The dilemma of millennial Muslims towards financial management: an Islamic financial literacy perspective

Abstract Purpose: This study aims to empirically investigate the pathway to financial management behavioural intentions (FMBI) from Islamic perspectives, through dimensions of Islamic financial literacy (IFL; Islamic financial knowledge [IFK], financial skills [FS] and self-efficacy [SE]) based on an extension to the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire by 300 millennials (Muslims) working in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling was used for data analysis purposes by using SmartPLS. Findings: The results present the positive and significant influence of IFK on financial attitude (FA), FS on the elements of FA, subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and perceived moral obligation (PMO), SE on FA, FS on the elements of FA, SN and PBC. Furthermore, PBC and PMO were strong predictors of FMBI from an Islamic standpoint. Originality/value: The findings successfully contribute to the theoretical extension of the TPB model via dimensions of IFL (IFK, FS and SE) as predictors of FA, SNs, PBC and PMO. Besides, this study provides some new insights of millennial Muslims concerning IFL and financial management from Islamic beliefs.Abstract Purpose: This study aims to empirically investigate the pathway to financial management behavioural intentions (FMBI) from Islamic perspectives, through dimensions of Islamic financial literacy (IFL; Islamic financial knowledge [IFK], financial skills [FS] and self-efficacy [SE]) based on an extension to the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire by 300 millennials (Muslims) working in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling was used for data analysis purposes by using SmartPLS. Findings: The results present the positive and significant influence of IFK on financial attitude (FA), FS on the elements of FA, subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and perceived moral obligation (PMO), SE on FA, FS on the elements of FA, SN and PBC. Furthermore, PBC and PMO were strong predictors of FMBI from an Islamic standpoint. Originality/value: The findings successfully contribute to the theoretical extension of the TPB model via dimensions of IFL (IFK, FS and SE) as predictors of FA, SNs, PBC and PMO. Besides, this study provides some new insights of millennial Muslims concerning IFL and financial management from Islamic beliefs

Finance Smart Teaching Method (FSTM) / Hasni Abdullah … [et al.]

Effective design of curriculum and course content specifically pedagogical techniques to produce quality teaching and learning has been greatly emphasized by the Ministry of Education for years. Undeniably, one of the key elements that is necessary for the educators in practicing quality teaching is directly related to the quality of learning process. Hence, one of the best strategies to promote conducive and engaging learning atmosphere is to create an innovative learning tool. In order to meet the objective, Finance Smart Teaching Method is designed to simplify the learning process particularly for banking students taking the course of finance. FSTM will grant the users quick reference for any relevant terms and points that are extremely useful for each chapter without having to refer to the whole chapter. On that note, FSTM summarizes the gist of each chapter without great effort and trouble-free to refer to by the users. Thus, the preliminary investigation was conducted to study the effects of using FSTM using an online questionnaire. This is done in order to know how efficient this innovative teaching approach could be. Based on the results, it can be seen that students managed to understand the concept very well with the FSTM. The result shows how creativity and innovation teaching approach contribute to the effective of teaching and learning process

Purchasing behaviour on halal food products during movement control order (MCO): quantitative evidence from covid-19 pandemic / Sharifah Zannierah Syed Marzuki … [et al.]

Public health issue on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) does not hinder Muslim followers from maintaining their religious conformance to Islamic Dietary Law when purchasing for halal food. To them, only food deemed as halal is fit for consumption. This study uses descriptive analysis to investigate mean readings to the predictive variables. A sample of 331 Muslim respondents have answered an online survey during Movement Control Order (MCO) that started on March 18, 2020 in Malaysia. Quantitative evidence shows that respondents are very particular and want to ensure that the food products they will consume come from halal sources. In addition, they do not tolerate with consumer products without the halal logo. The study concludes with a discussion on the importance of religiosity, access, supplies, halal certification and halal logo in a Muslim purchasing behaviour during the global crisis of the current pandemic of COVID-19

Dijkstra’s algorithm in Product Searching System (ProSearch) / Nur Hasni Nasrudin ... [et al.]

There are huge numbers of supermarkets these days. Some customers find it difficult for them to get the items that are needed for. Customers need to search every-where in the supermarket to find the product without knowing the exact location and availability. Preliminary study had been conducted in one popular supermarket in Perak. There were 30 respondents participated in the survey and had to respond to four (4) main questions; a) Searching duration, b) Emotional Impact, c) Supermarket staffs’ assistance, d) Proposing a System Application as a solution. The results from the survey have led to the development of ProSearch application system. ProSearch is a system that is developed by applying a graph search algorithm called Dijkstra Algorithm so as to find and identify the shortest path to reach the product. Dijkstra algorithm is able to solve the single-source shortest path problems. It has been used in game development and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application. ProSearch enable user to identify the location of the product in a supermarket. To avoid from making mistakes ProSearch offer facilities to dis-play the product picture and availability status to the user. ProSearch has been tested in three different browsers; Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox. It was found that Chrome browser is the most compatible browser and it has the fastest loading time. ProSearch then has been tested in one popular supermarket. However, surprisingly the management refused to implement ProSearch due to some reasons that will be discussed later in this paper

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

The Effectiveness of Storytelling in Enhancing Communicative Skills

AbstractStorytelling is not limited to entertainment but can also be used as an effective teaching tool in a language classroom. This study is to identify the effects of storytelling on students’ language aspects of communication skills and to evaluate the extent to which storytelling helps in enhancing students’ communication skills. The findings show that storytelling has beneficial effects on reading skills by students being able to associate meanings and emotions with words. Students also develop their vocabulary and learn when and where to use certain words and phrases