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Despite extensive legislations and child protection policies, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) remains a persistent problem across South African rural communities. CSA remains a challenging issue globally with evidence of emotional and psychological impacts on victims, families and professionals assigned to respond to these incidents. This paper aims to examine institutional and  systemic barriers to preventing CSA in rural areas, with focus on low reporting and effective response to CSA cases focusing on Community Policing Forum (CPF), police officers and social workers. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) the study adopted qualitative research approach to explore participants’ experiences of CSA investigation processes. Twenty-four participants: 5 CPF members, 15 police officers and 4 social workers were purposively selected. Data was collected through one-on-one semi structured interviews and analysed using Thematic Analysis (TA) informed by Braun and Clarke’s six phase approach. Three interrelated themes emerged: 1) insufficient knowledge, 2) Motivational fatigue, and 3) Dysfunctional institutional systems. Findings in this study revealed that failure to effectively respond to CSA emerges from inadequate facilities, individual capability and motivational fatigue. The study recommends clearly defined stakeholders’ roles, training, institutional support, and community-based prevention and awareness programmes. Furthermore, the study  recommends sustained intersectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration to address and eradicate barriers to CSA investigations through community-based programmes. Sustainable prevention method that can promote awareness, motivation, and effective collaboration to prevent, detect and diminish CSA are also essential to improve institutional accountability and ensure effective response to CSA in rural areas.

The current developments of geopolitical rivalry, pandemic disruptions, and techno-nationalism have led to a fundamental reconfiguration of the global economic order, creating strategic imperatives for the multinational enterprises (MNEs) that go beyond the traditional internationalization theory. This paper aims to contribute to the literature with a systematic review of the adaptation process of MNEs in the time of geopolitical fragmentation and deglobalization. We used PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology to screen 200 initial records from Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and JSTOR databases, resulting in 47 peer-reviewed articles, mostly published in the last eight years (2018–2026), and a few seminal articles from the past 30 years of international business studies. The analysis of our themes indicates that there are six main strategic response clusters: (1) reconfiguration of the supply chain, including reshoring, nearshoring, and friend-shoring; (2) geopolitical risk management via real options and diversification; (3) a renewed focus on regionalization over global integration; (4) digitalization as a strategic buffer; (5) nonmarket strategies, such as political adaptation and lobbying; and (6) de-internationalization, including staged divestment. We combine these themes into an integrative conceptual framework by integrating the EDGES themes (Economic Systems, Digital Disruptions, Geopolitical Fracture, Environmental Sustainability, and Socio-Cultural Ideology) with firm-level dynamic capability responses and performance outcomes. We find certain gaps that are of critical importance: lack of micro-level empirical evidence, lack of MNE perspectives from the emerging markets, and limited integration of artificial intelligence and geopolitics. The review contributes to the international business theory and provides practical guidelines for the management of MNEs in an increasingly fragmented world economy.

Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa guarantees everyone the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being. It further requires the state to take reasonable measures to prevent environmental degradation, protect natural resources, and promote sustainable development. Despite this constitutional commitment, South Africa continues to experience increasing climate risks and environmental challenges. Small businesses, particularly those operating in informal and urban settings, are both contributors to and affected by these challenges. Their activities may contribute to environmental harm through poor waste management, inefficient energy use, and limited access to sustainable practices. At the same time, they remain vulnerable to climate impacts such as flooding, water shortages, and extreme weather events. This study examines how weaknesses in climate policy implementation undermine the practical realization of environmental rights under section 24. Using qualitative doctrinal and policy analysis, the study evaluates constitutional provisions, environmental legislation, climate policies, and governance frameworks. Literature reveal that South Africa has developed strong legal and policy frameworks, but implementation remains limited by weak enforcement, fragmented governance, inadequate institutional capacity, and poor coordination across government spheres. These challenges create a gap between constitutional commitments and the lived environmental realities of vulnerable communities and small businesses. Moreover, with appropriate support, these enterprises can adopt sustainable practices, improve resilience, and contribute to broader climate objectives. The study concludes that environmental rights under section 24 cannot be fully achieved through legislation alone. Effective implementation requires stronger accountability, coordinated governance, and practical support mechanisms. It recommends integrating small businesses into climate planning, improving access to climate education and green technologies, and providing incentives for sustainable practices. These measures can strengthen climate resilience, reduce environmental harm, and ensure that the constitutional right to a healthy environment is realized in practice.

