3127 research outputs found
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A Study on the Causes of Work Stress Among the Malaysian Civil Defense Force Personnel
The frustrations, expectations, and deadlines of modern life have, for many, become a default setting. Stress occurs when we receive signals that upset our equilibrium or pose potential danger. Its seriousness is evident, as most working individuals between 2021 and 2022 experienced work-related illnesses primarily linked to stress, depression, and anxiety. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, and workplace stress, particularly in Malaysia, has risen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies examined stressful occupations in Malaysia and identified key predictors of such conditions. During the pandemic, the Malaysian government mobilized the Malaysia Civil Defense Force (MCDF), or Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia, whose demanding work highlighted stress as a critical issue. This thesis investigates the relationship between work stress and its organisational, operational, and lifestyle causes among personnel at the MCDF Kuala Lumpur District Office. Using Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Regression Analysis, the study found significant correlations between work stress and both organisational and operational causes, while lifestyle factors showed no significant link. The findings emphasize the need to address stressors to improve employee well-being and productivity. Recommendations for MCDF include strengthening psychological support, enhancing occupational health and safety measures, and fostering clear communication within the organisation. Additionally, future research should expand to broader sample areas and employ multi-method data collection. Understanding these dynamics is essential for strategic decision-making and creating a supportive environment in high-stress government agencies like the MCDF
A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Work Readiness among Undergraduate Students
The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of work readiness among undergraduate business students at the Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Selangor Campus. This research seeks to identify whether self-efficacy, salary expectations, people qualities, and individual experiences are vital to business and management students when entering the working environment in the future. A simple random technique will be conducted, and a total of 331 respondents will participate in this study. The multiple regression analysis will be employed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Some limitations will be observed, in which the number of responses is rather moderate, and it might not be able to capture and generalize in this context. In addition, the work readiness factors only focus on self-efficacy, salary expectations, people's qualities, and individual experiences. By exploring these factors, the study seeks to provide actionable insights for curriculum enhancement, career counseling, and policy development, ultimately contributing to improved graduate outcomes. Furthermore, the findings of this study are expected to offer valuable perspectives for academia and industry in fostering a collaborative approach to address marketability challenges in Malaysia
Determinants of Perceived Travel Risk Among Travelers in Puncak Alam, Selangor: The Role of Purchasers’ Behavior, Legal Challenges and Insurance Availability
This study investigates the determinants of perceived travel risk among travelers in Puncak Alam, Selangor, a growing suburban destination in Malaysia. In an era marked by global uncertainty, travellers’ perceptions of risk significantly influence travel behaviour, destination choice, and engagement in tourism activities. This research examines how purchasers’ behaviour, legal challenges, and insurance availability shape individual perceptions of travel-related risks. The study posits that these perceptions are further influenced by geographical and socio-economic characteristics of the host environment. This study adopted a quantitative descriptive research methodology design, collecting data from 150 respondents selected through convenience sampling, a type of non-probability sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used as the data collection tool, and the results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis with the help of SPSS software. The results will reveal that the three variables, which are the purchaser’s behaviour, legal frameworks, and insurance accessibility, play a significant role in shaping perceived travel risk. The findings might provide valuable insights for tourism operators, policymakers, and insurance providers in crafting targeted risk management strategies and communication frameworks. By understanding these contributing factors, stakeholders can enhance traveller safety perceptions, support informed travel decisions, and promote sustainable tourism development in emerging destinations. This research contributes to the broader literature on travel risk perception and offers practical implications for improving destination image and tourism service quality in Malaysia
The Combined Effect of Social Capital and Personal Initiative on Women's Self-Employment in Mbarara City
The research investigated the impact of social capital and personal initiative on women who start businesses in Mbarara City, Uganda. The research focused on women's low entrepreneurial participation because self-employment has become recognized as a tool for economic empowerment. The research employed a cross-sectional quantitative survey design to gather data from 382 women entrepreneurs through self-administered structured questionnaires. The research used stratified random sampling to achieve business sector and geographical area representation. SPSS analyzed the data through Pearson correlation and regression models, which tested the study hypotheses. The analysis showed that social capital demonstrated a positive and statistically significant relationship with women's self-employment (r =.478, p <.01) and personal initiative showed a similar positive relationship (r =.563, p <.01). The combined impact of social capital and personal initiative explained 33.3% of the self-employment variations among women in Mbarara City (Adjusted R² =.333). The research indicates that women’s economic success depends on developing social connections and promoting proactive entrepreneurial behaviors through targeted interventions. The research demonstrates through empirical evidence that specific policies and programs must develop social networks and promote personal initiative while eliminating barriers to women’s self-employment in urban Uganda
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Online Subjective Well-Being (OSWB): Examining the Mediating Role of Social Media Overload (SMO)
Social media has become essential in today's hyperconnected digital environment. Due to its widespread use and users’ excessive dependence, the use of social media has raised concerns about its psychological impacts. One of the key factors that drives excessive social media engagement is Fear of missing out (FoMO). FoMo has been linked to negative outcomes, both at psychological and behavioral levels. However, the mechanisms through which FoMO contributes to social media overload through information and communication surplus, and how it affects online subjective well-being (OSWB), require further investigation. Hence, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the connections between FoMO, social media overload, and online subjective well-being. Based on the research synthesis, a conceptual framework is proposed, which would advance theoretical understanding of the digital environment and well-being. It also serves as a foundation for future empirical research. Based on the framework, it offers practical insights for designing interventions to mitigate the psychological risks of social media use
