This study seeks to examine the mediating impact of work engagement between the relationship of human resource management practices and service recovery performance of Takaful industry in Saudi Arabia during Covid-19 pandemic. For this purpose, data has been collected from 350 employees by using a convenient sampling technique constituting a response rate of 70 percent. Through a cross sectional research design, this research applies a quantitative research method to study this impact. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) had shown that all the HRMP namely human capital, training, rewards, internal career opportunities, job description, staff participation had a positive and significant relationship with the service recovery performance. On the other hand, work engagement had also a significant mediating effect among most of HRMP and service recovery performance except staff participation and service recovery performance. As work engagement has a mediating impact on most aspects of HRMP and service recovery performance, therefore, this contribution is considered to be substantial contribution to the existing body of literature. Based on these findings, this study could help managers and owners understand the importance of HRMP in enhancing service recovery performance. The design and context-based limitations of this study and the future directions that point to it are also discussed in the concluding sections of the study. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.
This study examines users' satisfaction with a customer relationship system (CRM) system in Bahrain. The selected variables are perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, user support, facilitating conditions, and social influence. A sample of seventy employees working in a telecommunications company was selected to answer the questionnaire, but sixty questionnaires were retrieved. The collected data were analyzed using the partial least square–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. The SmatPLS 3.3.3 software was used to perform data analysis. The results revealed that employees were highly satisfied with the CRM system and a significant relationship between the selected variables and user satisfaction. CRM has become a crucial system for organisations, given that customers are the number one factor in delivering economic value for companies. The research's contribution is to help the company foresee and calibrate users' contentment and develop and enhance customer service and the institution's service aspect.
This research aims to investigate into how users perceive mobile government (M-government). The investigation builds on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which is particularly centered on the perceived usefulness, the perceived ease of use and some additional factors with a view to inspect the acceptance of M-government among citizens living in Bangkok and metropolitan areas. The model is planned to validate the M-government acceptance model. The data is collected from 400 respondents using the purposive sampling technique. The causal relationships are used to observe association between the constructs. Therefore, the collected data is analyzed using the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. The results show that the model is a good fit. The study concludes that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, trust, relative advantage, government support, social influence and user satisfaction are key determinants of M-government adoption. Social influence and information quality are also found to have an indirect positive effect on M-government adoption via user satisfaction. These findings are expected to help in evaluating human- computer’s interaction using the M-government acceptance model as well as to improve the understanding of how citizens adopt M-government in order to implement the M-government system for Thailand in an effective and efficient manner.
The Malaysian healthcare systems face incredible challenges as technology is being used more and more widely, and citizens' expectations are increasing just as rapidly. The Healthcare industry is adopting big data in daily operations to ensure excellent performance. In this context, Big Data can help providers achieve these objectives in an unparalleled manner. However, the Malaysian government hospitals remain unable to implement big data. Hence, this study examines the mediating role of the use of big data (UBD) on the relationship between hospital performance (HP), data quality (DQ), data integration (DI), and data governance (DG). The study framework is established from theories, namely Resource-Based View (RBV), extending the DeLone and Mclean IS Success Model (D&M ISSM). The data was collected from Malaysian government hospitals. Total questionnaires of 560 were distributed, and 212 were responded. The convenience sampling technique was used. Hypotheses tests were performed via Smart PLS 3.3.2. Results show DQ and DI have significant direct relationships with the UBD. However, DG is not significant with UBD. Findings on the use of big data as a mediating variable reveal DQ and DI have a significant direct relationship with UBD except for DG. Findings provide important insights to government, policymaker, and researchers to further understand the use of big data to enhance hospital performance in Malaysia.
The key objective of this study is to examine the impact of strategic alignment on sustainable competitive advantages. In addition, the study has examined the mediating role of IT Implementation Success and IT Managerial Resource vis-a-vis the relationship between the strategic alignment and sustainable competitive advantages. Employing a survey-based methodology, this study is collected data from manufacturing firms in Indonesia through questionnaires. A total of 307 useable questionnaires are selected for research purposes, indicating a 76.75% response rate. The collected data is then statistically analyzed by employing the Partial Least Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).
This study aims to analyze the effect of entrepreneurial characteristics and business capital on product innovation and marketing performance of small and medium business (SMEs) inscription stone carving in Surabaya city. A sample of 34 entreprenuers is selected using purposive sampling technique. The data was collected using questionnaires. PLS-SEM technique is used to analyze the data. SmartPLS version 3 software is used to analyze PLS-SEM. The results of the study show that entrepreneurial characteristics and venture capital have a positive and significant effect on innovation. Similarly, the innovation has a significant influence on marketing performance of small and medium enterprises. The findings also establish the indirect effect of entrepreneurial characteristics and business capital on marketing performance. The study also highlights the research implications, limititaions and directions for future research in the concluding sections of the paper.
COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the businesses across the world. Entrepreneurs have also faced both opportunities and consequences in the face of this global crisis. A systematic literature review was performed in this study to examine how resilience and other entrepreneurial skills have helped entrepreneurs emerge out of the crisis. For this purpose, 15 papers were reviewed that revealed resilience, innovativeness, flexibility, perseverance and change readiness as the main characteristics of the entrepreneurs that have helped them use the opportunities provide by the crisis. The researcher has highlighted the need for increase in research regarding resilience development and skills post the crisis occurrence. The implications and limitations of the study have also been mentioned by the researcher. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.
This paper describes the conception, development and launch of the eWISATA, a mobile application (app) that the users can use to get facilitation regarding tourist information, budgeting, and location services. eWISATA is an android-based e-tourism application that does not require high mobile device specifications and run on all types or types of Androids OS. Users can directly install the same as Android applications in general. In general, the application consists of four main menus: the airport menu, seaport, tourism, and the info menu. Each menu will, of course, display different information according to the available data and information. The application is designed in the responsive mode to make it easier for users to access various mobile devices or computers that use different screen sizes. The information column contained in the table consists of area, airport, port, and distance from the airport to the port. The menu of tax revenue-sharing/non-tax revenue-sharing, the Regional Government Budget Revenues and Expenditures (APBD) displays information from the data retrieved from various sources. In eWISATA, the tourism menu is divided into two sub-menus, namely the tourism menu and the airport menu. The tourism menu will also be presented in digital maps, making it easier for users to access or search for tourist distances to airports and ports. This e-WISATA application, also equipped with a geographic information system, uses a digital map service licensed by Google Maps.
The fourth industrial revolution has brought disruptive innovations, which are wide-ranging and inevitable for the public and private sectors. Moreover, the outbreak of COVID-19 has placed pressure in a way that has dramatically transformed society. Governments have been facing pressure to challenge themselves to avoid becoming obsolete. Meanwhile, the financial sector remains among one of the most disrupted and rapidly evolving sectors of the economy, whereas recent innovation known as Fintech have also disrupted traditional banking practices. Correspondingly, the Thai government has launched the national e-payment system to facilitate digital banking, improve efficiency and ensure timeliness in the flow of financial transactions between the government and its citizens. However, with rapidly evolving technology, the key question is what the future holds for Thailand's national e-payment system. This paper seeks to answer this question by considering the current framework of Thai national e-payment as well as insights from countries where Fintech is thriving. Its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are then analyzed using SWOT analysis. Consequently, to promote successful digital government within the context of fourth industrialization, Thai government is encouraged to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the national e-payment system by utilizing more Fintech in government-citizen financial transaction as well as educating citizens about Fintech and national e-payment.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of performance on the development of new servicesin private universities in Indonesia. Secondly, the influence of performance on sustainable competitive advantages in private universities in Indonesia. Thirdly, the influence of new services development on sustainable competitive advantages in private universities in Indonesia. Fourthly, whether new services development mediates the effect of performance on sustainable competitive advantages in private universities in Indonesia. The sample population for this study are individual respondents or students who are active in the 10 best private universities in Indonesia according to the results of the July 2020 edition of Webometrics. Using purposive sampling technique, 400 students were selected as sample of the study. The collected data is then analysed by adopting the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach using LISREL software. The findings of the study indicate that performance has a significant effect on new services development and sustainable competitive advantages inIndonesianprivate universities. Similiarly, the new services development is found to havea significant effect on sustainable competitive advantages. Finally, the study also finds a significant indirect effect of performance on sustainable competitive advantages throughnew services development in private universities in Indonesia.
