WHAT MAKES UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ENROLL INTO AN ELECTIVE COURSE? THE CASE OF ISLAMIC ACCOUNTING

JOURNAL.:

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management

2009, Vol. 2 No.4, pp. 289-304

Hanudin Amin
Labuan School of International Business and Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman

Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences,

International Islamic University Malaysia

T. Ramayah

School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract

Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the acceptance level of Islamic accounting course by undergraduate students at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The study used theory of reasoned action (TRA) to analyze the findings. Design/methodology/approach – The primary data for the study are collected using self-administered questionnaires. Altogether, the sample comprised of 135 respondents. Data are analyzed using statistical package for social science 13.0 and Analysis of Moment Structures 7.0 to determine the acceptance level and model fit. Findings – Attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), and amount of information on Islamic accounting (AIIA) are found to affect the intention of students to enroll in the Islamic accounting course. Other proposed hypotheses are also supported. Research limitations/implications – The study limitations are confined to three only. The first limitation is the narrow focus on one University in Malaysia as a case study. The second is about its limited relevant measures used in the model that may potentially support the acceptance. The third is about the lack of adequate sample of non-Muslim students. Nevertheless, these limitations drive for the future research in the area of Islamic accounting. Practical implications – Despite its limitations, this study is still of importance in providing insights on a particular issue. The findings of this study shed some light on the students’ acceptance level of an Islamic course. This course is unique as it is different in orientation compared to other existing courses on offer. This paper also provides an invaluable insight, especially in the case of UMS, to consider Islamic accounting course as a core course in the future instead of only an elective course. The university’s management should consider the importance of students’ ATT, SN, and AIIA prior to offering the course. Originality/value – This paper examines undergraduate students’ acceptance level of an Islamic accounting course using TRA and highlights the factors affecting the acceptance of students of an Islamic accounting course in a Malaysian higher learning institution.

CLUSTER ANALYSIS FOR BANK CUSTOMERS' SELECTION OF ISLAMIC MORTGAGES IN EASTERN MALAYSIA: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

JOURNAL.:

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management

2009, Vol. 2 No.3, pp. 213-234

Hanudin Amin, Mohamad Rizal Abdul Hamid, Suddin Lada, Ricardo Baba

Labuan School of International Business and Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons behind customers' selection of Islamic mortgage in Sabah, Malaysia and present factor and cluster analyses to identify the importance of choice criteria for Islamic mortgage selection. The choice criteria among Sabahans are investigated along with their gender, age group, religion, monthly income, and ethnicity. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 250 bank customers responded to a survey addressing the choice criteria for Islamic mortgage providers. It is important to address the criteria in order to make sure the service providers are able to come up with attractive package of Islamic home financing to their prospective customers. Of these, only 211 questionnaires are usable, which gives us a response rate of 84.4 percent. No extra efforts are conducted in order to increase the number of respondents. Non-probability, convenience sampling is implemented. This paper uses a quantitative study similar to what employed by Lymperopoulos et al. and by Devlin. Frequencies, descriptive, factor and cluster analyses are used to analyze the data. Findings – A cluster analysis indicates that bank customers can be divided into three clusters. Members of cluster 1 reported a tendency to select mortgage bank on the basis of “service provisions” while the members of cluster 2 reported a tendency to select mortgage bank on the basis of “elements of Shariah and Islamic principles.” While those of members in the cluster 3, almost entirely had lower mean scores as compared to other clusters. Nevertheless, the members of this cluster reported a greatest tendency to choose Islamic mortgage provider on the basis of “pricing.” Research limitations/implications – The paper has addressed three limitations that provide opportunities for other researchers to explore them in depth in the future in the similar field of Islamic home financing. The limitations are presented in the conclusion's part. Practical implications – With regard to implications, this paper offers inputs for management decision among Islamic mortgage providers (i.e. Islamic banking institutions such as full-fledged Islamic banks, conventional banks with Islamic windows and conventional banks with Islamic subsidiaries). In addition, this paper adds to the literature in the area of home loans/financing. Originality/value – This paper offers the choice criteria for Islamic mortgage providers provides useful information on the Islamic mortgage providers' selection among Sabahans. This paper indeed provides useful information on the main choice criteria that affect why Sabahan choose Islamic mortgage providers.

