Search results
1 – 10 of 162Tanushree Mahato, Manish Kumar Jha, Akhaya Kumar Nayak and Neelam Kaushal
The purpose of the paper is to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic review to examine the research landscape of women empowerment through participation in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic review to examine the research landscape of women empowerment through participation in self-help groups (SHGs), identifying the eminent contributors, intellectual communities and future research agenda in the field of SHGs and women empowerment.
Design/methodology/approach
The global works of literature related to the theme of SHGs and women empowerment between 1998 and May 6, 2022 were scanned for bibliometric analysis and systematic review. A total of 176 English language documents from the Scopus database were extracted. Bibliometric analysis is conducted using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software.
Findings
This study finds that SHGs are paramount in achieving rural women’s empowerment multidimensionally. Found that India is the most contributing country with 136 documents, and Ranjula Bali Swain and Fan Yang Wallentin are the most cited authors in the research field of SHGs and women empowerment. In addition, the paper proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework to portray rudimentary antecedents of women’s empowerment achieved through participation in SHGs.
Practical implications
This bibliometric analysis, along with a systematic review demonstrating a framework encapsulating the principal dimensions of women empowerment and their indicators, will be helpful to practitioners, government, policymakers and researchers working in the area of SHGs and women empowerment.
Originality/value
This study recognizes numerous significant contributions by eminent scholars and presents a concise review of the literature for novice researchers working in the area of SHGs and women empowerment.
Details
Keywords
Andrew Ebekozien, Clinton Aigbavboa, Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan, Ahmad Salman and Godspower C. Amadi
The organised self-help approach successfully enhances urban low-income earners' (LIE) homeownership in some developing countries. The technique can enhance urban resilience for…
Abstract
Purpose
The organised self-help approach successfully enhances urban low-income earners' (LIE) homeownership in some developing countries. The technique can enhance urban resilience for sustainable LIE homeownership. There is a paucity of studies concerning sustainable homeownership for Nigeria's urban LIE through a self-help approach. The study investigated the housing needs of the urban LIE via organised self-help mechanisms and how the same can enhance urban resilience for sustainable homeownership in the Ancient City of Benin, Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
Given the unexplored nature of the issue, 20 face-to-face interviews were conducted with experts and analysed through a thematic approach.
Findings
Findings identified eleven main barriers faced by the urban LIE. This includes the absence of government housing policy, funding frameworks, urban land scarcity, high property development costs, naira devaluation, high-interest rates, inflation, bribery and corruption, lax mortgage sub-sector, high cost of infrastructure, and government bureaucracy.
Originality/value
This study will contribute to pioneering the role of organised self-help mechanisms in urban resilience for sustainable LIE homeownership in developing cities via a qualitative approach. Also, findings would significantly contribute to developing countries' sustainable housing and urban resilience literature.
Details
Keywords
Housing transformation is not part of the Ethiopian urban housing policy, but it is a reality for city dwellers. The objective of this study was to find out what, why, and how…
Abstract
Purpose
Housing transformation is not part of the Ethiopian urban housing policy, but it is a reality for city dwellers. The objective of this study was to find out what, why, and how aided self-help residents transformed their core house in Bahir Dar city. The focus was specifically on the transformations that resulted in changes to the floor area.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study research design is ideal for empirically examining socio-physical dynamics. The study employed three aided self-help housing cooperatives as case studies in Bahir Dar city. Information was gathered from cooperative members, committees, relevant government bodies, and the physical environment through field observations, interviews, photographic surveys, and questionnaires.
Findings
The findings showed three types of housing transformations that resulted in a change in floor area and are influenced by the building features of the original core house, motivation, and participation of residents. As a result of the housing transformation, residents became housing producers and suppliers, and their neighbourhood changed into a more socially and functionally diversified settlement.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study have practical implications for policy makers to institute mechanisms that help planners and architects in preparing plots of land for residential use and in designing housing typologies. The findings will have an impact on the housing policy of Ethiopia.
Practical implications
The findings of this study will impact planners and architects when it comes to preparing plots for residential land use and designing housing typologies. In addition, the finding will have an impact on housing policy of Ethiopia.
Originality/value
The study of the resident’s housing transformation that brought floor area change provides further insights on the consideration of housing transformation as a housing production and supply strategy.
Details
Keywords
M. Dominic Jayakumar, Aiswarya Ramasundaram and Arokiyadass Vanathayan
Solid, liquid and e-waste pose serious health hazards, environmental pollution and contribute to climate change. To address these issues of solid waste management (SWM), amidst…
Abstract
Purpose
Solid, liquid and e-waste pose serious health hazards, environmental pollution and contribute to climate change. To address these issues of solid waste management (SWM), amidst many policy decisions, the Government of India roped in several institutions, including self-help groups (SHGs), into the Swachh Bharat Movement (Clean India Mission). This study aims to illustrate the significant contributions of SHG’s in tackling SWM, particularly the plastic waste menace in India, while fostering socio-economic values and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Design/methodology/approach
Using a from-the-field approach, qualitative data were collected from 30 members of three SHGs to understand their significant contributions in mitigating plastic waste.
