Asia Pacific Journal of Advanced Business and Social Studies

1-7

Authors: Ahmad Ma’ruf

Poverty in villages or rural areas is still high, including in Indonesia. A Variety of creativity from citizens or outside the parties, such as government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has efforts to reduce destitution by optimizing the potential of the area. One sample of that is developed ecotourism by creating Tourist Village, as is done by the Candran village, Imogiri, Yogyakarta which was introduced by citizens as the International Tourist Village. As a tourist village, the village requires basic infrastructure adequacy. In terms of basic infrastructure’s management (provisioning and superintend), there are social assets in the form of social capital that can be developed so that development activities are implicated in increasing village’s revenue. The process of social capital development can implicate in a participation way through PRA approach and for analyzing using analytical approach SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results). This research succeeded in formulating the efforts of citizens keeping and procurement infrastructure through the optimization social capital that developing in the Candran International Tourist Village.

18-24

Authors: Professor Shahid M. Butt

In recent years the use of technology has become very common and popular. By the use of technology, we can easily accessed correct and useful information of a diabetic patient. However, finding such information of those patients who really need urgent medical treatment is limited and challenging. One method is to use technology that has strong mathematical functions, to extract the beneficial information about diabetic patients. Therefore, the integration of technology that have strong mathematical functions with health can identify serious diabetic patients from big health database of patients. This paper presents a mathematical function by which serous diabetic patients can be identified from health database. This research can be materialised in any country for any disease provided all relative patients and Health Care Units are on line inter-linked. The pre-requisite for his research is the existence of Health Care Data base and constant liaison with diabetic patients through any social health society. The objective of this research is to provide quick, precise and accurate medical aid to any respondent as a result to reduce the fast transformation of diabetic Type 1 to Type 2. The one of primary reason is the overconsumption of food and very less amount of exercise to burn the calories. Once a person suffers with this disease, there does not exist any on line regular medical record with General Physician (GP) as a result the patient has to describe the whole history right from the beginning each time to a different GP. At state level, any health network is not available. In many cases, it takes a lot of time for a GP to reach at right diagnosis for any patient. This very research paper aims to provide quick response to any diabetic patient on a phone call. This is only possible if record of patient already exits with GP or with Diabetic Society. How this all will work and what to do is the concept of this research paper. This research paper provides a complete particle approach for both patients and Health Care Departments.

32-45

Authors: Tho Quynh Nguyen, Ngoc Kim To

To date, the evidence on the impact of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth is still ambiguous. On one hand, many studies have found significant and positive effects of FDI on the host countries’ economy through contributing to domestic investment and employment, transferring technology and generating more inter-sectoral linkages. On the other hand, some other studies indicated that FDI might have a negative impact on economic growth. These conflicts in results can be explained by the differences in the absorptive capacity of host countries in terms of its policy regime, the level of human capital, development and investment environment. The aim of this paper is to revisit the relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth using Threshold Auto Regressive (TAR) model. The study suggests that the scale of FDI inflows into a country needs to be appropriate to its absorptive capacity. The level of FDI inflows is used as a threshold variable. The Fixed-effect panel threshold model proposed by Hansen (1999) is used. Also, this paper adopts the bootstrap method by Hansen (1999) to test the statistical significance of the threshold effect. By using a panel data of eight ASEAN countries in the period from 2002 – 2014, the findings indicate that the relationship between FDI and economic growth is non-linear. Furthermore, the results show that FDI can influence growth in different ways, depending on the level of FDI inflows. The study finds strong evidence that there are two threshold levels of FDI in the regression relationship. They are 4.73% and 4.91% of GDP with asymptotic 95% confidence interval. These thresholds divide the observations into three regimes, in which the impact of FDI on growth will be reversed, once FDI scale reaches the threshold levels. The results also suggest that with a current absorptive capacity of selected host countries, the optimal level of FDI is 4,73% of GDP to make the most of FDI to recipient economies.

