Graduate School of Business Publications
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- ItemOPERATING IN A DISRUPTED ENVIRONMENT: LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS(European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 2022) Nani, G.V.; Ndlovu, I.The study, which sought to find out the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the business operations of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, and the lessons thereof, adopted the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative approach and a case study design. Data was collected from a sample of 30 purposively selected SME owners using electronic semi-structured and physically distributed questionnaires. Data were thematically analysed. The study found that the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic included restrictions on physical movements and face-to-face interaction; loss of revenue; failure to operate businesses in a disruptive environment and changes in consumption patterns. The lessons derived from the pandemic were that SMEs need to embrace technology and should be innovative and creative; the need for networking and the need to study the environment and adapt accordingly. The study thus concluded that despite the disruptions caused by the pandemics, there were lessons derived from the experiences. The implications provided by the study were that SMEs should acquire new technologies and new skills for doing business; seek guidance from mobile service providers; work in partnership with bigger companies so as to copy best practice; be creative and innovative and re-adjust strategies in order to adapt quickly. Policymakers should disseminate information to SMEs on the environmental challenges that they are likely to face.
- ItemTHE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE INITIATOR FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION OF SMES IN THE BULAWAYO METROPOLITAN PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE(European Journal of Management and Marketing Studies, 2022) Nani, G.V.; Nani, G.V. and Maguraushe, K.The study examined whether the COVID-19 pandemic had created digital opportunities for Small to Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe or it had actually exposed their lack of digital acumen. The interpretivist paradigm, a qualitative descriptive approach and a case study design were adopted for this study. The research used semi-structured questionnaires to solicit data from 30 purposively selected small to medium entrepreneurs. Data were thematically analysed to discern meaning. The study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had led participants to embrace technology, as evidenced by their acquisition of technological gadgets. Furthermore, ownership of technological gadgets had facilitated working from home, in the comfort of their homes; reaching clients irrespective of boundaries; having easy access to information on business transactions; the ability to do business even during the pandemic; ordering and ease of payment of suppliers; convenience and flexibility in doing business and discovering business platforms they were not aware of. The study concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic was the initiator for the digital inclusion of SMEs in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, after the realisation that for their businesses to remain operational in this uncertain and disruptive environment, they had to embrace technology. The study recommended that workshops to train and equip SME owners with digital skills be conducted so that in the event of other pandemics, their businesses would remain afloat.
- ItemThe Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Working Capital Management of Companies in the Telecommunications Sector in Zimbabwe(International Journal of Auditing and Accounting Studies, 2022-04-20) Ncube, L.; Chinjova, F.This study aims to explore the effect of the Covid19 pandemic on the working capital of organisations in the telecommunications sector in Zimbabwe. The research was conducted against the background that some organisations were struggling to meet working capital needs due to continuous lockdowns which negatively affected organisations. The study was based on a sample of 78 respondents who were selected from four telecommunications organisations in the city of Bulawayo. The study was conducted using the descriptive design and questionnaires were used for collecting data. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.0. Standard deviations and mean values were used to present descriptive data while regression analysis was used to establish relationships between Covid19 working practices and working capital elements. The study revealed that organisations had implemented HRM, financial, Marketing and operations management practices to a greater extent. Some of the practices implemented were not necessarily imposed by the government but as a response to the need for survival by the organisations themselves. The results revealed that Covid19 working capital practices had a statistically significant effect on inventory and accounts receivable but did not have an effect on accounts payable and cash management. The study thus recommended contingency plans from companies to properly manage their working capital.
- ItemDetermining the True Beneficiaries of University Research Output: Fostering Viability and Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises(Current Aspects in Business, Economics and Finance, 2022-06) Nani, G.V., 2022This study sought to determine the true beneficiaries of research output. The study was motivated by the fact that research studies had been conducted, but the purported beneficiaries did not receive feedback. A case survey approach involving 80 lecturers from the Faculty of Commerce of one public university in Zimbabwe was utilised. Responses from academic researchers were elicited using semistructured questionnaires. Frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations, and Pearson chi-square tests were used to analyze quantitative data. Thematic analysis was done on qualitative data. Only 36.92 percent of respondents had undertaken studies on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while the remaining 63.08 percent had conducted other studies unrelated to SMEs, according to the data. Of the 36.92 percent of respondents who had done SMEs studies, 41.67 percent had not shared their findings with the intended recipients. According to the findings, some academic researchers do not seem to prioritize distribution of research output for practical use. Academics' failure to distribute results revealed fundamental issues. Researchers should be reminded of the necessity of communicating their findings for practical application, according to the study, and relevant authorities should stimulate the dissemination of research output by providing incentives and support systems. The study discovered a lack of research on who gains when research studies on SMEs are undertaken but the results are not disseminated to them, and it aimed to fill that gap.
- ItemTHE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES ON LIVELIHOODS: PERCEPTIONS OF WOMEN TRADERS IN ONE RESORT MINING TOWN IN ZIMBABWE(European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 2024) Moyo, P.; Nani, G. V.This study sought to find out the socio-economic impact of tourism activities on the livelihoods of women traders in one resort mining town in Zimbabwe. The study adopted an interpretivist paradigm, qualitative approach and case study research design. Data was solicited from 25 purposively selected participants using an interview guide. The results of the study were as follows: The socio-economic benefits as perceived by the participants included employment and income generation; general economic empowerment opportunities, improved lifestyles of women traders, formation of business groups, inclusion of disadvantaged women, participation in cultural activities and access to healthcare. The study concluded that the various tourism activities women traders were involved in were catalytic in improving the socio-economic livelihoods of women traders. The study recommended that a tourism policy and legislation be crafted in order to create a more inclusive and enabling environment that encourages and empowers women’s participation in tourism activities at grassroots level. Further studies could also be conducted in other places in Zimbabwe, in order to obtain a more comprehensive overview of the tourism activities and its impact on women traders’ livelihoods.