International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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Exploring perceived cost, benefit, and compatibility as technological contextual determinants of mobile commerce adoption in SMEs: A TOE model perspective
Get PDFThis research explores the technological factors that influence the adoption of mobile commerce by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Polokwane Municipality. Using a quantitative approach, data were gathered from 146 SME owners, randomly selected from a total population of 261. The study applied descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression techniques to examine the relationships between variables. ANOVA was used to evaluate the sub-hypotheses, while regression analysis tested the primary hypotheses. The instruments used in the study demonstrated strong internal consistency, with all Cronbach’s alpha values exceeding 0.7. Additionally, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test confirmed that the data met the assumption of normality. The results showed that perceived cost, perceived benefit, and perceived compatibility each play a significant role in influencing m-commerce adoption. These findings offer valuable insights into the internal technological considerations that impact digital uptake in SMEs. The study provides both academic value by contributing to the theoretical understanding of technology adoption, and practical guidance for enhancing m-commerce use within the SME sector, particularly in similar socio-economic environments
Fuel price fluctuation and agricultural transportation in Iringa district, Tanzania
Get PDFThis 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
Extortion and \u27protection fees\u27: Victimising women in Eastern Cape villages
No full textIn South Africa, extortion and protection racketeering are widespread, particularly affecting small businesses and rural communities, exacerbating social vulnerabilities. In the Eastern Cape, women face a disturbing trend where they are coerced into paying "protection fees" to avoid threats of rape, rendering them in a state of helplessness. Extortion has permeated all sectors of the South African economy, from construction to entertainment (nightclubs), and extortion tactics among rural women have been on the rise. The aim of the paper is to explore how gender, poverty, and crime interact to oppress these women, as well as the weaknesses in law enforcement that allow protection fees to persist. The paper employed documentary analysis of media reports, government publications, and academic studies to understand the socio-economic and legal contexts surrounding these practices. The theory of learnt helplessness and hopelessness is applied to explain the psychological effects of repeated extortion on rural women, leading to feelings of powerlessness. Findings reveal that these women experience heightened psychological distress, social isolation, and economic disempowerment due to ongoing threats of violence. The study highlights how their financial independence and social roles are weakened, making them more vulnerable to gender-based violence. The paper recommends urgent action by law enforcement and traditional leaders to protect women in these rural communities and to develop strategies to combat extortion and gender-based violence
The usability of performance management systems as a tool in effective service delivery of the South African local government
Get PDFThe New Public Management (NPM) has brought a trend toward the government to administer the performance of government personnel to enhance government performance and the distribution of government services. In 1998, in accordance with the White Paper on Local Government, in South Africa Performance Management (PM) was brought in to improve the performance of government employees and ensure a successful distribution of public services. PM led to the establishment of the Municipal Performance Management Systems (MPMS). However, currently, there is little information on the effectiveness of the usage of MPMS to ameliorate the delivery of municipal services. The study evaluated the fruitfulness of MPMS through exploring the perceptions of municipal employees towards MPMS, and the ability of MPMS to foster positive change in South African municipalities through lessons gained from practices. To address the questions posed by the study, a qualitative method of research was employed drawing heavily on secondary data to expand knowledge of the usability of MPMS in the local government of South Africa. Subsequently, the findings of the study show that the effectiveness of MPMS is affected by various issues such as insufficient information and knowledge concerning MPMS, lack of monitoring and evaluation, poor financial administration, lack of participation from all municipal employees, data accuracy & the reliability of performance indicators, and shortage of skills. In short, the study concluded that the usage of MPMS in South Africa is not 100% effective and could be enhanced through establishing training workshops, monitoring, and evaluation, incorporating all municipal personnel to take part in the MPMS, and offering financial and non-financial incentives to motivate employees
The influence of organisational ambidexterity on digital efficacy: The moderating role of digital skills
Get PDFIn the face of fast technological improvements, higher education institutions must strike a balance between leveraging existing strengths and pursuing new opportunities to succeed. This study examines how organisational ambidexterity affects digital efficacy in Zimbabwean state universities, with a focus on the moderating influence that digital skills play. A cross-sectional research design was employed to collect data from 110 academic and administrative staff at three Zimbabwean state universities through digital platforms. The findings show a positive relationship between organisational ambidexterity and digital efficacy, with digital skills significantly moderating the relationship. Universities with ambidextrous staff have higher levels of academic excellence, research productivity, and stakeholder satisfaction. Due to limited time and funds, the study only focused on three state universities, but it would be interesting to explore private universities in the future. This research provides valuable insights for Zimbabwean state universities to enhance their digital capabilities. By fostering a balance between exploitation and exploration of digital innovations and investing in digital skills development, universities can improve their digital competence and competitiveness. The study contributes to enhancing digital efficacy within the higher education sector, informing strategic decisions, and providing valuable insights for university leaders, policymakers, and scholars grappling with the challenges of digital transformation. This research contributes to the existing literature on digital transformation in higher education, particularly within resource-constrained environments. The study provides novel empirical evidence based on data collected from university staff interacting through digital platforms
Integration of technology in mathematics education: Experiences and perceptions of public senior secondary school mathematics teachers in Botswana
