International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics

Social medias as communicational lever and transformational vector of sales workforce in the case of cooperatives: Case study of cooperatives in Beni Mellal – Khenifra

Abdellah EL HAMDAOUI, El Mostafa FTOUH — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:05:29 +0000

In the digital era, more cooperatives are using social medias to promote their brands and to give a push to their sales workforce, but not only that. As part of their digital communication strategies, the policies developed and deployed on these platforms differ regarding the goals predetermined and followed by every entity. In this line of thought, each platform is particular in terms of its conception and its audience that can be targeted by cooperatives using different messages in each one. Although cooperatives have advanced significantly in the universe of marketing and have acquired a strategic positioning in recent years, scientific and empirical works, and papers, are yet to be published because there are none, especially in terms of analyzing the correlations that may exist between social networks and the performance of cooperatives workforce. This is the reason why we conducted this research. By conducting semi-structured interviews with cooperatives established in the region “Beni Mellal – Khenifra”, we sought to mobilize empirical knowledge on the matter. At the intersection of communicational and commercial strategy, to be deployed by the cooperatives in this context, their sales workforces can no longer do without the ultimate use of social medias. We found that this use has a significant impact on the performance of the cooperatives’ sales workforces and can be used as a communicational and commercial tool to achieve different objectives.

Keywords : Cooperatives – Digital Marketing – Sales workforces – BENI MELLAL - KHÉNIFRA

Classification JEL : M31

Paper type : Empirical Research

Microfinance and development of entrepreneurship in Senegal: an empirical study of the three largest and most representative MFIs

Saleh ANAS, Moussa DIOP — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:14:53 +0000

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of microfinance on the development of entrepreneurship in Senegal. To verify this, we administered a questionnaire to 111 clients of three microfinance institutions in Senegal (CMS, PAMECAS, ACEP). Logistic regression and ordered logit regression were used to measure, respectively, business creation by MFIs and value creation by entrepreneurial clients. The results show, firstly, that only the variables characterising the sustainability of microfinance institutions have a positive influence on entrepreneurship (business creation) through the availability of funds, the minimisation of agency costs and transaction costs. Secondly, the development of entrepreneurship through the creation of value is influenced both by variables of credit massification (the popularisation of microcredit positively, support for micro-entrepreneurs negatively) and the sustainability of institutions (funds available negatively and minimisation of agency costs and transaction costs positively). These mixed results show that microfinance has little impact on the development of entrepreneurship in Senegal. This work calls for an examination of the ease of lending, mass accessibility and the quality between the credit offered by microfinance institutions and the needs of their users.

Key words: Microfinance, Entrepreneurship, Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Senegal .

Classification JEL : G21, L25, L26.

Paper type : Empirical recherch

The appropriation of new technologies by middle managers: the case of ERP in Moroccan SMEs

Omar BOUSSTTA — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:18:06 +0000

This article aims to answer a central problem relating to the existing relationship between middle managers and information systems within Moroccan SMEs as well as to predict the degree of appropriation of new technologies by middle managers case of ERP in Moroccan SMEs. We related the degreé of appropriation of ERP by middle managers in Moroccan SMEs and its impact on the success of the ERP adoption project. To this effect, It was admitted that the success of the ERP adoption project is influenced by the appropriation of use. To this end, a methodology based on a quantitative study that seeks to identify the factors impacting the appropriation of the ERP system was adopted.

The results of this work confirmed́ the overall hypothesis, namely, acceptance of use influences the actual commitment in terms of ERP use of the "appropriation of use" construct. Moreover, these results showed́ that communication, training, ease of use, social influence, facilitating conditions, are the most significant that impact the commitment of middle managers in terms of ERP use. And control over activities, habit and perceived usefulness are factors that affect acceptance of ERP use. Finally, the results confirmed́ the overall hypothesis, namely, acceptance of use influences real commitment in terms of ERP use.

Keyword: Appropriation, ERP, Moroccan SME, UTAUT, middle management.

