bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Study on Persuasiveness of Argument Texts Written by Proficient and Less Proficient Malaysian Undergraduates
Authors: Ting Su Hie , Raslie Humaira , Jee Leong Jin
Published: August 2020

Purpose – Research has shown that university students, particularly non-native speakers of English, encounter difficulties with various academic text-types and often lack the ability to organise the information in a structure considered effective by the discourse community or to use the significant language features of the text-type effectively to achieve the intended purpose. The study examined the persuasiveness of argument texts written by proficient and less-proficient undergraduates in a Malaysian university. The aspects examined were the organisational structure of the text and the language features significant for fulfilling the persuasive purpose of the text.   Method – Forty argument texts were analysed: 22 written by undergraduates who were more profi cient in English, and 18 by less proficient undergraduates. The analysis focused on the organization of the content of the argument text as well as selected language features, namely, connectors, modal verbs and passive voice.   Findings – The results showed that the proficient undergraduates used the structure considered effective for argument texts but the writing of the less-proficient group was characterised by unclear or absence of statement of stance and restatement of stance. To achieve the persuasive purpose of the text, the proficient undergraduates made use of connectors, modal verbs and passive voice more than the less-proficient group. However, the connectors ‘because’, ‘so’ and ‘besides’ were often used in a manner similar to spoken language, and there was an overdependence on the modal verbs ‘can’ and ‘will’. The lack of conditionals and nominalisations was obvious for both groups, suggesting that these are more difficult language features to master and greater pedagogical attention is needed.   Significance– The paper explores differentiated focus in the teaching of academic writing at university level for students with high and low proficiency in English.
Teachers’ Knowledge and Understanding of the Malaysian School-Based Oral English Assessment
Authors: Fook Chan Yuen , Sidhu Gurnam Kaur , Mohamad Azleena
Published: August 2020

Purpose – The paper sought to investigate TESL teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the Malaysian School Based Oral English Assessment (SBOEA) after five years into its implementation in upper secondary ESL classrooms in Malaysian public schools   Method – The descriptive study involved a total of 80 TESL trained teachers from the 19 schools located in a district in Selangor, Malaysia. The study employed a three-prong strategy to collect data which included a questionnaire, semi structured interviews and document analysis.   Findings – The findings of the study indicated that there was a low compliance (58.7%) rate among teachers to the procedures laid out in the SBOEA Manual with regards to the implementation of SBOEA. The teachers also acknowledged their lack of knowledge and understanding of the SBOEA and a half of the teachers in the study admitted having problems with the scoring criteria. Some teachers highlighted that they felt the SBOEA lacked reliability and validity within and outside the schools.   Significance – The paper explores the possible implications of the study to the enhancement of the implementation of the School Based Oral English Assessment in Malaysian public schools.
Learning Approaches of Undergraduate Computer Technology Students: Strategies for Improvement
Authors: Malakolunthu Suseela , Joshua Alice
Published: August 2020

Purpose – In recent times, quality of graduates and their performance has been questioned. Students’ performance is an indicator of the kind of approach (deep or surface) that is taken. This study investigates the kind of undergraduates take in their learning processes.   Methodology – This quantitative survey used Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F). Sixty-three students participated in the study. Findings – Results showed no significant difference between the types of approach by gender, nationality, year of study, and major. However, the rank ordering of the mean value indicated that almost all the students who participated in the study did not possess a deep approach to learning. The Pearson’s r analysis revealed a weak negative statistical correlation between the deep and surface approaches to learning and weak positive statistical correlation between surface strategy and deep approach. However, a significant relationship between deep strategy and deep approach (r = .903**, p < .01) was found.   Significance – The lack of deep approach to learning among students can be attributed to factors such as the conditions of learning, professional capacity of teachers, and lack of instructional rigor in the program or coursework. It is imperative that emphasis is placed on using deep approaches to learning in the university courses so that deep learning experiences are created for students.
Faktor-Faktor Penyumbang dalam Pertimbangan Moral Pelajar Sekolah Agama
Authors: Mohd Yusoff Mohd Zailani
Published: August 2020

