Vital Lessons Research Articles

Adapting the World Café Method to an Online Format: Insights From Novice Qualitative Researchers

The original World Café (WC), by Brown and Isaac, is a widely used data collection method in qualitative research across various settings and is typically conducted in person. However, during the spring 2020 semester, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted us to adapt our planned WC research project from an in-person to an online format using Zoom. Two online cafés were hosted with branch campus students of a large Midwest university during October, one in the morning (n=11) and one in the evening (n=7). This methods paper offers a concise overview of the WC method as an innovative approach to qualitative data collection in a branch campus college setting. We outline the original research plan, detail the adjustments made for online cafes, and summarize the outcomes of these virtual sessions. As novice qualitative researchers working with branch campus college students, we draw vital lessons from our experience with the WC. These lessons emphasize the importance of selecting a method suitable for the target audience and researchers’ expertise level. Active participation in one or more WCs before conducting a study proves invaluable, and we highlight the facilitative role of a graphic recorder in ensuring optimal engagement and effective member-checking.

Exploring COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among young adults in Australia. A qualitative study

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among young adults in Australia is still poorly understood. Young adults aged 25–34 years have been identified as a population subgroup where COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant views are highly prevalent. ObjectiveExploring the attitudes, thoughts, feelings and social environments affecting the decision to have or not have the vaccine can provide vital transferrable lessons in future health campaigns. MethodsA qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using semi-structured phone interviews between June 2021 and July 2021. Interview questions were adopted from the World Health Organization’s guidance document ‘Data for Action: Achieving High Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines’. Participants aged 25–34 years (n = 26) were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data were analysed thematically. ResultsOverall, participants presented themselves as highly vaccine literate, understanding their social contract with society. Many participants also did not display traditional vaccine-hesitant views. Six themes specifically regarding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were identified, namely (1) decision-making complexities, (2) perceived risk of COVID-19 infection, (3) media’s misrepresentation of COVID-19, (4) vaccine-related issues, (5) inconsistent government messaging and program execution, and (6) social benefits assessment. In addition, motivators to COVID-19 vaccine uptake were classified into three categories: (1) tangible benefits, (2) protecting others, and (3) mandates and incentives. Findings suggest the motivators for COVID-19 vaccine uptake in young adults depend on individual benefits, highlighting the importance of recognising and addressing personal concerns. ConclusionThere is a need to re-examine and redefine the meaning of vaccine hesitancy in young Australian adults. We offer an understanding of prospective challenges with vaccine hesitancy and potential solutions to address them. These include carefully tailored approaches regarding ongoing vaccine safety concerns and the expected personal benefits following vaccination. Combining these factors can aid in developing new methods of public engagement in the next public health crisis.

Do Cases Generate Bad AI Law?

There’s an AI governance problem, but it’s not (just) the one you think. The problem is that our judicial system is already regulating the deployment of AI systems—yet we are not coding what is happening in the courts as privately driven AI regulation. That’s a mistake. AI lawsuits here and now are determining who gets to seek redress for AI injuries; when and where emerging claims are resolved; what is understood as a cognizable AI harm (and what is not), and why that is so. This Essay exposes how our judicial system is regulating AI today and critically assesses the governance stakes. When we do not adequately recognize how the generative AI cases being decided by today’s judges are already operating as a type of AI regulation, we fail to consider which emerging tendencies of adjudication about AI are likely to make good or bad AI law. For instance, litigation may do good agenda-setting and deliberative work as well as surface important information about the operation of private AI systems. But adjudication of AI issues can be bad too, given the risk of overgeneralization from particularized facts; the potential for too much homogeneity in the location of lawsuits and the kinds of litigants; and the existence of fundamental tensions between social concerns and current legal precedents. If we overlook these dynamics, we risk missing a vital lesson: AI governance requires better accounting for the interactive relationship between regulation of AI through the judicial system and more traditional public regulation of AI. Shifting our perspective creates space to consider new AI governance possibilities. For instance, litigation incentives (such as motivations for bringing a lawsuit or motivations to settle) or the types of remedies available may open up or close down further regulatory development. This shift in perspective also allows us to see how considerations that on their face have nothing to do with AI—such as access to justice measures and the role of judicial minimalism—in fact shape the path of AI regulation through the courts. Today’s AI lawsuits provide an early opportunity to expand AI governance toolkits and to understand AI adjudication and public regulation as complementary regulatory approaches. We should not throw away our shot.

