International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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Land tenure security, household income and distribution, lesson from southern highlands in Iringa District Council
Get PDFLand distribution is a key factor in income inequality in rural areas of developing countries. This study examines the impact of land tenure security on household income and its distribution in Iringa district, Tanzania, focusing on the Certificate of Customary Right of Occupation (CCRO). Using a quasi-experimental design and Propensity Score Matching, 404 respondents were randomly selected and divided into groups with and without CCROs. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through surveys and in-depth interviews. Analysis using SPSS/STATA revealed that households with CCROs had higher agricultural yields, sales, and lower production costs. They also invested more in modern farming techniques and soil conservation, leading to higher incomes and reduced income inequality. Despite over 50,000 CCROs issued, credit access remains limited due to a lack of awareness and additional collateral requirements. The study concludes that secure land rights are vital for economic growth and poverty alleviation. Recommendations include increasing awareness about CCROs, facilitating their use as collateral, and exploring barriers to credit access for CCRO holders. Further research is needed to address these challenges
Factor affecting organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance in banking sector
Get PDFThis study aims to analyze the role of individual characteristics, organizational commitment and job satisfaction on employee performance with an organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) mediation mechanism in the banking industry in Indonesia. Quantitative analysis was used for data analysis and questionnaires as a data collection technique were disseminated online using Google Forms to 122 employees with random sampling techniques. Data analysis using SEM-PLS with the help of SmartPLS application. The results found that individual characteristics had a significant effect on employee performance. However, organizational commitment and job satisfaction do not have a significant effect on employee performance. Furthermore, individual characteristics, organizational commitment and job satisfaction have a significant effect on OCB. Then OCB has a significant effect on employee performance. In addition, OCB mediates in part the influence of individual characteristics on employee performance. While OCB perfectly mediates the effect of organizational commitment and job satisfaction on employee performance
Adoption of artificial intelligence for manufacturing SMEs’ growth and survival in South Africa: A systematic literature review
Get PDFThis study advances research and practice related to adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of South Africa (SA). The study evaluated AI adoption by South African manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); established the challenges faced by manufacturing SMEs in adopting AI; and developed a framework for adopting AI for manufacturing SMEs’ growth and survival. The study adopted a systematic literature review approach. Articles from Scopus and Google scholar databases, ranging from the years 2018 to 2024, were used. Of the 206 articles found, 54 were shortlisted. The systematic review analysis was performed using the PRISMA framework. The results identified AI adoption by South African manufacturing SMEs is low, limiting their innovation and productivity. The results also show, despite the numerous benefits AI adoption can offer manufacturing SMEs in the country, a major constraint is the lack of a framework to enhance adoption and implementation. Hence, this study was conducted to develop a framework to improve AI adoption by South African manufacturing SMEs. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge and provide new insights to manufacturing SME owners/managers, policymakers and practitioners into AI adoption to enhance manufacturing SMEs’ ability to compete on the global stage
Analyzing supply-side moral hazard behaviors in Botswana\u27s health care market: A qualitative study
Get PDFThis paper aims to analyse the behaviours and practices of health care service providers that constitute supply-side abuse of the medical health insurance schemes premised on the notion that patients visit doctors precisely to learn what amount and type of care is medically necessary. Using qualitative methods, individual in-depth interviews were carried on private health service practitioners and thematic analysis via SPSS. The study identifies systemic abuses like overcharging, billing for services not provided, and over prescription. Implication of these findings show that Fee-for-Service Payment Models incentivize providers to deliver more services, leading to potential over-utilization and increased costs in Botswana’s healthcare; due to information asymmetry providers may prioritize quantity over quality of care exploiting patients’ lack of knowledge to recommend unnecessary tests or treatments to maximize on revenue but also costs. On how to minimize supply side moral hazards, the propositions is for pursuance of cost containment strategies to ensure the smooth operation of the schemes like price listings, educate beneficiaries on cost implications and sustainability threats. These propositions can be instituted through an industry led bench-marking, on nationally through regulatory frameworks since moral hazards are an economic cost as inefficiencies brings mis-allocation of resources to enhance the sustainability of medical aid-based health care provisioning
Influence of inspirational motivation on employee engagement in parastatals in the energy sector in Kenya
