Prelims

Technological Horizons

Technological Innovation and Sustainability for Business Competitive Advantage

Series Editors: Allam Hamdan and Reem Khamis

Innovation and sustainability are broad terms that describe many interdisciplinary sciences – business success and competitiveness may not be separated from social and cultural aspects that interfere with any future development prospects. Research in across areas would provide a better understanding of international experiences, bridging the gap between developing and developed nations. This series promotes new visions for business research prospects that work in favor of innovation and sustainability in terms of governance, environment, and ethics.

Technological Innovation and Sustainability for Business Competitive Advantage highlights business problems faced by institutions in a scientific way, finding possible practical solutions. Contributing to setting and improving business theories and practices and encouraging scientific research in technological innovation and sustainability, volumes activate dialogue between academics, practitioners, and individuals and provide recommendations to improve institutions.

Technological Innovations for Business, Education and Sustainability

Edited by Allam Hamdan

The Tech-Driven Future: Navigating Sustainability in the Digital Age

Edited by Jaheer Muthkar K.P., Berenika Byczek, Felix Claudio Julca-Guerrero and Roger Pedro Norabuena-Figueroa

The Role of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Business

Edited by Ra'ed Masa'deh

Ethical Standards for Technological and Business Education Sustainability

Edited by Esra Saleh AlDhaen, Vishanth Weerakkody, David Gallear and Weifeng Chen

Technological Horizons: Insights for Accounting, Auditing and Internal Control in Emerging Markets

Edited by

Hashem Alshurafat

The Hashemite University, Jordan

And

Claire Beattie

Lincoln University, New Zealand

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL

First edition 2025

Editorial matter and selection © 2025 Hashem Alshurafat and Claire Beattie.

Individual chapters © 2025 The Authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83608-757-1 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83608-756-4 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83608-758-8 (Epub)

Hashem Alshurafat is an Assistant Professor in Accounting and the Deputy Dean Associate at Hashemite University. He earned his PhD in Accounting from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He is an editor and a reviewer of many scholarly journals and a keynote speaker at many international conferences. He is a guest editor of special issue on forensic accounting/Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Emerald, and a book editor in Springer Nature. His research is currently focused on forensic accounting, technology adoption in accounting, and accounting education. He has research papers published in academic journals and conferences indexed under Scopus and ISI. Dr Hashem has won multiple global awards including Outstanding Reviewer in the 2023 Emerald Literati Awards, selected by the editorial team of Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development.

Claire Beattie primarily researches in the field of management accounting and has successfully published articles on performance measurement, sustainability, and management accounting education. She has also conducted and published research in corporate governance and forensic accounting. She enjoys working in research teams where each individual member brings different areas of specialty and expertise to the project. She has successfully contributed to funded projects in the areas of agribusiness, professional attributes and competencies, and financial literacy. She utilizes qualitative research methodologies and seek to explore how accounting practice impacts and is impacted by organizational activities. She is particularly interested in the use of case study research to enhance our understanding of the social role of accounting. Her research has typically been conducted in public sector organizations. Claire was the joint recipient of a 2020 Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper.

Khaled AbdElAlim is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Faculty of Political Science, Economics and Business Administration, May University in Cairo (MUC). Prior to joining MUC, Dr Abd ElAlim worked as an Assistant Professor of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Commercial Studies and Business Administration, Egyptian E- Learning University. He also joined School of Business, Canadian International College, Cairo campus of Cape Breton University as an Assistant Professor of Accounting. In addition to his teaching experience, Khaled is a member of editorial team of Corporate Ownership and Control Review and an external reviewer of Corporate Governance and Organizational Behavior Review.

Yara Abed-Alaziz Abu-Allan has a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the Hashemite University.

Hammed Afolabi is a Lecturer in Accounting at Leeds Trinity University, United Kingdom (UK). His previous work experience includes working as an Accountant and a forensic auditor. He holds a PhD in Accounting and Financial Management from Henley Business School, University of Reading (UK), and an MSc in Forensic Audit and Accounting from the University of South Wales (UK). Also, he is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Public Accountant, and Certified Forensic Accountant and a member of the European Accounting Association and the British Accounting and Finance Association. Hammed research resonates around accountability, corporate reporting, sustainability accounting, environmental accounting, and extinction accounting. Within these areas, he has published in different international peer-reviewed academic journals. Furthermore, he is an active ad hoc reviewer for different international academic accounting journals such as the Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, and the International Journal of Emerging Markets.

Wafa Khalaf Al Adwan, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Al al-Bayt University, Jordan, Master’s degree Student at AABU.

Marah Essam Al Safadi, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Al al-Bayt University, Jordan, is a Lecturer at AABU.

Salah Sowan Al Sharafat holds a PhD from the World Islamic Sciences and Education University, Amman, Jordan. He worked as a Lecturer in the Business School of the Hashemite University.

