Electronic Theses and Dissertations (PhDs)

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Browsing Electronic Theses and Dissertations (PhDs) by SDG "SDG-1: No poverty"

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    Digital Collaborative Consumption in an emerging market: South African food delivery services
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Tinayeshe, Shumba; Saruchera, Fanny
    Many consumers have complained about food delivery services. The applications make double payments, and sometimes, the call centres are not easily accessible. Orders get mixed up, and sometimes food is delivered to the wrong addresses. Digital collaborative consumption (DCC) enables consumers to share products and services instead of owning them. A new and rapidly growing class of business models uses digitally mediated platforms to facilitate the DCC of goods and services. Smartphones' development and their rapid spread suggest that these business models could address typical low capital formation and high unemployment in emerging markets (EMs). However, although DCC is integral to daily life in emerging marketplaces, very little is known about DCC business models. The research aimed to evaluate the impact of DCC in the food delivery industry in emerging markets, focusing on South Africa. To achieve this goal, the study specifically aimed at assessing the drivers and deterrents of digital collaborative consumption in the food delivery industry, the impact of the DCC business model and develope a conceptual model which explains and predict consumer attitudes and buying intentions in EMs. Data was collected from 828 participants using validated instruments from South Africa. The theorised relations were assessed simultaneously using structural equation modelling. Models were fit to item covariance matrices using robust maximum likelihood estimation in Mplus, version 7. The research advanced the understanding of DCC to make conceptual, methodological, empirical, and practical contributions. Conceptually, the study included cognitive response and attitudes as potential mediators of DCC drivers in EMs. Empirically, the study brought together variables and relations not previously studied in EMs, including environmental influences and individual differences influencing consumer adoption. Methodologically, a new scale measuring DCC was developed from existing scales, assessed rigorously using confirmatory factor analysis, and showed good measurement properties. Home delivery, economic benefits, social benefits and security assurance strongly influenced the intention to continue using the DCC business model, while trust in the platform showed a non-significant relationship. Practically, the effect size estimates suggested that home delivery, economic benefits, Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and security assurance have practical relevance for marketing strategies and reshaping public policy in DCC. The study recommends approaches that the research institutes, government, policymakers and business leaders can use to unlock opportunities and get new guidance on this rapidly growing business model in EMs
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    Studies on philanthropy and impact investment in Ghana
    (2021) Osei, Dennis Boahene
    Anecdotal evidence of practices and institutions has accumulated over the years through oral traditions and all over the psyche of the African. While giving to good causes is not new in the Ghanaian traditional system and culture, there is a general paucity of literature regarding recent developments on the topic. Studies regarding investments that simultaneously generate financial, as well as social and /or environmental returns, are equally lacking. Using Ghana as a case study, this thesis contributes to the literature on three thematic areas in accordance with identified gaps in the philanthropy and impact investment literature. Specifically, the thesis relies on quantitative (instrumental variable probit model) and qualitative (content analysis, multiple-case study) research techniques to examine the relationships, and determinants of formal and informal charitable giving; uncover the motives, priorities, strategies, opportunities, and challenges of corporate foundation giving; and explore the approach to impact investing. These are critical issues whose understanding is theoretical and western-oriented, lacking empirical attention in the emerging literature of African philanthropy and impact investment. Given this, the thesis produced three independent essays to address these salient gaps in the philanthropy and impact investment literature. Empirical findings evolving from these essays are instructive and generally present crucial insights on African philanthropy and impact investment which is relevant for policy and practice. The first essay examines the extrinsic (socio-demographic) and intrinsic (personality) determinants of both formal and informal charitable giving. In addition, it explores whether the relationship between different types of charitable giving –cash and in-kind donations as well as time donations (volunteering) – is substitutable or complementary. Our findings, based on survey data from 1,533 households and instrumental variable probit model revealed that while marital status, education, v household size, religiosity, ethnicity, and empathic concern are important predictors of formal cash and in-kind giving, informal giving of cash and in-kind is driven by income, religiosity and empathic concern. On the other hand, it was evident that formal volunteering is mainly determined by income, household size, religiosity, and empathic concern, whereas gender and religiosity influence informal volunteering. We established that, in both spheres of formal and informal giving, the relationship between cash and in-kind giving and volunteering is complementary. Premised on these findings, we recommend non-profits and policymakers to recognise the complementary role and distinctive determinants of the spheres of giving in designing tools and policies to raise the levels and effectiveness of fundraising and volunteering campaigns. In the second essay, the practice of corporate philanthropy was explored through the lens of corporate foundations. Specifically, we investigate the motives, priority areas, strategies, opportunities, and challenges of corporate foundation giving. Based on qualitative content analysis, our findings revealed that corporate foundations are influenced by both altruistic and instrumental motives of giving, and that, their approach to giving prioritises multiple areas of national interest such as education, health, economic empowerment, environment/social amenities, and sports. We also found that corporate foundations rely on a combination of strategies (request, media-lead, adoption, and contest) to identify potential beneficiaries and implement their giving programmes. Further evidence indicates that giving of corporate foundations presents opportunities to both foundations (serve society, get partnership offers from other companies, and obtain goodwill from the public) and their parent companies (indirect business and advertising opportunities). However, corporate foundation giving is constrained by insufficient funding, lack of support from stakeholders, managing expectations of individuals, poor maintenance culture, and cultural rites. The findings have implications for practitioners as it presents insights which could vi serve as a model to guide new entrants into the corporate foundation landscape of developing economies. In addition, the findings could assist the development of government interventions necessary to foster greater corporate giving. The third essay applies a change in perspective to explore the approach to impact investing from a supply-side standpoint. This contrasts existing studies which are mostly theoretical and provide an understanding that is western-oriented and from a demand-side viewpoint. Using multiple-case study design and qualitative data from two Ghanaian organisations, we provide evidence of an impact investment approach characterised by concurrent motive of financial and social/environmental returns, longer time horizon, and engagement or provision of non-financial support. We conclude that this approach leverages the tools of venture capital to realise social or ecological purposes. The findings can potentially assist investors and entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and navigate the complexity surrounding the emerging impact investment environment in Ghana and economies of similar nature. Additionally, it can help in developing explicit policies to regulate the sector, increase its awareness, widens its appeal, and use to serve the intended purpose of a