This study investigates the various risk factors that alter online shopping behavior in Kuwait, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online questionnaires were distributed through various social media platforms. Overall, 385 responses were collected via online questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using AMOS 21 for the purpose of structural equation modeling. The findings show that risk susceptibility, risk severity, and risk of formal penalties positively affect consumers’ online buying attitude in Kuwait, whereas product risk, financial risk, and non-delivery risk show no significant effect. Convenience risk is the only factor that negatively affects attitudes. Further, we find a new path wherein formal penalties imposed on those who break the lockdown rules can directly and positively affect consumer behavior toward online shopping during the pandemic. We show that factors that affect the attitude and behavior of users toward online shopping in normal non-emergency times, vary from those during emergency times.

The covid-19 pandemic has changed people's daily lives and behaviors all across the world and has impacted practically every element of human existence. The introduction of remote education systems and the move toward online learning have had some of the most significant effects. The on-site operations of educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities, have had to be suspended in order to stop the virus' spread. In order to effectively disseminate instructional material and guarantee the unbroken progression of students' academic endeavors, educators have been forced to look for novel approaches. The study used the Value-Based Adoption Model (VAM) as a conceptual framework to look into the factors that affected Kuwait's e-learning outcomes in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. 382 students at Kuwaiti universities and colleges were the source of quantitative data collection. The findings revealed that peer interaction emerged as the most influential factor in shaping outcomes within the educational context of Kuwait, while instructors and course design factors were not significant. Using the VAM, this study investigated the impact of several factors on students' e-learning results during times of crisis. The research expands the existing knowledge base in the field on this subject and suggests developing a well-organized online learning crisis approach. The main contribution of this work is summarized on (i) An integrated framework for the quality of the e-learning experience in universities in post-covid-19 times and (ii) A resilient higher education institutional learning strategy model in post-covid-19 times. The findings of this paper can be generalizable to other Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Oman. This is due to the shared cultural traditions and values, along with similar educational systems among these nations.

This paper explored the attitudes of Kuwaiti residents toward corruption practices in Kuwait and the role of the Nazaha Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority in tackling such actions. To achieve the aim of this study, a survey questionnaire, which was based on a survey introduced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2018, was distributed to 535 participants in Kuwait. The questionnaire covered areas related to problems facing Kuwait, behaviors of public officers, opinions on practices of public sector employees, corruption in Kuwait by industry, the role of Nazaha in Kuwait, the correlation between bribery and access to government services, and the reporting of corruption in Kuwait. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS. The findings indicate that 374 respondents noted corruption as the most serious problem in Kuwait, which is practiced systematically in Kuwait due to the prevalence of nepotism and other cultural reasons. In addition, it was found that there is dissatisfaction with the role of Nazaha, with 46.9 and 32.3% of participants reporting that Nazaha did not react in time and did not catch offenders, respectively. This study suggests that Nazaha should be empowered with further legal means to tackle corruption in the future.

The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector plays an important role in the development of the local, regional, and global economy. This study seeks to examine the relationships among several factors that are claimed to influence the performance of SMEs. Internal and external environmental factors, as well as the moderating role of gender on the research variables, are empirically examined. A survey of 142 entrepreneurs in the northern region of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, using convenience sampling was conducted. Path analysis was used to test the research model using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) model by Warp PLS (ver. 7). Results suggest that both internal and external success factors influence enterprise performance. Based on statistically significant relationships, entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, and entrepreneur goals and motives (internal factors), as well as economic factors, socio-cultural factors, and legal and administrative factors (external factors) are influencing SME performance. Additionally, results indicate that SMEs almost perform at similar levels regardless of the gender of the SME owner. Gender is found to moderate the influence of economic factors, and legal and administrative factors on performance. There is no indication that gender moderates the influence of the rest of the factors on the performance. Such finding is surprising given the context of the study, i.e. Saudi Arabia was traditionally considered as a conservative male-dominated society. AcknowledgmentThis study was supported and funded by the research sector of Arab Open University – Kuwait Branch under decision number 21002. Authors would like to thank the National Entrepreneurship Institute “RIYADAH”, Tabuk branch, KSA for their support in data collection.

This study aimed to examine the effect of embracing the Health Belief Model (HBM) in governmental public health messages on social media during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Adoption of the HBM seeks to improve the level of response of Kuwaiti people towards governmental messages regarding social distancing, staying at home, and self-protection. To fulfil the study’s aim, a quantitative research design was adopted in which data were collected from 746 respondents in Kuwait to examine the effect of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, health motivation, and cues to action, based on each individual’s behaviour. Data were analysed through AMOS 22.0 and the findings showed that governmental messages on social media should consider the above-mentioned aspects in order to positively impact the behaviour of Kuwaiti individuals.

The research paper examined the interplay between social media, brand personality, and voter behaviour in Kuwait’s unique political environment. The study applied the Aaker model of brand personality to investigate how social media shapes the brand personality of political candidates, how voters perceive this brand personality, and the impact it has on their behaviour. Further, it explored the role of tribal and religious affiliations in shaping the perceived brand personality of candidates and their implications for election campaign strategies. Through a quantitative research design, data was collected from 363 Kuwaiti voters using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed the significant influence of social media on voter behaviour, as well as the relevance of the Aaker model in the political context of Kuwait. The study uncovered the connection between voter demographics and preferences, highlighting the impact of socio-cultural factors on voter behaviour. The implications drawn from these findings provide valuable insights for election campaign strategies in Kuwait’s digitalised political environment.