Tujuan – Matlamat utama kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka maklumat-maklumat yang berkaitan dengan konsep pertimbangan moral dalam kalangan pelajar sekolah agama. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pengaruh dimensi kecenderungan kerohanian Islam dan dimensi sikap dan pegangan terhadap standard kelaziman sosial terhadap pertimbangan moral mengikut skema-skema yang ditetapkan.   Metodologi – Tiga alat ukur digunakan dalam kajian ini iaitu Ujian Skema Taakulan Akhlak (UPSTA), Soal Selidik Kecenderungan Kerohanian Islam (ISDQ) dan Ujian Sikap dan Pegangan Terhadap Standard Kelaziman Sosial (USPSK). Subjek kajian terdiri daripada 500 orang pelajar yang dibahagikan kepada jantina mengikut jenis sekolah menengah agama di negeri Kelantan yang dipilih secara rawak berstrata iaitu Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA), Maahad Muhammadi (MM), Maahad Tahfiz al-Quran/ Sains (MTAQ/MTS), Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) dan Sekolah Agama Swasta (SAS). Kajian tinjuan ini menggunakan kaedah kuantitatif berasaskan pendekatan kajian rentas (Cross Sectional). Data dikumpulkan daripada ketiga-tiga ujian di atas dan dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis statistik regresi berganda stepwise.   Dapatan- Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa dimensi kepercayaaan dan keimanan berperanan sebagai pengaruh yang kuat dalam pertimbangan moral pelajar sekolah menengah agama. Dapatan juga menunjukkan dimensi kepercayaan dan keimanan, dimensi intrinsik dan dimensi ekstrinsik dalam aspek kecenderungan kerohanian Islam memberi pengaruh yang signifikan (R² = .47, sig .00) terhadap pertimbangan moral pelajar sekolah agama. Namun dimensi hak asasi manusia di dalam pemboleh ubah sikap dan pegangan terhadap standard kelaziman sosial hanya menyumbang (R² = .02, sig .03) terhadap pertimbangan moral dalam kalangan pelajar sekolah agama di negeri Kelantan.   Kepentingan- Kajian ini menyediakan kefahaman baru kepada isu pertimbangan moral pelajar-pelajar sekolah menengah agama. Kecenderungan pelajar sekolah agama terhadap aspek kerohanian Islam memainkan peranan penting dalam menentukan kualiti pertimbangan moral mereka.
Could the Great Depression Repeat Itself in the 21St Century?
Authors: Heong Quah Chee , Ismail Mohd Nazari
Published: August 2020

By 2031, it will be a century since the Great Depression, touted as the most dreadful depression in the history of U.S. and the rest of the world, had taken place. In the final decades of last century and in the early years of this century, numerous financial crises and economic depressions, not as severe as the Depression, have occurred, particularly but not limited to, developing countries. Looking at the Depression and today’s arrangements, will a major global depression be looming? This paper begins with a refresher on the events of the Depression, which is followed by the Friedman and Schwartz hypothesis, criticisms against it, other contributing factors to the Depression, a reconciliation of the theories and finally ends with an assessment of the possibility of a return of the Depression in the 21st century based on today’s economic, financial, political, social, and technological considerations.
Performance-Based Pay: An Empirical Study in Malaysian Federal Government Linked Companies, Kuching, Sarawak
Authors: Ismail Azman , Abang Abdullah Dayang Nailul Munna , Abd. Aziz Norazila , Amat Aswadi Amat Khairulizan , Mohd Shariff Mohd Noor
Published: August 2020

Compensation management literature highlights that properly administering performance-based pay may directly affect employee attitudes and behaviours (i.e. job performance and job turnover). Furthermore, a thorough review of such relationships revealed that the effect of performance-based pay on such employee attitudes and behaviours is indirectly affected by perceptions of procedural justice. The nature of this relationship is less emphasised in past research studies. Therefore, a survey method was used to gather 124 usable questionnaires from employees who have worked in the Malaysian Federal Government linked companies in Kuching, Sarawak (GLCKUCHING). A stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the mediating effect of procedural justice and the findings obtained indicated that procedural justice and performance-based pay were significantly correlated with job performance. However, no significant correlation was found between procedural justice and performance-based pay with job turnover. Results of this study serve as evidence confirming the assertion that procedural justice does act as a partial mediating variable in the performance-based pay models of the organizational sector investigated. This paper also addresses the implications of such findings on compensation theory and practice. In addition, conceptual and methodological limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed.
The Relationship Between Islamic Cultural Values and Corporate Social Accountability: Malaysian Muslim Accountants
Authors: Alazzabi Mohammed Salem , Selamat Mohamad Hisyam
Published: August 2020

This study investigates the relationship between Islamic cultural values and corporate social accountability among Muslim accountants in Malaysia. Two independent variables are proposed namely collectivism and power distance. Multivariate analysis was employed to examine the relationship between the variables in the framework and 124 respondents participated in this study. It is found that there is no relationship between collectivism and corporate social accountability. On the other hand, there is a significant positive relationship between power distance and corporate social accountability. In conclusion this study recommends that the understanding on zakat and equality should be given utmost priority in order to increase the level of social accountability among Muslim accountants in Malaysia. Such learning activities should be given continuous professional development (CPD) point by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) as a motivation.
Book Review Impression Management in the Workplace: Research, Theory and Practice
Authors: J. Dubrin Andrew
Published: August 2020

