Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted ACCEPTANCE OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY BY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA(Aston University, 2025) Alhumayzi, Mohammed; Batista, Luciano; Benson, VladlenaThe increasing adoption of new technologies in the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) sector highlights the importance of exploring blockchain acceptance among employees. Adopting blockchain, as an emerging technology, is likely to encounter resistance among employees. This study explores this issue. Specifically, this study aims to determine the drivers and hindrances of blockchain acceptance among employees in the HEIs industry. To address this aim, this study proposes a framework that extends the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) with individual characteristics. The framework represents factors that explain blockchain acceptance. The identified elements are performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EX), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC), trust, perceived security (SEC) and awareness (AW). The relationships among these factors were examined based on a quantitative approach, where an online questionnaire was employed to collect data from administrative and academic staff working for HEIs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) and Multi-group Analysis (MGA) techniques were employed to analyse 394 responses. The findings of this study revealed the direct drivers and hindrances of blockchain acceptance, i.e., PE, FC, SEC and AW. Additionally, this study demonstrated the moderating effects of AW between FC and blockchain acceptance. Furthermore, it determined specific indirect effects of the EX, trust and SEC on blockchain acceptance. Moreover, this research detected significant differences between categories’ subsamples and identified the significant factors of blockchain acceptance per subsample. Finally, this research identified where blockchain needs to be adopted most within the HEIs, i.e., financial exchange, certificate management, and students’ assessment areas. The HEIs industry in KSA could use these findings to develop concise strategies that encourage the adoption of blockchain. Scholars might also employ the proposed framework to investigate the adoption of blockchain.30 0Item Restricted Navigating Consumer Resistance: Understanding Barriers to Technology Adoption in the Modern Market Through Systematic Literature Review(University of Essex, 2024-09-11) Alsaidan, Nawaf; Kuanr, AbhisekThis study systematically explores and identifies factors contributing to consumer resistance to technology adoption in modern markets and proposes strategies to address them. The research focuses on three objectives: identifying primary barriers to adoption, analyzing psychological, sociocultural, and functional impacts, and evaluating marketing strategies to mitigate resistance. Using a systematic literature review of 21 studies (2010–2023), the study finds that consumer resistance arises from psychological barriers (e.g., tradition and skepticism), sociocultural influences (e.g., norms and social pressures), and functional issues (e.g., value, risk, complexity). It concludes that holistic approaches addressing all barrier types are essential for effective technology adoption.8 0Item Restricted Navigating Consumer Resistance: Understanding Barriers to Technology Adoption in the Modern Market Through Systematic Literature Review(University of Essex, 2024-09-11) Alsaidan, Nawaf; Kuanr, AbhisekThis study systematically explores and identifies factors contributing to consumer resistance to technology adoption in modern markets and proposes strategies to address them. The research focuses on three objectives: identifying primary barriers to adoption, analyzing psychological, sociocultural, and functional impacts, and evaluating marketing strategies to mitigate resistance. Using a systematic literature review of 21 studies (2010–2023), the study finds that consumer resistance arises from psychological barriers (e.g., tradition and skepticism), sociocultural influences (e.g., norms and social pressures), and functional issues (e.g., value, risk, complexity). It concludes that holistic approaches addressing all barrier types are essential for effective technology adoption.22 0Item Restricted An In-Depth Analysis of the Adoption of Large Language Models in Clinical Settings: A Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach(University of Bridgeport, 2024-08-05) Aldwean, Abdullah; Tenney, DanThe growing capabilities of large language models (LLMs) in the medical field hold promising transformational change. The evolution of LLMs, such as BioBERT and MedGPT, has created new opportunities for enhancing the quality of healthcare services, improving clinical operational efficiency, and addressing numerous existing healthcare challenges. However, the adoption of these innovative technologies into clinical settings is a complex, multifaceted decision problem influenced by various factors. This dissertation aims to identify and rank the challenges facing the integration of LLMs into healthcare clinical settings and evaluate different adoption solutions. To achieve this goal, a combined approach based on the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy TOPSIS) has been employed to prioritize these challenges and then use them to rank potential LLM adoption solutions based on experts’ opinion. However, utilizing LLMs technologies in clinical settings faces several challenges across societal, technological, organizational, regulatory, and economic (STORE) perspectives. The findings indicate that regulatory concerns, such as accountability and compliance, are considered the most critical challenges facing LLMs adoption decision. This research provides a thorough and evidence-based assessment of LLMs in the clinical settings. It offers a structured framework that helps decision-makers navigate the complexities of leveraging such disruptive innovations in clinical practice.34 0Item Restricted Impact of Technology Adoption on the Success of E-Commerce Technologies in Small and Medium Enterprises(The University of Newcastle, 2024-02-17) Almtiri, Ziad Hmwd A; Miah, Shah J; Noman, NasimulThe primary task of this research is to investigate the relationship between the