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The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated hybrid work adoption, essentially altering line managers' roles as they navigate supervising geographically dispersed teams. Despite widespread implementation, limited qualitative research examines how managers adapt their leadership practices within this evolving work model. This study explored the perceived challenges, opportunities, and leadership adaptations amongst line managers in hybrid settings, aiming to reveal factors that enhance leadership capability, team performance, and strategic HR practices. Inadequate understanding of managerial perceptions hinders evidence-based leadership development tailored for hybrid contexts. Line managers experience increased stress managing distributed teams whilst balancing flexibility with accountability, yet empirical research focusing on their experiences remains scarce. Adopting an interpretivist paradigm, this generic qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 line managers from diverse sectors possessing at least two years of managerial experience supervising hybrid teams. Manual thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's (2006) framework identified recurring patterns. Four themes emerged: challenges characterised by a trust-visibility paradox requiring structured communication and output-based monitoring; leadership opportunities demanding trust-based, emotionally intelligent, digitally fluent approaches; transformed practices shifting from presence-based to performance-based supervision; and critical organisational support needs including emotional intelligence training and clear hybrid policies.  Organisations must implement targeted interventions including hybrid-specific leadership development programmes, formalised communication protocols, output-based performance systems, and systematic wellbeing support.

The study investigates governance challenges in South Africa’s state-owned entities (SOEs) by assessing disclosures provided in SOEs’ annual reports and financial statements regarding fraud, unauthorised expenditure, irregular expenditure, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure between 2022 and 2024, in line with section 55 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) No. 1 of 1999. Adopting an interpretivist research philosophy, the study utilizes qualitative methods through a content analysis of the annual reports and financial statements of the five sampled SOEs. The analysis revealed that, although the selected SOEs demonstrated partial compliance with Section 55 of the PFMA, significant governance and reporting shortcomings persist. While most SOEs maintained records and produced financial statements, none provided evidence of submitting these reports within the required timeframes, and one entity had not produced its 2024 reports by the cut-off date of 10 October 2025. The financial statements frequently lacked a fair and accurate reflection of each SOE’s financial position and performance. Disclosures related to financial misconduct were particularly weak and inconsistent, with irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure reported more often than cases of fraud or unauthorised expenditure, which were largely omitted. These disclosure shortcomings suggest that compliance among SOEs remains superficial and procedural rather than substantive, undermining accountability, transparency and the overall integrity of financial reporting.

Cybersecurity threats pose a growing challenge for organizations in digitally dependent economies, with South African organizations facing increasing incidents of data breaches and ransomware, among other threats. This study investigates how organizations can enhance cybersecurity resilience by aligning data privacy regulations with business resilience strategies. A quantitative survey of 201 professionals across multiple industries in South Africa was conducted, guided by Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DIT), and Resilience Theory. Analysis revealed that while organizations perceive the severity of cyber threats, internal threat perception alone does not drive innovation. Instead, external regulatory and institutional pressures emerged strong driver of cybersecurity innovation, which in turn strengthens cybersecurity resilience. Based on these insights, a Cybersecurity Resilience Model was developed as a defence mechanism against cybersecurity threats and attacks.

This study investigates how managerial employees perceive workplace practices as conditions that enhance organisational performance using a qualitative approach. Although organisational performance has been analysed through quantifiable managerial and structural factors, there has been insufficient focus on the relational dynamics that influence how managers perceive daily workplace practices as either facilitating or hindering performance. The study adopted an exploratory research design to provide an in-depth understanding of workplace practices as conditions that enhance performance. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select 10 participants from a population of approximately 1200 employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managerial employees to obtain a comprehensive understanding of their perceptions of how workplace practices influence the ability and willingness of employees to perform. Through a thematic analysis, four key themes were uncovered from the dataset: clarity in communication, perceived fairness in remuneration and working conditions, feeling supported within the working environment, and feeling valued through appreciation and recognition. The results indicate that these practices function as relational signals within the organisational ecosystem, influencing managerial perceptions of clarity, fairness, support, and value. These perceptions serve as mediating factors that facilitate the conversion of workplace practices into performance results. This research enhances the literature on organisational performance by redirecting focus from static organisational factors to the relational and perceptual processes that facilitate performance in practice. From a strategic viewpoint, the results emphasise the significance of aligning workplace practices with organisational objectives through Human Resource governance frameworks that promote equity, support, and recognition.

