Purpose This paper aims to examines the governance of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transition in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) banking, identifies structural gaps in existing regulatory frameworks and proposes a regulatory readiness framework for orderly migration to quantum-resistant standards. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative policy-analytical methodology combines structured literature synthesis with comparative regulatory analysis of six GCC banking frameworks – Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, Central Bank of the UAE, Central Bank of Kuwait, Qatar Central Bank, Central Bank of Bahrainand Central Bank of Oman – against five PQC governance dimensions, stress-tested across three cryptographically relevant quantum computer timeline scenarios. Findings None of the six frameworks explicitly addresses PQC transition requirements and all show critical gaps in cryptographic agility, quantum threat timeline awareness and harvest-now-decrypt-later (HNDL) risk assessment. National Institute of Standards and Technology (US)’s PQC standards (Federal Information Processing Standard 203, 204, 205) supply the technical foundation but not the regulatory coordination and supervisory capacity GCC banking requires. Practical implications The framework gives GCC banking regulators actionable guidance for introducing HNDL risk assessment, mandating cryptographic agility and establishing PQC transition planning before migration becomes compressed and disruptive. Originality/value This is among the first systematic PQC governance analyses of GCC banking, best characterised as a theoretically grounded contextual adaptation rather than a new governance theory. The proposed three-phase framework – inventory, prioritised migration, continuous resilience – is framed through a socio-technical transition lens, translating generic quantum-risk identification into a governance architecture grounded in the six GCC supervisors’ regulatory landscape.
Purpose This paper aims to examine how trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) principles can be operationalised where AI is becoming an operating control layer in fifth-generation (5G) and emerging sixth-generation (6G) communications infrastructure, and to propose a governance framework bridging horizontal AI rules and telecom-specific assurance. Design/methodology/approach It uses a structured documentary review and cross-jurisdictional gap analysis of AI governance instruments, Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) assurance literature, telecom-security standards, and policy developments in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore, without primary empirical data. Findings The telecom standards stack is mature on architecture and baseline security but weaker on explainability, post-deployment AI assurance, model provenance and human-override regimes, while horizontal AI laws lack telecom-specific operational depth. The paper develops a risk taxonomy, a cross-jurisdictional gap map and TRACE-5G/6G (Tier, Register, Assure, Control, Evaluate). Research limitations/implications The framework is analytical rather than empirically validated because the study draws on documentary sources rather than primary field data or a formal systematic-review protocol; future work should test it against operational deployments. Practical implications It offers regulators, operators, integrators and standards bodies an analytical synthesis, a gap map, a mapping table and directions for future testing. Originality/value The paper organises dispersed trustworthy-AI obligations into a telecom-tailored lifecycle checklist and provides a transparent cross-jurisdictional gap map as an analytical tool for future profiling exercises.
Purpose This study aims to examine how digital policy and regulatory governance should respond to vendor-mediated generative artificial intelligence (AI) in regulated financial services. It argues that the central problem concerns not only model assurance but also the evidentiary pipeline through which customer data, vendor processing, generated outputs and human review become auditable. Design/methodology/approach The article uses a conceptual and design-orientated documentary comparison of Singapore and Vietnam. It analyses AI governance, data protection, financial supervision and third-party risk instruments through four functional axes, derives operational indicators from the documentary corpus and examines their internal coherence through a structured illustrative case in financial services. Findings Singapore’s interoperability-orientated model and Vietnam’s dossier-based model of legal visibility provide different regulatory entry points. Both remain incomplete unless institutions preserve workflow-level evidence across procurement, configuration, deployment, output verification and supervisory review. Practical implications The framework links risk triggers to pipeline maps, vendor due diligence, transfer records, output-verification protocols and audit trails. Originality/value The article develops a conceptually grounded pipeline accountability framework that connects vendor obligations, data movement, generated outputs and human verification. It is operationally specified but remains a design proposition requiring empirical testing and refinement.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the key factors influencing central bank digital currency (CBDC) adoption by conducting a meta-analysis of scholarly literature. It introduces a novel keyword-network analysis framework using bibliometric metadata from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, validated through artificial intelligence (AI)-based topic modeling. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) framework, this study identifies core and extended constructs related to CBDC adoption. It applies VOSviewer for keyword co-occurrence analysis on the bibliometric metadata and proposes a new method to calculate the relative importance of adoption factors based on link strength. This study also reveals dominant themes refined and validated through advanced AI-based topic modeling, signifying research trends on CBDC-adoption literature. Findings This study reveals dominant research themes, identified from topic keywords, demonstrating the breadth and depth of CBDC-adoption research and research trends on CBDC-adoption literature. Network-based weight calculations prioritized key adoption constructs such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, usefulness, awareness, financial literacy, acceptance, behavior, intention, attitude, adoption intention and regulation, offering a structured understanding of CBDC-adoption dynamics. Practical implications The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, regulators and financial institutions by highlighting the critical variables that drive or hinder CBDC adoption. The proposed bibliometric-AI hybrid methodology offers a replicable model for future digital currency and FinTech adoption studies. Originality/value This research pioneers a bibliometric and AI-integrated methodology to classify CBDC-adoption factors systematically. It extends the literature by linking thematic clusters to adoption constructs using quantitative co-occurrence analysis and advanced topic modeling.
