The influence of information quality, system quality and service quality on student’s self-efficacy at institutions of higher learning in South Africa

The notion of improving student self-efficacy at institutions of higher learning has become a priority matter. There is a growing realization among institutions of higher learning that one way of achieving this, is by encouraging learners to make the best out of information technology use. It is therefore in this regards that this paper seeks to investigate the influence of information quality, system quality and service quality on student’s self-efficacy at institutions of higher learning in South Africa. To address this dearth, this study proposed three hypotheses that were validated using a sample of 271 university students in the Gauteng province. The findings indicated that there are positive relationships between the posited research variables. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed and limitations and future research directions are indicated.KIM201

Antecedents of Employee Intention to Stay: A Study of Employees in Zimbabwean SMEs

Most research conducted on the influence of employee perception of equity (EPE), organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB), organisational commitment (OC) and turnover intention (ITS) has been on large organisations and little attention has been paid to SMEs. Studies on EPE and OCB have not filtered down to SMEs in developing countries. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the influence of OCB, EPE and OC on ITS in Zimbabwe’s SME sector. It also sought to ascertain the kind of relationships between OCB and OC, EPE with OC, OCB with ITS, EPE with ITS and finally OC with ITS. Structured questionnaires were distributed to SMEs in five major cities. A quantitative method using Smart PLS was employed to test the relationships among the three hypotheses. The results showed that there is a positive relationship between the three proposed hypotheses. Based on the findings, recommendations will be made to both the government policy makers and SME owners. The proposed study is expected to have practical and theoretical implications to both the policy makers in the government and the owners of small businesses in Zimbabwe. In addition, it will provide added insights and new knowledge to the existing body of literature on human resource management, hitherto not studied extensively in developing countries of Southern Africa and Zimbabwe in particular

The Influence Of Brand Experience On Brand Satisfaction, Trust And Attachment In South Africa

This study examines the influence of consumer brand experience on their brand satisfaction, brand trust and brand attachment in an African context. Five hypotheses are posited and in order to empirically test them, a sample data set of 151 was collected from Gauteng Province of South Africa. The results indicate that brand experience positively influences brand satisfaction, brand trust and brand attachment in a significant way. Drawing from the study’s findings, managerial implications are discussed and limitations and future research directions are suggested. By and large, this study immensely contributes new knowledge to the existing body of brand management literature in Africa - a context that is often most neglected by some researchers in developing countries

Business Owner’s Expertise, Employee Skills Training And Business Performance: A Small Business Perspective

While researches on small businesses have grown substantially, there seem to be a paucity of researches that specifically investigate the effects of small business owners expertise on employees skills training and small business performance. In order to fill this void the current study examined the direct effects of small business owner expertise on small business performance and the mediating influence of employee skills training in this relationship. To empirically test the three (3) posited hypotheses, a sample data of 221 was collected from small business employees in Zimbabwe. The results indicate that small business owners expertise positively influence employees skills training and small business performance in a significant way. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed and limitations and future research directions are indicated.

The Influence of Supplier Involvement on Communication, Relationship Longevity and Business Performance in Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in South Africa

Most firms are increasingly realizing the benefits of involving the outside suppliers by considering their manufacturing processes and technological capabilities, especially regarding quality, time to market, configuration, control and cost. Nevertheless, in the context of small to medium enterprises (SMEs), scant attention has been given to the empirical investigation into the influence of supplier involvement on business performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of supplier involvement on business performance and the mediating role of communication and relationship longevity among SMEs in South Africa. Five hypotheses were posited and sample data of 302 were collected from Gauteng Province of South Africa, to empirically test these hypotheses. The results of this study showed that, supplier involvement has influence on communication, relationship longevity and business performance in SMEs context in South Africa. The managerial implications of the findings are discussed and limitations and future research directions are indicated

The fostering role of information technology on SMEs’ strategic purchasing, logistics integration and business performance

Scholarly concerns about the fostering role of information technology (IT) in supply chain management have increased dramatically over the past decades. Nevertheless, there are significant issues yet to be addressed and resolved, one of which relates to the influences of IT on strategic purchasing, logistics integration and business performance in the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In view of the importance of IT in today’s business world, and supply chain management in particular, the current study seeks to investigate the influence of IT on SMEs’ performance and the mediating role of strategic purchasing and logistics integration. Four hypothesised relationships are tested with a sample of 162 SMEs in Zimbabwe. The results suggest that IT positively influences SMEs’ strategic purchasing, logistics integration and business performance in a significant way. The managerial implications of the findings are discussed, and the limitations and future research directions are indicated.Key words: strategic purchasing, information technology (IT), logistics integration,business performance, small and medium enterprises (SMEs

