A discussion on E-learning offered in Malaysian universities: Pros & Cons from the students perspective

Electronic learning (E-learning) is a term for all types of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), where technology is used to support the learning process. E-learning is an excellent option in education, particularly when there are hindrances to traditional learning situations.

Lately in most Universities, e-learning is used to define a specific mode to attend a course or programs of study where the students rarely attend face-to-face for on-campus access to educational facilities, because they study online.

Pros:

• On-demand availability enables students to complete training conveniently at off-hours or from home.
• Self-pacing for slow or quick learners reduces stress and increases satisfaction.
• Interactivity engages users, pushing them rather than pulling them through training.
• Confidence that refresher or quick reference materials are available reduces burden of responsibility of mastery.

Cons:

• Technology issues of the learners are most commonly technophobia and unavailability of required technologies.
• Portability of training has become strength of e-learning with the proliferation of network linking points, notebook computers, PDAs, and mobile phones, but still does not rival that of printed workbooks or reference material.
• Reduced social and cultural interaction can be a drawback. The impersonality, suppression of communication mechanisms such as body language, and elimination of peer-to-peer learning that are part of this potential disadvantage are lessening with advances in communications technologies.

References:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_learning
2.http://www.answerbag.co.uk/articles/Advantages--Disadvantages-of-eLearning/3f3013fa-e6c3-4052-38ae-1c9b67bfdf20

Review a local, transactional e-commerce site

Aishop.com my is one of the local e-commerce site that sell clothes, accessories, household products, and etc. This website provides a lot of photos about their products. For an example, this website have some models wearing the clothes that will sell on their website.

Aishop.com.my provide member registration, shopping cart, customer service, search engine, payment method, and the delivery policy. Besides that, this website also provide order tracking to their customers which enable the customers to trace their delivery.

I was attracted with this website because I had noticed that aishop.com.my had provided the services which help their customer to calculate their shipping fees, and showed the steps how to buy online through their website. Other than that, aishop.com.my do accept online credit payment, online banking, and the manual fund transfer. The speed for clicking around the product in this website is quite smooth and the page load quickly.

After the sale of the products, some cash voucher may be given to some of the customers. The Cash Voucher allows instant deduction on the customer's order amount and in each order only 1 voucher is allowed for deduction. If the customer have more than 1 voucher, the customers should split the order or use it in their next purchases.

In conclusion, aishop.com.my is one of the local e-commerce site which provides many services to the customers and had made their customers more enjoy in shopping through their website. By proving the shopping cart in their website, it enables their customers to continue shopping after the customers add their products to the cart.

Reference:

1. http://aishop.com.my/

E-Government in Malaysia: Its implementation so far and citizen’s adoption strategies.

The implementation of e-government started since the initiation of Multimedia super Corridor (MSC) by the Malaysian government. Most of the e-government project implementations are currently in progress. There are 7 pilot projects under the E-Government Flagship Application of the MSC:

1. Generic Office Environment (GOE)
The aim of GOE is to introduce a fully integrated, distributed and scalable office environment that leverages use of multimedia information technology. This will enable efficient communication, allowing collaboration across all workers, and ensuring right information reaching the right people in a timely manner.

2. Electronic Procurement (eP) Project
The aim is to re-engineer, automate, and transform current procurement system. The project will cover central contract, tender, and direct purchase. Besides, the use of eP will increase transparency, saves time and money while encourage suppliers to go electronic and join the K-economy.

3. Electronic Services Directory (eServices)
This project is a pilot project that allows citizens of Malaysia to engage in transactions with government and utilities payments such as telephone and electronic bill, police summons, Road and Transport Department (RTD) services, etc. The eServices is accessed via multi channel service delivery such as the Internet and kiosk machines.

4. Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)
It will provide single interface for government employees to perform human resource functions effectively and efficiently. It will also help to standardize all human resource processes for federal, state, statutory body, and local authority services.

5. Project Monitoring System (PMS)
It will create a mechanism to monitor project implementation throughout various government agencies and statutory bodies. It also provides a platform to exchange ideas and to demonstrate best practices in information management and communication services.

6. Electronic Labor Exchange (ELX)
The main objective is to improve the mobilization of human resources and optimize workforce utilization through systematic matching of job seekers to job vacancies. As such, this would enable the Ministry of Human Resources to be a one-stop centre for labor market information that will be accessible to the public.

