Journal of Advanced Research in Business and Management Studies

Analysing the Project Delay Causes and Improving Quality using Multi-Project Strategies

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Numerous reasons for project delays from the viewpoints of the client and the contractor have only been somewhat studied. The aim of this paper is to recognize the delays' underlying causes and issues ways to reduce them considering the progress of the project. Consequently, 106 contractor-side experts and 82 client-side experts in project management were the subjects of this study. The clients and contractors gave the same importance to factors like poor communications and governmental approvals in projects that were successful (had a time delay of less than 10%). Similar mitigating techniques including rigorous project monitoring, skill development training, and effective logistics planning were advised. When projects were unsuccessful (with a time delay of more than 10%), they displayed a wide range of behaviours.

Opportunities and Challenges of Malaysia Cross Border Inland Port

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Malaysia is a country that has borders close to 3 countries, namely Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. This strategic location helps Malaysia take advantage of cross-border trade involving these three countries. As a result, there are several sea and land ports built near the borders of the three countries to facilitate international trade with neighbouring countries. However, the facilities available at the sea and land ports near the neighbouring country are seen to be reaching the maximum level of utilization to accommodate the existing cargo capacity that is transited before being sent to the nearby sea port. This study was conducted for the purpose of identifying the opportunities that exist in developing international trade activities in addition to looking at the challenges being faced by key stakeholders involving this cross-border trade. This study was conducted qualitatively involving the collection of research information through interviews conducted with several port personnel. The findings of the study were analysed manually through thematic methods. The study found that, in terms of trade opportunities, some provinces in the south of Thailand are highly dependent on the ports available in the country given the short travel distance to ship their trade goods to the port compared to their own country. However, inland ports in our country have almost reached the maximum level of use. In addition, this study also found that there is a shortage of ships entering the port of Penang due to the demand for ships rising sharply for trade routes involving countries outside Asia. In this regard, Malaysia is seen to be able to become a major trade hub involving Southeast Asian countries if we are able to improve existing facilities of ports in this country as well as reduce bureaucracy for the purpose of increasing existing productivity to speed up the clearance process.

Managing Organisational Change: The Role of Polyphony and Emotional Reflexivity

Noor Khairin Nawwarah Khalid, Aini Maznina A.Manaf — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the profound impact of polyphonic practices in helping leaders and organisational members to achieve a successful organisational change effort, many organisations are still unable to engage in excellent change communication activities. As such, the organisations will face difficulties in achieving their short and long-term goals, create more misunderstandings among employees, and diminish both employees and customers’ trusts. Previous research studies have also progressively highlighted cultural factors has been one of the influential factors that affect the communication behaviours of organisational members and leaders during change. Since research that focuses on middle managers’ polyphony practices especially those in a collectivistic society has been minimal, this research was conducted to examine how polyphonism is practiced by the studied organisation during organisational change. Using middle managers’ conversations on emotional reflexivity during change, this research was conducted to obtain a rich understanding on the studied phenomenon. Communicative Constitution of Organisations the Montreal School (CCO TMS) theory was used to guide the present research and semi-structured in-depth interviews with thirty middle managers of a Malaysian (aerospace component manufacturing) organisation were carried out. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The data revealed polyphony are strongly enforced by the respondents and their leaders through five steps of practice: mutual recognition, mutual trust, dialogic sessions, mutual understanding, and mutual agreement. The respondents also acted as polyphonous leaders: leader and decision maker of subordinates’ interactions, and leader for ideas’ diversity. The themes also reflected the emotional reflexivity practiced by the respondents which are self-consciousness, empathy, self-control, motivation and social skills. This research helped to contribute new traits to the unique face of Malaysians’ identities. It also shows the importance in attending to middle managers’ conversations on change since middle managers’ acceptance towards change are being influenced from their emotional reflexivity and organisation’s polyphony practice.

