Hadeel Yaseen

Bank stakeholders, such as creditors, investors, regulators, and other bank stakeholders, expect continuous performance improvement. To achieve this goal, bank managers can use information technology (IT) as a strategic resource to improve their bank’s capabilities and accordingly gain competitive advantage. In this study, the profitability and efficiency of commercial banks in Jordan are compared to investment in information technology (IT). Return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), and net interest margin (NIM) are used to measure bank profitability while controlling for bank size and financial leverage. Cost efficiency is measured using the cost efficiency ratio. The study sample consists of 13 commercial banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2021. To determine the relationship between the variables, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, the panel least squares approach, and fixed effects multiple regression models are used. The findings show that banks, on average, spend 0.61 percent of their total assets on information technology (hardware and software). Additionally, banks that invest in IT are predicted to perform better over time, as evidenced by their increased profitability and efficiency. Small banks have more IT investment as a percentage of assets than larger banks. In comparison to highly leveraged banks, less leveraged banks typically have a greater IT investment to asset ratio (0.69%). The findings show that profitable banks (measured by ROE) invest more than 1.1% of their total assets in IT. Meanwhile, highly efficient banks also invest more in IT (0.65%) compared to less efficient banks.

Acknowledgment
We are indebted to the Middle East University (MEU) - Jordan ) for the financial support needed for this article.

This study undertakes an investigation into the nexus between board characteristics and research and development (R&D) investments within the specific context of Jordan. Employing a dataset comprising 24 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the service and manufacturing sectors and enlisted on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) throughout the period from 2010 to 2023, the empirical findings substantiate that the dimensions of the board, mainly board size and independence, exert a positive influence on the intensity of R&D expenditures. However, gender diversity exerts an inverse impact on R&D spending. Consequently, organizations with a tendency toward sustaining innovation endeavors are encouraged to accord heightened consideration to fostering gender diversity during the board selection process. However, CEO duality reveals an insignificant influence on R&D expenditures. To conclude, the study’s outcomes enrich the existing array of findings on the influence of women directors on board independence, particularly in R&D spending. Furthermore, the study offers policy recommendations, enhancing comprehension of the influence of women’s representation on R&D spending.