Environmental constraints affecting farmers in the Great-Kei Region
- Authors: Mtintsilana, Tando
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Agricultural ecology , Agricultural conservation , Farm management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8622 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1502 , Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Agricultural ecology , Agricultural conservation , Farm management
- Description: The sustainable use of the environment for agriculture has become a global priority, requiring urgent solutions in view of intensifying competition. The South African government and the agricultural sector drafted a strategic plan for South African Agriculture. In this plan it was argued that the potential for the horizontal expansion of agricultural production is limited with one of the limitations being that unused high and medium potential land is scarce. This implies that the challenge for higher agricultural production is immense because primarily it would have to come from increased efficiency. All businesses are confronted by change at some time in their history in which agribusiness in South Africa has been subjected to changes in its past. In this era of hyper competition, agribusinesses are faced with constant change. It is how businesses deal with that change that will determine how successful they will remain in the future. The main problem of this research was to determine if farmers in the Great-Kei Region have the appropriate strategies in place to manage environmental constraints effectively. Therefore, the identification and isolation of prominent environmental constraints, through literature review and survey data gathered and analysed, would assist agribusinesses in the planning and prioritising of investments. The investment would be aimed at facilitating the development and sustainable growth in the Great-Kei Region. In this study, a quantitative, descriptive and non-experimental research design was followed. The target population of the study was farmers with farming businesses operating in the Great-Kei Region. There was data obtained from the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture provincial office in Komga servicing the Great-Kei Region. The data obtained were lists of registered commercial farmers from the Komga iv Agricultural Association and emerging farmers operation in the region. The data obtained did not include all the farmers operating in the Great-Kei Region. The combined sum of farmers from both lists was 38 farmers (N = 38). The population N = 38 was used as a sampling frame representing the population of farmers in the Great-Kei Region. The population of this study consisted of owners or farm managers running the farming businesses and excludes other farm employees employed at the farms. Farmers with agribusinesses in the area who produced either livestock farming or crop farming or both were included for the study. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations suggested how farmers can overcome the identified macro, micro and internal environmental constraints affecting them in the Great-Kei Region. Further identification of strategies currently employed by farmers in managing environmental constraints and the competency levels, indicated where gaps resided with strategies currently employed by farmers and where possible change would be required.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mtintsilana, Tando
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Agricultural ecology , Agricultural conservation , Farm management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8622 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1502 , Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Agricultural ecology , Agricultural conservation , Farm management
- Description: The sustainable use of the environment for agriculture has become a global priority, requiring urgent solutions in view of intensifying competition. The South African government and the agricultural sector drafted a strategic plan for South African Agriculture. In this plan it was argued that the potential for the horizontal expansion of agricultural production is limited with one of the limitations being that unused high and medium potential land is scarce. This implies that the challenge for higher agricultural production is immense because primarily it would have to come from increased efficiency. All businesses are confronted by change at some time in their history in which agribusiness in South Africa has been subjected to changes in its past. In this era of hyper competition, agribusinesses are faced with constant change. It is how businesses deal with that change that will determine how successful they will remain in the future. The main problem of this research was to determine if farmers in the Great-Kei Region have the appropriate strategies in place to manage environmental constraints effectively. Therefore, the identification and isolation of prominent environmental constraints, through literature review and survey data gathered and analysed, would assist agribusinesses in the planning and prioritising of investments. The investment would be aimed at facilitating the development and sustainable growth in the Great-Kei Region. In this study, a quantitative, descriptive and non-experimental research design was followed. The target population of the study was farmers with farming businesses operating in the Great-Kei Region. There was data obtained from the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture provincial office in Komga servicing the Great-Kei Region. The data obtained were lists of registered commercial farmers from the Komga iv Agricultural Association and emerging farmers operation in the region. The data obtained did not include all the farmers operating in the Great-Kei Region. The combined sum of farmers from both lists was 38 farmers (N = 38). The population N = 38 was used as a sampling frame representing the population of farmers in the Great-Kei Region. The population of this study consisted of owners or farm managers running the farming businesses and excludes other farm employees employed at the farms. Farmers with agribusinesses in the area who produced either livestock farming or crop farming or both were included for the study. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations suggested how farmers can overcome the identified macro, micro and internal environmental constraints affecting them in the Great-Kei Region. Further identification of strategies currently employed by farmers in managing environmental constraints and the competency levels, indicated where gaps resided with strategies currently employed by farmers and where possible change would be required.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Facilitating customer retention in hotels in the Garden Route
