE INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION ON SMEs' DEGREE OF INTERNATIONALIZATION: THE MODERATING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aljadani, Rayan; Omar, J. KhanThe internationalization of small and medium enterprises has become an urgent direction of development today. Internationalization is an entrepreneurial act of identifying and exploiting international opportunities. As markets have increasingly globalized, entrepreneurial orientation has gained momentum in international entrepreneurship. While entrepreneurial orientation is extensively studied for its role in cross-border entry for large multinational corporations, little research has examined its use in international performance for small and medium enterprises. This dissertation investigates the influence of entrepreneurial orientation on small and medium enterprises' degree of internationalization, the mediating effect of networking capability, and the moderating role of government support and digital transformation. This dissertation draws on the dynamic capabilities theory to examine the influence of these factors on degree of internationalization. A company's capabilities are the configurations of routines and resources that allow it to have competitive advantage. A questionnaire survey was used to collect the data for this dissertation from 296 Saudi small and medium enterprises. The results shown a significant relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and small and medium enterprises' degree of internationalization. The results also found that networking capability mediates entrepreneurial orientation and small and medium enterprises' degree of internationalization. Finally, the results also show that government support and digital transformation moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and degree of internationalization. This dissertation contributes to the literature on international entrepreneurship by identifying new empirical indication. Moreover, it contributes to executive practices by showing the significance of translating entrepreneurial orientation practices into internationalization outcomes through networking capability.10 0Item Restricted Strategies for Enhancing Creativity in the Classroom(Saudi Digital Library, 2020) AlKhamis, Arwa Mohammed; Kathy, HooverThe purpose of this study was to investigate the strategies of enhancing creativity in the classroom and teaching strategies. The study involved 9 participants in total; all participants were teachers. The research relied on random sampling to select the study participants. The researcher used the observation sheets to gather data from the study participants. The study employed qualitative data analysis methods to synthesize the data collected from the study respondents. The collected data from respondents during the study were analyzed in tabular form, while tables were also be used to draw patterns on responses provided. Data was coded and specific themes were identified, which include classroom participation, active strategies, inhibitors of creativity, internet creativity and creativity tools. The researcher found that this study highlights that collaboration can be a very useful strategy to enhance creativity in the classroom. The researcher noted that asking open-ended and random questions keep the learners engaged in the class activities. The researcher also observed that the Internet proved to be a great avenue for the young children, because a range of learning opportunities available on the internet can increase children’s problem solving abilities, and critical thinking skills, which enhances creativity. The strategies discussed in this research are all proven to be effective in making early childhood education a better and improved experience. the researcher is planning to continue with further research and explore more about the field of enhancing creativity in the classroom.13 0Item Restricted DYNAMIC GRAPH NEURAL NETWORK FRAMEWORK FOR REAL-TIME MULTI-MODAL DATA ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIVE MODELING(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almousa, Ghadah; Lee, YugyungIn recent years, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have become increasingly prominent for analyzing complex, interconnected data across fields such as transportation, social networks, and cybersecurity. Despite their advancements, many existing GNN models struggle to capture the intricate interactions among temporal, spatial, and domain-specific knowledge, particularly as these factors evolve dynamically, while also accounting for the complexities of multi-modal data in real-time, with current GNN architectures often falling short in leveraging cross-modal correlations. We present a novel Dynamic Graph Neural Networks (DGNNs) Framework that integrates Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), temporal-spatial modeling, and domain-specific knowledge to address these gaps. By enabling real-time processing of multi-modal data, this framework bridges real-world dynamic systems with the evolving landscape of AI and machine learning applications. This interdisciplinary approach uniquely advances AI, machine learning, and big data analytics by harmonizing spatial-temporal dynamics, domain customization, and multi-modality integration in a cohesive framework. GNNs have become essential tools for analyzing complex, interconnected data in domains such as transportation, social networks, and cybersecurity. However, current GNN models often struggle to effectively capture the dynamic interactions of temporal, spatial, and domain-specific knowledge, especially when processing multi-modal data in real time. This dissertation presents the development of a DGNNs Framework designed to overcome these challenges, illustrated through extensive use cases. For instance, in traffic prediction, experiments using datasets such as Performance Measurement System Bay Area (PEMS-BAY), Metropolitan Traffic Los Angeles (METR-LA), and other PeMS Performance Measurement System datasets demonstrate the framework’s superior performance in prediction accuracy and robustness, effectively managing real-world data variability and spatial-temporal dependencies. Additionally, the framework efficiently models inter-variable dependencies in Multivariate Time Series (MTS) forecasting in domains such as energy, weather, and environmental monitoring, achieving stable long-horizon predictions through its PDE-enhanced graph structure. Ultimately, the framework’s capabilities extend to social media analysis for misinformation detection and rumor spread pattern discovery, with superior classification results on datasets like Pheme, Twitter15, Twitter16, and WEIBO. These examples showcase how the framework uncovers evolving patterns across platforms by processing