UUM e-journals System (Universiti Utara Malaysia)
Not a member yet
3544 research outputs found
Sort by
CONSUMERS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS CELL PHONE BRAND PREFERENCE: THE CASE OF BANGLADESH
No full textConsumers are becoming more interdependent and open as a result of globalization. Because of the idea of globalization, branding isessential to take into account from both the marketing and consumer viewpoints. The current study intends to determine Bangladeshicustomers’ preferences for cell phone brands based on global versus local perspectives and to comprehend the influencing factors and cell phone features that could affect users’ purchasing decisions. A structured questionnaire was used to survey 850 consumers selected through a simple random sampling technique for the study, and 593 of their responses were deemed sufficient to continue the research. According to the study’s findings, customers favored the Android operating system and the Samsung brand the most. The majority of consumers believed that having a cell phone’s ‘convenient’ usage was its best feature. The study also identified a range of preferred budgets for a new cell phone. Eventually, a new measurement model for cell phone brand preference factors among Bangladeshi consumers was excavated by the study. Only four of the nine items selected for measurement in the study were sufficient for validating the model. The study’s inability to pinpoint any local ethnocentrism for brand preference was one of its flaws. The study will contribute and originate the value with novel and significant implications for cell phone consumers to choose their preferred brands with quality of service, cell phone brand marketers, telecom service providers, payment gateway service providers, and their support systems, including producers, supply chain and industry experts, before and after-sale service providers, brand promoters, stakeholders, policymakers, and governments of various developing and developed countries to build up and implement brand strategies and policies in the global cell phone device and internet-connected digitalized era. As a result, consumers can achieve their greater perceived brand value, ensuring their desired level of satisfaction with highly cognitive brand preferences, brand trust, and brand loyalty to their expected cell phone brands.
IMPACTS OF GREEN SITE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON ENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION EFFICIENCY IN THE MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
No full textThis study aims to investigate the impacts of green site management on corporate environmental and economic performances by improving the efficiency of energy and water consumption at construction sites. The identified green site management has been proven to improve both environmental and economic performances. This study allows practitioners to study and advocate for appropriate green site management strategies. A qualitative method was carried out since this research focused on the construction players’ opinions on green site management practices. Five contractors were selected randomly from the construction sites in Malaysia based on the convenience sampling method. All selected respondents were qualified to give opinions as they held management posts. The results have shown green site management practices can reduce the consumption of resources and improve energy efficiency management and water consumption management, which are considered to have a positive impact on the construction project’s environmental and economic performance. The findings also revealed that green site management practicesimplementation must not affect their economic performance, such as increasing the construction cost with high initial and maintenance costs. As the construction industry consumes a vast amount of water and energy daily, these consumption reductions can help construction sites achieve energy efficiency and utilize natural resources, eventually improving corporate environmental and economic performance. Thus, green practices must be implemented to bring sustainable development to the construction industry
Colour Image Enhancement Model of Retinal Fundus Image for Diabetic Retinopathy Recognition
No full textDiabetic retinopathy (DR) features are typically identified through ophthalmologist eye examinations, but these images often facechallenges like low contrast, non-uniform illumination, and colour inconsistency, affecting the diagnosis accuracy. Therefore, this studyintroduces two novel techniques to improve image quality. One is applying colour image processing techniques to original retinalfundus images, overcoming existing algorithm limitations. Firstly, a new colour correction algorithm was proposed based on TunedBrightness Controlled Single-Scale Retinex (TBCSSR) named Fuzzy TBCSSR Histogram Matching (fTBCSSRhm) to address the issue of colour inconsistency in the dataset. Secondly, based on hybrid particle swarm optimisation-contrast stretch (HPSOCS), the hybridof TBCSSR and HPSOCS named eTBCSSR-HPSOCS algorithm is introduced to tackle the limitations of the standard Particle SwarmOptimisation (PSO) algorithm in HPSOCS, which is prone to local optima and exhibits low convergence rates. This technique combinesthe L-component of the LAB colour model with an enhanced velocity mechanism in PSO and contrast stretching (lavHPSOCS). Its goalis to fine-tune parameters automatically, reduce over-enhancement, avoid unwanted artefacts, and preserve intricate details. This approach improves optimisation by balancing exploration and exploitation and refining velocity control. The proposed algorithm underwent both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Tests on 100 retinal fundus images from primary datasets were performed to benchmark the algorithm against three existing approaches. The results show that the qualitative performance of the proposed enhancement is more favourable to ophthalmologist specialists than other images. Quantitatively, eTBCSSR-HPSOCS outperforms others with the lowest mean squared error (MSE) of 42.72859, the highest peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 32.768, and entropy of 0.977
EXPLORING MISSING LEARNING PHENOMENON IN PRESCHOOL SETTINGS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES
No full textPurpose –This study aims to explore the missing learning phenomenon due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic in preschool settings from teachers’ perspectives in Selangor, Malaysia. Related studies have shown that missing learning phenomena from different settings leads to delayed literacy development and raises the risk of dropping out among children. There is a lack of in-depth documentation on the missing learning phenomenon among preschoolers exploring the socioecology of preschool settings in a local context.
