05. Conference Proceedings & Working Papers

Permanent URI for this category

http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/2403

Browse

Browsing 05. Conference Proceedings & Working Papers by Subject "Business Administration"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    An Assessment of Computer and ICT Skills among Business Subjects Learners at Botswana Open University: Implications of ICT in Business Development
    (2019-09) Hamaluba, Tommie
    Of recent the Government of Botswana has considered information and communication technology (ICT) an important enabler for economic and social development and for enhancing the competitiveness of domestic business. This paper presents a study that focused on assessing computer and ICT skills of Business subject’s learners at Botswana Open University’s (BOU) Open Schooling. The study investigated levels of computer and ICT skills among Business subjects’ learners in open schooling. It aimed to find out levels of computer skills; existence of ICT skills and perception of business subject learners on adoption and use of ICT skills for teaching and learning. Sample size of 223 participants from Botswana Open University’s five regions was studied and data were collected using a survey questionnaire containing quantitative questions and was tested for reliability and validity using Cronbach alpha coefficient, and confirmatory factor analysis respectively. Rules of thumb for reliability and validity were done on 50 items. Non-probability snowball sampling technique through drop pick method was used. The findings showed that majority of the respondents had good computer typing skills, understood the basic functions of the computer hardware and think that it is essential for BOU’s open schooling to start offering study units online as opposed to printed books, and learners were good at navigating the internet. The study also revealed that respondents needed improvement in use of ICT tools for learning their business subjects and that the tools would enhance their understanding of the subject matter. Lastly future research and policy implications of ICT in business development are discussed. // Paper ID 65
  • Item
    Open Access
    Capacity Building of the mid-level executives through BBA programme of BOU: Efficacy and Efficiency Issues
    (2013-11) Rahman, Mahfuzur; Kamal, Mostafa A
    In the present wave of rapid technological innovations, changing market conditions and the emergence of a knowledge-based society, it is almost impossible for a country or economy to keep itself separated from the rest of the world. As a result, every country faces a wide range of challenges arises from the global changes. A wide reservoir of human capital can work as the safeguard for a nation in absorbing the shocks from rapidly growing trend in globalization. However, it is very difficult for the resource-poor developing countries like Bangladesh to form human capital rapidly with the traditional education and training arrangements. Here, the role of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is very crucial. Open and distance learning allows the nations to offer education and training to all sections of the population including hard-to-reach people. Bangladesh Open University (BOU) offers a number of the academic programmes including the business education programmes. Among 22 formal programmes of BOU, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme is one of the popular business education programmes started in 2005. Mostly working executives enroll themselves in the programme. BBA program is very much crucial for scaling up the performance of the busy mid-level executives. However, it has not been tried yet to evaluate the role of BBA program in capacity building of the people engaged in emerging business sector of Bangladesh. Earnestly, it has been felt to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency issues of the BBA Program of BOU in terms of capacity building of the mid-level executives in Bangladesh. This study has been intended to emphasize on the following issues:  Effectiveness of the BBA programme of BOU  Efficiency issues of the BBA programme of BOU compared to that of the on-campus universities  Scope of ICT integration into BBA for enhancing the performance/effectiveness of the programme  Potentials of ICT integration into BBA for accelerating the female participation into the programme // Paper ID: 297
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The Impact of Technological Orientation on Small Service Firms’ Business Performance in Botswana
    (2019-09) Hamalumba, Tommie; Kesamang, Boipelo
    The study focused on investigating the impact of technological orientation among small service firms in Botswana. The study was quantitative and Questionnaires for owner managers of small service firms were administered in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Selebi-Phikwe for representativeness and generalisability. The survey questionnaires were administered using a drop-pick method on a cross-sectional population based on a sample size of 321 owner managers or informats; using snowball sampling technique on the basis of firms’ subsectors, size, and location. Data were mainly from a range of manufacturing; Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism; Supplies and Services etc. One research hypothesis that Small service firms’ thrive better with innovation, is being tested. The results suggest that: management orientation, technology orientation, market orientation and market dynamics tend to have a significant influence on innovation practices, and finally, innovation practices tend to have a significant influence on business growth performance. This study makes significant contributions. It is believed to be the first empirical research study examining small service firms’ technologial practices and their business growth performance in the emerging Botswana market. It also provides a re-conceptualised model to guide the implementation of technological innovation practices in SMEs in emerging markets. Among the recommendations is a comparative study to investigate the technological orientation of small service firms against Botswana’s neighboring countries’ small service firms. // Paper ID 285
  • Item
    Open Access
    Training in Business Entrepreneurship Skills through Distance Learning
    (2010-11) Kuruba, Gangappa
    Training imparts skills and enriches the skills of people towards increasing productivity. Training is part of any business proposition not only to see its impact on sustainability of the organization but also to ensure profits that it generates within the organization. Training is also termed as applied science where people come together to learn new techniques of organising a new activity or an existing activity. Training should be on continuous process and should respond to the changes in the market; domestic and international. Training requirements will also be recognized on the basis of needs analysis in specific areas of development. // Training in the business entrepreneurship is considered to be a vital element which results in sound performance of an organization. This applies more especially to all developing countries and Botswana is not an exception to this proposition. Since Botswana depends mostly on Trade, training in business receives a priority. At present, the country depends on foreigners for skilled labour; this necessitates training citizens to reduce the cost on national exchequer on importing foreign skills. In view of the importance attached to training, Botswana Government recently established Botswana Training Authority to oversee the training activity in the country. The paper investigates the need for training exclusively in small Business enterprises. While proposing the strategy of training for business development, the paper will look into the following: 1. Business environment in Botswana 2. Need for training in Business Entrepreneurship Skills 3. Initiatives taken by Department of Industrial Affairs through ILO Project 4. Impact of training on Business in Botswana 5. Different Stake holders and their plans 6. Technology of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) for training 7. Way forward.
  • Item
    Open Access
    Using Open and Educational Resources (OERs) and Wiki’s to Support Entrepreneurship Training in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions in Zambia
    (2013-11) Konayuma, Gabriel
    Though entrepreneurship training has been offered in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Zambia since 2000, there have been challenges of inadequate and inappropriate teaching resources that may have affected the quality of entrepreneurship training. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibilities of using Open Education Resources (OER's) and wikis to support Entrepreneurship Training in Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This is done by making an analysis of entrepreneurship training materials available online and exploring how these could be adapted for use in TVET institutions in Zambia. The study explores how OERs have been used to address similar challenges before by other institutions. OERs can be used as an innovative means of improving teaching and learning in TVET institutions in Zambia by promoting a more learner-centred approach to teaching and learning and more quality contact between teachers and learners. The study ends with key recommendations that can assist policy makers and training providers on what are the most suitable ways of integrating ICT’s in education, and ICT tools such as OERs and wikis in a socio-economic environment like Zambia, where textbooks cannot be easily afforded by most students and lecturers. // Paper ID: Paper ID: 205