PAN-AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Usage for Academic Writing: A Technology Acceptance Model Perspective in Tanzanian Higher Learning Institutions

2026-06-18T03:00:27+00:00

This study aims to examine the determinants influencing the adoption and continued usage of AI tools for research writing among academicians, focusing on the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy and Mzumbe University (Mbeya Campus). Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research investigates the effects of Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEU), Behavioral Intention (BI), and Actual Usage (AU) on both adoption and continued usage intentions. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed using structured questionnaires distributed to 93 purposively selected academic staff. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) confirmed the reliability and validity of constructs, and multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings reveal that AU, PEU, and BI are significant predictors of AI tool adoption and continued use, while PU does not have a statistically significant impact. The model explained 62.0% of the variance in adoption and 82.2% in continued usage intention, indicating strong explanatory power. The study concludes that behavioural engagement and tool usability are more critical than perceived usefulness in predicting the sustained use of AI tools in academic writing. It recommends that institutions enhance AI training, promote ethical usage, integrate AI into academic systems, and address user experience concerns to foster widespread and responsible AI adoption in Tanzanian higher education.

Adoption of Digital Technologies in Women-Owned Small Businesses: A Global Review of Patterns, Growth Factors, and Barriers

2026-06-18T03:10:55+00:00

Digital technologies are increasingly central to small business growth; still, adoption among women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) remains uneven worldwide. This study systematically reviews 117 peer-reviewed articles published between 1987 and 2023, with Tanzania as a central case study, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings reveal persistent divides: in developed economies, WOSBs integrate advanced systems such as e-commerce, customer relationship management, and cloud computing. In contrast, in developing contexts, adoption is mainly limited to mobile money and social media, with slow and uneven progression toward advanced digital systems, particularly in Tanzania. Barriers, including weak infrastructure, limited finance, low digital literacy, socio-cultural constraints, and inadequate policy support, continue to restrict sustainable adoption. The review extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by showing that adoption depends not only on perceived usefulness and ease of use but also on systemic and socio-cultural dynamics. This highlights that bridging digital divides requires more than access; it requires supportive ecosystems, affordable infrastructure, and gender-responsive policies. The study contributes by offering practical strategies for inclusive digital transformation and identifying priorities for future research in Sub-Saharan Africa, emerging technologies, and long-term adoption.

Beyond Business as Usual: Institutional Resilience and Strategic Complementarity in Africa’s Development Partnerships

2026-06-18T03:31:37+00:00

For decades, the trajectory of African development has been predominantly charted by paradigms conceived in distant donor capitals, creating a persistent paradox. Despite substantial financial and technical assistance, the continent continues to be plagued by entrenched poverty and institutional fragility. This paper advocates for a fundamental reorientation towards investment-driven, contextually grounded development cooperation. It addresses a critical gap in the literature by interrogating how the interplay of political alignment, economic complementarity, and cooperative governance sustains partnerships over the long term. The study employed a qualitative documentary analysis of historical and institutional records to uncover the mechanisms sustaining the TAZARA partnership. Using the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) as a case study, this research moves beyond celebratory narratives of South-South solidarity. The findings demonstrate that TAZARA's relative resilience stems not from external funding but from its foundational principles of mutual benefit, genuine co-ownership, and deep alignment with local socio-political aspirations. The study concludes that to break free from donor dependency, African nations and their international partners must build cooperation anchored in institutional resilience, strategic complementarity, and local agency.

Supply Chain Integration and Inventory Control as Drivers of Medical Supply Chain Performance in Tanzania: Moderation by Information Technology

2026-06-18T03:40:58+00:00

Reliable medical supply chains are critical to Tanzania's progress toward universal health coverage, yet public facilities continue to experience stockouts, delays, and waste. Grounded in the Resource-Based View, this study examines how Supply Chain Integration and Inventory Control shape Medical Supply Chain Performance and whether Information Technology conditions those effects. An explanatory cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers in public health centres and dispensaries in Songwe Region (n = 289), using validated Likert scales and estimating a variance-based structural equation model. Results show that Supply Chain Integration and Inventory Control are associated with higher Medical Supply Chain Performance, while Information Technology exerts the strongest direct influence. Information Technology also amplifies the payoff from Supply Chain Integration but attenuates the benefit of traditional inventory routines when they are not IT-aligned. Theoretically, the findings extend the Resource-Based View by identifying Information Technology as a platform resource that complements integration (co-specialization) and sets boundary conditions for inventory capabilities. Managers and policymakers should strategically embed Information Technology across supply chain functions by strengthening system interoperability, institutionalizing Information Technology-driven inventory governance (parameter tuning, FEFO enforcement, removal of duplicative paper processes), and investing in user capability and data stewardship to secure durable performance gains in the medical supply chain.

