scholarly journals Organisational learning capabilities as determinants of social innovation: An empirical study in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Urban ◽  
Elena Gaffurini
Keyword(s):  
Social Innovation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Organisational Learning ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Learning Capabilities ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Organisational Research

Orientation: A critical reading of the human resource management (HRM) literature finds limited contributions to understanding the organisational determinants of social enterprises and how these may contribute to higher levels of social innovativeness. Although innovation is a key theme in organisational research it has been acknowledged that the field needs more theory-based examinations of different types of innovativeness.Research purpose: To determine how different organisational capabilities are related to social innovation.Motivation for the study: Many social enterprises in developing countries do not have the requisite capabilities to efficiently manage all their programmes, which presents a major threat to organisational sustainability.Research design, approach and method: The empirical analysis is a cross-sectional study based on primary survey data. Hypotheses are tested using correlational and regression analysis.Main findings: The results show that the organisational learning capabilities of knowledge conversion, risk management, organisational dialogue and participative decision-making all have a significant and positive relationship with social innovation.Practical/managerial implications: Managers and practitioners can leverage the different organisational learning capabilities to improve social innovations in their social enterprises.Contribution/value-add: The study is one of the first in an African market context to empirically investigate social enterprises in terms of social innovation and organisational learning perspectives.

Social enterprises and organizational learning in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Urban ◽  
Elena Gaffurini
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between different dimensions of organizational learning capabilities (OLC) and levels of social innovation in social enterprises. Design/methodology/approach The empirical strategy adopted is a cross-sectional study based on primary survey data. Following a survey of social enterprises in South Africa, statistically analysis is conducted using regression analyses to test the study hypotheses. Findings The findings show that the OLC dimensions of knowledge conversion, risk management, organizational dialogue and participative decision-making all have a significant and positive relationship with social innovation. Research limitations/implications In many emerging economies, the notion of organizational learning appears to have considerable potential relevance, particularly as African countries are moving toward knowledge-based economies. By focusing on OLC, it is anticipated that social enterprises can configure and leverage the different factors in ways that enable them to overcome the constraints of the complex and unpredictable environments and increase their levels of social innovation. Originality/value The paper provides a pioneering empirical investigation into the impact that OLC has on levels of social innovation, in an under-researched emerging market context.

scholarly journals Stress, flourishing and intention to leave of teachers: Does coping type matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasti Marais-Opperman ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann ◽  
Chrizanne Van Eeden
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Intention To Leave ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intentions To Leave ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: Teachers face a demanding work environment which might cause stress. Depending on teachers’ coping profile, distress might indirectly affect teachers’ intentions to resign from their jobs via their flourishing.Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the associations between teachers’ perceived stress, flourishing at work, intention to leave their jobs and coping types.Motivation for the study: The effect of stress on flourishing at work has not been studied in relation to teachers’ intentions to leave. Furthermore, no person-centred studies on coping of teachers in relation to their well-being and retention were found.Research approach/design and method: A sample of teachers (n = 209) participated in a cross-sectional study. The Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) Inventory, Flourishing-at-Work Scale – Short Form and Intention to Leave Scale were administered. Latent variable modelling was used to analyse the data.Main findings: Flourishing at work was positively associated with perceived positive stress and low perceived distress. Perceived distress impacted teachers’ intentions to leave directly and indirectly (via low flourishing). Perceived positive stress indirectly and negatively impacted teachers’ intentions to leave via flourishing. Person-centred analyses identified three types of copers that were associated with perceived positive stress and distress.Practical/managerial implications: It is essential to focus on teachers’ stress, coping type and flourishing to promote their retention.Contribution/value-add: This study provided insights regarding the associations between teachers’ perceived stress, flourishing at work and intention to leave their jobs. Moreover, it showed that coping types are associated with the perceived stress of teachers.

scholarly journals Prevalence of workplace bullying of South African employees

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanri Cunniff ◽  
Karina Mostert
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Workplace Bullying ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Diversity Experiences ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Survey Approach

