Group rights and the right to protection against human immunodeficiency virus/acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection from an industrial relations and public policy perspective.
- Gobind, Jenni, Ukpere, Wilfred
- Authors: Gobind, Jenni , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Individual rights - South Africa , Group rights - South Africa , Protection against HIV infection - South Africa , Labour laws - South Africa , Constitutional law - South Africa , Third-generation right - South Africa , Industrial relations - South Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5849 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7936
- Description: This paper reflects on the right of protection against HIV infection versus group rights. Various pieces of legislation that recognise group rights are discussed throughout the paper. In so doing the authors have attempted to illustrate that although South African legislation may not clearly demarcate group rights to specific groups, legislators have inadvertently made countless reference to specific groups or grouping of individuals, which suggest that group rights may exist. It is postulated that if individual rights exist, group rights may correspondently co-exist. The aim of this paper is to explore the feasibility of individuals relying on group rights as a means of seeking protection against HIV/AIDS infection.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gobind, Jenni , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Individual rights - South Africa , Group rights - South Africa , Protection against HIV infection - South Africa , Labour laws - South Africa , Constitutional law - South Africa , Third-generation right - South Africa , Industrial relations - South Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5849 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7936
- Description: This paper reflects on the right of protection against HIV infection versus group rights. Various pieces of legislation that recognise group rights are discussed throughout the paper. In so doing the authors have attempted to illustrate that although South African legislation may not clearly demarcate group rights to specific groups, legislators have inadvertently made countless reference to specific groups or grouping of individuals, which suggest that group rights may exist. It is postulated that if individual rights exist, group rights may correspondently co-exist. The aim of this paper is to explore the feasibility of individuals relying on group rights as a means of seeking protection against HIV/AIDS infection.
- Full Text:
The effect of family relationships on technology-assisted supplemental work and work-life conflict among academics
- Kotecha, Kajal, Ukpere, Wilfred, Geldenhuys, Madelyn
- Authors: Kotecha, Kajal , Ukpere, Wilfred , Geldenhuys, Madelyn
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Work-life conflict , Work-life balance , Family relationships
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5454 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13430
- Description: There is a rising trend in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) by academics to work after regular working hours. The dual nature of ICTs enhances work flexibility and also encourages academics to use ICTs to engage in supplemental work practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of family relationships on technology assisted supplemental work and Work-Life Conflict (WLC) experienced by academics in a higher education institution in South Africa. Specifically, the moderating roles of marital status and children were taken into consideration in investigating the relationship between TASW and WLC. A quantitative research approach was adopted and an online survey was used collect data. The WLC scale and the TASW scale were as well used. The sample consisted of academics from a higher education in South Africa (n = 216). The results of the research revealed a significant relationship between TASW and WLC. TASW is a significant predictor of WLC. Furthermore, the results revealed that marital status and children significantly moderated the relationship between TASW and WLC. This study contributes further knowledge to the emerging field of research relating to TASW in a South African context. This study also emphasises the implications of using ICTs and their potential to encourage academics to extend their working hours. In particular, this study outlines the important role of marital status and children in influencing the relationship between TASW and WLC.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kotecha, Kajal , Ukpere, Wilfred , Geldenhuys, Madelyn
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Work-life conflict , Work-life balance , Family relationships
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5454 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13430
- Description: There is a rising trend in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) by academics to work after regular working hours. The dual nature of ICTs enhances work flexibility and also encourages academics to use ICTs to engage in supplemental work practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of family relationships on technology assisted supplemental work and Work-Life Conflict (WLC) experienced by academics in a higher education institution in South Africa. Specifically, the moderating roles of marital status and children were taken into consideration in investigating the relationship between TASW and WLC. A quantitative research approach was adopted and an online survey was used collect data. The WLC scale and the TASW scale were as well used. The sample consisted of academics from a higher education in South Africa (n = 216). The results of the research revealed a significant relationship between TASW and WLC. TASW is a significant predictor of WLC. Furthermore, the results revealed that marital status and children significantly moderated the relationship between TASW and WLC. This study contributes further knowledge to the emerging field of research relating to TASW in a South African context. This study also emphasises the implications of using ICTs and their potential to encourage academics to extend their working hours. In particular, this study outlines the important role of marital status and children in influencing the relationship between TASW and WLC.
