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An investigation into the impact of service quality frequent flier programs and safety perception on satisfaction and customer loyalty in the airline industry in Southern Africa
No full textThis study aims to identify the factors that make passengers loyal to an airline in Southern Africa by investigating
the impact of service quality and safety perception on customer satisfaction and how satisfaction
and frequent flyer programs (FFP) subsequently influence customer loyalty. The key finding was that service
quality positively influenced customer satisfaction, and satisfaction was an important antecedent of
customer loyalty. The analysis also suggested that safety perception and FFP positively influence customer
loyalty, while their relationship with satisfaction was not significant. An analysis of switching behaviour revealed
that satisfied customers may still switch to other airlines. The main contribution of this study is the development
of a customer loyalty model for the aviation industry in Southern Africa. Knowledge of customer
loyalty drivers will assist airline marketing managers in developing strategies for improving passenger load
factors and profitability
Application of a homogeneously sulphonated polystyrene membrane in the purification of waste water
No full textThe homogeneous sulphonation of waste polystyrene and its subsequent use in waste water purification was studied. The targeted waste was white food trays collected from roadsides, bins and waste dumps. They were shredded and sulphonated using acetyl sulphate thereby converting them into adsorbent material. The pH, electrical conductivity, water uptake, ion exchange capacity and the degree of sulphonation were evaluated for each sample produced. To confirm sulphonation the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used. The modified polymer was tested for its effectiveness in the removal of heavy metals from water. The Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to test for the concentrations of residual metals (chromium, cadmium and manganese) after batch adsorption experiments were carried out. The sulphonated polymer provided high purification of waste water by reducing the concentrations of cadmium from 10ppm to 2.30 ppm and manganese from 10 ppm to 1.53 ppm respectively. This is comparable to conventional adsorbents
Pesticide management practices among rural market gardening farmers near Harare, Zimbabwe
No full textIn 2014, we carried out a survey in Chinamhora and Chihota communal lands on the outskirts of Harare city, with the aim of understanding pesticide management practices among market gardening farmers. The farmers grew vegetables that mostly included tomatoes, cabbages, rape, cucumbers, onions and carrots, and they used mainly organophosphates and pyrethroids to control pests. A questionnaire was administered to 119 male heads of households across both study areas. The questionnaire contained 13 closed-ended questions in three sections: source and quality of pesticides, handling and use, and storage and disposal of pesticides used to protect crops. The study identified numerous gaps related to the handling of pesticides. Although the quality of labelling and packaging can largely identify the quality of pesticide, most of the farmers (77.3%) could not distinguish between genuine and counterfeit pesticides; approximately half (47.9%) of the farmers were not concerned about expiry dates; 27% did not observe post-spray periods; and 63% did not take precautions according to colour-coding of the pesticides. Also of concern were the large numbers of farmers who were not using protective coveralls (54.3%); a substantial number who were not using knapsacks for spraying (21.8%); poor storage of the pesticides, as shown by the variation in storage facilities; the use of empty pesticide containers for domestic purposes (20.2%); and lack of strict adherence to recommended dose levels, with some farmers (28.6%) merely estimating the dilution of pesticides. Training through outreach programmes is recommended. Significance:
• Identifies gaps in the way pesticides are used and stored by rural market gardening farmers.
• Highlights the need for government agricultural extension workers to hold regular workshops for farmers.
