http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/71 2026-05-08T19:26:39Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3793 Title: The Role of Intellectual Property Protection on the Cultural Industries in Africa: A Case Study of the Nigerian Film Industry Authors: Daniels, Caleb Abstract: This study highlights on the critical importance, contributions and potentials of the creative industries in promoting cultural identity and in boosting economic development and wealth creation in a world that is increasingly relying on knowledge based economy. It is clear that the cutting edge of global economic development is shifting inexorably in the directions that rely heavily on the creative resources of nations and the only way in achieving this is through the intellectual property system. In this study, the Nigerian film industry was used as a case study and the industry has over three hundred (300) of male and female actors and actress. Questionnaires and in-depth interview were used to elicit information and the responses from the questionnaires were interpreted through the use of software called SPSS, while the information obtained from the in-depth interview were interpreted and analyzed in a narrative form. The study reveals that the government has a non-challant attitude towards the film industry in Nigeria and private individuals are the major financier of the industry. The challenges of the industry are that of piracy and the lack of a well defined policy framework. The study recommends that the collaboration in the fight against piracy should be pursued with vigour. Stakeholder should participate in the design, implementation and enforcement of programmes to combat piracy. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3792 Title: The Impact of Intellectual Property on the Use of Computer Software in Teaching in Sierra Leone Authors: Bangura, Mohamed Abstract: Although the discipline of Intellectual Property is significantly institutionalised and contributes immensely to the development of western democracies, it is relatively novel in countries struggling with the harsh realities of socio economic growth as evident in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially within the West Africa Sub Region. This report lengthily deliberates on the level of awareness of students and teachers of intellectual property law and its relation with computer software in higher institutions of learning. The report therefore investigates the impact that intellectual property has on the use of computer software in teaching in colleges and technical institutions in Sierra Leone. It specifically focuses on the careful use of computer software tools such as power point, computer aided instructions, and simulation, among others, by teachers to make learning simple and qualitative for the improvement in students’ understanding. A further motive behind this report is the need to explore the extent of the knowledge that college lecturers and students have about intellectual property as it relates to computer software in Sierra Leone. According to the results obtained from field research in the various sites, majority of the respondents (53.7%), mostly male, are in their early twenties. However, they are also found out to be married. The outcome of the report further reaffirms the view that computer software is a very useful instrument in aiding the process of teaching and learning in higher educational institutions, as revealed by 93.7% of the respondents, with 37.5% students admitting that they now assume a leading role in the learning process. Although, as revealed in the report, a large number of the respondents, 87.5%, admitted of their knowledge about intellectual property law, half of the respondents, 50%, became aware of it only during the close of 2011 when Parliament finally moved to repeal the Copyright Act. Whatever the nuance may be, it is clear that intellectual proper law does have impact on the use of computer software. This impact is dispensed through the learning experience of the students and the teachers’ instructional dispensation. It was also revealed by 93.5% of the respondents that computer software is more protected under copyright than patent laws. Despite the fact that computer software seriously affects the teaching and learning process of users in higher institutions in Sierra Leone, there have been a number of bottlenecks which tend to derail such experience. As revealed in the report, the problems involve threat from power failure, and lack of easy understanding of the software, among others. At any rate, however, the report shows that intellectual property law and computer software are two sides of the same coin. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3791 Title: The Relationship Between the Financial Performance of Companies Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and Economic Growth Authors: Shumba, Priscila Abstract: This research analyzes the financial performance of companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. The factors affecting the financial performance of the listed companies were looked at in detail. Moreover, the relationship between the financial performance of listed companies and economic growth was established. Financial performance was measured using ROA and ROE. Data from the financial statements of the selected companies was used in this research. Questionnaires were administered to analyze the financial performance of the listed companies and to explore the major factors that affect the financial performance of these companies. Interviews were also carried out as follow ups to gather the complete information. The research also sought to discover the relationship between financial performance of the listed companies and economic growth as measured by GDP. The research focused on three listed companies in the industrial sector listed on the ZSE. The data used in the research was mainly obtained from the ZSE database and the respective firms’ websites. The study population was 103, composed of 66 Zimbabwean Chartered Financial analysts and 37 registered stockbrokers. Non-probalistic sampling was used. A sample size of sixty participants was drawn from the population using the survey sample size calculator. Statistics on the rates of economic growth was obtained from Zimstats. The analysis of the quantitative data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics utilizing the SPSS. Descriptive statistics that were drawn included percentages, means, standard deviations, minimums and maximums. The results were presented using tables and analyzed using SPSS and charts. The analysis revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between financial performance and economic growth as evidenced by the correlation coefficient of 1 between financial performance (as measured by ROA and ROE) and GDP growth. The major factors affecting the financial performance of the listed firms were also obtained from survey responses and these included firm size, firm age, leverage, ownership structure and liquidity. The study depended on the published financial data of the listed companies as well as empirical data collected. The study is of crucial importance to determine the relationship between the financial performance of listed companies and economic growth ensuring that listed companies operate with a common goal, which is to drive economic growth. The study findings are fundamental in assisting investors to identify and make informed decisions based on the performance of listed companies in Zimbabwe regarding investments. This research contributes to the firm financial performance knowledge in several ways. First, it provides evidence of the relationship between economic growth and firm financial performance. It also explores the factors that affect the financial performance of listed companies in Zimbabwe. It is important for the policy makers to know the factors that affect the financial performance of listed companies and put measures that enable listed companies to perform at the maximum of their abilities and thereby contribute to the economic growth of the country. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3790 Title: Performance of New Products at Cairns Food Limited Zimbabwe Authors: Matswetu, Vivinah B.N. Abstract: The purpose of the research was to examine the performance of new products at Cairns Foods Limited Zimbabwe. The aim of the research was to understand why Cairns Foods Limited new products seem to perform poorly after a short period of time in the market. Relevant literature was used to create a background to the study which included peer reviewed journals, books, papers, dissertations and empirical data sources. The research design followed a survey design approach with questionnaires as the main research instrument. The study population was 213 Cairns Foods Limited employees and customers and the sample had 120 participants drawn from the population. The population was portioned into sub-groups that represented Cairns Foods Limited employees as well customers. Each strata defined a partition of the population that were necessary to the completion of the research. After each stratum was defined simple random sampling was used in order to minimize sampling error. The employees were partitioned into the following strata: senior management, middle management, general employees including factory workers, salespersons and lastly Cairns Foods top retail customers. The objectives of the research were to assess the performance of new Cairns products on the market, explore the new product development process at Cairns Foods Zimbabwe, determine the process that is done before engaging in new product development, and to establish the availability of standard procedure manuals for new product development at Cairns Foods Limited Zimbabwe. Findings showed that 50% of Cairns Foods Limited products are performing either poorly or very poorly. This is a red flag for the organization as its core business is that of manufacturing fast moving consumer goods that sell at very reasonable prices meaning the organisation needs to push volume for it to realise good returns. Other issues to look at include the type of product, the market as well incorporating technological advancements. In regard to performance measurement profit tabulations are the most used performance indicator, as cited by about 84% of the respondents. The findings indicate that Cairns Foods Limited places more emphasis on the use of financial measures to measure the performance of its goods as compared to non-financial measures such as time to market. 60% of the participants agree that there are Standard Performance Measures in place for all new products at Cairns Foods Limited. However, 40% of the participants disagree that there are Standard Performance measures in place for all new products. This could show that the procedure or operating practice is not well-known by all employees. 50% of the participants noted that Standard Performance Measures in place products at Cairns Foods Limited form a Standard Operating Procedure for all new products. Recommendations for the organisation and the sector at large are included as part of the dissertation. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z