The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been the subject of discussion, and in most cases, it has been seen as a danger to jobs and conventional methods of doing things. Concerns over the preparation of the South African educational systems for 4IR have been raised as a result. Many industries still lack advanced understanding of 4IR, but the concept is already gaining ground in a variety of economic areas. As a result, academics, business professionals, and legislators are paying closer attention to 4IR. The researchers were inspired to look at how 4IR techniques were applied in South African higher education institutions to advance the growth and development of teaching and learning by this obvious knowledge gap. To investigate how 4IR technologies improve the growth and development of teaching and learning in South African higher education institutions, this study used a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology. A search procedure, research key words, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality assessments of chosen literature were used in conjunction with the SLR approach. This study found that some South African higher education institutions have successfully adopted 4IR technologies for virtual and contact instruction. The research further saw that academics and support staff utilised various 4IR tools. This is done through a virtual or hybrid classroom, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things, with different devices to send students messages, schedule Zoom classes, and provide feedback and educational resources. However, the study made some recommendations that academics can use to make sure that 4IR is effectively integrated to support the expansion and improvement of teaching and learning in higher education institutions. Future research directions were suggested, and the study came to the conclusion that South Africa could change the direction of the management of the education sector by implementing various 4IR tools in higher education institutions.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been the subject of discussion, and in most cases, it has been seen as a danger to jobs and conventional methods of doing things. Concerns over the preparation of the South African educational systems for 4IR have been raised as a result. Many industries still lack advanced understanding of 4IR, but the concept is already gaining ground in a variety of economic areas. As a result, academics, business professionals, and legislators are paying closer attention to 4IR. The researchers were inspired to look at how 4IR techniques were applied in South African higher education institutions to advance the growth and development of teaching and learning by this obvious knowledge gap. To investigate how 4IR technologies improve the growth and development of teaching and learning in South African higher education institutions, this study used a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology. A search procedure, research key words, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality assessments of chosen literature were used in conjunction with the SLR approach. This study found that some South African higher education institutions have successfully adopted 4IR technologies for virtual and contact instruction. The research further saw that academics and support staff utilised various 4IR tools. This is done through a virtual or hybrid classroom, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things, with different devices to send students messages, schedule Zoom classes, and provide feedback and educational resources. However, the study made some recommendations that academics can use to make sure that 4IR is effectively integrated to support the expansion and improvement of teaching and learning in higher education institutions. Future research directions were suggested, and the study came to the conclusion that South Africa could change the direction of the management of the education sector by implementing various 4IR tools in higher education institutions.

This study explored the roles of School Management Teams (SMTs) in fostering entrepreneurship education among learners. Entrepreneurship is recognised as a vital driver of economic growth, innovation, and job creation, making it increasingly necessary to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set in learners. SMTs, comprising school administrators, teachers, parents and community representatives, are pivotal in shaping and developing the entrepreneurial potential of students. However, little research has focused specifically on the roles of SMTs in this domain. The study applied a Systematic Literature Review, where 2518 papers were reviewed from academic databases and other research sources, including SAGE, Wiley, Elsevier, and Inderscience, to find pertinent studies published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and reports. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Current roles of SMTs in fostering entrepreneurship among learners, including curriculum development, resource allocation, teacher professional development, community engagement, learner support and guidance, evaluation and assessment, and policy development; and (2) Advising roles of SMTs to foster entrepreneurship in learners, encompassing individual student guidance, group mentoring, career counselling, connecting students with resources, monitoring progress, and celebrating success. Recommendations include strengthening collaboration and networking, providing continuous professional development for SMT members, integrating entrepreneurship education into the curriculum, establishing school support structures, implementing effective evaluation and assessment mechanisms, and engaging in policy advocacy. By implementing these recommendations, SMTs could enhance their roles in fostering entrepreneurship among learners, creating a supportive and conducive ecosystem that nurtures and develops entrepreneurial attitudes and competencies. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.9.26

