Mario J. Miranda and Malay Joshi
Private label growth in Australia has not kept pace with the growth in private labels elsewhere. This research paper establishes that the odds of a consumer being highly pleased…
Abstract
Private label growth in Australia has not kept pace with the growth in private labels elsewhere. This research paper establishes that the odds of a consumer being highly pleased with a store label product when they are supportive of the quality of private labels, is more than the odds of the consumer being highly satisfied when purchasing private label products simply because they are priced significantly lower than manufacturer brands. It would therefore be useful for Australian retailers to increase investment in private label programs including changing their customers’ attitudes to the quality of private labels if they are to stay competitive.
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This paper seeks to investigate whether the “financial highlights” section of annual reports of a sample of Indian companies satisfy the information requirements of investors.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to investigate whether the “financial highlights” section of annual reports of a sample of Indian companies satisfy the information requirements of investors.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method involves the preparation of a check‐list from those items that have been suggested as significant to be disclosed in annual reports by both the “sophisticated” and “non‐sophisticated” investors as suggested in the study of Joshi and Abdulla. After the preparation of this check‐list, “financial highlights” section of a sample of companies listed on any of the Indian Stock Exchanges has been examined to investigate whether this section contains that information, which has been considered as significant by the investors, in the study by Joshi and Abdulla.
Findings
Most of the companies do not disclose information items that are perceived by users of financial information in India as being significant under the “financial highlights” section.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of the current study rests on the fact that it uses Joshi and Abdulla for evaluating the “financial highlights” section and hence only considers the need of investors in annual reports and in this specific section. Second, the use of the survey result obtained by Joshi and Abdulla might not hold completely true at the present time due to difference in time period.
Originality/value
This is a pioneering study that questions whether the “financial highlights” section in annual reports provides those information items that are considered as “highlights” by investors.
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Sharmila Jayasingam, Safiah Omar, Norizah Mohd Mustamil, Rosmawani Che Hashim and Raida Abu Bakar
Chang-Da Wan and Morshidi Sirat
Universities in Malaysia, particular public universities, have been tasked not only with the traditional focus on the pursuit of knowledge, but also the important role of…
Abstract
Purpose
Universities in Malaysia, particular public universities, have been tasked not only with the traditional focus on the pursuit of knowledge, but also the important role of nation-building. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nation-building agenda in the development of Malaysian higher education in the globalisation era.
Design/methodology/approach
Grounded within the literature of nation-building and globalisation and neoliberalism, the approach of this paper examines the development of higher education in Malaysia across time.
Findings
Two particular aspects in the Malaysian higher education that have seen tension and changes emerging from the interaction between globalisation and nation-building are: the medium of instruction and hybridisation in universities.
Originality/value
The paper illustrates the ways in which universities have adapted in terms of the medium of instruction between the Malay language and English, as well as hybridisation that has taken place as a result of globalisation on the local vision, structure and characteristics of Malaysian universities.
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Ali Saleh Al Arussi, Mohamad Hisyam Selamat and Mustafa Mohd Hanefah
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the voluntary financial and environmental disclosures through the internet can be explained by the same determinants as in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the voluntary financial and environmental disclosures through the internet can be explained by the same determinants as in conventional reporting. Specifically, this paper examines the relationship between the extent of financial and environmental disclosures on the internet and six variables, namely, ethnicity of chief executive officer (CEO), leverage, level of technology, existence of dominant personalities, profitability, and firm size.
Design/methodology/approach
Six hypotheses were tested using data collected from 201 Malaysian listed companies on the Bursa Malaysia's Main and Second Boards for the financial year 2005. A regression model is utilized to analyze the results of this paper and this is in tandem with the previous studies.
Findings
The results indicate that level of technology, ethnicity of CEO and firm size are determinants of both internet financial and environmental disclosures. However, the existence of a dominant personality is found to negatively affect the level of financial disclosures but not environmental disclosures. The other variables did not show any significant relationship with either financial or environmental disclosures.
Originality/value
This paper investigates whether internet financial and environmental disclosures can be explained by the same determinants used in other similar studies. The results indicate that only level of technology, ethnicity of CEO and firm size are found to be significant for both internet financial and environmental disclosures.
