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Balancing Demands and Resources: Exploring the Impact of Workload, Work-Life Balance and Technological Adaptation on Job Satisfaction Among Malaysian Academics
Full text linkBased on the Job Demands--Resources (JD-R) model, this study examines the inter-relationships of workload, work-life balance, technological adaptation, and job satisfaction among academic staff members in Malaysian universities. Within this context, workload is considered a job demand that may impose pressure on individual well-being and reduce satisfaction, whereas work-life balance is regarded as a useful job resource and mediating variable, allowing individuals to balance conflicting work and non-work demands. Technological adaptation, as the ability and willingness of academic staff to work with digital tools, is conceptualized as a personal resource and a moderator that can strengthen the relationship between work-life balance and job satisfaction. The research design is a quantitative one, where a self-completion online questionnaire would be sent via stratified random sampling to achieve a wide representation in terms of the type of universities and field of study. Regression and moderated mediation will be applied to analyze data. This research helps to advance the theoretical understanding of the JD-R model by investigating the negative influence of high workload on job satisfaction, the mediating role of work-life balance, and the enhancing effects of technological adaptation on the relationship between work-life balance and job satisfaction. It is also an invaluable resource to institutions of higher learning interested in how they can manage academic workload, enhance digital competency, and streamline staff well-being in institutions that are increasingly becoming technology-oriented
Knowledge Sharing Behavior among Non-Academic Staff in Malaysian Higher Education: The Role of Trust, Religiosity, Self-Efficacy and Enjoyment of Helping Others
Full text linkIn today’s knowledge-driven economy, effective knowledge management is essential for organizational success, particularly in higher education institutions (HEIs) where non-academic staff play a critical role in supporting core operations. While previous research has largely focused on academic personnel, limited attention has been given to the knowledge-sharing behavior of non-academic staff. This study investigates the key factors influencing knowledge sharing among non-academic staff at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Gombak Campus, examining the roles of trust, religiosity, self-efficacy, and enjoyment of helping others. Adopting a quantitative, non-experimental design, data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to 102 non-academic employees across various departments. Descriptive, reliability, and multiple regression analyses were conducted using SPSS. The findings reveal that self-efficacy is the most significant predictor of knowledge sharing behavior, followed by trust, which also demonstrated a strong positive influence. In contrast, religiosity did not show a statistically significant effect, and enjoyment of helping others revealed a non-significant negative relationship. These results suggest that confidence in one’s abilities and a trustworthy work environment are crucial enablers of knowledge sharing, while intrinsic altruistic motives and religious commitment may not directly drive such behavior in this context. The study provides valuable implications for higher education administrators to foster a knowledge-sharing culture by enhancing employee confidence and trust-building initiatives. It also highlights the need for further research to explore additional factors and contexts that may influence non-academic staff’s knowledge-sharing practices
Assessing the Contribution of Internship Program to Skills Acquisition: Evidence from BA Insurance Students at UiTM
Full text linkThis study investigates the impact of internship programs on the skills development of undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Insurance program at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Grounded in Social Learning Theory, the research explores four key dimensions: professional development, professional skills, personal growth and personal capabilities. A quantitative research design was employed using a structured questionnaire with 23 Likert-scale items administered to a simple random sample of 58 final-year students who completed a six-month internship. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted, including tests for normality and reliability. The findings reveal that internships significantly enhance students’ professional skills, personal growth and personal capabilities, with personal capabilities being the most positively rated dimension. Although professional development also showed favorable responses, it had the greatest variability, suggesting inconsistencies in mentorship and career alignment. These results underscore the value of internships in building industry-relevant skills, emotional intelligence, adaptability and career clarity. The study concludes that well-structured internships are crucial in bridging academic knowledge with real-world experience in the insurance sector. Recommendations include enhancing supervisor engagement, revising internship outcomes and fostering closer university-industry collaboration. The findings offer practical insights for educators, employers and policymakers aiming to optimize internship experiences and strengthen graduate employability in insurance and related fields
From Shelves to Screens: Conceptualizing Phygital Retailing in Supermarkets through the S-O-R Framework
