Business Management

One of the Quality Policy statements for Botho University (BU) is to produce internationally and global employable graduates. This helps BU to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development in Botswana through the provision of high quality education. The study was motivated by the desire to establish perceptions of Botswana industry as regards BU Student Industrial Attachment (SIA) Programme introduced in 2011. The population for the study constituted 601 organizations which had at one time or another have taken BU students on attachment, and a convenience sample of 200 was taken in Gaborone, and 150 questionnaires were fully completed and returned, representing a 75 % response rate. The major finding of the study was that industry had a positive perception and a supportive attitude towards the attachment programme. However, further research regarding duration of the attachment, timing and intergrated curriculum development is needed in order to reinforce the attachment programme.

The purpose of this research was to examine how employer branding is used as a tool for attracting and retaining talent in private higher education institutions. Literature shows that employer brand is very important if well implemented and communicated in highlighting an institution as an attractive employment destination, that is, as an employment destination of choice. A structured questionnaire, that employed a five-point Likert scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree was used as a data collection instrument. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse and interpret data. Results of the study showed that private higher education institutions deploy a number of employer branding strategies to attract and retain talent. Furthermore, results also showed that biographical factors such as age and education are critical issues authorities in PHEIs should look at when designing, implementing and communicating their brands as these have an effect on how talent perceive the PHEIs as attractive workplaces as well as on how long talent will remain as an employee at the institutions.

One of the Quality Policy statements for Botho University (BU) is to produce internationally and global employable graduates. This helps BU to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development in Botswana through the provision of high quality education. The study was motivated by the desire to establish perceptions of Botswana industry as regards BU Student Industrial Attachment (SIA) Programme introduced in 2011. The population for the study constituted 601 organizations which had at one time or another have taken BU students on attachment, and a convenience sample of 200 was taken in Gaborone, and 150 questionnaires were fully completed and returned, representing a 75 % response rate. The major finding of the study was that industry had a positive perception and a supportive attitude towards the attachment programme. However, further research regarding duration of the attachment, timing and intergrated curriculum development is needed in order to reinforce the attachment pr...

IP and its value is often not adequately appreciated. In the increasingly knowledge-driven economy, IP is a key consideration in day-to-day business decisions. New products, brands and creative designs appear almost daily on the market and are the result of continuous human innovation and creativity. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often the driving force behind such innovations.. Their innovative and creative capacity, however, is not always fully exploited as many SMEs are not aware of the intellectual property system or the protection it can provide for their inventions, brands, and designs. This paper attempts to clarify the importance of IP for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs), product development and demonstrates how IP can become an economic tool. The paper also delves into the challenges faced by SMEs in implementing IP system.

This study sought to establish the extent to which graduates of higher education (HE) institutions in Botswana, focusing on a selected higher education institution, were satisfied with their employment, that is, their job designations, job specialisation, and whether they intended to remain in their existing jobs for long. These variables were assessed from a career concept perspective. Relevant literary sources, focusing on aspects of the career concept and career motives, leading to career success hence career satisfaction, were consulted to form the theoretical foundation for the study. The study adopted the quantitative methodology and case study design where the selected HE institution was chosen as a case study for in-depth investigation. The questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. Data gathered from the questionnaire was analysed using statistical software known as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results of the study revealed that the gra...

As a means of seeking more effective ways to curb the unemployment levels in Sub-Saharan countries, governments are beginning to include the development of the manufacturing sector in their country's strategies, and Lesotho is not an exception. This paper aims to determine the role of various institutional and individual factors which when present and collaborating in an entrepreneurial ecosystem can contribute to the successful growth of MSMEs operating in the manufacturing sector. This paper is also aimed at developing a conceptual framework suitable for the growth of these MSMEs in Lesotho by linking concepts of industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study utilised a qualitative exploratory research approach and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. In total, 12 candidates from government, financial, and educational institutions as well as the media were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The main findings of the study demonstrate that a suitable ecosystem for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in a country such as Lesotho should consist of policies and regulations that support and encourage financial institutions to assist MSMEs. Government regulated media institutions disseminate regular information relating to existing policies, regulations, and opportunities and educational institutions provide adequate skills and knowledge to enhance an individual's entrepreneurial alertness, creativity, and innovativeness. An inclusive ecosystem for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in Lesotho should also involve the collaboration of MSMEs with larger firms and the establishment of independent regulated quality assurance institutions to assure the quality of products and increase customer confidence.