https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/issue/feedSouth African Journal of Business Management2024-03-13T18:11:17+01:00AOSIS Publishingsubmissions@sajbm.orgOpen Journal Systems<a id="readmorebanner" href="/index.php/sajbm/pages/view/journal-information" target="_self">Read more</a> <a href="https://aosis.co.za/2020-special-issue-call-for-papers-by-the-south-african-journal-of-business-management/" target="_blank"><img style="padding-top: 2px;" src="/public/web_banner.svg" alt="" /></a>https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4065Understanding the determinants of the development of the green bond market in South Africa2024-03-13T18:11:17+01:00Harsha Daveharshadave.za@gmail.comSabastine Akongwalesaba.akongwale@gmail.com<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The study aims at establishing the level of interest in the green bond market by investors and specific factors that influence stakeholders’ investment decisions in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> The primary data was collected through interviews leveraging survey questions from the Climate Bond Initiative survey and a thematic analysis conducted. Stakeholders involved in green bonds listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were targeted.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> Most respondents recognised green bonds as a critical enabler to support South Arica’s energy transition and the clarity on South Africa’s energy plan will catalyse investment. The study revealed a consensus for the application of strict definitions and standards for green bonds, whilst consideration should be given for leniency to increase issuances as the market matures. A barrier that was highlighted, was the slow development of a pipeline of large-scale projects. Majority of respondents indicated that beyond credit fundamentals; full or partial guarantees, subsidies and incentives will be most important in stimulating the development of the market.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> There is strong potential to grow, as investors prefer green bonds with strong returns and green credentials. Incentives such as high tax rates for investments in fossil fuels, once-off incentives for new issuers such as anchor capital or subsidies to carry reporting cost can catalyse this growth.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> This study surfaces the underlying dynamics that contribute to the growth and development of the green bond market in South Africa that largely align with that of European and Asian markets. This presents an opportunity to explore strategies that could be translated to grow the bond market.</p>2024-03-13T09:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Harsha Dave, Sabastine Akongwalehttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/3962Business environment’s impact on female students’ entrepreneurial intentions: Gender analysis2024-03-13T18:11:17+01:00Mohammad M. Islammalislam@kau.edu.saMajed Alharthimdalharthi@kau.edu.sa<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This study investigates how the business environment affects the entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) of female university students in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the research examines the role of perceived social norms (PSNs) as a mediator and self-efficacy as a moderator.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> Data were gathered electronically from universities in Saudi Arabia using university-endorsed email. The survey questionnaire was formed based on rigorous literature and pre-tested and validated by two professors who specialise in entrepreneurship and four students from four different universities. A total of 300 usable responses were collected and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> The study’s findings indicate that PSN indirectly influence EI through other antecedents rather than directly. Moreover, the study confirms that self-efficacy moderates the relationship between personal attitude and EI. The results also demonstrate that the business environment significantly contributes to female students’ EIs.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> By incorporating the business environment into the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) framework, this study offers a more profound insight into the determinants influencing EIs. In addition, the study proposes a revised TPB model that considers the mediating role of self-efficacy and personal attitudes and the moderating role of self-efficacy. Overall, this study is ground-breaking in this area of research.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> This article fulfils an identified need to study which factors influence females’ intention to be an entrepreneur in a country that is strongly anchored in religion and tradition.</p>2024-03-13T06:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Mohammad Mazharul Islam, Majed Alharthihttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4282Dynamic innovation model for ambidextrous SMEs: Insights from a bibliometrics analysis2024-03-12T18:09:47+01:00Darlington T. Chigoridchigori@ufh.ac.zaWillie Chinyamurindiwchinyamurindi@ufh.ac.zaEllen C. Runganierungani@ufh.ac.za<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Ambidextrous SME innovations and technology models have led to success stories in the past. They face new challenges due to increasing uncertainty in the business environment. Purpose: The study reviews ambidexterity literature to determine trends and themes existing in the body of literature on ambidexterity.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> The study employed a bibliometric and Vosviewer analysis of 1808 articles published on Scopus database from 1999–2022. The study used several indicators including data overview (scientific production in the area and three field-plot), conceptual structure (co-occurrence network, thematic map, and evolution), keyword analysis, and thematic mapping.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> The analysis indicated five main themes on which the ambidexterity literature focuses. The results revealed that the key themes in ambidexterity literature are continuous innovation, knowledge management, dynamic capabilities, entrepreneurial and market orientation, enterprise resource management (ERM), and business performance.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> The review highlighted that SMEs struggle more in dynamic business environments. Business changes in recent years have proved the importance of innovation, ERM, knowledge management, and dynamic capabilities as beneficial factors for achieving enhanced performance.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> The analysis reveals several links in literature and valuable insights into possible models that can be scaled up and replicated across different industries. Themes in the domain mainly focussed on knowledge management, firm performance, digital transformation, open innovation, dynamic capabilities as well as entrepreneurial and marketing orientation The proposed business model can assist SMEs owners and managers in swiftly adapting to unpredictability in the changing business climate caused by the recent pattern of events.</p>2024-03-11T06:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Darlington T. Chigori, Willie Chinyamurindi, Ellen C. Runganihttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4210The U-shaped effect of responsible leadership on employees’ cyberloafing2024-03-07T18:08:32+01:00Jinqiang Zhuzhujinqiang@muc.edu.cnJiaxiu Zhaozhaojiaxiu@muc.edu.cn<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The study explores the U-shaped impact of responsible leadership on cyberloafing and the moderating effect of self-efficacy based on conservation of resources theory.