Towards knowledge economy: deficiencies in the HRD system and major challenges in HRD practice in manufacturing firms

In its transfonnation to achieving knowledge economy status, the government of Malaysia has provided various supports and initiatives towards htunan resource training and development. This is to ensure that employees in manufacturing fimis are provided with the necessary skills, knowledge, capability and expertise to be called knowledge-workers. However, in attempting to achieve these objectives, manufacturing firms were faced with deficiencies in the Human Resource Development (HRD) system and challenges in HRD practices. In examining these deficiencies and challenges, a mixed-method combining questionnaire survey and personal interviews with Human Resource (HR)/HRD managers was employed. The findings revealed that HRD in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia is faced with the challenge of coping with the demand for a knowledgeable and competent workforce, that includes hiring and retaining teclmical expertise, the education level of employees and the increase in the ageing workforce. These challenges and the various deficiencies in the HRD system are observed to have resulted from lack of professional and intellectual HRD expertise. This has implications for the continuous development of human resources, as well as for the development of knowledge-workers

Malaysian women and their role as the sandwiched generation

Women have been playing the role of caregiver in their families for generations. However, the traditional role of women as caregivers of the family, specifically as a mother and wife, is now being expanded to include caregiving for their elderly parents. The longer life expectancy of the older generation and delayed marriage are putting women in a situation where they are sandwiched between their role as wife and mother of growing-up children and their role as daughter on whom their parents depend in their old age. Based on a study of 150 women respondents working in the banking sector, this paper will focus on the roles of the sandwiched generation. Data were collected via purposive sampling by identifying women staff in selected banks; these women fulfilled the criteria of being married and having living parents. The paper will discuss issues encountered by these women, all whom reside in urban areas in Kuala Lumpur, who are sandwiched between their roles as mother, wife, employee and caregiver to the elderly. What are the problems they face in performing their many and often conflicting roles and what are their coping mechanisms when the roles come into conflict with one another? The main research question in this study is whether the women find the additional role of caregiver to the elderly an added burden causing added conflict beyond that caused by their already conflicting roles as mother, wife and employee. This study also seeks to identify the support systems in place or required to alleviate the problems encountered by these women

The relationship between self-construal, job satisfaction and organizational commitment

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-construal, job satisfaction and organizational commitment among young working adults in Malaysia. The objective of the study was to examine the significance of job satisfaction and organizational commitment based on participant's self-construal. Data was collected via online survey from 420 young working adults in Malaysia aged between 21 to 30 years (M=26.30 years). Descriptive statistics and Pearson 's correlation analyses were used in the data analysis. Pearson 's correlations showed that self-construal was significantly positive correlated with job satisfaction and job satisfaction was significantly associated with all three organizational commitment constructs, namely affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. Particularly, job satisfaction was positively correlated with affective commitment and normative commitment but negatively correlated with continuance commitment. The results indicated that self-perception has significant influence on young working adults' attitudes on job and organizations that they work with as a whole

Cabaran dalam komunikasi sukarelawanan

Encik Khoo Yeoh Gan Hong, Pengerusi Settlement Youth Council bagi penggal 1956-1957, dalam ucapan sulung beliau selepas dipilih selaku Pengerusi pada 5 Mei 1957 menyatakan bahawa, “Within a few months we shall welcome a new era in the history of this country. We must be prepared to face and accept greater challenges and responsibilities. To this end let us pray for a strong back rather than for a light burden. As youth leaders and workers of all races, classes and creeds, may we be given the strength to spread the spirit of the brotherhood, goodwill and tolerance and may our personal examples be worthy of emulation” (Misni Surif, Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee & Ishak Saat (2008) 60 Tahun Perjalanan Majlis Belia Negeri Pulau Pinang, 1948-2008.

The emerging commuter families and changes in psychosocial and health behaviour profile

The present paper provides a descriptive analysis of commuters and their families. It also explores gender differences and the impacts of commuting among young families in Malaysia. The study was conducted in the Klang Valley, and the sample consisted of commuters working outside the Klang Valley. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and a descriptive survey. The findings showed that 44.4% of commuters were working away from home because it was requested by their employers. Although there were more men than women who perceived the commuting lifestyle as a positive situation, there were not gender differences observed on how commuting impacted personal wellbeing. Nonetheless, significant differences were found between those with a positive outlook of the commuting life and those with a negative perception of the commuting lifestyle. The emerging commuter family dynamics and its impact on work-home life balance for young Malaysian families need to be further investigated

The relationships between demographic variables and risk-taking behaviour among young motorcyclists

