The Impact of Environmental Turbulence on Product Innovation in Small to Medium Enterprises in Harare, Zimbabwe

The purpose of the research was to examine the impact of environmental turbulence on product innovations in small to medium enterprises (SMEs). In the study environmental turbulence consisted of five dimensions namely, supplier turbulence, technological turbulence, market turbulence, regulatory turbulence and competitive intensity. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was adopted in the study. The study sample was drawn from a pool of 3,000 SMEs both unregistered and registered with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises in Harare, Zimbabwe. In the study, a total of 200 completed surveys were obtained and analysed. To analyse the research data SPSS23 was utilised. Regression analysis was carried out to establish the cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the study. The findings of the study showed that technology turbulence and competitive intensity had a statistically significant positive impact on product innovation. Market turbulence was noted as having a statistically significant negative impact on product innovativeness. The main implications established in the study were that SMEs should introduce mechanisms to manage and mitigate market, supplier and regulatory turbulence to ensure that their levels of product innovativeness remain positive

A psychobiographical analysis of the personality traits of Steve jobs’s entrepreneurial life

There has been increasing interest in the attributes of successful entrepreneurs. Increasingly, too, research on entrepreneurship has focused on the identification of personality traits conducive to entrepreneurial success. The present study moves away from predicting entrepreneurial success and instead focuses on exploring and describing the personality traits of a successful entrepreneur, namely Steve Jobs. A psychobiographical case study design and qualitative approach were employed to explore the extent to which Steve Jobs displayed the personality traits identified by Rauch and Frese (2007). Data collection and analysis were guided by three linked sub-processes proposed by Miles and Huberman (2002), which include (a) data reduction, (b) data display and (c) conclusion drawing and verification. The findings of this study show that, over the course of the subject’s life, the personality traits identified by Rauch and Frese (2007) as conducive to successful engagement in entrepreneurial activities were displayed, namely need for achievement, risk-taking, innovativeness, autonomy, internal locus of control, and self-efficacy. In so far as it can be argued that these personality traits inherently predisposed Steve Jobs to achieve the success he displayed as an entrepreneur, the findings of this study affirm the relevance of the personality trait perspective in describing and understanding the life course of successful entrepreneurs

An examination of the determinants of the adoption of mobile applications as learning tools for higher education students

The main purpose of the present study was to examine whether mobile applications could be adopted as feasible tools for learning purposes at higher education institutions. Furthermore the study’s intention was to conduct an empirical investigation into students’ perceptions towards mobile applications being introduced as learning aids. The researcher developed a conceptual model derived from the technology acceptance model in order to measure the constructs used in the study. Adopting a quantitative approach, the field study was conducted in South Africa at a selected higher education institution. Research data was collected from 380 registered students at the selected higher education institution who were older than 18 years. Using SPSS 23 and AMOS 23 software programs, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed to analyse the data set. The results revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitudes towards a mo-bile application, intention to use a mobile application were all significant predictors for the actual use of mobile applications for learning. The findings of the study illuminate the importance of the determinants of the adoption of mobile applications for learning in higher education.https://online-journals.org/index.php/i-jim/indexhj2019Marketing Managemen

The Drivers of Customer Satisfaction in Interactions with Virtual Agents: Evidence from South Africa

The advent of the fourth industrial revolution has increased the application of artificial intelligence in various marketing related activities. Organisations are increasingly using artificial intelligence through virtual agents to aid and facilitate interactions with consumers. Clearly, virtual agents need to be capable of fulfilling customer needs. However, it raises the question of whether they should be cold and unfeeling or should imitate the most innate human qualities. This research therefore set out to examine what impact humanness, perceived agency, trust, and emotionality have on customer satisfaction in interactions with virtual agents, or, more specifically, AI chatbots. A quantitative research design was employed in the study. Data were collected by using a survey questionnaire and a total of 207 respondents were obtained. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS 28, where a linear regression was performed. The results indicate that humanness and perceived agency were significant predictors of customer satisfaction. On the other hand, emotionality and trust were not significant predictors. The results of this research have theoretical and practical implications for both practitioners and researchers

