Performance variation, training, and outcome in SE-Asian manufacturing sector.

Despite the volume of training provided across Malaysian industries, personal capacity in human capital still causing inefficiencies at the work place. Managers complain that trained staff does not show improvement in performance in the post-training stage. This study examines post-training effectiveness and applications of new skills acquired through training and the relationship between training and development and degree of job competency and quality of work. A mixed model was applied, which comprised of quantitative and qualitative interviews with both trainees, trainers, and human resources personnal incharge of training programs. Data was collected from 20 manufactorers and interview with open ended questions were conducted with 20 trainees and 5 trainers. Findings shows that cultural reasons attributed to lack of capacity in Malaysian human capital. This is attributed to workers nature of work ethics, Asian value of “show of face” or “loss of face”, lack of common sense reflected in lack of worker’s ability to react to instructions effectively, fear of making mistakes, lack of sense of urgency in execution of instructions, and lack of reliability. All of which, contribute to the overall competitiveness of worker in relation to other workers around the world

The Problem Solving Model “PSM”

Understanding the nature of problems is often complex and multilayered. It requires the evaluation of multiple elements of a given situation at once. Therefore, differentiating between the various elements and factors that makes up the problem is essential. The PSM is a generic cross-disciplinary and cross-functional framework to problem solving. It can be used by anyone as a framework and approach to solve new and ongoing problems. The word "Problem" was chosen because it means an obstacle, something new (one must be mindful of the new phobia that most of us have, that is fear of anything new) hence, people tend to have difficulty in following a methodological and systematic approach to deal with such difficulties

Malaysian Economic Inertia: A Self-Inflicted Limitation to Future Growth

This research examines current growth in the Malaysian economy and the levels of debt and borrowing Malaysia incurred in the post-2008 financial crises. An examination of available economic data by Bank Negara Malaysia and other independent economic monitoring agencies in addition to data available to the World Bank and IMF was utilized in the analyses. This research concludes that the excess borrowing and excess money supply caused an artificial growth rates and high public debt, budget deficit, and consumer debt ratio that puts burden on both the banking sector and government’s ability to meet its future financial obligations in the wake of shock to the global economy. This paper also suggests that the post-2008 financial crises accommodating monetary policy pursued by Bank Negara should have been revered early in 2010. This paper further concludes that revamping in economic fundamentals and political reforms is needed in addition to debt reduction in both financial institutions and non-financial enterprises with government guaranteed loans. This phenomenon is described in this research as an economic inertia

Strategic approach to outsourcing the research and development function

This paper proposes an approach for outsourcing the R&D function. This model is to serve as a strategic approach to outsourcing that considers number of elements with strategic competitive advantage as an ultimate objective. This paper suggest that outsourcing research and development should be planed and conducted from a strategic standpoint and have positive impact on organizational competitive position by incorporating it into the overall strategy of the organization to reduce the number of risks inherited in the outsourcing process, and ultimately, achieve competitive advantage

Government Pricing Policy and Behavioral Consumption of Tobacco

This research examines the impact of tobacco tax on government revenues and consumer's behavior towards price increases. In this examines historical trends of tobacco tax hikes in Malaysia and consumer's reaction towards anticipated price increases. Methodology consisted of qualitative and quantitative data collection for triangulation in addition to review reports and studies of governmental and independent agencies. Findings suggest that price increases has a minimal affect on consumption habits. Addiction is the primary factor causing smokers to adapt to any anticipated price hikes. Youth below the age of 18 are the most sensitive segment of the smoker population to any price increases. This is attributed to lack of disposable income amongst Malaysia youth. Findings further shows that price increases in the form of taxes are in actuality means of generating extra revenue streams. Background Tobacco consumption has reached epidemic state according to the global tobacco report published by the World Health Organization " WHO " (WHO, 2015). Tobacco consumption has been in steady increase since WHO first report (WHO, 1996) in the developing world and particularly in Asia. Tobacco products according to WHO are products made either hundred percent or partially by tobacco leaf as raw material, which are intended to be smoked, sucked, chewed or snuffed. Although smoking is prohibited in government buildings and public facilities in Malaysia, such as shopping malls and university buildings, yet smokers is in the increase in percentage bases according to the Malaysian National Health and Morbidity Surveys carried out between 1996 and 2002.Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive psychoactive ingredient. WHO further confirms that tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, which include cancer, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. This is relatively common phenomenon throughout the world. Currently many countries are introducing various legislations restricting tobacco advertising, consumption age, tax schemes on tobacco sales, and regulating public areas for smokers and non-smokers. Malaysia is one of those countries that has been busy regulating tobacco consumption areas and new tax schemes. Although Malaysia government has implemented tobacco control policy in 1993, the prevalence of tobacco is still rising. The importance lies in two areas; health and income generation. Hence, examining consumer's behavior towards tobacco pricing and the effectiveness of price increase policies through taxation is needed. Hence, in light of constant tobacco policy revision and steady tax increases, the problem examined in this research is to determine whether such policies are effective in reducing tobacco consumption and how the consumer reacts to such policies