Classification JEL : O3-33

Type de l’article : Empirical Research

The economic inclusion of young people a major development challenge: Case of the INDH in the Tangier Tetouan Al Hoceima region

Bouchta BOUASRIA, Khalid AZAMI HASSANI — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:21:25 +0000

This article for objective to examine the role of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) through the program “Improving Income and Economic Inclusion of Youth” (AREIJ) in promoting the economic inclusion of young people in the Tanger Tétouan Al Hoceima region (RTTA). Several studies have demonstrated the impact of training and support on the economic and social inclusion of disadvantaged individuals.

Our studies focuses on analyzing data collected from 12 youth platforms established in the Tanger Tetouan Al Hoceima region and a sample of 300 young people registered on these platforms during the period 2019-2022, using quantitative analysis with SPSS software. The study examines the role of the ARIEJ program in economic inclusion within the RTTA, as well as the main obstacles related to the inclusion of young people in the economic sphere, either in terms of employability or entrepreneurship.

The study revealed that the ARIEJ program has had minimal impact on the economic inclusion of young people, giving the low number of youths entering the job market (approximately 1500 young people per year) compared to the number of young people facing unemployment (around 140000 in 2021). The main obstacles to inclusion are generally related to the mismatch between available profiles and skills sought in the job market. Therefore, training, guidance and support for young people are key factors in successfully including them in the economic sphere.

Keywords: economic inclusion, youth, ARIEJ, Tanger Tétouan Al Hoceima region

JEL Classification: R58

Paper type: Empirical research

Influence of access to agricultural financing on the performance of rice producers in Manville

Brice Babatoundé ADJERAN, Valentin Dimon DJAGOUN, Jacob Afouda YABI — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:25:35 +0000

Agricultural finance is a crucial issue for the development of agriculture and poverty reduction in developing countries. This research analyzes the influence of access to credit or financing on rice yields in Malanville. Data were collected using questionnaires administered to 180 randomly selected rice farmers. Data analysis was done using simple linear regression under the Stata software. The results showed that access to credit has a significant and positive effect on the productivity and profitability of agricultural operations. Similarly, the production system and soil fertility also have a significant impact on agricultural productivity. However, agricultural financing remains a major challenge in developing countries, particularly due to the low capacity of financial institutions to provide agricultural loans. Efforts are therefore needed to improve access to agricultural financing and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords: Effect, productivity, agricultural credit, rice, Northern Benin.

Classification JEL :

Paper type: Empirical Research

Evaluation of entrepreneurial Projects by Young people in Morocco, case of INDH phase III Projects

Brahim FATHALLAH, LATIFA HORR — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:28:19 +0000

In recent years, entrepreneurship has attracted a lot of interest in many regions of the world, this can be explained by the existing correlation between the creation of new businesses and economic development. However, the latest crisis, linked to Covid19, revealed a sharp increase in the risk of developing entrepreneurship and a reduction in the probability of success at all its stages, in particular for small and medium-sized businesses. Indeed, difficult market conditions alone determine the impossibility not only of economic development, but even of the simple survival of companies without innovations creating new opportunities. Furthermore, despite the increasing scale of financial support to the entrepreneur, it is no longer sufficient and the need to attract investments and borrowed funds determines the importance of the evaluation of innovative entrepreneurial projects.

This article highlights the growing importance of the evaluation of entrepreneurial projects by young people in Morocco, as part of the third phase of the National Human Development Initiative (INDH). Active participation in this process invigorates the entrepreneurial spirit by fostering innovation, encouraging calculated risk-taking and contributing to the creation of an economically prosperous and socially responsible future. While recognizing potential challenges, it also addresses the need to invest in developing the skills and knowledge of young evaluators, so that they can play an effective and beneficial role in the evaluation of entrepreneurial projects.

Keywords: Project assessment, Entrepreneurship, National Human Development Initiative, Economic Inclusion.