A good comprehensive book is a rare find. If you are searching endlessly for a book that has it all, this is the one that presents every bit about impression management that one must know to get by in today’s world of advanced technology where everything is at our finger tips. The content covers from the most basic, that is, the meaning and nature of impression management (Chapter One), to the most complex yet a significant area that deals with the functional and dysfunctional consequences of impression management (Chapter Eleven).
Book Review Hospitality Marketing: Principles and Practice (2nd ed.)
Authors: Bowie David , Buttle Francis
Published: August 2020

The ideal person to write a review of books is definitely someone who has written a textbook himself. Bowie and Buttle indeed have made a promising effort to disseminate an important perspective on a subject related to hospitality. One might be quick to conclude that this text is just a dime a dozen and a window dressing of the first edition since not much space is dedicated to reflect on marketing theory and practice to the level of the state of the art. But this sort of unfair review is best left to those scholars who had experienced writing a textbook which is celebrated throughout the English speaking world, like Kotler or Drucker. The review here is a modest attempt to guide those who seek some idea and facts about the book before purchasing it.
Role Ambiguity and Job Performance of Employees in the Service Sector SMEs in Malaysia
Authors: June Sethela , Mahmood Rosli
Published: August 2020

Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the economic development of Malaysia, of which the majority are in the service sector. Employees of the service sector SMEs have often been associated with low level of job performance and past research has shown that there are many factors that can contribute to employee poor performance such as role ambiguity. Thus the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between role ambiguity and job performance of employees in the service sector SMEs in Malaysia. 1500 questionnaires were distributed and 300 were returned resulting in a 20% response rate. The result revealed that there was a significant relationship between role ambiguity and job performance of employees.
Differences Between Supplier Development Programme of Foreign and Local Malaysian Automotive Suppliers
Authors: Abdul Kadir Kadzrina , Ali Hassan
Published: August 2020

Research into supplier development has raised issues on the buyer’s relationship with the supplier. A buyer with collaborative relationship would have more interest in supplier development. From the viewpoint of the suppliers, buyers who provided assistance could help the suppliers in developing their capability, a situation that might be particularly relevant in developing and emerging countries. The automotive manufacturers have implemented supplier development programmes for their suppliers, both in developed and developing countries. This raises a question on supplier development programmes in developing countries: How do supplier development programmes differ between a local (Malaysian) supplier and a foreign (non-Malaysian) supplier for Malaysian automakers (buyers)? In this research, interviews were conducted at three supplier organisations, of which one was Australian and two were Malaysian, where all three were suppliers for a Malaysian automaker. This study found that the Malaysian and Australian suppliers differed in supplier categories, customisation versus standardised products and buyer involvement. The study suggests that buyer differences with regard to supplier relationship, supplier commitment, type of product and size of supplier organisation play a role in supplier development.
Book Review Hospitality Marketing:Principles and Practice (2nd Edition)
Authors: Bowie David , Buttle Francis , Mohd Ibrahim Jaafar Ali
Published: August 2020

The ideal person to write a review of books is definitely someone who has written a textbook himself. Bowie and Buttle indeed have made a promising effort to disseminate an important perspective on a subject related to hospitality. One might be quick to conclude that this text is just a dime a dozen and a window dressing of the first edition since not much space is dedicated to reflect on marketing theory and practice to the level of the state of the art. But this sort of unfair review is best left to those scholars who had experienced writing a textbook which is celebrated throughout the English speaking world, like Kotler or Drucker. The review here is a modest attempt to guide those who seek some idea and facts about the book before purchasing it.
The Competency Gap of Hotel Management Graduates From Hotel Supervisor’s Perspective
Authors: Andi Kele Andi Tamsang , Syed Khalid Wafa Syed Azizi Wafa
Published: August 2020

The hotel industry has gained prominence in Malaysia and with the global nature of the industry, human resource issues need to be addressed to ensure that the industry remains competitive. This quantitative research provides a comprehensive study on the competency gap of hotel management graduates from the employers’ perspectives. This study looks at the expectation and observation of hotel supervisors towards hotel management graduates in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. A total of 200 questionnaires were sent out to all the star-rated hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and 100 usable responses were received and analysed. It was found out that there is a gap in terms of work-related competencies of the Hotel Management (HM) graduates from the hotel supervisor’s perspective. It is suggested that the educational institutions and other training organizations pay attention to the results of this study since it was found that the hotel supervisors felt the work-related competency provided by the institutions where the HM graduates are trained is below their expectation and as such, it needs to be improved.
Excess Capacity and Entry Deterrence: The Case of Malaysian Palm Oil Refining Industry
Authors: Yi Choo Sze , A. Jalil Suhaila H.
Published: August 2020