adoption of technology and the success of e-commerce technologies in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The study examines how specific technologies affect the overall performance and profitability of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) SMEs. To study the connection between these variables, it is essential to consider e-commerce trends among modern SME businesses. E-commerce technologies become more and more evolving and relevant in different business operations, bringing benefits and convenience to all stakeholders involved. Although e-commerce is developing at a higher speed in the KSA country context compared to other countries, there is still scepticism in existing studies and substantial issues to its full adoption were discussed. Therefore, the aim of this research is therefore of paramount task to reveal the positive effect of e-commerce technology and encourage SMEs to incorporate technology adoption into their business plans. For this, the research uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis, namely, a questionnaire, with a positivist interpretation of the collected data. To analyse the data accurately, the study adopts a Descriptive Statistics approach in SPSS platform. All the participants who are involved in the research is subjected and treated ethically following the University of Newcastle ethical guidelines (Protocol Number: H-2022-0290). The main limiting factors for the adoption of e-commerce technologies in the KSA have to do with the perception of e-commerce amongst the SMEs managers. Business Organisations are eager to use new technologies, realising their benefits for their continuous improvement of practices. E-commerce, on the other hand, is blurry in the minds of SMEs practitioners of the KSA, which makes them distrustful, and hence resistant to the adoption of new technologies that impact in developing e-commerce strategies.50 0Item Restricted Fintech and Entrepreneurship: An Assessment Model to Evaluate Policy Instruments for Fintech Adoption by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)(ProQuest, 2023-11-01) Alassaf, Deemah; Daim, Tugrul U.Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the engines that drive economic development. They are the backbone of the middle class as they provide social stability, innovation, inclusive growth, and poverty alleviation. SMEs contribute significantly to job creation, employment, tax provision and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, they face inferior conditions and challenges when it comes to their financing compared to that of large enterprises, as well as having a high expectancy of failing. Because of these limitations, SMEs tend to grow slowly since building up higher credit is difficult for them, and in addition to this, they lack access to broad financing channels. Hence, Fintech solutions offer promising potential for improving SMEs’ access to finance through extending them more accessible and available services, more efficient credit risk assessments and reduced transaction costs. These tools can offer a valuable opportunity for ventures that are too small in size, and involve a great deal of risk, or serve a social purpose. While researchers and practitioners have been promoting Fintech as a potential financial safeguard for SMEs’ needs, evidence shows an inadequate adoption rate of SMEs to such solutions. Therefore, this research aims to provide a comprehensive examination for Fintech policy instruments and analyze their effectiveness on increasing the adoption of Fintech by SMEs through evaluating the essential policy targets impacting the adoption of Fintech and assessing their weights and priorities in the context of SMEs. The research was built upon an inclusive hierarchical decision model and a comprehensive literature review. Experts’ insights were utilized to identify the most important factors influencing Fintech adoption and policy effectiveness. The Hierarchical Decision Modeling (HDM) methodology was used to identify the relative importance of those factors proposing a policy evaluation tool to assess the effectiveness of policy instruments on increasing Fintech adoption. To test the practicality and value the research model adds to the research objective, a case study of the policy instrument effectiveness, the Saudi Arabian regulatory sandbox, was conducted. This research presents the identification of seventeen distinct policy targets that fall within four main perspectives along with their relative weights, as it also integrates the desirability curves methodology that measures the importance of each perspective and criterion. The case study was introduced to illustrate how the model could be used to identify the policy instrument’s actual performance in terms of influencing SMEs adoption of Fintech, identify the instrument’s strengths and weaknesses, and offer recommendations and guiding principles on how to improve the detected weaknesses to increase the policy instrument’s effectiveness on increasing the adoption of Fintech by SMEs.29 0Item Restricted Technology Adoption For Language Learning Purposes In Conservative Territories In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-10-10) Mubarak, Rami; Millar, Robert McCollTeaching and learning the English language have become crucial endeavours in the Arab world, specifically in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, using technology for the purposes of learning the English language has also become central to the digital students of this generation. Before the successful adoption of technology for language learning purposes take place, factors that might impact students’ behavioural intention (BI) need to be investigated, particularly in relation to students coming from conservative territories. As such, in the current study, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was extended and utilised as a lens through which to spot these factors, whilst quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to answer the research questions. As for the number of participants, there were 220 males and 263 females. The findings indicated that learning expectancy (LE), effort expectancy (EE), attitude towards using technology (ATUT), hedonic motivation (HM), trust (TR) and habit (HT) had an influence on students’ behavioural intention (BI) towards accepting and using technology to learn the English language in technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) classrooms. In contrast, social influence (SI) and facilitating condition (FC) did not have any impact.18 0Item Restricted Green Hydrogen Adoption in Saudi Arabia Steel Industry(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-08-31) Alzlfawi, Ahmad; Ashourizadeh, Shayegheh; Wubben, EmielThe steel industry is a major global contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, as steel production relies heavily on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Saudi Arabia's steel industry is no exception, resulting in high carbon emissions in the country carbon footprint. However, green hydrogen offers a promising decarbonization solution. Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind. In this process water is splited into hydrogen and oxygen gas without any direct carbon emissions. It can replace fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas in carbon-intensive industries such as the steel industry, by using it as a reducing agent and fuel source in the steel mills. Where it has significant potential to lower emission and reduce the industry carbon footprint within the country. This thesis investigates the adoption of green hydrogen technology in Saudi Arabia steel industry through the theoretical lenses of technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and diffusion of innovation theory(DOI). Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 representatives from Saudi steel companies to understand the factors influencing green hydrogen adoption. The interview questions were structured around the three elements of the TOE framework, technological, organizational, and environmental contextual factors. Also, the five stages in the adoption decision as per diffusion innovation theory (DOI). The study found that while there is increasing interest in green hydrogen in the Saudi steel industry. The technology is still in the early stages and considered as an unproven and scalable to be currently adopted. The technological complexity still hinders the adoption of the technology, while it was found to be highly compatible with the current production systems. Moreover, the lack of supporting regulations, and incentives over future environmental policies were also cited as adoption challenges. The interviewees noted the potential benefits of green hydrogen in reducing emissions and improving the industry carbon footprint by increasing government support, in which it could facilitate wider adoption of the technology. Recommendations include developing regulations and incentives for green hydrogen and emphasizing the relative advantages to overcome perceptual barriers. Targeted policies will be critical to enabling a transition to green steel production in Saudi Arabia.51 0Item Restricted Comprehensive Framework for Blockchain Technology Adoption in Saudi Public Hospitals(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-06-21) Khwaji, Adel Abdulrahman; Hussain, Farookh KhadeerBackground: Blockchain has great potential and promise in the healthcare sector, even though it has not yet seen widespread adoption. Blockchain is able to address most concerns in healthcare such as security, privacy, interoperability, data sharing and counterfeit medicines. As part of the Saudi Vision 2030, the Ministry of Health established strategic goals aimed at enhancing healthcare services and transforming the healthcare system. The main challenge with blockchain adoption is to ensure that users will accept this new technology. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to empirically examine the determinants that affect blockchain adoption in public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. It is apparent that there is scant research examining issues related to the adoption of blockchain in developing countries and Saudi Arabia in particular. It is essential to identify and understand the determinants of intentions to use blockchain technology to identify key areas for interventions aimed at enhancing future use. In this thesis, the perspectives of IT employees are taken into consideration. A conceptual framework for the successful adoption of blockchain technology is subsequently proposed based on the technological, organisational and environmental (TOE) framework. This research also investigates IT employees’ preferences towards moving healthcare information system (HIS) applications to blockchain technology and proposes a set of guidelines to encourage public hospitals to adopt blockchain technology. Methods: Quantitative research data were collected via a cross-sectional questionnaire survey from IT employees who work in Saudi hospitals and 363 responses were considered valid. The data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS software. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to test reliability and validity. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was carried out to test the proposed hypotheses and to identify the determinants that derive the technological, organisational, environmental and human dimensions which influence blockchain adoption in the Saudi hospitals. Results: A descriptive analysis revealed that about 70 percent of the participants had little knowledge of blockchain technology. 81% of the variance in Behavioral intentions was explained by the adapted research framework (R2 = 0.81). The results of the path analysis showed that all the determinants had a significant influence at the level of 0.05 (p < 0.05). Standardised path coefficients showed that government support (beta = 0.28, p < 0.001) had the greatest significantly positive effect on IT employees' Behavioral intention to adopt blockchain. Conclusion: This study provides theoretical empirical evidence based on the TOE framework regarding Saudi healthcare IT employees' attitudes towards blockchain technology. It also presents evidence of the empirical validity of a new extension to the TOE framework by adding two context-specific determinants, namely decision-maker innovativeness and technical competence with their respective measurement scales. The practical implications of the research are offered to governments, hospitals and decision makers so they can achieve a high level of acceptance and usage of blockchain technology28 0