Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted EXPLORING THE ROLE OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN GOVERNANCE PRACTICES ON OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN SAUDI ARABIA’S PETROCHEMICAL COMPANIES(Swansea Univerity, 2024-09) Alsabhan, Bader; Huxtable-Thomas, LouisaThe purpose of this study is to explore the role of decision-making processes within governance practices on the operational efficiency of petrochemical companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The literature review section explores Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030-associated corporate governance frameworks and their implications for the petrochemical industry. It examines the challenges of breaking oil reliance, its importance in a diversified economy, and how governance affects operational performance. Data transparency and lean concepts are discussed with regard to their applicability to operational improvement. The review outlines the importance of the area in relation to Vision 2030 and fostering more economic diversification; however, it also stresses the need for balanced monitoring, geared towards enhancing both efficiency and adaptability. By following a primary qualitative method, which used semi-structured interviews to collect data from 23 interviewees, a thematic analysis was performed by developing a total of four themes. Under each theme, two codes were extracted. In this way, based on the comparison of the statements of participants, the results of this thematic analysis were obtained. This study reveals that petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia mostly implement centralised decision-making practices. These practices enable the business organisations to ensure improved stakeholder engagement and operational efficiency as well. However, some challenges, such as resistance to change, complexity and regulatory or market changes, are associated with the overall process of corporate governance implementation in Saudi Arabian petrochemical companies. It is recommended that petrochemical organisations should focus on centralised decision-making, along with some elements of decentralisation, to increase innovation and inputs from lower-level employees. Technological upgrades are an essential requirement for the petrochemical companies, as they allow for increased efficiency in business operations.2 0Item Restricted ANTENATAL EXERCISE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SAUDI PREGNANT WOMEN(George Mason University, 2024) Alhajiri, Donna Nassir; Oh, Kyeung MiBackground: Regular physical exercise during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of complications for both the mother and the fetus. Globally, women’s exercise during pregnancy is low and decreases as pregnancy progresses. In Saudi Arabia, women’s antenatal exercise practices are understudied. There is an increase in women’s obesity and pregnancy-related weight gain, a lack of health counseling, and a lack of antenatal exercise guidelines. There is a need to explore the level of antenatal exercise and its associated factors. The findings can be used to develop culturally appropriate antenatal exercise education and counseling programs for Saudi pregnant women. Purpose of the study: To assess antenatal exercise adherence to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) exercise during pregnancy guidelines and its associated factors among Saudi pregnant women. Method: This is an exploratory, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. Data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. The target population of this study was Saudi pregnant women. A convenient sampling method was used to include women 18 to 45 years old, living in the eastern province with a single, alive fetus and a normal pregnancy, naturally conceived, and who can read and write in Arabic. Exclusion criteria were women with a high-risk pregnancy, a medical problem except for diabetes mellitus, a psychological condition, or a mental or physical disability. In an exploratory manner, facilitators, and barriers as independent variables on intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy levels were included to assess their associations with antenatal exercise. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study sample’s characteristics, women’s levels of knowledge, attitude, and adherence to the ACOG antenatal exercise guidelines, in addition to antenatal exercise facilitators, and barriers on intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy levels. Bivariate relationships between antenatal exercise and its associated factors were assessed using the independent t-tests and Chi-square tests. Finally, the associations of demographic characteristics, women’s knowledge, attitude, antenatal exercise facilitators, and barriers on intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy levels factors with antenatal exercise were assessed using logistic regression analyses after assessing the assumptions. Statistical significance was tested at p ˂0.05.61 0Item Restricted IMPACT ON TOURIST DECISION MAKING IN SAUDI ARABIAN By: Nuwayyir Albalawi Supervisor: Jillian Rickly(University of Nottingham, 2024-07-12) Albalawi, Nuwayyir; Jillian, RicklyIn the twenty-first century, social media has a growing presence and importance, in particular social media marketing and its impact on tourism. Saudi Arabia has a young and growing tourism sector and needs to discover the best way to attract young tourists interested in the historic and cultural aspects of the country, and to overcome any false perceptions or views regarding the culture and society within the country. Purpose of Research: to discover whether cultural tourism has the same drivers and is impacted by social media marketing in the same way as other forms of tourism. This will enable