Aliyu Yelwa Haruna and Govindan Marthandan
This study aims to examine the impact of foundational competencies on work engagement in the context of the Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) service sector.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of foundational competencies on work engagement in the context of the Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) service sector.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Malaysia, and data were gathered via a survey on 312 employees representing SMEs service sectors. Partial least squares techniques were used in testing the hypothesized linkages.
Findings
The findings indicated that foundational competencies have a significant positive effect on work engagement.
Research limitations/implications
Considering the research approach, generalizing the findings of this study must be done with caution. Longitudinal data are recommended, as these could provide additional support to the results. Further studies can as well extend the framework by testing whether job resources play a positive role in enhancing the relationship between foundational competencies and work engagement in Malaysia.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that foundational competencies positively relate to work engagement. Therefore, training and coaching sessions could be organized by managers/policy makers to enhance these competencies, which will strengthen work engagement and career development of the employee; it may specifically be very helpful for fresh graduates whose careers would have just started.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the effect of American Society of Training and Development foundational competencies on work engagement in SMEs in Malaysia.
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Arun Kumar Tarofder, Govindan Marthandan, Avvari V. Mohan and Prashantini Tarofder
The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the critical factors for the diffusion of web technologies in supply chain management (SCM) functions, based on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the critical factors for the diffusion of web technologies in supply chain management (SCM) functions, based on the technology‐organizational‐environment model, and to identify the benefits resulting from diffusion.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected, via an internet survey, from 251 respondents, ranging from middle‐level to top‐level managers, from firms which currently utilize web technologies for their supply chain activities. Structural equation modelling was employed for five factors: relative advantage; competitive pressure; complexity; trialability; and top management support, which have been hypothesized to affect the diffusion of web technologies in SCM functions.
Findings
The results suggest that all the factors except trialability are significant predictors of web technologies' diffusion in supply chain functions. The results show also that by diffusing web technologies, organizations can enhance their supply chain activities.
Research limitations/implications
The survey was conducted in a Malaysian context, using a limited set of variables, thus limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Practical implications
This study provides a greater understanding of managers' perception of web technology diffusion in their organizational SCM functions, and benefits realizing from diffusion of web technology, such as operational efficiency.
Originality/value
Those interested in adopting web technologies in their supply chain activities may find these results helpful in guiding their efforts.
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Mohamed Intan Salwani, Govindan Marthandan, Mohd Daud Norzaidi and Siong Choy Chong
Based upon the E‐VALUE model developed, this paper aims to investigate the impact of e‐commerce usage on business performance in the tourism sector.
Abstract
Purpose
Based upon the E‐VALUE model developed, this paper aims to investigate the impact of e‐commerce usage on business performance in the tourism sector.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross‐sectional survey is carried out on 165 Malaysian firms involved in the tourism sector (hotels, resorts, and hospitals engaged in health tourism) through the use of a structured questionnaire.
Findings
The structural equation modeling results indicate that technology competency, firm size, firm scope, web‐technology investment, pressure intensity, and back‐end usage have significant influence on e‐commerce usage. Among these variables, back‐end integration is found to function as a mediator. E‐commerce experience (in years) is found to moderate the relationship between e‐commerce usage and business performance.
Research limitations/implications
The paper focuses on the tourism sector in Malaysia and concentrates only on the management perspective of e‐commerce adoption.
Practical implications
The results provide insights to the Malaysian tourism sector and other organizations of similar structures of how they could improve upon their e‐commerce adoption and/or usage for improved business performance.
Originality/value
This paper is perhaps one of the first to investigate e‐commerce usage in the tourism sector using a comprehensive set of variables through an interactive, comprehensive and multi‐dimensional theoretical model (the E‐VALUE model) in investigating their influences on business performance.
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Govindan Marthandan and Chun Meng Tang
To justify an increase in information technology (IT) spending and to understand utilization of limited organizational resources on IT, the correlation between IT and business…
Abstract
Purpose
To justify an increase in information technology (IT) spending and to understand utilization of limited organizational resources on IT, the correlation between IT and business performance has been of great interest to business managers. However, business managers face issues and challenges in finding out how and to what extent IT is able to deliver the intended benefits. The purpose of this paper is to examine IT evaluation issues and challenges faced by information systems (IS) researchers, IS specialists, and business managers.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper begins by reviewing the disparate discussions in past literature on IT evaluation issues and challenges. It then provides a synthesis of the disparate discussions by identifying eight issues and challenges in IT evaluation.
Findings
The eight issues and challenges identified are: evaluation scope, evaluation timing, unit of analysis, level of analysis, different perspectives, different dimensions, different measures, and underpinning theoretical frameworks. It concludes with some suggestions on ways to improve IT evaluation practices.
