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MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE IN A BULLISH MARKET DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS
No full textActive funds vs passive funds represent one of the most prominent investment decisions that ought to be undertaken by investors over the decades. Our paper seeks to offer an insight into the average performance of equity mutual funds during the period when there were roughly 70 ‘all-time-highs’ recorded by S&P 500 amid the COVID-19 health crisis. Additionally, our paper aims to explore the robustness and persistence of the explanatory powers of Morningstar sustainability globes, ratings from agencies and growth tilt during the health crisis. Our results indicated that the benchmark indexes seemed to dominate mutual funds in most cases during our sampling period. The ratings from Morningstar and/or Lipper together with growth investing appeared to be ideal elements to contemplate when making investment decisions during the COVID-19 health crisis.
DETERMINANTS OF THE LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE OF MALAYSIAN INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS
No full textThis study examined the determinants of the long-term performance of 351 initial public offerings (IPOs) launched in Malaysia overthe 2002–2010 period. This paper used a panel regression analysis framework based on the ordinary least squares (OLS) technique toexamine the potential determinants of IPOs’ long-term performance. The findings revealed that the volatility of aftermarket returns, the dummy ACE market and concentration ownership significantly influence the long-term performance of Malaysian IPOs. This paperoffers important implications specifically for investors as the findings can help them understand more about public companies’ long-term performance and how to better predict their performance.
Reprocolla: Requirements Prioritisation Model with Collaboration Perspectives Based on Cost-Value Approach
No full textThe process of ranking requirements in software development is made up of various criteria and numerous stakeholders, which are properly selected for the effective prioritisation of software requirements. These requirements have encountered several challenges, including lack of scalability, complexity of pairwise comparisons and biases due to the cognitive load on stakeholders. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate and find solutions to improve the software prioritisation process using the Reprocolla model. The model was built by weighing the criteria in terms of benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks (BOCR) classification, which were then calculated using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method. Furthermore, the selection of alternatives was computed using the fuzzy technique for order preference using the similarity to an ideal solution (FTOPSIS) method. The success of Reprocolla was evaluated using seven datasets based on real projects and compared with the two existing methods for prioritising requirements, FAHP and FTOPSIS. The experiment results used inferential and descriptive statistics approaches with three indicators: accuracy, time consumption, and ease of use. Based on the three indicators mentioned above, the inferential statistics showed no significant difference between the perspectives of clients and developers. Whereas, descriptive statistics found that Reprocolla is more accurate, consumes less time, and has the highest ease of use percentage. The result showed that as stakeholders’ satisfaction level increases, the software development process becomes more accurate, thereby leading to a decrease in time consumption and a rise in ease ofusage. The result also showed that the development of the Reprocolla tool, a collaboration between humans and machines, enhanced the effectiveness of the requirements prioritisation process
MATERIALS ADAPTATION OF IMPORTED CEFR TEXTBOOKS: TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES
No full textPurpose - This study aims to find out ESL teachers’ perceptions of imported CEFR textbooks currently in use in the classroom. Additionally, it seeks to determine how teachers have adapted and localized the contents of these books.
Methodology - A total of 331 lower secondary school teachers participated in the survey and six were selected for face-to-face interviews. A questionnaire, utilizing a semantic differential scale ranging from one to six, was administered to collect quantitative data, while qualitative data was gathered through a semi–structured interview protocol.
Findings - The results indicate that the majority of the teachers were fully aware of the CEFR imported textbooks currently being used in schools. Interestingly, more than half of the surveyed teachers (53.8%) agreed that these books were suitable and matched CEFR levels B1 and B2 set for the secondary school level.
Significance - Findings from the interviews highlighted the necessity for teachers to adapt materials, although it also meant extra workload for them. As expected, the teachers added, modified, and simplified the contents of the textbooks. In short, materials adaptation is inevitable as long as the imported CEFR textbooks remain the main teaching materials
UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION LOSS AND BEHAVIORAL DISENGAGEMENT OF TERTIARY STUDENTS IN FLEXIBLE LEARNING: A SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY PERSPECTIVE
No full textPurpose – Flexible learning is a delivery modality associated with positive outcomes, but its use at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with dark student experiences, such as poor interest and dishonesty among students. To understand how and why many tertiary students lost their motivation and became disengaged in pandemic-era flexible learning, this qualitative research was designed.
Methodology – A total of 27 tertiary students in five separate groups volunteered to be interviewed. A focus group discussion protocol was developed based on the propositions of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and this protocol produced about eight hours of narrative data in audio form. The researcher performed thematic analysis to make sense of the transcriptions of the data, and the initial codes and themes were subjected to an external audit for purposes of methodological integrity.
Findings – Eight need-thwarting behaviors of key social agents emerged, such as instructors’ rigid and negligent behaviors, peers’indifferent and selfish behaviors, and burdensome behaviors of people at home. These behaviors were tied to participants’ cognitiveappraisals of psychological need frustration that emerged in eight themes, which comprised having problems balancing school and home obligations, believing that outputs were misevaluated, and feelings of disconnection from peers. These appraisals could be related to seven themes of motivation and engagement issues reported by participants, notably amotivation, poor concentration, low effort, and dishonesty.
