Research & Innovation Initiative Journals
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The Implications of Farm Production and Farmers\u27 Characteristics on Poverty Reduction in Benue Division, Cameroon: A Multiple Correspondence Analysis Approach
Get PDFThe main objective of this study was to determine the effect of farm production and Farmers\u27 Characteristics on Poverty Reduction in the Benue division in the Northern region of Cameroon. Data were collected from 399 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire through a stratified sampling technique of 12 sub-divisions in the Benue division. We adopted a survey research design. To estimate our results, we used Multiple correspondent analysis (MCA) and the OLS technique. The results reveal that there is a positive relationship between farm production and poverty reduction in Benue state. An increase in farm production will lead to a 2.19% reduction in farmers\u27 poverty in Benue and this result is significant at a 5% level of significance. Similarly, the farmer\u27s characteristics reveal that gender, farmers\u27 experience, and educational level also significantly affect poverty reduction. In this light, there is a need for the government to train and deploy more extension workers in the various sub-divisions and communities in Benue division, to increase farmers\u27 access to these services. This can be done by imparting specific skills to produce dominant food crops and livestock in the Benue division through workshops and seminars
Supplier Optimization Strategy, Risk Strategy and Enterprise Supply Chain Performance of SMEs: A Study in Bamenda City
Get PDFPurpose: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Bamenda City are integral to the region\u27s economic development, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and economic growth. Supply chain management involves the coordination and optimization of activities related to sourcing, production, and delivery of products and services. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplier optimization strategy and risk strategy on the enterprise supply chain performance of SMES in Bamenda City.
Methods: Data for this study was obtained with the help of a structured questionnaire. By combining both designs, the study can first describe the existing situation or relationships (descriptive), and then explore or test potential causes and effects (causal). The partial least square regression model was used to analyze the paper.
Results: Results from partial least squares structural equation models (PLS-SEM) revealed a positive insignificant effect of supplier optimization strategy on supply chain performance. Risk strategy was also found to exert a positive effect on supply chain performance everything being equal.
Implications: Although supplier optimization has a positive impact on supply chain performance, the effect is insignificant. This suggests that while the strategy is directionally sound, it may need to be enhanced or refined. Also, given the positive significant effect of the risk strategy on supply chain performance, organizations should continue to focus on and invest in risk management
Industry-4, Big Data, and Blockchain Research Prospects in Supply Chain Domain: A Bibliometric Review
Get PDFPurpose: Utilizing technologies becomes a prerequisite in the operations of supply chain management. Research in digitalized supply chain management (SCM) is now trending as a new arena of research. This study investigates and summarizes the research that has been performed so far in this area, and also explains what the future research scopes in the integration of digitalization and supply chain management are.
Method: To execute this study, we carry out a systematic literature review by using numerous software (i.e., BiBexcel, Gephi, and VOSviewer) for clustering existing literature in digitalized SCM from the Web of Science.
Result: Our findings suggest that Industry 4.0, Big data, Blockchain, and supply chain resilience are the four key categories in the research on digitalized SCM.
