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Road’s infrastructure is regarded as an essential factor to achieve development goals. It is recorded that most people living in the rural areas are constrained by poor road infrastructure, thereby causing poverty, hunger, and food insecurity. This situation calls for more investments in road infrastructure to promote agricultural activities. Using systematic review method, this study reviewed literature pertaining to road infrastructure in South Africa, the review focused on the importance, benefits, and present state of road infrastructure and the socio-economic effects of poor road infrastructure. The study revealed that Most South African roads are in bad shape, especially roads in the rural areas. due to lack of qualified personnel to manage road infrastructure, government regulations and policies and financial challenges. The implications of this study's findings are substantial for future research. Firstly, in order to ensure the timely delivery of infrastructure construction projects, the study's findings are expected to provide guidance to decision-makers and stakeholders in South Africa and other nations on how to proactively implement measures to provide and maintain sustainable, good road infrastructure.

The main aim was to determine how the supply chains of the FMCG industry may enhance their resilience through the adoption of digital technologies. Additionally, enhancing visibility and transparency through the augmentation of operational efficiency to elevate overall performance. This analysis utilised the Uncertainty Framework theory, which provides a systematic approach for identifying, categorising, and managing uncertainties within the supply chain. Organisations can formulate strategies to effectively manage and mitigate risks by understanding the many dimensions of uncertainty within the supply chain and their interrelations. The research utilised a qualitative methodology, gathering data via semi-structured interviews with 25 supply chain specialists and senior executives possessing extensive experience in the FMCG sector. The study's findings indicate that digital transformation enhances agility, transparency, and data-driven decision-making, which is crucial for bolstering the resilience of the FMCG supply chain. Six themes emerged from the findings: data-driven decision-making, supply chain visibility and transparency, automation and robots, collaborative platforms and ecosystems, predictive analytics and forecasting, and traceability and sustainability. The research will enhance our understanding of the implementation of digital transformation initiatives throughout FMCG supply chains. This involves analysing the application of digital technologies in supply chain operations. The study may ascertain the impact of these technologies on various resilience criteria, including flexibility, agility, visibility, and responsiveness, by analysing the role of digital transformation in FMCG supply chains. The research findings can assist supply chain managers in making educated decisions on investments and strategic planning for digital transformation initiatives.Research on digital transformation in the FMCG sector is limited, particularly on these unprecedented upheavals. Moreover, there is little study connecting digital transformation with sustainability and resilience in FMCG supply chains, which is essential for comprehending how these projects might collaboratively enhance robust supply systems.

The amalgamation of traditional and modern governance systems represents a transformative advancement in contemporary African government. This study examines the concept of "hybridity governance" within the African context, providing a comprehensive theoretical framework that integrates modern institutional procedures with traditional governance systems. The paper examines the evolution of African governance from pre-colonial to post-colonial eras, illustrating the emergence of hybrid governance as a response to internal dynamics and external influences. It accomplishes this by utilising historical studies. The philosophical underpinnings are investigated, highlighting organisational and social concepts that elucidate the acceptance of hybrid models. The paper elucidates the applications, accomplishments, and challenges of hybrid government in several African nations through various empirical case studies. A critical examination examines the consequences of these governance paradigms for public administration in Africa. It underscores opportunities for innovation and enhanced flexibility, while also emphasising intrinsic challenges such as job ambiguity and conflict. The report concludes with forecasts regarding the future trajectory of hybrid governance in Africa, considering the interplay of local socio-political dynamics, global interconnectedness, and technological advancements. This article serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders interested in the evolving governance paradigm in Africa, providing valuable applications and recommendations.  

