AFRICAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of a Unique Biodiesel Production System based on Hydrodynamic Cavitations

2025-01-02T15:46:52-06:00

Purpose: The study aims to improve biodiesel production through hydrodynamic cavitation, focusing on increased energy efficiency, higher yields, and reduced production time. By optimising the production process, especially with the use of waste cooking oil.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to model the flow of biodiesel within a multi-plate system featuring several orifices. Theoretical input and output velocities calculations were derived from experimental mass flow rates. The CFD analysis provided pressure distribution along the pipe walls, which was utilised to assess the lifespan and damage cycles of the cavitation pipe and to study the behaviour of fluid turbulence.

Research Limitation: The research focuses on simulating flow behaviour in acrylic pipes within designated boundary conditions.

Findings: The research showed that producing biodiesel through hydrodynamic cavitation markedly lowers production expenses and duration while enhancing energy efficiency and output. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis offered valuable information about the distribution of pressure, velocity, and turbulence, aiding in optimising the cavitation pipe design.

Practical Implication: An optimised design for cavitation chambers has the potential to enhance the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of biodiesel production, positioning it as a useful substitute for traditional fuels.

Social Implication: Embracing this technology can help mitigate environmental pollution by repurposing waste cooking oil and lessening reliance on non-renewable petroleum fuels, thereby supporting global sustainability objectives.

Originality/Value: This study introduces an innovative method for producing biodiesel using hydrodynamic cavitation and CFD analysis to improve pipe design and production parameters. It addresses a significant gap in boosting biodiesel's economic and environmental feasibility, offering a scalable and sustainable alternative for fuel production.

Empirical Exploration of Optimal Gating System Design for Sand Casting Process

2025-01-19T15:44:05-06:00

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse and optimise the gating system used in the sand casting process to produce drainage doors at Deepshikha Casting in Nagpur. It focuses on understanding how gate design impacts productivity and the quality of the cast, drawing attention to common defects and the role of gravity casting techniques.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper discusses the present gating system of Deepshikha Casting in detail to identify defects, such as sand inclusions, blow holes, pinholes, gas holes, shrinkage, and misruns. The present gating ratio and system weight assessment are thus used to suggest changes in the design to improve the process efficiency and quality of the product.

Findings: The research indicates that the existing gating system has an inappropriate gating ratio, resulting in a high rate of faults and reduced productivity. The system also weighs a lot, which deters efficiency. Improving the gating design reduces flaws, increases the quality of castings, and enhances molten metal flow.

Research Limitation: The output of the present work is limited to Deepshikha Casting alone, which is used for drainage door casting. Further research must be conducted on different casting products and technologies for a broad application.

Practical Implication: This sector of sand casting can benefit from optimising the gating system, maximising productivity and minimising casting defects, thus reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Social Implication: The environment will also benefit from efficient casting because of reduced use of resources, reduced waste, and fewer consumables. Better procedures also translate to increased production of safer products.

Originality/Value: This paper provides practical, applied solutions for optimising the gating system of sand casting. Its insights are particularly informative for a foundry working with fragile metals and using gravity casting.

Assessing Marketing Capabilities as a Driver of Firm Performance in the Retail Industry

2025-01-06T12:00:18-06:00

Purpose: This study aims to assess the role of marketing capabilities as a driver for firm performance, specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the retailing sector within an emerging market context.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A single-method approach was employed, with quantitative data from surveys administered to retail owner-managers. The quantitative component involved a structured questionnaire distributed to 482 SMEs in the retailing sector. A purposive sampling technique was deployed to select the respondents. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships between marketing capabilities and firm performance.

Findings: The findings reveal that SMEs with robust marketing capabilities experience significantly higher levels of firm performance. Notably, three of the hypotheses were significant, while one was insignificant. The study also highlights the importance of entrepreneurial marketing practices in enhancing performance during economic fluctuations.

Research Limitation: The study could not demonstrate any real causal effects of marketing capability antecedents on firm performance.

Research Limitation: The study is restricted to the Ghanaian retailing sector; therefore, it cannot vouch for the generalizability of the findings.

Practical Implication: By investing in these areas, companies can create a robust framework that enhances their competitive advantage and overall performance in the retail sector.

Social Implications: By leveraging dynamic marketing capabilities, these firms can develop products and services that address social needs, contribute to community welfare, and enhance their brand image.

Originality/Value: This research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the marketing capabilities that drive performance in retail SMEs within an emerging market context.

Investigation of Optimum Geometry for Robotics Torque Sensor

2025-01-09T14:27:20-06:00

Purpose: This study aims to optimise the geometry of joint torque sensors to enhance sensitivity and precision while minimising stress.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research involves designing and evaluating three-ring geometries (Ring A, Ring B, and Ring C) under varying rib angles (30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in ANSYS. Experimental validation was performed on the geometry with the highest stress (Ring C, 60° rib angle), utilising strain gauges for stress measurement.

Findings: FEA revealed that Ring A and B geometries exhibited lower stress levels, with Ring A being the most favourable. While showing higher stress, Ring C demonstrated suitability for applications requiring precise strain measurements.

Research Limitation: The study focuses on aluminum alloys 6061 and 7075-T6.

Practical Implication: Optimised torque sensors can enhance robotic applications requiring precise force measurement and control, improving operational safety and precision.

Social Implication: Enhanced torque sensor design supports safer and more efficient robotics and benefits society by enabling technological advancements.

Originality/Value: This work comprehensively evaluates torque sensor geometries, combining FEA and experimental validation to identify designs that balance stress minimisation and measurement precision, contributing to advancements in robotic sensor technology.

Auditing Under Martial Law

2025-01-11T02:10:56-06:00

Purpose: The article examines the influence of martial law on the economy and social policy and presents the consequences for auditing.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative research strategy was used to study the financing of audit firms at the macro level. A purposive sampling method was applied to select 100 audit firms across 24 regions of Ukraine, representing diverse operational conditions. Data analysis involved statistical techniques to compare expenditures and revenues from 2021 to 2023, highlighting the impact of martial law on financial performance.

Research Limitation: Data was obtained on a 25% reduction in the number of audits in 2023 due to economic pressure on the audit sector.

Findings: The findings reveal that auditing during martial law in Ukraine underwent significant adaptation to sustain operations amid war-induced disruptions. Audit firms shifted towards digital tools like ACL and IDEA, enabling efficient remote auditing despite restricted site access. Modular systems and flexible schedules mitigated operational challenges such as relocations, delays, and increased risks.

Practical Implication: This research benefits the industry by providing insights into practical strategies for maintaining operational continuity, addressing emerging risks, and leveraging technological tools to improve audit quality and efficiency.

Social Implication: The analysis emphasised societal benefits, including increased resilience in financial reporting, enhanced data security, and improved accountability mechanisms, which collectively contribute to the country's economic recovery and stability.

Originality/ Value: This study's novelty lies in its focus on the unique integration of digital platforms during active hostilities, which provides a model for adapting audit practices in crisis conditions.

Organisational Barriers to Resilient Construction Safety Management Systems

2025-01-01T08:05:25-06:00

Purpose: This study explores the organisational barriers to implementing resilient safety management systems (RSMS) in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Study Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative research approach involving a structured questionnaire survey was utilised. The survey included 144 members of the Ghana Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors. A purposive sampling method was used. The analysis employed was exploratory factor analysis.

Findings: The research identified significant barriers to implementing resilient safety management systems, including inadequate training and awareness, fragmented communication, and financial constraints. These barriers contribute to the Ghanaian construction industry's reactive rather than proactive safety culture.

Research Limitations: The study's geographic restrictions to Ghana could make its conclusions less applicable to other areas. Furthermore, depending solely on self-reported data can introduce response bias.

Practical Implication: The findings suggest that addressing these barriers requires targeted interventions, such as enhanced training programs, improved communication channels, and financial support for safety initiatives. These measures can help construction firms in Ghana build a more resilient safety culture.

Social Implication: Enhancing the resilience of safety management systems can reduce workplace accidents and injuries, improving construction workers' overall health and safety. This aligns with broader societal goals of promoting safe and sustainable working environments.

Originality/Value: This study provides new insights into the specific organisational barriers to RSMS in the Ghanaian construction sector. It contributes to the limited literature on resilience in construction safety management in developing countries and offers practical recommendations for overcoming these barriers.

Analysis and Design of a Six-Port Network Based on a Modified Schiffman Phase Shifter

2025-01-12T18:08:51-06:00

Purpose: This study presents a novel design of a six-port network based on a modified Schiffman phase shifter operating at a 90±2° phase shift.

Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The research methodology encompasses a comprehensive literature review, the analysis, design and simulation of the novel phase shifter, its integration into a six-port network, layout design and subsequent post-layout simulation, and comparative analysis to evaluate the new design's performance.

Findings: The schematic results showed an operational bandwidth from 5.52 GHz to 12.21 GHz, translating to a fractional bandwidth of 75.47% with a maximum phase error of ±1.8° for the 90° phase shift. Also, the post-layout simulation results from momentum demonstrated outstanding performance with an operation frequency band spanning from 5.52 GHz to 12.21 GHz, representing a factional bandwidth of 75.47% and ±2.1° phase error across the entire band. In addition, good impedance matching was achieved at all the ports well below -10 dB.

Practical Implications: It also finds application in satellite communications, where beamforming enhances signal strength and quality by directing the signal towards specific locations on Earth, and antenna arrays for satellite uplink and downlink antennas adjust the beam direction and coverage area dynamically.

Social Implications: The social impact of this work includes high-performing communication devices for current and future generations, more accurate measurements, particularly wearable devices in healthcare for monitoring human vitals, weather monitoring systems, high-precision radar systems, wireless gadgets, high-data-rate communication systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Originality and Value: The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by introducing an innovative design that addresses the limitations of phase accuracy and bandwidth in Six-Port Networks.

Examination of Microbial Levels in Students' Bed Linens

2025-01-01T16:12:43-06:00

Purpose: This paper determined the microbial content of bed linens used by students based on period of usage, gender of user and types of fabrics.

Design/Methodology/ Approach: Laboratory tests were conducted on bed linens used by students. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to select 32 each male and female participants living alone for the study. 32 pieces of bed linens, each 100% cotton and cotton/polyester blend, were used for the experiment. Two categories of gender (male and female) and two different periods of usage (one week and two weeks) were also employed. The statistical software employed to analyse the data collected was the Statistical Package and Service Solution (SPSS) for Windows version 26. Means and standard deviations of microbial load of bed linens were determined. Independent samples t-test and analysis of variance were employed to determine if differences existed between and among the variables studied.

Findings: The study found no difference in microbial load in terms of duration and gender of the user. The results also showed more bacteria load on 100% cotton bed linen than on cotton and polyester blends.

Research Limitation: The study's sample was confined to a specific group of students at one university, limiting the generalizability of the findings to a broader student population or diverse living conditions.

Practical Implication: The study's outcome is significant for public health and daily hygiene practices. The Ghana health service can use the information to educate individuals on the dangers they will likely be exposed to using bed linens for an extended period without washing and raise awareness about the often-overlooked issue of microbial contamination in everyday environments.

Social Implication: The study highlights the need for increased awareness and responsibility regarding personal hygiene within living environments.

Originality/Value: This study advances the understanding of microbial contamination in students' bed linens by identifying the roles of usage period, user gender, and fabric type.

Impact of Manufacturing Technology on The Quality of School Uniforms Produced in Small and Medium Scale Industries in Kumasi, Ghana.

2025-01-15T16:17:17-06:00

Purpose: This study assessed manufacturing technologies small/medium-scale industries use to produce quality school uniforms in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a qualitative approach. The instruments used for the data collection were interviews and observation guides. Since the data was qualitative, it was analysed using thematic content analysis.

Findings: The result showed that industrial sewing machines, overlocking machines, and cutting machines, among others, were the most common machines used to produce school uniforms. The technology used in producing school uniforms positively impacted the products, making the uniforms meet average standards for their clients.

Research Limitation: The study is limited by the geographical coverage and the number of small medium scale firms involved.

Practical Implication: Given the need for a technological support system for expertise and advanced machinery, small/medium-scale firms will be well-positioned to compete with well-resourced big manufacturing companies.

Social Implication: Empowering small/medium-scale industries can increase productivity and create more employment, higher economic returns, and more equitable industrial norms.

Originality/Value: The study offers a novel approach to assessing the impact of manufacturing technology on the quality of school uniforms produced in small and medium-scale industries in Kumasi, thereby contributing to unearthing the industry's challenges and gaps.

The Role of Design in Reviving Architectural Styles and Protecting Cultural Heritage

2025-01-02T09:55:55-06:00

Purpose: The study examines architectural styles' impact on preserving cultural heritage.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research is based on a qualitative paradigm, using content analysis as a basic tool. The examples included eight sites: the Louvre, the Central Library of Liverpool, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Monastery of Saint Francis, the German Military History Museum, the Antwerp Port Authority Building, and the Royal Ontario Museum. The findings obtained in the content analysis were then processed using the synthesis, comparison, and generalisation methods.

Research Limitation: The research's limitation is the frame of Western cultural heritage, which does not cover regions of the Middle East and Asia.

Finding: The study identified the adaptive reuse of architectural styles. Design in preserving cultural heritage was recognised as the main challenge of urbanisation in the 21st century.

Social Implication: The findings contribute to strengthening the cultural identity of nations, as well as to sustainable urbanism

Practical Implication: The findings allow architects to broaden the arsenal of solutions applied both for preserving cultural heritage and designing city plans

Originality/ Value: The study's relevance concerns preserving cultural monuments currently receiving considerable attention.

Dynamic Analysis and Balancing of Railway Tracks Supported by Concrete Sleepers

2025-01-17T17:17:34-06:00

Purpose: This study aims to improve the design to prevent vibration and improve railway performance by examining the behaviour of the railway track supported by a concrete sleeper.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The simulation for dynamic stresses has been carried out using Finite element modelling and analysis for the track-sleeper system's dynamic response. The frequencies and responses are obtained using modal and harmonic analysis with the help of ANSYS, a standard FEA software. In experimental validation, the finite element analysis results were compared to the actual track vibration behaviour at a train speed of 120 km/h.

Findings: The research shows that optimising the design and composition of concrete sleepers could greatly diminish vibrations and more evenly distribute loads. The results are improved structural performance, less maintenance required, and more stable tracks. The results emphasise the significance of concrete sleeper design in reducing track dynamic loads.

Research Limitation: This research is constrained because it considers only trains running at a maximum velocity of 120km/h.

Practical Implication: Improving the technology of the precast concrete sleeper can also reduce track vibrations, decrease maintenance costs, and increase the service life of railway infrastructure.

Social Implication: An efficient rail network helps switch to cleaner transportation systems, especially in densely populated urban areas.

Originality/Value: By integrating finite element modelling (FEM) with experimental validation, this study thoroughly evaluates the dynamic behaviour of rails supported by concrete sleepers. It sheds novel ways on the track-sleeper interaction, showing how design optimisation can improve performance while decreasing operating costs, which is suitable for railway engineering and sustainable infrastructure.

Board of Directors Characteristics and Environmental Sustainability Reporting in Sub-Saharan Africa

2025-01-05T17:54:53-06:00

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between institutional ownership structure, board of director credentials, and environmental sustainability reporting among non-financial publicly traded Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) firms.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research employs a dynamic panel data estimation methodology, analysing 1,969 firm-year datasets from non-financial firms in SSA from 2012 to 2021. The Arellano-Bond dynamic panel data strategy, using the two-step generalised method of moments (GMM) technique, was applied for hypothesis testing.

Findings: The findings indicate a relatively unfavourable relationship between the frequency of audit committee meetings, environmental sustainability reporting, and institutional ownership. No evidence suggests that institutional ownership moderates the relationship between environmental sustainability and other board attributes, such as committee size and independence.

Research Limitation: The research is limited to publicly traded non-financial firms in SSA and the period from 2012 to 2021, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other regions and time frames.

Practical Implication: The significant impact of gender diversity in sustainability committees on environmental sustainability reporting highlights the need for firms to prioritise diversity in board composition.

Social Implication: The study suggests that policymakers and regulators in SSA should focus on specific board committee attributes, such as gender diversity and institutional ownership's role in improving environmental sustainability reporting.

Originality/Value: The study's new insight is that the results challenge the conventional perspective on the role of institutional ownership by demonstrating that institutional ownership does not moderate the relationship between board characteristics and sustainability reporting.

Study for Identification and Classification of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Implementation Drivers in Small and Medium Enterprises

2025-01-08T16:42:25-06:00

Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to assess the factors that have the most significant impact on SMEs' adoption rate of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT).

Design/Methodology/Approach: An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach was applied to assess drivers for AMT adoption. Data was gathered from literature and supplemented by expert opinions from academics and professionals. The identified drivers were ranked and classified through the ISM framework, and their reliability and influence were examined using the Matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC) analysis.