Entrepreneurship policy occupies a significant role in the economic and social development policies of BRICS Plus states, but its efficacy is still debated. This study seeks to analyse the congruence between entrepreneurship policy frameworks, institutional conditions, and the realities of entrepreneurial ecosystems in situations where entrepreneurship is extensively advocated as a catalyst for job creation, poverty alleviation, and inclusive growth. This study employs a systematic literature review framework based on PRISMA principles, utilising peer-reviewed research from entrepreneurship, public policy, and development studies to examine the influence of policy instruments and institutional arrangements on entrepreneurial activity and development outcomes. The analysis indicates a continual disparity between policy intentions and actual implementation, marked by the prevalence of formal, organization-focused, and growth-driven policy assumptions that insufficiently address the informal, hybrid, and collective entrepreneurial practices common in BRICS Plus environments. Key findings (i) reveal inadequate integration of community-level ecosystems, (ii) institutional complexity hindering policy implementation, and (iii) misalignment between entrepreneurship policy objectives and inclusive development as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes. The study proposes a policy-ecosystem alignment framework that redefines entrepreneurship policy as an adaptive, multi-tiered process situated within intricate institutional contexts. The research proposes a Policy–Ecosystem Alignment Framework that synthesises policy orientation, institutional conditions, ecosystem dynamics, and development results to elucidate disparities in entrepreneurial policy efficacy among BRICS Plus nations. The study suggests that achieving more inclusive and context-sensitive entrepreneurship outcomes in BRICS Plus nations necessitates policy frameworks that acknowledge entrepreneurial variety, institutional diversity, and ecosystem dynamics.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to South Africa's economic growth and job creation; nevertheless, their sustainability is hindered by ongoing structural issues. The article analyses how digital platforms—such as fintech, digital payments, and e-commerce—can facilitate the growth and economic resilience of SMEs. The research employs a rigorous desk review process to synthesise information from academic literature, policy reports, and case studies published from 2015 to 2025. The analysis utilises thematic synthesis, uncovering four principal themes: (1) Barriers to SME Growth, (2) Digital Platforms as Solutions, (3) Obstacles to Digital Adoption, and (4) Theoretical Perspectives on Digital Adoption. Critical findings indicate that although digital platforms have substantial prospects, their adoption is constrained by infrastructural deficiencies, digital illiteracy, regulatory challenges, and perceived risks. Utilising the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the research illustrates that perceived utility and ease of use depend on structural and ecological preparedness. The document advocates for a comprehensive, contextually tailored support system that amalgamates infrastructure enhancement, digital skills education, regulatory reform, and the cultivation of institutional trust. The paper's contribution is the reclassification of contextual restrictions as primary factors influencing digital adoption in SMEs within emerging markets.

This study examines the causes of marketing performance stagnation in a mature and highly competitive industry context and investigates how segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) decisions can be reconfigured to support performance recovery. Using empirical analysis of customer transaction and behavioral patterns, the findings reveal that market value is highly concentrated within core segments characterized by stable and repeated purchasing behavior. However, these behavioral insights have not been systematically translated into coordinated STP decisions, resulting in unfocused targeting and generic positioning.  To address this gap, the study proposes a behavior-driven STP approach that reconceptualizes STP as an adaptive decision system rather than a static market planning framework. Under this approach, segmentation serves to identify value structures based on observed customer behavior, targeting functions as a strategic resource allocation decision derived from behavioral intensity and stability, and positioning reflects the consumption context and behavioral motives of core segments.  The study contributes to the industrial marketing management literature by demonstrating how behavior-driven STP operates as an adaptive marketing capability that enables firms to restore strategic coherence and improve marketing effectiveness following organizational and environmental disruptions. Managerially, the findings suggest that firms should institutionalize the use of behavioral customer data, narrow strategic focus toward high-value core segments, and align value propositions with actual usage contexts to enhance performance sustainability in dynamic market environments.

