Issues and Perspectives in Business and Social Sciences

Analysing consumer preference factors and their impact on willingness in vehicle leasing in Malaysia

2024-05-24T15:30:03+08:00

Vehicle leasing is less developed in Malaysia than in Western countries due to the easy availability of loans for vehicle ownership and the underdeveloped public transport system. This study analysed the factors affecting consumer preferences and willingness to lease vehicles in Malaysia, including cost, convenience, flexibility, and ownership. Data was obtained through distributing 350 questionnaire copies, which yielded 257 responses, after which data was analysed with the help of SmartPLS4 and SEM. The study found that convenience, cost, flexibility, and ownership positively influence consumers' willingness to lease a vehicle. To encourage vehicle leasing, leasing establishments in Malaysia should prioritise these factors. This study is useful for professionals in the Malaysian vehicle leasing market and contributes to the literature on consumer willingness to lease vehicles in Malaysia.

Service quality integration – a case study of Qiandao Lake Scenic Spot, China

2024-06-06T10:22:05+08:00

In the Yangtze River Delta region of China, the Qiandao Lake Scenic Spot stands as a 5A-rated tourist attraction, both nationally and internationally recognized. However, despite its acclaim, the service quality at this destination has not yet reached satisfactory levels, particularly in light of the significant increase in tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the existing service quality dimensions fail to adequately address a crucial aspect: cultural integration for enhancing customer satisfaction. Consequently, this study aims to comprehensively explore service quality integration at the Qiandao Lake Scenic Spot. We developed a six-dimensional Service Quality scale, which was then administered to tourists visiting the destination. An Expectation-Performance Analysis revealed that the largest gap between expectations and actual performance lies in the ‘assurance’ dimension, closely followed by ‘tangibility.’ This highlights tourists’ heightened concern for both ‘assurance’ and ‘tangibility’ aspects.

Analysing the determinants of Vietnam’s FDI inflow

2024-05-24T15:32:15+08:00

FDI has long been recognised for its positive impact on host countries, prompting economies, particularly those in the developing world, to dedicate significant efforts to crafting policies conducive to attracting FDI inflows. Vietnam stands out as a top performer within the ASEAN region, and it is known for its appeal to FDI. This study seeks to shed light on Vietnam's successful FDI attraction strategies, offering insights for similar endeavours. Utilising the ARDL approach and monthly data from 2010 to 2019, this study examines the determinants of FDI inflows in Vietnam. The analysis reveals that market size is the sole significant factor in both short-term and long-term estimations. However, in the short run, market size, trade openness, and inflation notably influence FDI inflows. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing the host nation’s competitive advantage to attract market-seeking and export-oriented FDI in the short term. However, the FDI landscape shifts towards market-seeking investments over time, particularly as the domestic market expands. This shift presents valuable guidance for policymakers in shaping long-term FDI-related strategies. By leveraging the benefits accrued from FDI, whether market-seeking or export-oriented, host nations can foster domestic market development, thereby sustaining FDI inflows in the long run. This development aligns with the growing global awareness of promoting societal equality, such as the SDGs. By fostering equality, purchasing power within the overall market is boosted, creating a more favorable environment for FDI.

Online learning intention among students from private universities in Malaysia: The role of past behavior and students’ planned behavior

2024-05-24T15:37:44+08:00

This study examines the determinants that affect the intention of Malaysian private university students to continue using online learning. The study utilized structural equation modelling analysis to examine the connections between variables, employing the partial least squares method. A total of 564 data were collected from students enrolled in private higher education institutions. The suitability of the variable dimensions was established through reliability analysis. Key findings revealed that students’ past online learning behavior significantly impacts their attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control towards online learning. Specifically, past behavior was positively correlated with attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, significant positive relationships were observed between attitude and online learning intention, subjective norms and online learning intention, and perceived behavioral control and online learning intention. The results showed that students with positive past behaviors tend to hold favorable attitudes and social support and are capable of succeeding in online learning environments.

Factors influencing the adoption of digital banking among university students in urban areas: A comparative analysis using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

2024-05-24T15:47:31+08:00

Financial institutions are experiencing profound impacts from the rapid expansion of digitization. Raised in the era of the internet and social media, Generation Z has been exposed to these innovations extensively. The primary aim of this study is to explore the factors influencing the adoption of digital banking among university students, focusing on Generation Z in urban areas. One hundred pairwise questionnaires were distributed to university students in the Klang Valley via convenience sampling for the survey. The study evaluates five main factors - ease of use, security, online responsiveness, trust, and usefulness to be ranked through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The AHP results indicate that usefulness emerged as the top priority, followed by security, in the context of digital banking adoption. Moreover, comparative analysis based on gender and education level reveals nuanced differences. Male respondents prioritize security highly, while female respondents emphasize usefulness. Similarly, those with higher education levels prioritize usefulness, whereas diploma holders prioritize more on security. By employing the AHP and conducting a comparative analysis, this study aims to address gaps in the existing literature on digital banking. Its findings are expected to aid financial institutions in enhancing their digital banking services and quality, which could potentially expand the efforts of bridging the financial inclusion gap to underserved populations in regions with low levels of access.

Virtual reality application for tourism in Saudi Arabia

2024-05-24T16:01:32+08:00

Tourism significantly contributes to global economies and societal development. Virtual tourism has emerged as a crucial alternative during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, sustaining the tourism sector. This paper explores virtual tourism's potential for Saudi destinations, focusing on its impact and acceptance among 600 participants from Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha. Using a descriptive-analytical approach and an applied experiment with virtual reality tours of Jeddah's historical sites, the results show a positive attitude towards virtual tourism, highlighting its economic viability and support for activation. SEM analysis confirmed that perceived presence significantly influences user satisfaction and engagement, which in turn impact the intention to visit real destinations. These findings underscore virtual tourism's potential as a marketing, tourism promotion, and cultural preservation tool, contributing to the sustainable development of Saudi Arabia's tourism sector amidst global challenges.

The moderating effects of education level on mental health among young individuals

2025-02-28T14:41:29+08:00

This study investigates the relationship between mental health disorders and workplace productivity, specifically examining the effects of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic behavior (PT), and stress behaviors. This study also explores how education level moderates these relationships. Data were collected from 161 participants through an online questionnaire, using convenience sampling. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS was employed to analyze direct relationships and moderating effects. The results indicate that anxiety and depression significantly and negatively impact workplace productivity, while PT and stress behaviors show no significant effects. The study found that education level significantly moderates the relationship between mental health disorders and workplace productivity. These findings expand our understanding of how mental health impacts workplace performance across educational backgrounds. The research provides practical implications for organizations in developing targeted mental health interventions and support programs based on employees' academic levels.

2025-06-02T05:46:29+08:00