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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.

Penetration and adoption of YouTube is growing internationally and locally. YouTube access has resulted in the emergence of vlogging. Vlogging resultantly has caught the attention of researchers, yet its role in determining consumers' buying behaviour, in general, has been less explored. There is little research on the factors that encourage Generation Z (Gen Z) purchasing behaviour based on YouTube beauty makeup vlogging. To close this gap this study adopted qualitative research. Convenience non-probability sampling was conducted using semi-structured interviews in the collection of data amongst seven Gen Z (female) vlog make-up users between the ages of 18 and 27. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the collected data. The main findings of the study revealed that beauty makeup vlogging affects the decision to purchase branded makeup products based on the beauty makeup awareness, vlogger product knowledge, makeup brand preference, attitude toward the brand, beauty makeup application learning techniques, brand affordability and vlogging channel usage. Furthermore, South African Gen Z consumers’ preference for international beauty makeup brands stems from the greater exposure of those brands, in comparison to local brands. The study concluded with contributions and future research directions.

Currently, South African government departments is inundated with common dire predicaments prominently manifested in the form of lack of punctuality, frequent leave requests, lack of engagement and poor management of employee wellbeing, resulting in high absenteeism rates. Flexible working schedules ameliorate the level of contentment and performance, which has been discovered to benefit both the employer and employee. There are limited previous studies done in the South African Public Sector on the subject of adopting flexibility conditions in the workplace. The empirical evidence on the subject is still sparse for the transitional economy like South Africa. Hence, this study sought to investigate the flexible work arrangements in the public organisation. The study adopted an exploratory design and a qualitative approach. A qualitative research approach was chosen for the study because it provided an opportunity to explore the research objectives in greater detail. The sample size and strategy used comprised organising focus group interviews as well as individual interviews, using a sample of 10 participants from different levels of the organisation. The findings of the study revealed that offering flexibility could help and support the emotional health of the employees. The study also found that a call for a flexible work strategy is of interest to most employees as it provides work-life balance. The organisation should consider implementing and making provision for flexible working arrangements which in turn improve job fulfilment, increase work and life, motivate employees, reduce absenteeism and increasing the quality of service delivery at all organisational levels.

This paper examines the socio-economic dimensions of population migration, emphasising its role as a vital social process within the broader societal framework. Employing a structural-functional approach, the study highlights how migration is shaped by and contributes to societal structures, norms, and cultural dynamics. Migration is influenced by socio-structural and cultural factors, reflecting the interconnectedness of institutions and societal conditions. For instance, urban industrial societies, characterised by institutional and structural compatibility, encourage rapid spatial mobility and long-distance migration. Conversely, traditional rural agrarian societies favour limited mobility and slower migration rates. Drawing on Durkheim’s theory of social evolution, the paper underscores migration’s transformative impact on society. It facilitates the transition from segmented, mechanically organised societies to complex, interdependent ones with advanced divisions of labour. This evolution signifies migration’s role as a driver of societal progress and adaptation. Secondary data analysis reveals that socio-cultural considerations, including family circumstances, are as influential as economic factors in migration decisions. The paper argues for government initiatives that promote social cohesion and regional integration to enable equitable migration opportunities. Such policies are essential for harnessing migration’s potential as a tool for societal advancement. By addressing the interplay of social, cultural, and economic factors, the study provides a nuanced understanding of migration as a dynamic and socially conditioned phenomenon. This research contributes to the discourse on population mobility by linking structural-functional theory with contemporary migration dynamics and policy implications.

This study explored organisational culture and strategy implementation within the framework of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Using semi-structured interviews and thematic data analysis, the study explored the primary determinants of organisational culture and how these drivers affect the implementation of strategies in the 4IR. A total of twenty-five bank workers from South Africa participated in the study to collect qualitative data. Version 23 of the Atlas-ti software was utilised to analyse the participant data. Content analysis was employed in the study to analyse the data. The study's findings suggest that a variety of organisational culture challenges have an impact on the banking industry's capacity to put strategies into implementation. This includes elements related to organisational skills, mentality and attitude, collaboration and partnership, innovation and technology investment, as well as aspects of organisational leadership and strategy, structure, learning, incentives, processes, and procedures. The study reveals a wider perspective and significant recommendations to help managers adopt a comprehensive and multidimensional approach when tackling organisational culture difficulties within the framework of implementing strategies in the banking sector. In addition to making significant recommendations, the study's conclusion emphasises how crucial it is for the bank to maintain a similar culture across all of its business units because this will affect employee morale and behaviour when the strategy is being implemented.

