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International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7 (4.35) (2018) 777-781
International Journal of Engineering & Technology
Website: www.sciencepubco.com/index.php/IJET
Research paper
New Wave of Businesses: Brick to Click Approach in Malaysia
Nur Afiqah Mohammad Ishak
1
*, Nurazariah Binti Abidin
2
, Jegatheesan Rajadurai
3
1 2 3
Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Kampus Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Pahang
*Corresponding author E-mail: afiqah.mohammad3@gmail.com
Abstract
Having been born into a technologically advanced, wireless internet society, today's younger generation or the Millennial, is in a better
position to be nurtured as the new age online businesses. They are well educated, self absorbed, have a strong sense of independence and
highly motivated toward their perception of success. As such, the Millennial generation rushes forward with their marketing strategies to
start businesses using social media to reach out their existing and potential consumers. While there have been numerous studies about
traditional businesses, there has been little academic research focused on Millennial and which skills needed to become online businesses
This paper proposed to measure the association between social media analytical skills and online businesses competencies within the
Millennial generation. A questionnaire was used whose respondents were 100 online businesses among Millennial. It is hoped that this
study will significantly contribute to a higher success rate in new start ups of online businesses for the Millennial generation. This study
will not only enable for further advance the knowledge of Millennial but also to identify key aspects of online businesses competency in
digital technologies.
Keywords: Digital technologies, Millennial generation; online businesses, online businesses competency, social media analytic skills.
1. Introduction
Digital technologies have also challenged existing business mod-
els and continue to do so. One of the key driving forces of it is the
capacity of innovation and the consumerization of information
technology certainly also plays a role. Digital business is about the
stage that been seen in many maturity models (in marketing, ICT,
social, business, etc), the converged or fully connected/integrated
stage. From a sheer technology perspective it goes beyond the
famous third platform and the evolutions we are witnessing today:
cloud computing, the Internet of Things, mobile, Big Data, etc. By
2020, Malaysia aspires to be an advanced nation on many levels.
However, it is more than about becoming an advanced economy, it
is also about building a helpful and inclusive country that has
ethics and morality and is truly integrated and united. The Elev-
enth Malaysia Plan, 2016-2020, is the next critical step in Malay-
sia's journey to becoming an advanced nation that is inclusive and
sustainable [1]. For the young generations, who are the nation’s
hope and most valuable asset, the Government will realize this
cohort’s potential through capacity building, education, skills
training, entrepreneurship, sports and volunteerism through the
implementation of the new National Youth Policy[2,3]. The in-
creasing rate of internet users, online spending and adopting of
new technologies are the key drivers for the development of E-
Commerce in Malaysia. Government initiatives for the develop-
ment of IT infrastructure and E-Commerce have shown a positive
feedback from the businesses all over the [4]. There are many
barriers to starting and operating new businesses and, similar to
previous generations, the Millennial generation is facing these
challenges. The Millennial generation is those born between 1980
and 2000. The 21st Century is the era of the digital economy be-
cause in this century everyone will own at least one smartphone
[5]. Gradually they will become more ubiquitous, essential and
sought after by consumers [6]. Access to digital networks and the
services they provide are significant features of the 21st Century
[7]. The exponential development in the digital economy is an oft-
cited phenomenon. The other oft-cited phenomenon is green en-
trepreneurship and online access. Businesses look for opportuni-
ties in the field and convert these opportunities into a business. A
successful entrepreneur needs to exhibit several qualities such as
planning, controlling, innovation, risk taking and decision-
making. Moreover, the entrepreneur needs to learn entrepreneurial
skills such as personal skills, technical skills and managerial skills.
In the last decades, the development and use of technology, inno-
vation and the digital world within a business is now described as
online business. The new type of entrepreneur goes by the title of
online businesses which is a combination of digital business,
green business and the business itself [8]. As this development
becomes more common, the issue of how starting a digital en-
deavor differs from starting a traditional endeavor grows more
important; as does finding solutions to the problems specific to the
digital enterprise. Although previous study have devoted consider-
able effort in identifying characteristics, traits, values, affective
states and cognitive styles that are associated with online busi-
nesses but the particular competencies that are most critical re-
main elusive [9]. Businesses and managers contemplating new
digital ventures need to understand the opportunities and hazards
unique to online businesses. The lack of experience and skill on
the part of the initiator are the most common reasons a new start
up.
2. Literature review
2.1. Online Businesses
Online business also referred to as e-business, is any kind of busi-
ness activity that happens online (over the internet).A business
owner who does any, or all, of their business using the internet, is