Issues and Perspectives in Business and Social Sciences

A study of online grocery shopping behaviour in Malaysia

Krishna Moorthy — 2025-01-14

The Malaysian e-commerce industry has been growing; however, online grocery shopping is still underpenetrated in Malaysia. This study investigated the factors affecting online grocery shopping behaviour in Malaysia. This study integrated the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) variables with price as an additional factor. Data were collected through a survey involving 344 Malaysians who were at least 18 years old and had an online grocery shopping experience. SPSS statistical software was used to analyse the data. It was found that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control have significant positive relationships with online grocery shopping intention, which further positively influences online grocery shopping behaviour. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and price have insignificant associations with online grocery shopping intention. The study provides useful information and implications for academics and grocers regarding the factors affecting online grocery shopping behaviour in Malaysia.

Internship programme and work readiness among vocational students

Willson Gustiawan — 2025-01-14

This study investigates how internship experiences influence job readiness perceptions among Business Administration students at Politeknik Negeri Padang, aiming to enhance vocational education and human resource quality in a global context. The literature review examines employment readiness and internship impacts on skill development and industry exposure, emphasising the role of internships in improving students' preparedness for work. This research uses descriptive and associative methods to explore the relationship between internship programmes and work readiness. Surveys were employed for data collection, with analysis techniques including validity testing, Spearman's rank correlation, and hypothesis testing. The study, which surveyed 115 Business Administration students, found strong agreement that internships enhance job knowledge, skills, attitudes, and workplace familiarity. Statistical analysis reveals a significant relationship (Spearman's rho = 0.773) between internships and work readiness (R² = 59.7%), underscoring the importance of internship programmes for student workforce preparation and advocating continued implementation at Politeknik Negeri Padang.

The impact of AI chatbot adoption on customer experience in e-retailing

Jing Shuan Siow — 2025-01-14

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the changes in shopping norms from offline to online and rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) have redefined customer experience. This change has brought lucrative opportunities for organisations to provide better customer service by interacting with customers using chatbots. Thus, this research was conducted to examine the attributes of AI chatbots that affect online customer experience in the e-retailing market. This paper applied the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to design a research model to investigate the relationship between chatbot usability, responsiveness, and online customer experience. A quantitative method was employed to test the research model, and data were collected from an online survey. A total of 101 usable responses were received and examined using SPSS software. The results show a positive relationship between chatbot usability and online customer experience, while no significant relationship is observed between chatbot responsiveness and online customer experience. The findings of this study offer insights for academics, industry practitioners, and policymakers aiming to utilise the potential of AI chatbots to enhance online customer experience and elevate overall customer satisfaction in the e-retail sector.

The role of financial literacy in driving sustainable entrepreneurial success: A case study of Lapo Microfinance Institution (MFI), Nigeria

Lydia Nkechi Philip — 2025-01-14

Even with access to microfinance loans, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria still find it challenging to achieve sustainable growth; thus, this systematic study investigates the role of financial literacy in driving the sustainable entrepreneurial success of clients of Lapo Microfinance Institution (MFI), Nigeria. A representative sample of Lapo MFI clients who have participated in their financial literacy training programmes was surveyed and interviewed, providing qualitative and quantitative data. The findings demonstrate a positive correlation between participation in Lapo MFI's financial literacy training programmes and sustainable business success among their clients. The novelty of this research is that it establishes a link between financial literacy and SME success. This study offers valuable direction or guidance for other MFIs in developing targeted financial literacy interventions to support the sustainable growth of their clients' businesses.

Key determinants of rental rates for A-grade office space in the Colombo-Central Business District: A tenants’ perspective

Arachchige Chandana Hemantha Jayakody Thebuwena — 2025-01-14

Property investors and tenants face complicated decision-making due to rent variations among purpose-built office buildings in the same market. While rental discrepancies are accepted as normative across economies, recent trends show the Asian office market experiencing notable growth and instability. This trend is also observed in Colombo's Central Business District (CBD), and thus far, a comprehensive analysis of the drivers behind the fluctuations is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the determinants of rental rates for A-grade office spaces in Colombo from tenants' perspectives through market research. Factors such as building age, occupancy restrictions, maintenance costs, unit size, and additional and green features emerge as significant influencers while building brand and additional and green features play a moderating role. The study’s findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge that can be used to develop and sustain a healthier office market industry.

Sustainable development of rural education tourism – the case of Dashu Town, Chun’an County

Jingyan Yang — 2025-01-14

This study explores sustainable development and the design of rural educational tourism products. The integration of rural educational tourism may achieve win-win outcomes. Nevertheless, the method of integrating these two to achieve sustainable development is yet to be fully understood. Dashu Town, a rural area known for elements of patriotism and natural resources, is a highlight of Chun’an government in developing its tourism industry. Twelve tourism products were observed in this study, and twenty respondents were interviewed. A total of 45 concepts of rural educational tourism emerged and were categorised under four main themes: patriotism, agricultural, life skills training, and rural culture and art. The values of these four themes were defined and illustrated in this paper. To achieve sustainable development, suggestions to enhance the supporting elements, integrate the services, and bridge the administrative gaps were illustrated.

Women supporting women in entrepreneurship: Examining the role of women in empowering each other

Nur Iylia Syafiqah Abdul Malik — 2025-01-14

In a world where women entrepreneurs continue to face systemic barriers, the support of other women entrepreneurs becomes not just a choice but a necessity for driving meaningful change and creating a more equitable and inclusive entrepreneurial landscape. Women entrepreneurs have experienced a significant 114% growth over the last twenty years, resulting in women owning one-third of businesses globally. Despite substantial progress, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the successful development and support of women entrepreneurs. An important focus is analysing the impact of other women in supporting women's entrepreneurship. This study uses the social identity theory as the framework and conducts online in-person interviews with 17 women entrepreneurs from four locations in Malaysia: Melaka, Selangor, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan. The emphasis is on investigating the role of other women in the entrepreneurial process. The findings show five essential roles women entrepreneurs offer to other women to sustain their businesses in various settings. Compared to other roles, women serve as role models that are substantially more important. This study explores the broader consequences of supporting women in promoting women entrepreneuers.

Front matter

2025-01-14