- Full Text:
The impact of globalization on industrial relations in Kenya
- Olungo, Kennedy, Ukpere, Wilfred
- Authors: Olungo, Kennedy , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Impact , Globalisation , Industrial Relations
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/457477 , uj:40596 , Citation: Olungo, K. & Ukpere, W. 2020. The impact of globalization on industrial relations in Kenya.
- Description: Abstract: Within the era of globalization, countries and organisations mirror dominant international behaviours and translate them into local environments and workplaces. This state of affairs has tendencies to affect relationships among people in the workplace, including those of Kenya. The current study relied on a mixed method approach, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. 500 closed ended questionnaires were distributed to the employees of the sampled organisations, out of which 483 respondents satisfactorily completed their questionnaires, which represent 97% response rate. In addition, 10 key industrial relations stakeholders were interviewed. The research findings revealed that employees were indeed allowed by their supervisors to make suggestions concerning decisions that affect them, in addition to the fact that employees are consulted and their opinions are highly appreciated by management. The research further pointed out that trade unions in Kenya have indeed helped to improve the working conditions of workers, as they have been granted additional freedom to exercise their fundamental right of association, as well as opportunities to attend unions’ meetings to deliberate on issues that affect them. This has made more workers to join trade unions. Furthermore, the research has established that employees have been granted more freedom to take independent decisions related to their routine work activities in recent times. On the contrary, the research revealed that unilateral management decisions are commonly used to determine rewards, in additional to the fact that strike actions have increase due to poor communication between managements and unions/workers. The findings also revealed that wage disputes seem to be the greatest contributor to strikes actions in Kenya, since the dawn of globalisation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Olungo, Kennedy , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Impact , Globalisation , Industrial Relations
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/457477 , uj:40596 , Citation: Olungo, K. & Ukpere, W. 2020. The impact of globalization on industrial relations in Kenya.
- Description: Abstract: Within the era of globalization, countries and organisations mirror dominant international behaviours and translate them into local environments and workplaces. This state of affairs has tendencies to affect relationships among people in the workplace, including those of Kenya. The current study relied on a mixed method approach, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. 500 closed ended questionnaires were distributed to the employees of the sampled organisations, out of which 483 respondents satisfactorily completed their questionnaires, which represent 97% response rate. In addition, 10 key industrial relations stakeholders were interviewed. The research findings revealed that employees were indeed allowed by their supervisors to make suggestions concerning decisions that affect them, in addition to the fact that employees are consulted and their opinions are highly appreciated by management. The research further pointed out that trade unions in Kenya have indeed helped to improve the working conditions of workers, as they have been granted additional freedom to exercise their fundamental right of association, as well as opportunities to attend unions’ meetings to deliberate on issues that affect them. This has made more workers to join trade unions. Furthermore, the research has established that employees have been granted more freedom to take independent decisions related to their routine work activities in recent times. On the contrary, the research revealed that unilateral management decisions are commonly used to determine rewards, in additional to the fact that strike actions have increase due to poor communication between managements and unions/workers. The findings also revealed that wage disputes seem to be the greatest contributor to strikes actions in Kenya, since the dawn of globalisation.
