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Causal Effects of Triz Engineering Design Knowledge on Engineering Design Creativity Among the Undergraduate Engineering Students
No full textMalaysia is heading towards innovative economy that emphasizes creativity and innovation. Engineers are required to be more creative and innovative to be globally competitive. As such, engineering education is instilling creativity and innovative skills among undergraduate engineering students through engineering design using the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). TRIZ has been taught in engineering courses in several higher institutions in Malaysia. However, there is insufficient empirical study on the causal effects of TRIZ engineering design knowledge on the actual improvement of engineering design creativity among undergraduate engineering students in Malaysia. The theoretical framework of the present study consists of one exogenous construct (TRIZ engineering design knowledge), two mediating constructs (engineering design self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation), one moderating construct (instructor support) and one endogenous construct (engineering design creativity). Survey was carried out on 302 undergraduate engineering students in three local institutions who have received TRIZ training. The data were analysed through a process of multivariate analysis namely Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software version 21. The result showed that TRIZ engineering design knowledge, engineering design self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation have significant positive effect on engineering design creativity. Engineering design self-efficacy has significant positive effect on intrinsic motivation. Both engineering design self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation partially mediated the relationship between TRIZ engineering design knowledge and engineering design creativity. The instructor support does not act as the moderator between TRIZ engineering design knowledge and engineering design creativity. The findings contribute significantly to the teaching of TRIZ in engineering education. (Abstract by Author
Factors Influencing Employee Work Performance in the Water Utility Industry in the State of Selangor
Get PDFClean water is essential for health and well-being. Everyone has the right to access clean drinking water for their basic needs. However, in 2013, WHO and UNICEF reported that a total of 1.3 billion people did not have access to safe water. Malaysian government has embarked on water sector reformation effort and constitutional amendment to make the water utility industry sector more efficient as well as to improve the customer orientation of service provision. Although the supply of treated water has achieved a relatively high standard, unfortunately, the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rate is currently at 35 percent which is considered as a major inefficiency in water industry that must be addressed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the factors influencing the employee work performance in water utility industry. This study will explore the factor of organisational commitment, transformational leadership, job characteristics among employees of water utility industry which may influence the employee work performance with the mediating effect of employee engagement. Studies have examined the relationship between these factors but there is no clear and comprehensive answer especially in relation to work performance in the water utility industry. A self-administered approach is deployed to collect data from 455 respondents comprising of the executive and non-executive employees of Pengurusan Air Selangor Berhad. The findings revealed that factors of organisation commitment and transformational leadership had no significant relationship, while job characteristics was confirmed to have a significant relationship with employee work performance in water utility industry in the state of Selangor. The findings also revealed that all other three indirect hypotheses used in this study were supported. These provide evidences on the role played by employee engagement as a mediator variable between organisation commitment, transformational leadership and job characteristics with work performance among the employees of water utility industry. Future study should consider conducting longitudinal and qualitative studies to re-examine the dynamic nature of the effects of organisational commitment, transformational leadership, job characteristics and employee engagement on employee work performance to provide further insights regarding the probable outcome. This approach will also enable future researchers to get deeper insights and understanding of the problem setting. (Abstract by Author
Online Purchasing Trend in the Retail Industry in Saudi
Get PDFThe concept of online shopping is very popular in the present market scenario. The current trend is indicating the fact that people prefer to shop online because it is easier ad convenient for them. Organizations can easily understand the buying behaviour of the customers by considering different theoretical approaches. The study has indicated that in Saudi Arabia the current trend of online purchasing is at the higher level. People frequently shop online and it is expected that the