- Authors: Slabbert, Gabriel Johannes
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Hospitality industry -- South Africa -- Garden Route , Customer relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8613 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1552 , Hospitality industry -- South Africa -- Garden Route , Customer relations
- Description: Over the past few decades, customer satisfaction, customer retention and policies and procedures to sustain the above mentioned, have earned great amount of lip service. The importance of satisfied customer percentage have been emphasized by theories even longer before the best advised companies have done so. It is only recently, on the eve of the Soccer World cup 2010 that the issue has been narrowed down to truly hard relationships and one hard question: “Will the guest visiting the hospitality establishment frequent the hotel?” Two vital financial catalysts were used as basis for customer retention. The first is that of old customer’s costs much less than acquisition of new ones and the profit generated from the retained customer must therefore handsomely exceed the harvest reaped from the new clientele. Retaining customers have become an intangible asset in the sense that their value demonstrates the return that is won by successful efforts to satisfy the customers so greatly that they and their custom literally and figuratively stays with you. South Africa has lured even the loneliest traveller to the scenic beauty that is cradled by the country and its surroundings. When taking the former into consideration, South African businesses have enjoyed an increased appreciation and application of Business Management and its accompanying principles. The hospitality industry should therefore embrace the business management principles with specific emphasis on Total Quality Management (TQM); providing managers with the capacity to think strategically about the organisation, its business position, how it can gain sustainable competitive advantage and how its business management strategy can be implemented and executed successfully. The latter forms the basis for ensuring the smooth running of operations and ultimately, ensuring guests have a wonderful experience at the particular establishment. There is a strong belief that lodging facilities in the Garden Route area has experienced low customer retention due to a lack of comprehensive implementation of Total Quality Management principles which impedes on the establishments to reach their optimum profit levels. It is for this reason that this thesis will argue the importance of the systematic client retention as a strategic mandate in today’s service markets. Commercial reality demand long and lasting relationships that are beneficial to both the hospitality related establishment and their customers. The hypothesis used is the application of Total Quality Management as a Business Management Strategy which will facilitate customer retention in hospitality related industries such as hotels situated in the Garden Route area. Research shows that service expectations of customers and potential customers have escalated. Hospitality businesses found that implementation of quality processes to be a vital competitive component. However, many hotels are still struggling to reach a real understanding of what is meant by TQM. The research data indicates that 93 percent of hotels in the Garden Route do not follow a TQM program although all the hotels were familiar with the concept. This might be the reason why most hotels neglect customer retention activities. The literature reviewed in chapter two considers the customer retention activities evaluated in the questionnaire as important to retain guests. Hotels in the Garden Route do not perform these activities to the extent of success. Hotel managers thus know what to do in order to retain guests but the problem is quite simple, they do not always implement the necessary strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Slabbert, Gabriel Johannes
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Hospitality industry -- South Africa -- Garden Route , Customer relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8613 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1552 , Hospitality industry -- South Africa -- Garden Route , Customer relations
- Description: Over the past few decades, customer satisfaction, customer retention and policies and procedures to sustain the above mentioned, have earned great amount of lip service. The importance of satisfied customer percentage have been emphasized by theories even longer before the best advised companies have done so. It is only recently, on the eve of the Soccer World cup 2010 that the issue has been narrowed down to truly hard relationships and one hard question: “Will the guest visiting the hospitality establishment frequent the hotel?” Two vital financial catalysts were used as basis for customer retention. The first is that of old customer’s costs much less than acquisition of new ones and the profit generated from the retained customer must therefore handsomely exceed the harvest reaped from the new clientele. Retaining customers have become an intangible asset in the sense that their value demonstrates the return that is won by successful efforts to satisfy the customers so greatly that they and their custom literally and figuratively stays with you. South Africa has lured even the loneliest traveller to the scenic beauty that is cradled by the country and its surroundings. When taking the former into consideration, South African businesses have enjoyed an increased appreciation and application of Business Management and its accompanying principles. The hospitality industry should therefore embrace the business management principles with specific emphasis on Total Quality Management (TQM); providing managers with the capacity to think strategically about the organisation, its business position, how it can gain sustainable competitive advantage and how its business management strategy can be implemented and executed successfully. The latter forms the basis for ensuring the smooth running of operations and ultimately, ensuring guests have a wonderful experience at the particular establishment. There is a strong belief that lodging facilities in the Garden Route area has experienced low customer retention due to a lack of comprehensive