Goat production in the Northern Cape: what are the impacts of farmer training?
- Authors: Burgess, Roberta
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Northern Cape (South Africa) Animal culture -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Management Animal culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Northern Cape Goat farmers -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:747 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003868
- Description: The main millennium development goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the world by 2015. South Africa is one of the countries that signed this pledge at the millennium summit in 2000. The Department of Agriculture, has initiated a number of projects to assist farmers and communities with reaching this goal. In the Northern Cape, the commercialization of goats is one such anchor project. The major activities of this project is to train farmers in applied and appropriate production practices, assist them with accessing markets and supporting them with improved livestock. The main aim of this research was to evaluate whether the project has achieved its outcome and whether this outcome, is having an impact on the livelihoods of the farmers involved in the project. After reviewing the literature on evaluation research and programme evaluation across time, the different paradigms and approaches, participatory methodology was used in this study. A case study approach was applied to evaluate the outcomes and effects of the training received by farmers, as part of the commercialization of goats programme. The results of the study proved that the training received by members of the Campbell Agricultural Co-operative Enterprises, changed their goat production practices. The training also had a secondary impact. Trained farmers were imparting (technology transfer) their acquired knowledge to other members of the co-operative. This appeared very effective as all members of the cooperative were farming more scientifically. These changes to the production practices had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the farmers, as their animals were of a better quality and they were able to sell their animals at different markets and for better prices. This has however not commercialized their farming operations as they are still faced with many challenges. These challenges are the lack of a proper marketing structure, access to financial assistance, proper infrastructure and adequate transport for the animals to mention a few. If the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs is serious about assisting these farmers to move from the status of “emerging farmer” to “commercial farmer” they will have to look at addressing the problems experienced with financial access and access to adequate and appropriate transport.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Burgess, Roberta
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Northern Cape (South Africa) Animal culture -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Management Animal culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Northern Cape Goat farmers -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:747 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003868
- Description: The main millennium development goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the world by 2015. South Africa is one of the countries that signed this pledge at the millennium summit in 2000. The Department of Agriculture, has initiated a number of projects to assist farmers and communities with reaching this goal. In the Northern Cape, the commercialization of goats is one such anchor project. The major activities of this project is to train farmers in applied and appropriate production practices, assist them with accessing markets and supporting them with improved livestock. The main aim of this research was to evaluate whether the project has achieved its outcome and whether this outcome, is having an impact on the livelihoods of the farmers involved in the project. After reviewing the literature on evaluation research and programme evaluation across time, the different paradigms and approaches, participatory methodology was used in this study. A case study approach was applied to evaluate the outcomes and effects of the training received by farmers, as part of the commercialization of goats programme. The results of the study proved that the training received by members of the Campbell Agricultural Co-operative Enterprises, changed their goat production practices. The training also had a secondary impact. Trained farmers were imparting (technology transfer) their acquired knowledge to other members of the co-operative. This appeared very effective as all members of the cooperative were farming more scientifically. These changes to the production practices had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the farmers, as their animals were of a better quality and they were able to sell their animals at different markets and for better prices. This has however not commercialized their farming operations as they are still faced with many challenges. These challenges are the lack of a proper marketing structure, access to financial assistance, proper infrastructure and adequate transport for the animals to mention a few. If the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs is serious about assisting these farmers to move from the status of “emerging farmer” to “commercial farmer” they will have to look at addressing the problems experienced with financial access and access to adequate and appropriate transport.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The characteristics and role of informal leaders in work groups : a South African perspective
- Authors: Wienekus, Barend Willem
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Supervisors, industrial -- South Africa Leadership -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:1166 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002782
