HOST-COUNTRY TRAITS, INTRA-FIRM TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: A CONCEPTUAL STUDY

Technological innovations have emerged as crucially significant factor for sustaining market competition and achieving competitive advantage in the 21st century. The Multinational Corporations (MNCs) as celebrities of innovation play significant role in diffusing technological knowledge throughout firms both nationally and internationally. Although numerous studies exist on technology transfer the majority of existing literature addresses the issues related to inter-firm transfer of technology only while the area related to intra-firm transfer of technology has been largely underexposed; study of which is believed to be ideal for fruitful exploration of profitability in technology transfer projects. Using data from MNCs in Malaysia the current study for the very first time would attempt to empirically find the effect of host-country traits on the performance of technology transferred by the MNCs and its subsequent impact on competitive advantage. Findings of this study are expected to contribute both theoretically in the body of knowledge and also in terms of practical implication for policy makers and MNCs and hence enriching the existing literature simultaneously

A Systematic review of ontology-based approach and decision-making (DM) to improve public service delivery (PSD)

A systematic review of the DM literature on PSD was performed with the aim to build an operational ontology-based for decision makers. Five public administration journals were screened on the subject with more than 200 articles found. 29 articles were shortlisted, categorised, summarised, and applied to outline the influential factors in DM for PSD. The result of the systematic reviews also provided a brief clarification on the requirement for the creation of a more citizen-centric and coordinated eco-system for efficient PSD underpinned by effective DM

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE AND MODERATING EFFECT OF FIRM SIZE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM EAST COAST REGION OF MALAYSIA

Information Technology (IT) is universally accepted as one of efficiency boosters. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) around the world involve in IT implementation with the purpose to increase their service efficiency in catering business demands, especially for LSPs which operate in the areas of heavy trade activities. The activities create congestion which lead to deficient of LSPs performance and increase delivery time and total costs. However, the review of literature reveals that IT implementation met with productivity paradox. Thus, in order to examine how IT implementation influences the performance of LSPs in East Coast Malaysia, 81 LSP firms in the region were involved in this study. This study also investigated the moderating effect of LSP sizes on their performance. The findings reveal that IT implementation significantly influenced LSPs’ performance, but it happened vice versa for the moderator investigation. This study has bridged the literature gaps of IT adoption in such that it offers empirical evidence and new insights on the significant moderating effect of firm size in the relationships between IT implementation and logistics firm performance using Malaysian samples.Keywords: Information Technology, logistics service providers, performance, firm size, Malaysia.Cite as: Mohd Zawawi, N.F. & Abd Wahab, S. (2018). Information technology, logistics performance and moderating effect of firm size: Empirical evidence from east coast region of Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 3(1), 87-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol3iss1pp87-10

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE AND MODERATING EFFECT OF FIRM SIZE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM EAST COAST REGION OF MALAYSIA

Information Technology (IT) is universally accepted as one of efficiency boosters. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) around the world involve in IT implementation with the purpose to increase their service efficiency in catering business demands, especially for LSPs which operate in the areas of heavy trade activities. The activities create congestion which lead to deficient of LSPs performance and increase delivery time and total costs. However, the review of literature reveals that IT implementation met with productivity paradox. Thus, in order to examine how IT implementation influences the performance of LSPs in East Coast Malaysia, 81 LSP firms in the region were involved in this study. This study also investigated the moderating effect of LSP sizes on their performance. The findings reveal that IT implementation significantly influenced LSPs’ performance, but it happened vice versa for the moderator investigation. This study has bridged the literature gaps of IT adoption in such that it offers empirical evidence and new insights on the significant moderating effect of firm size in the relationships between IT implementation and logistics firm performance using Malaysian samples.Keywords: Information Technology, logistics service providers, performance, firm size, Malaysia.Cite as: Mohd Zawawi, N.F. & Abd Wahab, S. (2018). Information technology, logistics performance and moderating effect of firm size: Empirical evidence from east coast region of Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 3(1), 87-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol3iss1pp87-10

