Norsiah Mat

Bio: Norsiah Mat is an academic researcher from Universiti Utara Malaysia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Descriptive statistics & Employee engagement. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 36 publications receiving 306 citations.

The effect of microfinance factors on women entrepreneurs’ performance in Nigeria: a conceptual framework

Abstract: Women play a crucial role in the economic development of their families and communities but certain obstacles such as poverty, unemployment, low household income and societal discriminations mostly in developing countries have hindered their effective performance of that role. As such, most of them embark on entrepreneurial activities to support their families. It is discovered that women entrepreneurship could be an effective strategy for poverty reduction in a country; since women are the worst hit in such situation. However, it is discovered that women entrepreneurs, especially in developing countries, do not have easy access to microfinance factors for their entrepreneurial activity and as such have low business performance than their men counterparts, whereas the rate of their participation in the informal sector of the economy is higher than males, and microfinance factors could have positive effect on enterprise performance. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of credit, savings, training and social capital on women entrepreneurs’ performance in Nigeria. The study involves a survey using structured questionnaire and an indepth interview to solicit responses from women entrepreneurs, and secondary data from microfinance institutions. Data analysis involves the use of Structural Equation Modelling.

The Moderating Effect of Social Environment on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurial Intentions of Female Students at

Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the moderating effect of social environment on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate female students of Nigerian Universities. Female students were chosen because they are more susceptible to social pressures. One of the hypotheses was to test whether social environment moderates the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intentions. A quantitative research method (survey) was used to solicit responses from 120 final year undergraduate female students of three University Business Schools in the North, East and West regions of Nigeria. This method was used because Universities in Nigeria offer similar courses and the respondents, according to previous studies in other contexts, show a higher propensity to firm formation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression. The results indicated that entrepreneurial orientation (self-efficacy and education) had significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intention among female business students in Nigeria. It was also found that social environment (friends’ agreement) moderated the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (education) and entrepreneurial intentions among the students. Again, the study contributed to the scant literature on entrepreneurial intentions among people in developing countries especially Nigeria. Therefore, the government should focus on ways to encourage entrepreneurship awareness among university students in Nigeria to enhance entrepreneurial intentions and self-employment. The study was limited to female students. Future studies could compare the entrepreneurial intentions of male and female students.

Evaluation of effectiveness of training and development: The Kirkpatrick model

Abstract: Evaluation of training effectiveness is the measurement of improvement in the employee’s knowledge, skill and behavioral pattern within the organization as a result of training program. This measurement help to match the cost incurred in the design and implementation of training with the associated benefits.Thus, it indicates whether the program has been able to deliver its intended goals and objectives. The purpose of this paper is to review the model of training effectiveness for the adoption by the human resources development executives in their planning, designing and implementation training program.

Attributes, Environment Factors and Women Entrepreneurial Activity: A Literature Review

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of individual attributes and business environment factors on the entrepreneurial activity of women entrepreneurs. Individual attributes such as education, working experience, attitude towards risk-taking, affect women entrepreneurial activity. Economic constraints such as lack of credit due to lack of asset collaterals and socio-cultural barriers, lack of savings due to low household income, and lack of labour skills due to low educational level also affect women entrepreneurial activity. The effect of these factors on entrepreneurial activity is worth studying because entrepreneurship development is considered a vital link to an overall economic growth of a nation through its positive impact on economic development especially at the grassroots. However, limited studies have reviewed literatures on individual attributes and business environment factors on the entrepreneurial activity of women entrepreneurs. This is the focus of this study. Methodology: The paper is a descriptive study that reviews literature on individual attributes and environment factors on women entrepreneurial activity. Conclusion: The paper concludes that environment factors exert much more influence on women entrepreneurial activity than individual attributes. Research limitation: The paper is limited to a literature review that may need further research by using a framework to investigate the factors on entrepreneurial activity. Practical implication: It shows the need for the government to support entrepreneurs through adequate provision of micro-finance.