- Full Text:
Credit and thrift co-operatives in Nigeria : a potential source of capital formation and employment
- Otto, Godly, Ukpere, Wilfred
- Authors: Otto, Godly , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Thrift and credit societies - Nigeria , Savings co-operatives - Nigeria , Investment capital - Nigeria , Employment - Nigeria
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5896 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8015
- Description: Unemployment is a major challenge in Nigeria and many other developing countries. There is unemployment among professionals and non-professionals alike, there is unemployment among young school graduates, experienced professionals, tradesmen, and non-skilled workers in Nigeria. The consequences of unemployment in Nigeria are grave and may be classified as social and private. They include increase in crime rates, loss of potential output, poverty, and loss of potential tax revenue due government, professional studentship and family instability. In Nigeria, as in some other developing countries, job losses by households’ heads have negatively affected some homes, leading to family disintegration. Unemployment can explain the rising trends of female headed households in Nigeria. One major source of unemployment in Nigeria is insufficient capital for investments. The Harrod-Domar (neo-classical) theory encourages savings as a source of capital formation for investments with the consequent employment generation. This work identifies co-operative credits and thrift associations as a veritable source of capital formation which is required for investment purposes. The thrift cooperative as a micro finance agency is also a direct source of employment for those engaged in its management or coordination.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Otto, Godly , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Thrift and credit societies - Nigeria , Savings co-operatives - Nigeria , Investment capital - Nigeria , Employment - Nigeria
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5896 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8015
- Description: Unemployment is a major challenge in Nigeria and many other developing countries. There is unemployment among professionals and non-professionals alike, there is unemployment among young school graduates, experienced professionals, tradesmen, and non-skilled workers in Nigeria. The consequences of unemployment in Nigeria are grave and may be classified as social and private. They include increase in crime rates, loss of potential output, poverty, and loss of potential tax revenue due government, professional studentship and family instability. In Nigeria, as in some other developing countries, job losses by households’ heads have negatively affected some homes, leading to family disintegration. Unemployment can explain the rising trends of female headed households in Nigeria. One major source of unemployment in Nigeria is insufficient capital for investments. The Harrod-Domar (neo-classical) theory encourages savings as a source of capital formation for investments with the consequent employment generation. This work identifies co-operative credits and thrift associations as a veritable source of capital formation which is required for investment purposes. The thrift cooperative as a micro finance agency is also a direct source of employment for those engaged in its management or coordination.
- Full Text:
Responding to change in a large organization from a leadership angle
- Ukpere, Wilfred, Visagie, Jan, Coetzee, Rein
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred , Visagie, Jan , Coetzee, Rein
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Leadership , Organizational change
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5461 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13437
- Description: The reality today is that organizations and leaders are faced with unrelenting demands to change. Globalisation, competitiveness and ever changing business environments have forced organisations to constantly consider innovative changes. The challenge today is for leaders to be able to reduce the resistance to change, and thus allowing for successful change navigation. It is therefore necessary to be mindful of the various approaches to change in order to ensure that change can be successfully implemented. The success of any change intervention depends on the leadership of the organisation. It is therefore important to note that leadership is an enabler of any type of change. In general leadership can be seen as the driving force to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Effective leaders know that the successful implementation of change begins with attending to the human side in the organisation. Therefore, leadership is about the leader’s ability to influence people and allowing them to change perceptions, behaviours, attitudes and finally action. This paper is an attempt to address specific requirements, referring to relevant leadership competencies and providing more empowering views on the essence of leadership in navigating a successful change intervention.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred , Visagie, Jan , Coetzee, Rein
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Leadership , Organizational change
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5461 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13437
- Description: The reality today is that organizations and leaders are faced with unrelenting demands to change. Globalisation, competitiveness and ever changing business environments have forced organisations to constantly consider innovative changes. The challenge today is for leaders to be able to reduce the resistance to change, and thus allowing for successful change navigation. It is therefore necessary to be mindful of the various approaches to change in order to ensure that change can be successfully implemented. The success of any change intervention depends on the leadership of the organisation. It is therefore important to note that leadership is an enabler of any type of change. In general leadership can be seen as the driving force to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Effective leaders know that the successful implementation of change begins with attending to the human side in the organisation. Therefore, leadership is about the leader’s ability to influence people and allowing them to change perceptions, behaviours, attitudes and finally action. This paper is an attempt to address specific requirements, referring to relevant leadership competencies and providing more empowering views on the essence of leadership in navigating a successful change intervention.
- Full Text:
A relationship between social media platforms and the financial success of modern African entrepreneurs
- Ukpere, Wilfred, Slabbert, Andre D, Ukpere, Celestine L.
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred , Slabbert, Andre D , Ukpere, Celestine L.
