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- PublicationThe Key Drivers Of Business Model Innovation And Its Impact On Sustainable Competitive Advantage Among Smes In China(2025-08)Although small-medium enterprises (SMEs) are of vital importance in China, nevertheless, the lack of resource and capital, technology and talent shortage and market environment uncertainty have exacerbated the challenges of the Specialised and Sophisticated SMEs. To achieve sustainable competitive advantage (SCA), Specialised and Sophisticated SMEs require business model innovation (BMI) to better adapt to changes in market demand, reduce transaction costs and ultimately obtain differentiated market advantages. This study investigated four key variables, namely knowledge-oriented leadership, big data analytics competencies, boundary-spanning search, and network embeddedness, that are predicted to influence BMI (efficiencycentred BMI and novelty-centred BMI) and SCA of the Specialised and Sophisticated SMEs from individual and organisational lenses based on knowledge-based theory, social network theory and dynamic capabilities theory. Furthermore, it investigates the moderating effect of strategic flexibility between BMI (efficiency-centred BMI and novelty-centred BMI) and SCA.
- PublicationEffects Of Digital Transformation On Banking Sector Performance In China: Moderating Role Of Financial Inclusion And Market Power(2025-07)The post-COVID era has accelerated digital transformation in the banking sector, particularly in emerging economies such as China. Despite significant investments, traditional Chinese commercial banks continue to underperform. This study examines how digital transformation affects bank performance, while considering the moderating roles of financial inclusion and market concentration— two underexplored contextual factors. Grounded in Resource Dependence Theory, the study employs a two-step system GMM estimator using panel data from 114 Chinese banks (2014–2021).
- PublicationNorms And Habitus In Two English Translations Of Hong Lou Meng(2025-07)Translation is not merely a linguistic process but a culturally embedded practice shaped by various norms, motivations, and constraints. Understanding the interplay of these factors is essential for analyzing how translations mediate cultural exchange and reflect broader socio-cultural dynamics. Toury’s Norm theory is pivotal in elucidating translation practices, yet its limitations lie in its neglect of the motivations and constraints underlying norms. Addressing this theoretical lacuna, Bourdieu’s sociological theory offers a complementary framework. This study proposes an integrated methodology to investigate norms and habitus in two English translations of Hong Lou Meng (A Dream of Red Mansions translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang, and The Story of the Stone translated by David Hawkes and John Minford), within the Chinese and British literary translation fields.
- PublicationSynthesis Of Silicoaluminophosphate Zeolite Catalysts Directed By Benzyltrimethylammonium Hydroxide Template For The Chemical Production Of Biofuel Additives(2025-08)Silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) zeolites are very useful catalysts. Usually, they are synthesized with aliphatic quaternary ammonium compounds as organic template. However, benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (BTMAOH) containing cyclic functional group as a template has not been studied. Here, the crystallization of SAPO-34 and SAPO-20 zeolites using BTMAOH is studied by following their evolutional formation. The BTMA+ has shown its effective structure-directing and pore-filling roles whereby pure SAPO-34 and SAPO-20 with unique surface properties (surface area, porosity, acidity) are formed after 24 and 42 h at 180 °C. Compared with SAPO-20, SAPO-34 with larger pore size exhibits better catalytic activity (conversion 100%, ethyl levulinate (EL) yield 72.5%) in microwave-assisted furfuryl alcohol (FA) ethanolysis. The spent SAPO-34 catalyst is stable and recyclable, offering it as a cost-effective catalyst for various petrochemical reactions. This work also studies the preparation of hierarchical SAPO-5 using various surfactants, namely dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (TP), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTA) and hexadecylpyridinium chloride (CP). The results show that these ionic compounds experience interactions with inorganic reagents during crystallization, which in turn altering the morphological (crystal size and shape) and structural (porosity and acidity) properties of SAPO-5. Among hierarchical SAPO-5 samples, TP-SAPO-5 with the highest hierarchical factor (HF = 0.074) and second highest acidity (0.73 mmol·g-1) is the best catalyst for producing ethyl pyruvate (EP) via esterification. After parametric optimization, its performance (conversion 92.0%, selectivity 85.9%) is comparable to homogeneous HCl and H2SO4 catalysts (conversion 88-92%, selectivity 84-92%) and much superior than H-Y, H-MOR, SAPO-34 zeolites (conversion 56-100%, selectivity 67-76%). The hierarchical TP-SAPO-5 is also reusable for up to five reaction cycles, making it as a green and excellent catalyst for biomass product conversion.
