International Journal of Advances in Social Sciences and Humanities

"Guanxi" Versus Social Network in China: The Perspective of Independent Directors' Connections

Ruixiong Qi — 2024-05-31

The social exchange theory posits that economic and social factors are crucial for successful business relationships. Numerous studies have examined interpersonal connections across cultures. Informal relationships influence economic and social exchange, such as Guanxi in China, Yongo in South Korea, and Wasta in the Middle East. In social network literature, the concept of 'network' encompasses two dimensions: network relation and network structure. The connections among directors affect a company's efficiency from a network perspective. This study conceptualises "Guanxi" and social networks to illustrate the similarities and differences between these two concepts and how Chinese Guanxi differs from Western preconceptions concerning social networks. Given that both "Guanxi" and social networks involve social connections, it is essential to note that Guanxi does not exclusively relate to social networks or merely serves as an alternative term for social networks. Additionally, this study focuses on independent directors' social networks created by serving on multiple boards and reviews the literature on independent directors' connections in China. The methodology employed to accomplish the conceptual definition and distinction was based on a comprehensive literature review that consisted of comparative studies and analyses of other scholars' perspectives and theoretical frameworks. Guanxi" is a distinctive characteristic of Chinese culture, specifically about informal relationships. Guanxi, or "personal connections," is valued by the Chinese more highly than networking, information, and institutions, which Westerners prioritise. In the "Guanxi" concept, emphasis is placed on social capital within the circle of friends, family, and close associates. This study argues that researchers must recognise subtle differences in how informal inter-organisational directors' relationships are developed and utilised in social network and "Guanxi" concepts.

Investigating the Effect of Principals’ Allocation of Teaching and Learning Resources on Learners’ Academic Performance: Insights from Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Thomas Odongo Ololo — 2024-05-31

This study investigates the impact of principals' allocation of teaching and learning resources on academic performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.) in public schools. Grounded in Von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, this study employed a mixed-method explanatory sequential design, prioritizing quantitative methods followed by qualitative methods. The target population comprised 4,691 participants: 340 principals, 1,360 heads of departments (H.O.Ds), and 2,991 teachers. A sample of 451 respondents was selected using proportionate stratified random sampling for 85 schools, 114 H.O.Ds and 252 teachers, with census sampling for national and special schools and purposive sampling for 85 principals. Data were collected through questionnaires and interview guides, ensuring content, criterion, construct, and face validity via expert evaluation and reliability through Cronbach's alpha (≥0.7). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS-29, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis and integration with phase one findings. Descriptive statistics are presented in tables and graphs, as well as inferential statistics, including Pearson's correlation coefficients, ANOVA, and regression coefficients. The results reveal a moderately positive relationship (r=0.072, p≤0.05) between resource allocation and K.C.S.E. performance, thus supporting the hypothesis that resources are inadequate. The principal identified inadequate funding as a significant issue. The findings aim to inform corrective actions for poor academic performance, and further research on principals' leadership skills and their impact on K.C.S.E. performance is recommended.

The Effect of Regional Fiscal Capacity Index, Government Expenditure, and Inflation on Human Development in Indonesia

Said Fachrizal Sasra Ayed — 2024-05-31

Although still below the global average, Indonesia Human Development Index is increasing annually. The HDI of provinces in Indonesia also exhibited an upward trend. Fiscal capacity, government spending, and inflation are subject to continuous fluctuation. Consequently, this study aims to analyze the effects of regional fiscal capacity, government spending, and inflation on Indonesia's Human Development Index in both short and long terms. Secondary quantitative data were also used in this study. This study employs panel data obtained from the Ministry of Finance and Central Bureau of Statistics, focusing on 33 Indonesian provinces. The data used for this study comprised 594 observations, which were analyzed using the ARDL method. The results indicate that the fiscal capacity variable positively affects the Human Development Index in the short run but has no effect in the long run. The government expenditure variable does not affect the Human Development Index in the short term but exhibits a positive effect in the long term. Conversely, the inflation variable negatively affects the Human Development Index in the short term but positively affects it in the long term. The Indonesian government should implement more intensive policies to improve its HDI. This includes utilizing fiscal space with a budget that prioritizes education, health, economic improvement, and maintaining inflation stability to enhance people's welfare as an indicator of the HDI calculation. Researchers in the same field should consider incorporating additional variables and employing a larger sample size to produce more comprehensive, in-depth research and clearer results regarding the Human Development Index in Indonesia.

