ZOU Open Access E-Journals Portal (Zimbabwe Open University)
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Consumer Willingness to Pay (WTP) for Organic Cabbage in Chegutu, Zimbabwe
Full text linkAn assessment of consumer willingness to pay for ‘novel’ products is critical because it determines the market entry point for a business venture. A research study was conducted between July and September 2023 in Chegutu to analyse consumers’ willingness to pay for organic cabbage with the conventional cabbage as the benchmark. Data from 200 respondents was collected using a mall-intercept survey from the 4th of July to the 10th of September 2023 using convenience sampling. The study targeted consumers that are 18 years and above as the primary grocery shoppers of their households. This paper represents the first attempt to analyse the consumer willingness to pay for organic foods in Zimbabwe to the knowledge of the researcher. The modern approach to consumer demand theory (The Attribute/Lancaster Model) regards consumption as an activity with goods as inputs yielding output in terms of a pool of attributes. Unlike the traditional economic demand theory, it is able to explain why some consumers prefer highly priced organically produced foods to the cheaper conventionally produced alternatives. A double-bounded contingent valuation approach was used to determine the price premium while logistic regression was used to analyse the factors affecting willingness to pay. An average price premium of 61% was established. Lifestyle and organic source of information (agricultural fairs or exhibitions) were shown to negatively affect willingness to pay. On the other hand, consumers who had high ethical values and were married had a high probability of a willingness to pay for organic cabbage. In future, willingness to pay should be measured through actual purchase of these credence foods at the point of sale.
Attaining Organisational Success in Zimbabwe’s State Universities: Perceptions of the Operational Staff
Full text linkThe researcher sought to establish the perceptions of operational staff on their understanding of organisational success. The perception of organisational success is usually a reflection of where the owner of the perception stands in the organisation. A constructivist philosophy was adopted to engage a group of purposefully selected operational staff members in in-depth interviews through a face-to-face mode and then by WhatsApp. The purposefully selected members of the operational staff were asked three questions, and they discussed these questions over a period of two months. At the end of the period, transcripts of the discussions were given to relevant members for their authenticity check and validation. Further to that process, the responses were coded, and themes were formulated from which the perceptions of operational staff were derived. The staff perceived that their hard work, the awards they received from the organisation and the achievement of the assigned targets meant that the organisation was succeeding. The recommendation was that operational staff members need to be involved in strategic planning sessions where organisational goals are derived and cascaded from the corporate level down to the operational level to make them understand the importance of hard work at each level and by every worker.
Characterisation of University-Industry Linkages for SMEs in Emerging Economies: A Zimbabwean Perspective
No full textThe increasing demand for universities to be more relevant to the society by commercialising their academic knowledge has spurred the relevance of university-industry linkages. While significant literature has been produced in this area, the nature of these linkages in emerging economies, particularly between SMEs and State Universities, remains poorly understood. This study empirically explores the nature of University-Enterprise(U-E) linkage between State Universities and SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Zimbabwe and the factors hindering such collaborative arrangements. The study relied on personal interviews to collect data from five purposively selected industry liaison officers / directors of state universities’ industrial parks and innovation hubs and 25 owners/managers of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The four-step procedure to content analysis was employed and this included decontextualization, recontexualisation, categorisation, and compilation to analyse data. The study found the university-initiated linkage was more formalised and represented the university\u27s way of aligning its curriculum to the demands of the national government and mostly pursued mainly to comply with the government’s performance indicators. In contrast to the above, enterprise-initiated collaborative engagements were found to be more opportunistic and formed to solve immediate challenges. Limited trust in governmentsponsored programmes and the fear of exposing themselves to regulatory authorities emerged among the main factors hindering SMEs from collaborating with state universities. The study recommends the crafting of a university-industry collaboration policy with incentives to attract SMEs
Smallholder funding schemes and farm productivity in rural Makonde District, Mashonaland west, Zimbabwe
Full text linkThe paper investigated the impact of small holder financing model on farm productivity in the context of the ever-increasing funding gap in agriculture. The research was anchored on social capital theory and the Keynesian economics. The study adopted a post positivism philosophical orientation in addressing the seemingly increasing funding gap. Data was collected from 150 small holder farmers dotted around Makonde district of Mashonaland west using stratified sampling technique. The sample size was 200 as guided by the Yamane formula. The paper utilised structural equation modelling using SPSS extension module AMOS (analysis of moment structures). The structured questionnaire used to collect data comprised of close ended items and was validated using discriminant validity as well as convergent validity. The results showed that the mostly used funding model was bank credit in the form of micro credit loans, rotating savings credit association among others, while contract farming and multilateral donor schemes were rarely used. Smart joint venture schemes were least used. Results show that joint venture schemes were positive related to farm productive and goes beyond funding to impart key skills to farmers. Bank credit scheme was found to be negatively related with farm performance. This was attributedto high transaction costs in lending institutions. Government funding was found to be inefficient. It was recommended that to address the small holder funding gap, resources should be channelled through the agriculture value chain, through agribusiness as these were better placed understand the needs of farmers. Government should only provide conduce operating environment for strategic partnership and joint venture schemes to flourish.