Adapting German energy transition rules for Iraq through industry, flexibility, and demand management

The study delves into the potential application of Germany energy transition methodologies to Iraq, emphasizing the industrial sector role, the imperativeness of adaptability, and the crucial role of demand response management. Germany achievements in evolving towards a greener and more efficient energy framework offer vital lessons for nations, such as Iraq, aiming for similar objectives. However, the contrasting socio-economic and energy landscapes of both countries call for distinct approaches. The study delves into these variances, exploring how Germany energy transition strategies can be tailored to Iraq unique situation. The discussion underscores the integration of the industrial sector in the transition and the requisite for a malleable strategy. Additionally, the article sheds light on the significance of adept demand response management, a cornerstone of Germany energy shift. Included is a case study that illustrates the customization of German methodologies for Iraq, exploring possible advantages and challenges. The outcomes act as a guide for Iraqi journey towards sustainable energy, drawing inspiration from Germany successful trajectory. The insights and suggestions presented might also resonate with other countries eyeing or initiating their energy metamorphosis, advancing the collective vision of a sustainable tomorrow.

Viewpoint: The Baltimore bridge collapse: a vital lesson for structural engineers

The tragedy of the Francis Scott Key Bridge highlights the need for structural engineers to ensure that the risks inherent in our built infrastructure remain acceptable, argues Colin Caprani.

Life Cycles beyond the Human: Biomass and Biorhythms in Heraclitus

All parts of Heraclitus’ cosmos are simultaneously living and dying. Its constituent stuffs (“biomasses”) cycle endlessly through physical changes in sweeping patterns (“biorhythms”) that are reflected in the dynamic rhythms of Heraclitus’ own thought and language. These natural processes are best examined at a more-than-human level that exceeds individuation, stable identity, rational comprehension, and linguistic capture. B62 (“mortals immortals”), one of Heraclitus’ most perplexing fragments, models these processes in a spectacular fashion: it describes the imbrication not only of humans and gods but of cosmic masses more generally, and its language mimics the natural relations that it names, or rather intimates through its grammatical and syntactical indeterminacy. The remaining fragments amplify the uncertainties and the exhilarations of Heraclitus’ worldview along the same lines. His approach to nature raises urgent questions about how human beings fit into the cosmos, not least by challenging our intuitive conceptions of life and death, our material makeup, and our entanglements with our natural surroundings. In doing so, he provides vital lessons for contemporary ecological awareness, and proves to be an unexpected ally.

Opportunities and challenges for school food programs in Canada

As Canada works towards developing a national school food program, it is timely to examine the lessons learned from the programs of other countries. Analyzing these insights can help Canada avoid key pitfalls and replicate promising practices in program design and implementation. The Government of Canada has the advantage of learning from one of the longest standing national school food programs and our southern neighbour: the United States (U.S.). This paper distills vital lessons from the U.S. school food programs, with a focus on addressing four critical aspects: access, emphasis on health and education, funding, and program implementation. First, the U.S. experience demonstrates the significance of universal free school meals. The historical inadequacies of means-tested programs result in inefficiencies, stigma, and exclusion of students in need. Second, the paper argues for an emphasis on health and education benefits. Third, it underscores the necessity of adequate funding. Inadequate reimbursements in the U.S. have compromised meal quality and led to the food industry’s capitalization on school meals, with negative implications for children’s health. Lastly, harnessing the power of procurement and employment can stimulate local economies, create good jobs, and foster a healthier food environment. As Canada tailors its national school food program to its diverse regions and communities, it has an extraordinary opportunity to avoid the policy and program implementation errors revealed by the U.S. experience.