AN ANALYSIS OF ONLINE BANKING USAGE INTENTIONS: AN EXTENSION OF THE TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL

JOURNAL.:

International Journal of Business and Society

2009, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp.27-40

Hanudin Amin

Labuan School of International Business and Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the factors influencing the online banking acceptance in Kota Kinabalu, Northern Borneo, Malaysia. In term of design/methodology/approach -this study applies technology acceptance model (TAM) as a reference in order to investigate the online banking acceptance. For this purpose, a linear regression is employed to examine the factors influencing online banking acceptance. The model employs perceived credibility, perceived enjoyment, and social norm, in addition to perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Findings - the study results suggest that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived credibility and social norm are statistically significant while perceived enjoyment are statistically insignificant. Research limitations/ implications – due to the time and cost constraints, the present study has suffered from the two setbacks. On one hand, the sample of the study somewhat limits generalizations. On the other hand, other potential variables are not included in the model. Essentially, this study offers an insight into online banking in Kota Kinabalu, Northern Borneo, Malaysia, which has limited previously been investigated. Indeed, the results useful to banks planning further online banking. Worthily to say, the study is able to contribute to the literature on online banking in Kota Kinabalu, Northern Borneo, Malaysia.

Keywords: Online banking, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Banks, Technology acceptance model (TAM)

CHOICE CRITERIA FOR ISLAMIC HOME FINANCING: EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION AMONG MALAYSIAN BANK CUSTOMERS

JOURNAL.:

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis

2008, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp.256-274

Hanudin Amin

Labuan School of International Business and Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Abstract

Purpose – This study investigates the choice criteria for Islamic home financing in Malaysian Islamic banks. Most importantly, this study considers establishing a specific rank of choice criteria for Islamic home financing. Moreover, these choice criteria will also be ranked according to the selected demographic elements such as gender, marital status and age range. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a quantitative study similar to what was employed by Dusuki and Abdullah, 2007; Devlin, 2002; Haron et al., 1994. The study presents primary data collected by self-administered questionnaires involving a sample of 150 Malaysian bank customers in Labuan, Malaysia. Of these, 141 questionnaires were returned with a response rate equivalent to 94%. The Islamic home financing choice criteria as perceived by the Malaysian bank customers are analysed using frequencies, independent samples t-test and ANOVA. Findings – The results suggest that “Shariah principle”, “lower monthly payment”, “transparency practice”, “interest-free practice” and “100% financing” are the first five decision criteria considered as being very important. The least preferred criteria, among others, are “recommendation”, “longer financing period”, “product range” and “branch location”. Results also suggested that a small number of significant differences are apparent in the importance of choice criteria with respect to gender, marital status and age range. Research limitations/implications – The study contains three limitations. The first limitation was based on the sample area for the study which is confined to Labuan, Malaysia. Second, this study restricted the use of factor analysis since the data did not allow for aggregation. Third, this study was also unable to perform ANOVA for religion differences as the sample consisted largely of Muslims. Practical implications – The results are primarily beneficial to academics and practitioners in Malaysia by offering an insight into choice criteria for Islamic home financing. This study provides new results about different kinds of customer types and their preferences with regard to Islamic home financing choice criteria. As such, Islamic bank managers can learn and plan to offer attractive schemes for the Islamic home financing market that meet Malaysian bank customers’ needs. For the researcher this study contributes to existing body of knowledge by providing an investigation of choice criteria in the Islamic home financing. Indeed, this study is also considered as an ‘eye-opener’ for Islamic home financing choice criteria in Malaysia. Originality/ value –This study introduces the choice criteria for Islamic financing among Malaysian bank customers. The study offers an insight into Islamic home financing choice criteria in Malaysia which has limited previously been investigated.

Keywords - Mortgage, Islamic bank, Choice Criteria, Mortgage provider, Malaysia, Islam, Analysis of Variance, independent samples t-test