This paper interrogates the intersections between race, class and ethnicity in contemporary South African society, highlighting how economic exclusion, unequal access to opportunities and ethnic tensions undermine democratic ideals. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa has grappled with the enduring legacies of apartheid and colonialism where racial and class divisions continue to shape social, political and economic life. While democracy promised inclusivity and equality, the persistence of racism and classism reveals deep structural inequalities that complicate nation-building and social cohesion. By examining the lived experiences of marginalised groups and the privileges retained by elites the paper demonstrates how class stratification intersects with racial identity to reproduce old hierarchies in new forms. Ultimately, the paper concludes that addressing these dilemmas requires transformative policies that move beyond symbolic reconciliation towards substantive equality, economic justice and the dismantling of systemic barriers that sustain exclusion.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming digital marketing by enabling advanced analytics, automation, and personalised customer engagement. Despite growing adoption, qualitative insights into how small retail enterprises in emerging economies adopt AI remain limited. This study examines AI adoption in digital marketing among small retailers in Cape Town using an interpretivist qualitative case study design. Grounded in an integrated Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants identified via snowball sampling. Thematic analysis shows that AI adoption is driven by competitive pressure, customer expectations, and perceived performance benefits, but is constrained by skills gaps, cost concerns, and data-related challenges. The study extends TOE–UTAUT theory by demonstrating how platform-based AI tools reduce technological barriers while amplifying organisational and capability-related constraints in emerging market contexts. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to support sustainable digital transformation in small business ecosystems.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) altered how institutions and people interact and operate in various contexts. Technological advancements through e-government have resulted in more responsible, transparent, effective, and efficient governance and service delivery in Lesotho. The adoption of e-government and its influence on service delivery in Lesotho are examined in this study using a systematic scoping review process guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as its theoretical lens, the study argues that citizen adoption is dependent on perceived usefulness and ease of use, both of which are significantly hindered by local constraints. The evaluation acknowledges gains made through programmes such as the 2013 e-Government Infrastructure Project, which has increased efficiency and transparency, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Maseru. Nevertheless, it also draws attention to a notable implementation gap, with a sizable urban-rural digital divide that marginalises rural residents due to inadequate infrastructure, expensive ICT, and restricted coverage. Serious accessibility issues are also exacerbated by inadequate digital literacy and the predominance of English over Sesotho on government websites. According to the study, resolving these problems calls for a multifaceted strategy. Investing in rural digital infrastructure, lowering access fees, requiring multilingual and accessible digital content, and starting national digital literacy initiatives are all part of this strategy to transform e-government into a tool for equitable service delivery and inclusive development for all Basotho.

Globally, female entrepreneurship is increasing in developing countries, although women-owned businesses typically operate on a smaller scale and generate lower profits than their male counterparts. In South Africa, youth face significant challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment, exacerbated by unequal income distribution, which locks many into poverty and worsens psychosocial issues. The South African Ministry of Social Development identifies these factors as reasons to encourage young female entrepreneurship to combat these adversities. A study within the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSDLM) utilised a questionnaire to gather insights from female youth entrepreneurs, revealing high perceptions of their contributions to economic growth and employment creation in the region, with mean values of 4.24 and 4.21, respectively. These findings underscore the crucial role of female youth entrepreneurship in driving local development and promoting confidence in women's economic contributions. The study underscores the importance of supporting women's entrepreneurship through policies and educational programs to stimulate social transformation and economic growth, ultimately contributing to a more equitable society. Addressing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs is crucial to realizing their full potential and enhancing the nation's economy.

In an era of compounding crises, skills training is increasingly critical for building resilience in social enterprises (SEs), particularly in marginalized contexts. This study investigates the role of skills training in fostering resilience among township-based social enterprises in Johannesburg, South Africa. Operating within a legacy of spatial apartheid, chronic unemployment, and systemic inequality, these SEs face multidimensional skills gaps that constrain their scalability and sustainability. Through a qualitative, interpretive research design involving 15 SEs in Soweto, this study explores the key skills gaps, the contributions of training to resilience, and the systemic barriers to effective skills development. The findings reveal that skills gaps span financial literacy, technical competencies, digital skills, leadership, and psychosocial preparedness. Skills training, delivered through formal programs, private incubators, and informal peer networks, contributes to resilience by enhancing financial legitimacy, ensuring operational continuity, building social capital, and fostering psychological empowerment. However, significant barriers, including cost, geographic inaccessibility, communication gaps, and cultural mistrust, limit the inclusivity and impact of training initiatives. The study concludes that for skills training to be truly transformative, it must be reconceptualized towards co-designed, context-sensitive, and holistic models that integrate technical, managerial, and psychosocial capabilities. The insights contribute to the discourse on sustainable development and inclusive entrepreneurship in the Global South, offering implications for policymakers, development agencies, and social entrepreneurs seeking to build resilient ecosystems

Government-led housing initiatives are essential in disrupting cycles of poverty, as access to adequate shelter serves as a foundation for wider social and economic progress. This article includes 280 landless families from the Asharayan of Gopalganj district. The primary data for this study were collected with a predetermined questionnaire from June to August 2024. A stratified sampling technique was used to ensure a representative sample of landless households across the five upazilas of Gopalganj District. The sample is almost evenly split between males (47.9%) and females (52.1%), showing a slightly higher proportion of women. The largest age group is 25–40 years (44.6%), followed by 40–55 years (34.6%). Most respondents belong to nuclear families (80.4%), while only 19.6% live in joint families. The majority of households consist of 4–6 members (59.6%). Most households have at least one earning member (76.1%). A large proportion of respondents are illiterate (48.9%), while about one-third (33.2%) have completed primary education. Most earn between BDT 10,000–15,000 (28.2%). A majority (74.6%) reported an improvement in their condition, while 25.4% stated no improvement from staying in the Ashrayan project. Bivariate analyses showed a significant association between the improvement of overall conditions-such as housing, health, child education facilities, economic situation, satisfaction level, employment status, average monthly income, access to loans, and electricity-and the living conditions of the Ashrayan project’s residents. Binary logistic regression model detect that electricity facilities, housing condition and employment have significant impact on socio-economic condition of the landless people of that Ashrayan Project.