multi-modal data inputs such as17 0Item Restricted EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF VIDEO MODELING TO ENHANCE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SOCIAL GREETING SKILLS IN PRESCHOOLERS WITH ASD IN SAUDI ARABIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alzahrani, Sarah; Green, BridgetA lack of social communication skills, including initiation and responding, has been a prominent characteristic of children diagnosed with ASD (Kanner, 1943; Kroeger et al., 2007). Enhancing these skills in children with ASD during early childhood is crucial to their future relationships, friendships, participation in communal activities, and overall lowering the likelihood of adverse long-term effects, giving significance to this age as a pivotal period for enhancing various skills (Hart Barnett, 2018). Failure to provide interventions to address social communication in children with ASD, specifically in cultures that value this skill, can impede their integration into that society. Thus, this study aimed to develop social initiation, particularly culturally specific greetings, and responding skills in preschool children with ASD in Saudi Arabia by using a video modeling intervention with least-to-most prompting and reinforcement. Three preschool children with ASD participated in the study. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the video modeling intervention on the two targeted social behaviors: initiating a cultural religious greeting and responding to “How are you?”. The result of the study demonstrated that VM, along with prompting and reinforcement, is an effective intervention in enhancing social outcomes in young children with ASD. Maintenance data also indicated that all the participants were able to maintain the skills acquired two weeks after the intervention. The results of this study align with previous research in supporting the use of VM and prompting procedures as effective interventions in enhancing the social outcomes of young children with ASD.13 0Item Restricted Development and validation of wearable devices for real-time sweat biochemical sensing(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Addokhi, Abdurrahman; James, GalaganWearable devices have made significant advances in the real-time, continuous monitoring of human physiology, offering higher sampling frequencies for rapidly changing physiological signals than currently achievable through conventional clinical methods. However, nearly all commercially available wearable devices are limited to measuring biophysical parameters, such as heart rate and activity, using electrical, mechanical, or optical sensors. In contrast, medical diagnostics for small-molecule biomarkers typically rely on invasive blood sampling and instrumentation that is costly, complex, and unsuitable for point-of-care or wearable use. Electrochemical biosensors have emerged as a powerful transduction modality for portable biochemical sensing, exemplified by the clinical success of continuous glucose monitors. Yet, there remains a critical need for noninvasive wearable biochemical sensing platforms. Sweat is a promising biofluid in this context, containing a wide array of physiologically relevant biomarkers including ions, amino acids, metabolites, hormones, peptides, and proteins. Sweat can also be accessed noninvasively and stimulated locally on demand via iontophoresis. This dissertation presents the design, development, and on-body validation of wearable sweat-sensing devices. Two distinct device architectures are demonstrated, reflecting different levels of complexity and design considerations. We report real-time, on-body lactate sensing during stationary cycling exercise, as well as successful detection of nicotine in sweat using a novel microbial redox enzyme-based biosensor. Sweat was locally induced for nicotine sensing, and study participants included heavy and light nicotine users as well as non-users. The wearable nicotine sensor exhibited superior analytical accuracy compared to the gold standard of mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we demonstrate multiplexed sensing targeting both nicotine and cortisol in sweat using a single wearable platform. Finally, we explore the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a system identification tool for the development and optimization of biosensors.22 0Item Restricted From Religious Legitimacy to Cultural Nationhood: How Vision 2030 Coordinates the Reconstruction of Saudi Identity Through Heritage, Architecture, and the Creative Economy(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alotaibi, Layla; Acikgoz, GizemThis thesis examines how Saudi Arabia deploys culture as a strategic instrument of governance, identity construction, and soft power under Vision 2030. It addresses a gap in existing scholarship that often treats cultural reform as symbolic or externally oriented, rather than as a tightly coordinated state project entrenched within institutional systems. The central argument is that Vision 2030 represents a shift in Saudi legitimacy. This shift is from an overwhelming reliance on religious authority toward a diversified cultural and nationalist framework that operates domestically and internationally. Methodologically, the thesis employs qualitative analysis of policy documents, institutional structures, cultural initiatives, along with case studies on AlUla, the Saudi Architecture Characters Map Initiative, and the creative economy industry. The findings demonstrate that Saudi cultural governance is highly centralized and deliberate, shaping national identity through curated heritage narratives, spatial and aesthetic regulation, and institutionalized cultural production. The thesis concludes that culture under Vision 2030 functions as a form of symbolic governance, revealing both the generative power and selective limits of state-led cultural transformation.49 0Item Restricted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Performance Management in the Public Sector: A Comprehensive Analysis of Literature, Laws, and Stakeholders' Perceptions(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alshaikh, Aiman; Tantardini, MicheleThis dissertation explores the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into performance management in Saudi Arabia’s public sector, addressing its role in enhancing organizational effectiveness in non-Western contexts. Through three studies that include a systematic literature review, a contextual analysis of U.S. and Saudi DEI legislative frameworks, and an empirical study of Saudi public sector stakeholders, the dissertation investigates the conceptual foundations, legislative frameworks, and stakeholder perceptions of DEI. The literature review develops a theoretical framework, identifying DEI’s potential to boost employee