54-65

Authors: Dominique Molintas, Benedict Pineda, Romeo Salda, George Chamc Leroy Tan

This paper construes the feasibility of an investment of 260 million pesos for built environment, executed through Public Private Partnership. The work is a simple application of cost benefit analysis, with emphasis on value creation for social equity over monetary gain. It is thought that PPP is a transformative instrument for the advancement of community; whether change is institutional or structural; through policy reform or in the simple access to potable water. The model construct simulates from the baseline using two selected most critical variables, the level of facility utilisation and rent. Profit to asset ratio is 7.9 with hurdle at 16.3. The expected outcome investing the built environment comprises of market inclusion and enterprise creation, labour inclusion and worker entitlements, education and asset creation. Value creation for social equity states 3,601.73 million pesos at a rate of return of 53.8%.

79-90

Authors: Hendarsyah Aditya Saptari, Achmad Ghazali

Telecommunication said to be the process of exchanging information between two stations or entities. The result of the interpretation of information will become knowledge that is beneficially used by either of both entities. PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk. in the future wants to hold the title of “The King of Digital”. Transformation is currently happening in the organization to reach that predicate. In order to support transformation that currently happening in PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk., they had set up several strategic initiatives. One of resources that PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia used to be a world class company is kampiun. As the objective of this research is to propose an option of strategy for PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk., based on the previous analysis and the current condition of kampiun portray. In formulation, the option of strategy, researcher use conceptual framework that build from GAP analysis to understand the condition of kampiun, ANP analysis for finding the best option, and Diamond Strategy Model by Hambrick to develop a strategy. All of the theory on the framework has been adjusted to match current condition of PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk., Referring to the GAP analysis PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk., has a GAP related to kampiun that should be solved immediately in order to maximize the innovation as the foundation for achieving their vision

101-112

Authors: Rillyan Nur Ramadhani, Atik Aprianingsih

The Industry of shopping malls is currently expanding with the growth of new malls in urban cities in Indonesia. The concept of shopping mall has also shifted from place for shopping to become a place for social activities. Therefore, consumers tend to be more selective and likely to be engaged with shopping malls that are more attractive and appropriate with their preference. The purpose of this study is to examine marketing mix attributes in a shopping mall in order to enhance the attractiveness of the mall. This study very limited to one particular shopping mall in Makassar, named Mall Ratu Indah. It involved examining variables of 7Ps Marketing through utilization of Importance Performance Analysis. In conducting this research, primary data was collected by distributing structured questionnaires to respondents that were selected using random sampling ofvisitors of a shopping mall in Makassar. The findings of this study revealed sixteen attributes as major strengths that should be enhanced by Mall Ratu Indah. These attributes are mainly related to Product, Place, Process, and Physical Evidence. Moreover, this study also identified sixteen attributes as major weaknesses that should be concerned and improvedimmediately in order to increase attractiveness of Mall Ratu Indah. These attributes are consisted in a variable of Product, Promotion, Process, and Physical Evidence. Implication of this study for management is to arrange priority of improvement effectively and develop comprehensive marketing mix that matched with preference of consumer.

125-140

Authors: Fahdia Khalid

In the changing dynamics of socioeconomic settings, the role of HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) is now realized as more strategic and central to all such developments. The dynamics are sometimes characterized by government interventions, industry expectations and societal needs. This new and dynamic position describes HEI as an innovation hub, a valueadding entity and as an intellectual capital powerhouse. HEIs’ role is often considered around three key areas of teaching, research and community contribution. This paper presents a synergized approach to portray HEIs’ strategic roleby re-conceptualizing value creation for its stakeholders. With application of discourse analysis, it attempts to identify and propose value creation sources for HEIs. The sources are identified by constructing on intellectual capital and service innovation frameworks. This paper shows the complexity of problem in reporting value creation by higher education institutions in the context of dynamics and its relation to the environment. HEIs have already adapted the structures that are more inclined to ‘managerialism’ than the administration (Enders, 2015) such as understanding of competitive markets, stakeholders’ interests and the need for deploying strategic management practices. Nevertheless, the organizations in higher education are yet to build systems that could provide a strategic blue print for value creation. The discourse of intellectual capital deployment in higher education management is also not an alien; however,its integration on reporting value creation sources would provide aprototype that can be customized for individual institutional value creation reporting. The sources are categorized by affirming service innovation and intellectual capital discourses in the context of stakeholders’ evolving expectations.By reinventing intellectual capital and re-conceptualizing value co-creation we can facilitate the efforts on buildinghigher education institutions that are highly sustainable in our competitive era. However, this intellectual capital and value co-creation alignment requires a comprehensive yet innovative reporting to inform strategic decision making. This paper presents a reinventing intellectual capital model to demonstrate how HEIs can develop and deploy intellectual capital and sustain this on-going value co-creation. The model is based on intellectual capital and service innovation frameworks. Intellectual capital is integrated as structural, human, relational and social capital whereas service innovation is incorporated on Service-Dominant logic. The arguments focus on the dynamics of entrepreneurship, sustainability, globalization and knowledge society. The model is then validated by deploying content-analysis and recommends value co-creation instruments for internal and external stakeholders.

