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The purpose of this paper is to design a numerical model to calculate the individual evacuation time among secondary students based on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP), human characteristics and travel distances.

Validated KAP questionnaires were distributed among 290 respondents. The KAP level was obtained based on the assigned scores. During a fire drill, the individual evacuation time was calculated by using personal digital watch while the travel distances were recorded and measured. A linear numerical model was derived by using multiple linear regression to identify the significant variables and the coefficients.

The CVI, CVR and Cronbach’s α value (0.75, 0.59 and 0.7, respectively) which are greater than minimum accepted level proved the reliability and consistency of the instrument. The evacuation time prediction by the developed numerical model showed strong correlation with the actual time (R=0.95). The regression analysis found that 89 per cent proportion of variance in the evacuation time are determined by the predictors. Based on the linear equation, it found that the decrease in weight, knowledge level and walking speed while increase in BMI, flat and stair travel distances could increase evacuation time. From the six significant variables, weight, walking speed, flat and stair distances showed significant correlation in the model with p<0.001, while BMI and knowledge showed p<0.05. The integration with mobility factors expand the formula which applicable within dynamic fire scenario.

The involvement of examination students in the study is restricted by the Ministry of Education Malaysia to avoid interruption of learning session which limited the data representation.

Instead of using the traditional direct measurement of the evacuation time, the developed numerical model is an alternative convenient approach which could be used as one of the pre-assessment tool to identify the level of safety among students. The low cost and shorter time application of this model become one of the greatest advantages compared to other available approaches. The calculated individual evacuation time could be used directly to develop a better fire safety policy.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the drivers of the depth of halal standard implementation in the halal-certified food manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The second aim of this paper is to empirically examine the effect of halal standard practices on the SME’s performance.

Of the 143 halal-certified SMEs in Solo Raya, Province of Central Java, Indonesia, 83 were willing to take part in the present research. The survey was carried out by an on-site visit to the targeted respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to gather primary data. Partial least square structural equation model was then used to analyze the collected data.

The results proved that internal motivation and organization commitment positively affect halal standard implementation, while external pressures do not. The external pressures influence the depth of halal standard implementation through internal motivation as a mediating variable. Furthermore, the depth of halal standard implementation leads to the improvement of operational performance. The improvement of operational performance can further encourage the increase of market performance and financial performance.

The first limitation of this research is about the samples in which they are small-sized and restricted to food manufacturing SMEs. Another limitation is the subjectivity of SME’s managers when evaluating performance, which may provide imprecise measures of performance.

The findings suggest the notion that success of halal standard implementation depends on the capabilities of SMEs to convert the external pressures into internal motivation. Moreover, food-manufacturing SMEs should consider halal standard as an innovative tool to be applied in their daily operation and production as the halal standard has a significant role in influencing SME’s performance.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first attempt in integrating drivers, halal standard implementation and performance in the specific context of food manufacturing SMEs in Indonesia.

The financial scandals in Malaysia have caused auditors to be convicted of such failure and led to the claims that they were involved in dysfunctional audit behavior. The incidences have worsened the profession’s credibility and deteriorated the public confidence on the profession. This study aims to examine the influence of professional skills, independence, work experience, time budget pressure on dysfunctional audit behavior.

This study collected primary data based on a questionnaire survey among audit firms in the Klang Valley area and registered with Malaysian Institutes of Accountants.

The findings from a survey conducted on 130 Malaysian auditors proved that time budget pressure is significantly influenced the dysfunctional audit behavior. However, this study did not support the relationship between professional skills, independence, work experience and dysfunctional audit behavior.

This study contributed to the researchers, auditors as well as educators in further understanding the factors that might influence the dysfunctional audit behavior. The findings are expected to help in improving the auditors’ credibility and uphold the public confidence on the auditing profession.

The purpose of this study is to explore the variables that affect Muslim consumers’ perception towards tax rebate over zakat on income in Malaysia.

A close-ended structured questionnaire was developed and a total number of 236 valid responses were collected through online survey from the Muslims residing in Malaysia.

This study found that halal-haram aspect of Islamic Shariah, legal consciousness and religiosity of Muslim consumers are positive significant factors for growing perceptions towards tax rebate over zakat on income in Malaysia.

This study will definitely play an important leading role for the policy-makers and academicians in understanding the perceptions of Muslim consumers.

This study can assist zakat and tax authorities in Malaysia for taking corrective actions to adapt or improve the current policy on the basis of its Muslim consumers’ perception.

The findings of this study can reduce the gap of understanding among Muslims in the society by letting other people’s perceptions towards tax rebate through zakat system in Malaysia.

As there are not enough studies in this area, this study will definitely play an important leading role for the countries or policy-makers or concerned zakat or tax institutions all over the world in capitalizing the practices which is highly and positively perceived by the Muslim consumers in Malaysia.

Extant literature on knowledge sharing in higher education institutions (HEIs) concentrates on non-behavioral perspectives and indicates that academics continue to hoard knowledge despite being given incentives to bolster knowledge sharing behavior (KSB). This study aims to examine KSB among academics from a behavioral perspective through the lenses of the theory of planned behavior, perceived trust and organizational climate.

Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 12 private universities using the drop-off/pick-up approach, resulting in 405 usable responses, which were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling.

