scholarly journals The use of electronic learning centres in public libraries in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sifiso Michael Mbambo ◽  
Glenrose Velile Jiyane ◽  
Nkosingiphile Mbusozayo Zungu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electronic Learning ◽  
Metropolitan Municipalities ◽  
The City

Purpose This study aimed to establish the use of electronic learning centres in public libraries in the city of Johannesburg, which is under one of the biggest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was adopted, and questionnaires were used to collect primary data. The target population for this study was the entire users of the electronic learning centres and librarians in the public libraries within the city of Johannesburg. Findings The findings of this study revealed that there are different services, levels of awareness and training. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to public libraries in the city of Johannesburg. Academic, special and mobile libraries were not included in this study because they were not open to the general public. Users who were not using the electronic learning centres were excluded from this study. Practical implications Adequate use and awareness of services of electronic learning centres in public libraries are instrumental in the satisfaction of users’ needs using the electronic learning centres. The suggestions of this study will be useful to decision makers and heads of the electronic learning centres on how to enhance the use of the electronic learning centres in the city of Johannesburg. Originality/value This paper establishes the use of electronic learning centres in public libraries in the city of Johannesburg, which is under one of the biggest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa.

Embedding the ethos of codes of ethics into corporate South Africa: current status

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Mpinganjira ◽  
Mornay Roberts-Lombard ◽  
Greg Wood ◽  
Göran Svensson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Corporate Ethics ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Business Managers ◽  
Staff Support ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to examine and describe ways that organisations in corporate South Africa try to embed ethos of corporate codes of ethics in their organisations. Design/methodology/approach The study followed a quantitative research approach. The target population was the top 500 companies operating in the corporate sector by revenue. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 222 company secretaries and heads/managers responsible for ethics in the companies. Findings The findings show that the majority of companies have regulations that can help promote ethics ethos. The most prevalent artefact in the area of regulation was found to be conduct of ethical audits. Training was found to be the most prevalent artefact under staff support. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to large organisations in South Africa. The findings can thus not be generalised to include small- and medium- sized businesses which make up the largest segment of all businesses in South Africa. Practical implications The research provides information that can be used to compare companies operating in different contexts on practices that help promote corporate ethics quality. It provides business managers with information that they can use to evaluate and benchmark their companies on practices that help promote the ethos of corporate codes of ethics. Originality/value The study is the first of its kind to examine how organisations go about institutionalising codes of ethics in South Africa. The findings can be used by all sectors of South African business as a point of reference in their efforts aimed at embedding the ethos of ethics in their respective organisations.

scholarly journals eThekwini Municipality’s intranet for augmenting knowledge–sharing in the organisation

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo R. Averweg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Information Sharing ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Maturity Level ◽  
Organisational Context ◽  
Metropolitan Municipalities

Background: The age of technology, where information and knowledge perform important roles in the organisational context, creates an opportunity for local government organisations (such as metropolitan municipalities) in South Africa to support knowledge–sharing. One such technology that supports knowledge–sharing is an intranet. If an intranet is not effectively managed, knowledge–sharing in an organisation shall not be augmented.Objective: To investigate whether or not an intranet augments knowledge–sharing in the selected organisation of eThekwini Municipality.Methods: In this study a quantitative research approach was adopted.Results: The results of this survey suggest that firstly the intranet appears to be at a medium maturity level; secondly, whilst there is information sharing, the intranet does not appear to be effective as a knowledge–sharing structure; and thirdly there appears to be scope for improvement of the content on the intranet. The implication thereof is that eThekwini Municipality’s recently formed Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) may be ideally poised to address the identified shortcomings.Conclusion: Intranet technology plays an important role in an organisation by enabling the effective acquisition, sharing and presentation of knowledge. Because of this an intranet must be effectively managed to readily augment knowledge–sharing in the organisational context of local government organisations (such as metropolitan municipalities) in South Africa.

scholarly journals AN ANALYSIS OF PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG ADULTS IN VHEMBE DISTRICT, A RURAL MUNICIPALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-66
Author(s):  
Adam Ndou ◽  
◽  
Sam Ngwenya ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Vhembe District

Consumers in rural and low-income areas are the most financially vulnerable and are facing challenges with their finances and depend mostly on unsecured loans to finance their daily expenses. This has been exacerbated by global financial crises, which left many consumers in financial strains. The purpose of this paper is to measure the level of financial literacy focusing on the areas of day-to-day money management, financial planning, choosing appropriate financial services and products, and financial knowledge and understanding. The quantitative research approach was used to collect primary data among adults in Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), a rural and low-income municipality in South Africa. Primary data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The results indicate that the level of financial literacy among adults in VDM is low at 38.73%. The low levels of financial literacy have serious consequences for an adult’s personal financial management skills and lead to their inability to make correct financial decisions. It is apparent that an individual’s level of financial literacy has become important in how individuals manage their finances in today’s complicated financial world. The paper concludes by suggesting interventions that could help adults to improve their level of financial literacy, manage and sustain their financial well-being.

