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Gender-based violence (GBV) is increasingly gaining local and international attention. South Africa has been experiencing high volume of GBV cases. Men are unable to report gender-based violence cases because of fears for discrimination, labelling and cultural norms. Traditionally, men are expected to be strong despite the difficulties experienced. Although there is high unequal implementation of programs and policies that caters for GBV, male victims continue to suffer because the societal perception, stigmatization, and discrimination. Notwithstanding the existing policies, men continue to become victims of gender-based violence at an alarming rate. Gender-based violence against men has disturbing effects which includes physical effects, mental health illness, sexual dysfunctionality suicide and femicide. Men significantly suffer gender-based violence which this leads to lack of self-expression due to societal expectations and finding it difficult to seek help and report about the abuse. This mostly results to divorce, homicides and other mental related problems. The purpose of the study was to explore the destructive effects of gender-based violence against men in South Africa. The study employed the qualitative research approach with exploratory research design adopted. A sample of 14 male victims of gender-based violence was chosen for the purpose of the study. The study used interviews with semi-structured interview schedule used to guide the session. Purposive sampling technique was used with thematic content used for data analysis process. Among the many effects experienced, the study established the physical, mental health problems, sexual dysfunctionality, suicide and homicide to be the main effects of gender-based violence against men. Family systems theory was found to be relevant in the study to understand the dynamics of gender-based violence.

This study sought to examine the correlation between the financial literacy of small business proprietors and the performance of their enterprises in the northern region of Tshwane Ga-Rankuwa.  The research utilised a quantitative methodology, employing a standardised questionnaire distributed to small business owners.  A quantitative methodology underpinned the study's aims in examining a potential association between financial literacy and business performance.  Data were examined via STATA/small enterprise, version 17.  Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to analyse the distribution of study participants and their financial literacy.  Multiple linear regression evaluated the relationships between predictor factors (socio-demographic characteristics and financial literacy) and return on assets.  The small firms reported low to moderate profits and elevated returns on assets (ROA).  Substantial correlations are present among family size, income level, and ROA, contesting the assumptions that education and experience are predictors of performance.  Financial performance exhibits good connections with financial literacy and access to financing; nevertheless, the minor associations with knowledge and attitude highlight crucial dimensions of performance.  Small firms must to seek methods to enhance profitability and invest in financial literacy.  Authorities ought to enhance access to funding for small firms and should evaluate the relevance and quality of education concerning its contribution to financial literacy.  The research demonstrated the significant influence of financial literacy and access on forecasting financial performance.  Nonetheless, the correlation between financial literacy, attitudes, and actual financial results was less pronounced than anticipated.

While floods and droughts are natural occurrences in the earth’s hydrological cycle, their escalating frequency and intensity have become a major concern for governments throughout the globe. Developing nations, such as South Africa, are weary of these extreme weather events because they understand they lack the necessary resources and infrastructure to deal with them. The eThekwini Municipality serves as a prime example of how vulnerable developing nations' regions are to the devastating effects of floods and droughts, as multiple floods have devastated the area, resulting in fatalities, damaging public infrastructure, and demolishing houses. The scale of the damage from the floods reveals that significant gaps exist in disaster preparedness in the eThekwini Region. Rainfall forecasting is a vital tool that has been underutilised that can be used preemptively to manage or mitigate flooding and enhance water resource management in the region. Machine learning models in particular are very useful in rainfall forecasting; hence, the goal of this study was to evaluate the most efficient models for forecasting precipitation in the eThekwini northern and central regions, which are coastal and inland areas, respectively. Rainfall data spanning 32 years was obtained from meteorological stations in both regions, and the SARIMA, ARIMA, and ETS machine learning models were used for rainfall forecasting and evaluated based on their ability to capture seasonal patterns, handle non-stationarity, and provide accurate predictions. Model performance was analysed, and comparisons were made using the root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute scaled error (MASE) as evaluation metrics. The study's findings indicate that the most effective models for both the northern and central regions were SARIMA (0,0,0) (2,0,0) [12] and SARIMA (1,0,0) (1,0,0) [12]. These findings provide valuable insights for meteorologists, hydrologists, and policymakers involved in regional climate modelling and water resource management.