The motivation behind this study is rising concern about climate change and its impact on future generations. Mining companies in Zimbabwe are significant contributors to environmental degradation. The study tested the relationship between climate action and green human capital management and its sub-variables of green recruitment and selection, green training and development, green reward management, and green performance management. The quantitative survey utilized a sample size of 383 employees across the Zimbabwean mining sector. The study found that green human capital, green training and development, and climate action are being implemented in the Zimbabwean mining sector. However, the study found that mining enterprises need to implement green recruitment and selection, green reward management, and green performance management, which is a cause for concern. The study accepts all hypotheses as multiple linear regression, which showed a significant positive relationship between climate action and green human capital and its sub-variables. The study recommends that organizations utilize green human capital management practices in the fight against climate change and its consequences. The study adds to the body of knowledge on green human resources by providing valuable insights into green human capital activities that generate maximum climate action.

Bullying is the aggression, violence, and threats that are targeted at the victims who are perceived to be weak. Learners living with disabilities are not immune to the phenomenon of bullying. Due to their vulnerability, they are targeted by bullies within the learning environment. Learners living with disabilities are targeted physically, emotionally, and through the use of technology. Learners fear reporting incidents of bullying because of the lack of action and consequences for the perpetrators of bullying. There is a huge increase in bullying incidents at schools against learners living with disabilities because of the inability to report the violence and harassment caused by the perpetrators to the victims of bullying. The learners living with disabilities are being taken advantage of by the perpetrators because of the fear of reporting violent behaviour to the teachers at school. The study applied the qualitative research method to explain the fears and inability to report bullying incidents by learners living with disabilities. Snowball sampling was used to select the study population within different schools, with a sample of about 11 learners considered. An exploratory research design was adopted in this study to explore the challenges experienced by the victims of bullying with regard to the fears of reporting bullying incidents. The study has adopted the interview as an instrument for collecting data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the information collected from the learners living with disabilities. The study has observed the ethical considerations to ensure respect for the rights of the participants and universal observations for studies that involve human beings.

In light of the globalisation of businesses and the competitive expansion drive, the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has become essential. The purpose of this study was to explore how ICT could improve business performance in the context of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in the Great Kei Municipality. Descriptive and qualitative research approach was employed in this study. A survey questionnaire was used as the main tool for data collection. The findings elucidate that 94.9% of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) concur that the use of ICT as a tool helps to achieve company goals. The findings further indicate that 46.2% of companies surveyed operate accommodation facilities. The study’s conclusions highlight that 25.6% of entrepreneurs indicated that expensive ICTs appear to be a barrier, while 23.1% reported that access to technology was a barrier. It is recommended that small and medium-sized tourism enterprises utilise ICT as a tool to enhance business performance. In addition, the study suggests that managers and owners make technological investments to ensure the overall success of SMTEs. Moreover, the study provides a foundation for further research.

Increasing evidence indicates that climate change is likely to exacerbate anxieties and dangers, leading to heightened conflict and fragility. Climate change may exacerbate food insecurity and encourage climate-related migration, so damaging socioeconomic systems and increasing the likelihood of conflicts over diminishing natural resources. Many drought-affected communities are contending with the compounded impacts of additional crises, such as insecurity, war, and the consequences of climate change, including food insecurity, flooding, and drought. This study, informed by a systematic literature analysis, demonstrates the necessity for communal solutions to address protection issues related to human mobility in the aftermath of the adverse effects of catastrophes and climate change, even when normative and legal instruments are utilised. This situation necessitates a thorough analysis and comprehension of natural mobility patterns, underlying reasons, coordination among key stakeholders, and active involvement in material distribution, capacity enhancement, community engagement, and protection oversight. This study elucidates the human mobility problems associated with climate change and catastrophes, offering recommendations that serve as a foundation for stakeholders addressing this complex issue, ultimately striving towards the shared goal of minimising impacts and safeguarding the most vulnerable populations.

