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Smart Farming: Challenges and Adoption Factors among Paddy Farmers in IADA Barat Laut, Selangor
Get PDFEnhancing farm production through smart farming technology is crucial for addressing the challenges of achieving food security and improving the well-being of farmers. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2), which is intended to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition while improving livelihood, smart farming integrates technologies such as IoT, drones, and artificial intelligence into agricultural practices. This innovation optimizes input like water, fertilizer, and pesticide, reduces operation costs, and increases productivity and profits. Food security in Malaysia is measured based on the adequacy of the population's domestic rice supply. Smart farming offers a transformative approach to modern agriculture, focusing on increasing value while reducing costs. Therefore, this study aims to explore challenges and adoption factors among paddy farmers in Barat Laut Selangor, under the administration of the Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA). An exploratory qualitative study involved the interview approach with selected rice farmers who applied smart farming as suggested by IADA. The thematic analysis was used to understand the factors that contribute to the adoption of smart farming among rice farmers and its challenges. This research is critical, given Malaysia is moving towards a high-income country, where sustainability becomes the main agenda in any sector specifically agriculture; and the country has acknowledged the importance of food security assurance. By identifying the challenges and adoption factors, this study aims to provide actionable insights to support sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen Malaysia's food security framework
Waqf-Based Social Business: A Financial Alternative to Private Tahfiz Institutions
Get PDFTahfiz institutions are now gaining popularity among Malaysians, and they have a lot of potential to be part of the mainstream education system. The growing demand for Tahfiz has resulted in a rise in the number of Tahfiz institutions in Malaysia especially private Tahfiz owned by individuals. However, most of the private Tahfiz institutions in Malaysia face financial constraints and struggle to obtain sufficient funding for their operations and infrastructure development. This may affect the operation of Tahfiz institutions in general. Therefore, the lack of funds has had many direct and indirect effects on the operation of Tahfiz institutions. Lack of resources, especially financial, hinders the institution's ability to provide a conducive learning environment for students. Tahfiz institutions in Malaysia are completely dependent on student fees as their main source of funds. Thus, this paper aims to propose the role of waqf as an alternative to help Tahfiz institutions, especially private Tahfiz in ensuring the sustainability of their operations. A review of existing literature on waqf education, development of private Tahfiz, and financial constraint. A proposed model was developed to assist the financial burden of private Tahfiz through a Waqf-based Social Business model
The Role of Behavioral Factors in Climate Change Donations
Get PDFEnvironmental non-profit organizations play a crucial role in fighting climate change. Most of them rely on donations from small donors whose donation decisions tend to be affected by personal factors. We examine the effects of behavioral factors on donations to climate change charities through a survey conducted among a group of participants with relatively homogenous demographic characteristics such as family wealth and educational background. We find that a potential donor’s donation amount is strongly affected by his or her perception of the effectiveness of environmental charities in fighting climate change. Among participants who pay more attention when filling out the survey, the persuasion tactic featuring factual information related to climate change appears to be most effective. Lastly, participants who feel good about having given to climate change charities are associated with larger donations, highlighting the effect of the psychological benefits of giving. Our study contributes to the behavioral economics literature by focusing on donors’ perspectives when examining the drivers behind charitable giving to climate change mitigation charities. Our findings suggest that climate charities should account for the effects of behavioral factors that best influence potential donors to improve fundraising success
Challenges and Opportunities in the Halal Pharmaceutical Industry in Malaysia
Get PDFFollowing the global significance of halal pharmaceutical products, Malaysia has positioned itself as a key manufacturer to increase industrial demand. This study examines Malaysia's halal pharmaceutical industry by internalizing consumer preferences for halal pharmaceuticals and the associated complexities. The data derived from literature reviews were subjected to documentation analysis. Consumer preference was substantially influenced by religious beliefs, product quality, and health concerns. Halal certification, cross-contamination concerns, and regulatory compliance were the key issues underlying halal pharmaceutical products. Overall, this empirical work expanded the current literature with pivotal insights into the future developments of halal pharmaceuticals in Malaysia. Industry players, policymakers, and stakeholders can utilize such knowledge to develop strategies that enhance the halal pharmaceutical industry and meet Muslim consumers’ preferences
Exploring Rewards Systems and Turnover Intention among Malaysian Private University Academics: The Role of Continuance Commitment as a Mediator
Get PDFThis research employed an empirical approach in overviewing the relationship between five independent variables namely, remuneration, work-life balance, supervisor support, and employee recognition and the intention of turnover by means of employees' continuance commitment. The study comprises a total of 331 academics from the four private universities that were selected. This study utilized a structured survey to collect data, drawing on publicly available literature to inform the survey's design. Building upon a comprehensive review of existing literature, the survey instrument was tailored to address the specific research objectives of this study, incorporating modifications as deemed necessary. The analysis presented in this chapter offers a detailed examination of both the measurement and structural models employed in the study. The measurement model rigorously assessed the reliability and validity of the measurement instruments, ensuring that indicators met established criteria for accuracy and precision. Subsequent Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses revealed that neither direct nor mediated paths achieved statistical significance, indicating a lack of empirical support for the hypothesized relationships among the variables under investigation. This comprehensive evaluation provides valuable insights into the methodological rigor of the study and highlights avenues for future research exploration
