School of Business Sciences (ETDs)

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Subject: search.filters.subject.COVID-19

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    The effects of coronavirus on SMEs business performance, technology adaptation, financial innovation, and sustainability
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kolobe, Benjamin; Maisela, Sikhumbuzo
    Businesses have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in significant economic hardship. An analysis of COVID-19's impact on Small Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) shows that these businesses' and their employees' financial outcomes are probably going to get worse before getting better. The main issue is that small and medium-sized business owners have restricted access to capital and innovative strategies, which has made it challenging for them to deal with the tight constraints. As a result, many SMEs have had to adopt innovative financial and technological strategies to promote sustainability and prevent closure (Puddister & Small, 2020). This study examines the impact on business performance, technology adaptation, financial innovation, sustainability, and lockdown restrictions of SMEs during the pandemic. An online questionnaire with 30 closed-ended questions was administered to entrepreneurs in the retail sector across Gauteng. The following inquiries are addressed in the study: What impact has the coronavirus had on SMEs' ability to do business? How has technology adoption improved small and medium- sized enterprises' performance during the coronavirus lockdowns? Is there a chance that financial innovation may sustain SMEs throughout the pandemic? Has the coronavirus epidemic affected SMEs' ability to survive? Using non-parametric tests, the researcher examined the correlations between the independent and dependent variables for each of the four hypotheses using IBM SPSS. The associations between the variables were examined using inferential statistics such as Spearman's rho correlation function, multinominal logistic regression, generalized linear model, and ordinal linear regression. All four of the hypothesis' correlations were determined to be significant. This study suggests that fostering financial inclusion, promoting technology adoption through training and grants, and encouraging innovative financial approaches can empower SMEs to navigate pandemic challenges and build resilience. Proactive policy interventions and support systems tailored to SMEs are crucial to mitigating the pandemic's economic consequences and promoting long-term sustainability
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    Working from Home: Impact of COVID-19 on Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction among Non-Academic Staff at a Public University in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-02) Miruka, Dorothy; Mazingi, Aretha
    This study explores the motivation and job satisfaction of the non-academic staff at a public institution of higher education in South Africa during the pandemic. This study investigates the motivation and job satisfaction of the non-academic staff at a public institution of higher education in South Africa during the pandemic. The pandemic brought challenges to society forcing various practices from work to travelling and daily responsibilities. This resulted in both employers and employees seeking alternative work arrangements. This research is on the impact of COVID-19 on employee motivation and job satisfaction on employees while they were working from home (WFH). Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study used a survey research methodology. Primary data was collected from 354 non-academic employees, using a 7 Likert questionnaire. The quantitative data results were analyzed using R studio (version 3.6.3). Multiple linear regression was carried out, data findings were then discussed presenting the results using and graphs. From the empirical results, the research found that there is a correlation between motivation and job satisfaction. These results indicate that there are correlations of sets of relationships between WFH, motivation, job satisfaction, and technological skills
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    Learning Management Systems within a South African university: lecturers’ experiences and extent of use during and post COVID-19
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mfingwana, Nwabisa; Sackstein, Suzanne
    The integration of technology in the education sector has resulted in pervasive use of Learning Management Systems (LMSs). Prior and during COVID-19, several higher education institutions within South Africa acquired and started using LMSs to enable and facilitate online teaching and learning. During COVID-19 when face-to-face learning was impossible due to lockdowns, LMSs became even more prominent, advancing from being learning support tools to becoming primary learning systems. While prior research claims that LMSs are underutilised, as the world transitions to the new normal, with hybrid learning being the latest learning method, LMSs appear to be just as significant. To explore the experiences and extent of use of LMS, this study employed the Will, Skill, Tool, and Pedagogy (WSTP) model. Using semi-structured interviews, data was collected from nine lecturers who teach technology and creative arts programs at a Johannesburg based university in South Africa. Findings indicate that even though lecturers view LMSs as a valuable tool, it is not a perfect fit for the needs and requirements of all university programmes. Furthermore, although use of LMSs grew exponentially and pervasively during COVID-19, post the pandemic lecturers’ use patterns are more varying. While some lecturers in the creative art programme are reducing or stopping their use of certain LMS features as they favour of in-person teaching and believe that the LMS may not be aligned to their teaching style. However, lecturers in technology are continuing their current use, and in some cases are even more curious and enthusiastic about the tool. Lastly, despite the reported benefits of LMSs such as content management and communication, challenges related to system constraints, functional limitations, infrastructure issues and limited technology and LMS skills were reported. Theoretically the study contributes to the body of knowledge about lecturers’ use of LMSs and illustrates how the WSTP model can be used in similar contexts. Practically the study highlights that a comprehensive needs and requirements analysis should be conducted by decision makers prior to implementing a one-fits-all approach, training and ongoing awareness of LMS features is critical to ensure that the system is used optimall