International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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Navigating identity and relationships: the experiences of youth in polygamous families in Madombidzha village, Vhembe district
Get PDFThis study explored the complex dynamics of identity and relationships among youth living in polygamous families in Madombidzha Village, located in the Vhembe district. Through qualitative research methods, including interviews, the study captures the lived experiences of these young individuals as they navigate their identities within the context of multiple familial structures. Participants were chosen through snowball sampling. The findings reveal that youth in polygamous settings often face unique challenges, such as competing loyalties, emotional conflicts, and societal stigma, which significantly shape their self-perception and interpersonal relationships. Using a qualitative research approach, the study captures the lived experiences of young individuals navigating multiple familial structures. The findings reveal that youth in polygamous settings often encounter challenges such as divided loyalties, emotional distress, and societal stigma, all of which shape their self-perception and social interactions
Trapped in turmoil: the developmental toll of insurgencies in Nigeria since 2014
Get PDFIn 2014, Nigeria surpassed South Africa to become Africa\u27s largest economy following a rebasing of its GDP. This achievement, however, obscured fundamental socio-economic vulnerabilities that insurgencies have subsequently revealed. In the last ten years, ongoing insecurity caused by groups such as Boko Haram in the northeast and the Niger Delta Avengers in the south has hindered Nigeria\u27s development, affecting agriculture, oil production, education, and governance. The insurgencies have created a conflict trap, hindered progress, and exacerbated underdevelopment, resulting in Nigeria\u27s growing fragility relative to other African economies. This research analyses the socio-economic impact of insurgencies from 2014 to 2024, highlighting the ways in which insecurity and governance failures have perpetuated cycles of violence and regression. This paper examines the mechanisms by which conflict impedes development, providing actionable insights for policymakers to formulate comprehensive strategies that disrupt these cycles and promote sustainable growth, thereby revitalising Nigeria\u27s role as a leader in Africa\u27s security and development goals
Developing a framework for the improvement of stakeholder management plans
Get PDFThe study aims to develop a framework for stakeholder management planning to guide entities in using holistic structured and tailored approaches that effectively guide stakeholder management. The study was inspired by perceived inadequacies of current frameworks to provide actionable solutions to stakeholder management planning. The study is underpinned by pragmatism and involves mixed methods research consisting of quantitative and qualitative approaches. A stratified random sampling method is used with the target population being 55 companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange covering the period 2019-2023. The theoretical framework was anchored on the stakeholder theory by Edward Freeman (1984). Questionnaires (n=215) are analysed using SPSS version 26 while 12 semi-structured interview guides are analysed using NVIV0 version 14 with 10 local corporate governance practitioners validating the framework. The Quantitative techniques used are Cronbach alpha, exploratory factor analysis, regression and ANOVA. Findings were that variables from the study namely the definitive / latent criteria, communication, engagement and collaboration sub-plans are sufficiently positively related to stakeholder management planning and several sub-themes emerged around them to produce a holistic framework of stakeholder management planning. The framework is expected to see the improvement of stakeholder management planning in practice
Learning for sustainability: Towards a conceptual framework linking business process management with process safety management in occupational health and safety curricula
Get PDFThis study aimed to emphasise the growing significance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in company sustainability conversations, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which highlighted the essential nature of OHS beyond simple awareness. Despite organisations\u27 prior awareness of OHS principles, the pandemic\u27s catastrophic effects underscored the imperative to comprehensively align OHS with overarching sustainability initiatives, particularly the United Nations\u27 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The advancement of global digitalisation requires safety experts to utilise management and data analytics tools, with Business Process Management (BPM) and Process Safety Management (PSM) being essential in this context. This study employs an extensive literature review to provide a conceptual framework integrating BPM and PSM aspects to advance the development of OHS students as future leaders in sustainable practices. The results support the incorporation of Sustainable Development Goals into Occupational Health and Safety courses, highlighting the necessity of providing students with Business Process Management, including data analytics, and Project Management skills to foster leadership in sustainability. This