Volume 12 Issue 1

The global effort to tackle environmental issues has garnered international momentum However, large firms have received far more attention than Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Meanwhile, MSMEs have a substantial cumulative effect on the environment Microfinance institutions provide financial and non-financial services to MSMEs, and it is considered that microfinance institutions can help MSMEs transition towards adopting environmentally friendly practices. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceived contribution of green microfinance to influencing MSMEs to implement green activities. Specifically, the study reviewed literature on the effect of green microfinance on the environmental performance of MSMEs Employing a critical review methodology, this study analyzed green microfinance literature from diverse online library databases including Elsevier, Google Scholar, PROQUEST, EMERALD, Science Direct, Research Gate, IEEE, and JSTOR. This study found that MFIs can influence MSMEs to adopt greener practices by including environmental issues into their goals, strategies, and operations. Sustainable practises were found to be also influenced by MSME owners/managers' mindsets, legislative frameworks, stakeholder pressure, competitive dynamics, perceived benefits, and consumer demand for eco-friendly products. As a recommendation the study proposes that Rural and Community Banks, savings and loans companies, and credit unions should be included in the Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) regulatory framework for green financing within the banking industry to address environmental concerns stemming from MSMEs.

Despite the contributions South African Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) make to the national economy, they have among the highest failure rates in the world. Though various factors contribute to their high failure rate, one factor has not been considered, namely the potential lack of governance. Governance is seldom researched in a South African SMME dispensation, rendering it a nascent research topic. Hence, this study aimed to determine the influence the “tone at the top” had on the economic sustainability of sampled South African SMMEs. The research study was empirical, exploratory and took the form of survey research. A quantitative research methodology was and data were collected through self-administered questionnaires from 123 South African SMME owners/managers and 82 South African SMME employees. All respondents had to adhere to relevant sets of delineation criteria. Stemming from the results, out of all tested attributes of management, seven overlapping attributes stood out for both South African SMME owner/managers and employees, along with the managerial operating style of members of management, were found to significantly influence the economic sustainability of sampled South African SMMEs in a mixed manner. Considering the nascent nature of the research topic and the identified research problem, this study serves as a foundation for future research studies to be conducted on South African SMME governance.

Ecolabels are essential tools for the promotion of sustainable consumption, through the provision of consumers with information about the environmental impact of products. The research relied on bibliometric analysis to examine the trends and developments in ecolabel research over the past three decades, emphasizing the main themes, influential authors, and the most prominent publications. By exploring the development of ecolabel research, the study aims to identify gaps and suggest future directions for research.

The purpose of this study was to explore the views of senior black South African managers on the retention strategies used by a construction company in South Africa. Ten senior black South African managers working at a construction company in South Africa participated in this exploratory qualitative study. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the participants. The study found that a majority of participants view employee retention strategies used by the South African construction company as effective in retaining workers. The four main effective employee retention strategies that most of the research participants identified were superior work environment, employee development programmes, supervisory support and competitive rewards. Nonetheless, a few of the research participants indicated that some of the employee retention strategies used by a construction firm in South Africa are not effective in retaining workers. This study recommends that in addition to the various retention strategies available, the South African construction company should use a fair and consistent reward system as one of their employee retention strategies. This study also recommends that the South African construction company should consider employee participation as one of their employee retention strategy.

This study sought the narratives of followers on the leadership behaviours of line managers at a South African public department. The study used an exploratory qualitative research approach to explore the narratives of followers at the case South African public department. Data from ten participants who had worked for the South African public department for at least one year were gathered using face to face, semi-structured interviews. The study found that line managers at the South African public department behave both ethically and unethically. Ethical leadership behaviours identified by research participants include people oriented and role clarification. Conversely, dishonesty, nepotism, inconsistent behaviour and unfairness were identified by research participants as unethical leadership behaviours that are also common among managers at the case South African public department. Line managers at the case South African public department are generally encouraged to provide moral advice to their followers, whilst being guided by moral principles of fairness and honesty. The current study recommends that the South African public department should implement necessary mechanisms to eradicate identified unethical behaviours exhibited by managers at the case South African public department.