The development of an entrepreneurial management model to promote the survival and growth of family estate wine businesses in the South African wine industry
- Authors: Cullen, Margaret Diane Munro
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Wine industry -- South Africa -- Management , Entrepreneurship
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/491 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011909 , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Wine industry -- South Africa -- Management , Entrepreneurship
- Description: The South African wine industry is polarised into the quantity-producing majority and the quality-conscious minority [Hughes, 2003]. The qualityproducing sector of the South African wine industry is dominated by family businesses. Research shows that there are approximately ninety familyowned wineries in South Africa. By international standards, South Africa is viewed as a quantity, not quality producing wine country, which will make it difficult to survive in an industry where quality is paramount for recognition. The ‘trailblazers’ of the international wine industry are family owned wineries [Robinson, 2000]. Twenty five percent of the 2003 five star South African wines were made by individuals or family wineries [Hughes, 2003], emphasising the growing importance of family wineries in the production of quality wines. It is important now, more than ever, with the industry opening up internationally, that survival of the family-owned wineries and their production of icon wines are promoted so that they can become flagship producers of the industry. The achievement of international status as a quality producing country, as well as building an industry based on the longevity of wine producing families, as well as a nation of wine lovers in South Africa should result.
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- Date Issued: 2006
The effect of HIV and AIDS on the viability and management of forestry contracting businesses in South Africa
- Authors: Steenkamp, Jacob Cornelus
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Forest products Industry -- South Africa -- Employees -- Disease , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8768 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/735 , Forest products Industry -- South Africa -- Employees -- Disease , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Description: The aim of the research is to quantify the HIV prevalence in human resources of forestry contracting businesses and to develop a management framework to promote economic sustainability of forestry contractors. HIV tests were conducted in the forest industry on the employees of contracting concerns from 2002/2003 to 2004/2005 with an accompanying questionnaire to collect demographic data. The HIV test results were analyzed with the demographic data to determine relationships between HIV prevalence and demographic factors. Contractors responded to a questionnaire on the effect of HIV and AIDS prevalence on (their) contracting businesses. The questionnaire also collected information about HIV and AIDS interventions and assistance to HIV and AIDS affected employees. Key stakeholders of other forestry sub-sectors were interviewed to facilitate comparison of the different sub-sectors and to establish if there were major differences between the sub-sectors, however, the focus was on the human resources of the forestry contracting sub-sector. The research results indicated that the HIV prevalence was increasing for the research period and was, in some regions, exceeding 40 per cent. The highest prevalence was recorded in the Highveld and Zululand regions and the lowest prevalence in the North-Eastern Cape. The HIV prevalence for females was constantly higher than the incidence for males and the ratio of males to females (all regions) approximated 68 per cent to 32 per cent. The high prevalence of HIV results in major social and economic impacts. The economic impact is aggravated through regulation (due to perceived market failure) and a bid for more equal distribution of wealth in the economy. The result of the sum of the impacts alludes to a conversion from labour to capital; however, to make well-informed decisions, various scenarios should be simulated to establish the optimum labour to capital ratio. The research further established that appropriate staffing is increasingly difficult and that the development of human capital is under pressure due to the high prevalence of HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS mitigation programmes will make a significant contribution to the return on human capital assets, as the economic life and productivity of such assets will be enhanced by such interventions. The management framework developed was assessed to be visually acceptable and useful by domain experts; however, to realise the full potential of the framework it should be used with anticipation of the research results regarding prevalence and future estimated AIDS releases and in conjunction with industry cost simulation models.
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- Date Issued: 2007
A model for sustainable operational excellence through knowledge management practices and continuous improvement principles
- Authors: Beeken, Wilhelm Frederik Hartmann
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness , Knowledge management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8699 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1061 , Organizational effectiveness , Knowledge management
- Description: Integrating Knowledge Management maturity with associated Continuous Improvement efforts in order to remain competitive, is absent in most Operational Excellence initiatives. Furthermore, the intertwined relationship of Continuous Improvement and work development becomes a crucial focus area for organisations that wish to establish a continuously evolving management system consisting of core values, methodologies and tools with the aim of creating more satisfied customers with less resources. The old industrial paradigm that focused on labour, capital, materials, and energy viewed technology and knowledge as external influences on production. This framework is now being challenged and a new trend is emerging. This trend seeks to transform the old industrial system to that of a knowledge-based which one can lead to innovation and hence economic advantage. Continuous Improvement as a concept has roots in many other fields, including social-technical system design, human relations progress and the discussion surrounding ‘lean manufacturing’. This study will focus on Continuous Improvement as a noun, referring to on the outcome of the process of a stream of emergent innovations. The primary objective of the study is to create a model that will present an organisation with a three-layer knowledge reference process grid, which will align and depict the surrounding business knowledge functions, knowledge-enabling processes and knowledge-manipulating processes aiming for enabling Operational Excellence. This study promotes the theory that the cognitive domain layer, functional domain layer and resources layer of an organisation can be increasingly stimulated by focusing effort through Continuous Improvement routines towards the associated inter-organisational knowledge processes sustaining Operational Excellence. The proposed model is structured to review, compare, evaluate and integrate existing Knowledge Management practices of ii an organisation within the context of clear definitions for important concepts of Knowledge Management. Additionally the model provides an assessment instrument for evaluating the organisation’s Knowledge Management maturity level. The study concerns itself with two concepts towards business value creation which will lead to increased Operational Excellence. Firstly, the maturity of Knowledge Management processes, and secondly the level of the organisation wide process of focused and continuous incremental improvement namely, Continuous Improvement. A case study with PriceWaterhouseCoopers was concluded and an on-line Internet survey was used with a stratified sample from knowledge workers to test the factors from both a Knowledge Management and Continuous Improvement perspective. These factors were verified by means of a hypotheses network, describing in a structured and descriptive way, the importance of Knowledge Management and Continuous Improvement collectively on sustainable Operational Excellence as an integral development of Operational Excellence. With respect to Knowledge Management practices, the hypothesis network proposed at least three domains, which of knowledge generation, knowledge mobilisation and knowledge application as important input to the proposed process grid of knowledge development and associated layer elements. From a Continuous Improvement principles perspective it is apparent that elements from Continuous Improvement routines and Continuous Improvement characteristics are associated with the organisation Continuous Improvement ability. These findings are also a result of the deliberate design of processes, tools, structures and environments with the intent to increase, renew, share or improve the use of knowledge represented in any of the three elements for structural, human and social of intellectual capital. The proposed model combines the framework of the Boyd cycle as it is conceptualized as self-assessment activities, for it becomes possible to use them as basis of a self-assessment with sense making navigational properties across iii the proposed knowledge process grid for the model. The model will facilitate the concept of a three-layer knowledge reference process grid, which represents the main components of the knowledge processes within the cognitive domain layer, functional layer and resources layer of an organisation. The proposed model will deliver a single value that co-exists with the Knowledge Management maturity level and Continuous Improvement readiness index rating attained. Logical relationships to dynamic, evolving and flexible enabling Knowledge Management practices for each layer of the proposed three-layer knowledge reference process grid will be integrated as output of the proposed model. The research has limitations as Knowledge Management practices were measured using a subjective norm scale. It is suggested that a more comprehensive measure of Knowledge Management maturity processes may be needed to represent this construct. The complexity of the proposed model and the number of associated variables included in the results need further confirmation using possible multiple samples and additional measures of Knowledge Management maturity and Continuous Improvement readiness elements. The benefit of the proposed model as a practical Operational Excellence tool is to overcome the perceived gap of implementing Knowledge Management practices and Continuous Improvement principles collectively to deliver and sustain Operational Excellence.
