|
on South East Asia |
| By: | Parinduri, Rasyad |
| Abstract: | I examine the effects of education on health in Indonesia using an exogenous variation in education induced by an extension of Indonesia's school term length in 1978-1979, a natural experiment that fits a regression discontinuity design. I find the longer school year increases educational attainment and wages, but I do not find evidence that education improves health. I explore some mechanisms through which education may affect health, but education does not seem to promote healthy lifestyles, increase the use of modern healthcare services, or improve access to health insurance; if anything, education improves only cognitive capacity. |
| Keywords: | education, health, regression discontinuity design, Asia, Indonesia |
| JEL: | H52 I12 I15 I21 I25 |
| Date: | 2015–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:63223&r=sea |
| By: | Hanifa, Mohamed Hisham; Masih, Mansur |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses current housing finance practices in three emerging economies such as, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, as well as the impact of those practices on financial stability. National authorities and policymakers may find this analysis helpful as they reassess the structure and health of their housing finance systems, with particular attention given to those factors that have contributed to a stable housing finance system. The methodology used to determine the factors was panel cointegration and dynamic OLS. The country-specific housing finance systems vary significantly and have sometimes been shaped by pivotal historic events. Today’s housing finance systems are determined by a range of factors, including the products offered to investors (floating or fixed interest rates over various maturities); the use of prepayment penalties; funding (deposits versus capital markets); the degree of lender recourse to defaulted borrowers’ other assets and income; and government participation, including tax breaks. While different systems can work well to provide stable housing finance, a number of best practices emanate from the discussion and empirical analyses. They are enhanced underwriting and supervision; better calibrated government participation; and betteraligned incentives in capital-market mortgage funding. The paper concludes with a number of policy recommendations to encourage more stable housing finance system. |
| Keywords: | housing finance, financial stability, panel cointegration, dynamic OLS |
| JEL: | C22 C58 G2 |
| Date: | 2013–08–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:63022&r=sea |
| By: | Professor Dr. Boediono, (The Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia) |
| Abstract: | 52nd Shann Memorial Lecture 2013 100th Year of Economics, University Of Western Australia |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwa:wpaper:14-01&r=sea |
| By: | Katalin Völgyi (Institute of World Economics, Centre for Regional and Economic Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences) |
| Abstract: | The creation of free trade areas and the implementation of other forms of liberalization covering two or more countries to support the effective functioning and expansion of global value chains is not a new phenomena. Since the second half of the 1980s, the rapid expansion of global value chains due to the emerging North-South production sharing have been facilitated by the growing number of regional economic initiatives. In this study, the ASEAN’s regional economic initiatives/agreements are examined to assess the role of economic regionalism in the attraction of FDI and the spread of production networks.The economic cooperation of the ASEAN countries can be divided into two periods. Between 1976 and 1987, the ASEAN’s regional cooperation was aimed at achieving import substituting industrialization. Since the late 1980s, the regional initiatives and agreements of the ASEAN countries have been embedded in an export-oriented, FDI-dependent strategy. The shift in the regional economic cooperation from import substitution to export-oriented and FDI-based strategy was tiggered by the emerging market-led integration in the region. In the second half of the 1980s, efficiency-seeking FDI started to increase in Southeast Asia. Northeast Asian, American and European transnational corporations have created production networks in electronics, automotive and textile/garment industries in the ASEAN region.In the last two decades, the main aim of ASEAN’s regional agreements and intiatives was to transform the region into a single market and production base which is attractive for foreign direct invetments and where production networks can work efficiently. The birth and/or the acceleration of liberalization efforts of several regional initiatives/agreements (e.g. AFTA, AFAS, AICO, AIA) can be linked to the period of 1997-2003, when due to the Asian financial crisis, FDI inflows into the ASEAN region decreased and later stagnated. In 2003, ASEAN agreed on the creation of ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 which is based on former regional initiatives and agreements. The efforts for accelerating regional integration contributed to the fact that ASEAN managed to increase its share in global FDI inflows in the last decade. In 2012, FDI inflows into ASEAN reached a record level. Nowadays, ASEAN countries can draw together nearly as much FDIs as China does. |
| Keywords: | ASEAN, single market, production networks, foreign direct investments |
| JEL: | F15 F21 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0801309&r=sea |
| By: | Abdonloh Khreeda-oh (Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus) |
| Abstract: | Thailand is linguistically and culturally diverse. Apart from Standard Thai, with its status as the nation's official language and its function as a language of wider communication for all ethnic groups, the country boasts more than 70 languages. Patani Malay is spoken by the majority in the 3 southernmost provinces of Thailand: Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat-including 5 districts of Songkla-where there is violence and political unrest. In this incident research is an action research which objectives of the study are to develop curriculum and learning method by using the Patani Malay Mothers Tongue-based bilingual education/Multilingual education (MTB-BE/MLE) in the primary school in four southern border provinces of Thailand and to empower, fostering self- esteem and positive attitudes to schooling among Patani Malay communities. The study found that Patani Malay is the language people use most in their daily lives, have most confidence in using and prefer to use more than any other language (Bahasa Malaysia, Standard Thai, or Southern Thai) and the use of the student's mother tongue in school can improve learning outcomes. Moreover, Patani Malay communities have more positive attitudes to Thai schooling system. |
| Keywords: | Mothers Tongue-Based bilingual education/Multilingual education, Patani Malay, Standard Thai. |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100297&r=sea |
| By: | Douglas Rhein (Mahidol University International College) |
| Abstract: | Recently, globalization of world economies has increased rapidly and a large number of multinational companies have emerged. Population growth, technological advancements in communication systems, hyper-commercialization, interdependent financial networks, near constant transportation improvements, corporate consolidation via mergers and acquisitions and the adoption of English as the lingua franca have all led to an increase in cross border employment realities. Essentially, the world has become one giant marketplace and Asia, with the largest global population, is preparing for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The economic integration is not limited to capital goods, information or technology. The internationalization of the human workforce has become a center point for organizations looking to expand to overseas markets. The AEC is yet another example of the pace of rapid globalization in Asia. Multinational corporations are necessarily becoming culturally diverse. This increase in organizational diversity creates many problems for both the local labor as well as the expatriate management in SE Asia. Living in a new cultural environment, expatriates face challenges and make adjustments in their lifestyles in order to work effectively in their host culture. These challenges often result in early return from an overseas assignment which results in a costly reassignment burden for the companies involved. Cross cultural training has been suggested as a necessary vehicle to facilitate cross-cultural behavior and management and therefore decrease the number of unsuccessful or unproductive expatriates. |
| Keywords: | Thailand, ASEAN, Training, Internationalization, Culture |
| JEL: | A22 |
| Date: | 2014–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0200738&r=sea |
| By: | M A B Siddique (Business School, University of Western Australia); Heru Wibowo (Ministry of Finance Government of Indonesia); Yanrui Wu (Business School, University of Western Australia) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the evolution of expenditure inequality in Indonesia during 1999-2008, a period that coincides greatly with the implementation of fiscal decentralisation policy. In general, the results show increasing expenditure inequality evident in a decreasing share of income in the bottom 10 percent, and an increasing share in the top 10 percent. Further examination employing the two-step system GMM confirms increasing expenditure inequality as a result of fiscal decentralisation. This might be due to the implementation of the hold-harmless clause that was not accompanied by proper income distribution policy within the region. Furthermore, real per capita gross regional product (GRP) and average years of schooling have also contributed toward higher expenditure inequality. In contrast, expenditure inequality may ease in the long term with an improvement in education services. Lastly, expenditure inequality can also be addressed by enhancing public health services. |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwa:wpaper:14-22&r=sea |
| By: | Bambang Budiono (Telkom university, pt. telkom indonesia) |
| Abstract: | Telecommunication industries in indonesia have currently entered a phase which people's awareness of knowledge on the information technology-based products and services increases. some of the phenomena that occur in the industries are : (i) the technology develops rapidly, (ii) the telecommunication regulations are frequently overdue in anticipating the user needs and business requirements, (iii) the income of the executants,signed by the average revenue per user (arpu), tends to decline hence the profit per customer decreases; (iv) the strategy implementation by the company or business unit in these industries are relatively the same. these conditions require the industry players to determine the proper steps in anticipating the current competition. therefore, this research will explore the correlation among the variables of technology , regulation , business strategy , and the business unit performancein order to formulate the correlation among the four variablesthe research is aimed to produce a study concerning the correlation among technology,regulation,business strategyy,and unit business performancein the telecommunication industries in indonesia. the research used descriptive and verification by conducting a survey to 34 samples with the units of analysis covering the business units in the four largest telecommunication operators in Indonesia. data were obtained from the results of observation, questionnaires and interviews, and partial least square (pls) was used for analysis and hypothesis testingthe results of this study show that there is an impactof technology on business unit performance through the regulation and business strategy. the impact of technology may happen through the regulatory and business strategies. at the same time, the impact of technology on both business strategy and business unit performance directly is extremely low, and so is the impact of the regulation on the performance of the business. the impactof regulation on the performance of the business unit will be significant if it is through the business strategy |
| Keywords: | Technology, Regulation, Business Strategy, Business Performance |
| JEL: | M20 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100200&r=sea |
| By: | William J. Jones (Mahidol University International College) |
| Abstract: | The signing of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in 2012 supposedly provides a long awaited triumph for human rights in the region and a measure by which regional human rights can finally prevail in parallel with the new ASEAN Human Rights Body. The importance of the new ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights lies in it being the first commission of its kind in Asia and a signal that human rights is finally being mainstreamed and accepted. However, as AICHR undertook its first work-plan and drafted the AHRD which fell below international standards, ASEAN's rhetoric/reality gap again came into plain view. It is my argument that there are two primary challenges to realizing universal regional human rights standards; ASEAN’s constitutive norms/identity and fragmentation of human rights understandings in national legal interpretations of international human rights instruments. To substantiate this I will analyze primary documentation and treaty ratification behavior of ASEAN states in an attempt to find out what are interests and preferences of ASEAN states in terms of human rights by analyzing treaties and reservations/declaration/statements which are attached to international human rights instruments that ASEAN states sign/accede to. Furthermore, I will demonstrate that treaty ratification behavior of ASEAN states is generally consistent with two hegemonic strains of regional thought: sovereignty fears and cultural resistance to human rights norms and standards. |