engagement, innovation, and service quality, while noting barriers like bureaucratic inertia, conceptual ambiguity, and an overemphasis on economic motives. The contextual analysis highlights the U.S.’s robust DEI legislation contrasted with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030-driven modernization, which faces cultural and institutional constraints requiring context-sensitive adaptations. The empirical study reveals stakeholders’ moderate optimism for inclusive appraisal systems, tempered by challenges such as resistance to change and limited institutional capacity. The findings underscore the need to align organizational values, governance systems, and capabilities within Saudi Arabia’s socio-cultural context for effective DEI integration. The dissertation contributes a multidimensional framework to public administration scholarship. It offers practical recommendations, including culturally relevant practices and leadership training, while proposing future research, such as longitudinal and comparative studies, to foster inclusive, accountable public organizations in Saudi Arabia.18 0Item Restricted An Analysis of Face Synthesis Methods and Their Influence on Human Perception(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almaimani, Maha; Patterson, EricSynthetic faces (e.g., computer-generated characters) have been increasingly utilized across various fields, including entertainment, healthcare, and education. Perceptual studies are often con- ducted to understand how synthetic faces are perceived by humans, aiming to enhance both quality and user experience in these domains. Over the years, numerous methods have been developed to create synthetic faces, ranging from traditional techniques such as image composites, Active Ap- pearance Models, and 3D Morphable Models to more recent machine-learning-based frameworks like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs). Despite the growing adoption of synthetic face generation and the variety of algorithms available for their creation, cognitive scientists have underutilized these advanced techniques. Re- search in this area has remained largely dependent on earlier approaches, and even when Artificial- Intelligence-based (e.g., AI-based) methods are employed, there is an overreliance on GANs, particu- larly StyleGAN2. This trend highlights a significant gap in the exploration of alternative generative architectures in perceptual studies. Furthermore, existing studies have primarily focused on the technical performance of GANs and VAEs, while human perception of their outputs has remained underexplored. This dissertation seeks to address this gap by first providing a comprehensive review of syn- thetic face generation methods from a perceptual standpoint. Second, it analyzes and perceptually compares two prominent AI-based models: StyleGAN2 (a GAN variant) and NVAE (a VAE flavor) across multiple contexts (e.g., full scenes vs. isolated faces without background, and animated vs. static faces) to determine how these conditions influence perceived realism and trustworthiness. This comparison supports the development of cognitive research that advances the generation of percep- tually engaging and practically useful synthetic faces. Finally, conducting a study to investigate how truthful versus misleading medical information about dementia influenced participants’ perceptions when viewing videos of synthetic faces generated by StyleGAN2. The outcomes of this dissertation provide insights into the perceptual differences between GAN-based and VAE-based synthetic faces across diverse contexts. Understanding these distinctions will contribute to the responsible and effective application of synthetic faces in real-life applications.27 0Item Restricted Bioinspired In Vitro Model for Investigating Intravenous Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections(Saudi Digital Library, 2024) Althumayri, Majed Othman H; Koydemir, Hatice CIntravenous (IV) catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are a significant risk in healthcare, driving the need for better catheter designs and materials like Ecoflex to enhance safety. This study explored Ecoflex's effectiveness in reducing CRBSIs by creating skin-like replicas that mimic human skin properties for catheter design and training tools. We conducted experiments to evaluate the material’s surface roughness, wettability, bacterial adhesion, mechanical properties, and thermal stability. The study included wettability tests under varying sebum levels, bacterial adhesion experiments with E. coli, and mechanical stress tests that mimic daily usage. The Ecoflex replicas accurately replicated human skin textures with controlled surface roughness and improved hydrophilicity upon sebum application. Simulation tests of IV therapy scenarios demonstrated the material's resistance to bacterial growth, indicating its potential for prolonged medical use. Ecoflex shows promise for medical device manufacturing, particularly for studying bacterial adhesion and enhancing catheter safety. The study suggests further microbial studies and better IV-therapy clinical simulations to develop safer medical devices and reduce hospital-acquired infections.39 0Item Restricted The Effect of Financial Professionals Closeness and Internal Control Strength on Whistleblower Intent(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alhamrani, Manal A; Boyle, JamesThis research investigates how whistleblowing intentions among financial professionals are influenced by two factors: interpersonal proximity to the potential wrongdoer and the robustness of organizational internal controls. Through a 2×2 experimental methodology, I manipulated both employee closeness (close vs. not close) and internal control strength (strong vs. weak) to assess their individual and combined effects on reporting intentions. My findings revealed unexpected patterns that challenge established theoretical frameworks. Despite predictions based on construal level theory and social identity theory suggesting that interpersonal closeness would inhibit whistleblowing, my analysis found no significant relationship between relational proximity and reporting intentions. This result points to a more nuanced interplay of competing relational forces than previously recognized in literature. Conversely, my data strongly supported the influence of internal control systems, with robust controls significantly enhancing whistleblowing intentions. This finding aligns with accountability theory and highlights the fundamental importance of organizational governance structures in fostering ethical reporting behavior. The anticipated interaction between relational factors and control systems did not materialize, suggesting these mechanisms operate through independent pathways rather than in combination.17 0