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- Date Issued: 2008
Benchmark value chain clusters, agglomeration economies and dynamic externalities : an intergrated approach to regional economic development
- Authors: Zeelie, Eben Johannes
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Industrial clusters , Regional economics , Regional economic disparities , Economic development , Regional planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8594 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1086 , Industrial clusters , Regional economics , Regional economic disparities , Economic development , Regional planning
- Description: From the broad overview of the cluster literature, the proposition emerges that the manipulation of regional economic structural and cluster factor conditions within a geographically proximate region can translate into sustainable regional economic growth outcomes. As a first step in exploring this research, a theoretical framework for the conceptualisation of industry clusters was established and a methodological framework applied to statistically identify major manufacturing value chain clusters in the Eastern Cape Province. This methodology combines a strength-of-linkage measure for all pairs of supply and use sectors (as revealed in the systematic analysis of intermediate purchasing and sales patterns in the South African Final Supply and Use Tables: 2002) with the application of Ward’s hierarchical cluster algorithm to map the national benchmark value chain clusters in the South African national economy. The ensuing national value chain benchmark cluster framework was then transposed to the Eastern Cape Province to reveal cluster concentrations and gaps that exist in the value chain clusters in the province. The methodology applied in this study provides an objective and clear perspective of inter-industry linkages in the South African economy and produces more detailed and evenly distributed clusters than traditional cluster identification methodologies. Secondary linkages were determined for each of the twenty-six core value chain clusters to depict the diversity of sectors linked to the respective core clusters. In transposing the national benchmark value chain cluster framework onto the Eastern Cape Province economy, a number of distinct advantages emerge. Firstly, it reveals gaps in value chain cluster groupings that may be filled through industry recruiting or regional business development strategies. However, not all industries absent from value chain clusters in the region are equally attractive for recruitment. Henceforth, the number of direct and indirect linkages to industries absent from the Eastern Cape Province serves as a measure of their relative attractiveness when considering their recruitment into the region. vi The benchmark value chain cluster framework alone does not explain which agglomeration externalities are generated and exploited within each cluster, but it served as the overarching framework for the remainder of the research. Accordingly, the value chain cluster framework was applied to evidence whether specialisation, competition or diversity (represented by MAR, Porter and Jacobs economies respectively) is the operative mechanism in generating cluster growth in the Eastern Cape Province. Since agglomeration externalities are not directly observable, construct-valid indicators for the various externalities, as well as appropriate mechanisms to empirically assess the statistical relevance of MAR-, Porter and Jacobs economies in stimulating cluster growth, were established. This thesis added to agglomeration literature by disaggregating the standard measure of diversity externalities into two unique diversity indicators, namely supply diversity (SDiv) and use diversity (UDiv). The SDiv- and UDiv coefficients measure the degree to which a value chain cluster’s supplying/user sectoral mix at provincial level differs from that of the cluster grouping at the national level. This distinction between supply-and use diversity developed in this study firstly provides a clearer insight into the relative regional presence of supplying- and using sectors to the various value chain clusters, and secondly, serves as a useful mechanism to regional policymakers in identifying industries that may be targeted for investment into a region. Therefore, by separating the diversity into its two components, a clear distinction can be drawn between the impact of supplying- and using sectors on value chain cluster growth in a particular region. From a narrow perspective, the empirical findings validate both the Marshall Arrow Romer- (small positive impact of regional cluster concentration) and the Jacobs theory (significant positive impact of cluster supply- and use diversity on cluster growth), while it invalidates Porter’s theory (no correlation between competition and cluster performance). The positive effect size recorded between the level of value chain cluster concentration and differential growth indicates that policy makers in the Eastern Cape Province will be well advised to direct growth interventions towards larger concentrated clusters, than towards smaller, incipient value chain clusters. Additionally, vii the effectiveness of targeted inward FDI to the Eastern Cape Province may be raised by evaluating the economic impact against current value chain cluster structure, as well as the effect on the supply- and use diversities of existing value chain clusters in the province. This thesis has also illustrated that value chain clusters that are concentrated in the region, show a positive effect size with the level of supply diversity in the region. Conversely, value chain clusters that reflect high levels of competitiveness record a positive effect size with use diversity. Policy interventions aimed at raising the performance of value chain clusters typified by smaller players in a competitive environment, should therefore consider raising the respective levels of use diversity in the region. This research awakens the proposition that a reliance on a serendipitous approach to generate dynamic externalities is not sufficient, and that certain factor conditions favour the transfer of tacit knowledge between cluster members. Accordingly, this research empirically explored whether statistically significant relationships can be detected between the common cluster elements, or factor conditions, that serve as conduits for the transfer of dynamic externalities and value chain cluster growth in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings indicate that linkages with knowledge generating institutions in the Eastern Cape Province do, albeit to a relatively small extent, have an impact on value chain cluster growth, and validates the assertion that cognitive enhancing institutions contribute to cluster growth. The importance of backward and forward linkages in nurturing regional growth is signified by the moderate effect size recorded by the level of vertical linkages and total value chain cluster growth. Similarly, a moderate effect size was recorded between the level of horizontal linkages and value chain cluster growth, which shows that cooperation amongst competing firms do stimulate cluster and regional growth in the Eastern Cape Province and affirms the proposition that inter-firm linkages on both vertical- and horizontal levels stimulate cluster growth. An expectation was that the institutional framework conditions would have a significant impact on value chain cluster growth in the Eastern Cape Province. However, the empirical findings reflect that the institutional framework conditions have no statistical impact on value chain cluster growth. The study also found a moderate, positive effect size between value chain cluster size (number of employees) and growth, which shows viii that size matters in regional growth. In other words, in contrast to their European counterparts, the larger the number of employees per value chain cluster, the greater the impact on value chain cluster growth in the Eastern Cape Province.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
A model for the alignment of ICT education with business ICT skills requirements
- Authors: Calitz, André Paul
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1418 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching
- Description: The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills shortage is of national and international concern. Modern business practices require the implementation of new technologies supported by a workforce with current and diversified ICT skill-sets. Acquiring suitable ICT skills has become a difficult task and employers are seeing government intervention at all levels. The school system in South Africa is under increased pressure and is faced with continuously declining matriculation pass rates, specifically in subjects such as science and mathematics. Schools are experiencing a decline in the number of scholars (learners) enrolling for the Information Technology (IT) school curriculum. The IT curriculum at school level is being criticised; under-prepared teachers are blamed and lack of suitable facilities highlighted. Surveys conducted amongst grade 9 and grade 12 scholars in the Eastern Cape have shown that scholars are not considering careers in ICT. Teachers, career/guidance counsellors and parents contribute to scholars' career decisions and are not encouraging scholars to pursue careers in ICT. Tertiary institutions in South Africa and internationally, are experiencing a decline in student enrolments and in pass and throughput rates. Industry is holding tertiary institutions responsible for not providing the “correct” ICT graduate skill-sets and passing an insufficient number of quality ICT graduates desperately required by industry. The accreditation of computing degree programs, such as Computer Science (CS), Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT), collectively referred to as CIT, offered by tertiary institutions is becoming an international requirement. The ICT industry is constantly changing and new job requirements and new career opportunities are frequently introduced. Graduates entering the ICT industry should have acquired knowledge about ICT career tracks in order to specialise and choose a suitable career path. Tertiary CIT degree programs should further be linked to specific career tracks and provide a multi-disciplined education to graduates. ii ICT graduates working in industry utilise skills obtained in under-graduate and post-graduate CIT degree programs. The ICT graduates have also obtained valuable skills working in industry, including business skills and soft skills. ICT skill surveys have identified the graduate skills gap, indicating ICT skills industry requires from graduates completing tertiary level qualifications. ICT graduates working in industry, for example indicated that programming in some cases is over-emphasised at school and tertiary level and that soft skills are ignored by tertiary institutions. An ICT Graduate Skills Classifications Framework is developed to address the graduate ICT skills gap and highlight important business skills, soft skills, technical skills and programming skills required by industry. In this thesis, an Industry ICT Value Chain Model is further developed that suggests a holistic approach to the problems experienced at all levels of ICT skills development, including government, industry, tertiary education institutions and at school level. Results from a number of research surveys conducted along the proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model indicated that problems exist at all stages in the value chain and that the problems can only be addressed involving government, industry and tertiary institutions collectively. A number of interventions is required and the support from industry is essential in achieving overall success in addressing the ICT skills shortage in South Africa. A proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model that can be utilised to address the ICT skills shortage in South Africa is presented.
