Malaysian Context Research Articles

Attainment of Course Learning Outcome using Awakening to Languages Approach among Hotel Management Students in Malaysia

The Awakening to Languages (ATL) approach has seen positive outcomes in foreign language classes. However, research on the approach in the Malaysian context is scarce, especially among university students. Hence, this study analyses the approach’s effectiveness after it has been implemented, through descriptive analysis, specifically regarding the attainment of one of the course learning outcomes (CLO), simulation, for a third language course in a Malaysian university. The result indicates that the marks achieved by all classes for their CLO 1 were highly satisfactory. This suggests a positive correlation between this approach and oral language skills. Keywords: ;

Integrated Approach to Flood Risk Management: A Comprehensive Thematic Review in the Malaysia Context

This research addresses a need in the literature on flood risk management in Malaysia, particularly as it relates to development projects. Understanding and improving risk management strategies is crucial as Malaysian floods increase. A thematic literature review was used to search relevant 2018–2023 literature. It exhaustively searched scholarly databases, and government, and international organization reports. Multi-thematic analysis was used to understand the flood risk management narrative. The study shows that Malaysian flood risk management strategies need a more holistic and integrated approach. The development of an integrated framework is a significant step forward because it allows for the better coordination of developmental project initiatives with strategies meant to mitigate and manage flood risks. Effective collaboration between the federal government, Malaysian local authorities, urban planners, developers, and construction firms is crucial. Effective flood management requires accurate risk assessment by consultants, developers, and local authorities to integrate current and future development projects in flood-prone areas. Project development requires strategy, overview, and flood risk assessment in planning permission can produce creative and secure results.

Unveiling the digital desire: UTAUT analysis of NFT investment intentions in Malaysia

PurposeThis study pioneers the investigation into the determinants influencing Malaysian investors' intentions towards Non-Fungible Token (NFT) investments, utilizing an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. It explores the burgeoning interest in NFTs within the Malaysian market, an emerging economy, and identifies the behavioral adoption determinants critical for NFT investment decisions.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a quantitative methodology, the research engaged 183 experienced Malaysian investors through a structured online questionnaire survey. The study employed regression analysis to assess the impact of Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Perceived Usefulness, Social Support and Perceived Trust on NFT investment intentions.FindingsThe findings reveal that Performance Expectancy and Social Support significantly predict the intention to invest in NFTs, accounting for 47% of the variance in investment intentions. The study highlights the crucial role of perceived benefits and community support in shaping Malaysian investors' engagement with NFTs, amidst the complexities of the digital asset landscape.Research limitations/implicationsThe study acknowledges the limitation posed by its sampling method and size, suggesting the need for broader investigations that include a more diverse demographic to enhance the generalizability of the findings. Future research could further delve into the specific behaviors, motivations and challenges of NFT investors and creators.Practical implicationsThe significant predictive power of Performance Expectancy indicates a primary financial motivation among Malaysian NFT investors, suggesting policymakers consider regulations that foster innovation and growth in the NFT sector while safeguarding investors. The study also underscores the importance of community support, pointing towards the development of platforms that facilitate knowledge sharing among NFT enthusiasts.Social implicationsBy demonstrating the pivotal role of social support in the NFT investment decision-making process, the research implies a powerful sense of community among investors in the digital asset space. It suggests the potential of NFTs to foster a more inclusive and accessible market for creative industry entrepreneurs, facilitating direct engagement and profit realization.Originality/valueThis research marks a significant departure from existing studies by tailoring the UTAUT model specifically to the NFT investment context in Malaysia. It unveils the nuanced dynamics influencing NFT investment intentions, emphasizing the unique contributions of Performance Expectancy and Social Support, thus providing a fresh perspective on NFT adoption in emerging markets.