Street food plays a vital role in the informal economies of many African countries, especially South Africa. However, evidence suggests that this food poses significant public health risks due to being prepared and sold under unsanitary conditions. This paper explored food safety challenges for street food vendors in Tshilamba, a rural township in Limpopo, South Africa, within the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) context. This paper used a triangulated method to collect data from primary and secondary sources. It collected primary data from 23 street vendors and insights from 4 key stakeholders. The results indicate that over 80% of street food vendors work in informal, high-traffic areas such as bus terminals and marketplaces that often lack basic sanitation and infrastructure. This situation reflects comparable challenges faced by countries within the SADC region, such as Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In these contexts, vendors operating under analogous conditions are often subjected to eviction because of non-compliance with food safety regulations. Despite existing initiatives, food control programs throughout various regions of Africa continue to exhibit significant weaknesses and require substantial reform. Thus, the paper recommended the incorporation of informal food vendors into established food safety frameworks, the enhancement of regulatory oversight, and the allocation of resources towards the development of infrastructure that facilitates hygienic food vending practices. These actions are vital for improving public health and supporting informal livelihoods.

In contemporary organizations, leaders are increasingly required to manage contradictory demands while supporting employees’ psychological resources in dynamic and uncertain work environments. This study examines the effects of paradoxical leadership on two important employee-level outcomes: creative self-efficacy and resilience. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, the study aims to explain how leaders who simultaneously balance autonomy and control, flexibility and structure, and support and challenge can strengthen employees’ confidence in generating creative solutions and their capacity to adapt to workplace difficulties. A quantitative research design was employed, using survey data collected from employees working in the Information and Communication Technology sector. The proposed relationships were tested through structural equation modeling, after assessing the reliability and validity of the measurement model. The findings indicate that paradoxical leadership has a significant positive effect on both creative self-efficacy and employee resilience. These results suggest that paradoxical leaders can help employees interpret complexity as manageable, maintain confidence in their creative abilities, and recover more effectively from setbacks. Theoretically, the study contributes to paradoxical leadership research by positioning creative self-efficacy and resilience as key psychological outcomes of paradoxical leader behavior. Practically, the findings suggest that organizations, particularly in technology-intensive sectors, should develop leaders’ capacity for paradoxical thinking and balanced leadership behaviors in order to foster a more creative, adaptive, and resilient workforce.

The aim of this study is to examine the dynamic relationships among alternative investment instruments in Turkey using advanced time-series methods. The findings indicate evidence of granger causal relationships among some of the variables. However, the direction and statistical significance of these relationships vary across the variables examined. The analysis employs monthly data covering the period from February 2010 to December 2018. The stationarity properties of the variables were examined using the Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test. Causal relationships among the variables were subsequently investigated using the Toda–Yamamoto causality test. The findings indicate that there are statistically significant short-term and long-term relationships among alternative investment instruments. It was determined that the exchange rate and gold prices have on the stock market. Furthermore, its interest rates play in both financial markets and housing prices. This study contributes to the literature by examining the relationships between alternative investment instruments using linear methods. Moreover, the results offer researchers and policymakers important implications for financial stability for investors' portfolio diversification strategies at both the national and international levels.