Determining female consumer’s insight into products and shopping

This research explores consumer’s insight into the female sportswear segment for the purpose of improving product development in the clothing industry in South-East Asia, a consumer base consisting of 500 million people. The research aims to clarify the important parameters on which buying decisions are made. The parameters are based on price, function, fit, brand, and design. The methodology used in this research is qualitative and quantitative consisting of participative observations, in-depth interviews, and survey. Results shows a wide range of shopping approaches utilized by consumers. Shopping behaviour can be seen depending on products and location. Essential parameters for an exercising garment are fit and design. abundance of available options in the market can cause confusion amongst consumers. The over-availability of products contributed to the creation of such confusion or even fussiness amongst consumers. This is to suggest that the more alternatives available to consumers, the more difficult it will be to find “the right” product. Findings also suggests that consumer’s input and opinion is vital to product development and significantly contributes to product design and enhancement

The impact of B2B value co-creation on consumer’s purchasing intentions in SE-Asia

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, consumers are presented with greater choices of services than ever before, and therefore, understanding the B2B value co-creation activities between both suppliers and consumers is of great importance. This study intends to investigate the impact of B2B value co-creation impact on consumers in South East Asia’s services industry. The research questions formulated for this paper ask what is the impact of B2B value co-creation on consumer satisfaction? Existing studies have mostly focused on examining the concept of value co-creation behavior and its impact within organizational settings, with little consideration of B2B value co- creation from consumer standpoint. Therefore, consumer approach to assessing B2B value co-creation impact on consumer provides new insights and a greater understanding on the mechanism of B2B value co-creation. Findings reveal that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive impact on consumer satisfaction in Asian services sector involved in B2B activities. Findings further show that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive effect on consumer repurchase intentions, which suggests that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive effect on consumer repurchase intention

Co-creation and consumer’s purchasing intentions, any value in B2B activities?

Given the increasing competitive nature of global markets, consumers are able to choose from an ever- increasing quality of products and services with constant declining prices. Hence, better understanding of B2B value co-creation activities that governs suppliers’ relationship with a direct impact on consumer is of great importance. The general purpose behind the study is that customers are willing to buy products only if consumers are in demand of the manufactured products, and therefore, the marketing efforts should target the ultimate consumer as opposed to the buyer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of B2B value co-creation on consumers in South East Asia’s manufacturing industry. The research questions of this study are as following; what is the impact of B2B value co-creation on consumer satisfaction? What is the effect of value co-creation behavior on repurchase Intention? What is the effect of value co-creation behavior on willingness to pay premium? Available literature that deals with B2B co-creation in South-East Asia is primarily concerned with examining the concept of value co-creation behavior and its impact within organizational settings, with little consideration given to B2B value co-creation from consumer standpoint. Hence, an approach that attempts to assess B2B value co-creation impact on the ultimate consumer provides a new insights and a greater understanding of B2B value co-creation relationship within this important geographical part of the Asian market. Findings show that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive impact on consumer satisfaction in SE-Asian manufacturing sector. Findings also reveal that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive effect on ultimate consumer repurchase intentions. This suggests that B2B activities involving value co-creation have a positive effect on ultimate product consumer repurchase intention

Social Media, Online Shopping Activities and Perceived Risks in Malaysia

The Internet shopping experience offers dissimilar ways of off-online communications with communication differences tools that need a better decision of their effect on customer communications. Social networking sites is also fast becoming the platform for interaction, attracting new potential customers and has become the trend for companies to engage with their consumers online. The main objective of this research is to examine Malaysia customer’s risk perception toward online shopping via social media website. Findings suggest that respondents from all age groups have generally accepted the Internet to be used for social networking, while older groups use the Internet for information search and online shopping. The key areas of risk for not using Internet shopping is related to product quality, scamming, and poor customer service; in which the female groups appeared to be more concerned about the risk involved. Higher income groups are more concerned with the risks on product quality suggesting they expect value for their money for the products. Findings further shows that older consumer groups require some form of education in technology, which is preventing them from fully exploring the Internet and shopping potentials. The area of concern for both genders, is information security, such as protecting private information, security of the website, comfort level with the site, information completeness and trust of the vendor. Female groups were found to have higher tendency of fear of the risk of breaching information, suggesting that they highly value their privacy and secrecy

Corporate restructuring and agency theory

Past empirical analysis of the relationship between financial development and economic growth in the US suggests that capital market development has no impact on long-run economic growth. However, analysis of the same data used previously reveals the existence of trends and breaks which past studies failed to take into account, hence, rendering their results questionable. Therefore, this paper uses recent advances in time series techniques and investigates the issue again within a VEC model that allows for the presence of trends and breaks in the data. In this framework, we test for long-run causality between stock market development and economic growth after controlling for banking development and stock market volatility. Using three alternative measures of stock market development, the findings of our empirical analysis provide strong evidence that capital market development has a long-run causal impact on output growth in the US