Purpose This study aims to examine why formally similar platform labour regulations produce divergent compliance outcomes across countries, developing the concept of algorithmic decoupling to theorise the mechanism through which institutional asymmetry is operationally sustained. Design/methodology/approach A comparative institutional analysis of 23 countries operationalises state capacity through a multidimensional Digital Governance Capacity Effects profile using five Worldwide Governance Indicators dimensions and measures regulatory evasion through an Algorithmic Decoupling Effect. Five separate bivariate ordinary least squares models eliminate multicollinearity by construction (VIF = 1.0 per model), with cross-model convergence as the robustness criterion. Findings Bivariate models indicate that higher institutional capacity is negatively associated with algorithmic decoupling (Adjusted R² ranging from 0.338 to 0.480). ANOVA (F = 14.967 and p < 0.001) and MANOVA (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.1915 and p = 0.0011) validate regional clusters as structurally distinct environments. Voice and Accountability present the highest explanatory power (Adjusted R² = 0.480), while boundary cases in Chile and Belgium reveal that partial institutional strength is insufficient to constrain decoupling without holistic governance capacity. Research limitations/implications The availability of the sample of 23 countries and the cross-sectional design preclude causal inference. Theoretically, the findings extend institutional decoupling theory by identifying a computationally embedded mechanism that operates through algorithmic opacity rather than structural separation. Practical implications Effective platform regulation requires holistic governance capacity across enforcement, integrity, accountability and regulatory quality dimensions simultaneously. Sector-specific auditing units and mandatory algorithmic transparency obligations are identified as priority instruments. Social implications By exposing how platforms exploit institutional asymmetries, this research highlights the structural drivers of digital precarity in the Global South, advocating for sovereign data infrastructures to protect gig workers’ rights. Originality/value This study contributes a novel operationalisation of state capacity as a multidimensional institutional profile, a bivariate analytical strategy that resolves multicollinearity without composite index aggregation and empirical evidence of an institutional gradient structuring platform compliance regimes across 23 countries.
Purpose This study aims to examine how platform governance arrangements shape the quality of delivery riders’ continuous participation by changing access to rules, interpretive support and workable action channels. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory single-case study of Meituan’s on-demand delivery system in China triangulates interviews with managers, station actors and riders, participant observation, rider-facing app materials and public online texts. Data were analysed using the Gioia methodology. Findings Continuous participation was governance-sensitive and quality-differentiated. Three patterns were identified: Bounded Engagement, Standardised Compliance and Proactive Service. Governance arrangements shaped these patterns by improving rule accessibility, decision interpretability and the practical usability of support, appeal and development channels. Algorithmic adjustments stabilised baseline participation; support infrastructures enabled more predictable compliance; development pathways encouraged more proactive contribution. Originality/value The study reframes continuous participation on digital labour platforms as a quality-differentiated governance outcome rather than a simple stay-or-leave matter of retention. It extends platform governance research beyond algorithmic control by showing how information conditions link governance design to distinct forms of rider participation, with implications for transparency, appeal accessibility, support infrastructures and sustainable platform regulation, continuous participation, digital labour platforms, platform governance, algorithmic management and delivery riders.
