Department of General Management

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    Academia–Industry Partnerships for Hospitality and Tourism Education in Tanzania
    (Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, Taylor & Francis, 2019) Sanga, John, J; Anderson, Wineaster, S
    This article examines approaches to partnership between the tourism industry and educational institutions in the provision of tourism education. It assesses how partnerships facilitate the development of skills in Tanzania and recommends a framework for effective collaboration. The study utilized focus group discussions and interviews with tourism industry and training institutions. A total of 356 respondents participated. It was revealed that internships, practical training, graduate employment, and financial contributions by industry in the form of skills development levy and tourism development levy are the major approaches to partnership for the provision of tourism education. A low level of understanding among students explained by language barriers, inadequate training facilities, a shortage of qualified educators, poor enforcement of national curricula, and limited internship and placement opportunities are the major challenges to skills development. The article proposes a framework for effective partnership among key stakeholders in the industry.
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    Academia–industry partnerships for hospitality and tourism education in Tanzania
    (Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 2019) Anderson, Wineaster; Sanga, John, J
    This article examines approaches to partnership between the tourism industry and educational institutions in the provision of tourism education. It assesses how partnerships facilitate the development of skills in Tanzania and recommends a framework for effective collaboration. The study utilized focus group discussions and interviews with tourism industry and training institutions. A total of 356 respondents participated. It was revealed that internships, practical training, graduate employment, and financial contributions by industry in the form of skills development levy and tourism development levy are the major approaches to partnership for the provision of tourism education. A low level of understanding among students explained by language barriers, inadequate training facilities, a shortage of qualified educators, poor enforcement of national curricula, and limited internship and placement opportunities are the major challenges to skills development. The article proposes a framework for effective partnership among key stakeholders in the industry.
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    Academic Safety and Health (ASH) requirements for ICT usage by PhD students in developing countries: A case of University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania and Makerere University, Uganda
    (2018) Masele, Juma James; Kagoya, Sumaya
    The socio-economic effects of poor safety and health computer working environment are enormous to not only users but also their enterprises at large. This study examined universities’ commitment towards safety and health requirements in computers usage by PhD students, using a case of University of Dar es Salaam and Makerere University. Responses from 221 respondents were analyzed using regression analysis. Observation to rooms and facilities used, supplemented the information. The study found that although the universities had tried to improvise rooms with chairs and tables for the PhD works, little attention to ergonomics was paid. Reported risks and snags encountered include eye strains, sight fatigue, headaches, tension stress, limbs disorders including disk degenerative disorders. The study proposed for the Universities to abide on provision of ergonomic obligatory environment possible including orientation of users to computer ergonomic principles, measures that are hoped to minimize computer usage related disorders. Policy makers and legislators are urged to come up with policies, laws and regulations to reinforce the intended behaviors and deeds. Importantly is also to individual PhD students to take active measures to ensure for sustainably safe and ill-health free computer related environment, despite the working environment they are exposed to.
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    ACCEPTANCE OF MOBILE PHONE PAYMENTS SYSTEMS IN TANZANIA: TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL APPROACH
    (Business Management Review,(UDSM ), 2017-06) Wilson, Victor Gideon; Mbamba, ULingeta O.L
    This paper presents a quantitative study on the users’ acceptance of mobile phone payment systems (MPPS). Basing on the technology acceptance model (TAM), the study specifically evaluated the influence of ease of use; perceived usefulness; service quality; and information systems qualities of payment systems in the adoption and use of MPPS. A questionnaire survey was carried with 300 users out of which 260 were clean for data analysis using SPSS version 21. To supplement the survey, the study deployed interviews. The regression results indicate significant influence of the regressed variables with slightly low values of the adjusted R-square. The findings on information quality and perceived usefulness had lesser influence (beta values below average) whereas ease of use, and services quality were positively rated factors to accepting the systems. Several other factors behind acceptance were also identified in the interview, including premium pricing, level of understanding, and perceived risks. The findings extend knowledge on the application of TAM to mobile payments in a developing country such as Tanzania. They provide awareness on contributory factors to accepting the technology to Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and country’s central bank, Bank of Tanzania (BoT) in their managing and controlling processes. They also provided practitioners with knowledge on the challenges and ways of tapping into the advantages of ICT. The findings were limited to four regions in Tanzania.