Findings
This research identifies three major themes: economic value creation, social value creation and SDGs via collection and reduction of plastic waste landfills. Furthermore, several related subthemes are identified.
Practical implications
This study offers pragmatic solutions to deal with plastic waste at personal, community, institutional and governmental levels. Moreover, it recommends engaging SHGs to promote sustainable waste management practices such as segregating wastes at source, regulating plastic bag usage, advocating behavioural change towards waste generation and protecting the environment.
Originality/value
The authors consider a proven case of SHG’s contribution to protect the environment and emphasize the need to involve more such groups in waste management practices.
Details
Keywords
Microfinance programs across the countries are designed on the self-help and peer pressure model, aim at microentrepreneurship development. Despite of significant studies on…
Abstract
Purpose
Microfinance programs across the countries are designed on the self-help and peer pressure model, aim at microentrepreneurship development. Despite of significant studies on microfinance-supported microentrepreneurship (MSM), not a single literature examines it from the systems thinking. In addition to that, the extant literature did not look MSM from the behavioral perspectives. To address the above gaps, the present study aims to examine self-help group (SHG)-based microfinance programs from the systems approach using the Stimulus-Organism-Behavior-Consequence (SOBC) model.
Design/methodology/approach
Information gathered from 786 women SHG members from four states of India through a structured interview schedule. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were conducted to process data. Additional statistical tests were performed to test the reliability and validity.
Findings
It was found that the “positive stimulus” (social intermediation, financial intermediation and business development services) positively impacted; and “negative stimulus” (intermediation accountability, and intermediation assumption) negatively impact, to “motive” (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived control) for micro-entrepreneurship in the SHG-based microfinance. Further, “motive” positively predicted “behavioral intention”; the “behavioral intention” positively determined “consequences” of micro-entrepreneurship. Intermediation as stimuli acted as “input”; the motive and behavioral intention acted as the “process”, and the consequence acted as the “output” in the SHG-based microentrepreneurship system.
Originality/value
To the best of the author's knowledge, this paper is the first one to examine the behavioral systems of microentrepreneurship programs through the Stimulus-Organism-Behavior-Consequence (SOBC) model.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2022-0801
Details
Keywords
Giacomo Ciambotti, Matteo Pedrini, Bob Doherty and Mario Molteni
Social enterprises (SEs) face tensions when combining financial and social missions, and this is particularly evident in the scaling process. Although extant research mainly…
Abstract
Purpose
Social enterprises (SEs) face tensions when combining financial and social missions, and this is particularly evident in the scaling process. Although extant research mainly focuses on SEs that integrate their social and financial missions, this study aims to unpack social impact scaling strategies in differentiated hybrid organizations (DHOs) through the case of African SEs.
Design/methodology/approach
The study entails an inductive multiple case study approach based on four case SEs: work integration social enterprises (WISEs) and fair trade producer social enterprises (FTPSEs) in Uganda and Kenya. A total of 24 semi-structured interviews were collected together with multiple secondary data sources and then coded and analyzed through the rigorous Gioia et al. (2013) methodology to build a theoretical model.
Findings
The results indicate that SEs, as differentiated hybrids, implement four types of social impact scaling strategies toward beneficiaries and benefits (penetration, bundling, spreading and diversification) and unveil different dual mission tensions generated by each scaling strategy. The study also shows mutually reinforcing mechanisms named cross-bracing actions, which are paradoxical actions connected to one another for navigating tensions and ensuring dual mission during scaling.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides evidence of four strategies for scaling social impact, with associated challenges and response mechanisms based on the cross-bracing effect between social and financial missions. Thus, the research provides a clear framework (social impact scaling matrix) for investigating differentiation in hybridity at scaling and provides new directions on how SEs scale their impact, with implications for social entrepreneurship and dual mission management literature.
Practical implications
The model offers a practical tool for decision-makers in SEs, such as managers and social entrepreneurs, providing insights into what scaling pathways to implement (one or multiples) and, more importantly, the implications and possible solutions. Response mechanisms are also useful for tackling specific tensions, thereby contributing to addressing the challenges of vulnerable, marginalized and low-income individuals. The study also offers implications for policymakers, governments and other ecosystem actors such as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and social investors.
Originality/value
Despite the growing body of literature on scaling social impact, only a few studies have focused on differentiated hybrids, and no evidence has been provided on how they scale only the social impact (without considering commercial scaling). This study brings a new perspective to paradox theory and hybridity, showing paradoxes come into view at scaling, and documenting how from a differentiation approach to hybridity, DHOs also implemented cross-bracing actions, which are reinforcement mechanisms, thus suggesting connections and synergies among the actions in social and financial mission, where such knowledge is required to better comprehend how SEs can achieve a virtuous cycle of profits and reinvestments in social impact.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to describe a link between and benefits of two initiatives targeted at mental health and social inclusion. One being informal, the sport of walking football; the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe a link between and benefits of two initiatives targeted at mental health and social inclusion. One being informal, the sport of walking football; the other a formal self-help well-being group.