- Description: It has been twenty years since F W De Klerk unbanned the African National Congress. This momentous occasion changed overnight the business landscape in South Africa and the way business were done for many decades. Before and after this crucial moment in South African history, leaders played a significant role in bringing change about as well as managing it. Whether hierarchical or non-hierarchical, leadership manifests itself through all spheres of civilisation. Within any collective, formal as well as informal leadership are always at work and within the environment there always seems to be an individual that appears to hold equal or more influence and sway over the collective. This research investigates the characteristics and role of this individual, the informal leader. In addition, against the melting pot of the diversity of culture, social structures, economics, and demographics in South Africa, the influence of culture on how leadership is being perceived and experienced is also researched. The research is grounded in a post-positivists approach and conducted within a constructivist-interpretative paradigm. A qualitative approach is followed with personal interviews as the method to collect the data from respondents. The interview protocol consists of a combination of questions containing questions of both a quantitative and qualitative nature. Questions of a qualitative nature were open-ended and of an in-depth nature. The research is two pronged. The focus of the research is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the South African Motor Industry and for the primary goal of the research data was collected from employees within work groups of the OEM. The primary research goal investigates the role and characteristics of informal leaders in work groups as seen and experienced by their fellow employees and if there is any congruence with that of the role and characteristics of formal leaders. The study found no fundamental differences between the characteristics and role of formal and informal leaders. The characteristics and role of leaders between different cultures also appear to be the same. For the secondary research goal – determining whether the role and characteristics of informal leaders in work groups could be underpinned in the principles of Ubuntu and if consideration should be given to any cultural differences between leaders and followers by organisational hierarchies – the literature was reviewed in order to reach a conclusion with regards this goal. The literature indicates that culture does affect leadership, especially on how the leadership is executed and experienced in a multicultural society and if ignored, will have a detrimental effect on effective leadership. In order to strive towards achieving maximum productivity, it is imperative that management in South African organisations be aware of the changed dynamic within their organisations as well as on the global stage. The research therefore ends with the practical implications of informal leaders for organisations in South Africa. It is recommended that the importance and contribution of informal leaders within work groups in a multi-culture organisation needs not only to be considered as an element of group leadership, but should be accommodated by the organisation. It is also recommended that organisations recognise the cultural differences between leaders and followers in organisations and the possible consequences if ignored. If the competitive pressures and requirements of globalisation are ignored against the background of Afrocentric expectations and motivational imperatives of the South African workforce, it will result in an ineffective workforce, which will in due course render these organisations uncompetitive and non-sustainable locally and globally.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Wienekus, Barend Willem
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Supervisors, industrial -- South Africa Leadership -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:1166 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002782
- Description: It has been twenty years since F W De Klerk unbanned the African National Congress. This momentous occasion changed overnight the business landscape in South Africa and the way business were done for many decades. Before and after this crucial moment in South African history, leaders played a significant role in bringing change about as well as managing it. Whether hierarchical or non-hierarchical, leadership manifests itself through all spheres of civilisation. Within any collective, formal as well as informal leadership are always at work and within the environment there always seems to be an individual that appears to hold equal or more influence and sway over the collective. This research investigates the characteristics and role of this individual, the informal leader. In addition, against the melting pot of the diversity of culture, social structures, economics, and demographics in South Africa, the influence of culture on how leadership is being perceived and experienced is also researched. The research is grounded in a post-positivists approach and conducted within a constructivist-interpretative paradigm. A qualitative approach is followed with personal interviews as the method to collect the data from respondents. The interview protocol consists of a combination of questions containing questions of both a quantitative and qualitative nature. Questions of a qualitative nature were open-ended and of an in-depth nature. The research is two pronged. The focus of the research is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the South African Motor Industry and for the primary goal of the research data was collected from employees within work groups of the OEM. The primary research goal investigates the role and characteristics of informal leaders in work groups as seen and experienced by their fellow employees and if there is any congruence with that of the role and characteristics of formal leaders. The study found no fundamental differences between the characteristics and role of formal and informal leaders. The characteristics and role of leaders between different cultures also appear to be the same. For the secondary research goal – determining whether the role and characteristics of informal leaders in work groups could be underpinned in the principles of Ubuntu and if consideration should be given to any cultural differences between leaders and followers by organisational hierarchies – the literature was reviewed in order to reach a conclusion with regards this goal. The literature indicates that culture does affect