E-Shopping Behavior: An Empirical Study of Malaysian Consumers

Malaysia's e-commerce industry has grown tremendously, and many activities have been made online. One of the most common activities is online shopping or e-shopping. Online shopping behavior is the actions and decisions of customers when making purchases and completing transactions through Internet-based platforms. Consumer preference for online shopping is because it offers ease of buying or convenience, time-saving, price sensitive, anywhere-anytime, cost-effective, and other categories availability. Thus, this study investigated a few factors that affect Malaysian consumers' online purchase behavior: information availability, social influence, and trust. The researcher used an online survey and a self-administered questionnaire to gather data on the phenomenon. Data were collected from 297 Malaysian respondents using convenience sampling and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0 version software. The results revealed that all independent variables (information availability, social influence, trust) had a significant positive relationship with the dependent variable (online shopping behavior). This study also proved that information availability was the most influential factor compared to other variables. It is hoped that this study will benefit Malaysian marketers as it focuses on the Malaysian context. This finding will also help e-retailers enhance their online sales by creating a strategy that could attract more customers as a concern for building profitable relationships.

Exploring positive impact of social media on employee mental health: A Delphi method

This study investigates the positive effect of social media on employee mental health, a critical factor affecting both individual well-being and organizational performance. Addressing a gap in empirical research, particularly in Malaysian context, this study utilizes a two-round Delphi method to gather expert opinions from diverse fields, sectors, industries, and generations. The research identified 41 themes, subsequently categorized into five key dimensions. The study found that interpersonal connection was the most important dimension, followed by psychological well-being, performance and satisfaction, growth and development, and working culture. This research elucidates the multifaceted benefits of social media in enhancing employee mental health and offers comprehensive insights into its constructive role in the workplace. Contributing to the literature, it provides practical implications and strategic recommendations for organizations to leverage social media effectively to bolster employee mental health.

THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE ON THE SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: MEDIATING ROLE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The history of sustainability rooted back in 1800s, yet the concept was practically adopted in business in 1980’s. Sustainability gain popularity after the SDGs in 2017, and higher education institutions (HEIs) has also adopted sustainability measures in their businesses. This study explores the impact of organizational change on transformational leadership and sustainable performance. Climate of change, process of change and readiness for change are used as the dimensions of change and for sustainable performance the dimensions used are economic performance, social performance, and environmental performance. Furthermore, the mediating effect of transformational leadership between organisational change and sustainable performance. The institutional theory and resource-based view theory are employed to explain the relationship among variables in the conceptual framework in Malaysian context. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study which adopts positivist approach and self-administered questionnaire are adapted from previous research. The stratified random sampling technique will be used to collect data from higher education institutions (HEIs) in West Malaysia.

Motivation for Risk Information Seeking among Hospital Employees in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: An Organisational Perspective

The outbreak of novel infectious diseases like COVID-19 elicits widespread uncertainty and fear, prompting individuals to seek information from various media channels to protect themselves and their loved ones. However, the factors that motivate hospital employees, who serve as the frontliners in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, to seek COVID-19-related information are still far from understood. Guided by the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, this study aimed to examine the motivational factors that drive hospital employees' risk information-seeking behaviour within the Malaysian context. Through analysis of a proportionate stratified sample size of hospital employees (N=407), this study revealed that information needs, current knowledge, and organisational norms significantly influence hospital employees' intention to seek risk information. These findings contribute to the theoretical development of the RISP model by highlighting the importance of information needs as a prominent factor and underscoring the valuable role of organisational norms in shaping hospital employees' risk information-seeking behaviour within hospital settings. From a practical standpoint, our findings offer valuable insights that can inform communication strategies and enhance organisational support in healthcare environments, particularly in risk management. By considering our results, healthcare institutions can improve their preparedness for future pandemics and strengthen risk communication within Malaysia's healthcare system. Furthermore, this study extends the application of the RISP model and related work within the COVID-19 pandemic, providing pertinent knowledge on risk communication within the healthcare sector. Keywords: COVID-19, hospital employees, Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model, risk information seeking, pandemic preparedness.

