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In the pursuit of academic excellence, scholars are dependent on trustworthy journals to disseminate their research and contribute to the collective body of knowledge. However, the academic community is not immune to deceptive practices. This letter highlights the case of the "Global International Journal of Innovative Research," where my name, along with esteemed colleagues, was falsely associated with the editorial board without consent. Despite repeated efforts to address this issue, the journal remains unresponsive. This letter announces our intention to publish an exposé article, meticulously uncovering the fraudulent practices of the journal and its publisher. A subsequent public statement aims to warn the academic community about the deceptive nature of the "Global International Journal of Innovative Research" and emphasizes the collective responsibility of scholars to uphold ethical publishing standards. Through this exposé, we hope to safeguard the integrity of academic pursuit and raise awareness about the risks associated with engaging with predatory journals.

Zambia has not trailed behind other nations in promoting financial inclusion, one of its deliverables in its 2022-2026 Eighth National Development Plan. The analysis focused on the likelihood of reaching this goal and the implications for bank operating stability. A mixed research (quantitative and qualitative) approach was used and drew respondents from several remote areas in Zambia. A hypothesis test on the observed against the hypothesised mean (p-value = 1.93e-38 and <0.005) rejected the null to accept the alternative presupposition that banks have a relevant role in achieving financial inclusion, but they are not a necessary ingredient. The correlation test also aligned at both 95 and 99% confidence levels, that supported the null hypothesis to conclude that there is no correlation between the preferred channels of financial services and the adequacy of financial inclusion. Respondents felt that the financial inclusion services would still be offered at basic satisfactory levels regardless of the available form of financial service provider. The Kruskal-Wallis test supplemented the findings with p = 3.09667e-20(<0.05) that rejected null to conclude that any form of financial services is statistically significant in delivering basic financial inclusion in Zambia. The implications for banks are the risks for continuous survival because of the popular user-friendly alternative channels. It is recommended that the Bank of Zambia should sustain the relative relevance of formal banks by balancing their contributions with other innovative financial service channels. Banks should integrate with new market entrants, or the future will have a banking system without banks. Regulators must support banks’ survival traits such as the light set of criteria in their Know Your Customer (KYC) package.

As a means of seeking more effective ways to curb the unemployment levels in Sub-Saharan countries, governments are beginning to include the development of the manufacturing sector in their country's strategies, and Lesotho is not an exception. This paper aims to determine the role of various institutional and individual factors which when present and collaborating in an entrepreneurial ecosystem can contribute to the successful growth of MSMEs operating in the manufacturing sector. This paper is also aimed at developing a conceptual framework suitable for the growth of these MSMEs in Lesotho by linking concepts of industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study utilised a qualitative exploratory research approach and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. In total, 12 candidates from government, financial, and educational institutions as well as the media were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The main findings of the study demonstrate that a suitable ecosystem for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in a country such as Lesotho should consist of policies and regulations that support and encourage financial institutions to assist MSMEs. Government regulated media institutions disseminate regular information relating to existing policies, regulations, and opportunities and educational institutions provide adequate skills and knowledge to enhance an individual’s entrepreneurial alertness, creativity, and innovativeness. An inclusive ecosystem for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in Lesotho should also involve the collaboration of MSMEs with larger firms and the establishment of independent regulated quality assurance institutions to assure the quality of products and increase customer confidence.

In recent years, the aviation industry has transformed significantly, driven by the increasing importance of digital technologies and social media for communication and marketing. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transformation, posing unprecedented challenges to airlines. The present study investigates how Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates adapted their social media strategies before, during, and after the pandemic. The research has a threefold focus: (i) assessing pre-pandemic social media strategies, (ii) examining strategy evolution during the pandemic, and (iii) comparing the effectiveness of these strategies before and after COVID-19. By exploring how these airlines leveraged social media to navigate pandemic-related disruptions and maintain vital connections with passengers, this study provides valuable insights. These findings hold significant implications for aviation stakeholders, marketing professionals, and researchers, shedding light on the evolving role of social media in crisis communication and marketing. The study uncovered interesting changes in how airlines use Twitter. After the pandemic, they started using more emojis, and their messages shifted from promoting services to expressing hope during the pandemic and back to promotions afterward. They played with visuals and hashtags. Pricing-wise, they offered discounts for students, different ticket options, and bundled services. In promotions, they focused on being environmentally and socially responsible, user convenience, and specific events. They mainly shared updates on flights, achievements, and travel advice. To engage people, they used quizzes, replied directly to customers, and targeted specific groups. For marketing managers, the study suggests being more customer-focused, emphasizing environmental and social responsibility, offering diverse pricing, celebrating milestones, and creating engaging content. Overall, the findings provide practical insights for adjusting marketing strategies in the ever-changing world of airlines, especially considering the challenges brought by COVID-19.

