Vol. 9 No. 5(J) (2017)

The study focused on identifying the relationship between market orientation and performance of small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa. It aimed to achieve the following objectives, (1) To determine the level of market orientation among small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa, (2) To establish if there is any relationship between market orientation and performance of small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa . The study was exploratory in nature and utilised the quantitative research method with a descriptive research design. 268 questionnaires were distributed to small businesses owners/managers in the Vryburg region of South Africa. 207 questionnaires were returned, 9 questionnaires out of the 207 returned were incorrectly filled. Simple random sampling, a probability sampling technique was used in the study. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis. The Cronbach’s Alpha co-efficient was used to measure reliability. The findings revealed that the majority of small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa are market oriented. The findings further show that there is a positive relationship between market orientation and the performance of small business in the Vrburg region of South Africa. The study proposed the formalisation of small businesses, the development of strategic cultures as well as entrepreneurship and business management training for small business owners and managers.

Goal two of the Sustainable Development Goals stipulates that, individuals at all strata are food secure. This is a major social problem with far reaching economic and development consequences. Growing population has exacerbated the pressure on land base agriculture to supply energy requirements, and traditional agricultural practices have complicated the topical issue. Thus, efforts to simultaneously improve agricultural productivity and keep the system sustainable calls for appropriate sustainable agricultural practice such as conservation agriculture. This study investigates the links between CA adoption and household food security in Nigeria. Two hundred and twenty-one respondents in the study area were sampled. Multisampling technique was used to select the required sample and a questionnaire was administered. Descriptive statistics result revealed farmers’ and farm-based characteristics while food security index divulged the food security status of the respondents. The Double hurdle model was employed to investigate factors driving the adoption of CA and extent of adoption while two-stage least square (2SLS) estimated bi-causal links between CA adoption and food security status. The age of respondents, gender, education, access to credit, farm size cultivated and access to extension services contributed significantly to the adoption of CA and so to the extent of adoption. The two-stage least square confirms the exogeneity of CA adoption with food security status. By implication, the adoption of CA practices in Nigeria is a viable option to increase food production and by extension to attain sustainable food security status.

One of the South Africa's great soft power attributes has been the attraction and power of its transition to inclusive democratic governance after a long period of apartheid rule. This gave South Africa a certain moral authority and prestige to play very significant roles in conflict resolution and mediation through peacekeeping operations. Every government in an ever-changing and dynamic geopolitical environment ensure that its defence force cum foreign policy conform to the international environment while aiming at the defence and protection of its national interests. Using interpretive approach; this work argues that; fundamentally, there are three basic factors that reinforce South Africa’s participation in peacekeeping which are politics, economy and security. By extension these three elements is considered a transformational agent of South Africa’s economy. SANDF is, therefore, considered a dynamic and exceptional foreign policy tool that complements and at same time enhances South Africa’s diplomatic manoeuvrings and influence within the wider international developments. It is concluded that South Africa’s multilateral and foreign policy agendas have been driven by the pursuit of its national interest while trying to ensure peace in other African states.

This study analyzed the interest rate channel, credit channel, exchange rate channel and asset price channel for monetary policy transmission mechanism in Namibia. The idea behind this study is to have a comprehensive study that covers a variety of channels for monetary policy transmission mechanism. The study utilized a Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) technique on quarterly time-series data covering the period 2000:Q1 to 2016:Q4. In particular, the validity of the data used is checked and verified by using two sets of prior distributions suggested by Sims and Zha as well as prior distribution of Koop and Korobilis. The variables used in this study are real output (Yt), real effective exchange rate (Et), inflation rate (Pt), repo rate (Rt), housing price index (Ht) and credit extended to private sector (Lt). The findings revealed that interest rate and credit channels remain important in the transmission mechanism to this day. Notably the exchange rate and asset price channels are also slowly gaining prominence in monetary policy transmission mechanism. Therefore, the study provides useful information to the monetary authorities regarding the process of transmission mechanisms. This is quite important especially that the Central Bank (Bank of Namibia) is very serious about financial stability within the financial system, given the fragility of the financial systems in the world due to financial crisis.

This paper examines the influence that the reputation of Zimbabwe’s human capital has as an antecedent of FDI market entry opportunities in the country. By synthesizing nation branding, behavioural finance and foreign direct investment theory, this paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge in human capital as a determinant influencing foreign investor behaviour within an African economic context. Empirical data was generated from a self-administered online survey of a purposively sampled population of 305 foreign investors within the Zimbabwean context. Exploratory factor analysis extracted the items that constituted the Zimbabwean human capital construct, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients being utilized to measure the reliability of the measuring instrument. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment coefficients and multiple regression analysis were employed to further analyze the data. The results revealed that foreign investors considered the availability of a sustainable, highly productive, skilled, retainable and inexpensive workforce, as the influential human capital attributes they considered for FDI to Zimbabwe. The empirical evidence further affirmed that the reputation of Zimbabwe’s human capital is an antecedent for resource- and efficiency-seeking FDI typologies to Zimbabwe. As a result, practical guidelines are provided for the Government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Investment Authority on the potential development and promotion of Zimbabwe’s human capital for the purpose of positively influencing investor behaviour, thereby attracting FDI to the country.