Orientation: Workplace bullying has negative physical and psychological effects on employees and several negative effects on organisations. Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying in South Africa and whether there are differences in employees’ experiences of bullying with regard to socio-demographic characteristics, sense of coherence (SOC) and diversity experiences.Motivation for the study: This study intended to draw attention to the implications and negative effects of workplace bullying and to determine whether employees with certain socio-demographic characteristics, SOC levels and diversity experiences experience higher levels of bullying than others do.Research design, approach and method: The researchers used a cross-sectional field survey approach. They used an availability sample (N = 13 911). They computed frequencies to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying and used a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) to determine the differences between the groups.Main findings: The results showed that 31.1% of the sample had experienced workplace bullying. The researchers found significant differences between all the socio-demographic groups. Participants with higher levels of SOC, and who experienced diversity positively, reported lower levels of workplace bullying.Practical/managerial implications: Employers need to realise that workplace bullying is a common problem amongst South African employees and should ensure that they have the necessary prevention methods.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the limited research on the prevalence of workplace bullying and its relationship with SOC and diversity experiences in the South African workplace.

scholarly journals Reducing youth unemployment beyond the Youth Wage Subsidy: A study of Simtech apprentices

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mogantheran Naidoo ◽  
Muhammad E. Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wage Subsidy ◽  
Permanent Employment ◽  
Workplace Environment ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Managerial Implications

Orientation: South Africa currently has the twin challenges of worsening youth unemployment and scarce skills that threaten its economic and social stability. Artisanal trades are an occupation category that strongly reflects this current problem. Simtech Training Institute in Durban, the study setting, currently trains artisan apprentices and facilitates their internship work placements.Research purpose: The objective of this study was to identify some of the critical success factors that differentiated Simtech artisan apprentices who obtained permanent employment, compared to those who are currently unemployed.Motivation for the study: The main motivation of the study was to improve the conversion rate of artisan apprentices to permanently employed artisans.Research design, approach and method: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 51 artisan apprentices who had graduated over the past 3 years at Simtech and who were selected randomly. An online questionnaire comprising primarily Likert scale type questions was utilised to obtain the responses from the sample. Factor analysis was used to remove scale items from the independent variables that did not impact the variability sufficiently. Then the remaining scale items that impacted variability significantly were combined and categorised as new composite independent variables. Logistic regression analysis identified success factors for permanent employment of Simtech graduates.Main findings: Internship or workplace environment had a statistically significant impact on permanent employment. Youth work ethic had a minor impact on permanent employment status – albeit not a statistically significant one.Practical/managerial implications: These findings showed that improving the internship/ workplace environment can reduce youth unemployment and address skills scarcity.Contribution: Internship host companies and other stakeholders need to urgently focus on improving the quality of the internship/workplace environment experienced by artisan apprentices rather than just on the intake number of artisan apprentices that the Youth Wage Subsidy has encouraged to date.

scholarly journals The Influence of Marketing Capability in Mexican Social Enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cavazos-Arroyo ◽  
Puente-Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Marketing Capability ◽  
Cross Sectional

Social enterprises need to develop processes that create social value to solve social problems. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of marketing capability on social innovation and its effect on social and economic value creation, while controlling for firm size among social enterprises in Mexico. An explanatory and cross-sectional design was used to test the hypotheses: 118 social business managers were interviewed and structural equation modeling was used to test our research hypotheses. The results supported our proposition that marketing capability influenced social innovation, which then had a positive influence on social, though not on economic value creation. An indirect effect from marketing capability to social value was also found. This study validated the relevance of defining and entailing marketing capabilities with social innovation strategies and their effect on the social value of social enterprises. This paper contributes to a better understanding of marketing capability and its effects on social innovation in social enterprises. In addition, it shows social innovation to be a robust predictor of social value, with important implications for social and economic sustainability.

scholarly journals Integrity and derailment of senior leaders in the Southern African context

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Koortzen ◽  
Rudolf M. Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Integrity Test ◽  
Senior Leaders ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quality Of Leadership ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The Relationship