Findings: The ISM analysis revealed that government policy support and customer/buyer pressure are primary drivers for AMT adoption in SMEs. These drivers form the foundational factors influencing the successful implementation of AMTs and enabling SMEs to develop strategic, priority-based business plans.

Research Limitation: The study is limited to SME environments, which may restrict its applicability to larger firms.

Practical Implication: Emphasising government support and responding to buyer pressure can guide SMEs in integrating AMTs more effectively.

Social Implication: Successful AMT implementation in SMEs can promote job creation, local economic growth, and sustainable manufacturing practices, benefiting society by enhancing regional competitiveness and innovation.

Originality/Value: This study provides a structured framework for understanding AMT adoption drivers in SMEs, incorporating ISM and MICMAC analyses to bridge a gap in the literature.

The Role of Financial Inclusion in Driving Economic Growth

2025-01-10T16:44:15-06:00

Purpose: This study analyses the economic essence of financial inclusiveness in the context of the accessibility of financial services for both the population and businesses

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research adopts a qualitative approach to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth. This research employs a systematic sampling approach for secondary data collection. The study examined the processes of financial inclusiveness development in Ukraine from 2022–2023 and twenty countries included in the Global Crypto Adoption Index Top-20 for 2022. These instruments focus on collecting reliable secondary data spanning one year (2022-2023). Qualitative data undergoes thematic content analysis and pattern matching to identify emerging trends and success factors.

Research Limitation: The study is limited by the lack of access to official, reliable data and the difficulty of empirically verifying theoretical conclusions.

Findings: This paper analyses the mechanisms for ensuring financial inclusion through the introduction of digital innovations. It defines the essence of innovations and identifies trends in their implementation.

Practical Implication: Providing access to financial services for all population segments is proven to help reduce poverty and social inequality, promote entrepreneurship and investment, improve financial stability, and ensure economic growth.

Social Implication: It has been found that financial inclusion is positioned as both a component and a driver of socio-economic progress.

Originality/Value: The research process highlighted the importance of developing financial inclusion in Ukraine. The main trends in the dependence of economic growth on the level of financial inclusion were identified.

Innovations, Technologies and Challenges Associated with Transnational Education

2025-01-11T20:24:12-06:00

Purpose: This study delves into Transnational education, focusing on challenges, technologies, and innovative practices that significantly shaped its landscape from 2014 to June 2024.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study applied the PRISMA framework and bibliographic analysis to synthesise information from 77 articles emphasising the best practices, innovations, technology, and challenges associated with TNE.

Findings: The study highlights notable technological tools such as virtual learning environments (VLEs), artificial intelligence (AI), telepresence robots, and other innovations that have transformed how TNE programmes operate effectively. However, the research highlights challenges such as differences in culture and language, quality assurance issues, and the need for more representation from areas in discussions about TNE.

Research Limitation: A primary drawback of this review is its temporal scope, as it encompasses only works published from 2014 to mid-2024. Although the study deployed well-defined search methodologies, excluding non-peer-reviewed publications and grey literature may have eliminated significant practical insights.

Practical Implication: The results underline the importance of embracing advancements to make higher education accessible while endorsing further exploration into upcoming trends such as AI-powered personalised learning and blockchain innovations.

Social Implication: This anticipatory viewpoint is essential for maintaining TNE's relevance and adaptability to the changing requirements of the global education environment.

Originality/Value: This is the first systematic review of specific technologies and innovative practices that have been suggested.

Influence of Contractors’ Management Strategies on Construction Project Performance in Developing Economies

2025-01-01T13:27:50-06:00

Purpose: This study explores the influence of contractors' management strategies (CMS) on construction project performance in Ghana. Globally, including in Ghana, the construction industry faces persistent performance challenges, partly due to the adoption of ineffective management strategies.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey, gathering data from 375 site managers working in medium and large-sized construction companies. Statistical techniques, including principal component analysis, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis, were applied to analyse the data.

Findings: The study found that while contractor management strategies identified in the literature are only moderately applied, they lead to average project performance. Nevertheless, the findings also highlight that the active implementation of comprehensive project planning, robust monitoring and control systems, effective stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of digital technologies can significantly enhance project performance. Research Limitation: The study was limited to medium and large-sized construction firms. Including data from smaller firms could improve the generalizability of the findings. Practical Implication: For construction managers seeking to improve project outcomes, the findings highlight the importance of prioritising effective project planning, robust monitoring and control, strong stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of digital technology. Emphasising these strategies can lead to more efficient project execution, improved performance metrics, and overall project success.

Social Implication: Improved CMS can foster better working conditions, enhance safety, and increase client satisfaction, contributing to a more substantial reputation and economic growth for local contractors in developing economies like Ghana.

Originality/Value: This work uniquely explores the role of CMS within Ghana's construction sector and offers actionable recommendations that could be valuable for similar contexts in other developing nations.

Determinants of Household Choice of Pre-Tertiary Education in Ghana

2025-01-15T08:22:17-06:00

Purpose: This research examined the factors influencing household decisions between public and private pre-tertiary education in Ghana, focusing on the relationship between socioeconomic household variables and school characteristics.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed data from the Ghana Living Standard Survey Round 7 (GLSS7), which comprised a sample of 15,000 households drawn from 1,000 enumeration areas. It employed an explanatory research design and used a binary logistic regression technique for analysis.

Findings: The research found that though higher spending on pre-tertiary education decreases the likelihood of choosing private schools, higher school fees, transportation costs, and proximity to schools increase the likelihood of opting for private schools. It also revealed significant disparities between urban and rural households, with rural families less inclined to choose private schools due to lower income levels and limited access to private schools. Financial inclusion, reflected by households' bank accounts, was a key factor enabling private school choices.

Research Limitation: Although credible, the use of secondary data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GLSS 7) suffers from the usual problem of not asking all the questions that the research would have asked.

Social Implication: This research has the potential to inform the policies of the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to implement strategies that enhance the accessibility and affordability of quality education nationwide.

Practical Implication: This includes expanding transportation infrastructure in rural areas to reduce distance barriers and improve access to public and private schools. Additionally, efforts to expand financial inclusion should be intensified to empower parents to make school choices for their children.

Originality/ Value: This research focused on socio-economic and school-related factors affecting school choice in Ghana, analysing how financial inclusion and regional disparities influence household educational decisions.

Evaluating The Impact of Innovative Technologies on The Management of Tour Services

2025-01-02T07:06:29-06:00

Purpose: The study aims to examine the effect of advanced technologies on tour Service Management regarding organising excursions and the overall quality of tourism services.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research formed part of a larger study that embraced the case study research design that adopted quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection involved questionnaires completed by 137 respondents representing the tourism business sector in four European countries: Italy, France, Germany, and Ukraine. Moreover, the 23 industry experts were interviewed using an in-depth interview technique that primarily offered qualitative information. Correlation regression analysis was used to study technology usage patterns, and content analysis was used to get thematic trends and challenges.

Research Limitation: The sample size selected is adequate for preliminary findings, but the results may not be very generalisable for other categories of businesses in the tourism industry. Findings: The study's findings established that using Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) significantly improved the quality of excursions. The use of IoT was also revealed to enhance the control of tourist traffic, increase the level of security, and better the utilisation of resources.

Practical Implication: The study's practical significance lies in developing recommendations to enhance excursion management efficiency, such as integrating VR-based interactive tours.

Social Implication: VR, AI, and IoT can make valuable contributions to the tourist experience and increase customer satisfaction.

Originality/ Value: This work contributes by elaborating on how excursion management can be enhanced through the application of advanced technologies, including but not limited to VR, AI, and IoT, with a particular focus on the challenges that may arise in small and medium-sized enterprises operating within the tourism sector.

Export And Economic Growth in Tanzania: Co-Integration and Causality Analysis

2025-01-16T15:40:13-06:00

Purpose: This study examines the co-integration and causal relationship between exports and economic growth in Tanzania using time series data from 1998 to 2018.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was employed to measure economic growth, while exports of all products (from agricultural, industrial, and mineral products) were extracted from country trade statistics and employed as the independent variables. Data analysis was done after some tests, such as stationary tests, co-integration, regression analysis, and Granger causality. The stationary test result suggested using unrestricted vector autoregressive (VAR) analysis, followed by the Granger causality test.

Findings: It revealed that those exports significantly influence Tanzania’s economic growth, which implies that an increase in exports provides the market for domestically produced goods and services and thus promotes more production and economic growth. The study further confirms that economic growth does not significantly influence exports from the country. However, it was further revealed that the causality between export and economic growth is not bi-directional.