Implications: This study explains the reasons behind the research in these four categories. This literature review helps researchers to build a comprehensive knowledge of the research status of digitalized SCM and contributes to the direction of future research in digitalized SCM that helps researchers to explore their further investigations in the combination of SCM and Industry 4.0, Big data, Blockchain, and supply chain resilience
Female Learners’ Language Anxiety in English Language Classroom at Tertiary Level in Bangladesh
Get PDFSince the mid-20th century, anxiety has been identified as one of the debilitating factors for the success of second language acquisition (SLA) when researchers focus on the role of affective filters, namely motivation and personality factors, in enhancing learners’ cognitive capacities. This study focuses on the speech anxiety of female students in English language classrooms at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. This qualitative research used semi-structured interview techniques to investigate the individual perception of second language learners towards their speaking skills performance in the classroom or social settings. The sample size was 20 female respondents selected from two private universities in Bangladesh through purposive sampling. In order to investigate the learners\u27 anxiety and the related factors behind anxiety systematically, an interview profile has been made where 20 sub-questions are framed under the associated themes of research questions. The findings of this research show not only their views on learners\u27 anxiety but also a wide range of sociocultural and pedagogical factors that demotivate them from speaking in English in the broader social context. It further focuses on the role of the education system of Bangladesh in facilitating the teaching and learning of English speaking at the tertiary level properly. Finally, this study provides insight into the field of SLA showing some pathways to mitigate the speech anxiety of female learners at tertiary levels
Role of Sustainable Tourism in Preserving Cultural Heritage of Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Review
Get PDFThis comprehensive review investigates the role of sustainable tourism in preserving Afghanistan\u27s cultural heritage, given its rich tapestry of traditions, historical sites, and archaeological treasures. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential of sustainable tourism practices to mitigate the challenges faced by Afghanistan\u27s cultural heritage due to decades of conflict and instability while promoting economic development and community engagement. The study employs a systematic analysis of existing literature, case studies, and best practices from around the world to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of sustainable tourism approaches in the Afghan context. It examines the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism and their impact on the preservation of cultural heritage.
The findings reveal that sustainable tourism offers significant economic benefits for Afghanistan, including job creation, income generation, and economic diversification. Additionally, it has the potential to foster social and cultural impacts through cultural exchange, community pride, and the revitalization of traditional crafts and practices. Furthermore, sustainable tourism can address environmental considerations by promoting the sustainable management and protection of natural landscapes, archaeological sites, and cultural monuments. The implications of this study highlight the importance of implementing sustainable tourism practices to preserve Afghanistan\u27s cultural heritage. It provides valuable insights and practical examples from successful initiatives in other countries, offering recommendations for policymakers, tourism practitioners, and cultural heritage management stakeholders
Exploring Journalists’ Intentions Towards Digital Mobile Technologies: Extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in the Context of Ghana
Get PDFIn recent years, the use of digital mobile technologies for journalistic practice has gained much popularity among Ghanaian journalists. In this study, we explored three original Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and social influence) and two additional variables, (the cost of smartphones, and the cost of mobile data) to predict the relationship between the five variables, and journalists’ intention to use Digital Mobile Technologies (DMTs). A structured questionnaire was used to solicit data from 281 Ghanaian frontline journalists through an online survey. The respondents were selected by purposive sampling. Structural Equation Modelling analysis of the data showed that, as the cost of smartphones, and the cost of mobile data increases, journalists’ intention to use technology decreases in Ghana. Thus, mobile data and the cost of smartphones had a negative relationship with journalists’ intention to use DMTs. The testing of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and social influence, however, reported a positive relationship with the use intention. The findings from this study have implications for policy change on the reduction of the prices of both mobile data and smartphones to enhance the use of DMTs among journalists in Ghana. Also, the findings from this study could be considered a template for the proper regulation of the use of DMTs for enhanced practice of journalism in Ghana and other developing countries
Factors Affecting the Intention to Use Digital Banking: An Empirical Study from an Emerging Economy
Get PDFPurpose: Banks are adopting digital banking to attract clients by providing more useful services, and creating safe, dependable, and easy-to-use online tools. The purpose of this research is to examine the factors influencing the overall adoption of digital banking by retail banking customers.
Methods: An expanded technology acceptance model (TAM) serves as the basis for the theoretical framework of the study. A structured survey of 200 consumers is used to gather primary data, and multiple regression analysis is used to examine the correlations between six independent components.
Results: The research indicates that web capabilities, perceived utility, and awareness all have a positive and significant impact on the adoption of digital banking.
Implications: This study offers guidelines for creating service models and boosting the use of digital banking. The findings can help policymakers and financial organizations devise strategies for constructing the infrastructure and methods for offering digital banking services.
Originality: It is a pioneering effort to explore the combined effects of Perceived usefulness, usability, Privacy, safety, trust Cost of transactions Awareness and Web features on Bangladeshi users’ intention to use digital banking.