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    Access to and use of computer ergonomics related information among PhD students in East Africa: a case of University of Dares Salaam-Tanzania and Makerere University-Uganda
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2019) Masele, Juma James
    This study has assessed PhD students’ access to and use of computer ergonomics related information in East Africa where the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Makerere University (MUK) have been used as study areas. PhD students’ involvement in the study was considered important given their need for and duration of computer usage in their studies. A close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 221 PhD students [151 (68.3%) from the UDSM and 70 (31.7%) from MUK]. The study used a factor analysis to analyze information needs while descriptive statistics were used to find frequencies and mean values, and rank information sources. In-depth interviews were used to complement quantitative data. The data collected through this method were analyzed thematically. From the data analyzed, the study has found a large information and knowledge gap among PhD students. The gap spans across areas such as required technologies, computer working environments, recommended ergonomically friendly operational procedures, and effects of poor computer ergonomics. The study has also found that interpersonal communication through colleagues/friends, informal discussions within PhD clubs, medical officers or physiotherapists, social media and other internet sources are the dominant computer ergonomics information sources. Inspired by Ranganathan’s theory, the study, among other things, recommends striking a balance between information sources so as to more effectively meet users’ information needs.
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    Adoption of Internet Banking Service in Tanzania: The Influencing Factors among Customers of Commercial Banks
    (2021) Kessy, Severine S. A.
    Information technology advancement has transformed the way banks deliver their services to their customers; as a result, internet banking is now in use. However, this type of banking is not fully utilised by customers in accessing banking products and services. This paper examined factors associated with customers’ adoption to internet banking services in Tanzania. Precisely, it assessed the influence of social environment, technology exposure and system capability on the adoption of internet banking services by customers. Cross section research design was used through survey strategy to collect data from the respondents. In this case, a questionnaire was administered among a total of 200 respondents from two big banks that were involved in the study. Data analysis was performed by using partial least squares structural equation to examine the relationship between internet banking adoption and influencing factors which included social environment, technology exposure and system capability. The results indicate that social environment, technology exposure and system capability are positively related to adoption of internet banking services by customers. The existing relationships and the results revealed the way in which the rate of adoption of internet banking services by customers can be increased. Among the observed challenges for adoption of internet banking services include limited awareness among the customers, network failure and instability as well as layout of web pages. It is therefore recommended that, banks should invest in bringing awareness to customers regarding the service by providing information and instructions, reducing the impact of network failure and having a well-designed and user-friendly website for easier use.
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    Adoption of standards and certification among Tanzanian agribusiness firms for export: demystifying gaps in internationalisation theory
    (Business Management Review, 2016, 2016) Elly, Tumsifu
    This paper is based on the thesis that standards and their derivative certification are missing in the rubrics of the internationalisation theory. The paper draws on findings from a study that was carried out to explain the relevance of standards and their attendant certification in explaining internationalisation from the Tanzanian agribusiness context. The study’s three specific objectives were to determine the relevancy of standards in explaining export and internationalisation of agribusiness in the Tanzania context; determine the requirements for the adoption of standards for export; and find out the challenges to the adoption of standards among smallholder producers and exporters. Data from in-depth interviews of five cases were subjected to thematic and cross-case analysis prior to explanation building. The study findings show that, the adoption of standards and certification of agro-commodities constitute an important vehicle for internationalisation among smallholders in the context under review as such certification offers a new explanation to agribusiness firms’ internationalisation. However, the beneficiaries are those capable of guaranteeing smallholders’ vindication and ability to abide by the standards and produce enough quality commodities that meet the requirements and satisfy the demand. The study established that the major constraint defining Tanzania’s agribusiness export is related to the land tenure system, which causes diseconomies of scale. In consequence, production is fragmented into small pieces of land over a wide area. Moreover, neither the network nor the born global or international new venture theories perfectly explain …
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    Agribusiness Firms’ Resources and Performance: The Mediating Role of Strategic Management Practices
    (Operations Research Society of Eastern Africa (ORSEA) Journal, 2016) Dominic, Theresia; Theuvsen, Ludwig
    This study investigated the relationship between firms’ resources, strategic management practices and performance of small agribusiness firms. The objective was to demonstrate the role of strategic management practices in facilitating effective use of firms’ resources to achieve their agribusiness performance. Results from a structural equation model using a sample of 229 agribusiness firms from Tanzania indicated that the investigated resources alone do not directly contribute to a firm’s performance unless there is application of strategic management as a potential mediator. Further investigation based on multi-group analysis showed three groups of firms, which differed in their resourcesperformance relationship. The results imply that managers ought to identify a fit between their resources and strategic actions in order to enhance firms’ performance. The study provides manifold managerial implications for small firms that seek to improve their performance. [EconLit citations: J24, M31, Q13, Q18].