This paper examines the shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 in relation to sustainable supply chain management (SCM), highlighting the incorporation of human-centric technologies. As industries progress, there is an increasing necessity to integrate technologies that enhance human-machine collaboration, optimise operational efficiency, and foster sustainability. This work aims to do a systematic review of the evolutionary process, emphasising the transformation of supply chain management by these technologies. A systematic review technique, adhering to the PRISMA framework, was utilised to collect and assess pertinent material published between 2010 to 2024. The review encompassed an exhaustive database search, stringent eligibility screening, and thematic analysis via Atlas-ti software to discern main themes and patterns concerning the incorporation of human-centric technology in supply chain management. The results indicate that the change to Industry 5.0 entails a substantial movement towards human-automation collaboration, with AI and machine learning as essential components. Digital transformation is redefining supply chain management by utilising big data, the Internet of Things, and blockchain technology to enhance transparency, traceability, and decision-making. Bionic supply chains, integrating human intelligence with machine efficiency, are developing as a vital foundation for operational resilience and sustainability. The study suggests that the incorporation of human-centric technology in supply chain management enhances efficiency and sustainability while fostering a more resilient supply network adept at reacting to interruptions. This paper offers essential recommendations for academics and practitioners seeking to enhance supply chain operations in the context of Industry 5.0.

Competitive intelligence strategies are employed by higher education institutions to assist with student recruitment. These competitive intelligence (CI) strategies help maintain or increase market share in education. Utilising competitive intelligence is crucial for firms in competitive markets, assisting in strategic planning and execution. Higher education organisations can benefit from CI to make informed decisions and develop strategic goals. The competition between selected public universities that reside in the same town has resulted in devising competitive strategies to attract grade 12 students with effective and innovative student recruitment strategies. The study sought to examine how competitive intelligence is used as a strategy to promote student recruitment at selected public universities. The study adopted a quantitative research approach where 234 first-time entering university students were used as key informants. To collect data, a questionnaire was used and is attached. It was discovered that both institutions utilised similar strategies to recruit students. Results reveal that the selected public universities employ traditional and technology-based strategies for student recruitment, relying on past success rather than a standardised approach based on competitive intelligence. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of competitive intelligence strategies in student recruitment, aiming to promote diverse communication needs among current and potential students.

This study aims to explore key drivers of tourism sustainability practices and their impact on the sustainable competitive performance of the tourism accommodation industry. The study adopts an exploratory research design under qualitative research, using semi-structured interviewing of owners and managers of tourism accommodation firms using the TOE framework and RBV theory. The findings reveal that technological sustainability expertise, executive sustainability support, organizational resources and capability, service intermediary sustainability practices, collaborative innovation adoption capability, tourism sustainability regulatory policy, and sustainability practices perceived by residents are the key drivers of TSP. The outcomes also show that tourism sustainability practices have a positive impact on the SCP of accommodation firms. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the literature on tourism sustainability by exploring how TOE antecedents motivate firms to adopt sustainability practices as product innovation, which in turn enhance SCP. Also, this study provides strong backing for the premises of the TOE framework, and RBV theory offers valuable practical insights for managers and owners. This will aid in identifying the pivotal factors influencing TSP and SCP, enabling the implementation of innovative strategies to enhance firm competitiveness. Also, the research can help the government and policymakers formulate sustainable tourism policies to promote tourism innovations. The adoption of sustainable practices has been a focal point for both academic researchers and professionals in the tourism industry. However, there has been insufficient exploration of the TOE drivers that facilitate the integration of tourism sustainability within the context of TAFs in a developing country. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap in knowledge.

Whenever the issue of poor employee performance arises, the question of the provision of staff training takes center stage. Staff training is seen as the principal driving force and central to effective and efficient job performance. The quest to achieve high performance at the workplace has always been derailed by an acute lack of skills. Despite the plethora of studies of staff training and employee performance in different sectors, the literature has not yet explored the relationship between the two variables in the transport sector, particularly in the South African context. However, the relationship between staff training and employee performance has been engulfed in and apprehended by complexities, mistrust, and misunderstandings. It is through this premise that this paper seeks to evaluate the influence of staff training on employee performance in the transport sector. The study adopted an exploratory research design and tapped into a qualitative research approach. Using the purposive sampling technique, a sample of 15 respondents, comprised of skill development representatives of organizations operating in the transport sector in Durban, were interviewed. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data from the respondents. The key findings revealed that staff training has a positive influence on employee performance in the transport sector. The study plays a pivotal role in extending knowledge in the fields of staff training and employee performance.

