Linking consumer trust perception in constructing an e-commerce trust model

Trust issues is still considered as a main obstacle in the implementation of eCommerce Due to the increasing numbers of cyber crimes committed today, consumers are faced with doubt to engage in online shopping. As a safety precaution, consumers will take certain measures to protect their information by evaluating and assessing these websites trustworthiness before an actual purchase occurs. This paper describes a model that examines the elements related to online consumer behavior and to investigate this behavior towards building and increasing trust. The applicability of the model was tested in attempt to view consumers' acceptance towards the model and its component. The fmdings indicate the respondents are aware of the trust issue surrounding e-Commerce implementation as they accept and agreed with the model and its components

Requirements of knowledge sharing for group decision support system

Group decision support systems (GDSS) have evolved from applications designed primarily to support decision making for groups. Indeed, it is generally accepted that improvements of group support systems is a longstanding interest to organizational researchers, containing solid practical as well as scientific significance. Within this practice, there is increasing challenge to improve the exchange of knowledge among group members in order to enhance GDSS capability of knowledge sharing. Therefore, the paper investigates the current GDSS situation and analyzing the requirements of knowledge sharing (KS) to enhance GDSS. It is hoped that these findings will aid to provide GDSS systems with the solid capability of knowledge sharing

Cost evaluation of therapeutic drug monitoring of gentamicin at a teaching hospital in Malaysia

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) makes use of serum drug concentrations as an adjunct to decision-making. Preliminary data in our hospital showed that approximately one-fifth of all drugs monitored by TDM service were gentamicin. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the costs associated with providing the service in patients with bronchopneumonia and treated with gentamicin. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from medical records of patients admitted to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia over a 5-year period. These patients were diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and were on gentamicin as part of their treatment. Five hospitalisation costs were calculated; (i) cost of laboratory and clinical investigations, (ii) cost associated with each gentamicin dose, (iii) fixed and operating costs of TDM service, (iv) cost of providing medical care, and (v) cost of hospital stay during gentamicin treatment. Results: There were 1920 patients admitted with bronchopneumonia of which 67 (3.5%) had TDM service for gentamicin. Seventy-three percent (49/67) patients were eligible for final analysis. The duration of gentamicin therapy ranged from 3 to 15 days. The cost of providing one gentamicin assay was MYR25, and the average cost of TDM service for each patient was MYR104. The average total hospitalisation cost during gentamicin treatment for each patient was MYR442 (1EUR approx. MYR4.02). Conclusion: Based on the hospital perspective, in patients with bronchopneumonia and treated with gentamicin, the provision of TDM service contributes to less than 25% of the total cost of hospitalization

Halal logistics in Brunei: current constraints and future potentials / Mohamed Syazwan Ab Talib

Identifying and understanding the constraints and potentials of halal logistics in Brunei Darussalam is integral towards the development of Brunei’s halal economy. Relevant extant literature was analysed using an inductive reasoning approach, where five issues were identified to have had constrained halal logistics in Brunei Darussalam. Three areas that have the potential to stimulate halal logistics were also identified. It is hoped that the findings could benefit future research, as well as academics and practitioners alike, both in the halal logistics sector and the halal research domain, particularly the logistics body of knowledge

Occupational Plans of Malaysian Educationally At-Risk Secondary School Students

The study was conducted to determine the occupational plans of students who are educationally at-risk. About 11,400 students were involved in the study. About 49% of the respondents are male students and 51% are female students. The findings show that some of the students were not realistic in making occupational plans. Some of the occupations of their choices require college degrees or professional qualification. They may have problem in attaining those occupations because the majority of them are academically weak. Their grades in Mathematics and sciences were mostly D’s. The study also shows that about 75% of the respondents are enrolled in elective vocational subjects while 25% of them are in MPV subjects. The elective vocational subjects are academic in nature as compared to MPV subjects. It would be better for human capital development purposes if educationally at-risk students are trained in skill development immediately after finishing their PMR examination. Thus, all secondary school in the country should offer the MPV subjects to cater for the academic needs of the educationally at-risk students. Without such an action we will be wasting our human capital. School counselors should also play a bigger role in guiding students towards the development of their potentials as future workers. The country needs skill workers to propel our economy in the future

Teachers' efficacy beliefs among novice Malaysian teachers.

This article is a presentation of the findings of research conducted on the teacher’s sense of efficacy among novice teachers in Malaysia. A total of 727 novice teachers participated in the study. Novice teachers are teachers who have been in service for three years or less. Teachers’ sense of efficacy was assessed using the Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale (OSTES), developed by Tschannen- Moran and Woolfolk Hoy. The level of overall teaching efficacy among novice teachers was moderate (Mean: 3.87; S.D: 0.62). The findings indicated that they were moderately efficacious in terms of student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The implication of the study to teacher-education programs in Malaysia is discussed

Perceived leadership characteristics of students majoring in Education at Universiti Putra Malaysia

A study was conducted to assess the leadership characteristics of Universiti Putra students majoring in Education. The study showed that in general, UPM trainee teachers possess the leadership characteristics needed to function effectively as a leader. The study also showed that the trainee teachers' involvement in organizational activities was about average. It was also found that the leadership characteristics differed significantly among students with different level of participation in organizational activities, the perceived ability to manage the students' organizations, the perceived amount of knowledge the students have about the management of the organizations, the perceived importance of a student's organization, and the type of teacher education programs

Agricultural jobs in the eyes of college students

There is now a renewed interest in agriculture. The Malaysian government wants to revitalize the agriculture sector to become the third engine of growth after the services and manufacturing sectors. For that matter, a total of RM11.7 billions is allocated under the 9th. Malaysian Plan (9MP) to transform agriculture sector into a modern, dynamic and competitive sector. With the emphasis given by the government, Malaysia has to have her younger generation who are willing to venture into agricultural industries. But, is Malaysian younger generation willing to venture into agriculture? The study aimed at determining the young generation’s (students) interest in agriculture related jobs and their perceptions about occupations in agriculture. The findings indicated that students were moderately interested in agriculture related jobs (M = 2.68; SD =.86). Their perceptions about jobs in agriculture were moderate (M=3.41, SD. = .97). Based on the study actions have to be taken to ensure that young people would want to venture into agricultural careers. Even though they were interested in agriculture but their moderately positive perceptions about agriculture will hinder their movement into agricultural industries

Teacher sense of efficacy among Malaysian agriculture student teachers

This exploratory descriptive study sought to investigate teachers’ efficacy beliefs among agriculture science student teachers in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Specifically, the study explored student teachers’ efficacy beliefs in terms of student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The study also attempted to explain the relationships between student teachers’ backgrounds variables and teachers’ sense of efficacy beliefs. The study showed that general teacher efficacy beliefs among UPM agriculture science student teachers was high (Mean=4.15, SD. =.33). Male student teachers were found to have a significantly higher general teacher efficacy beliefs than female students teachers (t (79) = 2.20, p=.031). Experienced student teachers were more efficacious than student teachers who have no experience at all (t (79) = 3.072, p=.003). Age correlated significantly with general teacher efficacy belief (r=.51, p <.01). Significant correlations were also found between CGPA and general teacher efficacy belief (r=.31, p <.01

Educational and Occupational Plans of Rural Youths

The purpose of this paper is to describe the educational and occupational plans of rural youths in rural schools and related students’ educational and occupational choice to the needs of the country. The findings showed that almost all students participated in the aspired for education beyond the secondary schools. The two most popular program students expect to enroll at the tertiary level were accountancy and engineering. All of the respondents have tentatively made their career choices. It also shows that respondents have some knowledge as to subjects important for their educational and career choices