7. E-Syariah
It is to improve the quality of service in Syariah courts. This will eventually enhance the Islamic Affairs Department’s effectiveness through better monitoring and coordination of its agencies and improving the management of its 102 Syariah courts.

Citizen’s Adoption Strategies:

1. Awareness
Government can launch various programs or do some advertisements to increase people’s knowledge about the e-government projects. By doing so, it can also let people know that there is an online services that enable them to know more about e-government.

2. Service quality
Online service quality can be measured in terms of contents provided, the speed of the response to the citizens concern with problem solving approach, and the availability of names. High quality of service will lead to high levels of customer satisfaction and thus can increase the use of e-government services.

3. Webpage design
The personalization of websites, customization of products or services offering, and self-care are the three key features that could be used not only to build relationship with the visitors, but also enhance their experiences. These features give visitors a sense of control and participation and could potentially enhance their adoption.

References:
1. http://www.intanbk.intan.my/psimr/articles/Article1%20-%20Full.pdf

2. http://en.wordpress.com/tag/citizen-adoption-strategies/

Corporate Blogging: A new marketing communication tool for companies

A blog is a next-generation website and it is the home base of social media strategy.

Corporate blogging is published and used by an organization to reach its organizational goals. The advantage of blogs is that posts and comments are easy to reach and follow. It is an effective blog enables the organization to have a two-way conversation with customers and employees.

Corporate blogging is unbelievably lost-cost and its effects can be extremely effective. It is very useful for low-volume blogs and blogging is one of the best technologies to promote the business through internet, then it leads to a lot of orders by a lot of visitors and good page ranking for the parent site.

The corporate blogging benefits the organization as the followings:

1. Build rapport with customers.
2. Free feedback and suggestions from key constituents.
3. Increased website traffic from higher search engine rankings.
4. Position your business as a thought leader.
5. Lead generation.
6. Documenting history.
7. Selling products.
8. Combined effort.
9. Build the brand.


It really helps promoting the products or services of the company however blogging requires a lot of effort and keep it up to date. Corporate blogging is a useful tool to promote the business and it is definitely worth it!

References:
1. http://www.debbieweil.com/book/

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_blog

3. http://www.it-sideways.com/2008/08/asia-pacific-corporate-blogging.html

4. http://www.ximnet.com.my/thelab/comments_articles/comments.asp?id=15

5. http://poweron.mobile88.com/

Credit Card Debts: Causes & Prevention

Credit cards,when used properly, are convenient and a budgeting tool. If abused, though, credit cards can be the start of a years-long nightmare and unbelievable stress. Most households that have credit cards have and use an average of eight cards.

Speaking of credit debt reasons, there are various factors that may have a dramatic impact on the financial situation. The following is the causes of credit card debts:

1. Poor money management
There are too many people who cannot possibly find an equilibrium between their expenses and income. A sudden reduction of income cause people fall into credit debts. Meanwhile, they keep on spending as much as they got used to regardless of the reduced income.

2. The lack of financial planning
There is a lot of people lack of financial planning skills. When they are buying something, they do not plan properly whether they are afford to buy it. Sometimes, they are spending money on an unnecessary stuff. If they are lack of money, they will use credit cards for purchasing. At the end of the month, they cannot pay for the bill for what they purchased.

3. Gambling
Gambling becomes part of entertainments in people’s life nowadays. People are addicting on gambling and makes it becomes more difficult when they want to stop it. Thus, it will lead to financial problem when people tend to use credit cards for gambling purposes.

We all know that if we want to gain a better health, we have to eat right, exercise regularly, and get a good night’s sleep. When talk about financial, it is not much different with it. By taking a few steps of prevention, it will free you to a live of opportunity rather than of difficulty.

1. Manage your finances
It is to determine your monthly income and expenses. Besides, you can make a saving so that you would not spend the money on unnecessary things. Write down what are necessary items for your daily life and avoid buying some luxury items that are unnecessary.

2. Use it like cash and not a credit card
In one sense, you need to use your credit card like cash by paying balance in full each month. Do not think that having a credit card will enable you to spend the money unlimited. You have to remember that you are using the ‘future money’ and you need to repay it in the future.

3. Keep the low credit limit
A low credit limit will help you to prevent for spending much. Try not to increase your credit limit if the bank asks you to do so. By doing so, you can avoid for spending out of the area that you can afford.

