International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293)
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Factors affecting adoption of green procurement in the health sector: A qualitative review of Zimbabwe\u27s health sector
Get PDFGreen procurement is one of the major topical issues that have become increasingly popular worldwide as the world embraces sustainability. Zimbabwe is one of the countries in the world that is struggling to adopt the use of green procurement in the health sector. Some identified factors affecting such adoption are lack of technology and infrastructure, training and awareness especially of the procurement officers and those in charge of the sector, policy and regulatory framework, limited supply chain, economic pressures and stakeholder engagement. The study’s objective was toidentify and analyse factors affecting the adaptation of green procurement practices in Zimbabwe’s health sector. The study used qualitative secondary data, and three key documents were analysed in the ATLAS. ti 24. Themes were created and results confirmed the challenges faced by adopting green procurement in the health sector in Zimbabwe. The study found that economic challenges, policy and regulatory framework shortfall, limited supply chain management, lack of stakeholder engagement, technology and infrastructure shortfalls and failure to have training and awareness regarding green procurement. Policymakers should encourage collaborations and partnerships between government and industry can facilitate the sharing of knowledge, best practices and resources. Zimbabwe as a signatory to the Abuja Declaration of 2001, the country can revert to this agreement and meet the suggested 15% of the total country budget set aside only for the health sector to support the adoption of green procurement. The study recommends that the government make use of the monitoring and evaluation systems that will influence policymakers in support of green procurement. The study recommended that the government should enact policies that support sustainable procurement and training should be carried out as Zimbabwe is one of the countries that signed the Sustainable Development Goals especially goal number 3
The impact of online customised and personalised apparel
Get PDFThe absence of a digital platform that facilitates customised and personalised, accurately fitted apparel has created a vacuum for those looking for tailored apparel as a form of individualism that mirrors their perceived personality, attitudes, and behaviour. This research study investigated the need to purchase customised and personalised apparel online in South Africa against the backdrop of evolving disruptive technologies driving a growing global economy and marketplace. This has dramatically influenced the textile and fashion industry to integrate with the digital world. A sample of 100 participants was divided into 4 age categories. A total of 27 responses were collected utilising an online survey questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics on Microsoft Excel. The demand for customised, personalised apparel online has been investigated by analysing who purchases apparel from a dressmaker. The results, while indicating that less than half of the respondents purchase customised, personalised apparel, also highlight a significantly high percentage that does, substantiating the potential of this market. Furthermore, the findings reveal a strong willingness among respondents to use 3D mobile scanning, purchase more if it is more accessible, and participate in the design process online. The study is essential to understanding motivations for purchasing customised and personalised apparel, market demand and consumer preferences to boost local economic growth, and customising and personalising clothing as an individual expression within a unique social context. The outcome will enable customers to partake in online design and add their body measurements to purchase apparel tailored to their specific needs
Every bit of language we accrue throughout life matters-Multilingual education
Get PDFMonolingual ideologies remain alive in mainstream education, though the amount of evidence pointing to the benefits of multilingualism is increasing. Against this background, this paper aims to explore the importance of multilingual practices in multilingual classrooms, teacher input in enhancing multilingual practices in classrooms and assessment in multilingual classrooms. A systematic review of the literature was done to gather data. The findings revealed that the use of dominant national languages and/or colonial languages does not sufficiently account for the multilingual nature of the learners in the classrooms and their respective communities. Teachers need to allow any references to languages by their learners of which they have only basic knowledge or no knowledge at all. One way is to leave the role of expert to learners with home languages while taking on the role of learners of new languages. Also, in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms, unintended bias in any assessment aspect can negatively affect learners whose home language is not the language of assessment. The study recommends that policymakers should establish official guidelines on interpreting competence aims for multilingual education, ensuring clarity and consistency across schools. Teachers should adopt collaborative teaching strategies that encourage learners to use their home languages in classroom activities. Partnerships between researchers and educators are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of multilingual pedagogies and refining teaching approaches. Assessment practices should be adapted to reflect learners’ diverse linguistic backgrounds, ensuring fair and valid evaluations of their competencies. Teacher training programmes should include modules on multilingual education, equipping educators with the necessary tools to manage linguistically diverse classrooms
