Assessing Gen Y impact on organizational performance : an analysis from top management perspective / Fadilah Puteh, Maniam Kaliannan and Nafis Alam

This paper examines Generation Y (Gen Y) as today’s most influential and powerful workforce and its impact on organizational performance (OP) from the perspective of the top management. The unique characteristics of Gen Y combined with its strong bargaining power have changed the approach organizations manage their manpower as well as the entire management landscape. Being the demanding and dynamic workforce, however, less is known on how Gen Y affects OP. Qualitative approach is employed to delve into this issue. As a key driver in Human Resource Management (HRM), top management views are imperative to understand the impact of Gen Y on OP. Fifteen HR Directors and Managers from Malaysian service-based industries were invited to participate in this study. Their views are audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results indicate several emerging themes with respect to Gen Y and OP. This study reveals intriguing findings on how top management views Gen Y and its impact on OP. It is envisaged that the findings of the study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field of Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development

A tripartite inquiry into volatility-efficiency-integration nexus - case of emerging markets

The objective of this paper is to analyse the time-varying changes of the three parameters, volatility, efficiency and integration on stock markets across emerging markets. We do this using a four-step process with focus on Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis to measure its efficiency. Our analysis show that lower volatility was found in short-term for countries that experienced fast paced economic growth. This increase in volatility is supported by a decrease in efficiency for the short-term, while market integration rose during periods of crises, which represent higher volatility. Hence, a tripartite relationship between our parameters is observed

Informal learning in continued professional development context : a missing link / Fadilah Puteh, Maniam Kaliannan and Nafis Alam

Talent management is a critical component of Human Resource Management (HRM) especially in the increasing world of globalization. Organizations are investing huge amount of money in attracting, developing and retaining the right human capital. In this context, Human Resource Development (HRD) as one of HRM component that focuses on ‘nurturing’ employee’s knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) plays a vital role in achieving the above objective. HRD does not only focus on development of skills but also focuses on the personal development of employees and organisation development at a broader range. HRD as a discipline has moved to embrace the concept of Continued Professional Development (CPD) that promote continuous or lifelong learning to develop and to ensure the up-to-date KSA among organisational members. CPD calls upon organisation to encourage, support, and provide favourable environment for employees to engage in continuous learning as to combat ‘professional obsolete syndrome’ or diminution of employee competency. This is important for the employees to remain relevant and current as well as for organisation to remain competitive. Literatures on CPD suggested that learning can take place in three dimensions i.e. formal, non-formal and informal learning. However, discussion on the third learning component which is informal learning is still vague and under-researched and always forgotten. While formal and non-formal learning focus are mainly on institutional structure and considered as traditional approaches to CPD and can be outsourced when appropriate; informal learning on the other hand, is centred on learner and has no boundary. Studies show that informal learning has a great potential to fills in knowledge and skills gap that are not covered by formal and non-formal learning. Though research has shown that informal learning is generally effective, little is known about the informal learning in CPD or lifelong learning context. There is an urgent need to ensure that informal learning component is embedded in the context of structured CPD or lifelong learning. Given the above context, the aim of this paper is to explore and identify key CPD components in the literature review especially informal learning. In addition it explores the missing link between informal learning and CPD

Islamic banks do not turn “more Islamic” when their contracting environments get better: They remain similar to conventional banks

Islamic banks, as their charters require, should share their profits and losses with their customers through equity financing; but they do mark-up financing instead, which is similar to bank loans. Theoretically, one of the reasons is Islamic banks operate in poor contracting environments where equity financing is very risky. Using fixed effects models, we examine what Islamic banks do when the countries they are in reform their economies. We do not find better contracting environments induce Islamic banks to do more equity financing, which suggests that Islamic banks are unlikely to shift from mark-up to equity financing in the near future—they are likely to remain similar to conventional banks

Islamic banks do not turn “more Islamic” when their contracting environments get better: They remain similar to conventional banks

