Norma Binti Mansor

An exploratory study of organizational flexibility in Malaysia: a research note

This note reports on an exploratory study examining the relationships between rules on employee behaviour and on management discretion and other aspects of organizations in Malaysia. Using the data from thirty-five Malaysian organizations, the authors highlight the differences between the implications of the rules for the two groups and their relationships with company performance.

Humane Orientation as a New Cultural Dimension of the GLOBE Project A Validation Study of the GLOBE Scale and Out-Group Humane Orientation in 25 Countries

We validate, extend, and empirically and theoretically criticize the cultural dimension of humane orientation of the project GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness Research Program). Theoretically, humane orientation is not just a one-dimensionally positive concept about being caring, altruistic, and kind to others as discussed by Kabasakal and Bodur (2004), but there is also a certain ambivalence to this concept. We suggest differentiating humane orientation toward in-group members from humane orientation toward out-group members. A multicountry construct validation study used student samples from 25 countries that were either high or low in humane orientation (N = 876) and studied their relation to the traditional GLOBE scale and other cultural-level measures (agreeableness, religiosity, authoritarianism, and welfare state score). Findings revealed a strong correlation between humane orientation and agreeableness, welfare state score, and religiosity. Out-group humane orientation proved to be the more relevant subfacet of the original humane orientation construct, suggesting that future research on humane orientation should make use of this measure instead of the vague original scale. The ambivalent character of out-group humane orientation is displayed in its positive correlation to high authoritarianism. Patriotism was used as a control variable for noncritical acceptance of one’s society but did not change the correlations. Our findings are discussed as an example of how rigid expectations and a lack of tolerance for diversity may help explain the ambivalent nature of humane orientation.

The role of marketing in FDI generation: evidence from ASEAN countries

This paper examines the role that investment promotion has played in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to the ASEAN region. It also explores the marketing facets of the different investment promotion programs employed by ASEAN countries. Survey findings indicate that investment promotion activities have not been a determinant or influential factor in FDI generation in the ASEAN region. Instead, the ASEAN region has attracted the attention and interest of investors, based on its enhanced international standing as a profitable and internationally competitive region in which Western firms can invest and conduct business.

Assessing the performance of co-operatives in Malaysia: an analysis of co-operative groups using a data envelopment analysis approach

This study assesses the performance of co-operatives in Malaysia by evaluating 56 out of the 70 co-operative groups. The productivity and efficiency of the groups were evaluated in the first- and second-stage analysis by employing the data envelopment analysis and Tobit regression model. Despite the financial and non-financial support by the federal government and perceived significant role played by the co-operatives in the countrys development, the findings indicate that the performance of co-operatives have not been satisfactory. Only 19.6% of the groups under study were found to be efficient and the ‘big co-operatives’ that comprise less than 2% of total co-operatives in the country dominated among the successful ones. The results endorse the general perception that co-operatives in Malaysia are facing challenges necessitating immediate attention.

Keeping ahead of the game: Innovations and challenges in e-government in Malaysia

This article examines the development and usage of e-government in Malaysia. The history of public administration reform in Malaysia demonstrates the government’s willingness to experiment with innovations seen as improving the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of public services. Thus, e-government has been enthusiastically promoted by the Malaysian government and has spread across most government organisations at central and subnational levels. The article provides details of a range of services both within government and for society that are available in e-government modes. However, there are challenges to the development of e-government including adherence to traditional models of service delivery, resistance to organisational culture change by officials, preference for counter services by clients and constraints on the availability of information technology training. Mobile phones are now seen as a new way to encourage citizens to use e-government on a regular basis.

Return-to-Work Program for Injured Workers Factors of Successful Return to Employment

This study examined the factors of successful return to employment among participants in the return to work program (RTW) following work-related injury. Data were obtained from the Social Security Organization database containing 9850 injured workers who underwent RTW in 2010 to 2013. About 65% had successfully returned to employment. Significant factors of successful return include gender, employer interest, motivation, age, intervention duration, and type of injury. Male and motivated employees were more likely to return to employment compared with female and unmotivated employees, respectively. Participants from interested employers were 23.22 times more likely to return to work than those from uninterested employers, whereas participants whose intervention period exceeded 5 months were 41% less likely to return to work compared with those whose intervention period was within 3 months. Appropriate strategy and enhanced collaboration between the stakeholders would improve the proportion of successful return to employment.

Narrowing Disparities via the New Economic Model (NEM): Is Malaysia Set to Excel Beyond Its MDGs Targets MDGs

The report entitled “Malaysia – The Millennium Development Goals at 2010” confirmed that Malaysia had achieved most of its MDGs ahead of time while showing progress in moving towards some of the goals and targets that it has yet to achieve. This report, prepared by the UNDP in Malaysia in close cooperation with the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, reaffirms the 2005 findings that Malaysia’s achievements were indeed impressive in aggregate terms. Nonetheless, findings in this report also acknowledged that Malaysia still lagged behind in areas such as maternal mortality, women in managerial positions and female political representation, HIV/AIDS and the persistence of tuberculosis at a relatively high level.

Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life

Objectives Ageing is often associated with deteriorating mental and physical health and the need for long-term care, creating a fear of ageing. We investigated what people fear most in terms of disabling chronic diseases and their concerns regarding having long-term illnesses. Methods Data were obtained from an online survey of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected in May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. Results Of the most dreaded diseases, heart disease and cancer are life-threatening; however, dementia, diabetes, and hypertension persist and have a disabling effect for a long time. While there were variations in the diseases feared most across sex, ethnicity, and place of residence, the biggest worry for all respondents with regard to having a long-term illness was that they would become a burden to their family, a concern that superseded fear of dying. Conclusions We found our survey respondents had a fear of chronic diseases and placing a burden on others. Thus, there is a need to provide motivation for people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to remain healthy.

Trend of Poverty among Elderly: Evidence from Household Income Surveys

ABSTRACT Elderly poverty is a major concern because of the changing in demographic pattern and the fact that elderly people have limited capacity and capability to prolonged employment. This article investigates poverty incidence among people who are elderly and nonelderly in Malaysia and analyzes the factors influencing elderly poverty. This article uses household income surveys of 2009 and 2012. Data indicates that poverty incidence among elderly heads of households is relatively low. Elderly poverty is high among elderly’s female head of household, other marital status, rural area, no or informal education, live alone, not working and in states whose main economic activity is agriculture.

Predicting employment status of injured workers following a case management intervention

Background The success of an injury intervention program can be measured by the proportion of successful return to work (RTW). This study examined factors of successful return to employment among workers suffering from work-related injuries. Methods Data were obtained from the Social Security Organization, Malaysia database consisting of 10,049 RTW program participants in 2010–2014. The dependent variable was the RTW outcome which consisted of RTW with same employer, RTW with new employer or unsuccessful return. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to test the likelihood of successful return with same employer and new employer against unsuccessful return. Results Overall, 65.3% of injured workers were successfully returned to employment, 52.8% to the same employer and 12.5% to new employer. Employer interest; motivation; age 30–49 years; intervention less than 9 months; occupational disease; injuries in the lower limbs, upper limbs, and general injuries; and working in the manufacturing, services, and electrical/electronics were associated with returning to work with the same employer against unsuccessful return. Male, employer interest, motivation, age 49 years or younger, intervention less than 6 months, occupational disease, injuries in the upper limbs and services sector of employment were associated with returning to new employer against unsuccessful return. Conclusion There is a need to strengthen employer commitment for early and intensified intervention that will lead to improvement in the RTW outcome.