| Keywords: | ASEAN, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Southeast Asia, Treaty Ratification behavior |
| JEL: | F50 F59 |
| Date: | 2014–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0200766&r=sea |
| By: | Sally Milton (Business School, University of Western Australia); M A B Siddique (Business School, University of Western Australia) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the impact of the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) on bilateral merchandise trade flows between Australia and Thailand. Using aggregated data, an augmented gravity model is estimated in an attempt to quantify the trade creation and/or diversion effects of the agreement. The model includes 178 countries and is estimated using panel data over the period 1998 to 2012. The inclusion of three variables describing TAFTA membership (i.e. intra-TAFFTA trade creation, exporter diversion and importer diversion) allows for the correct identification of Vinerian trade creation and trade diversion effects. The estimation method accounts for country heterogeneity, endogeneity and potential selection bias through the use of time-invariant, time-varying, country-specific and country-pair effects. Diagnostic checks indicate the presence of heteroscedasticity and serial correlation, which are controlled for in a fixed effects model with robust standard errors. The results indicate that the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement has had modest trade creation effects, with little evidence to suggest that this is at the expense of trade diversion. The findings of the study have obvious policy implications. |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwa:wpaper:14-26&r=sea |
| By: | Muhammadrorfee-E Musor (Prince of Songkla University) |
| Abstract: | The Islamic family law widely implemented within Muslim communities in the world but it manifested differently in different culture, legal and institutional context. In this incident research is a documentary research which objectives of the study are to explore the historical background of a Malay Muslim society in the three border provinces of southern Thailand to understand characteristics of legal system in this area and discuss about the implementation of Islamic family law in a Malay Muslim society which can be seen as minority group in Thailand. The study found that the current Malay Muslim society has been influenced by three historical periods: pre-Hindu, Hindu and Islamic periods. The Islamic family law is not associate with the state or territorial power, nor is it the law of general application. The rules of Islamic family law are local, non-literary and non-textual. The Islamic family law was limited only within the villages level. There is no institution responsible for enforcing this law. Therefore, there are many obstacles of the administration of Islamic family law which is effected to a Malay Muslim in that area in order to access to justice by using Islamic family law. |
| Keywords: | Islamic family law; legal pluralism; Malay Muslim society; law and society |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100333&r=sea |
| By: | Wustari Mangundjaya (Faculty of Psychology Universitas Indonesia) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to elaborate the role of psychological empowerment, and perceptions of external environment in committing employees with organizational change. This study tested the effect of dimensions of psychological empowerment as well as the effect of employee’s perception on external environment on organizational commitment to change in financial state owned organizations in Indonesia. Data was gathered from 539 employees working in financial state owned organizations in Indonesia. Data collection was using Organizational Task Environment, Psychological Empowerment and Commitment to Change inventories. Results showed the significant effect of Psychological Empowerment and Organizational Task Environment on commitment to change. Results also showed that perceptions on external environment have more contribution to commitment to change compares to psychological empowerment. Moreover, the study also revealed that all dimensions of Organizational Task Environment (capacity, dynamism and complexity) have significant effect on commitment to change, with capacity has the strongest impact on commitment to change. Likewise, all psychological empowerment dimensions (meaning, competence, self-determination and impact) has significant effect on commitment to change, with meaning has the highest contribution to commitment to change. This study is a contribution to theory and practice of change management, with an increased understanding on commitment to change, psychological empowerment and perceptions of external environments in committing the employees with the organizational change. |
| Keywords: | Psychological Empowerment, Organizational Task Environment, Commitment to Change and Organizational Change. |
| JEL: | L20 L29 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100007&r=sea |
| By: | Shenoy, Ajay |
| Abstract: | I develop a method to measure and separate the production misallocation caused by failures in factor markets versus financial markets. When I apply the method to rice farming villages in Thailand I find surprisingly little misallocation. Optimal reallocation would increase output in most villages by less than 15 percent. By 2006 most misallocation comes from factor market failures. I derive a decomposition of aggregate growth that accounts for misallocation. Declining misallocation contributes little to growth compared to factor accumulation and rising farm productivity. I use a government credit intervention to test my measures. I confirm that credit causes a statistically significant decrease in only financial market misallocation. |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences, misallocation, financial market imperfections, Thailand, agriculture |
| Date: | 2015–03–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:ucscec:qt8m27w1r7&r=sea |
| By: | Vipin Arora (United States Energy Information Administration, Washington DC); Rod Tyers (Business School, University of Western Australia); Ying Zhang (Business School, University of Western Australia) |
| Abstract: | East Asian, and primarily Chinese and Japanese, excess saving has been comparatively large and controversial since the 1980s. That it has contributed to the decline in the global “natural” rate of interest is consistent with Bernanke’s much debated “savings glut” hypothesis for the decade after 1998, empirical explorations of which have proved unconvincing. In this paper it is argued that the comparatively integrated global market for long bonds is suggestive of trends in the “world” natural rate and that the longer term evidence supports a leading role for Asia’s contribution to the expansion of ex ante global saving in explaining the declining trend in real long yields. Evidence is presented that trends in US 10 year bond yields are indeed representative of those in the “world” natural rate. The relationship between these yields and excess saving in China and Japan is then explored using a VECM that accounts for US monetary policy. The results support a negative long term relationship between 10-year yields and the current account surpluses of China and Japan. Projections using the same model then suggest that a feasible range of future pathways for those current accounts could cause the path of long rates to deviate by 330 basis points over the next decade. |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwa:wpaper:14-24&r=sea |
| By: | Joseph Kang (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning) |
| Abstract: | The importance of innovation has been highlighted for the past decades. A number of studies regarding economic growth and innovation have emphasized R&D activities and innovation capacity for one nation’s economic growth. Accordingly, major advanced countries established policies by conducting a comprehensive evaluation on the quantitative and qualitative capacity of their S&T innovation. Various approaches and index systems, such as OECD Science, Technology and Industry (STI) Scoreboard for OECD countries, Nordic Innovation Monitor (NIM) for Northern European countries, Composite S&T Innovation Index (COSTII) for South Korea, among others, are used to evaluate the innovation capacity of a country or a region. Despite the Asian region has many issues to address in order to achieve sustained economic growth, enhanced S&T competitiveness, and improved technological innovation, there has not been a good regional-level evaluation for Asia. Because major international innovation evaluation frameworks are centered on the advanced countries in Europe and North America, they cannot accurately reflect the characteristics of Asian countries (of course, underdeveloped countries), which are on the different economic development stage and have different innovation capacity. The research is to develop an indicator system that reflects the characteristics of Asia, which is named Asian Innovation Scoreboard (AIS). Generally, most of Asian countries are underdeveloped. Therefore, its application could be applied to developing indicator systems that measure innovation capacity of underdeveloped countries. We defined the concept of an innovation scoreboard in consideration of Asian characteristics, developed a preliminary innovation indicator system. And then, we applied the Analytic Network Process (ANP) methodology to examine factors related to the model and indicator system. Finally, we evaluated our indicator system by applying a framework that is developed to evaluate an indicator system by Jung (2013). AIS consist of 43 indicators that represent overall area of innovation capacity. |
| Keywords: | Asian Innovation Scoreboard, Innovation Capacity, Innovation Indicator, Evaluation, Innovation Policy |
| JEL: | O32 O38 O00 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702448&r=sea |
| By: | M Yamin (Sriwijaya University) |
| Abstract: | Flood on wet rice fields led household income of rice farmer susceptible. This condition shifted main income sources, from on farm to non farm. Therefore, an income strategy was required in order to deal with household income susceptibility in flood condition by integrating the concept of sustainability livelihood, through which sustainability of farmer’s income in flood condition was expected. This research aimed to identify rice farmer’s household strategy using sustainability livelihood concept in order to face the ecological disaster. The research was carried out in three Indonesian regions, namely Central Java, East Borneo and South Sumatera Provinces. Survey method was used in which data were collected from both primary and secondary ones. The data of household strategies, using sustainability livelihood concept, to deal with the income sources susceptibility on flood condition, were analyzed qualitatively. The results should give recommendation strategies needed for facing various pressure and succeptibilities on income source as effects fo the ecological disaster that repeatedly took place on wet rice fields. The results showed that farmers did not posses strategies for the flood condition. They sook only unpermanently other jobs to fulfill the household needs, such as building workers and laborers, both inside and outside of their living areas. To start growing the rice again after the flood, they got seed and fertilizer from government. At the same time, they sold their harvest or lent money to their relatives. In addition, they had strategies to diversify their income sources, including animal husbandries and fisheries. They repaired irrigation and drainage facilities on wet rice fields through community self-help to prevent flood. On perspective of sustainabilty livelihood strategies, they strengthened financial, physical and social capitals |
| Keywords: | ecological disaster, flood, wet rice field, sustainability livelihood strategy |
| JEL: | A14 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702421&r=sea |
