Vol.2 No. 1, March 2011

Article 1: AN ENQUIRY INTO IMPACT OF HR ARCHITECTURE ON HUMAN CAPITAL POOL, pp. 1-13
By: Jyotirmayee Choudhury, Utkal University Vanivihar, India
Suresh Ch. Nayak, Silicon Institute of Technology, India
Noorlaila Yunus, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

The present study stands on its view that the architectural perspective of HR (HR configurations) is consistent with the uniqueness and value of employee knowledge and skills, employment mode, and employment relationships. Designing of the HR architect can enable in managing human capital of an organisation strategically and harnessing and leveraging their knowledge and experience and expertise more systematically to attain competitive advantage. The purpose of this research—which yielded more than 466 respondents—was to identify the idiosyncratic context of HR practices and policies followed by various IT organisations to strengthen their human capital pool. The research is carried out primarily on the basis of field survey and designed to study and analyse the extent to which HR practices and procedure practised in various Indian IT organisations are boosting development of human capital of that particular industry and found that both acquisition and developmental HR configuration has significant contributions for the development of the human capital of the organisations under study.
Keywords: Intellectual capital, knowledge economy, acquisition HR configuration, developmental HR configuration, human capital.

Article 2: CONSUMERS' PREFERENCE AND CONSUMPTION TOWARDS FAST FOOD: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA, pp. 14-27
By: Farzana Quoquab Habib, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Rozhan Abu Dardak, MARDI, Malaysia
Sabarudin Zakaria, Multimedia University, Malaysia

This study aims to understand consumer preference relating to the fast food in Malaysian market. Moreover, this paper also seeks to investigate the trend and pattern of fast food consumption and the importance of various factors affecting the choice of fast food among Malaysian consumers. Finding suggests that expenditure for fast food mostly goes to fried chicken, while instant noodles are the least. Moreover, food safety, speed in delivery and food taste suitability have been found as the main influential factors for purchasing the fast food, while, quality, freshness, easy to cook cleanliness are the second priority. Furthermore, ‘Halal’ status has been indicated as the most important factor for the Muslim consumers. A survey method using convenience sampling has been carried out for conducting this study. Therefore, further research targeting a more diverse group of consumers employing random sampling can provide greater generalizablity.
Keywords: Consumer preference, fast-food consumption, Malaysian consumers

Article 3: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIRECT TAXES AND GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP): MALAYSIAN CASE, pp.28-37
By: Juliana Abdul Kadir and Mustaffa Idris, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor Malaysia
Zulkifli Mohamed, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kelantan Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to investigate different types of Indirect Taxes that effect to GNP by using Multiple Regression. This study proposed that different taxes respond differently to the Gross National Product (GNP) with the largest responses by import duties and excise duties.
Keywords: Economics growth, indirect taxes and Malaysia

Article 4: WAQF REPORTING TO FULFIL STAKEHOLDER ATTRIBUTE IN WAQF ISLAMIC COUNCILS, pp. 38-53
By: Dalila Daud, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Rashidah Abdul Rahman, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
Zaluddin Sulaiman, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to propose an accountability model that may overcome the attributes of non-reporting. Moreover, the current study redefining specifications of stakeholder theory to fulfill the waqf requirement which proposed the 3ts concept that based on Tawhidic approach.
Keywords: Accountability, waqf, Reporting, stakeholder theory, Islamic councils, triple accountability

Article 5: PRE-IPO CHARACTERISTICS AND POST-IPO OPERATING PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIA, pp. 54-64
By: Catherine S F Ho and Raja Aerol Shariza Raja Amir Hamzah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

The objective of this study is to identify the determinants of post IPO operating performance. The pre-IPO factors include pre-IPO profitability, dilution of ownership, age and size of firm. The post-IPO operating performances include: return on asset, return on sales and asset turnover. Findings confirmed that pre-IPO profitability and firm size are the key predictors of post-IPO performance. The results obtained provide useful information and caution for prospective investors in new issues.
Keywords: Pre-IPO characteristics, post-IPO operating performance, Malaysia