This paper empirically examines the relationship between excess capacity and probability of entry into Malaysian palm oil refining industry using time series data. Capacity and production, two components crucial to the study of excess capacity, were included in the estimation model. The analysis was conducted specifically in the Malaysian palm oil refining industry and the sample covered the period from 1976 to 2011. Logit model was employed in this analysis, where the results exhibited that excess capacity does not significantly influence probability of entry into the palm oil refining industry in Malaysia.
A Study of Perception of International Students on Quality of Malaysian Cars
Authors: Hin Cheng Wei , Md Isa Filzah , Hee Hoe Chee
Published: August 2020

This paper examines how international students in a local public institution perceived the quality of Malaysian-made cars and whether the country of origin is an important factor in determining the purchase decision of a car. A total of 176 full-time registered international students from 12 countries participated as respondents in this research. A purposive sample was used in this research whereby respondents were asked to complete a self-administrated questionnaire. The findings supported the literature which indicated that most respondents have a more favourable perception of cars made in the developed countries than cars made in developing countries. The influence of country of origin, also known as the “made in” effect, has been broadly defined as the positive or negative influence that a country’s product of manufacture may have on consumers’ decision processes or subsequent behaviour. The result of this research showed that the effect of country of origin is discernable among the respondents.
The Impact of Commodity Prices, Interest Rate and Exchange Rate on Stock Market Performance: An Empirical Analysis From Malaysia
Authors: Nordin Norhafiza , Nordin Sabariah , Ismail Rusmawati
Published: August 2020

This paper examines the impact of commodity prices (palm oil price, oil price, and gold price), interest rate, and exchange rate on the Malaysian stock market performance. Employing the bounds test approach, the results of the study showed cointegrating relationships among variables. Specifically, the results revealed a significant influence of palm oil price on the stock market index. However, no significant influence was observed for both the oil price and gold price. Interest rate and exchange rate showed significant influences, which are consistent with past empirical studies. One important policy implication from this study is that the authorities should also pay attention to the effect of commodity prices, in addition to macroeconomic variables, in implementing relevant polices, as they may have a negative impact on the Malaysian stock market.
Image of Taiwan Held by Malaysian Muslim Tourists: Motivational Factors Influencing Overall Image Evaluations
Authors: Chek Yiap Ling
Published: August 2020

In the recent years, the Muslim international tourists market has become the focus of the tourism industries in the Asia Pacific. Taiwan has also noticed the potential of this market segment, and started promoting its tourism products to the international Muslim tourists. In order to promote Taiwan effectively to this market segment, it is important to identify the factors that influence the perception of the Muslim tourists about Taiwan. With this notion, this study set out to establish the pre-visit tourism image of Taiwan held by the Muslim tourists, and determine the factors that influence the Muslim tourists’ image evaluations. This study employed both structured and unstructured methods in the survey, and the data was analysed using content analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The findings indicated that Muslim tourists generally have a positive image of Taiwan; however, this image is fuzzy. Furthermore, the direct effect of travel motivation on affective images was significant, and the ‘Relax’ dimension of travel motivation has the greatest impact. However, the ‘Religious’ dimension of travel motivation did not have significant effect on affective image.
The Effect of the Success Information Technologyon the Quality of Working Life of the Staff in Industrial Organizations in Iran
Authors: Forati Hassan
Published: August 2020

We examined the influence of the success of Information Technology (IT) on the Quality of Working Life (QWL). We first explored the success dimensions of IT/IS and also dimension of QWL. Then, we proposed a new model – managing IT for improving QWL model - to explain and predict the influence of IT’s success on employees’ QWL. Drawing on the previous literature, and the results of a series of case studies, the managing of IT to improve the QWL model, integrates several sets of factors that are influencing the improvement of QWL: organizational factors; quality of IT; employees’ attitudes to IT; employees’ use of IT; perceived usefulness of IT and QWL. These sets of factors are drawn from well-established frameworks (IS’s implementation, IS’s success and TAM models). Results from a survey involving 299 IT users in semnan province (Iran) indicate that a positive relationship exists between IT’s success and QWL. The analysis provided strong support for the model, with 15 of 17 hypotheses which are supported. Path analysis was also used to test the research model. The study used theoretical and empirical evidence to propose a model and then validate it by using quantitative data from industrial organizations in Semnan. Finally the model was validated by path analysis.
An Analysis of Efficiency of General Insurance Industry in India
Authors: Sinha Abhijit , Bandopadhyay Kalpataru
Published: August 2020