| By: | Suhaili Alma'amun (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia); Mohd Khairy Kamarudin (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | Inter vivos transfers in Malaysia have been always associated with the Islamic way for the solution of the disbursement of estates. From the economic point of view, the motivation for them has been the interest of the researchers. In the case of Malaysia, inter vivos is called hibah – originally an Arabic word. Inheritance issue in Malaysia has been surrounded by the most vexing problem – the increasing number of frozen estate problems. Inter vivos gift is perceived as a remedy for the frozen estate problems. However, there are no specific research have been conducted in regard to the motives of inter vivos gift from parents to children with special focus on Malaysian Muslim society. This study aims to identify the existence of altruism and exchange motives in inter vivos transfers received by the Malaysian Muslim respondents. This research employs logit regression method analysis based on inter vivos gift models developed in the previous studies. Data is collected by means of questionnaire from October to December 2012. Since we explore the types of the inter vivos gift transferred from parents to children, we are able to relate motives for such transfers with the way the parents manage their assets for the purpose of estate planning. We find exchange motive is more applicable among respondents and physical assets such as lands, houses and vehicles are those common types of assets that parents transferred to their children in the form of inter vivos gift. |
| Keywords: | Hibah, Inter vivos gift, Altruism, Exchange, Islamic estate planning |
| JEL: | D19 D64 D31 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100619&r=sea |
| By: | Mark Speece (American University of Kuwait) |
| Abstract: | The West usually portrays Thailand’s coup negatively. Middle class Thai generally regard it as last-chance attempt to save Thailand from becoming a failed state. Middle class Bangkok originally supported Thaksin, but turned against him in late 2005. Middle class support originally was essentially based on three key premises:1. Thailand can put up with certain levels of corruption, 2. provided the government delivers a strong economy. Government has always been corrupt, so continued corruption was not useful for determining how to vote.3. Thailand needs to do more to address inequality. The middle class was not originally against Thaksin’s populist policies – early on, the policies seemed financially sustainable and gained support.The data show that none of these hopes actually worked out.Corruption: using Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, percentiles can control for changes in number of countries from 1995 to 2013. Previous governments slowly improved Thailand’s standing, but Thaksin made more rapid progress during his first term. Thailand reached the 33rd percentile in 2001 (from 17th in 1995), but reached the 61st percentile in 2005 and 2006. However, since 2007 Thailand has declined, and in 2013 it stood at 102 out of 175 countries, the 41st percentile. The drop was particularly rapid in 2012 and 2013.Economic competitiveness: according to World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Reports, Thailand declined in competitiveness from 2006 to 2014. It was ranked 35th in 2006-2007, and 37th in 2013-2014. This slight overall decline masks serious problems on most indicators – Thailand showed strong improvement on ‘financial market development’, but declined on nine out of twelve indicators. The largest decline was 51 ranks on ‘labor market efficiency’, but ‘institutions’, ‘higher education and training’, ‘technological readiness’, and ‘innovation’ all showed declines of 25 ranks or more.Inequality: World Bank data shows that Thailand made modest improvements in income distribution since 1992. The top 10 percent’s share of income declined from 39% to about 31%. However, Thaksin’s governments from 2001 substantially slowed the long-term trend toward more equitable income. Concentration of wealth at the top increased substantially the past few years, after little change from 2000 to 2010. Credit Suisse figures show that the top 10 percent increased their share from 66.7% to 75% over 2011-2013. The top 1% increased their share from 38.5% to 50.6%.Thus, the international indices show that Thaksinomics has resulted in a more corrupt, less competitive, and more unequal Thailand. |
| Keywords: | Thailand, corruption, competitiveness, inequality, Thaksin, Thaksinomics |
| JEL: | O53 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702225&r=sea |
| By: | Ku Majdi Yamirudeng (Yala Rajabhat University) |
| Abstract: | The main purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing customers' decision to select with confidence Islamic banking in southern parts of Thailand as the mediating variable. Based on the Intermediation Theory and Consumer Behavior Theory, banks are to act as intermediaries by utilizing the depositors' money to provide banking products and services which meet their customers' needs and expectations. Gaining customers' confidence is important as banking business is based on trust and integrity. Hence, as mediating variable, customers' confidence in the way Islamic banking is conducted is hypothesized to strengthen the customers' decision to select Islamic banking in Thailand. This study employs a survey method, factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Self-administered questionnaires were obtained from 300 Islamic bank customers (representing 67 percent response rate). Based on the results, the study finds that 51.7 percent of the Islamic bank customers in southern Thailand are corporate customers, and they are mostly women entrepreneurs. This is an important demographic trend finding which shows that working women are becoming more extensive users of Islamic banking products and services. Based on factor analysis, factor which emerge as important in determining customers' confidence in Thailand are religion, reputation, knowledge, attitude, convenience and service. While confidence and religious motives are direct, and significantly related to bank selection, confidence is found to have a positive while religious motive a negative influence on Islamic bank selection. In terms of mediation effect, attitude, convenience and reputation through confidence exhibit full mediation effect. The findings imply that Islamic banks should emphasize. |
| Keywords: | Confidence, Islamic Banking, Bank Selection Decision |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100024&r=sea |
| By: | AMIRUL FAIZ OSMAN (INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE , INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA) |
| Abstract: | Considering the importance of cash waqf in developing waqf institutions and enhances the social economic of ummah. Yet, the literature that contributes to a social psychological understanding of the factors that underlie an individual's decision to donate to cash waqf has been extremely inadequate. This study therefore is aimed at examining the determinants of donor (waqif) intention to participate in giving cash waqf in the context of muslim in Malaysia particularly amongst young intellectual at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). Employing a theory of planned behavior model as a baseline theory, a set of questionnaire is constructed to measure donor (waqif) giving intention behavior and data are analyzed accordingly. Concerned with findings, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control are instrumental in determining cash waqf participation amongst those intellectual. Besides attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control, religiosity is found to have a significant effect on the behavioral intention. Limitations and future researches are outlined.This study is pioneering in understanding the factors contributing the receptivity of cash waqf in Malaysia. Importantly, this study validates the applicability of the theory of planned behavior in a newly context of cash waqf. This issue however has been given poor attention by those who have interest in the area. |
| Keywords: | cash waqf, intention to participate in giving cash waqf, theory of planned behavior |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100111&r=sea |
| By: | Mentari Rahdini (President University); Mutiara Aisyah (President University); Suresh Kumar (President University) |
| Abstract: | There are various types of bottled drinking water in Indonesia market. Water is essential for human life. Nowadays, to meet people needs in daily life to drink water, many companies provide bottled drinking water. As this industry growing and more competition happen, the companies have to know the things that influence people to buy the products which are bottled drinking water. The aim of this research is to analyze several factors that influence people buying decision on it, namely brand, quality of the water, and the packaging of the product. Quantitative research was chosen as the methodology, with questionnaires distributed to gain the primary data. The questionnaires were distributed to 300 undergraduate students of President University in Cikarang, West Java, Indonesia. The questionnaires distribution was done in President University’s campus and student housing area. Based on the survey result, it is proven that brand, quality of the water, and the packaging of the product influence the respondents’ buying decision on bottled drinking water. The companies’ owners as well as management have to understand that fact well. Thus, this research result can be used by entrepreneurs who are currently in bottled drinking water business and also for those who want to open the business in this industry. |
| Keywords: | bottled drinking water, brand, buying decision, packaging, quality, innovation |
| JEL: | L26 O31 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100389&r=sea |
| By: | Ahmad Erani Yustika (Supervisory Board of Bank Indonesia); Rukavina Baksh Abdullah (Lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture – University of Tadulako); Dita Nurul Aini (Researcher at the ECORIST (The Economic Reform Institute)) |
| Abstract: | The experts believe that the institutions factor is the successful key of the country (Robinson and Acemoglu, 2012). In the economic development point of view, institutional change as same as important with institutional design itself. Institutional change is the permanent process that will always happen. In the institutional change process, institutional innovation is one of the important thing. Institutional innovation is very important because it will accelerate the economic activities and contribute the economic value-added. The institutional innovation process is begun from build-up institutional environment, networking development, institutional arrangement, institutional change, and institutional innovation as the last process. In Indonesia, recently, the economic sector need to be developed institutional innovation are agriculture and industry sectors because both sectors absorb many labour, create value-added, and increasing income (middle-low level of income); therefore the poverty problem, unemployment, and income inequality can be solved. Institutional innovation that is needed in agriculture sector are the development of market information system, the transformation of agriculture to agro-industry, the method of collective plant, the programme of land reform, and the market preparing. While, the institutional innovation in industry sector are strengthening value-added economy, bureaucracy reform, development of new industrial cluster, expansion of export market, and deepening of production process and technology. |
| Keywords: | institutions, institutional innovation, agriculture sector, industry sector |
| JEL: | E02 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702721&r=sea |
| By: | DISSATAT PRASERTSAKUL (MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE); TITIPONG Titipong Rerngrittirong RERNGRITTIRONG (DUSIT THANI COLLEGE) |
| Abstract: | Sponsorship expenditures have increased dramatically in the past decade worldwide. The ampliï¬ed investments are associated with the effectiveness of sponsorship as a marketing communication tool. The most common form of sponsorship is in sport, which relates to sponsoring sport teams, associations events or even athletes. This study was conducted in the professional sport sponsorship setting by investigating antecedents and consequences of team identification. Even though previous studies examined a variety of factors influencing team identification and its outcomes; for example, team identification was found to influence consumers’ intention to purchase the products from sponsoring companies, there is few research combines antecedents and consequences of team identification into one study. This study proposes a model to investigate the determining factors and the outcomes of sport sponsorship. Whilst soccer is reported to be the most popular sport in the world and also in Thailand, questionnaires were collected from 400 fans of professional soccer teams in Thailand. The hypotheses in the proposed model were tested using regression analysis. The results indicated that team attractiveness, similarity, and awareness significantly influenced team identification, and team identification in turn affected sponsor identification, attitudes toward the sponsor, sponsor patronage, and satisfaction with the sponsor. From a practical perspective, both sponsors and sport team marketers should have a firm understanding of when and how sponsorship works to maximize its value |
| Keywords: | Sport marketing, team identification, sponsorship, soccer team |
| JEL: | M31 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702155&r=sea |
| By: | Christian Oesterheld (Mahidol University International College) |