Research Limitation: Historical data may not reflect current economic conditions. Hence, there were restricted degrees of freedom when adopting complex modelling.

Practical Implication: Promoting more exports will encourage domestic producers to increase production, eventually fuel economic growth.

Social Implication: The study recommends that policymakers develop strategies for increasing the diversity of exported products and local production capacity.

Originality/Value: The novelty lies in integrating Granger causality testing with cointegration analysis for Tanzania's trade context. These novelty aspects contribute to methodological advancement and practical understanding of Tanzania's economic dynamics, providing valuable insights for policy formulation and future research.

Optimising Coke Oven Gas Consumption in Heat Recovery Coke Production

2025-01-02T18:57:34-06:00

Purpose: This research aims to optimise natural gas consumption in heat recovery coke production by systematically investigating operational parameters and process modifications. The objectives are quantifying and reducing specific gas consumption while maintaining product quality standards and developing optimal operating parameters for manual charging operations.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The experimental design for optimising natural gas consumption in coke production focuses on systematically evaluating and improving energy efficiency while maintaining product quality. The experimental runs are randomised to minimise systematic bias, with each condition replicated three times to ensure statistical validity. Statistical analysis employs Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine significant factors.

Findings: Reducing heating gas leakage significantly improved temperature regulation within the Coke plant. Rectification measures enhance temperature distribution and optimise fuel consumption in the heating process. Saving coke oven gas energy as heating gas energy is also helpful for reducing the specific heat consumption value of coke-making plants in an integrated type of steel industry.

Research Limitation: This research is focused on recovery type coke making plants in integrated type steel industries

Practical Implication: These findings demonstrate that optimising coke oven gas consumption improves the efficiency of coke-making operations and generates substantial benefits across the entire integrated steel manufacturing process.

Social Implication: The social implications demonstrate that energy optimisation in coke-making plants contributes significantly to sustainable community development and social progress.

Originality/Value: Saving coke oven gas energy as heating gas is also helpful for reducing the specific heat consumption value of coke making plants in an integrated type steel industry.

Morphemic Patterns of Pharmaceutical Brand Names on The Ghanaian Market

2025-01-19T17:30:20-06:00

Purpose: This study aims to analyse the morphemic structures employed by pharmaceutical companies in naming medicine brand names and explore how these naming patterns reflect the brands' perceived effects on users.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the purposive sampling technique, the researchers sampled 1,000 medicine brand names fully registered under the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana and applied Katamba’s Lexical Morphology Theory to identify the morphemic structures used in composing these names.

Findings: The analysis revealed that the medicine brand names incorporate elements such as Generic Names (GN), Dosage Forms (DF), Manufacturers’ Names (MN), Local Representatives (LR), and Zero Criteria. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the morphemic patterns of medicine brand names on the Ghanaian market are structured mono-morphemically, incorporating coinages and borrowings, as well as di-morphemically and poly-morphemically, both of which involve blending and compounding word-formation processes.

Research Limitation: The paper focused on brand names that omitted generic drug information. This limitation highlights the challenges in analysing pharmaceutical brand names while acknowledging the constraints of market-based pharmaceutical research.

Social Implications: These findings carry significant social implications, particularly for the Food and Drugs Authority of Ghana, by emphasising the need to scrutinise medicine brand names to ensure they do not mislead consumers or pose potential risks.

Practical Implication: Regulatory authorities, such as the Food and Drugs Authority of Ghana, can use these insights to evaluate and approve medicine brand names that prioritise accuracy and public safety.

Originality/Value: This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge and offers insights into the linguistic strategies used in medicine branding. It sheds light on how morphemic structures influence consumer perceptions and highlights the intersection of linguistics, public health, and regulatory practices in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Mediating Effect of Service Quality on the Relationship between Ride-Hailing Driver Characteristics and Customer Satisfaction

2025-01-06T18:37:52-06:00

Purpose: This study explored the relationship between the ride-hailing transport system, service quality, customer satisfaction, and driver characteristics among university and college students in major cities in Ghana.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from a sample of 436 ride-hailing users through the simple random sampling technique. A cross-sectional research design was employed for data gathering, and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) version 4.0 was utilised for data analysis.

Findings: The findings indicated that the ride-hailing transport system significantly influenced service quality and overall customer satisfaction. Additionally, driver characteristics such as skills, punctuality, and age impacted customer satisfaction. The study also established a positive relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction.

Research Limitation: Research within specific geographical areas or demographics restricts the findings' applicability to other cultural or economic contexts.

Practical Implications: The results highlight the necessity for transportation network companies (TNCs) to improve driver training and service quality to boost customer satisfaction, foster loyalty, and enhance business performance.

Social Implications: The study's insights on the mediating effect of service quality will guide policymakers in identifying key factors influencing consumer satisfaction in the ride-hailing industry. By understanding these dynamics, policymakers can develop regulations that enhance service standards, benefiting drivers and passengers through improved operational frameworks.

Originality/ Value: This research contributes to the existing literature on ride-hailing transport systems by emphasising the critical roles of service quality and driver characteristics in enhancing customer satisfaction.

Financial Consequences of Geopolitical Turmoil and Trade Restrictions

2025-01-09T15:43:02-06:00

Purpose: This article examines the economic ramifications of geopolitical conflicts, considering the pivotal role of contemporary sanctions policies on the global stage.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employs a qualitative methodological framework based on content analysis, using grounded theory toolkit elements. The research was carried out within a constructivist paradigm.

Findings: Due to the metamorphosis of the global political system, there has been a discernible increase in the prevalence of geopolitical conflicts. These conflicts exert an indirect influence on the global economy and a direct impact on national economies. Significant gaps exist in the existing research on the impact of sanctions, and the relationship between geopolitics and geoeconomics is complex, multi-layered and contradictory.

Research Limitation: This limitation highlights the inherent challenges in qualitative research while acknowledging the value of rich, detailed analysis provided by this methodological approach.

Practical Implication: Navigating between geopolitics and geoeconomics should be a strategic guide for international companies and industries. The implications of ongoing conflicts and tensions on financial and trade strategies should be comprehended, considering the interests of affected regions and various nations/politicians’ stakeholders.

Social Implication: The research showed that the existing and potential impact of sanctions on the population of affected countries and the government's policy should be carefully studied and weighted when designing the strategy and roadmap for sanction imposition, with the double aim that sanctions should not lead to a violation of humanitarian law regarding population while being efficient in changing countries’ aggressive politics.

Originality/Value: The research deepens the conceptualisation of the geopolitics/geoeconomics ratio, particularly regarding the effect of sanctions.

Moderating Effect of Social Network Ties on Employee Intrapreneurial Orientation and Small Enterprise Performance

2025-01-11T17:03:41-06:00

Purpose: This research examines the influence of employee intrapreneurial orientation on the performance of small businesses in Ghana, explicitly emphasising the moderating effect of social networks.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research employed a quantitative approach, employing a cross-sectional survey to gather data from 571 key informants in small enterprises in the regions of Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Bono in Ghana. SmartPLS structural equation modelling and Hayes' PROCESS techniques were utilised to examine the relationships among the variables.

Findings: The analysis indicated that employee proactiveness and competitive aggressiveness significantly enhance small enterprise performance, while employee innovativeness and risk-taking propensity showed no direct effect. On the other hand, employee autonomy demonstrated a negative correlation. Furthermore, social network ties positively moderated the association between employee intrapreneurial orientation and small enterprise performance.

Research Limitation: The cross-sectional design used in the study restricts the capacity to determine definitive causal relations, and findings may not be generalisable beyond the Ghanaian context.

Practical Implication: Managers should foster a culture that promotes proactivity and competitive behaviour among employees while encouraging strong social networks to optimise firm performance.

Social Implication: Enhancing social networks within small enterprises can improve economic outcomes, supporting broader economic growth and job creation in developing regions.

Originality: This research advances the body of research by indicating how different aspects of intrapreneurial orientation have different effects and emphasising how important social networks are for improving small businesses' performance in underdeveloped economies.

Design and Manufacture of A Manual Vertical Groundnut Roasting Machine

2025-01-01T09:40:59-06:00

Purpose: The study aimed to develop a roasting machine to meet the demand of small-scale groundnut processing industries.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Three conceptual designs were considered for the drive system. The conceptual designs were assessed using a comprehensive evaluation criterion. AutoCAD was used to design the roaster parts. After the design, the parts were manufactured and assembled to form the roaster. Two experiments were conducted with different fuel sources, and a 4 kg groundnut mass was used to test the roaster. The fuel sources used were firewood and LPG, with an average seed loss of 1.8%.