leadership, especially on how the leadership is executed and experienced in a multicultural society and if ignored, will have a detrimental effect on effective leadership. In order to strive towards achieving maximum productivity, it is imperative that management in South African organisations be aware of the changed dynamic within their organisations as well as on the global stage. The research therefore ends with the practical implications of informal leaders for organisations in South Africa. It is recommended that the importance and contribution of informal leaders within work groups in a multi-culture organisation needs not only to be considered as an element of group leadership, but should be accommodated by the organisation. It is also recommended that organisations recognise the cultural differences between leaders and followers in organisations and the possible consequences if ignored. If the competitive pressures and requirements of globalisation are ignored against the background of Afrocentric expectations and motivational imperatives of the South African workforce, it will result in an ineffective workforce, which will in due course render these organisations uncompetitive and non-sustainable locally and globally.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The evaluation of environmental reporting by publicly listed South African banks
- Authors: Oduro-Kwateng, George
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Environmental reporting -- South Africa Banks and banking -- South Africa Social responsibility in banking -- South Africa Social responsibility of business -- South Africa Environmental protection -- South Africa Environmental economics -- South Africa Economic development -- South Africa -- Environmental aspects Environmental management -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies Global Reporting Initiative Standard Bank Limited Nedbank ABSA Bank
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:740 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003860
- Description: Recently, bankers have come to realise that banking operations, especially corporate lending, affect and are affected by the natural environment and that consequently, the banks might have an important role to play in helping to raise environmental standards. Although the environment presents significant risks to banks, in particular environmental credit risk, it also perhaps presents profitable opportunities. Stricter environmental regulations have forced companies to invest in environmentally friendly technologies and pollution control measures and in tum generated lending opportunities for bankers. This research examines the corporate practices of three of the four dominant banks in South Africa with respect to the environment, focusing on issues of climate change and environmental risk management by way of reporting and disclosure to all stakeholders. The emphasis on environmental reporting by South African banks has been reinforced by the latest release of the King III Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa. Global governance requires that the triple-bottom line should be applied in all corporate undertakings due to globalisation and trade liberalisation; however, the banking sector has responded poorly to the clarion call. The false view that the banks have no significant relationship with environmental degradation is being disproved. Environmental management is a huge and massive reconstruction of what has gone wrong with nature by human influence. The South African banks have had to face with the challenging tasks of reporting on the direct and mostly the indirect impacts of their environmental activities. Based on the three sampled banks which incidentally had greater percentages of the market capitalizations, the banks have fairly performed in environmental reporting. For example, Standard Bank (SA) Ltd has just signed the Equator Principles in 2007 implying corporate lending was done in 2007 without any respect to environmental impact assessments by corporate borrowers. Consequently, environmental reporting was not done to facilitate informed decision-making by stakeholders mostly shareholders and the communities where borrowers tun businesses. The objective of this research study is to investigate the extent and quantity of/voluntary environmental disclosures in the annual and sustainability reports of the banks listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The periods examined were those subsequent to the release of the Exposure Draft Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) issued in 1999. Using content analysis to focus on the environmental aspects, the research study compared three annual reports and three sustainability reports of 2007 year for the three sampled banks in order to evaluate reporting practices in the period surrounding this intervention. The results suggest a trend to triple bottom-line reporting and the extent and quantity of environmental information, albeit in specific categories.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Oduro-Kwateng, George
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Environmental reporting -- South Africa Banks and banking -- South Africa Social responsibility in banking -- South Africa Social responsibility of business -- South Africa Environmental protection -- South Africa Environmental economics -- South Africa Economic development -- South Africa -- Environmental aspects Environmental management -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies Global Reporting Initiative Standard Bank Limited Nedbank ABSA Bank
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:740 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003860