| Abstract: | Despite macro-level advances in ASEAN regional cooperation, on the ground anti-Vietnamese xenophobia remains an unsavory reality in contemporary Cambodia. During the 2013 national elections the newly constituted Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), a merger of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP), has capitalized strongly on anti-Vietnamese sentiments, leading to some minor violent incidents and a prolonged discussion on a renewal of racialism in contemporary Cambodia.Against widely hold views that the strong anti-Vietnamese animus constitutes a century-old historical continuity, this paper argues that popular Khmer anti-Vietnamism is predominantly based on folklorist representations of the lower Mekong delta’s early and mid 19th century social history and that it has undergone two significant – and closely interrelated – transformations in the course of Cambodia’s political history throughout the 20th century. The first transformative framework concerns times of crisis in the constitutive periods of Cambodian independence in the 1940s as well as the reconstitution of Cambodian statehood and nationalism in the early 1970s and again in the early 1990s. Building on René Girard’s mimetic theory, this paper argues that the Vietnamese minority in Cambodia has been ‘scapegoated’ as a ‘dispensable other’ which could be sacrificed in order to re-establish social cohesion in times of intra-societal conflict. As a result, the colloquial Khmer term “yuonâ€, formerly used as a neutral ethnic denomination, has assumed an increasingly derogatory meaning. Intrinsically related to the issue of ‘scapegoating’ is a second transformative moment which concerns the politicization of anti-Vietnamese sentiments in late 20th century Cambodia. It is argued here that this latter transformation has been fostered by ultra-nationalist tenants of Khmer Rouge ideology in the wake of the Third Indochina War. Ever since, divergent political camps have been prone to the use of anti-Vietnamese racialism in order to mobilize support from the Cambodian electorate. By de-cyphering the historical repertoires of Khmer xenophobia against their Vietnamese neighbors, this paper suggests that contemporary Cambodian society continues to fail in its attempts to overcome the social legacy of decades of civil war and factionalist infighting. |
| Keywords: | Xenophobia ; Cambodia ; Vietnamese minority |
| Date: | 2014–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0200880&r=sea |
| By: | Nipawan Thirawat (Mahidol University International College, Business Economics Program, Business Administration Division); Pathomdanai Ponjan (Fiscal Policy Office, Ministry of Finance, Bangkok) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to propose initiatives for flood management in order to prevent and alleviate the instability of tourism flows and economic loss of tourism industry, including cultural heritage tourism. Urbanisation and changeable demographics of floodplains and flood behaviour as well as the climate change have increased the exposure to flood risk in Thailand. Thai tourism sector was heavily affected by the floods in 2011. The disaster caused severe damages and losses such as a slowdown in income and a decline in the number of foreign tourists. Nonetheless, the negative impacts can be mitigated. Proper countermeasures include the developments of a proactive and integrated disaster risk management policy and effective non-structural strategies. |
| Keywords: | Flood management policy; Disaster risk management; Tourism industry; Developing countries; Thailand; Non structural strategies; Impacts of flood |
| JEL: | Q54 H59 |
| Date: | 2014–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0301173&r=sea |
| By: | Douglas Rhein (Mahidol University International College) |
| Abstract: | The number of female prisoners is increasing worldwide. In November 2009 the Thai government developed a set of 70 rules addressing the specific needs of women in the criminal justice system. This included rules relating to the treatment of female prisoners. Many of the issues addressed within this context became the foundation for the United Nations Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders “Bangkok Rules†which was adopted by the UN in December 2010. These landmark agreements were the result of many individuals and organizations efforts to improve the penal system and its’ treatment of female offenders. Furthering on these developments, this paper summarizes an exploratory research survey carried out at 4 female prisons in Thailand as well as the results of a survey distributed by the Ministry of Justice to women’s prisons in Thailand. This is a socio-demographic investigation of the variables associated with female prisoners. Further comparative analysis of specific variables will be analyzed to identify meaningful correlations among variables. This paper will discuss some of the commonalities of global prison demographics and discuss some of the ethical issues involved with conducting research in a prison. There are no specific suggestions made for policy or budgetary actions. |
| Keywords: | Female Inmates, Prisons, Demographics, Thailand |
| Date: | 2014–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0200691&r=sea |
| By: | MUNIRAH YAMIRUDENG (Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Campus) |
| Abstract: | Heritage language is a complex issue that affects Malay Muslims who live in bilingual environment. They may look different, speak a different language, practice different religions, and follow different cultural rituals from the larger Thai society. What is it like to be who they are? How does being linguistically different influence their sense of ethnic identity? it is important to pay attention to the extent mother tongue can play an important role in constructing the scene of ethnic identity among the Malay Muslims of southern Thailand whose language and culture are different from those of the monolingual Thai-speaking population. It is important to better understand how Malay Muslims perceive themselves and come to terms with their identity while living in a society that dichotomizes majority versus minority and Thai-speakers versus non-Thai speakers. Do they resolve conflicting identities resulting from living in two different cultures? Or do they identify themselves with one culture over the other? Therefore, this paper is an attempt to discuss how the Malay language was used as a symbol to preserve and sustain the Malay identity among the Malay Muslims of southern Thailand. It is important to examine the experiences, thoughts, and feelings of Malay Muslims about their native language and to observe whether Malay and Thai have different functions and context status from each other in their lives. This study serves the need for studies that analyze language as an essential component of nationalism, and not merely as a means of communication. |
| Keywords: | Heritage Language, Ethnic Identity, Culture, Malay Muslims. |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100322&r=sea |
| By: | Nadia Hasamoh (Panyabhat Pittaya School) |
| Abstract: | This paper is based on research relating to science teachers' view, understanding the Nature of Science and learning management on nature of science in the Islamic Private School in Pattani, Thailand. The study samples that selected by purposive sampling method, were 7 science teachers at Islamic Private School in Pattani, Thailand. Instruments were questionnaire, semi-structured interview, observation and field notes. The data were analyzed through coding, categorizing and descriptive statistics. The results of the study revealed that, 1. Science teachers in the Islamic Private School in Pattani held mixed views about the nature of science, which are traditional baconian view and the constructivist view. 2. Science teachers in the Islamic Private School in Pattani held good understanding on the nature of science but they owned various understandings in each detailed elements of the nature of science. 3. Science teachers in the Islamic Private School in Pattani provided learning management mostly through deficient approach, then didactic approach, followed by implicit approaches, and explicit approaches respectively. |
| Keywords: | View, Understanding, Learning management, Nature of science, Islamic private school |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100281&r=sea |
| By: | Anusorn Kunanusorn (School of Management and Information Sciences, The University of Phayao) |
| Abstract: | Network Development of Social Welfare Promotion Organizations: A Case of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand Chiang Mai Province is located in mountainous area of northern part of Thailand. It comprises of 25 sub-counties covering about 1.6 million people. There are many NGOs scattered in those 25 sub-counties working on social activities, but lack of coordination and lack of availability of data base. Even in the same nature of social activity but in different sub-county, there were unequal social welfare promotions to those who have less opportunity to receive social welfares from government programs. Target groups were children and youth, women, disabled people, marginalized people, ageing people, and HIV infected people. Each sub-county has these target groups working within the sub-county independently. No network linkages among NGOs even in the same nature of social activity. From above difficulties, causes and mechanisms to remedy were needed to explore, so that policy of social welfare promotions can be implemented effectively by The Royal Thai Government. The Government provides Universal Health Coverage to all Thais in which those target groups are included. There were eight programs performed throughout 12 months period, each program contains activities. Each program was participated by 125 participants from those 25 sub-counties, five from each sub-county. Objectives of this study were:1.To find out causes of lacking of coordination between social welfare organizations,2.To find out mechanism to bridge the gap between organizations. Results from this study, from evaluation, indicated that activities performed within each program could bring attention and cohesiveness among organizations. Participations from those representatives of each sub-county were high among leaders of organizations. Establishment of data base for each target group were agreed to join together undoubtedly in providing information and even more in different nature of social welfare programs. Small NGOs in sub-counties grouped together by virtue of consciousness of serving others in community. This study could be performed in the same nature of target group or different in other provinces, since social welfare promotion programs are nationwide program for all.. |
| Keywords: | Social Welfare Promotion, Universal Health Coverage, NGOs, Network Development, Network Analysis |
| JEL: | D85 I00 I30 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702226&r=sea |
| By: | Shaliza Azreen Mohd Zulkifli (Universiti Teknologi MARA) |
| Abstract: | In 2010, government of Malaysia strived to bring the country to be a high income, inclusive and sustainable nation by year 2020 through its New Economic Model (NEM) introduced in its Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). However this would also hint a sign rising price in many things, hence a higher living cost. Then in 2012 budget, the government announced a salary increment between 7 to 13% to the public sector employees. The citizens for once hope to be able to have a higher purchasing power but this was not the case. Adding to a series of existing events like oil price shock and global financial crisis, Malaysia incurred a new electricity tariff, subsidies cut and the skyrocket housing price. Even with the salary increment, it still does not help to ease out the rising living cost. Having said that, the amount of money to hold will also be affected and the ability to survive in this economy is questionable. Therefore this study attempts to i) determine the long run effect of real income, credit card and interest rate on demand for money in Malaysia, ii) examine the causal relationship between real money demand and chosen independent variables for the period of 2005Q1 to 2013Q4. By using multivariate framework, this study employs money demand function with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), credit card and interest rate as independent variables. Results show that there is a long run relationship between real money balance with GDP, credit card and interest rate. It is also found that relationship between real money balances and GDP is bi-directional. |
| Keywords: | demand,credit card,real money balance, average lending rate |
| Date: | 2014–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0902523&r=sea |
| By: | Bochun Zhu (Singapore Polytechnic); Yuek Wee Chan-Tan (Singapore Polytechnic); Rodney Dorville (Singapore Polytechnic) |
| Abstract: | In the society with highly developed and successful economy, students tend to lack motivation in mastering knowledge and skills when they are guaranteed a good life in the future. Polytechnics in Singapore were set up with the mission to train professionals to support the technological and economic development of Singapore. Intrinsic motivation (IM) is tapped in the project work of a 3rd year module ET0706 Object Oriented Programming (OOP, in Java) in DCPE (Diploma of Computer Engineering) at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Singapore Polytechnic. Performance approach goals were set for the students who are high in achievement orientation; while mastery approach goals were set for the students low in achievement orientation. In this paper, it is presented how RAMP (Relatedness, Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose) of IM elements are implemented into the module project work to motivate students high in achievement orientation to acquire advanced knowledge and apply it in challenging real-life projects, such as those involved in serving the community; in the meantime, motivate students low in achievement orientation to focus on foundation knowledge through applying it in solving real-life problem with adequate challenge. It is concluded that it is effective to apply IM to motivate students and get them to be work ready, future ready and world ready. |