rate of online shopping in the retail industry in Saudi Arabia will growth further. This study was carried on by using the primary data, which was collected through survey. Survey was conducted with 100 customers in the retail industry in Malaysia. The study
used the positivism philosophy for the investigation. The findings in this study are highly important for understanding the latest scenario in the retail industry in Saudi Arabia. The study showed
the fact that the people in Saudi Arabia are fond of online shopping. The people are highly motivated for online shopping because of several reasons or benefits that they can enjoy. The findings will be used in the future researches for understanding how the online retail market in Saudi has been developed. This will help to understand the reasons for which the people in this country prefer to shop online. This will also indicate the growth opportunity in the online retailing in Saudi Arabia. The overall findings in this study are highly useful for getting a clear knowledge about the online retailing in Saudi Arabi
Investigating Employees’ Tenure and Performance among Middle Managers: The Moderating Role of Psychological Empowerment
Get PDFThis study aims to analyses the influence of one important demographic variable, employees’
tenure at their organizations towards improving and enhancing employee performance
among supervisory level staff in the ceramic tile manufacturing industry. Based on the
literature discussed, the role of psychological empowerment will also be studied to see if it
has any moderating influence on the relationship between employee’s tenure and their
performance. Using the quantitative method, the population for this study was 239. The
primary data was gathered in the form of questionnaires with a Likert-type scale which was
then analyzed using multiple regression methods. The results of the study have shown that
employees’ tenure has an influence on their performance but in the presence of psychological
empowerment, tenure does not improve performance. (Abstract by authors
Gender Boardroom Quotas: A Survey of Malaysian Corporate Directors
No full textA number of countries have introduced gender boardroom quotas by which firms are required to appoint at
least a certain number or proportion of women to their boards. Subsequently, the government of Malaysia, in
2011, introduced the policy of having at least 30 percent women on corporate boards. This study seeks the
opinion of corporate directors on whether they are supportive of the policy. In addition, we examine if the
characteristics of the respondents influence their opinion. A questionnaire survey was conducted on a sample
of 84 directors who sit on the boards of listed companies in Malaysia. A majority of the respondents believe
that there should not be any quota for both genders. Some of the respondents comment that it is not gender
that matters; what is more important is the quality of individuals who sit on the board. We find that women
are indifferent, while a majority of the men do not agree with the policy. In addition, directors who have a
family relationship with any other directors tend not to favour the policy, compared to those who do not have
any family relationship. We also find that a majority of the respondents do not agree that women directors
could enhance firm financial performance and social responsibility activities; neither do a majority of them
agree that women could curb unethical conducts. This study is important to the policymakers in that the results
provide insights on the issue of whether the 30 percent quota is necessary. (Abstract by authors
Antecedents of Students’ Loyalty: the Case of an Open and Distance Learning Institution
Get PDFResearch on student loyalty has predominantly concentrated on traditional university
setting and on full time students and very less concentrated on open distance learning
universities where the students are part time students. The purpose of this research is to
examine the relationship between the factors leading to student loyalty in open distance
learning universities. Specifically, the objective of this research is to examine the
relationship between Perceived Service Quality, Perceived E-Service Quality, and
University Image as mediator on Student Loyalty in Open University Malaysia.
Data was collected from students pursuing their studies at Open University Malaysia.
Data was collected from sixteen learning centres throughout Malaysia. A purposive
convenient sampling technique was used for this research where a sample size of 752
respondents was obtained. Analysis from the data indicated there was a positive
significant relationship between Perceived Service Quality and University Image.
Perceived Service Quality was also found to have a positive significant relationship with
Student Loyalty. Similarly, it was also found that there was a positive significant
relationship between Perceived E-Service Quality and University Image. Perceived EService
Quality was also found to have a positive significant relationship with Student
Loyalty. University Image was also discovered to act as a mediator for the relationship
between Perceived Service Quality and Student Loyalty. Similarly University Image was
also discovered to act as a mediator for the relationship between Perceived E-Service
Quality and Student Loyalty.