the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia to ensure that the focus of their social media marketing meets the necessary criteria and is focused on the correct demographic. Methodology: the research consists of a survey of those who have reacted positively to social media marketing posts related to cultural tourism in Saudi Arabia and who are aged 20 to 40 years old. The quantitative data collected has been analysed statistically, including ANOVA and correlations. Findings: the findings of the research indicate that, although this research was conducted on a small scale, it does appear that cultural tourism is no different to other forms of tourism when considered as a subject of social media marketing. Honesty, integrity, and reality appear to be the main influences on potential tourists viewing social media marketing posts. Conclusion: the Saudi Arabian tourist industry is urged to undertake further research, but to ensure that all social media marketing content, particularly where it is paid for content, is honest and reliable, since this does appear to be the most important factor for influencing opinion and changing perceptions.10 0Item Restricted Activating the Transportation Potential of Greenways in Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of Jeddah City(University of Nottingham, 2024-04-08) Zawawi, Abdulrahman A.; Porter, Nicole; Ives, Chrisopher D.; Beccarelli, PaoloSince the early 1970s, auto-centric planning in Saudi Arabia (SA) has led to car-dependent lifestyles, resulting in health and environmental problems. In the past decade, ambitious policies (e.g., The Saudi Vision 2030), urban design manuals, awareness campaigns, city plans and projects have sought to address this problem by transitioning to sustainable urban mobility. Active transportation (AT) via networks of greenways is a dimension of such a transition and is currently being planned and advocated in Saudi cities. However, current walking and bicycling rates for transportation in SA are extremely low. Simultaneously, there is limited research on greenways in SA, and none has explored the influences on their usage as AT corridors (ATCs). An enhanced understanding of such factors is vital because academic journals found minimal effect on AT over the last thirty years from many greenway investments in various regions worldwide. Therefore, this PhD research aimed to explore the activation barriers and strategies of greenways’ function as facilitators for AT in SA, using Jeddah city as a case study. The review and synthesis of existing literature built an understanding of the state of knowledge concerning the planning and usage of AT and greenways in SA. It also explained the events that evolved greenways’ forms and functions internationally while chronologically relating to urban and open space planning in Saudi cities. Lastly, it examined where and when greenways would be considered routes for daily commutes using a systematic review of published peer-reviewed journal articles from 1991 until 2021. Due to the multidimensionality of such influences, the case study of Jeddah used mixed research methods (web-based questionnaire, environmental audits, field observations, and interviews with experts and leaders of local walking and bicycling groups). Interpretations and inferences of such an empirical study combined the results of these methods thematically and linked them to existing literature. Through (I) assessments of the physical environment at the city, neighbourhood, and site levels, (II) examining the preferences, behaviours, and opinions of users and non-users of greenways in Jeddah city, and (III) understanding the underlying causes to existing conditions, this thesis underscored key impediments that must be overcome. These include automobile-centric lifestyles, planning systems, outdoor temperature, social norms, long commuting distances, lack of AT infrastructure, bicycling skills and knowledge, proximity to greenways, and park facilities and amenities. Results also explained that religious and gender norms on women’s participation in bicycling can affect social support for policies advocating bicycle usage in Saudi cities and the effectiveness of any proposed greenway network in the future. Informed by the interviewed experts, existing literature, and global best practices, the proposed strategies to address the identified barriers stressed the importance of actions across social, environmental, technological, economic and legal domains. These strategies (e.g., improving stakeholders’ participation, integrating with public transit, increasing visibility and awareness, and implementing policies that enable AT) can accelerate the transition towards sustainable transportation in SA.24 0Item Restricted THE FUTURE OF HEALTH SYSTEMS: MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE TEAM COLLABORATION, TRAINING AND TRANSITION IN HEALTH SYSTEM(University of Newcastle, Australia, 2024) Alzahrani, Rami Hassan J; Boyle, BrendanThis thesis explores multidisciplinary healthcare team collaboration (MDHT) and the effectiveness of training as part of implementing an MDHT model. The governance of the MDHT model is analysed and studied as part of the transition of the health system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While existing scholarly research indicates that multidisciplinary healthcare teams can address complex healthcare problems and their use as integrated care grows, multidisciplinary teams do not necessarily perform effectively. Despite the potential of MDHT, existing scholarship warns that multidisciplinary teams may experience barriers to collaboration and knowledge sharing; hence, a research problem is established. Following a systematic review of the relevant literature to identify a research gap, this study deploys a qualitative methodology consistent with an interpretive paradigm to explore MDHT