BORNEO REVIEW - VOLUME XI NO. 2 (DEC. 2000) |
WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS
THE REALITY OF COMMUNITY: WOMEN’S ROLES IN IBAN LONGHOUSE TOURISM IN SARAWAK
THE K-ECONOMY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SABAH’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY*
THE TELEPHONE AS A SERVICE ENCOUNTER TOOL: A STUDY ON SMIS IN SARAWAK
WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS IN
THE LAST FIFTY YEARS
B.N. Ghosh
The present article makes an attempt to threadbare the changing ontology of Development Economics (DE) through a study of its differentia specifica, its theorising on underdevelopment and development, its paradigm shifts over the decades and, envisages its future as an academic discipline. It comes to the conclusion that DE is still alive and well, and is making significant contributions of putative academic standard.
THE REALITY OF COMMUNITY: WOMEN’S ROLES IN IBAN LONGHOUSE TOURISM IN SARAWAK
Sallie Yea and Gabriel T. Noweg
This paper examines the ways in which longhouse women are currently involved in the cultural tourism sector in Sarawak and their views about the problems with, and benefits of tourism both for themselves and their communities as a whole. Two particular questions provide the focus for discussion in the paper: first, what do the longhouse women actually think about tourism, particularly the ways they are involved in tourism and; second, how are women’s roles and activities valued (or not) within the cultural tourism sub-sector? The paper concludes that women in destination longhouses do not benefit greatly from tourism, with the tourism work they are involved in extremely undervalued compared to most of the work performed by men. This gender division of labour in tourism is based on stereotypical notions of what constitutes women’s and men’s work in daily life that are perpetuated by the tour operators and reinforced by expectations of tourists. Despite their general disdain for tourism work, Iban women in the longhouses nonetheless feel compelled to participate in the sector due to pressure exerted by the men in the communities.
THE K-ECONOMY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SABAH’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY*
Bilson Kurus
While many may already be discussing about e-commerce, e-government and the K-economy, for many school age children in the interior parts of Sabah, these concepts of the New Economy are far from their mind and reality. This is not unexpected given that the indigenous community makes up the bulk of the lowest income group in the state. Arguably, this would mean relatively less opportunities to be exposed to IT and acquire the critical skills needed by the information age. Together, these factors suggest that the indigenous community would find it more difficult to deal with the attendant challenges posed by globalization.
THE TAMU KIANGGEH: PRESENT REACH, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
John Onu Odihi
The Tamu Kianggeh in Brunei Darussalam doubles up as a convenient and effective alternative food market and a tourist attraction. Its more or less central location and operational time flexibility both serve to make this mostly fresh food market a good alternative to the superstores and other grocery outlets that have limitations of operating time. The centrality of the Tamu Kianggeh, the diversity of its commodities including native souvenirs and service as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for trips to and from the famous Kampong Ayer through Sungai Kianggeh and Sungai Brunei have helped to make the Tamu an important tourist attraction. A traders’ cum visitors’ survey was conducted in the Tamu between January and June 1998, to determine their views on this important business and cultural centre. In this study, the respondents’ perceptions of the Tamu, and what they thought would be necessary to improve its services and attractions and other features of the Tamu are presented and discussed. This is with a view to position it not just to survive but thrive in the new millennium.
THE TELEPHONE AS A SERVICE ENCOUNTER TOOL: A STUDY ON SMIS IN SARAWAK
Ernest Cyril De Run and Jamal Abdul Nassir bin Shaari
This paper looks into the underlying theoretical basis of the service encounter and market orientation to study the use of the telephone as a service encounter tool in SMIs in Sarawak. The study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods to determine how SMIs handle their service encounter through the telephone. The paper looks at the overall picture of how SMIs handle the service encounter, how SMI operators handle the service encounter, and how the personnel handle the service encounter through the telephone. The paper considers the possible implications of the findings in regard to service encounter and incorporates a previous study of market orientation of SMIs in Sarawak. It also discusses the likely implications for SMIs as they continue to use such tools for business and proposes methods of improving the service encounter.