Vol.3. Issue 1, 2012

Article 1: How strategic is human resource management in Kazakhtan? a survey of how companies manage talented employees

By Paul James Davis and X Pavlova

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of talent management practices as they apply globally and in the Kazakhstani context, and to provide practical recommendations to Kazakhstan-based companies to improve their performance in this regard. Data was collected through twelve in-depth interviews with HR managers from different organizations including multinational subsidiaries and lo cal companies. The initial analysis is based on an academic literature review. The findings suggest that talent management (TM) practices are diverse in the participating companies. Subsidiaries of international companies in Kazakhstan demonstrated the most developed TM programs, and findings with respect to Kazakhstani companies are disparate. The least developed practices were found to be in state-funded Kazakhstani organizations, where instability, frequent change of top management, lack of understanding of such practices by executive team and/or shareholders, and limited funding prevent HR managers from implementing and exercising best TM practices. The practical implications for organizations wanting to build a successful business and competitive advantage, strong human capital programs are a necessary condition.

Keywords: Strategic; human resource management; talented employees, Kazakhtan

Article 2: The halal product acceptance model for religious society

By: Nazahah Abd Rahim and Sutina Junos

The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of consumers’ halal product acceptance within a Muslim population, a previously unexplored aspect of consumer behavior, to develop and propose a halal product acceptance model for the religious society. Since the objective function of a Muslim consumer differs from that of other consumers, it aims to establish an integrated framework to understand the influential factors involved in the product acceptance process by consumers in this society. In doing so, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) which is part of the proposed framework, with the help of additional factors, religion and habit are used to shed light on how religious consumers form their intention to accept halal products such as halal food. Attitude towards accepting halal products, the influence of significant others, the perceived control over buying halal products, rulings of the religion and consumer’s own habit predict the intention to accept halal products among Muslims. By addressing the traits that predict product acceptance, marketers can stimulate consumers to seek out new halal products and this in turn stimulates product innovation and diffusion. The paper also offers directions for future research in which the results of this paper will also be beneficial to restaurants owners for instance by offering an insight into the intentions of consumers to choose halal products.

Keywords Product, Product acceptance, Halal, Religion, Muslim, Islam

Article 3: Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) drvivers in developing economies: a case of Malaysia

By: Rosfadzimi Mat Saad, Abd Halim Mohd Noor, and Abu Hassan Shaari Md Nor

This paper studies the determinants of OFDI by Malaysian based MNCs. It focuses on the factors that push off Malaysian firms to involve in OFDI such as market size, cost of skilled labour and the availability of natural resources. The period under study is from 1980 to 2008. Simple multiple regression analysis is used in the study. Export and productivity levels are found to have significant impact on OFDI.

Keywords: Outward FDI, Developing Countries, Determinants of OFDI, Domestic Factors, FDI.

Article 4: Quality of internal audit function: progressing towards quantitative measurement scales

By: Mohd Ariff Kasim, Siti Rosmaini Mohd Hanafi and Asmah Abdul Aziz

The primary objective of this study is to construct a valid and reliable instrument to quantitatively measure the quality of internal audit function via the level of conformance by internal auditors towards the International Professional Practice Framework (IPPF). This study involves development of an instrument to quantitatively measure quality of internal audit functions. Two separate pilot tests were performed. The instrument was also reviewed by two experts in internal auditing from the USA and Malaysia. The final data were collected from 400 internal auditors, auditors, accountant and account executives in Malaysia. The present study concludes that most of the existing instruments measuring internal audit quality suffer major weaknesses that limit its value and usability for empirical studies. The results indicated that the new instrument satisfies the criteria for a valid and reliable research instrument and conform to the existing framework suggested by the IIA. The instrument could serve as additional assessment tools for audit committee in assessing the quality of internal audit in line with the new Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements. This present study hopes to enhance the literature by suggesting an instrument that could initiate more empirical research in internal auditing. A new approach of measurement was used as a solution to existing instruments that were limited to the use of categorical, Likert-based measurement scales. This present study suggests a modified measurement scales that allow collection or ratio data. Moreover, this instrument also enables more advance statistical analysis to be conducted.

