South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Youth’s participation in agriculture: A fallacy or achievable possibility? Evidence from rural South Africa","authors":"U. Chipfupa, A. Tagwi","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.4004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.4004","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The realisation of more youth involvement in the agricultural sector has proved to be elusive, so the question of the possibility of a youth-led agriculture needs further investigation.Aim: The aim of the study was to assess whether there is potential for the rural youth to participate in agriculture by employing the typology formulation approach.Setting: The study is premised on recent calls for strategies to reduce youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa by involving and enhancing the agricultural sector.Method: A survey in questionnaire form was conducted with 224 youths from two districts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Principal Components Analysis and K-Means Clustering were performed to determine the youth typologies and assess their potential.Results: Five typologies were identified. Most youths (59.3%) were found in Typology 1 (those that see no benefits in farming) and in Typology 2 (older, experienced and with access to land). Typology 5 (male youths in agricultural cooperatives) had the lowest proportion of youths (5.7%). Participants in typologies 2, 3 and 5 were deemed to have high to moderate potential for successful engagement in farming. The highest potential was found in the typology with the least percentage of youths.Conclusions: The typologies showed that youths have varying perceptions and aspirations regarding agriculture. While some show an interest and have the potential to participate in farming, others do not. Therefore, the blanket notion of the youth’s lack of interest in agriculture should be qualified as it does not always hold. The heterogeneity in characteristics among the youths in these typologies, including their potential to participate in agriculture, expresses the differences in the kinds of support needed to increase their participation.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79764654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and preliminary validation of the work-unit performance questionnaire","authors":"J. Seland, C. C. Theron","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3926","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Serious shortcomings are identified in the Performance Index (PI), developed by Spangenberg and Theron (2004). Attempts are made to correct these shortcomings.Aim: The primary objective of this research study was to develop and preliminary validate a generic Work-Unit Performance Questionnaire, based on the Performance Index of Spangenberg and Theron (2004), correcting shortcomings identified in that particular PI.Setting: The study used convenience sampling that consisted of 202 respondents from a variety of South African industries. The article draws on findings in the thesis of Seland (2019).Methods: The development and preliminary validation of the Work-Unit Performance Questionnaire (WUPQ) was required. The WUPQ consists of dual subscales, the Work-Unit Competency Questionnaire (WUCQ), which consists of seven latent behavioural competency variables, and the Work-Unit Outcome Questionnaire (WUOQ), which consists of six latent outcome variables.Results: Both measurement models (WUCP WUOQ) showed close fit; however, two factor loadings in the WUCQ measurement model had to be constrained. Reasonable structural model fit was found in the sample. Support was found for 11 of the original 21 path-specific substantive hypotheses and for an additional hypothesis.Conclusion: The proposed model can be used by managers, with caution due to the intentional exclusion of competency potential and situational variables, to diagnose poor work-unit performance. Furthermore, it is encouraged that this research be the starting point for further analyses of work-unit performance and advance validation of the instrument.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86079596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regulating South Africa’s retirement funds: The case for clearer objectives","authors":"R. Rusconi","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3943","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3943","url":null,"abstract":"The rationale for the regulation of participants in financial markets, like retirement funds, is sound. It would be strengthened, however, by a clear statement of the objectives of such regulation. In this article the position is taken that the objectives underpinning the regulation of South African privately-managed retirement funds should be enhanced. It presents this argument with reference to international principles concerning systems of old-age provision, and to the examples of regulations in other jurisdictions. It recommends a set of practical regulatory objectives in the pursuit of efficiency, sustainability, coverage, adequacy and security of provision for old age.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"85 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76250508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Has mobile phone technology aided the growth of agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa?","authors":"Omotomiwa Adenubi, O. Temoso, Isiaka Abdulaleem","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3744","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3744","url":null,"abstract":"Background: A recent increase in the adoption of mobile phone technology generated a great deal of interest and optimism regarding its effect on economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly on the enhancement of agricultural development.Aim: In this study the impact of mobile phone technology on agricultural productivity in SSA is examined.Setting: The empirical assessment uses a panel data set covering 41 countries over a period of 25 years.Methods: We employed an econometric approach and panel data covering 41 countries and a 25 year-period (1990–2014) to investigate the effect of the adoption of mobile phone technology and other socio-economic variables on agricultural total factor productivity (TFP). The use of regression analyses allowed us to estimate and measure the contribution of certain variables to agricultural TFP growth in SSA.Results: The results show that the uptake of mobile phone technology had a positive effect on agricultural TFP growth in SSA.Conclusion: Mobile phone technology has been established to be one of the drivers of agricultural productivity in SSA.Implication: The implications of this study are that governments, NGOs, and businesses working on improving agricultural productivity and food security in SSA need to continue endorsing mobile technology as a means to improve agricultural productivity.