Studying Service SME Adoption of Mobile Marketing Technology (MMT) via Technology-Organization-Environment Framework

While the acceptance and use of mobile marketing technology (MMT) is playing a significant roles in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), few studies have explored how an appropriate framework for understanding the underlying factors that shape MMT adoption in Nigeria can be developed. This is because majority of practitioners in Nigeria often generalize and extend the findings from the developed economies as if there are no environmental differences. This paper attempts to propose a grounded theory approach for assessing factors within technology-organisation-environment (T-O-E) framework in attempt to explain and predict small service firms’ adoption of MMT. The data collection approach spans unstructured and semi-structured interviews with 26 respondents; and the proposed framework provides an organized way to explore MMT adoption, and a foundation for developing a model of MMT adoption in developing country.

IDENTIFICATION OF CHILLI PLANTS PLANTING ORGANISMS IN TEKO VILLAGE, LOMBOK TIMUR

The main objective of this research is to identify and introduce various types of pests to farmers in Teko Village, Pringgebaya District. The method used is a survey method with a data collection approach in the form of direct observation on the expanse of chili plants and questionnaires as a guide for interviews with respondent farmers. Identification of pests on chili plants in Teko Village, namely: yellow virus, anthracnose fruit rot, fruit and leaf rot, whitefly, weeds (puzzle grass, spinach, and grass weeds).

Youths’ Intention towards Online Food Delivery (OFD) Services in Kota Kinabalu

The business of online food delivery (OFD) services has grown rapidly over the years and more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, a significant amount of research works relating to OFD services have been conducted, however, not many have focused on the intention of using OFD services especially from the youths’ perspective. Hence, the purpose of this study is to examine youth’s intention of using OFD services. The study applied a quantitative approach and the unit of analysis for this study is the youths between 18 to 40 years old, as the potential users of OFD services living in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Through the cross-sectional data collection approach and purposive sampling technique, 346 samples were collected via an online survey questionnaire. The survey questionnaire was adopted from previous studies with minor modifications, validated and pilot tested. A total of 346 responses were collected and analysed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated all the predictors (convenience motivation, time-saving motivation, price-orientation motivation, and hedonistic motivation) significantly affect youth’s intention towards OFD services. The study contributes to the existing literature on OFD and practical implications to the food industry, food delivery services, and marketers from the youths’ perspective. Keywords – Intention, Online Food Delivery, Youth, Convenience Motivation, Time-Saving Motivation, Price-Orientation Motivation, Hedonistic Motivation

Identifying and Prioritizing the Effective Criteria in Selecting Lean Six Sigma Improvement Projects in the Healthcare Sector

The main objective of this study was to identify and prioritize effective criteria in selecting Lean Six Sigma improvement projects in the healthcare and treatment sector in Iran. The present study was an applied research in terms of objective and a descriptive and analytical one according to the research methodology and data collection approach. The research statistical population included experts and managers with experience in the field of implementing the lean six sigma methodology in the field of healthcare and treatment in Iran. We used interviews and questionnaire tools to collect the data. The effective criteria were identified through reviewing previous research, which were then prioritized based on the experts’ opinions using the BWM method. According to the results, out of the six main dimensions and 20 criteria identified, the customer development dimension with a weight of 0.387 and the customer satisfaction criterion with a weight of 0.066 were determined as the most effective dimension and the most effective criterion, respectively. Accordingly, the directors of medical centers and organizations affiliated with the healthcare sector are recommended to pay special attention to these defined criteria of the customer development dimension to effectively implement the lean six sigma methodology and managing an effective customer relationship.

