Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on the export performance of apparel small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of multiple differentiation strategy as a mediation effect between their relationships. It has also investigated the moderation impact of export market category between EO and performance relationship. The multiple differentiation strategy comprises the product (PDD), customer (CTD), service (SVD) and brand (BDD) differentiations. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was carried out by providing a questionnaire to senior managers and owners of the apparel SMEs from the developed and developing markets exporters. The primary data of 550 was treated by the partial least squares-structural equation modelling) technique for final analysis. Findings The study revealed EO’s positive and significant effect on SMEs’ export performance. The study has found the mediation effect of product, customer and brand differentiation strategies between EO and export performance relationships from the mediation analysis. In contrast, service differentiation has found no mediation effect. However, the moderation effect (export market category) has revealed an insignificant effect between EO and performance association. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study are based on one country data analysis. This study has been conducted in the SMEs of the apparel industry in Bangladesh, considering only owners and senior-level managers of the firms. Originality/value This research has drawn the attention of managers/owners to EO and multiple differentiation strategies enhancing export performance from the developing country context, such as Bangladesh. Multiple differentiation as a competitive strategy is the pioneer application of mediating effect between EO and export performance relationships. Moreover, this research has investigated the effect of the export market category as a moderator. Dearth research has applied the export market category to investigate the moderation effect between EO-performance models. Therefore, current research has theoretical and practical contributions to the international entrepreneurship and strategic management literature.

Innovation capabilities and human development in education sector is one of the key focused areas in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The current research is novel to integrate and address such constructs in single theoretical framework. Grounded in Human Capital Theory, this study aims to investigate the role of innovation capabilities in human development competitiveness in the education sector of UAE. Based on the qualitative research approach, data were collected through interviews with 70 experts and leaders working in this field of Human Development Index (HDI) and innovation development in the UAE in order to more comprehensively recognize the main dilemmas involved in the phenomenon under investigation. Results indicate a huge potential of growth and improvement in education sector of UAE for supporting country SDG goals. Furthermore, it applied the conceptual statistics of key performance indicators (KPIs) collected to analyze the UAE’s HDI, innovation capabilities, and human development competitiveness from 2014 to 2020. Results revealed insightful lessons for policymakers and scholars working in innovation management and sustainable development goals area. Especially, this research will bring key policy directions and future research avenues for better innovative capabilities development in the education sector in developing and low-income economies.

The discussion regarding the writing of hadith during the life of the Prophet is a contentious topic within the area of Islamic and hadith studies both in the West and in the Islamic world. Orientalists write their work on hadith with a presumption that hadith has never been written during the life of Prophet Muḥammad. They contend that hadith text only emerged in the third century of Hijrah, i.e. in the era of al-Bukhāri. A few others believe that it started in the era of Malik of the Umayyad. This orientalist’ mindset affects some Muslim intellectuals who accept this premise. One of them is Harun Nasution, a well respected great mind who wrote a book entitled Islam Ditinjau Dari Berbagai Aspeknya (Islam Viewed from Various Aspects). However, historical evidence demonstrates that the writing of hadith was carried out at the time when the Prophet was still alive. A number of sheets were discovered, which contain hadith text compilations narrated by the companions of the Prophet, such as the Ṣahīfah of  ͑Ali bin Abi Ṭalib, Ṣahifah of Jābir bin  ͑Abdillah, and others. Some scholars have misunderstood the message in a saying of the Prophet that prohibited the writing of hadith. They have ignored other hadith that negated the previous hadith by which the Prophet allowed the writing of hadith in his life time. Even though there are a number companions who did not write hadith in this period, it does not mean hadith were not allowed to be written, but it was due to their own preference not to write the hadith.[Perdebatan tentang penulisan hadits masa kehidupan Nabi tetap menjadi tema yang hangat dalam kajian keislaman dan kajian hadits, baik di barat maupun di dunia Islam sendiri. Beberapa orientalis berpendapat bahwa hadits tidak ditulis pada masa Nabi Muhammad. Mereka menyebutkan teks hadits mulai muncul abad ketiga hijriah, misalnya pada era Bukhari. Lainnya percaya bahwa teks hadits dimulai pada masa Malik al Umayyad. Perspektif seperti orientalis ini diterima oleh beberapa intelektual muslim Indonesia, salah satunya Harun Nasution yang menulis buku Islam ditinjau dari Berbagai Aspeknya. Bagaimanapun bukti sejarah menunjukkan penulisan hadits sudah dimulai ketika Nabi masih hidup. Sejumlah lembaran yang mengandung kompilasi teks hadits dari beberapa sahabat Nabi seperti, Ṣahīfah dari Ali bin Abi Ṭalib dan Ṣahifah dari Jābir bin  ͑Abdillah. Sejumlah akademisi keliru dalam memahami pesan Nabi yang melarang menuliskan hadits. Mereka mengabaikan hadits yang menegasikan hadits sebelumnya yang membolehkan penulisan hadits selama hidup Nabi. Meskipun ada sejumlah sahabat yang melarangnya, namun ini bukan berarti hadits tidak diijinkan untuk ditulis, tetapi hal ini lebih terkait dengan masing-masing referensi untuk tidak menuliskannya.]

Simons’1 “levers of control” is a strategy-based framework that takes into consideration the belief systems of and the functions and interactions within an organization. The purpose of this article is to discuss Simons’ levers of control from an Islamic viewpoint, based on the teachings of the Quran and Sunna. It demonstrates that the concept of “levers of control”, as posited by Simons, does not contradict the basic tenets of Islam. In fact, all the main components of the levers of control – belief system, boundary system, diagnostic control system, and interactive system – were actually emphasized and vigorously implemented by Prophet Muhammad SAW. However, these practices have never before been organized into well-arranged and systematic categories that can be used as guidelines by Islamic organizations. Such organizations should aspire to implement comprehensively the practices of Prophet Muhammad SAW in all aspects of organizational management functions, including those related to control. However, in the absence of clear and comprehensive guidelines, any implementation may not be appropriate or in accordance with the practices of Prophet Muhammad SAW. More importantly, incorrect implementation as a result of limited understanding or misunderstanding of the Prophet’s SAW practices can affect the overall perception of Islam. By properly utilizing the levers of control, organizations that strive to emulate the practices of Prophet Muhammad SAW in their operations can be successful.