Volume 6, Issue 4 (2025)

Abstract

يُعدّ التحول الرقمي أحد أبرز العوامل التي أعادت تشكيل ديناميات الأسواق المعاصرة، إذ أسهم في تعزيز مفاهيم الشفافية والعدالة في البيئة التنافسية. فالتحول الرقمي، بوصفه عملية متكاملة لتوظيف التقنيات الحديثة كالذكاء الاصطناعي، وتحليل البيانات الضخمة، والمنصات الإلكترونية، مكّن الجهات التنظيمية والمشاركين في السوق من الوصول الفوري إلى المعلومات، ومتابعة الأنشطة الاقتصادية بدقة عالية. وقد أدى ذلك إلى الحد من الممارسات الاحتكارية، وزيادة قدرة المستهلكين على المقارنة والاختيار الحر، مما يعزز من عدالة المنافسة بين الشركات. كما ساهمت التحولات الرقمية في خفض الحواجز أمام الدخول إلى الأسواق، إذ أتاحت للشركات الصغيرة والناشئة فرصاً متكافئة للتوسع والمنافسة عبر الوسائط الرقمية.

ومن جهة أخرى، أوجد التحول الرقمي بيئة رقابية أكثر فاعلية، تتيح للسلطات المختصة مراقبة الأسواق وتحليل الأنماط السلوكية غير التنافسية باستخدام أدوات التحليل الذكي. ومع ذلك، يبقى تحقيق المنافسة العادلة في ظل الاقتصاد الرقمي مرهوناً بقدرة الدول على تطوير تشريعات رقمية متقدمة تضمن حماية البيانات، وتمنع هيمنة المنصات الكبرى، وتسد الفجوة الرقمية بين الفاعلين الاقتصاديين.

وعليه، يمكن القول إن التحول الرقمي يمثل ركيزة أساسية لتحقيق المنافسة العادلة، بشرط أن يُدار ضمن إطار مؤسسي وتنظيمي متوازن يحقق العدالة والابتكار في آنٍ واحد. وهو عملية توظيف التقنيات الرقمية (مثل الذكاء الاصطناعي، والبيانات الضخمة، والمنصات الإلكترونية) لإعادة تشكيل العمليات الاقتصادية والإدارية والخدمية.

واما المنافسة العادلة فهي البيئة التي تتاح فيها الفرص لجميع الفاعلين الاقتصاديين على نحو متكافئ، دون احتكار أو تمييز أو ممارسات غير نزيهة.

Abstract

The research aims to address a fundamental issue related to the impact of Islamic finance on economic development. Islamic finance has witnessed a significant increase in the volume of its financial transactions, especially after the global crisis of 2008, making it a key source for financing various economic activities and driving growth in many countries. Islamic banks were selected as the focus of the study because they represent the core component of the Islamic financial industry in Iraq.

The research adopts the inductive approach by focusing on the development of the Islamic banking sector in Iraq, its various patterns, and its impact on economic development. The development of the Islamic banking sector is expressed through a set of indicators (total assets and financing volume), while economic development is measured through the non-oil GDP indicator. The data cover the period (2013–2022).

The study concludes that there is a statistically significant positive effect of credit volume on economic development, while no impact of total assets in Islamic banks on economic development was found. The researcher recommends the need to develop the operational mechanisms of Islamic banks in a manner that ensures strengthening their positive impact on economic development.

Abstract

The general budget is described as the main driver for drawing up the economic policy in the country, and the optimal exploitation of the revenues obtained by the state is the best way to achieve economic balance. The achievement of economic balance for any country is closely linked to the type of resources that the government relies on to achieve economic growth, to achieve stability and prosperity for its people. Most of the Middle Eastern (developing) countries, including Iraq, depend on their economy on natural resources, which are known as (what nature provides of things that humans use in their economic activity to satisfy their needs, which were formed as a result of chemical reactions in which humans had no role in forming them, such as oil, gas and coal.