Methodology –This research employed a case study approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with six preschool teachers from Selangor, Malaysia, using an inductive approach for a holistic understanding of the missing learning phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analyzed using Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), NVivo version 12 software, which mapped the findings to understand further the ecosystem behind the preschoolers’ absence of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings – Three major themes were revealed from the data: the missing learning demographic, socioecological factors, and mitigation plans. Several sub-themes (the compensative learning solutions, the demographic of impacted people, the delayed progress, teachers’ readiness to facilitate online learning, engagement towards online learning, revised syllabus, personalized learning, and parental involvement) are classified under the respective major themes. Several main categories also emerged from the themes: lack of experiences and technology-pedagogical knowledge, unavailable online modules, low readiness to utilize online learning, unsupportive family climate, and accessibility. Learning intervention and online engagement with pupils during the pandemic are crucial in ensuring a successful continuous education.
Significance – There is also a need for comprehensive remote instructional modules that consider socioecological actors – parentsand home climate; in the future and the enhanced instructional technology competency among preschool teachers.
REVIEWING THE INDO-PACIFIC POLICY OF FRANCE: CAN GAULLISM SHINE, AND HOW?
No full textIn the context of escalating global geopolitical concerns over the Indo-Pacific region, France stands out among its European counterparts for being the earliest state to recognize the region’s significance. This distinction has prompted key research questions in the following three areas: the motivation behind France’s Indo-Pacific policy, whether France’s actions deviate from its Gaullist foreign policy tradition, and the potential effectiveness of these actions. To address these questions, this paper conducted a careful qualitative examination of France’s Indo-Pacific policy development and characteristics. The findings revealed that France’s Indo-Pacific policy is motivated by three key interests, namely security, economy, and leadership. This paper also found that France’s policy actions reflected both a continuation and modification of the Gaullist tradition, evident in President Macron’s mix of cooperation and skepticism toward the United States (US) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Concerning policy effectiveness, France’s status as a regional and middle power implies significant constraints in its physical capabilities, which hinder its ability to alleviate tension arising from the US–China competition, the dominant forces shaping the regional political-economic dynamics. Nevertheless, France’s expanding presence and enhanced softpower influence in the Indo-Pacific region have the potential to yield increased bargaining leverage in its interaction with the US and China.