Design/methodology/approach
This reflective commentary describes two group activities which are aimed at addressing physical and mental health challenges of older adults. These are described by the author to highlight the benefits that they provide for some of the challenges faced by men in particular in later life. Using a narrative approach to describe a synergy between the two initiatives created by the link between the activities, and the participants.
Findings
The Lawnmower Maintenance Society has proved to be a successful model for promoting and supporting the participant’s mental health and well-being. As we emerge from the trauma of COVID-19 and the isolation of lockdown, such initiatives may help redress the imbalance in health which resulted. Although there are several similar groups, there seems to be a positive link between the physical and mental health benefits of using Walking Football as a shared interest of the attendees. Feedback from participants and interest from the wider community suggest the positive impact of such groups, particularly as National Health Service resources are stretched beyond capacity.
Research limitations/implications
Although this study reports on one new group for men, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first to bring together the areas of Walking Football and a men’s support group.
Practical implications
This type of support group could easily be extended if the footballing authorities wish to replicate it in other parts of the country.
Social implications
It is well known that men are very reluctant to talk about personal problems. Other workers have also tried innovative solutions to this problem, such as Men in Sheds. This case study offers a further contribution to this area.
Originality/value
There are several academic papers, as well as information on well-being groups in both the print and social media. This commentary outlines a small, but contemporary, description of one such initiative.
Details
Keywords
Darko B. Vukovic, Marko Petrovic, Moinak Maiti and Aleksandra Vujko
The starting premise of this study is that women's empowerment is the goal for self-realization and that the support that comes from local tourism stakeholders represents an…
Abstract
Purpose
The starting premise of this study is that women's empowerment is the goal for self-realization and that the support that comes from local tourism stakeholders represents an adequate base. In many rural areas, women have established self-help groups (SHGs), which facilitate the interaction with a wide range of stakeholders. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of SHGs on female entrepreneurship and self-employment in tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine the research question, this study adopted a quantitative research that included a sample of 513 women in a less-advanced rural area in Serbia. For the data analysis, the generalized linear regression model (GLM) was used.
Findings
According to the results, self-employment is the leading goal of women's empowerment.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation in the research and the authors’ suggestion for future research is to increase the sample size of female respondents, so examination of their attitudes and role in the travel business in their local settings might reach higher significance. The second issue that the authors would like to point out is a highly local character of our study, so the future research should involve other rural areas in the country and from abroad (e.g. similar undeveloped countryside with noticeable, active women's role in local entrepreneurship).
Practical implications
The most important practical implications of this paper are twofold: (1) the results of the research have shown that the tourist potential of rural areas can be enhanced through local tourism stakeholders' support; (2) women without professional interest or jobs in rural areas, especially in the areas where the population is traditionally dominated by men (husband/brother/father), have a chance to earn and to be economically more independent. This research can affect future studies to investigate other aspects of empowerment depending on the difference of regions, from one side, and also alternative opportunities for tourism and local development in less-advanced rural areas, from another side.
Originality/value
The study analyzes the tourism potential of the rural areas (which are less advanced and mostly very poor in developing countries, such as Serbia). In this case, there are opportunities to increase employment, social inclusion of women, development of new tourism strategies, implementation of destination marketing, etc. Moreover, it contributes to future research in the field of stakeholders in tourism strategies.
Details
Keywords
Helen Yin-Kwan Lee, Lawrence Ka-ki Ho and Fredie Pak-Cheung Hung
This study aims to explore the community strengths/ weaknesses and the opportunities/ threats of the Nepalese communities in Hong Kong that have faced during the COVID-19…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the community strengths/ weaknesses and the opportunities/ threats of the Nepalese communities in Hong Kong that have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection of COVID-19 among the ethnic minorities (EM) population in western democracies was reported higher, and it was wondered whether it was due to structural discrimination of the underprivileged.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is situated in Hong Kong during the peak of pandemic in 2020–2021. The authors followed the work of an EM service agency and interacted with their Nepalese clients to explore their reactions in coping with the sudden physical and economic adversities and examined their capacity amid the pandemic.
Findings
The authors noticed their effective self-mobilization that was strategically facilitated by veteran social workers and thus have strong resilience compared to other EM clusters in the territories.
Originality/value
The ways of their interactions offer useful insights for the authors to examine the prevailing strategy for achieving the mission of social inclusion in Hong Kong with 8% of the EM population.
Details
Keywords
Carmel Avizohar, Tali Gazit and Noa Aharony
Exploring the considerations that guide and influence members of Facebook medical support groups to disclose private information.
Abstract
Purpose
Exploring the considerations that guide and influence members of Facebook medical support groups to disclose private information.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample included 293 participants, aged 18–85 years, who answered an online survey, 155 members of Facebook medical support groups and 138 members of other Facebook groups.
Findings
Members of medical support groups attach greater importance to privacy policy, give greater value to privacy and reveal more private information, compared to members of other groups. Members of medical support groups tend to feel that they receive more support and feel that the privacy policy preserves their privacy much more. These feelings are associated with greater self-disclosure of groups' members.
Originality/value
The research insights will help medical support groups' members and admins to put into action the fundamental right to privacy and build a set of rules tailored to their individual and group needs.
Details