Asia Social Issues

A Study of SHA Plus Business Adoption of Social Media Using TOE Framework and Its Impact on Non-Financial Performance: An Empirical Study of Foodservice Sector in Chonburi Province, Thailand

2023-10-10T09:15:24+07:00

This study aims to investigate the TOE factors that positively influence social media adoption in SHA Plus businesses in the food service sector and examine the impact of social media adoption on non-financial performance. The study used a questionnaire survey to collect data from 300 Thai SHA Plus restaurants and used regression analysis for hypothesis testing. The findings suggest that technological, organizational, and environmental contexts are significant TOE factors that positively affect social media adoption in SHA Plus businesses. Moreover, after the implementation of social media, all non-financial performance factors, including innovativeness, competitive advantage, and customer satisfaction, are relatively significant in shaping the sustainable performance of the SHA Plus business. The study contributes to the literature on business practices and crisis management, providing practical implications for business owners and policymakers to adopt innovative practices and generate sustainability in SHA Plus non-financial performance. By identifying the critical TOE factors that influence social media adoption and the non-financial performance outcomes associated with social media adoption, this study can help SHA Plus businesses in the food service sector enhance their success in the business world.

Causal Factors to a Member of Saving Cooperative Commitment

2023-10-04T10:38:04+07:00

This study uses the stractural equation model to explain causal factors and other factors related to commitment as a member of Thai saving cooperatives. The sample information was collected from 416 members of Thai saving cooperatives. There were 367 members’ data remaining to obtain the appropriate model. In this sample group, most members are females between 50 and 59 years old, and 33.8% are at the preliminary management level such as the department head. Over 57% have been cooperative members for over 20 years and 28.9% of the respondents came from corporate saving cooperatives. The model of the relationship between causal factors and saving cooperative members’ commitment shows adequate results. Trust, satisfaction, value co-creation, and social determinants impact the participation of members_. The more members participate in cooperatives, the more members’ commitment tends to increase. However, economic determinants or the demand for financial compensation are not related to collaborations of members in Thai saving cooperatives. Hence, building cooperative credibility, enhancing member satisfaction, and creating a sense of community can increase member participation and instill pride in being a cooperative member.

Moving Beyond Thai-Centrism: Theorizing “Asia as Method” in Decolonial Education

2023-08-16T09:31:00+07:00

Grounded in Chen’s idea, Asia as method, the author conceptualizes his theorizing with Winichakul’s signified meaning of Asia as a home for understanding how the author encounters educational phenomenon and having the authority to reconstitute Thai-centrism discourse in education. The notion of “home” signifies Thailand is part of Asia, which is used to move beyond the debate over “us vs. them”, which is non-productive and leads to other shortcomings. Asia as method as a frame of reference can be used to conceptualize how knowledge, culture, power, and discourse intersect in education. Given that the field of education is a cultural praxis in which diverse discourses, positionalities, and pedagogies deserve its place, education needs to be reconceptualized by moving beyond the legacy of western modernity-coloniality episteme and any forms of epistemic internal colonization, a legacy that continues to occur at the deep-rooted socio-cultural and psychological level and plays essential roles in constructing our subjectivity about educational ideals for cognitive and social justice. Thus, to move forward with decolonial and critical education projects, it is essential to explore multi-epistemology and methodology for nuanced understandings of education in the socio-cultural, political, historical, and environmental contexts. The relationship between Asia as method and decolonial and critical education projects need to be a point of departure for democratic deliberations against epistemicide and demonstration of how education as a form of cultural praxis works to internalize particular knowledge production for constructing a specific notion of citizenship in Thailand, Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Ethical Dilemma of Academic Integrity and Job Security: A Quantitative Study on Moral Obligations in Competitive Academic Environments in Thailand

2023-10-04T10:40:11+07:00

In a highly competitive environment, many faculty members must balance the competing moral demands of academic integrity and job security, which poses an ethical issue in academic life. This survey-based quantitative study tried to delve into this complex ethical dilemma by examining the relationship between academic integrity and job security among academicians in competitive educational environments and the role of moral obligations in establishing academic integrity in two selected top universities in Thailand with two hundred participants. A reflective measuring approach was used to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire’s latent questions, which included 1) academic integrity, 2) job security, 3) moral disengagement, and 4) self-determination. The structural model by SEM-PLS examined the relationships between these elements and utilized path analysis to evaluate the hypotheses, intending to advance our understanding of making moral choices in challenging academic contexts. The findings indicated that academic integrity is significantly influenced by self-determination and work stability, although higher job security resulted in moral disengagement. It was concluded that maintaining “good” standards of academic behavior requires ethical awareness and accountability.

