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Unveiling the hidden dynamics : exploring causative factors and impact of employee turnover on organisational performance.
No full textEmployee turnover is a widely recognised subject in an organisational setting. Although academics and organisational human resource departments have accepted the fact that employee turnover can have a disastrous impact on the organisation, there are limited studies conducted on the causative factors and effects of employee turnover in organisations. Therefore, this study helped to highlight some of the causative factors triggering employee turnover and their impact on an organisation. In addition, the study also suggests vital strategies for mitigating and reducing employee turnover. In line with the preceding assertion, the cross-sectional qualitative study taking into consideration conference papers, government periodicals, chronological documents, and mainly secondary and primary sources were used. Online search engines such as Scopus, EBSCO, Emerald, science direct, and unrestricted web service search engines such as google scholar and Mendeley demonstrated to be valuable database resources. The finding indicated that performance appraisal feedback, job insecurity, stress and work overload, death, and compensation are significant factors responsible for employee turnover was also deduced that employee turnover can affect organisational performance through ineffectuality in the delivery of service, increase in workload, errors in work processes and reduction in sense of loyalty. However, findings also postulated that training and development, competitive benefits and compensation, effective leadership, and job satisfaction are key procedures that help in reducing and mitigating employee turnover
A survey of home energy management systems and their efficacy in South Africa
No full textIn 2022, South Africa experienced a total of 3776 hours of power outages, commonly known as load shedding. This had a significant economic impact, with estimates from the South African Reserve Bank suggesting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) loss ranging from 0.7% to 3.2%. To address this issue, various initiatives are currently being implemented, including the implementation of renewable energy projects, effective maintenance of existing infrastructure, and a proposal to introduce smart meters to address challenges related to demand-side management (DSM). The electricity market in South Africa is transforming, and this is leading to the emergence of potential technologies that can help address the aforementioned challenges. One such technology is the Home Energy Management System (HEMS). This paper surveys this technology and assesses its potential effectiveness in the South African context
Effectiveness of a canteen and a behavioural worksite intervention to lower cardiometabolic risk in South Africa
No full textThesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of: Doctor of Philosophy in Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2024.Background: Chronic lifestyle diseases like type-2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia are
modifiable; however, these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are set to outpace communicable
diseases in South Africa. The South African population has a high prevalence of NCDs, including
genetic lipid disorders, diabetes and hypertension, meaning that the risk for undiagnosed conditions,
like prediabetes and prehypertension, to develop to diabetes and hypertension, respectively, is high.
As employees spend much of their waking hours at work, an opportunity exists to engage with this
subset of the population for targeted NCD reduction goals. This study used the worksite setting as a
backdrop for the implementation of targeted interventions aimed at reducing employee cardiometabolic
risk. The resulting gains have economic significance for the employee, the employer, and the country.
It also has direct potential to improve employees' quality of life.
Aim: To measure the effectiveness of a canteen and behavioural intervention versus a canteen-only
intervention among participants by evaluating the change in number of individuals reaching two or more
cardiometabolic risk goals, namely reductions in blood pressure, triglycerides, and glycated
haemoglobin (HbA1c) - the primary outcome, and through changes in secondary outcomes including
rates of type-2 diabetes prevalence and regression to normoglycemia and changes in anthropometry,
lipids, and glucose.
Methodology: This two-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) featuring a canteen and behavioural
arm (CB) and a canteen-only arm (CO), was structured to provide a six-week intervention to employees
at two multinational companies spread across eight worksites. Prior to randomisation, all employees
were informed about the pending study through information packs distributed at employee staff
meetings and during promotional visits to worksites. The information packs contained details on the
study, the purpose, duration, partners, expectations, and privacy clause. A two-step screening process
was followed to recruit eligible employees for the study. In step one, consenting employees from the
eight worksites were screened for inclusion in the study using an eight-question survey. In step two,
eligible participants from step one underwent clinical tests (HbA1c, lipids and blood pressure
measurements). Consenting employees who were either prediabetic or prehypertensive completed the
baseline assessments, which included anthropometry, a demographic and lifestyle survey, a dietary
questionnaire, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and the 24-hour food recall.
Participants were randomised to the CB and CO treatment groups. The CO group received six weeks
of canteen intervention (changes to enable a healthy food environment). In comparison, the CB group
received six weeks of canteen intervention along with a behavioural intervention. The CB intervention
included an intense six-week lifestyle programme based on the Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP).
