Research Publications (Management Sciences)

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Analysis of the effect of post-covid office hybrid work arrangement on employee health and safety : a case study of uni4 online Westville Durban South Africa
(The International Institute of Knowledge Management, 2023) Bangura, S.; Lourens, Melanie Elisabeth
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic economy, health, and care systems were disrupted and this affected and shaped the future of work. The pandemic augmented many trends in employee work arrangement that had a major impact on businesses and employee health and safety and one of these trends is hybrid work arrangement. Globally, employers, government officials, health organisations, unions, and professional associations struggled to stay compliant. Occupational exposure and working conditions can have an undesirable or positive effect on the safety, health, and well-being of workers. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the effect of post-COVID office hybrid work arrangement on employee health and safety: a case study of Uni4 Online Westville Durban South Africa. Taking into consideration the aim of the study the following objectives guide the study i) to understand what hybrid work arrangement is. ii) to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected employee work arrangement, iii) determine the perceived challenges and opportunities in the application of hybrid work arrangement iv) make recommendations on the effective application of hybrid work arrangement at Uni4 Online Westville Durban South Africa. For this study, a secondary approach to data collection was undertaken. In this regard a total of 15 relevant articles were searched from different databases and search engines, The keywords were explored in three databases namely, Google Scholar, Ebsco-host, and Emerald. The findings from the literature showed that post-COVID hybrid work arrangements can affect workers psychologically because physical distancing through staying at home contributes to isolation and a lack of distinction between work life and home life. Furthermore, it was deduced that hybrid work arrangement creates challenges for workers because it creates fewer opportunities for career development and promotions because of weakened ties. In addition, workers in a hybrid work arrangement who were more dependent on others and generally received more feedback had fewer positive appraisals than those with more independent roles. The study recommends that both employees and managers need to develop new skills and capabilities to adjust to the new ways of working and utilising the prospects of Post COVID hybrid work. Also, firms should be concerned about sustainability implications when developing guidelines for Post COVID hybrid work, both in terms of social and ecological aspects.
Circumstantial discussion on security and privacy protection using cloud computing technology
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Naureen, Ayesha; Guha, Shouvik Kumar; Ahamad, Shahanawaj; Dharamvir; Tripathi, Vikas
Cloud computing is becoming a demanding technology due to its flexibility, sensibility and remote accessibility. Apart from these applications of cloud computing, privacy and security are two terms that pose a circumstantial discussion. Various authors have argued on this topic that cloud computing is more secure than other data sharing and storing methods. The conventional data storing system is a computer system or smartphone storage. The argument debate also states that cloud computing is vulnerable to enormous types of attacks which make it a more concerning technology. This current study has also tried to draw the circumstantial and controversial debate on the security and privacy system of cloud computing. Primary research has been conducted with 65 cloud computing experts to understand whether a cloud computing security technique is highly secure or not. An online survey has been conducted with them where they provided their opinions based on the security and privacy system of cloud computing. Findings showed that no particular technology is available which can provide maximum security. Although the respondents agreed that blockchain is a more secure cloud computing technology; however, the blockchain also has certain threats which need to be addressed. The study has found essential encryption systems that can be integrated to strengthen security; however, continuous improvement is required.