- PublicationThe Satisfaction Model For Green Home Owner-Occupiers In China(2025-07)With the increasing awareness of global climate change and environmental protection, green buildings have gradually become an important direction for the development of the construction industry. The satisfaction of green home is an important indicator to measure the success of the green home market. However, currently there are rare researches that study on the customer satisfaction involved in the green-home buyers in China comprehensively and systematically. The primary objectives of this study are to identify the key factors that significantly impact perceived quality, examine the effect of customer expectation in affecting customer satisfaction, and explore the role of perceived quality and perceived value as the mediators between customer expectation and customer satisfaction.
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- PublicationEffects of graphene oxide coating on the properties of polyurethane nanofiller nanocomposite foams(2022-08-22)In this study, carbon black (CB) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were used as fillers for the preparation of the polyurethane (PU) nanocomposite foams. The CB and MWCNT loadings were in the range of (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 phr). Further, graphene oxide (GO) coating was applied on the surface of the PU/CB and PU/MWCNT nanocomposite foams to increase the electrical conductivity which is determined by the surface resistance. The properties of the PU nanocomposite foams were characterised using foam density measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and surface resistance tests. The foam density of the PU was increased as a result of the increasing loading of CB or MWCNT. Furthermore, the PU/MWCNT nanocomposite foam has a higher density than the PU/CB nanocomposite foam at the same nanofiller loading. The microstructure analysis of the PU nanocomposite foams found that the average cell size is reduced as the filler loading increases. This indicates that the CB and MWCNT can act as cell nucleation sites to promote cell growth. The surface resistance of PU/MWCNT nanocomposite foam is lower than that of PU/CB nanocomposite foams at the same filler loading. Interestingly, the surface resistance of PU nanocomposite foams (formulation PU-MWCNT-5wt%) decreases from 5.8 x 1010 Ω to 1.7 x 108 Ω by the GO coating. This indicates that the GO coating is capable of increasing the electrical conductivity of the PU nanocomposite foam. Overall, the PU nanocomposite foam with dissipative behaviour was successfully produced using a combination of filler (dispersed in the PU matrix) and GO coating method.
- PublicationMapping temperature distribution during 3d printing process of post consumer high density polyethylene(2025-08-11)This study explores the use of 100 % post-consumer HDPE (PC-HDPE) compounded with 30 phr kaolin clay as filament for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). The aim of this project is to map real-time thermal distributions during FDM of PC-HDPE with 30 phr Kaolin filler (PC-HDPE/30) and identify nozzle size (0.4 and 0.6 mm), nozzle temperature (200, 220, 240, 260 °C) and bed temperature (60, 70, 80, 90 °C) that minimize shrinkage and warpage. Post-consumer HDPE flakes obtained from shredding of detergent bottles were cleaned, compounded with kaolin clay via a heated two-roll mill, and extruded into 1.75 mm filament. A Creality Ender-3 printer was equipped with an InfiRay T2S Plus thermal camera to map temperatures at the nozzle exit, bead, and build plate. A 4×4×2 full factorial design with three replicates was used to vary nozzle temperature, bed temperature, and nozzle size, shrinkage was calculated from CAD-to-printed volume differences, warpage was measured from average corner heights and all data were analyzed by ANOVA (α = 0.05) in Minitab 18. Based on data obtained and ANOVA analysis, the deposited temperature was highly sensitive to all main effects (P < 0.05). Shrinkage showed a significant interaction between nozzle and bed temperatures (P = 0.009), though neither factor alone was significant. Warpage was significantly influenced by nozzle temperature, bed temperature, and nozzle size (all P < 0.05), with a notable nozzle‑size × nozzle‑temperature interaction. A nozzle temperature of 220–240 °C, a bed temperature of 70–80 °C, and a 0.6 mm nozzle were recommended to minimize shrinkage and warpage.