Research Limitation: The roaster was manufactured based on existing designs in Northern Ghana.

Findings: The roaster's throughput capacity and efficiency were 15 kg/h and 98%, respectively. Unlike previous roasters, whose cylinders were positioned horizontally, this roasting machine's cylinder was placed vertically, with the upper part of the roaster opened, making it possible to monitor the groundnut while roasting.

Social Implications: Groundnut roasting is essential to ensure quality improvement, easy handling, safe storage, further processing, and value addition of the product.

Practical Implications: The roaster's design allows it to use charcoal as fuel. It employs a bevel gear system, which requires less operator effort. This implies that larger volumes of groundnut can be roasted within the shortest possible time.

Originality/Value: This work uniquely manufactures a vertical groundnut roasting machine for local industries. This machine enables easy monitoring of the groundnut during roasting. The design differs from the horizontal ones that already exist. This knowledge adds to our understanding of existing roasters in the local areas.

Rural Fish Enterprise Growth Based on Entrepreneurial Practices in Tanzania

2025-01-13T06:33:15-06:00

Purpose: The research aimed to compare the growth of rural fish enterprises among the fish traders in the Misungwi and Magu districts. Precisely, the research fulfilled objectives are to (i) establish associations between fish traders’ innovation mindset, market orientation and risk-taking and (ii) establish if a statistical difference exists between Misungwi and Magu enterprises owned by fish traders.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research was cross-sectional, using a sample of 297 fisher and fish traders from the Misungwi and Magu districts in the Mwanza region along Lake Victoria. The sample choice procedure was proportionate stratified sampling, given that the populations of fishers and fish traders in the Misungwi and Magu districts differed. Crosstab was performed to generate Chi-Square values to measure associations among associated variables. Further, computations of Phi coefficients were undertaken to measure the size effect of the associations established. An independent samples t-test afterwards was conducted to estimate the differential existence of rural fish enterprises between Misungwi and Magu fish traders.

Findings: The results further illustrate that statistically, the age of fish traders, experience in business, startup capital, capital invested in 2023 and number of employees at start-up were different between Misungwi and Magu fish traders and their differences using Eta Squared were estimated to be small for age of fish traders, experience in business and number of employees while that of startup capital invested and capital invested in 2023 were moderate.

Research Limitation: Due to time and financial resources, the research was restricted to Misungwi and Magu districts in the Mwanza region and adopted only quantitative data capture.

Practical Implication: The results will inform the industry's formulation of collaborative programmes for capacity building for fish traders in financial management, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Social Implication: A flourishing Fisher enterprise will have a spillover effect on the rural community by increasing the employment rate and livelihood.

Originality/ Value: This research represents a significant advancement in understanding and developing rural fish enterprises through entrepreneurial approaches, filling a crucial gap in academic literature and practical implementation.

Care Practices for Eliminating Microbial Content in Household Bath Towels

2025-01-01T16:53:11-06:00

Purpose: This study evaluates the impact of different washing treatments and drying methods on bacterial and fungal contamination in bath towels used by students.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using experimental procedures, sampled towels were subjected to various washing treatments, that is, no washing, washing with soap, washing with disinfectant, and washing with soap followed by a disinfectant rinse. They were then dried indoors (room drying) or outdoors (sun drying). Bacterial and fungal loads were measured using colony-forming units (CFU). The statistical software employed to analyse the data collected was the Statistical Package and Service Solution (SPSS) for Windows version 26.

Findings: Results show sun drying significantly reduces bacterial and fungal contamination compared to room drying across all washing treatments. The most effective reduction in microbial load was achieved by combining soap washing, disinfectant rinsing, and sun drying, which reduced bacterial load to as low as 0.97 ± 0.26 x 10⁶ CFU/mL and fungal load to 0.593 ± 0.217 x 10⁶ CFU/mL. T-test analysis confirmed room and sun-drying differences were statistically significant (p< 0.05).

Research Limitation: The study's sample size was limited, potentially affecting the generalizability of the findings to a larger population. In addition, it focused on conventional household care practices and did not explore advanced or industrial cleaning techniques, which might yield different results in microbial elimination.

Practical Implication: These findings emphasise the critical role of sun drying in enhancing towel hygiene and minimising microbial contamination, especially when combined with proper washing methods.

Social Implication: Improved towel care can reduce infection spread, benefiting households and communities, especially vulnerable groups like the elderly and children. Public awareness campaigns can drive behavioural changes in hygiene.

Originality/Value: This study advances knowledge by identifying effective, accessible care practices for reducing microbial contamination in household bath towels. This contributes to improved hygiene, public health, and foundational research for domestic textile hygiene. It offers insights into how hygiene practices affect public health.

A Cutting-Edge Approach to Predictive Precision in Oncology Using a Geneto-Neuro-Fuzzy Hybrid Model

2025-01-16T07:22:10-06:00

Purpose: This study introduces a pioneering hybrid model that combines genetic algorithms, neuro-fuzzy logic, and mobile agent technology to enhance predictive precision for early-stage prostate cancer diagnosis.

Design/Methodology/Approach: One hundred and twenty records of prostate cancer patients were initially collected from the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Nigeria. Each patient’s record included relevant data on prostate disease, such as age, PSA levels, clinical history, symptom severity, biopsy results, and other demographic and clinical factors. This data was extracted and stored as rules in a MySQL database, with the MySQL Fuzzy Extension enabling fuzzy data storage and processing.

Findings: Extensive simulations and clinical data analyses demonstrate the model’s superior sensitivity and specificity in detecting early-stage prostate cancer compared to traditional diagnostic methods. Medical expert evaluations validate the model’s effectiveness as a promising diagnostic alternative.

Research Limitation: While results are promising, the study is limited to simulations and a controlled clinical dataset.

Practical Implications: The system offers a practical, scalable early prostate cancer detection solution that could revolutionise current diagnostic practices.

Social Implications: Potential social benefits include improved patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and better quality of life.

Originality/Value: This study presents an innovative integration of genetic algorithms, neuro-fuzzy systems, and mobile agent technology. This novel approach paves the way for advanced cancer diagnostics and precision medicine.

The Transformation of Legal Frameworks Through Secure Digitisation

2025-01-02T11:36:16-06:00

Purpose: This research article aims to study the positive and negative factors in implementing electronic document management, analyse the legal aspect of its functioning in the international context, and identify gaps in ensuring cybersecurity.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology was developed using a mixed approach. The qualitative aspect of the study included literature analysis, comparative analysis, statistical data analysis, generalisation, and systematisation, and the quantitative aspect assessed the impact of digital innovations on cybersecurity risks. A survey of legal experts (total = 16 participants) was conducted. The results were interpreted by correlation analysis conducted in the JASP statistical software using Pearson's Correlations tool.

Research Limitation: The study's main limitation is its focus on the domestic problems of implementing electronic document management in the context of rapid digital transformation.

Findings: The study found that electronic document management will mainly increase productivity by simplifying the basic processes of searching, editing, storing, and sharing digital documents. This will increase the availability of digital information, which, at the same time, will increase the risk of cyber terrorism.

Practical Implication: The study provides industries with actionable insights on optimising workflows, reducing operational costs, and mitigating cybersecurity risks through secure and efficient electronic document management.

Social Implication: The research results point to gaps in the modern electronic document management system, which is beneficial to society and provides the opportunity to increase transparency and trust in government institutions by improving the efficiency and security of document management systems.

Originality/Value: The study expands the scholarly discourse on digital governance by aligning technological progress with international legal standards and cybersecurity practices, thus bridging the gap between theory and practice in digital transformation research.

Numerical Analysis to improve the efficiency of a Solar Still (Single-Slope)

2025-01-18T04:24:02-06:00

Purpose: This study investigates enhancements to maximise the efficiency and performance of the single-slope solar still for sustainable water solutions.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research focuses on the design of a solar still (single-slope) and integration with phase change materials (PCMs), reflective mirrors, and black dye into the solar still (single-slope) to augment its improvement in efficiency. PCMs, such as paraffin wax, are known for their latent heat storage, sustaining higher temperatures within the still to enhance evaporation.

Findings: The study found that reflective mirrors amplify solar radiation entry, increasing thermal efficiency. Black dye, added to the basin water, enhances heat absorption, accelerating water evaporation rates. Finally, all improve the efficiency of solar stills (single-slope).

Research Limitation: The research uses renewable energy (solar power); therefore, it has been limited to work in the daytime only.