Creating enthusiasm about farmers’ markets in a post pandemic world : a South African-German comparison
(Institut za inovacije, 2021-09-22) Dobbelstein, Thomas; Corbishley, Karen; Mason, Roger; Hair, Joe; Kropka, Zoran; Vlasic, Goran
Before the pandemic farmers’ markets were fashionable places for shopping, entertainment, and socializing, and in many cases are no longer sources of cheaper or more convenient shopping. With the growth of the craft and the organic food movements, such products are often marketed through farmers’ markets. Entertainment (e.g., music) is also often provided. In South Africa and Germany, they were either closed or could take place only very limited during the pandemic. Why farmers’ markets were so popular may be due to a variety of reasons such as shopping, entertainment, and socializing. This research identifies what attracted customers to farmers’ markets before the pandemic and what creates satisfaction for the customer. The results help to re-vitalize farmers markets after the pandemic. A quantitative, descriptive, cross sectional study is used, based on a sample of 1141 respondents from an online-accessed panel of consumers. It is also a comparative study between a developed nation (Germany) and a developing nation (South Africa). The research culminated in a Kano model for farmers’ markets in each of the countries. There was considerable similarity in the ‘delight’ and ‘performance’ factors in the two countries, but only South Africa has ‘basic’ factors (two), while Germany had none. The study thus contributes to knowledge about consumer behavior and attitudes towards farmers’ markets and adds to the literature on the use of the Kano model, especially in South Africa
The critical role played by big data management in effectively addressing the security and overall privacy concerns through correlation analysis
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Ahamad, Shahanawaj; Roshan, Amit; Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Shekher, Vineet; Joshi, Kapil; Alanya-Beltran, Joel
Due to the widespread application of big data in a wide range of fields, there has been a significant rise in a diverse range of data assets, and numerous data analysis technologies, such as standardized data mining or quantitative analytical techniques, are speeding up the constant enlargement of the big data industry. The fact that information from several different resources has a life cycle from acquisition to disposal is a key property of big data, as is the fact that new information may be obtained via analysis, combining, and exploitation of existing data. Yet, information security & dependability challenges arise at every stage of the life cycle, rendering the protection of individually identifying data a vital goal throughout the whole process. It is possible to evaluate user behavior using different big data analytics techniques, and the collection of this information results in the violation of personal privacy. This study analyses dangers and security challenges that arise during the administration of large amounts of data by verifying the existing standards produced by international standardization bodies and doing an analysis of relevant research.
Effect of green recruitment and selection practices on employee work performance : a case study of Uni4online Westville, Durban, South Africa
(The International Institute of Knowledge Management, 2022) Bangura, S.; Lourens, Melanie Elisabeth
Green management initiatives are now a significant factor in forward-thinking tertiary educational institutions around the world and Africa as a way of tackling environmental degradation. Industrialisation has contributed to the global environmental problems facing organisations in terms of sustainability therefore green human resource management activities such as green recruitment and selection have become relevant in the mitigation of climate change actions in the tertiary education industry. While the standing of green recruitment and selection in environmental workforce management has been extensively recognised, there are limited studies on the effect of green recruitment and selection on employee work performance, therefore this study evaluates the effect of green recruitment and selection on employee work performance at Uni4online Westville Durban, Republic of South Africa. The following are the objectives (1) determine employee environmental awareness, and (2) establish the influence of green recruitment and selection on employee work performance The study followed a quantitative research approach and a questionnaire with (15) Likert 5.0 questions was used to collect data from (n=100) employees of the specific Uni4online, Westville Durban South Africa. With a confidence level of 95% and a population size of 142 employees, a margin of error fixed at 5% a qualtric sample size calculator was used to determine the sample for the study. Data were analysed with a descriptive statistical method using SPSS version 26. For sampling purposes, the simple random positivist sampling method was used. The results of the survey confirmed that green recruitment and selection have a positive impact on employee job performance, especially concerning environmental awareness and social-ecological awareness. The study recommends that Uni4online, Durban Republic of South Africa should prioritize green recruitment and selection practices that, when well-planned and applied green recruitment and selection improve employee environmental awareness and behaviour and contribute to enticing more competent job candidates. The study equally revealed a direct correlation between green recruitment and selection and employee work performance, especially within the tertiary education industry.
GAF : from a conceptual framework to a Model of Learning in Educational Gaming
(ACPI, 2019-10-03) Davis, Jason Stratton
There has been much debate in international literature on the effectiveness of educational games in student learning. In the field of Economics, there has been growing evidence that games are an effective teaching pedagogy in increasing motivation and the retention of knowledge. However, very little is written on ‘how’ and ‘why’ students learn from these Economics educational games. The Game Analysis Framework (GAF) was designed as a conceptual lens that would provide a method for mapping out ‘how’ and ‘why’ students learn from playing educational games. GAF was initially developed from three models of game design based on an experiential and constructivist theory of learning. However, from the results of the study, this model had to be revised as other factors such as motivation, engagement and emotions became the core drivers of learning. The study’s results such as emotions necessitated a revision of the GAF model to include these new findings, highlighting the importance of non-cognitive factors in learning and how games harness these factors to create a deliberative learning environment. It also causes one to perhaps move beyond the constructivist and experiential learning paradigms of learning by doing to learning by enacting knowledge – an enactivist approach.