implementation of Total Quality Management principles which impedes on the establishments to reach their optimum profit levels. It is for this reason that this thesis will argue the importance of the systematic client retention as a strategic mandate in today’s service markets. Commercial reality demand long and lasting relationships that are beneficial to both the hospitality related establishment and their customers. The hypothesis used is the application of Total Quality Management as a Business Management Strategy which will facilitate customer retention in hospitality related industries such as hotels situated in the Garden Route area. Research shows that service expectations of customers and potential customers have escalated. Hospitality businesses found that implementation of quality processes to be a vital competitive component. However, many hotels are still struggling to reach a real understanding of what is meant by TQM. The research data indicates that 93 percent of hotels in the Garden Route do not follow a TQM program although all the hotels were familiar with the concept. This might be the reason why most hotels neglect customer retention activities. The literature reviewed in chapter two considers the customer retention activities evaluated in the questionnaire as important to retain guests. Hotels in the Garden Route do not perform these activities to the extent of success. Hotel managers thus know what to do in order to retain guests but the problem is quite simple, they do not always implement the necessary strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Factors affecting information technology implementation in the mobile telecommunications industry: a family business case
- Authors: De Jong, Piet
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8629 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1486 , Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Description: This treatise investigates how information technology (I.T.) enables growth in a family business (the firm) in Port Elizabeth. The firm operates in the mobile telecommunications sector. The objective of the study is to gain a deeper understanding on why family businesses adopt information technology in their firm by means of a case study. The firm found its technology (or lack thereof) completely out-dated compared to the competition and customer demands. The future of the firm was in jeopardy. The study starts with a literature review of the following three topics which form part of the scope of the research: 1. Family businesses; 2. Influence of I.T. as a driver of growth in business; and 3. An introduction into the mobile telecommunications industry. Data are collected through structured interviews with family members involved in the business. The data are consequently linked to the theory and provides insight as to what the drivers are for I.T. adoption and the required core competencies or critical success factors of the firm. Although it might seem trivial for a small family business to adopt information technology, the research concludes that I.T. is critical for continuous growth and survival of this family business. Conversely due to a lack of internal skills the firm is heavily reliant upon outside consultants for advice, implementation and support. Recommendations which are of particular interest to family businesses in a similar environment are: • Embrace technology early, utilise I.T. solutions to grow and enhance current competitive advantage, do not see I.T. as a competitive advantage alone (Pavlou & Sawy, 2006); • If information expertise is not present within the company it is advisable to invest in that expertise through recruitment, training, partnership, or outsourcing; • Ensure software meets specification / is effective enough – this can be achieved by frequent releases cycles with small changes instead of infrequent release cycles with many big changes; • Engage the consultants in a partnership by i.e. providing a profit share – this will ensure that the consultants are committed to the cause and will also ensure that their involvement is also in their own best interest; • Choose local consultants who are easily accessible – build relationships and focus on trust; • Create lock-in (Amit & Zott, 2001), provide tools free-ofcharge for customers, this will make switching to competitor more difficult; • Automate as much as possible, enable standard work practices, routinize; • Be ready to adjust the organisational structure or relinquish control (Bruquea & Moyanob, 2007)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: De Jong, Piet
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8629 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1486 , Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Description: This treatise investigates how information technology (I.T.) enables growth in a family business (the firm) in Port Elizabeth. The firm operates in the mobile telecommunications sector. The objective of the study is to gain a deeper understanding on why family businesses adopt information technology in their firm by means of a case study. The firm found its technology (or lack thereof) completely out-dated compared to the competition and customer demands. The future of the firm was in jeopardy. The study starts with a literature review of the following three topics which form part of the scope of the research: 1. Family businesses; 2. Influence of I.T. as a driver of growth in business; and 3. An introduction into the mobile telecommunications industry. Data are collected through structured interviews with family members involved in the business. The data are consequently linked to the theory and provides insight as to what the drivers are for I.T. adoption and the required core competencies or critical success factors of the firm. Although it might seem trivial for a small family business to adopt information technology, the research concludes that I.T. is critical for continuous growth and survival of this family business. Conversely due to a lack of internal skills the firm is heavily reliant upon outside consultants for advice, implementation and support. Recommendations which are of particular interest to family businesses in a similar environment are: • Embrace technology early, utilise I.T. solutions to grow and enhance current competitive advantage, do not see I.T. as a competitive advantage alone (Pavlou & Sawy, 2006); • If information expertise is not present within the company it is advisable to invest in that expertise through recruitment, training, partnership, or outsourcing; • Ensure software meets specification / is effective enough – this can be achieved by frequent releases cycles with small changes instead of infrequent release cycles with many big changes; • Engage the consultants in a partnership by i.e. providing a profit share – this will ensure that the consultants are committed to the cause and will also ensure that their involvement is also in their own best interest; • Choose local consultants who are easily accessible – build relationships and focus on trust; • Create lock-in (Amit & Zott, 2001), provide tools free-ofcharge for customers, this will make switching to competitor more difficult; • Automate as much as possible, enable standard work practices, routinize; • Be ready to adjust the organisational structure or relinquish control (Bruquea & Moyanob, 2007)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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
