Society for the Study of Business & Finance- SSBFNET: E-Journals
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Challenges of entrepreneurship education among students at the University of Venda
No full textEntrepreneurship education has been implemented at numerous higher education institutions to provide students with the skills and knowledge for pursuing entrepreneurship as a career. Nevertheless, several problems confront entrepreneurship education, despite its recognised benefits among students. This study sought to identify the obstacles in entrepreneurship education that impede student entrepreneurial development at the University of Venda. The research employed a qualitative design to fulfil its purpose. The targeted population consisted of University of Venda student-entrepreneurs engaged in entrepreneurship education programs and those enrolled in entrepreneurship courses. A convenience sample method was employed to choose 10 participants, and data were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews in alignment with the research objectives. The gathered data was evaluated thematically utilising Atlas.ti version 8.4. The findings revealed the obstacles confronting entrepreneurship education, which include budgetary limits, insufficient funding, and unsuitable teaching techniques. This research is one of the few that have recognised the obstacles of entrepreneurship education for students. A mixed-method research strategy is advisable for a comprehensive comprehension of the topic
Educational technology for equity in South Africa: Promise and challenge
No full textDespite extensive research on the impact of educational technology in enhancing the quality of teaching, learning, and learner academic achievement, there remains a notable lack of research focusing on teachers’ perspectives regarding the role of technology in addressing educational inequities. Using South Africa as a case study, this qualitative investigation sought to explore South African teachers’ views on the perceived role of educational technology in promoting educational equity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four purposefully selected teachers from public schools in South Africa. The thematic findings indicated that the participants believed educational technology holds the potential to significantly contribute to the redress of educational inequities by expanding access to information and resources, improving the quality and efficiency of education, and catering to diverse learner preferences. However, participants also expressed concern that technology could potentially worsen existing disparities rooted in socioeconomic status. They emphasized the importance of equitable access to technological infrastructure. This study provides insights into the complex relationship between educational technology and equity within the South African context and underscores the importance of incorporating teachers’ perspectives in the implementation of technology-driven initiatives intended to eliminate educational inequalities
Fuel price fluctuation and agricultural transportation in Iringa district, Tanzania
No full textThis study investigates the impact of rising fuel prices on the transportation of agricultural crops in Iringa District, Tanzania from 2021 to 2023. It examines how fuel price fluctuations have influenced transportation costs, market accessibility, and overall agricultural productivity. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from smallholder farmers, transporters, and market traders through surveys and interviews. The findings indicate that the continuous increase in fuel prices has significantly escalated transportation costs, limiting farmers’ access to distant markets and reducing their profit margins Additionally, higher transportation expenses have contributed to increased food prices, negatively affecting consumers and overall market efficiency. The study further highlights challenges such as supply chain disruptions, decreased competitiveness of local agricultural products, and financial constraints for transport service providers. To mitigate these impacts, policy recommendations include the introduction of targeted fuel subsidies, investment in alternative transportation solutions improvements in rural infrastructure, and strengthening agricultural market linkages. Implementing these measures could help stabilize transportation costs, enhance market access, and support the resilience of smallholder farmers in Iringa District, Tanzania
Career pathways and employability challenges of national certificate vocational (NCV) office administration graduates in one of the TVET colleges in Limpopo
No full textCareer trajectories and graduate employment outcomes have been extensively studied across disciplines; however, the post-graduation pathways of National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Office Administration graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions remain under-investigated. This study, grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory (ELT), explores the career destinations of NCV Office Administration graduates from a TVET college in Limpopo, South Africa. Adopting a qualitative research design within a constructivist paradigm, data were collected using open-ended questionnaires from 13 purposively sampled graduates. Thematic content analysis revealed a significant misalignment between the skills imparted by the NCV programme and labour market demands. This skills mismatch, exacerbated by limited industry engagement, adversely affects graduate employability. Based on these findings, the study recommends the establishment of a dedicated career guidance unit within the college to support informed programme selection and career planning. Furthermore, it advocates for enhanced collaboration between the college, academic staff, and industry stakeholders to facilitate graduates’ transition into employment. Curriculum development should respond dynamically to empirical insights reflecting current labour market trends. This study contributes to the discourse on improving employability outcomes for NCV Office Administration graduates and identifies avenues for further research
Utilising ward committees for effective oversight in local government: City of Ekurhuleni
No full textThis article aims to elucidate the effectiveness of ward committees in providing oversight within the local government framework, specifically focusing on the City of Ekurhuleni. Known as the "place of peace," Ekurhuleni is one of the largest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, situated within Gauteng Province, also referred to as the Gauteng City Region (GCR). Notably, extensive literature exists addressing the role of ward committees across various municipal categories in South Africa, particularly regarding their function in facilitating public participation across different spheres of government. The primary objective of this paper is to outline, analyse, and evaluate the impact of ward committees on municipal governance, with an emphasis on their role in promoting effective oversight to ensure enhanced governance and service delivery. Key aspects of this discussion will include the necessity of reviewing Section 73 of the Municipal Structures Act of 1998. This statute mandates the establishment of ward committees by local government, which are expected to function in alignment with the elected political office\u27s term of five years. The research methodology employed is predominantly desktop-based, utilising secondary data sourced from academic journals and relevant publications. This approach facilitates a comprehensive outline of existing literature concerning ward committees and public participation. Additionally, the article references a selection of published works that provide insights into the achievements of ward committees, while also identifying existing gaps within the current body of knowledge