The utilization of powerful machine learning models in artificial intelligence offers novel prospects for the identification of fraudulent activities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary technological tool that enhances the ability to detect and prevent fraud by improving efficiency and effectiveness. This research offers a thorough examination of the utilization of artificial intelligence technology in the realm of procurement fraud prevention and detection. Additionally, it highlights the obstacles that arise when employing machine learning techniques for the purpose of identifying and preventing fraudulent activities. A mixed methods approach was employed in this study, wherein data was collected through an unstructured interview and questionnaire. We conducted a comprehensive review of relevant scholarly articles and online resources. The findings indicate that fraudsters are progressively advancing in their skills, which poses a significant challenge in detecting fraudulent activities. The advent of AI in fraud detection has demonstrated its transformative impact. AI has achieved unparalleled precision and velocity in crime detection and prevention, surpassing the capabilities of any human. Artificial intelligence (AI) enhances the capacity for automation. Accessing unstructured data in the form of spreadsheets, digital documents, and email inboxes poses a significant issue for the procurement function. In order to achieve a successful procurement transformation, businesses should prioritize the creation of essential tools, guarantee acceptance through the establishment of a superior user experience, and integrate both novel and pre-existing technology. It is imperative to disseminate knowledge to the general public regarding the escalating sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of fraud detection and prevention. This includes elucidating the potential benefits of AI in identifying patterns of suspicious activities, assessing its efficacy in predicting potential threats or fraudulent activities prior to their manifestation, and exploring its utility in analyzing historical data pertaining to both familiar and unfamiliar forms of fraudulent behavior.

This research was conducted to identify the determinants of SME's performance as well as look at the underlying conditional factors. Researchers examine the direct effect of product innovation on SME's performance and consider the moderating role of market orientation and organizational learning. Using the quantitative method, the researchers conducted a survey of 170 SME owners in DKI Jakarta Province who were selected using a purposive sampling method. This survey was conducted online by distributing questionnaires through an online platform. The data is then analyzed using Structural Equation Model with AMOS and Process by Hayes. The results of hypothesis testing show that product innovation has a positive effect on the performance of SMEs, and this effect will be stronger when SMEs have high market orientation and high organizational learning. This research can be used as a reference by owners or managers of SME to advance their businesses. SME need to innovate products and form a conducive climate in market-oriented organizations, as well as a climate that allows them to carry out organizational learning.  

Commercial banks accept deposits and lend money for investment and consumption. This study used five (5) first-tier banks in Nigeria as a case study to analyze the effects of credit risk management on the financial performance of commercial banks. The study examined fifteen (15) years' worth of panel data (from 2005 to 2019), taken from the audited financial reports of five first-tier listed banks. Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) are the only banks used, and they are all listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Non-performing loans (NPL) and expected credit loss impairment provisions (ECL) were utilized in this study as indicators of credit risk management. At the same time, return on assets (ROA) was employed to measure financial performance.

This research explores the effectiveness of destination awareness, destination image, perceived quality, and brand engagement on visit intention among TikTok users toward destinations in Yogyakarta. The sample in this research is TikTok users who have seen tourism video content in Yogyakarta. Data was obtained through an online survey constructed with Google Forms which 225 respondents filled out. The data used in this study were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method by SPSS and SmartPLS. According to the research findings, destination awareness and destination image positively impact the perceived quality of TikTok users. Furthermore, perceived quality positively affects the intention to visit and brand engagement for TikTok users. These findings provide implications and empirical studies related to encouraging marketing potential on social media TikTok for visiting the tourism industry in Yogyakarta.