Academics’ salient beliefs – that is, behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs – significantly influence their attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Attitude, subjective norms, PBC, perceived trust and organizational climate directly influence knowledge sharing intention (KSI), whereas attitude, KSI, subjective norms and PBC directly influence KSB. Noteworthily, KSI is a mediator in the relationships between attitude, subjective norms and PBC with KSB.

This study makes a seminal contribution through the novel conceptualization and theoretical generalizability of the theory of planned behavior by which HEIs can reinforce their competitiveness and global position by enhancing KSB among academics using a profound behavioral strategy.

The research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex social, psychological and organizational factors that serve as the foundation driving academics' knowledge-sharing behavior (KSB) within an academic enclave.

A cross-sectional research design using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to examine the determinants of personality traits among tertiary academics in Malaysia in relation to their KSB. To this end, a self-administered survey was distributed to a sample group of 526 respondents.

It is evident that conscientiousness and agreeableness are the personality traits that play a significant role in promoting KSB among academics in higher learning institutions (HLIs). These personality traits are positively linked with academics' willingness to transfer and receive knowledge. In contrast, the personality trait of openness to experience does not significantly influence KSB.

This study has employed a four-item measurement for evaluating the three distinct personality traits. Despite employing a brief measurement tool, the study has demonstrated significant reliability and validity, particularly in terms of convergent and discriminant validity.

The present study has revealed that conscientiousness in academics is intimately linked with their KSB, which is of paramount importance in the output-based education system. Notably, agreeableness among academics also conveys a positive effect on knowledge sharing (KS) in HLIs, as it cultivates trust and helpfulness among individuals and facilitates the exchange of valuable tacit knowledge.

This research explores the relationship between personality traits and KSB among Malaysian academics in HLIs. The study adopts the theories of planned behavior (TPB) and social capital theory (SCT) as theoretical ground, providing a nuanced understanding of the underlying motivations and mechanisms driving academics' knowledge-sharing behavior within the unique socio-cultural context of Southeast Asia.

The purpose of this paper is to outline the development of an evidence-based training and support course for caregivers of children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in New Zealand, and a brief evaluation undertaken. The seven-week caregiver training course takes an empowerment and advocacy orientation, and the aim is to assist caregivers who are caring for children with, or suspected to have FASD, develop greater resilience and strategies to help their families live successfully with impairments in a disabling society.

A total of 13 parents and caregivers received a seven times two-hour weekly group programme of talks, exercises and case study discussions focused on the following objectives: an increased knowledge of FASD; an increased knowledge of successful strategies and interventions that can be used to help families; and having an opportunity to foster strong peer-support relationships with others who share the lived experience of FASD. A brief interview-based evaluation was undertaken to ascertain caregivers’ views of the course, its benefits and limitations.

Caregivers valued both the content and process of the training course. They highlighted that strength of the training was the delivery by experienced, professionally trained caregivers of children with FASD. They valued the opportunity to spend time with peers in similar circumstances who understood the challenges of parenting a child with FASD.

A short evidence-based specialist training course for parents and caregivers with an empowerment and peer-support orientation is beneficial to parenting children with FASD.

Halal tourism is a subset of tourism activities geared towards Muslim which are aligned with the Islamic principles. As a response to this, many food operators have realised the importance of having a halal certification to establish a better market position. In the context of Indonesia, it is yet to be known what attitudes the food operators have towards halal certification and what attributes characterised those who have obtained the certification. Therefore, this study aims to examine the attributes of food operators and their attitudes towards halal certification in Indonesia.

A survey and structured interview were conducted on 298 food operators in Bandung, a city in Indonesia, between August and December 2018. Seven hypotheses were proposed and tested to evaluate the association between halal certification and food operators’ attributes and their attitudes towards it.

The results of the study suggested that food operators who had halal certification can be characterised by the number of branches the businesses have, the knowledge of halal tourism and knowledge on the market segment. However, the age of their business was found not related to halal certification. In terms of attitudes, the study found that performance beliefs, intention to apply and target market segment had associated with halal certification.

The outcomes of the study could provide information to entities and agencies involved in the tourism industry that consider targeting Muslim travellers as their market segment. Halal certification could be an approach to facilitate tourism marketing and consequently increase the performance of food-related business sectors.

This study provides evidence that could lead to a better understanding of the attributes of food operators and their attitudes towards halal certification in the context of Indonesia’s tourism industry.

The paper aims to examine the level of agricultural credit by commercial banks and the determinants that influence the commercial banks to the increased level of agricultural credit through the pressures of the institutional environment.

The study selects seventeen sample commercial banks following the market capitalization method and investigates a total of 85 annual reports during the period from 2013 to 2017. The study conducts a pooled regression to conclude the proposed hypotheses.

The present study finding indicates that the average of agricultural credits to total credits is 2.25% among the sample commercial banks. The study finds a positive significant association between board gender diversity, foreign director, management team and agricultural credit. Furthermore, the study has found that the role of the deposit in enhancing agricultural credit is positive. On the other hand, the association between independent directors, profitability and agricultural credits is negative.

The study is based on secondary data with five firm-year observations of commercial banks. The study finding is based on commercial banks, so it should not be generalized to non-bank financial institutions.

The study emphasizes policymakers’ attention towards the level of agricultural credit and determinants that influence the level of agricultural credit by commercial banks in emerging markets.

The key contribution of the study is to focus on the reformist role of the determinants in promoting the increased level of agricultural credit in the emerging markets.