The lifestyle classes were held two days per week at each worksite, with three time slots per day to
facilitate employee attendance. After the intervention period, a post-test was used to repeat the clinical
tests (HbA1c, lipids and blood pressure measurements), measurements for anthropometry and the 24-
hour food recall. Data were analysed to assess the effectiveness of the CB and the CO intervention on
cardiometabolic risk factors among prediabetic and prehypertensive employees. Diet quality was assessed through the dietary quality questionnaire (DQQ) indicators, and the Framingham Risk Score
was used to calculate participants' 10-year risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Results: Out of a potential pool of 3000 employees, 797 employees participated in the screening
process. After applying exclusion criteria and obtaining consent, 147 employees agreed to participate
in the RCT. Of these, 72 were assigned to the CB arm, and 75 to the CO arm. In this study, success
was defined by a systolic blood pressure decrease ≥ 5mmHg, a decrease in plasma triglycerides ≥0.1
mmol/L and a decrease of ≥0.5% in HbA1c. In the CO intervention arm, twenty-two participants met no
improvement of cardiometabolic risk factors while 29 (19.7%) participants met one, 23 (15.6%)
participants improved two; and one (0.68%) participant improved all three cardiometabolic risk factors.
In the CB intervention group, 21 (14.2%) participants met no improvement of cardiometabolic risk
factors, 38 (25.8%) participants improved one risk factor, 13 (8.8%) participants improved two, and
none improved three cardiometabolic risk factors. To evaluate the effectiveness of the CO arm on
diabetes risk, 6 (4.0%) participants met the intended intervention effect; however, 69 (46.9%) did not.
From baseline (BL) to endline (EL), 2 (1.3%) participants were diagnosed as diabetic, 20 (13.6%)
participants presenting with prediabetes at BL increased to 23 (15.6%) presenting with prediabetes at
EL and finally, 53 (36%) participants without diabetes decreased to 50 (34%) at EL. To measure the
effectiveness of a CB intervention on diabetes risk, 6 (4%) participants met the intended intervention
effect however, 66 (44.8%) did not. From BL to EL, 1 (0.68%) participant was diagnosed as diabetic,
22 (14.9%) participants at BL increased to 26 (1.6%) presenting with prediabetes and finally, 49 (33.3%)
participants without diabetes decreased to 45 (30.6%) at EL. To evaluate the combined effect of a CB
intervention versus a CO intervention on diabetes risk, 12 (8.1%) participants met the intended
intervention effect; however, 135 (95%) did not. Overall, post intervention improvements were noted for
the whole group when no targeted cutoffs were applied, meaning that these participants improved their
risk factors but not within projected reduction cutoffs.
Conclusion: Cardiometabolic risk factors were improved for some participants using CB or CO
interventions at worksites. Given that the CB and CO interventions produced similar results, the CO
intervention has the potential to have a broader reach across the entire worksite, regardless of
employees' health conditions, as most employees engage with the worksite food environment
(canteens, board room meals, tea stations). Promoting an enabling worksite food environment is likely
to encourage healthy eating habits. Unlike the CB intervention, which is more resource-intensive, the
CO intervention is more feasible to implement. These results were achieved under a challenging
COVID-19 lock-down period through the implementation of a 6-week intervention. There is potential to
improve these outcomes outside the influence of COVID-19 and by using a longer duration intervention.
Collectively, improved employee health has gains for the organisation, their employees and the country.
Scope also exists to improve the effectiveness of the outcome outside of a research study and through
more integrated communication and support from the different role players, including human resources,
shift supervisors, management, occupational health staff and through the election of employee health
champions.