scholarly journals Public outlook on small and medium enterprises as a strategic tool for economic growth and job creation in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Medium Enterprises

In spite of the key role played by the Small and Medium enterprises in economic development, there has been little effort to look at what needs to be done to improve survival and growth of SMEs. There is still a general lack of in-depth understanding from policy makers and other relevant stakeholders of how SMEs can be used as a strategic tool for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. These misperceptions and misunderstand leads to continuous failure to SMEs survival and growth. This study seeks to address this research gap. The study investigates the public views on what needs to be done to grow South African economy through the development of SMEs. Quantitative research approach was used to collect and analyse data for the study. Primary data was collected from four (4) provinces of South Africa. 230 people participated in the study. Questionnaires were emailed to each respondent and follow-ups were made via telephone. It was found that many SMEs fail within five years of their existence due to the various reasons. The most critical of these were related to lack of access to finance, lack of management experience as well as human capital. Study further revealed that most the SMEs owners/managers do not have business management related skills but rather they are just ordinary entrepreneurs.

Intra-transfer of ownership factors and external transfer of ownership effects: evidence from the Gauteng enterprising community, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-785
Author(s):  
Risimati Maurice Khosa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Transfer

Purpose This paper aims to determine the perceptions of family-owned small enterprises on the external transfer of ownership and intra-transfer of ownership using empirical data. This permitted the research to successfully point out the factors that influence the internal transfer of ownership, and also, the effects of intra-transfer of ownership from a viewpoint of both family members and non-family members in small family-owned enterprises. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research design was used to conduct this research, where primary data was gathered from a sample of 257 respondents using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Data was collected through a survey instrument distributed via internet-based surveys (SurveyMonkey) and through a drop-off method. The gathered data was then captured, coded and analysed using Stata (version 15) statistical software. Findings The results divulged that intra or internal transfer of ownership is the preferred avenue compared to external transfer of ownership. This is because, when a family business is transferred to the next generation, it presents some benefits to family members working in the business and to the family at large. As a result, the empirical results show that factors that influence the internal transfer of ownership include: favouritism; security, stability and growth; a formal and structured succession plan. Business improvement and organisational change are then the effects of external transfer ownership. Although these effects make business sense, family members will advocate for internal transfer of ownership for them not to lose the benefits that come with the internal transfer of ownership. Research limitations/implications This paper adds to the current family business research in South Africa, thus reducing the shortage of such research. Moreover, the paper proposes further research that will provide tested, practical and detailed guidelines of survival in the next generation. Practical implications The paper empirically highlights the perils of selecting a successor based on favouritism rather than merit and possible consequences, thereby assisting those involved in family enterprise succession to make an informed decision when choosing a successor. Originality/value This research paper provides empirical evidence of the internal transfer of ownership factors and external transfer of ownership effects from a South African perspective.

scholarly journals An Analysis of Budget Planning in Public Hospitals in Limpopo Province: South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkhumeleni Mathobo ◽  
Mashupye Maserumule ◽  
Kabelo Moeti
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Budget Management ◽  
Budget Planning

Budget planning is a challenge regarding the delivery of cost-effective health services in public hospitals. Budget planning is part of broader planning process in the organisations. The purpose of this article is to analyse budget planning in public hospitals in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The research approach used for the study is quantitative research design. The sample size of 20 public hospitals was drawn from the population of 40 public hospitals. A survey questionnaire was used as the primary data-gathering instrument. The findings of the research show that budget planning is a management challenge for non-finance managers in public hospitals. The result for this is ineffective budget management in public hospitals. The study recommended that non-finance managers be capacitated on the alignment of budget with a strategy to improve budget management in public hospitals.

Evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Eastern Europe since the end of communism

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-100
Author(s):  
Svetoslav Georgiev ◽  
Emil Georgiev
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Product Quality ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Bulgaria since the end of communism. The study examines three specific areas: top management’s understanding of the term “quality”; top management’s understanding of the relationship between quality and business performance; and top management’s understanding of the impact of job position on quality. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on a quantitative research approach by using data from a survey of 186 companies in Bulgaria. Findings The paper suggests that senior managers in Bulgaria continue to base their understanding of “quality” on a single approach (*a characteristic of the communist era), with the product-based and the user-based approaches currently being the two most common ones. At the same time, surprisingly enough, this study claims that senior management in Bulgaria is currently well aware of the importance of quality as a dimension of firm’s competitiveness, and is also highly conscious of its roles’ impact on product quality. Research limitations/implications The results of this study are exclusively based on the case of Bulgaria and must be treated with caution in the case of other former communist states from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. Practical implications This paper has relevance for both managers and companies doing business in Eastern Europe. Originality/value This is the first paper to provide detailed analysis of the evolution of the understanding of “product quality” in CEE since the end of communism. Moreover, this paper applies, for the first time, Garvin’s five approaches to defining quality within a practical context.

