Through the Economic Cost of Discrimination: The Way forward for Women in the Somali Customary Justice System

The Constitution of Kenya guarantees the promotion of customary justice systems. However, in many cases, the dictates of customary law are often in contravention with the progressive attitude embodied in the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees the right to equal treatment of men and women in social, political and cultural spheres. However, women in the Somali customary justice system do not enjoy this right. Women in the Somali customary justice system have no locus standi before any dispute resolution process and they cannot oversee the resolution of disputes as this position is reserved for the elders, who can only be men. Through Gary Becker’s theory on the economics of discrimination, this paper establishes, through an economic lens, that there is a prevailing cost to the Somali community for failing to include women in the processes of the customary justice system. It suggests a way forward of promoting inclusivity in line with the characteristics of customary law

Value Added Tax on Cross-Border Digital Supplies: The Kenyan Approach under the Finance Act 2019

Advancements in the global digital economy have resulted in high levels of profitability for enterprises operating within it. The digital economy is particularly challenging for tax authorities the world over, as it is characterised by an unparalleled reliance on intangible assets and a difficulty in determining the jurisdiction in which value creation occurs. It is against this backdrop that Kenya enacted the Finance Act 2019, that had amongst its objectives, the effective taxation on the consumption of cross-border digital supplies. The amendments are largely targeted at the taxation of imported digital supplies from foreign jurisdictions to final consumers in Kenya. They place the responsibility of tax assessment and remittance to the consumer of the service. This move presents a critical departure from the previous regime where the responsibility of Value Added Tax (VAT) assessment and remittance fell on the firms supplying the service squarely. This paper critically assesses the practical efficacy and inherent weaknesses arising from the potential implementation of the proposed amendments under the VAT Act and provides recommendations on the way forward

