Review a local, transactional e-commerce site

Air Asia is a low-cost airline based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It operates scheduled domestic and international flights and is Asia's leading low fare, no frills airline. It is also the first airline in the region to implement fully ticketless travel and unassigned seats. Air Asia has been expanding rapidly and is very popular among the travelling public thanks to its frequent low fare deals. Its main base is the Low Cost Carrier Terminal(LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Flight times are not so ideal and you may have to travel at rather odd hours of the day. Being a budget airline, no in-flight service is provided but you may purchase food and refreshments in-flight, the good thing is that these are reasonably priced. The airline flies not only domestic routes but regional routes as well; booking in thru the internet and booking office at the airports, But beware, sometimes you may be charged for double for your flights( system glitches) and it will take you months to get a refund. Golfers are also reminded that they have to pay RM25 for their golf bags, which are carried free by full -service airlines.



Please be advised:

If you have to rush for connecting flights, boat transfer or if you are on tight schedule, try to exhaust all other transportation possibilities first. Air Asia flights have been known to have frequent delays and sometimes, even cancellations. However, based on my personal experiences with this Air Asia- taking the first flight on the day' s schedule is usually the best as there are the least possibilities of delays on the first flight out.

Take note that Air Asia practices Ticketless travel concept.This is how it works:

1. Book your flight and you will be issued a booking number.
2. A flight itinerary with your travel details will be emailed or handed to you after you have made your payment.
3. You do not have to bring your flight itinerary with you for Check-in.All you need to remember is your booking number, or mention your name. You must show your identity card for Malaysian residents or passport for foreigners for identification and check-in purposes.
4. How to book and pay. There are several ways which is via internet, sms booking, call centre, Air Asia Airport counters, Air Asia's travel agents or Air Asia sales centre.

Sources:
http://travelmalaysiaguide.com/air-asia-malaysia/

Corporate Blogging

Corporate blogging is a new trend that is not fading; in fact, it’s growing each day by leaps and bounds.Generally, corporate blogging is published and used by an organization to reach its organizational goals.Currently, all major browsers support RSS technology, which enables readers to easily read recent posts without actually visiting the blog, which is very useful for low-volume blogs.The company blog can serve for many purposes, such as boosting employee morale or communicating important messages to employees, customers or stakeholders.The blog also created to appeal to the demographic that the company needs to court, and the content may have quite a lot to do with the activities ofthe corporation.


Internal blog
An internal blog, generally accessed through the corporation's intranet, is a weblog that any employee can view. Many blogs are communal, allowing anyone to post to them. The informal nature of blogs may encourage ,employee participation ,free discussion of issues
collective intelligence, direct communication between various layers of an organization ,and a sense of community.Internal blogs may be used for meetings and e-mail discussions, and can be useful when the people involved in different locations, or have conflicting schedules.

External blog
An external blog is a publicly available weblog where company employees, teams, or spokespersons share their views. It is often used to announce new products and services to explain and clarify policies, or to react on public criticism on certain issues. Marketers might expect to have product influencers among the audience of an external blog. Once they find them, they may treat them like VIPs, asking them for feedback on exclusive previews, product testing, marketing plans, customer services audits, etc.The business blog can provide additional value by adding a level of credibility that is often unobtainable from a standard corporate site. It can interact with a target market on a more personal level while building link credibility that can ultimately be tied back to the corporate site.




Advantage of corporate blog

• It’s very easy to set up a company blog. The technologies available today enable the average employee quickly learn how to update the company blog. Therefore, this task can be delegated to trusted staff members with solid writing skills, and they can be empowered to make updates as necessary.
• Corporate blogging appeals to younger consumer groups and employees. As we know,now-a-day,average younger consumer group like online shopping and find information on internet. If want to capitalize on the energy, enthusiasm and buying power of this demographic group, then corporate blogging is an excellent resource.
• In the face of a crisis or emergency, a company blog is a good way to spread information to comsumer and employee. Blogs have quickly become a powerful tool for combating public relations fires and responding to worst situations. They can be modified quickly to post critical information for employees, consumers and stakeholders.