- Description: Recently, bankers have come to realise that banking operations, especially corporate lending, affect and are affected by the natural environment and that consequently, the banks might have an important role to play in helping to raise environmental standards. Although the environment presents significant risks to banks, in particular environmental credit risk, it also perhaps presents profitable opportunities. Stricter environmental regulations have forced companies to invest in environmentally friendly technologies and pollution control measures and in tum generated lending opportunities for bankers. This research examines the corporate practices of three of the four dominant banks in South Africa with respect to the environment, focusing on issues of climate change and environmental risk management by way of reporting and disclosure to all stakeholders. The emphasis on environmental reporting by South African banks has been reinforced by the latest release of the King III Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa. Global governance requires that the triple-bottom line should be applied in all corporate undertakings due to globalisation and trade liberalisation; however, the banking sector has responded poorly to the clarion call. The false view that the banks have no significant relationship with environmental degradation is being disproved. Environmental management is a huge and massive reconstruction of what has gone wrong with nature by human influence. The South African banks have had to face with the challenging tasks of reporting on the direct and mostly the indirect impacts of their environmental activities. Based on the three sampled banks which incidentally had greater percentages of the market capitalizations, the banks have fairly performed in environmental reporting. For example, Standard Bank (SA) Ltd has just signed the Equator Principles in 2007 implying corporate lending was done in 2007 without any respect to environmental impact assessments by corporate borrowers. Consequently, environmental reporting was not done to facilitate informed decision-making by stakeholders mostly shareholders and the communities where borrowers tun businesses. The objective of this research study is to investigate the extent and quantity of/voluntary environmental disclosures in the annual and sustainability reports of the banks listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The periods examined were those subsequent to the release of the Exposure Draft Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) issued in 1999. Using content analysis to focus on the environmental aspects, the research study compared three annual reports and three sustainability reports of 2007 year for the three sampled banks in order to evaluate reporting practices in the period surrounding this intervention. The results suggest a trend to triple bottom-line reporting and the extent and quantity of environmental information, albeit in specific categories.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The identification and evaluation of key sustainable development indicators and the development of a conceptual decision-making model for capital investment within Gold Fields Limited (GFL)
- Authors: Jacobs, Phillip A H
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Industrial management -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Case studies Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Case studies Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Case studies Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Case studies Business ethics -- South Africa -- Case studies Industries -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Case studies Industries -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa -- Case studies Gold Fields Ltd -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008304
- Description: The current trends in sustainable development (SO) were examined in this study, which brought about the realisation that SO has become a business imperative. Mining, which is a highly impacting industry, is faced with the dilemma of implementing the principles of SO despite the realisation that its activities are severely limited by· the finite nature of the resource it is capitalising on. This reality, however, does not detract from the non-negotiable requirement for the industry to meet the increasing pressures to act responsibly towards the environment and the community in which it operates. Gold Fields has stepped up to the plate and has already taken several steps to achieve this end. These include the adoption of SO in its Vision, Values and strategies and the development and implementation of a SO framework to ensure the integration of the principles of SO into the business. Furthermore, Gold Fields has also entered into voluntary activities that further cement the commitment the company has towards so. These other initiatives include, inter alia, its International Council on Mining and Metals membership, UN Global Compact participation, becoming a signatory to the cyanide code, IS014001, and so on. This study focussed on several indicator categories and the identification of a set of supporting sustainable development indicators (SOls) for each, which included environmental, social, economic, technological, and ethics, legal and corporate governance (not in order of priority). These indicators were assessed by a carefully selected group of respondents whose collective wisdom and expertise were used to identify and weight supporting SOls for each of the indicator categories. These supporting SOls were in turn used to develop a model that is able to assist in the business's decision making processes when capital investment is being considered . A water treatment project that is currently being considered by Gold Fields was utilised to demonstrate how the decision making model can be applied to two different scenarios. The result clearly and successfully demonstrated that by proactively taking environmental, economic, social, technological, and ethics, legal and corporate governance considerations into account, a gold mining company is able to increase the level of SO of a capital investment project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Jacobs, Phillip A H
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Industrial management -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Case studies Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Case studies Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Case studies Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Case studies Business ethics -- South Africa -- Case studies Industries -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Case studies Industries -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa -- Case studies Gold Fields Ltd -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008304
