International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293)
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The mediating role of employee happiness in the effect of paternalistic leadership on work engagement: an application on employees of a catering company
Full text linkIn today’s business world, where technology and competition are intensely experienced, one of the most essential factors for organizational success is the establishment of healthy and harmonious relationships between managers and employees. In this context, paternalistic leadership refers to managers approaching their employees with the same care and protection that a father shows to his children, while employees willingly embrace this attitude. Such an approach can have significant effects on employees’ performance, commitment, job satisfaction, work engagement, and overall happiness. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of employee happiness in the effect of paternalistic leadership on employees’ work engagement. The research population consists of all employees (N=1120) of Bortar Group Catering operating in ?zmir, while the sample comprises 428 participants who voluntarily completed the survey. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 statistical software. The findings aim to reveal how paternalistic leadership influences employees’ work engagement and whether happiness serves as a mediating factor in this relationship
The relationship between financial literacy and financial performance of registered small enterprises
Full text linkThis study sought to examine the correlation between the financial literacy of small business proprietors and the performance of their enterprises in the northern region of Tshwane Ga-Rankuwa. The research utilised a quantitative methodology, employing a standardised questionnaire distributed to small business owners. A quantitative methodology underpinned the study\u27s aims in examining a potential association between financial literacy and business performance. Data were examined via STATA/small enterprise, version 17. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to analyse the distribution of study participants and their financial literacy. Multiple linear regression evaluated the relationships between predictor factors (socio-demographic characteristics and financial literacy) and return on assets. The small firms reported low to moderate profits and elevated returns on assets (ROA). Substantial correlations are present among family size, income level, and ROA, contesting the assumptions that education and experience are predictors of performance. Financial performance exhibits good connections with financial literacy and access to financing; nevertheless, the minor associations with knowledge and attitude highlight crucial dimensions of performance. Small firms must to seek methods to enhance profitability and invest in financial literacy. Authorities ought to enhance access to funding for small firms and should evaluate the relevance and quality of education concerning its contribution to financial literacy. The research demonstrated the significant influence of financial literacy and access on forecasting financial performance. Nonetheless, the correlation between financial literacy, attitudes, and actual financial results was less pronounced than anticipated
4 IR-based capacity-building for improved service delivery and municipal readiness in South Africa
Full text linkCapacity-building is a multifaceted strategy for developing competencies within entities, crucial for enhancing current skill sets. Moreover, capacity-building is the intervention that all organisations must consolidate necessary resources to enhance effectiveness and productivity. Consequently, South African towns must enhance their capabilities to implement superior public service delivery models. The paper intends to examine the importance of capacity-building interventions in South African municipalities. The primary inquiry posed in the study is, \u27What factors impede the efficient implementation of service delivery in South African municipalities?\u27 The research is qualitative and collects data from secondary sources. The literature indicates that capacity-building is successful only when all forms of capacity—institutional, network, and organizational—receive equal consideration, akin to the approach traditional organisations take with individual employee performance. It is essential to recognise the connection between capacity-building and service delivery, with the former deemed a critical necessity for municipalities in the Republic. Consequently, the study underscored the significant necessity for capacity-building within municipalities. The data was evaluated by content analysis. The findings indicate that potential exist in adopting 4IR-based service delivery within the broader context and specifically in municipal governance. This is essential as the capacity-building activities for enhanced smart governance depend on the many tools and practices defining the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Causality with machine learning using the Lububu method for the diagnosis of African swine fever (ASF)
