Raja Zuraidah Raja Mohd Rasi

Stakeholders’ involvements in the implementation of proactive environmental practices : Linking environmental practices and environmental performances in SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate key causal linkages of proactive environmental practices of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, this paper studies the ways that the interactions between different stakeholders such as suppliers and customers could intensify the widespread diffusion and implementation of green technologies. Understanding these linkages provide an opportunity to develop a framework that integrates stakeholders’ involvement, environmental practices and environmental/operational performances. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts the quantitative methodology. It uses the survey data collected from 232 Malaysian SMEs. The structural equation modelling (SEM) via AMOS 19 was employed to test the hypotheses. Findings – The empirical results suggest that decisions on environmental practices are influenced significantly by interactions between stakeholders but notably in different ways. While customers and employees involvements are targeted at process ...

Understanding Drivers for environmental practices in SMEs: A critical review

The interest on environmental management has been increased significantly and now is often considered to be a mainstream challenge for organizations. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in part can be of particular significance as their total impact towards environmental degradation is huge. Yet this sector still has not incorporated the concept of environmental sustainability into their strategic planning. The aim of this study is to explore (i) SMEs environmental initiatives and (ii) Drivers for environmental initiatives.

Mediator effect of statistical process control between Total Quality Management (TQM) and business performance in Malaysian automotive industry

In todays highly competitive market, Total Quality Management (TQM) is vital management tool in ensuring a company can success in their business. In order to survive in the global market with intense competition amongst regions and enterprises, the adoption of tools and techniques are essential in improving business performance. There are consistent results between TQM and business performance. However, only few previous studies have examined the mediator effect namely statistical process control (SPC) between TQM and business performance. A mediator is a third variable that changes the association between an independent variable and an outcome variable. This study present research proposed a TQM performance model with mediator effect of SPC with structural equation modelling, which is a more comprehensive model for developing countries, specifically for Malaysia. A questionnaire was prepared and sent to 1500 companies from automotive industry and the related vendors in Malaysia, giving a 21.8 per cent rate. Attempts were made at findings significant impact of mediator between TQM practices and business performance showed that SPC is important tools and techniques in TQM implementation. The result concludes that SPC is partial correlation between and TQM and BP with indirect effect (IE) is 0.25 which can be categorised as high moderator effect.

Halal Logistics Implementation in Malaysia: A Practical View

Concept of halal is not only acceptable world wide by the Muslim society but also to the non Muslim. However, the implementing of halal logistics in daily operation experience a few difficulties especially on the implementation part. Although there are many academic research paper that highlight the issue of halal logistics and the critical success factor, until today, halal logistics in Malaysia is still experiencing a hiccup. This paper try to highlight a few simple ways of implementation of halal logistics that could enhance the total implementation concept at the very least cost to create benefit to all society. The Paper deals with a few aspect of possible implementation and practice to facilitate the halal logistics approach in daily operation. The main objective is to look at the possible method of implementation and critical success factors towards the implementation of halal logistics operation in daily goods movement in Malaysia.

The Acceptance of Ar-Rahnu Scheme Among Rural Population

The objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence the acceptance of Ar-Rahnu Scheme among the rural population. Ar-Rahnu Scheme is a widely known Islamic pawn broking system in Malaysia. This scheme is currently offered by several institutions in Malaysia, and its acceptance by customers is a contributing factor to its growth and popularity. Using convenience and quota sampling method, 100 sets of questionnaires were distributed to customers of Ar-Rahnu Scheme in a rural area. The variables tested were Shariah concept, service quality, storage charge, and advertisement method. The study found that the main reason for the acceptance of Ar-Rahnu Scheme in the area is because of its low storage charge. The findings also show that Ar-Rahnu Scheme was well accepted among the rural population. Based on the findings, Ar-Rahnu Scheme providers should maintain their current low storage charge, intensively promote the scheme, and increase the quality of their service in order to be selected as the preferred fund provider and pawn broking system in Malaysia. This will enable more people in the rural areas to benefit from the scheme and more importantly, it provides them with an alternative means of obtaining financial assistance as opposed to going for illegal loan schemes or loan sharks.

