Views of Extension Advisors in Privatization of Limpopo Extension System | Chapter 7 | Business, Management and Economics: Research Progress Vol. 2

 

The present study provides a very partial picture with regard to the issue of privatization and outsourcing in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The author has taken only the viewpoints of the public extension personnel, and not of the other stakeholders like farmers’ organizations, research institutions, agricultural scientists, and representatives from tertiary education institutions. There is no one set of challenges that justifies the privatization of extension and advisory services both in developed and developing areas. It is argued that factors that can influence privatization include; limited budget provisions and ineffectiveness of extension and advisory services. According to studies commissioned by the World Bank, there are many lessons to be learned from the literature about the successes and failures of privatization in organizations throughout rich and developing nations. Regrettably, South Africa was left out of these studies. This is the reason this study was carried out in South Africa's Limpopo Province to determine whether privatization and outsourcing are acceptable or not.

 

This chapter explores options for privatization in South Africa with a focus on Limpopo Province. A sample of 324 extension officers out of 700 extension officers from the province was taken from the five districts of Limpopo constituting a sample of 46%, and their opinions were gathered through quantitative design. The results show that extension efficiency was falling below the international standards when measured through the input/output ratio of 100/130. The majority of extension advisors (70%) showed resistance to privatization, and the mean scale of the benefits of privatization was rated 6.7 as the highest in 7 categories. The extension advisors did not perceive any benefits for privatization and hence rated 38% from all the districts. The varying choices could therefore be attributed to different judgements of competence of the alternative community structures. The respondents did not support a situation where officials from Local Government would take over the responsibility of extension services. The chapter concludes with recommendations that warn that privatization ought to be taken with great care because the marginalized and small-scale farmers cannot afford to pay for extension services.

 

Author(s) Details

Zwane E. M.
Agricultural Extension in the Centre of Rural and Community Empowerment (CRCE), School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Limpopo, South Africa.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/bmerp/v2/932

Enhancing Performance in Cape Town’s SMME Sector by Outsourcing Accounting Strategy | Chapter 5 | Economics and Entrepreneurship: The Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Business and Management Dynamics (ICBMD), Edition 1

This study investigated the impact of outsourcing accounting strategies on the performance of small, medium, and micro enterprises (S M M Es) in the retail and service sectors in Cape Town, South Africa. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected through an online survey and door-to-door distribution to a sample of 102 respondents. The analysis was conducted using X L S T A T software, applying partial least square structural equation modelling (P L S-S E M) for structural analysis. Cronbach’s Alpha measured reliability, while the Average Variance Extracted (A V E) assessed model validity. The findings indicate that outsourcing accounting functions positively influenced S M M E performance, particularly in reducing operational costs and enhancing time management. These findings suggest that outsourcing provides a viable solution for S M M Es seeking operational efficiency and sustainability in a resource-constrained environment. Additionally, the findings reveal the strategic value of outsourcing for S M M Es within South Africa’s dynamic economic landscape. The study recommends outsourcing as a strategy for S M M Es to improve cost and time management.

 

Author (s) Details

Tania Tshibangu-Mutonji
Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Lawrence Ogechukwu Obokoh
University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

Ian Lyndon Johnson
University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-49238-53-4/CH5

Research on the Causes, Case Studies and Logic in Current Trends of Outsourcing Practice in Government and Business | Chapter 13 | Current Strategies in Economics and Management Vol.6

 

The subject of outsourcing, A-76 studies and strategic sourcing are familiar terms in government and
business. What lies behind the development of increasing activity in this area is an organizational field
that legitimizes and perpetuates such activities. The purpose of this paper is to summarize current
trends in outsourcing and reflect upon the recent developments as to causes, sources of promotion of
the practice and estimation of what developments the future holds. The following article provides
examples of “field structuration” that contribute to the perpetuation of these forms of procurement
practice. Literature research, interviews and participation as a contracts management professional
provided input to the article.

Author (s) Details

Mary M. Dickens Johnson
Villanova University, Pennsylvania

View Book :- http://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/254