Characteristics Of Trust Among Successful Entrepreneurs In The Catering Services Industry In Malaysia

In the current scenario, the catering services industry in Malaysia is growing rapidly and is dominated by Muslim entrepreneurs. However, there are many ethical issues related to dishonesty such as cases of fraud, dishonesty, breach of promises and treachery associated with catering services reported in electronic and print media. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the practice of trust among successful entrepreneurs in the catering services industry in the state of Selangor. This study is qualitative in nature through a semi-structured interview with eight successful entrepreneurs in the food and catering industry in the state of Selangor who have been in business for at least 10 years. Transcribed interview data were analysed using Atlas-ti-8 software to extract the required themes and categories. The study found that successful catering entrepreneurs emphasize the three elements of trust, namely responsibility, keeping promises, and being fair. These findings are in line with the Prophetic Leadership Management Wisdom (PROLM) model presented by Syafii Antonio (2013). However, there are four new elements of trust, namely avoiding usury or corruption, integrity, always remembering Allah, and avoiding the treachery that is also practiced by these successful entrepreneurs. It is hoped that this study can be used as a guide by Muslim entrepreneurs, especially in Malaysia to always practice trust that can help them be more successful and competitive in business.