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- Date Issued: 2010
An investigation of financial and operational efficiency of pension funds in Kenya
- Authors: Njuguna, Amos Gitau
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Pension trusts -- Kenya , Pension trusts -- Kenya -- Management , Pension trusts -- Investments -- Kenya , Retirement income -- Kenya , Retirees -- Kenya -- Finance, Personal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8679 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1144 , Pension trusts -- Kenya , Pension trusts -- Kenya -- Management , Pension trusts -- Investments -- Kenya , Retirement income -- Kenya , Retirees -- Kenya -- Finance, Personal
- Description: Pension funds are the principal sources of retirement income for millions of people in the world. Pension funds are also important contributors to the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries. This study focuses on pension funds in Kenya. Retirement income accounts for 68 percent of the total income of retirees in Kenya, while pension assets account for 30 percent of Kenya’s GDP. It is therefore important that pension funds be managed effectively, not only in Kenya, but also in other countries. The primary objective of the study is to investigate ways of enhancing pension fund efficiency by establishing the determinants of such efficiency. More specifically, the study explores the effect that the organisational culture, regulations, investment strategy, ethics, risk management, design, size and the age profile of members of pension funds exert on the efficiency of these funds. A sample of 749 pension funds was drawn from the Kenyan Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) register. The sample selection was based on the criterion that these pension funds should have been in existence within the period 2001 to 2008. Seven hundred and forty-nine (749) questionnaires were mailed to the trustees of these pension funds. Three hundred and sixty-two (362) usable questionnaires were returned, which translated into a response rate of 48.3 per cent. Except for financial efficiency, self-constructed instruments based on secondary literature reviews were used to measure the variables in the hypothesised model to improve pension fund efficiency. Appropriate steps were taken to ensure the validity and reliability of these measuring instruments. The empirical results revealed that leadership, governance, regulations, design, membership age and size of funds had no significant influence on operational efficiency of these funds. The results further showed that the membership age, design, regulations and operational efficiency of pension funds exerted no significant influence on their financial efficiency. The results also revealed that the membership age, size and design of pension funds did not influence how these funds were led by their leadership. iv The empirical results however showed that smaller pension funds were perceived to exhibit better financial efficiency, while pension funds with membership aged 31 - 40 were perceived to be better governed compared to other age groups. Finally, in rigorous structural equation analyses, no significant relationships were found between fund regulations (independent variable), on the one hand, and fund governance and leadership (dependent variables), on the other hand. Use of simple linear regression however disclosed a significant positive relationship between the afore-mentioned independent variable and dependent variables.
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- Date Issued: 2010
The development of a technology-strategy framework to improve the competitiveness of small-to medium-sized furniture manufacturers in South Africa
- Authors: Lourens, Ann Sharon
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Furniture industry and trade -- Effect of technological innnovations on -- South Africa , Furniture industry and trade -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Technology strategy , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8658 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1329 , Furniture industry and trade -- Effect of technological innnovations on -- South Africa , Furniture industry and trade -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Technology strategy , Competition
- Description: The research problem addressed in this study was to establish how small- to medium-sized furniture manufacturing businesses could develop a technology strategy that would improve their competitiveness. Therefore, the primary objective of this research study was to develop a technology-strategy framework for small- to medium-sized furniture manufacturers to assist them to improve their competitiveness. Research has indicated that small- to medium-sized furniture manufacturers have the potential to contribute to South Africa‟s economic growth, job creation and gross domestic product. However, research has also indicated that small- to medium-sized furniture manufacturing industries have not kept up with technology developments and, as a result, competiveness is on the decline. Low-technology businesses, such as those found within the furniture manufacturing industry, often have no framework or methodology to guide the successful acquisition and integration of technology to enable a more competitive business. The main problem was addressed in three phases. Firstly, a literature review of strategy and technology-related factors was conducted which provided valuable insight into the development of a strategic framework. This included identification of the business strategy, external and internal factors influencing technology requirements, technology integration, -selection and criterion for competitiveness. Secondly, an empirical study consisting of both a quantitative and qualitative investigation was performed. The quantitative measuring instrument used was a questionnaire designed from the literature study information and was administered to a stratified sample of small- to medium-sized furniture manufacturers. The quantitative results were triangulated by qualitative interviews with selected respondents. The empirical results revealed a strong relationship between technology and competitiveness (as measured by business performance and technology- iv competitive advantage), thereby confirming the importance of technology utilisation for small- to medium-sized furniture manufacturers and the significance of developing a technology-strategy framework. Thirdly, by combining the literature study information and findings from the empirical investigation, the technology-strategy framework was developed. The technology-strategy framework provides a roadmap to integrate technology with the business strategy. The technology-strategy framework is used in three phases, firstly, the business strategy is identified, secondly, the technology-strategy framework provides a guide to identify and forecast technology, conduct an internal audit and identify technology that can execute the business strategy. The final phase is the application of criteria by means of which competitiveness improvement is assessed. Ultimately, the technology-strategy framework can facilitate improved competitiveness of the furniture industry.
