The economic impact of the Comrades Marathon

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melville Saayman ◽  
Andrea Saayman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Social Accounting Matrix ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The World ◽  
Sport Events ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe Comrades Marathon is a world‐renowned ultra marathon that takes place yearly between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. It attracts athletes from around the world, and boasts a participation of more than 14,000. The purpose of this article is to determine the impact that this marathon has on the provincial economy – a manufacturing‐based economy.Design/methodology/approachSpending data of participants and their accompanying spectators were compiled by means of surveys and participants were split into categories based on their origin. The provincial Social Accounting Matrix is used to quantify the impact of this spending stimulus on production, income and job creation within the province.FindingsThe results show that Comrades Marathon contributes significantly to the provincial economy and that more than 600 jobs are dependent on the event.Research limitations/implicationsIt has a larger impact on the local economy than many similar sport events and this is attributed to the specialised nature of the event as well as its status as an ultra‐marathon.Originality/valueThis research is one of few on ultra‐marathons and the focus is on participants’ spending behaviour during the event.

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of libraries – the role of ISO 16439

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Creaser
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Standard ◽  
The World ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Library Impact ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Library impact and how to evaluate it has been debated for a number of years. While the activity – the busy-ness – of the library is now routinely measured and described, the difference the library makes is less tangible and harder to measure. Libraries in all sectors and worldwide are grappling with this issue, and the purpose of this paper is to summarise international standards available to support them. Design/methodology/approach The first international standard concerning library impact, ISO 16439 Information and documentation – methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries, was published in 2014 after several years in development. Findings The standard describes a range of methods for assessing library impact which have been used across the world in a variety of libraries in all sectors. Originality/value This paper summarises the key methods described in the standard, and gives references for further reading.

scholarly journals A comparative evaluation between the impact of previous outbreaks and COVID-19 on the tourism industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulcin Ozbay ◽  
Mehmet Sariisik ◽  
Veli Ceylan ◽  
Muzaffer Çakmak
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Death Cases

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to make a comparative evaluation of the impacts of previous outbreaks and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the tourism industry. COVID-19 appears to have disrupted all memorizations about epidemics ever seen. Nobody has anticipated that the outbreak in late December will spread rapidly across the world, be fatal and turn the world economy upside down. Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome and others caused limited losses in a limited geography, thus similar behaviors were expected at first in COVID-19. But it was not so. Today, people continue to lose their lives and experience economic difficulties. One of the most important distressed industries is undoubtedly tourism.Design/methodology/approachThis study is a literature review. In this review, a comparative evaluation between the impact of previous outbreaks and COVID-19 on the tourism industry has been made based on statistics and previous research studies.FindingsThe information and figures obtained show that COVID-19 and previous outbreaks have such significant differences that cannot be compared. COVID-19 has been one of the worst to live in terms of spreading speed, the geography where it spreads, loss of lives and negative effects in the whole area.Originality/valueIt is noteworthy that COVID-19 is very severe in terms of death cases and also its impacts on the economy compared to other pandemics. It remains to be argued that COVID-19 can also be a reference in terms of possible new outbreaks in the future, and is an effective actor in determining future strategies.

scholarly journals Challenges facing SMMEs during their first two years of operation in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandiso Ngcobo ◽  
S. Sukdeo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The World ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Unemployment is a serious problem that is facing South Africa (SA) and many countries across the globe. As a result, Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) have been identified as some of the suitable entities for job creation in SA. However, not many of the SMMEs experience success to the point that they can significantly contribute to the alleviation of unemployment. The objective of this paper is therefore to investigate possible challenges that SMMEs experience. The findings generally point to a need for awareness campaigns as some of the concerns raised by the participants are not legitimate. Even though the investigation was conducted in SA in the province of KwaZulu-Natal the findings are considered relevant for the rest of the country and many other parts of the world experiencing similar challenges

To lead or not to lead: that is the (courageous) question

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Javier Bajer
Keyword(s):  
Direct Observation ◽  
Side Effect ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to challenge the constructs regularly used by organisations around the world for the development of leadership. Design/methodology/approach This is an opinion piece based on direct observation of hundreds of organisations over the years. Findings The regular approaches used for the development of leadership skills in organisations have consistently failed to deliver against its promise. Moreover, it is often the case that organisations pursue new “solutions” to bridge the leadership gap, often to discover that their new approach not only failed to develop the skills needed but also had the side effect of distracting vast amounts of attention. This paper describes what, if not the various taxonomies that describe, “good leadership” looks like really and how it delivers sustainable and effective leadership transformation. Originality/value This piece challenges the status quo, offering a more powerful way of connecting people with the purpose of their work, increasing the impact that individual leadership could have in the creation of value for all stakeholders, including themselves.

Training the trainer – lessons from the new South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-30
Author(s):  
John Van der Merwe ◽  
Martyn Sloman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
New South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Module Design ◽  
Modern Economy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Way ◽  
Corporate Trainers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider some challenges involved in delivering a programme for the education of corporate trainers in the new South African economy. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the way in which training in organisations has changed in the modern economy; it asks whether “training” has any academic base with knowledge components or whether it is simply a craft discipline carried out in context by experienced practitioners. It examines the particular circumstances that arise in post-Apartheid South Africa and the challenges faced where participants are widespread geographically. Findings – The paper looks at the issues involved in module design under these circumstances and describes a study to determine the impact and value of the programme. It draws some conclusions that may assist in the design of similar programmes elsewhere. Research limitations/implications – The study is based on one university – although it is the first and only course of its type in South Africa. Originality/value – This paper provides an original perspective involving information from several countries.