| Keywords: | Intrinsic Motivation, Computer Engineering, Peer Tutoring, Real-life Project, Performance Approach, Mastery Approach |
| JEL: | I20 I23 I29 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0802532&r=sea |
| By: | Abdul Hafaz Ngah (Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah); Yuserrie Zainuddin (Universiti Malaysia Pahang); Ramayah Thurasamy (Universiti Sains Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | The increasing demand for Halal products by Muslim consumers due to their religious obligation has created new services known as the Halal transportation services. These services are specially designed to meet the demand from the Halal manufacturers to maintain the integrity of their Halal products. However, the adoption of the halal transportation services in Malaysia is relatively low. By adopting the TOE framework, this study will try to identify the enablers influencing and barriers impeding the Halal manufacturers from adopting the Halal transportation services. Using the systematic sampling method, data was gathered from 140 participants of the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2013. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach was used to test the relationship between the research model construct. The findings show that perceived benefits, organizational readiness, customer pressure and competitive pressure are significant enablers for the adoption decision. Meanwhile, the complexity was found as a barrier to the adoption and government support was found to be a not significant factor to the adoption of Halal transportation. The findings, besides presenting the suitability of PLS in statistical analysis, have also provided useful information to a better understanding regarding the enablers and barriers to the adoption of Halal transportation services. Halal service providers and government agencies which are related to the Halal services could use the findings to make a proper plan in enhancing the adoption of Halal services among Halal industry players. The limitation, implication and suggestion for future research are also discussed. |
| Keywords: | Halal transportation ; enablers to adoption, barriers to the adoption ; Halal Manufacturers inMalaysia; TOE framework, PLS |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100328&r=sea |
| By: | Zalifah Awang Zakaria (International Islamic University Malaysia); Roslina Othman (International Islamic University Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | The effectiveness of organization in achieving its objectives can be employed by applying management knowledge to management functions. However, current studies show the lack of management skills among managers which could lead to undesirable circumstances and reduce the staff satisfaction especially in performing their roles correctly. In this study, the management skills that are required by managers in the Malaysian university’s library are investigated. This is due to the importance of the library as the main function for supporting research and development of universities. The study aims to identify problem occurs when the managers fail to perform decisions in the university’s library. The management skills typology differences are compared based on demographics factors including age, gender, experience and management rank. The respondents are selected from ten libraries from public universities in Malaysia. Five research university’s libraries and five non-research universities libraries are compared. These libraries are selected based on the university rank listed by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia. This study employed a quantitative approach of structured questionnaire to investigate the management skills possessed by the respondents. A qualitative semi-structured interview is then conducted to support the findings from the aforementioned approach. |
| Keywords: | Management skills, Library managers, Library management |
| JEL: | Y90 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0101030&r=sea |
| By: | Jitnisa Roenjun (Dhurakij Pundit University International College); Mark Speece (American University of Kuwait) |
| Abstract: | Thailand’s recent coup was not received favorably in the West, but many parts of Thai society support it. In particular, business sentiment has improved greatly in the short time since the coup. The Bank of Thailand’s monthly Business Sentiment Index (BSI) showed sharp decline in 2013, even before the protests became large. Immediately after the coup, the index was up substantially, although not to levels seen in earlier years.Originally, small business supported Thaksin. After tight policies following the 1997 crash, they liked promises to free up credit for SMEs. Facing severe competition from foreigners buying up cheap post-crisis assets, they liked his policies aiming to promote domestic business. Some pro-small business policies were implemented, some were not, some turned out to lack much substance. But whatever the actual implementation and impact, perceptions came to view Thaksin’s governments as mainly favoring big corporations, especially those connected to Thaksin’s own business interests. It is rarely mentioned in the Western press, but the BSI actually showed a steady downward trend during most of Thaksin’s initial administrations from 2001 to 2006. After the 2006 coup, though volatile, the index made modest gains. When elections returned Thaksin’s proxy party to power in December 2007, it collapsed to its lowest level in nearly a decade. Under the opposition control for several years, BSI recovered, but has mostly been in decline since Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party took power in 2011.In the past half year, anti-government protests and pro-government counter actions have added to problems for small businesses in Bangkok. Many faced declining sales from the general downward trend in the economy. Some lost sales because customers stayed away if the business was near a protest site, although some could make good sales to protesters. However, the long-term issue was continuing lack of confidence that the government would do much to help small businesses, and feelings that Thailand needed some drastic reorientation.The coup provided that reorientation. Generally, small businesses in Bangkok support it, and believe that Thailand has a chance to get back on the right track now. We conducted in-depth interviews with a number of small businesses near where one of the main protest sites operated, to bring this sort thinking among small businesses out in detail. Generally, whatever side of the color politics they may have been on, mainly they want their small businesses to succeed, and are cautiously optimistic now. |
| Keywords: | small business, Thai coup, economic policy, business confidence, Thailand |
| JEL: | M00 O53 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702321&r=sea |
| By: | Suwanna Thuvachote (Department of Cooperatives, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University); Nuttiporn Phetphong (Kasetsart University) |
| Abstract: | Over the last few decades, cooperatives in Thailand have become larger, more complicated and market oriented. As a result, demand for high-quality managers in cooperatives increases. A manager who understands his or her duties and functions and with good personality, responsibility, relationship with others is a great asset of a cooperative. This paper, empirically tests the hypothesis that the characteristics and perspectives of managers affect the performance of cooperative specifically, the financial performance. Two sets of data are used. The first data set is 2011 annual cooperative financial information from Cooperative Auditing Department. The second data set is from a survey of the managers of agricultural cooperatives using mailed questionnaire. A total of 421 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the managers of all large agricultural cooperatives in Thailand (those with more than 1,000 members). Of the 421 managers, 258 responded, and 255 were usable. Regression analysis is applied to test the hypothesis. The study results show that overall, the managers’ characteristic and perception variables used in the model have limited explanatory strength on financial performance of the cooperatives, both in terms of return on assets and return on equity. Despite the limitation, the experiences as cooperative managers, his or her participation in financial training program and perception on cooperative principles could positively increase the return on assets of the society although the magnitude is quite small. |
| Keywords: | managers, financial performance, agricultural cooperatives |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100604&r=sea |
| By: | Siti Suhaila Ihwani (Technology University Malaysia); Adibah Muhtar (Technology University Malaysia); Norhafizah Musa (Technology University Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | Teacher readiness is an essential element in teaching and learning process. Sex education implementation depends on teacher readiness to teach the subject. In Malaysia, sex education is taught in various subjects namely Islamic Education, Moral Education, Science, Additional Science and Biology. In Islamic Education, there are some topics related to sex education that are taught. Islamic Education teachers are responsible to increase student’s understanding of the concept of sex education from the Islamic view. Therefore, Islamic Education teachers should know how to convey religious values within the topics taught. Internalization of a clear and complete set of religious values in the students could protect them spiritually, emotionally and intellectually from any destructive and corrupt elements. Islamic Education teachers have to ensure that all its teaching is more effective with respect to its implication and internalization especially its function for student’s self protection in conduct. Most importantly, they should make a connection between Islamic religion/ethical theory and practice. Thus, the readiness of Islamic Education teachers in teaching sex education from the religious values must be given full attention. Are they ready to teach sex education in accordance to Islamic perspective? This is to ensure that students respect their religion, themselves, intellect, progeny and property which are in line with the goals of all religions and the aspirations of Man. This study focused on Islamic Education teachers from secondary school in Malaysia. The aim of the paper is to discuss the readiness of Islamic education teachers in teaching sex education in line with Islamic values. |
| Keywords: | Islamic Sex Education, Western Sex Education, Islamic Education Teachers, Readiness. |
| JEL: | I29 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0101340&r=sea |
| By: | Norman Mudor (Medical Education Center Yala Hospital); Adhhiyah Mudor (Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Yala) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to investigate the perceived educational environment in medical education center, Yala hospital, Thailand and possible perceptual difference among difference determinant groups. A descriptive cross sectional quantitative study was conducted on fourth, fifth and sixth year medical students using Dundee Ready Education Environment (DREEM). DREEM items focus on five sub-domains related to learning, teachers, academic, atmosphere and social perception. The determinants are gender; religion, year of class, having fail and professional attitude. The results were analyzed and interpreted in relation to standard norm of DREEM and determinants. A 92.5% response rate was obtained. The results indicated that overall the DREEM score was positive (123.8/200=62%). The five sub-domains score were also positive, its range from 59.7% - 64.9%. Gender was significant with three domains: teachers, academic and atmosphere perception sub-domain. Professional attitude was significant with atmosphere perception sub-domain |
| Keywords: | educational environment, DREEM, undergraduate medical students, medical education |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0701291&r=sea |
| By: | Kawee Jarach (Mahidol University International College); Mark Speece (American University of Kuwait) |
