Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Data Analytics in Major Sports Organizations and its Impact on Operations and Decision-Making(University of Liverpool, 2024-09) Alqahtani, Amjad; Mchale, IanContemporary sports organisations have incorporated data analytics into their operations in order to increase competitive advantage and improve outcomes. However, research on the use of data analytics in sports has been largely theory-focused, so this study wanted to address this gap by exploring three sports organisations: Manchester United Football Club, the New York Knicks and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Specifically, the goal of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how the listed organisations employ data analysis in areas of performance management, training programmes, strategic and operational processes, and fan engagement and community building. The organisational learning theory was used to underpin this analysis. Results revealed uneven use and effectiveness across both the three organisations and selected areas. Although Manchester United Football Club and the New York Knicks have publicly committed to data analysis use, their success in most areas is very limited. The England and Wales Cricket Board has been the most effective in terms of translating data into strategic, sustainable competitiveness. So far, fan engagement and community building seem to be the main areas benefiting from data analysis, while success in others is hampered by the lack of comprehensive approaches to transforming data into meaningful action.10 0Item 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.10 0Item Restricted The Effect of TikTok Short Videos on British Generation Z Decision-Making to Visit Saudi Arabia for Leisure Tourism(University of Surrey, 2024-10) Alfaifi, Rayan Hassan; Alector, RibeiroThis research explores the impact of TikTok short videos on British Generation Z’s decision-making process regarding leisure tourism to Saudi Arabia. With the rise of social media as a powerful tool for influencing consumer behavior, especially in the tourism sector, this study investigates the role of TikTok content in shaping the perceptions and travel intentions of British Gen Z, a demographic known for its heavy engagement with social media platforms. Specifically, the research focuses on how different types of TikTok content—positive, negative, entertainment-focused, and cultural—affect the image of Saudi Arabia as a leisure tourism destination and influence Gen Z's decision to visit. The theoretical foundation of the study is based on two prominent psychological models: the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM). The TPB framework is used to analyze how attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control shape Gen Z’s behavioral intentions to visit Saudi Arabia. In contrast, the ELM focuses on the routes of persuasion (central and peripheral) to explain how TikTok content may influence users’ perceptions and decisions, depending on their level of cognitive engagement and involvement with the content. Together, these models help explain how social media content can drive changes in attitude and behavior, particularly in the context of tourism decision-making. The study employs a quantitative research design, utilizing an experimental approach. A total of 390 participants from the UK, all of whom belong to Gen Z (aged 18–28), were recruited through Prolific, an online data collection platform. These participants were randomly divided into five groups, with four experimental groups and one control group. Each experimental group was exposed to a different type of TikTok content: Group 1 watched a positive video about Saudi Arabia, Group 2 watched a negative video, Group 3 watched an entertainment-focused video, and Group 4 watched a cultural video. The control group was not exposed to any video content. All participants completed a structured questionnaire before and after the intervention, which measured their prior knowledge of Saudi Arabia, cognitive and affective images of the destination, and their intention to visit. Data collection was carried out using the Qualtrics platform, and the results were analyzed through SPSS using various statistical techniques, including mixed between-within subjects ANOVA, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis. These methods were chosen to test the nine hypotheses outlined in the study, which revolve around the influence of TikTok content on travel intentions, the mediating role of the perceived image, and the moderating effects of prior knowledge and involvement with TikTok content. The results of the study reveal several key findings. First, the type of TikTok content significantly influences British Gen Z’s travel intentions and perceptions of Saudi Arabia. Positive TikTok content about Saudi Arabia, such as a video featuring Cristiano Ronaldo discussing his positive experience in the country, significantly increased participants’ intention to visit. In contrast, negative content, such as an interview with an individual comparing Saudi Arabia unfavorably to Canada in terms of professional freedom, had a negative impact on travel intentions. Entertainment-focused content, showcasing fun activities and scenic shots of Aseer Province, had the strongest positive effect on both the perceived image of Saudi Arabia and the intention to visit, confirming the hypothesis that entertainment-related content has a stronger influence than other types of content. The study also confirms the mediating role of the perceived image of Saudi Arabia. Participants who viewed positive or entertainment-focused