Placement and work facilities are the two main pillars in determining employee performance, but research that discusses both is still rare. This research aims to explore the role of work facilities in moderating employee placement on employee performance. This research involved 83 respondents from various fields of work at PT X with the aim of understanding how work placement and facilities influence employee performance. Samples were selected proportionally from various company divisions using probability sampling techniques. The research results show that work placement has a positive and significant influence on employee performance. Work facilities were also proven to have a positive and significant effect on performance. However, the hypothesis regarding the role of work facilities as a moderator of the effect of placement on performance was not proven (P value: 0.200). This means that work facilities at PT X do not significantly strengthen or weaken the relationship between placement and employee performance. Practically, these findings can serve as a guide to better understand the factors that influence employee performance and design more effective human resource management strategies.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship among individuals' innovative competencies, management innovation, and organizational performance. This quantitative study was conducted with 531 business employees operating in various sectors at national and international levels, and the survey method was preferred as the data collection tool. The developed hypotheses within the scope of the study were tested by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). As a result, significant findings were obtained in the relationship and impact analysis dimensions among innovation competencies, management innovation, and organizational performance. The results depict that innovation competencies and management innovation have a positive and significant effect on organizational performance (?=0.470, p<0.01; ?=0.503, p<0.01, respectively). Additionally, it was concluded that management innovation has a positive and significant mediating effect on the relationship between innovation competence and organizational performance (?=0.175; p<0.01).

This study primarily investigates microfinance practices for sustainable community welfare. Microcredit aims to provide credit to poor people to help empower communities and reduce poverty. Community empowerment strategies can be carried out by increasing the productivity of poor communities to increase their income. A basic approach that emphasizes that the poor move from their current situation to a better position by empowering MSMEs through the distribution of microcredit by micro-financial institutions. Changes that will result in sustainable prosperity, decreasing inequality between regions, and reducing community income gaps. This research will use a qualitative approach using the case study method, which does not use statistical generalizations but uses logical and replicative generalizations. This research uses multiple cases with varying characteristics as research informants. Two microfinance institutions and ten cases of MSMEs will be selected in this research. The study was conducted at Sharia Microfinance Institutions as providers of microcredit and MSMEs receiving microcredit in the Southern region of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Bantul. This district was chosen because Bantul has the highest poverty rate. This condition is the focus of attention for maximum treatment. This research will use three data collection methods: interview, observation, and documentation, to maintain the data's validity and reliability. Data triangulation was used to test the validity of the data. The data analysis process in this research uses two stages: descriptive analysis and within-case analysis. The research results found that microfinance practices carried out through Sharia Microfinance Institutions (SMFI), apart from focusing on providing accessible financing facilities, have also provided direction in developing MSMEs and taking action towards community welfare. SMFI regularly provides business development training to MSMEs

The objective of this study is to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance on brand image and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the analysis was performed to examine the impact of brand image and customer satisfaction on customer engagement. This study examines the impact of customer interaction on customer loyalty. This study employs quantitative analysis techniques to empirically examine the formulated hypothesis. The research sample consists of consumers from the cement business in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia. The study employed a sampling technique that utilized random sampling to gather a sample of 180 respondents, who served as a representative of the study population. The data was acquired by distributing questionnaires and analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique with the assistance of AMOS software. The analytical results demonstrate empirical support for all hypotheses proposed in this study. This study demonstrates that the performance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a beneficial impact on the identity of a brand and the happiness of customers. In order to enhance brand recognition and improve consumer happiness, it is important to achieve superior corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. Moreover, the recognition of a brand and the contentment of customers have a favorable impact on the involvement of customers, and the involvement of customers has a favorable impact on their loyalty. This study offers suggestions to organizations, including those in the cement industry, on how to enhance their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts to improve brand recognition and consumer contentment. Effective CSR performance may be attained by addressing five key aspects: social responsibility, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, human resources management, and socio-economic development. Moreover, it is essential to enhance brand recognition and consumer contentment in order to maximize customer involvement and allegiance.