Gamified promotions in shopping apps : the role of regret and its impact on purchase intention
(2023-06-17) Dobbelstein, Thomas; Sinemus, Kathrin; Zielke, Stephan; Timmermans, Harry; Rasouli, Soora
The topic of gamification has received more attention in recent years (Huang et al., 2019), particularly in the marketing context (Bauer et al., 2020; Berger et al., 2018). Prior research has shown that gamification has a positive influence on consumer behavior such as consumers’ purchase intention (e.g., Balakrishnan and Griffiths, 2018; Kim et al., 2020). As traditional promotions and advertisements often not catch consumers’ attention (Stipp, 2018), gamified promotions might be a solution to attract customers. When consumers earn a discount through gamified elements, this could increase their intention to redeem the discount (compared to a traditional promotion) and consequently make a purchase. Previous gamification literature focuses on flow theory (e.g., Berger et al., 2018; Waiguny et al., 2012) and self-determination theory (e.g., Bauer et al., 2020; Feng et al., 2018; Hollebeck et al., 2021). For our context of gamified promotions, we use regret theory to explain the effects on customer behavior. According to regret theory, consumers should feel stronger anticipated regret when they do not redeem the discount of a gamified promotion compared to a traditional banner ad promotion. This could be due to the fact that consumers invested more effort get the discount than if they had received it as a traditional pop-up ad. As gamification enhances positive emotions (Harwood & Garry, 2015; Koroleva & Novak, 2020), we further assume that the gamified promotion triggers such emotions in the consumer, which in turn lead to increased purchase intentions (Nasermoadeli et al., 2013). The study uses a scenario-based online experiment with a between-subjects design (gamified promotion vs. non-gamified promotion). Data from 96 respondents were collected and analyzed with M/ANOVA and PROCESS (see Hayes, 2018) in SPSS. Findings suggest that a gamified promotion has a greater effect on consumers’ purchase intention than a non-gamified promotion. The same is true for the effect on anticipated regret. The positive influence of gamified promotion on purchase intention is mediated by firstly the perceived effort to obtain the discount and anticipated regret and secondly via the enjoyment with the app directly and via anticipated regret (serial mediation effects). This research is novel, as it explains the impact of a gamified promotion on purchase intention based on regret theory. Prior research on promotions has rarely concentrate on gamification (e.g., Bauer et al., 2020). Based on the results, retailers should use gamified promotions instead of traditional banner ad promotions and the game should not be to simple so that consumers perceive an effort. As a next step, we plan to add two more studies. The first study should validate the results of this study. Further it should show that the results are independent of the level of the discount. The second study should focus on the reinforcement of regret. It should provide management implications whether a specified or an unspecified discount leads to higher anticipated regret and consequently purchase intention.
How to encourage buying recycled products : a South African : German comparison
(2023-06-16) Dobbelstein, Thomas; Lochner, Carina
Due to an increasing demand, companies have started producing recycled products. However, little is known about the specific purchase behavior. Hence, this study analyses the factors influencing purchase intention for recycled products including differences related to different types of products and between Germany and South Africa. A quantitative study in Germany (n = 603) and South Africa (n = 692). shows that purchase intention is significantly higher in South Africa. The influencing factors (individual, product, and context related constructs) are the same in both countries, but they differ regarding their strength. Thus, the factor “attitude/environmental concern” has the strongest influence in South Africa, while it is “value/accessibility” in Germany. Furthermore, purchase intention for mobile phones is generally smaller than for t‐shirts and toilet paper. Purchase intention for recycled t‐shirts is significantly higher in South Africa than in Germany
The Impact of access to credit on the development of SMMEs in rural areas : Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Authority Area, South Africa
(Global Business and Technology Association, 2018) Maome, Itumeleng Judith; Delener, N.; Schweikert, C.