157-169

Authors: Ven. Mediyawe Piyarathana Thero

The Religious Teacher (Shstru) of every religion convention originated in the world can be regarded as a teacher. In the Indian religious field, there had been many such teachers. The Buddha was one of them. ‘Teacher of gods and men’.1 in this manner, it has been mentioned about the Buddha. When he introduces who he was, he has introduced himself as “I'm the incomparable Teacher.”2 From the expressions like the above, it is obvious that the Buddha has been accepted as a great Religious Teacher and a teacher at that time and he also has expressed about it. The history has created many persons. But, at present, no one has become so interested and memorable like the Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha. No one has achieved a state like him. He, a Skyan prince, was the greatest spiritual teacher in the world. 3 ‘There is no any suspicion about the ancient Buddha was a greatest teacher.”4 The Buddha holds the main position among those who knew education science and education psychology. Buddhists introduce him as the teacher of gods and men.5 From the ideas of the intellectuals from the West and East, it is obvious that there was a great acceptance and honour about the state of the Buddha as a Religious Teacher. There were many external features and internal virtues of the Buddha’s character to be the honourable, exemplary and the greatest character in the world. The country of his birth, race and time was prepared or good enough to form a great character. For the compilation of his great character, the virtues like compassion spread throughout the world, loving-kindness, desirelessness, courage with determination, self-sacrifice, uprightness in words or expression and action, patience to bear accuses and dishonour, the ability to converse with kings, ministers, courtiers, wealthy men and also with poor working farmer community, humble nature or modesty, none-greediness for fourfold basic needs (cloth, food, residence and medicinal drinks) or (catuppacca) and not treating for injustice were helpful or they were the reasons.

180-191

Authors: Veli Denizhan Kalkan

Higher education institutions can provide important benefits to the business world and the society at large by creating and diffusing new knowledge. They have to manage their knowledge effectively in order to realize this. Knowledge management (KM) has much to offer for these organizations faced by various challenges knowledge-based economy imposes. University knowledge management (UKM) is an important, however, understudied subject of study. This paper reviews the relevant organizational knowledge management literature, presents an overall view of the challenges faced by contemporary universities, and conceptualizes the main subprocesses of university knowledge management. It proposes three interdependent subprocesses named as research-related, educational and administrative knowledge management. University knowledge management process is offered as an emergent strategic tool improving the productivity of the university and supporting many aspects of college-level teaching, learning, and administration.

205-214

Authors: Fatima Mohammadi

Although women empowerment has become a buzzword in the ‘international aid’ world for the last several years, policies asserting to encompass these frameworks have failed to bring about sustainable development, or improve the status of women in Afghanistan. Conversely, the insensitive interventions have often resulted in resentment and backlash among people. Researchers and practitioners have attributed this failure to lack of political commitment, ineffective implementation strategies, and absence of institutional support. These explanations remain unconvincing. The paper maintains that women empowerment and marginalization are linked to specific conditions that have deep rooted gendered patterns. It uses the capabilities approach as an analytic framework to comprehend how Afghan women view their place in an extremely patriarchal society.

224-234

Authors: Dr. Crispina Rafol Corpuz

Cooperative is a business form of organization usually formed by ordinary people to help themselves and solve basic economic and social problems. Cooperatives, as we know them today, originated during the 1800s when manual labor was replaced by machines resulting to higher levels of production. Workers decided that the only way out of their misery was to work together to create their own business. They pooled together the little money they had and started a store where they could buy basic necessities at lower price and better quality. The success of this first cooperative store was replicated by other occupational groups who formed their own cooperatives to supply their own needs. To succeed, the co-operative has to cater to the needs of all members (economic purpose); it has to be capitalized by members themselves, who are expected to patronize their own business to make sure that it succeeds (www.cda.gov.ph).The business of the co-operative is the means by which members satisfy their economic needs, but its ultimate purpose is to improve the lives of members and ultimately the community in which they live (social purpose) (www.cda.gov.ph).Considering the nature and characteristics of cooperative which make it distinct and different from other forms of business organization, this type of business organization is appropriate to ordinary people who don’t have enough capital to put up their own business.

