Research in Social Sciences and Technology

Enhancing the Character and Readability of Mission Statements in IT Startups: Implications for Stakeholder Communication and Sustainable Business Growth

2025-10-29T05:52:53+03:00

The mission statement connects vision and operations. It supports communication between organizations and stakeholders. Readability of the mission statement is important for business communication. This research examines the characteristics of mission statements. The study analyzes the readability of mission statements from several technology startup companies. The research uses Gunning’s Fog Index with data from 18 Thai technology companies listed on the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI). Counting methods are applied in the data collection and analysis process. The statistics used include frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Gunning’s Fog Index (GFI). The findings show that most mission statements contain fewer than 250 words and consist of 3 to 4 sentences. The readability level ranges from acceptable to ideal. Most readers rate the mission statements as optimal at 38.89 percent and acceptable at 33.33 percent. These two groups of businesses succeed in interacting with stakeholders to create mutual business value. Only 11.11 percent of the businesses receive ratings in the difficult category and should revise the goal statement. To support long-term growth, technology startups should prepare mission statements that show readiness in terms of customer perspectives, internal operations, financial performance, and learning and development. These findings may be useful for both businesses and stakeholders. The study is relevant to the technology industry and other sectors. The contribution to sustainable development goals remains important for economic growth and cooperation.

Extending the Task-Technology Fit Theory with a Skill Fit Construct: A Case Study of a Transaction Control Log and Accounting System

2025-10-29T05:52:53+03:00

Numerous studies have employed the Task-technology fit (TTF) theory to examine the impact of information systems used for training. While some of these studies reported positive outcomes, others presented mixed results on the impact of the systems improving users' performance in problem solving and learning. One possible explanation for these inconsistencies is likely caused by additional factors beyond the task and technology characteristics emphasized in TTF. This research is a preliminary study to enhance understanding of TTF and its impact on system usage and work performance. The study argues that task-technology alignment should also consider users' skills and the fit between the task and technology. Therefore, this research explores the effects of task characteristics, technology characteristics, and users' skills on system usage and work performance. Data from 210 participants of the Revenue Department of Thailand was analyzed using a two-way factorial multivariate analysis (Factorial MANOVA) to assess the impact of Task-technology-skill fit (TTSF) on system usage and work performance. Additionally, a simple regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of system usage on work performance. The findings indicated that the fit among tasks, technology, and skills significantly impacts system usage and work performance. However, the system usage does not directly affect work performance. This study proposed a factorial design to depict the task-technology-skill fit, the first to introduce this integrated framework.

Enhancing Academic Performance in Agricultural Sciences: The Impact of Inquiry-Based Learning on Learners

2025-10-29T05:52:54+03:00

The Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement document indicates that Animal Studies comprise a substantial part of the Grade 12 syllabus, more so than topics like soil science, agro-ecology, agricultural economics, and crop science. This highlights the importance of exploring diverse teaching approaches in the beginning of Grade 10, as a strong foundation in earlier grades could improve understanding of Animal Studies in Grade 12. This study explored the effectiveness of inquiry-based learning (IBL) in teaching Grade 10 learners about poultry breeds. A mixed-method approach was used to compare IBL with traditional teaching methods. Forty-six Agricultural Sciences learners were randomly assigned to a quasi-experiment, with 23 learners in the experimental group taught through IBL and 23 in the control group taught using the traditional lecture method (TLM). Both groups underwent pre- and post-performance tests. The quantitative data were analysed using an independent t-test, while qualitative data were thematically analysed through document analysis of the learners' assessment scripts. Results from the t-test indicated that the experimental group achieved significantly higher mean scores than the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the document analysis revealed that IBL fosters higher-order thinking, active participation, and critical thinking skills. Consequently, the inquiry-based learning approach proves to be an effective tool for enhancing learners’ academic performance. These findings suggest that educators and policymakers should consider integrating inquiry-based learning strategies into the teaching of Agricultural Sciences curriculum to improve achievement of academic outcomes. Emphasis on active engagement and critical thinking can lead to more meaningful learning experiences for learners.

Maintaining Learner Discipline in Secondary Schools: How School Management Teams Employ Collaborative Strategies to Sustain Learner Discipline

2025-10-29T05:52:54+03:00

Indiscipline remains a bone of contention in schools across the world. The preponderance of literature associated with indiscipline highlights its severity and the frequency of its manifestation rendering it a global problem. The frequency of indiscipline in the African continent has also made the spotlight in educational research undertaken by various scholars. The literature presents a general conception of the lack of discipline in South African schools. Since the post-dispensation of the education system in South Africa, school management teams have been tasked with managing discipline in schools. Research suggests that school management teams have established, and are currently implementing, strategies to manage learner discipline. Yet, despite the implementation of these strategies, the persistence of indiscipline in schools across South Africa remains a reality. Therefore, strategies need to be used to sustain learner discipline in schools. This study explored collaborative strategies to maintain learner discipline in secondary schools in the ILembe education district. This study is grounded in the Collaborative Leadership Theory. The sample size comprised 24 secondary schools in the ILembe education district. Four participants per school were selected, yielding 96 participants consisting of the principal, one deputy principal, and two departmental heads per school. The participants were selected through simple random sampling. A qualitative research approach was used for this study. The study revealed that collaborative leadership was employed by School Management Teams (SMTs) to lead collaborations in schools to sustain learner discipline. It is recommended that a collaborative leadership approach be adopted to encourage stakeholders to approach all aspects of school management in partnership with stakeholders with a vested interest in the school.

Rewriting the Metanarrative of Apartheid in the Democratic South Africa

2025-10-29T05:52:54+03:00

In the aftermath of South Africa's attainment of political freedom in 1994, the country's history has been depicted through numerous literary works. Most of these works are distinguished by a 'master narrative' that conveys the notion of apartheid's overwhelming oppression, perpetuating the unrealistic perception of constant black misery. We sought texts which depart from this single narrative to encourage more studies as currently, there is little research which strikes a balance between miserable and nostalgic experiences of apartheid in several literary texts. Employing the theoretical framework of Apartheid Studies, a purposive sampling approach was employed to carefully choose four literary works that were then analyzed for their representation of the everyday experiences of black individuals. The analyses of the four texts were categorized into five overarching themes: identity, displacement, violence, betrayal, and writing as a weapon. The findings indicate that the authors adeptly capture the daily experiences of black individuals in Apartheid-era South Africa, employing humour to depict their quest for democracy. Any narrative of South Africa's history produced in the democratic era should encompass the country's achievements and shortcomings, and accurately represent its diverse makeup.