It is well known that the overall insurance sector in India has been undergoing a series of reforms from time to time. The drastic change that re-designed the contours of the industry is the implementation of the Malhotra Committee Recommendations which opened up the landscape to the private non-life insurers in 2000. The present study has been taken up to determine the efficiency of the non-life sector and the insurers using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The empirical research also aims to statistically test whether there is any year-wise significant difference between the two sectors in respect of the overall efficiency. For the purpose, appropriate statistical test is applied. The study is based on secondary data collected from the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDA) Annual Reports. The sample size for this study is twelve including all the four insurers from the public sector and the remaining from the private sector. The results of the analysis showed that in terms of technical and pure technical efficiency, the overall result of the public sector surpasses that of the private. However, the findings of the Mann-Whitney U Test revealed that the result with respect to the statistical difference is mixed.
The Japanese Production System and Its International Transferability
Authors: Kumon Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

The Japanese production system has an ethnic or national basis. There are considered to be three production components of the system-shop-floor-centred work organization, waste-free production control, and participative management in the context of cooperative labour relations. For each of these, it is possible to set up a Japanese-type'. The author is conducting research into the overseas operations of Japanese subsidiaries in automobile assembly. Japanese multinational enterprises presumably try to apply the system to their overseas operations to take advantage of its strengths; however, given that they have moved into a foreign country, presumably Japanese enterprises have to adapt to the management environment of the local area. This research investigates the following questions: (i) Does this 'application' and 'adaptation' result in a dilemma? (ii) What is actually being applied and what has not been possible to apply? (iii) How well is the balance between 'application' and 'adaptation' being achieved? According to surveys of Japanese manufacturing plants in North America, Asia, and Europe, the application of the system is possible. Of course this does not mean that it can be applied 100%. The pattern of application varies according to the management strategy of the Japanese enterprises.
An Empirical Study on the Factors Affecting Online Retail Brand Engagement and Purchase Intention
Authors: Bhattacharya Subhajit , Anand Vijeta
Published: August 2020

The Consumer buying criterion has reformed massively in this present digitized marketing environment. The growing importance & popularity of online buying is very much substantial and quite evident in India these days. This study attempts to investigate the relationships between brand trust, social linkages, brand awareness, online retail brand engagement and final brand selection & purchase intention. The current research also examined the linkages among brand trust, social linkages, brand awareness and online retail brand engagement and in creating the final brand selection & purchase intention relating to Indian online retail market. Data from 252 observations were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method. The outcome of this research paper shows how an effective online retail brand engagement environment can be created to boost the final brand selection & purchase intention in the Indian online market place.
The Effect of Service Quality on Customer Loyalty of Generation Y – An Empirical Investigation on Superstores in Bangladesh
Authors: Didarul Alam Mirza Mohammad , Didarul Alam Mirza Mohammad
Published: August 2020

Today, retailers have been struggling to retain their existing customers in the face of severe competition in their business operations. By expanding the service quality, retailers will be able to stand out among the other businesses and create the opportunity to strengthen customer loyalty, particularly within the younger generation. The aim of this study is to propose and empirically investigate the mechanism of increasing customer loyalty of Generation Y (Gen Y) toward superstores by means of enhancing service quality practices. Based on a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 252 Gen Y consumers who have visited four leading superstores in Bangladesh. The data was analyzed through SEMPLS3.0 to test the validity of the measures, and used to examine the hypothesized relationships by employing structural equation modeling. The findings show that the Retail Service Quality Scale (RSQS) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing service quality in the retail sector of Bangladesh. The structural model indicates that the customer loyalty of Gen Y toward superstores is positively influenced by retail service quality dimensions such as policy, reliability, personal interaction, physical aspect, and problem solving, in the order of influencing strength. This paper provides the research implications and avenue for future research.
THE EFFECT OF FIRM SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS ON FINANCIAL LEVERAGE OF QUOTED DIVERSIFIED COMPANIES IN NIGERIA
Authors: Abdulkarim Umar Farouk , Mohammed Lawal , Mohammed Aisha Nuhu , Abubakar Salisu
Published: August 2020

Financial leverage decision by firm continues to attract interest from managers, analysts, researchers, scholars as well as policymakers because of its implications for the firm and its stakeholders. This paper investigates how the complexity of business, firms’ dependence on external finance and growth opportunity affects the financial leverage decision among quoted diversified companies in Nigeria. The study took a census of six diversified firms quoted on the Nigerian capital market over the period of 10 years (2008-2017). Descriptive statistics and correlation matrix were employed with panel data analysis using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) robust model to analyse the data. The results from the study revealed that the complexity of business and growth opportunity is positive and significantly influencing the financial leverage of quoted diversified companies in Nigeria, while dependence on the external finance revealed a significantly negative effect on the financial leverage. It is recommended that the management of quoted diversified companies in Nigeria should target an optimal capital structure in line of businesses that their streams of revenue are not positively correlated. This can be achieved by taking advantage of growth opportunities in the industries where they can further diversify their businesses and enhance profit generation.
THE IMPACT OF DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT ON STOCK RETURNS AMONG THE TEN TOP COMPANIES IN PAKISTAN
Authors: Tanveer Zubair , Jamil Muhammad
Published: August 2020