- Description: The current trends in sustainable development (SO) were examined in this study, which brought about the realisation that SO has become a business imperative. Mining, which is a highly impacting industry, is faced with the dilemma of implementing the principles of SO despite the realisation that its activities are severely limited by· the finite nature of the resource it is capitalising on. This reality, however, does not detract from the non-negotiable requirement for the industry to meet the increasing pressures to act responsibly towards the environment and the community in which it operates. Gold Fields has stepped up to the plate and has already taken several steps to achieve this end. These include the adoption of SO in its Vision, Values and strategies and the development and implementation of a SO framework to ensure the integration of the principles of SO into the business. Furthermore, Gold Fields has also entered into voluntary activities that further cement the commitment the company has towards so. These other initiatives include, inter alia, its International Council on Mining and Metals membership, UN Global Compact participation, becoming a signatory to the cyanide code, IS014001, and so on. This study focussed on several indicator categories and the identification of a set of supporting sustainable development indicators (SOls) for each, which included environmental, social, economic, technological, and ethics, legal and corporate governance (not in order of priority). These indicators were assessed by a carefully selected group of respondents whose collective wisdom and expertise were used to identify and weight supporting SOls for each of the indicator categories. These supporting SOls were in turn used to develop a model that is able to assist in the business's decision making processes when capital investment is being considered . A water treatment project that is currently being considered by Gold Fields was utilised to demonstrate how the decision making model can be applied to two different scenarios. The result clearly and successfully demonstrated that by proactively taking environmental, economic, social, technological, and ethics, legal and corporate governance considerations into account, a gold mining company is able to increase the level of SO of a capital investment project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The influence of strategic leadership in an organization: a case study : Ellerine Holdings Limited
- Authors: Mathura, Vikash
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Strategic planning -- South Africa Case studies Leadership -- South Africa Case studies Corporate culture -- South Africa Case studies Organizational behavior -- South Africa Case studies Organizational change -- South Africa Case studies Furniture industry and trade -- South Africa Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:750 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003871
- Description: A review of the academic literature related to “strategic leadership” reveals that the performance of an organization will indeed be influenced by the application of this phenomenon. This thesis confines its research to a case study on Ellerine Holdings Limited, a multi-billion rand enterprise that trades in the competitive Southern African furniture retail industry. Following the 2007 acquisition of Ellerine Holdings Limited (EHL) by African Bank Investments Limited (ABIL), a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was appointed to develop and to lead the strategic changes that were envisioned for EHL. The research examines how the performance of EHL has been influenced since the appointment of Toni Fourie as the new CEO in February 2008. Boasting a reputation borne from his previous successes in organizational transformation, Fourie was ABIL’s first-choice leader for this challenge. Fourie displays qualities, attributes, behaviours and traits that are characterized by the phenomenon of “strategic leadership”. He has been the focus of media attention for the aggressive strategic changes that he has introduced within the organization. A quantitative analysis of EHL’s financial performance (between 2007 and 2009) indicated that there was a constant decline in the organization’s PBT (Profit Before Taxation) during the period observed. However, the research determined that turbulent conditions in the macro-economic environment (such as the global economic recession in 2008 and 2009) complemented by mitigating micro-economic factors, would have adversely skewed the conclusions in this document if the research was limited to quantitative analysis alone. Hence, the researcher explored a qualitative research framework by collecting and assimilating data from available documentation, and from formal interviews that were conducted with research participants representing the organization’s new leadership. These participants included the new CEO, Fourie, and the new Director of Strategy, Dr. Louis Carstens. Information was also obtained from informal discussions that were conducted with other senior executives, and with an ex general manager of one of EHL’s business units, who was based in the Eastern Cape region at the time. An examination of all of this data concluded that although Ellerine Holdings Limited was not achieving all of its financialperformance objectives, there was general consensus that the CEO’s strategic choices would yield the desired financial results from the mediumterm (namely, year-03 of his tenure) onwards. The CEO’s optimism and conviction that his strategic interventions will address long-term financial sustainability is shared by both EHL’s internal and external stakeholders. It emerged that EHL’s stakeholders were satisfied with the accelerated progress reflected in the organization’s non-financial performance indices. These indicators included the sowing of a new organizational culture; improved cost-base efficiencies; labour productivity; customer satisfaction; employee empowerment; innovation and creative thinking; collaborative and participative engagement; structural rationalization, and the introduction of new processes and procedures. The research from the EHL case study concluded that the phenomenon of strategic leadership can have a positive influence on various qualitative indicators within an organization. The research also determined that despite unforeseen conditions in both the macro and micro economic environments, an effective strategic leadership will remain committed to its vision, and resilient to its critics and competitors. This research further concludes that successful organizational transformation (within a macro enterprise) is ostensibly dependent on the interventions of a strategic leader who displays a specialist set of skills and behaviours. These strategic leaders have the ability to successfully shift the cognitive paradigms of their employees, thereby creating an enabling environment for the implementation of their strategic choices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mathura, Vikash