Islamic banks, as their charters require, should share their profits and losses with their customers through equity financing; but they do mark-up financing instead, which is similar to bank loans. Theoretically, one of the reasons is Islamic banks operate in poor contracting environments where equity financing is very risky. Using fixed effects models, we examine what Islamic banks do when the countries they are in reform their economies. We do not find better contracting environments induce Islamic banks to do more equity financing, which suggests that Islamic banks are unlikely to shift from mark-up to equity financing in the near future—they are likely to remain similar to conventional banks

Performance of wool type angora rabbits under temperate conditions of Kashmir (J&K), INDIA

An attempt has been made to determine the production and quality performance of wool type Angora rabbits and screen out the best suitable breed under temperate conditions of Kashmir. A total of 202 records of French Angora and German Angora rabbit breeds maintained for 3 years (2009-2011) were evaluated to estimate the performance of quality and production traits in relation to genetic and non-genetic factors. For French Angora rabbits, the overall body weight gain (adult weight), annual wool yield (AWY), staple length (SL), medullation percentage (MP) and fiber diameter (FD) were found to be 2.506 ± 0.0432 kg, 303.575 ± 0.316 gms, 5.161 ± 0.0183 cms, 2.228 ± 0.0217 % and 12.289 ± 0.0178 µ, respectively. In case of German Angora rabbits, the values of 2.506 ± 0.033 kg, 605.96 ± 0.474 gms, 6.219 ± 0.0279 cms, 2.513 ± 0.0348 % and 12.347 ± 0.0265 µwere observed for the respective traits. The breed was found to reveal significant effect (P<0.01) on birth weight, weaning weight, annual weight, annual wool yield, staple length and medullation percentage and non-significant effect on fiber diameter. The sex was found to exhibit non-significant effect on all the traits under study. Based on present study, it can be concluded that German Angora breed of rabbit is most suitable for angora wool production and quality under temperate climatic conditions of Kashmir region

Barriers for Implementing ICT on Higher Education in Underdeveloped Countries Sudan: Case Study

Information and communication technology (ICT) has become, within a very short time, one of the basic building blocks of modern society. Many countries consider understanding skills and concepts of ICT and mastering it as essential element of education process, alongside reading and writing. Within the past decade, the new ICT tools have fundamentally produced significant transformations in industry, agriculture, medicine, business, engineering and other fields. They also have the potential to transform the nature of education-where and how learning takes place and the roles of students and teachers in the learning process. This conceptual paper will highlight the importance and the role of ICT in Higher education in context of underdeveloped countries taking example of Sudan. The paper will further investigate the barriers to the growth of ICT in underdeveloped countries in general and Sudan in particular

Factors influencing organizational attractiveness among millennial job seekers: a study on students in Malaysian research universities

This study aims to empirically examine the influence of corporate social responsibility, perceived work environment, individual value, organizational reputation on organizational attractiveness among entry-level millennial job seekers of Malaysian research universities. The present study employs a quantitative method and commences a cross-sectional data collection via an online questionnaire where the research instruments were adopted from literature. A total of 400 (91%) usable responses could be retained for further analysis. Using SPSS software for data analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and ANOVA findings were measured. This study bridges the literature gap on entry-level job-seeking millennials' perspectives in the Malaysian context. The study provides insight into organizational attractiveness amid the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, provisions understanding on employee's perception about the organization to managers and policymakers. The present study contributes theoretically to developing the conceptual model that can be further expanded and examined. Millennial job-seeking employee attraction in Malaysia is an under-explored research area that has been empirically tested in this study. The pandemic is likely to impact the employer branding concept from an employee's perspective. Therefore, the study finding provides preliminary insight to managers, policymakers, and government in proclaiming effective recruitment, employer branding, and talent acquisition policies accordingly

Future and potential spending on health 2015-40 : development assistance for health, and government, prepaid private, and out-of-pocket health spending in 184 countries