• Indicates the need for government ministries to monitor counterfeit pesticides
Menstrual hygiene – A salient hazard in rural schools: A case of Masvingo district of Zimbabwe
No full textThis work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.,Active participation of the girl child in development is hampered by Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges. MHM is an important gender issue and a critical component in holistic human development. It affects about 25% of the global population aged between 15 and 49 years. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in schools have not prioritised MHM, thus exposing girls and the entire school community to health related hazards. The study explored knowledge, attitudes and community practices, and investigated the impact of religious and cultural beliefs on MHM and how they impact on the girl child in Masvingo district. The survey was largely qualitative and employed methodologies of document analysis, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and structured interviews. Participants included four churches, 13 NGOs, eight government departments and 40 women. Findings revealed deeply embedded power relations, a culture of silence around MHM, noninvolvement of men in MHM issues, limited availability in terms of information, and a girl unfriendly infrastructure, and limited access to menstrual hygiene products due to poverty and poor management and disposal practices. Resultant effects ranged from poor class participation, lack of concentration and constrained interactions with peers and teachers, low self-esteem, anxiety and the general feeling of being discriminated against. Results confirmed the need for increased awareness initiatives on MHM in a bid to tackle inherent religious and cultural beliefs that are a barrier to effective holistic implementation of WASH interventions that empower women and girls. Lobbying government to provide an appropriate policy framework, education and training, construction of girl friendly sanitary facilities, exploring and capitalisation of local production of Reusable Menstrual Pads (RUMPS), more research targeting children living with disabilities, those living in refugee and makeshift camps and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), are some of the recommendations coming out of the study
On the Accelerated Expansion of the Universe and the Preponderance of Matter over Antimatter.
No full textPublished Article,The original Dirac equation is modified in the simplest imaginable and most trivial manner to
include a universal all-pervading and all-permeating Cosmic Four Vector Field (CFVF), μ. This
CFVF leads to a modified Dirac equation that violates all the seven discrete symmetries i.e.: C, P, T,
CP, CT, PT and CPT. The violation of the C-symmetry alone, is capable of explaining why the Universe
appears to be made up chiefly of matter. By applying this CFVF to Einstein’s original Field Equation,
one is able to link this field with Einstein’s cosmological constant term, . Since Einstein’s cosmological
term is now sought in-order to explain the supposed accelerated expansion of the Universe, this
means that the inclusion of the CFVF into the Dirac equation can be justified on this basis of the
accelerated expansion of the Universe and hence the preponderance of matter over antimatter can be
justified on the same basis of the of the accelerated expansion of the Universe. In-conclusion, one can
safely say that, the Einstein -field (hence the μ-field) causing the acceleration of the the expansion
of the Universe, this same field can be held responsible for the observed asymmetry in matter and
antimatter
Modelling consumer behaviour conceptually through the seven Ps of marketing: A revised theoretical generic consumer stimulus-response model
No full textHypothesising in the marketing stimuli component of existing consumer stimulus-response
models is limited to the traditional four Ps of marketing—i.e. product, price, promotion,
and place. This underplays the important role played by the soft elements of marketing —
i.e. people, processes, and physical evidence — in shaping consumer behaviour. The
significance of the three soft Ps is recognised in emergent specialist marketing literature
such as corporate identity, branding, relationship marketing, services marketing and selected
generic marketing and consumer behaviour literature. This paper reviews two seminal complex
and eight simplified frameworks of consumer behaviour, alongside the above-stated literature,
to conceptually validate the notion that the soft elements of marketing influence customer
response in both tangible goods- and service-dominant sectors. Leading academics have
insisted on interpreting the soft Ps of marketing as relevant to service organisations only,
notwithstanding the growing evidence that the Ps are also suitable to manufacturing firms.