Aviation-oriented companies are continuously seeking innovative approaches to enhance the passenger experience and operational efficiency within the industry. The objective of this study is to evaluate the categorization of passengers' technological preferences in Turkish airports. The objectives of this study are to enhance the understanding of Aviation Companies in Turkey regarding the technology preferences of passengers and their fundamental needs, as well as to analyze the characteristics of passengers that are directly linked to their technological choices.  This study employs purposive sampling with a sample size of 455. Various statistical techniques, such as regression, correlation, and descriptive statistics, are employed to analyze the data. The findings indicate that biometric technology, personal device utilization, customisation and customization, as well as streaming and on-demand entertainment, greatly influence the technological preferences of travelers. Nevertheless, contactless solutions, inflight Wi-Fi, and mobile apps and digital services do not influence the technological preferences of travelers.

Africa is experiencing rapid urbanization, making it one of the most urbanized continents in the world. This trend is particularly evident in the Southern African regional block. With the ongoing push for enhanced regional integration, it is anticipated that there would be a rise in the migration of individuals within the region. The escalating pace of urbanization calls for a reassessment of future cities and the implications of the rural-urban split on the establishment of sustainable human settlements. This article initially analyzes the patterns of migration within the Southern Africa Development Community. Furthermore, an analysis is conducted on the factors that contribute to the significant internal migration inside member states. Furthermore, the article examines the connection between migration and urbanization in the region once again. The article employs qualitative and quantitative methodologies to examine the consequences of migration and urbanization on both the locations from which people migrate and the areas where they settle. The primary factors contributing to migration include the pursuit of economic opportunity, political instability, access to education, and climate-induced disasters. Migration and urbanization have both gotten worse in the SADC region at the same time, as shown by empirical literature, official migration documents, and quantitative time series data from the World Development Indicators. This suggests that migration causes more people to move to cities. The rise in population has led to inadequate housing, resulting in an increase in slums that surpasses the projected capacity of cities. This article suggests promoting infrastructure development that facilitates employment creation in the nations or districts of origin in order to prevent a one-way movement of migrants. Consequently, a rise in job prospects, salaries, and health conditions will result in a reduction in migration rates and alleviate the strain on numerous cities in the area.

The article aims to promote financial literacy among youngsters from low-income backgrounds, encouraging them to engage in cost-effective investments that will enable them to accumulate wealth in the future. The article outlines a novel approach in life skills that entails shifting away from relying on uncertain grants and supports. Instead, it proposes utilizing a straightforward and practical mathematical model to generate money starting from a young age. The authors demonstrate that by utilizing a highly efficient investing option, young children have the ability to generate substantial wealth. To exemplify, we demonstrate the suggested methodology utilizing sequences and summations. Our method/proposal facilitates the enhancement of boundless wealth generation by enabling those who can invest more than the minimum requirement to accumulate greater wealth. The efficacy assessment of the new method is validated through the computation of the smallest investment, which is merely symbolic, yet yields boundless financial outcomes. The study findings, which have the potential to enhance governmental decision-making, can also be utilized for personal betterment. This work is innovative as it presents an alternative approach that imparts discipline, consistency, and honesty. It allows individuals to easily adopt the model with appropriate adjustments, hence facilitating the creation of wealth.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a new phase of company operations. The advent of digital transformation (DT) has fundamentally transformed the global business landscape. Despite the global prevalence of this phenomenon, there is limited understanding of digital transformation (DT) in the context of COVID-19 and its impact on private sector organizations in developing nations. This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the process of digital transformation in privately owned companies located in underdeveloped nations. To accomplish this objective, a systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA (2020) principles, resulting in a selection of 26 studies. This study employs an inductive methodology, where pertinent topics are identified as they arise from the literature throughout the analysis stage. The technology-organization-environment framework (TOE) was subsequently employed to provide a contextual framework for these issues. The research findings suggest that the presence of resources, both financial and technological, is a crucial determinant in the adoption of digital transformation. The adoption of DT has been significantly influenced by various factors, including the role of governments, competitive forces, security, and other relevant considerations. Although organizations in underdeveloped nations encountered numerous hurdles, it was found that digital transformation progressed rapidly in all areas. Companies underwent substantial transformations to embrace digital transformation (DT), including the use of digital business models to facilitate remote operations and heightened investment in education, skills, and innovative digital tactics. Given the recent emergence of COVID-19, there remain numerous uncertainties regarding the enduring impacts that COVID-19 has had on organizations.