Opportunities and challenges for school food programs in Canada

As Canada works towards developing a national school food program, it is timely to examine the lessons learned from the programs of other countries. Analyzing these insights can help Canada avoid key pitfalls and replicate promising practices in program design and implementation. The Government of Canada has the advantage of learning from one of the longest standing national school food programs and our southern neighbour: the United States (U.S.). This paper distills vital lessons from the U.S. school food programs, with a focus on addressing four critical aspects: access, emphasis on health and education, funding, and program implementation. First, the U.S. experience demonstrates the significance of universal free school meals. The historical inadequacies of means-tested programs result in inefficiencies, stigma, and exclusion of students in need. Second, the paper argues for an emphasis on health and education benefits. Third, it underscores the necessity of adequate funding. Inadequate reimbursements in the U.S. have compromised meal quality and led to the food industry’s capitalization on school meals, with negative implications for children’s health. Lastly, harnessing the power of procurement and employment can stimulate local economies, create good jobs, and foster a healthier food environment. As Canada tailors its national school food program to its diverse regions and communities, it has an extraordinary opportunity to avoid the policy and program implementation errors revealed by the U.S. experience.

Looking For A Changing Tradition: Kazakh Traditional Doll In Cer-emony, Rite, Game And Art Practice

The study of the doll and its place in the lives of children allows us to more deeply realize its role in any traditional culture, as well as to comprehend the reasons for the modern "doll boom." The Kazakh traditional doll "quyrshaq," balancing between ritual and play practice, has always been the prerogative of the institution of female subculture. Starting from early childhood, transforming, it accompanied its mistress in direct and indirect form up to the very old age. The traditional Turkic doll, considered on the example of Kazakh "quyrshaq," demonstrates not only the chronology of women's life but also characterizes the purely female process of communication with higher powers - deities and spirits of the dead from the perspective of the aforementioned aspects. Consideration of "quyrshaq" as an integral part of women's subculture in the historical retrospective through the prism of sacred and secular will reveal its peculiarities, specify the historical and cultural interrelations between neighboring and related peoples, as well as trace the transformation of this tradition. In order to reveal the designated topic, the research utilized retrospective, comparative, structural-functional, and semiotic approaches. Additionally, a cross-disciplinary analysis was incorporated to enrich the understanding of the cultural nuances surrounding the traditional doll. Nowadays, the traditional doll has fallen out of use due to the extinction of ritual and ceremonial tradition, as well as the appearance of industrial samples of children's dolls of European type in the middle of the twentieth century and their complete dominance in the market in modern times. Information about the Kazakh doll and domestic idols as its cultural prototypes was collected by the authors during the study of archaeological and ethnographic museum exhibits, as well as during field research among the residents of Almaty, Karaganda, and other regions of Kazakhstan in 2017-2019. Thus, the present study has shown that the doll has always reflected certain ethnic and regional traditions or innovations in culture. Through playing with a doll, children reproduced various life situations in accordance with the socio-normative culture of the Kazakh ethnic norms and rules of behavior of the ethnic group. Children through playing with dolls received vital lessons of socio-psychological harmony of personality with the outside world, which in a broad sense can be interpreted as the basis of ritual and ceremonial practice in traditional society. In the present period, designer or art dolls are one of the markers of national revival, characteristic of the whole artistic life of modern Kazakhstan. This resurgence is indicative of a broader cultural renaissance, with these dolls serving as symbolic artifacts embodying the rich heritage and artistic identity of the nation.

The enduring political viability of governance models in tourist destinations and their implications for people and planet

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to examine the ways in which tourism can be regarded as a catalyst for positive change, benefiting both people and the planet. The authors consider the integral role of community engagement as a tangible component within the governance frameworks of destination management organizations (DMOs).Design/methodology/approachOriginating from the authors' professional experience and academic expertise in managing and marketing tourist destinations, both at the local and regional levels, the article explores the pressing requirement for reevaluating policies and strategies. It aims to emphatically underscore and reiterate the role of tourism as a pivotal driver for enhancing peoples' quality of life and ensuring the sustainability of tourist destinations. This effort involves not only maintaining equilibrium among the four widely recognized pillars of sustainability but also pondering the significance of an equally crucial aspect of destination management – the political sustainability of the governance framework of tourist destinations.FindingsCurrent realities encourage the authors to contemplate and act, guided by the unfolding of tourism's swift regenerative influence. It is anticipated that people have gleaned vital lessons from the collective pause people underwent during the pandemic, coupled with the stark realization of being unable to partake in the favourable contributions of tourism in everyday life. This article highlights the urgency of implementing DMO models that are capable of conceptualizing and operationalizing a human-centred tourism development policy and the resulting sustainability strategies, enhancing representation and guidance for the satisfaction of stakeholders.Originality/valueIt is neither a widespread practice, nor are there many prior studies that tackle the potential of forecasting the comprehensiveness of governance and management models for tourist destinations that encompass stakeholders who represent the direct interests of local communities within the tourism system. Supported by a literature review, analysis of secondary data and the first-hand experience of the authors, it becomes apparent that the operational landscape of most organizations functioning as tourist destination managers is predominantly at the regional and local tiers. These very organizations are the ones that have been progressively evolving, displaying a readiness to introduce innovation in this realm. Implementing these models would represent an approach to governance more inclined towards a bottom-up style, thereby posing a challenge to the more rigid and commonly employed strategies that emanate from a centrally structured national framework.

Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK: a mixed-methods exploration

BackgroundThe World Health Organisation declared the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Since then, the world has been firmly in its grip. At the time of writing, there were more than 767,972,961 million confirmed cases and over 6,950,655 million deaths. While the main policy focus has been on controlling the virus and ensuring vaccine roll-out and uptake, the population mental health impacts of the pandemic are expected to be long-term, with certain population groups affected more than others.MethodsThe overall objectives of our ‘Coronavirus: Mental Health and the Pandemic’ study were to explore UK adults’ experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic and to gain insights into the mental health impacts, population-level changes over time, current and future mental health needs, and how these can best be addressed. The wider mixed-methods study consisted of repeated cross-sectional surveys and embedded qualitative sub-studies including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the wider UK adult population. For this particular inequalities and mental health sub-study, we used mixed methods data from our cross-sectional surveys and we carried out three Focus Group Discussions with a maximum variation sample from across the UK adult population. The discussions covered the broader topic of 'Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK’ and took place online between April and August 2020. Focus Groups transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in NVIVO. Cross-sectional survey data were analysed using STATA for descriptive statistics.ResultsThree broad main themes emerged, each supporting a number of sub-themes: (1) Impacts of the pandemic; (2) Moving forward: needs and recommendations; (3) Coping mechanisms and resilience. Findings showed that participants described their experiences of the pandemic in relation to its impact on themselves and on different groups of people. Their experiences illustrated how the pandemic and subsequent measures had exacerbated existing inequalities and created new ones, and triggered various emotional responses. Participants also described their coping strategies and what worked and did not work for them, as well as support needs and recommendations for moving forward through, and out of, the pandemic; all of which are valuable learnings to be considered in policy making for improving mental health and for ensuring future preparedness.ConclusionsThe pandemic is taking a long-term toll on the nations’ mental health which will continue to have impacts for years to come. It is therefore crucial to learn the vital lessons learned from this pandemic. Specific as well as whole-government policies need to respond to this, address inequalities and the different needs across the life-course and across society, and take a holistic approach to mental health improvement across the UK.

Can atmospheric reanalysis datasets reproduce flood inundation at regional scales? A systematic analysis with ERA5 over Mahanadi River Basin, India.

The prime challenges limiting efficient flood management, especially over large regions, are concurrently related to limited hydro-meteorological observations and exorbitant economics with computational modeling. Reanalysis datasets are a valuable alternative, as they furnish relevant variables at high spatiotemporal resolutions. In recent times, ERA5 has gained significant recognition for its applications in hydrological modeling; however, its efficacy at the inundation scale needs to be understood. The advent of "global flood models" has ensured flood inundation and hazard modeling over large regions, otherwise obscure with regional models. For the first time, the present study explores the fidelity of ERA5 reanalysis at the inundation scale over the Mahanadi River basin, a severely flood-prone region in India. The biases in the discharges within ERA5 are ascertained by comparing them with station-level data at the nascent and extreme levels (i.e., 95th and 99th percentiles). Later, ERA5 is fed to LISFLOOD-FP, an acclaimed global flood model, to reenact the 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2014 flood events. Hit rates exceeding 0.8 compared to MODIS satellite imageries affirm the suitability of ERA5 in accurately capturing flood inundation. Distributed design discharges for 50yr and 100yr are derived using a set of extreme value distributions and fed to LISFLOOD-FP to derive design flood inundation and hazards in terms of both "depth" and "product of depth and velocity" of flood waters. Results derived from the study provide vital lessons for efficient land-use planning and adaptation strategies linked to flood protection and resilience.

