Zainal Abidin Mohamed

Performance measures and metrics for e‐supply chains

Purpose – e‐Supply chains are fast becoming a reality. In order to manage such supply chains efficiently and effectively, traditional measures of supply chain performance are not adequate. The literature search revealed lack of measures and metrics for e‐supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to develop new measures and metrics for monitoring the performance of e‐supply chains.Design/methodology/approach – A framework based on the benefits of e‐supply chains has been used to develop the metrics and measures. The study makes use of focus group discussion by assembling eight experts and practitioners in the field of e‐supply chain to come up with the measures and metrics. A questionnaire is designed with these measures and metrics and is sent to about 300 electronic component manufacturing companies in Malaysia to obtain feedback from the industry practitioners. Appropriate reliability and validity tests are conducted to measure the reliability of the instrument and validity of the constructs.Findings ...

A comparative analysis of global Halal certification requirements

The aim of this study is to compare the various Halal certification bodies around the world based on the criteria for Halal certification. As the process of awarding Halal certificates varies among the certification bodies, it is pertinent to identify the differences between these selected certification bodies to gauge the gap existing among them. This study will also identify the position of JAKIM, which is the main Halal certification body in Malaysia, among the other main certification bodies around the world. Nine categories were identified in awarding Halal certification to companies. Comparative analysis was then used to see the differences that exist between these certification bodies. The results of the analysis indicate that, based on the nine categories identified, JAKIM is the strictest body in awarding Halal certification to companies.

A REVIEW OF PRODUCTION FRONTIER RESEARCH IN AQUACULTURE (2001–2011)

Most research works on the production frontier in aquaculture focus on efficiency measurement using either Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) or Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The studies on productivity growth in aquaculture were limited, perhaps due to lack of time-series data. Nevertheless, total factor productivity analysis (TFP) in fish farms has started gaining popularity in recent years. In addition, the majority of the efficiency studies have centered on technical efficiency analysis but substantial increases in the output levels can be fully realized through improving overall economic efficiency. Therefore, this review suggests that future research should estimate all three efficiency indices (i.e., technical, allocative and economic efficiencies).

Technical Efficiency of Tank Culture Systems in Peninsular Malaysia: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis

The demand for animal protein especially fish is growing rapidly perhaps due to rapid expansion of population, increased incomes, and changes in eating habits and life styles of consumers. Capture fisheries are currently overexploited and their yield has become stagnant over the last decades and, in some cases, has even declined. Nevertheless, aquaculture has the potential to meet these challenges if well practiced. The study therefore, aims to estimate Technical Efficiency of tank culture systems using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Additionally, it also investigates the determinants of technical inefficiency by employing a regression model. The estimated technical efficiency was 0.89, which means that the fish farmers can reach full technical efficiency through reducing their input usage by another 11%. Results indicate that farmer’s experience, educational level, extension training, job status, and water management have positive and statistically significant impacts on technical efficiency. Therefore, increase in any of these factors will have a direct impact on technical efficiency.

Opening the Black Box of Leadership in the Successful Development of Local E-Government Initiative in a Developing Country

Leadership has been identified as one of the critical factors in the successful development of e-government projects especially so in developing countries. Unfortunately, empirical studies linking the outcome of e-government projects and the role of leadership are very limited. Moreover, these studies did not comprehensively discuss the role of leadership in implementing e-government projects involving social, political, and technological transformation. Using the four moments of Actor Network Theory (ANT) translation framework, this paper presents detailed actions taken by leaders in the development of a local e-government project. The paper argues that ANT translation provides an appropriate framework to trace and monitor how leadership has been practiced effectively in an e-government project in a developing country.

