An Empirical Study of Real-Time Information-Receiving Using Industry 4.0 Technologies in Downstream Operations

Industry 4.0 requires firms to adopt the latest technology to be more effective. However, previous studies have not addressed customer engagement (CE) and its direct benefit (buying) and indirect benefits (referring, influencing, and feedback) using modern technologies such as industry 4.0. The present study analyses customer engagement in regard to real-time information receiving (RTIR) in the downstream operations implemented through software-as-a-service technology. The data is collected from 533 customers of small businesses in retail, food & beverages, and accommodation sectors. The study's empirical model is validated using the theory of information sharing (ToIS). The outcomes specify that RTIR is the antecedent of CE. The results show the mediation effect of customer orientation on RTIR and CE relationship. The study also confirms that gender moderates three out of the four examined relationships between RTIR and CE. Subsequently, our outcomes offer a deeper understanding of RTIR and CE, imbedded in ToIS. This article exposes industry practitioners to RTIR and CE in terms of direct benefit and indirect benefits with modern technologies in downstream operations. This study provides a new theoretical framework using ToIS to advance RTIR in downstream operations through SaaS and CE

Influence of Islam on smoking among Muslims

Smoking prevalence is generally high among Muslims. An awareness of their religious beliefs and rulings might increase the effectiveness of antismoking campaign

Does religiosity matter in the era of industrial revolution 4.0?

Since the hype of Industrial Revolution 4.0 that was brought up by Klaus Schwab in 2016, once again the question of values and beliefs becomes a debate. If religiosity is sidelined in our efforts to automate services and let machines do the jobs of human, then human will truly be substituted by artificial intelligence (AI). Does religiosity matter and can it play a role in the new industry revolution? This study will explore the impact of religiosity towards Muslim officers’ work behaviour in the higher learning institutions in Malaysia. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study found that religiosity has an impact on the respondents’ work behaviour to a certain degree. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: religiosity, personality, competency, environment, and leadership. Besides religiosity, factors such as attitude, leadership, and environment also play a vital role in the enhancement of a religious-based organisational culture

Physical and Psychological Factors Affecting sportsman Performance: The moderating role of sports training: A case on Saudi Arabia Athletics

Using a questionnaire-based technique and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, this study examined the moderating effect of sports training on the relationship between physical characteristics, psychological factors, and athletic performance among Saudi Arabian athletes (PLS-SEM). Using a straightforward sampling technique, the study recruited 250 male and female athletes from various Saudi Arabian sports groups and organizations. The study outcomes indicated that sports training significantly moderated the relationship between physical attributes and athletic performance among Saudi Arabian athletes. The data also revealed that sports training mediated the association between psychological factors and athletic performance, indicating that regular sports training can augment the positive effect of psychological factors on athletic performance. This study contributes to the literature on the moderating influence of sports training on the association between physical and psychological characteristics and athletic performance among Saudi Arabian athletes. The findings indicate frequent sports training can boost physical fitness and mental resiliency, enhancing athletic performance. The study emphasizes the relevance of adding sports training to athlete development programs in Saudi Arabia. More studies are advised to investigate other variables that may influence the association between physical and psychological components and athletic performance in Saudi Arabian athletes

Enhancing Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty through Customer-Defined Market Orientation and Customer Inspiration: A Critical Literature Review

The aim of this paper is to conceptualize the significance of customer-defined market orientation in creating superior customer value and building long-term customer relationship which in turn increases the customer satisfaction and loyalty, moreover, the framework also theorized the mediating role of customer inspiration to strengthen the framework. A comprehensive review of latest conceptual and empirical literature was grounded to develop the propositions. Teachers and students of higher education institution shall be taken as a social lab for examining the propositions, and to report the empirical findings. The finding of this study provides a basis for developing a model to obtain customer satisfaction and loyalty. This study could be of practical value for organizations who want to improve satisfaction and loyalty among their customers, with a special focus on teachers and students since they are considered as a potential cluster of the market. This paper makes a significant contribution by developing a conceptual framework to improve customer satisfaction and customer loyalty through customer inspiration and customer-defined market orientation practices

Mobile Advertising Technology Acceptance Model (M-TAM): An Extension of TAM in Mobile Marketing Context

