International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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Strengthening entrepreneur business performance for South African SMEs by integrating behavioural courses into business skills training
Get PDFSkills and knowledge of business and management are essential for enterprise growth and business survival, to a point where entrepreneurs regard them as indispensable qualities desired in business management. These qualities are not the only ones necessary in business and management, as there are many determinants of business growth. However, there are numerous instances where a business enterprise fails despite its human resources having received high quality training in business skills, and sometimes even having adequate resources. The purpose of this study was to design an innovative way to incorporate attitudes and behaviour in the training of entrepreneurs to stimulate high performance. Evidence was produced to show that some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which were on the verge of collapsing/failing can be revived by training on aspects of ‘attitude’ and ‘behaviour’. This paper demonstrated how an existing training on skills development can be improved by adding content that focuses on attitudes and behaviour to reduce their failure. The findings of this study have potential to enable business schools and colleges offering entrepreneurship courses to incorporate ‘attitude’ and ‘behaviour’ which could aid in the survival of the SMEs that are so critical for the economy of the country
Research and publication at crossroads: exploring the catalysts of ethical misconducts of scholarly work
Get PDFWriting and publishing scientific and rigorous work needs a high level of integrity and adherence to ethical guidelines. Several publications have been rejected by authentic journals as a result of not adhering to a deontological standpoint. This laxity has posed deadly repercussions to the beholder including ruining its institutional image in academic scholarship. Notwithstanding, numerous writers are acquainted with the consequences of not observing ethical standards in research and publication, yet in trying to put up their pieces of work get caught in the same quandary. Anchored on a thematically oriented review of literature, it was imperative to try to explain the key ethical misconduct bases in research and publication. To fulfil this quest many journal articles were analysed. It was found that numerous aspects form the basis for misconduct in research and publication including; the pressure to ‘publish or perish’, the limitation of mentorship and guidance programs, knowledge on research and publication, promotion and academic advancement, competition among colleagues, workload pressure, financial motives, pressure from individual morality, and the challenge of research culture. Consequently, it is imperative to note that to publish a scholarly piece of work, adhering to ethical standards is non-negotiable
The effect of Islamic leadership, organizational culture, motivation, work environment, and job satisfaction on employee performance
Get PDFThis research aims to determine the effect of Islamic leadership, organizational culture, motivation, work environment, and job satisfaction on employee performance. Utilizing a quantitative approach, data was gathered through a survey method using a Likert-type scale with 5 rating options. The population in this study was all the employees of Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto as many as 721 and the sample of 142 respondents was conveniently selected for this research. In this study the technique of analyzing the data using multiple regression analysis and the coefficient of determination test R2. Research results indicate that while organizational culture has no significant effect on employee performance, Islamic leadership, motivation, the work environment, and job satisfaction all positively and significantly affect employee performance. The findings of this research offer insights that can enhance employee performance within organizations. The independent variables Islamic leadership, organizational culture motivation work environment, and job satisfaction have an impact on 69.6% of the employee performance variable at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto and factors not covered in this study will have an impact on the remaining 30.4% of the employee performance variable. Organizations should prioritize enhancements in Islamic leadership, organizational culture, motivation, work environment, and job satisfaction to achieve this. Strategies for improvement may include fostering learning and development opportunities for employees, cultivating a positive and supportive workplace atmosphere, and providing competitive compensation and benefits packages
Understanding congruence of values: a phenomenographic data analysis
Get PDFThis study focuses on understanding the concept of congruence of values. Congruence indicates that there is alignment between the values of an employee and those of the organization. It is a condition where an employee embraces, adheres, and develops a deep understanding of the significance of the organizational core values. The focus of this study is the core values of a tertiary higher education institution located in Manila, Philippines. Congruence is key to the success of the institution as it ensures that the behaviors exhibited by employees in the workplace are strategically aligned with the organizational vision, mission, goals, and objectives. Through phenomenographic data analysis, metaphors have been identified to create a more comprehensive view of congruence of values. As a phenomenon, other meanings may be derived in order to establish a clearer conceptualization of congruence of values. A Phenomenographic Outcome Space of Congruence of Values is presented to provide a complete picture of the phenomenon. The Phenomenographic Outcome Space ties together the metaphors associated with congruence of values, namely: timeline, imprint, compass, light, and legacy
Language that denigrates women in selected isiXhosa poems
Get PDFLanguage plays a critical role in isiXhosa poetry. Through the play and interplay of morphemes, words, phrases and lines, poets carry their messages to the intended audience. In investigating five (5) isiXhosa poems, we discovered that poets do use language that denigrates women. This language manifest itself in isiXhosa poetry by words, phrases, and lines that paint women as gold diggers, robbers, lacking intellect, promiscuous, properties of men. The discovery was made through the use of qualitative research approach and critical discourse analysis design. The selected data was analysed through the lenses of African feminism, which examines the experiences of women in literature, such as oppression of women, traces of gender inequality, role of women, as well as representation of women. Main findings of the study demonstrate that language used in isiXhosa poetry upholds the ideals patriarchal ideology and logic. It uses language that is gender bias, sexist and anti-feminism. This form of language contributes to gender-based violence, as it represents women as objects of men, lacking intellect, promiscuous. In this paper, we recommend that poets find alternative language in criticising women; using language that uphold dignity of women will not compromise their message. Furthermore, poems that uses language that denigrate women must not be selected to be studied in basic education
E-service quality in m-Health applications: The moderating effect of gender and domicile area
