Preparing for participation in international research : lessons for Africa

Abstract: This paper explores the challenges that researchers new to being part of, or, managing a collaborative research team should consider when conducting business management research as part of a cooperative international research study composed of several research teams working in cohesion but isolated by geography. This provides a review of best practice to consider when undertaking a research project that is commenced simultaneously across borders by different researchers. This paper conceptually suggests aspects of planning collective research design that may be critically important to consider in gaining ethical, reliable and valid findings. As the world is interconnected, research that leads to producing comparative studies of findings drawn from two or more countries simultaneously, becomes valuable yet the risk management of this is infrequently dealt with in a consolidated chapter or section in research methodology textbooks

Exploring interdependence in Tourism Economic Development Ecosystems

Abstract:Ecosystems represent complex interrelated systems monitored by economic indicators. To maximise future desired economic performance, resilience within the economic ecosystem leads to its long-term sustainability. The aim of this article is to review how resilience could be achieved for a tourism economic ecosystem to disruptive change. Resilience is a concept that defines business and government’s ability to adapt to economic disruptive change. Resilience for tourism entails ensuring the sustainability of an economic ecosystem to delineate future growth of that destination. The research is descriptive and conceptual in nature, adopting a qualitative research approach. A map of a tourism ecosystem is proposed reliant on economic indicator interpretation to realistically put forward future economic development strategies that promote overall system resilience towards economic growth. Researchers with a specific interest in tourism ecosystems may find this paper useful in understanding the complexity of interpreting economic indicators to develop future economic growth opportunities

Pesticide effects on body temperature of torpid/hibernating rodents (Peromyscus leucopus and Spermophilus tridecemlineatus)

Environmental contaminants have been shown in the lab to alter thyroid hormone concentrations. Despite the role these hormones play in the physiological ecology of small mammals, no one has investigated the possible effects of thyroid-disrupting chemicals on mammalian thermal ecology and thermoregulatory ability. Because the energetic impact of such a disruption is likely to be most dramatic during times already energetically stressful, we investigated the effects of two common pesticides (atrazine and lindane) on the use of daily torpor in white-footed mice, and the use of hibernation in 13-lined ground squirrels. Fortunately, we found that these strategies for over-wintering success were not impaired

The state of communication between management levels in a municipality

Abstract: A large South African municipality conducted two employee satisfaction surveys in 2012/13 and in 2014/15 to determine the employees' overall satisfaction with the organisation as a preferred employer. The level of communication was one of the areas from the surveys employees indicated as inadequate. This study uses a qualitative enquiry to review the quality of the internal communication between levels of management at the municipality. The findings indicate that although the municipality, through its communication policy, is cognisant of the varied communication needs of employees and the need for differentiated communication according to functions and responsibilities, mass communication is taking place rather than varying the message based on the needs of the employees

Towards a collective-values framework of ubuntu : implications for workplace commitment

Abstract: This research offers an extension of current research on commitment across cultures. It incorporates the concept of Ubuntu as an integrating model that can be paired up with other perspectives for directing employee workplace commitment. Research Design & Methods: A literature review entailing concepts related to crosscultures and their relationship to Ubuntu and commitment was considered. The review spanning 50 years covered online-databases of global and African research. Findings: We argue here that the conceptualisation of Ubuntu is important in adapting currently accepted cultural frameworks as operationalised by individualism, collectivism and power distance dimensions for regional management application. Ubuntu collective values (compassion, survival, group solidarity, respect and dignity), which relate affirmatively with a sense of workplace collectivism, was identified as a unique element of cultural management philosophy for directing personal interactions, workplace commitment and performance management improvements..

Bank employees’ engagement in corporate social responsibility initiatives at a South African retail bank

Abstract: Many firms encourage employees to undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. With any project, it is important that firm resources are committed to create valued outcomes for stakeholders. Research purpose: The study purpose was to gain insight into criteria that can practically help define the success of employee run CSR projects. Motivation for the study: CSR activities are reported in literature as creating valuable intangible and tangible assets for firms when planned as strategies to improve brand reputation, customer loyalty and future profit. This research reviews a South African retail bank that promotes CSR undertakings to employees exploring the bank’s support for employees engaged in CSR. Research design, approach and method: Two of the bank’s completed community CSR projects were identified by the bank’s senior CSR managers for this review. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with employees, bank CSR managers and project recipients. Participant interviews were transcribed into text then analysed to identify where stakeholder value diminished on these projects..

Integrating service quality as a second-order factor in a customer satisfaction and loyalty model

Abstract: Purpose – The study conceptualizes service quality as a second-order factor and analyzes its influence on customer satisfaction, perceived value, image, consumption emotions and customer loyalty by testing a structural equation model. Design/methodology/approach – The model is tested using data collected from 672 guests staying in accommodation establishments located in South Africa. The study follows a hierarchical approach using confirmatory factor analysis to test the second-order factor model and structural equation modeling to test the overallmodel. Findings – The results indicate that the second-order factor model is acceptable both empirically as well as conceptually and performs better than other competing models of service quality. The findings provide support for all hypotheses and evidence of a structural model with a high explanatory power. Research limitations/implications – The second-order factor model is less useful when fine-grained analyses are needed, such as when a detailed assessment of the level of quality of service offered by a hospitality organization is required. Practical implications – The second-order factor model allows for an analysis of service quality at different levels of abstraction. Accommodation managers interested in customers’ evaluation of service on a cumulative basis can make use of the global measure to determine service quality evaluations. Practitioners can also use the findings to manage the different dimensions of service quality. Originality/value – The study demonstrates that service quality is best represented as a second-order factor, and in doing so, it provides an improved measurement of the construct. More so, by integrating the variable in a nomological network, the research develops a more parsimonious model than the existing ones