Mapping of Literature on Sport and Religion Research: Scientometric Review

Throughout history, many sports evolved from rituals performed at religious celebrations. In this light, it is clear that religion and sport are symbolic systems with shared values and goals. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the descriptive parameters of publications by visualizing citation patterns, extracting author keywords, and determining the impact and performance of research on religion and sports. An examination of 1,408 publications indexed in the Scopus and WoS databases was carried out from 1899 to 2022. The results show that after 2015, there was a considerable increase in sports and religion publications, with Scopus publications continuing to increase compared to WoS. The United States accounts for about 457 of the total global publications. Furthermore, with 19 documents, the title of the scientific source "Games and Economic Behavior" is the most active. In 170 documents, the keyword "physical activity" appears most frequently in this analysis. The trending topic with the largest absolute growth is "physical activity," while the trending topic with the largest relative growth is "osteoarthritis." Overall, the research in this field is evolving, with the development of new methodologies and channels for communicating vital lessons about values, culturally appropriate behaviour, and health scope. This study contributes to developing new concepts in the multidisciplinary study of the relationship between sport and religion. The significance of religious values in physical activity and in injuries suffered by athletes, as well as in the psychological development of athletes, is one area that can be studied in more depth.

Design Thinking as a Case-based Learning for College General Education Courses

Design thinking is vital for attaining sustainable development goals (SDG) or SDG in education. This article investigates the status of design thinking education in realizing SDG in education. The intentional requirement for using innovative design to enhance national competitiveness is discussed regarding the "Made in China 2025" policy document. It then investigates the current status of design thinking curriculum development in China, counting the adoption of Western models and the formation of project cooperation mechanisms, the combination of design thinking into general education courses, and the rise of online courses over the development of the Internet. Five international best practices of design thinking courses are offered, i.e., Stanford University, the University of Miami, the Royal College of Art, Vanderbilt University, and Tama Art University. These practices tell the different features of design thinking courses and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, actual problem-solving, And the cultivation of a humanistic spirit and social responsibility. The article then highlights vital lessons and conclusions from design thinking education in general higher education courses. These include the importance of human-centered, social, and computational thinking, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing collaborative empathy, and the practical problem-solving skills and creativity that design thinking can undertake. To sum up, the design thinking course is an effective way to improve the design thinking level of college students and change the existing teaching methods of various majors, and it has significant benefits for both students and enterprises. Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive picture of the importance of design thinking education in achieving educational sustainability, highlighting its potential for developing innovative and practical problem-solving skills in college students and its relevance to various disciplines and industries.

Transforming Moral Suffering by Cultivating Moral Resilience and Ethical Practice.

Ethical challenges are inherent in nursing practice. They affect patients, families, teams, organizations, and nurses themselves. These challenges arise when there are competing core values or commitments and diverse views on how to balance or reconcile them. When ethical conflict, confusion, or uncertainty cannot be resolved, moral suffering ensues. The consequences of moral suffering in its many forms undermine safe, high-quality patient care, erode teamwork, and undermine well-being and integrity. My experience as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit and later as a clinical nurse specialist in confronting these moral and ethical challenges has been the foundation of my program of research. Together we will explore the evolution of our understanding of moral suffering-its expressions, meanings, and consequences and attempts to measure it. Moral distress, the most described form of moral suffering, took hold within nursing and slowly within other disciplines. After 3 decades of research documenting the existence of moral distress, there were few solutions. It was at this juncture that my work pivoted toward exploring the concept of moral resilience as a means for transforming but not eliminating moral suffering. The evolution of the concept, its components, a scale to measure it, and research findings will be explored. Throughout this journey, the interplay of moral resilience and a culture of ethical practice were highlighted and examined. Moral resilience is continuing to evolve in its application and relevance. Many vital lessons have been learned that can inform future research and guide interventions to harness the inherent capabilities of clinicians to restore or preserve their integrity and to engage in large-scale system transformation.