This study examined how conflicts between learners’ and teachers’ rights influence teachers' safety in South African schools and how school management structures respond to such situations. South African schools continue to experience high levels of learner violence and disciplinary disputes that are often framed through competing interpretations of human rights. These tensions shape teachers’ daily work and raise concerns about safety, dignity, and professional well-being. The study was guided by an interpretivist paradigm and informed by Curwin and Mendler’s Discipline with Dignity model. A qualitative case study design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers and learners at a secondary school in Limpopo Province. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The findings show that persistent rights-related conflicts and learner aggression create significant emotional, psychological, and professional strain for teachers. Teachers reported limited institutional support after incidents were reported. School Management Teams often prioritised learner welfare, inconsistently applied policies, and offered few practical safeguards for teachers. The study recommends clearer reporting mechanisms, stronger SMT accountability, regular review of school safety policies, and collaborative interventions involving parents, district officials, and support professionals to strengthen teacher protection and restore professional dignity

This paper examines the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Theory of Firm Heterogeneity to clarify their theoretical boundaries and enhance their explanatory power. It addresses key limitations of RBV, including endogeneity, tautological reasoning, and limited attention to contextual influences, and examines how digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) reshape strategic resources and firm heterogeneity. The study employs a systematic review of the strategic management literature. It synthesises the core assumptions of RBV with insights from firm heterogeneity, evolutionary theory, and capability-based perspectives to assess how internal resources, contextual factors, and technological capabilities shape competitive advantage. The review indicates that RBV and the Theory of Firm Heterogeneity provide complementary explanations of persistent performance differences among firms. Competitive advantage depends not only on heterogeneous resources but also on firms' ability to adapt, integrate, and deploy these resources in response to changing environmental and institutional conditions. Digital transformation and AI further amplify firm heterogeneity by creating differences in technological capabilities and innovation capacity. The paper advances the strategic management literature by integrating RBV with the Theory of Firm Heterogeneity, offering a more comprehensive explanation of sustained competitive advantage. It demonstrates how digital technologies and AI reshape strategic resources and identifies future research opportunities in contextual influences, capability development, and technology-driven competitive advantage.

This exploratory qualitative study investigates the systemic factors contributing to persistent failures in strategic planning within law enforcement organisations. Drawing on 25 semi-structured interviews with strategic planners, station commanders, middle managers, and senior law enforcement managers, the study examines how organisational experiences, perceptions, and institutional dynamics shape the development and implementation of strategic plans. Guided by Systems Theory, New Public Management, Public Value Theory, and Evidence-Based Policing, the study applies Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis to identify critical weaknesses in environmental scanning, leadership stability, evidence utilisation, organisational capacity, resource allocation, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The findings reveal that strategic planning failures are deeply rooted in governance gaps, fragmented organisational processes, and inadequate analytical and institutional capacity. The study refines the Integrated Strategic Planning Model for Law Enforcement (ISP-LE) and offers practical recommendations to strengthen evidence-informed, democratically aligned, and operationally grounded planning. Implications for policy, organisational reform, and future research are discussed.