E-learning of mathematics and students’ perceptions in public secondary school, Oyo State, Nigeria
No full textPurpose: Integration of e-learning in classroom-based with mathematics courses/modules is recognized in all secondary schools, because mathematics subject have ability helps students to perform well in other subjects. Design/Methodology/Approach: Descriptive survey research design with quantitative data approach through structured questionnaire. The reliability confirmed the Cronbach’s Alpha and the coefficient was 0.78. 120 students were purposively selected from 36 secondary schools in Ibadan North, a local government area of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State in Nigeria. At a significance threshold of 0.05, four research questions and two hypotheses were developed. Findings: The findings showed that e-learning platforms are not maximally utilized in mathematics among students in secondary school in Oyo State due to restrictions and difficulty of use as well as the students’ preference for traditional learning. Implications/Research Limitations: The study showed that there was a significant relationship between e-learning and students’ perceptions of mathematics learning, though with weak correlation. The study was limited to only secondary school in Oyo State and therefore, could not be generalized to all other secondary schools in Nigeria. Practical Implication: e-learning method serves as alternative to support teaching and learning using blended learning tools to support the classroom-based education, especially during this Post-COVID-19 pandemic. Social Implication: This research study will encourage both teacher and students to embrace technological tool in teaching and learning for the improvement on students’ academic performance. Originality/Value: This study encouraged that mathematics teachers should make an effort to maximize the benefit of e-learning in mathematics to create a greater impact in teaching and learning. And also, students should use the opportunity to improve on their self-pace studies using asynchronous method of online.Copyright: 2023. Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Due to copyright restrictions, only the abstract is available. For access to the full text item, please consult the publisher's website. The definitive version of the work is published in the book by Aigbavboa, C. et. al. 2023. Sustainable education and development: sustainable industrialization and Innovation: 1077-1087. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-25998-2_8
Firm size and enterprise productivity in Nigeria : evidence from firm-level data
No full textAnchored on the economies of scale of production theory, this study utilized Nigeria’s firm-level enterprise survey data of the World Bank collected through stratified random sampling of 2 676 firms and face-to-face interviews with the application of the multinomial logit model to examine how enterprise productivity influences the size of firms in Nigeria. It was found that raising enterprise productivity relates to about 0.0009261 insignificant fall in the relative log odds of running micro-sized firms, about 0.010299 significant rise in relative log odds of having medium-sized firms, and about 0.0201428 significant encouragement in relative log odds of running large-sized enterprises/firms when related with small-sized enterprises/firms. It is recommended that governments at all levels (state, federal, and local), should encourage micro-sized firms in a bid to make them increase their productivity level. This encouragement can
come in the form of providing increased access to credit, the provision of raw material inputs, and constant electricity supplies. The original contribution of this research work is hinged on its empirical contribution in the study area since there is dearth of literature in the study area as no study has looked at firm size and enterprise productivity in Nigeria using evidence from firm-level data
Student Voices : a critical reflective exploration of an online groupwork video analysis task during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textThe shift to online learning in universities prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic impacted field learning, an important component in nature conservation qualifications. Academics used video resources as an alternative approach to mitigate related challenges. This case study critically reflects on students’ experiences and views on the use of an internet video and WhatsApp text messaging to complete a groupwork task in a conservation module offered at a university in South Africa. The video content focused on threats to rare indigenous plant species in South Africa. Data were collected using an online electronic questionnaire (n=26) and through the analysis of five group-discussion text-messaging transcripts. Mixed-method analysis was used to analyse the data. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the closed questions in the questionnaire, and qualitative analysis was used for the open questions and transcripts. Ethical protocols were followed, with anonymity and confidentiality maintained. The findings, amongst others, indicate that overall, students agreed that the video promoted their understanding of threats to rare indigenous plants (76.9%); most students watched the video more than three times (84.6%); students had a positive response to the use of text messaging for group discussions (91.6%); and evident in the transcripts was active group engagement. Overall, WhatsApp text messaging facilitated student discussions in the asynchronous group work video analysis task. This reinforces underlying social constructivist pedagogy, which facilitates the integration of course content with group interaction and promotes critical thinking and problem-solving in a post-COVID-19 society
The effective use of smartphones for teaching and learning among undergraduates in higher institutions