Green procurement is one of the major topical issues that have become increasingly popular worldwide as the world embraces sustainability. Zimbabwe is one of the countries in the world that is struggling to adopt the use of green procurement in the health sector. Some identified factors affecting such adoption are lack of technology and infrastructure, training and awareness especially of the procurement officers and those in charge of the sector, policy and regulatory framework, limited supply chain, economic pressures and stakeholder engagement. The study’s objective was toidentify and analyse factors affecting the adaptation of green procurement practices in Zimbabwe’s health sector. The study used qualitative secondary data, and three key documents were analysed in the ATLAS. ti 24. Themes were created and results confirmed the challenges faced by adopting green procurement in the health sector in Zimbabwe. The study found that economic challenges, policy and regulatory framework shortfall, limited supply chain management, lack of stakeholder engagement, technology and infrastructure shortfalls and failure to have training and awareness regarding green procurement. Policymakers should encourage collaborations and partnerships between government and industry can facilitate the sharing of knowledge, best practices and resources. Zimbabwe as a signatory to the Abuja Declaration of 2001, the country can revert to this agreement and meet the suggested 15% of the total country budget set aside only for the health sector to support the adoption of green procurement. The study recommends that the government make use of the monitoring and evaluation systems that will influence policymakers in support of green procurement. The study recommended that the government should enact policies that support sustainable procurement and training should be carried out as Zimbabwe is one of the countries that signed the Sustainable Development Goals especially goal number 3.

This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on human capital management practices (HCMPs) and their influence on work engagement. The research aims to evaluate the effects of recruitment and selection, training, career opportunities, and reward on employee engagement, and to examine whether digital transformation moderates these relationships. Using a sample of 607 employees, data were collected through online questionnaires from the banking and hospitality sectors in South Africa and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study finds that HCMPs such as recruitment and selection, training, career opportunities, and reward positively affect work engagement. However, contrary to expectations, digital transformation did not significantly moderate the effect of HCMPs on Work engagement. This suggests that the impact of digitalization may be more complex and context dependent. The significance of this study lies in highlighting the stability of HCMP impacts amidst technological change, providing insights for organizations to manage work engagement effectively without over-relying on digital transformation as a moderating factor.

The emergence of the fourth industrial revolution has seen governments around the world seeking new ways of delivering services to the people. The infusion of technological aspects in governance seeks to enhance service delivery in the public sector. This paper sought to investigate the role played by technology in facilitating service delivery to the people. To showcase the impact played by technology on issues of local government, the diffusion of innovation theory was utilised as a theoretical foundation of this paper. The literature indicated that technology plays a fundamental role in the service delivery process. Studies conducted in this research area revealed that technology plays a pivotal role in the dissemination of public services to the residents by municipalities. This paper adopted a mixed method approach and a case study research design. The quantitative data was collected through closed ended questionnaires while the qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. This paper sampled a total of 36 participants in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality through simple random sampling technique in the few selected different wards of the municipality. The closed ended questionnaires were distributed to 30 participants while 6 municipal officials were interviewed. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS while the qualitative data was analysed through a thematic approach. The findings of this paper revealed that King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality appreciates and embraces the technological reforms. A significant percentage of the respondents further indicated that King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality is average in terms of utilising technology in terms of service delivery. The study further concluded that municipalities must improve and adopt the technological advancements that are present in the public sector. The study also concluded that municipalities cannot turn a blind eye to the ever-changing environment and thus need to improve service delivery through the introduction of technology. This paper thus recommends that technological changes be adopted to improve service delivery within local government. It further recommends that technology should be exploited to fast-track service delivery.