The Role of AI-Assisted Learning Tools in Higher Education: Balancing Efficiency, Critical Thinking and Academic Integrity
This study examines the dual nature of AI-assisted learning tools in higher education. While AI tools enhance student learning efficiency and academic performance, they also present risks such as over-reliance, reduced critical thinking, and ethical concerns. This research investigates the benefits and drawbacks of AI adoption in higher education, using student survey responses to analyse perceptions. The findings indicate that AI tools contribute to improved efficiency and comprehension but highlight dependency and academic integrity concerns. A cross-sectional survey of 383 Malaysian university students was conducted to explore the academic and ethical dimensions of AI usage in learnin
Cloud ERP Implementation and Firm Performance: Innovation Capability as a Mediator and Top Management Support as a Moderator
This study empirically investigates the impact of Cloud ERP systems on firm performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the mediating role of innovation capability and the moderating role of top management support. The purpose is to understand how the adoption and utilization of Cloud ERP influence financial outcomes, operational efficiency, innovation capabilities, and overall competitive advantage in SMEs. A quantitative research approach was employed, collecting data through a structured questionnaire distributed to 450 SME managers in KSA, yielding 198 valid responses. Statistical analyses, including regression, mediation, and moderation analyses using SPSS, were conducted to examine the relationships between Cloud ERP implementation, innovation capability, top management support, and firm performance. The findings indicate that Cloud ERP implementation significantly enhances firm performance in SMEs. Innovation capability partially mediates the relationship between Cloud ERP implementation and firm performance, suggesting that ERP systems foster innovation, contributing to improved organizational outcomes. Furthermore, top management support moderates these relationships, highlighting its critical role in maximizing the benefits of ERP investments. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the transformative effects of Cloud ERP systems on SME performance, elucidating the mechanisms through which ERP adoption drives innovation and organizational success. The study's originality lies in its comprehensive examination of both direct and indirect pathways linking Cloud ERP to firm performance. It underscores the importance of strategic management and technological integration in enhancing SME competitiveness in the digital era
The Elements of Customer Relationship Management and Their Impact on Customer Satisfaction: A Study of Five-Star Hotels in Malaysia
Customer satisfaction is a crucial factor for the success of any business. One of the most significant challenges within the hospitality industry is identifying effective strategies to satisfy and retain customers. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between key elements of customer relationship management (CRM)—specifically quality of service, access to service, and service features—and their impact on customer satisfaction at five-star hotels in Malaysia. The study aimed to determine the extent to which CRM enhances overall customer satisfaction. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 384 local guests who had stayed at five-star hotels in Malaysia. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between the identified CRM elements and customer satisfaction. Notably, quality of service emerged as the most influential element, followed by access to services and the availability of service features. These findings underscore the critical importance of delivering high-quality service, ensuring seamless access to amenities, and providing comprehensive service features to enhance customer satisfaction. The study highlights the importance of implementing effective CRM strategies at five-star hotels to foster customer loyalty and maintain a competitive edge in Malaysia’s dynamic hospitality sector.
 
Perceived Value Dimensions and Guest Satisfaction: An Analysis of Functional, Social and Emotional Values in Five-Star Hotel Organizations
Customer satisfaction is one of the most essential measurements that indicates how well a company’s goods or services live up to the expectations of its clients. In the hotel industry, the level of customer satisfaction is represented by guest satisfaction. This study aims to explore factors that influence guest satisfaction in hotel organizations. Specifically, the study aims to examine the influence of perceived value dimensions, which are functional value, social value, and emotional value, on hotel guests’ satisfaction. A quantitative study approach has been adopted through online survey questionnaires involving 370 respondents who have prior experience staying in five-star hotel organizations. Data have been gathered and analyzed using a reliability test, descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analyses with the assistance of the IBM SPSS software. The data have indicated that the perceived value dimensions have a significant effect on the hotel guests’ satisfaction. The findings have revealed that social value and emotional value positively influence the hotel guests’ satisfaction with social value being the most significant factor. These results underscore the importance of the perceived value dimensions as the measurement of the hotel guests’ satisfaction. The study contributes to the limited number of studies that focus on the trend and antecedents of customer satisfaction in the hotel industry. Besides, it also serves as a foundation, inspiring future researchers to explore more on other factors that may shape guest satisfaction and how it contributes towards customer retention in hotel organizations
Exploring the Motivations, Challenges and Support Needs of Rural Entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe
Rural entrepreneurship has gained increasing attention as a crucial driver of sustainable development in Zimbabwe, with the potential to create jobs, foster inclusive economic growth, and improve livelihoods in marginalized communities. However, rural entrepreneurs in the country face unique challenges that often inhibit their ability to thrive and scale their ventures. This study aims to explore the experiences and support needs of rural entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, to inform the design of more effective, context-specific interventions. Through in-depth interviews with 30 rural entrepreneurs across various sectors in three rural development councils, the research delves into the key barriers they encounter, including limited access to finance, skills gaps, underdeveloped infrastructure, and fragmented entrepreneurial ecosystems. The findings reveal that rural entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe require a multidimensional support system that addresses their complex, interrelated needs. Tailored access to credit, business development services, and entrepreneurial training emerge as crucial components of this support structure. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of investing in rural infrastructure, fostering entrepreneurial networks and clusters, and leveraging the expertise of development organizations, private sector partners, and academic institutions. By adopting a holistic, collaborative approach to supporting rural entrepreneurs, Zimbabwe can harness the transformative potential of rural entrepreneurship to drive inclusive economic growth, create jobs, and improve livelihoods in marginalized communities. The insights from this study provide a valuable roadmap for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to develop impactful, context-relevant interventions that unlock the full potential of rural entrepreneurship in the country