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of inspirational motivation on employee engagement in parastatals in the energy sector in Kenya. The article was guided by three objectives: the influence of visionary leadership on employee engagement, the influence of communication on employee engagement, and the influence of job autonomy on employee engagement. The target of the study was the 10 parastatals based within the energy sector in Kenya having a population of 315 middle-level managers. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy to examine the influence of inspirational motivation on employee engagement. The data was collected by using structured questionnaires. This study conducted correlational research to determine the strength of the relationship between the parameters of inspirational motivation and employee engagement. The findings of this study showed that employee engagement has a significant statistical relationship with visionary leadership, r(166) = 0.360, p < 0.01; communication, r(166) = 0.387, p < 0.01 and job autonomy, r(166) = 0.439, p < 0.01. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that inspirational motivation positively and significantly influences employee engagement, R2= .258, F(3, 162) = 18.804, p < .01; ? = 0.428, p < .01. The findings concluded that visionary leadership, communication, and job autonomy positively and significantly influence employee engagemen
Balanced scorecard model: Issues to resolve for competitive advantage among SACCOs in Kajiado County, Kenya
Get PDFSavings and Credit Cooperative Societies are important economic institutions that offer credit and other financial services in many developing countries, including Kenya. However, their performance is impacted by several factors, including high competition. The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) serves as a tool of strategic value, enabling organizations harmonize their activities with their strategic goals. In Kenya, despite the significant contributions Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies deliver to economic growth, few studies have examined factors that affect their performance. The goal of this study was to examine the correlation between the perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard and the competitiveness of Savings and Credit Cooperatives located in Kajiado County, Kenya. The specific aims of the study included assessing how the perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard, namely, financial perspective, customer perspective, internal business processes, and learning and growth perspective, affect the competitiveness. of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies within Kajiado County. This study was anchored on the theoretical frameworks of Balanced Score Card, Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities theory. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey research design, guided by objectivism as an ontological approach, a positivist epistemology, and a deductive approach for data collection and analysis. The study’s target population included the deposit taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kajiado County (N= 22). Purposive sampling was employed to identify 22 Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies and 32 personnel members from the 5 main sub counties. Data collection involved the utilization of a structured questionnaire self-administered by the respondents themselves. The data collected was analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, encompassing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The relationship between distinct independent variables and company competitiveness was analyzed using multiple regression. The critical value for regression was 0.05, and the 95% confidence interval was used. The study found a strong, statistically significant positive correlation between SACCO competitiveness and customer perspective (r = .899, p = .000). Also, a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found to exist between financial perspective and SACCO competitiveness (r = .841, p = .000). A similar strong positive correlation was observed between internal business processes and SACCO competitiveness (r = .805, p = .001). Similarly, learning and growth exhibited a strong, positive correlation with SACCO competitiveness (r = .817, p = .001). Some of the balanced score card perspectives, such as financial and customer perspectives, positively predict SACCO competitiveness. The relationships are also statistically significant. However, internal business process and learning and growth, negatively predict SACCO competitiveness. The relationships are not statistically significant. It was recommended that the management of SACCOs should enhance the customer perspective and the financial perspective to boost competitiveness, while strengthening the other perspectives
Breaking the cycle: Addressing teenage pregnancy in South African high schools
Get PDFTeenage pregnancy is a pressing issue in South Africa, particularly in high schools, with one reporting 19 pregnancies in the first half of the 2024 academic year. This article explores the complex factors contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancy, including poverty, the child grant system, parental influence, promiscuity, and the exploitation of young girls by adult predators. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of local data, the article highlights the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental drivers of teenage pregnancy. Findings indicate that economic hardship compels young girls into transactional sex or relationships with older men, while the child grant may inadvertently incentivize early pregnancies. Furthermore, cultural norms and a culture of impunity exacerbate the issue, with many pregnancies fathered by adult men who exploit vulnerable girls.The article calls for a multimodal approach to address teenage pregnancy, emphasizing poverty alleviation, parental education, community engagement, and access to comprehensive sex education and reproductive health services. By addressing these root causes, it is possible to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies and support the empowerment and future success of young girls in South Africa. The findings highlight the urgency of coordinated efforts to provide sustainable solutions that can interrupt the cycle of poverty and early pregnancy, ensuring a healthier and a brighter future for South African youth