Modelling The Influence Of Workplace Spirituality, Quality Of Work Life, Expectations Towards Work On Commitment To Long-Term Career Of Employees In Gauteng Province, South Africa

Businesses are getting better, bigger, more integrated and more complex in this era. The recognition of the influence and importance of quality of work life can be beneficial to employees and employers in a business. If an employee’s expectation are met, they have a clear and concise perception toward their work contributing to long-term career. The principle of this study is to demonstrate the influence of quality of work life, expectations towards work and perception of work on commitment to long-term career on the employees in the Gauteng province of South Africa. A quantitative research design was utilized and a sample of 250 employees in managerial and non-managerial employees was used. The study uses smart PLS to do data analysis. The outcomes of this study showed the acceptance of all the hypotheses that there is a significant influence of quality of work life, expectations towards work and perception of work life on commitment to long-term career.

An Empirical Examination Of The Predictors Of Consumer Compulsive Buying As An Impulse Control Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: A Branding Perspective

While researches on consumer compulsive behaviour as a psychiatric problem have been steadily increasing, they seem to be a paucity of studies that investigate compulsive buying behaviour from a branding perspective. The present research is an attempt to fill this gap by examining the relative influence of four antecedents of compulsive buying behaviour - brand experience, brand satisfaction, brand trust and brand attachment on consumer compulsive buying behaviour, using a sample of consumers in Gauteng Province of South Africa. The central argument of this paper is that consumer compulsive buying behavior can be understood from the strength of branding outcomes. Four hypotheses are posited and in order to empirically test these hypotheses, a sample data set of 151 was used. Three hypotheses were supported while one (H1) was rejected. Drawing from the study findings, managerial implications are discussed and limitations and future research directions are suggested. On the overall, this study provide tentative empirical support that compulsive buying behaviour can be influenced by branding outcomes in Africa - a context that is often most less researched on

Organisational support and its influence on teachers job satisfaction and job performance in Limpopo province of South Africa

The importance of organisational support is increasingly being recognized because of its potential positive influence on employee performance. However, studies that seek to investigate the influence of organisational support on the teachers’ job satisfaction and consequently their workplace performance at high school level have largely remained scant, particularly in developing countries of Southern Africa. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to fill this void. Three research hypotheses are posited and a sample data of 162 collected from the Limpopo Province of South Africa is used to empirically test the hypotheses. The results of this study show that, organisational support positively influences teachers’job satisfaction and their job performance. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed and limitations and future research directions are indicated.KIM201

Modelling the Drivers of Impulsive Buying Behaviour: A Case of South Africa

Abstract: Impulsive buying behavior is an emerging phenomenon in marketing literature and it affects consumers across the board. Impulsive buying is seen as the outcome of demonstrative reactions that breed the unexpected craving to purchase. Impulsive buying is becoming an important factor for retailers since they generate a lot of income through this kind of behavior. Due to the expansion of organized retail over the country, shops are trying to comprehend the buying behavior of consumers and try by all means that they trigger consumers to act in an impulsive way. Traditional buying behavior of consumers was seen as when purchasers made a list for purchasing products then depart to a particular store and purchase it. But now the whole buying behavior is changing due to the rise in the income level of consumers. This is giving the consumers more buying power, transformation in the socio-cultural environment way of life and consumption pattern. This, therefore, influences the consumer to act in an irrational manner which is known as unplanned buying without considering the potential consequences which may include non-usage of the product, negative economic consequences and feelings of regret, fury and fault. So the present study aims to analyze how uniqueness, price and past orientation influence impulse buying behavior are focusing on classical clothing brands like Nike, Adidas and Reebok. This study attempts to discern how consumer's traditional planned shopping behavior is shifting to impulse buying behavior. The study used a quantitative research method and analyzed the data by means of SMART PLS to test the relationships and the model. 350 questionnaires were used for data analysis using convenience sampling process. The outcomes of the research showed a progressive and significant association between the predictors (the need for uniqueness, price and past orientation) and the outcome variable (impulsive buying behavior)