1st Edition
Responsible Business and Sustainable Development The Use of Data and Metrics in the Global South
Responsible and sustainable business practices are becoming increasingly important in the information age, as companies are realizing the need to address ethical and social issues associated with their operations. In today's interconnected world, businesses have access to vast amounts of data that can be used to improve their bottom line but can also pose significant risks to individuals and society. At the same time, responsible business practices have the capacity to positively impact international development goals such as poverty alleviation, economic growth, responsible consumption, and health and social welfare.
This book presents a transdisciplinary framework for addressing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, offering fresh perspectives from the Global South. It provides an overview of the key challenges and opportunities associated with responsible business practices in the information age, including the need to balance privacy and security concerns with data analytics and innovation. It also highlights some of the best practices and initiatives, such as stakeholder engagement, transparency, and accountability. The book establishes the role of green leadership in promoting responsible production, discusses the importance of measuring and reporting on sustainable innovation, including the use of sustainability metrics and reporting frameworks. Further, it debates the importance of incorporating ethics and sustainability in strategic management practices. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the integration of these values in organizational decision-making. By delving into the pressing matters that impact our world today, the book generates a sense of urgency and awareness among its audience.
Its inclusive approach to exploring various perspectives and opinions invites readers to participate in a constructive dialogue, broadening their understanding and deepening their empathy for different viewpoints.
Section 1: Introduction to Sustainable Development in the Global South 1. Responsible Business and Sustainable Development: The Use of Data and Metrics in the Global South an Introduction (David Mhlanga and Mufaro Dzingirai) 2. Responsible Deployment of Technology: Exploring ChatGPT's Current and Prospective Impact on Educational Paradigms (David Mhlanga) 3. The Role of FinTech and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in the Advancement of Digital Financial Inclusion in Developing Economies (Favourate Y Mpofu and Queen Mpofu) 4. Smart Technologies in Agriculture: Advancements and Benefits for Sustainable Development (David Mhlanga and Mufaro Dzingirai) Section 2: Stakeholder Engagement and Community Involvement 5. Corporate Philanthropy and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals Amongst Namibian Listed Mining Companies (Tariro Chata and Linus Sitomiso Chata) 6. Sustainable Use of Technology through Corporate Social Responsibility in Zimbabwe’s Telecommunication Sector (Theo Tsokota and Chipo Mutongi) Section 3: Data-Driven Decision-Making in Business 7. Driving Responsible Business and Sustainable Development: Leveraging Data and Metrics for Transformative Impact in the Global South (David Mhlanga) 8. Asymmetric Drivers of Flue Cured Tobacco Production in Zimbabwe: Do Institutional Quality Matter? (Kevin Jeketera and Canicio Dzingirai) 9. Asymmetric Effects of Foreign Portfolio Investment on Economic Growth of Selected SADC Countries (Canicio Dzingirai, Brian Wiston Kunaka and Tanonoka Daniel Masarirevhu) Section 4: Policy, Governance, and Regulation 10. Innovation in Businesses and Sustainable Development (David Mhlanga and Mufaro Dzingirai) 11. The Role of Green Leadership in Promoting Responsible Production (Vimbainashe Mutanda, Tinashe Charles Chirodzero and Mufaro Dzingirai) 12. Sustainable and Responsible Innovation Strategy (Godknows Gomwe and Dinko Herman Boikanyo) 13. Attracting Investment and Reducing Poverty in Africa Through AI Technologies (Nouhaila Innan, Muhammad Al-Zafar Khan, Jahvaid Hammujuddy and David Mhlanga) Section 5: Conclusion on Responsible Business and Sustainable Development 14. Responsible Business and Sustainable Development: The Use of Data and Metrics in the Global South a Conclusion (David Mhlanga and Mufaro Dzingirai)
Biography
David Mhlanga is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.
Mufaro Dzingirai is a Lecturer in the Department of Business Management, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