Differentiating engagement of opportunity identification: a grounded theory study of Chinese immigrant entreprenuers

The aim of this study was to develop a substantive grounded theory describing how Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs who own and operate small retail businesses in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa identify opportunities in the business environment. The substantive grounded theory was developed using the prescripts of grounded theory proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1990). In this respect, a substantive grounded theory called differentiating engagement of opportunity identification was developed from a sample of 41 qualitative interviews conducted with Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs. The study found that Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs identified various opportunities (startup, sales, operational, relational) in the business environment through their dynamic interactions and relationships with different stakeholders. These stakeholders mainly included family members, local employees and customers. The Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs displayed two interactional processes in their interactions with stakeholders, namely engaging in and disengaging from interactions. These interactional processes enabled the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs to identify opportunities and operate their small businesses in the business environment. Assumptions held about the interactions and relationships with stakeholders in the host community were central to the interactional processes displayed by the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs. As they operated their small businesses, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would engage in interactions with customers who were perceived as favourable (approachable). From these interactions with favourable (approachable) customers, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs were able to identify opportunities (gaining customer insight of opportunity), whereas they would disengage from interactions with customers perceived as unfavourable (unapproachable). In this respect, they would delegate their local employees (actions of delegation in business) with the responsibility of interacting with unfavourable and hostile customers. Additionally, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would engage in interactions with local employees to gain insight into local indigenous products and identify opportunities in the host community. In order to identify other opportunities (operational, relational), the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would disengage from interactions with local employees and engage in interactions with other stakeholders such as family members. The varying differentiated interactions and relationships established by the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs with different stakeholders created a relational context which enabled the identification of opportunities in the host environment. Thus, the findings of the present study and the substantive grounded theory developed (differentiating engagement of opportunity identification) are discussed from the perspective of social capital, social exchange theory and Chinese cultural values. Finally, the theory developed in the present study contributes to the understanding of the processes of how social capital and relationships contribute to the process of identifying opportunities and operating a small business by immigrant entrepreneurs within a host environment

Attitudes and perceptions towards TB in Grahamstown East in a time of HIV/AIDS

Tuberculosis (TB) has become a serious South African health problem because it is the most common opportunistic disease that leads to death in people with HIV/AIDS. Due to the airborne nature of the disease it can easily be spread to anyone including healthy people. A lack of compliance to treatment by TB patients explains why prevalence rates of the disease are high and why there is an emergence of drug resistant strains such as XDR-TB and MDR-TB. Information on existing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding TB can provide a crucial foundation for the development of educational programmes and interventions aimed at reducing the further spread of the disease. This study aimed at understanding the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards TB and relating these to the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted among adult Grahamstown East residents (n=1020). The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1994) and Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory formed the theoretical framework of the data collection and analysis. The data generated from the field work was first descriptively analysed providing frequency tables. Thereafter cross tabulations were calculated for relevant items using independent variables, namely gender, level of education, and experience of dealing with TB. The results of the study show that, in general, knowledge concerning TB was sufficient to provide a foundation for the adoption of healthier behaviours in the female respondents. Few of the respondents reported feeling personally susceptible although the majority of the respondents acknowledged the severity of the disease. The cues to action lacked the influence to persuade people to adopt positive health related behaviours. The perceived benefits of adopting preventative behaviour were not very influential in the adoption of healthier behavioural changes in the respondents. Disease stigma regarding the dual association of TB and HIV/AIDS was the main barrier for the adoption of healthier behavioural attitudes. Perceived self-efficacy in preventative behaviours was generally low in the less educated respondents. Recommendations regarding areas for future research and change interventions are provided