Full text linkThis paper presents the practical application of a novel approach, the so-called "Lububu method", to develop a causal machine learning model (CML) for the diagnosis of African swine fever (ASF). The Lububu method was developed to build causal machine learning models by focusing on the contextual understanding of a particular phenomenon and using technological tools to improve accuracy. Its main goal is to identify cause-and-effect relationships that can lead to better outcomes in various fields, including manufacturing, energy production, agriculture, transportation, data management, medicine and computer science. In this study, the Lububu method serves as an experimental framework for the construction of a CML model tailored to ASF diagnosis. This involves gathering comprehensive knowledge about ASF, covering aspects such as the causes, symptoms, transmission patterns and diagnostic procedures. This detailed contextual understanding supports the development of a model that can accurately identify ASF-related factors, ultimately increasing diagnostic effectiveness. By combining AI innovation and epidemiological expertise, this approach redefines ASF diagnostics and paves the way for data-driven, ethical and globally applicable solutions for veterinary medicine
Survival strategies and failure of SMMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: secondary data
Full text linkPandemics result in significant devastation, leaving considerable destruction in their wake. Numerous researchers contend that the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic exceeded prior pandemics in various aspects. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global economies, businesses, and societies, resulting in substantial damage and lasting effects. The aviation industry experienced a significant near-collapse for the first time since the advent of aeroplanes, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was initiated to synthesise existing studies on the strategies utilised by Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to sustain operations during disasters such as COVID-19 in South Africa. This systematic literature review analyses the survival strategies and failures of SMMEs in Africa in response to the economic disruptions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen accredited journals were incorporated into the data analysis. The thematic analysis identified several themes from the original data: Networking and Accessing Financial Support, Response to Crisis Conditions, Digital Technology, Disruption of Supply Chains, and Inadequate and Insufficient Government Support. This study synthesises existing research to identify factors that supported SMMEs in sustaining operations and recovering from challenges induced by the pandemic. This study offers significant insights into the survival strategies and challenges faced by SMMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. African leaders should supervise the execution of digital transformation initiatives, focused financial assistance, and strategies for long-term business continuity
Empirical evidence of employee engagement on productivity in a selected industrial packaging organisation in South Africa
Full text linkThe decline in labour productivity in the South African manufacturing industry is a course for concern. The majority of South Africans expect greater prosperity that can be achieved through greater employment and high productivity. Thus, the industrial sector turns to employees for innovative productivity improvement initiatives. This sentiment underpins the concept of employee engagement. Hence, this study examines the effectiveness of employee engagement for productivity improvement in the selected industrial packaging organisation in South Africa. Employee engagement is the degree of dedication and involvement an employee has towards his/her organisation. The study was quantitative in design and examined production and the related experiences of the industrial packaging organisation that have adopted an employee engagement strategy for productivity improvement. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study was achieved by collecting pre- and post-quarterly data for the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), spoilage rate and labour productivity. The results establish that employee engagement philosophy does not have a relationship with OEE and labour productivity. However, it has an influence on the rate of spoilage. The original value of this paper is its approach in uncovering strengths and weaknesses of employee engagement for productivity improvement in South Africa. This includes leadership engagement and the alignment of employee incentives with productivity goals
A critical analysis of IDP on achieving socio economic development of communities in South Africa
Full text linkThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the ability of Integrated Development Plan in achieving socio-economic development of communities in South Africa. The triumph of Integrated Development Plan is considered vital in improving the socio-economic development of communities in South Africa. South Africa has a reasonably new democratic arrangement that focuses on promoting an enhancement of communities, over projects which should be affiliated with the Integrated Development Plans of local municipalities. Nevertheless, local municipalities continue to perform inadequately which results in local communities’ unhappiness with the poor quality of services provided to them. The paper gathers information in respect of various scholars’ notions on IDP and achieving socio-economic development in integrated development planning from related articles, journals, and books. The paper is based on the literature review. The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a cornerstone of local governance in South Africa, designed to foster socio-economic development and enhance service delivery across municipalities. The IDP aligns municipal planning with national development priorities, offering a comprehensive framework to address local