The moderating effect of social environment on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intentions of female students at Nigerian universities

Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the moderating effect of social environment on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate female students of Nigerian Universities. Female students were chosen because they are more susceptible to social pressures.One of the hypotheses was to test whether social environment moderates the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intentions. A quantitative research method (survey) was used to solicit responses from 120 final year undergraduate female students of three University Business Schools in the North, East and West regions of Nigeria.This method was used because Universities in Nigeria offer similar courses and the respondents, according to previous studies in other contexts, show a higher propensity to firm formation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression. The results indicated that entrepreneurial orientation (self-efficacy and education) had significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intention among female business students in Nigeria. It was also found that social environment (friends’ agreement) moderated the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (education) and entrepreneurial intentions among the students.Again, the study contributed to the scant literature on entrepreneurial intentions among people in developing countries especially Nigeria. Therefore, the government should focus on ways to encourage entrepreneurship awareness among university students in Nigeria to enhance entrepreneurial intentions and self-employment. The study was limited to female students. Future studies could compare the entrepreneurial intentions of male and female students.

The Relationship Between Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract: The research on entrepreneurship education�entrepreneurial intentions has yielded mixed results. We meta-analyzed 73 studies with a total sample size of 37,285 individuals and found a significant but a small correlation between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions (inline image). This correlation is also greater than that of business education and entrepreneurial intentions. However, after controlling for pre-education entrepreneurial intentions, the relationship between entrepreneurship education and post-education entrepreneurial intentions was not significant. We also analyzed moderators, such as the attributes of entrepreneurship education, students' differences, and cultural values. Our results have implications for entrepreneurship education scholars, program evaluators, and policy makers.

Cultural differences in teaching and learning

Abstract: I am a researcher and graduate student of American Indian descent (Stockbridge-Munsee/Mohican). I have always been very aware of the absence of other American Indian students in postsecondary education programs; have noticed the shortage of American Indians employed as educators, professors, or administrators; and am acutely aware of the number of American Indian populations excluded from qualitative or quantitative data sets as part of mainstream research agendas that are published on the state or national level. This is the beginning of my dissertation research journey, and the data that I have studied thus far demonstrates a ten-year failure of the traditional, Western, and public educational system in Wisconsin to nurture, graduate, and utilize Native Americans from birth through adulthood. This historical failure in the Wisconsin educational systems and organizations has left the First Children and the First People of this country far behind as compared to their other minority and white counterparts (Bowman ). The extent of how far and why they are behind is what I am determined to discover. Anecdotally speaking, I knew in my heart that the few Indians who did survive school accomplished this despite many barriers or whatever politically correct legislation was the popular rhetoric at the time. But in my head I needed to ascertain, scientifically document, and understand the factors that were responsible for this shameful record regarding the education of Native American students and their underrepresentation as professionals within the educational community. In a time of attempts to abolish affirmative action and hearing the promises of leaving no children behind, I have diligently tried to set aside time to conduct research Cultural Differences of Teaching and Learning

The relationship between Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation (IEO) and entrepreneurial intention

Abstract: The importance of entrepreneurship to a nation development is unneglectable Malaysian government has carried out various supporting activities to promote entrepreneurial activities in the country However, the results were less embracing, especially among the young adults As such, understanding of what influence young adults’ intention towards entrepreneurship is important in the effort of entrepreneurship development This study was carried out to address the university students’ level of entrepreneurial intention and the influence of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) on entrepreneurial intention A questionnaire survey was conducted on 176 undergraduate students from a public university with “entrepreneurial university” status The results indicated that university students demonstrated intention towards entrepreneurship and were quite positive towards becoming entrepreneurs In addition, university students’ entrepreneurial intention was found to be positively affected by their quality of proactiveness and innovativeness However, risk-taking ability was not an influential factor on entrepreneurial intention Theoretically, this paper confirmed the importance of studying EO at the individual level Practically, it suggested that higher learning institutions should pay careful attention in designing their entrepreneurship education curriculum Specifically, the entrepreneurship training should focus on enhancing students IEO ability and increasing their entrepreneurial intention Recommendations for future researchers have also been put forth at the end of this paper