Disadvantage of corporate blog

• A company blog is time-consuming to maintain. It takes a lot of creative energy and regular updating to keep the content fresh. The time it takes to maintain a good company blog might end up costing more than the benefits that it generates.
• Corporate blogging requires strong written communication skills, and the cpmpany might not have the right people in positions to produce good posts. For example, if we want to include a CEO blog on the company website, then the CEO needs to possess the right combination of writing skills and wit to pull it off.
• Blogs are so popular that their credibility as a source of information is declining. Anyone can compose and post information through the internet these days. Visitors to the website might not view a company blog as a credible source. Likewise, stakeholders and employees may respond more effectively to more traditional mediums like email communication, memos and announcements in meetings.

Sources:

http://www.morebusiness.com/corporate-blogging

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

A discussion on E-learning offered in Malaysian universitites: Pros and cons from the student perspective

The internet is a major technological advancement reshaping not only our society but also that of universities worldwide. In light of this, universities have to capitalise on the internet for teaching,and one progressive developement of this is the use of online delivery methods.

Online education has generated tremendous excitement both inside and outside higher education. For some,it offers the potential to provide learning to new audiences; for others, it offers the opportunity fundamentally to transform learning delivery and the competitive landscape. There as been a surge of student numbers which current university facilities cannot accomodate any more. Some are hoping to leverage the scability of online education to avoid overwhelming their brick-and-mortar capabilities.

The pros for e-learning are as follow:

• Expanding access

For many people in the past, academic programme calendars have not matched work and family responsibilities , and programme offerings may not have met learner needs.Students can expand access to education in order to meet the education and training needs of state residents and companies and to educate under-served populations.

• Capitalizing on emerging market opportunities.

The public's growing acceptance of the value of lifelong learning has fuelled an increased demand for higher education services among people outside the traditional 18-24 age range. Emerging student segment can seeking further education and working adults, maybe more lucrative than traditional markets.

• Active learners

Computers provide an unparalleled capacity to manage and access large amounts of information, and present it in a novel and interesting way. Similarly, computer-based education allows students to become active learners rather than passive recipients of teaching. A number of technologies enables opportunities for activities and interaction in both asynchronous and realtime modes. Students gain substantial advantages such as collaborative tools and their interactioncan can be synchronous, for example, a chat forum or video conferencing, or asynchronous.

• Self- learning

Students assume responsibility for specifying individual learning needs, goals, and outcome,planning and organising the learning task, evaluating its worth and constructing meaning from it. E-learning also include interactive tools such as simulations or self-administered quizzes which allow the student to progress at his or her own space through required exercises and self- assessment. Besides, student also can learn how to use computer to screen design, mapping, information presentation aesthetics and overall functionality.

• Ease to use and updated information
  

E-learning provides rapid,compelling interaction and feedback to students. When students need to complete their assignments, they can use the online resources which provide readily up-to-date information such as online journal and magazines, or international organisations are also provided.

• Create 'elsewhere' learning

Students were encouraged to participate in order to take the participation mark from the instructors. The Internet, however, allows a new level of interactivity as it eliminates the temporal and spatial rigidity of office hours or class meeting times. It will virtualise the walls of the university.

The cons of e-learning:

• Isolated

Students often feel isolated since they did not really interact with instructors. To overcome this feeling, instructors can provide various forms of office hours and methods of contacts for the students. Instructor should exhibit interactive teaching styles, encouraging interaction between students and with the instructor.

• Facing of technical problems

Sometimes, students may face a lot of technical problems. It is crucial that the instructor has a good control of technology and is able to perform basic troubleshooting tasks such as modifying students' password and changing the course setting. Besides, students are having frustration experienced with access and navigation when they can't logged in to the website they want due to the internet problem.

• Inability of instructor to promote internet technology effectively

Some instructors do not able to handle the technology such as encourage the use of technology and organise the lab session at the first intensive seminar to familarise students with the technology.



sources:
www.critical success factor in online education.com
www.google.com

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

In year 2007, Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, has instructed public services and government-link companies to increase their efficiency and improving the poor public delivery system as both substitution and complementary to the privatization policy.

In line with the Prime Minister, Abullah Badawi’s instruction, many positive changes have been noticeable. One of the efforts that have been made is the Home Affairs Ministry complex located in Ayer Keroh. This provides both local and tourists the express service from all of the seven departments housed under one roof.

Besides, there is another noticeable effort being done and that is the government website, myGovernment Portal - www.malaysia.gov.my . This websites provides information ranging from payment to complaints applications, search and services.

There are 395 online services of ministries, departments and agencies and 3300 Government forms can be downloaded free which these help to enhance the public delivery system. There are also “Quick Links” direct to the Government machinery, directory, tenders, job vacancies, public complains and even to get information on the weather.

