Factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions among black managers in the banking sector: a South African perspective

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Johannesburg, 2017In South Africa, very little research has been conducted to test the entrepreneurial intentions of highly educated and skilled black professionals. A significant portion of entrepreneurial intention research is primarily focused on students. Very little is known about the entrepreneurial intentions of mid-career individuals who are in highly specialised industries. More specifically, no research has looked at testing the entrepreneurial intentions among managers within the banking sector. Specifically, the study is aimed at determining whether self-efficacy, family background and the role of government influences entrepreneurship intentions among black managers within the banking sector. The study was done within the major banks in the Gauteng province of South Africa. 220 questionnaires were sent to bank employees who are managers and specialists in their role. The testing for hypothesis involved the relationship between dependent variable, entrepreneurship intention and the independent variables; desirability of self-efficacy, family background, government support. The analysis was done using SPSS version 23 using descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. ANOVA was carried out where there was a need to compare groups of cases for differences in their means along particular variables. The analysis concludes that the independent variables, such as self- efficacy, family background and government support have a significantly positive relationship to entrepreneurship intention. The regression analysis also verified that there is a significant influence between independent variable and attitudes toward entrepreneurship among black bank managers. The findings suggest that there are high levels of self-efficacy among black managers in the banking sector. The results revealed that entrepreneurial self-efficacy has the most significant and positive impact on their intention to become an entrepreneur. It is also worth noting that government support plays an integral part in influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of the respondents. Although this study focused on the antecedents of intentions to start a business, future research must also explore relationships between intentions and behaviour.MT201

Agricultural commercialisation through innovation platforms: a case for goat production

Empirical evidence has shown that goats are of significance in marginalised, poor, and rural economies and this information has been well documented in scholarly research. Despite its importance and potential contribution, goat farming remains underutilised and undeveloped in the rural economy - particularly in South Africa. Developmental intervention has focused on improving productivity with minimal effort aimed at the integration of key role players in the value chain, and even less emphasis on improving farmers' attitudes. The largest goat population in South Africa is found in the Northern Cape where there is great potential to be realised for goat farming. The main objective of this study was to identify supply side (production) factors constraining subsistence goat production in South Africa, with the view of identifying key actors to establish an innovation platform through vertical integration. By transforming the subsistence farming orientation of goat farmers into a commercial (market) orientation, the welfare of communities can be improved through the commercialisation of smallscale goat farmers. Studies highlight the need to enhance goat production beyond subsistence goat rearing and towards commercialisation through access to markets, veterinary services, credit facilities, and government support. Furthermore, a focus on market development, value chain integration and innovation platforms can improve the efficiency of the goat farming sector. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on goat farming in South Africa and offers an innovation platform to foster partnerships among the actors along the value chain, creating an enabling environment for the easy flow of market information and infrastructure development. A praxis model is incorporated into this research. This takes the form of a business model and is provided in Appendix B as a practical way of applying the knowledge gathered in this research

Management of the Hatred of Schooling by Public Secondary School Pupils

This paper evaluates the cause of enmity and animosity displayed by pupils to their teachers through their hatred of schooling in myriad public educational institutions in South Africa. The paper was motivated by diverse discourses about pupil-animosity, most of which were based on the perspective of parents as members of the society. This paper is conceptual and empirical within the qualitative research paradigm. The question guiding this paper is: to what extent is the suppression of learner-desires and choices contribute to the snubbing of schooling? Narrative enquiry and interviewing techniques were used to collect data. Out of the population of 14 secondary schools in one of the circuits in Capricorn district in Limpopo Province, 6 were conveniently sampled. In each of the 6 sampled secondary schools, only Deputy Chairpersons of the School Governing Bodies became research participants. Findings revealed that hatred of schooling could be ascribed to pupils viewing schooling as an inconvenience. Secondly, failing to teach according to learners’ preferred teaching strategies. Thirdly, content delivery to pupils being alien. Fourthly, schooling that obstructs learner-hedonism. Fifthly, schooling that is naturally highly regimented. Lastly, schooling that suppresses learner-voice. The researcher recommends for schooling to close the generational gap between pupils and teachers. Furthermore, future schooling has to be conducted through virtual classrooms other than the tiresome face to face contact

Artificial intelligence for the improvement of records management activities at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

This study sought to investigate the usability of artificial intelligence (AI) for the improvement of records management activities at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa. Usability of AI and intelligent robotic machines for the management of records plays a crucial role in ensuring that records management activities are improved and managed effectively and efficiently. However, usability issues are critical in many AI systems, where human intelligence (HI) works with the system to work out and apply results (as with speech system). The convergent mixed methods research approach was applied and data were collected using interviews and questionnaires techniques. A questionnaire was administered to three professional repositories and indexers, two archives’ technicians and one data librarian. Interviews were conducted with one portfolio manager and one records manager. Data were analysed thematically and statistically and presented using tables and figures. AI has the capability to replace records practitioners since it can perform activities performed by records practitioners. This transition can have a negative impact on the usability of AI to improve the records management activities at the CSIR. The study revealed that AI and intelligent robotic machines can be used in the improvement of records management activities and can manage records effectively at the CSIR. The study proposed a framework on the usability of AI for the improvement of records management activities at the CSIR. It is hoped that the framework proposed will serve as a guideline on the usability of AI for the improvement of records management activities in the archives and records management sector

Developing teachers through research&#58 reflections on method

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Interrogating the Lesson Plan in a Pre-service Methods Course: Evidence from a University in Kenya

The paper reports on research that examined how the content of a History methods course, taught in a university in Kenya, influenced student teachers’ lesson planning and pedagogical skills. A lecture on a lesson plan, micro-teaching lesson plan documents and presentations were examined to determine student teachers’ preparedness for teaching the History and Government (H&G) secondary school curriculum in Kenya. A case study was employed including lesson observations, interviews and document analysis. The findings demonstrate that focusing on parts of a lesson in lesson planning in the lecture may have derailed student teachers from developing the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) that is likely to enable them develop competences that are expected for teaching H&G

¿Es importante la financiación informal para las micro y pequeñas empresas en África?