| Abstract: | Thailand and Egypt have seen some striking parallels in the past few years, culminating in military overthrows of elected governments, acts which were widely supported by the middle classes. This paper examines middle class thinking behind opposition to the governments, and subsequent support for the military takeovers.Both Pheu Thai and the Muslim Brotherhood won elections based on real support, including among middle class voters, although the margins of victory were smaller than sometimes portrayed. (The Muslim Brotherhood won slightly under 52% of the popular vote in 2012; Pheu Thai won just under 50% in 2011.) Once elected, they abused power, pursued their own narrow agendas, and seemed to be dismantling checks, balances, and liberties of truly democratic systems. Thailand’s middle class opposition labeled this ‘parliamentary dictatorship’. Whether it is called this, ‘electoral authoritarianism’, or ‘majoritarianism’, the concept is well known in political science. Pheu Thai and Muslim Brotherhood supporters frequently pointed to their election wins to justify simply doing what they wanted without regard for other views, for law, courts, or constitutions. To the urban middle classes, this is a very narrow understanding of ‘democracy’. They are more likely to agree with Yale law professor Robert Post: “It is a grave mistake to confuse democracy with particular decision-making procedures and to fail to identify the core values that democracy as a form of government seeks to instantiate†(Post 2005, p. 25).The middle classes became disillusioned with electoral ‘democracy’ and shifted hopes to institutions that were supposed to provide checks on government authority, notably the courts. Pheu Thai and the Muslim Brotherhood then tried to control and/or sideline the courts and other independent agencies. “The only remaining barrier (other than the military) to Islamist hegemony is the judiciary. If the Muslim Brotherhood and its FJP take control of courts and judges, this check will disappear, and Egypt could move from liberalized autocracy to electoral authoritarianism†(Brumberg 2013, p. 101).The urban middle classes in both Thailand and Egypt came out into massive street protests, polarization crystalized, and the situation rapidly degenerated. When the military stepped in, there was widespread middle class support for the moves, which is unlikely to dissipate quickly. Brumberg, Daniel. 2013. Transforming the Arab World's Protection-Racket Politics. Journal of Democracy 24(3): 88-103.Post, Robert. 2006. Democracy and Equality. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 603: 24-36. |
| Keywords: | Thailand, Egypt, parliamentary dictatorship, electoral dictatorship, military coup, middle class, political polarization |
| JEL: | D72 L38 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702258&r=sea |
| By: | ROSMA OSMAN (SULTAN IDRIS EDUCATION UNIVERSITY); WONG KUNG TECK WONG (SULTAN IDRIS EDUCATION UNIVERSITY); GOH SWEE CHOO GOH (SULTAN IDRIS EDUCATION UNIVERSITY) |
| Abstract: | The Malaysia Education Blueprint was designed in order to act as a catalyst to a comprehensive transformation of the country’s education system to produce a generation of holistic pupils and educators. It is also meant to bridge gaps in the academic achievements of urban and rural pupils, as well as iron out disparities caused by socio-economic and gender factors. Input from stakeholders were sought in benchmarking for excellence. The Blueprint was designed to propel education to the next level, based on three objectives namely understanding the performance and challenges faced by the school system, establishing vision and aspirations for the education system and students and outlining a comprehensive transformation programme for the system. To achieve this, the 11- step shift was drawn up that will need to occur to deliver the step change in outcomes envisioned by all Malaysians, with each shift to address at least one of the five system outcomes of access, quality, equity, unity and efficiency. This paper will discuss the 11-step shifts that should enable the entire education system see significant transformation by the end of its 13 –year course (2013-2025). |
| Keywords: | implementation plan, holistic students, world-class |
| JEL: | I28 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100791&r=sea |
| By: | Lai Wan Hooi (The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus) |
| Abstract: | The general purpose of this proposed study is to analyse the effect of HRM practices on corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and organisational learning capability (OLC) in the SMEs in Malaysia. HRM practices in this study will encompass training and development, performance appraisal, incentive and compensation, teamworking, and recruitment and selection. With the exception of teamworking, all the other domains match the four HRM functions proposed by Fombrun et al. (1984) and four of the six HRM domains proposed by Way (2002). Specifically, the main aim of the study will be to examine the effect of each component of HRM on the three dimensions of CE (innovation, corporate venturing, and strategic renewal) as well as the effect on four dimensions of OLC (managerial commitment, systems perspective, openness and experimentation, and knowledge transfer). By setting out to validate the effect of HRM practices on CE and OLC in SMEs, this study will make a significant contribution to HRM literature by empirically examining the significance of each HRM component on each dimension of CE and OLC. This is in response to call for studies to relate selected HRM practices to individual CE dimensions (Schmelter et al., 2010). Furthermore, I seek to contribute to the literature by identifying the significance of each HRM component on each dimension of OLC. |
| Keywords: | HRM Intensity, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Organisational Learning Capability, SMEs, Malaysia |
| JEL: | L26 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0701980&r=sea |
| By: | Suhaida Mohd Amin (Faculty of Economics & Administration, University of Malaya (UM)); Nurulhuda Mohd Satar (Faculty of Economics & Administration, University of Malaya (UM)); Su Fei Yap (Faculty of Economics & Administration, University of Malaya (UM)); Mohd Faizal P.Rameli (Faculty of Economic and Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)) |
| Abstract: | Low rate of labor force participation among women has always been a focus issue in the development agenda of many countries due to the “absent women†will represent a loss of skills and brain drain from the workforce. This is especially true given the fact that there is a greater number of women enrolled in tertiary education. Low participation rate among highly educated women thus will affect the return on education especially among developing countries. In Malaysia, female participation rate in the labor force remained around 44 to 48 percent within 30 years and employed women is dominated by those with secondary educational attainment while those with tertiary education contributes only 32% to total women participated in the labor market. The main reason for educated women dropping out from labor force is difficulty to balance between career and family lives. When they need to make a choice, women will often prioritize family rather than their career. The emergence of the internet is deemed as a partial solution to this problem. High accessibility to the internet would be able to help manage and balance between family and work. With high accessibility to ICT, women can also work from home or any other location than the office or project site. Therefore, time can be saved and could be manage according to their own time preferences, costs and stress of commuting for employees will be reduced if they could do their job anywhere, including at home. Like many other countries in the world, Malaysians received rapid technological advancement from day to day. In year 2012, 65.8 percent of individuals have access to the internet as compared to 21.4 per cent in year 2000. Thus, to examine benefits that could be obtained by educated women with internet access, a total of 943 women with tertiary education answered the online questionnaire. This study will explore how educated women benefit from internet access at their homes. For those who work, this study will determine how access to the internet could help to balance their responsibilities of career and family life. For those who do not work, the research tries to find out the extent of their confidence in term of how high access to the internet can help them return to work without leaving the care of the household. The findings from this study help us to understand the willingness of women to work and be in the labor market with high internet accessibility. |
| Keywords: | accessibility, internet, educated women, Malaysia, labor force |
| JEL: | J22 J21 J24 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100230&r=sea |
| By: | André Jordaan (University of Pretoria) |
| Abstract: | The success of many developing countries, following an outward-orientated development strategy, became increasingly visible during the early 1980s. This stood in sharp contrast to the relatively unsuccessful inward-orientated, import substitution strategy followed by some other countries. East Asian and more recently, Latin American countries, showed the path in terms of following an outward-oriented strategy. Contrary to this, African countries have been hesitant in following this trend, with its share in world trade declining in general. Military expenditure, on the other hand, remains an important aspect in overall government expenditure in most African countries. The purpose of this paper is to determine what the effect is, if any, between the level of trade and military expenditure within a selection of African countries.The relationship between international trade and military expenditure is generally the cause of much debate. It seems that varying arguments are forwarded such as, trade enhances peaceful interaction, trade may influence and cause tension between trading partners and that trade simply has no effect in terms of conflict whatsoever. Different studies on different parts of the world (O’Loughlin and Anselin, 1996; Dorussen, 1999; Martin, Mayer and Thoenig, 2007; Dieter and Higgott, 2007; Yakolev, 2007; Mamoon and Murshed, 2009; Keshk, Reuveny and Pollins, 2010) seem to stimulate this debate of disagreement.This study attempts to empirically show the impact of trade openness on military expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product. Using the data on a selection of southern African countries over a period of ten years, a linear panel regression model will be used to show the estimated effects of the included variables. |
| Keywords: | International trade, military expenditure, southern Africa |
| JEL: | F10 F14 |
| Date: | 2014–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0301731&r=sea |
| By: | ORARAT WANGPRADIT (Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi); KORRAKOT SINPRAJAKPOL (Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi) |
| Abstract: | This study was aimed to develop the learning capabilities of the students in laws and consumer protection course. The samples were 35 students of the 1st year technical pharmacy department at Sirindhorn College of Public Health Chonburi in the 2012 fiscal year. Data were collected from the self-evaluation questionnaire of learning capability standard in laws and consumer protection course before and after implementing a classroom action research of 4 steps, planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. In the planning step, learning problem was surveyed and analyzed. It was found that students were not able to apply the regulations or acts in order to solve related case studies after traditional lecture format. The student-centered teaching techniques were then used as an active learning tool in the acting step to mitigate this problem. These techniques included cooperative learning and experiential learning. In the observing step, the data were re-collected and compared using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. The results showed that after implementing the action research with student-centered teaching techniques, the evaluation score was increased from 54.97 to 57.43. Although it was a slight increase but could be concluded that an action research using student-centered techniques significantly developed the learning capabilities of technical pharmacy students (p< 0.05). The teaching techniques used in this research would be reflected and applied in the course plan of laws and consumer protection in order to improve the teaching and learning strategies for the next fiscal year. |
| Keywords: | Action research, Student-centered, Learning capability |
| JEL: | I00 I20 I29 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0701264&r=sea |
| By: | Dr.Patthraporn Kessung (Faculty of Education Loei Rajabhat University) |
| Abstract: | The purposes of this research were 1) to develop a causal model for readiness preparation toward essential 21st century key skills aspect of students at Loei Rajabhat University and 2) to examine the goodness of fit of the model with empirical data. The research samples were 600 of the second – fourth year students at educational faculty: Loei Rajabhat University selected by two-stage random sampling. Variables consisted of 5 latent variables: readiness preparation toward essential 21st century key skills aspect, role of advisor, media influence, achievement motive, and future orientation. These latent variables were measured by 15 observed variables. The research instruments were questionnaires, which had reliability coefficient 0.89 to 0.95. Data were analyzed to obtain mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, skewness, kurtosis, Pearson’s product moment correlation, and checking the consistency of hypothesis model the empirical data and casual influence.​The research findings were as follows:​1. The causal model for readiness preparation toward essential 21st century key skills aspect of students at Loei Rajabhat University was fitted the empirical data. (c2 = 21.53, df = 55, p-value = .99, GFI = 1.00, AGFI = 0.99, RMR = 0.01, RMSEA = 0.01, CN = 2287.87)​ The variables in the model could describe the readiness preparation toward essential 21st century key skills aspect of students at Loei Rajabhat University variance with 89 percent.​2. The direct and indirect effects of variables on had the standardized influence coefficient respectively as follows: 2.1) There were 3 variables which directly effected on readiness preparation toward essential 21st century key skills aspect of students at Loei Rajabhat University: media influence with the influence coefficient = 0.35; role of advisor = 0.14 with the statistics at .01 level, and achievement motive = 0.17 with the statistics at .05 level. 2.2) There were variables which the indirect effects on readiness preparation toward essential 21st century key skills aspect of students at Loei Rajabhat University as media influence with the influence coefficient = 0.43 with the statistics at .01 level and achievement motive with the influence coefficient = 0.14 with the statistics at .05 level. |