- ItemPeperiksaan Perkhidmatan Pembantu Setiausaha Pejabat N19 Kertas II : 2 Mei 2019(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2019-05-02)Tarikh : 2 Mei 2019 (Khamis) Masa : 9.00 Pagi – 11.00 Pagi (2 Jam) Tempat : Kampus Induk & Kampus Kesihatan
- ItemThe Performance Management Of An Externally Imposed Programme: The Case Of A Governmental Organisation(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017-08)The main aim of this study is to understand and explain how the AZAM Tani programme was implemented in the case organization, as well as how it was being considered into its performance management system (PMS) given that the organization had been entrusted by the Malaysian government to achieve two different main objectives (i.e. advancing the marketing of agri-food products and improving the living standard of the low income households). Furthermore, the study explains how the externally derived objective vertically coupled among the three hierarchical levels (top, middle, operational level) within the organization, as well as the coupling between the intention and action in relation to the programme. The study employed an interpretative case study method, whereby data were collected through semi-structured interviews with various officers from top, middle and operational levels. Documents were also reviewed to support the generated data from the interviews. The finding of the study is informed by Neo-Institutional Sociology perspective as the theory indicates that an organisation adopts new practices not only due to economic or functional factors, but also because of institutional factors. From the finding, it is revealed that the organisation accepted the programme as a result of coercive pressure from the government. Consequently, the programme was found to be loosely coupled with the organisation’s activities as compromise strategy was employed in the implementation of the programme. The consideration of the programme into the organization’s PMS system was loosely coupled, reflected by its integration in terms of its performance measurement and reporting activities. A further investigation on the implementation of the programme revealed that there are some interdependency between the three hierarchical levels in terms of its performance measures and targets, responsibilities and reporting. However, there were no significant changes to the organisation’s practices thus providing evidence of vertical loose coupling. Horizontal loose coupling was also found as there are poor linkages between the programme’s result orientation, the development of its performance indicators and the usage of its performance information assessment. Since the action of the organisation is limited to the activities of performance measurement and reporting, the implementation of the programme was considered as ceremonial implementation. On overall, the study reveals that the implementation of the programme in the case organization is mainly designed to report on success as the directives, key performance indicators and targets were predetermined and were enforced top down.
- ItemDetermination Of Fracture Toughness In PBGA Packages Using Finite Element And Experimental Methods(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2006-11)Electronic packages especially the plastic ball grid array (PBGA) has its unique crack failure arising from the soldering process. The existence of moisture absorbed in package from ambient condition causes vapor pressure. During reflow soldering processes (215°C), the moisture absorbed vaporizes and eventually causes popcorn cracking. So, numerical method is used to characterize the fracture resistance in terms of geometric stress intensity factor (SIF). Then, the investigation of fracture toughness on epoxy molding compound (EMC) material provided boundary conditions of package cracking. In this research, Ansys software was used to simulate moisture diffusion and thermal transfer to determine the vapor pressure at the crack region. The vapor pressure loading was applied on PBGA to obtain geometric SIF using modified crack closure integral (MCCI) method. It was found that the increased in vapor pressure and higher delamination size created high geometric SIF. Load-crack edge extension relation obtained from holographic interferometry (HI) method and critical load for D.E.R. 331 as EMC material were used to evaluate fracture toughness. The fracture toughness for D.E.R 331 was found to be 0.488MPa m 1/2. Eventually, the fracture toughness for D.E.R. 331 was compared with PBGA's geometric SIF. A graph with package safety conditions was obtained. From the graph, it can be concluded that the PBGA is typically to be saved during soldering process, where vapor pressure is 1.21 MPa and delarnmatron ratio is less than 0.6. This EP's failure can be controlled through minimizing the effect of vapor pressure and reducin_g die/EMC interface delamination