The personality of an entrepreneur : a psychobiography of Steve Jobs

From Integrative Summary: There has been a growing interest in successful entrepreneurs. Research on entrepreneurship has focused on the identification of personality variables that would assist in the prediction of entrepreneurial success. The present study moves away from attempting to predict entrepreneurial success and instead focuses on exploring and describing the personality of a successful entrepreneur. A psychobiographical case study was adopted by the researcher to explore and describe the extent to which Steve Jobs demonstrated the entrepreneurial characteristics identified by Rauch and Frese (2007). A personality trait approach to entrepreneurship was adopted in the study. The study also attempted to explore the socio-cultural and economic context within which Jobs practised his entrepreneurial activities. Jobs was a successful entrepreneur who co-founded Apple and founded NeXT and Pixar, which were all companies that transformed various technological industries. His entrepreneurial orientation allowed him to produce innovative products that transformed society in various sectors which included personal computing, mobile phones, music, retail stores and films (Isaacson, 2011). A qualitative approach was adopted in the study. The data collection and analysis was guided by the three linked sub-processes proposed by Miles and Huberman (2002) which involved data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings of this study showed that Jobs demonstrated, at varying levels, all the entrepreneurial characteristics identified by Rauch and Frese (2007) which included a need of achievement, risk-taking, innovativeness, autonomy, locus of control and self-efficacy. The researcher however noted that the desire for autonomy, risk-taking, innovativeness and self-efficacy were the most dominant characteristics driving his entrepreneurial orientation. The research thesis adopted the structure of a teaching case which can be used to explore and discuss the personality trait perspective to entrepreneurship in a classroom setting. The findings of the study can be recognised as positively contributing to the growing field of psychobiographical research on exceptional individuals, including entrepreneurs. The study can be considered as a foundation for future studies which will add to the body of knowledge relating to entrepreneurship and personality

Attributes influencing financial institutions selection by African youth tourists

Youths are increasingly travelling to live, study and work in different parts of South Africa. A significant population of the youth in South Africa are opening bank accounts. In this vein, youth tourists have become an important customer segment for commercial banks in South Africa. The objectives of this study were to investigate the differences in the factors that influence bank selection amongst African youth tourists based on demographic variables. The study was conducted within a small town in South Africa with a higher education institution. A cross-sectional survey design was used in the study with a convenience sample of 96 local youth tourists. The results revealed that there were two main factors that emerged that influence bank selection, namely, service provision factors and accessibility factors. Additionally, it was noted that there was no statistically significant difference in the factors influencing bank selection in terms of demographic variables of the participants. An understanding of the selection behaviour of different demographic groups can aid banks to meet the needs of different demographic groups of local youth tourists.http://www.ajhtl.comhj2019Marketing Managemen

Attributes Influencing Financial Institutions Selection by African Youth Tourists.

Youths are increasingly travelling to live, study and work in different parts of South Africa. A significant population of the youth in South Africa are opening bank accounts. In this vein, youth tourists have become an important customer segment for commercial banks in South Africa. The objectives of this study were to investigate the differences in the factors that influence bank selection amongst African youth tourists based on demographic variables. The study was conducted within a small town in South Africa with a higher education institution. A cross-sectional survey design was used in the study with a convenience sample of 96 local youth tourists. The results revealed that there were two main factors that emerged that influence bank selection, namely, service provision factors and accessibility factors. Additionally, it was noted that there was no statistically significant difference in the factors influencing bank selection in terms of demographic variables of the participants. An understanding of the selection behaviour of different demographic groups can aid banks to meet the needs of different demographic groups of local youth tourists

The influence of satisfaction on job outcomes among foreign and local academic staff at a selected international university

South Africa is experiencing high turnover rates among academics in higher education institutions. Establishing the antecedents that retain and attract academics in the field of Tourism and other related disciplines is crucial in attracting and retaining these academics. The study sought to investigate the impact of job satisfaction and selected demographic variables on turnover intentions among academic staff members. In the study, a cross-sectional quantitative research design was adopted. Data was collected from a population of 102 local and international academics. SPSS 23 used for data analysis. Pearson’s correlation was conducted to establish the cause-and effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the study. Results indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions. In this respect, it was evident that although the academics were satisfied with their jobs they still had intentions to leave their jobs. On the other hand it was noted that there was a statistically significant negative relationship between job level and turnover intentions. In this vein, junior staff members were noted to have high levels of turnover intentions. The main implications established in the study were that higher education institutions should use several human resource interventions such as employee engagement and work-life balance to ensure that they retain academics.http://www.ajhtl.comam2020Marketing Managemen