Get PDFThe integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in educational contexts has led to substantial changes in both teaching and learning approaches. The role of ICT has proven advantageous for both teachers and students. Despite this, there exists a scarcity of research investigating the experiences and perspectives of mathematics teachers at the senior secondary level in Botswana concerning the integration of ICT in mathematics education. This study investigated the perceptions and experiences of 20 purposively selected senior secondary mathematics teachers regarding the integration of ICT in mathematics education. The study was guided by Mishra and Koehler\u27s (2006) TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) framework and employed structured interviews and observations to collect data. The results showed that mathematics teachers are aware of the concept of integrating technology into mathematics education. The results also showed that most teachers are only familiar with basic technological tools such as computers and scientific calculators. Teachers acknowledged the significance of integrating technology into mathematics education for both them and their students. They noted that the integration of ICT in mathematics teaching can assist in lesson planning, delivery, communication, administrative duties, and research, while also having the potential to enhance students\u27 academic performance. However, teachers conceded that there are significant challenges to effectively integrating technology into mathematics education, which include a shortage of resources, a lack of necessary knowledge and skills, and inadequate professional training specific to the subject. The study recommended that the government of Botswana should focus on providing reliable internet connectivity in public schools, maintaining classroom
Mapping the Landscape: Challenges and Growth Prospects for Construction SMEs in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Get PDFConstruction SMEs contribute significantly to the growth and development of national economies and provinces. The study aimed to explore the prevalent challenges and growth prospects of construction small and medium enterprises operating in Gauteng Province, South Africa. It followed a multi-method qualitative approach, a systematic literature review followed by semi-structured interviews. A systematic literature review was initially conducted to examine the available scholarly literature from Google Scholar and Web of Science databases on the study area. From the databases, 24 studies were screened for a detailed review from the initially selected 185 publications. A thematic content analysis was conducted to explore different themes from the screened studies analysed using ATLAS.ti24 software. Then a semi-structured Interview was conducted with Fifteen Owners/Managers of construction SMEs operating in Gauteng province. Subsequently, six major categories of challenges were identified: corruption and ethical issues, financial and economic barriers, regulatory and governance shortcomings, organizational gaps, project performance gaps, and market constraints. The study, with a similar research approach, uncovered different prospects, which were grouped into three key areas: financial and policy support, technological and digital advancements, and market and strategic collaborations. Based on these findings, a framework was developed to capture the interplay between these challenges and opportunities. The study offers practical recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and SMEs to address critical impediments while capitalizing on available opportunities.
 
The effect of servicescape on consumer revisit intention through fine dining restaurant satisfaction and reputation in Malang City
Get PDFThis study aims to analyze the effect of servicescape on revisit intention at fine dining restaurants in Malang City, by reviewing the mediating role of customer satisfaction and restaurant reputation. The restaurant industry, especially fine dining, faces major challenges due to tight competition triggered by the increasing number of restaurants in Indonesia. This phenomenon requires restaurants to offer more than just food and drinks, namely an exclusive dining experience, involving servicescape elements such as ambiance, functionality, and signs that affect customer satisfaction and restaurant reputation. This study found that servicescape has a positive and significant effect on revisit intention (?=0.379; p<0.001), customer satisfaction (?=0.156; p<0.001), and restaurant reputation (?=0.745; p<0.001). Elements such as interior design, lighting, aroma, cleanliness, and service create a memorable experience for customers, strengthen the restaurant\u27s reputation, and increase customer loyalty. In addition, mediation by customer satisfaction and restaurant reputation showed significant results (p<0.001 and p=0.020), strengthening the relationship between servicescape and revisit intention. These results confirm that a good restaurant reputation not only increases consumer trust but also strengthens their perception of the quality of the experience offered. In the context of fine dining, servicescape is key to creating a high-end experience that meets customer expectations, thereby increasing return intentions and building loyalty. This study provides important insights for fine dining restaurant managers on how servicescape elements and restaurant reputation can be optimized to create a competitive advantage amidst increasingly fierce industry competition
Holding momentum on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Get PDFWith an observational research design, using only publicly available stock price data, this paper demonstrates that momentum extends beyond the medium term (3 to 12 months) when generating momentum profiles for individual stocks via a preset term-structure, showing as clusters of momentum. Profiling shifts the focus onto the holding period and classifies momentum cycles on the eventual outcome as mini, regular, ultra, super and hyper, depending on duration. Results show that major cycles comprise many minor cycles. Medium-term momentum or regular cycles, therefore, may consist of several mini cycles. The main finding of this paper is that there is potential to remain in active cycles for several years, thereby holding momentum. Institutional investors and portfolio managers may use momentum profiling as a secondary or supplementary tool in addition to their own proprietary models as individual momentum profiles enable discretionary entries and exits into active cycles. The custom momentum index, updated at short intervals with variable members, may give some indication of the current state of momentum in a market as an increase in index members corresponds with an increase in momentum activity. The custom index, therefore, may be useful to portfolio managers when tracking the overall momentum in a market
Applying the UTAUT model to explore user behavior in ChatGPT usage
Get PDFAgainst the backdrop of rapid advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), ChatGPT has emerged as a representative application, drawing significant research interest in user behavior patterns. This study applies the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model to investigate the key factors influencing the adoption of ChatGPT among users in Taiwan. Using a cross-sectional survey approach, we recruited a sample of 454 Taiwanese ChatGPT users through social media and online forums. The study analyzed the impact of four key constructs—performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions—on behavioral intention and actual usage behavior. The results indicated that performance expectancy and effort expectancy play pivotal roles in shaping behavioral intention, while facilitating conditions significantly affect actual usage behavior. Furthermore, cultural background exerts a critical moderating effect on the influence of social factors. These findings highlight the unique characteristics of user behavior in Taiwan, provide practical insights for optimizing the design and promotion of GenAI tools, and offer valuable implications for technology adoption policies