Three pillars of financial sustainability
No full textThis study aims to empirically analyze the three key pillars of university financial sustainability—revenue-generating activities, good financial governance, and IT capabilities—with performance, age, and size as control variables. Using a survey method targeting private universities in Indonesia, data were collected from financial leadership representatives across 14 provinces, yielding 627 valid responses. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among variables. The results reveal significant positive effects of good financial governance on financial sustainability, IT capabilities on financial sustainability and revenue-generating activities on financial sustainability. Furthermore, revenue-generating activities have a strong positive impact on both good financial governance and IT capabilities. The analysis also identifies IT capability as a mediating variable between revenue-generating activities and financial sustainability, as well as between good financial governance and financial sustainability. These findings underscore the strategic role of technology-based governance in enhancing the financial resilience of higher education institutions. Accordingly, the study recommends strengthening the three pillars of financial sustainability—revenue diversification, sound governance practices, and robust IT capabilities—to ensure long-term institutional sustainability
Challenges experienced by family-owned businesses in Thohoyandou town
No full textThis study explores the challenges that impact the sustainability of family-owned businesses in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative design was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with ten business owners and managers from diverse sectors, including transportation, construction, poultry farming, and retail. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used to interpret the data. Findings revealed that poor financial management, skills shortages, over-expansion, limited government support, and family conflicts are the most significant threats to business survival. These internal and external constraints erode financial stability and governance structures, resulting in low longevity rates. The study recommends financial literacy training, formal governance mechanisms, succession planning, and simplified government support systems tailored for rural enterprises. Strengthening these aspects can enhance both sustainability and economic development in rural areas, such as Thohoyandou
Resource Management Strategies and Delivery of Housing Construction Projects
No full textEffective management of human, material, and financial resources is crucial for delivering housing construction projects successfully. In Musanze District, Rwanda, many housing projects have faced delays and cost overruns, largely due to weaknesses in planning, coordination, and resource use. Using the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Systems Theory as guiding frameworks, this study assessed how resource management strategies impact the performance of housing construction projects. A descriptive survey design with correlational analysis was used. The study targeted 152 stakeholders, including district infrastructure officers, project managers, site engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, foremen, skilled workers, and material suppliers. A stratified random sample of 110 participants was drawn, and a 10% pilot test (n = 11) was conducted to ensure the questionnaire’s clarity. Reliability analysis using Cronbach’s Alpha produced a value of 0.826, indicating strong internal consistency. Content validity was confirmed with a CVI of 0.87. Data were analyzed in SPSS 25 using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression at a 5% significance level. Findings indicated that overall project delivery performance was high (composite mean = 4.38). Key delivery indicators such as quality (mean = 4.74), scope achievement (4.56), and stakeholder satisfaction (4.35) were strong, while timely completion recorded the lowest performance (mean = 4.02). Material Resource Management (MRM) exhibited a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation with project delivery (r = 0.510, p = 0.000), making it the most influential individual strategy
Augmented theory of planned behaviour, tax literacy and tax compliance in developing countries: a conceptual framework
No full textEffective tax systems rely on tax literacy and tax compliance behaviour among taxpayers for government revenue mobilisation. However, the extant literature suggests that in sub-Saharan Africa, mobilising tax revenue to fund public services and infrastructure development to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (SDGs) remains a great challenge. According to the 2024 Revenue Statistics in Africa report, jointly undertaken by the African Union Commission (AUC), African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration and the OECD Development Centre, the average tax-to-GDP ratio was 16% in African countries in 2022, compared to 19.3%, 21.5% and 34.0% respectively for Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and OECD countries. Despite being recognised as a critical aspect of tax compliance, the role played by political legitimacy in taxpayer compliance behaviour remained under-explored in developing countries. This study proposes an Augmented Theory of Planned Compliance Behaviour (ATPCB) framework, based on Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and both the deterrence and accommodation theories of compliance, to predict taxpayers’ compliance behaviour, especially in developing countries. The framework comprises four components: attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and political legitimacy. The findings of this study have implications for policymakers and researchers as it will assist future research in providing a structured approach for assessing taxpayers’ compliance behaviour. Also, it will provide interested parties with a better understanding of the combined effects of individuals’ beliefs, attitudes, norms, and political legitimacy on tax compliance. Lastly, the study will assist governments in deciding the future course of action towards effective policymaking for taxation and revenue mobilisation
An examination of safety culture in patient safety incident reporting: a literature review through the spider framework
No full textPatient safety incident reporting is central to service quality, serving as a crucial component in internal learning and improvement processes, renewal, policy revision, and updates to existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines. Low reporting rates of safety incidents highlight the importance of investigating the factors contributing to underreporting. This study aims to analyze the influence of safety culture on patient safety incident reporting. The research design employed in this study is a literature review. The SPIDER framework was used to guide the literature review. Articles selected for the study adhered to inclusion criteria, specifically journal publications within a maximum timeframe of the past five years (2019–2024). A strong safety culture has been shown to improve patient safety incident reporting rates with the influence variable are open communication, cooperation between units, non-blaming responses, feedback on errors, organizational learning, supervisor/manager expectations and actions, and hospital management support. Patient safety culture significantly influences the reporting of patient safety incidents