IT 거버넌스 메커니즘, 서비스 혁신 채택 및 품질이 성능, 고객 만족 및 접근성에 미치는 영향 평가 사례 : 나이지리아 모바일 뱅킹 서비스

학위논문 (박사) -- 서울대학교 대학원 : 공과대학 협동과정 기술경영·경제·정책전공, 2020. 8. Hwang Junseok .세계 은행 통계에 따르면 전 세계 20억 명 이상의 사람들이 은행과 금융 서비스를 이용할 수 없다. 2억 명이 넘는 인구를 가지고 있으며 사하라 이남 아프리카에서 가장 높은 인구를 가진 나라 중 하나로 손꼽히는 나이지리아에서는 성인 인구의 60% 이상이 은행을 이용하지 않는다. 반면 모바일 기술의 침투는 자리를 잡아가며 90% 이상의 국내 침투 경험을 쌓게 되었다. 본 연구는 어떻게 모바일 기술의 혁신적인 금융 서비스를 활용하여 나이지리아에 금융을 확장시킬 수 있는지를 탐구한다. 다음의 질문을 답하기 위하여 세 가지 다른 관점으로 연구를 수행하였다. 1. 나이지리아 은행이 보다 체계적인 금융 포용을 달성하는 데 있어서 회사 성과를 향상을 위한 혁신적인 서비스를 채택이 어떻게 체계적으로 더 조직화 될 수 있는지에 대한 방법적 측면 2. 고객에게 제공되는 현재의 디지털 금융 서비스 품질은 새로운 혁신 서비스를 개선하고 적응 시켜서 고객이 만족할 수 있도록 해야함. 3. 서비스 제공 혁신을 통해 은행은 고객의 접근성 및 만족도를 높이기 위해 품질, 가격 및 서비스 신뢰에 대한 고객의 인식을 이해하는 것이 중요함. 이러한 세 가지 연구 프레임의 결과는 서비스 혁신이 나이지리아에 금융 포함을 증가시키기 위한 도구로 채택될 때 IT 거버넌스 메커니즘, 서비스 품질 성능, 가격 가치 및 신뢰가 기업 성과, 고객 만족도, 사용자 접근성의 요인에 영향을 미친다는 것을 보여주었다. 본 논문은 혁신적인 금융 서비스와 결합한 기술의 한 형태로서의 모바일 뱅킹을 어떻게 활용하여 금융 서비스의 접근성을 높이고 제공할 수 있는지에 대한 통찰력을 제공한다. 이 연구의 관리 정책적 의미는 사람들이 금융 서비스에 접근할 수 있는 비율을 증가시키는 데 사용될 수 있고, 이론적 의미는 더 많은 금융 포함을 달성하기 위한 혁신적인 방법을 채택하는 은행의 준비 상태를 평가하는 데 사용될 수 있다.According to World Bank statistics, more than two billion people in the world have no access to banks and financial services. In Nigeria, which has over 200 million people, making it one of the highest populations in sub-Saharan Africa, more than 60% of the adult population are unbanked. On the other hand, mobile technology penetration has been gaining ground and has experienced more than 90% penetration into the country. This research explores how innovative financial services on mobile technology can be leveraged to increase financial inclusion in Nigeria. Three different perspectives were developed to determine the following: 1. How Nigerian banks can become more organized to adopt the right innovative services that will improve their firm performance in achieving more financial inclusion; 2. The present quality of digital financial services that are provided to customers need to improve and adapt to new innovative services to ensure they remain satisfied; and 3. With service delivery innovations, it is vital for banks to understand the perceptions of their customers on quality, pricing charges, and trust of services to increase user accessibility and satisfaction. Our results from these three research frameworks have shown that IT governance mechanisms, service quality performance, price value, and trust are influencing factors of firm performance, customer satisfaction, and user accessibility when service innovation is adopted as a tool to increase financial inclusion in Nigeria. This dissertation provides insight into how mobile banking as a form of technology in combination with innovative financial services can be utilized to provide and increase the accessibility of financial services. The studys managerial policy implications can be used to increase the rate at which people can access financial services and the theoretical implications can be used by academicians to assess banks readiness in adopting innovative ways to achieve more financial inclusion.Chapter 1. Overall Introduction 1 1.1 Motivation 1 1.2 Problem Statement 2 1.3 Research Objectives 4 1.4 Research Questions 4 1.5 Research Methodology 5 1.6 Research Outline 8 1.6.1 Research Design 9 1.6.2 Nigeria: Case Study 11 Chapter 2. Literature Review 14 2.1 Corporate Governance 14 2.2 IT Governance: Definitions 15 2.3 Service Innovation 20 2.4 Mobile Banking in Nigeria 25 Chapter 3. Theoretical Framework 29 Chapter 4. IT Governance Mechanisms: Impact on Service Innovation as a Mediator and Improving Factor for Firm Performance in the Banking Sector 35 4.1 Introduction 35 4.1.1 Research Objective 39 4.1.2 Research Questions 40 4.2 Literature Review 40 4.2.1 IT Governance Mechanism 40 4.2.2 Service Innovation Dimensions 45 4.2.3 Firm Performance 48 4.3 Proposed Research Model and Hypotheses 48 4.4 Methodology and Data Collection 55 4.5 Results Analysis 59 4.5.1 1st Model Descriptive Statistics 59 4.5.2 1st Model Measurement Model 62 4.5.3 1st Model Structural Model 67 4.5.4 2nd Model Description Statistics 69 4.5.5 2nd Model Measurement Model 70 4.5.6 2nd Model Structural Model 73 4.5.7 3rd Model Description Statistics 75 4.5.8 3rd Model Measurement Model 77 4.5.9 3rd Model Structural Model 80 4.5.10 Mediation Effects of Models 1, 2 and 3 82 4.6 Discussion 85 4.7 Implications 86 4.8 Contributions 90 4.9 Sub-conclusion 91 Chapter 5. Evaluating the Influence of Service Innovation and SERVPERF Model on Customer Satisfaction: Case Study of Nigerian Mobile Banking Services 93 5.1 Introduction 93 5.1.1 Research Objective 95 5.1.2 Research Questions 95 5.2 Literature Review 96 5.2.1 Exploitation and Exploration Service Innovation 96 5.2.2 Service Quality Performance 97 5.2.3 Customer Satisfaction 102 5.3 Proposed Research Model and Hypotheses 103 5.4 Methodology and Data Collection 107 5.5 Results Analysis 111 5.5.1 Descriptive Statistics 111 5.5.2 Collinearity 112 5.5.3 Measurement Model 114 5.5.4 Structural Model 118 5.6 Discussion 120 5.7 Implications 121 5.8 Contributions 123 5.9 Sub-conclusion 124 Chapter 6. Investigating Factors Impacting User Accessibility and Satisfaction in Mobile Banking Service Delivery: A SEM-ANN Hybrid Predictive Analysis Approach 126 6.1 Introduction 126 6.1.1 Research Objective 129 6.1.2 Research Questions 130 6.1.3 Research methodology 130 6.2 Literature Review 132 6.2.1 Service Delivery Innovation 132 6.2.2 DeLone and McLean Model 133 6.2.3 Mobile Banking Technologies and Services 143 6.3 Proposed Research Model and Hypotheses 148 6.4 Methodology and Data Collection 152 6.5 Results Analysis 156 6.5.1 Descriptive Statistics 156 6.5.2 Collinearity 157 6.5.3 Measurement Model 158 6.5.4 Structural Model 162 6.5.5 Predictive Analysis Using PLSpredict 164 6.5.6 Predictive Analysis Using Artificial Neural Networks 168 6.6 Discussion 179 6.7 Implications 180 6.8 Contributions 182 6.9 Sub-conclusion 184 Chapter 7. Conclusion 187 7.1 Summary 187 7.2 Contributions 191 7.3 Policy Implications 193 7.4 Limitations and Future Research 199 Bibliography 201 Appendix 1 245 Appendix 2 266 Abstract (Korean) 273Docto

