Sources of Stress and the Coping Mechanism for Malaysian Entrepreneurs

The purpose of the paper is to present the findings on the stress and the coping mechanism of the Malaysian entrepreneur’s. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected via a questionnaire distributed among the entrepreneurs over the Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 118 out of 300 entrepreneurs completed questionnaires, which represented all business sectors with varieties demographic background. Findings – The results factor analysis with a variamax rotation are conducted on the actual performance to generate the underlying dimensions of the stress experience differences in terms of sources and coping instruments of stress

Towards a better understanding of the Organizational Characteristics that affect Acceptance of Big Data Platforms for Academic Teaching

In today's era of information, data has been growing at an exponential rate to become big data, and it needs platforms to allow users to govern, access, deliver, analyze, and use these huge databases. Academics in higher education need to utilize these platforms in teaching to enrich and empower the educational experience of their students of these institutions. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the impact of organizational characteristics on the acceptance of big data platforms for academic teaching among higher education institutes in Malaysia. 143 respondents participated to examine the effect of organizational characteristics (Management Drive, Bandwagon Pressure, and Training) on the acceptance of big data platforms for academic teaching. Besides, examining the moderating role of task technology fit. The results illustrate that management drive, bandwagon pressure has a significant impact on the acceptance, with an insignificant impact of training on the acceptance. However, task technology fit has not moderated any of the proposed relationships. This study would give insight for the higher education institutes managements to improve their academics acceptance of the big data platforms in teaching and therefore drive them to use the aforementioned platforms

Kesan undang-undang, norma dan nilai etika dari Tauhid paradigm terhadap keusahawanan dan masyarakat Malaysia

Kajian ini adalah berkenaan dengan kesan undang-undang, norma dan nilai etika yang diambil dari pendekatan tawhid paradigm terhadap keusahawanan dan masyarakat Malaysia. Pembangunan keusahawanan merangkumi tiga kriteria utama iaitu, undang-undang, norma dan nilai-nilai etika. Dalam konteks perlembagaan undang-undang, pengekalan etika keusahawanan adalah dianggap penting. Di samping itu, bidang keusahawanan juga perlu membangungkan norma usahawan samada dari segi bertulis (kod etika) mahupun tersirat. Paradigma Tawhid diwujudkan bagi memupuk kawalan dalaman berdasarkan kerohanian Islam dan pembentukan iman serta akhlak yang kukuh bagi menyumbangkan kepada hubungan yang harmoni di antara keusahawanan PKS dan masyarakat Malaysia secara amnya. Temuduga secara peribadi terhadap usahawan PKS Malaysia yang dipilih dari sekitar Lembah Kelang telah dijalankan bagi mendapatkan pandangan serta maklumat lanjut berhubung dengan penyelidikan ini. Keputusan awal telah menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan undang-undang, norma dan nilai-nilai etika di PKS masih di peringkat awal. Walaubagaimana pun, keusahawanan PKS modular di bawah naungan pelbagai agensi yang berkaitan di Malaysia seperti FAMA, SME Corporation, TEKUN dam TERAJU adalah sejajar dengan prinsip keharmonian di antara perniagaan dan masyarat sejagat. Dicadangkan supaya kajian pada masa hadapan perlu menggunakan instrument yang lebih menyeluruh dan terperinci di samping mengumpul maklumat yang lebih meluas dari usahawan di setiap bidang dan kawasan

In all seriousness: humour in Adibah Amin's as I was passing and as I was passing II

This paper investigates Adibah Amin’s use of humour in the two volumes of her occasional writing, As I was Passing (2007). To pursue this objective, the theory of humour formulated by John Morreall, a renowned contemporary figure in humour studies, has been used to frame the discussion. However, since Morreall focuses mostly on spoken humour, the paper also makes references to Dominic Cheetam’s work on written humour. The analysis shows that some elements fundamental to humour that can be found in Adibah Amin’s writing are the presence of cognitive shifts that involve expectations and violation thereof, the play mode that induces practical disengagement, and the sense of enjoyment that is exhilarating and liberating. Furthermore, Adibah Amin uses humour to promote intellectual and moral values. Besides making use of incongruities in things, Adibah Amin also includes some incongruities in presentation in her writing, which deal with her comical adaptations of linguistic patterns, further proving her astute use of humour

Introspecting entrepreneurship from a tawhidic perspective

The concept of ethical attitude and standard in business dealings has long been argued in the academic world. The current implication on skills and ethical concepts and ideas of Malaysian entrepreneurs from Islamic practices is brie y outlined in the study. Capitalizing on a comprehensive set of questionnaires containing information on respondent’s pro le, characteristics and educational background, one hundred twenty-one (121) entrepreneurs were surveyed using convenience sampling. The practice of Islamic skills and ethics among Malaysian entrepreneurs in numerous business sectors are discussed in the study. The study postulates that the awareness gained from well-being (falāh) in life and excellence (itqān) in work in business organisations can be derived from the pursuit of the Tawhidic principle. A set of close ended questions that contains individual’s characteristics and principles were distributed to entrepreneurs from various business sectors and work experiences for the purpose. The study managed to collect 121 completed questionnaires from Malaysian entrepreneurs. The study contributes signi cant information to the academic world as well as to corporations and governments in conducting business. Finally, the study concludes with the discussion on the proposed business practices and recommends future implementation in achieving entrepreneurial success

The effect of legal, norms and ethical values from Tawhidic paradigm on harmonious SME entrepreneurship and Malaysian society