collaboration and the effectiveness of training in enhancing the transition to the MDHT model in the Saudi Health System. Interpretivist study must achieve an understanding incorporating the participants’ views, giving prominence to the research participants' subjective experiences of the transition towards an MDHT model. Consistent with this approach, novel quantitative insights into barriers and enablers that can account for and enhance MDHT collaboration were gained based on the experience of health professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The thesis also illuminates the lacuna of research evaluating the effectiveness of the training provided to MDHTs and offers novel insights into the effectiveness of training in supporting the MDHT model. In-depth insights into the shortcomings of training interventions relative to participant needs are gained, and in doing so, a unique evaluation of training relevance and utility in the MDHT context is provided. Finally, a significant practical contribution is made to those seeking to transition the Saudi Health care system to the use of MDHT teams. The importance of the supporting pillars of digitisation and privatisation are considered, with the former assessed by its contribution to facilitating efficient and effective knowledge sharing across the MDHT. The findings related to the governance of MDHT warn hospital administrators and policymakers of the importance of clear and consistent approaches to MDHT use as a form of integrated care and clear and consistent policy and practice guidelines for MDHT governance.15 0Item Restricted Public Perceptions of the NEOM Project: Analysing Tabuk Residents Attitudes(Bournemouth University, 2024-07-11) Makki, Abdulrahman; Linkden, AdeleThis dissertation explores the perspectives of Tabuk residents on the NEOM project, a major development initiative in Saudi Arabia. It aims to understand local views on the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of NEOM, using established tourism theories as a foundation. The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating local perspectives in tourism development to ensure equitable benefit distribution and environmental sustainability. The literature review provides a theoretical basis by examining existing research on tourism impacts and community attitudes, and it discusses NEOM's emergence as a transformative urban project aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Methodologically, the dissertation adopts a quantitative approach, detailing data collection methods and ethical considerations. The findings reveal that while residents generally perceive the NEOM project as beneficial for economic development and social advancement, there are significant concerns about environmental sustainability and the extent of community involvement in decision-making. Recommendations highlight the need for inclusive governance and sustainable practices in destination development, contributing to a deeper understanding of the relationship between large-scale projects, community perceptions, and sustainable tourism outcomes.18 0Item Restricted Investigating Social Media Influencers’ Impact on Brand Equity of Electronic Retailer Brands in Saudi Arabia(Victoria University, 2024-06-18) Alibrahim, Ibrahim; Garma, Romana; Drake, ColinSocial media has emerged as one of the revolutionary technologies of the 21st century, ushering in a new era and providing users with the capabilities to connect, share and interact diversely. Beyond connectivity and sharing, social media platforms host a variety of content, including text, images, and videos, consequently, social media content has become a driving force behind increased social media usage and engagement. In this landscape, social media influencers (SMIs) play a significant role, contributing to the dynamic and engaging nature of social media. As social media adoption and usage continue to rise, brands are strategically leveraging these platforms to connect with their customers and potential audiences. Notably, the utilization of influencers as channels to deliver brand messages has become a prominent trend. Social media influencers, with their audience-fit content, large follower numbers, and established parasocial relationships, are instrumental in shaping brand perceptions. Therefore, this study delves into the role of user-generated content (UGC) by social media influencers in shaping qualitative brand equity among mature cohort consumers of electronic brands in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the research focuses on social media influencer contributions to brand perception among users aged between 28 and 45, comparing their behaviour with that of other user groups. While existing literature predominantly concentrates on influencers targeting younger age groups, there is a noticeable gap in understanding the influence on mature cohort consumers, a demographic experiencing growing engagement with social media. To address its research gap, the study utilizes qualitative brand equity by employing Keller’s customer-based brand equity (CBBE) model and Lavidge and Steiner’s hierarchy-of-effects (HOE) model steps, demonstrating the evolution of qualitative brand equity as a systematic process. Concentrating its focus on Saudi Arabia, the research based its context on the contribution of social media influencers' content sharing (UGC) on customer brand perception of three electronic retailers: Xcite, eXtra, and Jarir. The research employed a quantitative research method, involving a cross-sectional survey completed by 477 Saudi participants, with 262 participants aged between 28 and 45, the focus of the study. This research underscores that the majority of Saudi Arabia's social media users fall within the age range of 28 to 45, surpassing other age groups. Utilizing structural equation modelling, the study found the