Full text linkThis conceptual paper explores a hybrid approach to phygital retailing, which merges physical and digital shopping experiences to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. As retail evolves alongside technology, retailers must understand the dynamics of physical encounters while leveraging innovations that connect online and offline experiences. Physical shopping offers unique value propositions, while phygital retailing highlights the role of digital sensing technologies and augmented reality in addressing limitations of online purchasing. These tools create immersive shopping experiences that replicate the appeal of in-person shopping while retaining digital convenience. By combining physical and digital elements, retailers can engage customers on multiple sensory levels, fostering deeper emotional connections and stronger purchase intentions. The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory is proposed as the underpinning framework to explain how phygital retailing influences consumer responses, particularly purchase intention. The integration of technology and consumer experience also introduces new opportunities, as phygital retailing represents an innovative strategy for retailer-consumer interaction. Guided by positivism, this study suggests a quantitative approach as the most suitable method for testing the proposed model with empirical results. The findings will support researchers and managers in understanding how technology shapes consumer behavior in retail settings. In conclusion, phygital retailing is urged to redefine consumer experiences by merging the immediacy and tangibility of physical retail with the personalization and convenience of digital platforms. This fusion enables retailers to deliver engaging, memorable experiences that strengthen customer loyalty and satisfaction in an ever-evolving retail environment
Reimagining Holistic Health Tourism in Malaysia: Unlocking the Economic Potential with Sustainable Wellness Integration
Full text linkThe global wellness economy is undergoing a paradigm shift from reactive healthcare to proactive and integrative well-being. Malaysia, with its rich cultural heritage, biodiversity, and established medical infrastructure, could be uniquely positioned as part of the leading holistic health tourism providers. Malaysia’s health tourism sector traditionally emphasized medical services and has long been recognized to attract patients seeking quality and affordable healthcare. Yet the global shift toward preventive and integrative wellness presents a timely opportunity to expand the country’s health tourism offerings beyond conventional medical interventions to a holistic health tourism hub. This conceptual paper explores the potential of holistic health tourism in Malaysia, encompassing a wider spectrum of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being services. It examines Malaysia’s strengths, the challenges faced, and potential strategies to elevate the nation as a premier holistic health tourism destination in Asia. Drawing on a recent literature review, this paper suggests that by strategically developing and promoting the country’s diverse natural, cultural heritage, and wellness resources, Malaysia can tap into a growing market, diversify its tourism portfolio, and significantly contribute to its economic development. The paper concludes with strategic implications for policymakers, industry players, and future researchers
The Impact of Work–Family Conflict on Children in Dual-Earner Families: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Full text linkAlthough work–family conflict has been extensively studied over the years, research in this area continues to focus predominantly on its consequences. Incompatibility between work and family roles often leads to conflict, resulting in negative outcomes both in the workplace and within the home environment. This study examines the effects of work-family conflict on children from dual-earner households. The primary objective of this study is to comprehend the impact of work-family conflict on the offspring of dual-earners. A qualitative study design was utilised, employing thematic analysis of data gathered from ten dual-earners via semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The result identified multiple causes and effects of work-family conflict that directly affect children. These findings underscore the importance of comprehending how dual-earner interactions affect child well-being. The knowledge acquired from this study is significant and beneficial for subsequent research and practice. To properly tackle this issue, it is imperative to implement complete coping mechanisms. This study shows that researchers and policymakers should pay more attention to how work-family conflict affects children in unique ways
Determining Factors of Behavioral Intention to Adopt Digital Banking: A Pilot Study on Youngsters in Malaysia
Full text linkSome consumers continue to prefer traditional banks due to confusion or a lack of understanding about digital banking. Conventional methods of consumer profiling, which rely on past behavior and existing assets, are unlikely to drive the future success of digital banking. To achieve effective digital transformation, it is crucial to understand the behavior, preferences, and decision-making patterns of today’s digital consumers. This study explores the influence of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions on young people's intention to use digital banking, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as a framework. Data were collected from 55 respondents through non-probability sampling and analyzed using reliability and regression analysis. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between behavioral intention and both performance expectancy and facilitating conditions. These insights can help digital banking providers develop better strategies to encourage wider adoption of their services.