Abstract

The current research presents the idea of ​​using deep learning tools and employing them in financial aspects due to their significant role and ability to explore unobservable aspects in light of financial models governed by a set of restrictions, conditions and linear relationships. On the other hand, the nature of financial data that tends to be non-linear and suffers from the missing of monthly closing prices, which imposes a state of data loss. All of this provides preference for deep learning models, including the neural network tool. The research aims to estimate financial returns in light of the capital asset pricing model CAPM as a financial model and neural networks as a deep learning tool in addition to the mask & padding tool to address the problem of missing data. The knowledge gap was determined by the inability of the capital asset pricing model to explore hidden and invisible aspects and overcome non-linear relationships. The research sample consisted of 42 organizations listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange for the period from 1/1/2021 to 31/12/2024 with 60 observations. The research concluded that the neural network tool is able to overcome the determinants in light of financial models and provide accurate estimates of returns are close to estimates under the capital asset pricing model.

Abstract

Based on the importance of the role played by financial intelligence and behavior in strengthening companies in the financial markets and stabilizing them by achieving an added market value for companies assuming the moral and important impact of financial intelligence and behavior and proving the statistical hypothesis, a major problem was assumed represented in the statement of the impact of financial intelligence and behavior on the financial performance of financial decision makers in the sample of Iraqi companies? Therefore, the study sought to diagnose and explore the companies that provided and achieved levels of financial intelligence represented by profits, revenues and returns, and financial behavior represented by deals and sessions, within the sectors (banks and industry) of the study sample, and using the (ARDL) methodology in a period that extended 2010-2023 with a detailed theoretical description of the latest concepts and methods of measurement for both financial intelligence and behavior, as the results of the analysis of the first model of banks proved that there is a direct, significant and escalating impact that begins with revenues through profits and ends Returns are the most important in such a sector characterized by many and severe risks and from different internal and external environments, unlike the industry sector, which is affected by other factors, so it is necessary to follow the best market model that has achieved the highest levels of intelligence and behavior of financials for the duration of the research in order to be a model for consolidating weak and declining levels of behavior and intelligence in a number of companies and sectors.

Abstract

The research aims primarily to diagnose and determine the role played by organizational conflict management methods with its dimensions (cooperation method, employee performance, avoidance method, compromise method, courtesy method) in employee performance. The research problem lies in determining how organizational conflict management can raise employee performance. The organization was chosen as the research field, which is one of the important organizations, to test the research hypotheses and the correlation and influence relationships between organizational conflict management methods as a dependent variable and employee performance as a dependent variable. (54) questionnaires were distributed to all employees in the office of the Electoral Commission in Maysan. The descriptive analytical approach and the statistical software SPSS25 were relied on to analyze and describe its results. The research concluded that there is a correlation and influence relationship between the research variables.

Abstract

This research explores the impact of various factors on managers' intention to use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in human resource management practices, through a survey conducted with a sample of 80 individuals from 6 private colleges. The descriptive analytical method was utilized in the study, examining several key dimensions representing the independent variable, including (administrative dimension, cultural dimension, economic dimension, legal and ethical dimension, social dimension, and psychological dimension).

The results indicate that these factors significantly affect managers' intention to use AI, which in turn reflects on human resource management practices, including (recruitment and selection, training and development, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits management, and labor relations management). The study concluded that addressing the mentioned factors enhances the effective use of AI, contributing to the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of human resource management practices.

Therefore, the research recommends that institutions develop comprehensive strategies to enhance awareness and understanding among managers and employees regarding the benefits of AI, along with establishing clear policies to ensure legal and ethical compliance and fostering a culture of innovation and change.

Abstract

Banks are exposed to many financial risks that arise when the bank faces difficulty in recovering loans from borrowers, which may affect the bank's assets and its ability to meet its obligations. There are also market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates, stock prices, and exchange rates, which negatively impact the value of assets. In addition, there are liquidity risks related to the bank's inability to meet liquidity needs suddenly, such as the withdrawal of deposits or financing loans, which creates challenges in achieving a balance between profitability and liquidity. Non-financial risks to which banks are exposed include operational risks resulting from the failure of internal systems or procedures, and legal risks arising from failure to comply with laws and regulations, which may lead to fines or legal cases. There are also strategic risks resulting from making incorrect decisions that affect the bank's future, in addition to reputational risks related to damage to the bank's image as a result of customer complaints or financial crises. To manage these risks, banks implement multiple strategies such as hedging, diversifying investments, and ensuring the implementation of regulatory requirements. Risk management helps improve the bank's stability and enhance its ability to make sound financial decisions, enabling it to reduce losses. Potential, capital preservation, and long-term sustainability are guaranteed, which increases the level of trust between clients and investors.