Keywords: Quality of Internal Audit Functions, Internal Auditing, Quality Conformance and International Professional Practice Framework (IPPF).

Article 5: Cyber communication: the legal risk of the employer

By: Norazlina Abdul Aziz and Irini Ibrahim

The direction of new communication technology has shaped a trend that requires every layers of the society to participate in its network activity. An exclusion of oneself in these linkages of activities may results in isolation from the society. In responding to this new culture, employers have provided facilities within their working environment for the employees to be able to access the network. Simultaneously, an overwhelming usage of the internet has contributed to uncontrollable activities which exposed harms to many private lives. This is a conceptual paper which outlined the potential legal risk of the employer relating to the illegal internet communication made by the employee. This emerging risk requires the diversion of management impose on the employer within their working space. The Malaysian legal framework in governing the rights and liabilities of the Employer on illegal communication through internet i.e The Multimedia and Telecommunication Act 1998, Sedition Act 1948, Internal Security Act 1960, The Defamation Act 1957, and principles under the law of Tort will be highlighted. The study also requires the need to look into the advanced countries approach that could be of help to solve the inadequacy of the said laws. The objectives underlying this study is to examine the Malaysian legal standing on the rights and liabilities of the Employer in Malaysia under the illegal internet communication suits and looking into the approach taken by the advanced countries into solving the inadequacy of the said laws with the intention of recommending the most relevant amendment to the existing Malaysian legal framework on the liabilities and protection for the Employer.

Keywords: Internet, Communication, Employer, employee

Article 6: Investigating relationship between climate change, global warming and sustainable consumption

By: Wan Kalthom Yahya, and Sharifah Zannierah Syed Marzuki

Global warming phenomenon is a sign of real danger. Evidence that humans are causing global warming is mounting. The purpose of this paper is to explore patterns of current consumption and production as well as to identify a better understanding the role of consumption that can reduces environmental deteriorations. Methods on how to change these consumption and production patterns to a better sustainable lifestyle are suggested. It is shown that global warming are becoming big impacts which it not only brings danger to human but also to other creature such as plant, animal and even the earth itself. This paper is very significant as global warming is prevalent with respect to consumption behaviour and sustainability. Looking into Malaysian context, the government has also taken several steps including setting up standards for companies to produce green life products for the benefits of its people and environment.

Keywords: climate change, global warming, sustainable consumption, low carbon society, greenhouse

Article 7: Measuring dimensions of technology resistance and managers' performance using structural equation modelling and TECHPROVED system

By: Norzaidi Mohd Daud, Intan Salwani Mohamed and Rashid Alhamali

This article examines the impact of technology resistance (i.e. co-workers affluence, negative prior experience, efficacy experience, poor systems design and loss of power) on manager’s performance in Malaysia maritime industry. The structural equation modelling (SEM) results indicate that all factors are negatively influence managers’ performance. This is probably the first that investigate technology resistance and managers' performance using SEM and TECHPROVED system. The results provide insights on how the Malaysian maritime industry could improve upon their intranet adoption.

Keywords: Co-workers affluence, negative prior experience, efficacy experience, poor systems design and loss of power; TECHRPOVED system

Article 8: The relationship between employee with self-esteem, empowerment and career advancement with job satisfaction on propensity to leave in the hotel industry in Iran

By: Leila Radmand

Operational employees play a pivotal role in delivering superior service quality to customers or converting aggrieved customers into satisfied and loyal ones. However, high workforce turnover rate, especially on operational level employees has been one of the most pressing issues of the global hotel industry. Managing staff turnover to improve retention can lead to better recruitment, lower costs, improved morale and a better knowledge base. Turnover fluctuates with economic cycles and during a recession, for example, often falls. This may disguise underlying problems (such as dissatisfied staff or lack of new talent), so it is important to manage the underlying factors relating to turnover, even though turnover itself may not always be a problem. This study, the sampling frame is the listing of five, four and three star hotels in Tehran, Iran and the task at hand is to determine the precise listing and directly.

Keywords: White-collar, Propensity to leave, Job satisfaction, Self-esteem, Perceived career advancement, Empowerment