Purpose This study aims to examine how quadruple helix (QH) collaboration among government, industry, academia and civil society influences digital transformation in local governments, and whether these effects are contingent on internal absorptive capacity and the strength of external innovation ecosystems. Situated within debates on digital governance and collaborative policymaking, the study investigates the boundary conditions under which multi-sector collaboration translates into improved digital governance in Philippine cities. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in innovation systems theory and open innovation frameworks, the study uses moderated regression analysis using cross-sectional data from 143 Philippine cities drawn from the 2023 cities and municipalities competitiveness index. The analysis tests interaction effects between QH collaboration, internal open innovation (IOI) capacity and external open innovation (EOI) ecosystem strength to assess their joint influence on digital government outcomes. Findings The results indicate that QH collaboration is positively associated with digital government performance; however, this association is highly conditional. At low levels of internal absorptive capacity or external innovation ecosystem strength, QH collaboration is not significantly associated with improvements in digital public services. As IOI and EOI increase, the association between QH collaboration and digital performance becomes substantially stronger, indicating that collaboration functions as an enabling structure rather than a sufficient driver of digital transformation. EOI exerts a significantly stronger moderating effect than IOI, highlighting the particularly important role of ecosystem-level resources and networks in amplifying collaborative governance effects in resource-constrained settings. Research limitations/implications The study relies on cross-sectional data, which limits causal inference and the assessment of dynamic learning effects over time. Future research may use longitudinal or mixed-methods designs to examine how collaborative capacity and innovation ecosystems evolve and interact with regulatory reforms. Practical implications For policymakers and regulators, the findings suggest that investments in collaborative platforms alone are unlikely to yield substantial digital governance gains. Effective digital transformation requires parallel and strategically sequenced investments in internal administrative capacity and, critically, in the development of external innovation ecosystems, including sustained engagement with private firms, universities and civil society actors. Social implications By highlighting the conditions under which collaboration improves digital government performance, the study informs more inclusive and effective digital governance strategies. Strengthening innovation ecosystems can enhance access to digital public services, particularly in cities facing institutional and resource constraints, thereby supporting more equitable digital development. Originality/value This study advances theory by demonstrating that collaborative governance arrangements are conditionally, rather than universally, associated with digital government performance, specifying that QH effects emerge only when complemented by absorptive capacity and ecosystem embeddedness, thereby qualifying assumptions in collaborative governance and smart cities literatures about collaboration as inherently beneficial. It provides rare large-N quantitative evidence on subnational innovation systems in a developing-country context.
Purpose While literature on digital public infrastructure (DPI) is extensive, the relationship between foundational digital layers and economic growth has only been hypothesized. Framing DPI as a governance instrument, this paper aims to explore the association between foundational digital layers and macroeconomic proxies of structural change.Design/methodology/approach A novel composite index for foundational DPI (DPIx) is introduced to evaluate (n = 159) DPI's relationship with economic complexity (ECI) and export diversification (EDI). The DPIx is constructed using sub-indicators from the World Bank's GovTech Maturity Index, including digital identity, payments and data exchange. Ordinary least squares regressions, incorporating a principal component analysis-derived control for socio-economic development capacity, spline regressions and exploratory instrumental variable analysis (IV) were used.Findings The central finding of this research is the statistically significant negative association between the DPIx and EDI. That is, the results indicate that countries with more mature foundational DPI tend to exhibit more diversified export profiles, a relationship that persists even after controlling for overall socio-economic development capacity, regulatory quality and trade openness. As such, foundational DPI is a key enabler of export diversification, particularly as countries advance from low to moderate DPI maturity; this calls for strategic investment in DPI as a part of broader development strategies. However, no independent effect of DPIx on ECI was found once broader controls were introduced, and the exploratory IV analysis did not establish definitive causality.Originality/value First, this paper adds to the debate on the value of composite indexes, by introducing a transparent, replicable composite DPIx. The thus constructed DPIx offers a more precise insight into the core DPI compared to conventionally used ones. Second, it provides evidence that a relationship between DPI and key indicators of structural economic change exists. Third, it evidence the nature and strength of that relationship.