The adoption of digital technologies in external auditing has become increasingly common and significant in the digital era, revolutionizing audit practices and offering several opportunities. This study explores whether the application of digital technologies in external auditing presents a double-edged sword, with the ability to transform and disrupt the audit profession. Through a comprehensive examination of the likely opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation of the external audit function, this study sought to provide an insightful discussion of the dual nature of the implications of digital technologies. The aim of this study is to not only provide a balanced assessment of the application of digital technologies in external auditing but also to recommend possible ways for auditors, auditee companies, and other stakeholders to reap maximum benefits from the use of digital technologies, including how these various stakeholders can navigate the associated challenges effectively. Opportunities stemming from the application of digital technologies include the enhancement of audit quality, improved accuracy in audit procedures, increased efficiency and effectiveness, heightened comprehensiveness and extensiveness in risk assessment, and an increased degree of confidence in the audited financial statements by stakeholders (reduction in the audit expectation gap). On the downside, challenges and risks concern the lack of or the need for new skills and competencies for auditors, technological complexities linked to digital technologies, cybersecurity risks, overdependence on technology affecting audit quality, audit evidence, professional skepticism, and the widening of the audit expectation gap. To maximize the possible benefits and minimize risks, this study recommends continuous professional development, capacity building through education, training and collaboration, better technology and data governance initiatives, and continuous assessment of risks.

This paper examines the current international taxation framework and its implications for African economies. The analysis highlights the economic consequences of the existing allocation of taxing rights, which often results in reduced revenue generation and exacerbated economic inequalities. The paper underscores the critical roles played by the African Union (AU) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) in advocating for fairer taxing rights for African countries. It also delves into potential technological and administrative solutions to enhance tax collection efficiency and effectiveness. A qualitative systematic literature review approach was adopted in the study. The findings reveal that the current allocation of taxing rights disproportionately favours residence countries, hindering African nation's ability to generate adequate tax revenues. This, in turn, impedes investments in essential public services and infrastructure. The paper emphasises the importance of equitable tax reforms, advocating for a reallocation of taxing rights that ensures a fairer distribution of tax revenues. Strengthening the capacities of tax administrations and investing in advanced technology for tax collection are also identified as crucial steps to improve the efficiency and fairness of the tax system. Key recommendations for policymakers include actively participating in international tax reform initiatives, advocating for source-based taxation, and fostering regional co-operation to enhance tax governance. Specific policy reforms suggested include implementing digital services taxes, enforcing anti-avoidance rules, and improving transfer pricing regulations. The paper concludes by calling for further research on the impact of specific tax policy reforms, the effectiveness of technological solutions, and the role of regional bodies in promoting equitable tax practices. These insights aim to contribute to the ongoing discourse on international taxation and support sustainable economic development in Africa.

The growth in the use of article-based theses, when compared to the traditional monograph-style thesis raises the question why students, supervisors and academic institutions are pursuing this particular route. This study explores the views of experienced supervisors involved in doctoral studies. The study aims to explore the advantages, disadvantages, caveats and various routes that doctoral students can take in completing their thesis. The study was exploratory in nature, employing a qualitative research design and made use of semi-structured interviews with nine doctoral supervisors from Canada. Data was collected from experienced doctoral supervisors from Canada, selected by means of a snowball sampling approach. Data was analysed by means of thematic content analysis. Findings show that supervisors preferred the sandwich-based thesis approach, as it allowed for more rapid time to completion. In addition, the main benefits for both institution and student included having a larger volume of published research output at the end of the doctoral supervision process, as well as more rapid career advancement owing to development of both research and soft skills. The finds hold value for universities who are considering an article-based thesis as an alternative to the traditional monograph style, as well as universities who have not used this option extensively. Findings also provide an impetus for supervisors and faculties in management education to adopt the article-based thesis approach more widely and rapidly owing to the multitude of benefits it holds. 