In a previous study, it is well documented that adolescents are more likely than adults to engage in risky behaviour (Arnett, 1992). Most evidence suggests that risk-taking is the most important major factor underlying the high crash rates among teens. The objectives of this study were: 1) to examine the extent of risk-taking behavior of Malaysian motorcyclists, and 2) to investigate the relationship between demographic variables of motorcyclists and risk-taking behavior. A total of 540 respondents from six different areas in the Klang Valley (Jalan Kapar, Jalan Meru, Jalan Ampang, Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Kuala Selangor-Sungai Buloh) were surveyed. The study found that there were significant gender differences in term of 'riding over speed limit' and 'riding without crash helmet'. In terms of age, there are significant differences between age and 'riding without crash helmet'. In terms of personal income, the result showed that there are significant differences between personal income and 'riding without crash helmet' and 'riding without headlights and not stopping at three-way junction'. However, there are no significant difference between race and highest education level and risk-taking behavior dimensions

Effects of cooperative learning on secondary students’ achievement in financial accounting

The major factor contributing to students’ failure in financial accounting in secondary schools is the teaching methods used by the accounting teachers.In this paper we study the effectiveness of cooperative learning approach on students’ academic achievement.Cooperative learning is the learning style whereby students are arranged in small groups and the group members are linked together in such a way that they cannot succeed unless every member in the group succeed. They assist and encourage the effort of each other to ensure that all the group members master the learning material in order to achieve their personal and group objectives.Cooperative learning approach is not only improving students’ academic achievement but it also enhances positive attitudes towards learning, develops social skills, improves interpersonal relationships, and prepare students for collaborative work.Therefore, the objective of this paper is to adopt social interdependence theory, cognitive development theory and motivational theory to examine the effects of cooperative learning on secondary students’ achievement in financial accounting using pre-test post-test control group design

Impact of commuter families on adolescent development: an evaluation of the adolescent from Peninsular Malaysia

This study attempted to address the question concerning the influence of commuter families on adolescent school performance using the proposed Model for Adolescent Development Among Commuter Families (MADCF). We investigated whether the adolescent problem mediates the relationship between parental readiness and adolescent school performance, and clarified the moderating effect of gender. The survey data were drawn from 434 respondents (adolescents-parents) in Malaysia. The results indicated that the adolescent externalising problem partially mediated the relationship between parental readiness and adolescent school performance. The model accounted for 21% of the variability in adolescent school performance. The moderator findings presented that gender moderates the causal effect of parental readiness and the adolescent externalising problem with respect to adolescent school performance. This study clearly shows the importance of parental readiness, and that the results are in line with the proposed mediation and moderation effects. The model proposed by this study was strongly supported

Parental readiness, parental care, and adolescent school performance among commuter families in Malaysia: a mediation model

This study aimed (i) to examine the relationship between parental readiness, parental care, and adolescent school performance; and (ii) to test the role of parental care as mediator between parental readiness to commute and the adolescent school performance. Quantitative test was employed in this study, which included correlation study design and path analysis. Two sets of questionnaires were used to gather the information from adolescent (Parental Care) and parent (Parental Readiness) among the commuter families. However, the adolescent school performance provided by the school management. Pearson Correlation Test was first conducted to analyse the relationship between research variables and path analysis was that used to test the mediation effect. A total of 217 parent-adolescent (dyadic relationship) respondents from commuter families in Peninsular Malaysia were included in this study. The findings showed that all correlations were statistically significant and analysis of structural equation modeling revealed full mediation model of parental care between parental readiness and adolescent school performance. The total direct effect was 0.11; whilst the total indirect effect was 0.3213. This implicates the importance of mediation effect between parental readiness, parental care and adolescent school performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study conducted in Malaysia to investigate the mediation effect on parental care between their readiness to commute against adolescent school performance. Our earlier study suggested a different lifestyle between commuter and conventional family model in Malaysia. Therefore, the importance of parental readiness and their roles in commuter families need to be addressed to ensure the lifestyle of commuter families in Malaysia do not affect adolescent school performance

The socio-psychological dimension of ethnic relations in Malaysia.

This article discusses the socio-psychological dimension of ethnic relations in Malaysia. It argues that in the contest of Malaysia, the psychological elements in most cases translated into negative perceptions towards others. It manifests in the forms of prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination that are seen as the most difficult stumbling block. It is crucial to understand those elements in order to understand the issue better. This paper will also highlight some of the good as well as the sour experiences that the Malaysians have gone through in dealing with the issues of ethnic relation. Meanwhile, a few strategies towards racial integration were suggested such as cultural tolerance, religious tolerance and dialogue