Fraud is a thorn in the flesh of many organizations in both local and global business ecosystems, more so in the financial sector because of the liquid nature of their services. To curb this menace, Financial Institutions including Microfinance institutions implemented fraud risk management practices. While larger financial institutions afford raft measures for curbing fraud, MFIs contend with less sophisticated practices in spite of them being the most susceptible to financial improprieties. Further, the determination of the overall effect of these practices on financial performance is critical in evaluating their success. The objective of this study therefore was to find out how fraud risk management practices affect the financial performance of Microfinance Institutions in Kenya. The study was anchored on the fraud management life cycle theory and focused on twelve deposit-taking Microfinance Institutions that were in operation in the Nairobi region of Kenya between 2016 to 2020. The study adopted a descriptive research design using cross-sectional data computed from the average financial results for five years 2016-2020. The study used purposive and stratified Random sampling methods to select a sample of 281 respondents from finance, ICT, operations, Audit, and Litigation managers and staff. The study used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data. The results showed that fraud risk management positively and significantly affected financial performance by curbing incidents of fraud and concluded that to improve financial performance microfinance institutions should implement fraud risk management since they had a positive and significant effect on financial performance. The study recommended that firms should invest substantially in fraud risk management to reduce incidences of fraud and improve financial performance. Further, the management of Microfinance Institutions should continually evaluate and update their practices to keep abreast with the ever-changing fraud antics.

Curriculum transformation in South African universities strives to revive disadvantaged communities to change existing Eurocentric and Westernized curriculums to be Afrocentric.  However, there are debates on whether there should be the adoption of fully Africanized curriculums or infusing African values into the Eurocentric epistemologies. The study sought to bring out the roles of entrepreneurial skills in curriculum transformation in one university in the Eastern Cape. The study adopted a qualitative approach, where university students and lecturers were the key informants. To collect data interviews were used where the interview schedule is attached. It was found that universities are challenged by organizational culture, lack of resources, the existence of colonial systems, and a colonial-caged mentality. The paper illustrated that decolonizing curriculums is useful in resource-constrained institutions if resources are pumped in and if the curriculum transformation works in an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Therefore, the university should invest more resources into the curriculum transformation and African and European epistemology should be fused to come up with strong and vibrant knowledge that will positively change societies. Additionally, for a university entrepreneurship ecosystem, there should be staff empowerment on entrepreneurship education in the curriculum across disciplines. 

Financial literacy (FL) is a crucial skill set that police officers must possess, particularly in managing their funds during their tenure in the police force and as they approach retirement from their service. The extent of an individual's FL will directly impact the extent of their financial planning knowledge and budgeting abilities required as a police officer, commencing from the initial stages of their career. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the level of FL within the police force, with a particular emphasis on the factors of financial knowledge, attitude, and behaviour. The study employed a simple random sampling technique to gather data from a sample of 68 law enforcement employees stationed in Vosman and Klipfointein. The data was acquired through survey questionnaires. The data were descriptively analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results of the study suggest that police officers often possess low to moderate levels of FL. However, there is a positive correlation observed between the variables under investigation. The recommendation proposes that the government should implement ongoing training and short-term interventions focused on FL, with a particular emphasis on tailoring these initiatives to individuals' income levels and lifestyles. This study utilized intervention and transformational learning theory to support law enforcement professionals in enhancing their financial planning both prior to and following their employment, by means of financial education.

The demands of raising education at a classroom level to international standards require a nuanced analytical lens involving multiple perspectives to contribute to the best practices. Most classroom research adopts a singular perspective, usually from researchers who are familiar with the nuances of the classroom context under study. In other words, published studies involving classroom observations are often analyzed by insiders who already have the insight to understand the situated dynamics of the classroom interactions they analyze. While this is an important analytical orientation, this stance may overlook important insights about teaching and learning that outsiders’ perspectives may be able to identify. The study employed a qualitative approach. Which was guided by the dialogic interactive theory. The methodological approach in Japan was face-to-face semi-structured interviews while in the South African context, virtual data generation methods were employed to interview teachers on the classroom interactions with students. The study population was English students, while in South Africa it was health course teachers who taught students from various health professions. A total of eight teachers were purposively recruited in South Africa with one student participant in Japan. Findings revealed similarities and differences in dialogic interactions and the interpretation of such interactions. Participants from both contexts had deliberate silence and reluctance to speak which was interpreted differently by the teachers, and lack of reciprocal and purposive engagements by students. Based on the dialogic interactive theory, it can be concluded that the aspirations to achieve an inclusive quality of education can best be achieved when teachers are transparent about the expected interactions for all the tenets of the dialogic theory to be achieved. It is therefore recommended that broader conversations about the analysis of situated dynamics of classroom interaction be encouraged to yield critical insights for education towards the attainment of inclusive quality education.