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    Agricultural information needs and sources of the rural farmers in Tanzania
    (Emerald, 2013) Elly, Tumsifu; Silayo, Ephraem E.
    Purpose – This study aims to determine information needs and sources of the rural farmers in Tanzania specifically from Iringa rural district. Design/methodology/approach – Survey technique was used as the principal data collection technique where 120 rural farmers were interviewed. In-depth interviews of ten key informants from two villages of Ifunda and Kalenga complemented the survey. Findings – 70 per cent of farmers' information needs is about crop and livestock husbandry, marketing, funding options and value addition. However, there is a significant difference between the two wards in information needs for “information on crop and livestock husbandry” as well as information on “value addition”. To a great extent, farmers use the old means of communication, the traditional and interpersonal by default due to relevancy in the context and content. The modern means of communication are used to access non-agricultural (other) information. Research limitations/implications – Designing effective extension and dissemination programs should consider the needs and mechanisms desired and preferred by specific group of farmers. Practical implications – There is heterogeneity within farming communities in terms of information needs which requires a consideration by intervention programs. Originality/value – The study identifies information needs and sources of rural farmers. It points out that needs of the farmers are not static and they change over time. Though farmers largely use old means, the modern communications means have the potential of being better sources should the information producers upload relevant and context-specific information.
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    Agricultural Information Needs and Sources of the Rural Farmers in Tanzania: A Case Of Iringa Rural District
    (2013-11) Elly, Tumsifu; Silayo, Ephraem E.
    Purpose – This study aims to determine information needs and sources of the rural farmers in Tanzania specifically from Iringa rural district. Design/methodology/approach – Survey technique was used as the principal data collection technique where 120 rural farmers were interviewed. In-depth interviews of ten key informants from two villages of Ifunda and Kalenga complemented the survey. Findings – 70 per cent of farmers' information needs is about crop and livestock husbandry, marketing, funding options and value addition. However, there is a significant difference between the two wards in information needs for “information on crop and livestock husbandry” as well as information on “value addition”. To a great extent, farmers use the old means of communication, the traditional and interpersonal by default due to relevancy in the context and content. The modern means of communication are used to access non-agricultural (other) information. Research limitations/implications – Designing effective extension and dissemination programs should consider the needs and mechanisms desired and preferred by specific group of farmers. Practical implications – There is heterogeneity within farming communities in terms of information needs which requires a consideration by intervention programs. Originality/value – The study identifies information needs and sources of rural farmers. It points out that needs of the farmers are not static and they change over time. Though farmers largely use old means, the modern communications means have the potential of being better sources should the information producers upload relevant and context-specific information.
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    Applicability of the High-Performance Organisation Framework at an East African University: The Case of Iringa University College
    (2011) de Waal, André; Chachage, Bukaza
    Purpose – In the past few decades, organizations all over the world have been searching for the elements that constitute continuous organizational success. Fuelled by bestsellers such as In Search of Excellence and Good to Great, managers have implemented many different improvement concepts, often with mixed results. The aim of this study is to identify whether the high-performance organisation (HPO) framework could help an African university to become one of the first high-performance educational organizations in Africa. Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of a meta analysis into high performance and a subsequent worldwide survey, 35 characteristics of a HPO were identified. The resulting HPO framework was applied at Iringa University College (IUCo) in 2007, to identify the HPO status of the university and to determine the required improvement actions. In 2009, the HPO framework was again applied at the university, to evaluate progress. Findings – In two years, IUCo not only improved its HPO status but also its financial and non-financial results. Therefore, the HPO framework can actively be used in Africa to improve the performance of African institutions. Originality/value – The results of the study show that it is possible to identify factors that determine continuous organizational success in Africa, and that managers can be offered a framework that adds focus to improvement.