The tourism industry is a sector that continues to be developed by the Indonesian government. Especially during the current Covid 19 pandemic, tourism must be given a touch of differentiation to adapt to government regulations regarding the safety of tourism objects. The development of social media is essential in the world of tourism, where it can change the behaviour of tourists to enjoy tourism services. This study aims to understand the social media preference in tourist destinations so that tourism destinations can analyze social media marketing competitive strategy according to the target market. This study uses the MDS method and cluster analysis. This study collects data from 240 respondents. Respondents were asked to rate ten social media pairs where the social media observed were Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Tik Tok. This research found that a perceptual map is essential to define consumer perceptions and preferences on social media.

This study aims to identify the most influential blockchain types for potential implementation areas in the transforming mobility ecosystem, considering application area-specific needs such as transparency, transaction speed, scalability, energy usage, security, and operating cost. The study demonstrated the hybrid blockchain suitability for most of the 13 distinguished mobility applications, while private and consortium blockchains are found applicable based on the needs of specific use cases. A public blockchain is only found suitable for two of the use cases. Proof of Authority and Proof of Stake matches well with most use cases, while Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance and Proof of Work could be suitable in particular.

The purpose of this study is to explain and analyze the effect of the e-servicescape dimension on perceived value and loyalty to e-commerce sites in Indonesia. The sampling technique used a non-probability sampling technique with a sample of 195 respondents who had shopped at e-commerce more than three times. Data collection is done by spreading the distribution through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The research variables consist of aesthetic appeal, layout & functionality, and financial security as independent variables, perceived value as a mediator, and attitude and behavior loyalty variables as dependent variables. The study used AMOS 24 to analyze the data. The results of the study show that the three independent variables are only layout & functionality that have a positive and significant effect on consumers' perceived value perceptions, while the variables of aesthetic appeal and financial security harm perceived value. Furthermore, the perceived value variable has a positive and significant effect on attitude and behavior loyalty as well as attitude loyalty has a significant positive effect on behavioral loyalty. The implication of this research is to add literature and insight for e-commerce players in Indonesia to increase the aesthetic appeal of online stores and financial security so that consumers are loyal in attitude and behavior and that practices that can harm consumers and negatively impact e-commerce players do not occur. Research needs to do further research on the same object but with different results or different objects, such as electronic products or e-commerce bills.

Highly engaged employees ensure organizational competitiveness and success. The study examined whether employee engagement mediates the relationship between human resource development and employee turnover intentions. A field study was conducted among six indigenously owned healthcare institutions and 14 internationally owned healthcare institutions. The data supported the hypothesized relationships. The results indicate a significant association between HRD and the levels of behavioral engagement. HRD and the levels of emotional engagement had an insignificant relationship. HRD and the levels of cognitive engagement were significantly related. The findings also indicated that the association between HRD and employee turnover intentions was mediated by employee engagement. The present study’s emphasis on healthcare institutions may constrain the generalizability of the findings. The study suggests the adoption and development of well-designed and formulated HRD practices enhance employee engagement, knowledge development, and organizational commitment. By empirically demonstrating that employee engagement mediates the nexus of HRD and employee turnover intentions, the study extends the literature.

Prior studies in Bangladesh examined how several non-demographic factors influenced consumers' online buying behavior. However, no specific research has been conducted to examine an association between consumers' demographic factors and the online shopping behavior of Bangladeshi buyers. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between online shopping behavior and the demographic characteristics of Bangladeshi buyers. The association between six consumers' demographic variables, such as age, gender, income, education, occupation, and marital status, and online shopping behavior, proxied by the frequency of online shopping, was examined. Primary data through a structured questionnaire was collected from the 547 respondents in urban and rural areas of seven divisions in Bangladesh through offline and online surveys. The chi-square test was used to examine the association between consumers' demographic characteristics and online shopping behavior. The study found that male and married consumers with a higher level of education and higher-category jobs have a higher propensity to shop online. However, consumers' age and income level do not significantly impact their online shopping behavior. The study's outcomes are expected to provide online retailers and merchants with critical information about buyer behavior. Keywords: Association, online shopping behavior, demographic characteristics, chi-square test, Cramér’s V, e-commerce. JEL Classification: M31, M39, and L81