Tagreed Ali, Department of Computer Science, British University in Dubai (BUiD), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a third-year PhD student at the British University in Dubai; she received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Al-Balqa University in Amman/Jordan and later received a Master’s degree in Computer Networks from Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada with Honors.

Wasfi Alrawabdeh is a Professor of Marketing. He is the Vice President at the Hashemite University. Professor Wasfi was the former Dean of the Hashemite University Business School. He has many scholarly articles published in high-ranked academic journals.

Khaled Alshaketheep is an Assistant Professor of Digital Marketing and Social Media. Dr Alshaketheep’s research areas include digital marketing, e-retail, and consumer behavior, particularly 3D virtual models and their impact on consumer behavior within the online retailer context. Furthermore, Dr Alshaketheep’s research areas focused on social media, particularly, customer brand engagement, and online community engagement. Dr Alshaketheep’s publications appeared in reputable journals.

Omar Arabiat, an Assistant Professor at the Business School of Hashemite University, Jordan, holds a PhD in Accounting and Financial Management from Henley Business School, University of Reading. With an extensive background that spans both the financial industry and academic realms, Dr Arabiat has significantly contributed to the fields of financial reporting standards, digital transformation, sustainability, gender diversity, and audit. His scholarly pursuits are enriched by his active role as a reviewer for several esteemed academic journals, where he leverages his expertise to advance research integrity and quality. Dr Arabiat's career is distinguished by his innovative research on the integration of Artificial Intelligence within accounting education. His work is widely published, reflecting his deep commitment to exploring the intersections of technology and finance to enhance economic practices globally.

Bara Asfour, a distinguished researcher in business administration, earned his PhD from Arab American University in 2023. With a passion for organizational behavior and human resources, his groundbreaking research focuses on the intersection of leadership, corporate culture, and sustainable business practices. As a published author and sought-after speaker, Dr Asfour's work has left an indelible mark on the field, contributing valuable insights to the ever-evolving landscape of business strategy. His commitment to bridging academia and industry has established him as a thought leader, shaping the future of business administration.

Wajde Baiod is a PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of New Brunswick – Saint John, Canada. He obtained his BSc in Cost Accounting (with distinction) from the University of Al Jabal Al Gharbi, Libya, and his MSc in Accounting and Finance (with merit) from Leeds Beckett University, England. He has worked in the University of Al Jabal Al Gharbi, Libya, where he taught various undergraduate accounting courses and supervised a number of undergraduate projects. His research interests include the adoption and use of emerging technologies in accounting, especially blockchain technology. He has published a couple of articles in international refereed journals and presented in international conferences, including the 4th International Conference on Digital, Innovation, Financing and Entrepreneurship – University of Concordia, Montreal, Canada, July 2023.

Dr Firas Naim Dahmash is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Business School of Hashemite University, Jordan. He holds a PhD in Accounting and Finance from the University of Western Australia. With extensive professional experience in both the public and private sectors, Dr Dahmash has worked as a Senior Accountant at the Ministry of Finance and as an Instructor at several universities. He teaches a wide range of accounting courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr Dahmash has also reviewed numerous research articles and has published several scholarly papers in accounting and finance in high-ranking academic journals.

Arafat Deeb is a dedicated researcher at Sultan Zainal Abidin Universiti, Malaysia, within the Department of Business. His expertise lies in sustainable marketing practices, focusing on the strategic incorporation of Artificial Intelligence to enhance corporate profitability.

Anan Deek is a PhDc in International Political Economy. His research interests focus on political economy, models of excellence and quality, developing economy, and digital transformation management. Finally, conducting studies on the impact of the economy on quality of life and achieving sustainable development standards, political tensions and their impact on the global economy, the impact of digital transformation on the global economy, and how to benefit from it in the economies of third-world countries and develop their economies.

Mostaq M. Hussain is a Professor of Accounting in the Faculty of Business at the University of New Brunswick – Saint John. He obtained his BCom (with Honors) and MCom (in Accounting) from the University of Dhaka and MSc and PhD (in Accounting) from the University of Vaasa, Finland. He worked in different universities in Japan (Nihon University), Sweden (Umeo University), Finland, Qatar (Qatar University), Kuwait (American University of Kuwait), UAE (University of Sharjah and Canadian University in Dubai), and Oman (Sultan Qaboos University). He is the Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Accounting and Finance (IJAF). He has published a number of articles in international refereed journals and book chapters and received more than two dozens of scholarships/awards from different institutions in Finland, Sweden, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada, including Literati Club's “Awards for Excellence” and Sultan Qaboos University's “Distinguished Research Award.”

Suhaib B. Bani Kinana is a student pursuing a Master's degree in Accounting at the Hashemite University in Jordan. While my academic journey is just beginning, Suhaib demonstrates a keen interest in exploring various aspects of accounting, including technology, Artificial Intelligence, sustainability, and auditing. I am committed to leveraging my education to make meaningful contributions to the accounting profession in the future.