User Involvement in Procurement Planning and Procurement Performance in Zanzibar local government authorities: The moderating effect of user competence

2026-06-18T03:48:31+00:00

Examining How Brand Awareness Drives Performance in Tanzanian Telecommunication Companies: The Mediating Role of Brand Reputation and the Moderating Effect of Brand Attitude

2026-06-18T04:09:26+00:00

This study examines the influence of brand awareness on brand performance in Tanzanian telecommunication companies by analysing its direct effect and indirect effect through brand reputation, as well as the moderating role of brand attitude. Using stratified and systematic sampling, data were collected from 314 employees across four major telecommunication companies in Dar es Salaam. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the hypothesised relationships. The results reveal that brand awareness has a positive and significant effect on brand performance both directly and indirectly through brand reputation, confirming the mediating role of reputation. Brand reputation also significantly enhances brand performance, highlighting its importance as a key relational mechanism. Furthermore, brand attitude negatively moderates the relationship between brand awareness and brand performance. However, brand attitude does not significantly moderate the relationship between brand reputation and performance. This study concludes that brand awareness is a precursor of brand performance, directly or through brand reputation, depending on customer attitudes. Study contributes to theory by extending the Resource-Based View (RBV) through the integration of mediating and moderating mechanisms that capture consumer-driven brand dynamics. Practically, it highlights the need for managers to combine awareness-building with strong reputation management while considering variations in customer attitudes.

Effects of the Financial Management System on Managing Project Funds in Local Government Authorities in Tunduru, Tanzania

2026-06-18T04:23:42+00:00

This study examines the Effects of the Financial Management System on Managing Project Funds in Local Government Authorities in Tunduru, Tanzania. It explores the effectiveness of these systems in managing project funds by assessing technical challenges, identifying factors influencing system use, and determining appropriate management procedures. Ineffective financial management often leads to poor fund utilization, project delays, overspending, and substandard outcomes. A qualitative research approach was adopted, involving focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 30 representatives from local government authorities. Data were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis techniques. Findings reveal that the existing financial management systems are inadequate, characterized by limited staff training, weak financial controls, and poor monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These shortcomings contribute to inefficient fund utilization and hinder successful project implementation. The study recommends strengthening financial management systems through comprehensive capacity-building programs, improved financial controls, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks. These measures are essential for enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing project funds. Strengthened systems will support timely project completion, effective resource use, and improved public service delivery.

The Impact of Microcredit on Livelihood Improvement of Women in Muhanga District, Rwanda

2026-06-18T04:30:29+00:00

This study aimed to examine the contribution of Microfinance to improving the livelihoods of women in rural Rwanda. The study area was Muhanga District, where this research seeks to address through the lens of microfinance. An explanatory design was employed to assess the extent to which women's livelihoods changed as a result of microcredit. A deductive approach was adopted to compare arguments from previous studies, collect data, analyse results, and interpret findings. Data were collected from a sample size of 309 respondents systematically selected from a population of 1,349 women beneficiaries of a local microfinance institution. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data, which were entered into SPSS version 20 and analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate Correlation techniques. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between access to microloans and improvements in key livelihood dimensions, although not all areas experienced uniform growth. Importantly, participants reported increased financial stability and greater access to essential services. The study concludes that microcredit significantly enhances women's livelihoods and supports poverty reduction efforts. The study recommends that lending institutions, policymakers, and nations strengthen access to credit by providing favourable loan conditions and coordinating with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to enhance long-term impact.

Participation in Decision Making and Employee Commitment among Nurses in Ghana

2026-06-18T04:38:21+00:00

This paper explored the effect that participation in decision-making types (consultative, delegative and representative) has on employee commitment types (affective, continuance and normative) among nurses. The research was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Data were collected through the use of a self-administered questionnaire from 280 nurses in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Analysis was done using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study found that consultative, delegative and representative participation had a significant positive relationship with affective commitment. Consultative and representative participation were found to have an influence on continuance and normative commitments, whereas delegative participation failed to influence both continuance and normative commitments of the nurses. This study gives a broader understanding for stakeholders to be proactive about the types of participation in decision making to adopt in order to achieve the desired employee commitment type among nurses and other health workers

Employee Voice Mechanisms and Their Implications for Employee Absenteeism in Tanzania: A Study of Dar es Salaam Manufacturing Industries

2026-06-18T04:45:30+00:00

Employee voice contributes to a variety of outcomes in manufacturing industries worldwide. However, although this claim is often repeated in the literature, empirical research on the link between employee voice mechanisms and employee absenteeism remains scarce. This study examines how employee voice mechanisms influence employee absenteeism in Tanzanian manufacturing industries in Dar es Salaam. Survey data were collected from 126 randomly selected manufacturing industries in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using a cross-sectional study design. Human resource managers were the unit of observation, and manufacturing industries were the unit of analysis. Descriptive statistics and the Poisson Regression Model aided data analysis. The results show that employee voice mechanisms, such as formal surveys, suggestion boxes, joint consultative committee meetings, collective bargaining, and general meetings, have a negative and significant influence on employee absenteeism. In contrast, newsletters, intranet-shared information, and email use did not. This finding indicates that workers' attendance in manufacturing industries improves when employees have opportunities to express their problems to their employers. Therefore, manufacturing industries should use formal surveys, suggestion boxes, joint consultative committee meetings, general meetings and collective bargaining to reduce employee absenteeism. Other employee mechanisms, such as the intranet, newsletter, and email, should be reviewed and improved.