231 research outputs found
Perception of service quality in Higher Education: perspective of Iranian students of Malaysian Universities
No full textThis article presents a gap analysis by measuring the perception and expectation of service quality in higher education from the perspectives of Iranian postgraduate students. This article first tries to understand the phenomenon for Iranian students to change their preference from studying in universities in the West to those in the East, particularly Malaysia. In addition, this article seeks to assess their perceptions of service quality in the new environment based on a modified service quality (SERVQUAL) instrument to measure five constructs: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. After conducting a pilot study, the instrument was administered to 163 Iranian postgraduates who were selected based on stratified sampling on the top five public universities in Malaysia. The analysis started with descriptive analysis followed by factor and reliability analyses. Single mean t-tests were then conducted to assess the significance of the gaps based on all the 35 items of the modified SERVQUAL. The study uncovered that all of the items and constructs measuring the gaps are significantly negative with empathy representing the construct with the highest gap (-0.681), followed by reliability (-0.673), responsiveness (-0.670), assurance (-0.612) and tangible (-0.601)
A proposed model to enhance crisis management capabilities of electricity production and supply companies in Pakistan
No full textCrisis management (CM) is considered to be of growing importance in the management of utilities. A wealth of literature on crisis stresses on the need to enhance crisis management capabilities such as decision making, and leadership. Such capabilities are already in practice in the developed countries but have been mostly ignored in developing countries like Pakistan. Because of the neglect of the crisis management capabilities particularly in relation to utilities, Pakistan is facing acute shortage of electricity which is the life and blood of the industrial development in the country. Due to the electricity crisis, many of the industries have been forced to shut down and hundreds of thousands have become unemployed. The present study is an attempt to propose a framework that would help enhance the crisis management capabilities of the companies involved in electricity production and supply. A comprehensive review of literature has been carried out in order to propose a conceptual framework accordingly
Identification and classification of the implementation of Knowledge Management factors in Malaysian construction consulting companies: an exploratory study
No full textEver since knowledge has become an important corporate asset, Knowledge Management (KM) has become a critical concern for construction consulting companies to create and sustain their competitive advantage. Therefore, an exploratory research was conducted to identify and classify the methods of implementing key KM faktors in Malaysian construction consulting companies using a three-round Delphi technique study to identify and rank critical components of Knowledge Management (KM) principles for construction consulting companies. Subsequently, faktor analysis was used to generate variables for the KM faktors and the results are compared with the original groupings identified from the first level of the research. Finally, the classification of the implementation of KM faktors are analysed and further grouped into two categories i.e., exploitive and explorative. A one sample ttest was conducted to confirm the difference between the two types of KM and the overall the KM program
Project performance framework: the role of knowledge management and information technology infrastructure
No full textIn the new construction era, construction projects are influenced by many unpredictable factors. In an unpredictable and uncertain environment, one of the major sources of sustaining competitive
advantage is utilizing knowledge management and information technology to boost project performance. This article proposes to empirically investigate whether Knowledge Management (KM)
and Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI) affect the Project Performance (PP), as well as to identify factors and barriers that influence the implementation of KM and ITI to support PP in
Construction Consulting Companies. Seven consultants from Malaysian construction consulting companies were involved in the qualitative research process, which was blended within a
case study design. Significant patterns and themes are identified and presented in this article. A conceptual research framework based on the qualitative analysis of how IT and KM support
project performance is proposed. The model comprises four major components: knowledge management, ITI capability and project performance as well as factors and barriers that influence
the implementation of KM and ITI capability to support project performance
Universities innovation and technology commercialization challenges and solutions from the perspectives of Malaysian research universities
No full textDemystifying the role of a state ownership in corporate governance and firm performance: Evidence from the manufacturing sector in Malaysia
No full textThe aim of this research is to examine the role of state ownership in corporate governance and firm performance. We employed ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares regressions to analyze the effects of state ownership on firm performance. We go beyond existing research on state ownership by carefully disentangle investment objectives of state-controlled financial institutions. Such state ownership can be classified as profit-oriented and non-profit-oriented, in which the former consider return on investment to be the primary investment objective, whereas the latter prioritizes socio-economic development. We found that profit-oriented state ownership is an effective corporate governance mechanism and provides political patronage to the firm in the form of firm’s specific resources and credit financing. Although nonprofit-oriented state ownership firms also receive similar political patronage, they tend to be associated with inefficiencies such as the free-rider problems, bureaucracies and political intervention in firm management. We conclude that state ownership consists of heterogeneous entities with respect to corporate governance and firm performance