242-249

Authors: Aiedah Abdul Khalek, Ros Aiza Mohd Mokhtar

Halal certification is a substantial part of the Malaysian government’s strategies in strengthening halal consumerism and its industry in Malaysia. The perception of halal certification, especially among Generation Y, is indeed important, as Generation Y is one of the key market segments for halal food and products. This quantitative study aims to explore the perception of Generation Y Malaysian on national halal certification. In addition, it examines their intention of using the Malaysian halal certification as a benchmark before consuming any food product and their ability in recognizing the halal certification issued by the Malaysian government. Questionnaires were self-administered among 425 respondents and analysed using Descriptive Analysis of Statistical Package for the Social Science. The findings revealed that halal certification is perceived as substantial and more trustworthy to the majority of the Generation Y respondents when purchasing halal food. Hence, this leads to a discussion on strengthening the quality and implementation of the Malaysian halal certification.

261-269

Authors: Ifa Rizad Mustapa, Siti Seri Delima Abdul Malak

In line with the introduction of the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG) in 2000, companies that comply with the recommendation of the MCCG which stresses on accountability and transparency, is expected to perform better than others. Looking further on issues associating to industries, recent studies proved that organizational capacity, which is understood as developing the resources and capabilities of an organization that are valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and non-substitutable that generates particular organizational tendencies to create competitive advantages and disadvantages, form part of the organization’s environment that affect its performance (Camison & Villar-Lopez, 2014; Chen, Qiao & Lee, 2014; Dowdell, Herda & Notbohm, 2014). Recognizing its importance to the industry, the current study intends to examine the moderating effect of organizational capacity on the association between corporate governance and corporate performance in Malaysia since no prior studies have reported on the work albeit they examined the influence of these variables independently (Tayles, Pike & Sofian, 2007; Abdullah, Lall & Tatsuo, 2008; Khong & Eze, 2008; Fatt, Khin & Heng, 2010; Hussein et al., 2014). A questionnaire survey and the regression analysis methods will be applied in obtaining the data and answering the research questions respectively. The outcome of this research is expected to contribute to the industry by identifying of whether organizational capacity plays a significant role in moderating the association between corporate governance and corporate performance and hence acknowledge firms of how they can improve their performance through organizational capacities.

280-289

Authors: Yuhanif, Y., Nor Anita, A., Hairuddin M.L.,MD Rejab, MD. Anisah, C.N.

In clinical trials, the need to obtain patient’s consent by way of informed consent has been mandatorily imposed as a way to protect the patient as subject. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that the doctor-investigators had failed to disclose full information to patients. Hence, the aim of this paper is to examine the factors for non-disclosure of information by doctor-investigator and provide potential solutions to the problem. This study employed a mixed-method data collection that is library research and interview. A qualitative methodology and analysis were used in an open-ended, face-to-face interviews with 12 patients recruited to participate in a trial to investigate drug for chemotherapy and schizophrenia. This study reveals that doctor-investigators fail to disclose information due to the absence of monitoring by the ethics committees and that the Good Clinical Practice Training Curriculum (GCPTC) is too basic and almost introductory and the attitude of the patient that put high hopes on doctorinvestigators. Hence, random monitoring by the ethics committees and monitoring using video tape during the informed consent process are recommended. In addition, GCPTC needs to be improvised and further enhanced by inserting topic on the differences of objective between medical treatment and clinical trials and topic on infamous conduct according to Code of Profesional Conduct 1987 (CPC). In addition, a framework model in respect of information disclosure is also proposed by incorporating several new clauses in the CPC equivalent to the requirements of internationally recognized rights of patient as subject.