Purpose The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into digital financial systems has created opportunities for innovation while simultaneously generating complex governance challenges. Although AI improves efficiency and financial inclusion, it also introduces risks related to cybersecurity, data governance, institutional readiness and regulatory compliance. This study aims to identify and prioritize AI-related risks in digital financial systems and examine their implications for AI governance, particularly in the context of Islamic digital finance. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a quantitative approach based on a survey of 260 respondents to evaluate perceptions of AI-related risks in digital financial environments. The Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) framework is used to assess risks across four dimensions: potential occurrence, frequency, impact and detection capability. Risk Priority Numbers are applied to rank and classify risks, complemented by multilevel analysis at both category and item levels. Findings The findings indicate that the most significant risks are primarily governance-related rather than technological. Risk management capacity, human capital constraints and Sharia compliance emerge as dominant dimensions shaping AI risk governance. The analysis also shows that AI risk structures are nonuniform. While aggregate-level analysis identifies governance-related risks as dominant, item-level analysis reveals concentrated vulnerabilities, particularly cybersecurity risks, that may remain obscured within broader classifications. The findings further suggest the presence of a governance execution gap, where institutional awareness of AI-related risks is not always followed by effective mitigation practices. Research limitations/implications This study relies on perception-based survey data, which reflects respondents’ assessments of AI-related risks rather than direct observations of technological failures in real financial systems. Future research could extend the analysis by using case studies or institutional data from financial organizations that implement AI technologies. Practical implications The findings highlight the importance of strengthening institutional capacity through risk management frameworks, training and organizational readiness. Policymakers and financial institutions should adopt governance approaches that integrate technological safeguards with regulatory and ethical oversight, particularly within Islamic financial systems. Social implications Effective AI governance can strengthen public trust, support financial inclusion, and enhance the stability of digital financial systems. In Islamic financial contexts, alignment between AI systems and ethical as well as Sharia principles remains essential for maintaining institutional legitimacy and societal acceptance. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by applying FMEA to AI risk governance in digital financial systems and by introducing a multilevel risk assessment perspective. The study further advances understanding of AI governance by identifying governance execution gaps and emphasizing the need to integrate technological and Sharia-based governance frameworks.
Purpose This study aims to assess the digitalization levels of countries using the DIGILOG Economy and Global RPM frameworks (Globalization, Rationality, Professionalism and Morality), clarifying how nations balance digital and analog structures in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This study evaluates the extent to which countries develop digital infrastructure, innovation capacity, human capital and governance systems and examines emerging patterns of global digital competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach The analysis applies the DIGILOG Economy framework and the Global RPM model to 30 countries. Using 12 standardized indicators drawn from internationally recognized databases, this study constructs composite indices to classify countries into four digital transformation stages: Digital, Dinalog, Anatal and Analog. Findings The results of this study reveal substantial disparities in digital maturity across countries. Highly digitalized economies demonstrate strong governance, human capital, technological innovation and ethical digital practices, while emerging and developing economies face structural barriers in skills, infrastructure and institutional capacity. Nevertheless, several Anatal and Analog economies show promising progress through policy reforms and green technology adoption. The findings of this study confirm that digitalization is a multidimensional process shaped by the interplay of governance quality, innovation ecosystems and socio-economic inclusivity. Originality/value This study introduces an integrated analytical approach that combines the DIGILOG and Global RPM frameworks to evaluate digital transformation holistically. By recognizing the coexistence of digital and analog systems, this study provides a balanced perspective on national digital readiness and offers a strategic tool for designing inclusive and sustainable digital development policies.
PurposeDespite growing agreement on the role of digital transformation in sustainability, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to translate digital initiatives into tangible environmental values. Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory and stakeholder theory, this study aims to examine how digitally enabled organizational capabilities, green digital culture and digital sustainability, drive circular economy (CE) adoption and enhance sustainable environmental practices.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 322 managers and decision-makers working in SMEs in the United Arab Emirates. The proposed conceptual model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings indicate that green digital culture and digital sustainability significantly improve sustainable environmental practices, with digital sustainability exerting a stronger effect on CE adoption. CE adoption partially mediates the relationship between digitally enabled capabilities and environmental practices, revealing the mechanism through which digital transformation generates environmental value.Practical implicationsThis study offers actionable insights for managers and policymakers by highlighting the importance of aligning digital strategies, organizational culture and circular initiatives to accelerate sustainability transitions in SMEs.Originality/valueThis study offers clear scientific value by moving beyond direct-effect models and empirically establishing CE adoption as a critical value-creation mechanism linking digital transformation to environmental sustainability in an emerging economy context.
