Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Corporate governance in the insurance industry: Global evidence on risk-taking and performance(University of Southampton, 2024) Alzughaibi, Faris; Tingbani, Ishmael - Haque, FaizulThe insurance industry plays a pivotal role in maintaining both domestic and international economic stability, making the governance of insurance companies and the mechanisms influencing their operations and performance crucial areas of academic and practical interest. This thesis aims to expand the existing body of knowledge on the role of corporate governance (CG) in the insurance industry from a global perspective through three distinct but interconnected papers. The first paper presents a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) on the effects of CG in the insurance industry. It appraises, synthesises and extends knowledge on the theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence regarding internal and external governance mechanisms and their impacts on a wide range of financial and non-financial outcomes for insurance firms. This review, encompassing 130 articles published in 63 journals from 1980 to 2021, reveals several key findings: (a) agency theory is the most commonly applied theory, with a lack of application of multi-theoretical frameworks; (b) certain internal governance mechanisms, such as state, family and foreign ownership, board diversity, finance and Shariah committees and debt-based compensation, are rarely investigated; (c) external governance mechanisms, such as Shariah law and external actuaries, receive limited attention; (d) cross-country studies are scarce; and (e) methodological limitations include a scarcity of qualitative studies, inconsistency and lack of precision in certain variable measurements. The paper concludes by outlining several opportunities for future research. Building on insights from the SLR, the second paper investigates the influence of multiple facets of board diversity (i.e., gender, nationality, tenure and age) on two critical aspects of risk-taking in insurance firms: insolvency risk (financial risk) and underwriting risk (operational risk). Using an international sample of 3,333 firm-years from publicly traded insurers across 44 countries over 2003–2019, the paper finds that board diversity in terms of gender, nationality and age significantly reduces both insolvency and underwriting risk. However, board tenure diversity shows mixed results, with a negative association with insolvency risk but a positive association with underwriting risk. Further analysis uncovers the mechanisms through which diverse boards influence risk management, demonstrating that they tend to adopt more conservative investment and financial policies. Yet importantly, this conservative approach does not compromise financial returns. Additionally, the implementation of gender quotas leads to a significant reduction in insurer risk. The third paper completes the picture of how board diversity affects risk-taking by considering the moderating role of institutional factors and adopting a holistic view of diversity through a composite board diversity index encompassing gender, nationality, tenure, and age. Using a global dataset of 3,187 firm-year observations from publicly listed insurers over a 17-year period, the findings confirm that increased board diversity is associated with reduced insolvency and underwriting risk among insurance firms. The paper further reveals significant moderating effects of institutional factors on this relationship. Specifically, strong national governance quality amplifies the risk-mitigating benefits of board diversity. Moreover, drawing on Hofstede’s (1980) cultural dimensions, the paper demonstrates that societies with high uncertainty avoidance strengthen the risk-reducing effects of board diversity, while cultures characterised by high individualism, power distance, and masculinity attenuate these benefits. Additional analyses focused on the global financial crisis (2007-2009) reveal that the effectiveness of diverse boards in mitigating risk is especially pronounced during periods of economic stress.34 0Item Restricted How Does Genetic Counselling Aid Couples in Comprehending Fragile X Syndrome Diagnosis and Impact Their Reproductive Choices?(University of Glasgow, 2024) Mohamed, Areej; Marks, LeahFragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders, impacting both males and females globally. This dissertation explores the role of genetic counselling in aiding couples to comprehend the diagnosis of FXS and its influence on their reproductive decisions. Through a systematic literature review, the study assesses the effectiveness of genetic counselling in conveying complex genetic information, supporting emotional and psychological needs, and guiding family planning. Key findings suggest that while genetic counselling improves knowledge, it often presents emotional and ethical challenges, particularly in decisions related to prenatal diagnosis, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and other reproductive options. The study highlights the need for accessible and culturally sensitive genetic counselling services to support families in making informed reproductive choices. Additionally, it underscores the importance of continuous education and support for individuals with FXS and their families to navigate the long-term psychological and emotional impacts of the diagnosis. Recommendations for future research focus on improving genetic counselling practices to address these complex issues better.9 0Item Restricted Antecedents of Job Stress: A Systematic Literature Review(Brunel university London, 2024-03-08) Alzahrani, Shorouq; Aljubairi, IbrahimCurrently, family concepts are evolving and are an essential and ongoing development. Maintaining family life is essential for achieving a high quality of life, as family conflicts can impact the enduring value of life quality. Business organisations must continuously enhance service quality to meet customer expectations and maintain competitiveness. Increased competitiveness and customer satisfaction demands might impact staff productivity. The competition significantly impacts the employees who might have irregular working hours, a significant workload, job stress, and challenges managing work and family obligations. Job stress is often seen in most business organisations these days. Job stress can arise when employees are unable to meet job standards. Considering its importance, this study investigated the systematic literature review of antecedents of job stress, including social support, job satisfaction, and work- family conflict. Besides, this study examined the impact of job stress on job satisfaction, social support, and work-family conflict. Secondary data was gathered from journals, websites, blogs, and articles. A total of 203 journal articles were collected for conducting a systematic literature review from JSTOR, Emerald, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Elsevier, published between January 2013 and December 2023. 67 articles were included in the thematic analysis. The findings of this study are helpful for employers in reducing the job stress of employees and increasing their satisfaction levels. The study demonstrates that while several job stressors and coping strategies have been discovered, only a few sectors actively address these issues to provide a stress-free work environment. Future research may prioritise the establishment of an organisational framework that aligns with developmental characteristics and fosters a supportive atmosphere for employees, hence mitigating job stress levels.29 0Item Restricted Food supply chain in terms of sustainability(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-12-21) Alselwly, Fahad Eid A; Pagano, RosaneThis thesis examines the issues and solutions related to environmental protection, social justice, and economic viability in the context of food supply chains and their pursuit of sustainability. The main purpose is to improve the long-term viability of the supply chain via the implementation of strategic goals. This study does a comprehensive literature analysis to draw together findings from many sources into a unified narrative that tackles the multifaceted issue of food supply chain sustainability. Thematic analysis is used in this investigation to glean overarching themes from many lines of inquiry. It provides a thorough analysis of the methods used in previous studies, pointing out their benefits, drawbacks, and applicability to new situations. The study reveals a web of environmental, social, and economic obstacles and potential for strengthening food supply chain sustainability. Synthesising findings from several research emphasises the importance of holistic approaches, methodological improvements, and stakeholder involvement in bringing about revolutionary shifts. The evidence-based suggestions provide a useful road map for various actors to implement sustainable procurement, push for legislative reforms, and participate in collaborative industry platforms, all of which will lead to significant changes that will make the future more resilient and equitable.25 0