In this study we examine the relation between ownership structure and corporate performance; the sample of the study included 42 out of 48 companies of all sectors in Bahrain Bourse in five years from [2007][2008][2009][2010][2011]. Several dimensions of ownership concentration were studied in addition to managerial and institutional ownership. Two different measurements of performance were used (ROA and Tobin's Q). The study investigated this relation using several control variables and 2SLS statistical method to overcome the problem of endogeneity that may exist between the study variables. It was found that ownership concentration have a negative effect with statistical significance on company performance. Institutional ownership was found to have a positive effect on company performance. Managerial ownership was not found to have a significant effect on company performance, however it was found that managerial ownership has a positive effect on performance only in the case of declining ownership concentration. Other results were revealed by the study regarding company age, size, growth, board size and liquidity. The study is considered to have theoretical and practical implications. It contributes to the debate about agency theory and managerial entrenchment. It also may help officials in Bahrain in making laws and legislations concerning corporate governance improvement in Bahraini market. AbstractIn this study we examine the relation between ownership structure and corporate performance; the sample of the study included 42 out of 48 companies of all sectors in Bahrain Bourse in five years from 2007-2011. Several dimensions of ownership concentration were studied in addition to managerial and institutional ownership. Two different measurements of performance were used (ROA and Tobin's Q). The study investigated this relation using several control variables and 2SLS statistical method to overcome the problem of endogeneity that may exist between the study variables. It was found that ownership concentration have a negative effect with statistical significance on company performance. Institutional ownership was found to have a positive effect on company performance. Managerial ownership was not found to have a significant effect on company performance, however it was found that managerial ownership has a positive effect on performance only in the case of declining ownership concentration. Other results were revealed by the study regarding company age, size, growth, board size and liquidity. The study is considered to have theoretical and practical implications. It contributes to the debate about agency theory and managerial entrenchment. It also may help officials in Bahrain in making laws and legislations concerning corporate governance improvement in Bahraini market. JEL Classification: M40, G34

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the key influential factors that affect the entrepreneurial intentions of Kuwaiti nationals. Design/methodology/approach – This study was carried out by a survey method, using a questionnaire that targeted all Kuwaiti nationals over 18 who had the possibility of becoming entrepreneurs. The respondents’ perceptions of six antecedents that could influence entrepreneurial intentions were analyzed and assessed using correlation and regression statistics. Findings – The findings of this study clearly show that social networking, risk tolerance, the need for achievement as well as self-efficacy play a significant role in the entrepreneurial intentions of Kuwaiti nationals. The study also found that the need for achievement was the most important factor that affects whether or not these young Kuwaitis would wish to have their own business. It was also ascertained that both opportunity recognition and the accessibility of resources do not have any significant influence over their entrepreneurial intentions. Research limitations/implications – Although this study used a framework that was consistent with previous research studies, it did not include certain factors, which might also impact entrepreneurial intentions. Moreover, the quantitative approach used in this study may tend to obscure the relationship between variables, which could inevitably lead to biased results. However, the results obtained from this study may provide further insight into the subject area and prove beneficial to policymakers, researchers, and educators. Originality/value – Empirical studies that investigate the factors that influence the entrepreneurial intentions among the people of the Middle East and GCC countries are considerably scarce. This study thus serves to augment the currently limited literature on the entrepreneurial intentions among people in developing Middle East countries, particularly that of Kuwaitis.

Strategic Agility is seen by many researchers and analysts as an innovative newly developed management paradigm adopted by contemporary organizations to achieve distinction and outperform competitors under conditions of environmental instability and uncertainty. This article is an attempt to introduce the concept of Strategic Agility and to demonstrate its basic characteristics and the importance of adopting it by various organizations to achieve excellence and sustainability. In a competitive environment, characterized by acute turbulence and continual shocks, as in the current environment of COVID-19, strategic agility offers a viable means to harness non-linear scientific and technological breakthroughs with a view to profiting from both the dislocation in the consumer sentiment and behavior and the breakdown in supply chains. Moreover, the article highlights the interaction between strategic agility and firm performance and emphasizes the need to create agile organizations that will thrive in a volatile and uncertain world.

The study aimed at investigating the relation between different types of ownership structures and corporate financial performance. The study sample was 42 companies from all sectors listed in Bahrain Bourse in the period of 2007-2011. Different dimensions of ownership structure were put under scope and two different measurements of financial performance were used (Tobin’s Q and ROA) evaluate the different results from using each one of them, which will help in justifying the conflicting results found by previous studies. Another objective of this study was to explore the patterns of ownership structure found in Bahraini market. It was found that institutional ownership is the most common type of ownership in Bahrain Bourse. The study’s results were conflicting regarding the effect of ownership structure on financial performance using both measurements of performance. It was also found that ROA represents financial performance more that T’Q.