Enterprising Somali refugees in Cape Town: beyond informality, beyond the spaza shop

Since the dawn of democracy, South Africa has received high numbers of refugees from around the African continent in particular. One of the largest groups of refugees, Somalis, have established numerous enterprises in South African cities, concentrated in micro and small business sectors, particularly in the grocery and textile industries. The presence of Somali entrepreneurs and their role in the South African economy is contested, framed in relation to township informal economies and debates on xenophobia. Research to-date, however, focuses almost exclusively on Somali informal micro-enterprises in the spaza shop sector. To address this gap in the research and debate, this thesis examines Somali entrepreneurs, their development of varied formal enterprises, and their business strategies. I demonstrate in that these small formal businesses operate beyond the micro township-based informal spaza sector, building networks between township and city formal economies, and linking multiple economic sectors. In doing so, they act as a medium between producers of goods and general city consumers. The research demonstrates that Somali immigrant entrepreneurs can be considered what Bonacich (1973) describes as “middleman minorities.” This argument builds on qualitative research in Cape Town with Somali refugees who own formal small businesses that employ between five and a hundred employees. I draw on their histories, examine the evolution of their businesses, to substantiate how as newcomers - refugees, with limited knowledge about South African business dynamics, and little access to resources of the country - they managed to find their feet in business in varied ways. I show how Bellville as Cape Town’s Little Mogadishu, acts as a business hub and melting pot, a place to meet, to work together and connect their businesses to the rest of the city. From these histories, experiences, and networks, I analyse the business strategies that Somali entrepreneurs draw on, which include partnerships, shareholding, the building of trust, and their own mobility. I also investigate what enabled them to get a foot in the door when they first arrived, find new business opportunities, and access new markets in the city, region, and in some cases beyond. I argue that Somali immigrant entrepreneurs have created a diverse set of complex formal businesses, ranging from the sale of textiles, the processing of animal products, to consumer household goods. Through these businesses, these entrepreneurs have created jobs, new economic networks, new products, and extended markets, as well as physical retail and wholesale spaces. In making this argument, this research offers a better understanding of entrepreneurial work and its logics in the Cape Town Somali immigrant community. Their own experiences as entrepreneurs, as well as their business strategies, exceed by far narratives of informality, the spaza shop sector, and experiences of violence and xenophobia. This research broadens understandings of immigrant entrepreneurial activity in South African cities, and shift existing negative perceptions that depict refugees and immigrants as burdens on host communities and cities. I hope the research might also help inform the formulation of relevant policies for transitioning informal micro-enterprises in the country into small formal enterprises, one strategy that might address the critical issue of high unemployment in South African cities and society

