Research Article
Assessing Factors for Food Waste Management Practice Among Budget Hotels in Cape Coast Metropolis
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, December 2025
Pages:
228-235
Received:
13 September 2025
Accepted:
24 September 2025
Published:
18 October 2025
Abstract: This study investigates the factors influencing food waste management practices among budget hotels in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana, with a particular focus on inventory management, food preservation, and reuse mechanisms. Food waste remains a significant global challenge with economic, environmental, and social implications, and hotels especially budget hotels are critical stakeholders in advancing sustainable practices within the hospitality sector. Despite its importance, little empirical research has explored food waste management in budget hotels in Ghana. This study therefore addresses the gap by systematically assessing strategies employed by budget hotels in Cape Coast to minimize food waste. A quantitative research approach was adopted, using a descriptive survey design. Data were collected from 96 management staff across 32 budget hotels selected through random and purposive sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires served as the main instrument for data collection, while the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 28) was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics and Relative Importance Index (RII) were applied to identify and rank the most significant practices. Findings revealed that regular stock audits and the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) method were the most effective inventory management strategies, ensuring proper rotation and use of food items. Preservation methods such as freezing and refrigeration were widely practiced and recognized for their role in extending the shelf life of perishable goods, though concerns about cost and access to advanced technologies were noted. Reuse mechanisms, particularly creative repurposing of leftovers into new dishes, also emerged as an effective practice, while food donation and recycling were less emphasized due to logistical challenges. The study concludes that while budget hotels in Cape Coast have adopted key food waste reduction measures, implementation remains uneven and constrained by limited resources and training gaps. It recommends continuous staff training, greater integration of technological solutions, and enhanced adoption of innovative preservation and reuse practices. These findings not only contribute to the academic discourse on sustainable hospitality management but also provide practical insights for hotel managers and policymakers seeking to reduce food waste and promote environmental sustainability in Ghana’s hospitality industry.
Abstract: This study investigates the factors influencing food waste management practices among budget hotels in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana, with a particular focus on inventory management, food preservation, and reuse mechanisms. Food waste remains a significant global challenge with economic, environmental, and social implications, and hotels especially ...
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Research Article
African Startup Accelerators: How University Partnerships Signal Venture Quality and Drive Funding Growth Amid Capital Scarcity
Stanley Mukasa*
,
Sixbert Sangwa
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, December 2025
Pages:
236-258
Received:
4 October 2025
Accepted:
14 October 2025
Published:
31 October 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.12
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Views:
Abstract: Background. African startups operate amid acute capital scarcity and fragmented institutions, which complicates credible quality revelation to investors. Purpose. Focusing on the venture as the unit of analysis, this study investigates how milestones pursued inside university-affiliated accelerators function as signals of venture quality under scarcity, and how entrepreneurial behaviors shape the clarity and credibility of those signals. Design/methodology/approach. We track 17 technology ventures across East- and West-African university accelerators over 185 venture-quarters, combining venture-level panel regressions, event-study analysis, and fuzzy-set QCA. Two composite measures—the Governance-Readiness Index and the Signal-Portfolio Index—capture internal capability building and externally legible signals. Findings. Ventures graduating from university-affiliated accelerators secured roughly three times more equity than matched non-accelerated peers, with heterogeneity explained by milestone attainment and the breadth/strength of signal portfolios. We articulate a signal–noise paradox: effectuation/bricolage behaviors enable survival and progress under constraint yet can appear ambiguous to investors, attenuating signal clarity unless paired with governance readiness and externally validated milestones. Originality/value. The paper elevates signaling theory as the primary lens for early-stage ventures in emerging-market contexts, treats effectuation/bricolage as behavioral mechanisms, and situates staged financing as process logic and triple-helix/institutional-voids as contextual moderators. In doing so, it refines entrepreneurial signaling theory for scarcity contexts and offers actionable diagnostics for accelerators and policymakers designing inclusive, quality-assuring programs.
Abstract: Background. African startups operate amid acute capital scarcity and fragmented institutions, which complicates credible quality revelation to investors. Purpose. Focusing on the venture as the unit of analysis, this study investigates how milestones pursued inside university-affiliated accelerators function as signals of venture quality under scar...
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