The study tested the response of stock prices around the dividend declaration dates in Pakistan stock exchange. It estimated the data of 1110 dividends announced by 91 firms of the highest ten active sectors of Pakistan Stock Exchange. To empirically investigate the relationship between stock returns and dividend announcement, the panel regression was employed by creating dummy variables for 61 days around the dividend declaration dates. Cumulative average abnormal returns and average abnormal returns were also stimated around the events with the help of event study methodology. Outcomes of the empirical analysis revealed strong evidence of market abuse in the term of insider trading and supported the argument of the information content hypothesis and semistrong form of efficient market. Moreover, the study also found a robust impact of the probable ex-dividend date. The study recommended that it is a responsibility of stock exchange regulatory authorities, whistleblowers, registered companies, and the investors collectively to detect and punish this white-collar financial crime.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT: THE IMPACT OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE ON SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTREPRISES OF HALAL FOOD
Authors: Octavia Ade , Zulfanetti Zulfanetti , Amir Amri , Sriayudha Yayuk , Dean Amri Ary
Published: August 2020

Muslim consumers nowadays are aware of the ingredients in foods thus making them more selective in choosing foods that they want to purchase and consume. Currently, there are no profiles of small and medium entreprises (SME) which have halal certificates, especially in Jambi Province. The main purpose of this research is to find the performance model of SME halal certified food. The hypotheses of this study are: (1) Entrepreneurial orientation significantly influences the consumer engagement of SME halal food (2) Entrepreneurial orientation significantly influences the entrepreneurial marketing of SME halal food (3) Entrepreneurial marketing significantly influences consumer engagement of halal food. (4) Consumer engagement significantly influences the business performance of halal food. The data for the study were collected from primary and secondary sources. Technical data collection was done through the survey sample, field observation, and literature study. The research design uses the mixed method. Research samples comprised 250 halal food SMEs in Jambi Province, Indonesia. The data analysis technique was done using the structural equation (SEM) model and the SmartPLS 3.0 programme. The result shows a positive influence between the entrepreneurial orientation and the consumer engagement on halal food SME’s business performance in Jambi Province. This study will have both managerial implications for practitioners in Indonesia as well as those in other countries and academic implications for researchers who are interested in increasing SME’s business performance.
Institutional Shareholdings and Financial Characteristics of Malaysian Listed Companies
Authors: Naharabdullah Shamsul , Yahya Mohd Azlan , Elham Faisol
Published: August 2020

This study attempts to investigate the extent to which the financial characteristics of firms are related to institutional shareholdings. The primary motivation to carry out the study comes from an earlier paper by Hessel and Norman (1992), which showed that seven financial ratios discriminated between strongly-held and institutionally-neglected firms. As an extension of the study, the present study seeks to investigate the seven financial ratios among Malaysian companies by identifying differences in the means of the seven ratios between a group of companies with substantial institutional shareholdings against another group of companies with negligible institutional shareholdings. The findings, from a sample of KLSE listed companies, broadly support the findings by Hessel and Norman (1992), in which firms with significant institutional shareholdings exhibited a significantly higher profitability ratio against firms that were neglected by institutional investors.. This suggested that institutional investors placed greater emphasis on a firm's short-term results. Our evidence also did not indicate institutional shareholders' direct involvement in ensuring a firm's long-term growth and competitiveness, as shown by the insignificant differences in the mean of growth ratio between firms that had significant institutional shareholdings and those that were neglected by institutional investors.
Intentions to Reciprocate Vendor Gifts Amongst Malaysian Purchasing Executives
Authors: Wafa Syed Azizi , Jantan Muhamad , Kim Eng Jennifer Chow
Published: August 2020

Business gift giving is a universal standard of conduct for most business organizations and industries (Beltramini 1992; Brenner and Molander 1977). Organizations use gifts as means to show appreciation for past business and to influence the attitudes and behaviours of a select, prestigious group of buyers in anticipation of future business (Meredith and Fried, 1977). Vendor gifts may serve as effective means of influencing customers or prospects. This research studied the effect of types of gift (personal or corpo- rate gifts), cast of gift (expensive or inexpensive), and buyer-vendor relationship status (no relationship, moderate or strong) in relation to the buyers' (purchasing executives') feelings of indebtedness, per- ceived manipulations and intentions to reciprocate vendor's gifts. A total of 143 purchasing executives were .sampled for the study. Similar to those of Dorch and Kelly( 1994), scenarios that incorporate the various combinations of the variables of interest were used to gauge reciprocating tendencies. The results show that the type of gift received, the extent to which the buyer experiences a sense of indebtedness, and the buyers' perceptions of the level of manipulation associated with the gift does significantly affect the buyers' intentions to recipro-cate. The research also indicates that gift type and cost with respect to buyer-vendor relationship status do not influence the level of perceived manipulation of the buyers.
Buoyancy Estimates of Malaysia's Tax System 1961 – 1998
Authors: Kasipillai Jeyapalan , Mohd. Mustafa Muszafarshah
Published: August 2020

