The Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and Stress In SMEs

Emotional intelligence is an important topic in management and entrepreneurial education. This study focused on the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (Cognition & Ability, Understanding Emotions, and Emotional Decision Making) and stress among SMEs. A total of 70 entrepreneurs from different areas in Melaka participated in the survey. Reliability analysis was applied to test the instrument’s reliability. Moreover, correlation analysis was applied to examine the relationship of EI factors with stress in SMEs. Regression analysis applied to determine the predicted factors of EI towards stress. The results of the analysis indicated cognition & ability, understanding other’s emotions and emotional decision making had a positive relationship with stress among SMEs. For the practicality of this study, emotional intelligence can be well implemented through education to instill a sound stress management to all potential entrepreneurs

Eco product innovation in search of meaning: incremental and radical practice for sustainability development

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of eco innovation in order to achieve sustainable development in manufacturing industries. The outcomes of this paper attempts to describe the main drivers of eco innovation among companies, core categories of eco innovation practices in manufacturing industry and framework of radical and incremental eco product innovation. The last part of the paper provides the insight of the new paradigm for eco innovation research in new millennium particularly in developing countries. Design/methodology/Approach: The selected papers that have been reviewed were retrieved from Google scholar database with high citation index. Findings: Manufacturing acknowledges eco innovation as a pivotal role to attain sustainability development in ecology, economy and society. There are three main drivers that able to boost the manufacturing sustainability namely regulation, responsibility and competition. Four types of eco innovation practices are product, process, marketing and organizations. However, among of them, eco product innovation is highly discussed among scholars in new millennium. Most of high cited literature describes the dimension of radical and incremental literature in four dimensions: modes of changes, economy values, design changes and eco innovation practices. The new research paradigm should discuss on eco innovation management in manufacturing industry. Originality/value: Most of scholars are confused with the correct concept of eco innovation and its relationship towards sustainability development. Therefore, this paper attempts to provide a clear direction on difference between the incremental and radical eco product innovation implementation in manufacturing industry en route for building the sustainable development echoes to economy, ecology and society

The Effect of Social Network Sites on the hotels’ Innovation capabilities and performance. A review paper

Social Network Sites SNSs plays an important role in knowledge transfer which can be used in several applications. The past literature paid attention to the role of SNSs on communication and social relationship management in general and marketing activities such as promotion in particular. However, SNSs are important sources of knowledge that can be used not only in social network management or marketing activities but also in the development of innovation capabilities of the firms. Recently, few studies indicate that SNSs are important sources for innovation development and firm performance, but with slight explanation in how SNSs influence innovation capabilities. Therefore, this study aims to explain the role of SNSs on innovation capabilities and Hotels performance. This study also intends to propose a framework that explains the interaction between SNSs and hotels innovative activities and performance

Learning organization as drivers of human resources 4.0 at the technical University of Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)

The borderless and dynamic globalization environment has forced universities to operate in a more complex and competitive higher education landscape. Hence, it is important for universities to function as learning organizations to ensure their survival, be resilient and achieve sustainable growth especially in the era of Industry 4.0. This study, which used the case study method involving Malaysian public universities, intended to investigate the implementation of learning organization practices as main drivers. Data were collected by conducting interviews involving eight respondents from each university and were analysed qualitatively. The study sample comprised three categories of human resource personnel, namely executives, management staff and academic staff. Findings show that the universities had managed their three subsystems, namely leadership, work system and structure, as well as resilient performance and staff development, at different levels. Among the three subsystems, work system and structure were identified to be at the highest level, followed by leadership and finally, resilient performance and staff development. The seven learning organization practices which were information flow, organizational climate, individual/group development, individual/group practices, vision and mission staff achievement and feedback found to be main drivers among the human resources personnel. Conversely, five practices that were yet to become common learning organization practices were executive practices, work systems and organizations, training and education, management practices, as well as reward and recognition. Universities that function as learning organizations assume learning to be a catalyst for the development of resilient human resources. Therefore, the university is able to survive and sustain its dynamics in a competitive environment in a higher education system, especially in the era of Industry 4.0. This paper may have some direct implications towards the industrial 4.0 (IR4.0) movements in Human Resources in Malaysia which able to provide new insight into the exploration of the idea through the practice of learning organization

The Influence Of E-Business Adoption On Business Performance Of Micro-Entrepreneurs