Significance – The findings highlight the importance of addressing these need frustrations in order to improve tertiary students’ motivation and engagement in academic tasks delivered through flexible learning in higher education
THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-INTERFERENCE CURTAILS ASEAN ACTION IN ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN MYANMAR
No full textThis article described and analyzed the dilemma faced by ASEAN under its non-interference principle in managing the human rightsissues in Myanmar. The presence of that principle severely curtails ASEAN’s firm action to promote and protect human rights stronglybased on the ASEAN’s commitment written in the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights (ADHR). This articleutilizes the qualitative research method supported by secondary data to provide an in-depth and comprehensive analysis. ASEAN’sprotection of human rights is reflected by its active conduct of regular discussions and engagements on human rights issues in the region, the adoption of the ADHR, and the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). Thehuman rights issues gained more attention in ASEAN in 1997 as the United States and European Union opposed the ASEAN decision toaccept Myanmar as a member on the grounds of the human rights violations record in Myanmar. The membership in ASEAN did notimprove the human rights record in Myanmar as ASEAN had hoped for. Myanmar embarked on other human rights violations, amongothers the Rohingya crisis (2012) and the military coup against the democratic government (2021) that sparked criticism from abroadand within ASEAN. This study concluded that the principle of noninterference has set the limit and curtailed ASEAN’s contributiontoward optimally addressing human rights violations in Myanmar. ASEAN may need in the future a new and comprehensive mechanism for addressing human rights violations. A stronger constructive engagement policy should be put in place to set a universal standard to protect human rights in the region.
COVID-19 AND CAPITALIST STRUCTURE: EVALUATING OF WORKING-CLASS INEQUALITY AND POLICY EFFECTIVENESS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has intensified global social inequalities and disrupted socio-economic stability, as recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study uses Marxist and critical theoretical frameworks to analyze how the pandemic has exacerbated class struggles and socio-economic disparities, focusing on the working and lower-middle classes in Southeast Asia. Through case studies of Indonesia and Malaysia, the research evaluates national policy responses designed to protect these groups. Employing a descriptive and qualitative methodology, including analysis of official data and media discourse, the study highlights how the pandemic has amplified existing contradictions within capitalist systems, leading to increased job losses and widening labor market inequalities. Despite the introduction of economic stimulus packages, these measures often fail to address the underlying systemic issues of capitalism that perpetuate class exploitation and inequality. The paper critiques the capitalist framework for exacerbating the challenges faced by the working class during the pandemic, arguing that these policies offer only temporary relief without tackling the root causes of socioeconomic disparities. This analysis underscores the need for a more transformative approach to understanding and addressing capitalist dynamics in Southeast Asia.
A COMPREHENSIVE CASE STUDY ON TRADITIONAL WEAVING OF WESTERN RAJASTHAN
No full textThe present paper discusses an age-old craft practised in India named Pattu weaving. This weaving technique is based on the extra weft weave design. Along with the ground warp and weft, few extra bright colored yarns are used in this technique to weave beautiful motifs on the fabric during the weaving process. The craft follows the sustainable way of fabric manufacturing as the fabrics are made on the handloom and follow the traditional ways for pre-weaving process also. The craft becomes more relevant in the present scenario considering the fact that for the last few decades unsustainable practices have increased drastically due to the imbalance of demand and supply, scarcity of natural resources, advent of unsustainable technologies among the other factors. While traditionally, sustainable practices were an integral part of the lifestyle of human beings and balanced the eco-system of the earth. One of the ways for balancing the natural energy consumption is utilization of all natural resources wisely by reinventing traditional craft practices. Hence, the present study focuses on the materials, tools, techniques and processes used in the Pattu weaving craft. PASTLE analysis of the craft has also been done to understand the opportunity and challenges of the craft. Along with this, a comparative analysis of the traditional and contemporary raw materials, techniques, motifs, colour range and application of the craft have also been covered in this paper. For this study, the primary research is based on the information that was collected during Craft Research Documentation activity funded by the Ministry of Textiles, India. Data from Secondary research has also been added to strengthen the analysis
IMPACT OF CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS ON SALES PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IN GHANA
No full textThe study investigates the impact of celebrity endorsements on the sales performance of the beverage industry in Ghana, specifically focusing on the dimensions of celebrity credibility, popularity, and acceptance as key measures of the effectiveness of such endorsements. It addresses a notable gap in the literature by providing a clearer understanding of the factors firms can utilize to assess the strengths and weaknesses of potential celebrity endorsers in the Ghanaian context, particularly within the beverage industry. Data were collected from 100 respondents selected from the beverage industry. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) and partial least squares (PLS) to explore the relationships between variables. The findings reveal significant relationships between celebrity endorsements and sales performance, confirming the importance of considering popularity and credibility as critical measures in selecting celebrity endorsers to promote products. Based on the analyses and interpretations, the study recommends that firms intensify their use of popularity and credibility, along with attention to the acceptance of celebrities, to promote their products and safeguard brand image effectively
Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship: A phenomenological study of mumpreneur business restraining and enabling factors
No full textIn Malaysia, women catalyze the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are increasingly important in maintaining economic growth and providing employment opportunities. The field of entrepreneurship is very dependent on the formation of individual capabilities in the business being undertaken, and these capabilities are significantly influenced by several restraining and enabling factors. This article explores the restraints and enablers that affect the business performance of managers from the Dapur Mawar project. A total of 15 mumpreneurs were involved in this study, selected through a purposive sampling technique. This study used semi-structured interviews, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study reveals several restraining factors: financial problems, societal stigma, and an imbalance between work and life. Meanwhile, the enabling factors include both internal and external elements, such as mindset, attitude, personality, competencies, government and agency support, and high-quality products and services. Overall, this study provides essential input on the factors that could determine the failure or success of a mumpreneur in their entrepreneurial activities. The findings proved that internal and external factors could play an essential role in the success of a mumpreneur