Dr Shelley Beck

How do the affordances of microblogging platforms, such as visibility to imagined audiences, shape the nature of ‘everyday talk’? Drawing on a qualitative study of tweets posted during the COVID-19 pandemic and containing the acronym WFH (working-from-home), we draw on Habermasian theorisation of deliberative democratic systems to show how Twitter (X) can act as a third space in which everyday talk about socio-political issues emerges alongside relational talk seeking ambient affiliation. Our analysis shows that tweets expressing already-established political positions that are amenable to reductive symbolism - using memes, images and shorthand stories – gain ‘likes’ and are amplified on Twitter. However, we argue that the desire for ambient affiliation combined with the imperative of reductive symbolism has a constraining effect on public debate, by encouraging the reproduction of established political tropes at the expense of ideas that are novel, controversial or require more complex exposition.

Objective - SMEs often fail to market their business and their green marketing initiatives effectively. This paper assesses how the promotion of green social media marketing could provide a possible solution to SMEs failed marketing efforts within the metropoles of Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Methodology/Technique - An empirical study was conducted following a descriptive quantitative research approach in which 150 self-administered structured questionnaires were distributed to respondents.

Findings - It was found that most SMEs do not make use of green social media marketing but are aware of the benefits it could offer.

Novelty - The study provides guidelines to the owners of SMEs on how to successfully implement green social media marketing.

Type of Paper - Empirical.

Keywords: Green marketing; social media marketing; green initiatives; social media; SME's

Objective – This paper sets out to assess perceptions of food retailers regarding climate change, greenhouse gas emission and sustainability in the Nelson Mandela Bay region of South Africa. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the food retailers’ greenhouse gas emissions strategies. Climate change catastrophic potential and the harmful effect that it has had on the community and businesses has led to it being given attention from social media and in literature. Methodology/Technique – This paper covered a literature review that provided the theoretical framework. The empirical study that was carried out included self-administered questionnaires which were distributed to 120 food retailers who were selected from the population using convenience sampling. Findings - The results revealed that most of the respondents were neutral towards the impact of operational factors regarding GHG emission in the food retail sector. Novelty - There is limited research that has been conducted among food retailers from the designated population. The study provided guidelines that will be of assistance to food retailers when dealing with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions impact in the food retail sector.

The unwillingness of next generation family members (NGFMs) to join the family business jeopardises its longterm survival. Although many factors influence a person’s choice of career, including the choice of joining the family business, parents are by far the most influential. The primary objective of this study was to identify the influence that parents have on a NGFM’s intention to join the family business. A structured questionnaire was distributed to South African respondents who have parents who own a family business. Respondents were identified by means of judgemental sampling. A total of 453 useable questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis. The validity of the scales measuring the dependent and independent variables was assessed by means of factor analysis and the scales’ reliability by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the hypothesised relationships. The results indicate that three parental influences (parental expectations, perceived parental outcomes and parental identification) significantly influence a NGFM’s intention to join the family business. Knowing which aspects under their control influence their children’s choice of whether or not to join the family business, enables parents to better manage these aspects.

Orientation: To understand entrepreneurial behaviour, it is important to understand the image or perceptions associated with entrepreneurship.

Research purpose: To identify the image or perceptions that students have of an entrepreneur.

Motivation for study: By establishing the image or perceptions that students have of an entrepreneur, insights could be provided into the factors influencing them to become entrepreneurs or not.

Research approach, design and method: A qualitative projective technique, namely continuous word association, was adopted. Convenience sampling was used and 163 students participated. The words generated were coded into categories by searching for themes and words of a similar nature. The total words generated, the frequencies of recurring words, the number of different types of words, first words recalled and the average number of words recalled were established.

Main findings: The students participating in the study have a good understanding of the general nature of an entrepreneur and entrepreneurship; an entrepreneur is perceived as someone who is a creative and innovative risk-taker, who owns a business involved in the selling of goods and services.

Practical/managerial implications: Future entrepreneurs need to be aware that, in addition to several innate attributes, successful entrepreneurs have learned skills and competencies. It is also important that educators of entrepreneurship create a realistic image of what it is like to be an entrepreneur, and that both positive and negative aspects are highlighted.

Contribution/value-add: By identifying the image or perceptions of an entrepreneur held by students, the marketing of entrepreneurship as a desirable career choice can be enhanced.