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Social media , Entrepreneurs
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5476 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13453
- Description: Globalisation, technological developments, and corporate mergers and acquisitions have brought fundamental changes to the modern entrepreneurial landscape. Reduced data bundle rates, the expansion of telecommunications, and the increased use of the Internet in Africa are the main driving forces. In recent times, African entrepreneurship has been in a constant state of development and flux. This paper reports the findings of an online survey conducted in Africa in 2013, investigating the experiences of entrepreneurs on the continent in adapting and incorporating online social network platforms and digital tools in both the formal and informal sectors. In recent times, African entrepreneurs have realised that the empowered, sophisticated, critical and well-informed society living on the continent in the present day is different from that of the previous post-colonial era. The Internet (and more recently social media enabled through Web2.0) has enabled the business community at large to control information and have power over the marketing process, with concomitant dilemmas and challenges for African entrepreneurs. This paper explains what role the new face of the Internet, widely referred to as Web2.0 or social media has played in unlocking this vast potential in terms of enabling the economic survival and success of modern African entrepreneur. Embracing social media platforms and tools facilitates entrepreneurship through the creation of competitive advantages that build prosperity in the modern global economy. Social-media platforms are therefore important strategic marketing tools for entrepreneurs.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred , Slabbert, Andre D , Ukpere, Celestine L.
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Social media , Entrepreneurs
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5476 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13453
- Description: Globalisation, technological developments, and corporate mergers and acquisitions have brought fundamental changes to the modern entrepreneurial landscape. Reduced data bundle rates, the expansion of telecommunications, and the increased use of the Internet in Africa are the main driving forces. In recent times, African entrepreneurship has been in a constant state of development and flux. This paper reports the findings of an online survey conducted in Africa in 2013, investigating the experiences of entrepreneurs on the continent in adapting and incorporating online social network platforms and digital tools in both the formal and informal sectors. In recent times, African entrepreneurs have realised that the empowered, sophisticated, critical and well-informed society living on the continent in the present day is different from that of the previous post-colonial era. The Internet (and more recently social media enabled through Web2.0) has enabled the business community at large to control information and have power over the marketing process, with concomitant dilemmas and challenges for African entrepreneurs. This paper explains what role the new face of the Internet, widely referred to as Web2.0 or social media has played in unlocking this vast potential in terms of enabling the economic survival and success of modern African entrepreneur. Embracing social media platforms and tools facilitates entrepreneurship through the creation of competitive advantages that build prosperity in the modern global economy. Social-media platforms are therefore important strategic marketing tools for entrepreneurs.
- Full Text:
Indigenous female entrepreneurship : analytical study on access to finance for women entrepreneurs in South Africa
- Witbooi, Megan, Ukpere, Wilfred
- Authors: Witbooi, Megan , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2011-07
- Subjects: Female entrepreneurs , Gender inequality , Entrepreneurial motivation
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5823 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7840
- Description: Research on female entrepreneurship is imperative to create a knowledge base of women’s experiences with regards to being financially excluded in South Africa. There is a realisation, however, that, while race has historically been the primary driver of economic disparities in South Africa, other forms of discrimination also prevent certain groups from accessing economic freedom and opportunities. Women, who represent 52% of the South African population, still suffer from historical and cultural prejudice in accessing opportunities, for a number of reasons that are outlined in this study. While access to financial services continues to be largely racially defined in South Africa, the gender gap between men and women does exist, and is likely to grow if special efforts are not undertaken to address the underlying issues now. Black women are the largest single self-employed segment of the population; a fact that is not reflected in the current industry targets for business activity. This paper examines the extent to which financial service providers in the country were sufficiently aware of the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Witbooi, Megan , Ukpere, Wilfred
- Date: 2011-07
- Subjects: Female entrepreneurs , Gender inequality , Entrepreneurial motivation
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5823 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7840
- Description: Research on female entrepreneurship is imperative to create a knowledge base of women’s experiences with regards to being financially excluded in South Africa. There is a realisation, however, that, while race has historically been the primary driver of economic disparities in South Africa, other forms of discrimination also prevent certain groups from accessing economic freedom and opportunities. Women, who represent 52% of the South African population, still suffer from historical and cultural prejudice in accessing opportunities, for a number of reasons that are outlined in this study. While access to financial services continues to be largely racially defined in South Africa, the gender gap between men and women does exist, and is likely to grow if special efforts are not undertaken to address the underlying issues now. Black women are the largest single self-employed segment of the population; a fact that is not reflected in the current industry targets for business activity. This paper examines the extent to which financial service providers in the country were sufficiently aware of the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in South Africa.
- Full Text:
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