This study investigates the nature of credit available to SMMEs in rural areas, to determine the impact of access to credit on the development of these SMMEs. This study is quantitative and exploratory in nature; it explores the impact of access to credit on the development of SMMEs in Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Authority rural area. Research findings revealed that access to credit is a major concern for businesses in this area. SMMEs who obtained credit experienced positive changes in their businesses. Therefore, it is recommended that SMMEs be encouraged to apply for credit, as it is important for their development.
Insight into the biases when measuring socioeconomics and demographics of consumers patronizing retail fashion design entrepreneurs: Germany’s perspective versus South African requirements
(Shaker Verlag, 2022-05-29) Dobbelstein, Thomas; Pooe, Boitumelo; Überwimmer, Margarethe; Füreder, Robert; Kwiatek, Piotr
Insight of Twitter ban : student’s perspectives in higher education
(The International Academic Forum(IAFOR), 2023) Kayode, Aderinsola; Iyiola, Oluwaleke I.
Twitter appears to be a platform for the elites, with abuse, misuse, misinformation, and disinformation. Twitter bans in various countries, including Nigeria, have raised worries about freedom of expression and information access. This study examines Nigeria's Twitter ban's reasons, effects, and alternative measures The research study was carried out using a quantitative method that takes into account the research objectives and questions for this study. A survey was given to University of Ibadan undergraduates in five faculties to collect data was drawn using the Taro Yamane Sample formula to determine a reliable sample size formula with a 95% confidence level. 385 questionnaires were administered to all undergraduate students from year 1 to 4 (level 100–400), while only 235 from the responses were valid for data analysis. The ban on Twitter led to information deprivation, poor decision-making, the end of long-distance family relationships, and the loss of online colleagues for undergraduate students. According to technological determinism and social responsibility theories, the Nigerian federal government's Twitter ban has left a bad impression on residents. The study found that the Nigerian government and its citizens must acknowledge that authority has limits and act within those limits without violating others' rights. The study suggested alternate platforms to help students access learning resources and engage with academic peers for quality education in sustainable development Goal-4.
Investigation of auto emotional detection of health professionals based on bio information data analytics
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Kumar, Ashish; Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Tiwari, Nitin; Dass, Pranav; Kumar, M.V. Suresh; Abdullah, Khairul Hafezad
Emotion detection is an important aspect in healthcare industries. Effective analysis of emotion detection helps in analyses patient's mental state, psychological state, disease progression rate etcetera. Emotion detection is also required for healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses). Automatic emotion detection is usually done with different technologies such as AI technology, multimodal system, pattern recognition, signal analysis, audio-visual analysis etcetera. The present research analyses the most effective technology for auto-emotion detection among all the technologies. The survey-based statistical analysis has been done in this research with 53 participants from different healthcare sectors of the United Kingdom. The data shows that AI-based multimodal system and Pattern recognition using Electrocardiogram and Electroencephalogram are the most effective technologies for automatic-emotion detection. The analysis also showed that emotion-detection is necessary for healthcare professionals and this analysis helps in enhancing patient's recovery rate by analysing their mental state.
Measurements to support farmers’ markets - a South African German comparison
(ISER Explore, 2022-05-25) Dobbelstein, Thomas; Mason, Roger Bruce; Corbishley, Karen Margaret
Farmers’ markets have become fashionable places for shopping, entertainment, and socializing, and in many cases are not only sources of cheaper or more convenient shopping. With the growth of the craft and the organic food movements, such products are often marketed through farmers’ markets. Entertainment is also often provided. Such shopping locations often charge premium prices. Why farmers’ markets have become so popular may be due to a variety of reasons such as shopping, entertainment, and socializing. Furthermore, a variety of different factors may cause customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. This research identifies what attracts customers to farmers’ markets and what creates satisfaction for the customer. A quantitative study was used, based on a sample of 1141 respondents from an e-mailed survey. It is also a comparative study between a developed nation (Germany) and a developing nation (South Africa). The research culminated in a Kano model for farmers’ markets in each of the countries. There was considerable similarity in the ‘delight’ and ‘performance’ factors in the two countries, but only South Africa has ‘basic’ factors, while Germany had none. The study has thus contributed to knowledge about consumer behaviour and attitudes towards farmers’ markets and provides suggestions to increase their attractivity.