Facilitating Hotdesking in a Hybrid Office Environment: Lessons from the Hotdesking Experiences of Workers in a Malaysian GLC

In recent years, the dynamic evolution of work arrangements has prompted organisations to adopt hybrid office environments, where remote work and on-site presence harmonise. Within this context, hotdesking has emerged as a flexible solution for optimising workspace utilisation and fostering collaboration. This research explores the experiences of workers within a prominent Malaysian Government-Linked Company (GLC). The qualitative research presented herein aligns with three pivotal research objectives, collectively contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the hotdesking landscape within the Malaysian GLC context. This research captures the essence of how workers navigate different types of non-territorial activities that are associated with hotdesking. Through illuminating direct and participant observation as well as semi-structured walking interviews that were conducted between July and August of 2023, the study unveiled three types of work activities and six types of non-territorial work settings within the organisation. The aims revolves around an exploration of the underlying themes that define the hotdesking experiences of workers at the study site. This thematic analysis provides insides into how different underlying themes are shaping up based on the evolving spatial and social dynamics of the hybrid office. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of the physical workspace, the adaptive strategies employed by workers, and the multifarious factors contributing to their satisfaction levels. These insights provide valuable guidance to organisations seeking to cultivate effective and satisfying hybrid office environments. This research provides a holistic view of the intricate world of hotdesking, anchored in the experiences of workers within a Malaysian GLC. By addressing the research aims, it extends the understanding of hotdesking dynamics, contributing empirically derived insights that enrich the discourse on modern workspace strategies.

A CORPUS-BASED STUDY OF SIMPLE PAST TENSE ERRORS IN MALAYSIAN LEARNERS’ ENGLISH WRITING

In mastering the English language, learners need to be able to comply with its grammatical rules. Most previous corpus-based studies about learners’ grammar errors have examined the non-Malaysian context. Therefore, the overarching aim of this study is to investigate simple past tense errors in Malaysian English as a Second Language (ESL) secondary school learners’ writing. Employing a corpus-based error analysis approach, it specifically intends to identify the types of simple past tense errors in Malaysian ESL secondary school learners’ writing and the frequency of simple past tense errors in Malaysian ESL secondary school learners’ writing. To this end, the English of Malaysian School Students (EMAS) corpus, in particular the sub-corpus of Malaysian learners’ narrative essays was analysed based on two main frameworks. The Error Analysis Framework was adapted for the error analysis procedure, while the Surface Strategy Taxonomy Framework was used for the classification of types of errors. Online corpus tools such as Part-Of-Speech (POS) the Constituent Likelihood Automatic Word-Tagging System (CLAWS) and Antconc version 3.5.8 were employed as the instruments of the study. The findings of the study showed that there are three types of simple past tense errors in the learners’ writing, namely Error of Omission, Error of Addition and Error of Misformation. Misformation is the most popular type of simple past tense error committed by the learners. The findings of the study would be useful for the Malaysian context of ESL learners’ curriculum design and pedagogy.

The Influence of Perceived Relative Advantage on Customers’ Initial Trust Towards Unfamiliar Online Store Retailer

Objective - Creating an independent online store presents businesses with an opportunity to cultivate their brand and devoted customer base. To achieve long-term success, it is crucial to build a new customer base and establish initial trust. Prior research has explored various aspects of initial trust and identified factors crucial for businesses in devising strategies to attract customers. However, while some studies have investigated the impact of perceived relative advantage on initial trust, the findings remain inconclusive, leaving unexplored facets. This study aimed to scrutinize how perceived relative advantage influences customers' initial beliefs and intentions to trust an unfamiliar online store retailer. Methodology/Technique - Data gathered from a survey underwent statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings – The results revealed that perceived relative advantage significantly and positively impacted both initial trusting beliefs and intention. This research contributes to comprehending the relationship between initial trust and perceived relative advantage, especially in an underexamined context in Malaysia. Novelty - The study developed and validated a research model that extends the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) by incorporating perceived relative advantage as a key antecedent to initial trust. In practical terms, it provides valuable guidance for new online store retailers in formulating strategies to establish trust with their initial consumers, and brand-new online store retailers in conceiving strategies for establishing initial consumer trust. Type of Paper: Empirical JEL Classification: M15, M10 Keywords: Trust; Initial Trust; Perceived Relative Advantage; Trusting Beliefs; Trusting Intention, E-Commerce Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Wong, C. B.; Tan, S.; Tan, K. E. (2024). The Influence of Perceived Relative Advantage on Customer’s Initial Trust towards Unfamiliar Online Store Retailer, J. Mgt. Mkt. Review, 9(2), 66 – 75. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2024.9.2(2)

Giving meaning to quality of healthcare in Malaysia.