Several criteria are used to determine a 'good tax system' and they include administrative feasibility, ensuring burden of tax is spread fairly among taxpayers and tax buoyancy. Tax buoyancy measures the responsiveness of tax revenue to income growth. Previous studies have assumed a constant buoyancy estimate for the period under study and hence applied a double-log tax model (Mansfield, 1972; Choudhry, 1975; Byrne, 1983). In practice, however, tax buoyancies may change over time due to inflation, changing tax bases, improved tax administration and stricter enforcement of tax law by revenue authorities.   This study uses the Box-Cox tax model which allows the determination of inter-temporal tax buoyancies for the period 1961-1998. The results obtained revealed a steady decline in buoyancy estimates of less than one for both direct and indirect taxes implying inefficiencies in the tax system. Suggestions are made to revamp the current tax system by integrating existing indirect taxes such as sales and service tax into a single broad-based consumption tax.
A Survey of Malaysian Experience in TQM
Authors: Yahya Salleh , Mohd. Salleh Lailawati , Keat Goh Wee
Published: August 2020

This study documents the experience of Malaysian firms in the implementation of TQM. Issues being explored and documented are years required to fully implement TQM, benefits of TQM, the different kinds of TQM training conducted, and reasons for not adopting TQM. This paper also shows that adoption of TQM leads to improvement in organizational performance, and that the involvement of employees and senior executives is important to support TQM execution, irrespective of a firm' s paid-up capital and years of operation.
Monetary Policy, Development of Financial Market and Banking Lending : An Analysis of the Bank-Lending Channel in Malaysia
Authors: Ghazali Noor A. , A. Rahman Aisyah
Published: August 2020

Recent resurgence of interest in understanding the transmission mechanism of monetary policy focuses on two main channels of explanation, i.e. the money and credit channel. This paper investigates a version of the credit channel, i.e. the bank-lending channel for the Malaysian economy. The bank-lending channel assigns a critical role for the supply of bank loans in transmitting the effect of monetary policy on real economic activities. The study analyzes the effect of monetary policy on the ability and willingness of Malaysian banks to issue loans with respect to the development in the open financial market. Specifically it argues on the changes of the pattern of influence as progress in the open financial market takes place. A multivariate system analysis of vector auto regression (VAR) is used. The results show that prior to the progress in open financial market, the monetary authority has a direct influence on supply of loans of banks. However, this direct influence lessens as the open financial market develops. Loans are more affected by interest rates spread that dictates conditions in open financial markets. Thus, the ability of the monetary authority to steer real economic activities is subjected to development in the financial market.
Strategic Application Portfolio in SMEs*
Authors: Md. Dahalin Zulkhairi
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the state of a small and medium enterprise's (SME) information needs in terms of its strategic application portfolio. Specifically, it examines the strategic information requirements of a manufacturing SME with the aim of understanding the application strategy needed to formulate the firm's IT adoption so that lessons could he learnt from such technology innovation. A case study approach was chosen in which information requirements of the firm were investigated. Analysis was done to examine the evidence of potential applications strategic to the .firm 's business mission, goals and functional requirements. Major deliverables include an enterprise-wide data model representing a high-level overview of the firm's information requirements, a business area classification, and portfolios of applications categorized according to strategic, operational, potential and support using the classical McFarlan and McKenney Strategic Importance Matrix.
Job Motivation and Performance of Secondary School Teachers
Authors: Shaari Abd. Shukor , Yaakub Noran Fauziah , Awang Hashim Rosna
Published: August 2020

Performance can be regarded as almost any behavior, which is directed toward task or goal accomplishment. Despite extensive research, discussion and debate on how to predict employees'  performance, teachers performance is complex and remains difficult to predict and evaluate. Teachers are still uncertain whether they can rely on some specific characteristics of performance. In view of this practice and in evaluating teachers 'performance at the work place, it is therefore the interest of the researcher to conduct a study on secondary school teachers, so as to determine their job motivation and job performance. The second objective of this study is to compare job motivation with job performance and the third one is to compare teaching performance with job performance of secondary school teachers. This correlation study involved a total of 245 secondary school teachers throughout Kedah. Data will be analyzed using the t-test and ANOVA.
A Study of Performance of the KLSE Syariah Index
Authors: Ahmad Zamri , Ibrahim Haslindar
Published: August 2020