Do Corruption and Peace Factors Affect the Inflow of Foreign Direct Investment? Malaysian Evidence

Nor Zulaikha Zulkifli, Mohamad Azwan Md Isa, Ruziah A Latif, Zaibedah Zaharum — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Corruption has been the major enemy of a nation and economic development. Nowadays, investors have been very particular in investing their money, where qualities such as transparency, integrity, and good governance are considered when making their investment decisions. In addition, the elements such as national security and stability become parts of the influencing factors in the investment evaluation. Apparently, in recent decades, the world has been faced with these two threats not only politically but economically as well. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship and effect of corruption and peace factors on the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia from year 2011 to 2020. This study also investigates the association and impact of the two selected macroeconomic variables, namely the government expenditures and unemployment rate on the Malaysian FDI inflow. The times series annual data was analyzed based on the correlation and multiple regression tests (ordinary least square, OLS). The data was obtained from several sources such as the World Bank and Thomson Reuters DataStream. The OLS regression results show that corruption negatively influences the FDI while the peace factor has a positive impact on the FDI. As for the macroeconomic factors, government expenditures have a positive effect whilst the unemployment rate negatively impacts the FDI. These results are consistent with and in support of the previous studies. Overall, the four variables selected have explained the variation in the FDI by 87% and the variables fit in the model based on the p-value of less than 10%. Conclusively, the findings have significant implications specifically for the government or policymakers in combating corruption and enhancing national security and stability, to the investors and industry players in making investment and economic decisions besides adding to the existing literature on the relationship between corruption and peace factors with the FDI that is still much lacking in the Malaysian context.

Critical Success Factors of Motivation Factors, Entrepreneurial Competencies, and Entrepreneurial Success in Homestay Program in Sabah, Malaysia

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study aimed to identify and evaluate the critical success factors (CSFs) of motivation factors and entrepreneurial competencies that affect entrepreneurial success in the Sabah homestay program. Data were collected from a sample of 181 homestay entrepreneurs in Sabah using a survey questionnaire. The resource-based view was used to conceptualize the study. The study of entrepreneurial success in homestay entrepreneurs is rarely reported in the existing literature. In fact, there is limited consensus on the selection of a proper set of measurements for assessing entrepreneurial success in entrepreneurship studies. This study is to fills the gap by adding more literature on entrepreneurial success in the context of the homestay industry. The reliability analysis showed that the survey is a reliable measure of the five constructs related to entrepreneurial success. The constructs with the highest reliability are entrepreneurial success and motivation factors-pull. The construct with the lowest reliability is motivation factors-push. The findings contribute to our understanding of the relationship between motivation factors, entrepreneurial competencies, and entrepreneurial success in the context of homestay entrepreneurs in Sabah. The findings are also useful for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) strategy goals 2021-2025 and solving sustainable development goals. Future research should investigate the structural relationship between motivation factors, entrepreneurial competencies, and entrepreneurial success in the Sabah homestay program.

Perception on E-Wallet Application among Night Market Consumer in Lembah Klang

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased reliance on online transactions in Malaysia, with E-wallet and Apple Pay being the preferred methods of payment for consumers. These digital payment options offer convenience and eliminate the need to withdraw physical cash. The surge in E-wallet usage is driven by attractive incentives like government aid programs, cash back offers, discounts, and loyalty points. However, despite the introduction of E-wallets in 2017, their adoption remains limited due to a lack of awareness among consumers and businesses. Therefore, this research explores perception on acceptance of E-wallet as payment option among consumers specifically focusing on their impact on consumer behavior at night markets. This quantitative study used multiple regressions on a sample of 393 respondents. The key findings indicate that “Appearance Easy to Use”, “Security Perception”, “Function Perception” and “Attitude” have a significant relationship on the perception of E-wallet application among night market consumer in Lembah Klang. E-wallets have the potential to transform the night market experience by providing convenience and reducing the need for cash withdrawals at ATMs. As Malaysia's population continues to grow, the government's push for mobile payments is expected to drive the widespread adoption of digital transactions in the country.