COMPETITIVE CREATIVITY BETWEEN TALENT MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE QUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM JORDAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR
No full textTalent management encompasses a wide range of human resources management practices aimed at attracting and developing talented employees. This study examines the impact of talent management on service quality in Jordanian information technology companies, focusing on the perspective of talented employees and the role of competitive creativity. Data was collected from 341 employees at thirty different Jordanian companies using stratified random sampling techniques. The collected data was then analyzed using SPSS and AMOS SPSS analysis techniques to test the conceptual framework. The study findings demonstrate a significant positive impact of talent management on improving service quality, mediated through the indirect influence of competitive creativity. Furthermore, the direct effects of talent management practices such as talent attraction and talent succession planning were found to have a significant positive effect on service quality. On the other hand, the study reveals that other talent management practices, such as talent development, have a negative direct effect on service quality. Given that this study is the first to investigate the mediating role of competitive creativity between talent management and service quality in Jordan, the limitations of the study were carefully considered
EXPLORING PERSONAL RESOURCES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH WORK ENGAGEMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
No full textThis systematic review of 55 empirical studies explores the relationship between personal resources and work engagement in various work environments. Its contribution is threefold: first, to identify the constructs that illustrate the ability of personal resources; second, to analyse current methods for studying personal resources and highlighting their limitations in theoretical generalisation; and third, to examine the role of personal resources to influence work engagement. The review identifies notable gaps in existing research and offers valuable perspectives to promote employee engagement in different professional settings. Findings highlight the need for cultural and sector-specific research to understand diverse responses to job demands and resources. It suggests the integration of emerging constructs like growth mindset and emotional intelligence into these models and emphasises the need for a more varied methodological approach, including longitudinal and qualitative studies. Additionally, it highlights the need to explore the impact of social, cultural, and technological factors in this relationship. An implication from this study is that organisations can improve job satisfaction, reduce turnover intentions, and enhance overall performance by creating a supportive environment that encourages personal resources. This can be achieved through offering training and development programmes, fostering a positive work culture, and ensuring a balance between job demands and resources
E-GOVERNMENT PRACTICES AND ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIA LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
No full textE-Government is implemented to enhance the quality and performance of services in the public sector. Malaysia faces various issues and challenges in developing e-Government, including weaknesses in organisational performance. To manage the services, continuous effort and cooperation from all parties involved in administration are necessary. This study explores the literature on e-Government and organisational performance to see the breadth of e-Government\u27s contribution to the performance of the local government sector. An empirical study using quantitative research methods was conducted on local government in Malaysia. A total of 149 questionnaires were distributed to local authorities in Malaysia, from which 87 questionnaires were completed and returned. The study findings indicate that the implementation of e-Government does not have a significant impact on organisational performance. The difference results may be attributed to variations in the e-Government development index between developed and developing countries. Additional factors, such as the difference acceptance level and challenges in implementation may further affect the outcomes. It is possible that other intermediate factors or variables exist within the relationship, which could allow for the study to be tested indirectly
AUDIT CERTIFICATE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INDEX LEVEL OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN KEDAH, 2002-2019
No full textFinancial Management Accountability Index is a government indicator to empowers the level of financial compliance of public agencies. Previous studies often outlined issues related to leakage and misuse of funds among public officials. Therefore, this article generally examines the financial management performance of Local Authorities or Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) in Kedah for the year 2002 to 2019. Several years of data were obtained from the National Audit Report and descriptive analysis in the form of patterns and trends was made to identify the type of audit certificate and accountability index score (IA) of financial management issued by the National Audit Department (JAN) on financial reporting of 11 PBTs in Kedah. The results show that there are no significant differences from the findings by other researchers in the last two decades. It has been found that the majority of 63 per cent (n = 7) PBTs still get a Reprimanded Certificate (UO), often involving record registers such as Vote Book, Capital Assets Register, and Log Book that is not satisfactorily maintained in addition to expenses over approved allocation. However, the overall IA issued by JAN from 2007 to 2019 showed an “Excellent” score of 33.9 per cent (n = 20), a “Good” of 59.3 per cent (n = 35) and a “Satisfactory” of 6.8 per cent (n = 4 ) to 11 PBTs in Kedah. During those 18 years, most of the PBTs in Kedah worked to increase the level of accountability and compliance of their respective financial management shown by better records every year
STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN NIGERIA: A CASE OF FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLE
No full textThe implementation of policies by the government appears to be ineffective in using the Federal Character Principle (FCP) as a case study. The FCP, which was enacted to guarantee the distribution of employment in Nigeria’s public service, appears to not be achieving its goal as the disparity in the distribution of employment remains inherent in the civil service. Disparity perfectly describes the distribution of employment in the Nigerian civil service, regardless of the enactment of the FCP. Subsequently, this paper endeavours to investigate techniques that would guarantee the viable implementation of the FCP in Nigeria’s civil service. The paper sourced its data from secondary sources and relevant documents. The paper revealed that strategies that can ensure the FCP can be effectively implemented include the application of a Tribunal, the inclusion of civil society in the implementation of the enabling laws and ensuring that officers of the commission are not appointed based on party affiliation. The paper recommends that sanctions should be used for defaulters of the policy