needs through participatory planning and decision-making. However, despite its objectives, the effectiveness of the IDP in achieving socio-economic development has been questioned, with implementation challenges hindering its success in many areas. A high number of populations in the upcoming years will be in developing countries, whose schemes are ill-prepared to deliver services to their local communities, and therefore more emphasis needs to be placed on municipal development projects .The study recommends that local governments shift towards a commercial line, to smooth socio-economic development. This is because the contemporary commercial tactic has moved from concentration on generating revenue to a concentration on making of worth and reimbursements for diverse sponsors, and, as such, administrative lineups and ventures must be established to accomplish this objective
Proliferation of SMEs in South Africa: modelling the challenges and outcomes of selling-to-finish
Full text linkThis paper aims to analyse the challenges and outcomes of “selling-to-finish” by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. “Selling-to-finish” is a global problem that threatens SMEs everywhere. It entails an unconventional business strategy that deviates from the main goal of most businesses, which is to make profit. In South Africa, “selling-to-finish” in SMEs has a detrimental effect on the country’s economic development, growth, and efforts to combat poverty. The misunderstanding of “selling-to-finish” hinders the growth of SMEs. This is because SME owenrs mistakenly believe that having more clients who buy products and service equates to selling for a profit without doing the necessary calculations. “Selling-to-finish” puts at risk not only the expansion and advancement of SMEs but also the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which is to eradicate poverty and National Development Plan (NDP) vision 2030, which is to build a good economy and provides employment to all citizens. This chapter employed a desktop-based qualitative research. The paper argues that improper application of selling-to-finish causes major downfall of SMEs in South Africa. It found that the achievement of economic growth, development, and poverty reduction is seriously jeopardized by “selling-to-finish” in SMEs. As a result of “selling-to-finish”, SMEs face difficulties such as financial unsustainability, cash flow problems, decreased investment capacity, and competitive disadvantage. It recommends that SME owners should prepare well-informed monthly, quarterly, or annual cash flow statements. It goes on to advise SMEs to contract with outside firms to ensure that their cash flow figures are accurately prepared
The use of electronic record management system at selected TVET college
Full text linkThis research investigates the implementation of Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS) at specific Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in Limpopo, particularly emphasising Capricorn TVET College. The research seeks to improve administrative efficiency by tackling the difficulties associated with good record management. Critical issues examined encompass barriers to ERMS implementation, its advantages, and the correlation between staff productivity and technological acceptability. A quantitative research methodology was employed, utilising a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were gathered from 180 administrative personnel at Capricorn TVET College using standardised questionnaires. The research concentrated on identifying obstacles to ERMS implementation, advantages of the system, and its effect on work performance. Research demonstrates that ERMS markedly enhances administrative performance through improved efficiency, collaboration, and data security. The results indicate that ERMS promotes administrative efficiency, bolsters data security, and minimises errors. Nonetheless, insufficient training and reluctance to change were recognised as major obstacles to acceptance. The perceived utility and user-friendliness of the system were pivotal elements affecting employee adoption and performance enhancement
Borehole water quality and health risks in rural communities: a consumer perceptive analysis
Full text linkThe study explored perceptions regarding the experiences and perceptions of people in rural areas regarding the quality of borehole water and the health risks involved. A country-wide study using face-to-face and virtual meetings was implored to interview the respondents. In five of the nine South African provinces, purposefully selected focus groups were used to interview the participants. The members were carefully gathered due to their previous knowledge and/or experiences with boreholes or water contaminants. In the other four provinces, four conveniently sampled individuals who were willing to share their impressions were interviewed. The participants unanimously mention that the water quality in boreholes of government is poor, and that there are dangerous contaminants in the water. The knowledgeable groups were aware of some studies in their areas that had found various forms of agricultural deposits, minerals, chemicals, and even dirty deposits from other areas. They also complained that the boreholes were not maintained, and the water had become undrinkable. These sentiments were confirmed from individual responses through interviews, concurring that borehole quality is generally poor, and the health risks are very high. The paper recommended innovative methods to treat boreholes and clean the water to improve its quality and reduce the health risks that pollute the water