The COVID-19 pandemic has hit organizations and employees in every sector worldwide in unprecedented ways. It became extremely difficult for organizations and employees across sectors to operate under increased mobility restrictions. The pandemic effectively disrupted previous operational models and imbued changes such as telework and digital adoption that are pervasive and may potentially last beyond the pandemic. Amid these circumstances, it was essential to ask how organizations and employees will sustain themselves in the post-COVID-19 ”new normal”. Although so much research is conducted about COVID-19, there is no comprehensive view of the changes at the meso (organizational) and micro (individual) levels. This article aims to explain this using the emergency-learning-institutionalization-new normal (ELIN) framework, which is based on the timeline of the pandemic. The article aims to bring forth the overall trends in how organizations and employees are adapting to the pandemic, the lessons they have learned, and how they will change and adapt in a post-COVID-19 “new normal”. We have analyzed existing policy papers, articles published in business, public administration, nonprofit journals, and other studies to achieve this. We find an increasing trend towards the adoption of telework and digital tools at both meso- and micro-levels. The effective implementation of telework policies and digital transformation plans at the meso-level will ensure the sustainability of organizations and jobs in the new normal. Although these trends vary across sectors and within and across countries, there is an overall increase in the flexibility of organizations and employees in adopting new solutions, making them more open to innovation. The article makes important recommendations for organizations to make these transitions more sustainable in the medium and long term.

COVID-19 and the New Normal of Organizations and Employees: An Overview

This study aims to explore the perceptions of zakah institutions and the intention of society towards the application of blockchain technology in zakah management.,The nature of this study is qualitative, attempting to indulge into the contribution of Fintech in Islamic social finance. This study uses a mixed-method to gauge the perception of stakeholders. For the quantitative approach, a survey was carried out focussing on zakah receiver and zakah payer. The data then was analysed based on the technology acceptance model. While interview survey with multiple stakeholders (zakah institutions, JAWHAR and university) was conducted to gauge the perception of zakah institutions in using blockchain technology.,The findings of this study provide a positive view for zakah institutions to embrace the usage of blockchain in its management, however, there are several concern that needs to be addressed.,This study provides new insights to the body of knowledge especially in the zakah management system and Fintech. Besides, from a managerial aspect, this study contributes to the new practices that could be implemented in zakah institutions.,Many people lose jobs and income due to the economic turmoil and COVID-19 pandemic, which makes zakah an important Islamic social finance tool to assist in socio-economic development. It is high time for zakah institutions to implement blockchain especially during this pandemic crisis that requires a more contactless approach to ensure health and safety.,This study is important to encourage Islamic social finance institutions to embrace blockchain technology in providing an efficient service to the development of social and economic.

The role of blockchain technology in enhancing Islamic social finance: the case of Zakah management in Malaysia

Blockchain technology, a key feature of the fourth industrial revolution, is receiving widespread attention and exploration around the world. Taking the coronavirus pandemic as an example, the purpose of this study to examine the application of blockchain technology from the perspective of epidemic prevention and control.,Exploring multiple case studies in the Chinese context at various stages of deployment, this study documents a framework about how some of the major challenges associated with COVID-19 can be alleviated by leveraging blockchain technology.,The case studies and framework presented herein show that utilization of blockchain acts as an enabler to facilitate the containment of several COVID-19 challenges. These challenges include the following: complications associated with medical data sharing; breaches of patients' data privacy; absence of real-time monitoring tools; counterfeit medical products and non-credible suppliers; fallacious insurance claims; overly long insurance claim processes; misappropriations of funds; and misinformation, rumors and fake news.,Blockchain is ushering in a new era of innovation that will lay the foundation for a new paradigm in health care. As there are currently insufficient studies pertaining to real-life case studies of blockchain and COVID-19 interaction, this study adds to the literature on the role of blockchain technology in epidemic control and prevention.

The applicability of blockchain technology in healthcare contexts to contain COVID-19 challenges

The enormous public health burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic are not distributed equally. Inequalities are noticeable along socio-economic and socio-cultural fault lines. These social determinants of health affect both the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 infections as well as the magnitude of negative impacts of the measures taken to slow the spread of the virus. This perspective paper summarizes key inequalities in who is affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and in who is affected by COVID-19 prevention measures, based on evidence presented in state-of-the-art literature, and discusses the scope of challenges that these inequalities pose to solidarity and social justice. Key challenges for solidarity are highlighted across three areas: challenges to intergenerational solidarity, to global solidarity, and to intergroup solidarity.

Social Inequality and Solidarity in Times of COVID-19.

Purpose: This study aims to empirically explore donors’ responses to fundraising appeals to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis Some governments worldwide have launched fundraising campaigns to support the pandemic relief efforts, such as the Feena Khair* campaign in the Kingdom of Bahrain Specifically, the study examines how the internal and external aspects can fuel beliefs in the inclination of donors to give money Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative survey instrument was developed, validated and disseminated A total of 263 usable responses were obtained using the snowballing sampling technique Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to analyze the research model and obtain meaningful results Findings: The results show that external aspects, i e charity projects and trust in charities, have a significant relationship with donors’ attitudes toward fundraising appeal for the COVID-19 fight Interestingly, the study demonstrates a significant moderating effect of internal values of religious beliefs on the positive relationship between external aspects and attitude to give money Practical implications: The results suggest that governments and non-profit organizations should consider the important role of religious beliefs in driving people’s attitudes to engage in fundraising appeals to fight the pandemic These findings could generate better insights and policies that boost relief and donation efforts in many ways, such as embarking on sensitization programs to create sufficient awareness on the importance of giving and social solidarity during this challenging time, strengthening the religious faith of donors, setting up charity projects with inclusive information and nurturing a high level of public confidence in charities Originality/value: This study is likely the first study to focus on fundraising campaign attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain It is a pioneer study scrutinizing the moderating effect of religious beliefs on the association between extrinsic perspectives of donors and their attitudes toward monetary donations © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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Guide to giving during the COVID-19 pandemic: the moderating role of religious belief on donor attitude

