International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development (5 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Sustainable Horizons: A Review of Floating Cities as an Alternative for Coastal Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council cities  
  by Mohamed Atef 
  Abstract: Shallow water reclamation has become common in coastal cities with limited land, especially in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. While economically beneficial, this practice poses environmental, social, and economic sustainability challenges particularly in light of climate change and rising sea levels. This paper highlights the risks of continued coastal reclamation in the GCC and explores sustainable floating cities as a potential alternative. The research reviews the concept of floating cities, examines global case studies, and assesses the specific geographic and climatic conditions influencing their feasibility in the region. Findings indicate that floating cities could be a viable solution along the GCCs coasts, with several suitable locations and sustainable design strategies identified. The study emphasises the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge sharing to support the development of floating urbanism. It ultimately positions GCC countries to become pioneers in resilient, water-based urban solutions amid growing environmental pressures.
  Keywords: environment; sustainability; climate change; sea level rise; floating cities; coastal land reclamation; Gulf Cooperation Council; GCC.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2026.10078753
   
  
• Exploring the Impact among Convenience, Perceived Value, and Repurchase Intention: A Case of Chinese Electronic Products Using Online Stores  
  by Jie Lin 
  Abstract: This study investigates the impact of convenience (CnV) and perceived value (PV) on the consumers repurchase intention (RI) in terms of electronic products from Chinese online stores. First, the study explores the connection between convenience and RI. Second, the study examines the connection between perceived value and repurchase intention. Finally, a moderation of gender was observed among the nexus of CnV, PV, and RI. The studys outcomes confirmed a positive relationship between CnV and repurchase intention. A positive relationship between PV and repurchase intention was also confirmed using the structural equation modelling method. Finally, another positive moderation of gender was observed among the relationships of CnV, PV, and RI, respectively. This study enriches the literature on consumer behaviour in the context of online electronic product consumption, and provides actionable strategic implications for online retailers to optimise customer experience and improve repurchase intention. It also proposes future research directions to address the studys limitations
  Keywords: convenience; perceived value; repurchase intention; electronic products; online stores; structural equation modeling.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2026.10079241
   
  
• Bridging Knowledge Management and Competitive Advantage: A Systematic Review and Future Directions  
  by Syed Muhammad Umer Saleem, Che Azalan Taib, Rosman Iteng 
  Abstract: This study systematically reviews the literature on knowledge management (KM) and competitive advantage (CA) to identify dominant theories, research themes and future directions. Following PRISMA guidelines, 34 highly cited papers published between 1990 and June 2024 were selected from the Scopus database. The findings show that KM is consistently linked with sustainable competitive advantage, mainly through the resource-based view and knowledge-based view theories. The review highlights the growing role of digital transformation, intellectual capital, stakeholder engagement and organisational learning in enhancing competitive advantage. Most studies were published in high-quality business and management journals and commonly employed survey and mixed-method approaches. The study contributes by integrating fragmented literature and offering practical and research implications for strengthening KM practices and sustainable organisational performance.
  Keywords: knowledge management; competitive advantage; sustainability; sustainable competitive advantage; systematic literature review.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2026.10079625
   
  
• The case of Zhejiang Zhoushan Islands New Area as a laboratory for multilevel governance and knowledge-based urban development  
  by Adam Grydehøj, Tiancheng Zhang, Ping Su 
  Abstract: Urban redevelopment processes create tensions between the interests of governance actors at different levels. Community, city, provincial/state, regional, and national authorities may furthermore possess divergent capacities to formulate and implement policy. This paper examines the case of Zhejiang Zhoushan Islands New Area, in which the national and provincial government have prioritised port development while the city government has prioritised knowledge-based urban development (KBUD). Drawing upon theories of multilevel governance and network governance, the paper asks whether locally oriented KBUD processes are capable of flourishing within China’s highly centralised and noncompetitive political system and how tensions between the needs of stakeholders at different government levels may be negotiated. We find that the city government has sought to manage Zhoushan Archipelago’s KBUD by drawing upon three characteristics of China’s multilevel governance system: 1) policy coordination and adaptation; 2) evidence-based policymaking; and 3) clear overarching development objectives, framed by long time horizons.
  Keywords: China; cities; city-level planning; governance; knowledge-based urban development; multilevel governance; national policy framework; New Area; sustainable development; Zhejiang Zhoushan Islands.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2026.10079628
   
  
• The Mediating Role of Transformational Leadership in the Relationship between Artificial Intelligence and Organizational Performance  
  by Seifallah Andayesh, Zahra Kianrad, Heidar Ahmadi, Shib Sankar Sana 
  Abstract: This study investigates the mediating role of transformational leadership in the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) capability and organizational performance. Using a descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 141 employees (based on Cochran’s formula) through a five-point Likert scale. AI capability was measured using the 22-item scale developed by Chen et al. (2022), organizational performance using the 19-item scale by Maltick (2015), and transformational leadership using the 12-item scale by Siswanto & Yuliana (2022). The results showed a significant positive relationship between AI capability and organizational performance. Additionally, AI capability had a positive effect on transformational leadership. Moreover, transformational leadership was significantly and positively associated with organizational performance. Most importantly, transformational leadership played a significant mediating role in the relationship between AI capability and organizational performance. This study contributes to the literature on organizational AI by highlighting how leadership mechanisms can effectively translate AI capabilities into enhanced organizational performance.
  Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Organizational Performance; Transformational Leadership.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2026.10079643