This study aims to investigate the impact of information technology usage on achieving competitive advantage and organizational performance in small and medium enterprises (SMES) as a set of most important reasons that lead to the organizational success . Moreover, this study examines the direct and indirect effect of achieving competitive advantage on organizatioal performance in SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Jordan . 375 questionnaires were distributed to the study sample. Only 170 questionnaires were returned with the response rate of 48%. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and structural equation model. The results reveal that there is an orientation by the manufacturing SMEs towards the information technology usage. The manufacturing SMES in Jordan have the potentials and resources that enable them to achieve a competitive advantage, grow market share, offer products at competitive prices, and differentiate their product. Also, the study reveals that there is a direct impact of information technology usage on organizational performance, and a direct impact of competitive advantage on organizational performance. Finally, there is an impact of information technology usage on organizational performance through competitive advantage of manufacturing SMES in Jordan. The study recommends that the manufacturing SMEs must adopt information technology tools and invest in information technology usage to the best level. Manufacturing SMEs have to tend towards creativity, innovation and continuous improvement under the intensity of the competition in the manufacturing sector, and local and global business environment.

The small and medium organizations play an effective role in the economic policies in many countries of the world. This has led to more attention being focused on researches that deal with the problems of this sector. Therefore, the study focused on the actual application of total quality management and rational governance in instituions supports small projects. The main objective of the study is to examine the proposed model of relationship between quality and governance. Emphasis is on the requirements of applying this model effectively to improve the performance of the institutions which supports small projects. The descriptive approach has been used and the data were collected using survey. The study leads to many results the most important of which is the existence of high levels of the investigator’s concerns (who applied the indicators of the proposed model) and the quality indicators had obtained preferences relatively higher compared to governance indicators. The applied proposed model results in the development of the performance of small projects so as to be eligible for investment efficiency by reducing the risks and the capital cost, which can help it to access credit easily. Finally, the study provided a set of recommendations as the following: a practical guide for small business including the criteria for applying governance and quality in a manner consistent with the economic context and commercial business requirements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the establishment of a national council for small enterprises in order to assist them in the development and application of strategies and policies in the areas of quality and governance.

The current study aimed to test the domestic products acceptance through examining the influence of the home country equity and consumer ethnocentrism on it, and through application of the study on the Egyptian consumer. The results pointed to the limited rise in the mean value of home country equity variables. The results also revealed the existence of too limited rise in the mean value of Egyptian consumer ethnocentrism, and consumer acceptance of domestic products which was represented by the attitude towards domestic products and their buying intentions. Finally, the results declared that there is positive impact of country perceived quality, country loyalty and consumer ethnocentrism on the acceptance of domestic products, while the results did not prove any significant effect of country awareness on that acceptance. The results also indicated the positive impact of some country equity concepts, such as macro country image, country perceived quality, and country loyalty on consumer ethnocentrism.

This study investigates if Audit Committee (AC) effectiveness, measured by size, activity, independence, and expertise, affects audit quality through the appointment of a high quality auditor. This study deepens our understanding of the role of AC in a developing country that recently applied a Corporate Governance (CG) Code, Saudi Arabia. The study employs logistic multiple regression analysis, in which we use two dummy dependent variables: selection of an industry specialist auditor and a Big-4 auditor or not. We examine a sample of 361 firm-year observations from 2007 to 2011. The basic analysis shows that AC size is the only determinant of audit quality, with a negative coefficient. When aggregating the effectiveness characteristics in one score, we find a significant negative correlation with audit quality, which implies that effective ACs are less likely to select an industry specialist auditor, contrary to expectations. The additional analysis shows that none of the AC effectiveness characteristics affects the decision of the AC to appoint a Big-4 auditor, whether individually or collectively. Furthermore, we find that ACs of firms with higher family and managerial ownerships and larger firm size are more likely to select a higher quality auditor. CG regulators and interested parties should recognize that AC effectiveness does not necessarily ensure audit quality or rational decisions, since we find that effective ACs are more likely to select an industry non-specialist auditor. ACs seem to comply with CG regulations in form rather than in substance.