International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293)
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External factors affecting entrepreneurial financial governance strategies of the technical universities in Ghana
Get PDFThe study examined important external elements that have an impact on the technical universities (TUs) in Ghana\u27s entrepreneurial financial governance methods. It highlights the difficulties TUs have managing their finances and the critical role that entrepreneurial finance plays in overcoming these financial limitations. A questionnaire was used by respondents as the data gathering tool in the researcher\u27s quantitative investigation. Purposive sampling was utilised in the study to choose the 160 respondents that participated. According to the study, external environmental factors like political and economic factors, regulatory boundaries set by the state, competition between TUs, insufficient budgetary allocation, inefficient financial monitoring systems, and a lack of dynamic capabilities all have a significant impact on entrepreneurial financial governance strategies. According to the study, technical universities (TUs) in Ghana can increase revenue production, augment government financing, and satisfy their objective of offering high-quality education by applying creative initiatives and improving financial governance processes. This study offers policymakers and key stakeholders in the education sector useful insights to improve the financial sustainability and performance of Technical Universities (TUs) in Ghana. It does this by doing a thorough examination of the external environment and its impact on financial governance initiatives. Through an analysis of the effects of political and economic variables, insufficient budgetary provisions, and inadequate financial monitoring frameworks, this research highlights the imperative for Technical Universities in Ghana to give special consideration to these external element
Improving business performance: Role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in SMTEs
Get PDFIn light of the globalisation of businesses and the competitive expansion drive, the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has become essential. The purpose of this study was to explore how ICT could improve business performance in the context of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in the Great Kei Municipality. Descriptive and qualitative research approach was employed in this study. A survey questionnaire was used as the main tool for data collection. The findings elucidate that 94.9% of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) concur that the use of ICT as a tool helps to achieve company goals. The findings further indicate that 46.2% of companies surveyed operate accommodation facilities. The study’s conclusions highlight that 25.6% of entrepreneurs indicated that expensive ICTs appear to be a barrier, while 23.1% reported that access to technology was a barrier. It is recommended that small and medium-sized tourism enterprises utilise ICT as a tool to enhance business performance. In addition, the study suggests that managers and owners make technological investments to ensure the overall success of SMTEs. Moreover, the study provides a foundation for further research
Understanding SOE responses to the energy crisis in Nigeria and South Africa
Get PDFThis aim of this paper is to present an understanding State-Owned Entities (SOE’s) responses to the energy crisis in Nigeria and South Africa. The energy crisis in both Nigeria and South Africa has posed significant challenges, with both countries experiencing severe power shortages that have impacted economic growth and the quality of life. State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the energy sector, such as Nigeria\u27s NESCO and South Africa\u27s Eskom, have traditionally been central to efforts of ensuring energy security. The paper therefore through a qualitative method of research, attempts to reveal the responses of the SOE’s in these states to address the energy crisis. Hence, it concludes that South Africa responded by unbundling Eskom and Nigeria privatising the energy sector. But these mechanisms are yet to solve the energy crisis
Factors influencing institutionalisation of change management practice in government departments
Get PDFThis paper explored factors for infusing change management practices in the public sector and gave recommendations for policy execution of technology. The Western Cape Department of Community Safety (DoCS) launched the Expanded Partnership Programme (EPP) in 2010, as provided for in section 206 of the Constitution to reorient social crime prevention by Community Policing Forums Educate and Share towards Monitoring Guided Actions to increase sustainability, the efficiency of Community Police Forums (CPFs), and the accountability of the police. Even with an investment of R18 million, participation levels were still low and there was no service delivery improvement by the police, thus the need for a change management was borne. The study pointed out the need of strategic methods such as Kotter’s 8-Step Process, Prosci ADKAR, and McKinsey Influence Model to implement institutionalised changes. The research pursued a practical stance and therefore merged objectivist and constructivist positions with an abductive approach. Count data were collected through the use of a Likert scale questionnaire since it was quantitative in nature while qualitative data was obtained from semi-structured focus group discussions. Data analysis was performed using qualitative and quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Chi-square, and content analysis, among others. The research findings highlighted key factors such as organizational culture, interests of stakeholders, politics, resources, and the external environment a determinants of change management. The creation of detailed guidelines that are supported by evidence to direct decision making, resource allocation and prioritisation of policies by the government was advocated for in the study. These findings closed the loop between the research academic domain and the practical field, and demonstrated clear steps towards improving accountability, transparency and adequacy of change implementation
Learning accumulation from unfamiliar environments: informal focus groups
Get PDFInformal and accidental focus groups emerged in which academic personnel of the same higher education institutions (HEIs) who travel together in small vehicles, stimulated the interest to embark on this writing. The people traveling together have to interact with one another even where they initially did not know each other, due to close proximity. These opportunities took place in various settings of South Africa, such as years and places. The authors realised that especially when these trips are too long, dialogues that take place there can include informative life lessons. They then formerly decided to ‘collect’ data through observations, sometimes taking field notes such as in anthropological research approaches. The findings from very few focus groups produced a variety of lessons for the authors, but it was more pleasing that the lessons learned by the focus group members on those platforms were massive. The study found the proximity and separation of different departments as lost opportunities. It then recommends the introduction of interactions of an informal nature for experts of different fields, including those who do not even know one another.