This article employs a structured, theory-guided comparative policy analysis to examine the persistent deficits in community trust that undermine primary health care (PHC) service delivery in Nigeria. Despite numerous reforms targeting financing and administrative structures, PHC utilization remains low and citizen confidence fragile. Drawing on policy learning theory, this study argues that Nigeria’s PHC reforms have predominantly involved first-order, instrumental adjustments, failing to foster deeper shifts in governance philosophy or state-citizen relations essential for building trust. Using Rwanda as a contrasting case, the analysis illustrates how its post-genocide PHC reconstruction leveraged second- and third-order policy learning to embed community trust within governance through co-production, robust accountability mechanisms, and deliberate institutional design. The paper identifies context-sensitive policy lessons for Nigeria, emphasizing that trust must be recognized and actively governed as a strategic resource for legitimate, responsive, and sustainable PHC systems, rather than merely a residual outcome of service delivery.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, grants all official languages parity of esteem and equal treatment. The Constitution also recognises injustices of the past and historical diminished use of indigenous (African) languages. It is against this backdrop that this democratic constitution calls-upon the national and provincial government to take practical and positive measures in encouraging the use and elevation of the status of African languages. In advocating for these languages, the Constitution declares that a minimum of two official languages be used by the government in executing government activities. Contrastingly, the heads of court resolutions in 2017 declared English a lingua franca in South African courts. In a diverse country such as South Africa with twelve official languages, this raises critical concerns in terms of the country’s diversity, inclusivity, and multilingualism policies. With a distinct focus on Eastern Cape legal courts, this study examines the constitutional linguistic rights on the use of English as a lingua franca in South African courts system. The study adopted a qualitative research approach embedded within the exploratory-explanatory research design. The data was obtained from secondary sources, which in this context are judicial precedents. To analyse the collected data, close-reading and thematic content analysis techniques were adopted. The findings of the study exhibit English as a language of power and access in law, this positions African languages at the periphery, limiting their development and incorporation in legalese. Also, the use of English as a lingua franca in the Eastern Cape courts contravenes the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. This study submits that legal practitioners and linguists should critically explore, language studies to bridge the knowledge gap.  Additionally, the government should create channels which allow the practical use of African languages in the court of law.                                                                                                                                             

Despite the significant economic contribution of the jua kali enterprises, the industry is beset by fundamental financial issues that limit their firm performance. Consequently, many of these enterprises fail soon after they open for operation; 50% to 95% fail during the first five years. The development of seed capital is one of the main issues affecting the firm performance of Jua Kali enterprises. This research assessed the effects of seed capital on firm performance of Jua Kali enterprises in Kamukunji, Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to; establish the effect of angel investors, equity financing and crowdfunding on firm performance of Jua Kali enterprises in Kamukunji, Nairobi City County, Kenya. The anchor theory was the Resource-Based View, Pecking Order Theory, and Information Asymmetry Theory. The study used quantitative methods, applying positivism paradigms. Both explanatory and descriptive research designs was used in this study. The target population was the 4763 Jua Kal enterprises in Kamukunji, Nairobi City County, Kenya and unit of enquiry their managers/owners. Using, a formula, the study obtained a sample size of 367 respondents. The study used stratified proportionate sampling and simple random sampling to obtain respondents from the associations. Construct validity was used to examine the questionnaire's validity and Cronbach's alpha at the 0.7 level was used to test its reliability.  Data was analysed to produce descriptive and inferential statistics. The results from the analysis were presented on frequency tables.  The study found that each of angel investors, equity financing and crowdfunding, has significant effect on firm performance of Jua Kali enterprises in Kamukunji, Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study recommends for angel investors to be active not only in providing finance but also in strategic mentorship and networking, and advisory services. For entrepreneurs, internal equity financing should come first while the potential of crowdfunding can be harnessed by training business owners. More so, entrepreneurs should build management skills, financial literacy, and strategic abilities while the government and regulatory bodies should streamline policies and clarify compliance requirements with supportive tax incentives.

The motor vehicle assembly industry is crucial for industrial development, job creation, and economic growth. However, Kenya’s motor vehicle sector has seen a decline in local market share, revenue, and competitiveness due to strategic stagnation, weak innovation, and operational inefficiencies. This study therefore examined the effect of competitor elimination strategy on the performance of motor vehicle assemblers in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory. It adopted a descriptive and explanatory design. The target population comprised all 21 licensed and operational motor vehicle assembly firms in Kenya and the 202 employees directly involved in strategy and operations at three management levels across these firms. A census approach was used, and primary data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Three firms were purposively used for the instrument pretest, after which the main study was conducted among the remaining 18 firms. Construct validity was assessed through factor analysis, and reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha (≥ 0.70). Descriptive statistics provided foundational insights, while inferential analysis included Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation and simple linear regression; thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. The study found that competitor elimination strategy had a positive and statistically significant effect on the organisational performance of motor vehicle assemblers in Kenya (R² = 0.340, β = 0.451, p = 0.000). Policymakers in Kenya should promote innovation, product differentiation, and strategic positioning through R&D incentives, first-mover support, and cross-industry collaboration to enable effective competitor elimination. Motor vehicle assemblers should implement product bundling, differentiated offerings, strategic alliances, and innovation initiatives to create unique market space, reduce direct competition, attract new customers, increase market share, and enhance overall performance and sustainability. This study provides insights to guide strategic innovation and competitiveness in Kenya’s motor vehicle assembly industry, contributing to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Africa’s Agenda 2063, and Kenya Vision 2030.