International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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Understanding work engagement in South African higher education: Experiences from a technical department
Full text linkWork engagement is a crucial ingredient that cultivates an individual’s physical and general well-being in the workplace. This, in turn, produces organisational effectiveness and contributes to organisational success and sustainability. Concerningly, work engagement remains under-researched in South African higher education institutions. This study investigated the work engagement experiences of employees in a technical services department of a South African institution of higher education. The study employed qualitative research methods and phenomenological research design. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 10 participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The findings suggest that employees who have optimal work demands receive adequate support to discharge their work and feel engaged and attached to their jobs. The findings further suggest that personal and job resources contribute to improved engagement levels among employees. Organisations should enhance the work engagement of employees by effectively managing their job demands while providing adequate job and personal resources. This study provides insights into the importance of cultivating work engagement within the workplace and the ways to achieve this. The study further provides guidelines for enhancing engagement by highlighting four elements to consider: workload, skills and self-efficacy, tools and equipment, and supervisor and co-worker support.
Sustainable land reform and its impact on agricultural productivity and rural development in South Africa
Full text linkThe issue of land continues to be pivotal in Southern Africa, reflecting the lasting effects of historical land dispossession from the colonial and apartheid periods. This study analyses the effects of sustainable land reform on agricultural productivity and rural development in South Africa, emphasising the connections among land redistribution, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability. The study utilises a systematic literature review alongside grey literature, incorporating government reports and publications from international organisations. Thematic analysis was employed to identify, analyse, and report patterns. The findings underscore the necessity of enhancing land tenure systems, increasing resource accessibility, and delivering sufficient support for agricultural development. Recommendations focus on improving small-scale agriculture via climate-smart practices and promoting financial inclusion. This paper advances the land reform discourse by presenting a policy framework that combines sustainable agricultural practices with land redistribution, thereby securing enduring economic and environmental advantages. The primary contribution is the provision of actionable recommendations that incorporate sustainability into land reform, thereby promoting inclusive rural development
Barriers to effective cognitive development in early childhood education in the rural outskirts of Alice
Full text linkA responsible parent-child relationship and parental support for learning early in life are crucial to promoting ECD. Many families live in neglected childcare areas, and even when programmes are available, quality is not regulated or supported, which is beyond the reach of most families. There is substantial evidence linking ECD staff training and qualifications with programme quality and children’s cognitive results. Research activities included a case study of three selected rural ECD centres based in the Eastern Cape. Direct observations and additional data were used in individual interviews to obtain data from practitioners. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The following themes emanated from the results; namely, lack of communication; lack of government involvement; lack of parental involvement; lack of resources; lack of relevant practitioner qualifications; and the absence of an adequate curriculum were conceded. All of these have had their fair share of influence on the negative implementation of quality ECD education and the cognitive development of children. In conclusion, the study established that the ECD sector needs to become urgently professionalized if children\u27s right to a good foundational education is to be preserved and supported. The findings of the study highlighted the importance of broadening perspectives on transitions that children will experience to develop integrated and contextualized classrooms that are child focused
Data security and privacy: Role of regulatory frameworks in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3
Full text linkThe growing usage of digital health technologies and medical devices can expose patient data and medical systems to cyberattacks. The paper examines how cybersecurity issues affect SDG 3 and how well current regulatory frameworks protect healthcare data. The study used PRISMA and used thematic synthesis. Digital health data security, IoT medical devices and patient safety, data integrity, ransomware threats, lack of cyber awareness, regulatory compliance, securing telemedicine, and long-term data protection could hinder SDG3 achievement. These issues endanger patient safety, delay emergency responses, and damage digital health system trust. While present legislative frameworks provide core protection for healthcare data, they fail in numerous key areas. Some frameworks have delayed breach notification, implementation issues and resource limits, weak or optional security standards, lack of healthcare-specific focus, and old or inflexible frameworks. Thus, while existing frameworks improve data governance, their limited adaptability, outmoded restrictions, and inconsistent implementation reduce their usefulness in tackling healthcare\u27s developing cybersecurity issues. Healthcare systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks, compromising patient safety, trust, and general health and well-being. The paper advises obligatory data protection, safe IoT legislation, staff training, and revised telemedicine rules to improve hospital cybersecurity. To fulfil SDG 3, it recommends harmonised cross-border legal frameworks and targeted capacity building in low- and middle-income countries
Navigating IAS 21: An integrative review of compliance challenges for SMEs in emerging markets
Full text linkAs globalization advances and cross-border trade expands, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets are increasingly engaged in foreign currency transactions. This development requires adherence to International Accounting Standard 21 (IAS 21), which addresses the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates. While compliance with IAS 21 is vital for ensuring accurate and comparable financial reporting, SMEs often face significant challenges in meeting these requirements due to limited financial resources, technical expertise, and access to appropriate accounting infrastructure. This integrative review consolidates existing academic and industry literature to identify key obstacles encountered by SMEs in implementing IAS 21. These challenges include difficulties in selecting appropriate exchange rates, translating foreign operations, and maintaining up-to-date accounting systems. Guided by institutional theory, contingency theory, and the resource-based view, the study examines how external institutional pressures and internal resource constraints impact compliance levels among SMEs. The review also discusses the implications for financial reporting quality, investor confidence, and policy development within emerging economies. The findings underscore the importance of simplified regulatory guidance, capacity-building efforts, and customized support frameworks to close the compliance gap and strengthen the financial transparency of SMEs operating in international market
