Animal welfare in multipurpose cattle production Systems and its implications on beef quality

Animal welfare and its influence on beef production are major  considerations in many developed countries. In the developing world, where food insecurity and poverty are prevalent, the welfare of animals receives low priority due to factors such as traditional customs and beliefs, lack of knowledge in animal handling and sub standard handling facilities. This is worsened by the fact that cattle are used for several purposes, such as meat production, milk production, draught power and traditional ceremonies. Research on animal welfare and how it relates to animal production have been done in the developed world. The objective of this study is to discuss indicators of animal welfare assessment, their impact on meat quality and applications to improve beef production in developing countries.Key words: Behavioural assessments, flight zones, meat quality, ritual slaughter

HIV-positive patients’ perceptions of care received at a selected antiretroviral therapy clinic in Vhembe district, South Africa

Background: Patients’ experiences are a reflection of what has happened during the care process and, therefore, provide information about the performance of health care professional workers. They refer to the process of care provision at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites. Aim and setting: This article explored the perceptions of HIV-positive patients of care received at the Gateway Clinic of the regional hospital that provides antiretroviral treatment in the Vhembe district. Methods: A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was used. A non-probability, convenient sampling method was used to select 20 HIV-positive patients who were above 18 years of age. In-depth individual interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed through Tech’s open coding method. Results: One theme and two sub-themes emerged, namely positive experiences related to the environment and attitudes of health professionals, and negative experiences concerning the practices by health care providers. Conclusion: Patients’ perceptions of quality of, and satisfaction with, health care may affect health outcomes. Recommendations are made to consider, practice and strengthen the protocols, the standard operating procedures and the principles of infection control in the health facilities. Keywords: Human Immunodeficiecy Virus, Antiretroviral Treatment, HIV positive, Limpop

Social entrepreneurship education: A combination of knowledge exploitation and exploration processes

It is widely accepted that entrepreneurship education has become a key development priority for coping with uncertainty and for addressing various social, economic, and technological concerns related to health, living conditions, education systems, employment, and economic growth. In recent times we have witnessed a proliferation of Entrepreneurship Education (EE) programs and initiatives with the aim to promote the creation of new skills, competencies, and capabilities to deal with a wide range of social issues and for creating new societal. The COVID-19 pandemic situation has introduced radical challenges to the society and has impacted significantly, especially the process of entrepreneurial competencies, skills and attitudes development. This paper aims to provide insights into knowledge mechanisms and learning strategies that have been activated for the effective creation of entrepreneurship competencies. We have based our evaluation on an exploratory analysis of 10 program studies that deliver social entrepreneurship education. The paper presents elements of originality under two perspectives: it proposes a framework with the main patterns characterizing social entrepreneurship education (SEE), and it argues that the creation of an entrepreneurship mindset and competencies is an evolutionary process that combines dynamic knowledge exploitation and exploration mechanisms

E-Government for Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges

the aim of this paper is to identify and analyze the primary issues, opportunities and challenges that eGovernment initiatives present for developing countries. The insights and results here presented are based on an empirical, webbased research of 15 case studies undertaken in developing countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Jamaica, the Philippines) which have already explored and implemented eGovernment initiatives. In these cases, we can observe different applications and opportunities for eGovernment, such as: tax administration (Jamaica, Guatemala); better services to customers, businesses and stakeholders in general (Brazil, India); and eGovernment for transparency and business efficiency (the Philippines, Ind ia, Chile)

Value creation in Tourism Network Systems. In: “Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2005”.

Networks are assumed to enhance tourism small firms’ performance and competitiveness. Research indicates that there are different sources of values that could derive from these networks such as cost and time efficiency, quality improvement, flexibility and innovation. However, in most cases, these values are associated to a general framework of what Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and a network model are supposed to offer for small and medium enterprises (SME) and to its participating actors. Little, isolated empirical research has been conducted regarding the real value participating firms could appropriate and create. This paper reports on findings of an empirical research aimed to measure and investigate the value that single tourism enterprises could create and/or appropriate by participating in network tourism systems. The perceptions of small medium tourism enterprises (SMTE) regarding the value sources that could derive from their participation in network systems are also reported

Evaluating the networks Value Creation and its dependence on Absorptive Capacity and Social Capital Factors

This study demonstrate that SMEs can create and appropriate a great deal of value when they become an integral part of network systems. however, factors such as absorptive capacity and social capital need to be taken in consideration, since they greatly impact and affect the capability of firms to create and appropriate value

Customers Knowledge and Relational Marketing: A Web 2.0 perspective

The radical changes occurred in the global business environment, in the information technology field and in management practices call for a general rethinking of firms strategic positioning and competition. In this scenario, the capability of managing all their own intellectual assets represents for firms the only way to survive and success. The comprehension of the role that customers can play in contributing at the firms value creation is one of the main element behind the growing attention of researchers and managers for the management of the relationship with customers. Highlighting the relevance of a Customers Relationship Management (CRM) issue in a Knowledge Management perspective as well as in a Relational Marketing one, the study shows how the rising and the large adoption of Web 2.0 technologies represent a real opportunity for the effective implementation of a CRM strategy