Effects of inter-firm technology transfer characteristics on degree of inter-firm technology transfer in International Joint Ventures

The inter-firm technology transfers (TT) in collaborative joint ventures (JVs) often involve tradeoffs between the willingness of technology supplier to transfer a considerable amount of technologies to technology recipient and degree of protection of the proprietary technology, knowledge and competencies as the source of the supplier’s competitive advantage. Thus, technology transfers through JVs, although have been acknowledged in many studies as the most efficient mechanism in internalizing the partner’s technology,knowledge and skill, have frequently involved various facilitators, actors and complicated relationship between partners that have direct impact on the degree or amount of technology transferred in JVs. Building on the integrated knowledge-based view and organizational learning perspectives, and previous TT models, this study proposes a holistic TT model in providing explanations on the relative and simultaneous effects of technology transfer characteristics (TTCHARS) on degree of technology transfer (TTDEG). Subsequently, the holistic TT model also conceptualizes the effect of TTDEG on local firms’ performance dimensions namely corporate and human resource performance, and the moderating effects of MNCs’ firm size, age of JV, MNCs’ country of origin, and types of industries in the TTCHARS-TTDEG relationship

A review on the technology transfer models, knowledge-based and organizational Learning Models on Technology Transfer

The main objective of this paper is to contribute to the existing Technology Transfer (TT)literature by reviewing the evolution and development of the previous TT models which include the traditional TT model, models developed after 1990s, other related theoretical foundations underlying TT models, and the current TT models which have strong influence of knowledge-based view (KBV) and organizational learning (OL) perspectives. Since the current management researchers have a strong focus on TT within strategic alliance and other collaborative ventures, this review highlights the significant influence of KBV and OL perspectives on inter-firm TT models. This review attempts to help stimulate the direction of both future theoretical and empirical studies on inter-firm technology transfer specifically 1) on how KBV and OL perspectives could play significant role in explaining the complex relationships between the supplier and recipient in inter-firm technology transfer 2) the tradeoffs that involve between properties of technology, protecting proprietary technologies, competitiveness of the supplier, willingness to transfer technology, and learning attitudes of the recipient in strategic alliances and JVs, and 3) on how KVB and OL perspectives could be integrated in a holistic model to explain the relationships between knowledge transferred, the recipient, the supplier, relationship characteristics and degree of technology transfer

The effects of partner protectiveness and transfer capacity on degree of inter-firm technology transfer in international joint ventures

Based on the underlying knowledge-based view (KBV) and organizational learning (OL) perspectives, the main objective of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of two critical elements of technology supplier characteristics: partner protectiveness and transfer capacity on two dimensions of degree of technology transfer: degree of tacit and explicit knowledge. Using the quantitative analytical approach, the theoretical model and hypotheses in this study were tested based on empirical data gathered from 128 joint venture companies registered with the Registrar of Companies of Malaysia (ROC). Data obtained from the survey questionnaires were analyzed using the correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analyses. The results revealed that partner protectiveness, as the critical element of technology recipient characteristics, has 1) a low significant effect on degrees of tacit knowledge, and 2) no significant effect on degree of explicit knowledge. Nonetheless, transfer capacity showed strong significant effects on both degrees of tacit and explicit knowledge; where the effect on degree of explicit knowledge is slightly stronger that its effect on degree of tacit knowledge. The study has bridged the literature gaps in such that it offers empirical evidence on the effects of two generic technology supplier attributes: partner protectiveness and transfer capacity on degree of inter-firm technology transfer: degree of tacit and explicit knowledge in IJVs

A review on the effects of inter-firm technology transfer characteristics and degree of technology transfer