PurposeThis study aims to explore the relationship between entrepreneur orientation (EO) and digital transformation (DT) within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while considering their interactions with artificial intelligence adoption (AIA), and digital literacy (DL).Design/methodology/approachGrounded in the resource-based view, this research develops a theoretical framework to investigate the direct impact of EO on DT, the mediating effects of AIA and the moderating effects of DL. To analyze survey responses from 189 SMEs, this study uses Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and SPSS.FindingsEO-risk-taking positively influences DT. Furthermore, AIA serves as a full mediator in the relationships between EO-innovativeness and EO-proactiveness and DT. In contrast, it serves as a partial mediator in the relationship between EO-risk-taking and DT. In addition, DL moderates the relationships between EO-innovativeness and EO-proactiveness and DT.Research limitations/implicationsBy proposing and validating an integrative model that combines these constructs, this research advances theoretical understanding and provides practical guidance for SME entrepreneurs and policymakers seeking to foster DT through AIA and DL in SMEs.Originality/valueThis study investigates EO in the context of DT, combining AIA and DL and provides practical implications for SMEs' DT by exploiting the firm's EO intensity. The insight of this work is that SMEs should focus on EO to cultivate DT, integrate AI and improve DL.
PurposeThis study aims to explore how central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) reshape the geopolitics of monetary sovereignty by shifting authority from private-led to state-driven payment infrastructures. It argues that sovereignty in monetary affairs must be understood not only as the legal prerogative to issue currency but also as control over the technological and institutional systems that underpin cross-border payments and settlements.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyses two cases: the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub's mBridge project and the embryonic, largely symbolic BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative. It builds on scholarship in currency hierarchies and infrastructural geopolitics to assess how these proposals may transform the geopolitical dynamics of payment infrastructures.FindingsThe cases show that CBDCs can incrementally reconfigure power within an international monetary system long anchored in US dollar dominance and Western-centric private utilities such as the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the New York Clearing House Interbank Payments System and Continuous Linked Settlement. mBridge demonstrates how public governance can be embedded directly into code, contracts and consensus protocols, while BRICS highlights the symbolic projection of infrastructural autonomy.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings suggest that although CBDCs can expand monetary sovereignty through infrastructural redesign, they also expose persistent structural constraints within the international monetary system. Moreover, US dollar dominance may be deeply connected to factors beyond payment infrastructures, such as global liquidity provision, the depth of US financial markets and strong network effects, which CBDCs alone may not overcome.Originality/valueThe study contributes by demonstrating that CBDCs function as infrastructural interventions with potential implications for geopolitics, while also linking debates on technological design to broader questions of monetary sovereignty.
PurposeThis study aims to examine the market reaction of information technology firms to Trump's tariff postponement announcement on April 9, 2025, and to identify the factors that influenced these responses.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use an event study methodology to analyze the market reaction of 1,336 global information technology firms across 41 countries to President Trump's tariff postponement announcement. Cross-sectional regressions are further conducted to examine how firm-level characteristics and tariff exposure influence cumulative abnormal returns.FindingsThe results show that Trump's tariff policy triggered adverse market reactions before the postponement, particularly in the information technology sector due to rising costs and supply chain risks. Emerging and frontier markets suffered sharper declines than developed markets, while small capitalization and high-growth firms were most exposed. Fintech and Semiconductors were the most vulnerable subsectors. Cross-sectional regressions confirm that firms with high U.S. export exposure faced stronger negative reactions. However, the postponement eased policy uncertainty, restored investor confidence and drove a rebound in stock prices.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine how tariff postponements, rather than direct tariff impositions, shape market reactions, showing that postponements mitigated negative responses by reducing policy uncertainty and restoring investor confidence in the information technology sector.
PurposeThis paper aims to shed light on the development of CityFibre, which operates a large fibre-based telecommunications network in the UK on a wholesale basis.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts a detailed longitudinal case study covering the period 2011-2025 (inclusive). It draws on multiple secondary sources (e.g. annual reports, trade publications) to develop a timeline of CityFibre's development, identifying key milestones since its foundation.FindingsThe paper highlights the challenges associated with rolling out a large-scale telecommunications network in a competitive market. To roll out its network across the UK, CityFibre has invested considerable amounts that have been funded by a combination of debt, shareholder investment and innovative partnerships with key internet service providers (ISPs). CityFibre has adopted a wholesale model, thereby avoiding direct competition with incumbents. Revenues have lagged behind its growth, highlighting the need for external sources of funding to roll out its network in the absence and then low levels of revenue.Originality/valueThis paper details the growth of CityFibre, highlighting the role of funding and regulation in shaping its development. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper to focus solely on CityFibre and explore its growth in detail.
