Faculty of Arts and Design

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Experiential learning of family business owners and its influence on business sustainability in Masvingo province of Zimbabwe
(2021-08) Machida, Simbarashe; Mukeredzi, Tabitha; Mago, Stephen
The survival of family-owned businesses beyond the first generation continues to be negatively affected by the death or incapacitation of their founding members. Despite the contribution of family-owned businesses, about 50% of the total global GDP (Rahman et al. 2017) statistics show that only 3% of these businesses survive past the third generation (Kilic and Folizoz 2020). The demise of the founders of the family businesses results in the businesses’ collapse, often after ownership and management has been taken over by heirs, notwithstanding their experience gained from working with the founder members. This qualitative study explored the experiential learning of family business owners and its influence on business sustainability. The study also analysed the kinds of knowledge gained and the support provided by other family members. An interpretive paradigm was adopted in which a multiple-site case study involving three settings: rural, growth points and urban areas in Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe was employed. Two-interview series, complimented by nonparticipatory observations and photo elicitations explored the family business owners who were extracted through purposive, convenience and snowball sampling designs. Data from 21 family business owners explored was transcribed and analysed manually through open coding. The study drew on Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning theory to illuminate the study, and explain the experiential learning of the family business owners. The study found that family business owners across the three research settings experientially learnt through participation in business activities subsequent to observation, and also through reflection. Findings revealed that experiential learning had a direct influence on business sustainability within a given generation. Contextual variations in learning processes emerged as family business owners in the rural setting encountered challenges around a lack of electricity and poor physical infrastructure, inhibiting their experiential learning through use of ICTs and the appropriate transportation of goods. In addition, informed by conceptual frameworks (Grossman 1990; Mukeredzi and Manwa 2019) the study also discovered that family business owners acquired practical knowledge about the use of sophisticated technology, entrepreneurial skills and soft skills. While urban based family business owners were transparent regarding their employees’ salaries, their counterparts in the rural setting did not pay their employees regular salaries. Drawing on Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, this study also discovered that family business owners enjoyed support from family members in terms of teamwork and social support Collaboration was common in family-owned businesses in the rural setting, where close family ties seemed intact. However, emotional and informational support was received from other family members across all the three research contexts. Notwithstanding the experiential learning and kinds of knowledge attained, including support from other family members, the experiential learning of the family business owners had no significant influence on the long-term business sustainability when ownership and control shifted from one generation to another. Business sustainability was enhanced within a given generation. It also emerged that family business owners operated without succession planning, a critical aspect for business sustainability across generations. From this study, I argue that experiential learning of family business owners should be complemented with succession planning to enhance business sustainability across generations. The study suggests that family business owners should open up, discuss and develop succession plans that will enhance transition from one generation to the next. The study also suggests that family business owners should develop and implement remuneration policies that govern the salaries of the nuclear family members who work in the family businesses. With government support, family business owners in rural settings should consider the installation of solar systems to enhance the use of ICT.
The impact of English as medium of instruction on the academic performance of second language learners in the Further Education and Traning band at schools in KwaZulu-Natal
(2012-09-03) Dorasamy, Rajendren Sabapathy; Pratt, Deirdre Denise
This study, in adopting a phenomenological approach, provides an overview of the contextual realities surrounding language choice and usage as it impacts on the academic performance of English second language learners. There have been concerns that the majority of learners with indigenous mother tongues can be seen to fare badly in a post liberation educational system in which English or Afrikaans is still used as medium of instruction. The focus of this study was therefore the impact of English as the medium of instruction on the academic performance of English second language learners. Using a mixed method approach, through a case study, data from questionnaires, interviews and observations were analysed using various statistical packages and the findings were reported on. It was established that it was not so much the language per se which had a negative impact on the academic performance of English second language learners: it was rather the efficacy of usage of the chosen language and other periphery issues in the formal environment, such as lack of interactions with target language speakers, code-switching, and teacher competence, which resulted in the poor academic performance of English second language learners. Furthermore, it was also established that the informal environment, consisting of learners’ culture and traditions, family educational qualifications, absenteeism and appropriate resources at home and community libraries, which also had a negative impact on academic performance. It was therefore recommended that, amongst other things, the Language in Education Policy be amended to provide for more opportunities for learner interaction with the target language. Furthermore, given that the efficacy of education is contingent upon the competence of the teachers, relevant skills and competencies among teachers should be developed to enhance their performance in class. It was also found that code-switching was counterproductive to learning the target language, thus holding back ESL learners’ acquisition of content knowledge. As such, code-switching should be used very restrictively, if at all, in the Further Education and Training phase. It was also recommended that necessary lexicons and registers of the indigenous languages be developed sufficiently so that these are worthy of use as media of instruction, without necessarily being seen as a replacement of English as medium of instruction. There should also be greater involvement of all stakeholders in the choice of and availability of resources which are relevant to the context of learners. Other issues requiring intervention from a broader stakeholder involvement include iii interdepartmental integration to alleviate poverty, and provision of transport so that learners might report regularly and timeously to school, thus reducing absenteeism. The solution to improving learner academic performance requires concerted and co-ordinated inter-governmental, community and other stakeholders’ effort and the necessary will of the government to ensure that learners receive quality education.