study introduces an innovative framework designed to augment students\u27 abilities to spearhead sustainability-focused learning activities in the domain of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). Integrating SDGs, BPM, and PSM into OHS education can substantially enhance the development of a more sustainable and resilient global future. This indicates that such integration can equip students to effectively tackle difficult challenges, such as pandemics and other global disasters. This study offers novel insights by presenting a paradigm that amalgamates BPM and PSM with SDGs in OHS education, hence cultivating future leaders capable of promoting sustainable practices. Nonetheless, as a theoretical investigation, additional empirical research is required to examine particular curricular requirements in other countries and to substantiate the framework\u27s effectiveness
Socio-Economic transformation in South Africa: The role of Local Economic Development (LED) strategies
Get PDFThis study aims to provide compelling evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of local economic development (LED) in advancing economic and social development. The research undertook a systematic review of existing literature to assess whether LED strategies have effectively addressed the racially and gender-based socio-economic disparities between affluent and impoverished communities. The analysis revealed that municipal LED efforts have predominantly concentrated on community economic development projects, many of which have turned out to be economically unfeasible with minimal enduring impact on poverty alleviation. Moreover, the collaboration among government entities, local businesses, and the voluntary sector was frequently found to be weak or altogether absent. For significant socio-economic transformation in South Africa, LED policies must emphasize not only an increase in the number of job opportunities but also a diversification of economic activities. Local governments are called upon to play a proactive role in this transformative process. Furthermore, the LED strategy should be comprehensive and not reliant on a limited number of projects. This study This research is characterised by originality and great scientific value, as it underscores the necessity for the national government to take on a leadership position and devise LED guidelines that empower local authorities with the capacity to effectively foster LED activities
Evaluating the impact of foreign direct investment on economic growth in developing economies: Evidence from South Africa (2000–2023)
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on economic growth in South Africa over the period 2000 to 2023. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model was employed to assess the relationship between FDI inflows and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while controlling for key macroeconomic variables. The findings reveal that FDI exerts a significant positive influence on economic performance, with a 1% increase in FDI inflows associated with a 1.93% rise in GDP. However, high inflation exerts a detrimental effect, with a coefficient of -1.99, highlighting the importance of macroeconomic stability. The analysis also indicates that trade openness contributes positively to economic growth, while political risk remains a substantial deterrent to investment, as shown by a coefficient of -3.11. These findings underline the importance of maintaining a stable political environment, managing inflation effectively, and enhancing trade liberalisation to maximise the benefits of FDI. Policy recommendations include strengthening regulatory frameworks and fostering trade openness
A review of emerging AI technologies in education: challenges and benefits in South Africa
Get PDFEmerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are transforming the global education sector, with Artificial Intelligence playing a crucial role in enhancing teaching, learning, and administrative processes. In South Africa, AI-driven innovations have the potential to bridge educational gaps, improve student engagement, and personalize learning experiences. Adaptive learning platforms, automated grading systems, and intelligent tutoring applications are revolutionizing education by making it more efficient and accessible. However, despite these advancements, the adoption of AI in South African education faces significant challenges. Key challenges include data privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and a shortage of AI-skilled educators. These challenges create an uneven distribution of AI’s benefits, limiting its potential to improve learning outcomes on a national scale. Highlighting the need to explore the opportunities and barriers associated with the adoption of emerging AI technologies in South African education. Therefore, this study adopts a comprehensive literature review aiming to explore emerging AI technologies in the educational context in south Africa. To achieve this, the research will address the following questions: What impact have new technologies had on South Africa’s development? and in what ways can emerging technologies supporting South Africa\u27s development initiatives. The findings indicate that AI tools have shown success in improving learning outcomes, increasing student engagement, and streamlining administrative tasks in well-resourced schools. However, their impact is uneven due to infrastructural and systemic challenges; also, the widespread adoption is hindered by a persistent digital divide, limited internet access, and a shortage of AI-trained educators, especially in rural areas. Additionally, ethical concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the absence of clear regulatory frameworks pose significant barriers
