Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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Item Women in higher education institutions and the challenge of academic progression(2023-08-03) Anwana, Emem O.; Kayode, Aderinsola E.Female academics in Africa have historically faced several challenges that have hampered their advancement to positions of leadership in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The study's findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to women's inability to generate research outputs, which are required for advancement in HEIs. This problem was compounded by diverse degrees of infrastructural deficits and poor research funding. This study adopted a qualitative exploratory analysis approach whereby structured interviews were held with 20 female university academics in two African countries to examine the factors that inhibit need for HEIs to review the recognise the additional work that female academics perform in their homes and families. It provides recommendations that may be used by HEI managers to bridge the widening gender gap in leadership positions in HEIs in the selected African countries. The findings cannot be generalised as the sample was taken from female academics from public universities in only two African countries. The study could, however, assist HEI managers and policymakers find solutions to some of the issues affecting women's progression in HEIs.Item 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, MohitThe 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.Item Investigating the challenges of e-learning in a developing institution of higher learning : a hypothetical approach(Clute Institute, 2019-05-01) Agbenyegah, Albert Tchey; Dlamini, Bongani InnocentThe popularity of e-learning (EL) largely infiltrated into every sector of South African institutions of higher learning. This growing interest in EL is due to the advent of rapid internet technologies. For decades, South African institutions of higher learning have accepted EL as a vital learning tool for the enhancement of learning and teaching within the higher education sector. However, there are countless challenges that continue to hinder learning and teaching activities. This study seeks to determine the relationships between various challenges and EL capabilities through stated hypotheses. The study is a descriptive, qualitative design aided by a quantitative approach that were applied to collect data. In total 150 full and part-time ICT students including four permanent ICT lecturers participated in the study. By means of statistical methods of descriptive, inferential statistics aided by independent t-tests, three stated hypotheses were formulated and tested. The study therefore, recommends that higher institutions of learning should increase investments in various EL programs including relevant ICT infrastructure development and also in levels of connectivity. The study further recommends that EL contents should be designed taking into account the cultural characteristics of students.Item Graduate employment in tourism and hospitality : attributes and challenges(2021-09-29) Stemele, Lukhanyo; Sucheran, ReshmaThe tourism sector is often promoted as a significant employment generator. However, critical questions are frequently posed in terms of the nature of tourism employment and the numerous challenges faced by employees in this sector. Despite many employment opportunities being occupied by graduates, the sector is known to have limited potential for employment growth and progression. It is also evident that tourism and hospitality graduates tend to have an inaccurate understanding and unrealistic employment expectations of the sector. This study therefore examines the employment traits and challenges of tourism and hospitality graduate employees. A quantitative research design was utilised for the study, and a structured online questionnaire was used to collect empirical data from 133 tourism and hospitality graduates. The graduates were selected from a University of Technology using a stratified random sampling technique. SPSS was used to analyse primary data and generate descriptive and inferential statistics. The key findings of the study revealed that most respondents were currently employed in the tourism and hospitality industry on a full-time basis, many of whom found employment immediately and easily after the completion of their studies. Compared to the tourism and hospitality sector, graduate employees earned higher incomes in other employment sectors. Moreover, it was evident that graduates employed in the tourism and hospitality sector were faced with far more challenges than those that were employed in other industry sectorsItem 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 NaiduSmall 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.Item The effectiveness of gender equity policies in higher education : the case of the Durban University of Technology(Kamla-Raj, 2016) Awung, Mabel; Dorasamy, NirmalaRecent research has shown that despite the progress women have made in the workplace, they still lag behind in terms of higher level and rewarding positions. This situation is attributable to the policies that do not meet the needs of female employees. This paper therefore seeks to examine the effectiveness of gender equity policies in advancing the careers of women in higher education, using the Durban University of Technology as a case study. A mixed method design was adopted in which a sample of 250 women was drawn from academic and administrative units using stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analyzed in order to highlight the factors influencing the career progression of women in higher education. The findings revealed that more policies need to be designed and effectively monitored in order to improve the working conditions of women in higher education.Item Local natural and cultural heritage assets and community based tourism: Challenges and opportunities(AJOL, 2016-03) Jugmohan, Sean; Spencer, J.P.; Steyn, J. N.Community based tourism (CBT) is seen as an opportunity which mass tourism does not offer for, especially, rural communities to develop their natural and cultural assets into tourism activities for the benefit of the community. The point of CBT is that the community, collectively and individually, gains a livelihood from home-stay activities, tourist guiding, producing crafts from the local environment, offering traditional food and drinks, and generally organising, exploiting and maintaining the natural and cultural environment. Community tourism development includes all the functions of planning, development, marketing and management of the natural and cultural heritage, and requires community decision-making. However, the communities under review face critical challenges which need to be converted into opportunities, including own-control of facilities, security of natural and cultural resources, infrastructure, carrying-capacity of the environment, regulatory frameworks, and skills development. The research took the form of case studies at local villages, of which Noqhekwane is the subject of this article. The study revealed that sufficient natural and cultural attractions exist in Noqhekwane, but that the threats identified to both cultural and physical environments are serious.Item The challenges of developing small tourism enterprises in townships: case of Umlazi, South Africa(Business Perspectives, 2016) Chili, Nsizwazikhona Simon; Mabaso, Simiso LindokuhleTownship tourism in South Africa has grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by some researchers to be an appropriate mechanism for stimulating local economic development. Opportunities for the development of black-owned enterprises in South Africa began for the first time when the country integrated into the global tourism economy after many years of international sanctions. The growth of township tourism thus can provide the context for potential economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs to enter the business, an activity that traditionally has been the domain of established white South African entrepreneurs. The main objective of the study is to present findings on the challenges that face a certain group of small tourism enterprises in townships with more attention being specifically paid to Umlazi as the second biggest township in the Southern hemisphere. The main reason for the choice of the study is due to the fact that there is only a limited literature that explores the conditions of small-scale and informal tourism entrepreneurs operating in South Africa’s black townships. The focus falls upon the challenges of developing small tourism entrepreneurs for black owners in the township, especially because, South African tourism industry is highly concentrated and dominated by small elite group of large, mostly locally owned, tourism organizations which drive the tourism economy that unfortunately excludes and sidelines that of the townships.