Critical components enhancing the functionality and performance of contact centre operations
Get PDFContact centre operations are essential for providing customer support and managing client enquiries. A contact centre, akin to any other business, necessitates numerous essential components. A significant number of these components directly influence the business. Recognising and improving these elements can assist a contact centre in achieving its overarching objectives. The report seeks to analyse the essential elements that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of contact centre operations. The emphasis is on technology, personnel, and processes as the essential elements that enhance the efficient and effective operation of contact centres. The efficacy and efficiency of a contact centre environment encompass personnel, procedures, and technology across all organisational levels. These components must not be considered in isolation, as they influence the success or failure of a contact centre environment. Consequently, comprehending the interaction between these components is of paramount importance.Quantitative data were evaluated with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The convenience sample approach was deemed suitable for sampling contact centre agents, team leaders, and managers at the Department of Home Affairs. The study\u27s principal findings indicate that both the literature research and the results highlighted the significance of components in facilitating the functioning and performance of contact centre operations. The data corroborate the idea that numerous contact centre failures stem from the absence of essential components necessary for its operation. The inclusion of suitable components in the contact centre has revolutionised management\u27s oversight of these facilities. The analysis indicates that an effective team inside the company facilitates the management of contact centres. The report advocates for the implementation of integrated technological solutions to expedite customer interactions and improve operational efficiency in contact centres. It is advisable to invest in frequent employee training to ensure that staff are equipped to handle complex enquiries and effectively utilise advanced systems. Optimised process enhancement initiatives, including workflow simplification and decrease of call handling duration, are deemed essential for augmenting functionality
The influence of website use on brand awareness and its sub factors: A Zimbabwean polytechnics perspective
Get PDFThe increased digital acumen among students has necessitated institutions to adopt digital marketing platforms such as websites to enhance brand awareness for competitive advantage purposes. The study therefore investigated the influence of website use on brand awareness and its sub-factors in the Zimbabwean polytechnic context. The study adopted the positivist paradigm, a descriptive research design and is quantitative in nature. A self-administered online questionnaire was used to collect primary data and through convenience sampling, 492 valid and reliable responses were collected. The collected data was analysed using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. The empirical results indicated a statistically significant relationship between website use and brand awareness, specifically when looking at the brand awareness sub-factors of top-of-mind and brand recall in the context of Zimbabwean polytechnics. However, a statistically insignificant relationship was noted between website use and brand recognition. The study proposed contributions to polytechnic marketers on website use to enhance brand awareness for their institutions to ensure competitive advantage. The empirically tested model provides a basis for future research in the marketing of polytechnics
The nexus between employee commitment and talent management: a case of Nelspruit Banks, South Africa
Get PDFThis paper explores the relationship between talent management and dimensions of employee commitment at Nelspruit Banks, a major player in Mpumalanga Province. The paper uses a self-administered Likert-scale questionnaire to collect employee responses on talent management and its impact on normative, affective, and continuous commitment levels. The questionnaire was analysed using IBM SPSS version 28, 63 questionnaires were used for data analysis. This study employed both descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and pie charts) and inferential statistics (Pearson product moment) to investigate the relationship between talent management and employee commitment. The main findings of the study indicated that talent management positively correlates with two employee commitment components. Notably, talent management positively correlated with continuance and normative commitment. These findings underscore the importance of talent management practices in fostering employee loyalty and retention. It is recommended that Banks consider implementing targeted strategies to foster a positive work environment, recognize and reward employee contributions, and provide opportunities for career development and growth. By focusing on these areas, the banks can strengthen employee commitment and improve overall organizational performance