Crisis communication during cyber attacks: A Situational Crisis Communication Theory perspective
Get PDFSignificant reputational and operational risks to organisations are mostly caused by cyberattacks, such as ransomware and data breaches, making effective communication key. The study seeks to answer the following research questions: 1) What challenges are encountered during cyber crisis communication, and 2) which crisis communication strategies are most effectively used by organisations during cyberattacks, and how they align with SCCT? The study was qualitative in nature, using existing literature and case studies of prominent cyberattacks that happened globally in 2020, where cyberattacks were at their peak due to the work-from-home setup. The study applied Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) to guide the research. Findings highlight key challenges in crisis communication, such as balancing transparency with confidentiality, countering misinformation, ensuring timely communication when the organisation is under pressure and reaching marginalised populations. Regarding research question two, the findings identified five key themes: transparency spectrum, timeliness and proactiveness, channel usage, message focus and the COVID-19 context. To enforce effective communication during cyberattacks, organisations must develop pre-approved communication toolkits, use internal decision processes to balance risk and openness, conduct vulnerability-sensitive communication planning and Audits and Regulatory Compliance
Maritime based drug-trafficking in South African communities: the case study of youth-network engaged scholarship project
Get PDFThe South African communities are being buffeted by illicit drug markets. While the dynamics of drug markets are shaped by a range of domestic political and socioeconomic factors, these states have been rendered vulnerable also by their proximity to major transnational drug trafficking routes that link illicit drug production origin points with regional and global marketplaces. Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis and a wide array of synthetic substances flow through the region along various routes, exploiting vulnerabilities in port facilities and interdiction agencies, and connecting the substances, their markets and their organized criminal beneficiaries. The results show that illicit drug detection systems may be inadequate due to a lack of experience with online fraud. From a South African standpoint, the study found that there is a high risk due to a lack of legal regulation. Maritime Based Drug-Trafficking in South African Communities are encouraged to acquire and develop Maritime expertise because the South Africa communities lacks these specialists. To achieve the study\u27s goals, a literature analysis was used, and secondary data was evaluated and deconstructed. This paper major goal was to look at the causes and motivations behind Maritime Based Drug-Trafficking. The inquiry concentrated on young people\u27s excessive and unusual drugs and alcohol consumption. The study made recommendations for potential research topics that the South Africa communities could look into in order to create and improve Maritime models
Rehabilitation versus retribution: How international inspectorates influence prison philosophy and practice?
Get PDFThis study examines the ideological impact of international prison inspectorates on national correctional systems, concentrating on how these bodies influence the balance between rehabilitative and retributive penological philosophies. While their primary mandate is to monitor prison conditions and prevent ill-treatment, inspectorates such as the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) subtly shape penal ideologies through their engagement and recommendations. The research sets out three objectives: to identify the penological philosophies promoted by selected international inspectorates, to analyse their rhetorical and strategic approaches in influencing prison systems, and to assess the tangible impact of these efforts on national policies and prison practices. A qualitative, comparative case study method is used, incorporating content analysis of inspectorate reports and communications, national legislation, and interviews with key stakeholders. Preliminary findings reveal a consistent promotion of rehabilitative and human rights-based approaches by these bodies. The CPT emphasizes normalization and reintegration, OPCAT NPMs focus increasingly on conditions supporting rehabilitation, and the ICRC advocates humane treatment, which underpins rehabilitative ideals. Impacts include legislative reforms, the introduction of rehabilitation programs, and shifts in official discourse. However, these changes vary across countries and are often limited by political, economic, and cultural barriers. The study concludes that international inspectorates, though often operating subtly, contribute significantly to shifting correctional ideologies toward more balanced, rehabilitative models. It adds to penological scholarship by illuminating the mechanisms through which global oversight fosters internal penal reform