Are local communities participating in ecotourism projects? : a study of four local municipalities
Get PDFA well-crafted ecotourism strategy that encourages the participation of poor rural communities could create opportunities for local communities’ residents. This study investigated whether the local communities are participating in the implementation of ecotourism projects. A mixed-methods approach was adopted in the form of interviews and questionnaires. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and ATLAS TI applications were used for data analysis, respectively. The findings indicate that community members had not been properly informed about ecotourism services across the four local municipalities, thereby, community participation in ecotourism activities was somewhat sporadic, inconsistent, and informal. An improved communication network is recommended to encourage local participation in ecotourism businesses
Challenges and opportunities for pharmaceutical SMEs from South Africa in embedding into global supply chains: a systematic literature review
Get PDFThe inclusion of small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies from developing countries in global supply chains is essential for the expansion and durability of the worldwide pharmaceutical sector. South Africa, with its rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry, is leading the way in this process of integration. It provides a distinct case study of the difficulties and advantages that small and medium-sized enterprises face in the pharmaceutical sector. This study seeks to conduct a systematic analysis of the current literature about the obstacles and possibilities encountered by small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies in South Africa as they strive to become part of global supply chains. The objective is to offer a thorough summary of the existing research in this field. This study utilised the PRISMA systematic literature review approach to evaluate 26 peer-reviewed papers and academic publications from the Scopus database that are pertinent to pharmaceutical small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The data were extracted using Atlas-ti, which facilitated a thematic analysis to identify and categorise the primary difficulties and opportunities faced by these firms. The assessment has found four main obstacles: regulatory impediments, budgetary limitations, operational and logistical concerns, and market rivalry. On the other hand, there were also important prospects identified, such as the possibility for expanding the market, developments in technology, initiatives to promote sustainability, and the development of collaborative networks. These findings emphasise the complex and diverse ways in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) become part of global supply chains. They illustrate the obstacles and opportunities that SMEs encounter in their efforts to succeed. Pharmaceutical small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa encounter a range of intricate obstacles as they strive to integrate into the global supply chain. However, they also have multiple chances to utilise growth and gain a competitive edge. Effectively managing these difficulties and possibilities is crucial for their incorporation into worldwide markets. This study enhances the scholarly discussion on the integration of global supply chains by conducting a detailed investigation of small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies in the context of a developing country. This study provides valuable insights into the unique problems and possibilities faced by these businesses, which can be used to guide future research and develop practical strategies to enhance global integration
Attitudes and perceptions of people towards Artificial Intelligence in human dominated job roles: A bibliometric study
Get PDFArtificial Intelligence has generated much scholarly and practical attention from researchers in integrating it into job roles that humans traditionally handled. This has inspired an explosion in research activity dedicated to the topic. This study uses a systematic bibliometric method to investigate research progress on individuals\u27 perceptions of AI in jobs. Using a large dataset from the "Web of Science," this research investigates changing patterns, institutional affiliations, geographic distributions, and keyword connections. We retrieved 2228 manuscripts published between 2021 and 2023 from the Web of Science. The researchers used the power of specialized software, Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer, to navigate the intricate web of AI\u27s integration into human-dominated professions. The findings indicate the importance of AI\u27s impact on human job roles. The increased amount of research dedicated to the topic highlights its rising significance within society. This research significantly contributes to the ongoing discourse regarding AI adoption by offering a solid foundation for future enquiries and policy development, particularly as technology and society evolve.
The use of competitive intelligence as a strategic tool for student recruitment in public universities
Get PDFCompetitive intelligence strategies are employed by higher education institutions to assist with student recruitment. These competitive intelligence (CI) strategies help maintain or increase market share in education. Utilising competitive intelligence is crucial for firms in competitive markets, assisting in strategic planning and execution. Higher education organisations can benefit from CI to make informed decisions and develop strategic goals. The competition between selected public universities that reside in the same town has resulted in devising competitive strategies to attract grade 12 students with effective and innovative student recruitment strategies. The study sought to examine how competitive intelligence is used as a strategy to promote student recruitment at selected public universities. The study adopted a quantitative research approach where 234 first-time entering university students were used as key informants. To collect data, a questionnaire was used and is attached. It was discovered that both institutions utilised similar strategies to recruit students. Results reveal that the selected public universities employ traditional and technology-based strategies for student recruitment, relying on past success rather than a standardised approach based on competitive intelligence. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of competitive intelligence strategies in student recruitment, aiming to promote diverse communication needs among current and potential students
Analysing the effects of flexible working conditions in the workplace: An exploratory study
Get PDFCurrently, South African government departments is inundated with common dire predicaments prominently manifested in the form of lack of punctuality, frequent leave requests, lack of engagement and poor management of employee wellbeing, resulting in high absenteeism rates. Flexible working schedules ameliorate the level of contentment and performance, which has been discovered to benefit both the employer and employee. There are limited previous studies done in the South African Public Sector on the subject of adopting flexibility conditions in the workplace. The empirical evidence on the subject is still sparse for the transitional economy like South Africa. Hence, this study sought to investigate the flexible work arrangements in the public organisation. The study adopted an exploratory design and a qualitative approach. A qualitative research approach was chosen for the study because it provided an opportunity to explore the research objectives in greater detail. The sample size and strategy used comprised organising focus group interviews as well as individual interviews, using a sample of 10 participants from different levels of the organisation. The findings of the study revealed that offering flexibility could help and support the emotional health of the employees. The study also found that a call for a flexible work strategy is of interest to most employees as it provides work-life balance. The organisation should consider implementing and making provision for flexible working arrangements which in turn improve job fulfilment, increase work and life, motivate employees, reduce absenteeism and increasing the quality of service delivery at all organisational levels