Accordingly, the theoretical implication for this paper is that; the marketing stimuli
component of consumer stimulus-response models should be modified to include the soft
Ps. This implies that marketers, regardless of the sector they work in, should apply the seven
Ps of marketing to craft responsive operational marketing strategies. Consequently, the paper
proposes a revised theoretical generic consumer stimulus-response model that encompasses
the soft elements of marketing
Investigating the deindustrialisation process in Zimbabwe since 1980
No full textThe study investigated deindustrialisation in Zimbabwe from 1980 which has become a major concern for the economy. The study mainly focused on the manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe. The researcher establishes through other researchers that deindustrialization in developed countries come as a result of economic development whilst developing countries is a result of an economy which is failing. The study identified the causes of deindustrialization in Zimbabwe such as sanctions, lack of funding, lack of foreign direct investment, poor technology and machinery. Also the effects of deindustrialisation were identified as high unemployment, low capacity utilization, brain drain, rise of informal sector, low contribution to Gross Domestic Product. The strategies which the government is implementing were also identified such as import substitution, disbursing of loans to industries, improvement of infrastructure, adjustments on the indigenization policy. The study also noted the improvements the industry has made so far and recommendations on what should be done for the resuscitation of the manufacturing sector was given
The Impact of Budgeting and Budgetary Control on Performance of Great Zimbabwe University
No full textThe study sought to analyze the impact of budgeting and budgetary control systems being incorporated at Great Zimbabwe University. Great Zimbabwe University is a state-owned institution which has been defied with adverse variances for the past three years up to date. The study revealed that these adverse variances was as a result of the nature of a poor budgeting system currently employed by the organization. The researcher used a descriptive research design and GZU as a case study in this research. A sample of twenty respondents was selected using a judgmental sampling approach. Gathering of data with the aim of confirming the existence of a problem was done through the use of questionnaires and interviews. Twenty out of twenty respondents filled and returned the questionnaires and three respondents were interviewed. The gathered data was presented and analysed in the form of graphs, tables and pie charts. Moreover, the gathered information was interpreted and compared to the existing literature in an attempt to confirm the existence of the problem. The results showed that there is inflexible budget structure, lack of lower level participation in budget process, poor supervision from management and ineffective implementation of budgets. The research recommends that the organization should adopt a flexibility budget structure, allow participation of low level managers in budget processes and effective implementation of budgets. The research strives to unleash that the budgeting approach used by the organisation has some loopholes which gave rises to unfavourable variances. Other budget techniques like zero based budgeting was surfaced so that the organization may adopt in order to curb the recurrence of adverse variances
Improving the management of operations at the “Office des Ports et RAdes du Gabon†(OPRAG): The road to achieve and sustain quality service delivery
No full textThe industrial engineering development in the spite of globalisation and fast technological advancement has set an unprecedented challenge for business around the world. Hence, new business models and concepts came to life in respect of golden principles of quality product development and/or quality service delivery. While the situation allegedly favour a number of businesses operating in the advanced economies, emerging and developing economies no matter the geographical location, the economic grading or the industry, are constantly facing changes which from times to times create a very turbulent business environment especially in Africa.
So,continuous business process evaluation and customised business model to face the challenges are nowadays the key determining factors for business success. Consequently, the operations of any given business must be managed in such a way to maximise the opportunities to stay competitive and sell more products or services both locally and globally.
Taken from above, this justifies the appointment of OPRAG (Office des Ports et Rades du Gabon) by the Government of Gabon with the mandate to oversee the operations of the country’s ports, with the
main focus on their assets, staffs and daily activities in order to Achieve and Sustain Excellence in Quality, Reliability and Service delivery.
Though, this research evaluates the duties of operations managers within OPRAG in order to objectively address the gap for a smooth running and great competitive edge. The data for the study werequantitatively obtained from 126 operations managers employed at OPRAG and its companies-partners in Gabon, by means of questionnaire. The data were quantitatively analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques
Knowledge Retention and Stabilisation within OPRAG: A Management must for the Excellence achievement.
No full textConference Paper,Operations consist of the jobs or tasks composed of one or more elements or subtasks, performed typically in one location, whereby resource or data inputs are transformed onwards into desired goods, services, or results, and create and deliver value to the customers. This definition from Nagurney (2012) pleads that such transformation process calls upon the sustainable knowledge as an important factor and trick for the business decision-making process with the view of quality improvement. In this spite, Aiyer (2006) contends that the sharing of knowledge and experiences that veteran employees have acquired over time, is key to bridging the skills and competency gap that could exist within a diverse workforce in charge of the process above-mentioned. Hence, Knowledge Management is part of the winning strategy within the “Office des Ports et Rades du Gabon†(OPRAG) for achieving excellence in its daily management of operations. Still, additional efforts are required in order to build up a strong and stable Knowledge Management System in response to today’s challenges