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89421804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Work engagement and perceived customer value, the mediating role of meaningfulness through work","authors":"Marita M. Heyns, S. McCallaghan, W. Beukes","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3749","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Work engagement is considered an important contributor towards the success of any organisation, while finding meaning in work has been proven to enhance productivity and, ultimately, assists in improving the bottom line of an organisation.Aim: The aim of the study is to examine work engagement and meaningfulness through work and at the workplace, and how these factors impact on perceived customer value. More specifically, the researchers were interested in whether meaningfulness could mediate the relationship between work engagement and perceived customer value.Setting: Data were collected from employees at a large South African manufacturing organisation.Methods: Respondents from a manufacturing organisation in South Africa participated in the quantitative cross-sectional study (N = 152). They completed previously validated questionnaires to assess work engagement, meaningfulness through work and perceived customer value from an employee perspective. (Males = 52.21%; Working less than five years in the industry = 54.61%; Non-management = 50%).Results: Correlation results indicate that features of engagement, meaningfulness through work and perceived customer value were positively associated. A simple mediation model indicates that meaning could be considered a mediator in the relationship between work engagement and perceived customer value.Conclusion: Study results indicate that work engagement was not sufficient to improve perceived customer value and that finding meaning in and through work was also required.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80351865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Household saving and wealth in South Africa","authors":"F. Joubert, T. Van der Merwe","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3764","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3764","url":null,"abstract":"Background: A detailed picture of the saving behaviour of South African households would enable researchers to determine whether households are proactively attempting to safeguard themselves financially.Aim: Of this article is to analyse household saving(s), using both an income-statement (saving) and a balance-sheet (savings or wealth) approach, while investigating the link between the two as well.Setting: The perception that households are ‘dis-savers’ without really delving into the details, definitions, or reasons why this may or may not be the case. This notion is proven superficial as it ignores various interacting definitional and measurement issues.Methods: A descriptive analytical methodology is applied to household saving (flow) and savings (stock or wealth) in the period 1995 to 2018, with the focus on macro-economics, while data are sourced from the South African System of National Accounts (SNA).Results: Findings include a long-term decline in net household saving to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which turned negative in 2006, so that dissaving occurred. In contrast, household wealth recorded an average nominal increase of 10.3% in the period 1995 to 2018. Focusing on the link between the two concepts, it is confirmed that net revaluation of assets plays a prominent role to support the rise in wealth, while the role of saving diminishes over time. Therefore, the need for additional methodological updates is highlighted. More research is required on the various possible factors driving household income and expenditure trends, and their sustainability. The contribution of household saving to total saving should be evaluated in detail.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88738712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Balancing quantitative and qualitative value-creation reporting","authors":"C. Crous, Marike C. van Wyk","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3936","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3936","url":null,"abstract":"Conclusion: The authors thus conclude that imbalanced reporting skewed towards quantitative value concepts persists.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"223 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77278316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimation of the potential economic welfare to be gained by the South African Customs Union from trade facilitation","authors":"Shahrzad Safaeimanesh, G. Jenkins","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3796","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"99 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81050774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of personal relationships in supply chain risk information sharing: Perspectives from buyers and suppliers of logistics services","authors":"Marco van der Walt, W. Niemann, A. Meyer","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3703","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3703","url":null,"abstract":"Keith Ferrazzi, a New York Times best-selling author, was quoted saying: ‘Power comes from sharing information, not withholding it’. Likewise, information technology (IT) innovations are shaping the modern-day supply chain and, as a result, firms and their supply chain partners (SCPs) are becoming progressively more dependent on information sharing among one another (Colicchia et al. 2018:5; Kache & Seuring 2017:11). Today, the collection and sharing of information is faster and simpler, allowing supply chains to operate in a globally connected environment (Colicchia et al. 2018:5). South Africa is recognised as the most developed country in Africa in terms of the third-party logistics (3PL) industry. As a result, the majority of logistics activities on the continent are performed by South African 3PL service providers (Nel, De Goede & Niemann 2018:2). The utilisation of 3PL service providers creates a network among buyers and suppliers for potential information sharing and risk mitigation (Huong Tran, Childerhouse & Deakins 2016:1103). The purpose of sharing information is to ensure real-time information processing and decision-making between the firm and its 3PLs (Prajogo & Olhager 2012:514–516). Third-party logistics partners can provide timely feedback, outsource processes and track service activities by sharing information (Zacharia, Sanders & Nix 2011:43–44). Information sharing enables firms to experience improved resilience and increased supply chain visibility (Brandon-Jones et al. 2014:56–57). Background: The frequent occurrence of supply chain disruptions highlights the importance of sharing supply chain risk information (SCRI) among buyers and suppliers in third-party logistics (3PL) services. Business relationships and long-term collaboration among supply chain partners (SCP), such as 3PLs and their clients, lead to the sharing of SCRI. Risk information sharing (RIS) cannot be effectively carried out unless these relationships are based on more than just transactional information sharing. Therefore, a better understanding is needed of how personal relationships influence RIS among these partners.","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90299248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determining the potential of informal savings groups as a model for formal commitment saving devices","authors":"Mario Landman, Morris Mthombeni","doi":"10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3940","url":null,"abstract":"Copyright: © 2021. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Introduction Informal savings groups, also referred to as ‘stokvels’ in South Africa (African Response 2012), were born out of the country’s repressive, race-based policies that restricted the economic participation of the black population. These savings groups are unregulated societies aimed at individuals who are under-served by traditional banking and non-banking financial institutions (Burlando & Canidio 2017; Dupas & Robinson 2013).","PeriodicalId":46244,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84405439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}