In the recent years, electronic business plays an importance role in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of a business. However, some entrepreneurs are unwilling to change their conservative mind and accept the challenge in digital business. Hence, this study investigates the use of electronic business in improving business performance among microentrepreneurs. The objectives of this study is to investigate the relationship between the ebusiness and business performance, and to examine the most significant factor that affect such relationship. Quantitative method is used to collect the data among the micro-entrepreneurs in Johor, Malaysia. The questionnaire that consist the questions about the impact of e-business system in business performance is distributed to 248 respondents. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between independent variable (e-marketing, online customer communication, online order taking system) and dependent variable (business performance). Furthermore, the result of the study shows that e-marketing is the most significant factor that affect business performance. Therefore, e-business adoption plays an important role in improving the business performance in the aspects of market performance, financial performance and customer relationship performanc

The ubiquitous technology model: the use among students at Malaysian Technical University Networks (MTUN)

Laptops, smartphones and tablets which also known as a ubiquitous technology or U-Tech have been widely used by many students in the university. However, little is known about the factors influencing its usage as not many comprehensive studies have been done related to it. A review of related literature demonstrates that factors, namely the Technology Competency (TC), Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Behavioural Intention (BI), Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Social Status (SS) influence technology usage. The focus of this study was to confirm whether these factors contribute towards the U-tech usage among students in the Malaysian Technical Universities Network (MTUN). This study was based on a quantitative research in which the Structural Equation Modeling using AMOS was employed. The research instrument was in the form of a questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument ranged from 0.851 to 0.912. The results attained from the analysis produced a new theory towards U-tech usage. The significant paths found were TC influences U-Tech usage (β=0.35, p=0.000), PE influences u-tech usage (β=0.41, p=0.000) and FC influences U-tech usage (β=0.23, p=0.000). Meanwhile, the structural paths for EE (β=0.26, p=0.000) and SS (β=0.52, p=0.000) towards u-tech usage were mediated by BI. Thus, it can be concluded that, 63% of the variance in u-tech usage described by the five factors. This study suggested that to increase the use of U-tech, the students need to be given more training and more workshops. The university administration should play an active role in disseminating any news that is related to the usefulness of U-Tech

Relationship of the utilization of ubiquitous technology and technology competency among undergraduates in Malaysian technical universities

The aim of this paper is to present part of a study done related to the utilization of Ubiquitous Technology among undergraduates in Malaysian Technical Universities. The objectives of the study were to identify (i) the ubiquitous technology utilization level (ii) the undergraduates’ technology competency level and (iii) whether there was a significant relationship between the utilization of ubiqutous technology and technology competency. A total of 101 undergraduates were randomly selected. The study employed the survey method in which the data were gathered through a 5 point-Likert scale questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively (mean, frequency and standard deviation), and inferentially (Pearson correlation). The findings of this study revealed that majority of the undergraduates were at high level of ubiquitous technology utilization also found, the undergraduates had high level of technology competency. In addition, results demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between utilization and technology competency

A model on the use of ubiquitous technology (u-tech) as a learning tool

Reviews of related literature reveal that factors, namely the Technology Competency (TC), Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Behavioural Intention (BI), Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Social Status (SS) influence ubiquitous technology usage.. Thus, the focus of this study was to confirm whether the determined factors contribute towards ubiquitous technology or u-tech such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. At the same time, it also aims to develop. a new model on the factors that influence the utilisation of u-tech as learning tools among students in the institutions of higher learning, particularly in Malaysia. This study was based on a quantitative research in which the Structural Equation Modelling using AMOS was employed. The results attained from the analysis produced a reliable model towards u-tech usage. The significant paths that, TC significantly influenced u-tech usage (β=.35, p=.000), PE influenced u-tech usage (β=.41, p= .000) and FC influenced u-tech usage (β=.23, p=.000). Meanwhile, the structural paths for EE (β= .26, p= .000) and SS (β=.52, p=.000) towards u-tech usage were mediated by BI. Therefore, from the model, it can be concluded that, 63% of the variance in u-tech usage was described by the five factors. Moreover, this study suggested that the university administration should play an active role in disseminating news that is related to the usefulness of u-tech. Through this approach, students will not feel outmoded as they are provided with the opportunities to progress with the latest technology and be aware on the benefits in utilising these technologies