Abstract

The research aimed to identify how to build models for selecting the optimal mix of investment portfolios, as well as presenting the stock returns of fifty-four companies listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange to facilitate investors' choice of the best investment alternatives by comparing stock returns with the financial market returns. Using monthly data spanning the period from March 2020 to May 2024, the research examined fifty-four companies listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange, covering all traded sectors. The research also demonstrated the importance of beta analysis (β) in classifying stocks into defensive and offensive, which helps investors build balanced financial portfolios that manage risks more effectively. The research reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that the pricing of capital assets depends on two important factors: the risk premium and the beta value. Consequently, any increase in either of these factors will be directly reflected in the prices of corporate assets.

Abstract

Positive leadership has emerged as a prominent concept that has garnered considerable academic attention within organizational management models, owing to its ability to enhance organizational effectiveness by fostering positive values and motivational behavior patterns. Public universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are increasingly facing organizational challenges due to fluctuating economic and political conditions, which negatively impact their ability to recover and return to normal operations after crises. This study aims to examine the nature of the correlation and causal relationship between positive leadership and organizational recovery in the top-ranked public universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Data were collected from a sample of 204 heads of academic departments in these universities using a questionnaire designed to measure the study variables. The researcher utilized a set of statistical techniques to analyze the data using SPSS version 26 for descriptive analyses, while Smart PLS version 4.0.9 was employed to test the relationships between the study variables through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicated that positive leadership plays a fundamental role in promoting organizational recovery, as it contributes to improving universities’ capacity to confront crises and adapt to changes by fostering a positive work environment that supports creativity, resilience, and adaptability.

Abstract

The current research aims to determine the role of strategic vision in achieving marketing creativity within industrial companies. To accomplish this objective, a number of production companies were selected in the Duhok Governorate to test the conceptual relationship between the two main research variables. The questionnaire was adopted as the main tool for data collection and was distributed among department heads and decision-makers in the selected industrial companies. A total of (30) forms were distributed, all of which were returned and included in the analysis. The research employed the SPSS program to analyze the data and test the correlation and regression between strategic vision and marketing creativity. The results showed a significant and positive correlation between the two variables, and the existence of a clear impact of strategic vision—through its dimensions of insight, consensus and acceptance, uniqueness, and extensive thinking—on marketing creativity. The research recommends increasing focus on strategic foresight and visionary planning within industrial firms to enhance creative marketing practices and improve competitiveness in a dynamic market environment.

Abstract

This research aims to study the role of digital accounting technologies in improving financial control in Iraqi public sector entities by testing main hypotheses related to the extent of the impact of manual accounting and digital accounting technologies on the efficiency of financial control in public sector entities. The research also seeks to provide a scientific and practical overview on how to move from manual accounting to digital accounting, while identifying the difficulties of this transformation in the Iraqi environment. To achieve the research objective, a questionnaire was formulated and distributed to a selected group of academics and professionals who possess sufficient experience and academic qualifications. The sample included (144) individuals. After analyzing the results, it was concluded that traditional (manual) accounting suffers from several weak points that could negatively affect the control of public spending. The results also concluded that adopting digital accounting technologies would contribute to improving financial control in public sector units by reducing the chances of tampering with records, enhancing the transparency of financial operations, tracking cash flow, and identifying any deviations in the implementation of budget items, in addition to the government’s ability to conduct proactive control. The research concluded with a set of recommendations represented by the necessity of applying digital accounting technologies, investing in digital technical infrastructure, and emphasizing the enhancement of coordination and joint work between the relevant authorities by holding a number of courses and seminars that clarify the importance of adopting these technologies to ensure their application in public sector units.    

