Syed Ali Fazal

Acceptance and usage of social media as a platform among student entrepreneurs

Purpose While it is perceived that adoption reflects acceptance, the purpose of this paper is to argue that individual usage is critical and cannot be guaranteed by mere adoption. This study, therefore, focuses on the factors (i.e. performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, facilitating condition, and perceived enjoyment) contributing to the adoption and ultimately usage of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia under the premise of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a cross-sectional design and quantitative data are collected from 300 selected respondents listed as student entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurship centers of all public universities within Peninsular Malaysia. Findings Performance expectancy, perceived risk, perceived trust, and perceived enjoyment have a significant effect on the adoption of social media leading to its usage as a business platform. Findings also report a significant mediating effect of adoption of social media on the relationship between performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, and perceived enjoyment with the depth of social media usage. Research limitations/implications In order to promote entrepreneurial activities among student entrepreneurs using social media as a business platform, programs and policies should focus on improving cyber security and value-added services. Originality/value This study puts forward and tests the original UTAUT model to assess the adoption and depth of social media usage as a business platform among young student entrepreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia, which provides a foundation for the design and implementation of programs and policies that promote entrepreneurial activities using social media among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

A Clinical Update and Global Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a predominant inflammatory autoimmune disorder. The incidence and prevalence of RA is increasing with considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathophysiology of RA has become clearer due to many significant research outputs during the last two decades. Many inflammatory cytokines involved in RA pathophysiology and the presence of autoantibodies are being used as potential biomarkers via the use of effective diagnostic techniques for the early diagnosis of RA. Currently, several disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are being prescribed targeting RA pathophysiology, which have shown significant contributions in improving the disease outcomes. DISCUSSION Even though innovations in treatment strategies and monitoring are helping the patients to achieve early and sustained clinical and radiographic remission, the high cost of drugs and limited health care budgets are restricting the easy access of RA treatment. Both direct and indirect high cost of treatment are creating economic burden for the patients and affecting their quality of life. CONCLUSION The aim of this review is to describe the updated concept of RA pathophysiology and highlight current diagnostic tools used for the early detection as well as prognosis - targeting several biomarkers of RA. Additionally, we explored the updated treatment options with side effects besides discussing the global economic burden.

Host-country characteristics, corporate sustainability, and the mediating effect of improved knowledge: A study among foreign MNCs in Malaysia

Purpose Under the premise of resource-based view (RBV), this study aims to examine the influence of host-country characteristics (i.e. market environment, cultural factors, government policies and absorptive capacity) on improved knowledge acquired by means of intra-firm technology transfer and the latter’s subsequent effect on corporate sustainability among subsidiaries of foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach The following study adopted a cross-sectional design. Quantitative data were collected through structured interview from the representatives of selected 252 subsidiaries of foreign-based MNCs located in Peninsular Malaysia. Findings The findings of this study revealed that market environment, government policies and absorptive capacity significantly affect the adoption of innovative knowledge, which also has a significant positive effect on corporate sustainability. The findings also revealed a partial mediation of improved knowledge between market environment, government policies and absorptive capacity on corporate sustainability. Research limitations/implications This study recommends that the host country should formulate and adopt trade and FDI friendly policies, as well as stricter intellectual property laws, and, at the same time, provide higher education and training to its citizens to maximize foreign investment and knowledge transfer. Originality/value Apart from highlighting the under-researched issue of organizational sustainability, this study is unique in its approach of connecting the external environment of the host country with the internal knowledge of the firm and corporate sustainability in a single framework. The empirical findings of this study support the hypothesized relationships and thereby extend the scope of the contingency theory and RBV in addition to simultaneously enriching the existing intra-firm knowledge management literature, particularly in the Malaysian context.

Entrepreneurial intention and startup preparation: A study among business students in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Intention, as the starting point of pursuing self-employment and creating new ventures, is crucial before actually establishing a business enterprise. Entrepreneurship is understood to be an essential ingredient for enhancing a countrys economic competitiveness, growth, and sustainability while confronting the escalating challenges of globalization, such as increasing unemployment. This study provides empirical evidence on the factors influencing entrepreneurial intention and startup preparations among university students in Malaysia. The findings provide scholars and academic policymakers with insights into the effectiveness of Malaysias entrepreneurial education as designed and practiced by public universities. The Malaysian government should apply these findings to fortify existing policies and programs and formulate new ones to support graduate entrepreneurs, while universities and other higher education institutions should provide high-quality entrepreneurial courses and programs to young Malaysians to foster an inclination toward entrepreneurship.

Effect of entrepreneurial and market orientation on consumer engagement and performance of manufacturing SMEs

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of entrepreneurial and market orientations on consumer engagement and the performance of manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the premise of the resource-based view (RBV) theory. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a cross-sectional design, and quantitative data were collected from 360 manufacturing SMEs in Peninsular Malaysia. SMEs were selected using a stratified multi-stage sampling method from a total of 37,861 manufacturing SMEs. The respondents were selected from Selangor, Johor, Penang, Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu, as these states make up the majority (79 per cent) of the manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. Findings Entrepreneurial and market orientations have statistically significant positive effects on consumer engagement. Consumer engagement in turn positively affects the performance of manufacturing SMEs in Peninsular Malaysia. Findings also revealed a partial mediation of consumer engagement between entrepreneurial and market orientations on performance. Research limitations/implications A larger sample size may improve the generalizability of the findings. Managers may be able to apply the findings of this paper in developing strategies for their manufacturing SMEs, specifically, by focusing on entrepreneurial and market orientation to raise consumer engagement and to improve the overall performances of their SMEs. Originality/value This study focuses on manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia, an emerging country with conditions unique to other industrialized countries. This study aims to demonstrate that integrated entrepreneurial and market orientations have significant effects on SMEs’ performance. This relationship could be mediated by consumer engagement. Specifically, consumer orientation may influence the effect of entrepreneurial and market orientations on overall firm performance..