The Trend of Halal Cosmetics Supply Chain Research in a Decade: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Get PDFThe Halal cosmetics sector has risen in recent years, and it has received attention from academics and practitioners. Prior works on halal studies have examined food and beverage, but not the supply chain of halal cosmetics. This study aims to explore the distributions and trends of the halal cosmetics supply chain and to identify the gap in this research domain. The integrated systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis were employed to gain insight and evaluate the literature of this study. Based on the reviewed articles, the number of published halal cosmetics supply chain studies is limited. Data were obtained from the Scopus database, resulting in a limited dataset of 58 articles published between 2012 and 2023. Several tools and software were utilized for data extraction and analysis, including Publish or Perish, Excel Spreadsheet, and VOS Viewer. Co-citations analysis and co-words analysis were used to map the trends of publications and distinguish current research potentials. The findings reported the top authors of this research area, the main sub-research areas, and the most cited articles. In addition, new research directions in the realm of halal cosmetics supply chains were offered. Future academics could investigate new study clusters of the halal cosmetics supply chain empirically
The Practice of Enterprise Risk Management and Sustainable Performance in Jordan
Get PDFThe primary objective of any organization is to minimize risks and losses while optimizing values, revenues and returns. Therefore, risk management, which is often referred to as risk identification, likelihood of occurrence, and impact on the business, is essential. Recent corporate catastrophes have brought to light how inadequately corporations handle risks. In reaction to these challenges, organizations have shifted from separate and personalized procedures to a more comprehensive and integrated enterprise risk management (ERM) perspective in their risk management strategies. To address these new global sustainable challenges which include hunger, poverty, high unemployment, climate change, and related issues, businesses should place a strong priority on environmental preservation and social responsibility. Jordan is one of the countries dealing with several issues related to sustainability. The sustainable performance of Jordanian firms deserves further attention. Managers in Jordanian industrial businesses must keep a close eye on how the company's environmental environment is being improved to reduce air pollution, the usage of hazardous materials, and other difficulties. Therefore, companies in Jordan must adopt strategies that will allow them to face this issue to improve their social, environmental, and economic performance. Jordan's manufacturing and service industries should be at the forefront of a comprehensive approach to risk management and board monitoring, given the growing concerns regarding the environment, society, and economy. Since ERM is a relatively new concept, its implementation in Jordanian industrial and service companies is still in its early stages. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive research regarding the ERM in Jordan
Students Perceptions Towards Relevance of Tertiary Education
Get PDFThis research examines students' perceptions of higher education's broader benefits beyond job skills. It emphasizes societal advantages like environmental awareness, well-being, and civic engagement. Focused on 98 international business students at UiTM, it aims to understand factors affecting their self-esteem, particularly the link between academic prowess, social skills, and views on higher education's practical value. The study reveals strong ties between academic ability, social skills, and the importance ascribed to higher education, stressing the need for a holistic educational approach. It suggests future research areas to deepen understanding of tertiary education's relevance and societal impact. Additionally, it proposes ways for institutions to enhance students' appreciation of university education, fostering active engagement and community contribution. Overall, the research contributes to understanding the multifaceted significance of higher education, emphasizing the importance of considering academic and social competencies for informed decision-making and effective educational practices
A Conceptual Paper in Developing Model of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems to Boost Graduate Entrepreneurs Through Longitudinal Study
Get PDFHigh unemployment among university graduates in Malaysia is concerning. Factors contributing to the university ecosystem that support the creation of student and graduate entrepreneurs remain debatable. The OCDC Entrepreneurial Ecosystems framework is the reference for most universities, and evaluating the weaknesses and strengths in the ecosystem pillars at the university level allows for clarity on relevant variables. The main objective of this study is to reconsider the model in the context of Malaysian universities that will enhance student entrepreneurial growth to create jobs and generate income while lowering unemployment and improving GDP. The study will use a longitudinal qualitative multiple-case study approach through a focus group using semi-structured questions with three groups of participants. Samples will be selected using a purposeful random sampling technique. Two top management, three students involved in business while studying, and three entrepreneur alumni from UiTM, UPM, and USM will be interviewed since these universities were awarded the MOHE Entrepreneurial Awards. Data will be analyzed using thematic analysis via NVivo software. This study will contribute to implementing an entrepreneurial ecosystem model according to Malaysia's public university setting. Recommendations to the university and MOHE will be provided based on the findings to enhance students’ involvement in entrepreneurship while still at university. The government can improve on appropriate regulations in providing resources and budget based on this research findings so that the university can serve as an ‘incubator’ for driving university students to become job creators
Trust, Social Influence and Perceived Usefulness: Examining Online Purchase Intentions among Gen Z
Get PDFThe growing popularity of online shopping collides with user reservations related to trust, social influence, and perceived purchase usefulness, with such concerns acutely observable among Gen Z populations. As digital natives and prolific online users, Gen Z's purchasing patterns offer valuable insights for marketers adjusting their online strategies. This study extends the body of knowledge by examining the determinants of online purchase intentions among Gen Z thereby guiding university administrators, educators, and online retailers in crafting improved online shopping experiences. Utilizing a non-intrusive, naturalistic research setting, the study harnesses an anonymous survey methodology, and data is rigorously analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Findings indicate that trust and perceived usefulness are significantly connected to students' online purchasing decisions. This study enhances the theory of online buying habits by emphasizing trust and value in e-commerce. It advises adding trust cues and functional benefits to online portals, the key to influencing Gen Z buyers and boosting market expansion and e-shopper satisfaction