Practical Implication: The results show that the insulated basin, PCMs placement at the base, reflective mirrors encircling the still, and black dye in the water significantly improve the efficiency of solar stills (single-slope). Therefore, the quest for sustainable water solutions amid global water scarcity may be achieved through solar still technology, particularly the single-slope solar still.

Social Implication: The study endorses the proposed system, which can provide sustainable and reliable water solutions through renewable solar energy as a clean energy.

Originality/Value: Comparative analysis with conventional solar still underscored significant performance gains: The enhanced configuration produced an average of 3.04 litres of distilled water daily, a 42% increase over the conventional 2.14 litres. Hourly yield data highlighted peak performance at midday, with the enhanced still yielding 260 mL/hr compared to 180 mL/hr from the conventional.

The Role of Innovation in Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindset among TVET Students

2025-01-06T07:25:12-06:00

Purpose: This quantitative study explores the relationship between innovation, entrepreneurial education, and entrepreneurial mindset among Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students, providing insights for educators and policymakers.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Over four months, data were collected from 800 TVET students from ten technical universities in Ghana using a stratified random sampling technique. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings: The findings indicate a significant relationship between innovation and entrepreneurial education, which positively influences the entrepreneurial mindset of TVET students.

Research Limitation: The study is limited by its focus on TVET students in specific technical universities, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other educational contexts or regions. Future research could expand to include diverse educational settings.

Practical Implication: The results provide evidence-based strategies for curriculum development aimed at fostering innovation and cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets, which educators and policymakers can utilise to enhance TVET programmes.

Social Implication: By promoting an entrepreneurial mindset among TVET students, this study supports broader economic development initiatives, potentially leading to increased job creation and economic growth within communities.

Originality/Value: This research contributes to the existing literature on entrepreneurship education by highlighting the critical role of innovation in shaping the entrepreneurial mindset of TVET students. It fills a gap in understanding how TVET can be optimised for future skills and hands-on training.

Design of Solar Stove with Heat Storing Material Using PV Cells

2025-01-09T07:52:28-06:00

Purpose: This study aims to develop a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solar cooking solution for urban and rural populations in developing nations, where the majority rely on non-commercial sources of cooking energy.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research involves designing a solar stove incorporating a thermal battery, heat-storing materials, and a photovoltaic system. Experimental trials were conducted to determine the melting points and density of different heat-storing materials: potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, and their combination.

Findings: The experimental results indicate that a potassium and sodium nitrate mixture provides superior heat storage and release performance compared to the individual components. This combination shows promise for maintaining the necessary temperatures for cooking even in the absence of direct sunlight.

Research Limitation: The study is limited to specific heat-storing materials and laboratory-scale experiments, which may differ from real-world conditions.

Practical Implication: It could be especially beneficial for off-grid and rural areas in developing countries where traditional fuel sources are scarce or costly.

Social Implication: This research offers a renewable energy-based cooking method, improving energy accessibility, health, and quality of life for low-income populations.

Originality/Value: It utilises a combination of heat-storing materials that enhances the efficiency and reliability of cooking during off-sunshine hours, distinguishing it from other solar cooking technologies.

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE EFFICIENCY

2025-01-11T01:15:07-06:00

Purpose: The study aims to investigate adaptive management systems for enhancing production enterprise efficiency.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research employed analytical-bibliographic methods and economic-statistical methods for processing statistical data to study the scientific literature on adaptive management and analyse and process data related to the research topic.

Research Limitation: Although the analysed adaptive management models provide valuable information on adjusting production, their application may be limited to manufacturing enterprises, and therefore, they do not cover other economic or service-oriented industries. Given this, the study's main limitation is its focus on the regional context, particularly Ukraine's industrial sector.

Findings: The study results have identified the main critical theoretical aspects of applying adaptive management models and revealed the practical characteristics of different models developed by scientists. The study examined the conceptual basis of adaptive management, investigated the integration of innovative strategies that are key to ensuring the flexibility and sustainability of manufacturing enterprises, and analysed the interrelationships of the management system's components, which allows the creation of an adaptation mechanism.

Practical Implication: The effect on the sector is the improvement of toughness and flexibility within manufacturing firms, enabling them to navigate market uncertainties efficiently and maintain creativity, thereby propelling sectoral expansion and stability.

Social Implication: The results' social impact is that increasing investment in scientific research can contribute to technological and economic development, social well-being, and sustainable growth.

Originality/ Value: This study's novelty lies in advancing methodologies for utilising adaptive management to augment enterprises' efficiency by implementing novel mechanisms and constructing models considering the external environment's dynamic nature.

Triple Top Line Thinking for Triple Bottom Line Performance: Reflections on Outcomes of CCTU Eco-Guesthouse Business Plan Development

2025-01-12T16:02:10-06:00

Purpose: Using the case of a DAAD-sponsored Eco-Guesthouse project at Cape Coast Technical University, the study analysed the outcomes of a business plan development process based on the reflective experiences of participants and stakeholders.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was qualitative, following a phenomenological approach to inquiry. Structured interviews were used to collect data from a purposive sample of 12 participants and stakeholders. The data was analysed qualitatively using Constant Comparative Analysis (CCA).

Findings: The study found that, for start-ups, Triple Top Line (TTL) thinking allows a proactive strategic view of business. This influences the choice of business model, the approach to business planning and development, and consequently, the value placed on the outcomes of the process. The study concludes that project outcomes in the form of resulting new knowledge, skills acquisition, changes in attitudes, and the development and strengthening of new and existing relationships from a system perspective constitute a useful, albeit tacit and fuzzy construct for evaluating project performance beyond tangible outputs.

Research Limitation: While the literature supports the number of participants and stakeholders (12) used for the study, the findings of such interview-based qualitative studies are often indicative, which limits the extent of generalisation.

Practical Implication: This study helps understand the value of business plan development for the potential success startups.

Social Implication: The study shows that a TTL perspective of startups makes an integrated approach to business planning and development imperative and allows for interdisciplinary collaboration among stakeholders to achieve TBL performance.

Originality/Value: Theoretically, the paper demonstrates the inextricable linkage between triple top line thinking and triple bottom line performance, and the significant place of outcomes in evaluating project success from a systems point of view.

Smart Sustainable Cities Implementation in Zambia: The Influence of Local Culture

2025-01-01T14:45:23-06:00

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between culture and the barriers to implementing smart sustainable cities (SSCs) in Zambia.

Methods: This article utilised a quantitative research approach, conducting a questionnaire survey of ninety-two (92) purposively selected respondents from architecture, engineering, construction, security, healthcare, and governance sectors in both public and private organisations. The study employed correlation analysis using the Kendall tau-b to examine the relationship between culture and the challenges of implementing SSC.

Findings: The findings showed a positive correlation of varying significance between culture and the barriers to SSC implementation in Zambia. A significant correlation was observed between culture and insufficient use of ICT for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency as well as centralised decision-making. Other barriers strongly associated with culture included a lack of ICT knowledge and information sharing, standardised assessment frameworks for SSC, and proper implementation of local area plans.

Research Limitation: The disproportionate regional representation in the sample may limit the generalizability of the findings across Zambia.

Practical implications: Recognizing the link between barriers to SSC implementation in Zambia and local culture highlights the importance of investing in understanding local culture before any SSC development, as this could be crucial for project success in culturally diverse contexts.

Social Implication: Considering local culture in SSC development can enhance the inclusion of citizens from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Originality/ Value: The research highlights the correlation between cultural factors and the challenges in establishing SSCs, emphasising the need to integrate cultural considerations to enhance inclusivity in their development.

Collateral Ownership as A Stepping Stone to Formal Credit Accessibility: A Perspective of Cottage Industry Owners

2025-01-15T13:02:00-06:00

Purpose: The study investigates the influence of collateral ownership on formal credit accessibility for cottage industry owners in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional survey randomly sampled 357 cottage industry owners from Dodoma City and Chamwino District Council in the Dodoma Region. Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used, including surveys and interviews. The analysis employed SPSS software to perform descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression, to examine the influence of collateral ownership and formal credit accessibility.

Findings: The study found that most cottage industry owners with collateral can only access a small amount of formal credit of up to five million Tanzanian shillings. Similarly, the study revealed that ownership of tangible assets, title deeds, business assets, and employment contracts significantly enhances the likelihood of cottage industry owners accessing credit from formal financial institutions in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Research Limitation: The study concentrated on collateral ownership and formal credit accessibility to Dodoma City and Chamwino District Council cottage industry owners. Thus, the findings may not apply to all Tanzanian cottage industry owners within the councils due to different regional administrative structures. Also, future studies can examine how interest rates, the availability of business records, and the location of the business may affect formal credit accessibility.

