1,720,965 research outputs found
The impact of green supply chain management in small to medium enterprises: Cross-sectional evidence
No full textBackground: South Africa has a high rate of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) failure, especially in the manufacturing sector. The operational challenges confronting manufacturing SMEs are acknowledged by the Global Competitiveness Index that ranked South African SMEs as one of the lowest in emerging economies.Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the association between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, environmental collaboration and financial performance in SMEs.Method: The study is quantitative in nature and involves a convenient sample of 312 SMEs based in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analyses follow a two-step process involving a confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric properties of the measurement scale and Structural Equation Modelling to test the proposed hypotheses.Results: The study shows that three GSCM practices, namely, green procurement, green logistics and green manufacturing in SMEs exert a positive effect on environmental collaboration, with green manufacturing exerting a higher effect than the other two constructs. In turn, higher levels of environmental collaboration inspired higher levels of SME financial performance.Conclusion: The study advances that SMEs can succeed financially through the influence of enhanced environmental collaboration, which emanates, in part, from the adoption and implementation of GSCM practices.</jats:p
A content analysis of e-cigarettes selling propositions on South African retail websites
Full text linkElectronic cigarettes remain unregulated in South Africa, yet their marketing and sale is proliferating on online platforms such as websites. Until now, little was known regarding the nature of selling propositions used on such platforms. Against this background, this study provides the findings of a content analysis of 17 websites dedicated to the marketing and selling of electronic cigarettes in South Africa. With the aid of a website search research methodology, a detailed search and analysis of websites marketing electronic cigarettes in South Africa was performed from July to October 2017. The study identified smoking cessation, environmental friendliness, healthiness, cost-effectiveness, hedonic value, convenience and safety as the main selling propositions used to market electronic cigarettes in South Africa. The study provides important insights to consumers who intend to use electronic cigarettes and policymakers who intend to monitor and regulate the consumption of electronic cigarettes in South Africa
To blend or not to blend? Consumer attitudes towards mandatory use of ethanol-blended fuel in Zimbabwe
No full textWorldwide, the use of bioethanol is proliferating as an alternative to fossil fuels. Consistent with this trend, the Zimbabwean government mandated the blending of unleaded petrol with 10% ethanol. As the use of ethanol-blended fuel is still at the infancy stage in Zimbabwe, the objective of this study was to explore consumer attitudes towards mandatory use of ethanolblended petrol. The study employed a qualitative research design, and data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews from motorists who regularly use blended fuel. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. The study showed that the market acceptance of blended fuel remains low in Zimbabwe. The main themes that characterised consumer attitudes towards blended fuel were cynicism, misinformation, unavailability and risk perception. Overall, the study found that the use of ethanol-blended fuel remains a contested terrain in Zimbabwe and there is a need for consumer education to correct misconceptions prevailing in the marketplace
To blend or not to blend? Consumer attitudes towards mandatory use of ethanol-blended fuel in Zimbabwe
No full textWorldwide, the use of bioethanol is proliferating as an alternative to fossil fuels. Consistent with this trend, the Zimbabwean government mandated the blending of unleaded petrol with 10% ethanol. As the use of ethanol-blended fuel is still at the infancy stage in Zimbabwe, the objective of this study was to explore consumer attitudes towards mandatory use of ethanolblended petrol. The study employed a qualitative research design, and data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews from motorists who regularly use blended fuel. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. The study showed that the market acceptance of blended fuel remains low in Zimbabwe. The main themes that characterised consumer attitudes towards blended fuel were cynicism, misinformation, unavailability and risk perception. Overall, the study found that the use of ethanol-blended fuel remains a contested terrain in Zimbabwe and there is a need for consumer education to correct misconceptions prevailing in the marketplace.</jats:p
Influencing Hotel Guests’ Food Waste Reduction Intentions Through Social Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility Stimuli
Full text linkFood waste is a growing concern in South Africa’s hospitality sector yet little is known about hotel guests’ response to food waste reduction stimuli. This study examines how hotel guests in South Africa respond to food waste reduction stimuli using the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model and prospect theory. Quantitative data was collected from 302 hotel guests using a structured questionnaire. The posited hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Social norms and food insecurity concern emerged as key factors that
favourably influence hotel guests’ attitude towards food waste reduction. Environmental sustainability concern and perceived corporate social responsibility were found to have a negative effect on attitude towards food waste reduction. The results showed that the promising strategy to promote food waste reduction is by invoking social norms and food insecurity concerns as they are more instrumental in stimulating favourable attitudes towards food waste reduction. This study contributes to efforts aimed at reducing food waste in the hospitality sector. Attitude change strategies are recommended to address the negative perceptions attributed to corporate social responsibility initiatives related to food waste reduction
The impact of green supply chain management in small to medium enterprises: Cross-sectional evidence
No full textBackground: South Africa has a high rate of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) failure, especially in the manufacturing sector. The operational challenges confronting manufacturing SMEs are acknowledged by the Global Competitiveness Index that ranked South African SMEs as one of the lowest in emerging economies.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the association between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, environmental collaboration and financial performance in SMEs.
Method: The study is quantitative in nature and involves a convenient sample of 312 SMEs based in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analyses follow a two-step process involving a confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric properties of the measurement scale and Structural Equation Modelling to test the proposed hypotheses.
Results: The study shows that three GSCM practices, namely, green procurement, green logistics and green manufacturing in SMEs exert a positive effect on environmental collaboration, with green manufacturing exerting a higher effect than the other two constructs. In turn, higher levels of environmental collaboration inspired higher levels of SME financial performance.
Conclusion: The study advances that SMEs can succeed financially through the influence of enhanced environmental collaboration, which emanates, in part, from the adoption and implementation of GSCM practices
Influencing millennials to embrace sustainable fashion in an emerging market a modified brand avoidance model perspective
No full textUnderlying correlates of consumers’ attitudes towards Chinese apparel and relationship with purchase intention in South Africa
No full textThe study examined the influence of South African consumers’ attitudes and purchase intention towards Chinese apparel. A survey of South African consumers who had purchase experience of Chinese apparel was conducted to test the hypothesised relationships. Structural equation modelling results indicated that economic animosity and consumer ethnocentrism are negatively related to attitudes towards Chinese apparel and consumer purchase intention. The study revealed a significant, positive relationship between cosmopolitanism, attitudes towards Chinese apparel and consumer purchase intention. In addition, the findings of the study suggest the importance of cosmopolitanism, consumer ethnocentrism and animosity in market segmentation, targeting, positioning and market potential analysis. The study provides managerial implications for the marketing of Chinese apparel in South Africa.</jats:p
Underlying correlates of consumers’ attitudes towards Chinese apparel and relationship with purchase intention in South Africa
No full textThe study examined the influence of South African consumers’ attitudes and purchase intention towards Chinese apparel. A survey of South African consumers who had purchase experience of Chinese apparel was conducted to test the hypothesised relationships. Structural equation modelling results indicated that economic animosity and consumer ethnocentrism are negatively related to attitudes towards Chinese apparel and consumer purchase intention. The study revealed a significant, positive relationship between cosmopolitanism, attitudes towards Chinese apparel and consumer purchase intention. In addition, the findings of the study suggest the importance of cosmopolitanism, consumer ethnocentrism and animosity in market segmentation, targeting, positioning and market potential analysis. The study provides managerial implications for the marketing of Chinese apparel in South Africa
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