Implementing Green Practices as Sustainable Innovation Among Herbal-Based SME Entrepreneurs

ABSTRACT The need for policies to foster green practices, sustainable environmental management and conservation of biodiversity has been given priority by world leaders. Various factors causing environmental degradation such as global warming, pollution, climate change, deforestation and increasingly threatened biodiversity have triggered awareness among the upstream and downstream players in the manufacturing industry, providing impetus for industries to practice sustainable manufacturing and environmentally friendly management. As a result, consumers are now increasing their demand for products that are made from natural or traditional rather resources, such as herbal based pharmaceutical products, rather than chemical-based products. The sustainability issue not only places pressure on entrepreneurs to move towards green practices, but also to meet the increasing demand for herbal-based products that are produced in a sustainable environment. This article aims to assess herbal based SME entrepreneurs’ intention to adopt green practices in their business activities. Two hundred fifty six (256) herbal based entrepreneurs were interviewed via a structural questionnaire to gather information regarding their perception of green practices and their intention to adopt them. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as the theoretical framework to determine the relationships between TPB constructs. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the information. The results indicate that positive attitudes towards sustainability are being embraced by those who are concerned about the environment and the intention to adopt innovative green practices is realized by their possession of the caring attribute.

A Meta-Analysis of Technical Efficiency in Aquaculture

We compared stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) methods to calculate mean technical efficiency (MTE) of global aquaculture. A total of 36 published articles on technical efficiency of 55 aquaculture operations were reviewed. SFA yielded lower MTE estimates than DEA. MTE for Asia, Africa, Europe, and the USA was estimated to be 0.64, 0.71, 0.80, and 0.73, respectively, indicating considerable scope for increasing output of aquaculture with the currently available array of inputs and existing technology.

Building new competitive advantage through match between specific types of strategic flexibility and sourcing strategy

Strategic flexibility, sourcing strategy and organisational performance are often a source of contention among firms in manufacturing sector. This paper explores the effects of specific types of strategic flexibility ? related and unrelated product diversification ? that matched with specific types of sourcing strategy ? make and buy. Questionnaires were sent to respondents who were top management officers of firms from four major manufacturing sectors: electrical and electronics, chemicals including petroleum, food and beverages, and fabricated metal. The results confirmed that a specific type of sourcing strategy (make or buy) mediated a specific type of strategic flexibility (related or unrelated product diversification). Specifically, the make strategy partially mediated the relationship between related product diversification strategy and organisational performance, whereas the buy strategy partially mediated the relationship between unrelated product diversification strategy and organisational performance. These findings go along with the theories that support both constructs: industrial organisation theory, transaction cost theory and resource-based view. All these findings would enable practitioners to make better manufacturing and sourcing decisions.

Comparative Advantage Indices of Selected Livestock Production Sectors in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract This study calculates the protection rates and comparative advantage indices of livestock industry in Brunei from an import substitution perspective. Four livestock sub-sectors were being evaluated: broiler, layer, goat and beef cattle. Two measures of government intervention indices were calculated, namely nominal protection rate (NPR) and effective protection rate (EPR). Domestic resource cost (DRC) and resource cost ratio (RCR) indices were computed to determine the comparative advantages of the livestock industry. In general, the results indicate that the livestock industry in Brunei was heavily protected. The study revealed the existence of comparative advantage only for very large farms producing poultry meat and eggs. Similarly in the ruminant sector, goat production appears to have comparative advantage over beef cattle. Small and medium poultry farms and large non-ruminant farms and cattle beef production possess comparative disadvantage despite being highly protected industries.

Socio-Demographic Profile in Purchasing Natural and Synthetic Functional Foods in Malaysia

Functional foods represent one of the most interesting areas of research and innovation in the food industry. There are commercialized functional products in Malaysian market presently. Although the consumption of functional foods is increasing, relatively little is known about how consumers perceive these products and their buying frequency towards natural and synthetic functional foods in Malaysia. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and consumers’ knowledge and buying frequency towards Natural and synthetic functional foods. Systematic random sampling was used in this study and 2004 households are interview by using structure questionnaire in Malaysia. Descriptive analysis and chi-square analysis were used in this study. The result shows that education level, area, income level, age and child under 18 years old have significant relationship with their knowledge to differentiate natural and synthetic functional foods.Moreover, the result also shows that marital status, area, education level, household size, age, income level and child under 18 years old have significant relationship with their purchasing behavior towards functional foods.