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> This is a field study based on quantitative analysis of full-time employees in the enterprises who work on computers for over 1 year. Hierarchical regression was employed to examine hypotheses. Bootstrap and Bayesian analysis to conduct robustness tests.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> Results from 305 employees showed that responsible leadership had a U-shaped impact on cyberloafing. The self-efficacy moderated the U-shaped relationship between responsible leadership and cyberloafing. For employees with high self-efficacy, responsible leadership is more likely to reduce cyberloafing, but for employees with low self-efficacy, responsible leadership is more likely to increase cyberloafing.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> Organisations should recognise the role of leaders in mitigating employees’ cyberloafing behaviour through effective supervision, and equip the leaders with a comprehensive understanding of their impact. Besides, for employees with low self-efficacy, leaders should pay attention and help them through effective supervision.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> Our work illustrated the double-edged sword effect of responsible leadership on employee cyberloafing and identified self-efficacy as a key boundary condition of the conservation of resources theory. This study expands the related research on the influencing factors of cyberloafing behaviour and provides clue for the possible negative effects of responsible leadership. In addition, this study deepens the conservation of resources theory.</p>2024-03-06T06:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Jinqiang Zhu, Jiaxiu Zhaohttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4223The role of management accounting in human capital management: Lessons from the services sector2024-03-01T18:07:35+01:00Cornelis T. van der Lugtcornis.lugt@usb.ac.za<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The article examines the role of management accounting in managing human capital, a key intangible asset for services sectors. Considering new expectations regarding the role of management accountants and human resource professionals, the article explores the ability of the disciplines to collaborate in becoming more strategic.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> The article considers literature on the evolution of the two disciplines, including archetype views on the role of management accountants, and presents case study analysis of a German information technology firm and a Dutch bank. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers from both the companies.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> From the interviews, it appeared that management accountants play the role of business partner but stop short of acting as comprehensive integrator of human capital information. While both companies have innovated in measuring and valuing human capital, human resources and finance analytics teams tend to work on their own and accountants remain ad hoc advisors.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> Efforts to refine the business case and value human capital fail to fully mainstream, as collaboration across departments remain loose. Innovations in soft management controls leave an impression of loose coupling between subsystems rather than comprehensively planned and integrated soft management control systems.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> The study defines complementarity between two disciplines, both seeking to account for and manage intangible assets more effectively. It concludes with lessons for researchers and practitioners on the development action-to-value pathways, improving non-financial metrics and purposefully shaping soft control systems.</p>2024-02-29T15:15:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Cornelis T. van der Lugthttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/3901Surveying the reputation-regulation interface in the SABI industry: Perspectives of private banking customers2024-03-01T13:40:31+01:00Samson Murimbikar0020807@yahoo.com<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Bank reputations took a severe knock following the global financial crisis of 2007–2009. To get the global banking industry back on its feet, regulations existing at the time were strengthened and new ones were introduced. While the industry has come a long way in clawing back its reputation, research on the present state of reputations of some global banks suggests that these reputations are still underpinned by national regulators. In the South African context, it is not clear to what extent bank reputations are underpinned by the reputation of the main banking regulator: the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). This article looks at perceptions of private banking customers to ascertain whether they believe that bank reputations derive from the reputation of the regulator.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> A quantitative research methodology was applied. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from 111 banking customers using a Likert scale. Four hypotheses on reputation-regulation relationships were then tested using the non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Rank test.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> The results show that regulation plays no role in how private banking customers perceive bank reputations.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> This study highlights that there is little scope for banks to accrue ‘reputational rent’ by free riding on the reputation of the regulator. Banks must therefore take steps to proactively engage in their own reputation building exercises.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> This research is the first to look at the reputation–regulation interface in the local banking industry from private banking customers’ perspective. It highlights that each bank must work hard to build the reputation it desires.</p>2024-02-27T06:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Samson Murimbikahttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4273Size matters: The market–non-market strategy nexus and firm performance in South Africa2024-03-01T13:40:31+01:00John A. Parnelljparnell@una.eduMichael L. Troilomike-troilo@utulsa.eduThomas Dobbelsteindobbelstein@cr42.de<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This study seeks to discover how a firm’s size and its use of both market and non-market strategies (MS and NMS) impact firm performance in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> We used the Prolific platform to gather survey data from 247 executives and managers across the country representing a variety of firm sizes and industries. Cronbach’s alpha, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and structural equation modelling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM) were then employed to test constructs and hypotheses. Configuration theory and social exchange theory (SET) are the conceptual foundations for this study.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> Firm size is a driver of the market strategy of differentiation, but not cost leadership. Larger firms are also more likely to pursue both political and social NMS. Differentiation and social NMS positively impact firm performance, but cost leadership and political NMS do not.