This study aimed to examine the impact of the internal control system (ICS) on the performance of publicly traded Ghanaian commercial banks, within the context of the core components of the COSO integrated ICS. Accordingly, the study investigated employees' perceptions of the impact of the ICS components on financial performance-FP and non-financial performance-NFP and whether a significant relationship exists between these perceptions. In the study, the core components of the COSO’s ICS (control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information-communication, monitoring) were considered as independent variables, while FP and NFP of the banks were considered as the dependent variables. In line with the study's objective, the hypotheses were designed as follows: H1: The ICS has an impact on the FP. H2: The ICS has an impact on the NFP. Methodologically, a descriptive online survey method was used to collect data. The survey was sent to 113 managers and employees working in the internal control and audit departments of 23 listed Ghanaian banks, and 73 employees, representing 64.6%, provided voluntary feedback. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25. The survey, which was suitable for a 5-point Likert scale, included statements regarding COSO internal control components and FP and NFP. The study revealed that there were no differences in FP among the ICSs but there were differences in NFP among the ICS. The study concluded a statistically significant relationship between the ICS and FP overall. Additionally, compared to other components whose impact on FP was limited, the COSO Information-Communication component indicated the highest significant relationship with FP and the greatest positive impact, while the control activities component had an inverse effect on FP. Furthermore, the study also revealed a significant overall relationship between the ICS and NFP. In addition, compared to other components whose impact on NFP was much more limited, the COSO Information-Communication component showed the highest significant relationship with NFP and the highest positive impact on NFP. This study is considered to contribute to the literature and to investors, shareholders, policymakers, etc., by examining all factors together, such as the impact of COSO internal control components on FP and NFP, and the internal control and audit department staff at the headquarters and branches of listed Ghanaian commercial banks.

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical issue within South African universities. It affects students’ safety, well-being, and access to quality education. Despite efforts to address this issue, universities continue to experience cases of sexual violence, harassment, emotional abuse, and coercion. Student protests and public concern have also exposed weaknesses in institutional responses and survivor protection. This study aims to systematically review existing literature on GBV in South African universities to identify what is currently known, how GBV is understood, and what gaps exist in literature. The study was guided by Social Learning and Intersectionality theories. A qualitative systematic literature review approach was adopted. The findings revealed that GBV is shaped by harmful gender norms, patriarchal attitudes, alcohol and substance abuse, economic vulnerability, and weak institutional accountability. Literature review further revealed that many survivors avoid reporting incidents because of fear, stigma, victim-blaming, and distrust in institutional systems. GBV was also found to have serious psychological, social, physical, and academic effects on students. The study concludes that GBV remains a structural challenge within South African higher education institutions. The study recommends stronger institutional accountability, survivor-centred support services, gender transformation programmes, and collaborative interventions to create safer university environments.

Between the eighth and thirteenth centuries, the Muslim world experienced a flourishing of scholarship that reshaped the landscape of knowledge. Thinkers and scientists working in this period produced lasting advances in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, philosophy, and the natural sciences. Their engagement with Greek, Persian, and Indian traditions did not amount to simple preservation; rather, these ideas were critically examined, tested, and reconfigured within an intellectual climate that placed high value on observation, reasoned analysis, and the pursuit of truth (al-?aqq). A striking example is Ibn al-Haytham’s Book of Optics, where systematic experimentation was employed to challenge inherited theories and open new pathways for scientific inquiry. Institutions such as the Bayt al-?ikma provided vital support for this spirit of investigation, while the Qur’?n’s encouragement to reflect upon the natural world gave religious legitimacy to empirical research. Despite this, many Western accounts have long downplayed the originality of these contributions, depicting Muslim scholars as mere intermediaries. Reassessing the period makes clear that their work introduced methods and intellectual habits that laid important foundations for later science, warranting recognition as a cornerstone in global intellectual history.