Originality/value
This paper posits that before a pragmatic IT evaluation approach can be developed, it is necessary to first understand the issues and challenges faced by IS researchers, IS specialists, and business managers in IT evaluation. Having identified the eight issues and challenges, this paper provides pointers on what needs to be considered when conducting IT evaluation.
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Toh Tsu Wei, Govindan Marthandan, Alain Yee‐Loong Chong, Keng‐Boon Ooi and Seetharam Arumugam
This study aims to empirically examine the factors that affect the consumer intention to use (IU) mobile commerce (m‐commerce) in Malaysia. The five factors examined in this study…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to empirically examine the factors that affect the consumer intention to use (IU) mobile commerce (m‐commerce) in Malaysia. The five factors examined in this study are perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease‐of‐use (PEOU), social influence (SI), perceived cost and trust.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sample consists of 222 respondents with a response rate of 84.09 per cent. Data were analyzed by employing correlation and multiple regression analysis.
Findings
The findings revealed that PU, SI, perceived financial cost and trust are positively associated with consumer IU m‐commerce in Malaysia. In addition, PEOU and trust were found to have an insignificant effect on consumer IU m‐commerce in Malaysia.
Research limitations/implications
The generalizability of the findings is limited as the study focuses only on Malaysia.
Practical implications
Based on the findings, companies involved in m‐commerce should focus on improving the usefulness of the system, trust (i.e. security and privacy protection) and reducing the cost of m‐commerce services to improve the adoption of m‐commerce.
Originality/value
The findings made a contribution in terms of allowing us to understand the factors that can contribute to the adoption of mobile commerce. This study successfully extend the TAM model in the context of mobile commerce by incorporating one trust‐based construct (trust), one behavioural control construct (perceived financial cost) and one subjective norm construct (SI). This extended TAM model provides a greater understanding of user acceptance of mobile commerce in Malaysia.
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Habibullah Khan, Faisal Talib and Mohd. Nishat Faisal
The purpose of this paper is to identify and develop a hierarchical model for the barriers affecting the growth of mobile commerce (M-commerce). Based on the model developed, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and develop a hierarchical model for the barriers affecting the growth of mobile commerce (M-commerce). Based on the model developed, the authors’ objective is to identify those variables that are of strategic nature and are the root cause of the issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Variables considered as barriers are identified, and utilizing the interpretive structural model approach, a relationship model is developed. Further, the impact matrix cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification approach is used to analyze the effect and dependence among these factors.
Findings
The research in the area of M-commerce in the Arab world and related to the strategic aspect is limited in the extant literature. The present study tries to fill this gap by investigating the variables that inhibit the growth of M-commerce in Qatar. The research shows that there exists a group of barriers having a high driving power and low dependence requiring maximum attention and of strategic importance, while another group consists of those variables that have high dependence and are the resultant actions.
Practical implications
There is a growing concern that although the numbers of mobile subscribers are increasing at a very fast pace in Qatar, actual M-commerce activities in the country remain low. The findings of this study can be used to understand the differences between the independent and dependent variables and their mutual relationships. The study would also help the policy makers to develop suitable strategies to facilitate growth of M-commerce in the country.
Originality/value
This research was the first attempt to investigate the relationships among the variables inhibiting the growth of M-commerce in a fast-growing economy in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Given that there is limited research on M-commerce in the GCC context, the study can be viewed as an investigation that provides a good understanding of the variables and their interrelationships affecting M-commerce proliferation.
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Iffat Abbas Abbasi, Amjad Shamim and Hasbullah Ashari
This study addresses a critical gap in understanding consumer behavior toward indigenous chicken, investigating the interaction between cognitive factors and purchase decisions…
Abstract
Purpose
This study addresses a critical gap in understanding consumer behavior toward indigenous chicken, investigating the interaction between cognitive factors and purchase decisions. The current research offers a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable food marketing by shedding light on these dynamics.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed a quantitative survey method to gather data from consumers of indigenous chicken in Malaysia and analyzed it using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Health and price consciousness, along with effort expectancy, significantly influence consumer attitudes toward indigenous chicken. However, environmental consciousness and availability do not directly impact attitude. Similarly, attitude mediates the relationship between health consciousness, price consciousness, effort expectancy and purchase behavior, while attitude does not mediate the relationship between environmental consciousness, availability and purchase behavior of indigenous chicken.
Originality/value
This study is one of the pioneering works to apply the cognitive affect behavior (CAB) model to examine the factors influencing consumer attitudes and purchase behavior toward indigenous chicken. It investigates how constructs such as health consciousness, environmental consciousness, price consciousness, effort expectancy and availability affect these attitudes and behaviors, offering novel insights into the purchase intentions of younger and educated individuals.