Classification JEL : J68- M13-H79

Paper type: Empirical research

The practice of economic intelligence as a factor of competitiveness of Moroccan firms

Abid IHADIYAN, Fadwa SEFRIOUI — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:31:43 +0000

This article on the subject of the practice of economic intelligence as a factor in the competitiveness of Moroccan company’s attempts to present an original approach. On the one hand, it examines the conceptual and theoretical development of business intelligence, which, surprisingly, has received so little attention to date, particularly in the Moroccan context. On the other hand, we focus on the implementation and current practice of business intelligence as a strategy in Moroccan companies.

Our analytical approach places information at the heart of business intelligence and proposes a systemic conception of information as a strategic issue.

This approach makes it possible to submit conceptual and practical tools for reflection and experimentation in order to gain a clear understanding of business intelligence as a complex and multidimensional object and as an important element of knowledge management.

This article would be an opportunity to study the determinants of business intelligence that can have an impact on the competitiveness of Moroccan companies. It will also be an opportunity to validate our conceptual model through a survey based on semi-directive interviews with certain directors of Moroccan companies.

The study used a cross-sectional research model to gather responses from the target population.

The study used a speech and verbatim analysis technique using Nvivo 12 software, which makes it easy to organise and analyse unstructured data.

The results of the study showed that information has become a strategic resource for the Moroccan companies interviewed, and that the difficulty is no longer in obtaining it, but in managing and protecting it. These are the two dimensions that make it a competitive advantage, and which make business intelligence an essential strategic tool for coping with increasingly fierce international competition.

Keyword: Economic intelligence; strategic watch; firm; competitiveness, information security.

Classification JEL : M41

Paper type: Empirical Research

Public communication and sustainable development: What are the effects on cooperatives in Morocco?

Nadia BEZZAZ — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:35:21 +0000

The emergence of this new wave of communication which places the citizen in the center of interest and which draws tools of the private sector to sit an interactivity, a mobilization a behavioral change, is initiated by the change of methods and the awakening of the public administration of the various socio-economic challenges which marked the new world order. From this point of view, the development of a new vision based on sustainable development and the protection of the biodiversity required new paradigms which place human dimension at the prism of any means of communication ; admittedly that, the public communication allows the bringing together between the official institutions through their vision of development and the citizen as an actor and a partner of this development.

Indeed, in this article we have discussed the importance of public communication in achieving sustainable development goals. Based on our empirical studies of agricultural cooperatives operating in different sectors, our affirmative problematic is based on a central question : does communication have an effect, one way or another, on the implementation of sustainable development objectives ? The expected results of our research have enabled us to deduce that public communication, which is in its embryonic phase, has been able to contribute to changing cooperative behaviours.

Keywords : Public communication ; farmer, Citizen ; sustainable development.

Classification JEL : I30, J24, Q19, P13, Q01

Paper type: Empirical Research

Effects of market gardening promotion on gender relations in rural households in Benin

Mansourath AKONDE, Alida ADJILE — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 20:55:14 +0000

In developing countries, agricultural infrastructure and development programmes rarely include market gardens, particularly multifunctional family gardens. However, these gardens provide households with permanent access to food of good nutritional quality and contribute to sustainable human development. This study aims to assess the effects of market gardening promotion on the quality of meals and on gender relations in rural households in Benin. To this end, a survey was conducted among 143 gardeners, including 76 direct beneficiaries of interventions, 30 adopters and 37 non-beneficiaries (control households) in order to determine the transformations brought about by these home gardening infrastructures. As a result, 92% of the beneficiaries felt that the interventions had improved the nutritional quality of the meals and 78.37% of the non-beneficiaries felt that improved meals would facilitate the reduction of childhood diseases. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) combined with a Chi-square test revealed empowerment at the economic, social and psychological levels. The study shows that women gardeners who are beneficiaries of the intervention schemes enjoy greater economic and decision-making autonomy than their non-beneficiary counterparts. The study highlighted the indirect and invisible effects of the interventions aimed at the development of light infrastructure for the promotion of market gardening for domestic use on gender norms. These effects lead to social dynamics that promote equity and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development objectives.

Keywords: Market gardening infrastructure, multifunctional home gardens, nutrition, empowerment, sustainable development.

JEL Classification : H54, Q01.

Paper type: Empirical research.