The study explores the effect of legal, norms and ethical values from Tawhidic paradigm on achieving harmonious SME entrepreneurship and Malaysian society. Entrepreneurship setting comprises three main criteria, namely, legal, norms and ethical values. Observing legal requirement in various aspects related to business, entrepreneurship and society is essential to maintain entrepreneurial legitimacy. Apart from complying the law, entrepreneurship develops its own norms in terms of written (code of ethics) and tacit self regulation (words of mouth). Tawhidic paradigm manifests internal control based on Islamic and Imanic spirituality. The combination of external and internal control with Islamic and Imanic spirituality contributes to the harmonious relationship between the SME entrepreneurship and Malaysian society. The study obtains views through personal interview with selected Malaysian SME entrepreneurs in Klang Valley. The preliminary results show that the engagement into legal, norms and ethical values is still at premature stage as the SMEs are struggling to survive. However, the modular SME entrepreneurship under the guidance of various SME agencies in Malaysia such as FAMA, SME Corporation, TEKUN, and TERAJU, entrepreneurs are aligned harmoniously between the business and the society. The future study should use more rigorous and comprehensive instruments and to get more informants for stud

Developing entrepreneur’s ethics from the principles of tawhidic paradigm: an empirical study in Malaysia

This paper explores the critical importance of Tawhidic paradigm in improvising current entrepreneurship training curriculum. It proposes general model that may be adapted by all institutes of higher learning in Malaysia (IHLs). This paper proposes basic components of the paradigm and illustrates the application of selected aspects of the components in the curriculum. The conceptual study discusses the major components of the Tawhidic paradigm and provides illustration that help link the spirit of Tawhid with the entrepreneur’s characteristics to nurture the humanistic skills, ethics and values. The characteristics should integrated with the ethos of Tawhid which harmonize other worldly (Al-Akhirah) (the Hereafter) and the worldly (Al- Duniya). With this spiritual awareness embedded into entrepreneur’s personal character, the objectives and mission in reinforcing values, which referred to as promotion of goodness (amr bil ma’aruf) and prevention of evil (nahi anil munkar) will achieve. The proposed framework makes continuous learning in promoting the entrepreneur’s training curriculum in the Malaysian context, specifically to the Muslim world in general. In addition, the survey revealed that inculcating Islamic principles and ethics in entrepreneur's activities can increase their credibility in conducting business with others besides being resilient in developing the business (concept of taqwa)

The Developing entrepreneurship training curriculum based on Tawhidic paradigm and legal principles: A case study of Malaysia

The importance of legal literacy in conducting business dealings has long been argued by the academics. Besides aiming for profit, entrepreneurial activities are important in meeting the social obligations of the government to ensure the development of a resilient economy. Business schools are required to promote integrated curriculum to ensure entrepreneurs will not only be able to identify business opportunities supported by required management skills. The integrated curriculum besides providing students with the ability to comprehend the key business disciplines will also need to nurture the humanistic skills, ethics and values. The incorporation of these elements will help create entrepreneurs with civic-mindedness, excellent interpersonal communication and leadership skills as well as be resilient. This paper singles out the ideology in promoting integrated curriculum for entrepreneurs training in the Malaysian context particularly the importance of inculcating legal knowledge to ensure the entrepreneurs will manage their activities within the permitted limits of the Malaysian law and global requirements. A comprehensive set of questionnaire containing 68 questions were administered to 543 entrepreneurs using convenience sampling. The rational of the practice of selecting local entrepreneurs as a sample for the study is to obtain their opinions on the relevant skills needed in managing their business. This can help identify aspects that can be incorporated to improve the current entrepreneur’s training curriculum. The survey revealed that inculcating Islamic principles and ethics in entrepreneur's activities can increase their credibility in conducting business with others besides being resilient in developing the business (concept of taqwa). The study provides significant information to the academic and business community including private corporations and governments on the essential elements that need to be incorporated in conducting business. Finally, the study concludes with proposing the important aspects to be incorporated in the entrepreneurs training curriculum in Malaysia specifically the Muslim world in general

Embracing digital interactive platforms for rapid internationalization

Digital interactive platforms (DIP) enhance communication in a growing online interaction and promote innovation in small business operations. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the interactions between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and stakeholders via DIP and the factors contributing to accelerating internationalization. Therefore, this study aims to explore the DIP used by SMEs to interact with service providers to accelerate their internationalization. This study applied the case study methodology and used a dyadic process with selected service providers and Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. The findings of this study examine the interactions of SMEs and service providers, specifically through DIP. From the analysis, two factors contributing to SMEs' rapid internationalization can be deduced. The novelty of this study is that it contributes to the understanding of the DIP used by SMEs to interact with service providers and identifies internal resources and the external environment as DIP factors for SMEs' rapid internationalization. A framework is provided for SMEs to use DIP for rapid internationalization

Factors influencing foreign direct investment (FDI) location selection: a review of the literature

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has long been associated with globalisation. It enables host countries to achieve economic growth by providing possibilities for multinational corporations (MNCs) to internationalise their business operations. To comprehend FDI, one must first grasp the fundamental motivations that drive a company to invest abroad. The objective of this research is to identify the key elements that influence a company’s decision when selecting a location for FDI. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to conduct a systematic review and four different databases were considered, namely ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, Journal Storage (JSTOR) and Web of Science (WOS). The findings indicated that six theories can be associated to the factors influencing the choice of FDI locations, namely capital market theory, transaction cost theory, product life cycle theory, internationalisation theory, the eclectic paradigm, and entry mode theory. The findings also revealed that there are four factors that would influence the choice of FDI locations: (1) micro factors; (2) macro factors; (3) strategic factors; and (4) sector-specific factors. Future research should focus on determining how the factors influencing FDI location selection differ according to the types of FDI, which include vertical, horizontal, and conglomerate FDI. In addition, research should also focus on how the identified factors can affect the FDI inflows in host countries across various business industries