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This paper aims to explain the relationships between three dimensions of stakeholders’ integration and competitiveness focusing on 226 industrial corporations. It aims to investigate the influences of stakeholders’ integration on three dimensions of competitiveness.

The study adopts a cross-sectional study using a self-reported questionnaire. The collected data are analysed using structural equation modelling technique based on AMOS.

The results revealed that knowledge of the stakeholders per se will not provide any contribution to the different dimensions of competitiveness. Companies should extend their focus to adapt behaviours in line with stakeholders’ interests to gain competitive advantages. The data showed that in line with the stakeholders’ theory concept, adaptive behaviour dimension positively affects the three dimensions of competitiveness.

There are several limitations that should be taken into consideration. First, the study used a self-reported questionnaire filled in by managers in the study sample; therefore, survey data might be subject to social desirability bias. Second, this study was conducted in Libya, which is considered a developing country, and, thus, caution should be taken when generalizing the results of the study.

To date, there is no an empirical evidence on how environmental stakeholders’ integration might affect firm competitiveness. Previous literature has investigated this issue using different environmental practices. However, none have used stakeholders’ integration in the environmental domain as a predictor to competitiveness. Therefore, the paper contributes to the body of knowledge by stating and testing the potential contributions of stakeholders’ integration to the multidimensional approach of competitiveness.

This study aims to examine the impact of country governance and other potential bank-specific characteristics and macroeconomic condition determinants on bank productivity in the period of 2006–2016.

The productivity level of total 167 banks selected from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore are evaluated using the data envelopment analysis-based Malmquist productivity index method. A panel regression analysis framework based on ordinary least squares, a fixed effect and a random effect models then are used to identify its main determinants.

The empirical findings indicate that the total factor productivity changes of Islamic banks is higher than conventional banks. The liquidity and global financial crisis influence both banks’ productivity. Bank size, credit risk, market power, management efficiency and inflation merely influence Islamic banks’ productivity. On the country governance dimensions, voice and accountability are found to positively influence both banks’ productivity. Regulatory quality and rule of law (RL) significantly influences the conventional parts. Political stability and absence of violence, government effectiveness, RL and control of corruption negatively influence the banks’ productivity, but this influence is only significant for the Islamic banks.

Country governance has received surprisingly little attention in the banking industry over the past few decades. Majority of the studies that examine the effect of governance on bank performance have focused more on the micro governance dimension. Thus, to the best of the researcher’s knowledge, no study has been done to address the effect of country governance on the productivity of the Islamic and conventional banks.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the use of problem-based learning (PBL) with engineering students at a technical university in Malaysia.

The setting provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of PBL, since Universiti Kuala Lumpur offers both the traditional, predominantly classroom-focussed approach to engineering and the more hands-on approach referred to as Higher Technical and Vocational Education and Training (HTVET). The study sample consisted of 453 third-year students’ enroled in both programmes at Universiti Kuala Lumpur.

Students in the HTVET programme responded better to PBL teaching methods, as evidenced by improved performance on written as well as lab-based assessments. This result indicates that students using the hands-on approach advocated by HTVET tend to obtain the greatest benefit from experiential, student-centred learning approaches. The analysis suggests the possibility that the PBL approach is a moderator of student performance in HTVET programmes. This possibility merits further investigation.

The sample included students from only one institution of higher learning, which was chosen because both types of programmes are offered there. In addition, the current study does not consider potential mediating or moderating variables.

The findings provide an empirical basis for implementing PBL as a form of experiential learning at higher education institutions, especially those using the HTVET model. Furthermore, they provide a justification for designing curriculum structures and student learning time with an emphasis on active and experiential learning, thereby maximising the effectiveness of a hands-on approach, rather than the “minds-on” theoretical approach advocated by traditional engineering programmes in enhancing the teaching and learning experience.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) of China on investment opportunities in five ASEAN economies.

This paper employs advanced empirical approaches, such as Multivariate DCC-GARCH and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) to test the research objective. The period of analysis involved monthly data from 2003 until 2019.

This paper provides evidence where the Malaysian stock market to be the least exposed to risks emanating from Chinese EPU, followed by Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. Results for investment opportunities based on time horizon suggest, for a short-term holding period, investors are better off investing in Singapore and Indonesia, while, for medium-term holding periods, all ASEAN markets appear lucrative except for the Philippines.

From a managerial perspective, the outcome or findings of this study are expected to aid the retail and institutional investors in designing better strategies on diversifying a stock portfolio with different holding periods.

Theoretically, the findings of this study contribute fresh insights into an emerging strand of literature focusing on the transmission of regional policy. Methodologically as well, this study is a novel venture to the best of authors' knowledge.

This study aims to investigate the behavioural intention and adoption of internet banking (IB) among clients of local and foreign Islamic banks in Malaysia.

Survey questionnaires were distributed among the Islamic banks’ clients at two main states, namely, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The number of clients involved is 319 (n = 319). The data was analysed using the partial least square (PLS) and theoretically, the research framework in this study is guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2).

The smart PLS analysis yielded three main outcomes, namely, the variables such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, price value, facilitating conditions and habit have a positive influence over the behavioural intention and subsequently lead to the adoption of IB. The other two variables, namely, social influence and hedonic motivation were negatively-related and insignificant for behavioural intention. Third, this paper also noticed that facilitating conditions and habits have a direct relationship with the adoption of IB.

Based on the findings, Islamic banks can take necessary action to design a better policy to further accelerate the usage of IB among their client. By identifying those factors, this, perhaps, can allow Islamic banks to invest more ideas on those significant factors that influence their interest, and subsequently leads to good business to Islamic banks as the clients nowadays are looking for simplicity and convenience factors when using IB.