This article investigates the impact of Supply Chain Relationship Management (SCRM) on operational efficiency, with a specific focus on the mediating role of information sharing. SCRM has been widely recognized for promoting collaboration and improving operational outcomes in supply chains. However, the effectiveness of SCRM practices is significantly enhanced when accompanied by robust information-sharing mechanisms. The study utilizes Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data collected from 108 supply chain professionals in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana. The results show that information sharing plays a critical role in mediating the relationship between SCRM and operational efficiency, highlighting its importance as a mechanism for facilitating better coordination, reducing operational costs, and improving lead times. These findings offer valuable insights into how inter-organizational collaboration and effective information exchange contribute to operational improvements in supply chains, particularly within the pharmaceutical sector in developing economies. The study contributes both theoretical and practical perspectives on supply chain management.  

Phubbing is a behavioural concept of social and human interaction that has created disaffection in conversations and has increasingly become a great concern for many. This phenomenon was assessed to address its negative effects in society by examining and documenting its literature trends and relationships, thereby adding to existing knowledge in this area. A thorough bibliometric analysis was conducted on 58 English-language articles on phubbing and related keywords from the Scopus database published from 2018 to 2022. VOSviewer and R tool packages were used to perform performance analysis, science mappings and the organisation and presentation of the data to identify article growth dimensions, relationships, and trends. Phubbing has attracted significant attention and impacted our daily activities, with a 51.37% growth in article publications and a 25.86% increase in international authorship collaboration. This is mainly from high-impact authors and documents in the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The research thematic areas are centred around smartphones, social media, and parent-child relationships. The research will help to minimise the negative impact of phubbing on human endeavours and promote peaceful coexistence in society by improving our social and moral values. It will also improve knowledge in understanding the evolution of literature to advance future research efforts. This study is unique in harnessing efforts and experience from around the world to deepen understanding and benefit society. Further research should be conducted on phubbing and mental health and their impact on children's growth

The integration of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Cybersecurity into aviation – is reshaping how airlines and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisations create value, yet evidence on the gap between digital potential and at-scale implementation remains fragmented. This study examines how Aviation 4.0 technologies affect aviation operations, with a particular focus on MRO. A qualitative, mixed-methods design combines a systematic literature review, secondary evidence from an industry MRO digital survey, five semi-structured expert interviews (sales, data science, MRO operations, R&D innovation, and technology-provider management), and two technical case studies (neural networks for aircraft retirement and an AI-based digital twin for a Power Electronics Cooling System). Findings reveal that predictive maintenance is the dominant digital priority (prioritised by 56% of respondents), yet only 6% of MROs have scaled digital and analytics across the enterprise; over 80% cite data limitations and more than 70% cite organisational resistance as barriers. Field implementations in a focal MRO produced substantial measurable value, including $4.2M annual savings from an in-house planning platform and $6M additional revenue from an integrated quote-to-contract system. The study triangulates concept, practice and market evidence in a single crosswalk, clarifying where the Aviation 4.0 promise has materialised and where the principal barriers persist. Practically, this study provides MRO executives and policymakers with an evidence-based roadmap mapping conceptual potentials to realised implementations.

Arising carbon emissions and accelerating industrialization have intensified concerns regarding sustainable development in emerging markets. This study examines whether innovation functions as a direct mechanism for decarbonization and whether innovation-driven environmental dynamics follow the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. Using panel data from emerging market economies over the period 2000–2020, the study applies fixed-effects estimation techniques to investigate both the linear and nonlinear effects of innovation on CO₂ emissions. Innovation is measured through research and development (R&D) expenditure, while industrialization, urbanization, trade openness, financial development, and ICT indicators are incorporated as control variables. The findings demonstrate that innovation significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, suggesting that technological advancement supports environmental sustainability through cleaner production systems and efficiency-enhancing mechanisms. However, the analysis does not support the existence of an innovation-driven EKC, as the nonlinear innovation term remains statistically insignificant. The study contributes to environmental sustainability literature by extending the EKC framework beyond conventional income-centered explanations and positioning innovation as a direct decarbonization mechanism in emerging economies. The findings further provide practical implications for policymakers seeking to accelerate low-carbon transitions through innovation-oriented industrial and technological policies.