Limitations: This study is based on quantitative data analysis with limited sample size and period. In future, qualitative research may be conducted for deeper understanding of the issue
The Impact of Financial Repression on the Economy of Bangladesh
Get PDFPurpose: The study\u27s objective is to examine the impact of financial repression on Bangladesh\u27s economy. Moreover, the impact of individual policy tools such as real deposit rate, interest rate restriction, capital account control, share of state-owned commercial bank in total advances, and statutory liquidity ratio will be investigated to find the specific policy that hampers economic activities.
Method: The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method, originated by Pesaran and Shin (1999) and expanded by Pesaran, Shin, and Smith (2001), will be used to look at the long-term relationship. The study uses time series data for Bangladesh\u27s economy from 1973 to 2022.
Results: The findings of the ARDL approach confirm that repressive policies reduce economic growth over the sample period, and the effect becomes weaker after liberalizing the foreign exchange market. However, among the repressive policies, interest rate restrictions, statutory liquidity ratio, and the share of the state-owned bank in the commercial banks have significant adverse effects on economic growth.
Implication: Policymakers should take proper measures to liberalize the financial sector to boost economic activity. The interest rate restrictions, which are already in effect and hamper the fair functioning of the loan market, should be withdrawn
Determinants of Islamic Banks\u27 Profitability in an Emerging Economy: An Empirical Evidence from Bangladesh
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates the factors influencing the profitability of Sharia-based Islamic banks operating in Bangladesh.
Methods: Using panel data from 2017 to 2023, the current analysis shows how factors particular to individual banks have impacted the profitability of Bangladeshi banks. To complete this analysis, only Islamic banks are taken into consideration. In this paper, the factors that affect Bangladesh\u27s Islamic banking industry\u27s profitability are clarified. 10 Islamic banks operating in Bangladesh are included in the sample. The study investigates internal factors such as size, liquidity risk, operational effectiveness, credit risk, financial risk, and capital adequacy. The analysis is conducted using panel data regression with fixed effect.
Results: The result shows that operating efficiency, financial risk, and liquidity risk are the most relevant bank-specific characteristics in determining the Islamic banks’ profitability in Bangladesh.
Implications: The study suggests that bankers should keep a close observation of credit and liquidity risk indicators, diversify their revenue streams, and minimize expenses. Moreover from the regulatory perspective, the performance of the banks should be evaluated based on their operational efficiency and ability to generate profit. The policy direction will be directed towards enhancing resilience by reducing the risk internally and increasing the efficiency of the Islamic banks to intensify the robustness and stability of this sector.
Originality: While numerous previous studies have provided various explanations of the factors influencing bank profitability, this research specifically examines the internal factors affecting the profitability of Islamic Banks in Bangladesh, an emerging market.
Efficiency of Insurance Companies in Cameroon: Does Corporate Governance Matter?
Get PDFPurpose: The main objective of this study is to assess the level of efficiency of insurance companies in Cameroon and to examine the role of corporate governance in explaining this level of efficiency.
Method: Using data extracted from the audited financial statements and reports of 15 insurance companies from 2010 to 2020, the study employs the output-oriented Malmquist index to measure the efficiency scores of non-life insurance companies in Cameroon. To examine the effect of corporate governance on the firms\u27 efficiency levels, we used the panel Tobit model.
Result: Since insurance companies’ main mission is to protect against future risk occurrence while remaining financially viable, findings from data analysis revealed that the average efficiency level of sampled firms over the period of the study stands at 76.8%. Furthermore, results from the panel tobit analysis indicate that board gender diversity significantly enhances efficiency as well as board composition in terms of the number of foreigners on the board and ownership concentration measured by the number of shareholders compromise it. However, board size, presence of foreign executives, and foreign ownership were found to exert no significant effect on insurance companies in Cameroon.
Implications: The study therefore recommends that corporate governance and regulatory oversight be strengthened by implementing measures that will go a long way to enhance corporate governance practices and ensure compliance with best practices and standards within insurance companies in Cameroon. A performance analysis commission should be created within the regulatory organ to assess, rank, and recommend best practices to the insurance firms