This study compares the performance of the Syariah Index (SI) and the Composite Index (CI) of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) during the period April 1 999 to January 2002, Both the raw and risk-adjusted returns were calculated for the indices for the whole and two sub-periods. Results based on the raw returns revealed that generally, the KLSE SI and CI recorded the same level of returns. Tests using performance measures of Adjusted Sharpe Index, Treynor Index and Adjusted Jensen Alpha revealed that there were also no significant difference in the (risk-adjusted) performance of both indices. We therefore conclude that Syariah-approved stocks were not more favourable than the other stocks in the KLSE.
Information Technology and Cost Efficiency in Malaysian Banking Industry
Authors: Abd. Karim Mohd. Zaini , Anuar Abdul Rahim , Mohd. Khan Shazida Jan
Published: August 2020

It is argued that information technology can increase cost efficiency of banks by offering opportunities to substitute across inputs into production – for example, to substitute computer technology and information networks for labor. Hence, the transition to a knowledge-based financial sector would lead to banks becoming more competitive, more cost effective and better able in managing risks. As such, those banks that failed to make this transition are less able to compete as they lack the capability to innovate and face higher delivery costs. The main objectives of this paper are to determine the impact of IT on banking efficiency and its economies of scale using a sample of Malaysian banks. To achieve these objectives, stochastic cost frontier method is employed to estimate bank efficiency and panel data approach were used to examine the impact of IT on bank efficiency. The results indicate that the impact of IT on bank efficiency increases with increase in bank size, hence further supporting the process of bank mergers that are currently undertaken in the Malaysian banking industry.
Innovative Technologies for Industrial Wastes
Authors: Chik Abdul Razak , Jusoh Juzhar
Published: August 2020

This article is intended to provide several case studies of successful waste management of a few selected industries in their attempts to become “environmental-conscious” firms. In particular, this article examines the innovative waste-reduction and waste reuse processes undertaken by certain firms in the following industries - asphalt cement and concrete, ferrous metals, Portland cement and concrete, and some other that on the face of it somewhat isolated innovative technologies. For each case, the driver, the waste management technology or processes involved, as well as the associated economic benefits of the adjustments was highlighted. It is hoped that the findings of this article will provide the motivation or continue to motivate engineers and scientists to further explore processes that will help towards better management of industrial wastes.
Leader - Member Exchange and Superior-Subordinate Communication Behavior: A Case of a Malaysian Organization
Authors: Abu Bakar Hassan , Mohamad Bahtiar , Herman Iran
Published: August 2020

This paper attempts to test the quality of relationship between superiors and subordinates as indicated in leader-member exchange (LMX) theory on superior communication behavior: The results of this study indicate that there are no significance differences between out-group and in-group members. However when in-group members were compared to mid-group members the result reveals significance differences between these two groups.
Discriminating Complainers and Non-Complainers: A Study within the Malaysian Context
Authors: Mohd. Nasurdin Aizzat , Mohamed Osman , Ramayah T. , Piaralal Shishi Kumar
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study is to examine whether consumers’ complaint behavior varies according to demographics, psychographics, and attitude toward businesses as well as product attributes. Discriminant analysis on a sample of 122 consumers residing in north Malaysia showed that complainers were males, married, better educated, and holding white collar jobs. Complainers were found to be more confident, more assertive, individualistic, and possessed a positive attitude toward complaining. Consumers who have a more positive attitude towards businesses and product attributes were more likely to complain. The discriminant model was able to predict behavior of complainers better than chance. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Qualified Audit Reports of Local Authorities in the Northern States of Malaysia
Authors: Ibrahim Mohammad Azhar , Engku Ali Engku Ismail , Syed Ismail Syed Soffian , Bidin Zainol
Published: August 2020

The reliability of information presented in the financial reports of local authorities is of utmost importance to enable the public to measure their performance in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in using public resources. The task to provide such an assurance lies with the Auditor General, who has been entrusted to enforce the auditing compliance regulations. A certificate in the form of “unqualified,” “qualified,” “adverse,” or “disclaimer” accompanied by a report on the financial affairs of the local authorities concerned will be issued after the Auditor General completes the audit of the local authorities’ financial statements. Our study on 14 local authorities comprising municipal and district councils in the Malaysian States of Perlis, Kedah and Penang found that the Qualified Certificate is the common type of audit certificate issued to the local authorities concerned during the period 1997-2001(inclusive of both years). Discrepancies in “Fixed Assets Register” ranked first among the audit incidents that led towards non-compliance to the audit procedures. This was followed by discrepancies in “Other Receivables” and “Cash Flow Statements” which ranked second and third positions respectively. Our finding also shows that size does not grant any advantage to the bigger local authority in reducing the number of audit incidents.