The airline industry faces persistent profitability pressure stemming from high fixed costs, intense competition, and macroeconomic volatility. Since the entry of low-cost carriers (LCCs), ancillary revenue—defined as income generated from services and products supplementary to the core ticket—has evolved from a peripheral activity into a strategic financial pillar for both full-service and low-cost airlines. This study investigates the determinants of passenger willingness to pay (WTP) for à la carte ancillary services and identifies behavioural and demographic profiles that predict purchase frequency. Using a survey of 254 air travellers and a multi-method statistical approach (Chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Kruskal–Wallis with Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparisons), six hypotheses are tested. The results demonstrate that (i) passengers familiar with à la carte services allocate significantly larger travel budgets to such services (p < .05); (ii) frequent travellers (>5 flights/year) are significantly more likely to purchase à la carte services (χ² = 8.44, p < .01); (iii) frequent-flyer programme (FFP) members purchase ancillary services at substantially higher rates (χ² = 9.70, p < .01); and (iv) contrary to common managerial intuition, short-haul passengers purchase à la carte services more frequently than long-haul passengers (χ² = 4.51, p < .05). Wi-Fi access is valued across all age cohorts without statistically significant differences. The findings extend the revenue management literature by empirically validating familiarity and loyalty-programme membership as the strongest behavioural predictors of à la carte WTP, and offer actionable guidance for targeted personalisation, segmentation, and dynamic pricing strategies. Implications for machine-learning-driven ancillary recommendation systems are also discussed in light of recent advances in offer management (2022–2025).

This study investigates the impact of public procurement procedures on the efficacy of public projects within Zambia's Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (MIHUD) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD).  Inefficient procurement methods, characterised by delays, cost overruns, and inferior project quality, have impeded the successful execution of public projects, especially in infrastructure and rural development.  The research is to evaluate the impact of Supplier Qualification Screening (SQS), Competitive Bidding (CB), and Supplier Evaluation (SE) on project performance.  A quantitative research methodology was utilised, employing a survey-based descriptive design to gather data from 120 procurement experts and project managers within the designated ministries.  Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to examine the correlations between procurement methods and project outcomes.  The results demonstrate that SQS and CB enhance project performance by facilitating timely delivery and cost effectiveness.  Nonetheless, SE exerted a detrimental impact, indicating that too rigorous evaluation processes may result in delays and impede project accomplishment.  Hypothesis testing validated these findings, corroborating the alternative hypotheses for SQS and CB, however SE demonstrated an inverse correlation with project outcomes.  The report advocates for the fortification of regulatory frameworks, the augmentation of capacity-building programs, the rectification of bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the encouragement of e-procurement platform usage to enhance procurement efficiency.  A review of supplier evaluation procedures is essential to avert needless delays in project execution.  The study's results have substantial implications for procurement reforms and efficiency enhancements in Zambia.  Improving openness, accountability, and stakeholder collaboration in procurement procedures can result in superior project outcomes, fostering national infrastructure development and socio-economic advancement, especially in rural regions.  Enhancing procurement policies and using digital solutions will be crucial in developing a more efficient and accountable public procurement system.

In today's competitive business landscape, organizations constantly seek strategies to enhance their market position and profitability. One of the pivotal inquiries that many industry experts and scholars are delving into is: How do cost leadership, service innovation, and customer value creation influence business performance? Cost leadership, often seen as a way to gain a competitive edge through operational efficiency, might offer immediate financial benefits. Given the frequent economic challenges, it has become increasingly crucial for hotel businesses to embrace strong competitive and marketing strategies. The hospitality sector, particularly susceptible to the ramifications of such crises, has long been scrutinized to discern the strategic measures they employ during turbulent times. This empirical investigation, encompassing insights from 437 industry professionals, underscores that initiatives centered on corporate service innovation yield a direct and favorable augmentation in organizational performance. However, the study found inconclusive evidence regarding the mediating impact of value creation through customer engagement.