Evaluating the Influence of Economic Constraints on the Implementation of Environmental Management Systems in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Hotel Chains in Harare
Full text linkDespite the growing importance of sustainable practices in the tourism and hospitality sector, the adoption of internationally recognized Environmental Management Systems (EMS) remains notably low among hotels in the region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the economic constraints affecting the implementation of EMS within hotel chains in Harare, Zimbabwe. Through the use of a mixed-methods approach, qualitative content analysis was performed on the websites of four predominant hotel chains, while quantitative data were collected via a stratified random sampling technique involving 185 hotel employees using a structured questionnaire. Findings indicated that none of the surveyed hotels hold international EMS certificates, although local initiatives are implemented. Key economic challenges identified included the high costs associated with eco-friendly technologies, economic instability, and regulatory hurdles, which collectively impede the adoption of comprehensive EMS practices. The analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between economic constraints and EMS implementation, highlighting that operational challenges and economic uncertainty are paramount barriers. Consequently, it was recommended that hotel operators engaged in collaboration with policymakers and seek financial incentives to facilitate EMS adoption. Further training programmes focused on enhancing sustainability knowledge are essential to overcoming these constraints. This research contributes valuable insights to the discourse on sustainable practices in Zimbabwe\u27s hospitality industry, emphasizing the need for strategic interventions to align economic viability with environmental stewardship.
Examining the Confluence of Artificial Intelligence, Legal Frameworks and Business Ethics: Contemporary Issues and Debates
Full text linkArtificial intelligence is influencing how businesses operate and how people live and work in the 21st century. To remain competitive, businesses are forced to integrate AI in their operations or else face relegation. Since many businesses have survival as a common business objective, they are highly likely to adopt AI so that they stay afloat and remain competitive. The advent of emerging technologies on its own presents a new and dynamic business landscape which is complex; there is a need to realign the traditional ethical frameworks and ensure they are in sync with current technological trends. This study lays bare major ethical dilemmas such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, transparency and potential job loss which have sparked debate on the topic of emerging technology adoption, particularly AI and ethics. A systematic literature review is employed in reviewing literature related to AI, legal frameworks and business ethics. Recent incidences documented in literature are examined to illustrate how businesses are navigating consequences of AI adoption. The role of regulators and their influence in shaping legal frameworks is also examined. Results of this study showed that there was a significant need of dynamic ethical guidelines that were readily responsive to the unprecedented pace of technological changes and innovation. Management and those charged with governance need to take a proactive role in designing and implementing dynamic ethical frameworks. For instance, they could adopt strategies such as ethics auditing and the use of an inclusive design process when crafting/ changing ethical frameworks.
