Shaping a Digital Future: Examining Technology, Organization and Environment (TOE) Framework

The uptake of e-commerce (EC) has seen a rise, increasing from 27.8% in 2019 to 37.9% in 2021, leading to a greater emphasis on online sales. However, according to SME Corporation Malaysia’s 2021 report, 65.5% of SMEs believe EC is unnecessary and prefer physical stores, while 16.6% cited a lack of skilled employees to initiate, maintain, and manage online systems. Therefore, this study examines the critical constructs surrounding the adoption of EC by SMEs in the service and other sectors in Malaysia. Utilizing the constructs of perceived benefits (H1), EC complexity (H2), top management attitude (H3), competitors\u27 pressure (H4), and government support (H5), the adoption of EC by Malaysian SMEs was measured and analysed. This study is supported by the Technology, Organisation, and Environment (TOE) framework dimension. The data were collected through an online questionnaire-based survey, and 155 responses were used for this study. Two of the most recognised statistical software are utilised to analyze the collected data. First, the R software was used to perform descriptive statistics. The majority of the respondents (56.77%) stated that their enterprise’s sales turnover was below RM300,000, with an additional 26.45% of respondents’ firms falling within the sales turnover range of RM300,001 to RM3,000,000. Second, the SmartPLS was utilized to test measurement and structural models. The findings indicated that the perceived benefits and EC complexity are positively associated with EC adoption by SMEs. In contrast, the results concerning top management attitude, competitor pressure, and government support indicated otherwise. As SMEs navigate the path to digitalisation, this study may be helpful to investors, owners, researchers, policymakers, and any individuals interested in knowing more about the progress of EC adoption among Malaysian SMEs

The impact of the rural environment and environmental conservation on poverty alleviation: the moderating effect of tourism resources

The rural environment adds value to the countryside that provides socio-economic development while environmental conservation draws attention to the locals protecting the environment from deforestation. In line with the Stakeholder Theory, this study examines the impact of the rural environment and environmental conservation on poverty alleviation; tourism resources are used as a moderator to measure the strength of endogenous and exogenous variables. Data was collected from 520 respondents in Kuching and Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Partial Least SquareStructural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the hypotheses. The results of the study indicate that tourism contributes to an increase in the household income of locals; however, there is a negative relationship between rural environment, tourism resources and poverty alleviation due to the high cost of private transportation to the rural areas. The results imply that the improvement inaccessibility of public transportation to the rural areas would increase the use of tourism resources and tourist arrivals, and enhance the well-being of local communities. This study also contributes to the literature on rural environment, environmental conservation, tourism resources, poverty alleviation and Stakeholder Theory

The impacts of tourism development on poverty alleviation in Sarawak

The study aims to investigate economic impact of tourism development such as local economy development, tourism entrepreneurial activity and tourism employment generation in alleviating poverty. Five hundred and twenty local community from Kuching and Miri, East Sarawak, Malaysia have participated in the research. The result indicates that the tourism development contributes to the local economy development, creates tourism entrepreneurial activity and generates tourism employment among the local communities’ in increasing the household income

Pro-poor tourism and poverty alleviation in Sarawak

This paper aims to investigate the pro-poor tourism impact of the capacity building, stakeholders’ support and infrastructure development on poverty alleviation. This study focused on Malay, Iban, Bidayuh, Chinese, Kelabit, Penan, Berawan and others local communities; draws upon a sample of 520 from the Kuching and Miri division of Sarawak, Malaysia. Quantitative primary data method is used, and the data analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) software. The findings showed the positive effect for capacity building on poverty alleviation (H1), stakeholders’ support on poverty alleviation (H2) and infrastructure development on poverty alleviation (H3). This study makes a significant theoretical contribution to human development theory by investigating how pro-poor tourism impact rise wage, food, education, healthcare, voice and securities in humans’ daily life. Furthermore, this study discussed several practical solutions for the local communities to benefit from pro-poor tourism. Especially on the formal and informal way of regular communication among the local government, private tourism organizations and semi-government tourism departments with local communities to increase the livelihood benefits

A review and reflection on online learning and assessments in higher education after the pandemic

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many higher education institutions to deliver courses using online mode due to the movement restrictions. However, many academicians were under-prepared. Now that the pandemic is over, it is time to reflect on these online teaching practices and consider their suitability and sustainability in this post-pandemic era. This study used a case study approach and examined blended and hybrid learning and online assessments and their use in higher education institutions. It adopted a crowdsourcing approach to gather the relevant literature and was backed by the reflection and experience of the academicians in a branch campus of an Australian university in Malaysia. This study suggests that academicians could still use blended and hybrid learning as an alternative but must upskill themselves. Furthermore, selective online assessments could still be used. This study would be helpful to academicians and policymakers in higher education when deciding the teaching mode and assessments in the post-pandemic era