Microfinance as a pathway for smallholder farming in Zimbabwe
(Business Perspectives, 2016) Mago, Stephen; Hofisi, Costa
Microfinance has been viewed as a pathway for smallholder farming. This paper aims to investigate the impact of microfinance on smallholder farming. It examines the role of microfinance in the development of smallholder farming. This paper employs the integrated view of microfinance study, as opposed to the ‘credit only’(minimalist) view. Using qualitative research methodology, the paper relies on literature review and primary data. Household level data (primary) were collected from a rural district (Masvingo Rural District) of Masvingo province in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from 250 microfinance participants (household heads) using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. The findings show that microfinance had positive effects on accumulation of agricultural assets, income from agriculture, agricultural education, agricultural productivity, agri-business, consumption and health. However, the impact is limited due to lack of finance. Basic financial services are essential for the management of their smallholder farming activities. The practical implications are that the study results could be used by the government and development agencies for policy making. The paper recommends that microfinance should be harnessed as a useful intervention that can be employed to economically empower the smallholder rural agricultural sector.
The psychosocial effects of poverty on the academic performance of secondary school learners from child-headed households in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe
(2023-11) Chidhumo, Vincent; Abraham, Jose; Kufakunesu, Moses
ABSTRACT This phenomenological study, which was based on an interpretive research paradigm, was conducted in Zimbabwe's Chimanimani District in the Manicaland Province with the purpose of examining the psychosocial effects of poverty on the academic performance of secondary school learners from child-headed homes. The psychological theory of Erikson and the ecological systems theory of Bronfenbrenner were used as the theoretical frameworks. Data collection methods included focus groups, interviews, and document analysis. Participants were carefully chosen, and there were 32 secondary school learners, teachers, administrators, and members of the School Development Committees. In the data analysis, themes and content were looked at. The study established that a large number of learners from child-headed homes lacked access to a healthy diet, high-quality education, school uniforms, fees, knowledgeable staff, resources, and support from the school, which had a detrimental effect on their health as well as their psychological growth and academic success. It is suggested that stakeholders help kids from childheaded homes to lessen the psychosocial effects of poverty on their academic performance based on the findings of the current study. To help learners from low-income households, the government ought to prioritize financing for BEAM expansion. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development must examine the curriculum offered by teachers' colleges to train guidance and counseling school instructors. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should adequately staff and resource the School Psychological Services in order for it to effectively fulfill its mandate of treating learners with psychological, social, and emotional issues. In addition, school administrators should give priority to incomegenerating initiatives that would help disadvantaged populations, particularly learners from families with secondary school learners. The study created a diamond child-headed home intervention model based on the literature review and research findings, which can be used in the development and implementation of programs to address the welfare and educational help of learners from child-headed households.
Social dynamics of suicide in South Africa : a theoretical perspective
(AJPHERD, 2012-09) Netshiombo, Kenneth; Mashamba, Tshilidzi
Suicide rates in South Africa are on the increase, particularly amongst the youth. What are the complexities of modern life which are driving the increase? The suicidal act of self-destruction signals society’s failure to provide good support systems and meaningful psycho-social well-being for its members. With its impressive Reconstruction and Developmental Programme (RDP), South Africa has not yet succeeded in extending the equivalent reconstruction of people’s minds and thought processes. In some instances the art of negotiating one’s existence on a daily basis is compromised by hostile socio-economic and political realities. The collective consciousness that once glued society has lost its bonding effect. Traditional systems of social support need to be revisited. The aim of this study is therefore to give a theoretical view of social dynamics of suicide in South Africa.
Visualising the oral and performative heritage of Ghanaian culinary arts
(2024-08) Faniyan, Betty; Olalere, Folasayo Enoch; Gaede, Rolf Joachim
The Fantes, whose territories constitute the Central Region of Ghana, are reputed for their culinary ingenuity. Being the first point of contact with the Europeans in presentday Ghana, the culinary heritage of the Fantes of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality offers an interesting testament to the resilience of culture amidst acculturation. This study explores the potential of digital technology to visualise the oral heritage of the traditional culinary arts for digital preservation. The study isframed by the indigenous standpoint theory and draws upon the 7Cs model of digital preservation of indigenous knowledge developed by Maasz et al. (2020) to co- create the knowledge of the traditional culinary heritage from the standpoint of one specific generation of the knowledge holders. The fieldwork component of the study employed ethnography for an immersive experience of the culinary heritage being co-created. Using a purposive sampling technique, data was collected from experienced and respected knowledge holders of the traditional culinary heritage to ensure the authenticity and ownership of the outcome of the study. By repositioning the knowledge holder as co-creator and employing photography as a documentary tool, a fuller account of the culinary heritage is generated to offer a culturally respectful and accurate representation of the cherished traditions and practices that are orally transmitted and performed daily at home in the third decade of the 21st century. The study underscores the relevance of photo documentation to visualize both the tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage for digital preservation. The elements that constitute the notion of authenticity of culinary heritage are identified and the means of maintaining culinary identity in the face of acculturations are highlighted. As a new contribution to knowledge, a revised model for the digitalization of culinary heritage is proposed to offer holistic documentation of a community’s lived experiences and collective memory.