Kheng Yeoh Khar’s scientific contributions

Globally, food consumption has witnessed an evolving trend due to increase in health concerns, with consumers developing different perceptions, attitudes and intention towards purchase of organic product, rather than food produced using conventional agricultural practices. This research is designed to investigate the role of extant corpus conceptualized in terms of e-WOM, price perception, perceived value, brand image and consumer innovativeness on consumer attitudes in shaping purchase intention of consumers towards organic food in emerging Chinese market. Therefore, this research is anchored based on literature review, on determinants and theories relevant to consumer attitudes and purchase intention of organic food in different contexts. According to findings, it was revealed that both e-WOM, price perception, perceived value, brand image and consumer innovativeness play a significant role in determining the purchase intention of consumers towards organic food. Similarly, it was revealed from the findings that the role of e-WOM, price perception, perceived value, brand image and consumer innovativeness on purchase intention of consumers towards organic food, was mediated by consumer attitude. Thus, this research contributed to literature in the realm of extant corpus, consumer attitudes and purchase intention towards organic food, by providing new insights on variables that shaped attitudes and purchase intention of consumers towards organic food in Chinese context. Lastly, research implications were provided for practitioners in organic food market, policy makers, and researchers.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between top management capability, relational capability, technological capability, learning capability, innovation strategy, and innovation performance within the context of high-technology Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in China. Through a synthesis of the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capability Theory, this research delves into how these diverse capabilities intersect to shape innovation outcomes in a rapidly evolving market landscape. Drawing upon empirical data collected from a comprehensive sample of high-tech SMEs operating across various industries in China, this study examines how top management capability influences the firm's strategic direction and innovation agenda. Furthermore, the research explores the role of relational capability in fostering collaborative relationships with stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, and partners, to access valuable resources and knowledge for innovation initiatives. Moreover, the study investigates how technological capability enables firms to harness advanced technologies and expertise to drive innovation, while learning capability facilitates the absorption, assimilation, and application of new knowledge and insights to fuel continuous innovation efforts. Through an analysis of innovation strategies adopted by high-tech SMEs and their alignment with dynamic capabilities, this research elucidates the mechanisms through which firms leverage their diverse capabilities to formulate and execute effective innovation strategies, ultimately impacting innovation performance. The findings contribute to both theoretical understanding and practical implications, providing insights for high-tech SMEs in China on how to develop and leverage dynamic capabilities across multiple dimensions to enhance innovation performance and achieve sustainable competitive advantage in today's dynamic business environment.

Effect of business environment on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been widely studied. However, researches on the effect of serene business environment, as well as moderator on performance of SMEs are lacking. Therefore, this research investigated effect of competitive intensity on the relationship between serene business environment and performance of SMEs in Malaysian context. Accordingly, a cross sectional survey design was adopted, and data of 148 respondents was collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics – frequencies, percentages and partial least square – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). From the findings, Malaysia’s serene business environment is an important driver of SMEs’ performance. Yet, the research found that competitive intensity is an important factor that strengthened causal relationship between economic environment and performance, as well as between regulatory environment and performance. However, the effect of competitive intensity in strengthening causal relationship between financial market environment and performance, as well as between technological environment and performance was not found. The current results brought a new insight in this field of study. Therefore, several research implications and recommendations to business managers and policy makers were highlighted.