Wearable activity-tracking devices such as pedometers, fitness bands and watches, heart-rate monitoring chest straps and armbands, various types of activity-sensing clothing and the like, are increasing in popularity amongst consumers on a global scale. Among all wearable technology, fitness trackers remain the biggest wearables category by unit sales in 2019, with an estimated revenue potential of 2.66 billion US dollars. However, despite this significant global interest, the adoption rate of these devices is slow amongst South African consumers. The consumer segment most likely to adopt a wearable activity tracker is young, high-income individuals, which are epitomised by Generation Y consumers, especially the student portion of this market segment since they are characterised by high future earning probability. With the lack of research regarding the adoption of wearable activity trackers, this study explores the influence of device design aesthetics and brand name on Generation Y consumers’ intention to use wearable activity trackers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey a non-probability convenience sample of 480 students registered at three public South African higher education institutions (HEIs) within the Gauteng province. A descriptive research design and a quantitative research approach was followed, where the captured data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, reliability and validity measures and structural equation modelling. The findings indicate that design aesthetics and brand name significantly influence Generation Y students’ intention to use wearable activity-tracking devices. A device’s design aesthetics as well as brand name are significant in determining Generation Y students’ intention to use such tracking devices. As such, retailers and marketers should focus on enhancing design aesthetics and brand awareness of wearable activity-tracking devices when targeting the lucrative Generation Y student market segment.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is the current and developing environment in which changing technologies and trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way governments function. Governments are increasingly facing new risks and opportunities due to the advancement of the 4IR. Governments need to find ways to adapt to the 4IR. Innovation is a prerequisite for adapting to the 4IR. The aim of this article is to determine the level of public service delivery innovation (SDI) in South Africa in the context of the 4IR. The analysis in this article is based on secondary data and documentary analysis, including unsolicited government documents, reports and legislation, and authoritative scholarly literature. A number of innovation measures for improved service delivery have been adopted in South Africa. These efforts are not, however, embedded within the wider public service, and efforts to improve SDI should be considered. In a global environment of resource constraints and constant change, open governance through multi-stakeholder collaboration may present strategic opportunities to facilitate innovation. The aim of these initiatives is to enhance transparency and accountability, and to facilitate public service delivery and citizen participation
The adoption of smartphones and the development of mobile applications have presented brands with an opportunity to communicate with their consumers. The Generation Y cohort has been identified as the most ardent user of smartphones and apps. Like the rest of the world, South Africa is experiencing growth in this area. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between gender and education level and branded mobile app usage intentions among Generation Y students. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a total of 260 were valid for analysis. T-tests were applied to investigate differences between males and females as well as between undergraduates and postgraduate Generation Y students. The findings revealed no statistically significant differences between males and females regarding usage intention of branded mobile apps. However, regarding education level, undergraduate and postgraduate students differed significantly regarding usage intention of branded mobile apps. Therefore, it is recommended that the Generation Y cohort should be kept in mind when developing mobile apps, as this generation represents a significant number of those who use branded mobile apps.
The increasing influence of technology in education has made us want to understand how teachers will view its use when teaching Euclidean geometry. Teachers’ technological knowledge, skills; competence and readiness are crucial, in their preparation to integrate technologies in their future classrooms. This paper is part of a larger study that looked into the experiences of student teachers when using a form of online technology, which utilised meaningful interactions to teach and learn high school geometry. The study was conducted with ten mathematics student teachers at a South African university using a mix methods approach using worksheets, interviews, surveys and observations. This case study sought to capture the students’ knowledge of technologies when teaching circle geometry through a careful implementation of Geometric Habits of Mind and an Instructional Design model. The intention of the support programme was that students will reproduce their learning experience, during this study, in their classrooms. According to results the perceptions of technology can be categorised as: Knowing the essentials, A tool in learning geometry and A catalyst to learning geometry. It can be clearly stated that all of students liked the readily available learning tool online.
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, everyone wants to enhance and advance their working and personal life and mobile phones have become the favoured technology to achieve that aim. In light of this trend, most financial service providers have taken steps to meet this new lifestyle demand by developing mobile applications so that people can manage their financial matters on the go. This movement has also motivated many merchants around the world to adopt mobile technology as part of their aspiration to provide a better experience for their customers. This study explores the factors influencing Malaysian merchants’ acceptance of mobile payment as an additional payment method to the traditionally accepted payment methods of cash and credit/debit cards. The aim of this study is to figure out the factors affecting merchants’ decision to use mobile payments to help the provider companies shape their own marketing plans and consider the weak points that may turn the merchants against this marktet. This empirical study uses a survey method and AMOS to test and analyse the perceptions of a sample of 125 food and beverage providers located in food courts in 10 shopping malls at the Klang Valley in Malaysia. The study found that perceived usefulness has a significant positive impact on mobile payment acceptance, while the perceived ease of use has no significant impact on the merchants’ decision to offer this payment method, which is not compatible with the technology acceptance model (TAM). In addition, this study added a further two factors to the TAM to investigate their effects on merchants’ acceptance of mobile payments and found a significant positive effect for compatibility with customers’ needs but no significant effect for perceived risk, which can be justified by the nature of this industry. This study, therefore, provides invaluable insights into the factors affecting merchants’ acceptance of mobile payments, especially food and beverages providers in food courts located in shopping malls of Malaysia.