Assessing Devolution Gaps in Promoting Citizen Participation and Accountability in Local Government in Zimbabwe
Full text linkThe devolution of power as a new governance model in Zimbabwe is premised on the fact that devolution is democratic, it opens avenues for grassroot participation, transparent and more importantly it enables local political representative accountability. Chapter 14, section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013 provides for a devolution of government powers and responsibilities to provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities in an effort to ensure good governance, citizen participation and democracy. The Constitution organizes government at three levels namely, national, provincial and local. However, contrary to the provisions of section 264 of the Constitution the government has not given powers of local governance to the people to enhance their participation in making decisions affecting them and ensure that local government officials are accountable to the citizens. The study adopted extant qualitative literature to gather information. The paper assessed devolution gaps in promoting citizen participation and accountability in local government in Zimbabwe. It examined decades of decentralisation adjustments in Zimbabwe since independence to post 2013 era when the Constitution of Zimbabwe was enacted in order to understand challenges affecting decentralisation and devolution and their effect on citizen participation and accountability. Research findings indicated that a centralised system of governance existed since independence and despite efforts made to decentralise over the years, the government had instead re-centralised and this had affected citizen participation and accountability in local governance.
Unveiling the Nexus between Corporate Social Responsibility and Hotel Financial Performance: Case of Hotel Chains in Zimbabwe
No full textHotels in Zimbabwe are actively engaged in various corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, including tree planting, clean energy initiatives, water conservation, and youth empowerment programmes. Despite the growth in CSR implementation and reporting, there is limited empirical research on how CRS initiatives impact hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Zimbabwe. This research examines the nexus between CSR initiatives and hotel RevPAR in Zimbabwean hotel chains. Using Taro Yamane’s table of sample size determination, a sample size of 204 was determined from a population of 19 000 employees permanently employed in the hotel sector. Stratified random sampling was used to draw the sample. SPSS Version 22 was used to analyse data. Multivariate Regression Analysis was used for statistical analysis. Secondary data from hotel websites was also used for the study to collect financial performance data. Findings from the analysis of the regression model revealed that environmental, economic, and social responsibilities have a significant impact on revenue per available room (RevPAR) within the hotel industry in Zimbabwe. It is concluded that the positive coefficients for CSR dimensions indicate that an increase in environmental, economic, and social responsibilities is associated with a corresponding increase in RevPAR, holding other factors constant. It is recommended that hotels should focus on implementation of sustainable practices such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation, focus on ethical business practices, transparent financial reporting, and community investment and engage in community outreach programmes, support local causes, and prioritize diversity and inclusion within the workforce
A Proposed Economic Model on the Nexus Between Social Capital and Women Economic Empowerment in Zimbabwe
Full text linkThe study investigated the impact of social factors such as political, cultural, and religious beliefs on women economic empowerment in Zimbabwe (2021-2023). The study was prompted by low levels of women economic empowerment despite several initiatives by the government and non-governmental organisations to promote sustainable women economic empowerment in the country. A quantitative approach guided by the positivism philosophy was adopted for the study. The study drew women participants from six randomly selected provinces of the country, namely Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan Provinces. Multi-stage cluster sampling was employed to select the study participants. The study collected data from 728 women respondents across the provinces. Data were collected using an ODK Collect application installed on android mobile devices. The application was configured to administer a structured questionnaire that was designed in Kobo toolbox. Data were analysed using SPSS. The analysis of data included descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, Chi Square tests of association, and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that women in Zimbabwe are moderately empowered with an average empowerment score that is slightly above 50% of the expected thresholds
Effects of Corporate Governance Practices on Efficiency of Firms Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange
No full textThe study assessed the effects of corporate governance practices on the efficiency of companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2019. Literature suggests that entities with good corporate governance are more likely to have proper control mechanisms as well as proper allocation of resources, which ultimately contribute to their improved economic and financial stability. The study employed the quantitative methodology. Panel data were collected from the ZSE listed firms’ annual financial reports for the period 2014 to 2019. Corporate governance variables data used in the study included board composition, board meetings, ownership, gender diversity and demographical characteristics of board members. Data were analysed using the Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) regression analysis model. The results showed that firm size and postgraduate qualifications have significant influence on efficiency. The results showed that board gender diversity, firm experience, board executive diversity and ownership structure have no significance influence on firm’s efficiency. The study recommends that entities should pay attention when constituting their boards and on appointment of senior managers as relevant qualifications have significant influence on firm efficiencie