Nurture

Evaluating Factors that Impact Sme’s Npd Success in South African Retail Industry

Kailash Nath Sharma Devapriya, Ronnie Lotriet — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This study examines the determinants of new product development (NPD) performance and retailer engagement among South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It investigates how strategic orientation, NPD research, team collaboration, and retailer–supplier relationship quality shape innovation outcomes in a resource-constrained retail environment. A positivist quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 74 SME owner–managers using a structured online questionnaire. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted in SPSS (v28.0). Findings show that NPD research is the only statistically significant predictor of retailer engagement (β = 0.61, p < 0.05). Structured customer validation, market testing, and evidence-based learning therefore play a decisive role in improving SMEs’ credibility with retail buyers. Although strategic alignment and cross-functional collaboration show positive associations with NPD outcomes, neither exerts a significant effect on retailer accessibility. The results highlight a persistent “intent–execution gap” in SMEs: while strategic awareness and innovation culture are strong, weak institutionalisation of research and collaboration limits NPD effectiveness. Retailer–supplier relationships remain characterised by information asymmetry, limited feedback, and procedural opacity, reflecting structural power imbalances in South Africa’s concentrated grocery sector. Strengthening research-driven NPD routines, shared market intelligence, and transparent supplier-development mechanisms can improve SME access to dominant retail channels. The study contributes to the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT) by demonstrating how research intensity and learning routines enhance SMEs’ market legitimacy within asymmetric value chains.

Efficacy of Group Work as Teaching Strategy in Developing Skills among Higher Learning Institution Students in Tanzania

Bryson Daudi Kinyaduka — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The paper sought to establish the efficacy of group work teaching strategy in developing various skills/capabilities among higher learning institution students in Tanzania. The study adopted exploratory sequential design. The study employed Focus Group Discussion to collect qualitative data in phase one. It used questionnaire to gather quantitative data in phase two. The sample size was 381 of whom 24 were student participants obtained through maximum variation sampling technique and 357 were student respondents obtained through convenience sampling teachnique. Interview guide and questionnaire were used to collect data in phase one and phase two, respectively. Data analysis techniques used was content analysis and Yeh’s Index of Satisfaction. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Yeh’s Index of Satisfaction was used to analyse quantitative data. The study revealed group work had more capability of developing some skills, and less capability in developing others. Group work developed numerous skills/capabilities at different magnitude. As such, the efficacy in developing skills/capabilities was at 0.70 to 0.79 (High) and at 0.80 and above (very high) in higher learning institutions. Group work as a teaching strategy has the efficacy of developing numerous capabilities/skills from high to very high in higher learning institution. Therefore, higher learning institutions should continue to embrace the teaching strategy. It is indispensable to build capacity among instructors on how to apply the teaching strategy effectively.

Spillover Effects of Maternal Anemia on Neonatal Outcomes and Cord-Blood Ferritin: A Cross-Sectional Study at Ulin General Hospital, Banjarmasin

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Maternal anemia is a widespread condition whose downstream effects are a spillover impact on fetal development and iron reserves. Understanding its impact on neonatal outcomes and cord-blood ferritin in Indonesian settings is critical for improving perinatal care. To evaluate how maternal anemia affects neonatal anthropometry, outcomes, and cord-blood ferritin. We conducted a cross-sectional study (June–October 2023) at Ulin General Hospital. Sixty mother–newborn pairs were enrolled via convenience sampling. Mothers were stratified by third-trimester hemoglobin (<11 g/dL vs. ≥11 g/dL). Data normality was assessed with Shapiro–Wilk; continuous variables compared by independent t-test or Mann–Whitney U; categorical by χ² or Fisher’s exact; correlations by Spearman’s rank (p < 0.05). Among 60 mother–newborn pairs, demographic and clinical features were comparable except for maternal education: primary schooling was more frequent in anemic mothers (73.3% vs. 46.7%, χ²=4.44; p=0.035). Newborns of anemic mothers had significantly lower median birth weight (2655 g [IQR 2459–2958] vs. 3103 g [IQR 2500–3300]; p=0.028) and length (47 cm [IQR 45.8–48] vs. 48 cm [IQR 46.4–49]; p=0.027). Cord-blood ferritin was markedly reduced in the anemia group (187 ng/mL [IQR 150–220] vs. 250 ng/mL [IQR 200–300]; p<0.001). Rates of preterm birth, survival to discharge, and median hospital stay did not differ between groups. Maternal hemoglobin correlated positively with neonatal ferritin (rₛ=0.253; p=0.050). Maternal anemia exerts spillover effects on neonatal growth and iron stores at birth, manifesting as lower birth weight, length, and cord-blood ferritin.