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    Applications of Social Media for Promoting Higher Learning Institutions’ Activities in Tanzania, International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 17 (2), 37-54
    (Open Campus, The University of the West Indies, West Indies, 2021-04-30) Masele, Juma James; Rwehikiza, David Peter
    This study investigated applications of social media in promotion activities among Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania. Guided by a phenomenological philosophy, a multi-case study was conducted with four HLIs ranging from public to private offering institutions. The findings revealed that there is still a limited use of social media among the selected HLIs where dominance of traditional media over social media was observed. It was revealed that HLIs social media usage included posting information about college life, upcoming and past events, and publishing new programmes. The social media effectiveness included wider reach, receiving questions, feedback, increasing visibility, turnout of people during events and responses to different posts made. Challenges observed included management, infrastructure, and ability to accommodate the negative impacts. The study urges universities to actively incorporate social media platforms in the traditional marketing platforms to improve the effectiveness of their promotions. Provision of financial and managerial resources is important for ensuring that all units at the universities are active and collaborative in social media use.
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    Assessment of the Relationship between Leadership Styles and Employees’ Job Satisfaction in Tanzanian Local Private Companies: A case of Dar es Salaam Region
    (University of Dar es Salaam Business School, 2018) Majaliwa, Emmanuel; Kessy, Severine S. A.
    The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between leadership styles and employees’ job satisfaction in the Tanzanian local private companies located in Dar es Salaam region. The study was pragmatic in nature as both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. The explanatory research design was applied and a sample of 152 employees were randomly selected and 8 managers were selected using judgmental sampling technique. The data from employees were collected using questionnaires whereas interview was used as the data collection method for managers. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression technique to show the relationship between leadership styles and employees’ job satisfaction. The findings of the study revealed the positive relationship between both transformational leadership and transactional leadership and employees’ job satisfaction. However, transformational leadership indicated more influence on employees’ job satisfaction than transactional leadership. Specifically, the study revealed that two attributes of transformational leadership (idealized influence and intellectual stimulation) showed a positive and significant relationship while the rest were insignificant. Meanwhile, contingent rewards and MBE-Active were significant and positively related to employees’ job satisfaction while MNE-Passive was insignificant. It was concluded that managers of the local private companies in Tanzania should use both transactional and transactional leadership styles with more focus on idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, contingent rewards and MBE-Active.
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    ATM and Customer Satisfaction: A Case of the Banking Industry in Tanzania
    (African Journal of Finance and Management, 2006) Mboma, Lucy Mary
    This paper presents the effects of ATMs on customer satisfaction in the Tanzanian banki ng sector. It is a new way of accessing banking services necessitated by customers' bustne s needs and is enabled by fast changing technology. Due to achievements brought about increased utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in society, t e banking industry has introduced Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). ATMs provide a n w method of dispensing customer services which are expected to increase efficiency, sa es performance, and enhance customer satisfaction. Three different banks were used as a case study in order to a void bias and provide general impressions on ATM use by c usto ersf Customers interviewed outside banks were free to express their views minimizing the bi S 0d saying only positive things aboutATMs. Consulted secondary sources of information provide understanding and challenges facing ATMs the world over. . The study establishes that ATM services enhance operations and customer satisfaction in terms of flexibility of time. ATMs add value in terms of speedy handling of voluminous transactions which traditional services were unable to handle efficiently and expediently. The level of this satisfaction is reduced by technological and processing failures, the percepton that the service de1ivery mode is expensive and insecure regarding stand-alone ATMs, which creates customer disatisfaction. There is no consideration being given to people disabilities such as blindness and people in wheel chair negates the role of serving customers, as they cannot access ATMs. The potenttal usage rate of ATM services will continue to increase the banking sector's competitive edge and numbers will rise in ten years to come in Tanzania. This provides opportunities to overseas manufacturers and maintenance service providers including skill-training opportunities for academic institutions.
