Annals of Spiru Haret University
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INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL EFFICIENCY AS THE DETERMINING FACTOR OF SUSTAINING PROFITABILITY IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONDITIONS: DOES THE AGE OF THE ENTERPRISE MATTER IN HOTEL INDUSTRY?
Full text linkThe purpose of this paper is to provide the answer to the question - Can the efficiency of intellectual capital (ICE) be a factor in maintaining the profitability of young and mature hotel enterprises in the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic? The key goal of the paper is to point out the importance of intangible (intellectual) resources for improving business performance, and above all, profitability. To respond to the goals of the research, an analysis of the contribution of human capital efficiency (HCE) and structural capital efficiency (SCE) to the profitability of young and mature hotels in the year before the crisis and the year of crisis in the Republic of Serbia (RS), as an emerging country will be given. The study's findings suggest that the ICE components have a partial impact on the profitability of young hotels in the year before the crisis. In the year of crisis, the ICE components partially affect the realization of sustainable and profitable business among mature hotels
Strategies for Achieving an Agile-Performing and Practical-Transformational Change Leadership Model at the Company Level
No full textChange is a common thread that runs through all businesses, regardless of size, industry and age. The business world is changing rapidly, and organizations must change just as quickly. Organizations that engage in change thrive, while those that do not end up struggling for survival. Change leadership plays a key role in any successful business, representing an important part of leading a high-performing team as well as a successful business. Regardless of whether a company's team is working on a project, a software update, or an ongoing optimization idea, change leadership is extremely important. As the business grows, so does the team. With more employees and more tasks, any business needs a plan to manage change and stay on track for performance. Given the fact that resistance to change can play a major role in determining how a company operates, it is necessary for those who deal with change leadership to find strategies and solutions to avoid mass resistance when a change occurs.
In this paper we will address precisely the strategies, solutions and planning of a permanent leadership of change at the company level, so that a business becomes successful. We will go through the steps that were taken by a company to get the agile-performing and practical- transformational change leadership model, which comes with strategies, principles and modern business tools and solutions
RISK FINANCING TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY CULTURE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA.
Full text linkThis study explores the effects of risk financing techniques on the safety culture among selected road construction companies in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The study engaged a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprises all twenty-eight (28) indigenous road construction companies in Ekiti State out of which seven road construction companies were purposively chosen for the study. A total of 130 copies of a structured questionnaire were dispersed among the respondents to gather data for this study, out of which 118 which represent a 90.6% response rate was found useful for analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The regression results from the structural equation model revealed that Risk retention has a significant influence on the safety culture with estimates .143(P= .015< .05) while the risk transfer technique recorded an estimate -.002(P=.987>.05) indicating a negative insignificant relationship with the safety culture of road construction companies in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Finally, this study confirms that risk financing techniques hold a negative significant joint influence on the safety culture of road construction companies in the metropolis of Ado, Ekiti State based on reported estimates -.591and (P =***< .05). Therefore, the researcher recommends that road contractors should be meticulous about the appropriate risk financing techniques that will aid safety culture
A DECONSTRUCTION OF FRUSTRATION-AGGRESSION THEORY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA
No full textThe work set out to deconstruct and reconstruct Ted Roberts Gurr’s (1970) theory of relative deprivation, frustration-aggression as contained in his work ‘Why Men Rebel’ (1970). The study used descriptive research design and evaluated the capacity of the theory, which was created to explain political violence in Africa and Asia in the colonial era, to also explicate why intense relative deprivation, frustration and aggression arising from the avalanche of poor governance in postcolonial African states such as Nigeria and many others, have not culminated into political violence and rebellion. The study presented numerous data obtained through observation and analysis of events in Nigeria, Africa and case-studies of American, French, English and Russian rebellions and distilled qualitative data which indicated lack of association between the variables. The application of the study design revealed first the state as the source of relative deprivation, frustration and aggressions of the citizenry when they are denied access to public values, which they feel entitled to. Secondly, it further discovered that there are no direct correlations between relative deprivation, frustration and aggression as initially conveyed by the theory since 1970. Furthermore, it exposed that there is an intervening variables identified as ‘Social Movements’ or ‘Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which harness relative deprivation, intense frustration and aggressions from the sufferers and convert them to other set-of-action, which may not be political violence and rebellions but could be advocacy towards the expansion of the mechanism for supply of public good or values and to make it accessible to many as a means of addressing relative deprivation. The study concluded in the light of its findings, that the initial theory requires deconstruction and reconstruction to include ‘Social Movement’ as a principal component. It is only then that it could be applied in the analysis of issues in postcolonial African and Asian states
 