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> Managers should emphasise differentiating their products and services rather than being a low-cost provider. When considering various non-market strategies, they should emphasise social NMS. Although large firms are more likely than small firms to pursue political NMS, they do not appear to accrue any benefit.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> This study fills gaps in the strategy-performance literature by directly linking firm size to strategic choices and by analysing the effects of different types of MS and NMS on firm performance. As such, it is valuable to both academics and practitioners. This study also advances our understanding of MS and NMS in South Africa.</p>2024-02-22T08:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 John A. Parnell, Michael L. Troilo, Thomas Dobbelsteinhttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4087Unveiling the power of social influencers in brand trust and brand identification2024-03-01T13:40:31+01:00Ji-Young Kimkitty917322@naver.comSung-Hoon Kobaumhoffnung@kyonggi.ac.krYongjun Choiyongjun.choi@hongik.ac.kr<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This study investigates the effects of social influencer characteristics (i.e., opinion leadership and parasocial interaction) on forming follower brand trust and identification.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> This study included 286 Korean consumers (144 males and 142 females) with social media experience. We tested the hypotheses using structural equation modelling, multiple regression, bootstrapping and multigroup model analysis within the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, with a particular focus on an orange juice brand.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> Opinion leadership and parasocial interaction (i.e., the one-sided, quasi-social relationship between individuals and social influencers through media consumption) were positively related to follower brand trust and brand identification, and brand trust had a positive relationship with brand identification. The mediating effect of brand trust in the positive relationships between social influencer characteristics and brand identification was significant. We also found that opinion leadership was positively related to brand identification in the male group, while parasocial interaction had a positive relationship to brand identification in the female group.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> Organisations need to be aware that opinion leadership and parasocial interaction are vital for understanding the effectiveness of social influencer marketing. In addition, they need to take a close look at social influencer characteristics as they affect brand performance by target group.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> Our results suggest that brand trust is essential in explaining how social influencer characteristics relate to brand identification. This study is the first to analyse gender-based variations in brand identification formed by opinion leadership and parasocial interaction highlighting the roles of social influencer characteristics in marketing.</p>2024-02-21T06:00:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Ji-Young Kim, Sung-Hoon Ko, Yongjun Choihttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4080Components of integrated thinking: Evidence from South African listed companies2024-02-01T17:57:29+01:00Dusan Ecimdusan.ecim@wits.ac.za<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This article explores three components that need to be addressed as part of an integrated thinking strategy and provides evidence on the state of integrated thinking application in a developing economy.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> The levels of integrated thinking among South African listed companies are obtained using an integrated thinking tool developed and tested by prior literature. The data are then summarised and aggregated into different components using a principal component analysis (PCA). The components are used to develop the core strategies organisations employ to adopt an integrated thinking logic.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> Three components account for the highest percentage of the variance in integrated thinking levels and can be used as a reference point to institutionalise an integrated thinking logic in an organisation. Organisations need to focus on: (1) a holistic business awareness and managing of, and reporting on, value creation; (2) stakeholder awareness, communication and corporate accountability; and (3) governance, accountability for sustainability and assurance.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> The components offer organisations a practical means to assess and develop their integrated thinking strategies and highlight important sustainability-related implications in a developing economy.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> This article refines the indicators of integrated thinking used in prior literature to identify the dominant components that account for the variance in integrated thinking levels among organisations. An organisation can use these components to identify which stage of an integrated thinking logic the organisation is in and how the components can be used as a roadmap to a sustainable outlook and enhanced legitimacy.</p>2024-01-31T12:23:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Dusan Ecimhttps://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/3878An evaluation of the use of professional judgement in corporate valuations in South Africa2024-02-01T13:07:39+01:00Tasneem Gaibietasneem.gaibie@wits.ac.zaAvani Sebastianavani.sebastian@wits.ac.zaAndres Merinoandres.merino@wits.ac.za<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Global merger and acquisition and capital market activity have increased over the last decade. A key determinant of the value of these transactions are the results of corporate valuations, which require technical expertise as well as professional judgement. The purpose of this research is to identify aspects of corporate valuations, for the purposes of mergers and acquisitions, which require professional judgement and to understand why the judgement is necessary.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach:</strong> We followed a mixed-method approach by gathering data from valuation practitioners using a survey, followed by semi-structured interviews.</p><p><strong>Findings/results:</strong> We find that professional judgement is required throughout the process, from identifying the most appropriate approach to adjusting theoretical valuation inputs. Industry and market nuances are key reasons for professional judgement as is the perceived lack of appropriate asset pricing models.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> The views of practitioners, juxtaposed with academic literature on investment theory, have the potential to contribute to the establishment of best practice in corporate valuations.</p><p><strong>Originality/value:</strong> Prior academic research has focused largely on the technical aspects of corporate valuations. In this research, we present the first-hand experiences of practitioners whose professional judgements are a key contributor to the valuations that underpin corporate actions in the South African market. This research extends both academic as well as corporate research.</p>2024-01-30T07:06:00+01:00Copyright (c) 2024 Tasneem Gaibie, Avani Sebastian, Andres Merino