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- Date Issued: 2010
Improving organisational effectiveness of public enterprises in Kenya
- Authors: Koigi, Alice Nyambura
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Organisational effectiveness -- Kenya , Organisational change -- Kenya , Performance (Management) , Government business enterprises -- Kenya -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8660 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1316 , Organisational effectiveness -- Kenya , Organisational change -- Kenya , Performance (Management) , Government business enterprises -- Kenya -- Management
- Description: To achieve effectiveness and efficiency in public enterprises, change is needed. Due to the rapid changing global environment and increasing demand for service delivery, continuous change is needed. Changes have been taking place in the Kenyan public sector since 2003. The public enterprises in Kenya, like in most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, have been characterised by slow and bureaucratic processes that retard organisational performance. Employees and managers in these enterprises have been perceived as not performing as they should. Kenyan public enterprises are important to the economy of the country. They provide social services to the Kenyan population and employ about 654 200 people. The latter translated in a wage bill of 84 378 million Kenyan Shillings (Ksh 80 = 1 US dollar). There is therefore a need to investigate ways to improve individual and organisational performance, collectively viewed as organisational effectiveness in this study, in these enterprises. It is generally accepted that leadership and organisational culture play a critical role in managing the effectiveness of enterprises. In this study, leadership style (transactional and transformational), leadership personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, masculinity, femininity, individualism and collectivism) and organisational culture (entrepreneurial and market-orientation), strategic management, corporate ethics are investigated determinants of organisational effectiveness. A survey approach was used to collect data from 670 senior executives from 134 Kenyan public (state) enterprises. Two hundred and fifty-six (256) useful survey responses from 53 public enterprises were received. Structural equation modelling (SEM) statistical technique was used to test the hypothesised relationships between the above-mentioned determinants and the dependent variables (individual performance intention and organisational performance). The descriptive statistics of the raw data were also analysed to ascertain the managers’ perceptions about these determinants in the public enterprises. The empirical results revealed that transformational leadership exerts a positive influence on both organisational performance and individual performance intention; that self-deceptive narcissism motivates individual performance intent but decreases organisational performance; that an entrepreneurial, market and strategic management orientation positively influences organisational performance; and that strategy implementation positively influences individual performance intent. In view of these findings, the study concludes that it is critical that leadership styles and leadership personalities be taken into account in leadership recruitment and development process in Kenya public enterprises. Kenyan public enterprises will also improve their organisational performance if they implement entrepreneurial, market and strategic management principles.
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- Date Issued: 2011
A model to promote entrepreneurial competitiveness in the South African telecommunications sector
- Authors: Oberholzer, Stephanus Marius
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Telecommunication -- Planning -- South Africa , Business planning -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8769 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012150 , Telecommunication -- Planning -- South Africa , Business planning -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship
- Description: The fast pace of technological advancements is a driver of change in the world. In telecommunications, advancements as well as sector transformation pose challenges to entrepreneurs to remain competitive. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the promotion of entrepreneurial competitiveness in the telecommunications sector in South Africa. In order to achieve this purpose, the objective was to develop and test a theoretical model to promote entrepreneurial competitiveness in this sector. The purpose of the study was that if the factors that influence entrepreneurial businesses in this sector can be identified and recommendations applied, the competitiveness of these businesses can be improved. The approach was as follows: 1. Identify the factors, in a literature review, in three areas related to this study, namely, Entrepreneurial Orientation, Telecommunications and Benchmarking; 2. Develop a conceptual theoretical model comprising these identified factors which formed the base for the data collection; 3. Develop a measuring instrument to empirically test the relationships described in the conceptual model; 4. Empirically test the proposed model and suggested hypotheses by means of sourcing data from entrepreneurs in the telecommunications sector in South Africa and thereafter statistically analyse the sourced data; 5. Formulate the final theoretical model to support the research objective and 6. Propose recommendations based on the results of the statistical analysis. The three areas of literature study analysed were Entrepreneurial Orientation which focused on the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial process and the positioning of technological entrepreneurs in the sector. The telecommunications section included an overview of telecommunications from a global perspective followed by specific focus on the South African sector. The section on benchmarking covered business performance aspects together with measurement techniques and benchmarking institutions relevant to entrepreneurship and telecommunications businesses. Initially, the literature study delivered four intervening variables (Entrepreneurial Orientation, Opportunity Recognition, Resource Allocation and Strategic Positioning) which influence entrepreneurial competitiveness. Within these four intervening variables, twelve underlying independent variables were identified. All the variables were hypothesised as they were perceived significantly to influence the dependent variable, perceived to be entrepreneurial competitiveness in the telecommunications sector in South Africa. These factors, clearly defined and operationalised, were structured in a questionnaire which was sent to entrepreneurs in the telecommunications sector. A response rate of 37 percent was achieved. Data collected from 301 questionnaires were subjected to various statistical analysis techniques. Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument that was tested whilst the latent variables were confirmed by exploratory factor analysis. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesised significance of the relationships between the variables. Due to the sample size limitation, the conceptual model could not be subjected to SEM as a whole and consequently two sub-models were identified and subjected to further analysis. The SEM results presented the factors influencing entrepreneurial competitiveness whereafter the final model was presented for this study. This study contributed to this specific field of knowledge as follows: 1. New literature contributions are made in the field of entrepreneurial competitiveness in a specific sector; 2. It is the first known research conducted into the promotion of entrepreneurial competitiveness in the telecommunications sector in South Africa; 3. A theoretical model was developed that can be used to promote entrepreneurial competitiveness in the sector and 4. It suggests recommendations on empirically tested factors that significantly influence entrepreneurial competitiveness. Additional knowledge has been gained through the identification and description of how the following individual factors significantly influence entrepreneurial competitiveness in this sector: Benchmarking; Entrepreneurial Mindset; Entrepreneurial Management; Entrepreneurial Orientation; Financial Resources; Infrastructural Change; Regulatory Alignment and Technological Entrepreneurship. The present study was conducted in a time frame where sector transformation is prevalent in South Africa. The current circumstances relating to sector transformation and infrastructural changes will not last forever. The theoretical model therefore is limited to the specific sector conditions in a specific time cycle. In conclusion, the model and managerial recommendations that are presented can act as a guideline for entrepreneurs to adopt in order to improve the competitiveness of their businesses.
