Environmental scanning practice of enterprise 50 Small Medium Enterprise (E50 SMEs) in Malaysia

This study investigates the effects of organizational and owner/ manager profile on environmental scanning practice of Enterprise 50 Small Medium Enterprise (E50 SMEs) in Malaysia. It investigates the extent of environmental scanning practice and the factors related to information sources that E50 SMEs utilized for environmental scanning. Based on the constructs of the measures, a research scale was developed for the study and data were collected via self-administered mail survey among the E50 SMEs in Malaysia. The results showed positive effects of organizational and owner/ manager profile on environmental scanning practice of E50 SMEs. There are also findings on the extent environmental scanning on the business environment sectors of E50 SMEs with respect to utilization of information sources. Implications of our findings for SMEs owner/ managers and practitioners, the study’s limitations and future research directions are subsequently addressed

Malaysia SMEs Award Winners’ Environmental Scanning Practice

This study examines the effects of owner manager characteristics on environmental scanning practice of Malaysia‟s SMEs Award Winners, E50 SMEs. It investigates the relationship between E50 SMEs owner manager environmental scanning need and environmental scanning practice. Based on the constructs of the measures, a research scale was developed for the study and data were collected via self-administered mail survey among the E50 SMEs in Malaysia. The results revealed that owner manager environmental scanning need (the perceived importance to stay abreast of the business environment) and owner manager environmental scanning interest (the role of environmental scanning to the organization) is the predictor of environmental scanning practice. Implications of the findings in theory and practice for SMEs owner managers and practitioners are also discussed. The study's limitations and future research directions are consequently addresse

Studio culture in architecture schools of Malaysia

In architectural education, Studio Culture is encompassed with myths that are considered necessary for architectural students to carry out in order to be successful architects. Some scholars claim that the established myths in studio culture have more bad effects to architectural students than good. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of studio culture on architecture students particularly in Malaysia. This research uses quantitative measurement, where survey is conducted by means of distributing questionnaires to four hundreds (400) architecture students from six (6) public universities in Malaysia, and two (2) private universities. This research hypothesizes that the established studio culture has shortcomings which implicitly jeopardise the performance of architecture students in their training to become architects. By using factor analysis, this research suggests three underlying factors that summarize the general myths of studio culture namely Social Exclusion, Learning Strategies and Expense of Time. This research concludes that students do not need rules and regulation generated from myths of studio culture in order to perform properly and to be successful architects

Services quality in higher education institution: perspective from students with different abilities

Abstract Recent societal changes and recognition of the importance of having good quality services in higher education have pushed the issues to the top of the research agenda within higher education sectors. The notion of the incompatibility of service quality and higher education is changing fast in Malaysia. Stakeholders are becoming more discriminating in selecting institution of higher learning. A group of stakeholders are students with different abilities. Their perceptions of services quality are different so as to meet their different needs. This paper examines the perception of students with different abilities on services quality in a higher education institution. The focus is on academic services quality, administrative services quality and facilities services quality. Data was collected via Focus Group Discussions. Interview transcripts were analyzed by Thematic analysis Method. In this paper the author identifies potential list of areas for improvement surrounding management processes at various levels to support policy review and development in higher education institution

Environmental Scanning Practice of Enterprise 50 Small Medium Enterprise (E50 SMEs) in Malaysia

Abstract: This study investigates the effects of organizational and owner/ manager profile on environmental scanning practice of Enterprise 50 Small Medium Enterprise (E50 SMEs) in Malaysia. It investigates the extent of environmental scanning practice and the factors related to information sources that E50 SMEs utilized for environmental scanning. Based on the constructs of the measures, a research scale was developed for the study and data were collected via self-administered mail survey among the E50 SMEs in Malaysia. The results showed positive effects of organizational and owner/ manager profile on environmental scanning practice of E50 SMEs. There are also findings on the extent environmental scanning on the business environment sectors of E50 SMEs with respect to utilization of information sources. Implications of our findings for SMEs owner/ managers and practitioners, the study's limitations and future research directions are subsequently addressed

Student activities on internationalization and personality development a practice: Centre For Foundation Studies International Islamic University case study

Internationalization effort is one of the driving forces and challenges for Malaysia Higher education. There is increasing evidence that higher education institutions must also address the basic personal needs of students by providing a comprehensive set of out-of-classroom student activities and programmes designed to enable and empower students to focus more intensely not only on their studies but also on their personal growth and maturation, both cognitively and emotionally the earliest possible to prepare its graduates marketability globally. In higher education institution, foundation level is the initial stage known as the transition period from secondary school years to higher education institution, thetime to nurture their personality growth to prepare them for the degree programme. The vision of International Islamic University (IIUM) is IIICE;Islamization, Integration, Internationalization and Comprehensive Excellence. It aims at producing holistic individuals that thrives in this world and hereafter. Its Students Activities and development Division offers activities and programmes structured for the development of students’ all rounded personality that will equips students the integration betweeniman (faith), Ilm (knowledge) and amal (practical).This paper evaluatesthe role of Students Activities at the Centre for Foundation Studies International Islamic University Malaysia (CFS IIUM)on its internationalization efforts and in nurturing students’ personality development, leadership potential and developing their softskillsin various aspects. It will presentstrategies, issues and challenges to achieve its objectives as university desires it to be. The paper will outline the principles and values upon which pertinent and effective student activities are based

Service quality: Implications for management practice in higher education institution (off-site campus: students)

The notion of the incompatibility of service quality and higher education is changing fast in Malaysia. Stakeholders are becoming more discriminating in selecting institution of higher learning. A group of stakeholder are student, as customers from off-site campus. This study is to explore and examine the perception of IIUM service users particularly the off campus students at Nilai, Petaling Jaya and Kuantan campus with regards to the services they received from three dimensions. The aim is to address the areas needing improvement and provide recommendations on what needs doin

Services quality: Implications for Management in Higher Education from the perspective of the disable

Recent societal changes and recognition of the importance of having good quality services in higher education have pushed the issues to the top of the research agenda within higher education sectors. The notion of the incompatibility of service quality and higher education is changing fast in Malaysia. Stakeholders are becoming more discriminating in selecting institution of higher learning. A group of stakeholders are students with different abilities. Their perceptions of services quality are different so as to meet their different needs. This paper examines the perception of on services quality. The focus is on academic services quality and facilities services quality. Data was collected via Focus Group Discussions. Interview transcripts were analyzed by Thematic analysis Method. In this paper the author identifies potential list of areas for improvement surrounding management processes at various levels to support policy review and development in higher education institution