Exploring key drivers of tourism sustainability practices and their impact on sustainable competitive performance in the accommodation industry
Get PDFThis study aims to explore key drivers of tourism sustainability practices and their impact on the sustainable competitive performance of the tourism accommodation industry. The study adopts an exploratory research design under qualitative research, using semi-structured interviewing of owners and managers of tourism accommodation firms using the TOE framework and RBV theory. The findings reveal that technological sustainability expertise, executive sustainability support, organizational resources and capability, service intermediary sustainability practices, collaborative innovation adoption capability, tourism sustainability regulatory policy, and sustainability practices perceived by residents are the key drivers of TSP. The outcomes also show that tourism sustainability practices have a positive impact on the SCP of accommodation firms. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the literature on tourism sustainability by exploring how TOE antecedents motivate firms to adopt sustainability practices as product innovation, which in turn enhance SCP. Also, this study provides strong backing for the premises of the TOE framework, and RBV theory offers valuable practical insights for managers and owners. This will aid in identifying the pivotal factors influencing TSP and SCP, enabling the implementation of innovative strategies to enhance firm competitiveness. Also, the research can help the government and policymakers formulate sustainable tourism policies to promote tourism innovations. The adoption of sustainable practices has been a focal point for both academic researchers and professionals in the tourism industry. However, there has been insufficient exploration of the TOE drivers that facilitate the integration of tourism sustainability within the context of TAFs in a developing country. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap in knowledge
The implications of gender inequality and land allocation South African rural areas: a theoretical perspective
Get PDFThe purpose of the study is to examine the factors and physiognomies that perpetuate unequal allocation and distribution of land between men and women in rural areas. Land is regarded as an instrument towards poverty reduction, increased economic growth and economic development. Gender inequality on allocation of resources such as land continues to manifest not only in African countries but throughout the globe. Moreover, the criteria in which the land is allocated plays a pivotal role in the lives of the people. The resources are still allocated based on the role played by men and women within the society. Although, the post-apartheid South African government formulated laws and policies that aimed to redress the inequalities that still exist in many communities. Cultural roles and beliefs still define how men and women should conduct themselves within the households and communities at large. The study argues that there is a continued limitation of access to and ownership of land by women. Cultural and gender stereotype still influences how land is allocated among men and women. The study concludes that due to culture, men are given the privilege to have access to land and take over their family’s inheritances while women are expected to get married and live with their husband’s family. As a result, women continue to suffer the hardest with limited access to land
Organisational informal structures: social identity perspective
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to explore how the cognitive elements of social identity within informal structures influence employees\u27 perceptions and, in turn, impact corporate strategy. This study proposes a framework for managing such informal structures relevant to both theory and practice by employing a social identity theoretical framework. The research examines the impact of informal structures on corporate strategy within the context of a case study involving a South African mining company. The paper establishes that norms, values, and thought processes toward corporate strategy are informally shaped by social identity groups. It suggests that in future research, employing an alternative theoretical framework could serve to establish the reproducibility of the results. Furthermore, a shift towards quantitative research methods would enhance the comprehensiveness of validity testing through methodological triangulation. The proposed framework offers a comprehensive theoretical perspective that contextualizes the interaction between cognitive components of social identity and corporate strategy. It illustrates how aligning personal goals with corporate objectives, maintaining consistent communication, implementing fair employee recognition practices, and equitably sharing resources can mitigate opposition from social identity groups toward corporate strategy. The research presents a pioneering case study of a mining company that employs social identity theory to delineate the informal structure and ascertain how social identity elements influence corporate strategy
Unveiling the hidden dynamics: role of HRM in supporting the health and safety of healthcare workers in the post-Covid 19 pandemic world of work: an integrative review