| Keywords: | Development ,Causal Model ,Readiness Preparation, |
| JEL: | I23 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0702046&r=sea |
| By: | Numan Hayimasae (Prince of Songkla University) |
| Abstract: | Islam had formally accepted by the Patani people in the mid 15th century while the tenets of Islam were not fully practiced at the early time. In the early period, it has no clear evidence to indicate that there were pilgrims from Patani to reach Mecca for Hajj. However, the names of religious Patani scholars were mentioned about their connection with Mecca in some Malay classical books both directly and indirectly in 16th and 17th century. Journey of Hajj from Patani and had more recorded in the later century after being better transportation especially when the Suez canal in Egypt was opened in 1869 and operating of steamships which carried Malay pilgrims from the Malay Archipelago mainly through Penang and Singapore port. Barriers and various challenges faced by pilgrims throughout on board ship and life in Mecca and its environs gave much impact, especially in terms of social-economy and intellectual structure. Collective memory, spiritual and empirical experience gave a lot of individual impact and made Hajj pilgrims changes their way of life after they returning homeland. For those for stay a period of time for educational purpose after the Hajj season, this also gave profound impact to the Patani Malay society through intellectual pilgrims particularly the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century. Methods, texts, learning and teaching styles, had been transformed into the society especially the Madrasah system which directly copied from the madrasahs in Mecca. The Hajj journey was also one way to link the Malay region with the Muslim world, and consolidated its contact with the Haramayn in particular. |
| Keywords: | Hajj Pilgrimaage Journey, Social-economic and Intellectual Impact, Patani Malay Society |
| JEL: | N95 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100218&r=sea |
| By: | Hendon Mohammad (Institute of Teacher Education, International Languages Campus); Yashwanora Yahaya (Institute of Teacher Education,Ipoh Campus); Dr Nettie Boivin (University of York, Education Department) |
| Abstract: | Cultural expectations of a language trainer’s role can impede or facilitate trainer/trainee relationship. The Malaysian Australian Education Project for Afghanistan (MAEPA) was a tri-lateral literacy project between the three governments. The 240 Afghanistan master teacher students, in six cohorts, attended the 14 week English Literacy course from 2009-2013. The mixed-method study utilised trainee’s profiles, post-training feedback, lecturers’ interviews, qualitative observations and a translated post-questionnaire. Findings highlight empathy for the students’ socio-cultural home context as an important new socio-cultural factor influencing the Malaysian success in their teacher training. Often expectations of a trainer’s role and image, based on prior cultural beliefs, can impede any classroom trainer/trainee relationship. This article investigates a special type of teacher trainee/master trainee that in this globalised world is becoming increasingly common in the world. This is true in the average classroom unfortunately, in diverse conflict educational contexts there are other hindrances which needs addressing. The case study findings highlight four aspects faced by the master trainers when co-constructing relationships with master teacher trainees from marginalised, fragile TESOL contexts. Extending from Boendermaker’s (2003) skills of a good trainer, knowledge, skill and personality and Garman’s (2005) six key factors of inclusive education the study redefines these to include a new fourth area. The four areas this new factor which require specific empathy are; sharing relationship, building an inclusive empathetic relationship with students, inclusion of women in education, and peaceful diversity. |
| Keywords: | Peaceful Diversity, Co-constructed Training Relationship, Inclusive Training, Empathy, Fragile Context |
| JEL: | I29 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0700944&r=sea |
| By: | Yashwanora Yahaya (Institute of Teacher Education, Ipoh Campus,); Hendon Mohammad (Institute of Teacher Education, International Languages Campus); Nettie Boivin (Nazarbayev University, Language Centre, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to determine if cultural expectations can impede or facilitate trainer/trainee relationship between the Malaysian master teacher trainers (MMTTs) and the Afghanistan master teacher trainees (AMTTs). The study also aimed to highlight the external factors influencing the co-constructing of experiential learning between the MMTTS and the AMTTs. The sample consisted of randomly selected participants from the 240 master teacher trainers from different teacher training institutions in Afghanistan. For this study, data were collected using the mixed-method study utilising trainee’s profiles, post-training feedback via Facebook and e mails, lecturers’ interviews, qualitative observations and course evaluation feedbacks. Findings highlighted empathy for the students’ socio-cultural home context as an important new socio-cultural factor influencing the Malaysian success in their master teacher training. Other expectations of a trainer’s role and image based on prior cultural beliefs can impede any classroom trainer/trainee relationship. This is true in the average classroom unfortunately, where in conflict educational or fragile contexts, there are other hindrances which need to be addressed.The case study findings highlighted four aspects faced by the ATTs when co-constructing relationships with the MTTs from marginalised, fragile contexts. The four areas which required specific empathy were: sharing relationship, building an inclusive empathetic relationship with students, inclusion of women in education, and peaceful diversity. |
| Keywords: | Peaceful Diversity, Co-constructed Training Relationship, Inclusive Training, Empathy, Fragile Context |
| JEL: | I24 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0700701&r=sea |
| By: | Boonchai Hongcharu (National Institute of Development Administration) |
| Abstract: | The emergence and the rapid adoption of social media in recent years have led to the political, economic and social changes. The recent political upheavals in several countries from the Middle East, Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia have sparked an interest for the participants to use internet-based technologies for instantaneous communications among themselves. News, rumors and various messages can spread swiftly without frontiers and obstruction from the opponents. The new communications technologies themselves cannot be censored or limited any longer. Facebook, twitters, instagrams, you tube, blogs etc. have been effective tools to link the messages among the participants. This up-to-date information can be beneficial to understand what happens in social interactivity using social media. Moreover, in an anonymous environment of the Internet, participants speak out more loudly than ever before. Instead of focusing on the interactions between the company and its customers, this study intends to explore significant factors in the society which leads to social interactivity in the Internet-based technologies. The model will help us learn more about the processes of how the Internet-based technologies function in the society and will be applied for the marketing activities using the social media. The implications for integrated marketing communications would help us understand more deeply how the social interactivity can be applied for the brand building and relationships among communications participants. |
| Keywords: | Social interactivity, Interactive media, Internet marketing, marketing communications, social media |
| JEL: | M49 M31 O39 |
| Date: | 2014–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0300643&r=sea |
| By: | Nor Shafiqa Mohamed Shaffiee (Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute (UniKL MSI)); Muhd. Anwar Muhamad Subri (Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Alor Setar (KPTMAS)) |
| Abstract: | Social Development Theory, a theory formulated by Lev Vygotsky, is a theory which emphasizes on the effect of culture and social factors in contributing to cognitive development. According to Vygotsky, his theory differs from Piaget's as he places more emphasis on culture affecting / shaping cognitive development and he sets more weight on the role of language in cognitive development. Vygotsky believes that community plays a central role in the process of learning. Thus, an event management project has been designed to suit the students' needs in absorbing language while interacting with the community. The effectiveness and the impact of the event management project is still a big question to be answered. However, the project has been implemented as one of the assessment for the students of Universiti Kuala Lumpur. Whether or not the project is beneficial and meaningful in the sense of English language, it may be answered through comparison research between the respondents of Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute and Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Alor Setar. In relation to the issue, the research aims to investigate the impact of Vygotsky's Social Development Theory, particularly in event management project, in teaching and learning English. The research involves Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute and Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Alor Setar students as the experimental and controlled groups of respondents. |
| Keywords: | Social Development Theory, Teaching and Learning |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0700287&r=sea |
| By: | Krisanaphong Poothakool (Rangsit University, Royal Police Cadet Academy) |
| Abstract: | This is a quantitative research. It aims to examine public and police officers’ views towards Thailand’s Border Patrol Police in three main areas as follows: 1) public satisfaction towards border patrol police’s services and practices, 2) public trust towards border patrol police’s image, 3) the confidence of police officers in general towards border patrol police’s image. This research explored satisfaction level of local people living in 2,470 target villages, the confidence level of public and police officer in general towards border patrol police. Data were collected through border patrol police working at local areas.The research outcomes could be concluded as follows: 1) Civilian participants were satisfied with service provision system, serious crime prevention strategies and border patrol tactics respectively. 2) The level of public satisfaction towards border patrol police’s image was rather high. More specifically, the participants were confident with border patrol police’s responsibility and good governance. According to the participants’ background, it was clearly explicated that the participants with higher educational level were more confident than those with lower educational level. Regarding the participants’ career, those, who were government officials, were more confident when compared to other careers. In regard to partakers’ incomes, those who earned in the range 25,001 to 50,000 baht (around $834 to $1,667) had confidence level higher than those who had income beyond this range. 3) Related to the police officers’ opinions towards border patrol police, they were similar to civilian participants’ views. In other words, the police officers who participated in this survey were very satisfied with border patrol police’s activities and manners. It could be concluded that public and police officers’ views towards Thailand’s Border Patrol Police were positive. |
| Keywords: | Royal Thai Police; border patrol police; public satisfaction; good governance; public trust |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0802150&r=sea |
| By: | M.D. Rozaida (University of Malaysia Pahang); Yuserrie Zainuddin (University of Malaysia Pahang); Daim Mahanum (University of Malaysia Pahang) |