 
Governance Factors and the Growth of the Agro-Processing Industry in Uganda
Full text linkThe study examined the influence of governance on the development of Uganda's agro-processing sector against four governance indices: regulatory quality, control of corruption, government effectiveness, and voice and accountability. Rooted in the institutional growth theory, the research employed a quantitative longitudinal study design based on time series data from 2000 to 2023. The secondary data were collected from the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and Uganda's Ministry of Finance Macro Data Portal. Estimation was done using the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, with the diagnostic tests such as the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test for stationarity and the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) test for multicollinearity. Facts revealed that regulatory quality had a statistically significant positive effect on agro-processing development (? = 0.425, p < 0.01), so also did control of corruption (? = 0.318, p < 0.05), and government effectiveness (? = 0.267, p < 0.05). Voice and accountability, while positive, were not statistically significant (? = 0.112, p > 0.05). The model was strongly explanatory with an adjusted R² being 0.716, indicating that 71.6% of the variation in growth in agro-processing was attributed to governance variables in the model. It was therefore concluded that the quality of governance, particularly regulatory quality and corruption control, plays a critical role in encouraging agro-processing industry development in Uganda through uncertainty mitigation, giving confidence to the investor, and the addition of value. The study recommends periodic review and enforcement of the regulatory frameworks, merger of anti-corruption institutions, and improvement of the service delivery mechanisms in order to foster a conducive environment for industrialization. These findings present significant policy implications for the achievement of Uganda's Vision 2040 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly industrial development and job creation
From Local Buzz to Global Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis on the Evolution of Viral Marketing Strategies
Full text linkThe growth of articles is reflected in the increasing interdisciplinary research and publications on viral marketing. Scholars from fields as diverse as computer science, business, management and accounting, mathematics, and engineering have contributed to more than 150 publications. This article aims to understand the growth of viral marketing by using bibliometric analysis. With the limitation set only for the final stage and English used, 784 articles were published in the Scopus database from 1999 to 2025. The analysis of document and source types, subject area, keyword analysis, and other bibliometric indicators was explained. In addition, the Publish or Perish software was used to analyze citation metrics and highly cited articles. The proliferation of social media and digital platforms has reshaped the landscape of modern marketing, placing viral marketing at the core of many strategic efforts. The future studies on viral marketing broaden their scope beyond the current sources by including comprehensive analyses of additional article databases like Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar, and studies can capture a wide array of research trends and insights, potentially revealing subtle patterns and interdisciplinary connections that could be overlooked. Furthermore, the researcher can explore how viral marketing exploits the rapid and organic dissemination of engaging content across digital networks to enhance brand visibility and amplify message reach through exponential growth
Conceptualizing the Impact of Organizational and Human Factors on Drilling Safety Performance: The Role of AI as a Moderator
Full text linkThe oil and gas industry is one of the most complex and hazardous industries in the world, with operations that span across upstream, downstream, different environments, and countries. Drilling Activities are considered the most capital-intensive stage in upstream oil and gas sector. Despite improvements in safety performance between 2018 and 2023, the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) highlighted that the industry still faces challenges of incidents and their adverse financial impact. Previous studies have used incident causation methods to identify causes and various factors that lead to the accidents, a “reactive approach”. However, there is a gap in research that explores the numerical relation between Safety Performance and each of Human, Organization factors, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a quantitative approach. The research objective was to explore underpinning theories, identify incidents and their human and organizational factors in industry, examine the impact of Artificial Intelligence on that relation, construct a Conceptual Framework that describes that relation, and develop robust control measures considering the AI to minimize chances of accidents in the industry. The research methodology will incorporate a stratified sampling mechanism, involving distribution of questionnaies to 425 employees across various drilling crews within drilling companies in the Middle East. Both validity and reliability will be implemented, and hypotheses will be tested. The correlation between dependent and independent variables will be analysed using quantitative method SPSS and AMOS for data visualization, concluding in the development of a comprehensive conceptual framework, and the best robust control measures will be driven qualitatively.