Browsing by Subject "Resilience"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Open Access
    An analysis of the relationship between psychosocial safety climate and the work-school-interface for non-traditional students in South Africa
    (2021) April, Kelly; Goodman, Suki
    The growth of a country's economy is highly dependent on the levels of skills available in that country. South Africa has a stark shortage of skilled individuals due to an inadequate and failing education system (Horwitz, 2013). As a response to this problem the South African government actively incentivises organisations to develop the skillset of their employees in order to build a strong economy, improve job creation and promote social development (Department of Higher Education and Training, 2019). It is therefore important that all stakeholders involved yield a return on this investment. It is also a global phenomenon that an increasing number of fulltime employees are also engaging in formal further studies due to the rapid changes in the labour market. For example, advancements in technology have had a major impact on traditional business models and the roles, and skills needed. These employees are referred to as non-traditional students and are the subject of this study. Research shows that trying to manage both work and school simultaneously can cause psychological strain for non-traditional students (Adebayo et al., 2008). The psychosocial safety climate (PSC) is an emerging construct which refers to the shared perceptions regarding policies, practices and procedures designed to protect the psychological health of employees (Dollard et al., 2012). This study builds on existing research in the work - school interface by investigating its application within the South African context. Participants in this research (n=127), comprised of non-traditional students (n=40) and employees who are not engaged in further studies (n=87). Correlation analysis demonstrated that PSC had a positive relationship with work school facilitation (WSF) and a negative relationship with work school conflict (WSC). It was further confirmed that job control (JC) mediated the relationship between PSC and WSF and that PSC mediated the relationship between JC and WSF. These findings show that PSC is an antecedent to the work school interface in that it promotes the positive outcomes of studying while working (work school facilitation). It further demonstrates that PSC also reduces the negative outcomes (work school conflict). This study confirmed that the working environment plays a crucial role in the work school interface and introduces PSC as a construct South African organisations should be concerned with and make a priority, based on the resources it provides employees, more especially their non-traditional students. This study's findings will add to the existing body of research and provide practical insights for enhancing the PSC application within South African organisations who have non-traditional students.
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    Open Access
    Internally generated intangible assets the vaccine for UK listed finance industry financial contagion?
    (2025) Louw, Gerhard; De Jesus, Carlos
    Context: Internally generated non-capitalised intangible assets (IGNIAs) are not included in companies' balance sheets per international accounting standards, as they do not contribute to providing firms with resilience during crises. However, some companies gain a competitive advantage by continuously investing in IGNIAs , which management and investors should prioritize to foster resilience during unforeseen crises. Purpose: This study aims to determine whether investment in IGNIAs provided resilience, proxied by Return on Assets (ROA), during the COVID-19 crisis for 257 UK- listed finance firms from 2016-2023. The focus is on the UK finance industry due to its significant role in global financial contagion during crises. Research Design: This study used quantitative methods, employing firm-specific variables to test the hypotheses developed from existing theories. A longitudinal design was used with cross-sectional data from various firms in the finance industry. The study reviewed the relationship between UK finance firms' investment in IGNIAs and their resilience. It compared the resilience of firms that invested more in IGNIAs before the COVID-19 crisis to those that invested less, to determine if these assets contributed to their resilience. Main Findings: The study did not find a statistically significant relationship between investment in IGNIAs and resilience measured by ROA for the entire sample of 257 UK finance firms from 2016-2023. However, a somewhat statistically significant relationship was found between IGNIAs and resilience in the financial services industry only after the COVID-19 pandemic period, 2020-2023. Contribution: This study provides insights into the importance of IGNIAs in fostering resilience, especially for the finance industry, and contributes to the ongoing debate on whether these intangible assets should be included in firms' balance sheets. It highlights the need for industry-specific measures to resolve the contentious issue of capitalising IGNIAs.Recommendations and Implications: Management should prioritise continuous investment in IGNIAs to foster resilience and provide protection against unforeseen market crises. Standard-setting bodies should reconsider disclosing IGNIAs, as they are important factors for investors to consider when making informed investment decisions.
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    Managing risk with insurance and savings: Experimental evidence for male and female farm managers in the Sahel
    (2015-05-28) Delavallade, Clara; Dizon, Felipe; Hill, Ruth; Petraud, Jean Paul
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    Resilience and sustainability in the informal economy: an exploration of Cape Town's informal food traders amidst disruption
    (2025) Dodge, Catherine; Munyai, Keneilwe
    The role of informal food traders in responding to the needs of local communities is crucial to achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Different frameworks, developed by the Global North, have sprung up around the Sustainable Development Goals (a replacement of the Millennial Goals) to measure progress towards sustainability and address different aspects of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) but have a limited look at the role played by the informal economy. This gap highlights a lack of understanding of how informal systems contribute to sustainability, particularly in developing regions. Calls have emerged for increased research into the informal economy within a sustainability context, as previous economic models have largely ignored it. As part of this under-researched landscape, South African informal traders exemplify resilience as they face disruptions, such as rolling blackouts, extreme weather events, a global pandemic, and persistent socioeconomic challenges like high unemployment and inequality. Food security is at risk for millions of South African households as families grapple with high food inflation and low disposable incomes. Building on the strengths of inductive, interpretivist approach, this qualitative study explores how informal traders respond to disruption to increase the sustainability of their businesses in Cape Town, South Africa. Using data collected through semi-structured interviews and observations, this study sheds light on the resilience and adaptability of informal food traders and the crucial role they play in providing food security in low-income areas. It looks at existing sustainable practices within the business and highlights where technology may be used as a tool for scalability and replicability. The significance of this study lies in recognising informal traders as potential catalysts for sustainable practices, influencing larger market trends and environmental stewardship.