Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both the industrial and service sectors have been identified as the drivers of Malaysia’s fast economic growth. However, SMEs are faced with an inherent issue of lack of resources and capabilities which constrains the ability of SMEs to improve performance. Due to this, it is critical for SMEs to understand and develop an important capability that supports them in facing a dynamic and competitive business environment. This study examines the mediating role of contextual ambidexterity as a dynamic capability in the relationship between innovation culture and SME performance. The online surveys were carried out starting from 5th July until 25th July 2021. A total of 277 SMEs in Selangor, Malaysia participated in this study and Covariance-Based Structural Equation modeling analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses. The findings show that in terms of direct relationships, innovation culture has a significant positive relationship with contextual ambidexterity, while innovation culture and contextual ambidexterity have a significant positive relationship with SME performance. The findings showed that contextual ambidexterity is significant as a mediator in the relationship between innovation culture and SME performance. This study makes an important contribution to the management field by highlighting the role of contextual ambidexterity, which is often the focus of large companies. These findings support the notion of dynamic capability that accentuates the importance of developing capabilities in dealing with dynamic and challenging situations.

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of the knowledge management process as a mediating variable in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance. This study employed a quantitative method and utilised a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 350 data were collected from the owners/founders of online businesses. A Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis was performed to test the proposed hypotheses of the study. The findings indicated that entrepreneurial orientation positively the knowledge management process, which in turn exerts a positive effect on the organizational performance of a company. Additionally, the indirect effect analysis revealed that the knowledge management process plays a significant role as a mediator between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance. The research fills a gap in the literature by considering a mediating variable in enhancing the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance. This research also provides a particular contribution to the literature and some suggestions for future research.

Digitalization technology has emerged as a critical tool for promoting and sustaining rural entrepreneurship by providing greater access to information and new business opportunities. It can enhance the competitiveness of rural entrepreneurs by enabling them to leverage e-commerce platforms, social media, and other digital tools to access the global market. However, the uneven distribution of digital infrastructure and the lack of digital literacy in rural areas can create significant barriers to digital adoption and pose challenges to promoting sustainable rural entrepreneurship. Hence, this paper aims to structurally review related studies from 2 databases (Scopus and EconBiz) by utilizing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). A total of 30 papers were eligible for evaluation. The findings were discussed based on three themes: the role, challenges and opportunities, and impact of digitalization technology on rural entrepreneurship. The adoption of digitalization technology among rural entrepreneurs has the potential to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and foster sustainable development in rural areas.

This scoping review investigates the potential of bite-sized learning approach in music education. The review identified articles from Scopus and ERIC databases, revealing that bite-sized learning is widely discussed in the field of ICT, mathematics, and medicine. Bite-sized learning is pedagogical and pragmatic, providing easy access, convenience, and reducing cognitive load. The study suggests that music educators can incorporate bite-sized learning by refining music content into manageable small units, utilizing flexible platforms such as TikTok, and tailoring the approach according to learner interests. Bite-sized learning can improve the quality of learning by creating an enjoyable, useful, and understandable learning session, reducing time to mastery, and improving mental health. Moreover, bite-sized learning can align with the 21st century learning traits such as personalization. This review highlights the potential of bite-sized learning in music education and recommends further research to examine its effectiveness in various instruments and related subjects. The study concludes that bite-sized learning can be recognized as a pragmatic, flexible, brevity and personalized learning approach that aligns with the needs of modern learners for the 21st century.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sustainability management accounting, environmental management system, and organizational performance for the Malaysian manufacturing industry. The data were collected from 350 manufacturing companies in Malaysia using online questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the relationship between sustainability management accounting, environmental management system, and organizational performance. The findings showed that there was a significant positive relationship between sustainability management accounting and organizational performance (β = 0.530, p < 0.001), sustainability management accounting and environmental management system (β = 0.583, p < 0.001), and environmental management system and organizational performance (β = 0.168, p < 0.05). The findings also found an indirect effect of sustainability management accounting on organizational performance (β = 0.271, p < 0.05) through environmental management system implementation. Results show that environmental management systems can be considered as partial mediators. The environmental management system as a mediator for the Malaysian manufacturing industry increased the impact of sustainability management accounting on organizational performance. This study provides a fundamental approach for practitioners and manufacturing researchers to improve organizational performance through the implementation of sustainability management accounting and environmental management systems.

In the past decade, franchising has become a well-known platform for business expansion. Various strategies have been employed by franchisors in expanding their business into the global market. However, few studies have assessed the determinants that can be adopted by the franchisors in bringing value as well as opening up opportunities for global market expansion. This study aims to explore the determinants of global expansion based on Malaysian franchisors’ experience. A qualitative research approach was adopted through various case studies with ten franchisors from the food and beverage industry in Malaysia. In-depth interviews were carried out to explore this topic. Thematic analysis was performed through the “Atlas.ti” software package version 9.0, which was also used in analyzing the data. The findings indicated that there are four themes, and nine sub-themes were discovered from the grounded data. The franchisors agreed that franchise brand, business location, product, advertising, and promotion were able to influence franchisors in designing strategies for global expansion. The data were also able to provide an in-depth understanding of the determinants for global expansion that can be undertaken as a guide to prospective franchisors who want to start exploring the global market. These results are expected to assist the government as well as the agencies involved with franchising in improving related policies, strategies and programmes. Thus, it is important to understand these determinants in order to survive in a competitive global market.