No abstract

Outside an academic setting, telecommuting has become fairly popular in recent years.However, research on telecommuting practices within a higher education environment is fairly sparse, especially within the higher distance education sphere. Drawing on existing literature on telecommuting and the outcome of a valuation study on the success of an experimental telecommuting programme at the largest distance education institution in South Africa, this article presents discerning findings on telecommuting practices. In fact, the research builds on evolutionary telecommuting assessment methods of the direct or indirect effect (work based) and affective impact (emotional) on multiple stakeholder groups. This holistic approach allowed for comparative analysis between telecommuting and nontelecommuting academics with regard to the impact of telecommuting practices. The research reveals high levels of support for telecommuting practices that are associated with high levels of work productivity and satisfaction, lower levels of emotional and physical fatigue, and reduced work stress, frustration, and overload. The study also reveals higher levels of student satisfaction with academic support from telecommuters than nontelecommuters. Overall, the critique presents insightful findings on telecommuting practices within an academic setting, which clearly signal a potential for a shift in the office culture of higher distance education institutions in the years to come. The study makes a significant contribution to a limited collection of empirical research on telecommuting practices within the higher distance education sector and guides institutions in refining and/or redefining future telecommuting strategies or programmes.

It is the contention of this article that South African companies should use a cause-related marketing (CRM) strategy to advance their business objectives, and at the same time communicate their involvement in uplifting and investing in society. Communicating corporate socially responsible activities is important for a number of reasons. It is necessary to create awareness and an understanding 6f current corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies, strategies and attitudes, and to define an integrated strategy for the future. These policies and activities must be communicated internally and externally in order to enhance an organisation's reputation, loyalty and relationship among all stakeholders. This could ultimately lead to potential increases in customer traffic and sales that will positively affect the bottom line and lead to bigger corporate social investments by a company. Besides these advantages, effective cause-related marketing strategies could also secure preferential treatment of investors within a highly competitive business environment. ABSTRAKHierdie artikel lewer"'n betoog aan Suid-Afrikaanse sakeondernemings om 'n saakverwante bemarkingstrategie (cause-related marketing (CRM) strategy) te ontwikkel waarvolgens ondernemings-, sosiale investerings-en gemeenskapsverantwoordelikheidsdoelwitte gesamentlik bevorder word. Bemarkingskommunikasie staan sentraal tot die bereiking van so 'n strategie. Kommunikasie van 'n geTntegreerde kooperatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheidstrategie binne sowel as buite 'n sakeonderneming is uiters belangrik aangesien dit begrip en bewustheid onder werknemers, verbruikers en ander belangegroepe ten opsigte van 'n sakeonderneming se sosiale verantwoordelikhede en produkte en dienste kweek. So 'n strategie net ook die potensiele voordeel om 'n ondememing se reputasie binne en buite die ondememing te verhoog, verbruikers meer lojaal te maak en ondernemingsverhoudings tussen bree belangegroepe te bevorder. Die noodsaak van kommunikasie van saakverwante bemarkingsstrategiee is voor die hand liggend indien die potensiele voordele van rtoer verbruikersvraag na en verkope van produkte en dienste van maatskaplik verantwoordelike ondernemings en hoer sosiale investering deur sulke ondernemings in ag geneem word. Hierbenewens kan saakverwante bemarkingstrategiee verdere voorkeurbehandeling deur investeerders meebring wat as uiters noodsaaklik geag word binne 'n hoogs mededingende Suid-Afrikaanse sakeomgewing.

This paper presents the views of 623 informal and formal small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) operating in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The objective of the study was to identify challenges and benefits that are experienced by SMMEs during and after the registration process leading to the transition from informal to formal business, the level of awareness by the SMMEs of the registration information, and the procedures in addition to the potential factors that inspire or discourage informal and prospective business registration. The reason for including both informal and formal SMMEs in the survey was to compare the perceptions of these groups of businesses regarding the triggers and/or barriers to register as a formal business. The results show that for both informal and formal businesses, the liability of paying taxes was a major challenge while improved workers' health and safety accrued as a major benefit. Own research emerged as the main source of access to business registration information and procedure. The costs involved in registration were highlighted as one of the major factors discouraging registration but the prospects of expanding the customer base and the ability to achieve a higher turnover as some of the main inspiring factors. The study recommends the development of policies that provide an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises but also to implement measures that improve productivity through access to finance, skills, infrastructure, markets, and technology transfers.

This article explored the extent of digital divide and inequality among digital natives in Gauteng, South Africa. More explicitly, social and economic forms of digital divide and inequality were investigated. The article presents innovative research in South Africa that builds on past international research on digital divide. Whereas previous research on digital divide mainly uses a one-dimensional focus on Internet access only, this research on digital inequality reflects on the quality and quantity of Internet usage. The research poses challenges to improve digital literacy in South Africa and is aimed at narrowing the economic and social disparity evident among especially Gauteng millennials. This initial research on digital inequality not only stimulates intellectual discourse on the topic matter but also serves to encourage digital natives to take full advantage of all resources on the internet as ideal communication medium to improve their well-being.