videos reported a more favorable cognitive and affective image of the country, which in turn increased their intention to visit. Conversely, those exposed to negative content reported a less favorable image, which decreased their travel intentions. This mediating effect highlights the importance of destination image in shaping travel decisions, particularly when potential tourists rely on user-generated content from social media platforms like TikTok. Moderation analysis further revealed that prior knowledge and involvement with TikTok content play significant roles in moderating the relationship between content valence and travel intention. Surprisingly, participants with higher prior knowledge of Saudi Arabia showed stronger reactions to both positive and negative content, suggesting that those who are more familiar with the country are more influenced by the type of content they encounter. Similarly, participants with higher involvement in TikTok content showed stronger intentions to visit Saudi Arabia after watching positive or entertainment-focused videos, indicating that higher engagement with the platform enhances the impact of the content. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the powerful influence of TikTok content on British Gen Z’s perceptions and travel intentions towards Saudi Arabia. Positive and entertainment-focused content can significantly enhance the destination’s image and increase the likelihood of attracting tourists from this demographic. On the other hand, negative content can harm the destination’s image and deter potential visitors. These findings suggest that Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, in line with Vision 2030, can benefit greatly from strategically leveraging TikTok and other social media platforms to promote its leisure tourism offerings. By creating engaging, visually appealing, and culturally rich content, the Kingdom can attract a larger share of British Gen Z travelers, further diversifying its tourism sector and boosting its international appeal.18 0Item Restricted Global, Local, Hybrid: Manufacturing in the Age of Disruption(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-08-24) Albisher, Ali Mohammad; Patsavellas, JouhnThe economic landscape has drastically changed during the past decades, shifting from its local characteristics into a highly global decentralized manner. Nonetheless, the current supply chain disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic and materials shortages have imposed a significant challenge in terms of managing these distributed entities. Consequently, this research aims to construct a comprehensive understanding of the quintessential challenges, opportunities, factors, and technologies involved in the decision-making process of centralizing or decentralizing manufacturing systems. The research starts by conducting a condensed systematic literature review to analyze the existing publications on the subject topic and to determine the research gaps. Then, qualitative data was gathered by conducting semi-structured interviews with industrial experts in different fields to ascertain the relative importance of the main factors affecting the manufacturing positioning decisions. Additionally, the collected interview data was prioritized and thoroughly analyzed by utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process Methodology. The analysis showed that generic manufacturing positioning factors can be classified into primary and secondary factors. The primary factors consist of geopolitics & economic factors, capital costs, and accessibility to resources respectively; while secondary factors include market & business drivers along with flexibility, agility, and responsiveness which depend on the primary ones. Furthermore, a consolidated generic centralization vs decentralization decision-making framework has been proposed and validated.9 0Item Restricted The Relationship Between Risk Management Practices and Investment Performance in the Context of OPEC and OPEC+(Saudi Digital Library, 2023) Alsalamah, Faisal; Park, SeyoungInvesting in a complicated market structure where it is managed by what economists refer to as a cartel can be challenging since the movement of the market can be unpredictable. Also, the application of the risk management practices can be beneficial in such market once the investor comprehends how the market operate. This literature will present the Relationship between risk management practices and investment performance in the context of OPEC and OPEC+.42 0Item Restricted Factors Influencing Clinical Decision Making Among Nurses; Adapted Systematic Review.(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-21) Alsufyani, Yasir Mohsen; Stanford, PenelopeBackground: In the evolving healthcare sector, nurses play a pivotal role, in delivering patient centered care that relies on well-informed clinical decision making. This adapted systematic review explores the factors that influence nurses' decision-making processes. Given the evolution of healthcare, it is crucial to comprehend the elements that influence nurses’ clinical decision making. This study acknowledges that expertise, organizational dynamics, cultural context, patient preferences, and evidence-based practice all shape clinical decision making. By unraveling these intricacies, insights can be gained that guide evidence-based strategies, policy development, and educational approaches. This knowledge is needed to empower nurses as they make decisions in their roles. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023 to examine the existing literature and ascertain the elements that impact the process of clinical decision making among nurses. The aim of this investigation was to find the latest and trustworthy evidence related to the subject, subsequently subjecting it to a thorough examination employing the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool (Public Health Resource Unit 2012). This review provides a narrative account that incorporates a thematic synthesis of existing research to critically evaluate the current body of data pertaining to the many elements that influence clinical decision making. Objectives To investigate the existing literature and determine the factors that influencing clinical decision making. Result: The systematic review yielded a total of 16 studies that met the criteria for eligibility. These studies encompassed ten quantitative studies, five qualitative studies and one mixed-methods study. The findings revealed that the factors influencing nurses’ clinical decision-making included their level of experience and expertise; the availability of colleagues for consultation; their degree of autonomy in making decisions; the pressures of their workload and time constraints; access to information; and various organizational aspects such as staffing levels and available resources. Notably, experience emerged as one of the determinants at an individual level. Conclusion: This systematic review highlighted the factors that affect the decision-making process of nurses. Among these factors were the experience level of nurses, collaboration, and access to information. It is important to note that contextual elements like workload, staffing and available resources within healthcare organizations also play a role in this process. Extensive meta-analysis, on a large scale encompassing various geographical locations, is still required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how these factors interact in clinical practice.21 0Item Restricted Investigating Ohio Health Commissoners' Perceptions and Experiences with Respect to Decision-Making During the COVID-19 Pandemic(2023-05-01) Alsaheil, Nouf; Hoornbeek, JohnBackground: Public Health (PH) leaders debate the effectiveness of their decisions on controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Varying decisions across states and localities illustrate the difficulty of decision-making when confronted with complex and unexpected challenges in PH. Psychologists often frame decision-making as reflecting one of two systems. System 1 is based on experience and instinct. System 2 is based on data and analysis. In PH, many efforts are directed toward supporting evidence-based decision-making; however, scholars confirm that skills and experience play a substantial role in shaping decisions. Skills and experiences appear to become more influential in decisions associated with high-stakes situations, where individuals will depend more on their cognitive, interpersonal, and behavioral skills and less on data because of uncontrollable constraints, such as time, information, and uncertainty. The purpose of this study is to generate a better understanding of the decision-making processes used by Ohio local health commissioners (HCs) as they were dealing with COVID-19 high-stakes situations. Study aims include: examining the thinking styles of expert and novice Ohio HCs regarding decision-making in the context of COVID-19-associated high-stakes situations; identifying factors that impact the decision-making preferences and practices during these situations; and exploring the contextual factors that HCs consider when faced with COVID-19 decisions. Methods: The study applied a convergent mixed-method approach. Quantitative methods were applied to a cross-sectional survey data where the Rational-Experiential Inventory-40 survey was used to measure individual differences and their relationships with expressed preferences for using System 1 and 2 thinking. An ANOVA and paired t-test were used to assess differences between Public Health Officials’ (PHOs) experience levels and preferred decision-making systems. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with preferred system thinking. The Critical Decision Method, a semi-structured interview protocol, was used to discover contextual factors that influence the decision-making process of HCs in COVID-19 situations. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Findings: This study found that Ohio HCs prefer using rational over experiential thinking during COVID-19 situations. There were no consistent documented differences between novices and experts except for the reported status of their networks and relationships. The study also identified contextual factors that appeared to influence HCs’ decision-making processes. Themes that emerged from the interviews in relations to these factors included vagueness and uncertainty, senses of urgency, regulation and guidance, autonomy and sense of responsibility, prior experience, networks and relationships, effective communication and teamwork, cognitive skills, and personality traits. Implications: The results inform scientific knowledge and can be used to aid development of hazard-focused training programs and PH curricula. Equipping the PH workforce with necessary leadership competencies to face high-stake situations is an important protective factor to help counteract other uncontrollable factors that arise within the PH sector, including lack of information, time, and budget. The work presented here may be used to improve PHOs' performance, which can lead to better service delivery. Results from this study are also available to preparedness planners to assist in LHDs’ After-Action Reviews/Improvement Plans.9 0