Orientation: In recruiting and developing senior leaders for the organisation, great emphasis is placed on the personality of these individuals and on the resulting manifestations of their behaviour in the work context.Research purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between integrity and derailment to identify the dimensions of integrity that may reduce the risks of derailing in a group of senior leaders.Motivation for the study: As organisations become more complex, a higher quality of leadership is demanded. The quality of leadership is often determined by, among other things, the level of leaders’ integrity and the manner in which they are able to manage their own derailment at work. In this study, integrity is defined as the conflict and balance between our instincts (i.e. vices) and our ability to reason (i.e. our virtues), while leadership derailment is defined as the way in which leaders behave under stress or when they overuse a particular strength. Both constructs are of particular concern when they manifest in the organisation’s pool of high-potential leaders, who are the organisation’s future successors. However, most derailment cases are predictable and can be managed effectively with proper intervention.Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional quantitative, correlational research design was followed. A non-probability purposive sample of 108 senior leaders in companies in Southern Africa participated in the study.Main findings: The results enabled the researchers to assess the relationship between integrity and derailment in order to identify the dimensions of integrity that are associated with a lowered risk of derailing in a group of senior leaders. It is apparent from the results that several of the integrity dimensions measured in the current study acted as significant predictors of derailment. The results indicate that the Giotto scales predict five of the Hogan scales to a degree that could be regarded as practically significant and are associated with medium to large effect sizes). These are Excitable, Cautious, Leisurely, Bold and Colourful. The prediction of Cautious can be described as practically important, while the prediction of the remainder of the Hogan scales was practically non-significant.Practical/managerial implications: From a practical point of view, the research findings allow leadership development practitioners, consultants and coaches to assist leaders in identifying the ways in which leaders will probably derail based on the results of the Giotto integrity test. Those involved in the development of leaders will also be able to develop the leaders’ level of integrity in order to reduce unnecessary derailment at work.Contribution/value-add: The study findings contribute valuable information on the relationship between integrity and derailment and the dimensions of integrity, which may reduce the risks of derailment of senior leaders.

scholarly journals Assessing the organisational and individual strengths use and deficit improvement amongst sport coaches

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick W. Stander ◽  
Karina Mostert
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Strengths Use ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Sport Coaches ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sport Coaching

Orientation: The orientation of this study is towards strengths use and deficit improvement and the relationship with engagement.Research purpose: To (1) determine whether adapted versions of the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) are valid and reliable, (2) determine the relationship of the SUDIQ dimensions in the nomological net, and (3) test a structural model.Motivation for the study: To gain a better understanding of the outcomes of following a balanced approach within a sport coaching context.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional research approach was used. An availability sample (N = 364) of teachers occupying roles as sport coaches from various schools across three provinces in South Africa was used. Structural equation modelling was used to test the factor structures and the structural model.Main findings: The results indicated a valid factor structure for the adapted SUDIQ and UWES. Relationships between the SUDIQ dimensions and job and personal resources were positive and significant. Individual strengths use was the strongest predictor of engagement. Individual deficit improvement and organisational strengths use were also significant predictors. Organisational deficit improvement did not significantly predict engagement.Practical/managerial implications: Evidence suggests the adapted SUDIQ and UWES can be utilised effectively in a sport coaching environment. Organisational strengths use is also important in managing engagement levels of sport coaches.Contribution/value-add: Valid and reliable measures were provided for use in a sport coaching environment. It substantiates the outcomes that can be gained by following a combined approach based on strength and deficit.

scholarly journals Sense of coherence, career adaptability and burnout of early-career Black staff in the call centre environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Harry ◽  
Melinde Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Career Adaptability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Years Of Service ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: The call centre is recognised as being a stressful work environment that affects the general wellbeing of call centre agents.Research purpose: This study explored whether call centre agents’ sense of coherence significantly influences their career adaptability and whether their burnout levels significantly moderate the sense of coherence–career adaptability relationship. The research also investigated whether age, gender and years of service (as control variables), along with sense of coherence, predicted career adaptability.Motivation for the study: The positive psychological construct of career adaptability and its association with call centre agents’ sense of coherence, burnout, age, gender and years of service have not yet been investigated in the call centre environment.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional quantitative survey design was used. The Orientation to Life, Career Adapt-Abilities Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory General Scale were administered to a non-probability purposive sample of 409 early-career Black staff employed in three of the largest outsourced financial call centres in Africa.Main findings: Multiple regression analyses revealed that age, gender and meaningfulness significantly predicted call centre agents’ career adaptability, but that their burnout levels do not significantly moderate the sense of coherence–career adaptability relationship.Practical/managerial implications: Enhancing call centre agents’ sense of meaningfulness will increase their levels of career adaptability and career wellbeing.Contribution/value-add: This research is the first to investigate the construct of career adaptability in the call centre environment and adds new knowledge and insights to the existing wellness and positive psychology literature.

scholarly journals Job demands and resources of workers in a South African agricultural organisation