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Shawn Stanly Anthony Dass, Siti Noor Shafiqah Badrolhisham and Febryani Fallensia Lusiana Wadipalapa
Rural indigenous schools in Malaysia can be far from equipped with facilities and conducive learning environments, especially in schools serving a large and diverse community. SK…
Abstract
Rural indigenous schools in Malaysia can be far from equipped with facilities and conducive learning environments, especially in schools serving a large and diverse community. SK RPS (Rancangan Penempatan Semula/Resettlement Programme) Banun is an all-indigenous school located in the interiors of Gerik, Perak in Malaysia. Being the only school in the vicinity of an Orang Asli settlement comprising 18 villages of the Je hai and Temiar tribes, this public school is said to be a one stop hub for the community. Despite the school's existence, there are several challenges which hinders children of the Orang Asli community to attain a quality education or in some cases to even go to school. This paper is written based on the lived experiences of three teachers from mid-2022 to mid-2023 and amplifies the day-to-day challenges of the school and its community. The paper also discusses the initiatives implemented to tackle some of the challenges, highlighting key successes and suggestions to improve some areas particularly in enhancing and reimagining pedagogical approaches as well as learning environments in Orang Asli schools in Malaysia.
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This introductory chapter sets the scene by introducing the island city-state of Singapore from a historical standpoint and expands on its economical ascension as a result of its…
Abstract
This introductory chapter sets the scene by introducing the island city-state of Singapore from a historical standpoint and expands on its economical ascension as a result of its strong political governance structure. This chapter also highlights how the role of the urban form has gained from this perspective. Singapore's strategic geographic location played a pivotal part in boosting its role in trade, both regionally and internationally, hence enabling the country to assert a strong geopolitical position and grow economic stronghold. This helped the country to successfully invest in its urban fabric, and is now a world leader in regards to high liveability standards.
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Patricia Ahmed, Rebecca Jean Emigh and Dylan Riley
A “state-driven” approach suggests that colonists use census categories to rule. However, a “society-driven” approach suggests that this state-driven perspective confers too much…
Abstract
A “state-driven” approach suggests that colonists use census categories to rule. However, a “society-driven” approach suggests that this state-driven perspective confers too much power upon states. A third approach views census-taking and official categorization as a product of state–society interaction that depends upon: (a) the population's lay categories, (b) information intellectuals' ability to take up and transform these lay categories, and (c) the balance of power between social and state actors. We evaluate the above positions by analyzing official records, key texts, travelogues, and statistical memoirs from three key periods in India: Indus Valley civilization through classical Gupta rule (ca. 3300 BCE–700 CE), the “medieval” period (ca. 700–1700 CE), and East India Company (EIC) rule (1757–1857 CE), using historical narrative. We show that information gathering early in the first period was society driven; however, over time, a strong interactive pattern emerged. Scribes (information intellectuals) increased their social status and power (thus, shifting the balance of power) by drawing on caste categories (lay categories) and incorporating them into official information gathering. This intensification of interactive information gathering allowed the Mughals, the EIC, and finally British direct rule officials to collect large quantities of information. Our evidence thus suggests that the intensification of state–society interactions over time laid the groundwork for the success of the direct rule British censuses. It also suggests that any transformative effect of these censuses lay in this interactive pattern, not in the strength of the British colonial state.
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Nur Zulaikha Mohamed Sadom, Farzana Quoquab, Jihad Mohammad and Nazimah Hussin
The environmental impact of excessive use of natural resources such as energy and water in the tourism industry has increased significantly. Thus, it is crucial to investigate the…
Abstract
Purpose
The environmental impact of excessive use of natural resources such as energy and water in the tourism industry has increased significantly. Thus, it is crucial to investigate the notion of frugality in this industry. Particularly, this study aims to examine the effect of green marketing strategies (eco-labelling and environmental advertising) and hotel guests’ green attitude towards frugality in the context of the Malaysian hotel industry. Furthermore, the mediating effect of green attitude is also examined.
Design/methodology/approach
Stimulus-organism-response theory was used to develop the research framework. The data were collected via a self-administered survey questionnaire, which yielded 150 complete and usable responses. A partial least square-structural equation modelling approach was used to validate the proposed model.
Findings
The results of this study revealed that environmental advertising and eco-labelling, directly and indirectly, affect frugality. Moreover, the link between green attitude and frugality also was supported. Furthermore, data supported the mediating effect of green attitude in the relationship between green marketing strategies and frugality.
Practical implications
The findings from this study can benefit hoteliers who are targeting frugal and environmentally conscious consumers. Moreover, the hoteliers will be able to understand the drivers of frugality in the tourism industry. It can assist them to formulate better marketing strategies in attracting and retaining frugal consumers.
Social implications
The findings from this study offer a number of important social implications for society, the local government and the city and tourism council. Particularly, understanding the strategies towards frugality can pave the way towards the formation of a “less consumption” community. Moreover, it will serve as the guideline for designing the green and sustainability campaign for the nation.
Originality/value
This study is among the pioneers to investigate the issue pertaining to frugality in the tourism industry context. This study examines new linkages such as the indirect effect of green marketing strategies towards frugality. Moreover, the mediating effect of green attitude in the relationship between green marketing strategies (eco-labelling and environmental advertising) and frugality is comparatively a new link.