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Strategic planning -- South Africa Case studies Leadership -- South Africa Case studies Corporate culture -- South Africa Case studies Organizational behavior -- South Africa Case studies Organizational change -- South Africa Case studies Furniture industry and trade -- South Africa Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:750 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003871
- Description: A review of the academic literature related to “strategic leadership” reveals that the performance of an organization will indeed be influenced by the application of this phenomenon. This thesis confines its research to a case study on Ellerine Holdings Limited, a multi-billion rand enterprise that trades in the competitive Southern African furniture retail industry. Following the 2007 acquisition of Ellerine Holdings Limited (EHL) by African Bank Investments Limited (ABIL), a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was appointed to develop and to lead the strategic changes that were envisioned for EHL. The research examines how the performance of EHL has been influenced since the appointment of Toni Fourie as the new CEO in February 2008. Boasting a reputation borne from his previous successes in organizational transformation, Fourie was ABIL’s first-choice leader for this challenge. Fourie displays qualities, attributes, behaviours and traits that are characterized by the phenomenon of “strategic leadership”. He has been the focus of media attention for the aggressive strategic changes that he has introduced within the organization. A quantitative analysis of EHL’s financial performance (between 2007 and 2009) indicated that there was a constant decline in the organization’s PBT (Profit Before Taxation) during the period observed. However, the research determined that turbulent conditions in the macro-economic environment (such as the global economic recession in 2008 and 2009) complemented by mitigating micro-economic factors, would have adversely skewed the conclusions in this document if the research was limited to quantitative analysis alone. Hence, the researcher explored a qualitative research framework by collecting and assimilating data from available documentation, and from formal interviews that were conducted with research participants representing the organization’s new leadership. These participants included the new CEO, Fourie, and the new Director of Strategy, Dr. Louis Carstens. Information was also obtained from informal discussions that were conducted with other senior executives, and with an ex general manager of one of EHL’s business units, who was based in the Eastern Cape region at the time. An examination of all of this data concluded that although Ellerine Holdings Limited was not achieving all of its financialperformance objectives, there was general consensus that the CEO’s strategic choices would yield the desired financial results from the mediumterm (namely, year-03 of his tenure) onwards. The CEO’s optimism and conviction that his strategic interventions will address long-term financial sustainability is shared by both EHL’s internal and external stakeholders. It emerged that EHL’s stakeholders were satisfied with the accelerated progress reflected in the organization’s non-financial performance indices. These indicators included the sowing of a new organizational culture; improved cost-base efficiencies; labour productivity; customer satisfaction; employee empowerment; innovation and creative thinking; collaborative and participative engagement; structural rationalization, and the introduction of new processes and procedures. The research from the EHL case study concluded that the phenomenon of strategic leadership can have a positive influence on various qualitative indicators within an organization. The research also determined that despite unforeseen conditions in both the macro and micro economic environments, an effective strategic leadership will remain committed to its vision, and resilient to its critics and competitors. This research further concludes that successful organizational transformation (within a macro enterprise) is ostensibly dependent on the interventions of a strategic leader who displays a specialist set of skills and behaviours. These strategic leaders have the ability to successfully shift the cognitive paradigms of their employees, thereby creating an enabling environment for the implementation of their strategic choices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The relationship between organisational culture and financial performance: an exploratory study in a selected financial institution in South Africa
- Authors: Swanepoel, Sybel
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa Financial institutions -- South Africa Banks and banking -- South Africa Economic development -- South Africa Organizational behavior -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:760 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003881