This article explores social network site (SNS) users’ understanding of the danger the integration of human intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI), termed “augmented intelligence,” presents.  Augmented intelligence, a subsection of artificial intelligence (AI), aims to enhance human intelligence with AI and is heralded as a significant step in problem-solving. A crucial concern is the profound threat to SNS users’ information security. A quantitative approach examined SNS understanding regarding the diffusion of augmented intelligence into SNS users’ spaces. An online survey was administered to 165 SNS users residing in the Gauteng province of South Africa.  Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory was used as the theoretical lens. Ethical clearance was obtained, and the data collected was anonymized and kept confidential. The article provides new insights that can help SNS users understand that a new threat to their information security in the form of augmented intelligence is emerging. Findings suggest that out of the five constructs drawn from DOI that explain the diffusion of augmented intelligence into sophisticated social engineering attacks, relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity were perceived by study participants as likely predictors of augmented intelligence adoption. Users, however, differed on exactly how the augmentation process was being achieved.

This paper examines the impact of selected variables on the value creation of tourism enterprises in Western Austria (Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg) with the objective of developing an insolvency prediction model for Alpine tourism businesses. This study specifically highlights practical applications for business owners, policymakers, and financial institutions, providing strategies to mitigate bankruptcy risks in the tourism sector. The objective of this study is to address existing gaps in the literature regarding the early detection of insolvency in the tourism sector, particularly in German-speaking regions. To this end, a hybrid analytical method is employed, combining quantitative statistical approaches with sector-specific contextual analysis. A dataset comprising tourism firms was divided into two groups, namely solvent and insolvent, with a view to identifying significant explanatory variables influencing insolvency risks. The primary findings indicate that enterprise size, company age, and debt levels (as indicated by the equity ratio) are significant risk factors for insolvency. Furthermore, the results suggest that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable to financial crises. Finally, the findings demonstrate that macroeconomic structures and sectoral effects significantly impact insolvency probabilities. These findings emphasise the necessity for the development of early warning systems that are tailored to the specific requirements of SMEs in Alpine tourism.This research is particularly pertinent in light of the rising insolvency rates in the tourism industry and the lack of comprehensive official statistics, which impede effective crisis management. By addressing these challenges, the study contributes to the development of targeted risk management and intervention strategies to enhance the resilience of tourism enterprises in the region.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing technological development that helps individuals in many areas. However, this progress is met with different reactions from individuals. The paper aims to investigate the associations among the concepts of spiritual intelligence, intolerance of uncertainty and AI anxiety. Furthermore, mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty on the relationship between spiritual intelligence and AI anxiety is another aim to examine in this study. In order to measure the mentioned variables, data was collected from 382 white-collar employees using survey method. We conducted explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses to control validity, and Crombach Alpha values to control reliability of the scales. Findings represented that each scale was valid and reliable. After that measurement model and structural equation modelling was conducted for model testing. The results represented the significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and intolerance of uncertainty, between uncertainty tolerance and AI anxiety (also its dimensions). In addition, findings showed that intolerance of uncertainty fully mediates the relationship between spiritual intelligence and learning of AI anxiety, also between job replacement of AI anxiety. Furthermore, results presented that intolerance of uncertainty partially mediates the relationship between spiritual intelligence and sociotechnical blindness and configuration of AI anxiety.

