Analysis of a Shift in the Business Environment and Post-Covid-19 Consumer Behaviour (A Case Study of Residents in Lagos Nigeria)

With the current global pandemic and the consequent social distancing rule limiting business and market operation, it has propelled a shift in the way businesses and organizations operate from the traditional physical market place to the adoption of information technology for business digitalization. These have also affected the attitudinal aspect of consumers and shoppers, particularly on the prospect of consumers going back to their old habits once the global crisis is over. This study, therefore, examines the conditions for consumer preference of the changing digitalized business environment in the Post-COVID-19 Era and its predictive value in the future. The study adopted a survey research design, using an online questionnaire as a research instrument among residents in Lagos. From the findings of the study, it was revealed that the perceived benefit of business digitalization, combined influence attitudes of consumers behaviour and perceived convenience is the most significant of conditions for the preference of the changing digitalized business environment that affects attitudes of consumers. On the prospect of the digitalized business environment in the post-COVID-19 business environments, the study revealed that a 1 percent change in the conditions for consumer preference of online constructs is likely to have an 8.4 percent effect on consumer’s attitudes. This, therefore, is an indication that a 1 percent change can have a significant effect on consumer’s buying behaviour. Conclusively the study recommended that online retailers should consider improving their technological infrastructure in order to offer more convenience for Customers online shoppers.

An Analysis of the Unpredictable Factors Influencing Loan Default in Small Scale Enterprises in the Port Loko Municipality in Sierra Leone using the Fish Bone Diagram

The study shows that there are unpredictable factors influencing loan default in small-scale enterprises in Port Loko Municipality. A fishbone diagram which is a cause an effect tool was used to determine these factors. A brainstorming activity was used to get the views of participants with regard to the Research Question. The research question was to respond to a research objective which was “Are there unpredicted factors influencing loan default in small scale enterprises in Port Loko Municipality in Sierra Leone?”. Reviews of necessary literature were done to aid the study. In the review, matters relating to loan default and possible causes were addressed. It is unfolded that there are some loan defaults that are as a result of the borrowers’ lapses and others that are lender-oriented causes. The population size of one hundred and a random sample size of sixty people were used as participants to carry out the brainstorming activity. The population is comprised of small-scale enterprise owners and workers of credit or Microfinance institutions in the Municipality. Brainstorming participants proved that the death of clients or borrowers, internal insecurity, outbreak of diseases (Pandemic), Natural Disasters, and accident all significantly influence loan default of small-scale enterprises.

Strategy and Business Survival during Disruptive Times: A Survey of Passenger Transporters in Harare, Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Business leaders must be strategic about their operations to ensure success in different operating environments. The COVID-19, which emerged as a public health pandemic that affected businesses in different sectors differently. Passenger transport businesses were directly affected after the movement of people was banned for extended periods, during the lockdowns. The lockdowns represented a disruption in the operating environments. The study sought to assess the effect of strategic management on the survival of passenger transport operators during the COVID-19 induced lockdown disruptions in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data were collected using survey questionnaires distributed to representatives of 100 passenger transporters in Harare, from which questionnaires were returned. Results showed that 84 percent of the passenger transport operators have formal organizational structures of which about 73 confirmed the practice of strategic planning. Therefore, there is high adoption of strategic management by passenger transport operators in Harare. The most effective strategies for enhancing business survival in disruptions are diversification and competitive strategies. The logistic regression model results showed that the existence of a formal structure minimized the negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown disruptions on the survival of passenger transport operators in Harare.

A Review of The Unethical Business Practices That Causes Loan Default in Small Scale Enterprises in Port Loko Municipality in Sierra Leone

Small scale enterprises are an income stream for the unemployed and under-employed in Sierra Leone. The financing of such a venture is from the loan capital of Micro Finance Institutions and other credit agencies in the country. Default in the repayment of loan capital within prescribed conditions has been an issue because of the unethical practices of lenders and borrowers and hence concern for studies. The primary objective of the study is to do a review on the unethical business practices that causes loan default in small-scale enterprises in Port Loko municipality in Sierra Leone. Such studies will avail recommendations that shall be instruments to minimize the rate of unethical practices of borrowers and lenders within the Pot Loko Municipality. The Specific objectives of the study are to know the attitudes of Lenders and borrowers that influence loan default. Questionnaires were administered to respond to Researched Questions which were framed from the research objectives. Also, Reviews of others writers were done with regard ethical issues. The researcher Used the Likert Scale in preparing and administering the questionnaire. Opinions of Respondents were analyzed using the Structured Package for Social Sciences. The following analyses were done: i) Percentage Analysis, ii) Analysis of correlation by use of the Pearson Correlation. iii). Analysis of coefficient iv) Analysis of Model summary v) Analysis of Anova. From the study, the Researcher discovered that Unethical business practices like bribe-taking and other dishonest games are predominant between lenders and borrowers, and these practices have greatly influenced loan default in small-scale enterprises in Port |Loko Municipality in Sierra Leone and have a significant relationship on loan default.