References:

1. http://www.credit-land.com/articles/articles_page_68600_1881780_120.php

2. http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Credit-Card-Abuse-Causes-So-Much-Debt&id=1018899

3. http://www.cardratings.com/howtoavoidcreditcarddebt.html

Electronic Currency

Electronic currency, also known as electronic money, refers to money or scrip which is exchange only electronically. Typically, this involves the use of computer networks, the Internet, and digital stored valued systems. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and direct deposits are the examples of electronic currency. Also, it is a collective term for financial cryptography and technologies enabling it.

Electronic currency allows its holder to buy the goods and services that the vastness of the internet offers. An e-currency system may be fully backed by gold (like e-gold and c-gold), non-gold backed, or both gold and non-gold baked (like e-Bullion and Liberty Reserve).

Electronic currency trading can let you to do business and earn only few dollars of investment. In fact, some of the experts will suggest the beginners to start with only a few dollars so that they can first learn the ropes of electronic currency. Besides that, electronic currency trading has a low transaction cost. Unlike other businesses that will eat up your profit with a huge amount of fees, it allows you to do business with minimal fees and give you more profit and money. There are few websites examples that can let people to do e-currency trading such as MG E-currency and JT GOLD.com.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_cash

2. http://www.romow.com/business-blog/benefits-of-e-currency-trading/

The application of pre-paid cash card for consumers

Nowadays, there are many types of payment methods that available in the market. Prepaid cash card is one of the most convenient tools to make a payment. The concept of prepaid cash card is which customer need put money in the card’s account advance. Customer only can use prepaid cash card to make a purchase depend of amount of money inside the card.

Advantages using prepaid cash card:
Financial Limits
The financial limits on the card are established and controlled by the cardholder. This can help limit any temptation to overspend or no debts.

Convenience
You won’t need to carry a lot of cash with you every time you go out.

Fraud Protection
pre-paid cash cards generally offer consumers the same fraud protections as credit cards if the cardholder reports the fraud quickly.

The example of prepaid cash card:
Malaysia
Touch n go
Touch ‘n Go card is one of the example pre-paid cash card in Malaysia. Touch ‘n go is an electronic purse that can be used at all highways in Malaysia, major public transports in Klang Valley, selected parking sites and theme park.

User can continue using the card as long as it is pre-loaded with electronic cash. User can reload the card at toll plazas, train stations, Automated Teller Machines, Cash Deposit Machines, Petrol kiosks and at authorized third party outlets.

The advantages using Touch ‘n Go is enhances the speed of paying for low value but high frequency transactions. Besides that, users no longer need to prepare for small change or wait in queue at the cash lane to complete the transaction.

Smart TAG
SmartTag a vehicle on-board unit that works in combination with Touch 'n Go card that allow a consumers to pay toll by drive-through without stopping their cars.

Singapore
Ez-link card

Ez-link card can be use in many ways. Such as 7-11, government service, private bus service, shopping and etc. The benefit by using the card is that it ensures secure, fast and reliable transmission of data.

Hong Kong

Octopus card
Octopus card is an electronic payment system that widely used in Hong Kong. Octopus is used for purchases on public transport, convenience stores, fast food shops, supermarket, and even for office used and residential premises access control. Octopus card has been awarded as Chairman's Award of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance's 2006 Global IT Excellence Award.


References:
1. http://www.touchngo.com.my/

2. http://www.ezlink.com.sg/

3. http://www.octopuscards.com/consumer/en/index.jsp

Mobile payment systems in Malaysia: Its potentials & consumers' adoption strategies

Mobile payment, a new and rapidly-adopting payment method instead of paying with cash, check or credit cards, a consumer can use a mobile phone to pay for wide range of services and digital or hard goods. One of the four primary models for mobile payments, Contactless NFC (Near Field Communication) is mostly used for purchases in stores or transportation services.

The world's first contactless mobile payment service has been launched in Malaysia, according to Malaysian mobile operator Maxis Communications Bhd, in collaboration with Nokia, Visa, Maybank and Touch ‘n Go, has launched Maxis FastTap, an integrated mobile payment service that utilises Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

The system of payment is whereby the consumer uses a special mobile phone attached with a smartcard waves his/her phone near a reader module. Most transactions do not require verifications however some are required verifications using PIN codes before transaction is completed. The payment could be deducted from pre-paid account or charged to mobile or bank account directly.

The Contactless enabled payments easier and less costly to handle than cash including other traditional payment methods such as end users benefit from the convenience of being able to pay for parking from the comfort of their car with their mobile phone.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_payment

2.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/040909-contactless-mobile-payment-system-launches.html?hpg1=bn