This research analyses how a service firm develops an ecosystem and serves as the orchestrator. A unique coffee shop in a mountainous area was used as the subject because it has abundant resources to become an orchestrator and various distinctive traits. A single case study design was selected to enable researchers to analyse depth and rich data, covering all participants within the ecosystem. Using a holistic case study design enables investigators to explore complex interplays of ecosystem participants. This study demonstrates that a firm uses elements of dynamic capabilities to manage the evolving process of ecosystem dynamics, starting from the initial formation of the ecosystem to the maturity stage. Our analysis identifies what derivative capabilities can be created from each element of dynamic capabilities and how these derivative capabilities are employed for developing and managing partners involved in the ecosystem. This study establishes a contribution by examining a coffee shop, representing a small service firm, and its evolution into an ecosystem orchestrator role - an under-explored setting in prevailing orchestration literature concentrated on large platform corporations. Single case studies are often criticized because their generalizability is thin and their findings are narrow. However, this weakness has led to the advantage of presenting insights in detail and depth.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Constitutional Court Decision Number 168/PUU-XXI/2023 concerning Law Number 6 of 2023 and its impact on national investment growth in Indonesia. This Constitutional Court Decision was stipulated on October 31, 2024, in response to the request for a material review of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulation instead of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into a Law related to changes to provisions originally regulated in Law Number 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. This research methodology uses a doctrinal legal research approach that focuses on the law and involves analyzing legal rules found in primary sources. This document uses data from scientific contributions published in academic research databases. The findings of this study are that labor laws are expected to reflect the national legal commitment to maintaining harmony between industry needs and worker protection so that the benefits can be felt by all parties involved in employment relations in Indonesia. Thus, this Constitutional Court decision is expected to create fairer labor standards in the form of creating an employment ecosystem in Indonesia. This scientific contribution concludes that labor laws and regulations are expected to be able to increase national investment growth in Indonesia. This study is of interest to various stakeholders, legislators, companies, academics, and others to encourage national economic growth in general, and national investment growth in particular after the Constitutional Court Decision Number 168/PUU-XXI/2023.

The arrival of foreign nationals in Indonesia for various purposes, including state visits, tourism, business, and education, has become common. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing the application process for study permits for foreign nationals and map the ecosystem of this process, particularly for those studying at Indonesian universities. The research follows a five-step method to analyze the digital business ecosystem: 1) defining the ecosystem boundaries; 2) identifying actors and their roles; 3) outlining value propositions; 4) exploring actor interactions; and 5) verifying the ecosystem design. Using qualitative methods like interviews and literature review, the study finds that Indonesia's foreign student licensing ecosystem involves multiple actors and complex procedures, leading to delays and confusion. The lack of integration between agencies makes the process inefficient. The study suggests digital integration to enhance speed, transparency, and coordination, aiding the internationalization of higher education in Indonesia.

Organisations are experiencing significant transformations that necessitate modern strategies to maintain pace. Motivation has emerged as an essential element of the workplace for organisational success. Motivated employees are often more effective and productive in achieving corporate goals and objectives; nonetheless, this concept continues to pose a challenge for contemporary businesses. The research investigated the impact of motivation on staff efficiency and production inside a specific Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company in South Africa. Data were gathered through interviews utilising a non-probability quota sampling method from a sample of 11 people in a qualitative study. Thematic analysis was conducted on the data, facilitating the identification of patterns and the development of themes. The findings indicate that (i) the motivational strategies predominantly employed by the FMCG organisation pertain to the workplace environment, remuneration, well-being, and professional development; (ii) elements such as training and development, sense of belonging, equity and fairness, and career advancement significantly impact the efficiency and productivity of the study participants, with training and development being the most essential. Despite the beneficial effects of motivation, apprehensions arose regarding diverse training requirements and team management. The report advocates for a requirements assessment to identify and address skill deficiencies, prioritise good team management, cultivate a culture of continuous learning, and improve employee engagement through a sense of belonging, equity, justice, and career advancement. These proposals synchronise motivational tactics with organisational objectives, hence enhancing staff productivity and competitive edge. This study provides valuable insights into improving staff efficiency and productivity through motivation in the dynamic FMCG sector in South Africa, with extensive implications for managerial practices and employee engagement.

Industry 4.0 technologies have optimized efficiency and effectiveness through the manufacture of sophisticated products and services, which result in enhancement of operations, improvement in safety, time, and cost-saving, and have revolutionized operations in almost all industries and have tremendously transformed the aviation sector. This study aims to examine the passenger travel experience with the implementation of e-services before, during, and after trips, from ticket bookings, self-check-in, smart boarding, in-flight services to baggage tracking after flight. Furthermore, the study seeks to identify the modern technologies with which air passengers are familiar or actively use, and to analyze the factors that influence their acceptance of these e-services.  A research model was developed based on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) and modified to suit the objectives of this study. The study objectives were achieved through a survey, a self-administered online questionnaire from 253 air passengers was obtained, and data was analyzed using SPSS 25 software. The results reveal that performance expectancy, price-value, hedonic motivations, perceived benefits and habit have a positive significant influence on behavioral intention, while social influence, perceived challenges, facilitating conditions and effort expectancy were not supported. The results of the study give insights into how different passengers, different age groups, different geographical locations, and different technological maturity perceive such implementations. This will provide policymakers ideas on how to better manage and enhance e-services.