PurposeThe study aims to investigate the role of fintech adoption on the social performance of banking institutions and the mediating role of voluntary pro-environmental behavior and employee engagement in the relationship between fintech adoption and social performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied partial least squares structural equation modeling for analyzing the survey data, which was obtained from 301 respondents who worked in the banking industry in Bangladesh.FindingsThe findings revealed that fintech adoption significantly impacts social performance, voluntary pro-environmental behavior and employee engagement in banking institutions. The study also found a significant impact of voluntary pro-environmental behavior and employee engagement on social performance. The study confirms that voluntary pro-environmental behavior serves as a substantially significant mediator, while employee engagement acts as a partially significant mediator in the relationship between fintech adoption and social performance.Originality/valueThe study is one of the first that recognizes fintech adoption as a social enabler in the literature and also reveals its behavioral outcomes within the banking sector. The research proposes a robust framework for management and policymakers to improve the social performance of financial institutions in the competitive financial market, particularly in emerging economies.
PurposeThis paper aims to examine how strategic autonomy in semiconductor policy can lead to governance overreach. It argues that excessive state intervention - justified by security and resilience narratives - may reduce flexibility and innovation. To address this, the study develops a Policy Overreach Governance Framework (POGF) to analyze how autonomy discourses reshape institutional dynamics and create self-reinforcing governance traps in global semiconductor governance.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative comparative approach, this paper integrates securitization theory, policy feedback and adaptive governance. The POGF identifies four dimensions - institutional expansion, narrative entrenchment, coordination erosion and feedback deficit - and is applied to five jurisdictions: the USA, European Union, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Analysis is based on policy documents, reports and scholarly literature.FindingsAcross all cases, security-oriented industrial policies expand state intervention and entrench policy narratives. These dynamics weaken coordination and reduce feedback, creating governance traps that limit innovation and collaboration. While intended to enhance resilience, strategic autonomy often becomes ideological and counterproductive. The study highlights the need for evaluation, coordination and balanced narratives to maintain adaptability.Originality/valueThis paper introduces the POGF to examine the institutional risks of strategic autonomy. By linking securitization, feedback and adaptive governance theories, it shifts focus from competitiveness to governance flexibility. The framework provides an early-warning tool for policymakers to detect overreach and recalibrate semiconductor strategies before resilience efforts become rigid or self-defeating.
PurposeThis study aims to explore the multidimensional determinants influencing the implementation of financial technology in Nigerian microfinance companies, an area critical to financial inclusion in emerging economies. Anchored in the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework, this research addresses a critical gap in organisational-level FinTech implementation literature.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey design was used, targeting departments directly involved in FinTech implementation across five distinct Nigerian microfinance companies. Data were collected from 65 valid responses using a structured questionnaire and analysed using exploratory factor analysis with principal component extraction and Varimax rotation.FindingsThe analysis revealed a six-factor structure explaining over 74% of total variance, encompassing regulatory compliance, risk governance, infrastructure readiness, financial motivation and organisational trust. Key findings demonstrate that internal technological readiness, profitability motivation and regulatory engagement significantly influence FinTech implementation outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThis study's findings offer several concrete implications for managerial practice within Nigerian microfinance companies navigating FinTech adoption. Executives should view digital transformation as a strategic initiative that requires alignment between infrastructure investment, financial planning and institutional capacity. Developing integrated digital strategies that connect mobile applications with core banking systems is essential to prevent process fragmentation and enhance operational efficiency. Budgetary allocations should explicitly support technology acquisition, vendor partnerships and workforce development, with a particular emphasis on skills related to cloud infrastructure and mobile platforms, elements shown to be central in the factor analysis. Managers must also establish cross-functional implementation teams that facilitate coordination across IT, finance and operations departments, ensuring that FinTech initiatives are institutionally embedded rather than isolated. Regular engagement with regulatory authorities and proactive compliance mechanisms will further strengthen institutional trust and reduce exposure to policy volatility. Instead of relying solely on metrics such as transaction volume or user sign-ups, managers are encouraged to adopt broader performance