The delivery of public services in South Africa is dependent on good governance and decisive leadership. Furthermore, the success of government programmes depends on the size of the budget that has been allocated to a given government department or entity. When the Minister of Finance delivers the budget speech in the National Assembly, there is a clear indication on how much is going to be allocated to each government department over the next financial year. It is up to the government departments to ensure that the allocated budget is used as efficiently and effectively as possible. Each government department is guided by the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA), 1999. The PFMA seeks to regulate financial management in the national government and provincial governments; to ensure that all revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities of those governments are managed efficiently and effectively; to provide for the responsibilities of persons entrusted with financial management in those governments; and to provide for matters connected therewith. Given the objectives of the PFMA, accounting officers are tasked with the responsibility of enforcing the PFMA in all procurement processes. According to Section 36 of the PFMA, an accounting officer is the head of a department. These accounting officers play an important role in ensuring that services are delivered, while they must ensure that public funds are spent responsibly and in accordance with the relevant government policies and the PFMA. This paper analyses the role that accounting officers need to play in ensuring responsible public financial management, especially because of the limited resources available to our government. By employing a qualitative study, this paper looks at instances where accounting officers did not act in accordance with the PFMA and the implications of this failure.

The South African municipalities have continued to demonstrate weaknesses or inadequacies in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). A possible barrier in South African municipalities is a lack of M&E expertise. While M&E can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and efficiency of a programme, some potential pitfalls and gaps were discovered during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A case study design was employed to conduct in-depth and detailed examination within two metropolitan municipalities in the Eastern Cape. A mixed methods approach was adopted in a convergent manner for data collection and analysis. In-depth interviews were utilised to collect data from 13 senior municipal managers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). A total of 191 questionnaires were despatched to municipal employees and 186 were returned, giving a 97% response rate. The findings reflect the weaknesses of M&E policies in the municipalities and paints a picture of M&E not being prioritised in the municipality.  The findings also reflect the current situation at the municipalities concerned, which is that there are pitfalls and gaps when it comes to evaluation measures. Thus, the study concludes that accountability for financial and performance management is non-existent. This study attempts to make a valuable contribution by providing technical assistance, capacity building to ensure that municipalities have effective M&E systems in place to monitor and evaluate service delivery and improve the lives of communities.

This study explores the obstacles and opportunities for women who sell arts and crafts along the borders of the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The Kruger National Park is one of South Africa's most famous symbols, both nationally and internationally. Women who stay along the borders of the Kruger National Park have also harnessed tapping into the tourism sector by trading in arts and crafts because tourists purchase them as souvenirs. Women dominate the craft industry because of fewer barriers to entry as they normally use traditional skills to create crafts. South African women in the informal sector are said to be significantly contributing to the Gross Domestic Product of the country. A qualitative research design utilising a Case study was used to explore the obstacles and opportunities for women who trade in arts and crafts in the tourism industry around the Kruger National Park. Data was collected through semi-structured interview schedules from thirty (30) women who sell arts and crafts from the Kruger National Park gates in Mpumalanga Province. Data was then summarised to capture emerging themes as well as opinions, attitudes and perceptions. The key findings reveal that women face various challenges, mainly in terms of (i) lack of access to finance, (ii) low literacy levels (iii) lack of access to infrastructure and (iv) Poor marketing skills and access to markets.

The use of force by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been widely reported. Unfortunately, the situation does not seem to be improving. However, it is not yet reported whether the members of the SAPS instinctively display aggressive or nonaggressive behaviour in response to the handling of violent and non-violent protestations in South Africa. Therefore, this article aims to assess whether police’s behaviour in the handling of protestations is instinctively aggressive or nonaggressive. Secondly, the article reflects on the possible factors that may contribute to the police’s aggressive behaviour towards protestations in South Africa. This article makes use of videography, which is a qualitative method of inquiry and interpretive in nature. Videography involves analysing video data as a focused hermeneutical and ethnographic exercise. In this regard, video recordings that are publicly accessible online which show South African police’s responses and conduct when handling protestation were analysed. Such videos were purposefully selected as they were deemed fit and useful for the object of this paper. Another method that was applied is a critical review of literature on police brutality in South Africa. Based on the analysis of evidence flowing from video analysis, it is clear that members of the SAPS tend to display aggressive behaviour when responding to violent protestations. At the same time, some members of the SAPS seem to lose their temper due to provocations by protesting individuals. The article reveals that the handling of protestations requires a thorough assessment of risks that may be incurred when applying various strategies for crowd management. This may need the state to invest in training and skilling the members of the SAPS in handling of violent and non-violent protestations. The article provides the basis for crowd management specialists within the SAPS to develop strategies suitable for ensuring professional and nonaggressive behaviour by the police in handling both violent and non-violent protestations.