COVID-19, migration and inclusive cities through e-governance: strategies to manage asylum seekers in Durban, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Kariuki ◽  
Maria Lauda Goyayi ◽  
Lizzy Oluwatoyin Ofusori
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Public Services ◽  
City Government ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Strategies ◽  
The Government ◽  
The City

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of electronic governance (e-governance) in enabling asylum seekers’ access to public services in the city of Durban, South Africa. Because of COVID-19, the government scaled down its operations, limiting access to public services, including among migrants. Design/methodology/approach Because of COVID-19-related restrictions, a systematic review was conducted of the relevant academic literature as well as the information portals of relevant government departments, municipalities and research reports on migration and refugees in South Africa. A total of 320 peer-reviewed research articles were identified. These were filtered and 68 relevant articles were selected. Findings The study found that asylum seekers have limited access to public services via information communication technology-enabled mechanisms. Whilst the city government has embraced e-governance, it is still in its nascent stages. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to a desktop one because of COVID-19 restrictions and it focused exclusively on asylum seekers. Therefore, its findings can only be generalised to this category of people. Practical implications Future studies on this subject should gather data from all categories of migrants to gain in-depth perspectives. Social implications All spheres of governance in South Africa should recognise asylum seekers as a constituency that deserves access to public services. E-governance can facilitate easier access to these services, and policies need to be aligned with this reality. Originality/value This study examined the efficacy of e-governance in enabling access to government services by asylum seekers during COVID-19. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study on this subject was conducted during this period.

Entrepreneurial intentions of university students: a case-based study

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 393-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramo Palalić ◽  
Veland Ramadani ◽  
Arnela Ðilović ◽  
Alina Dizdarević ◽  
Vanessa Ratten
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Experience

Purpose This study aims to examine the entrepreneurial intentions of university students at the International University of Sarajevo. For this purpose, the entrepreneurial desires and entrepreneurial orientations of the students across several demographic variables were measured. These variables included prior entrepreneurial experience, student’s gender, faculty, year of study and attitude towards more courses on entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, the research also examined how business environment influences the entrepreneurial intentions of students by considering the same set of variables. Design/methodology/approach The objectives of this paper have been achieved by using a quantitative research instrument, where the cross-sectional survey method for collecting primary data is used. In total, 173 usable responses have been collected from the beginning of April to the end of May in the academic year 2015/2016. Findings The results indicate that the greater the demotivation with the current business surrounding, the smaller the entrepreneurial intentions of the students are when the prior entrepreneurial experience, gender, year of study and attitude towards more courses on entrepreneurship are considered. The study suggests that improving the overall business surrounding and entrepreneurial education might increase the entrepreneurial intentions of the students. Originality/value This is the first paper that treats entrepreneurial intentions of University students in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

scholarly journals An empirical analysis of construction organisations’ competitive strategies and performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi ◽  
Abimbola Oluwakemi Windapo ◽  
Rotimi Olabode Bamidele James
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Chief Executive Officers ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Competitive Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Financial Performance Measures ◽  
Executive Officers

Purpose – The essence of strategy formulation is to assist an organisation obtain a strategic fit with its environment and help enhance organisational continuous improvement in achieving performance excellence. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the type of competitive strategies used by construction organisations in attaining their strategic goals in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs an inductive research approach using a well-structured questionnaire to elicit information from large construction organisations based in South Africa. Findings – The research identifies five strategic attributes that could assist organisations to grow their businesses and enhance their returns. It reveals that all Porters’ generic competitive strategies are significantly related to organisational financial performance measures except focus strategy. The research found that three generic competitive strategies are positively related to non-financial performance and that differentiation and cost-leadership strategies are capable of assisting organisations’ achieve their financial performance goals. Practical implications – The study results will be of immense benefit to chief executive officers as well as managers of construction organisations in growing their businesses and enhancing their corporate performance. Originality/value – The paper contributes both theoretically and empirically to the current discussion and findings on competitive strategy and its relationship with organisational performance. The results presented in the paper have important implications for the implementation of competitive strategies in construction companies and future studies in the area of strategic management.

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