Globally, micro and small businesses require finance to support their business activities. Most of them have low profits because of the lack of support from the formal financial system. Micro and small businesses in developing countries have a dire need for financing start-ups and existing business operations. The lack of support from the formal financial system and the government forces them to explore other financial support mechanisms, making it important to investigate alternative financial channels. This paper investigates whether informal finance matters for micro and small businesses. We used a systematic literature review to answer the predetermined research question. Thirty (30) primary studies were surveyed to establish the importance of informal finance for micro and small businesses. The findings show that informal finance is a workable alternative for micro and small businesses. It supports business start-ups, existing businesses and enhances business growth, business owners’ livelihoods and livelihoods in their communities. Informal finance models can be improved to work as small business promotion tools. The original value of the paper is based on the use of a systematic literature review to assess whether informal finance matters for micro and small businesses and connect theories with emerging themes. It further contributes to the debates on the importance of informal finance and contributes to future lines of research on informal finance.En todo el mundo, las microempresas y las pequeñas empresas necesitan financiación para apoyar sus actividades económicas. La mayoría de ellas obtienen escasos beneficios debido a la falta de apoyo del sistema financiero formal. Las microempresas y las pequeñas empresas de los países en desarrollo tienen una necesidad imperiosa de financiar la creación de empresas y las operaciones corrientes. La falta de apoyo del sistema financiero formal y del gobierno les obliga a explorar otros mecanismos de apoyo financiero, por lo que es importante investigar canales financieros alternativos. Este trabajo investiga si la financiación informal es importante para las micro y pequeñas empresas. Se utilizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura para responder a la pregunta que el título de este trabajo plantea. Se examinaron treinta (30) estudios primarios para determinar la importancia de la financiación informal para las microempresas y las pequeñas empresas. Los resultados muestran que la financiación informal es una alternativa viable para las micro y pequeñas empresas. Esta vía apoya la creación de nuevas empresas, a las empresas ya existentes y mejora el crecimiento empresarial, los medios de vida de los propietarios de las empresas y el bienestar de las comunidades más cercanas. Los modelos de financiación informal pueden mejorarse para que funcionen como herramientas de promoción de las pequeñas empresas. El valor original del presente documento se basa en el uso de una revisión bibliográfica sistemática para evaluar si la financiación informal es importante para las microempresas y las pequeñas empresas y conectar las teorías con los temas emergentes. Además, contribuye a los debates sobre la importancia de la financiación informal, a la vez que, aporta líneas de investigación futuras sobre la financiación informal

Girls’ career choices as a product of a gendered school curriculum: the Zimbabwean example.

The unequal distribution of boys and girls in certain subjects studied at school and its consequent unequal distribution of men and women in the occupational structure suggest some failure by schools and teachers to institute adequate measures to ensure learning equity. In this study we sought to unmask factors in the Zimbabwean school curriculum that orient girls into not only pursuing different subjects at school, but also following careers in fields traditionally stereotyped as feminine. The study was qualitative and utilized an exploratory case study as the design genre. Data were collected through classroom and extra-curricular observations and focus group discussion sessions (FGDS) with girl pupils. A sample size of 40 participants comprising 20 sixth form school girls and 20 teachers was used. These were purposively sampled from four schools. To analyse data we used simple discourse analyses. The main findings of this study were that gender role stereotypes and the patriarchal ideology communicated through the hidden curriculum reflected teachers’ attitudes and influence that contributed to girls’ career aspirations and choices

Consistency and timeliness of intrapartum care interventions as predictors of intrapartum stillbirth in public health facilities of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a case-control study

Introduction: approximately one-third of the global stillbirth burden occurs during intrapartum period. Intrapartum stillbirths occurring in the health facilities imply that a foetus was alive on admission to labour and had greater chances of survival with optimum obstetric care. Active monitoring and follow-up by skilled birth attendants becomes critical to determine the progress of labour and to decide any emergency obstetrical care actions. Timely monitoring of labour progress indicators including fetal heart rate (FHR), uterine contraction maternal vital signs, vaginal examination (VE) are vital in reducing intrapartum stillbirth. Methods: a case-control study was conducted using primary data from chart review of medical records of women who experienced intrapartum stillbirth in 20 public health centres and 3 public hospitals of Addis Ababa between July 1st, 2010 to June 30th, 2015. Data were collected from charts of all cases of intrapartum stillbirths meeting the inclusion criteria and randomly selected charts of controls from each public health facility in 2:1 control to case ratio. Results: over 90% of both cases and controls received FHR monitoring care albeit the timing was substandard. More women in the live birth group than intrapartum stillbirth group received timely care related to uterine contraction (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.77 - 3.30) and blood pressure monitoring (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.81). 1.2% and 0.3% of women in the intrapartum stillbirth and livebirth groups developed eclampsia respectively. Conclusion: substandard timing and application of labour monitoring interventions including FHR, uterine contraction can predict intrapartum stillbirth in public health facilities