David Yoon Kin Tong

An explorative study of shopper-based salient e-servicescape attributes: A Means-End Chain approach

This study aims to address the gaps inherent in existing studies by exploring the salient e-servicescape attributes. Employing the Means-End Chain (MEC) approach, empirical evidence was obtained through in-depth interviews with online shoppers using laddering technique to determine the most frequently mentioned attributes from four servicescape dimensions: (1) ambient; (2) design; (3) signs, symbols and artifacts; and (4) interaction. Accordingly, we laddered three levels of online shoppers’ responses from concrete to less concrete abstractions, i.e. attributes, benefits, and end-desirable beliefs. As a result, seven salient e-servicescape attributes were identified. Each of the four dimensions suggests the attributes’ linkage to benefits and end-desirable beliefs. Specifically, the study finds quality photograph, as the salient attribute of the ambient dimension, may set the point of initial attraction and move shoppers from understanding the product to linking the web site contents. In the design dimension, navigation bar, categorization, and simple arrangement are the salient attributes. Company logo represents the most salient attribute under the signs, symbols and artifacts dimension because it not only facilitates recognition and recall of prominent web sites, it also acts as the determinant of perceived risks. In the interaction dimension, although pricing information is the salient attribute that evokes happiness and confidence among online shoppers, it may dilute their perception on web sites success. Instead, confirmation mail can possibly act as a determinant to web sites success. By offering a finer granularity of information, our findings provide insights to online sellers on the salient attributes to consider in order to effectively promote their shopping web sites to create positive emotional response and buying behavior among the online shoppers.

Revitalisation of the Old Township of Ipoh, Malaysia

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a direction for rejuvenating the declining Ipoh Old Town through a conservation-based approach. Design/methodology/approach – Recommendations for revitalisation are based on comparison between the local governments development proposals and historical study of revitalisation initiatives undertaken in neighbouring countries. Findings – The review has found that the revitalisation of Ipoh should be more towards servicing the needs of its residents than to gain from tourism development. Practical implications – Findings of the review have blurred the distinction between purist and ameliorist stances of conservation and suggest that the policy development should be a partnership of all stakeholders, vested with powers to implement. Originality/value – This paper provides an insight into urban regeneration for smaller, more local-dependent historic towns.

Negative Opinion of Company Environment Mediates Career Choice of Accountancy Students.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore accountancy students’ pre‐employment decisions as regards pursuing a career after completing an internship. The paper aims to analyse the mediating effect of aspects of students’ training experience in firms as direct/indirect factors which influence their career decisions.Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected from a class after the students had completed internships and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The aim was to establish a model after nesting the second‐order confirmatory analysis of the data. The final stage was to analyse multiple mediating factors, such as the type of company (TOC) and the students’ opinion of the company.Findings – The interns perceived opportunities for promotion in accounting firms as a long‐term advantage over salary and benefits and as a key criterion for pursuing a career in accountancy. The results indicate that person‐job (P‐J) fit affects students’ career choice more than person‐organis...

Factors Influencing Household Electronic Waste Recycling Intention

In Malaysia, it is prevalent among many householders on accumulation of end-of-life electronics items at home and many are unclear of its disposal directive, which are likely to be disposed as household wastes. An insight into understanding their e-waste management practices and key predictors in relation to e-waste recycling intention are essential as they will lay the foundation for future effective e-waste management. This paper reports a preliminary exploration of the construct of e-waste recycling intention among householders. The data was collected from 150 respondents in Malacca, Malaysia. The results from this study showed that all the six dimensions generated are reliable with high intercorrelation among the dimensions. This implies that the measures can be used for further data collection to validate the study.

Exploring Perceived Risk and Risk Reduction Strategies in the Pursuit of Higher Education Abroad A Case of International Students in Malaysia

While past studies have merely focused on perceived risks that influence how students select the destination of international education best suited to their needs, research on perceived risk regarding post-purchase behavior remains limited. This study attempts to extend and redefine the perceived risk paradigm by uncovering the underlying elements of perceived risk among international students who are studying in Malaysian universities. Furthermore, it seeks to explore how demographic factors and risk reduction strategies can be applied to the perception of risk. Results for a sample group of 515 international students reveal that there are seven dimensions of perceived risk. Of all demographic factors tested, only place of residence (while studying in Malaysia) was found to influence perceived risk. Seeking information from the relevant authorities, proper savings plans, well organized study schedules, and advice from family members or peers are considered important to reduce students’ perceptions of risk. This implies that perceived risk theory could also be applied to the higher education context in the post-purchase behavior.

Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour Modelfor Measuring Households’ Recycling Behaviour in Malaysia

Malaysia generates 0.8 kg waste per capita per day. Despite the recycling previous programmeslaunched, the national recycling rate was as low as 5%. Households’ involvement is expected to be the key factor to the success of recycling. Therefore, empirical study is needed to examineon the behavioural determinants of households’ recycling behaviour. The paper aims to extend the Theory of Planned Behaviour in predicting the households’ recycling behaviour. The paper will provide useful information and guidelines to the respective authorities in designingstrategies to encourage higher participation from households in the recycling programs.

Tourists' satisfaction in the use of biometrics technology: A conceptual paper

Biometrics fingerprint recognition technology has been installed in Malaysia’s Immigration to tackle the problem of immigrants’ influx and overstayers, and to increase the total security of border control. This mandatory system is used by all inbound tourists travelling to Malaysia. Since there is no alternative to the biometrics fingerprint system, it raises the importance to assess what affect tourists’ satisfaction in using the biometrics fingerprint system. In this paper, a conceptual framework of tourists’ satisfaction based on Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory is proposed. Seven variables used to assess tourists’ perception are categorized as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, physical privacy, accuracy, information privacy and contamination fear. The first five refer to performance expectations which tourists could anticipated before the actual use of the biometrics fingerprint system. As a result, these expectations will be either positive disconfirmed (experience exceeds expectations), negative disconfirmed (experience falls short of its expectations) or reached the congruency level (expectations are confirmed). Mixed-method approach will be used for data collection from a sample of 500 target participants. Consequently, data analysis will be conducted to summarize and interpret the relationship between the variables. It is expected that the research findings will provide useful insights for policy makers, government, and industries.