This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of environmental awareness and knowledge on green behavior mediated by employee wellbeing. The research was conducted at the Batik Warna SMEs in the Kebon Indah Community located in Klaten, Central Java, with 118 respondents. Data analysis used the quantitative method of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) SMART – Partial Least Square (PLS) Software. The results showed that: (i) There is a positive and significant influence between environmental awareness and employee well-being, (ii) There is a positive and significant influence between environmental knowledge and employee well-being, (iii) There is a positive and significant effect between employee wellbeing and employee green behavior, (iv) There is a positive and significant effect between environmental awareness on employee green behavior mediated by employee wellbeing, (v) There is a positive and significant effect on environmental knowledge on employee green behavior mediated by employee wellbeing at Batik Warna Alam SMEs in the Kebon Indah Community, located in Klaten, Central Java.

Bandung is one of the cities with a high culinary appeal. However, there are several problems found such as a decrease in sales due to the Covid-19, not conducting the market surveys, and tight competition in the culinary industry. One of the concepts that can solve these problems is a human-centered approach called Design Thinking. Hence, it is needed to measure whether the concept is already implemented or not. The result of this measurement can define the further plan to solve the problems stated. Design thinking is the rationale in the process of transforming a creative mindset into an innovation. This study measures the implementation of the Design Thinking concept in the culinary subsector in Bandung which includes five stages, namely: empathize, define, ideation, prototype, and test. The data collection is conducted by distributing questionnaires to 92 dine-in and 92 takeaway culinary businesses. The data gathered is then processed by using the descriptive statistical analysis technique and a two-tailed t-test. The result of the study indicates that the culinary business actors in Bandung city have implemented the Design Thinking concept well, although the empathize and define stages are still included in the bad category. There is also a difference in implementing the Design Thinking concept between dine-in and takeaway culinary businesses. Further study is expected to measure the impact of the Design Thinking concept’s implementation on the culinary businesses’ sales performance.           

The use of a product that is not environmentally friendly has become a crucial issue in preserving the environment. The waste from marketing activities, such as plastic waste, is currently becoming a threat to the environment and the economic sector. Companies must understand this problem and respond to it by providing products or services that can minimize environmental damage. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of green knowledge, green brand, and willingness to be environmentally friendly toward a green purchase behavior. The object of this study is consumers in Bandung City, Indonesia, who have the experience of purchasing environmentally-friendly products such as eco-bag (shopping bags) as a means to minimize plastic waste. This study uses a quantitative method with explanatory research. The samples are taken from 125 respondents who were collected in three days in different places. The results of this study indicate that there is a quite high influence of green knowledge, green brand, and willingness to be environmentally friendly in explaining consumer purchasing behavior. This study provides the implication that in order to increase the purchase of green products, companies need to educate consumers regarding the benefits of using an environmentally-friendly product and provide a brand image that can support and promote green marketing.

This study aims to examine and analyze the influence of organizational environmental culture on employee performance mediated by Green Human Resources Management (GHRM) practice and job satisfaction. This study uses census sampling with 89 respondents taken from the employees of PT Bank KB Bukopin in Yogyakarta. The data analysis used in this study is Structural Equation Model (SEM) method using Partial Least Square (PLS) with SmartPLS 3.0 software. There are 6 hypotheses tested in this study for each construct and correlation, and the results indicate that all hypotheses are accepted. The results are: (1) Organizational Environmental Culture has a positive influence on GHRM practice in Bank KB Bukopin in Yogyakarta, (2) Organizational Environmental Culture has a positive influence on Job Satisfaction in Bank KB Bukopin in Yogyakarta, (3) GHRM practice has a positive influence on Employee Performance in Bank KB Bukopin in Yogyakarta, (4) Job Satisfaction has a positive influence on Employee Performance in Bank KB Bukopin in Yogyakarta, (5) Organizational Environmental Culture has a positive influence on Employee Performance mediated by GHRM practices, and (6) Organizational Environmental Culture has a positive influence on Employee Performance mediated by Job Satisfaction.