Get PDFThis study aims to investigate the effect of e-service quality (ESQ) in m-Health application on loyalty (LOY), focusing on the mediating customer satisfaction (SAT) and the moderating role of gender and domicile area on user loyalty. The study used quantitative research and the population of this study was m-Health application users with 260 respondents using the purposive sampling method. The analysis method used is PROCESS Macro Mediated Moderation Model 14 by SPSS 29. The results indicate that e-service quality positively and significantly affects user loyalty. Additionally, e-service quality has a positive and significant impact on consumer satisfaction and also the quality of consumer satisfaction has a positive and significant impact on loyalty. The study also found that customer satisfaction mediates the relationship of e-service quality on user loyalty. However, the demographic variables, gender, and domicile area were found have no impact on the relationship between consumer satisfaction and loyalty
Navigating COVID-related trauma during lockdown enforcement period
Get PDFIn the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this article thoroughly explores the intricate landscape of COVID-related trauma and psychological distress experienced during lockdown enforcement, analyzing its origins and repercussions. By delving into individuals’ experiences throughout the lockdown period, the study investigates how lockdown measures con- tributed to heightened trauma and psychological distress, particularly focusing on triggers such as illness fear, disrupted routines, and social isolation. The profound impact of isolation and restrictions on mental health and well-being is scrutinized, revealing disparities among various demographic groups in enduring COVID-related trauma. The article underscores adaptive coping mechanisms, like virtual connections and creative outlets, while emphasizing the crucial role of mental health support in mitigating trauma effects. It also elucidates the amplified trauma resulting from pandemic uncertainty and lockdowns, highlighting technology’s role in alleviating distress. Cultural factors are examined, and the article concludes by offering recommendations for policymakers to integrate mental health services into crisis response plans, foster community resilience, and enhance public education on coping strategies to promote overall well-being during crises
Reducing prejudice against learners with disabilities in inclusive settings through the Afrocentric model of inclusion
Get PDFAttitudinal barriers and discriminatory practices continue to prevent the full participation of learners with disabilities in developmental learning contexts. Although disability has been on the psychological agenda for some time, there is limited empirical evidence on adopting African models to buffer prejudices. This paper addresses this critical gap by examining the experiences of disabled children subjected to prejudices in inclusive settings and the adaptation of the Afrocentric model to buffer those behaviors. The paper was guided by Allport\u27s Social Reflection Theory, which explains why some groups may be targets of prejudice. The exploratory qualitative case study was undertaken in 4 inclusive schools in Gauteng province. Participants were 20 educators and 40 disabled learners in inclusive schools. Purposive sampling was used to choose participants in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with educators, and the researcher observed the engagement of the educators and 40 disabled learners. Data collected were analyzed through qualitative thematic data analysis. From the themes that emerged in the findings, the following themes were discussed: advancing the truth in our praxis, fairness, harmony, and humanness. The paper, therefore, recommends that educators apply the practice of including the emerged themes in their learning content for improved grades and low dropout rates.
Keywords: Prejudices, Disabled learners, Inclusive settings, Afrocentric inclusion mode
Financial resource scheduling and road construction projects performance in Nairobi Metropolitan, Kenya
Get PDFKenya has seen a boom in road building during the last couple of years as a result of the government\u27s significant investments in the construction industry to upgrade infrastructure, such as road networks. Road network construction is one of the key pillar of the country long term vision 2030. However, the performance of the road projects has experienced various challenges leaving some roads uncompleted, others poorly done after huge investment of public resources. This study sought to evaluate the influence of financial resources scheduling on the performance of road construction projects in Nairobi Metropolitan, Kenya. The research was based on resource dependence theory. A descriptive design as well as the cross-sectional survey was used. The population of interest for this study consisted of 39 road construction projects being implemented by Kenya Urban Roads Authority and Kenya National Highway Authority within the Nairobi metropolitan area. A semi structured questionnaire was utilized to collect primary data. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study results revealed projects resource scheduling had a positive and significant effect on project performance of road construction projects in Nairobi Metropolitan, Kenya. The study concludes that effective financial resource scheduling enables that organization to manage risk that may occur from changes in the project’s outcome. Financial resource scheduling starts from developing the project budget which is a process for allocating administered and departmental funds necessary to build a financial foundation for producing stated project deliverables
The influence of ecolabels in the consumption of green products: a study on Durban consumers
Get PDFThe purpose of the study is to ascertain the influence of ecolabels in the consumption of certified green products. It explores ecolabels in Durban, hoping to gain valuable insights into ecolabels’ role in influencing the consumption of certified green products. The study employed a quantitative and a non-probability sampling method to understand the influence of ecolabels among green consumers in Durban. To ensure that the data represents the diversity of Durban consumers, a random sampling method was adopted. The data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using the IBM SPSS Version 25. The study employed a sample of 384 customers from retail malls within selected Durban suburbs. The findings revealed that consumers generally have a positive perception of ecolabels and are likely to recommend certified green products. However, the data also revealed that there is scepticism around certified green products as they are considered expensive and can perhaps be attributed to the high cost of certification, credibility issues and the cost associated with the ecolabelling. There is a potential trend towards wider acceptance, with more respondents trusting the authenticity of ecolabels than not. The study also found that older respondents and those with higher income tend to have a more positive perception of ecolabels, potentially due to higher disposable income and greater familiarity with the concept. This suggests that addressing concerns about cost and credibility could further increase positive consumer perception of ecolabels. Businesses can use these findings to develop strategies to address consumer concerns about the cost and credibility of certified green products. They can also target marketing efforts towards older demographics and higher-income consumers who are more receptive to ecolabels. Policymakers can use the findings to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ecolabeling programs and also develop strategies to increase consumer awareness and trust in ecolabels, especially younger audiences