Prospects for, and challenges of, knowledge sharing in the South African public sector : a literature review
(2022-11-07) Matlala, Mpubane Emanuel; Maphoto, Asania Reneilwe
Today’s rapid pace of globalization has driven the current business environment into a permanent state of dynamic change. In the process, organizations have realised that, to ensure their survival, they need to efficiently manage the knowledge and skills available to them. Central to such a management practice is knowledge sharing which has come to play an important role in the building of sustainable competitiveness in a turbulent business climate. In a knowledge culture, it is the sharing of information that promotes innovative thinking. If government departments fail to adopt knowledge sharing practices, the preservation of their organizational memories is put at risk, also in view of the regular transfer of experienced workforces. The lack of a fruitful implementation of knowledge sharing practices diminishes the capacity to sustain government departments and this impacts negatively on the country’s economic growth. The current study reviews the prospects for, and the challenges posed by, knowledge sharing practices in the South African public sector. The objective of the study is to describe what possibilities the 21st century holds for improved knowledge sharing in the South African public sector. The collected data is analysed using a thematic content approach. The results outline that organizational structures in government departments are hierarchical and this hampers information sharing. The prevailing organizational culture does not support and encourage the creation and sharing of knowledge among staff members. The skills needed to facilitate the sharing of knowledge are insufficient, while there is no clearly defined responsibility for initiatives concerned with knowledge management. The study recommends the public sector organizations of South Africa to clearly formulate precise processes, policy frameworks and responsibilities that ensure the effective identification, capturing, managing, transferring and sharing of knowledge within the organizations.
A review of physiological signal processing via Machine Learning (ML) for personal stress detection
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Beram, Shehab Mohamed; Borah, Bidyut Bikash; Dube, Anand Prakash; Deka, Aniruddha; Tripathi, Vikas
Personal stress is maintained and measured by Machine learning. The device which is wearable has been used for the monitoring of personal self stress and data collection. In this research, it has been talked about the factors by which the physiological signal of the stress has been assessed. On the other hand, different type of technology has been used for the detection of the personal stress such as Electrocardiography (ECG) and many other devices. The observation and difficulties has been seen in this research by using this device and the technology. Stress disorder or ailment is one of the most common ailments in all individuals around the world. Stress and anxiety can greatly influence the life, emotion, behavioural pattern and thinking attributes of individuals. It is important to address this issue sooner or later. Psychological signal processing through machine learning effectively assists to detect the stress disorder at an early stage. The general system often considers some variables to detect stress. They are electrocardiogram, galvanic response, heart rate, respiration and many other elements. The ML tend to use algorithms to compare and contrast data to fetch effective e results. The paper has also carried out a statistical analysis based on three variables to fetch a proper result that provided the study group to comprehend a better understanding of the scenario. The researchers have taken the 'percentage of stress rate' cases' are considered independent variables whereas 'usage of a machine learning system' is considered a dependant variable. The study group has fetched and collected numerous data related to these three variables to get a better understanding.
The role of implementing cloud computing technology for addressing critical security issues and overcoming the challenges effectively
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Kaushik, Manish; Goyal, Jayanti; Singh, Rajesh; Kuchhal, Shikha; Tiwari, Mohit
The term cloud computing possesses the critical aspect to enhance the network by leveraging the available resources in an effective manner. It has been widely stated that the usage of enhanced IT infrastructure support in realising the goals of the stakeholders in an easier aspect. Cloud computing is a shared pool of operations that is growing in popularity due to its low cost, high efficiency, and high output. Along with its many advantages, cloud computing presents a considerably more difficult scenario in terms of data privacy, intellectual property rights, authenticated access, data security, and so on. Cloud computing technology is becoming ever more challenging in today's society as a result of these challenges. This paper aims to evaluate the security issues in cloud services and implementation of advanced technology to prevent these challenges. In this context, mixed method has been considered (primary quantitative and secondary qualitative) to gather relevant and factual information.