indicators, including repayment consistency, client retention and system reliability.Practical implicationsFor policymakers, the findings underscore the critical role of regulatory clarity, institutional responsiveness and policy consistency in shaping FinTech adoption trajectories. Government agencies and regulatory bodies should prioritise the establishment of stable oversight mechanisms that balance innovation with risk mitigation. Transparent compliance guidelines, timely policy responses during financial disruptions and collaborative dialogue with microfinance companies are essential to build institutional trust and reduce uncertainty. Incentive structures such as tax breaks for technology investment, grants for digital infrastructure development or regulatory sandboxes for testing emerging FinTech solutions can further encourage adoption without compromising consumer protection. Policymakers must also recognise that enabling environments are not solely legal or procedural but perceptual, shaped by how companies interpret regulatory signals. Supporting a coherent policy ecosystem that is perceived as predictable and innovation friendly is fundamental to sustaining digital transformation in the financial inclusion context.Originality/valueThis research contributes theoretically to the TOE model through the integration of financial logic and regulatory trust as core drivers. Empirically, to the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first to offer a validated, multidimensional implementation approach specific to Nigerian FinTech-enabled microfinance companies. Practically, this study provides actionable insights for microfinance managers, policymakers and scholars, emphasising the alignment of digital strategies with organisational capacity and contextual constraints.
PurposeThis study aims to address the challenges small businesses face in accessing formal financial services in Pakistan by examining the potential of Fintech solutions. To achieve this, the study collects data from a diverse sample to shed light on the factors influencing Fintech service acceptance.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a deductive approach, collecting data through structured questionnaires from 392 respondents (owners) engaged in small-scale entrepreneurial activities. Structural equation modeling was used to empirically evaluate the proposed model.FindingsThe findings show significant influence of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, perceived credibility and interface design quality (IDQ) on the behavioral intentions to adopt Fintech solutions. The study also reveals the moderating role of Fintech quality on the relationship between Fintech use variables and behavioral intentions, highlighting the importance of quality perceptions in shaping stakeholders' attitudes and intentions.Practical implicationsPolicymakers are recommended to enforce Fintech quality standards, incentivize user-friendly and secure platform development, promote training in cybersecurity and support certification programs. These measures will enhance usability, trust and innovation, ultimately boosting Fintech adoption and financial inclusion among small businesses, especially in Pakistan's informal sector.Originality/valueThe study integrates "UTAUT2 and Delone and McLean IS Success Models" to propose a novel research framework. The study contributes to the debate in two ways. It introduces an unknown dimension, namely, IDQ. The research unveils the previously unexplored influence of perceived Fintech quality as a variable that moderates the impact of Fintech-related factors on behavioral intention to adopt Fintech services.
PurposeThis study aims to examine how digital connectivity (DCI) and institutional-legal strength (ILSI) jointly shape patent activity across 65 countries from 2010 to 2023. It evaluates whether digital and institutional conditions operate additively or display bounded complementarities across development stages.Design/methodology/approachPoisson pseudo-maximum likelihood estimation with country and year fixed effects is used to assess baseline, interaction, threshold and income-group effects on patent applications and grants. Standardized composite indices capture DCI and ILSI, and robustness checks include alternative weighting, lag structures, subperiod splits and leave-one-country-out validation.Findings DCI and ILSI are positively associated with patent applications, while their effects on grants are weaker and more context-dependent. Interaction estimates show diminishing marginal returns to connectivity at higher institutional-quality levels, indicating bounded complementarities. Threshold results confirm that the influence of DCI is the strongest below intermediate ILSI levels. Income-group analysis shows substantial effects in upper-middle-income economies undergoing institutional and infrastructural consolidation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study uses country-level indicators that may not capture within-country policy variations; however, extensive robustness checks support the stability of the results.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that digital infrastructure investment and institutional reforms must be sequenced coherently. Policymakers should promote balanced progress in connectivity and institutional quality, particularly in transitional economies where complementarities are at their peak.Originality/valueThis study provides cross-country evidence (2010-2023) that the digital-institutional relationship influencing patent activity is nonlinear and bounded. It advances innovation systems and complementarity perspectives by showing how DCI-ILSI complementarities evolve across the development continuum.