No full textThis study examines the efficacy of using smartphones for teaching and learning in higher education, with a particular emphasis on undergraduates and blended learning. It is vital to investigate how cellphones, favored by Generation Z and Millennials, might improve academic achievement because the COVID-19 epidemic required a change from traditional teaching approaches to accommodate remote and online learning. The scholarly article explores smartphones' potential as an effective teaching and learning aid by conducting a theoretical investigation. Understanding how these tools can promote learning outcomes is crucial given the prevalence of smartphones and our escalating reliance on digital technologies. This systematic literature review aims to shed light on the potential benefits and challenges associated with integrating smartphones into the educational process for undergraduate students within the Higher Institutional learning environment of the University of Technology (UoT). Drawing upon peer-reviewed articles and studies published from early 2020 to the present, the review critically examines the advantages and drawbacks of smartphone usage, investigates undergraduate preferences, and assesses the implications for teaching and learning methodologies. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the efficacy of smartphones in enhancing teaching and learning outcomes, emphasizing their positive impact on student engagement, academic achievement, and overall satisfaction within blended learning environments. The review offers practical recommendations for educators to promote greater student engagement by prioritizing individual needs and leveraging digital resources to foster creativity and innovation
The role of intellectual stimulation on students creativity improvement in higher education : a systematic literature review
No full textIn Higher Education, intellectual stimulation as a key aspect of transformational leadership, plays a vital role in fostering creativity and critical thinking among students. Several efforts have been made to improve students’ creativity in teaching and learning. Intellectual stimulation in Higher Education plays a significant role in fostering keen interest for learning and preparing students for future challenges. It creates a dynamic educational experience that benefits both the educators and students. However, there are still many institutions that have not optimized their students’ capacity development. For this reason, intellectual stimulation is considered as a strategic means for the improvement of creativity in education. All over the world, educational institutions encourage transformative teaching and learning skills design so as to implement a shift from the traditional pedagogy and be more creative with their teaching activities. Nevertheless, teaching and learning accomplishments in Higher Education are often faced with the challenge of resistance to change which slows down the improvement of students’ creativity improvement. This study comprises a systematic literature review using PRISMA approach to track related researches on the role of intellectual for the improvement of creativity in teaching and learning in Higher Education. The study defines the concept of intellectual stimulation and creativity in teaching and learning. The significance of intellectual stimulation in Higher Education is to enhance teaching strategies, influence policies and guide future research by providing a clear and impactful contribution through the promotion of active learning, encouraging student feedback on their thinking processes, directing funding towards innovative teaching methods and technologies that enhance intellectual stimulation in order to build supportive learning environments and finally, policy makers can use findings on intellectual stimulation to advocate for curricula that emphasizes problem solving, creativity and real world application .Results obtained indicate that intellectual stimulation plays a crucial role in improving students’ creativity. Findings from the study can be linked to potential policy changes for enhancing educational practices and improving education policies serving as advocates for inquiry-based learning and critical thinking skills. The potential contribution of this review study will prompt educators to encourage questioning, introduce diverse learning activities such as group projects and case studies, critical thinking exercises, foster a growth mindset in students, connect to real world issues
The use of social media drive during Covid-19 crisis by small, medium and micro enterprises in rural KwaZulu–Natal
No full textSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences (Business Administration), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2024.Globally, Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises are perceived as major economic growth
contributors in solving problems pertaining to poverty alleviation, the high unemployment
rate and inequalities. In countries such as China, the United States of America and the
United Kingdom, these enterprises make a huge contribution to gross domestic product
and have played a crucial role in poverty reduction and alleviating unemployment. In the
context of South Africa, SMMEs are earmarked as strategic business mechanisms for job
creation, innovation, competitiveness and economic growth. Rural SMMEs also play a
remarkable role in promoting sustainable livelihoods in rural communities. However, in
countries such as Brazil, France, the UK and Australia, investment in promoting SMME
establishment has been operationalised, which has resulted in a greater impact on
economic advancement, irrespective of projected environmental challenges. This signals
SMMEs play a vital role in both developing and developed countries in contributing to
their GDP.
The South Africa government has invested much in promoting the establishment of
SMMEs, with the intention of creating 90 percent new jobs by 2030, in accordance with
the National Development Plan. Despite, this good intention, some SMMEs are unable to
survive for more than five years due to various threats that affect their existence, which is
of major concern to policy makers, researchers, government officials and other
stakeholders with a key interest in this sector.
Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Rural SMMEs were faced with challenges such as lack of
infrastructure and internet connectivity, which the outbreak of Covid-19 further
exacerbated, with lockdown measures by government leading to some South African rural
SMMEs closing down temporarily, numerous permanently, while others were declared
technically insolvent. One of the factors that influence SMMEs worldwide, is their ability
to use social media to create and maintain their business presence, communicate with
customers and market and sell products/services. Nonetheless, rural SMMEs were found
to lack social media strategies to support their survival and growth during the Covid-19
crisis, which implies not much was done regarding marketing, traditional or online, by
rural SMMEs due to the high costs to sustain their business, resulting in a lack of
operational cash flow due to the economic turmoil caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
The research study, therefore, investigated rural SMME growth and survival, focusing on
critical factors affecting their use of social media as driver to ensure their continued
existence during the Covid-19 crisis, enabling them to survive and grow in future crises.