Ensuring quality in healthcare calls for a coordinated, systematic, congruous, and sustained approach. Nevertheless, it demands defining what the quality of healthcare means in the local context. Presently, the Malaysian healthcare system utilizes various definitions of quality of healthcare across the different initiatives and levels of healthcare, which can lead to fragmented or ineffective quality improvement. The study aims to describe the process undertaken in developing an explicit definition of the quality of healthcare tailored to the Malaysian context, which is currently lacking. A pluralistic method was used to explore the different perspectives. Three distinct approaches were used to understand how quality is defined among the different stakeholder groups: (i) interactive policy-makers engagement sessions, (ii) a review of local quality-related documents, and (iii) an online survey engaging the public. The domains depicting quality of healthcare that emerged through these three approaches were mapped against a framework and synthesized to form the local definition of quality. A national quality-related technical working group convened on several sessions to achieve consensus and finalize the definition of quality of healthcare. Quality healthcare in Malaysia is defined as providing high-quality healthcare that is safe, timely, effective, equitable, efficient, people-centred, and accessible [STEEEPA] which is innovative and responsive to the needs of the people, and is delivered as a team, in a caring and professional manner in order to improve health outcomes and client experience. The consensus-driven local definition of healthcare quality will guide policies and ensure standardization in measuring quality, thereby steering efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services delivered in Malaysia.

Error Analysis of English Writing in Final Year Projects in Malaysia: The Case of IIUM

This study conducted an Error Analysis (EA) on written dissertations by undergraduates from the English Language and Literature (BENL) department at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Despite the abundance of research on EA conducted with multiple samples and backgrounds, only a few studies concerning EA can be found and accessed in a Malaysian context. Thus, this paper aims to find the most common errors committed by undergraduates in Malaysia, focusing on their theses that adhered strictly to academic writing. Using Stephen Pit Corder's EA framework, a qualitative approach was employed to find the errors in the written samples. Additionally, this research synthesised the results of the Lunsford & Connors' study in 1988 with several studies on the Malaysian context that were compared and contrasted with findings from the interview session with lecturers from the BENL department to find the most common errors in writing among Malaysians. This paper's results demonstrate that the most common errors from IIUM undergraduates are word choice, punctuation, prepositions, plurality and singularity, verbs, articles, pronoun, ambiguity, adverbs, and subject-verb agreement. Similar to the synthesis, word choice remains the most highlighted classification of errors. In contrast, it is revealed that subject-verb agreement (SVA) is not the most frequent error. One possible justification for this finding is accessible online grammar checkers that revise students' writing with basic grammar rules. Therefore, this paper has contributed to Error Analysis in theses to benefit language learners, both learners and teachers and researchers interested in the Second Language Acquisition (SLA) field in Malaysia.

Young muslim generation’s preferences for using digital platforms for Zakat payments: A cross-country study of Indonesia and Malaysia

The young Muslim generation’s embracing digital platforms for Zakat payments represents a dynamic fusion of enduring religious values with the modern digital landscape, heralding a new era in Islamic charitable practices. This trend illustrates a profound transformation within the Islamic world, where the pillars of faith are being reimagined and revitalized through the lens of technological advancement. The present study delved into the factors influencing the young Muslim generation’s preference for digital platforms in Zakat transactions across Indonesia and Malaysia. We examined variables such as Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Trust, Zakat Literacy, and Digital Infrastructure, aiming to discern their impact on the propensity for digital Zakat contributions with the extension of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The research encompassed a diverse sample of 382 participants and utilized advanced methodologies, specifically Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and PLS Multi Group Analysis (PLS-MGA), for rigorous data analysis. The results indicated that Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Digital Infrastructure, and Zakat Literacy notably influenced the use of digital platforms for Zakat. Furthermore, PLS-MGA uncovered significant cross-country differences where Digital Infrastructure showed a more pronounced positive impact in Malaysian context, whereas Social Influence had a greater effect in Indonesia. These findings offer critical insights into the young Muslim community’s digital engagement for religious financial obligations, underscoring the need for tailored digital Zakat solutions that cater to the unique preferences of this demographic. This research not only enriches the understanding of digital adoption in religious practices but also challenges the notion of a universal approach, advocating for context-specific strategies in the realm of digital religious financial services. Future researchers are suggested to consider longitudinal investigations as well as examining cross-regional contexts in this realm of research.

