scholarly journals Normative Environmental Configuration of SMEs within the Sustainable Development Discourse in South Africa: An Empirical Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6537
Author(s):  
Reginald Masocha
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Survey ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Social Environmental

This paper investigates the role of normative environmental configuration forces on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopting sustainable development practices in South Africa. A research survey was performed, and data were gathered from SMEs utilizing owners and managers as respondents. Non-probability sampling at the hand of the convenience method was utilised and 220 respondents constituted the final sample. The analysis of data constituted factor analysis and hypotheses were tested through the structural equation modelling technique. The study hypothesised that normative forces have an impact on the participation of SMEs in the extents of sustainability practices, namely social, environmental and economic. The results led to the supporting of all the hypotheses postulated in the study. Thus, the major recommendation was to support the training, networking and professional affiliations of SMEs in sustainable development issues in order to ensure proliferation of sustainable development amongst these firms.

scholarly journals Does Emotional Intelligence Influence Academic Performance? The Role of Compassion and Engagement in Education for Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1721
Author(s):  
Marta Estrada ◽  
Diego Monferrer ◽  
Alma Rodríguez ◽  
Miguel Ángel Moliner
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Equation Analysis ◽  
Emotional Aspects ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Societies ◽  
Social Environmental

Education must guide students’ emotional development, not only to improve their skills and help them achieve their maximum performance, but to establish the foundations of a more cooperative and compassionate society. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, therefore, implies focusing on emotional aspects as well as financial, social, environmental, and scientific objectives. In this line, the goal of this study is to show how emotional intelligence, which is an essential dimension in the development and management of emotional competences required to build sustainable societies, plays a key role in optimising student’s academic performance in the classroom through compassion and academic commitment. The research model was tested with a questionnaire addressed to 550 students from four higher education institutions and one secondary school. The results of a structural equation analysis confirmed the study hypotheses. Emotional intelligence was shown to be positively related to compassion and higher levels of commitment, which, consequently, led to better academic performance. This finding will encourage interest in developing emotional intelligence, not only for its long-term value in training healthy citizens, but also for its short-term results in the classroom.

scholarly journals The Role of Good Environmental Governance in the Sustainable Development of South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Loretta Feris
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Decisions ◽  
Value Choices

This article seeks to analyse good governance decision-making in the environmental context through an understanding and interpretation of the relationship between good environmental governance (evidenced inter alia by decision-making by public authorities) and sustainable development in South Africa.  It critically assesses recent case law in an attempt to understand the way in which our courts are evaluating authorities’ environmental decisions.  In reaching its objectives, this article considers also how environmental decisions are made in the first place and asks the question: what are the value choices underlying government’s decisions and what role does sustainable development play in informing decisions for good environmental governance.

scholarly journals The role of infrastructure in sustainable development

2021 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
Aybika Imranovna Beksultanova ◽  
Liza Junidovna Gaisumova ◽  
Malika Abdullovna Sadueva
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Effective Interaction ◽  
Sustainable Infrastructure ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Institutional Sustainability ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
The Impact

Today, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the sustainable development agenda is in focus from a new perspective. On the other hand, the issues of inequality, as well as the topics of transparency, effective interaction of various stakeholders to overcome common global challenges, are becoming more and more relevant. Infrastructure plays a key role in achieving sustainable development and has a direct impact on more than 80 % of the UN SDG targets. Through creation and use of sustainable infrastructure, it is possible to achieve the necessary economic, social and environmental results within the framework of the sustainable development goals. Sustainable infrastructure is an infrastructure that is planned, designed, built, operated or decommissioned in a way that ensures economic, social, environmental and institutional sustainability throughout the entire life cycle. The study analyzes the impact of infrastructure on sustainable development. The problematic issues of infrastructural development in Russia are identified, the current situation with the underfunding of infrastructure is shown. Considering the large role of investments for development of the infrastructure complex, state measures for development of this industry have been offered; the necessary conditions have been determined for a more complete involvement of the state in infrastructure.

scholarly journals Legal Perspectives on the Role of Culture In Sustainable Development

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Anél Du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
Development Context ◽  
African Context ◽  
Cultural Governance

This article introduces some legal perspectives on the role of culture in sustainable development. The authors agree that sustainable development has been designed as an environmental concept but that room exists for the more prominent inclusion of some form(s) of the notion "culture" in the sustainable development equation.  It is shown that the fluid nature and meaning of "culture" may require a distinction between the role of "culture" per se and the role of "cultural governance" in the sustainable development context.  It is suggested that "cultural governance" as a notion may be more distinct and exact than "culture" itself.  The more functional notion of "good cultural governance" is preferred as a benchmark in the sustainable development equation, with the implication that cultural governance occurs in accordance with a certain standard.  This standard is briefly considered by looking at the meaning of good cultural governance as a notion that encompasses both cultural governance and good governance generally.   The article is set in the South African context but also invokes some law and policy developments internationally, regionally and sub-regionally to depict how issues of culture have been infiltrating the sustainable development discourse and to distil some of the substantive benchmarks for good cultural governance.