- Description: This research investigates the relationship between organisational culture and financial performance in a selected financial services institution in South Africa. The banking sector as part of the financial services industry contributes to economic growth in the economy. The banking sector in South Africa is highly concentrated, but also highly competitive. It is important for banks to retain their competitiveness and increased global competition places further pressure on banks to perform financially in order to satisfy the demands of shareholders. The literature reviewed and previous studies both suggest that organisational culture is an important variable that influences organisational performance. For purposes of this research, organisational performance will be measured in terms of financial performance. The concepts of organisational culture and financial performance are discussed and a questionnaire based on Hall’s (1988) theory of organisational competence is used to determine the strength of the levels of the dimensions of competence as indicators of organisational culture within the selected financial institution. The financial performance of the branches within the organisation is determined by calculating certain selected financial performance ratios, namely cost-to-income ratio, cumulative leverage and contribution per employee. A correlation analysis is conducted in order to establish whether there is a statistically significant relationship between organisational culture and financial performance. A conclusion is drawn that there is a statistically significant relationship between the organisational culture and the financial performance of the branches of the selected institution and recommendations are made as to how financial performance can be improved by strengthening the dimensions of competence as indicators of organisational culture. These recommendations include specific actions that can be taken by leaders to improve commitment, collaboration and creativity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Swanepoel, Sybel
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa Financial institutions -- South Africa Banks and banking -- South Africa Economic development -- South Africa Organizational behavior -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:760 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003881
- Description: This research investigates the relationship between organisational culture and financial performance in a selected financial services institution in South Africa. The banking sector as part of the financial services industry contributes to economic growth in the economy. The banking sector in South Africa is highly concentrated, but also highly competitive. It is important for banks to retain their competitiveness and increased global competition places further pressure on banks to perform financially in order to satisfy the demands of shareholders. The literature reviewed and previous studies both suggest that organisational culture is an important variable that influences organisational performance. For purposes of this research, organisational performance will be measured in terms of financial performance. The concepts of organisational culture and financial performance are discussed and a questionnaire based on Hall’s (1988) theory of organisational competence is used to determine the strength of the levels of the dimensions of competence as indicators of organisational culture within the selected financial institution. The financial performance of the branches within the organisation is determined by calculating certain selected financial performance ratios, namely cost-to-income ratio, cumulative leverage and contribution per employee. A correlation analysis is conducted in order to establish whether there is a statistically significant relationship between organisational culture and financial performance. A conclusion is drawn that there is a statistically significant relationship between the organisational culture and the financial performance of the branches of the selected institution and recommendations are made as to how financial performance can be improved by strengthening the dimensions of competence as indicators of organisational culture. These recommendations include specific actions that can be taken by leaders to improve commitment, collaboration and creativity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The role of strategic leadership in Coega Development Corporation: a case study
- Authors: Davids, Mogamad Sadiek
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Coega Development Corporation Industrial development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:763 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003884
- Description: South Africa became a democracy after its election in April 1994. Thereafter, the country faced the daunting task of trying to fast-track economic growth and addressing social challenges. The Department of Trade and Industry was mandated by the newly elected government to spearhead economic development in order to address these challenges. Trade policy instruments such as industrial development zones formed part of government’s strategic economic instruments to achieve economic reform. The Coega Industrial Development Zone (CIDZ) near Port Elizabeth was one of many economic development zones created principally to promote export orientated manufacturing. The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) was registered as a company to develop, operate and manage the CIDZ. The literature suggests that strategic leadership is important for organizational success. Strategic leadership is described as the ability to influence others to make day-to-day voluntary decisions that enhance long-term viability while maintaining short term financial stability. Literature further suggests that strategic leaders deal with the evolution of organizations and their changing aims and transform them through their capabilities and strategic leadership roles such as being a figurehead, spokesperson, team builder, design school planner and so on. The aim of this research is to analyse the role of strategic leadership with the objectives to ascertain whether strategic leadership contributed to the success of the development of CDC, and identify possible challenges they are confronted with in the execution of their leadership duties. This research was conducted from an interpretivist perspective as the researcher attempted to develop insight into how the strategic leadership of CDC viewed and understood their role. The strategic leadership of CDC, who were the focus of this study, consisted of the executive management team of the organization, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The research design was in the form of a case study of the CDC leadership, with data collected through semi-structured interviews and documents. The most prominent roles exercised by the leadership of CDC included creating a vision and strategy development and inculcating a teamwork corporate culture. Other roles identified include that of team builder, fostering innovation and developing human capital etc. A lack of stakeholder management as well as managing the culture of the organization as it expands and grows, remain critical challenges. Finally recommendations are made together with suggestions for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Davids, Mogamad Sadiek