Transport plays a crucial role in the growth of South Africa. Transportation is responsible for the movement of goods and services as well as people from one point to the other, however, for an effective transport system, there should be good road infrastructure or a good road system to connect all places around the country effectively. This article focuses on the e-toll roads in the Gauteng area. The article aims to determine the attitudes of motorists towards implementation of e-tolls in Gauteng Province. This article considers the following variables, namely e-toll charges, attitude towards e-tolling, e-toll compliance, consumer trust of e-tolls and e-toll use continuation. A quantitative approach was adopted in which a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 350 road users in the Gauteng Province. Data were analysed with the aid of two software packages, namely the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0, and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS), version 24.0. The results of this article provide useful information on the funding of the roads in Gauteng Province of South Africa. This article also contributes to the limited body of literature on e-tolls; government or policy makers could benefit from the information in this article regarding e-toll charges, attitude towards e-tolling, e-toll compliance, consumer trust of e-tolls and e-toll use continuation.
Over the past few years, there has been a heightened importance on service quality and customer satisfaction within service units of the South African government. This is evidenced by nationwide service delivery protests, suggesting that the quality of service that is expected to be delivered, as envisaged by the public, as customers, is not being delivered to expectation. Visa facilitation service (VFS) centres were established in South Africa in 2014 as a radical departure, which was informed by the South African government’s commitment to improve efficiencies and turnaround time. In cognisance of the visa facilitation centres’ context, a non-probability convenience sampling procedure was adopted. Data were generated from 297 international students conveniently drawn from a selected university in Gauteng province of South Africa. The multiple regression analysis undertaken showed positive significant predictive relationship between reliability and customer satisfaction (β=0.230, t-value=4.271, p
Wearable activity-tracking devices such as pedometers, various electrode-based chest straps, accelerometer-based arm straps, fashion bracelets, jewellery, fitness bands and watches, earphones, and smart clothing have revolutionised health and sports monitoring. Based on the benefits of using this wearable technology, it is no surprise that the adoption thereof has increased rapidly. In 2019, the sports, fitness, and activity monitor market is estimated to generate 2.8 billion USD in global revenue. In South Africa, merely 13 percent of households own some form of wearable technology. Dominating this market is the youth, where 33.7 percent of these individuals are between the ages of 18 to 24 years, thus belonging to the Generation Y cohort. The literature, documenting wearable activity-tracking device feature preference amongst consumers, especially among this cohort, is limited. As such, this study explored South African Generation Y students' feature preferences on wearable activity-tracking devices in order to assist device manufacturers and marketing practitioners in developing and marketing devices that will appeal to this large segment. A non-probability convenience sample of 480 students, registered at three public HEIs in South Africa’s Gauteng province, voluntarily completed self-administered questionnaires. A descriptive research design was followed and the captured data were analysed using measures of frequency. The findings indicate that the top five device features preferred by South African Generation Y students are measuring heart rate/blood pressure, tracking steps taken/distance travelled, calculating daily calories burnt, tracking sleep patterns and GPS tracking. In an effort to increase wearable activity-tracking device adoption amongst Generation Y students, both local and international device manufacturers need to consider these device feature preferences in order to manufacture and advertise such devices accordingly.
The four main causes of sudden price fluctuations in crypto asset markets are speculative news within the scope of global developments, positive market perceptions that increase the price, rising stock market values, and herd behavioral tendencies on crypto assets. The purpose of this study is to examine herd behavior trends in terms of social psychology, exemplified by the crypto asset market. In this framework, firstly, the daily yield pricing of twenty-two crypto assets with the highest transaction volume was examined in the period of August 2013 - December 2019, and then the trend of herd behavior of these assets on the market was investigated. Cross Sectional Absolute Deviation (CSAD) method was used to measure the herd behavior trend. The analysis revealed the presence of herd behavior trend in regime 1 and regime 3 models.
A public private partnership (PPP) is an agreement between a public and a private party to achieve a strategic objective. The PPP model is based on three principles: risk allocation and transfer, affordability, and value for money. Traditionally, PPPs have been leveraged for hard service development such as infrastructure development. The advancement of technology within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has created new opportunities and risks for PPPs as important mechanisms for the promotion of development. The 4IR has implications for government service delivery, which have brought about an increased demand for service delivery innovation and the development of information and communications technology (ICT). Although PPPs have traditionally focused on hard services, it is important to consider PPPs for soft service delivery. It is therefore necessary to rethink the role of the PPP model as an alternative service delivery mechanism. The aim of this article is to discuss risk allocation in ICT PPPs. The research approach is qualitative in nature. The research method is based on a desktop analysis of literature and secondary data utilising unobtrusive research techniques such as conceptual and documentary analyses. The article identified various risks and opportunities for PPPs for service delivery innovation. These partnerships are often faced with high levels of uncertainty in terms of funding, level of stakeholder commitment, and complex relationships. Other risks include vendor financing, market risk, intellectual property (IP) risk, data governance, and regulatory risk. The deployment of ICT can reinforce and expand PPPs beyond all previous limitations and boundaries. This research makes proposals for good practices for risk allocation in ICT PPPs.