Exploring the Role of Human Capital in Mediating the Impact of Fraud Prevention Planning and Development Planning on the Welfare of Society

Yusrizal — 2024-05-31

Village funds play a crucial role in local development, especially in rural areas often marginalized in national development. However, a case study in South Aceh Regency highlights misuse of these funds through fictitious projects and price manipulation, harming public finances and hindering local economic growth. The study surveyed the entire population of 260 villages in South Aceh Regency. Using a formula considering 28 variable indicators and 4 research dimensions, a minimum sample size of 112 respondents was determined. The sample included Village Officials, Finance Section Heads, Development Section Heads, and Tuha Peut (village elders), and was increased to 120 respondents to ensure representativeness and reliability. Data analysis, conducted using Smart PLS software with the SEM model. The results indicate significant positive relationships between Fraud Prevention and The Welfare of Society p value 0.002, as well as between Development Planning and Human Resources p Value 0.006. These findings suggest that effective fraud prevention measures and robust development planning efforts contribute to enhancing overall well-being and human resource capacity in rural communities. They emphasize the importance of implementing strategies addressing financial integrity and socio-economic development concurrently to drive sustainable progress. Conversely, hypotheses H2, H3, and H5 are not supported by the analysis, indicating no significant relationships between Fraud Prevention and Human Resources p value 0.919, Development Planning and The Welfare of Society p value 0.458, as well as Human Resources and The Welfare of Society p value 0.637.

Investigating the Effect of Property Investment and Inflation on Economic Growth in Indonesia

Fadhil Nasir — 2024-05-31

Sustained economic growth is essential to sustainable development and overall societal prosperity. This phenomenon denotes the continuous enhancement of a nation's economic conditions over time, characterised by elevated levels of economic activity compared to preceding periods. Economic growth is typically correlated with improved societal welfare, which is a key indicator of successful economic development. However, it is imperative to consider additional factors such as income distribution to comprehensively assess the impact of growth on well-being. Establishing economic growth is fundamental to sustainable economic development and prosperity. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the short- and long-run effects of Property Investment and Inflation on economic growth in Indonesia and examine the equilibrium relationship between Property Investment and Inflation on economic growth from the short run to the long run. To achieve this objective, this study employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) Panel Model and a cointegration test to establish short- and long-run relationships. The results indicate a short-to long-run equilibrium among the variables. An additional finding is that property investment has a positive effect on economic growth in the long run but no effect in the short run. The inflation variable demonstrates a positive effect on economic growth in the long run but no effect in the short run.

An Investigation of Work Stress among Malaysian Seafarers during the Endemic

Ruhiyah Sakinah Kayati — 2024-05-31

The shipping industry contributes more than 95% of global trade and plays an important role in global economic growth. Besides its importance, seafaring is also known as a stressful occupation. They are exposed to more stressful work lives, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts prolong the endemic phase. However, minimal attention has been paid to surveying the level of work stress, particularly among Malaysian seafarers. This cross-sectional study has surveyed work stress among 390 Malaysian seafarers using nonproportionate random sampling. Online questionnaires in Google Forms with an appended consent form were distributed to the respondents by an appointed representative. The online questionnaire comprised demographics and the Malay version of the Job Stress Scale (JSS). Data was collected in approximately four weeks and analysed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the level of work stress among seafarers was at a moderate level overall and for each subscale. This study contributes to more understanding about stress especially work stress among seafarers and how COVID-19 impacts their level of work stress. Further study is highly recommended to confirm its relationship with other related factors.