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- Date Issued: 2012
A performance management model for universities in Uganda
- Authors: Karuhanga, Bernadette Nambi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Performance standards -- Uganda , Universities and colleges -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6717 , vital:21138
- Description: As far as could be established, no empirical study had been conducted with the aim of designing a performance management model for systematically managing institutional performance at public universities in Uganda. The purpose of this study therefore, was to develop an institutional performance management model for universities in Uganda. This was achieved by establishing: the extent to which public universities in Uganda implemented institutional performance management, the challenges impacting institutional performance management implementation in universities in Uganda, how public universities could ensure effective institutional performance management implementation, the various measures of institutional performance that are applicable to universities in Uganda and the key components of the institutional performance management model that could be adopted by universities in Uganda in managing institutional performance. A mixed methods approach was adopted, applying both the qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Phenomenology and cross sectional survey strategies were adopted. Interviews were conducted with purposively selected top administrators of a selected public university and the results informed the survey questionnaire. This instrument was later administered to academic staff in four public universities using a disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that strategic planning in public universities in Uganda does exist and it is aimed at achieving quality. Despite the existence of strategic planning, academic staff are uncertain about a number of issues related to strategic planning. Respondents generally disagreed that: performance management training is continuously provided to managers and staff, they have an effective performance management system and a formal process exists for units to provide feedback on the attainment of goals. Among the challenges impacting performance management implementation in universities in Uganda was: (i) Lack of a formal performance management environment; (ii) Limited employee engagement/communication problems; (iii) Institutional systems and structural challenges; (iv) Institutional governance challenges. The identified factors for the successful implementation of institutional performance management were categorised into four groups namely: (i) A performance framework, performance culture and employee support; (ii) An individual performance management system; (iii) Alignment; (iv) SMART goal setting. The study established that performance measures for public universities in Uganda could be categorised into five categories namely: (i) Leadership practices, infrastructure and academic profile; (ii) Accountability; (iii) Involvement with external stakeholders; (iv) Information and knowledge transfer; (v) Strategic implementation. Finally, the proposed performance management model consisted of three phases namely: (i) Designing the strategy; (ii) Implementation of the strategy; (iii) Evaluating rewarding and improving performance. University managers should pay close attention to the identified challenges while ensuring that the factors that facilitate successful performance management implementation are in place. The measures identified by this study could be used by policy makers and universities to determine the extent of performance of the various universities, not only in Uganda but also in sub-Saharan Africa and the proposed model could be adopted by universities in Uganda as well as by all institutions of higher learning during institutional performance management implementation. Ultimately, the success of the implementation process is vested fully in the commitment and willingness of management and the employees to participate in the entire process right from the design stage to the evaluation stage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Best practices to create an enabling environment for SME incubation in South Africa
- Authors: Dames, Ricardo Shane
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Business incubators -- South Africa , New business enterprises -- South Africa , Small businesses -- South Africa -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:9301 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015031
- Description: The humble beginnings of business incubators date back to the 1970s in the USA and United Kingdom, where abandoned industrial buildings were converted to rent out to small businesses. South Africa (SA) was first introduced to business incubation in the 1980s when the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) established a number of business ‘hives’ and provided business space to entrepreneurs to operate their businesses. In their most basic form, business incubators provide a safe and nurturing environment for entrepreneurs to establish their small businesses. While in incubation, the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are supported with a number of services which assist their growth and development until they are able to exit the incubator as sustainable and viable businesses. Global incubator models have matured significantly, and now include assisting with business idea generation, accelerating business start-ups and commercialisation processes, and identifying high-growth orientated SMEs to assist them with gaining market access. The establishment of business incubators was a government-driven initiative, and more than 33 SME incubators exist in SA. Most of the incubators are government-funded, and have focused on the establishment and growth of SMEs to act as a catalyst to promote economic development and alleviate socio-economic challenges such as unemployment and poverty. Despite these noble objectives, incubation in SA has not been fully utilised, and a high SME failure rate still prevails in the country. One of the reasons for SME failure may be ascribed to the lack of an enabling SME incubation environment in SA. When compared to other developing countries such as Brazil with as many as 400 incubators, it is clear that the SA incubation industry still needs further development. The purpose of this study therefore was to ascertain the best practices of global business incubators in both developed and developing countries, and how SA incubators could learn from these best practices to create a more conducive and enabling SME incubation environment. Background literature on business incubation with a specific focus on best practices in world incubators in both developed and developing countries, was reviewed. Some of the literature reviewed included Aernoudt (2004), Buys and Mbewana (2007) and Chandra (2009). From the literature review, four main best practice areas were identified, namely strategic focus, sources of funding, incubator services, and the role of government. The study followed a qualitative approach, and an interview schedule was developed to seek the perceptions of incubator managers on how the four identified best practices can be utilised to create an enabling SA incubation environment. A survey was conducted by interviewing 14 incubator managers (twelve government and two private) in SA. Data was collected over a six-month period, using face-to-face and telephonic interviews. Data was analysed using the content analysis, constant comparison, grounded theory and case study methods. The biographical profiles of the incubator managers and incubators were presented in case studies. An initial analysis was made to identify themes and sub themes within the four best practices explored, using the constant comparison method. Thereafter a provincial comparative analysis was made, as well as a comparison of government funded versus privately funded incubators. The findings suggested that there is a relatively high turnover in incubator management, and that they often do not have incubator management experience. A provincial comparison of SA incubators revealed that their strategic focuses are greatly influenced by the industry prevailing in the various provinces. All SA incubators provide pre- and post incubation services, but few are utilising virtual incubation. Most SA incubators are government-funded, and some use a hybrid funding model. It was evident that most SA incubators are aware of government policies and programmes available to assist them on local, provincial and national levels. A comparison of the best practices of two developing countries and three developed countries, as well as suggestions made by SA incubator managers indicated that SA has indeed followed best practices from both developing and developed countries, but there are areas of non-alignment which provide scope for improvement, to create a more conducive and enabling incubation environment. This study recommends that incubators should have an entrepreneurial focus, and reposition and align their strategic focus with government policies and instruments. SA incubators must pursue opportunities for virtual incubation as well as linkages with academic institutions, in order to offer value-added services such as research, development and commercialisation of the product ideas. Incubators in SA must pursue a hybrid funding model with a combination of government and private funding, and generate some or their own income. With regard to the role of government, it is recommended that the roll-out of more industry-specific incubators be privatised, and that an overseeing body for incubation be established.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Critical factors for enabling knowledge sharing between government agencies within South Africa
- Authors: Mannie, Avain
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Administrative agencies , Knowledge management , Business intelligence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8822 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019699