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris N. Asiwe ◽  
Carin Hill ◽  
Lené I. Jorgensen
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Job Demands And Resources

Orientation: Understanding the job demands and resources experienced by workers in an agricultural organisation.Research purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Adapted Job Demands and Resources Scale (AJDRS) as well as to establish prevalent job demands and resources of employees in an agricultural organisation. Demographic differences were also investigated.Motivation of the study: The agricultural sector of any national economy plays a very important role in the overall welfare of the country. Identifying the prevalent job demands and resources in an agricultural organisation is therefore of paramount importance since the negative consequences of employees experiencing very demanding jobs with few resources have been well documented in stress literature.Research approach, design and method: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample consisted of 443 employees in an agricultural organisation. The AJDRS was used to measure the research variables.Main findings: The findings of this research show evidence for the factorial validity and reliability of the AJDRS. Statistical differences were found with regard to the job demands and resources experienced by employees in different positions.Practical/managerial implications: Interventions to improve the perceived job demands and resources in the organisation should focus on physical resources (equipment).Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to knowledge concerning the job demands and resources that are prevalent in an agricultural organisation in South Africa.

scholarly journals FLORES DE METAL: PROYECTO DE CO-CREACIÓN DE AUDIOVISUALES PARA LA PREVENCIÓN DEL MALTRATO A LA MUJER

2020 ◽  
pp. 163-182
Author(s):  
Gregorio Enrique Puello-Socarrás ◽  
Axel Rodríguez-Peña ◽  
Camilo Ernesto Villota-Pascuaza
Keyword(s):  
Social Innovation ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
Creative Research ◽  
Production Capacities ◽  
Probabilistic Sample ◽  
Abuse Of Women

El proyecto Flores de Metal aborda el problema de la comunicación desde la perspectiva gráfica en temáticas sociales. El objetivo de este proyecto, consistió en desarrollar herramientas educativas audiovisuales abordando la problemática del maltrato a la mujer en una institución educativa y su comunidad incorporando metodologías de innovación social y co-creación. No se desarrolla hipótesis al inicio de la investigación, por ser un proceso de marcado enfoque cualitativo donde las variables son vistas en su contexto de forma holística, como expresan Hernández, Fernández y Baptista (2016), pero esta se enuncia al momento de realizar las conclusiones. Para este cometido se escoge una muestra no probabilística de conveniencia, por tratarse de una población con características de acceso restringido (menores de edad). Se realiza un estudio transversal; utilizando para la comprensión de los conocimientos y actitudes frente al tema por parte de los actores, los instrumentos de recolección de datos diario de campo y cartografía social. Luego inicia el proceso de co-creación que es el punto de inflexión principal de la investigación-creación, como mencionan Puello-Socarrás & Rodríguez (2017). El resultado son tres recursos audiovisuales, generados en conjunto con los talleristas, donde se instalan capacidades de realización audiovisual y reflexiones sobre temas de desarrollo humano que potencian las temáticas de contenido social no solo en los talleristas sino también en las comunidades de influencia, proponiendo una nueva discusión y un cambio social en los actores. Palabras clave: Creación, obras visuales, comunicación verbal y visual, narrativa, investigación-creación.académica. AbstractThe Metal Flowers project addresses the problem of communication from the graphic perspective in social issues. The objective of this project was to develop educational audiovisual tools addressing the issue of abuse of women in an educational institution and its community by incorporating social innovation and co-creation methodologies. No hypothesis was developed at the beginning of the research, as it was a process with a marked qualitative focus where the variables were seen in their context in a holistic way, as expressed by Hernández, Fernández and Baptista (2016), but this was stated at the time of making the conclusions. For this task, a non-probabilistic sample of convenience was chosen, since it is a population with restricted access characteristics (minors). A cross-sectional study was carried out, using daily field data collection instruments and social mapping to understand the knowledge and attitudes of the actors. Then the co-creation process began, which was the main turning point of research-creation, as mentioned by Puello-Socarrás & Rodríguez (2017). The result was three audiovisual resources, generated jointly with the workshop participants, where audiovisual production capacities and reflections on human development issues were installed, which enhanced social content issues not only in the workshop participants but also in the communities of influence, proposing a new discussion and social change in the actors. Keywords: Creation, visual works, verbal and visual communication, narrative, creative research.

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