Modeling the significance of dynamic capability on the performance of microfinance institutions.

According to strategic management theory, dynamic capability plays a significant role in enhancing organizational performance. Using a cross-sectional research design, the current study quantitatively assesses the mediating effect of dynamic capability on the relationships of total quality management, customer intellectual capital, and human resource management practice with the performance of microfinance institutions. An online survey involving 120 members of Induk Koperasi Kredit, a credit union association in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, is conducted. All the data are subjected to variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis. The obtained results demonstrate the significant and positive influence of total quality management and human resource management practice on dynamic capability. Furthermore, dynamic capability is found to mediate the relationship between total quality management and human resource management practice on the performance of microfinance institutions. However, this study is unable to conclude that total quality management and human resource management practice have any significant impact on the performance of microfinance institutions. Nonetheless, this study demonstrates the crucial need for microfinance institutions to enhance their management activities via dynamic capability to enhance performance. This is one of the earliest studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic to examine the capabilities and performance of microfinance institutions in Indonesia. Notably, the performance of microfinance institutions can be further sustained by improving customers' intellectual and dynamic capabilities.

Predicting the Willingness and Purchase of Travel Insurance During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study explored the willingness and purchase of travel insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst working adults to ensure their safety and welfare through the lens of the theory of planned behavior. Primary data were gathered from 1,118 working adults across Malaysia and analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study outcomes revealed that attitude toward travel insurance was significantly influenced by insurance literacy, perceived health risk, and health consciousness. The willingness of working adults to purchase travel insurance was highly influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls but unaffected by perceived product risks. The purchase of travel insurance was positively influenced by the willingness to purchase travel insurance. In fact, travel insurance literacy and perceived health risk should be emphasized amongst working adults to encourage them to purchase travel insurance policies for traveling abroad.

The Mediating Effect of Innovation in Between Strategic Orientation and Enterprise Performance: Evidence From Malaysian Manufacturing Small-to-Medium-Sized Enterprises.

Strategic orientation and innovation are vital determinants for accelerating the performance of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, there is a lack of empirical evidence confirming the innovation at the product and process levels that instigated the SMEs' performance. Moreover, the mediating effect of process and product innovation can play a significant role in strategic orientation and manufacturing SMEs' performance. In this respect, this study aims to examine the mediating effect of product and process innovation between strategic orientation (i.e., market, entrepreneurial, and customer orientation) and the performance of Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. The questionnaire survey gathered data from 360 manufacturing SMEs and was analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to achieve these research objectives. The study analysis established that customer and entrepreneurial orientation significantly influence product and service innovation. However, the market orientation is significant for process innovation but insignificant for product-level innovation among SMEs. The study's consequences exposed that process innovation has significantly mediated between the strategic (market, customer, and entrepreneurial) orientation and SMEs performance. It implies that market, entrepreneurial, and customer-related strategies would substantially improve SMEs' performance by harnessing innovation at product and process levels. The core insights provided by the current work are to strengthen the strategic orientation that can promote product and process innovation, thereby harnessing the SMEs' performance. Additionally, the study's significance and limitations were reported at the end.

Modeling the Significance of Sustainability Orientation on the Sustainability Performance of Micro-Enterprises in an Emerging Economy.

Sustainable enterprises are essential for developing economies' progress and prosperity. Micro-enterprises (MEs) play an important role in creating jobs and actively participating in socioeconomic activities. However, little is known about how MEs use internal capabilities to achieve long-term success. This study explores the influence of the strategic orientations (i.e., sales, consumer, competitive, emotional, business, and networking) instigating the sustainability orientation. The sustainability orientation nurtures the sustainable performance of the MEs. The cross-sectional data collected from the 450 MEs with the structured interviews and samples were randomly selected from the list of MEs registered in seven districts of Kelantan, Malaysia. The collected data were analyzed with partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The data analysis discovered that the sale, consumer, competitive, and emotional orientation significantly impact the MEs' sustainable orientation. The business and networking orientations insignificantly facilitate the sustainable orientation among the samples. The MEs' sustainable orientation suggestively influences the sustainable performance among the MEs. Furthermore, the study analysis postulated a significant mediating effect of sustainable orientation among the orientations (sale, consumer, competitive, and emotional) on the MEs' sustainable performance. Our study offers a better understanding of the RBV in the MEs and brings significant empirical evidence to attain sustainable performance with the firm's level orientation for the MEs. The study brings forward the practical implication for business and policymakers that the MEs require internal and external support to align the business and networking orientation to harness the sustainable performance among the MEs. In the end, the study limitations and future research options are highlighted.

Green vehicle adoption behavior among low-income households: evidence from coastal Malaysia.

In an attempt to mitigate the effects of extreme natural events caused by greenhouse gases (GHGs), a significant number of researchers and environmentalists have repeatedly stressed the importance of implementing protective measures, including the promotion of green consumption. This study examined the elements that motivated the willingness and the practice of green behavior (GB) among low-income households in coastal Peninsular Malaysia. To meet the research objectives, this study adopted the survey questionnaire method to collect data from 380 low-income households. The findings revealed that self-efficacy (SE) and environmental concerns (EC) have statistically significant effects on the attitude toward green products (ATT), while subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) have influence on the intention of green vehicles. Eventually, the study discovered the effects of the intention to adopt green vehicle on green vehicle adoption behavior. Hence, the findings of this study provide new insights for policymakers in Malaysia to place more emphasis on improving consumer attitudes, social standards, and PBC, which will ultimately contribute to the adoption of environment-friendly vehicles. In addition, car manufacturers should support this program by designing products and options that would encourage those in the low-income group to replace their conventional vehicles with green alternatives in Malaysia.

A Clinical Update and Global Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a predominant inflammatory autoimmune disorder. The incidence and prevalence of RA is increasing with considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathophysiology of RA has become clearer due to many significant research outputs during the last two decades. Many inflammatory cytokines involved in RA pathophysiology and the presence of autoantibodies are being used as potential biomarkers via the use of effective diagnostic techniques for the early diagnosis of RA. Currently, several disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are being prescribed targeting RA pathophysiology, which have shown significant contributions in improving the disease outcomes. DISCUSSION: Even though innovations in treatment strategies and monitoring are helping the patients to achieve early and sustained clinical and radiographic remission, the high cost of drugs and limited health care budgets are restricting the easy access of RA treatment. Both direct and indirect high cost of treatment are creating economic burden for the patients and affecting their quality of life. CONCLUSION: The aim of this review is to describe the updated concept of RA pathophysiology and highlight current diagnostic tools used for the early detection as well as prognosis - targeting several biomarkers of RA. Additionally, we explored the updated treatment options with side effects besides discussing the global economic burden.