Abstract

Foreign trade is one of the basic sectors of any country's economy. It is of great importance in developing economic relations between countries worldwide, especially developed and developing countries, through the import and export of goods and services, both visible and invisible, and the movement of capital and gold trading. Foreign trade activities are usually carried out through the mechanism of linking the exchange rate of the local currency to foreign currencies. The importance of this study lies in highlighting the fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against a basket of foreign currencies, especially the US dollar. These fluctuations directly affect the economy in general and the costs of importing goods and services in particular. This study aims to measure and analyze the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on Iraqi imports for the period 2004–2023. To achieve the study objective, the study relied on time series data and used the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze the relationship between the dependent and explanatory variables in the long and short term. The study found a statistically significant positive relationship at the 5% level between the exchange rate and imports in the long term, which means that the rise in exchange rates in Iraq led to an increase in the volume of imports during the study period. based on these results, the study recommends the need to create a stable economic environment for the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against foreign currencies, especially the US dollar, in addition to strengthening the role of the Central Bank of Iraq in controlling the official and parallel exchange rates to limit their negative impact on the increase in consumer imports.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the factors influencing the success of the transition to electronic payment systems in Iraqi banks and to analyze the relationship between the adoption of electronic payment systems and the extent to which the adoption of these systems affects the reduction of operating costs without affecting the quality of services provided by them. The importance of this study stems from the accelerated shift towards digitization in the financial field and supporting national trends towards the transition to a non-cash economy. The study adopted the null hypothesis that there is no statistically significant effect of adopting electronic payment systems in reducing operating costs in Iraqi banks. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach to explain the problem and the relationships between its elements by collecting financial data for a sample of Iraqi banks for the period (2020-2024) and deriving financial ratios that represent the study variables. The study reached several results, the most important of which is the lack of an effect of adopting electronic payment systems in reducing operating costs in Iraqi banks, despite the good level of application of electronic payment systems by these banks, with a positive correlation between the level of adoption of electronic payment systems. The level of operational costs, and the study presented several recommendations, including updating cost systems to be consistent with the nature of the digital transformation in the use of payment systems, enhancing awareness campaigns and customer confidence to expand the base of use of electronic payment methods, and updating electronic payment systems periodically to avoid technical failures and maintain cyber security.  

Abstract

The research aims to clarify the mechanism for implementing the program and performance budget and its importance as a modern tool for financial reform by adopting the descriptive approach and the case study approach by reviewing the Egyptian experience in implementing this type of budget, in addition to designing a proposed model for implementing the program and performance budget in three ministries (Electricity, Construction and Housing, and Health) in line with the Iraqi national strategic objectives. The research showed that the success of the Egyptian experience in implementing this budget requires a clear institutional structure, integration between planning, financing, and implementation, and the availability of advanced information systems. The research also showed that ministries such as Health, Electricity, and Construction and Housing have appropriate capabilities for the gradual implementation of the program and performance budget, especially with the presence of projects that can be evaluated and performance monitored. This requires an explicit legal and legislative framework that requires the adoption of the program and performance budget, which is considered one of the fundamental obstacles facing implementation in Iraq.

Abstract

The research aims to analyze the complex paradox between the necessity of expanding the use of clean and renewable energy sources as a primary objective of sustainable development, and the inherent risks associated with using lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) as high-reliability and high-efficiency energy storage devices, given the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. The research problem was summarized by assessing the capacity and flexibility of international measures and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in confronting the inherent risks and challenges arising from the use of these batteries. The most prominent findings indicated a significant and growing negative impact on the (social, environmental, and economic) advantages achieved by expanding clean and renewable energy production. Consequently, there are negative repercussions on the (economic, social, and environmental) dimensions of the sustainable development process. The most important recommendations strongly emphasized the necessity of enacting legislation to regulate the management of this type of hazardous waste. Furthermore, they stressed the need for adequate support from stakeholders, particularly producers, to ensure that the current poor regulation and management of these practices do not cast their heavy shadow onto governments in the future, compelling them to deal with the resulting crises.

Abstract

     With increasing environmental pressures and resource scarcity, the transition from the linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular production system (CPS) has become a strategic necessity for companies. This research addresses the circular production system not only as an environmental initiative, but also as a catalyst for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. The research aims to contribute to bridging the gap between organizational behavior literature and sustainability strategy, highlighting how employee perceptions at the micro and macro levels of the company influence competitive advantage, guided by the research question “How do Bwer employees view the role of circular production systems in building sustainable competitive advantage?” This research examines the perceptions of Bwer employees regarding the relationship between adopting a circular production system and enhancing competitive advantage. A descriptive analytical approach was used, with a structured questionnaire distributed to a targeted sample of 75 employees from various departments, such as operations, marketing, and research and development, using SPSS v.26 software. The results show strong perceived links between circular production systems and improved brand image, resource efficiency, and long-term cost savings through waste reduction and material reuse. However, the challenges identified include high initial costs, the complexity of reverse logistics, and a lack of understanding between different functions, particularly with regard to product innovation outside the research and development department. One of the most important recommendations of the research is to highlight the need to improve communication, training, and incentives to align employee efforts with circular production goals and fully achieve CPS objectives as a driver of lasting competitive success.