This research has provided a measurement scale specific to measuring service quality to
open distance learning universities and facilitate in improving the marketing strategies in
open distance learning universities. (Abstract by Author
Evaluation of an Alternative Education Programme for Undocumented Children in Sabah: a Case Study
No full textThis study is an evaluative case study of the Alternative Education Programme (AEP) offered by an Alternative Learning Centre (ALC) in Sabah, Malaysia. Adopting a qualitative research approach based on the CIPP Model of Evaluation by Stufflebeam (1983), seven research questions were formulated to determine the context, input, implementation, and outcomes of the programme from the perspectives and narratives of the stakeholders in this ALC - the target group (community and parents), implementors (Head Teacher and teachers), and students (current and past). The semi-structured interviews with individuals and focus groups were analysed by way of the matrix method. This, together with findings from analysis of documents and class observations, generated insight into the context i.e. role and significance of the AEP and the ALC in the community and the level of support, importance and expectation placed upon the education provided. Findings on the input aspect pointed towards a lack of resources both physical (facilities and trained teachers) and financial (upkeep of ALC dependent on donations and sporadic funding). In terms of process, although there was congruency between the planning and implementation, several emergent issues were identified which
ALC education were demonstrated through increased cognitive and affective skills, with these acquired knowledge utilised to secure jobs as teacher assistants, retail assistants, and in small private enterprises. The findings of the study raise implications on the depth and value of the education provided in the ALC in general. Among these are the need for (i) validation of the teaching and learning in the form of a more tangible or defined curriculum, (ii) alignment of learning content to those offered in government schools, (iii) extension of schooling beyond Year 6, (iv) trained and qualified teaching personnel, (v) involvement of stakeholders (corporations, government bodies and agencies) to alleviate funding challenges, and (vi) the eventual integration or inclusion of ALC learning as a form of acceptable pathway for further education and better job opportunities (Abstract by Author
Continual Quality Improvement of Online Course Delivery Using Perceived Course Learning Outcomes
No full textThe objective of an education programme is to enable its learners to successfully achieve the programme outcomes. Programme outcomes can be effectively mapped into the courses within a programme. The achievement of the course learning outcomes can therefore be used to indicate the achievement of the programme outcomes. In an effort to ensure the continuous quality improvement of the education services offered, the Open University Malaysia uses a survey instrument to capture the perception of learners on the contributions of the various parts of online course delivery in their achievement of the expected learning outcomes. Such learners' perceptions are seen important in sustaining their motivation and persistence in completing their studies. There are 19 items measured using 5-point Likert scales and one open-ended response. The items cover the online course delivery parts including course module, workload, resources, learning tasks, online forum interactions, assessments, learning platform, overall online course organisation and the learning experience. Additional items measuring the learners' motivation, attitude, engagement and satisfaction were also included. The targeted population in this study are all the learners in 40 fully online courses offered in January 2017 semester. The findings help the university to identify the perceived effectiveness of the aspects of the online course delivery and the correlations between the items to the learners' motivation, attitude, engagement and satisfaction. Multiple regressions were also used to analyse the relationships. The output is an online course evaluation system that facilitates continual quality improvement efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
Identifying Factors Affecting Choice of Counseling Theory among Counselors in Malaysia
No full textPsychotherapy theory is an essential element in effective counselling
sessions. The theories used not only assist the counsellors in handling their
sessions with appropriate techniques, but also guide the counsellors to
conceptually understand the issues that are confronted by the client. The
purpose of this study is to identify the potential factors leading to the choice of
counselling theory among counsellors in Malaysia. This study is intended to
analyse the main reasons behind counsellors’ choice of theoretical orientation
in their readiness to provide counselling services in Malaysia. Sixty
questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected counsellors. However,
only thirty-one (n=31) were accepted for analysis using percentage and
mean. A quantitative approach was used, where the participants completed
an instrument named Theoretical Contributing Factors Scale which consists
of nine (9) sub-scales of potential factors. The findings demonstrated that
internal factors were the most significant contributing factors for the
participants in selecting their counselling theoretical orientation. This study
will also encourage other researchers to explore further the factors that
contribute to theoretical orientation selection among practicing counsellors in
a larger sample. (Abstract by authors
Indirect Relationship between Leadership Style, Organisational Commitment and Academic Employee Performance in Malaysian Online Distance Learning Institutions
No full textThe purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating effect of
organizational commitment on leadership style and employee performance
relationships in Malaysian online distance learning higher institutions. To
analyse the causal relationships among organisational commitment,
leadership style and employee performance, the Structural Equation Model
was adopted. The model utilises the Partial Least Square procedure on data
collected from a survey that yielded 206 usable questionnaires. The results
showed that leadership style enhances organisational commitment in
Malaysian online distance learning higher institutions. It also revealed that
organisational commitment mediates the relationship between leadership style
and employee performance. It is vital to do the research utilising experimental
design by using longitudinal data in Malaysian online distance learning higher
institutions via vigorous measures. The findings suggest that the relationship
between leadership style and employee performance may reside in the
influence of organisational commitment on employee performance, and that
organisational commitment plays a crucial role in the Malaysian online
distance learning higher institutions. This research is one of the first known
efforts to use the bootstrapping technique to test the significance of the
mediation effect in Malaysian online distance learning higher institutions. (Abstract by authors