Practical Implication: Understanding the role of collateral ownership is crucial in informing policies to improve financial inclusion and reduce poverty.

Social Implication: Enhancing credit accessibility through collateral ownership to cottage industry owners can promote economic growth and job creation in Tanzania.

Originality/ Value: The application of credit rationing theory in comprehending the influence of collateral ownership and credit accessibility for cottage industry owners in Tanzania, contributing to the financial ecosystem for informal businesses in developing economies.

Exploring Geoinformation Technology Potential for Automating the Development and Maintenance of Digital Topographic Maps

2025-01-02T08:50:10-06:00

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the possibilities of geoinformation technologies in automating the creation and updating of digital topographic maps.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Induction and deduction were used to determine the structure of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The deductive component begins with established theories and principles of digital cartography and automation. This comprises an analysis of existing cartographic principles and standards, a review of current automation technologies in GIS, and an examination of topographic map specifications and requirements. At the same time, the inductive component builds a new understanding of observed patterns and practical implementations.

Research Limitation: The study's limitations relate to the restriction of access to national geoportals related to the state of war in the country.

Findings: Based on the analysis of the structure of geoinformation systems, the possibilities of automated digitisation of topographic maps were identified, namely, obtaining a high-resolution image, creating a single digital cartographic database in which it is possible to quickly adjust objects and changes in the relief, ensuring high-quality, accurate planning on based on spatial analysis with error minimisation.

Practical Implication: GIS capabilities allow for the rapid acquisition of high-quality data regarding surface objects. The proposed structure of geographic information systems can be practical as an action algorithm for cartographer specialists.

Social Implication: It will improve the population's access to high-quality topographic and geodetic maps for planning, construction, and economic management.

Originality/Value: The research has demonstrated the possibilities of automated creation and updating digital maps.

Macroeconomic Stability and The Foreign Direct Investment in Tanzania

2025-01-16T17:08:23-06:00

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between FDI inflows and key macroeconomic indicators in Tanzania, including inflation, exchange rate, and trade openness.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study utilises time series data covering 50 years from 1970 to 2019. In the analysis, the key diagnostic tests such as the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test and the Philip Peron (PP) tests for unit root/stationarity and the Johansen cointegration test to test for the long-run relationship between the variables were conducted before the primary analysis. The results of the diagnostic tests led the study into the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), which estimates the relationship between the dependent and independent variables after discovering a long-run relationship among or between the variables.

Findings: The VECM results showed that FDI is significantly determined by its lagged (Previous years) values and exchange rate in the short run. The results also showed a significant long-run relationship between exchange rate and FDI inflows, with other factors remaining constant. These results were consistent with prior assumptions and other findings from the literature.

Research Limitation: The study considered FDI inflows in aggregate. This may have limited the analysis and discussions on the impact of the macroeconomic indicators on the general level of FDIs.

Practical Implication: The study recommends that the country continue to promote FDI inflows while stabilising its exchange rate. The two will lead to more FDI inflows and good macroeconomic performance.

Social Implication: These social implications demonstrate how exchange rate stability and FDI influence extend beyond pure economics to affect various aspects of Tanzanian society and community development.

Originality/ Value: The paper's novelty lies in the improved understanding of variable interdependencies.

The Impact of Firm Age on Independent Audit Committee and Voluntary Disclosure Quality

2025-01-05T16:29:11-06:00

Purpose: This research explores to what extent Independent Audit Committees impact Voluntary Disclosure and studies whether a firm's age moderates this relationship in developing economies.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research employs a longitudinal approach, examining data from 2009 to 2021. The Durbin-Wu-Hausman test was used to assess the existence of endogeneity in the regression model, and a multicollinearity test was conducted to evaluate the level of correlation between independent variables in regression models to ensure the validity and stability of the results.

Findings: The regression analysis demonstrates a positive and significant relationship between the existence of Independent Audit Committees (IAC) and Voluntary Disclosure (VD). However, the study outcome showed that the interlinkage term between IAC and a firm's age was not statistically significant, implying that firm age immaterially alters the importance of audit committees in voluntary disclosure practices.

Research Limitation: The study focused only on three African countries. Future research might look at other African countries

Practical Implication: The study highlights the important function of IACs in improving transparency and promoting trust in financial reporting, particularly in markets with less regulatory oversight. Understanding factors that increase a company’s disclosure is crucial for the success of the global market and economy.

Social Implication: This research's findings will support transparency in reporting, reduce information asymmetry, increase sustainability reporting, and increase investors' confidence in a company’s financial and social reporting.

Originality/ Value: The research's novelty is bridging the gap in the literature by studying the influence of firm age on voluntary disclosure.

Seismic Damage Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structures: Low, Medium, and High Rises Using a Performance-Based Seismic Design Approach

2025-01-19T19:42:43-06:00

Purpose: The research addresses the limitations of the traditional force-based approach in earthquake-resistant design, particularly its inability to account for inelastic behaviour fully. It explores the potential of nonlinear static assessment techniques within the performance-based seismic design (PBSD) framework to provide a more accurate measure of earthquake structural performance.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research develops a set of damage indices to quantify structural damage in moment-resisting frames (MRFs) based on engineering demand parameters obtained through nonlinear analysis. The study examines reinforced concrete (R.C.) structures of various heights, evaluating their seismic load-bearing capacity and resilience using the PBSD approach.

Findings: The proposed damage indices offer a reasonable way to quantify structural damage and enhance the understanding of the plastic collapse process. Performance-based design mainly benefits R.C. structures, improving their seismic resilience and cost-effectiveness.

Research Limitation: Accurately quantifying building damage remains challenging even with nonlinear assessment tools. Further work is required to refine these tools for more precise damage quantification in various building types.

Practical Implication: The findings have practical implications in reducing repair costs and ensuring public safety by providing preliminary damage estimates for tall buildings. The PBSD approach also meets acceptance criteria for immediate occupancy and life safety across various seismic intensities.

Social Implication: By enhancing buildings' resilience to earthquakes, this research contributes to safer urban environments, reducing potential fatalities, economic losses, and downtime associated with earthquake-induced damage.

Originality/Value: This study provides valuable insights into performance-based seismic design and presents a practical method for quantifying structural damage in R.C. structures. The proposed damage indices and PBSD approach significantly advance the safety and cost-effectiveness of earthquake-resistant buildings.

An Analysis for the Impact of Vehicles on Composite Road Dividers

2025-01-08T14:33:10-06:00

Purpose: This research seeks to tackle the significant number of deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents in India by assessing the shortcomings of conventional concrete road dividers and investigating composite materials as a safer option.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Crash simulations were conducted using the ANSYS Workbench software to evaluate the effectiveness of composite road dividers constructed from epoxy, glass fibre, and thermocol. This research examined their stress concentration, deformation, and durability compared to conventional solid and hollow concrete segments at different impact velocities.

Findings: Composite road dividers showcased exceptional performance, achieving a stress capacity of 11.184 MPa within their elastic limits. They were better at absorbing impacts, leading to decreased vehicle damage and fewer passenger injuries. Furthermore, these composites displayed improved durability, resistance to corrosion, and lower maintenance needs compared to conventional concrete dividers.

Research Limitation: The results are derived from simulated crash tests and may need additional validation through full-scale experimental testing in various environmental and traffic conditions.

Practical Implication: Composite road dividers are economical, durable, and practical means of enhancing traffic safety and minimising fatalities. Their ability to adapt to various traffic situations and withstand weather suits them ideally for contemporary infrastructure requirements.

Social Implication: Composite road dividers enhance road safety and save lives by decreasing the severity of accidents. Their implementation supports sustainable development objectives, improving public safety and reducing the economic impact of road accidents.

Originality/Value: This study emphasises the promise of composite materials as a groundbreaking approach to enhancing traffic safety.

Сhanging Regulatory Approaches in The Global Economy: From Traditional to Innovative Paradigms

2025-01-09T16:50:54-06:00

Purpose: This paper examines key aspects of innovative regulatory paradigms and their impact on global economic development.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research methodology is grounded in a comprehensive analytical framework incorporating system analysis, structural-functional approaches, and synthesis and decomposition methods. The synthesis method consolidates insights from diverse data sources, crafting a cohesive understanding of how innovative regulatory paradigms shape economic and technological progress.

Research Limitation: The study is geographically confined to analysing regulatory paradigms in economies with significant global influence, such as Germany, while examples from emerging economies serve as complementary illustrations.