Sustainable transportation in the taxi industry in Johannesburg: The opportunities, challenges, and solutions towards achieving sustainable transport
Full text linkThe taxi industry provides mobility and employment. Sustainable transportation must be served by innovative practices, namely new mobility types, appropriate infrastructure, and intelligent systems to manage livable environments. This study aims to determine the current practices and sustainable alternatives for taxi role players and the Department of Transport. The objectives were to determine probable future changes as well as ascertain whether there is a gap between the future of transportation and the vision of stakeholders. A qualitative research approach using semi-structured individual interviews was adopted. Participants for the study were selected purposively in Johannesburg and included people working in the industry as well as experts in the field. The findings highlighted a significant gap between the understanding of the South African National Taxi Council, Department of Transport, taxi owners, taxi marshals, and taxi drivers regarding the way forward towards embracing sustainable practices. The researchers conclude that sustainable innovations are imperative for transportation development, economic growth, as well as reaching the United Nations sustainable development goals. This study provides a good understanding of the backgrounds unique to taxi industry in Johannesburg, sustainable mobility practices, as well as gaps in the industr
The role of workplace friendship in cultural intelligence and quality of work-life: A cross-sectional study: Cultural intelligence and quality of work-life
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of cultural intelligence (CI) and workplace friendship (WPF) on the quality of work-life (QWL) of individual workers and to examine whether WPF mediates the relationship between CI and QWL between employees of the same nationality, but of different ethnic groups working in government-owned organisations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 161 employees using self-report measures. Data analysis was performed using two statistical procedures (the Harman single factor test and the correlation matrix) to assess the presence of a common-method variance (CMV) bias in the data collected for this study. Theoretical propositions and empirical observations offered plausible explanations for WPF's mediating role in the CI-QWL relationship. The present study confirms the reliability and, to some extent, the validity of the measures in a developing economy context. However, this study also builds empirical evidence that age and gender are fewer differentiating factors in employees' work attitudes and behaviour
RISK FINANCING TECHNIQUES AND SMEs PERFORMANCE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA
Full text linkRisk financing is a critical element of a resilient future. Risk management techniques are important metrics in safeguarding the lives and property of mankind. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of financial risk management techniques on business performance, with specific reference to the perceptions of selected SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. The study population consisted of the total number of registered SMEs recorded in Lagos State at 11,666. Thus, single-stage cluster and convenience sampling techniques were employed in the questionnaire distribution and data collection processes. Two hundred and forty-eight (248) respondents were used in the study. The statistical technique employed was simple regression. This study confirms the importance of financial risk management techniques in business performance of selected SMEs operators in Lagos, Nigeria. It is recommended that insurance providers in Nigeria should attempt to tailor insurance products in a lovable and affordable manner to SMEs’ operators/owners in a bid to improve their behavioural risk attitudes. More so, interest should be placed on impressive risk management communication and ideal physical risk control techniques among SMEs’ owners/operators
Consumer dining duration and spending: The role of emotional labour practice in the restaurant industry
Full text linkThis paper centres on examining the link between emotional labour and dinning duration within the restaurant industry. In this study emotional labour practice was modelled as one of the crucial predictors of dining duration. This study adopted a multiple case study using a cross sectional design approach. The target population was 480 dyads encounters in 6 of the most popular fast food restaurant chains in Harare. Some 214 seat-in customers were the unit of analysis while wait staff were the unit of observation. In terms of responses, 200 responses were attained and were deemed sufficient for meaningful Structural Equation Modelling. The quantitative approach employed a self-completed structured questionnaire in collecting data. A structural equation modelling was run to test the direct effects, a multi-group structural equation modelling was run to test the moderating effects of categorical variables, and a moderated multiple regression was run to test the moderation effects of the latent variables. The study revealed various factors that influence the connection between emotional labour and dinning duration such as the gender factor of the people involved, the rate and strength of the interaction between restaurant employees and the clients. The outcome directed that emotional labour is positively associated with consumer dining duration. The consumer dining duration is in turn associated with consumer expenditures within the restaurant. However, all the hypothesised moderators had no statistically significant effect. The study recommended the use of emotional labour as one of the predictors for increased revenue in the restaurant industry through increased consumer spending as mediated by the dining duration under the scenario of excess capacity and limited demand.
 
Community perceptions of tourism development in rural area of Tsatsane Lesotho
Full text linkThis paper investigated community perceptions of tourism development and identified the relationship between tourism development projects and business opportunities in Tsatsane community, Lesotho. This investigation was done using a qualitative research method to understand the relationship between respondents’ perceptions of tourism development projects and associated business opportunities. Using purposive random sampling techniques, 30 respondents comprising of 19 community members, 2 community leaders, and 9 stakeholders were chosen and interrogated. After the choice, qualitative data were gathered using an open-ended semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to organize the themes that emerged from the responses after they were transcribed. Using Atlas Ti.8, similar themes were gathered and transferred. The study found a significant relationship between tourism development projects and recurrent themes like new knowledge of tourism-related business opportunities, job creation, increase in trade, and education. Although few respondents have different opinions
 
THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYER BRANDING ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS
No full textThis article investigates the relationship between employer branding and organisational performance, identifying the underlying mechanisms contributing to enhanced performance. Next, we analyse various aspects of employer branding, including its influence on talent attraction, employee engagement, retention, and overall productivity. Finally, we provide insights on how organisations can strengthen their employer brand to optimise performance.
In the competitive labour market, employer branding plays a crucial role in an organisation's ability to attract and retain top talent, directly influencing organisational performance. This article examines the relationship between employer branding and organisational performance by exploring its effects on talent attraction, employee engagement, retention, and overall productivity. It also offers insights on strengthening an organisation's employer brand to optimise performance.
Employer branding, an organisation's reputation as an employer, can provide a competitive advantage by creating a motivated, engaged, and productive workforce. A strong employer brand attracts high-quality candidates, reducing recruitment time and cost and ensuring a diverse and talented candidate pool. Organisational culture, work environment, compensation and benefits, growth opportunities, and corporate social responsibility contribute to developing a strong employer brand. Effective employer brand communication across multiple channels, such as corporate websites, social media, and job advertisements, is essential to attract top talent. Employer branding events and employee advocacy can further strengthen the brand. Assessing the employer brand's strength can help organisations identify areas of improvement and gauge their attractiveness in the job market.
Employee engagement and satisfaction are closely linked to an organisation's employer brand. Factors such as leadership, job design, recognition and rewards, work environment, and opportunities for growth and development contribute to employee engagement and satisfaction. Assessing employee engagement and satisfaction can provide valuable insights into their perceptions of the organisation and commitment to its goals. Engaged and satisfied employees exhibit higher performance, productivity, and innovation levels, leading to improved organisational outcomes