Community Participation

2018 ◽  
pp. 222-243
Author(s):  
Mbekezeli Comfort Mkhize ◽  
Phathutshedzo P. Madumi ◽  
Wela Wellman Manona
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
New Development ◽  
Viable Method

The emphases placed on community participation as a sustainable development strategy have increased in developing countries including South Africa. The shift to people-centred development initiative was in response to growing concerns over the unsustainable top-down and bureaucratic approaches to development. Despite the adoption of new development approaches, community participation has been plagued by pitfalls in the post-apartheid South Africa. Community participation remains centralised and politicised. The spaces of participation are closed. The objective of the chapter is to identify the pitfalls and opportunities for community participation in the sustainable development discourse. The chapter bridges the knowledge-gap with reference to critical analysis of development challenges and the alternative strategies. It concludes that community participation is the viable method for ensuring participation of the marginalised groups.

scholarly journals Influencing consumer engagement in online customer communities: The role of interactivity

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Mpinganjira
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Consumer Engagement ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Psychological Engagement ◽  
Behavioural Engagement ◽  
Different Dimensions

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to investigate consumer engagement in online customer communities and the influence of interactivity on it. A conceptual model linking different dimensions of interactivity and consumer engagement was proposed and tested.Rationale: The ability of managers to ensure high levels of consumer engagement depends on them gaining a good understanding of the concept, its manifestations in their context, as well as factors that influence it. This article aims at contributing to this understanding in the context of online customer communities.Methodology: The article followed a quantitative research approach. Data were collected from 303 members of online customer communities based in Gauteng, South Africa. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses proposed in the article.Findings and implications: The results showed that system-related dimensions of interactivity and human interactivity are positively associated with consumer psychological engagement. Psychological engagement was in turn found to be positively associated with behavioural engagement. The findings point to the need for managers to pay attention to system and human related interactivity if they are to influence consumer engagement levels on their sites.Originality and value of research: Little research exists on consumer engagement, resulting in limited understanding of the concept as well as its antecedents. Focusing on online customer communities, this article contributes to addressing this gap in literature. Managers of online customer communities can use the findings to monitor levels of consumer engagement on their sites and find ways of enhancing it.

The role of parliament in the sustainable development of the country: Agenda for Kazakhstan

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-52
Author(s):  
Aliya Kassymbek ◽  
Lazzat Zhazylbek ◽  
Zhanel Sailibayeva ◽  
Kairatbek Shadiyev ◽  
Yermek Buribayev
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
The Sustainable Development

The Effect of Prestige Sensitivity on Price Acceptance in Vietnam’s Mobile Phone Market

2018 ◽  
pp. 97-112
Author(s):  
Huyen Thi Nguyen ◽  
Ngoc Minh Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Modelling Method ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Convenience Sampling

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of prestige sensitivity on mobile phone customer’s price acceptance in Vietnam and the mediating role of product knowledge and price mavenism on this relationship. We used the convenience sampling method for data collection via questionnaires with a sample of 605 consumers who purchased mobile phones. The collected data was analysed by applying a structural equation modelling method. The result indicates that prestige sensitivity has both direct and indirect effects on price acceptance via product knowledge and price mavenism. The findings suggest that prestige sensitivity can be used as a market segmentation criterion for mobile phones when making price decisions and providing customers with adequate information could improve price acceptance.

Problem of energy efficiency in the model of sustainable development in Ukraine: EU experience

2019 ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Vasyl Zelenko ◽  
Yaryna Ferenchak ◽  
Nataliya Zelenko
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Association Agreement ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficient Construction

The paper outlines major preconditions of development of energy efficiency programs and the process of their introduction from the perspective of sustainable development concept. Energy saving measures of European Union are examined, its experience and results, like green books and Thermie programs, etc are analyzed. The paper also specifies relevant activities and responsibilities undertaken by Member States by 2030 and the rates planned to be achieved. The experience of neighboring Poland in energy efficiency promotion is analyzed, as far as the country most closely resembles Ukraine by the initial rates in 1990. We calculated conditional losses of Ukraine in 2017 as the gap between the rates of energy efficiency of Ukraine and Poland (similarity of climate conditions and the state of housing funds allowed us to assume that the comparison will be the most correct regarding Ukraine). The results of calculations make us conclude that the funds are used most efficiently if the money designated, for example, for subsidizing of population are directed at strengthening of energy efficiency (at least up to the level of neighboring country). It will result in saving of about 40 billion. This is the amount defined as Ukrainian capacity in terms of improvement of energy saving and possible results of its realization. The paper determines the stage Ukraine is at in introduction of energy efficiency measures and programs: “warm loans” program; conditions regarding energy saving in Ukraine enshrined in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement; creation of legal basis, namely the Law of Ukraine “On Energy Efficiency Fund” as of 8 June 2017. The role of newly created Energy Efficiency Fund is analyzed. Special attention is paid to the fact that energy efficient construction is one of international liabilities undertaken by Ukraine. The presence of The Active House Alliance at Ukrainian market is an important achievement in this sphere as it is the non-profit association aiming at creation of housing concept corresponding to the sustainable development principles.

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