There has been increasing studies that details the transmission channels through which financial development permeates to speed up growth to higher echelon. Studies have underpinned that financial development yield more growth when these channels are optimized. With studies on real sector performance sparse, this paper contributes to this discussion as it examined the effect of financial development in fostering industrial growth under the condition of high and low human capital endowment. This was investigated for a sample of five (5) West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) countries from 1990 to 2022. The study developed a panel threshold regression (PTR) model where human capital functioned as threshold variable and data collected from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Development Indicator (WDI) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) databases. The study finds a threshold effect of financial development on industrial sector growth. The PTR estimator shows financial development can produce more industrial growth if human capital exceeds a gross of 62.9493%. Additionally, other factors such as trade openness, natural resource rents and higher labour participation in economic activities support industrial sector growth. In the design of industrial growth enhancing policies, policy mandarins should implement measures that improve human capital and further develop the financial system by scaling up education expenditure to the UNESCO prescribed 26% of GDP, educating women, leveraging technology to improve human capital productivity and outcomes, reducing loan collateral requirements, strengthening legal frameworks, and boosting banking competition by allowing entrant of capitalized financial institutions and timely exist of insolvent ones.

There has been an increase in the elderly population worldwide in recent years. This situation creates some needs both at individual and social level. In particular, elderly individuals need support in carrying out their daily activities. Therefore, elderly care centers are seen as an important supporter in this respect. This study aims to identify the criteria affecting the selection of elderly care centers and prioritize them with SWARA method. The SWARA method was used to weight the criteria affecting the selection of elderly care centers in order of priority. Eight criteria identified through literature review were evaluated by five experts experienced in the relevant field. The experts evaluated the criteria by ranking them according to their importance and the final prioritization was carried out by taking the geometric mean of the evaluations. According to the results of the analysis, the most important factor affecting the selection of an elderly care center was the Quality-of-Life Comfort and Service with a weight of 22%. This was followed by Financial Status with 20%, Health Services with 16%, and Professional Staff with 13%. Location and Transportation criterion was determined as the least important factor with a weight of 0.7%. The fact that life comfort and service quality have the highest weight indicates that elderly individuals expect a quality and comfortable living environment. The results obtained from the study show that policies for elderly care homes should be organized in a way that aims to increase the comfort of living, improve service quality, ensure economic accessibility and ensure the sustainability of health services.

The study aims to investigate the extent to which the concepts of social innovation and talent management will affect the innovation performance of enterprises as a result of the literature studies on the concepts of social innovation and talent management in family businesses in the Marmara Region. A questionnaire consisting of 78 questions was applied to the employees of small, medium and large-sized family businesses operating in the Marmara Region. A total of 460 questionnaires were evaluated. SPSS program was used for the survey results and the answers were analyzed by reliability analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis methods. With the analysis study, the impact of social innovation and talent management on innovation performance was tried to be determined. As a result, it has been determined that there is a significant relationship between talent management practices and innovation performance. In other words, it has been determined that talent management is a strong factor in increasing the innovation performance of enterprises. In addition, no effect of social innovativeness on innovation performance was observed. In the light of the findings, the results of the research are discussed and recommendations are presented for both managers and academicians.

This study explores the influence of digital marketing strategies on brand loyalty among young airline passengers, specifically targeting Millennials and Gen Z individuals aged 18-35 years old. With the increasing reliance on digital channels such as social media, email marketing, and search engine marketing, it is crucial to understand how these strategies impact the customer-brand relationship, brand trust, and ultimately, brand loyalty. The research employs a quantitative approach, gathering data from 230 participants who are frequent users of digital platforms and have recent travel experiences with airlines. The findings reveal that social media marketing has the most significant impact on the customer-brand relationship, followed by email and search engine marketing. Additionally, the study confirms that brand trust acts as a critical mediator between digital marketing activities and brand loyalty. These results highlight the importance of tailored digital marketing strategies for airlines aiming to engage and retain young passengers in a highly competitive industry.