The inter-firm technology transfer (TT) through joint ventures (JVs) shaped between foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) and local companies have increasingly emerged as an efficient formal mechanism to internalize foreign technologies, knowledge and competencies. Although the TT processes are complex and difficult, collaborative JVs are seen as the appropriate strategy to extract tacit and explicit knowledge in enhancing the local companies’ competitiveness, indigenous technical capability, technological development, and potentials for local innovation. Since JVs are frequently perceived as instable organizations and technologies are the main source of competitive advantage of the MNCs, transferring technology thus involves various facilitators, actors and complicated relationship between partners which could directly affect the degree of technologies transferred to local companies. Building on the integrated knowledge-based view and organizational learning perspective, and previous TT models this article advances a holistic TT model in conceptualizing the relative relationships and effects of technology transfer characteristics (TTCHARS) and its dimensions on degree of technology transfer (TTDEG)

Definitions and Concepts of Organizational Sustainability: A Literature Analysis

This research paper provides a comprehensive literature review that thoroughly examines the definitions and different concepts of organizational sustainability. This paper also looks at how research gaps are addressed in the literature with a particular emphasis on issues of organizational sustainability. Overall, organizational sustainability, including issues and aspects related to sustainability, is discussed. Individual authors provide their perspectives on various aspects of organizational sustainability from their field research, case analysis, and creative search. It also includes a greater knowledge of how real economic activity concerns and political dynamics can inhibit decision-making related to operational or practical sustainability. Several sustainability viewpoints from around the world have provided a genuine mechanism for organizations to increase their financial success while minimizing their impact on the environment and society. This study urges that knowing an organization's ability to change and self-regulate on critical issues for long-term sustainability can help solve the socio-ecological dilemma. This study shows how firms approach sustainability and what fundamental issues still need to be resolved. The research has provided novel and unusual insights into the factors contributing to organizational sustainability. Additional value is generated by estimating progress toward the idea of organizational sustainability, identifying impediments, and analyzing various real-world examples of measures to enhance advancement toward that concept

Configuring a blueprint for Malaysian SMEs to survive through the COVID-19 crisis: The reinforcement of Quadruple Helix Innovation Model

When something unpredictable creates turbulence, the result can be disastrous not only for Malaysian SMEs but also for the country’s economic outline as well. So, how can SMEs survive the current crisis period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic? Actually, there are no straight answers. At this point, the study aims to serve a wider understanding of how an adjustable configuration of different strategic initiatives can help Malaysian SMEs endure through the crisis based on the QHIM mechanism. The study has embraced a qualitative approach on the basis of online focus group discussion with the support of an expert facilitator. The data collection process includes 10 participants from various fields, such as academia; banking, NGOs and SMEs. The study also collected secondary information through different newspapers, magazines, websites, E-libraries, documentaries, and related journal sources. Because SMEs are operating in uncertain conditions, the findings from the discussions suggest that an adjustable integration of various ranges of initiatives, such as access and management of financial resources, exploration-exploitation of opportunities, efficient negotiation, digital adoption, and leadership commitment can help SMEs to endure throughout this crisis. The findings also contend the intervention of innovation and calculated risk-taking within the configuration. The proposed conceptual model serves as an important mechanism for policy-makers and owner-manager of SMEs to understand how adjustments in identified initiatives can play a vital role regarding survival in this crisis. It provides recommendations for SMEs and on how to remain competitive through resilience and renewal strategies. The study contributes to the existing literature in crisis management and identifies the survival and resilience strategies of SMEs in developing regions during a long-lasting crisis. It also serves as a unique approach to how the Quadruple Helix perspective can be a vital concept in the survival process. Research paper Keywords: COVID-19; Crisis management; Digitalization; Innovation; SMEs Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Islam, A., Jerin, I., Hafiz, N., Tali Nimfa, D., & Abdul Wahab S. (2021). Configuring a blueprint for Malaysian SMEs to survive through the COVID-19 crisis: The reinforcement of Quadruple Helix Innovation Model. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 9(1), 32–81.&nbsp