Developing faithful stewardship for environment through green HRM

Purpose This paper aims to assess the nexus between green human resource management (GHRM) practices, green culture, environmental responsibility and environmental performance (EP). Design/methodology/approach Using a supervisor-subordinated nested design and multi-time data collection approach through convenience sampling, the authors obtained 330 responses from 15 hotels operating in the metropolitan cities of Pakistan. Findings The study results indicate the prominence of GHRM practices toward enhancing hotels’ EP. The authors also found green culture and environmental responsibility as potential mediators in the direct association between GHRM and EP. In addition, the findings suggest that the GHRM and environmental association can be deeper when individuals exhibit green values and showcase green responsibility about their environment. Taken together, the findings of the present study found support for all direct and indirect hypothesized relationships hence, forwarding notable implications for theory and practice. Research limitations/implications This paper forwards both theoretical and practical implications. Drawing upon ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, this paper asserts that GHRM practices shall be used to improve EP through green values and environmental responsibility. The authors specifically suggest that pro-environment personnel practices can nourish green culture and a pro-environment sense of responsibility that facilitates in robust pro-environment results. Originality/value The study advances and addresses gaps found in prior studies to help support organizational scholars, practitioners and pro-environment enthusiasts to understand the interplay of GHRM, culture, responsibility and EP.

What Can We Learn from Business Innovation Fail-ure of Uber in Southeast Asia Market?

Uber is a global pioneer in the sharing economy platform entitled ride-hailing. It started to enter the Asian market in 2013-2014 with various community responses in each region. In March 2018, Uber withdrew from the competition in Southeast Asia after being acquired by one of the dominant players in the region, Grab. In connection with Uber's failure to operate its business in the region, this paper discusses Uber's business model, business expansion, competition in the market, and the factors that led to Uber's failure in the Southeast Asian market. To comprehensively describe the developing context, we used a qualitative method with a systematic data collection approach from literature reviews in conducting this study. This study emphasizes that large funding supports do not guarantee the success of business operations in a more globalized setting. Different market characteristics require different approaches. The case of Uber's failure in the Southeast Asian market, even though it was supported by large funds to "Uberize the entire world," proves that the characteristics made more "localized" are more likely at a certain point in time to survive. This study also underlines some learning points from the dominant factors causing the failure of Uber's business operations in the region that require immediate adaptation: non-conformity with market preferences, challenges from prevailing policies and infrastructure issues, and strong competition from local competitors.

Learner discipline in the post-corporal punishment era: What an experience!

Learner discipline is one of the bases of effective teaching and learning. If learners are not well disciplined, schools will not provide the best possible education. Therefore, it is important that good disciplinary measures and procedures be put in place in any school. In this article we investigate how learners in schools are currently being disciplined without violating their human rights. The nature and the causes of learners’ disciplinary problems are fundamental. A qualitative data-collection approach was employed in this research. Purposive non-probability sampling was used to select the participants for the study. Experienced educators from school disciplinary committees, Representative Councils of Learners (RCLs) and the school principals of 4 schools were interviewed. We found that the common causes of learners’ disciplinary problems varied from school to school. Furthermore, effective school management was found to be at the heart of learner discipline and the general academic performance of the school. We recommend that parents as first teachers should instill values and morals for their children to distinguish right from wrong.

IPDCA: Intelligent Proficient Data Collection Approach for IoT-Enabled Wireless Sensor Networks in Smart Environments

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables the interrelation of physical things and devices that can be accessed through the internet and it simply forms a single integrated network of various things. An IoT-facilitated smart city scenario spans several sectors, such as industrial applications, public transportation, smart grid, emergency services, health care, etc. In this paper, we propose an Intelligent Proficient Data Collection Approach (IPDCA) to deliver public data in a large-scale smart city set-up. IPDCA utilizes public vehicles as the mobile data collectors (D-collectors) that read (or collect) data from multiple Access Points (APs) and send them back to the central Base Station (BS). Moreover, IPDCA adopts a modified Bat algorithm for path finding of D-collectors, where we extend the Bat algorithm to solve our discrete optimization problem. Besides, for selecting D-collectors in smart city settings, we use a multi-objective fitness function that considers the count, travelled distance, and storage of D-collectors to ensure optimal use of resources. Efficiency of the proposed mechanism is proved through simulations.