Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is emerging as a prominent methodological tool in strategic management research. Although it offers various advancements to stay relevant with growing research needs, the pace of PLS-SEM adoption may differ in different parts of the world. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA framework and extracted from the top-ranking strategic management journals 120 articles published between 2011 and 2022 that presented a microscopic view on developing nations. Our findings reveal that despite the astounding methodological solutions offered by PLS-SEM, the studies from developing nations are still trailing behind developed nations in terms of fully exploiting the advancements of PLS-SEM to provide substantial insights to strategic management literature. This review identifies discrepancies in the current application of the method, discusses the most recent advancements and provides the best practices, standard guidelines and recommendations for the best use of PLS-SEM in strategic management research.

Green is a timely and crucial concept in sustainability; therefore, encouraging both public and private businesses in Malaysia to persistently promote and make attempts to put green practices into effect is similarly crucial. The green industry and its environment are under pressure as a result of its acquisition, which is still occurring at an alarming rate. Using the theory of consumption values (TCV) as the underlying theory, this study explores the potential drivers of green purchases while also analyzing the mediation effect of positive word-of-mouth. Purposive sampling was employed in this study and data analysis was conducted using covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM-AMOS). Findings from 336 respondents highlight the significance of positive word-of-mouth, emotional value, and epistemic value, as major determinants of green purchase intention. This study offers crucial information that will aid suppliers of green goods in motivating customers to make green purchases by emphasizing high-impact product values. Additionally, the study advocates the promotion of sustainable practices by emphasizing positive word-of-mouth in sparking public interest to make green purchases.

The open innovation concept is a comparatively new model, and there is an absence of empirical evidence to support a conclusive determination of the factors that affect open innovation, especially in terms of behaviour and costs. Researchers have proposed a variety of methods and techniques for characterising open innovation, but those metrics are overly broad because new approaches that demonstrate current practices were not included. As a result, it is critical to recognise new methods in developing countries to assist SMEs in understanding open innovation and its practices. As such, this study aims to bridge the gap in the literature pertaining to behavioural and cost factors that impact the adoption of open innovation, with an appropriability regime as a moderating factor in determining the success of adoption. This research was undertaken to study the effects of organisational citizenship behaviours, organisational culture, managerial ties, and transactional costs (the predictor variables) on the adoption of open innovation (the criterion variable) and to study the moderating role of an appropriability regime on these relationships. The research used cross-sectional data from a survey of 376 SMEs in Malaysia. This study used quantitative methodology and suitable statistical methods; 376 SME owners, managers, and high-ranking executives participated and completed the survey. A simple random sampling technique was used, and PLS–SEM regression was employed to test the related hypothesis variables. The theories adopted in this research, namely the social exchange theory and the actor–network theory, pave the way for quantitative research. The results revealed that organisational citizenship behaviours predict open innovation positively and significantly. A highly integrative culture was also found to relate positively to open innovation. In addition, managerial ties and transactional costs were found to facilitate open innovation. With respect to open innovation, appropriability regimes were found to strongly moderate the relationships between managerial ties and transactional costs. However, appropriability regimes did not strongly moderate the relationships between organisational citizenship behaviours and organisational culture.

This study empirically investigated the ERM Implementation model and proposed framework to identify and manage risks in Oil and Gas Sector in Malaysia. The study examined the role of ERM framework implementation in improving business performance by utilizing Economic Value Added as a measurement tool. The study also provides insights to the Oil and Gas Sector to gain higher profit returns, reduce cost of capital, and improve shareholders value. Moreover, it contributes significantly in the field of Enterprise risk management in Malaysia. The identification and management of risk is significant to organizations in managing risks efficiently. Expectations of stakeholders of the organization are high from executives and board of directors in managing the risk effectively. Linear regression analysis is utilized in analyzing the data obtained from the data collection performed for this paper. Purposive sampling has been employed in order to select the firms that are operating in Malaysian oil and gas sector. Primary data has been utilized to collect data with the help of structured questions and interview techniques that involve semi structured questions. The results of the regression analysis conducted for in this study suggested that a significant and positive relationship between Enterprise Risk Management with operational risk; market risk; political risk; health, safety and environmental risk; and, also business performance.

In the 21st century, small and medium service firms face difficulty sustaining their performance. Additionally, the literature on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in SMEs is scarce. Moreover, the role of cost leadership strategy as a mediator lacks researchers’ attention. Therefore, this research aims to examine the relationship between EO and SMEs performance with the mediating role of cost leadership strategy. Based on the contingency theory, a theoretical model has been drawn. A survey approach with a questionnaire technique has been adapted to achieve the study objectives. The data were collected from 283 service SMEs in three states of Malaysia. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed to analyze the empirical data. The study findings highlight that risk-taking and open innovation have no direct relationship with SMEs’ performance. However, through the mediation role of cost leadership, risk-taking and open innovation have a significant association with performance. Furthermore, the findings indicate that proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy have a positive and direct relationship with performance, whereas in the presence of cost leadership, competitive aggressiveness has a partial mediating effect. The empirical findings are helpful to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.

Unit trust is a convenient way of investing and a sensible way to build one’s wealth in the medium term and subsequently in the long-term. Investment specialists will manage the investments and spread the risks through careful diversification. The basic nature of the unit trust is that it carries a low-level of risks and accordingly determines a lower level of returns compared to other financial instruments. There is a lack of research that empirically investigates the factors that influence an investor’s decision in unit trust investment, particularly in a Malaysian setting. The purpose of this study is to analyse the factors that influence an investor’s investment decision in purchasing a unit trust. This paper aims to narrow this research gap, whereby financial status, risk taking behaviour, investment revenue and related information are hypothesized to exert statistically significant influences on the investor’s decision in unit trust investment. The empirical study uses a quantitative research approach whereby survey data have been sampled from 202 participants using a convenient sampling technique. This research is cross-sectional and uses primary data for analysis. Data analysis has been carried out using multiple regression analysis. The empirical research finds that financial status, risk taking behaviour, and sources of information significantly influence the investors’ investment behaviours in unit trusts. However, there was not enough evidence to support the claims that investment return and revenue have a statistical relationship to the investors investment behaviours regarding unit trusts. The findings from this research will have huge implications for investors and for financial institutions. This paper helps fund managers and brokers to understand the behaviours of an individual investor in response to a unit trust. On the other hand, this helps them to better target their customers, and persuade customers to make their investments in a unit trust effectively and efficiently, thereby helping them to manage their financial wealth with less risk but better future prospects.