Validity and Reliability of the Malay Version of the Planned Happenstance Career Inventory for Malaysian University Students

This study aimed to translate and validate the Planned Happenstance Career Inventory (PHCI) for use in a Malaysian context. A total of 500 final-year undergraduate students from four public Malaysian universities participated (100 for Exploratory Factor Analysis, EFA), 400 for Confirmatory Factor Analysis, CFA). Expert review (n=5) established strong face and content validity (0.95). EFA yielded a five-factor structure consistent with the original PHCI: curiosity, risk-taking, persistence, optimism, and flexibility, with all factors demonstrating strong factor loadings (>.6) and explaining 80.276% of the total variance. CFA confirmed the model's goodness-of-fit (RMSEA = 0.070, CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.935, Chisq/df = 2.950) and demonstrated strong convergent validity and composite reliability. Internal consistency was also excellent, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from .82 to .90 for the subscales and the total scale. These findings indicate that the Malay version of the PHCI is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring planned happenstance skills among Malaysian university students, offering a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners in this cultural context.

The use of Children’s Literature in Improving ESL Learners’ Reading Skills Systematic Literature Review (2019-2023)

This paper presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of pertinent past studies about the use of Children's Literature in improving ESL learners' reading skills from the year 2019 to 2023. This SLR seeks to answer a research question; how does the use of children's literature improve ESL learners' reading skills? Seventeen studies have been systematically reviewed and included in this paper. The results portrayed that the use of children's literature in improving ESL learners' reading skills can be put into three aspects which are the improvement in comprehension skills, the improvement of reading fluency and proficiency, as well as promote enjoyment, engagement, and motivation in reading skills. The limitation of this paper is that there were a limited number of recent studies related to children's literature and ESL classrooms, especially in the Malaysian context. For further research recommendations, it is necessary for other researchers to conduct more research related to children's literature covering any other language skills.

Youth-Friendly Streets: Promoting Well-being in Malaysian Cities

Urban environments have a significant impact on the well-being and development of young people. This paper examines the qualities of comfort and convenience that meet the needs of youth groups on urban commercial streets in Malaysia. Surveying a hundred youths unveils vital factors shaping their street experiences: freedom from pollution and noise and protection from the elements are crucial. Additionally, greenery and seating along pedestrian routes are essential for their comfort. These findings underscore the significance of designing streets that cater to youth, promoting their well-being and sense of belonging in the Malaysian context.

Enhancing Quality Appointment, Preparation and Support System for Malaysian Principals

Educational leaders in the 21st century are under increasing pressure since they need to consistently upskill and reskill themselves so that they can adapt to rapid changes and be prepared to improve the quality of future education, as well as meet the demands of diverse stakeholders. Previous studies in the Malaysian context mostly focused on leadership training for newly appointed school principals, but there has not been much emphasis on continuous professional development for school leaders. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the appointment, preparation, and support system for Malaysian principals. In this study, a qualitative methodology has been applied, which involves document analysis based on policy documents, media, and previously published journal articles. The findings suggest that internal and external supports are currently being provided to principals. However, it proposes a wider framework of support for principals comprising internal and external support, including smart partnerships with diverse stakeholders such as industries, non-profit organizations, and international counterparts. The results provide insights to policymakers on the importance of consistently supporting school leaders to upskill with multifaceted skills to perform multiple functions, such as technological, economic, social, cultural, political, and learning leadership.