Single Women Involved in Entrepreneurship Negatively Affected by Gender and Marital Status as Entrepreneurs

Issues to do with gender imbalances and inequality of women in general and single women in particular in the political arena and entrepreneurship are nowadays a burning issue in all the countries worldwide. This is a major aspect of modern democratic governance such that low levels of female participation in politics are a major concern worldwide. The steps were taken by the United Nations Convention on stopping all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and other international organizations have laid the concrete basis for the emergence of women’s participation in politics and entrepreneurship. In Lusaka, Zambia, women’s political participation is not proportional to the 50% of the country’s population which women represent, thereby not translating into equal representation in political leadership positions. The study employed questionnaires to collect data. The findings demonstrate that there exists a significant gender gap in the political participation of women in all the wards in the Lusaka district and that factors affecting their effective participation were social, economic, political, cultural, and religious-based. The study, therefore, recommended the change of perception of the people, equal representation in governance, support from everyone, and also stopping of discriminatory practices to ensure the equal and full participation of women.

Prevalence and Associated Factors for Sick Leave Among Bulawayo City Health Employees, Zimbabwe, 2013

Sick leave is time spent away from work due to illness or injury. A preliminary review of sick leave records for 2012 for the 6 clinics in Nkulumane showed 3 clinics experienced higher sick leave incidents than the other 3 clinics. The study sought to establish the prevalence and associated factors for sick leave in the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. An analytic cross-sectional study was carried out among Bulawayo City Health employees working in 20 health facilities. A total of 144 respondents and 3 key informants were interviewed. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, key informant interview guide, and a checklist were used to collect data, which was analysed using Epi Info. The prevalence of sick leave was 34%. Employees who took sick leave less than six months ago were 4.3 times more likely to go on frequent sick leave than those who did not (POR 4.3, P-Value 0.002). Employees who reported good team climate were less likely to go on frequent sick leave (POR 0.29, P-Value 0.002). Feeling unappreciated at work was a risk factor for frequent sick leave (POR 2.61, P-Value 0.01). The cost of sick leave for the City of Bulawayo in 2012 was $US20 840. Periodic refresher meetings on conditions of service, training of managers and other employees on good teamwork, and production of a standard template for recording sick leave by clinics may assist in curbing frequent sick leave incidents.

An Assessment of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Teacher Recruitment Process on the Achievement of the Church’s goals. A Study of Adventist Schools in Bulawayo

This paper aimed at unearthing practices driven by the Adventist-Teacher recruitment process in order to determine achievement of the organization’s goals. The study was conducted in Adventist Schools in Bulawayo. The schools have a population of about 218 teachers. The study followed a mixed method of research, where quantitative-descriptive statistics were used to discuss findings. A sample of 106 teachers was chosen using the stratified sampling to respond to a self-administered questionnaire. Simple random was used to choose teachers from within each stratum among the three Secondary and Five Primary Schools. In the schools selected, the teachers’ list was used, and either odd numbers or even numbers were used as respondents. Through purposive sampling, three Secondary and five Primary School heads were chosen to respond to interview questions indicated in this study. It is important to note that teachers and school heads did not agree on issues regarding induction and mentoring. Primary data was collected and analyzed using SPSS. Tables and graphs were used in the presentation and discussion of findings. The study established the link between the Recruitment process- which aims at the integration of faith and learning- and Redemptive practices to be positive at Pearson’s r 0,696. The interaction of the Recruitment process and the cutting-edge practices recorded a Pearson’s r of 0,589. The recruitment process appeared to be operating below the ideal standard. The study revealed a poor teacher induction and mentoring process in the schools studied.

Critical Literature Review on Agriculture Co-Operatives in Developing Countries: A Poverty Mitigation Perspective

Over the decades, the perception of cooperatives has revolved from that of considering them as food security agents and determinants to that of social and economic agents to cooperators, community, and national development. The study, therefore, critically reviewed the related literature on agriculture cooperatives as poverty alleviating agents. An integrated strategy in the research review approach was used to support the study. The findings revealed recent developments in cooperatives that are putting agriculture cooperatives on the map as agents of poverty eradication and social and economic development in third-world countries. Currently, there is a societal expectation that cooperatives have not only a responsibility to better the lives of the members but also the entire community and nation as a whole. The study concluded that achieving future sustainable social and economic development requires full recognition of all the key economic players in the business ecosystem. The study, therefore, recommends full support of the agriculture cooperatives if they are to play a positive and integral role in mitigating the poverty levels in third-world countries.

Impact of Length of Stay on both Financial Health and Medical Outcomes of Mission Hospitals in Rural Ghana

One of the major key clinical indicators of hospital performance is length of stay (LOS). This denominator is calculated in averages. The role of this measure could be dual (as medical outcome or financial health indicator). Regardless, it can also be observed as either positive or negative variable depending on how it is measured. By this study, LOS was assessed on both counts: as a measure of financial health and also as medical outcome of hospital. The investigator concludes, after thorough evaluation of available data, from both structured interviews and responses to a set of questions in a survey, that truly length of stay impacts positively on medical outcomes and also could be a measure of the financial healthiness of hospital.

Impact of Socio-Economic Development on Sustainable Business Development Among Small and Medium Scale Businesses in Nigeria

This study is undertaken to investigate the impact of socio-economic development on sustainable business development among small and medium scale business in Nigeria. The significance of socio-economic development in achieving sustainable business development among small and medium scale business, especially in a developing country like Nigeria, cannot be over-emphasized. This study employed a survey research design as data were elicited from the respondents who agreed to fill out the questionnaires. In this study, several socio-economic development indicator variables such as Self-reliance in Development, Policy Delivery Mechanism, and Access to Health Facilities were employed among others. The findings elicited from this study revealed that socio-economic development recorded a positive impact on sustainable business development among small and medium scale business in Nigeria.