Human Resource Management Practices And Organizational Innovation: An Empirical Study In Malaysia

With rapid globalization, firms particularly those in the manufacturing sector have to continuously innovate for competitive advantage.  One way to do so is via effective human resource management practices (thereafter termed as HRM).  The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational innovation.  We employed a cross-sectional design with a sample comprised of 674 large manufacturing companies from six states in Malaysia which were identified as having a high percentage of innovating companies (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI), 2006).  Our independent variables comprised of five HRM practices (performance appraisal, career management, training, reward system, and recruitment).  Three types of organizational innovation (product innovation, process innovation, and administrative innovation) served as our dependent variables.  Our findings provided partial support for our main hypothesis.  Training alone was found to have a positive and significant effect bon the three forms of organizational innovation.  In addition, performance appraisal positively and significantly affects administrative innovation.  Despite the fact that our research framework was partially supported, our study highlights the profound role played by training in stimulating organizational innovation in the context of the manufacturing industry of Malaysia.  Implications of our findings and limitations of the research were discussed

The photon pair source that survived a rocket explosion

We report on the performance of a compact photon pair source that was recovered intact from a failed space launch. The source had been embedded in a nanosatellite and was designed to perform pathfinder experiments leading to global quantum communication networks using spacecraft. Despite the launch vehicle explosion soon after takeoff?, the nanosatellite was successfully retrieved from the accident site and the source within it was found to be fully operational. We describe the assembly technique for the rugged source. Post-recovery data is compared to baseline measurements collected before the launch attempt and no degradation in brightness or polarization correlation was observed. The survival of the source through an extreme environment provides strong evidence that it is possible to engineer rugged quantum optical systems

Striving Toward a Circular Economy: A Case Study of a Zero Single-Use Plastic Policy in Pearl of the Orient (Penang)

This study aims to explore how the state of Penang could enhance a circular approach to single-use plastic by implementing a new federal policy (Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastic 2018-2030). The study involves twelve semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including representatives from both the state and the federal governments, city council, producers, manufacturers, NGOs and the recycling facilities. The study clarifies what a zero single-use plastic policy means, presents alternatives to conventional single-use plastic as well as introduces several means of enhancing a circular approach towards single-use plastic such as improved waste management system, stakeholders’ engagement, Extended Producer Responsibility, effective policy enforcement, a need for clearer communications along with identifying measurable Key Performance Objectives

Examining the business venture success of restaurants: the role of innovation capability as a mediator

This research examines successful entrepreneurial practices of small and medium restaurants in Malaysia, which includes aspects of start-up planning, financial support, networking, family support, and government support. It also investigates the mediating role of innovation capability on successful entrepreneurial practices. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 390 restaurant business owners through a mailed structured questionnaire. Structural equation modeling involving SmartPLS 3.0 and SPSS 20 software were used to analyse the data and to test the hypotheses. It shows that only start-up planning, networking and innovation capacity were supported, whereas financial support, family support and government support were not supported. Results revealed that innovation capability is a significant intervening variable on the relationship between start-up planning and business venture success, as well as the relationship between networking and business venture success. The study provides practical implications to restaurant owners to actively evaluate the existing resources for better decision making

Proactivity among Academicians in Malaysian Private Universities

The study examines demographic variables' role in academicians' proactive work behaviour (PWB) in private universities. Independent sample t-test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were performed using self-reported data from 287 academicians. Results show that academicians demonstrated moderate proactivity level. Male demonstrate higher proactiveness compared to females. Married workers score higher on PWB. An academician who holds a managerial position tends to be more proactive compared to others. Furthermore, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holder displays a higher level of productivity. The findings offer practical suggestions to the university to address the situation and delegate job assignments based on individual differences. Keywords: proactive work behaviour; academicians; demographic variables; private university  eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI4.290

What are the attractiveness aspects that influence customer loyalty to homestays? A study in Taiwan

The purpose of this study is to investigate the direct relationship between perceived attractiveness aspects and customer loyalty. The perceived attractiveness aspects are operationalized into five dimensions, namely surroundings of the building and features; service quality; homestay facilities; homestay operation and management; and homestay geist and community co-prosperity. The hypotheses are postulated and tested using a sample of 566respondents that were homestay customers in Taiwan The data used in this study was collected via self-administered questionnaires The study employs the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique to test the validity of the proposed hypotheses via Smart-PLS software. The results show that only four out of five sub-hypotheses are supported. The conclusion of this study provides theoretical implications and practical implications, as well as suggestions for future studies either in Malaysia or Taiwan

A unique case of spontaneous regression of metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma: a case report

Spontaneous regression of cancer is a rare, but well documented, phenomenon. We present a unique case of an 82 year old Chinese male who experienced spontaneous regression of histologically-verified metastatic type II papillary renal cell carcinoma in the absence of intervening systemic therapy or surgery. This is the first reported case of spontaneous regression of papillary renal cell carcinoma. The mechanism of spontaneous regression remains unknown, and represents a challenge for existing oncology paradigms