Role of integrated artificial intelligence for knowledge creation and decision making for improving firm performance
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Panduro-Ramirez, Jeidy; Khurana, Shopita; Othman, Bestoon; Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Ruiz-Salazar, Jenny Maria; Almashaqbeh, Hashem Ali
The present research shed light on the decision-making process of businesses based on integrated AI technology. The technology is very helpful in searching and gathering accurate business information which could further be used in the performance improvement of the business. Moreover, the research depicted several applications of AI technology and the percentage of companies that used such technologies in their business for the motive of performance improvement by achieving all their predetermined objectives of the business.
Role of machine learning in managing cloud computing security
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Kumar, Santosh; S, Nithya; Prethi, K.N. Apinaya; Singh, Suraj; Lourens, Melanie; Patil, Nisha
Cloud computing is one of the most trending technology through which digitalized data management and storing becomes easier and more effective. However, besides the advancement of technology, data protection is another top priority concerning factor as millions of sensitive data are gets stored and transferred through the cloud computing system. As per the current days of cyber-activities, data security threat in cloud computing have increased, which posses threat in the development of the business. In that field, machine learning based advanced algorithm develop the virtual encrypted environment to protect the data from unauthorized access and hacking.
Strategic management in construction firms with focus on small and medium enterprises : a case study eThekwini, South Africa
(2021-06-28) Rambaruth, Amit; Adam, Jamila Khatoon; Krishna, Suresh Babu Naidu
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the economy and have contributed significantly to the growth of the economy, however, there is still a high-level failure rate. Many face a threat of failure within the first few months of establishment and the lack of strategic planning may prevent them from achieving their full potential. Therefore, the aim of this study is to address the factors that influence the adoption of strategic management in an organization and to identify persuading factors that contribute to strategic management to improve performance and to categorise challenges faced by SMEs in implementing a strategic plan. The results advocate that majority of the eThekwinibased SMEs in the construction industry are applying strategic management practices in their business and through this application they have improved the performance of their business. Furthermore, the study found that there were high levels of agreement with the challenges facing the implementation of a strategic plan in an organization. The research concluded that that majority of the eThekwini-based SMEs in the construction industry are applying strategic management practices in their business and through this application they have improved the performance of their business. The study also concluded that there were high levels of agreement with the influencing factors that drove SMEs to adopt a strategic plan and high levels of agreement with the contributing factors of strategic planning in improving performance of the business. Furthermore, the study found that there were high levels of agreement with the challenges facing the implementation of a strategic plan in an organisation.
Sustainable development : local economic growth strategy post- Covid-19 in South Africa
(Institute of Research Engineers and Doctors, 2020) Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
The local economic challenges facing South Africa, so far, have been addressed by the introduction of policies. Hence, there are major policy reforms that have taken place pre- Covid-19 era, including the protection of rural producers, consumers and the markets. However, the spread of COVID-19 novel coronavirus around in 2020 was fast and dramatic. With the death toll experienced by various countries around the world, the effect had tremendous impact on the general economy and local communities in rural areas (in specific). The economic effects were also exacerbated by emergency strategies (like lockdowns) by different countries around the world. Nonetheless, it has been established that rural institutions are viewed as having a potential role in rural poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Hence, the enforcement of local institutions in rural areas and capacity building as fundamental elements of strategies for rural poverty alleviation are necessary. Local economic growth, as a poverty alleviation strategy, is a people-centred process and circumstance specific. Common parameters for such growth include improved health facilities, infrastructure services, sanitation facilities, and educational services. Other than the above parameters for local and sustainable development, local communities have vast indigenous knowledge that can be used to facilitate sustainable development. This knowledge is not fully utilised due to a lack of complementary institutions and facilities that enable people to improve productivity and sustainability. It is essential for development practitioners and policy makers to facilitate the dissemination of this local knowledge to enable sharing amongst community members, rather than spend scarce resources in bringing in more new knowledge and information that will not benefit the local community for sustainable development. This study assesses the influence of sustainable development on local economic growth in South Africa. It establishes the suitability of sustainable development as a strategy for local economic growth for South Africa.