PurposeWith fundraising appeals for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief efforts and donating to those affected by its spread and impact, donors, volunteers and charities can all play their part and render much-needed support and aid. The purpose of this study is to be part of such effort by empirically examining the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that drive people's attitudes to engage in fundraising campaigns launched in many communities, providing a richer understanding of donors' responses.Design/methodology/approachThe present work follows a quantitative approach based on an online survey conducted among potential Kuwaiti charitable donors. A total of 565 useable responses (356 females, 209 males) were obtained using snowball sampling and analyzed through smart partial least squares (SmartPLS) software.FindingsWith 90% of respondents financially able to donate who have a monthly income equal to or greater than the average (US$2000), this study confirms the suitability of the model used in predicting donors' attitudes to contribute online to grassroots fundraising campaigns. It reveals that all constructs included in the model (i.e. charitable projects geared for those affected by the pandemic, Internet technology (IT) features and religiosity level) are statistically significant, except for trust in charities.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that in uncertainty and concern surrounding COVID-19, nonprofit organizations, charities and governments should make concerted efforts toward mitigating the impacts of the pandemic on families and workers who are on the frontline against its outbreak. Possible areas need to be improved through suitable proactive strategies to solicit online monetary donations, such as charitable projects with inclusive information, focus attention on IT features (e.g. privacy, trustworthiness, security and effectiveness) and strengthen the religious faith of donors toward the significance of helping vulnerable groups and regions.Originality/valueThe research adds value to the literature on donation and giving behavior by offering an in-depth understanding of what influences online donation attitudes, especially amid such an unprecedented epidemic crisis.

Social solidarity amid the COVID-19 outbreak: fundraising campaigns and donors' attitudes

Purpose: The rapid outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has triggered unprecedented restrictions on not only human movement but also a wide sphere of economic activities, disrupting livelihood, welfare and business worldwide In response, some Muslim communities have launched fundraising campaigns to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the virus on the front-liners and the most affected segments of vulnerable populations The purpose of this study is to explore the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of donors to these campaigns who contribute via social media platforms (SMPs) Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a cross-sectional research design using an online survey conducted in a typical Muslim community such as Kuwait A total of 565 samples of data (356 women, 209 men) were used for analysis Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to estimate the research model and extract meaningful conclusions Findings: The results show that charitable projects, internet technology features, SMP features and religiosity are significant motivations that influence attitudes toward online donations related to COVID-19 response All these relationships are indirectly related to intentions to donate via SMP through a significant mediating effect of attitude Practical implications: The outcome of this study could support the efforts of governments, non-profit organizations and communities to focus attention on suitable proactive strategies to boost online fundraising campaigns for those affected by epidemic diseases Originality/value: This study enriches the literature by integrating both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of online donations into a new and unique related context such as SMP, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Fundraising campaigns via social media platforms for mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic

This research explores the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations driving donors to engage in fundraising appeals launched through social networking sites (SNSs) to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on vulnerable communities from a cross-national perspective. The research adopted a quantitative approach through a web-based survey; a total of 801 donors were obtained from Kuwait and Bahrain and were useable for the analysis. Smart PLS structural equation modelling was used to validate the research model and derive significant insights. In the Kuwaiti sample, we found that humanitarian projects, internet technology, SNSs and religiosity significantly drive donor attitudes towards online donation. All these relationships are indirectly related to the intention to give via SNS through the mediating role of attitudes. As for the Bahraini sample, humanitarian projects, non-profit organizations (NPOs), SNSs, and religiosity significantly influence donors’ attitudes. Attitudes, on the other hand, have a visible mediating role in the relationships between these predictors and behavioral intentions. The findings could be useful for the development of appropriate policies that boost online monetary donations to support emergency aid for communities crushed by the pandemic. This research differs from the existing literature in that its multi-national study scrutinizes the incorporation of both internal and external predictors of fundraising activities into a distinctive related context such as SNSs, particularly in a time of epidemiological crises such as COVID-19.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6486/pdf?version=1653557752

Fundraising Appeals for the COVID-19 Epidemic Fight: A Cross-Country Study of Donor Responses

The waqf-based Crowdfunding model (WCF-M) is an online pool of funds for social, altruistic, and charitable purposes. WCF-M's campaigns and practices benefit the community, endowment foundations, and donors. This conceptual research seeks to review the literature on WCF-M in the context of WCF-M adoption in Kuwait. It has also proposed an innovative model incorporating religiosity as an essential determinant of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). This model intends to capture donors' intention to use WCF-M within waqf institutions, extend the literature, and validate the UTAUT model in WCF-M studies. Ultimately, studies of WCF-M adoption are currently sparse and require additional research, particularly from an Islamic perspective. 

Meshari Al-Daihani

Papers

Social solidarity amid the COVID-19 outbreak: fundraising campaigns and donors' attitudes

Fundraising campaigns via social media platforms for mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic

Fundraising Appeals for the COVID-19 Epidemic Fight: A Cross-Country Study of Donor Responses

Donors’ Intention to Use Waqf-Based Crowdfunding in Kuwait Extension The Theory of the Technology Acceptance Model