Mobile advertising technology has revolutionized the way companies interact with their customers. This has offered both marketers and consumers the advantages of convenience, flexibility, and ubiquity etc. Irrespective of the advantages of mobile advertising technology, it is not easy for marketers and researchers to form adoptable mobile advertising technology for consumers without being in a position to precisely foresee consumers’ behavioural outcome. Additionally, this field appears to be scant in academic researches. The current study was initiated to empirically examine the influence of m-advertising technological factors (i.e., ease of use, usefulness, personalization and credibility) on consumers’ adoption behaviour. These factors were also mediated by emotional value in order to influence end users’ adoption behaviour. A quantitative approach based upon a cross-sectional administered survey was employed to collect the data from university going student as respondents. The Partial Least Square (PLS) two step path modelling was used through SmartPLS 3 to test the direct and indirect hypotheses. The results indicate that mobile advertising technology factors (i.e., ease of use, usefulness, personalization and credibility) directly and indirectly impact consumers’ adoption behaviour through emotional value. Based on the findings of the study, theoretical and practical contributions along with certain limitations and future researches recommendation are discussed consequentially

Exploring The Role Of Cyber Security Measures (Encryption, Firewalls, And Authentication Protocols) In Preventing Cyber-Attacks On E-Commerce Platforms

The present study seeks to examine the significance of cybersecurity measures, specifically encryption strength (ES), firewall configuration (FC), and authentication protocols (AP), in protecting e-commerce platforms against cyber-attacks. The data collection process involved the administration of a survey to IT professionals responsible for overseeing e-commerce operations in a range of organisations located in Saudi Arabia. A convenience sampling method was employed to distribute a total of 300 questionnaires, out of which 190 completed responses were selected for analysis. The measurement model, which encompassed variables such as ES, FC, AP, security training (ST), cyber-attack incidents (CAI), customer trust (CT), and incident response time (IRT), was estimated using the structural equation model in Amos. The results of this study provide insights into the relationship between cybersecurity measures and their influence on the frequency of cyberattacks. The study highlights the significance of encryption, firewall configuration, and authentication protocols in strengthening e- commerce platforms. Additionally, this study examines the impact of security training on the improvement of overall cybersecurity posture and its subsequent effect on customer trust. The examination also takes into account the duration of incident response as a critical element in minimising the consequences of cyber incidents. The findings obtained from this study contribute to a more comprehensive comprehension of the cybersecurity environment within the realm of electronic commerce

Carbon neutrality concept and progress

Sufficient scientific evidence now shows that Earth’s temperature is warmer than before. The temperature of the planet (global warming) is becoming s source of climate change that is estimated to have negative consequences for all living beings (Sovacool and Griffiths, 2020). Climate change, if it keeps moving in the direction in which it is heading now, will have severe consequences for anything and everything that exists on this planet. This is not a man-made story; rather, the argument is established upon the data collected by international organizations such as United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency, and NASA, among others. Data on global warming have been gathered across multiple time periods and analyzed for a very long time to arrive at the conclusion of severe and unpleasant consequences for everyone and everything on the planet. Excessive carbon dioxide emis- sions is the main contributing factor of global warming. However, it is not only carbon dioxide that causes global warming—many other gases are harmful to the climate, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, as well as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. This is not an exhaustive list, but for now, think of greenhouse gases as a catch-all term for the harmful substances we are pumping into the atmo- sphere. Since carbon dioxide has the most significant share among harmful gases, academic and nonacademic researchers study carbon dioxide more than other gases

Prospects for Therapies in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, debilitating disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Management of OA involves pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Conventional pharmacological treatments have limited efficacy and are associated with a number of side-effects, restricting the number of patients who can use them. New pharmacological therapies for managing OA are required and a number have been developed targeting different tissues in OA: bone and cartilage, synovium and nerves. However, there has been overall limited success. Disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) are a putative class of therapies aimed at improving OA structural pathologies and consequent symptoms. Recent DMOAD studies have demonstrated some promising therapies but also provided new considerations for future trials

Market(ing) Wisdom Differences between Family and Non-Family Firms: An Empirical Study on Small and Medium Enterprises

In competitive business environment, family and non-family SMEs striving to survive by their own characteristics and strategies. Market knowledge and marketing efforts with limited resources are crucial to sustain and enhance business. In this paper, three constructs i) market orientation, ii) marketing capabilities and iii) marketing practices examine the SMEs service sector performance. The interaction effect of ownership type (family and non-family firms) also observed. The 240 SMEs’ data collected from three major metropolitan cities. This study confirms the positive relationships of each constrict (market orientation, ii) marketing capabilities and iii) marketing practices) to firm performance. The interaction effect of ownership type evident on marketing capabilities and SMEs performance. Non-family businesses are open to adopt new ideas and personnel into decision making. Family firms should be more adaptable to compete with non-family firms