- Description: Globally, organisations have recognised the strategic importance of knowledge management (KM) and are increasingly focusing their efforts on practices to foster the creation, sharing and integration of knowledge. Whilst most research in Knowledge Management (KM) has focused on the private sector, there is a breadth of potential applications of KM theory and practice for government agencies to adopt in search of resolving pertinent problems. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the effectiveness of knowledge management towards collaborative problem solving in government. What is missing is research-based evidence of the factors that influence the main factors for knowledge sharing across government agencies. Given this gap, the researcher addresses the research question: In government agencies mandated to resolve issues of crime, what are the key factors required which support and influence the collaborative sharing culture? Upon analysing the data, the researcher found the following key factors as being determinants on knowledge management: organisational culture, learning organisation, collaboration, subject matter experts and trust. The two factors – organisational culture and learning organisation were identified as the most significant factors which lay as the root or core for the ‘knowledge tree’. Once these roots are in place, the other factors will gain their significance on knowledge management. These findings serve to extend the findings of the existing literature within the government sector. This study is important because the findings provide government agencies with critically important information to guide their actions towards ensuring a knowledge sharing culture is embedded in government. Whilst the empirical findings do not focus on databases or information technology specifically, it is important to acknowledge the use of both technology and people. The main concern is with managing an organisation’s knowledge assets: creating, storing, protecting, disseminating and using mission-critical knowledge. When people need knowledge, is it the right knowledge and is it timely and easy to locate and access? Is this precious commodity updated as learning occurs and better ways of doing things are discovered? The awareness of the value of knowledge to a business, coupled with its leadership, acts as an integrator that improves cross- functional communication and cooperation. Shared knowledge not only makes for a more effective, efficient and agile organisation, but creates a common perspective and culture that produces a natural consistency of successful decisions and actions. The collaborative knowledge tree model proposed in this study uses the analogy of a tree when viewing South African government agencies as the branches of a collective tree (government). This ‘tree’ requires leaders and policy making to ‘dig deep’ into understanding the roots of the tree in order to ensure that the appropriate ‘seeds’ are planted such that the tree grows and is able to provide the necessary fruit required. Ultimately, as suggested by former President Thabo Mbeki (2012) in his address, the role of knowledge would thus be seen as a collaborative means towards the betterment of society.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Determinants of customer satisfaction and retention: a survey of the banking industry in Kenya
- Authors: Mburu, Peris Njoki
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Customer services -- Kenya , Consumer satisfaction -- Banks and banking -- Kenya , Customer relations -- Management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8787 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014106
- Description: Customers have become the lifeblood of any organisation. Without customers, or-ganisations would not exist let alone survive in this competitive global environment (Grigoroudis, Politis and Siskos, 2002). Banks depend on sufficient and sustaining profitability to survive in the global business world. Customers are the source of banks‟ profitability. By satisfying the customer, the bank is able to retain the custom-er and reap maximum benefits from the relationship which ultimately leads to higher profitability. Customer satisfaction has therefore evolved as a strategic business ini-tiative which banks cannot ignore. Retention of the bank customer has become one of the most important objectives of the overall marketing strategy of any bank. In Kenya, the term „customer service‟ came to the fore just over fifteen years ago when banks started acquiring customer service departments. Since then, many cus-tomer training programs for staff have been put in place to transform the image of the customer as not just a profit-maker for the banks but as a human being with needs, which if not fulfilled will cause the customer to look for alternatives in the market. Training has focused on the bank staff whose customer handling skills have been sharpened. In spite of this, no empirical study has attempted to find out if the intended satisfaction of the customer has been achieved or not, which is indicative of little or no attention being given to this important phenomenon. In Africa, with the ex-ception of South Africa, empirical studies on customer satisfaction in the banking in-dustry are few. This gap presented the motivation for this study. The primary objective was to establish the determinants of customer satisfaction and retention in the Kenyan banking industry. The secondary objectives were to establish the relationship between socio-economic factors and customer satisfaction in Ken-yan banks; secondly, to determine whether bank-related factors influence customer satisfaction in Kenyan banks; thirdly, to identify the various strategies known to cus-tomers and employed by Kenyan banks to ensure customer satisfaction and customer retention and finally, to analyse the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer retention in Kenyan banks. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to suit the target population which was dispersed over a wide geographical region spanning the entire Kenya. The tar-get population included every bank customer in Kenya. Both qualitative and quantita-tive data were used. The data collection instrument was a self-administered ques-tionnaire that contained both closed and open-ended questions. Statistical tests were done using Pearson, Chi Square, Anova, Pearson Correlation and Multi-linear re-gression. Data were presented using frequency distribution tables, percentages, cross tabulation and pie charts. The findings indicated a positive relationship be-tween bank-related factors and customer satisfaction and retention. The conclusion was that if banks improved on factors like quality service, staff orientation towards customers, availability of management and ATM uptimes just to name a few, propor-tionately, customer satisfaction and retention would be enhanced. Finally, recommendations based on the findings were made to the Kenyan banks highlighting antecedents which would enhance the customers‟ satisfaction and reten-tion in the Kenyan banking industry.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Marketers' perceptions of negotiation behaviour in a global scale
- Authors: Burhan, Ahmad Mtengwa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Negotiation in business -- Tanzania , Business enterprises -- Tanzania , Export marketing -- Tanzania
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:9297 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013705
- Description: The success of international business depends on effective negotiations. Such negotiations do no happen in a vacuum, but usually in a specific environment that includes; time, surrounding, place, culture and people. The business environmental setting includes legal and political pluralism, currency fluctuations, foreign exchange, foreign government controls, bureaucracy, instability, change, ideological and cultural differences, as well as the influence of external stakeholders. These business negotiations environments can influence the behaviour of negotiation in global firms, impacting firms internationally. The reasons to negotiate on an international level may include considerations such as: choice of venue, culture to observe; and the outcome of the negotiation process. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the international marketing environment, awareness of negotiation skill, interest groups and negotiation atmosphere on behaviour of marketers in a global firm. The study assessed the impact of negotiation behaviour on business agreements based on trust and certainty and level of commitment. The purpose of the study was to gauge the impact of negotiations behaviour pertaining to failure of business negotiations in Tanzania. In addition, the study endeavoured to determine the impact of environmental variables on the negotiation behaviour of marketers. The questionnaires used in the study comprised seven variables with statements linked to a five-point Likert-type interval scale varying from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree. Self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection from global firms’ marketers and their management representatives; 323 questionnaires were collected from respondents. This study contributed to the literature on negotiation behaviour in a global firm and the perceptions of such global marketers in Tanzania. Many international companies in Tanzania find it difficult to formulate and implement a comprehensive business strategy; therefore, this study intends to equip international business managers with the leadership skills required. Based on the findings of this study, the negotiators and government are expected to play a major role in business negotiations to promote effective trade agreements despite limitations of political influence in the negotiation process. Political stability in a country enhances foreign business which in turn improves negotiation behaviour. A just legal system, with clear and unambiguous business guidelines and policies would benefit and promote local businesses and government representatives and negotiators in respect of international business negotiation behaviour. Reasonable tax and interest rates and fair business policies should improve international trade negotiations and business practices. In order to conduct successful international negotiations aspects such as culture, language differences, customs and traditions are important and should enjoy high priority. Aspects such as these mentioned influence the conducting and atmosphere and outcome of negotiations. The study reveals that the use of specialists and interpreters are imperative to guarantee understanding and successful outcomes. According to the findings negotiators should possess good negotiating skills to be able to steer the negotiation process through the different phases of negotiation that requires different negotiating skills at each stage of negotiation. It is clear that to have successful win-win negotiation outcomes the leading negotiator should put together a good team, with expert knowledge of product or conditions and negotiating skill, as well as possessing the attributes mentioned in the previous paragraph. The negotiator should also be able to determine authority limits, patience and observe negotiation ethics. No team disagreements concerning the business/project matters should be aired in front of counterparts during negotiations and professional conduct must prevail at all times. The findings of the study indicated that awareness of the practice of offering concessions regarding government tariff laws and price discounts that is in line with traditions in Tanzania. Concessions should not be made until all issues have been discussed, to avoid granting unnecessary benefits during