A Digital Qualitative Ethnographic Study of Preservice Teachers’ Perspectives and Experiences of Teaching from To-Be Teachers

This digital ethnographic study aimed to understand how and why college students decide to be teachers while many trained teachers leave the profession every year in the United States. A purposive sampling technique enabled 30 prospective teachers in a college of education to participate in this study. The research questions that guided the study were: 1) How and why did preservice teachers choose teaching as a career? 2) How did preservice teachers\u27 perception of the drawbacks of teaching and the opportunities to support them in becoming teachers influence their decisions? The conceptual framework to understand the phenomena came from educational change, teachers\u27 professional development, and learning organizations. This research used qualitative digital ethnographic design to collect data. Digital ethnography uses anthropological and sociological research approaches to understand digital space as a typical \u27traditional locale.\u27 Thematic analysis followed three weeks of data gathering, and the results indicate that people decide to teach from personal convictions that stem from experiences with children in different settings. The themes were service for children, payback to the community, other influences, and personal commitment. The study’s conclusions cover novice teachers\u27 understanding of teaching as a career, its challenges, opportunities, and creativity

A Study On The Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Asphaltic Concrete Incorporating Crumb Rubber Produced Through Dry Process [TA443.A7 A136 2007 f rb].

Bitumen konvensional digunakan dengan meluas di kebanyakan negara di mana pada peringkat awal semasa kerja-kerja penghasilan, pembancuhan dan penggunaannya adalah agak sukar. Conventional bitumen is widely used in most countries where it hardens at the early stages during handling, mixing and in service. The level of performance of service life has a close relationship with the properties of bitumen used in the sphaltic concrete

Design and simulation of cross-block structured radar absorbing metamaterial based on carbonyl iron powder composite

This paper reports the design and simulation of a three layered cross-block structured radar absorbing metamaterial (RAMM). The effective electromagnetic parameters of the designed structure are highly dependent on its geometric dimensions, subsequently behaving as a metamaterial. COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software was used to analyze the frequency dependent absorption response of the designed RAMM. The input impedance of multilayered absorber and strong fluctuation theory equations are used to theoretically verify the absorption response of the RAMM. The simulated result showed that the reflectivity of the RAMM is below -10dB from 4.2 – 18.0 GHz frequency band with absorber thickness of 4.2mm. The calculated reflectivity result is in close agreement with the simulated result, thus confirming the validity of the design. The operational bandwidth to thickness ratio of this RAMM was found to be 13.029 making it better than the recently reported one with a value of 9.745 and thus contributing significantly in overcoming the contradicting demand of broadband and thin thickness.Keywords: Bandwidth, COMSOL Multiphysics, Metamaterial, Radar Absorbing Metamaterial, Reflectivit

3-D Printed Radar Absorber with Meta-material Features for X-band Application

This paper presents a structured radar absorber with metamaterial features based on graphite SLS composite. The unit cell of the proposed design was simulated on COMSOL Multiphysics to determine its frequencydependent absorption characteristics and fabricated using low-cost selective laser sintering 3-D printing technology. The measurement and simulation results showed an effective absorption bandwidth of 1.04 GHz and 2.08 GHz respectively. The optimized structure however, revealed broadband absorption in a frequency range between 8.35 to 12.20 GHz (X band) under normal incidence. Besides, the absorption performance under different polarizations and incident angles were investigated. Results indicated that the absorber exhibits polarization indifference and high absorptivity at a wide angle of incidence. The advantages of low cost, ultra-broad operating band, wide-angle feature, and polarization insensitivity made the proposed absorber a promising candidate in military and civilian applications

Effect of trade receivables and inventory management on SMEs performance

This paper investigates the effect of trade receivables and inventory management on SMEs profitability in Malaysia.66 sample of SMEs Manufacturing covering from 2006-2012 was used for the analysis. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression is used to estimate the relationship between independent and dependent variable.The result indicated that days account receivable and inventory turnover in days are negatively related to SME profitability proxies i.e. return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and net operating profit (NOP).The result implies that profitability of SME manufacturing depends upon effective of working capital components management. Therefore, the paper suggests that SME manufacturing can improve their Profitability upon managing working capital properly. Recommendations for future study were also discussed