Get PDFThe main purpose of the study was to uncover the hidden dynamics of HRM\u27s role in supporting the health and safety of healthcare workers in the current world of work. It specifically focuses on an integrative review conducted in Durban, Republic of South Africa. In terms of design, that study approaches an integrative review conducted on 26 research articles and journals from reputable sources such as Google Scholar and Ebsco-host. The focus of the review was on the impact of human resource management on the well-being of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 200 results were collected and categorised based on specific inclusion criteria, with a focus on the intersection of HRM, COVID-19, and healthcare workers. The inclusion criteria are premised on the fact that articles that did not directly address how HRM can improve the performance and safety of healthcare workers were excluded. The authors carefully reviewed the abstracts and titles of the articles to ensure they met the inclusion criteria. After removing duplicate entries, 26 articles were identified as relevant to the study and were analysed alongside other pertinent literature. The findings of this study highlight the significant impact of human resource management in effectively addressing challenges related to the healthcare workforce during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The originality of the study is grounded on the significance of HRM as a key stakeholder in workforce operations. Therefore organisational management must acknowledge this role. This is evident in the recommendation of the 6Cs of HRM as a pathway to effectively manage the health and safety of healthcare workers. For Future Research the fact that the study highlights the significance of HRM in organisations during times of crisis, such as a pandemic. It is important to recognise the necessity for further research employing quantitative or mixed methods to obtain a comprehensive understanding of how HRM plays a crucial role in effectively addressing and managing healthcare workers amidst challenging situations
Exploring the nexus between green human capital management and climate action in the Zimbabwean mining sector
Get PDFThe motivation behind this study is rising concern about climate change and its impact on future generations. Mining companies in Zimbabwe are significant contributors to environmental degradation. The study tested the relationship between climate action and green human capital management and its sub-variables of green recruitment and selection, green training and development, green reward management, and green performance management. The quantitative survey utilized a sample size of 383 employees across the Zimbabwean mining sector. The study found that green human capital, green training and development, and climate action are being implemented in the Zimbabwean mining sector. However, the study found that mining enterprises need to implement green recruitment and selection, green reward management, and green performance management, which is a cause for concern. The study accepts all hypotheses as multiple linear regression, which showed a significant positive relationship between climate action and green human capital and its sub-variables. The study recommends that organizations utilize green human capital management practices in the fight against climate change and its consequences. The study adds to the body of knowledge on green human resources by providing valuable insights into green human capital activities that generate maximum climate action
Unpaid insurance claims: Language and communication gaps
Get PDFLanguage and communication play pivotal roles in the insurance industry, impacting claims processing, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. This study investigates the dynamics of errors within insurance claims across six distinct languages—African, Afrikaans, English, French, German, and Asian languages. The purpose is to identify language-specific error patterns and their implications for customer-centric methods. This study utilises a dataset of insurance claims spanning multiple languages. The analysis encompasses the probability theories approach to unravel error distributions and their associations. The study reveals that linguistic diversity significantly impacts the insurance industry, emphasising the need for language-centric approaches to error reduction This highlights the need for customised communication strategies and enlightening initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by this linguistic demographic especially the complex legal jargon that is not easily understood by all. In conclusion, this paper advises insurance companies to navigate the complex terrain of multilingual interactions. It enriches the existing body of knowledge surrounding insurance claim management, offering a roadmap to navigate the intricacies of language diversity within the industry. By addressing the linguistic-specific challenges identified in this study, insurance providers can enhance their services, reduce errors, and ultimately foster improved customer experiences
Sustainable competitive advantage: building a culturally independent village
Get PDFThis study aims to provide empirical evidence of the Independent Village Development Strategy by optimizing village potential to improve the economy and community welfare. This study utilizes a qualitative research approach to obtain and explore deeper information in order to formulate a strategy for developing an Independent Village. This strategy focuses on optimizing village potential using the SWOT analysis tool. The data analysis method includes the use of the EFE Matrix, IFE Matrix, SWOT Matrix, IE Matrix, and QSPM. These matrices consist of three stages: the input stage, the matching stage, and the decision stage. The empirical findings show that the Village Cultural Heritage has a distinctive characteristic in the form of a wealth of cultural heritage. The evaluation of internal factors and the evaluation of external factors show that the village has responded well to the challenges and opportunities presented by the village. The results of the analysis show that collaboration between the government, universities, and local organizations aims to develop community-based Human Resource Development and Community Service. This includes local community activities, research projects, innovation festivals, and CSR programs involving MSME actors