Janet Light received her Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering in 1983, Master's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1990, and PhD in Computer Science in 2002 from India. She joined UNB Saint John Faculty in 2002 in the Department of Computer Science and Applied Statistics. At UNB, she has served as Chair of the department (2012–2015), the UNB Saint John Senate, and the UNB Board of Governors as an elected Faculty Member (2020–2023). Across Canada, Dr Light is a Senior Member of IEEE and has served as Chair/Vice Chair of IEEE-NB Section (2012–2017) and Chair of the IEEE Women in Engineering Region 7 in Canada in 2015. Her research interests are in wireless and mobile computing, green computing, sensor networks, and network security. For almost a decade, her research focus has been on applied health. Some research projects she has associations in New Brunswick are with the 911 prehospital emergency ambulatory services, eHealth, fall detection in elderly care, and health monitoring systems. Her work has received wide attention in local media and in peer-reviewed international conference and journal publications. She founded the company Dotty Emergency Assistive Care in 2016.

Piyush Maheshwari, the British University in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a recognized technology leader, educationist, and distributed systems researcher, with many years of academic and corporate R&D experience. His current research interests are Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based software systems, enterprise architecture, and smart city applications. He had worked as an academic at UNSW – Sydney, Griffith University – Australia, and Amity University – Dubai. He had also extensively contributed to R&D and innovation management of centers of excellence in companies like IBM, Ericsson, and DELL. Professor Piyush is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Ahmad Shajrawi is working as an Assistant Professor of Digital Marketing, Middle East University, Jordan. He has completed a PhD degree in Marketing from India – AMU – Aligarh Muslim University. He published more than 15 research papers in different reputed journals. He is a member of the editorial board in Research Journal of Economics and Business Management, EMBAR Publishers, and also in an International Journal of Communication Networks and Information Security (IJCNIS). He wrote several books: Marketing Management, Research Methodology, Digital Marketing Strategy and Analysis, and Principles of Marketing.

Moamen A. Shazly is an Assistant Professor of Accounting, Faculty of Business Studies Arab Open University (AOU), Egypt. Prior to joining Arab Open University, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Accounting, School of Business Administration, Ahram Canadian University (ACU). In addition to his teaching experience, he has a professional experience in the fields of accounting and auditing; he also has experience in quality assurance and scientific research focusing on Auditing, Brainstorming, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability.

Noor Taha has a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the Hashemite University. She has many scholarly articles published in high-ranked academic journals.

Hesham Zakaria is an Assistant Professor of Accounting, College of Administrative and Financial Sciences, Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq University, Baghdad, Iraq, and an Assistant Professor of Accounting, Higher Institute of Administrative Sciences, El Beheira, Egypt. Prior to joining his university, he joined School of Business, Canadian International College, Cairo campus of Cape Breton University as an Assistant Professor of Accounting. In addition to his teaching experience, he has great experience in quality assurance and scientific research.

Omar Zraqat is a senior researcher and a professional practitioner with diverse expertise in accounting, auditing, governance, ownership structure, social responsibility, and strategic planning. He currently holds the position of Vice Dean of the Faculty of Business at Jerash University. Before his current position, Dr Zraqat held several senior leadership positions in academic and business fields. He was a faculty member in the Accounting Department at the International Islamic Sciences University and served as the chief consultant for strategic planning and accreditation at Jerash University. In addition, he provided consulting services to develop programs and governance structures at several business schools and companies in Jordan and the region. Dr Zraqat has rich academic leadership experience, having taught at several universities and served on the editorial boards of international peer-reviewed journals. Through a research focus on auditing, audit quality, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility.

The book is a collaborative effort among esteemed contributors, who bring a wealth of expertise to explore technology across accounting realms. The book chapters are encapsulating a holistic view of technological horizon for accounting, auditing, and internal control professions. The purpose of Technological Horizons is rooted within the emerging markets context.

The book begins with an exploration of technological horizons within the accounting environment. The chapters in this section explore the profound impact of emerging technologies on various aspects of accounting and auditing. It begins with an exploration of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing audit quality by enhancing precision and efficiency. The discussion then shifts to the role of technology in environmental accounting within emerging markets, using an institutional theoretical lens to highlight advancements in sustainable financial reporting. The book chapters also investigate the factors influencing the adoption of business analytics and their subsequent effect on financial reporting quality. The transformative potential of AI in the auditing profession is further explored, followed by a systematic literature review of the barriers to blockchain adoption. Additionally, the determinants of external auditor fees before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are analyzed through a study on nonfinancial companies listed in the Amman Stock Exchange. Finally, the application of blockchain in accounting information systems is examined, addressing its advantages, challenges, and directions for future research.

As editors, we extend our sincere gratitude to the contributors for their scholarly contributions and to the readers for joining us on this intellectual journey. May this book serve as an inspiration, guiding us toward a future where technology converges harmoniously for the betterment of accounting, auditing, and internal control professions.

The editors

Hashem Alshurafat

Claire Beattie