With the global trend to prioritize tailoring communication strategies to meet the ever-changing diverse workforce, the study reveals a more nuanced reality.  While much focus is placed on addressing communication differences, this papers position is that not enough focus is on our basic human need to communicate. This paper aims to evaluate whether certain aspects of the flow of information and communication are racially shared perceptions. Furthermore, through a Chaos Theory lens, evaluate the influence of managerial and organizational control mechanisms on various internal communication perceptions. A quantitative method was adopted, and data was collected from 63 non-management respondents in an automotive group in Kwa-Zulu Natal, by a closed-ended 5-point Likert scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify racially shared and divergent perceptions of organizational communication and the statistically significance.  Key findings conclude that the free and accurate flow of information is a shared perception, regardless of race, and thus, a basic human need.  Furthermore, the study demonstrates the significant influence managerial and organizational control mechanisms have on aspects of organizational communication, and challenges current academic positions that similar race dyads experience higher levels of trust.  Finally, the paper concludes that the significant negative perception to control mechanisms, such as informal idea-sharing processes, flexible communication between levels, and active participation in SOPs and policy development, is a racially shared perception.

In response to escalating global environmental challenges, mainly the urgent issue of climate change delineated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), large corporations are increasingly pressured to mitigate their carbon emissions and ecological footprint. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has emerged as a pivotal strategy in this endeavour, promising to revolutionise how businesses approach sustainability while maintaining economic competitiveness. AI offers capabilities such as optimising operational efficiencies, enhancing energy management systems, and facilitating data-driven decision-making processes—all of which are instrumental in achieving sustainability objectives. However, the effective application of AI in environmental sustainability initiatives faces several challenges. These include addressing data scarcity, ensuring ethical deployment of AI technologies, and complying with evolving regulatory frameworks. This study investigates how large corporations are leveraging AI to reduce their environmental impact through AI-driven strategies for carbon footprint reduction. The study follows a qualitative approach, six medium-large corporates in Gauteng were interviewed to gain insights on the subject matter. The findings highlight that AI adoption enhances operational efficiency and environmental stewardship while highlighting ongoing challenges and the need for robust ethical and regulatory frameworks. Moreover, emerging trends such as AI-driven autonomous vehicles for logistics and advanced climate modelling illustrate AI's transformative potential in reshaping corporate ethos and addressing environmental concerns. The study contributes insights grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, offering practical recommendations for corporations to harness AI effectively for sustainable growth within the framework of the UN SDGs and global environmental norms.

This review emphasizes the urgent need for effective diagnostic strategies for African swine fever (ASF), a serious disease affecting pig populations worldwide. The aim of the review is to analyze the existing research on ASF diagnostics through a comprehensive literature review, focusing on different diagnostic approaches, including clinical assessments, PCR tests, ELISA, rapid tests and epidemiological models. It examines their sensitivity, specificity and overall performance, addressing challenges such as the varying sensitivity of tests and cross-reactivity. The review highlights both the strengths and limitations of current methods and suggests areas for improvement and standardization. Recommendations are made for future research and the development of innovative diagnostic tools to improve ASF surveillance and control. This study makes a practical contribution by providing a detailed assessment of ASF diagnostic methods from which veterinary scientists and practitioners can benefit. Theoretical contributions include the identification of gaps in ASF diagnostics and the refinement of discussions on diagnostic accuracy and reliability. These findings are consistent with the journal’s focus on infectious diseases and veterinary research and support progress in veterinary medicine and animal welfare.

This paper explored factors for infusing change management practices in the public sector and gave recommendations for policy execution of technology. The Western Cape Department of Community Safety (DoCS) launched the Expanded Partnership Programme (EPP) in 2010, as provided for in section 206 of the Constitution to reorient social crime prevention by Community Policing Forums Educate and Share towards Monitoring Guided Actions to increase sustainability, the efficiency of Community Police Forums (CPFs), and the accountability of the police. Even with an investment of R18 million, participation levels were still low and there was no service delivery improvement by the police, thus the need for a change management was borne. The study pointed out the need of strategic methods such as Kotter’s 8-Step Process, Prosci ADKAR, and McKinsey Influence Model to implement institutionalised changes. The research pursued a practical stance and therefore merged objectivist and constructivist positions with an abductive approach. Count data were collected through the use of a Likert scale questionnaire since it was quantitative in nature while qualitative data was obtained from semi-structured focus group discussions. Data analysis was performed using qualitative and quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Chi-square, and content analysis, among others. The research findings highlighted key factors such as organizational culture, interests of stakeholders, politics, resources, and the external environment a determinants of change management. The creation of detailed guidelines that are supported by evidence to direct decision making, resource allocation and prioritisation of policies by the government was advocated for in the study. These findings closed the loop between the research academic domain and the practical field, and demonstrated clear steps towards improving accountability, transparency and adequacy of change implementation.

