Mohd Rosli Bin Mohamad

The Effect of Cognitive and Relational Social Capital on Structural Social Capital and Micro-Enterprise Performance:

Social capital and its dimensions are highly interrelated, and the outcome of social capital provides entrepreneurs with resources and knowledge that are not available in the first place. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of relational and cognitive social capital on structural social capital and the effect of structural social capital on the performance of micro-enterprises owned and managed by women in Peninsular Malaysia. This study uses a cross-sectional approach, and quantitative data are collected through structured interviews. It was found that cognitive social capital has a significant positive effect on structural social capital, and structural social capital has a significant positive effect on micro-enterprise performance. It was found that relational social capital has a positive but insignificant effect on structural social capital. Therefore, women entrepreneurs should emphasize on making the communication process easier and on ensuring that their business values, norms, interpretation, and meaning are shared and communicated to relevant parties to improve network ties and to build a dense network, which is essential in providing access to resources and knowledge. This, in return, is expected to improve the micro-enterprise performance in Malaysia.

Production linkages, technological intensities and economic performance: small and medium enterprises in Malaysian manufacturing

This paper examines the impact of proximate domestic sourcing on productivity, exports and technological upgrading in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in electric-electronics, textiles-garments, automotives and wood products industries in Malaysia. The results show that the intensity of backward subcontracting in the domestic economy was important in domestic and export intra-industry purchases. The significant technological variables were that less-integrated firms showed higher intensities than more-integrated firms. Econometric results show that technological intensity is positively correlated with productivity and export-orientation; this infers that technology matters in economic performance. The Probit estimations confirm that domestic supplies matter in labour productivity and export-intensities, but not in technological intensities. Low export-intensities need not discourage technological upgrading if inward-oriented firms operate as subcontractors supplying exporters. Governments should be encouraged to examine the nexus between suppliers, buyers and economic performance to stimulate national inter-firm production synergies to increase competitiveness by domestic firms.

Micro-enterprise development initiatives and entrepreneurial competencies, innovativeness, and social capital in Malaysia

ABSTRACT This article examines the effect of participation in development programmes designed for women micro-entrepreneurs on the development of entrepreneurial competencies, innovativeness, and social capital. The study employed a cross-sectional design and quasi-experimental approach, and collected data from 417 women micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Findings reveal that the participants possess a significantly higher level of social capital, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial competencies. Development organisations should therefore focus on redesigning their policies and programmes to improve the breadth and depth of the development programmes that they offer, which ultimately lead to an improvement in the social-economic condition of low-income households in Malaysia.

Intention and behavior towards green consumption among low-income households

In order to address the issues of climate change through wise management of resources and environmental conservation, this study examined the intention and behavior towards green consumption among low-income households. This study was a cross-sectional that relied on 380 low-income household respondents who lived in coastal areas of Peninsular Malaysia. The findings revealed a positive effect of eco-literacy and self-efficacy on attitude towards green products. Subsequently, the findings also ascertained a positive effect of attitude and perceived behavioral control on intention and consumption of green products. In addition, both scholars and policymakers can rely on these findings to increase the intention and behavior towards the consumption of green products in order to reduce the environmental vulnerability to the coastal communities. Therefore, responsible organizations should implement programs and policies that minimize the adverse effects of climate change through resource management and environmental conservation by promoting the use of green products among Malaysians.