This study investigates the relationship between sectoral labour productivity and unemployment in South Africa by answering the question how has labour productivity across different sectors affected employment rates in South Africa? Both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Augmented Dickey–Fuller and Phillips-Perron tests and Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bound test and estimation techniques) were applied on obtained timeseries data for the period 1991-2022. The analysis surprisingly shows that none of the sectoral labour productivity variables contribute to unemployment reduction in the country. Plausible reasons for this finding include the adoption of automation and technological advancements in labour intensive, imbalance between rate of job loss in labour intensive sector and rate of job creation in the service sector during sectoral shifts and economic transition, and general lower purchasing due to unequal distribution of labour productivity gain and income inequality that could have boosted consumer demand, these measures can stimulate economic growth and job creation. Various recommendations are suggested to reduce unemployment in the light of these findings.

Food prices in Nigeria have experienced significant increases due to rising fuel costs, unstable exchange rates, and socio-political challenges. This study examines the effects of fuel prices and exchange rate changes on food inflation using a Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model, which provides insights into both immediate and long-term impacts. Monthly data from June 2015 to May 2024 shows a stable long-term relationship between food inflation, energy prices, and exchange rates, making it clear that these factors are key drivers of inflationary trends in Nigeria. Our findings reveal that increases in fuel prices, particularly for petrol and diesel, drive up the cost of food production and transportation, with noticeable impacts appearing within three to six months. Similarly, shifts in exchange rates raise the cost of imported foods, with effects becoming evident in about two to ten months. Recent economic reforms, such as the fuel subsidy removal in 2023, have intensified inflationary pressures, exposing structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s food supply chain, including poor infrastructure and insecurity. The study recommended a direct approach to tackle food inflation, we recommend the creation of a Food Price Stabilization Fund (FPSF), which would help manage extreme price volatility caused by energy price fluctuations and exchange rate changes among others.

The study focused on the people’s perception of Coronavirus, traditional health, and western health in fight against Coronavirus. Experts contend that government agencies and health officials should join forces with traditional healers rather than oppose them to successfully combat COVID-19. Traditional health care, through several trado-medical scientists seemed to be mostly patronized by all sector of health institution and the youth. This obviously signifies that traditional health which has long been taken for granted and rejected for many years has a critical role to play in making reasonable health care delivery system to the African communities. The indigenous health care system and its methods are being demonized by youth and certain scientific institutions because they are linked to witchcraft and other wicked customs. The researcher noticed that, in the twenty-first century, there appeared to be an idea of interfacing Traditional Health Practices (THPs) with Western doctors. It appears that basic health care systems were provided by traditional medical professionals in civilizations prior to the arrival of colonialism. The objective of the study was as follows, to explore the perceptions of traditional health and western health practitioners in fight against Coronavirus. The study adopted an employ African healing theory. The study used a qualitative research design and was exploratory in nature. Data was generated using semi-structured interviews as data collection instruments. The study’s finding shows that symptoms of coronavirus are the same in traditional health care and western health care perspectives as the traditional practitioner and western practitioner observe the common symptoms such as coughing, sweating, high temperature having mucus, unable to breath and diarrhea or vomiting which are the same symptoms of normal influenza. The study recommends Integration of traditional health and western healthcare system in leveraging the strength of both approaches to combat corona virus and promote overall health well-being and Future research on traditional health care in advancing rural livelihoods.