negotiation that might be interpreted as bribery. This study concluded that it is important that marketers meet the requirements of business practices by sharing clear guidelines and policies regarding business practices, as this will lead to fruitful decisions. It was also found that negotiation behaviour improves when negotiators are willing to share information and agree that all communication must be in writing; marketers are more comfortable when there is a clear understanding of matters agreed upon, the choice of trading partners and that all trading agreements are written and a contract signed by all the parties, including governments where necessary. Marketers’ intentions are derived from the common interests of both parties and the negotiations should always take place in avenue that is suitable to both parties, conducted in fairness and offers must be reasonable and attainable with a positive outcome as the ultimate aim for both parties. This study reveals that negotiators insist on the use an agent or agents and sub-contractors to ensure mutually beneficial strategic business partnerships. However, when the role of the interest groups is explained to all participants, negotiation behaviour improves. It can also be concluded that negotiators allow interest groups to participate as team leaders and their number should be equal to the number of foreign negotiators, to ensure that marketers feel more at ease and comfortable to participate. An atmosphere based on bargaining power exerts a positive influence on the level of commitment among negotiating partners; and can be a predictor of the range of agreement as well as shape limits and priorities among dimensions of rivalry. However, it is important for marketers to express willingness to accept the terms of their counterpart’s bargaining zone regardless of non-profitable quotas at stake; identify areas of bargaining from foreign traders even if they are not attractive enough for local traders and are comfortable with the counterparts’ bargaining zone regarding fixed rates on exporting and importing quotas between trading partners to build trust among negotiators. In conclusion, it was found that negotiation behaviour has a positive influence on the level of commitment of trading partners. A positive business relationship is created on trust and a high-level of commitment which should be of great satisfaction to negotiating parties for future prospective negotiations.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Stakeholder management for urban development projects in South Africa
- Authors: Mgemane, Lesley Musa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa , Project management , City planning -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:9014 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018588
- Description: The study arose from a research issue that is both practical and theoretical. The apparent challenges of a stakeholder management nature in the execution of urban development projects in South Africa led to the conception of the study. However, the most compelling need for the study was the theoretical gap – in the urban development theory, in the projects theory, and particularly in the stakeholder management theory – on the management of stakeholders in the South African urban development projects. As a result, the value of the study is both managerial and scholarly. The urban development concept is understood to be referring to the development of urban areas for the purpose of improving the quality of life in the cities, and the development of the infrastructure to enable economic growth. Urban development projects, as vehicles for accomplishing urban development, are important for a newly industrialised economy (NIE) like South Africa. Also, as a result of the political past – in the form of a systematic preferential development based on racial segregation by the previous government, and the two decades of subjection of South Africa to economic and cultural isolation by the international community – South Africa has a huge backlog with regard to the two general purposes of urban development: social progress and economic progress. Consequently, urban development projects in South Africa are very critical and important, particularly for geopolitical and socio-economic reasons. Judging by the extensive negative media coverage, many of the South African urban development projects demonstrate poor stakeholder management. The list of urban development projects that have experienced stakeholder related challenges in South Africa is endless: the Johannesburg BRT project, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement project, the Transnet multi-product pipeline-construction project, the Chapman’s Peak toll-road project, the Kusile and Medupi power stations construction projects, are some examples. The project management profession and body of knowledge view stakeholder management in a serious light, actually a failure in adequately implementing stakeholder management in a project is tantamount to a failure of the project itself. There is also a consensus among numerous researchers that there is a general lack of knowledge for project managers on how to manage stakeholders, particularly external stakeholders. Stakeholder management is a poorly understood and, usually a very badly implemented project management discipline. Managing projects in Africa, and by inference in South Africa, can be particularly complex – given the involvement of multiple stakeholders and their historical, geopolitical, economic relationships, and cultural differences. The study set out to develop a framework to improve the management of stakeholders in urban development projects – by investigating the critical success factors that have an influence on stakeholder management success in urban development projects in South Africa. This study is important primarily because there seems to be no previous research conducted on this important project management discipline, stakeholder management of urban development projects; and there seems to be a neglect of stakeholder management duties by urban development projects agencies, and by inference, projects practitioners in South Africa. A theoretical space was created for this study in the fraternal literature of previous studies on critical success factors and/or stakeholder management in construction projects – as there seem to be none undertaken in the urban development environment, particularly in the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Climate change mitigation strategies and its effect on economic change
- Authors: Roux, Louis Johannes
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects , Climate change mitigation , Global warming -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020816
- Description: Scientists started to study the relationship between changing weather patterns and the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful gasses. They soon discovered compelling evidence that CO2 concentration and other gases have been increasing and it was causing temperatures to increase in certain areas on the earth, which disturb historic weather patterns. Climate change has become a very popular field of study in the modern science. Europe first introduced measures to reduce carbon emissions but it was the Kyoto in 1997 where global leaders were asked to participate in a joint protocol to reduce greenhouse gases. South Africa responded to climate change challenges in 2008 with the Long term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS). The Integrated Resource Plan for electricity to 2030 was developed from the LTMS scenarios and after some major amendments it was accepted and promulgated by Government and has recently been included in the National Development Plan to 2030 (NDP). There are concerns about the achievability of some of the objectives listed in the NDP and this study explored the IRP2010 as the proposed strategy to meet energy demand and reduce emissions. The purpose for this study was to answer this question: Is there an optimum climate change mitigation strategy for South Africa and how can the effect thereof be simulated on economic growth? Through primary and secondary research during the study it was possible to define some 32 categories of energy producing assets that are commercially active or nearly market-ready. The characteristics of the various assets and the relevant fuel are defined in mathematical equations. It was found that the three portfolios that matched the 450TWh electricity requirement would perform substantially better than the NDP portfolio in terms of cost and similar on emissions with marginally fewer employment opportunities created. The proposed electricity strategy in this study was 390TWh and 33.5 Million tonnes of oil consumption by 2030. This strategy was substantially more affordable than the 450TWh strategy. Trends in the Supply and Use tables since 1993 were studied and then forecasted to 2030 to determine consumption levels on electricity and liquid fuel into the future. It was found that electricity demand is seriously overestimated and South Africa would end up with large excess capacity in electricity infrastructures if the NDP energy strategy (IRP2010) is implemented. It is concluded that the NDP energy strategy to 2030 is based on an incorrect electricity demand forecast. It would lead to excessive investment in an electricity infrastructure. Government has confirmed that part of the new infrastructure would be nuclear. It is also found that NDP has not clearly supported nuclear as part of the strategy. Nuclear is partly the reason why the capital requirement of the NDP portfolio is so much higher than the other portfolios. It is the conclusion of this study that South Africa do not need to invest in a nuclear build programme as the electricity demand would be adequately covered by adding the new Medupi and Kusile power stations, Ingula pump storage scheme, some wind and solar renewables, electricity from cogeneration, biogas, biomass, small hydro and imported hydro from neighbour countries. To invest in electricity capacity to generate 450TWh annually by 2030 would result in excessive energy cost, GDP growth could be up to 1% lower due to underperforming capital investments in the electricity infrastructure and higher energy cost would lead to a decline in global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Competitive strategy implementation in microfinance organisations in Kenya
- Authors: Waweru, Ruth Wambui
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Microfinance -- Kenya , Financial institutions -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020815