This research is expected to enhance existing literature on internet banking, especially in Islamic banking research on the technological edge. Limited research has been done in Malaysia, particularly on the intention and continuous adoption of IB in Islamic banks using the UTAUT2 framework. This would be breakthrough research in identifying factors that influence customers’ continuous adoption of IB.

current study intends to examine key human resources practices (human capital, training and rewards) that influence employee commitment and service recovery performance (SRP) of Takaful industry agents in Southeast Asian region. The Takaful industry is facing stiff competition with conventional insurance industry in Malaysia and Indonesia as the Southeast Asian region has a large Muslim population. SRP is crucial in insurance industry specifically in the Islamic Insurance (Takaful) industry and plays a vital and key role in sustainable competitive advantage for value addition for firms in future to acquire market.

The data was collected from 350 front line agents of the Takaful industry operating in Malaysia and Indonesia on convenience sampling technique. Data was analyzed by using PLS-SEM to examine the relationship between constructs.

The results show that human capital, training and reward significantly influence commitment of employee which further influenced SRP to be improved. Mediation effect was also found to be influential and statistically positive and significant by employee commitment between key HR practices (human capital, training, rewards) and SRP.

current study contributed to the body of knowledge in explaining relationship of human capital to employee commitment and SRP, further, inconclusive findings between training and rewards was also explained in the Takaful industry of the Southeast Asian region.

The growth of Islamic banking seems to be tremendous and significant in the context of Malaysia. Moreover, together with Muslim loyalty towards Islamic banking, non-Muslims are also showing positive acceptance towards Islamic banking in Malaysia. Thus, this paper aims to examine the drivers of loyalty among non-Muslim in their adoption of Islamic banking products in Malaysia.

The primary data are collected from the survey administered to non-Muslim clients in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The total number of respondents involved are n = 300. The analysis of data is conducted by using a partial least square analysis.

This study documented that loyalty among non-Muslim Islamic banking customers in Malaysia was mainly driven by convenience, product pricing, reliability and responsiveness, operational risk and security and value added services. Only one variable was found to be insignificant, which was accessibility.

The results from this research is expected to provide important inputs on the critical factors for consideration by Islamic banks in maintaining further loyalty among their non-Muslim customers, thus enhancing the development of Islamic banking in Malaysia.

This paper provides further literature evidence on the factors contributes to loyalty by considering non-Muslims patronization of Islamic banking in Malaysia.

This paper aims to attempt to investigate and test the factors related to social media advertisement that could forecast the intention to subscribe to Islamic banking products in Malaysia.

The research framework used in this study is guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The questionnaire method was used to collect data from 360 social media users and partial least square (PLS) analysis was carried out for the model’s validation.

The analytical results showed that perceived relevance, informativeness and perceived expectancy were found to have a statistical relationship with the purchase intention of Islamic banking products via a social media platform.

The study offers a practical implication in which the findings prove as helpful means for Islamic financial institutions to discover paramount techniques to retain existing customers and at the same time encourage potential new customers to subscribe to their products.

Deficiency of research focusing on social media marketing, especially the incorporation of the UTAUT model was observed in the literature. Thus, this paper offers additional literature on social media marketing and elucidates their role in Islamic banking industry, particularly from the Malaysian context. This research is considered to be among the primary attempts to examine the drivers of social media marketing and customers’ intention to subscribe to Islamic banking products in Malaysia.

Globalisation has influenced many countries, over the last few decades with financial globalisation and liberalisation bringing regulatory reforms in the banking sector. Thus, this study aims to fill a gap in the literature by examining the influence of globalisation on Islamic and conventional bank productivity in Southeast Asia.

The sample comprised 155 banks (23 Islamic and 132 conventional) from 4 countries from 2008 to 2017. Panel data techniques will be used, together with data envelopment analysis (DEA)-based Malmquist productivity index (MPI), to investigate the impact of chosen main determinants on bank productivity. A panel regression analysis will be performed after generating the productivity index from the DEA-based MPI frontier.

According to the findings, Islamic banks are statistically significantly more productive than conventional banks, and the findings of the t-test are corroborated by the findings of nonparametric tests. Furthermore, the findings of the panel regression model reveal that bank specific factors and macroeconomic variables are significant determinants to bank productivity. Surprisingly, the findings also show that the influence of social globalisation elements tends to be negatively related to conventional bank productivity.

This study adds to the existing literature by bridging the globalisation gap in the productivity of the dual banking industry, particularly in the specific context of Southeast Asia, given that the area is representative of Islamic and finance globally.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) play a significant role in society to help low-income consumers that liaise with sustainable development goals. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of two economic freedom components, namely, regulatory efficiency on business freedom and monetary freedom; and market openness on investment freedom and financial freedom. Their influence on the efficiency of MFIs in both social and financial ways is examined.

This study collected a total of 88 MFIs from Thailand and the Philippines for the years 2011 to 2017. The data envelopment analysis approach has been used to measure the MFIs’ efficiency level. Then, the ordinary least squares and generalised least square estimation methods serve to analyse the effects of economic freedom and other determinants on efficiency.

The results show that overall MFIs operate at an encouraging level. However, they were managerially inefficient when exploiting resources to achieve both social and financial efficiency. Therefore, MFIs should focus more on managerial operations to improve the level of efficiency. Results from panel regression analysis showed a mixed outcome for the relationship between economic freedom and MFIs’ efficiency both financially and socially. This suggested that different freedoms will result in different outcomes and significantly influence MFIs’ financial and social efficiency.

Regulatory efficiency and market openness are the vital aspects of economic freedom components that may significantly influence MFI’s performance specifically on social and financial efficiency. This study fills the research gap by examining the relationship between economic freedom components and specific MFIs’ social and financial efficiency, to ensure MFIs work to achieve sustainable development goals.