Background The amount of resources, particularly prepaid resources, available for health can affect access to health care and health outcomes. Although health spending tends to increase with economic development, tremendous variation exists among health financing systems. Estimates of future spending can be beneficial for policy makers and planners, and can identify financing gaps. In this study, we estimate future gross domestic product (GDP), all-sector government spending, and health spending disaggregated by source, and we compare expected future spending to potential future spending. Methods We extracted GDP, government spending in 184 countries from 1980-2015, and health spend data from 1995-2014. We used a series of ensemble models to estimate future GDP, all-sector government spending, development assistance for health, and government, out-of-pocket, and prepaid private health spending through 2040. We used frontier analyses to identify patterns exhibited by the countries that dedicate the most funding to health, and used these frontiers to estimate potential health spending for each low-income or middle-income country. All estimates are inflation and purchasing power adjusted. Findings We estimated that global spending on health will increase from US$9.21 trillion in 2014 to$24.24 trillion (uncertainty interval [UI] 20.47-29.72) in 2040. We expect per capita health spending to increase fastest in upper-middle-income countries, at 5.3% (UI 4.1-6.8) per year. This growth is driven by continued growth in GDP, government spending, and government health spending. Lower-middle income countries are expected to grow at 4.2% (3.8-4.9). High-income countries are expected to grow at 2.1% (UI 1.8-2.4) and low-income countries are expected to grow at 1.8% (1.0-2.8). Despite this growth, health spending per capita in low-income countries is expected to remain low, at $154 (UI 133-181) per capita in 2030 and$195 (157-258) per capita in 2040. Increases in national health spending to reach the level of the countries who spend the most on health, relative to their level of economic development, would mean $321 (157-258) per capita was available for health in 2040 in low-income countries. Interpretation Health spending is associated with economic development but past trends and relationships suggest that spending will remain variable, and low in some low-resource settings. Policy change could lead to increased health spending, although for the poorest countries external support might remain essential.Peer reviewe

Future and potential spending on health 2015-40: Development assistance for health, and government, prepaid private, and out-of-pocket health spending in 184 countries

Background: The amount of resources, particularly prepaid resources, available for health can affect access to health care and health outcomes. Although health spending tends to increase with economic development, tremendous variation exists among health financing systems. Estimates of future spending can be beneficial for policy makers and planners, and can identify financing gaps. In this study, we estimate future gross domestic product (GDP), all-sector government spending, and health spending disaggregated by source, and we compare expected future spending to potential future spending. Methods: We extracted GDP, government spending in 184 countries from 1980-2015, and health spend data from 1995-2014. We used a series of ensemble models to estimate future GDP, all-sector government spending, development assistance for health, and government, out-of-pocket, and prepaid private health spending through 2040. We used frontier analyses to identify patterns exhibited by the countries that dedicate the most funding to health, and used these frontiers to estimate potential health spending for each low-income or middle-income country. All estimates are inflation and purchasing power adjusted. Findings: We estimated that global spending on health will increase from US$9.21 trillion in 2014 to$24.24 trillion (uncertainty interval [UI] 20.47-29.72) in 2040. We expect per capita health spending to increase fastest in upper-middle-income countries, at 5.3% (UI 4.1-6.8) per year. This growth is driven by continued growth in GDP, government spending, and government health spending. Lower-middle income countries are expected to grow at 4.2% (3.8-4.9). High-income countries are expected to grow at 2.1% (UI 1.8-2.4) and low-income countries are expected to grow at 1.8% (1.0-2.8). Despite this growth, health spending per capita in low-income countries is expected to remain low, at $154 (UI 133-181) per capita in 2030 and$195 (157-258) per capita in 2040. Increases in national health spending to reach the level of the countries who spend the most on health, relative to their level of economic development, would mean $321 (157-258) per capita was available for health in 2040 in low-income countries. Interpretation: Health spending is associated with economic development but past trends and relationships suggest that spending will remain variable, and low in some low-resource settings. Policy change could lead to increased health spending, although for the poorest countries external support might remain essential