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1 – 7 of 7Kaitano Simwaka, Donald Flywell Malanga and George Chipeta
The study aims to present a hermeneutic literature review on records management practices in institutions of higher education in Africa to inform a prevailing records management…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to present a hermeneutic literature review on records management practices in institutions of higher education in Africa to inform a prevailing records management phenomenon.
Design/methodology/approach
The review was underpinned by the hermeneutic approach as adapted from Boell and Cecez-Kecmanovic (2014). It was further guided by a qualitative analysis to underscore a critical assessment and development of themes in the study.
Findings
This process found that the management of records in Sub-Saharan African higher education is evident, but is overwhelmed by many factors. Hence, the study recommends the formulation and implementation of records management tools to guide and spur records management practices in African higher education.
Originality/value
The study operationalizes the hermeneutic approach in the records management practice.
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Kaitano Simwaka, Donald Flywell Malanga and George T. Chipeta
This study aims to investigate records management practices in Malawian private universities with a focus on University of Livingstonia.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate records management practices in Malawian private universities with a focus on University of Livingstonia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used embedded case study design using a mixed methods approach. A survey questionnaire, semi-structured interview guide and a document review were used to collect data from University of Livingstonia staff.
Findings
The study found that University of Livingstonia created records such as minutes, grades, mails, theses, policy documents and reports. Some of the challenges related to records management at the institution were uncoordinated records management practices due to, among others, lack of records management policy, retention and disposal schedules among others. It further reported a number of factors frustrating the success of records management practices at UNILIA such as lack of management support, poor funding and lack of information communication technology infrastructure. Nevertheless, the study acknowledged the role of records management at University of Livingstonia.
Originality/value
Previous studies on records management in Malawi focused on public sector. However, this is a novel study undertaken in the private higher education. Therefore, it forms a basis for conceptualising records management phenomena in the private higher education in Malawi.
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Jia Liu, Frida Thomas Pacho and Wang Xuhui
The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the impact of culture (using individualism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance) on entrepreneurial risk taking behavior…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the impact of culture (using individualism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance) on entrepreneurial risk taking behavior which leads to the opportunity exploitation decision. Moreover, it also uses risk taking behavior of entrepreneurial as the mediation variable between culture and opportunity exploitations decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
The study took place in Tanzania, which is allocated in East Africa and is one of under researched countries. In total, 140 entrepreneurs who own venture of 5-99 employees were able to be interviewed using a survey questionnaire. In this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the direct and indirect relationship of culture in entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation decisions.
Findings
After hypothesis testing, the empirical results showed that Tanzania’s culture has an impact on entrepreneurial risk taking behavior, which influences entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation decision. It also showed culture through individualism and uncertainty avoidance measurements affect entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation decisions. The empirical results on power distance were insignificant.
Research limitations/implications
This study is a wake-up call to policy makers and formal institutions such as government authorities, education institutions and religion institutions. Thus, culture has an ability to influence the behavior of entrepreneurs and so the performance of ventures if it is consistent and well structured. Therefore it should be not taken for granted. Data for our study are based on only two cities and therefore the results should not be generalized as the whole country’s inference. Generalizability is questioned because the data are from only two cities in Tanzania and therefore future research should include more cities to be able to validate the generalizability.
Practical implications
This study is a wake-up call to policymakers and formal institutions such as government authorities, education institutions and religion institutions. Thus culture has an ability to influence the behavior of entrepreneurs and so the performance of ventures if it is consistent and well structured. Therefore it should be not taken for granted. Data for our study are based on only two cities and therefore the results should not be generalized as the whole country’s inference.
Social implications
In the country which has well-structured culture, influence the behavior of entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities.
Originality/value
This is the first empirical study to use SEM for exploring the culture of individualism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance impact on entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation in Tanzania.
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Michael Nkuba, Raban Chanda, Gagoitseope Mmopelwa, Edward Kato, Margaret Najjingo Mangheni and David Lesolle
This paper aims to investigate the effect of using indigenous forecasts (IFs) and scientific forecasts (SFs) on pastoralists’ adaptation methods in Rwenzori region, Western Uganda.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effect of using indigenous forecasts (IFs) and scientific forecasts (SFs) on pastoralists’ adaptation methods in Rwenzori region, Western Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a household survey from 270 pastoralists and focus group discussions. The multivariate probit model was used in the analysis.
Findings
The results revealed that pastoralists using of IF only more likely to be non-farm enterprises and livestock sales as adaptation strategies. Pastoralists using both SF and IF were more likely to practise livestock migration.
Research limitations/implications
Other factors found to be important included land ownership, land tenure, gender, education level, non-farm and productive assets, climate-related risks and agricultural extension access.
Practical implications
Increasing the number of weather stations in pastoral areas would increase the predictive accuracy of scientific climate information, which results in better adaptive capacity of pastoralists. Active participation of pastoral households in national meteorological dissemination processes should be explored.
Social implications
A two-prong approach that supports both mobile and sedentary pastoralism should be adopted in rangeland development policies.
Originality/value
This study has shown the relevance of IFs in climate change adaptation methods of pastoralists. It has also shown that IFs compliment SFs in climate change adaptation in pastoralism.
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Access to good menstrual products is a human rights issue. Yet, there are rising health concerns of women regarding traditional–plastic sanitary napkins. The usage of these…
Abstract
Purpose
Access to good menstrual products is a human rights issue. Yet, there are rising health concerns of women regarding traditional–plastic sanitary napkins. The usage of these products has raised apprehensions towards the environmental pollution due to the plastic content. The solution for both these issues lies in the sustainable menstrual products. As menstruation is a public health issue, this study aims to identify the role of health beliefs on attitude of women towards sustainable menstrual products.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted for the purpose of data collection. The study uses questionnaire as a research instrument to gain an insight on women health beliefs towards sustainable menstrual products. Data was collected from 527 women respondents through convenience sampling. SPSS and Smart-PLS 4 were used for analysing the data.
Findings
Results of the study indicate that all the health belief perceptions had a significant impact on attitude. Women with more positive health belief and less negative health beliefs are the potential consumers for sustainable menstrual products.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this the first study that uses health belief model to explore and add to the menstruation literature especially sustainable menstrual hygiene.
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