Workplace spirituality is a construct widely discussed over the past few decades and it is a much-disputed inquiry field which is gaining the interest of practitioners and scholars. Some clarifications regarding concepts and definitions are necessary in order to structure and direct the current debate. The aim of this conceptual article is to gain a better understanding regarding the direction in which this field of study is progressing and to put the question on the table namely, whether workplace spirituality is only a new tool to be used in leadership development or is it a trend to be taken seriously? The results showed that this field has potential to further development. This article can be used as foundation for future studies within the knowledge area of practical theology.

Background: Globally, business coaching is an unregulated industry that is not yet considered a profession. In South Africa, two of the regulatory bodies, namely Coaches and Mentors of South Africa and the Institute of Management Consultants and Master Coaches of South Africa, were recognised as professional non-statutory bodies in 2015. Aim:The purpose of this study is to inquire into how business coaching is currently being practised in South Africa from a practitioner's perspective.Setting: At this key point in the maturation process of business coaching, it is important to understand the present state of the industry in order to direct it towards its aim of becoming a profession.Method: A questionnaire was designed specifically for this research. It included all aspects associated with the coaching practice. Questionnaires were presented to all members of the professional body for coaches and mentors in South Africa. Results:The findings are in line with the results of similar studies conducted elsewhere in the world. They revealed that business coaching is a young industry that attracts practitioners from different backgrounds. The recommendations of these studies support the notion that business coaching must move towards professionalisation. The information acquired through this research can contribute to the development of a score sheet for the industry in South Africa, as well as a progression plan to direct the industry towards professionalisation. Conclusion:The article provides information regarding the current state of business coaching in South Africa and links it with international tendencies. It shows that South Africa is on par with the development of the industry globally.

Orientation: Business coaching is a relatively new approach to leadership development. It is also slowly growing as an academic discipline with only a small number of active researchers and a dearth of published literature reviews.Research purpose: This article is an investigation into the current level of development of the body of knowledge related to business coaching by means of a systematic literature review.Motivation of the study: Previous literature reviews summarised the available published articles. In order to contribute to establishing business coaching as an independent academic discipline, the building blocks for science in the phenomenon under investigation have to be scientifically not only summarised, but also synthesised and explored to ground this new discipline as an academic field of research.Research design, approach and method: A methodological framework has been developed to analyse the information. The data were synthesised according to the following building blocks for science: concepts, definitions, typologies, models, theories and paradigms.Main findings: A total of 84 articles were accessed by the specified search strategy and 36 were analysed according to inclusive and exclusive criteria. Although coaching has not been sufficiently developed as an academic discipline, it is possible to develop a comprehensive definition of coaching, as well as to identify the main models and theories that apply to this field.Practical/managerial implications: This literature review has synthesised and summarised the available data in such a way that it will contribute to the conceptualisation and foundation of business coaching as an academic discipline.Contribution: The building blocks for business coaching as a relatively new and emerging science within the field of business leadership have been defined. This will contribute to the articulation of concepts within this discipline by future researchers and practitioners.

Crowdfunding has the potential to change the historic standards of the financial services industry and reduce gaps between supply and demand economics. Over the past ten years, it has received increasing attention. However, the potential that crowdfunding holds in less fortunate economic contexts where SMEs are probably needed the most has not yet attracted the attention that it deserves. Acknowledging the influence of knowledge about crowdfunding, this research explores the viability of crowdfunding as a source of capital for SMEs, in a developing country. The research aimed to determine the difference in alignment that may exist from both the perspective of the investor and entrepreneur on the most suitable type of crowdfunding and motivations for venturing into a crowdfunding initiative. Empirical evidence was gathered through an electronic, quantitative survey. Statistical procedures included exploratory factor analysis, specifically Principal Axis Factoring, using Varimax rotation with Kaiser Normalization. Two-tailed t-tests were used to distinguish the preferences and anticipated behaviour of investors and entrepreneurs distinguishing respondents in terms of their knowledge about crowdfunding. Results indicate that it is crucial to create an increased awareness of crowdfunding among the broader public, amid evidence of empathy towards new businesses and willingness to support even up-starts, also indicating that investors' and entrepreneurs' motivation to participate in crowdfunding is not necessarily financially driven.