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    Attitude and Usage of SIM-Banking Services and Customer Satisfaction in Tanzania
    (African Journal of Finance and Management, 2011) Mboma, Lucy Mary; Phelician, Ernest
    SIM-mobile banking service is one of self-service technologies through which customers can access their accounts at any time, and can transact from the comfort of their mobile phones. The objective of this research was to assess the attitude, usage and customer satisfaction for SIM-mobile banking or sms-banking services. The study adopted a positivist research paradigm that investigated two banks, drawing females and males respondents from various sectors of the economy. The results show that sim-mobile banking services were known by customers from public, private, self-employed, manufacturing, service, student and unemployed sectors. The sector in which a person worked did not affect an individual’s decision to use or not to use the service. Students did not use the service because they did not have regular incomes. Awareness of the sim/mobile banking service contributed to positive attitude on the services offered. Problems affecting the use of sim-mobile banking and customer satisfaction included the lack of information on the usefulness of sim-mobile banking services, customers’ fear of the security of their accounts, high service charges, and unreliability of the services. Thus, the study recommends more promotion of sim-mobile banking services, clearing security issues and reducing service charges through differentiated pricing and practice market segmentation.
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    Buyer-Supplier Integration and Logistics Performance in Health Care Facilities in Tanzania
    (2015) Salema, Gladness; Buvik, Arnt
    Purpose This research concerns logistics performance in public purchasing relationships, and explores the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. The research focuses in particular on purchasing centralization in health care facilities, and examine whether centralization of purchasing decision control exercised by the health authorities will influence the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performances at the firm level in health care facilities. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on basic organization theory, inter-organizational theory, and supply chain management literature, and examines the combined effect of purchasing centralization and supplier integration on supplier logistics performance based on survey data from 164 key informants from public health institutions in Tanzania. Findings The analysis reveals that stronger buyer-supplier integration improves supplier logistics performance significantly, and that stronger centralization of purchasing decision control by the health authorities reduces the effect of more extensive buyer supplier integration on supplier logistics performance at the firm level. Research limitations/implications Public health institutions in Tanzania are highly regulated and controlled by public authorities, and this might limit the external validity of this study. Possible effects of opportunistic behaviour among public agents might also influence the outcome of the analyses, and further research in other empirical settings and cultural settings is desirable to test the external validity of the empirical findings. Practical implications The local government should focus more on supporting the individual public health facilities in developing and adapting proper governance mechanisms for their supplier integration, and be aware of the advantages associated to the alignment of independent and local supplier coordination at the institutional level. Social implications Strong bureaucratic decision control and possible opportunistic behaviour among public agents and employee in public medicine institutions might represent a threat against a smooth and effective organization of the medicine supplies in the public sector. Original/value The study provides a valuable theoretical contribution to the supply chain management research. In particular, the combination of significant contributions from basic organization theory, principal-agent theory and supply chain management literature provides a broad and interesting focus on significant antecedents to supplier logistics performance.
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    Buyer-supplier integration and logistics performance in healthcare facilities in Tanzania: the moderating effect of centralised decision control
    (Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, 2018) Salema, Gladness; Buvik, Arnt
    This research concerns logistics performance in public purchasing relationships. It examines the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. Particularly focuses on purchasing centralisation in healthcare facilities, and examine whether centralisation of decision control exercised by the health authorities influence the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. A survey data of 164 informants from public health facilities in Tanzania was used for analysis. It reveals that buyer-supplier integration improves supplier logistics performance significantly and stronger purchasing centralisation reduces the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. It provides a broad and interesting focus on significant antecedents to supplier logistics performance. In the future, the government should focus more on supporting the individual public health facilities in developing and adapting proper governance mechanisms for supporting buyer-supplier integration. Further research in other empirical and cultural settings is desirable to test the external validity of these findings.
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    Challenges of Electronic Information Resources in Academic and Research Libraries: Need for a Policy
    (2004-03) Elly, Tumsifu; Ally, Mariam; Chilimo, Wanyenda; Sife, Alfred
    This paper discusses the role of policy for proper and efficient library services in the electronic era. It points out some of the possible dangers of embarking in electronic resources without a proper focus at hand. Thus, it calls for today's librarians and policy makers to brainstorm and come up with working policies suitable to Africa's social, economic and ICT infrastructure framework. New approaches in acquisition, accessing, selection, preservation and choices on whether to operate digital, or combine traditional print and digital resources in the library have to be worked out and adopted. Therefore, policies, which articulate libraries' vision and mission, are important for proper electronic information resources assimilation in the libraries.