The Web unravels

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Peter Buell Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Authoritarian Regimes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Corporation ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
Global Corporations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
The Web

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the splintering of the global internet into sovereign, government-controlled islands on the communications strategies and tactics of global corporations. Design/methodology/approach The approach taken was to review the various ways in which powerful authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China are controlling the Web to dissect the ways in which this could impact corporations. Findings The author believes that unless governments, civil entities and corporations collaborate to develop common standards for free speech and privacy, the Web as we know it today will cease to exist. Research limitations/implications The research is based on selected books and articles reviewed by the author and is not comprehensive. Practical implications Corporations will need to examine the impact of these developments on their own communications needs and strategies to develop the collaborations proposed. Social implications Without a universal global internet, the ability of citizens across the world to exchange ideas and develop strategies to tackle global problems will be severely curtailed. Originality/value The author does not believe that the splintering of the internet has been considered from the perspective of the global corporation.

Impact of COVID-19 on financial institutions: Navigating the global emerging patterns of financial crime

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Wronka
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Financial Sector ◽  
Financial Crime ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
Emerging Patterns ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The current COVID-19 pandemic has already proven to be one of the world’s deadliest crises in modern history with far-reaching impacts on different sectors of the global economy. The financial sector is among the most widely affected by the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most notable effects is related to financial crime. It is against this backdrop that the present study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on financial institutions with the main focus being on financial crime Design/methodology/approach Its twofold objectives were to critically examine the global emerging patterns of financial crime and their association with the COVID-19 pandemic; and to investigate how financial institutions across the world have been responding to, managing, and dealing with the emerging patterns of financial crime brought about by (or linked to) the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings It was found out that as the pandemic ravages the world and pushes people and businesses to the very limits of their endurance, many financial sector stakeholders and players are responding in ways that put the entire financial sector and all its stakeholders at great risk. Specifically, COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of new patterns of financial crime that were either unheard of or were not as rampant in the past. Originality/value Both the descriptive and correlation analyses produced by this study provide new insights into the impact of COVID-19 on financial institutions with a main focus on financial crime.

Regulatory burden and business dynamics: a preliminary analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Clark ◽  
Todd Nesbit
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Regulatory Capture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Business Dynamics ◽  
Specific Regulation ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Stigler (1971) first presented a theory of regulation in which the regulator eventually serves the interests of the regulated rather than in the interest of the public good. In such an institutional environment, one should expect to observe outcomes associated with reduced competitive pressures on existing firms. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors use RegData, which quantifies regulatory restrictions by industry, to determine whether and to what degree regulation reduces establishment entry and the associated job creation and how regulation impacts existing establishment exit and job creation and destruction. Findings The results, while not definitive, are supportive of Stigler’s theory of regulatory capture. Originality/value This paper adds to the small but growing empirical literature examining the effects of cronyism more broadly. Prior studies of regulation have generally been either narrowly focused on a specific regulation or employ less precise measures of the extent of regulation. By employing RegData as a measure of regulatory restrictions by industry, this paper offers new insights on the impact of regulation on business dynamics.

Analysis of a low-cost anthropomorphic sensory platform for the world first minibus test

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 434-455
Author(s):  
Riaan Stopforth ◽  
Craig Proctor-Parker ◽  
Shaniel Davrajh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Loss Of Control ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
The World

Purpose The purpose of this paper includes results of some of the tests involved for the design and implementation of low-cost crash anthropomorphics (ATPs) fitted with sensory systems to measure forces that would have been experienced by passengers in the vehicle, commonly used for public transport within South Africa. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the description of the implemented low cost ATPs and the analysis of the data obtained from the sensory system within the torso of the ATPs and in the head of a single ATP, to identify if a documented threshold is exceeded. The autopsy of the ATPs is performed to identify injuries. Findings The recorded results showed the type of injuries that could have occurred when an accident has occurred with occupant in the minibus taxi. The autopsy performed on the ATPs showed feasible injuries that could be obtained by a person in a similar scenario. Research limitations/implications The ATPs were to be designed and constructed with the sensory system, with a budget of ZAR13,000/US$1,000. Originality/value The contributions of this paper are as follows: present the test results of two ATPs, and discuss them, for a loss of control of a minibus on a wet surface, which has been indicated as a world first test; And identify the need for a data fusion of sensory information to evaluate the injuries with the autopsy performed.

How well does the law protect women at home?

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheluchi Onyemelukwe
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
Domestic Violence Legislation ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The prevalence of domestic violence in Nigeria may be described as epidemic. To address this scourge, several pieces of legislation have been enacted in the past decade at state and federal levels in Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the emerging legislation on domestic violence. This paper thus examines the contents of these laws in a bid to determine the potential of these laws to prevent domestic violence, deter perpetrators from further incidents, punish perpetrators, compensate survivors and provide them with the necessary interventions for their rehabilitation. Design/methodology/approach The approach adopted is a content analysis of the provisions of the legislation, using salient parameters that have been drawn from documented best practices, specifically the key components for framing of domestic violence legislation around the world. Findings The author finds that while there is significant attempt in extant legislation to ensure that women are protected within domestic relationships, there are still gaps. Further, the protections are uneven across the states. In addition, there are systemic and contextual challenges that hamper the effectiveness of existing legislation in Nigeria in providing the necessary protections to women. Originality/value This study analyses the provisions of some of the legislation currently in place to protect persons from domestic violence. The impact, potential effect and overall utility of these pieces of legislation continue to require examination.

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