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Coega Development Corporation Industrial development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:763 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003884
- Description: South Africa became a democracy after its election in April 1994. Thereafter, the country faced the daunting task of trying to fast-track economic growth and addressing social challenges. The Department of Trade and Industry was mandated by the newly elected government to spearhead economic development in order to address these challenges. Trade policy instruments such as industrial development zones formed part of government’s strategic economic instruments to achieve economic reform. The Coega Industrial Development Zone (CIDZ) near Port Elizabeth was one of many economic development zones created principally to promote export orientated manufacturing. The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) was registered as a company to develop, operate and manage the CIDZ. The literature suggests that strategic leadership is important for organizational success. Strategic leadership is described as the ability to influence others to make day-to-day voluntary decisions that enhance long-term viability while maintaining short term financial stability. Literature further suggests that strategic leaders deal with the evolution of organizations and their changing aims and transform them through their capabilities and strategic leadership roles such as being a figurehead, spokesperson, team builder, design school planner and so on. The aim of this research is to analyse the role of strategic leadership with the objectives to ascertain whether strategic leadership contributed to the success of the development of CDC, and identify possible challenges they are confronted with in the execution of their leadership duties. This research was conducted from an interpretivist perspective as the researcher attempted to develop insight into how the strategic leadership of CDC viewed and understood their role. The strategic leadership of CDC, who were the focus of this study, consisted of the executive management team of the organization, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The research design was in the form of a case study of the CDC leadership, with data collected through semi-structured interviews and documents. The most prominent roles exercised by the leadership of CDC included creating a vision and strategy development and inculcating a teamwork corporate culture. Other roles identified include that of team builder, fostering innovation and developing human capital etc. A lack of stakeholder management as well as managing the culture of the organization as it expands and grows, remain critical challenges. Finally recommendations are made together with suggestions for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The value of a Rhodes University degree and securing employment
- Authors: Chambers, Tracy Laura
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Graduate students -- Employment Education, Higher -- South Africa Graduate students -- Employment -- South Africa Labor supply -- Effect of education on -- South Africa Economic development -- Effect of education on -- South Africa Labor market -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:769 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003890
- Description: In South Africa, reform policies and frameworks introduced since the 1994 democratic election have sought to bring about change to a highly ineffective and unfair system. In spite of all the changes which have occurred, however, there is evidence to suggest that the system is still not functioning as effectively as it might, given that a relatively large number of graduates remain unemployed in a country with a high skills shortage. This thesis aims to explore the experiences of graduates from one university, Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, as they enter the job market. It does this through the administration of a first job destination survey administered at the 2009 Graduation Ceremonies held in Grahamstown. Analysis of the survey takes into account the idea that it is not a degree per se, or even a degree from a prestigious university which brings employment, but also the social, cultural and human capital that graduates can bring to their job search.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Chambers, Tracy Laura
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Graduate students -- Employment Education, Higher -- South Africa Graduate students -- Employment -- South Africa Labor supply -- Effect of education on -- South Africa Economic development -- Effect of education on -- South Africa Labor market -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:769 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003890
- Description: In South Africa, reform policies and frameworks introduced since the 1994 democratic election have sought to bring about change to a highly ineffective and unfair system. In spite of all the changes which have occurred, however, there is evidence to suggest that the system is still not functioning as effectively as it might, given that a relatively large number of graduates remain unemployed in a country with a high skills shortage. This thesis aims to explore the experiences of graduates from one university, Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, as they enter the job market. It does this through the administration of a first job destination survey administered at the 2009 Graduation Ceremonies held in Grahamstown. Analysis of the survey takes into account the idea that it is not a degree per se, or even a degree from a prestigious university which brings employment, but also the social, cultural and human capital that graduates can bring to their job search.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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