Determinants of Halal Executive Competency in Food Manufacturing Companies in Malaysia

Excellent facilities, halal governance, standards, and halal talent in Malaysia have placed the country as one of the top halal food manufacturers. To maintain its status and strengthen its global competitiveness, the country requires competent halal executives to support the industry. In addition, a competent halal executive with intact integrity could help assure that the entire spectrum of the halal industry produces and provides only halalan toyyiban products and services. Despite the importance of competent halal executives, the factors that decisively affect halal executive competencies (HEC) in the halal food industry remain under-explored. Thus, this study aims to reveal the determinants that influence the HEC in halal food manufacturing. 20 respondents will participate in the study via semi-structured interviews, including 10 halal executives and 10 halal industry and academic specialists. The interview transcripts will be analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti (version 23) to spot any new themes or emerging patterns. The results are anticipated to shed light on the internal, external, and organizational issues that may affect HEC in the production of halal food. The identification of these elements could assist halal stakeholders (such as policymakers) in creating efficient methods to guarantee HEC in the production of halal food. In conclusion, this study attempts to get an in-depth understanding of the major factors that affect the HEC in the production of halal foods in the Malaysian environment.