Well, the e-Government is a kind of E-Services it applies. E-Services which is one of the pilot applications the Government has embarked upon to demonstrate how information and communication technology can be exploited for the benefit of the public deliveries via the fastest and most convenient ways – The internet, Kiosks, and mobile hand phones. E-Services is currently available via three portals at www.eservices.com.my , www.rilek.com.my , www.mycy.com.my. In additions, services are charged using credit cards and direct debt, but paying methods shall proliferate the use of debit cards, Mykads, MEPS Cash and other forms of convenient payments to make E-Services as easily accessible as possible.

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) department has increase and improves their services by putting in more services online. Main objectives of doing this are to provide convenient, more efficient and faster service to the member. For example i-Akaun, Smart Kiosk and many more. Everyone who want to use this service just have to click into the website and follow all sorts of procedures, it is easy and quick.

The country’s registered drivers will not have to queue at Road Transport Department (JPJ) or Pos Malaysia to renew their competent driving license. Kiosk able to process the application of new learner’s driving license and to check for JPJ and police summonses. Short messaging service (SMS) and ATM machines are some ways JPJ used to remind drivers which are the other futuristic paperless initiatives from the department. JPJ are “electronising” and tightening the work procedures and policies under the Electronic Government initiative to enhance increase the speed of processing.

Inland Revenue Board (IRB) of Malaysia’s also provided e-Filling services that allow the submission of Tax Return Forms electronically via internet. It is a totally free service.

The Insolvency Department of Malaysia is committed towards e-Government, launch out e-insolvency where its purpose is to facilitate individuals in checking their bankruptcy status and the company’s liquidation via internet. User can search any relate info through the web portal which saves their cost of traveling around, time and money. Since it was implemented in 2005, the amount of searches has been increasing, 89.2% searches conducted where individual bankruptcy status whereas 10.8% were searches of company’s liquidation status.

The Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX) has been operation as free online job portal since 2004. Government’s initiative aimed at improving the mobilization of the nation’s human resource.

The e-Government’s main intent is to “electronise” its transaction to enhance accessibility and the quality of interactions with citizens and to increase efficiency as well as to improve policy development coordination and enforcement. There are some other e-services established by government Malaysia aimed towards the paperless in Malaysia. Citizens can obtain all services in Malaysia’s government portal.

Source:
http://www.malaysia.gov.my/EN/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.mait.com/admin/enews_images/MAIT%20Country%20Intelligence%20eNews96_37.pdf

The application of pre-paid cash card for consumers

What is prepaid cash card?

Prepaid cash card looks like a credit card, but it does not have credit. A prepaid cash card is a card that you load funds into your Card and use that money to make purchases, but one can only spend up to available balance on your card. While credit card is borrowing money from the bank or other financial institution to make purchases, and user is required to pay back the balance at the end of the month. Not fully balance is requiring to be paid at the end of the month and additional interest charge is also included.

Undeniable fact is that prepaid cards do no get you into debt, as only transactions up to the balance loaded onto the prepaid account will be authorized. Therefore, you just spend how much you have paid in! You are in complete control of your funds and you need not carry out large sums of cash with a prepaid card on hand.

Moreover, prepaid cards are widely accepted across the internet. For instance, they are issued under a MasterCard, Visa Electron and etc. People can have great deals online rather than bringing out cash paying in the high street. PayPal or Ebay do provide such prepaid service on the online shopping service which user can pay immediately for the products. After 7-10 days, one can receive their goods in their front door!

Prepaid cards have a long and profitable history in the payment industry, from the simple gift cards that replaced gift vouchers to the sophisticated reloadable products that act like electronic wallets. Prepaid cards are widely available today – at gas stations, chain stores, drug stores, vending machines, post offices and convenience stores.

In Malaysia, the prepaid cash card are like the Touch n Go card, Hotlink prepaid mobile service and etc. The Touch n Go card, it sound as it named, users just have to load fund into the Touch n Go card, and go through any payment service by just touch the card on the machine and go away within one second. It is widely use in Malaysia like the LRT payment system, PLUS highway toll payment, Rapid KL buses payment service and others at anywhere anytime.

Souces:

http://www.prepaid365.com/what-are-prepaid-cards.html

http://www.what-prepaid-card.co.uk/features/prepaid-card-benefits.html

http://www.aconite.net/pdfs/whitepapers/3.pdf

http://www.what-prepaid-card.co.uk/features/what-is-prepaid.html