- Description: Poverty is a major challenge in most developing countries. Key challenges of the government are to alleviate poverty and propel citizens toward wealth creation through development of enterprises across all sectors and to address the problem of unemployment. In Kenya, the SME sector comprises of about 99% of private sector enterprises and is prolific in employment and wealth creation. Despite this critical role played by SMEs in growing the economy, they remain outside the formal banking sector, especially in Africa. Although the number of MFOs since the 1980s has increased, the demand for financial services is largely unmet. However, MFOs are increasingly experiencing competition from new entrants and commercial banks that have developed financial models to target SMEs. MFOs are required to formulate and implement competitive strategies to enable them achieve sustainable growth and compete with commercial banks. However, strategy implementation is generally accepted as a challenge across organisations and it is often easier to formulate strategies than implementing it. Despite the need to address strategy implementation challenges across organisations, there is a greater focus by practitioners and researchers regarding strategy formulation than implementation. Consequently, this study aimed at assessing the level of strategy implementation in MFOs and factors that affect strategy implementation in MFOs. The ultimate objective was to develop a hypothetical model that could be used to improve strategy implementation in microfinance organisations in Kenya. This quantitative study used purposive sampling to select MFOs that are members of the Association of Microfinance Institutions (AMFI) in Kenya, completing a selfadministered structured questionnaire. In total, 135 MFOs were involved in this study and a total sample size of 300 managers was used in this study. This study considered fourteen factors to have an influence on the level of strategy implementation of MFOs in Kenya and hence fourteen null-hypotheses were formulated and tested. The content factors included stakeholder involvement in strategy development and the quality of strategies. The context factors included organisational structure and culture, strategic leadership and alignment of strategy to market conditions. The operational process factors included operational planning, monitoring and review of progress, teamwork, resources allocation, people-strategy fit, effective communication, strategic and management control systems and information resources. It is assumed that if all these critical strategy implementation factors are addressed, MFOs should be able improve their level of strategy implementation, ultimately leading to improved performance. The outcome factors considered were improved financial sustainability and outreach of MFOs. Advanced statistical analyses were used to analyse the data, such as factor analysis, regression and correlation analysis to assess the hypothesised relationship between the dependent and independent variables of this study. The empirical results revealed that the level of strategy implementation in MFOs in Kenya is moderate to high and content, context and operational factors do have an influence on the level of strategy implementation. However, operational factors have a more significant positive linear relationship with level of strategy implementation than the other two factors. There is also a positive relationship between the level of strategy implementation and financial sustainability and outreach by MFOs. This study has contributed to the existing body of knowledge by developing a hypothetical model that can be utilised by MFOs as well as other organisations to improve the level of strategy implementation resulting in better performance. The findings of the study can also inform strategy formulation and implementation of MFOs in Kenya, but also in other developing countries, to become more competitive. This study could also help MFOs and other organisations to put in place structures, systems, people and other resources required to attain a high level of strategy implementation. This study provides useful and practical guidelines in dealing with content, context and operational factors affecting strategy implementation in any organisational setting.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Possible futures for the Republic of South Africa towards 2055
- Authors: Adendorff, Christian Michael
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7816 , vital:24294
- Description: The purpose of this thesis was to develop four scenarios for South Africa over the next forty years: Mandela's Dream in which positive elements come into function for South Africa's economy and governance; the Historical African Syndrome, in which the key driving forces unfold in an uneven pattern, or have a differentiated impact on South Africa's economy; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly in which less good governance prevails, but where a fortunate economy and firm national management allow South Africa to become competitive and benefit from satisfactory economic growth; and the Pyramid Syndrome Scenario in which negative regional drivers of change corrode positive policies and initiatives in a manner which compounds the pre-existing threats to South Africa's growth.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The impact of diversity and organisational culture on effective strategy implementation in a higher education institution
- Authors: Strydom, Kariena
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Diversity in the workplace -- South Africa Corporate culture -- South Africa , Organizational behavior -- South Africa Business anthropology Education, Higher -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21691 , vital:29734
- Description: Diversity should be included in an organisational culture and be aligned with the corporate strategy. South African institutions face diversity and multiculturalism challenges which affect their operation and strategies. Managers in South Africa regard organisational culture as a very useful tool to manage their diverse workforce. Against this background, the primary objective of this study was to investigate and analyse how workforce diversity and organisational culture impact on strategy implementation at a higher education institution, namely Walter Sisulu University (WSU). The study identified dimensions of diversity and organisational culture and strategy implementation from theoretical models supporting the study. A hypothetical model portraying these factors was constructed, displaying each factor and their relationship with strategy implementation. Furthermore, the relationship between strategy implementation and strategic outcomes was indicated. Given the nature of the problem statement and the research objectives presented in this study, the positivistic research paradigm was adopted. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to executive and senior management, senior academic and senior support staff at WSU. In total, 266 usable questionnaires were returned. The data obtained from these questionnaires were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as the key statistical analysis tool. As the hypothetical model did not load onto SEM in total, it was re-specified into four sub-models. Each sub-model was subjected to SEM to test the hypothetical model and to indicate the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent, mediating and dependent variables. Eight statistically significant relationships were identified in the study. The factors identified as having a statistically significant relationship with organisational culture included the following: degree of flexibility, degree of teamwork, task directiveness, degree of formalisation, leadership styles and decision making. In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between organisational culture and strategy implementation. Furthermore the findings indicated a statistically significant relationship between strategy implementation and strategic outcomes in a higher education institution. There was no statistically significant relationship found between diversity and strategy implementation. This finding is contrary to empirical evidence by various other researchers. The study makes a contribution to multicultural higher education institutions by highlighting the crucial role of organisational culture in effective strategy implementation. It was clear from the results of the study that the nurturing of human capital is critical if higher education institutions wish to successfully aligning culture with strategy implementation. This study provided constructive and very practical guidelines to higher education institutions to ensure effective alignment of culture with strategy implementation and so enhance local and global competitiveness and long term sustainability. University councils throughout South Africa can apply the findings of this study in their respective institutions to support effective strategy execution.
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- Date Issued: 2013
A framework for business leadership in Africa
- Authors: Whitley, Elwyn
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Leadership -- Africa Success in business , Management -- Africa Business Industrial management -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45814 , vital:39219
- Description: In a fast moving, rapidly changing and highly competitive world the importance of strong leadership in both government and business cannot be over emphasised. The realisation that leadership is necessary for the organisation’s success and is key for the organisation’s survival (Alimo-Metcalfe and Alban- Metcalfe, 2008) is evident in the increasing focus on the concept over the last three to four decades. As the world becomes more of a ‘global village’ adapting to doing business in this new environment will require a leader who not only has the traditional skills set but also has the additional knowledge, skills and “mindset to navigate through the complexities brought on by moving beyond one's traditional borders” (Cohen, 2010. p. 3). This is of particular importance to Africa with the influx of foreign investors attracted by the growth opportunities that Africa offers, looking to expand their markets and in doing so imposing western norms and standards on local operations, in complex environments. Unfortunately Western leadership theories have not always been successful as Africans have found that in order to embrace Western ideals they need to relinquish some of their own beliefs. This highlights an opportunity to explore a possible hybrid leadership approach that harmonises the Western approach that is based on facts, logic and the nature of reality with the African humanistic orientation. The main aim of this study is to research the concept, principles, and characteristics of a small sample of business leaders in Africa in order to identify the factors that contribute to the leader’s success in a global business operating in Africa. By applying qualitative research methodology which includes an individual narrative written by each Managing Director, semistructured interviews and focus groups, a framework for business leadership in Africa was developed.
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- Date Issued: 2014