Globally, staff development is essential for enhancing employee performance and promoting organizational success (Akdere & Egan, 2020). In the context of local municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the absence of effective staff development has been recognized as a significant factor contributing to inadequate service delivery (Thusi & Selepe, 2023). Although the importance of staff development is acknowledged, municipalities face challenges in determining the effectiveness of these initiatives (Zulu, Yalezo & Mutambara, 2022). The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified these issues, resulting in organizational changes, such as the shift to remote work, which have affected employee performance (Rogerson & Rogerson, 2020). This study investigates the influence of staff development programs on employee performance, with a focus on the Msunduzi Municipality. A literature review identified notable challenges, including insufficient engagement, inadequate compensation, and a lack of consultation during the development of performance management systems (Khunoethe, 2021; Govender & Bussin, 2020). The study is grounded in Human Capital Theory, which suggests that investing in employee skills leads to enhanced performance and improved service delivery (Mphahlele & Zandamela, 2021). The methodology involved purposive sampling and in-depth interviews with staff at the Msunduzi Municipality to gain insights into their perceptions of staff development programs. The findings indicated that while training programs were appreciated, they often lacked alignment with broader organizational goals. Personal Development Plans (PDPs) were identified as vital for synchronizing individual growth with municipal objectives; however, challenges related to performance management persisted, reflecting a compliance-driven culture. The study advocates for the implementation of a more integrated staff development framework that focuses on goal-oriented, needs-based training aligned with organizational objectives. Additionally, continuous monitoring and mentorship programs are recommended to ensure ongoing improvements in service delivery and employee performance. Addressing economic constraints through strategic resource allocation will be crucial in overcoming these challenges.

Digital marketing has profoundly altered the marketing techniques utilised by merchants. Although a growing number of rural retail enterprises in South Africa are starting to implement these techniques, the comprehensive effect of digital marketing on their sustainability is still inadequately examined. This study seeks to investigate the impact of internet marketing on retail operations in the rural community of Flagstaff. A quantitative research methodology was utilised, distributing questionnaires to all 52 major merchants via a census technique, yielding 45 replies and an 87% response rate. The results demonstrate that merchants employ several digital marketing strategies, such as social media marketing, email marketing, and mobile marketing, to engage with customers and present sales propositions. This engagement is constrained by the minimal acceptance of digital marketing among consumers, restricted e-commerce utilisation, and inadequate digital literacy, preventing both sides from fully leveraging its advantages. The report advises businesses to persist in using digital marketing methods, including social media and email marketing, into their promotional efforts. This strategy will enable them to engage the niche population that prefers these platforms and maintain alignment with market trends, so assuring competitiveness. Furthermore, it is essential to assist rural areas in improving their digital marketing adoption to sustain retail enterprises and maintain relevance in the contemporary digital environment.

This study examines the tax incentives and challenges faced by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) in South Africa, with a focus on those registered as Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs). NPOs play a vital role in addressing socio-economic issues, and serving vulnerable communities. While these organizations operate for non-profit purposes, the tax incentives provided by the government are crucial for their financial sustainability. Therefore, establishing a supportive tax framework is essential to promote their growth and operational capacity. A scoping review methodology was employed, analyzing literature on tax incentives and compliance challenges faced by South African NPOs from 2010 to 2023. Key provisions include income tax exemptions under Section 10(1)(cN), capital gains tax exclusions, and Section 18A tax-deductible donations. The study also explored the legal framework governing tax-exempt status and trading activities. Findings show that while tax incentives provide significant benefits, NPOs face challenges in maintaining compliance, such as complex regulations, limited financial resources, and a lack of expertise. Many struggle with differentiating between exempt and taxable activities. Strategies to address these issues include simplifying tax processes, enhancing financial management education, and improving communication between SARS and NPOs. Introducing user-friendly tax reporting systems and tailored support could further boost compliance and ensure NPOs maximize available benefits. These insights are valuable for policymakers and tax authorities seeking to strengthen the regulatory framework and support the growth of NPOs in South Africa.