This study mainly aimed to investigate the impact of seasonal changes on media advertising revenues (AR) in R environment through a visual-print media company example. So, the study primarily aimed to examine whether visual, print and internet ARs were affected by seasonal change. The study also aimed to indicate the trends of visual/ print/ and internet ARs over time in the light of seasonality. Furthermore, it was also aimed to make AR estimates for the next year with the best performing methods covering ARIMA and ETS. Methodologically, R programming language and its libraries were used together with ARIMA and ETS time series models. The data set consisted of a monthly ARs series consisting of 180 rows covering the period between January/2007-December/2021 and having a sufficient number of observations for the application of the models. Data were analyzed with R and next year’s forecasts were done with ARIMA and ETS. The study revealed that all AR types were affected by seasonal changes in the specified period and included seasonality, i.e. specially in the summer months.  Additionally, it was observed that AR types have different trends despite containing seasonality. The study found that visual ARs denoted a slight downward trend including seasonality during the period. It was also indicated that print ARs reflected a very rapid and drastic downward trend covering seasonality. The study also revealed that internet ARs showed a very rapid and sharp upward trend compared to the other two AR types despite having seasonality. Furthermore, taking into account the calculated error metrics, it was found that the ARIMA model showed the best estimation performance in both i.e. visual and internet ARs. On the other hand, the ETS model indicated the best estimation performance in print ARs. Accordingly, estimations of the visual/print and internet ARs for the next year were made with the best performing methods. It was pointed out that estimated ARs included seasonality in the summer months and revealed similar results to the previous trends based on historical data.

The study significantly enhances the current literature by highlighting the importance of financial management skills in the success of MSMEs, especially in the context of small construction firms functioning under unstable and uncertain economic conditions. It offers insights on how effective financial management can alleviate the negative impacts of economic uncertainty, including variable interest rates and regulatory modifications, which were intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study concentrates on BCO Construction in Johannesburg, examining the distinct financial issues encountered by small construction firms and the potential solutions through improved financial management strategies. The research delineates numerous vital financial management competencies needed for project accomplishment. This encompasses the capacity to manage liquidity efficiently, sustain profitability, and utilize financial instruments such as Net Present Value (NPV) and Earned Value (EV) management. It emphasizes the significance of abilities in managing financial leverage, which can facilitate the attainment of project objectives within budgetary and temporal limitations. The findings indicate that the absence of trained financial personnel, ineffective payment systems, and liquidity issues are substantial obstacles for BCO Construction. Consequently, it is advisable to tackle these difficulties through specialized financial literacy and management training to enhance overall project performance. The study employs a quantitative methodology, including standardized questionnaires administered to eighty (80) participants to gather data regarding the problems and competencies required for financial management in building projects. The analysis conducted with SPSS version 29 indicates that enhancing communication channels, integrating strategic financial planning, and implementing thorough training programs are essential for aligning financial objectives with overarching corporate goals. This alignment is essential for optimizing resource allocation, guaranteeing financial stability, and improving competitiveness in the construction sector.  

Employee engagement has become a prominent topic in workplace discourse, particularly within academia, yet the academic literature on this subject remains relatively limited, especially in the context of Ghana. This paper seeks to address this gap by examining the factors contributing to employee engagement among academics and exploring their interrelationships for enhanced engagement of faculty. This was done through a comprehensive literature review, drawing on peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, textbooks, and other relevant published sources, as well as online databases, including EBSCO Business Source Premier, Emerald Full Text, Google Scholar, Sci-Space, Science Direct, Sci-Hub, and Scopus. This study identifies key factors influencing employee engagement in higher education institutions as co-worker relationships, effective supervision, confidence in management, meaningful work roles, perceived organisational politics, organisational resources, effective leadership, and compensation and monetary benefits. The findings reveal a concerning trend of a higher number of disengaged or unengaged employees compared to those who are actively engaged. Furthermore, the consequences of employee engagement identified in the literature include job satisfaction, employee retention, and organisational citizenship behaviours, while challenges and barriers to engagement include poor management-union relationships, poor work environments, poor management practices, and inadequate communication. This paper contributes to the understanding of employee engagement in academia and provides insights for improving engagement levels in higher education institutions in Ghana.