The social responsibility of universities: an exploratory study within the Moroccan public university

Sanaa BOUKHARI, Hind JEBLI CHRIFI — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 22:05:02 +0000

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), as defined by the European Commission, refers to the voluntary integration by companies of social and environmental concerns into their business activities and relations with their stakeholders. The concept applies to the world of higher education and is called University Social Responsibility (RSU). In Morocco, public universities are increasingly committed to this path. In parallel, the Plan to Accelerate the Transformation of the Higher Education Ecosystem, Scientific Research and Innovation (ESRI PACT 2030), drawing its substance from the priority choices of the New Development Model and drawing on its doctrine and founding principles, translates into concrete actions the priorities of the government’s program for the development of human capital and the integration of Morocco into the knowledge society. In this context, the objective of this exploratory case study is to understand the RSU policy of Moroccan public university by mobilizing input from stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984). As a result, the research methodology adopted is qualitative based on literature review and discourse analysis through semi-directional interviews with seven representatives of public educational institutions. The results of the study highlight the elements that characterize the RSU policy of seven public higher education institutions, in addition to the attitudes of its stakeholders, acting on this issue. The study sheds light on the interactions between the stakeholders involved in the RSU policy of these institutions.

Keywords: Social responsibility of universities (RSU), sustainable development, public management, stakeholders.

Classification JEL: I23, Q01, M14

Paper type: Empirical Research

Impact of foreign direct investment on the governance of West African countries

Aliyon Gbati ABITA — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 22:28:13 +0000

Developing countries, particularly in Africa, see the role of foreign direct investment as important for their socio-economic development. There is a global consensus on the importance of good governance as a catalyst for foreign direct investment (FDI) and the expansion of a country’s economy. However, it is essential to recognise that FDI can also have an impact on host country policies and institutions. The general objective of this article is to analyze the effect of foreign direct investment on the quality of governance in West African countries. The analysis in the context of West African countries is relevant since these countries have been experiencing for several decades a situation of intentional instability reflecting poor governance. Also, there is a decline in FDI inflows in the subregion. The empirical evidence is based on an econometric model of panel standard corrected errors (PCSE) for a panel of 13 West African countries between 2000 and 2021. Our study used principal component analysis (PCA) to design four governance indicators (economic governance, institutional governance, political governance and global governance). Our results indicate that FDI has no significant effect on these governance indicators. These results suggest that the scale and diversity of FDI, and its sources, play a crucial role. In conclusion, this study examines the practical and theoretical implications of our research and suggests potential avenues for further research.

Keywords: FDI, governance, West Africa, PCSE.

Classification JEL: F23, O43

Paper type: Empirical Research

The impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on the risk management of Moroccan agro-food companies

Rachid KRAMI, Rabab HAMAMI — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the repercussions of the Russo-Ukrainian War on Risk management within Moroccan agri-food companies. The scale of the international conflict has introduced new and complex challenges to these businesses, leading to significant disruptions at various levels of their operations. Through a questionnaire, the article explores the direct and indirect consequences of this international conflict on Moroccan agri-food companies, highlighting emerging issues, particularly disruptions in the supply chain. Interruptions in international logistical flows have resulted in delays, disruptions, and increased pressure on operational planning and logistics. The fluctuations in prices of imported raw materials are also scrutinized, revealing the decisive influence of the conflict on global markets. These variations have generated considerable economic pressures, impacting the profitability of Moroccan agri-food businesses and underscoring the need for robust financial management strategies. Growing concerns about food security are another focal point of the article. Companies have had to redouble their efforts to ensure the quality and safety of food products, faced with a backdrop of constant disruptions and uncertainties related to the war.

In conclusion, the article delves into the strategies and measures adopted by these agri-food companies to mitigate risks induced by the complex geopolitical context. It provides a detailed perspective on operational adaptations, adjustments to the supply chain, as well as risk management initiatives implemented to navigate this ever-evolving environment.

Key words : War, Risk management, Agri-food companies, Hedging strategies, challenges.

Classification JEL : D8, F1, F3, G1, G32

Paper type : Empirical Research