How Brand Authenticity Affects Consumers’ Willingness to Recommend by Word-of-Mouth? Evidence from the Cell Phone Industry

2023-08-11T11:32:19+07:00

Based on the cognitive-affective-behavioral theory and self-congruity theory, this study constructs a theoretical model with four dimensions of brand authenticity (continuity, integrity, credibility and symbolism) as independent variables, willingness to recommend by word-of-mouth (RWOM) as dependent variables and brand attachment as mediating variables to investigate how brand authenticity affects RWOM through brand attachment. Using quantitative methods and snowball sampling, 515 Chinese respondents aged 18+ who purchase and use the top 6 brands of cell phones in China participated in this study. SEM was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The results show that the continuity, integrity, credibility and symbolism all significantly and positively affect RWOM and brand attachment, with brand credibility having the strongest effect on the RWOM and brand attachment; secondly, brand attachment is proven to positively influence RWOM; finally, brand attachment plays a partially mediating role between the four dimensions of brand authenticity and RWOM. The findings enrich the theoretical results of brand authenticity and RWOM, and has certain reference value for enterprises to build authentic brands and enhance consumers’ word-of-mouth recommendation intention.

Revisiting the Causes and Effects of Recurrent Floods in the Haor Region of Sunamganj, Bangladesh: Evidence from the 2022 Flash Flood

2023-09-05T09:35:21+07:00

Bangladesh, particularly the Haor region, is well-known for its susceptibility to natural disasters. Haor locals suffer more from floods than other regional individuals. Sunamganj district, predominantly a Haor region adjacent to India’s Meghalaya, was devastated by the 2022 flood. This unprecedented and catastrophic flood has broken nearly all previous flash flood records. The prime objective of this study is to explore the underlying factors and effects of recurrent flash floods in the Haor region, with a specific focus on Sunamganj, by examining the 2022 flash flood. The study employed a descriptive qualitative research approach to meet its objectives. Data was collected from 30 target individuals from diverse stakeholders based on specific inclusion criteria. An open-ended, non-structured questionnaire is used to conduct interviews with selected respondents. Riverbed siltation, heavy rainfalls, excessive water flow from upstream, and mismanagement of River and Haor, among others, are revealed as significant causes of the 2022 flash flood. On the other hand, the consequences of the flood include loss of life and property, damage to infrastructure, and adverse effects on education and social life. The study concluded by making some proposals that policymakers could consider while developing strategies to reduce losses and safeguard the Haor region from future flash floods.

Evolving of Low-wage Migrant Workers’ Health Information Seeking Roles Pre and Post Covid-19

2023-08-16T09:41:17+07:00

An estimated 164 million people work as migrant workers, and many of them are low-income individuals who face a significant risk of virus transmission as a result of contact to the environment and during work. This study intends to provide light on how the behavior and roles of migrant low-income workers in seeking out health information have evolved over time, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We used semi-structured interviews as part of an exploratory qualitative study to learn more about the low-wage migrant Thai workers’ experiences in Taiwan. Thematic analysis was used to examine the interview data. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, migrant Thai workers evolved unique health information habits and roles. Due to their perceived dangers, they also expanded their care to include those in their immediate social circle and switched from seeking health information as sufferers to doing so as caregivers. This study recognizes and responds to the needs of the society’s most vulnerable migrant workers. The results of this study would direct the government and technological solutions to meet their requirements for health information in the right ways.

Prevention Behavior and Awareness of COVID-19 Pandemic of People in Thai-Myanmar Border Area, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

2023-08-16T09:26:41+07:00

Due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, affords have been made to block the movement of people and goods. It believed to stop the spread of germs from people and goods in the border area. Nevertheless, the people and goods there do not stand still as specified. This study employed quantitative research to investigate prevention behavior and awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic of people in the Thai-Myanmar border area, Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection and administered to a sample group of 406 people living near the border trade relief of Mae Hong Son province. Obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean, and standard deviation. Based on behavior and awareness of the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that, as a whole, the respondents had the highest level of COVID-19 prevention behavior (x̅ = 4.24). This included the following instructions for public health personnel: social distancing, wearing a hygienic mask, hand washing, and temperature measurement. For the awareness of the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also found at the highest level (x̅ =4.28). This included all people’s participation, communication within the household/community to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, and strict compliance with the community’s regulations to prevent the disease. The border is a fragile area. There is a chance of transmission of pathogens caused by the movement of people and goods in border areas. The prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic of people in the Thai-Myanmar border area under behavior and awareness of disease prevention. Meanwhile, people worldwide are taking measures to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.