pivotal role of parasocial relationships as critical motivators for trust and engagement between social media users and influencers. The results highlighted the substantial presence of social media users aged 28 and above in Saudi Arabia. Notably, the research observes the significant relevance of influencer-fuelled interactions on social media, particularly among mature users aged 28-45. Importantly, this is significant as mature social media users are shown to be more affluent and responsive to user-generated content by social media influencers. It also notes that influencers wield a considerable impact on the brands they endorse and promote, leveraging pre-established connections with users. Therefore, the findings from this research are anticipated to help organizations in managing digital marketing efforts by enhancing brand value, especially within mature demographics of social media consumers.34 0Item Restricted Understanding and Implementation of Authentic Learning in Religious Class in Primary Schools in Saudi Arabia.(De Montfort University, 2018-10-31) Haddad, Khawlah; Rizvi, SanaAuthentic learning has been acknowledged by the Saudi education authorities, however, its success depends on correct understanding and implementation by teachers and education authority supervisors. The aim of this study to identify issues in the understanding and implementation of authentic learning with a view to provide recommendations for improved authentic learning in primary schools in Saudi Arabia. The study was carried out using a qualitative approach in the form of a semi-structured interview with primary school teachers and education authority supervisors in the Mecca region of Saudi Arabia. The interview was designed to reveal issues in understanding and implementation and of authentic learning supported by document analysis. The results of the study showed that there was a lack of understanding or differences in understanding between participants about authentic learning. As for implementation of authentic learning a number of barriers were revealed which included teachers being under pressure from workloads, a lack of support from the authorities in terms of technology provision and training and development, and cultural barriers to the activities of authentic learning. However, the findings also showed that teachers had a positive attitude to overcoming these barriers through using their initiative and some even acknowledged that there is some training and development offered. Based on these findings a number of recommendations were made to those responsible in the education authorities and schools for improving understanding and implementation of authentic learning. Saudi Arabia has recognised and acted on authentic learning but more still needs to be done at both the authority and teacher level and this study has provided a number of insights into issues that can be used to inform the future direction of authentic learning in the country. Specifically, this study recommends to the Saudi education authorities that they close the disjunction between educational policy and the reality on the ground for teachers through communication and training and development, as well as making teachers more aware of training and documentation that is already available. Further recommendations included removing the barriers identified by teachers such as work load and student numbers towards more effective implementation of authentic learning.15 0Item Restricted TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPACT OF INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD STRATEGIES FOR COMPREHENSION SKILLS OF SAUDI KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS: A MIXED METHOD STUDY(University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2024-04-26) Alsultan, Riham; Hill, KellyReading comprehension is a very integral element of encouraging lifelong learning amongst kindergarten students. The main objective of this research is to investigate teachers’ perspectives on the effectiveness of interactive read-aloud (IRA) in improving reading comprehension skills amongst kindergarten students in Saudi Arabia. The study's overarching aim was to determine how interactive reading-aloud strategies employed by Saudi kindergarten teachers during interactive read-aloud time impact Saudi kindergarten students' overall comprehension skills through the perceptions of teachers regarding the effectiveness of these strategies. To achieve this objective, the researcher employed a mixed-method research design, a combination of both quantitative and qualitative strategies. The quantitative process involved administering quantitative surveys to 269 kindergarten teachers in Saudi Arabia. The qualitative process involved online interviewing of 8 experienced kindergarten teachers in Saudi Arabia. Participants in the study were chosen via purposive sampling. The results of the study showed that 84% (N = 225) of the participants used IRA in their classroom. The results also showed that the majority of teachers (55.56%, n=125) believe that IRA has an impact on the comprehension skills of their students. Only 2.2%, (N=5) strongly disagreed with that opinion. The qualitative findings showed that the interviewed teachers all believed IRA is an effective tool for developing students’ language skills, comprehension, and engagement in interactive story reading. The qualitative findings revealed that the interviewed teachers faced a variety of challenges when implementing IRA, including a lack of appropriate resources, particularly age-appropriate children's books suitable for IRA; a lack of clear guidelines and training on IRA; and a lack of significant parental involvement. The researcher concludes by stating that the mentioned challenges need to be addressed and the use of IRA in kindergarten needs to be encouraged in Saudi Arabia.17 0Item