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With the intensity of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being widely adopted to perform key tasks in economic activities. The audit profession has also embraced AI in the performance of its function in carrying out activities like audits, oversight, and advisory functions. The application of AI has been met with acceptance, given its advantages in some quarters and with resistance/scepticism in some. Proponents table benefits such as improved sampling procedures, reduced labour, and time in performing audits, increased efficiency, and effectiveness (due to increased audit coverage) including improved audit quality. Opponents raise pragmatic concerns such as the violation of ethical principles governing the audit profession, potential biases (loss of employment) as well as the challenges of coordinating machine and human activities. The study has two objectives. Firstly, to explore the role of AI in the external audit function. Secondly, to evaluate the ongoing debates on artificial intelligence and external auditing and assess the implications of using AI in the external audit function. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, employing a critical literature review. The study will accentuate the controversies and convergences among researchers on the role and implications of applying AI in external auditing to bring to light possible research gaps that can be explored by future researchers on the subject area. Highlighting the potential externalities of using AI has both theoretical and practical implications.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the roles of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized businesses in fostering local economic development. Based on this assumption, this conceptual study attempts to investigate the function of small and medium-sized firms in LED. According to studies, the entrepreneurial spirit of the SME owner is a significant determinant of a SME's ability to surmount survival challenges and achieve sustainable growth. The article also attempts to locate and establish the purpose of the study by identifying the barriers that small and medium-sized businesses encounter in their efforts to contribute to economic growth and offering potential solutions to these barriers. Due to inadequate infrastructure development and a lack of the fundamental capabilities to control and influence local economic growth, the study concludes that exceptional measures are necessary to overcome obstacles such as finance and service. The purpose of this study is to answer the research question of whether the emphasis should be placed on creating competent entrepreneurs, particularly among previously disadvantaged individuals, if the government's goal to leverage the SMME sector is to have any significant success. It was noted that the LED is essential but has not been utilized frequently. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, the study accessed data on both private and public spaces primarily through secondary sources. The qualitative investigation accessed the foundational literature via a sophisticated search. According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in the promotion of LED. The study concluded, among other things, that the local level of governance in South African municipalities is incapable of providing basic services and the necessary infrastructure.

The attitude that employees have towards their job is well believed to have an influence on their performance. This study investigated the influence of job satisfaction on employees’ performance. Herzberg’s two-factor hygiene and motivation theory was used to explain employees' motivation for best performance. A cross-sectional survey design in the form of a structured questionnaire was used to randomly sample one hundred (100) employees of the University of Zululand, South Africa. Descriptive and correlation analysis were used to analyze the collected data. The findings indicate that job satisfaction does not influence employees’ performance. The study concludes that UNIZULU employees enjoy their roles despite the unsatisfactory benefits attached. In spite of the unsatisfactory level of benefits, they perform their duties effortlessly. This research contributes to research-based knowledge that will assist universities’ management in identifying the factors that will enhance employees’ performance.

The Covid-19 pandemic, a catalyst in embracing the online mode of learning, is one of the key motivating factors for a paradigm shift in curriculum development due to the increased focus and reliance on technology. For the effective education of tertiary students globally, a revised curriculum development integrated with the Learning Management Systems and other eLearning platforms or tools that support asynchronous learning play a key role. This study seeks to determine the influence of user experience and user interface design of e-learning platforms on learning experience in higher education. A systematic review of studies regarding usability of e-learning platforms at tertiary institutions was conducted to determine the common issues and successes. A snapshot of research over the last five years was used in a systematic review to determine the influence of UX/UI on eLearning concerning higher education. Using the ERIC and Google scholar databases of journals, and specific criteria for selection of publications, 25 articles were examined in this study. Findings indicate that focused attention on interface design and user experience of eLearning systems for effective learning is crucial.

The aim of the study is to explore the impact of brand awareness, brand loyalty and brand attitude on purchase intention in online shopping. The study was quantitative in nature adopting the survey method. Due to the absence of a sampling frame, convenience sampling, a form of non-probability sampling was utilised a total of 253 responses well collected from Braamfontein, a busy business district in Johannesburg, South Africa. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, a unique conceptual model was developed in which brand awareness, brand loyalty, and brand attitude acted as predictors while purchase intention served as the outcome. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS 27 where descriptive statistics were produced as well as regression analysis to test the proposed hypothesis. Findings suggested that customers perceived brand attitude to have the strongest impact on purchase intention while the weakest predictor of purchase intention was brand awareness as far as online purchasing was concerned. Managerial implications emerged from the study and suggestions for further research were proposed.

This systematic literature review is aimed at determining the predominance of existing studies conducted in HRIS as it relates to HRM, HRH, workforce management and the use of Information Systems (IS) and technology within the health sector. The main findings of the study demonstrate that HRIS benefits are the most researched at 11.8% with a) impact: implementation and IS in healthcare:10.5%; b) effectiveness: motivation, competence, workforce IS and adoption: 9.2%; c) workforce retention and migration: 7.9% d) HRIS and EHRM for decisions 5.3%, e) HRIS in HRM and digital records 2.6%; f) IT in the healthcare setting standing at 1.3%.