| Abstract: | The paper focuses on applying Resource-based view (RBV) of organization to achieve competitive advantage and enhancing the success of software development project. Software development projects are known for being completed far over budget and behind schedule. The high investment of information technology (IT) infrastructure capability required money, time and effort must be able to deliver value to organization. In such organization, the software development project must be managed and controlled by IT manager. The IT manager of the software development project has to ensure that the project finishes on schedule and within budget. Therefore, software development need to be more strategic of planning and design where recent software development approaches emphasis more upon technical skills of coding and debugging and ignore the strategic importance of planning and design. Specifically, we based our research on the conceptual framework of RBV to investigate the relationships among IT infrastructure capability and software development project success, IT infrastructure capability and competitive advantage, competitive advantage and software development project success and that the competitive advantage mediates the relationship between IT infrastructure capability and software development project success. The findings will indicate on how organization should focus with their IT infrastructure capability through competitive advantage, which will result in the success of software development project in Malaysian public sector. |
| Keywords: | IT Infrastructure Capability, Competitive Advantage and Software Development Project Success |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100703&r=sea |
| By: | Parichard Benrit (Prince of Songkla University, Thailand); Malliga Marimuthu (Universiti Sains Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | Although Self Service Banking Technologies (SSBTs), is known as core services provided by the banks, however in some developing countries, it is still at the early stage of adoption. For the banks in these developing countries, encouraging their customer to use the SSBTs is a great challenge. Thus, there is a critical need to understand the factors that influence customers decision towards SSBTs. The information about the service is the first stage of the adoption process that will lead awareness, interest, evaluation, trial and adoption of innovation (Roger 1962). This study aims to explore the factors that would influence SSBTs adoption at early stage with emphasis on the role of information valence. Both positive information and negative information are concerned in this study. A new conceptual model of information valence including positive framing and negative framing as predictor of SSBTs adoption is proposed. The findings of the study base on information valence model will contribute to understanding of the role of information factors on SSBTs adoption and extend the body of information valence literature. Also, understanding the information valence factor would be useful for bank managers in formulating strategies and more effectively reach the consumer to encourage increased in adoption rate of SSBTs. Limitation and suggestions for future research also are highlighted. |
| Keywords: | Self service technology, Banking, Adoption, Information, Valence |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100082&r=sea |
| By: | Mohd. Faizal P.Rameli (Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)); Muhammad Ridhwan Ab. Aziz (Faculty of Economics and Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)); Kalsom Ab. Wahab (Faculty of Economics and Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)); Suhaida Mohd. Amin (Faculty of Economics and Administration Universiti Malaya) |
| Abstract: | Entrepreneurship as a part of Islamic economics and businesses is related with the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources controlled. Islam always encourages Muslims to be an innovative and active entrepreneur. Conducting business ethically is an important matter that should be practiced by all entrepreneurs, especially for Muslimpreneurs. Therefore, many Muslimpreneurs become a successful entrepreneurs today. A balanced combination between the elements of the spiritual and physical basis in the formulation of Islamic ethics known as akhlaq or noble characters. The implementation of the ethical values based on the philosophy of tawheed will provide a universal measure of value system that should be followed by every human being. Therefore, the formation of Muslim entrepreneurs ethics is also based on the values of akhlaq. This research aims to analyse the characteristic of Muslimpreneurs from the view of Muslim scholars and academicians. The methodology of this research is through qualitative research based on the interview with Muslim scholars and experts. The Muslimpreneurs characteristics are the combinations of various elements including faith and worship to Allah, good intention, halalan thoyyiba, trustworthy, consent to the others and etc. This research also concludes that Islam has given specific rules that should be followed by all Muslimpreneurs which derive from the text of al-Quran and al-Hadis. |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneur Characteristics, Muslimpreneur, Islamic Entrepreneurship, Islamic Business Ethics, Islamic Ethics |
| JEL: | L26 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100134&r=sea |
| By: | Abdul Rashid Mohamed (UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA); Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail (UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA); LIN SIEW ENG (UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA) |
| Abstract: | This paper describes an initiative to systematically gauge English as Second Language (ESL) learners’ grammar proficiency. Grammar Assessment System was developed with the goal to determine learners’ grammar proficiency and placing learners in their respective grammar proficiency levels. The novelty of the Grammar Assessment System is in the three notable elements; Grammar Test, Grammar Matrix and Grammar Descriptor. The purpose of the Grammar Test is to measure learners’ grammar proficiency levels while the Grammar Matrix is used to categorise and place learners in the precise grammar proficiency levels. Subsequently, the Grammar Descriptors provides descriptions of learners’ grammar proficiency. ESL teachers can make use of the information generated by the Grammar Assessment System to systematically plan remedial and enrichment activities for learners. The main objective of this study is to construct a generic grammar proficiency test instrument (that transcends from Year 7 to Year 11) which is valid, reliable and practical that can discriminate and sort students into specific grammar proficiency categories. After developing, piloting and calibrating a prototype grammar proficiency test in a school (where respondents consisted of Year 7 to Year 11 students aged between 13 to 17 years old) the researcher proceeded to develop the ‘cut-score’ to establish the ‘Bands’ of performers. The tested instrument was then administered on Year 10 students in Penang and the data gathered was analysed and benchmarked to set indicators (Exceed Standard, Meet Standard, Below Standard and Academic Warning). These indicators point to the students’ grammar proficiency.118 Year 10 students in a sub-urban secondary school participated in this study.The findings of this study however, showed that the majority of the students are in Band 2 (28.6%) (Academic Warning), 31.9% are in Band 3 (Academic Warning) while 26.4% are in Band 4 (Below Standard). Only 7.7% of the Year 10 students are in Band 5 (Meet Standard) whereas 5.5% are in Band 6 (Exceed Standard). The study’s value lies in its capacity to provide practising teachers with a set of indicators to gain accurate information with regards to their students’ grammar proficiency and consequently plan grammar lessons tailored to the needs of the students. |
| Keywords: | Grammar Assessment System, Grammar Test, Grammar Matrix, Grammar Descriptor |
| Date: | 2014–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0201292&r=sea |
| By: | Nawi@Mohd. Nawi Ismail (Kelantan University of Malaysia); Azizah Hussin (Universiti Malaysia of Kelantan (UMK)) |
| Abstract: | The word of “Philosophy†came from Greece which means “love of wisdomâ€. Philosophy is the master of the knowledge. Generally it is divided into islamic and non-islamic philosophy. The islamic philosophy is the best practice in human life because it covers all aspects of life. Deep understanding will give positive effect to the main and branch knowledge. Unfortunately, some islamic scholars do not internalize the benefit of it. The nature of knowledge is based on Rabbani and of couse the sources of knowledge is from Allah. According to imam al-Ghazali, aquiring knowledge is categorised into two types, Farhdu Ain and Fardhu Kifayah. The researcher tries to highlight on Fardhu Kifayah and the corelation with the Rabbani concept. Every muslim go through learning process and facing many types of knowledge, either islamic or general knowledge. Government, administrators, scholars, teachers and preachers play an important role to make sure the general knowledge are islamised totally. All muslims especially to those who involved in education must think, plan and take an action to implement islamization of knowledge. They have to include and relate all the general knowledges with the Rabbani concept. This paper suggests few actions that can be done by us as phylosophers, thinkers, palnners and implementors to make sure Rabbani concept exist during the learning process. Finally, the islamic phylosophy becomes reality. |
| Keywords: | Islamic phylosophy, education, Rabbani concept, Fardhu Kifayah, general knowledge, Islamic knowledge. |
| JEL: | I21 I29 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100174&r=sea |
| By: | Ruhaizah Abdul ghani (Uitm); Jaffary Awang (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | Multiracial society are often faced with issues of differences between races or nations that exist therein. Differences might happen in any issues such politic, economic, religion and so on. In certain cases, these differences may lead to clashes and complicated conflicts. Many are looking for the ways to reconcile the differences. The concept of 'tolerance' is one way to ease the problems of differences that arise, but there is a dispute about its suitability, and the concept of 'respect' is proposed as a more practical concept in solving problems between the races. There are discussion regarding the meaning of both words that turned to be a concept used in the context. This study aims to examine the meaning of each words literally, thus further examine the aspects of terminological meanings tolerance and respect in order to find the better concept which is more practical and comprehensive in addressing these issues. This paper uses the research method of semantic and content analysis to assess a more appropriate concept. The study found that the concept of tolerance is more comprehensive and practical as it includes the concept of respect. In short, the concept of tolerance cannot be practiced in the absence of the ideal of respect for different individuals and the issues raised. |
| Keywords: | Conflicting issues, pluralistic societies, tolerance, respect |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100273&r=sea |
| By: | Anis Zakaria (University Putra of Malaysia); Zaidatul Syahirah Zainal Abidin (University Putra of Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | The knowledge and practice on healthy lifestyle is very important to determine a good growth and mental development for students at the tertiary level. It is well established that a healthy lifestyle is of benefit in the prevention of diseases such as cancer and promotion of well-being. Unhealthy nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use and the use of alcohol and illicit drugs are among identified lifestyle-related risk factors(The European health report, 2002). It is well established that a healthy lifestyle is of benefit in promotion of well-being (WHO 1990). Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours particularly poor dietary practices, physical inactivity and smoking are major risk factors for conditions like overweight, obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases (Damasceno 2006) Therefore, the aim of this research is to identify and explore level, types and barrier in practicing healthy lifestyle among the students under Bachelor of Home Science and Agriculture Science Education program. This quantitative and qualitative research used questionnaires and interview as research instrument. 259 students were involved as sample for quantitative data and five informant were selected for quantitative data. Results showed that there were no significant result between knowledge and practice and selected types of healthy life style were detected at highly known and practiced. The barrier of practicing healthy life identified among the students were time constraint, work burden, weak in time management and consciousness about healthy life style. Several suggestions were given to promote healthy lifestyle among the students to highlight and improve good mental development and grown to be taken action by the students and university. This study showed a poor practice of healthy lifestyle among university students. Therefore universities should emphasize a healthy lifestyle in all faculties as a required subject. |
| Keywords: | Healthy lifestyle,higher education students |
| JEL: | I19 I29 |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:0100729&r=sea |