Orientation: Financial record-keeping is a pivotal management tool to analyse profitability, solvency and liquidity, and contribute towards financial efficiency and organisational performance.Research purpose: The purpose of the research is to explore financial record-keeping practices by small- and medium-sized entities in the informal sector with specific reference to selected demographic variables.Motivation for study: The contribution of the informal sector to economic growth has recently gained momentum. Financial record-keeping has been identified as keystone to the success of small- and medium-sized entities.Research approach, design and method: Quantitative data obtained from the national Survey of Employers and the Self-Employed (2017) acquired from Statistics South Africa were utilised, yielding a final sample of 1658 respondents.Main findings: By means of binary logistic regression, the research established that various demographic variables influence financial record-keeping practices in the informal sector in a statistically significant way. Moreover, it was found that the majority of small- and medium-sized entities do not practise financial record-keeping.Practical/managerial implications: Interventions should underscore addressing the perceived absence of financial record-keeping practices in the informal sector. Whilst the National Development Plan (NDP) extrapolate the informal sector contributing to job creation by 2030, the effect of these demographic variables on financial record-keeping practices should be taken into cognisance.Contribution/value-add: The evidence generated by the research presented could be utilised when debating developing or expanding the informal sector. The theoretical contribution relates to modernisation, structure and dependency of the informal sector specifically contributing to the development of a theoretical framework underscoring the influence of demographic variables.

This study critically explored the financial measures and policies that can be implemented to protect and mitigate the risks of mismanagement of the financial resources of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and municipalities. This study adopted a qualitative research approach by reviewing readily available literature such as books, journals, articles, and other published materials. A stakeholder theoretical framework was used to understand the organisational ethics, morality, and values of SOEs and municipalities and their interactions and relationships with public and private firms and South African citizens. The significant findings of the study revealed that factors such as corruption, lack of financial transparency, and inadequate governance structures contribute to the mismanagement of funds in SOEs and municipalities. The findings further highlighted the urgent need to address the mismanagement of funds in SOEs and municipalities. The study calls for urgent action to strengthen financial accountability and oversight mechanisms and implement effective measures to combat corruption. By addressing these issues, SOEs and municipalities facing these challenges can promote financial integrity, restore public trust, and ensure the efficient use of public resources. The study recommended that SOEs should be protected from economic mismanagement, embezzlement, state capture, and corruption, requiring the implementation of effective financial measures.

Purpose: Small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) are integral to global economies, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and economic growth. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to most SMMEs around the world, reshaping their operational landscape and management strategies. This conceptual study seeks to review the available information in detail on contemporary management issues affecting SMMEs in the post-COVID-19 era. The study further assesses the management processes adopted by SMME managers to address these issues and provide a clear and easily understandable conceptual framework for SMMEs to survive post-COVID-19 challenges. Design/Method/Approach: The study rigorously analysed 1,105 peer-reviewed articles from reputable databases and adopted an interpretive qualitative approach and the systematic literature review technique. In this regard, a thematic analysis identified the recurring themes, thereby forming the basis for the conceptual framework. Findings: The identified themes include financial disruptions, shifts in consumer behaviour, resilience, and survival, rapid digital transformation, and remote work dynamics. A conceptual framework was developed, emphasising emotional intelligence, customer-centric adaptations, innovation risk management, financial resilience, technological innovation, adaptive leadership, sustainable business models, and remote workforce management. Theoretical Implications: Contribute to expanding conceptual knowledge base regarding SMMEs post-COVID-19 strategies in dealing with contemporary management issues. This includes the integration of organizational learning theory, which shows how SMMEs can learn from their experiences and adapt to the shifting business dynamics in the contemporary era. Practical Implications: The policy implication for these findings is that governments should develop targeted interventions, fostering a resilient environment for SMMEs. The findings of this study can enable SMMEs to Collaborate among stakeholders so as to propose essentials for creating sustainable solutions, ensuring that SMMEs continue their vital contributions to economic growth and innovation. Originality/Value: Theoretical perspectives on SMMEs post-COVID-19 strategies in dealing with contemporary management issues. The COVID-19 crisis has placed reliance on SMMEs to generate strategies for urgent management challenges, financial resilience, and an improvement in revenue streams. Research Limitations/Future Research: This research was limited to conceptual review and thus created the need to develop a conceptual framework that researchers can utilize to obtain empirical data on SMMEs post-COVID-19 strategies in dealing with contemporary management issues across the globe. Future research could also delve deeper into developing a more robust framework that shows the micro and medium-sized enterprise innovations, industry associations, and capacity-building initiatives that empower SMMEs to navigate the dynamic business landscape in the post-COVID-19 era. Paper Type: Conceptual JEL Classification: G32, L25, L26, M21