The role of packaging has changed with the move to self-service retail formats. Marketers have transformed packaging to become one of the major promoting tools to products. There was a necessity to explore packaging and its elements in order to understand which of these elements influence international university students purchase decisions. Thus, this paper seeks to determine the relationship between international university students’ buying behaviour and package elements through linear regression analysis. A quantitative, non-probability research approach was employed. A convenience sample was used to select study 400international students from two South African universities. Research findings reveal that international students’ perception of packaging elements influence their buying behaviour. The results also show that there is a significant relationship between consumer perception and students buying behaviour. Findings also reveal that there is a significant relationship between consumer buying behaviour and seven predictor variables; colour, graphics, packaging technology, label information, brand name, time pressure and level of involvement. It is thus imperative for the marketers to understand that packaging elements have various influences on the consumer depending on context and on product. If the package elements are properly combined, the package will be more attractive and attention grabbing.

SMEs have become beacons of hope towards improving economic growth and development of many countries globally. However, the literature documents a high discontinuance rate among small businesses. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of ethical practices on the performance of SMEs in South Africa. The study was based on a quantitative research design. The survey method was used as a data collection method. Using this method, self-administered questionnaires were used as the primary data collection tool. These questionnaires were hand delivered to the participants by the researcher. The random sampling method was used to obtain the participants. The population consisted of SME owner/managers in Polokwane municipality. 74 SME owner/managers participated in the survey. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, T tests and regression analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha was used as a measure of reliability. The findings showed that SMEs display unethical behavior and a weak performance. It was discovered that SMEs does not have policies in place to guide their ethical behavior. The T test results showed significant differences between gender and education levels with ethical practices of SMEs. The regression results showed that there is a positive relationship between ethical practices and performance of SMEs. Recommendations were made for SMEs to treat ethical issues seriously lest they risk incurring costs associated with lawsuits and negative brand reputation.

This paper synthesizes the theory of consumption using some Nigerian contexts. The argument on what determines consumption is yet an unfinished task. We tested the general consumption function using Nigerian data covering 1981-2012. Based on the diagnostics, we employed a vector autoregression-in-first difference approach. The result shows that previous incomes (up to two lags) may not be significant in influencing consumption in Nigeria but previous consumption levels (up to two lags) attained may do. In addition, consumers in Nigeria may reduce their consumption in the current year based on their knowledge of previous year consumption but may raise the current consumption level due to their experience of last two years consumption. This corroborates suggestions that macro-econometricians must analyze consumption beyond the general consumption function. The pattern of historical data also suggests that consumption may be difficult to predict in Nigeria. Therefore, government of Nigeria may succeed in influencing its aggregate demand which consumption is the major component if its income and tax policies are permanent, rather than being temporary.

Of recent, studies on work intensification have surfaced in many sectors of the work environment and, with work-life balance being triggered by numerous variables. Employees are working harder and faster to meet tight deadlines and the speed of work has escalated resulting in a negative association with their health. The study aims to assess whether work intensification hinders work-life balance and affects employees’ daily tasks. A quantitative approach was selected for the study and, both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. Hypotheses testing were part of the study and most were partially accepted. The simple random sample was chosen and a sample of 100 employees was drawn. Data were collected using a self-developed questionnaire. The results showed that work intensification and work-life balance occurred at varying degrees and improvements were required in several areas. The adverse results of work intensification and high-involvement work processes have a tremendous impact on the employees’ work-life balance. The study culminates with a projection on recommendations, conclusion and, practical implications are reflected upon based on the study.

Indonesia's economy is currently undergoing a sharp shift of structural transformation. This is evident from the change in the proportion of major sectoral contributions to GDP in Indonesia. The agricultural sector in 2000 accounted for 15.60 percent of the national GDP. This sector is experiencing a gradual downward trend in 2015 which only contributes 12.18 percent. On the other hand there is an increasing contribution to GDP for the trade sector from 16.15 percent in 2000 to 18.06 percent by 2015. The study aims to identify the structural transformation of the agricultural sector in Indonesia, identify fiscal policy, appropriate development programs and can be implemented. The research methodology used is to explore the theory and implementation of several other countries by using SWOT analysis. The results of this research analysis found that the shift of structural transformation in the agricultural sector has the potential to cause negative impacts on several macroeconomic indicators such as GDP per capita persector and workforce of the sector. Therefore, there are several fiscal instruments that can be recommended, among others through credit programs such as Credit for Business Programme, subsidies and agricultural credit. Moreover, it can be done through agricultural insurance schemes and programs to increase infrastructure spending in agriculture so that the structural transformation is expected to keep Indonesia's economic growth more inclusive.