Data analysis and interpretation : a handbook for postgraduate social scientists
No full textThis book is designed to assist postgraduate social science students and researchers to complete their thesis, dissertation or research projects. This book is equipped with a CD-ROM containing data from a Ph.D thesis. The data will be used from start till end, so that the reader could see the continuous application of various statistical tools and techniques to address the research questions identified. Emphasis is given to various SPSS procedures and selected qualitative techniques. Methods for conducting validity and reliability tests as well as subsequent descriptive and inferential analyses are presented in a logical manner. Finally, methods for interpreting and discussing the research findings are presented accordingly
Role of civil society in economic transformation in Malaysia
No full textMalaysia is facing hurdles in knowledge economy transformation. To discover the knowledge based transformation solution, a quantitative, descriptive research design was used in which twenty nine economic performance determinant variables were tested for mediation with public/civil society. Two hundred and eighty two questionnaires were distributed to collect the data. The study validated the public/civil society mediation using regression analysis. Mediation was further validated using the Sobel Test. The study confirmed that the performance determinant variables have a strong and positive role in determining economy competitiveness. The results also confirm that strong civil society mediation is necessary; which is missing in Malaysia's economy. It is therefore, concluded that for successful knowledge based transformation, role of civil society sector is vital. It is thus recommended that a strong civil society supported innovation should be the focus and tool for knowledge based economic transformation to strengthen the economic performance and competitiveness of Malaysia
Direct and indirect effects of ethical leadership on workplace deviance in public healthcare sector of Pakistan
No full textPurpose: Over the years, increased level of deviant behavior among the employees of public sector organizations has been observed. The situation is worst in the public healthcare sector of Pakistan, where numerous incidents of employee deviant behavior have been reported recently. This scenario is compelling scholars and practitioners to find appropriate solutions to address this issue. As previous literature lacks empirical evidence regarding the role of ethical leadership in establishing an ethical climate in order to minimize workplace deviance in the public healthcare sector. Thus, to fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of organizational ethical climate as a mediator in the relationship between ethical leadership and workplace deviance in public healthcare sector of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed survey strategy, using quantitative method with a cross-sectional research design, and with multi-stage sampling technique. Two hundred and eighty nine usable questionnaires were collected from doctors and nurses. Further, Structural Equation Modeling was conducted in order to test the hypothesized model and determine the direct and indirect effects. Findings: Results of this study revealed that ethical leadership negatively influenced workplace deviance. Ethical leadership was further found to have a positive effect on ethical climate. Moreover, the ethical climate had a negative relationship with workplace deviance. Finally, ethical climate mediated the relationship between ethical leadership and workplace deviance. Originality/value: This study identified the significance of ethical leadership behavior which assists in establishing an ethical organizational climate leading towards less likelihood of the emergence of workplace deviance
Impact of Covid-19 Towards Education Expenditure: Evidence from China
No full textPurpose
This paper aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the study and life of graduate students, understand the current practical problems faced by effective graduate students, and explore the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the life of graduate students in universities.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the graduate students of Guizhou University are targeted, and the specific impacts of COVID-19 on their personal safety, extra costs, self-control ability and employment are expounded.
Findings
The study founds that to support university graduate students during the prevention and control period, focus on establishing effective psychological support mechanisms and self-discipline development programs. Provide accessible counseling services and mental health awareness campaigns while enhancing resources to boost self-control and time management skills, especially for remote studying. Additionally, reinforce employment services with improved career guidance and job placement support, and address enrollment pressure through better communication and mentorship initiatives
Research limitations/implications
In this context, it is necessary to study the obstacles and problems brought by the COVID-19 epidemic to the study of graduate students in universities and try to resolve the adverse effects caused by the epidemic.
Originality/value
It points out various difficulties facing graduate students in universities under the background of epidemic prevention and control, and puts forward some appropriate suggestions based on the actual situation, so as to provide some insights for graduate students to understand how to deal with the negative effects of COVID-1
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