Tourism Development and Socio-Economics Enhancement of Communities in Sarawak

Pro-poor tourism is recognised as an effective socio-economic tool in Sarawak, Malaysia. Therefore, this study examines the impact of tourism development (local economy development, tourism entrepreneurial activity, tourism employment generation, capacity building, stakeholders' support, community participation, infrastructure development, rural culture, cultural attraction, rural environment and environmental conservation) on poverty alleviation. The study also measures the moderator effect oftourism resources (i.e., cultural, nature, wildlife, rural and physical) between tourism development and poverty alleviation. A quantitative primary data from individuals from tourism channels is generated. The SmartPLS 3.0 (M3) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 are used to analyse the primary data from 520 respondents. A total of 22 hypotheses are tested in the study, however 10 of the hypotheses show positive results. Based on the effect size, poverty alleviation can be achieved with local economic development and stakeholders' support. In addition, an equal distribution oftourism resources among the stakeholders, locally managed tourism businesses, increasing in capacity building and preserving nature and culture could balance the socio-economic livelihood. Future research in Sri Aman, Sibu, Limbang, Kapit and Mukah is highly recommended. These five divisions in Sarawak have potential for sustainable tourism development and pro-poor tourism

The Impact of the Rural Environment and Environmental Conservation on Poverty Alleviation : The Moderating Effect of Tourism Resources = (Impak Persekitaran Luar Bandar dan Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar)

The rural environment adds value to the countryside that provides socio-economic development while environmental conservation draws attention to the locals protecting the environment from deforestation. In line with the Stakeholder Theory, this study examines the impact of the rural environment and environmental conservation on poverty alleviation; tourism resources are used as a moderator to measure the strength of endogenous and exogenous variables. Data was collected from 520 respondents in Kuching and Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Partial Least SquareStructural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the hypotheses. The results of the study indicate that tourism contributes to an increase in the household income of locals; however, there is a negative relationship between rural environment, tourism resources and poverty alleviation due to the high cost of private transportation to the rural areas. The results imply that the improvement inaccessibility of public transportation to the rural areas would increase the use of tourism resources and tourist arrivals, and enhance the well-being of local communities. This study also contributes to the literature on rural environment, environmental conservation, tourism resources, poverty alleviation and Stakeholder Theory

Gender, Political Participation and Representation : The Nigeria Story

Aims:This article aims to examines women's political participation and representation in Nigeria. The study employed the 2019s Nigeria general election data with an emphasis on the number of men and women candidates for various seats and posts. Study Design:The study implemented quantitative and qualitative research approach.Place and Duration of Study:The study was held in Nigeria between February and March 2019 within the duration of the General Elections (GE).Methodology:Data dwelled more on the secondary data from the Nigeria Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) such as Final List of Senatorial Candidates, Final List of Governorship Candidates, Final List of Presidential Candidates, Final List of State House of Assembly Candidates, and Final List of Candidates for House of Representatives followed by interviews.Results:The findings indicate that even though women in Nigeria are politically active, they are not considered equal to their men counterparts -a product of patriarchal inclination. Certainly, Nigerian society still subscribes to the senseless connotation of: ‘women’, what do they know? A common phrase employed even in an ordinary family conversation. Besides, women participants lack financial backup and social support for political positions.Conclusion:Women’s low proportion of political representation at the highest levels of politics is a persistent issue in gender stratification in Africa, but paramount in Nigeria. Despite advances in women’s educational level and economic participation, the findings in this study have shown that women in Nigeria have little or no significant progress with respect to political representation in the country’s political sphere

The Impact of The Rural Culture and Cultural Attractions on Poverty Alleviation : The Moderating Effect of Tourism Resources

This study aims to investigate the impact of rural culture and cultural attractionson poverty alleviation and the moderating effect of tourism resources on rural, culture, wildlife, nature and physical. Convenience sampling was applied in selecting 520 respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Science was used to analyse the descriptive statistic while Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the hypotheses. The results show both rural culture and cultural attractions have a positive effect onpoverty alleviation. Besides, tourism resources have a positive moderating effect on rural culture and poverty alleviation. Poverty reduction through tourism, communities right to use tourism resources and accommodate different cultural views are supported by Human Development Theory on the positive findings. However, tourism resources a negative result on cultural attractions and poverty alleviation. Therefore, this study suggests that preserving cultural attractions such as cultural buildings, landscapes, monuments, traditions, arts, crafts, food, and customs should be encouraged for socio-economic benefits