Restricted Audit Data Analytics, the Transformation within the Audit Profession: Perspectives from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A(Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, 2024-04-18) Alharbi, Yousef; Phan, Duc; Kend, MichaelEmerging and advanced audit data analytics (ADA) technologies such as big data analytics (BDA) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that can analyse vast amounts of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data are changing the auditing industry's practices, processes, and evidence collection processes. This research will investigate factors that encouraged or discouraged Saudi audit firms from investing capital in emerging and advanced (ADA) technologies such as BDA and AI tools. Also examined here are new forms of audit evidence generated by these emerging and advanced technologies and factors that facilitate or impede the collection of such audit evidence. Furthermore, this study will explore the differences between listed and unlisted audit clients regarding the audit processes when advanced or emerging technologies are deployed. Diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, technological-organisational-environmental (TOE) framework, and socio-technical (ST) theory will serve as the basis for the theoretical framework for this study. The study will use two methodologies to collect data: firstly, conducting semi-structured interviews with participants who have knowledge and experience of emerging and advanced ADA technologies for auditing, and secondly, reviews of the documentary data sources generated by audit firms on this topic. In this study, empirical findings from Saudi Arabia will be presented on the transformation occurring in the audit profession where emerging and advanced ADA technologies are being used. This study presents four contributions. The present study is one of the first to reveal capital investment decisions in emerging and advanced ADA technologies since it provides empirical knowledge aimed at enhancing academic perceptions in this area. It is also one of the first studies to provide empirical evidence about the new forms of audit evidence and the differences in audit processes between listed and unlisted clients when using ADA tools. For practical contribution, this study provides a comprehensive capital investment decision-making model in ADA technologies that consists of three pillars (i.e., technological, organisational, and external environmental), which allows audit firms to make informed capital investment decisions in emerging and advanced ADA technologies. In terms of theoretical contributions, this study is among the first to combine diffusion of innovation (DOI) withtechnological-organisational-environmental (TOE) theories to interpret findings about RQ1 and RQ2. This study is the first to utilize ST system theory to investigate the phenomenon of RQ3 since this topic has not been addressed previously. As a methodological contribution, this study utilized two qualitative data collection methods (i.e., semi-structured interviews and documentary sources) in conjunction with interpretivism philosophy in order to support and strengthen its findings. The findings reveal that KSA audit firms have many reasons (i.e., technological, organisational, and external environmental) for investing or not investing in ADA technologies. Technological factors are relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability, uncertainty vs. certainty, and trust in such technologies. Several organisational factors lead KSA audit firms to invest in ADA technologies: improvements of their operations, leadership support, the readiness of KSA audit firms, and technological competencies of auditors and other relevant employees. External environmental factors that encourage or discourage KSA audit firms from investing in such technologies are the country’s regulations and regulators, international auditing standards, competitive pressures, and trading partners' or clients’ requirements. It is not necessary for each audit firm to consider all these factors before deciding to invest or delay investment in audit technologies. However, it is more beneficial that KSA audit firms consider all these factors before deciding to invest in modern audit techniques, as they can look at matters from many angles and in detail, which gives them a better opportunity to make informed decisions. The findings about the new forms of audit evidence have been interpreted based on DOI and TOE theories, and they KSA audit firms did generate new forms of audit evidence by analysing the entire population of clients' data using AI and BDA, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), drones, and sensors. The technical-based factors that lead KSA audit firms to generate new forms of audit evidence are relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, and simplicity. Organisational aspects that simplify the generation of new forms of audit evidence are leadership commitment and support and seeking to improve how audit firms operate with reference to external auditing practices. Finally, collecting new forms of audit evidence has been influenced significantly by external environmental factors such as government regulations and audit standards, audited clients, and competitive pressures. The findings about the differences in audit processes between listed and unlisted audit clients to collect new forms of evidence using modern technologies are driven by the six elements that comprise the ST system framework. These six elements drive four factors that establish the differences in audit processes and the use of ADA technologies between listed and unlisted clients: risk levels, regulations, accounting standards, and differences in the quality and quantity of the data provided by each client category (i.e., listed, or unlisted).67 0