297-306

Authors: Susan Refalda-Mercaida

Among oral tradition forms, the ethnoepic has the expansive length that enables the latter to fairly capture the culture of the people that produced it – their way of life, their skills and resources, their problems which put to the fore their skills at resolution and their life values. As such, exposure of young people to ethno-epics is good socialization to their cultural heritage. However, traditional ethnoepics were composed at a different time and for a different audience and, as such, may no longer be as appealing today as they were to the audience of their time. This study reviewed five Filipino ethnoepics originating from north to south of the Philippine archipelago and extracted key skills and values that are analogous to 21st century skills -- critical thinking, collaboration toward problem-solving, resourcefulness and use of available technology, including articulation of identity. To be able to resonate with millennial readers, traditional ethnoepics require a reading model that speaks to them in ways that they will understand. The result of the study is a prototype reading model that may be adapted according to specific humanities, social science or inter-disciplinary curricular requirements and specific teaching objectives identified for the course in which ethnoepics will be taught.

318-328

Authors: Rita Dhungel

Trafficking of girls and women for sexual exploitations and their reintegration have become serious social issues in the world, particularly in Nepal, drawing the attention of local and international communities, including United Nations, government, academia, practitioners and activists. Nevertheless, the paucity of research on reintegration of trafficking survivors in the Nepalese context exhibits the need for further research. For example, in previous studies, the experiences of trafficking survivors in their reintegration have been examined and some strategies have been proposed through a qualitative approach. However, no studies have been conducted from social justice and feminist paradigms, and therefore the study was designed to bridge the gaps identified in academic investigations. Through the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR), the purpose for this study is to promote transformational/experiential learning opportunities to trafficking survivors and measure its transformative change. By using a number of PAR tools, eight trafficking survivors as co-researchers have examined under researched experiences of survivors on transformational learning opportunities and its implications to transformative impacts. For the purpose of the study, the survivors were significantly involved in analyzing data, mainly in categorizing and coding, however, a praxis (action-reflection-action) encouraging participants to engage in meaningful dialogues and actions, was executed as emancipatory research and liberatory educational tools throughout the study period. The results demonstrate that personal and social transformations were achieved, grounded in experiential evidence in personal narratives. Implications of the study are discussed in the conclusion.

336-344

Authors: Haslina Binti Omar

This paper is part of a series of studies done to perpetuate interest and attention towards multiethnic Malaysian women’s autobiographies, not only for their literary value, but also as potential sources of alternative perspectives on Malaysian history (Haslina, 2013).The notion that Malaysian women of all ethnic backgrounds live in a gendered world, in which women are assigned to the home and passive and uninvolved in the country’s political changes may be the reason why there seems to be an attitude of inattentiveness or an indifference towards autobiographies by Malaysian women.Women’s life narratives are representations of their lived experiences written and published with the purpose of sharing it with others. However, only a small number of Malaysian women have published autobiographies; rather than being evidence of insignificance, according to Lim, the number points to “the unfavourable conditions under which they wrote” (1994). This paper attempts to draw insights from life writing that can greatly enchance our historical understanding of the development of women in Malaysia and also for its literary significance. It seeks to answer a call for the creation of a new practice of reading women’s autobiographies, especially those by women from multiethnic communities (Smith &Watson, 1992). This paper reads into a Malaysian autobiography entitled From Shore to Shoreby Muthammal Palanisamy (2002)in an attempt to erase the notion that Malaysian women’s life narratives are trivial, but instead allow readers to make clearer connections with the literary, historical and social cultural viewpoints.

357-366

Authors: Nafiu Ahmed

The criminal networks in Latin America are expanding and diversifying their activities. As a result, there is a convergence of threats that were traditionally different to modern-day threats that are explosive and with destabilizing-filled impacts. Criminal violence associated with TOC is the most severe problem facing the nations in Latin America. The increased cases of TOCs in the region have led to insecurity and violence across the region; hence, challenges to residents, public security forces and travelers arise. The factors leading to TOC in the region have been grouped into suitable geostrategic position, poor governance, corruption, poverty and also issues of inequality and social mobility. Corruption has greatly facilitated TOC as organized crime representatives bribe such government officials as police officers and the judges. TOCs impair the social and economic systems in the region, undermining the capacity of the nations to govern, and also creating a non-friendly environment for travelers due to high incidences of kidnapping. TOC in Latin America has extended beyond its traditional strongholds of Colombia and Mexico; hence, there is the need for multinational agencies and governments to cooperate in combating the challenge. However, this paper discusses the causes, effects and challenges of transnational organised crimes (TOCs) from the perspective of Latin America. This paper also glimpses at the security system in Latin American countries and how TOCs affect the security system in this region.