Findings: This research reveals that innovative regulatory paradigms significantly enhance adaptability and foster innovation within the global economy. The study identifies a noticeable shift in adopting regulatory sandboxes from developed to emerging economies, highlighting their role in driving technological advancement and economic competitiveness. Furthermore, it was established that integrating flexible regulatory frameworks fosters innovation and ensures economic stability.

Social Implication: By fostering green innovations and enabling digital transformation, these paradigms address pressing global challenges such as climate change, resource efficiency, and equitable access to technological advancements.

Practical Implication: This research provides industries with actionable insights into the advantages of adopting innovative regulatory paradigms, such as regulatory sandboxes, to foster technological advancements and improve competitiveness.

Originality/Value: This study introduces a novel perspective on the global shift from traditional regulatory frameworks to innovative paradigms, specifically emphasising regulatory sandboxes. policies.

Application of Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting Academic Performance of Students in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs): A Systematic Review and Bibliographic Analysis

2025-01-11T19:00:10-06:00

Purpose: This study aims to identify trends, key research areas, popular predictive features, machine learning algorithms used, and gaps in the existing literature.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This study selected 60 articles published between 2018 and August 31, 2023, from Google Scholar and Scopus databases to address the identified knowledge gap. A systematic literature review and bibliographic analysis were conducted using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with PRISMA chosen as the reporting format.

Findings: The study reveals that machine learning models, particularly Decision Trees, followed by Random Forests, Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, and Naïve Bayes, have significantly contributed to predicting student academic performance. The datasets predominantly utilised by researchers include students' academic records, demographics, activities, and behaviour, which are crucial for predicting academic performance and evaluating model effectiveness.

Research Limitation: These limitations highlight the challenges in conducting comprehensive reviews of machine learning applications in educational contexts while acknowledging the evolving nature of both technology and educational assessment methods.

Practical Implication: This research has the potential to inform evidence-based decision-making, promote personalised learning experiences and enable early interventions for at-risk students

Social Implication: The study underscores the potential of machine learning algorithms to promote equity and inclusion, provide targeted student support, empower individuals, raise ethical considerations, foster community engagement, and support lifelong learning initiatives.

Originality and Value: This research uniquely explores machine learning applications to predict student academic performance, identifying classroom participation and examination scores as key predictors. It offers a pragmatic approach to educational practice, identifies future research opportunities, and advocates for data-driven decision-making in higher education.

Investigating The Biochemical Methane Potential of Kumasi's Municipal Solid Wastes

2025-01-01T10:38:08-06:00

Purpose: This paper aims to ascertain the biochemical methane potential of organic waste generated in Kumasi for renewable energy production.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative experimental approach was employed on Batch anaerobic digestion experiments, and methane yields were analysed with kinetic models.

Findings: The modified Gompertz model had the best fit, with a R² = 0.9962, which gave a methane production rate of 19.47 ml CH₄ g⁻¹ VS Day and a BMP of 219.35 ml CH₄ g⁻¹ VS.

Research Limitation: It has also been pointed out that further optimisation of AD processes for methane yield and efficiency is required. Key limitations pertain to scalability and unoptimised parameters.

Practical Implication: The study confirms that organic waste-to-biogas conversion in Kumasi is viable and represents a partial solution to problems of organic waste management and renewable energy generation. That will reduce disposal costs from waste, low dependence on fossil fuel, and open opportunities in resource recovery for operational efficiencies that work toward environmental sustainability.

Social Implication: Better waste management will help reduce environmental pollution. In addition, appropriate development in terms of sustainability and enhancement of energy security will occur.

Originality/Value: This research provides information on wastes around Kumasi that can be used to produce biogas and advance sustainable waste-to-energy practices. This study introduces a novel application of kinetic models to assess Kumasi’s organic waste for biogas production, offering localised data and tailored optimisation strategies. It contributes to advancing waste-to-energy practices and supports sustainable waste management in Ghana.

Quantitative Methodological Approach in Measuring Entrepreneurial Capabilities

2025-01-14T17:18:58-06:00

Purpose: The paper seeks to develop and validate a comprehensive framework for measuring entrepreneurial capabilities across business contexts and organisational scales.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Cross-sectional research involved 254 owners of SMEs from Sukuma and Chagga ethnic groups. The snowball sampling procedure was first adopted to obtain the list of the Sukuma and Chagga owners of SMEs. Then, proportionate stratified sampling was adopted to select a final subject. Data were gathered using a questionnaire, where factor analysis was performed to reduce the number of predictors. A logit model was thereafter performed to establish the influence of predictors on entrepreneurial capabilities. Further, using the Whitney U test, a comparison of ways to preserve drivers of entrepreneurial capabilities between the Sukuma and Chagga owners of SMEs was performed.

Findings: Factor analysis reduced 52 predictors into six variables, which were further subjected to a logit model. The findings indicated that social factors, beliefs, norms, attitudes, and values were statistically significant while perception was insignificant. The difference in ways to preserve socio-cultural determinants between the Sukuma and Chagga was statistically significant, and the effect size was very high.

Research Limitation: The research was limited by the use of the logit model and the Man Whitney U test. Other econometric models, such as multiple linear regression, Tobit, Probit, etc., should be considered in the future.

Practical implications: The approach will help researchers and academicians to quantify socio-cultural studies and perform factor analysis step by step to reduce variables for further analysis using econometric models.

Social Implication: This approach will have social implications. Social scientists will be able to forecast the effect of social variables on certain variables under study, thus enabling the setting of priorities during intervention.

Originality: This research fills a significant gap in entrepreneurship literature by providing a validated, comprehensive framework for measuring entrepreneurial capabilities across different contexts and scales.

Geographical and Economic Aspects of Renewable Energy Development in Ukraine amid Military Threats

2025-01-02T06:04:48-06:00

Purpose: The article describes the main renewable energy sources and their geographical use, which is dictated by energy policy.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research strategy combines qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse Ukraine’s renewable energy sector during wartime disruptions and post-war recovery. A combination of theoretical and empirical methods, such as analysis, synthesis, theoretical modelling, and generalising materials from the scientific literature, must be used to solve the task set. The article analysed 38 sources published between 2012 and 2024, which were searched in 16 databases and search engines: CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, EbscoHost, Embase, ERIC, Google Scholar, LILACS, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SportDiscus, TRID and Web of Science.

Finding: The main challenges for developing the energy sector in Ukraine include growing demand for energy resources against the backdrop of declining reserves of traditional energy resources, rising prices, and growing dependence on energy imports.

Research Limitation: A major limitation is the focus on Ukraine’s unique geopolitical and economic context, so the results cannot be directly generalised to countries without similar circumstances, such as ongoing conflicts or dependence on external energy resources.

Practical Implication: This study allowed us to identify the main factors influencing the solution of energy supply and energy consumption problems as conditions for sustainable and proportional development of regional economies.

Social Implication: The study offers relevant solutions to meet society's needs, including recommendations on energy security, job creation, and environmental preservation. This would improve citizens' quality of life and ensure long-term energy stability.

Originality/ Value: The study is novel because it contributes to the field of renewable energy. It addresses the intersection of energy security and economic efficiency in times of crisis. It offers a new framework for sustainable energy policy in the regions of Ukraine during the war.

Cybersecurity and Business Survival in Nigeria: Building Customer's Trust

2025-01-16T10:14:18-06:00

Purpose: This paper investigates the role of cybersecurity in ensuring business survival and fostering customer trust in Nigeria.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A qualitative documentary review approach was employed, analysing legislations, policies, standards, and regulations related to cybersecurity from 2000 to 2024, especially those instruments that impact business survival in Nigeria and beyond. The study utilised thematic and comparative analysis to extract insights and identify gaps in the existing frameworks.

Findings: The research reveals that while existing legal instruments on cybersecurity provide a foundational framework for protecting businesses, legislative, enforcement, compliance, and awareness gaps persist across the socioeconomic sphere, hence the continued losses from cyber threats and attacks. Businesses with robust cybersecurity practices were reported to enjoy higher customer trust and operational sustainability levels. However, weak compliance and inadequate awareness hinder the full potential of these measures.

Research Limitation: The study is limited to a thematic review of existing documents, which may not fully capture real-time business practices and challenges.

Practical Implication: Strengthened cybersecurity measures promote trust in digital transactions, reduce the risk of cybercrime, and ensure the continuity of businesses, contributing to economic stability and improved consumer confidence in Nigeria's digital economy.

Social Implication: The findings provide actionable recommendations for policymakers to enhance the effectiveness of cybersecurity legislation and for business leaders to adopt best practices in securing their operations and building trust.

Originality/Value: It contributes to existing knowledge by linking robust cybersecurity practices with enhanced customer trust and operational sustainability.