Teachers' talent management and personal quality ensure a better tomorrow in education

PurposeThis study investigates the level and correlation between talent management and teacher personal qualities among MICSS (Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School) teachers by integrating the talent management model proposed by Davies and Davies (2011) and the Big Five Structure established by Lewis R. Goldberg (1992).Design/methodology/approachThe researcher conducted quantitative research methods in this study, collecting numerical data through the use of questionnaires and utilizing the stratified random sampling technique. The sample consisted of 357 Malaysian teachers who are employed by MICSS throughout the whole Malaysian context.FindingsIn essence, the survey revealed a significant degree of proficiency in talent management and teacher personal qualities among teachers. In addition, this study also revealed a moderate correlation between talent management and the personal traits of teachers across MICSS teachers in Malaysia.Research limitations/implicationsLimiting the investigation solely to MICSS is a noteworthy limitation. The examination also utilizes AMOS structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, and it may be considered a restriction of this research that quantitative survey research is employed.Practical implicationsAcademic establishments and universities that nurture prospective educators should incorporate talent management strategies and the personal qualities of teachers into the modules of teacher training to ensure that these individuals are not only adequately prepared but also assured of their ability to execute all duties assigned to them in a professional manner.Originality/valueThis research is notably innovative in the context of the Malaysian MICSS, where little evidence exists regarding talent management and teacher personality traits in education. This study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first attempt to investigate the practices and correlation between talent management and teacher personality traits in the entire Malaysian context. The research focuses on the practices of talent management towards MICSS teachers in Malaysia as well as the personal qualities of MICSS teachers.

The Effect of Average Years of Schooling on GDP Per Capita Change Rate: Evidence from Malaysia

This study examines the impact of average years of schooling on the GDP per capita change rate in Malaysia, providing empirical evidence that highlights significant insights for educational policy and economic development strategies. Utilizing Vector Autoregressive (VAR) models and Granger causality tests, this paper explores the dynamic relationships between education expenditure and GDP growth within the Malaysian context. We find that the relationship between the increase in average years of schooling and the increase in GDP per capita is positive at first, then decreases rapidly, and then increases again. Specifically, our analysis of data from 1990 to 2020 demonstrates that enhanced educational attainment contributes significantly to the labor market’s skill level, which in turn boosts economic productivity and technological innovation capacity. The study challenges the conventional view that higher educational investments lead automatically to better economic outcomes and stresses the importance of educational quality alongside quantity. By providing a detailed variance decomposition, we find that changes in schooling years explain about 15% of the variations in GDP per capita growth rates. These results underscore the critical role of education in Malaysia’s economic modernization and suggest that policy interventions should not only increase educational investments but also enhance the quality of education to maximize economic returns. Future research should further investigate the causality and interactions between educational quality and economic growth to refine educational policies effectively.

Entrepreneurial Competencies, Innovation Enablers and Sustainable Competitive Advantage Among Micro Firms Across Cultures: A Comparative Study of Canada and Malaysia

Recent research on start-up businesses has drawn attention to the central importance of sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) by accelerating the continuous development of entrepreneurial competencies (EC) through bridging the mediating and moderating peer relationships for entrepreneurial success. Such peer relationships among innovation enablers (IE), government support (GS) and competitive intelligence awareness (CIA) are vital in connecting EC to achieve SCA. However, prior studies scantily emphasized the causal linkages between two different contexts, particularly Canada and Malaysia. This study unpacks the black box of peer relationships contributing to EC and sustainable growth. We espoused a deductive approach with a quantitative methodology using SPSS AMOS version 22 for measurements to address the gaps in the entrepreneurship literature. The dataset comprises 750 respondents from micro-sized wholesale, retail and service firms with 1–3 employees, evenly split between Malaysia and Canada. The empirical sample results show that for Canadian entrepreneurs, the direct effect of EC has a positive and significant influence on SCA, but is negatively and significantly associated in the Malaysian context. Moreover, the CIA had a positive and significant moderating effect on the relationship between EC and IE in both Canadian and Malaysian samples. However, the CIA moderating effect on the relationship between EC and SCA is only positive and significant in the Canadian sample and insignificant in the Malaysian context. Lastly, the moderating effect of GS on the relationship between EC and SCA is positive and significant in the Canadian sample and insignificant in the Malaysian sample. These findings also offer practical clarity to the puzzle of how some EC can become the cornerstone of these firms’ sustainable growth by adopting IE in conjunction with CIA and GS.