Transforming Moral Suffering by Cultivating Moral Resilience and Ethical Practice

Ethical challenges are inherent in nursing practice. They affect patients, families, teams, organizations, and nurses themselves. These challenges arise when there are competing core values or commitments and diverse views on how to balance or reconcile them. When ethical conflict, confusion, or uncertainty cannot be resolved, moral suffering ensues. The consequences of moral suffering in its many forms undermine safe, high-quality patient care, erode teamwork, and undermine well-being and integrity. My experience as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit and later as a clinical nurse specialist in confronting these moral/ethical challenges has been the foundation of my program of research. Together we will explore the evolution of our understanding of moral suffering—its expressions, meanings, and consequences and attempts to measure it. Moral distress, the most described form of moral suffering, took hold within nursing and slowly within other disciplines. After 3 decades of research documenting the existence of moral distress, there were few solutions. It was at this juncture that my work pivoted toward exploring the concept of moral resilience as a means for transforming but not eliminating moral suffering. The evolution of the concept, its components, a scale to measure it, and research findings will be explored. Throughout this journey, the interplay of moral resilience and a culture of ethical practice were highlighted and examined. Moral resilience is continuing to evolve in its application and relevance. Many vital lessons have been learned that can inform future research and guide interventions to harness the inherent capabilities of clinicians to restore or preserve their integrity and to engage in large-scale system transformation.

Jack of all trades: Challenges and opportunities for mentoring in interdisciplinary research

Biomedical acoustics spans a particularly broad range of disciplines from neuroscience to quantum physics and everything in between. While this diversity is exciting and constantly stimulating, it can pose considerable challenges for students and mentors in finding the appropriate balance between breadth and depth. The aim of this talk is to share the author’s experience of designing graduate and undergraduate courses in biomedical acoustics and particularly of supervision and team building for graduate and post-doctoral researchers from different disciplines. Key topics will include the importance of co-supervision, promoting understanding and implementation of the scientific method; encouraging curiosity driven experiments; vital lessons from science communication; and finally the surprising insights provided by training to teach dance.

THE ROEBLING RECORDS: LABOR MARKETS AND JOB VOLATILITY BETWEEN 1920-50

In recent years, the Trent House Museum uncovered the Roebling Records — a detailed account of worker life in Trenton’s largest industrial factory. The thousands of records offer a window into what employment in mid-20th-century New Jersey looked like. This Paper analyzes the Roebling Records, scoping in on worker layoffs, quits, and terminations. It contributes to the underexplored scholarly discussion of mid-20th-century labor markets by locating variables that influence the nature and severity of job volatility. In picking apart the records, this Paper describes the destabilizing effects of job insecurity on the average American worker. Labor conditions in the 1920-50s are of interest to any scholars studying modern labor markets. They offer vital lessons about institutional arrangements, cyclical economic shifts, and labor market behavior. Applying the historical analysis, this Essay ultimately answers a loaded question: Is modern-day America in for yet another round of job volatility?

THE IMPACTS OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON CORRUPTION: A GLOBAL ANALYSIS

This paper investigates the influences of global economic sanctions on corruption by using the structural gravity model for 148 sanctioned countries (108 developing countries and 40 developed countries) during the 1995–2018 period. We consider various forms of sanction, including arms, military, trade, finance, travel, and others. The results reveal that the imposition of sanctions, especially arm, financial, travel, and other sanctions have a significantly negative effect on the prevalence of corruption of target countries. The effects are also largely heterogeneous across sanctioned countries in terms of their economic development. Furthermore, the properties of the institutional quality of the sanctioned state critically affect the relationship between global sanctions and national corruption. Particularly, the well-developed institutional quality helps target countries address the consequences of global sanctions on national corruption. The empirical findings of this study are expected to provide vital insightful lessons for economists and policymakers in the target countries in combating the corruption pervasiveness.

A case study of the Adoption of Electronic Payment Methods by Spaza Shop owners in Mkhuhlu Township in South Africa

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the usage of mobile technologies by spaza shop (tuck shop) owners in South Africa. It also evaluates opportunities created using mobile communication.
 Methodology: Interviews were conducted with 110 small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) operating spaza business shops in Mkhuhlu and Calcutt in the Bushbuckridge Municipality in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Police officers, South Africans, Somalians, and Indians were interviewed. Data was collected through self-completion questionnaires. Interviews were conducted in English as most participants needed help understanding African languages.
 Main Findings: Technological skills are needed for the township business owners. Safety and security must support SMMEs in townships by protecting their owners and resources against criminals. Spaza shop owners must invest in training to advance their business skills and advance in technology to do business.
 Implications: Aligned to the Native-owned spaza shops in the selected townships, informal traders, related businesses, other townships, academics, and policymakers may draw vital lessons from this study
 Novelty: First time this kind of study is being conducted at Bushbuckridge Municipality with spaza shop owners.