Assessment of project management practices and sustainable development of oil producing communities: A tale of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria
Full text linkThis research investigates the influence of project management practices (PMP) on sustainable development among oil-producing villages in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. This study examines the impact of Project Management Practices (PMPs)—including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation—on the sustainable development (SD) dimensions of the environmental, economic, and social aspects of inhabitants in oil-producing areas within Ilaje LGA, Ondo State. Data were gathered from 154 household heads through structured questionnaires using a survey methodology and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression. The findings indicated a modest level of PMP, with Mean Index Scores between 2.14 and 2.44, signifying restricted community engagement. The results of the multiple linear regression indicate that the construct and implementation significantly impacted all three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. This indicates that financial benefits are received by the residents of the host community, notwithstanding their limited participation as casual workers during project execution. Nevertheless, oil companies exhibit minimal care for the aspirations of the populace concerning the impact of their projects on the local environment. The study\u27s geographic limitations restrict generalisability, indicating the necessity for further extensive comparative research. It advises oil companies to use inclusive project management frameworks that improve stakeholder engagement, therefore promoting sustainable socio-economic development and environmental stewardship in host communitie
Leadership styles and their impact on organizational culture at Rand Mutual Assurance in South Africa
Full text linkThe issue of leadership styles, perceptions of employees, and culture within the organization of RMA was investigated. The study employed qualitative research with an interview of 15 participants at different levels of leadership. The results indicated the prevalence of transformational and servant leaders who increased engagement levels, trust, and feelings of ownership but made employees more responsible with fewer creative and morale levels at the transactions and autocratic levels. Quantitatively, the results showed an increase in employee engagement levels from 2022 (82%) to 2023 (85%), an increase in the perception of trust of employees with leadership levels (70% to 73.3%), and an increase in the perception of development of employees’ careers (65% to 70%). Finally, the study recommends that the development of employees’ leadership should take place in an organized manner with an official program of development of employees’ careers and that the standard of the leaders should remain consistent. Additionally, the study recommends that decision-making should take place with the participation of employees. Future research should involve bigger samples of the study
Gender challenges of Congolese migrant women informal traders in Durban
Full text linkWomen migrant informal traders face numerous vulnerabilities worldwide. In developing countries, women engaged in informal trading constitute a significant portion of the workforce within the informal economy. Many of these women originate from African countries and initially seek employment opportunities within South Africa\u27s informal sector. This study aims to examine the participation of Congolese refugee women in the informal economy within local markets in Durban. Employing a qualitative research methodology, data was collected from ten Congolese women who confront various challenges, including family responsibilities, police harassment, documentation obstacles, and limited access to financial services. Participants were selected using snowball sampling between 2008 and 2009. The findings indicate that approximately 90% of the women engage in entrepreneurial activities to compensate for the lack of formal employment opportunities, thereby improving their livelihoods and contributing positively to the wider community. The study highlights the important role played by Congolese women in Durban’s informal economy and underscores the need for gender-responsive policies. Implementing such policies can empower women informal traders and support the socio-economic development of Durban
Exploring the importance of traditional medicine in society
Full text linkTraditional herbal medicine remains a vital component of healthcare across Africa, deeply rooted in indigenous cultural beliefs and practices. This systematic review employs the PRISMA framework to analyse regulatory frameworks, cultural significance, and practical challenges related to herbal medicine use in multiple African countries. Findings reveal that nations such as Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda have made notable progress in establishing regulatory agencies and legislative oversight, while others, including Ethiopia, exhibit weaker governance structures. The study highlights the critical role of cultural embeddedness, with traditional medicine addressing holistic health dimensions often absent in biomedical approaches. Despite the accessibility and affordability of herbal remedies, concerns about dosage inconsistencies, contamination, and lack of standardisation persist. Furthermore, uneven institutionalisation and generational knowledge loss threaten sustainability. The review underscores the need for harmonised regulatory standards, preservation of indigenous knowledge, increased research investment, and strengthened collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners. These measures are essential to safely integrate traditional medicine into formal healthcare systems and support universal health coverage across Africa
Empowering leaders for digital transformation in higher education: a Fanonian perspective
Full text linkThis paper examines the relevance of Frantz Fanon’s postcolonial theories of alienation, liberation, and the psychology of oppression for addressing sociopolitical challenges in the digital transformation of higher education. Using a PRISMA-based systematic review of 128 peer-reviewed articles (2012–2023) from Scopus and ERIC, the study applies a hybrid analytical method to explore how Fanon’s concepts can inform leadership strategies that foster equity, empowerment, and critical consciousness in technology integration. Findings suggest that digital transformation risks reinforcing technological determinism and power asymmetries if sociopolitical contexts are neglected, whereas leadership guided by Fanon promotes inclusive participation and positions technology as a tool for liberation. By integrating Fanon’s postcolonial framework with digital transformation leadership, the study offers a unique conceptual contribution that has not been systematically addressed in previous research. A limitation is the exclusive reliance on secondary literature, indicating the need for further empirical validation. The paper emphasises the importance of dismantling structural inequities and resisting neo-colonial paradigms to ensure digital innovation advances inclusivity and social justice