Environmental protection through small businesses: an analysis of the role of stakeholders in green operations

In this paper we investigate key causal linkages in proactive environmental practices based on an empirical study of 232 Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). We propose a conceptual framework and test this framework using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The key focus of this study is to explore SMEs’ environmental initiatives and the impact of stakeholders’ involvement in determining SMEs’ environmental strategies. The study examines the relationship between stakeholders’ involvement (customers, suppliers, government, top managers and employees) and proactive environmental practices (internal management systems, process-based changes, product-based changes). The results support the notion that SMEs have moved to develop an increasingly proactive environmental orientation. Although our survey strongly suggests that each stakeholder has a different role and impacts differently on SMEs’ sustainability practices, vertical partners play the most critical roles in supporting environmental practices based on product and process-based changes.

Value Creating Activity from Aluminium Recycling on Metal Scrap Collector Site: Malaysia Case Study

This research is on the value creating activities from aluminium recycling on the metal scrap collector site. Less is known on how value is created from recycling. Value creation is important in order to generate profit. Metal scrap collector is one of the main component in the recycling chain which creates value for recycling. Understanding the value creation part of metal scrap collector will help to understand the value creation from recycling as metal scrap collector is one of the actors in the recycling industry. A case study was conducted in order to gather the data for this research. An indepth interview session was done with Managing Director of the metal scrap collector firm. A few value creating activities were identified consisting of two categories which is primary and supporting activities. Eventhough the separation between primary and supporting activities is in line with the value chain analysis by Porter. But the activities in the primary and supporting section differs slightly in a few section. This indicates that the value creation activities in the metal scrap collector differs from the original value chain analysis by Porter. Further research on other actors in the recycling value chain is needed in order to test the homogenousity throughout the recycling calue chain.

Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Inventory Management in Manufacturing SMEs

Effectiveness of inventory management is a vital part in the manufacturing organization to be more competitive. The previous studies have indicated that there are several factors influencing the effectiveness of inventory management in the organization but there is lack of researchers who carried out the research in the manufacturing small medium enterprise in Johor. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the problem of inventory management faced by the manufacturing small medium enterprise and also to determine the factors that will influence the effectiveness of inventory management. In completing this research, 80 employees were selected randomly from the manufacturing small medium enterprise in Batu Pahat, Johor and they were requested to complete questionnaires. The result have shown that the problems of inventory management faced by manufacturing organization were underproduction, overproduction, stock out situation, delays in the delivery of raw materials and discrepancy of records. The factors, documentation/store records, planning, knowledge of employees/staff skill have shown to significantly influence the effectiveness of inventory management while the funds have shown slightly significant influence on the inventory management in manufacturing small medium enterprises. This quantitative study is important to the manufacturing organization in Malaysia because it provides the guidelines to the employers of manufacturing small medium enterprises in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Aluminium Recycling Activity on Construction Site: Malaysia Case Study

Aluminium is largely used in transportation industry to make vehicles, but not all country has their own transportation industry. But nearly all country has their construction industry. With the rise of aluminium usage in the effort to save the environment, it is wise to identify the recycling activity on a construction site. This paper is about the identification of aluminium recycling activity on a construction site. Construction site is second to transportation in term of aluminium usage. A case study is conducted to identify the aluminium recycling activity on the construction site.This study is explorative in nature as different country has different conduct of recycling on site. Fromconducted case study, one main recycling activity is in the light which is collecting. Even though it is only one activity, it appears in many stages of the aluminium recycling activity. By having this knowledge, it might help the responsible party to set up standardised recycling procedure on the construction site while at the same time encourage the recycling activity.

Halal Supply Chain Management Streamlined Practices: Issues and Challenges

The quickly developing worldwide halal in business sector has given a remarkable window of chance, which empowers Malaysia to the renowned halal centre in worldwide (known as Halal-hubs). Malaysia also has proactively taken a lead in halal activities, which is presently considered as the benchmark for a halal framework worldwide. Malaysia also set up the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) which driving a wide range of halal activities since the demand of halal food has increased significantly which is very crucial for a Muslim in ensuring its authenticity and integrity. Even in parallel to this developments, many studies has been conducted because there are many issues still occurs in the food industry. The issue of consumer awareness and understanding the halal principles, mixing of halal and non- halal products, halal certification and logo compliance with Shariah law and lack of regulation and enforcement need the serious attention by all parties along the supply chain. The challenges occur mainly in the halal food segregation and halal traceability of the products. The unit of analysis in this study different halal stakeholders group which are JAKIM, Halal Development Centre (HDC), Raw Material Manufacturers, Retailers and Government Agencies. This paper attempt discusses the issues and challenges occurs in the halal supply chain and faced by the practitioners as well as the relevant parties involved in the industry especially for food products manufacturers. The study would like to give a basic information about the issues and challenges in the contribution of Halal Supply Chain Management (HSCM) as well as for the future studies.