The motive behind the study focus on KZN is because nothing much has been done
concerning the use of social media as a tool, in contributing to the survival and growth of
rural SMMEs during the Covid-19 crisis in developing countries, with special reference to
South Africa in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Further exploration in the use of social media as rural SMME growth and survival driver
during the Covid-19 crisis is, therefore, needed to overhaul the existing knowledge
contribution in SMME survival and growth, particularly in South Africa, with special
reference to rural KwaZulu-Natal. This study will investigate the current research gap
regarding a comprehensive understanding of critical factors influencing rural SMME
survival and growth during Covid-19 crisis, thereby preparing them to deal with future
crises. The second objective will thus be to design and propose a social media model as a
driver for SMMEs in rural KwaZulu-Natal to learn from the Covid-19 crisis, contributing
to their continued growth and survival.
Theoretical models were found to be insufficiently explored in previous studies. Therefore,
this study intends to narrow the identified knowledge gaps through enhancing the state of
South African SMMEs, with special reference SMMEs in rural KwaZulu-Natal, regarding
their survival and growth during Covid-19 crisis.
The study was conducted in seven rural places within the KwaZulu-Natal Province, using
a quantitative method, where a closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect primary
data, from 374 rural SMMEs owners and managers. A non- probability, convenience
sampling technique was employed, with inferential and descriptive statistical data analysis
undertaken using the Statistical package for Social Sciences (v27. 0) software.
Rural SMMEs were found to have a lack of social media awareness, insufficient
technology infrastructure, deficient internet connectivity, and a shortage of technical and
managerial competencies to adopt and use social media during the Covid-19 crisis. This
implies environmental factors had a huge negative influence on the use of social media by
rural SMMEs; this resulted in a lack of innovation, which is instrumental in SMME
survival and growth.
Further constraints were found to include social support and networking that led to
business failure in social media adoption and use, thus, social media marketing strategies
were absent, with management perception constraints leading to business failure in using
social media for survival and growth during the Covid-19 crisis. Survival and growth
strategies were perceived as strategic business mechanisms to improve rural SMME
performance in terms of their survival and growth during the Covid-19 crisis. The prime
insights were provided in both practical and theoretical implications of the study.
These findings enabled the design and proposal for implementation of a seven-stage social
media model, as a survival and growth driving tool for rural SMME during crises, such as
the Covid-19 pandemic and in future pandemics within the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
It is recommended rural SMMEs should strengthen their innovativeness in order to
embrace technology for social media adoption and use, in addition to investing in
technology advancement, in order to adapt to rapid environmental changes. Moreover,
government policy re-evaluation regarding rural SMME survival and growth mechanisms
is recommended, in order that government regulations and policies promote rural SMME
survival and growth in future pandemics in South Africa, with special reference to rural
KZN.
Bridging the gap between accounting theory and practice : a South African perspective
No full textThe traditional accounting teaching methods have struggled to prepare
accountants for evolving demands of the industry as instances of
misconduct by accountancy professionals have been reported from and
outside South Africa. The aim of this study was to examine coexistence
of accounting theory and practice and the complicated interplay between
the theoretical accounting principles and practical implementation in the
rapidly evolving and technologically driven digital accounting world.
Scoping review of literature methodological framework was employed to
examine a wide range of academic sources, which provided a solid
foundation for the analysis. The findings shed light on several key factors
that influence the alignment of accounting theory and practice, including
regulatory compliance, educational reform, technological literacy,
cultural sensitivity, socio-economic challenges, and ethical behaviour.
The discussion addressed the multiple challenges faced by companies,
accounting professionals and regulators and provided valuable insights
to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The study suggests a
paradigm shift in accounting students' thinking, promoting holistic
practices and collaboration between accountants and academia for robust
experiential learning and industry-relevant training. This study impacts on various stakeholders within the accounting profession, regulators, and
South African companies