Improving customer service through effective supply chain management in a pharmaceutical company
- Authors: Rothner, Donne
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Customer services -- South Africa , Customer services -- Management , Customer services -- South Africa -- Quality control , Business logistics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8625 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1490 , Customer services -- South Africa , Customer services -- Management , Customer services -- South Africa -- Quality control , Business logistics -- South Africa
- Description: All organisations compete on the basis of service. In today‘s highly competitive world, organisations need to compete to retain their customers and to offer good customer service that will give them a competitive advantage. In the South African pharmaceutical market, the introduction of the Single Exit Price (SEP) and generic substitution have led to the price of equivalent medicines no longer being the differentiating factor in a customer deciding which manufacturer‘s product to purchase. The availability of generic medicines at the pharmacy or hospital has become the differentiating factor. Two types of customers exist in any organisation, namely, external customers and internal customers. Much has been written about the external customer, but less about the internal customer. Many managers do not perceive internal customer service as a priority. Any organisation attempting to deliver quality service to their external customers must begin by serving the needs of their internal customers. Internal service quality is characterised by the attitudes that people have towards one another and in the way that employees serve one another inside the organisation. By improving customer service, the organisation can improve its profitability, sustainability and customer retention. The aim of this study was to determine whether the levels of internal customer service between the three sections of Aspen Pharmacare are optimal. Determining the current performance levels between the staff of the sections will assist in highlighting the areas that require attention. The three sections of Aspen Pharmacare that are internal customers of one another and have been used in the study are: - production; - demand planning; and - distribution. The results of the study show that all three sections rate three service quality dimensions (communication, tangibles and reliability) as important. The results were used to develop an internal customer service model for Aspen Pharmacare.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Rothner, Donne
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Customer services -- South Africa , Customer services -- Management , Customer services -- South Africa -- Quality control , Business logistics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8625 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1490 , Customer services -- South Africa , Customer services -- Management , Customer services -- South Africa -- Quality control , Business logistics -- South Africa
- Description: All organisations compete on the basis of service. In today‘s highly competitive world, organisations need to compete to retain their customers and to offer good customer service that will give them a competitive advantage. In the South African pharmaceutical market, the introduction of the Single Exit Price (SEP) and generic substitution have led to the price of equivalent medicines no longer being the differentiating factor in a customer deciding which manufacturer‘s product to purchase. The availability of generic medicines at the pharmacy or hospital has become the differentiating factor. Two types of customers exist in any organisation, namely, external customers and internal customers. Much has been written about the external customer, but less about the internal customer. Many managers do not perceive internal customer service as a priority. Any organisation attempting to deliver quality service to their external customers must begin by serving the needs of their internal customers. Internal service quality is characterised by the attitudes that people have towards one another and in the way that employees serve one another inside the organisation. By improving customer service, the organisation can improve its profitability, sustainability and customer retention. The aim of this study was to determine whether the levels of internal customer service between the three sections of Aspen Pharmacare are optimal. Determining the current performance levels between the staff of the sections will assist in highlighting the areas that require attention. The three sections of Aspen Pharmacare that are internal customers of one another and have been used in the study are: - production; - demand planning; and - distribution. The results of the study show that all three sections rate three service quality dimensions (communication, tangibles and reliability) as important. The results were used to develop an internal customer service model for Aspen Pharmacare.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Improving economic development through effective communication strategies in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Headbush, Shambalda
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Communication in economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8666 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1246 , Communication in economic development
- Description: The purpose of this study is to improve Local Economic Development (LED) through effective communication strategies between Local Government and the Private sector in Nelson Mandela Bay. The study has been carried out by means of a literature and a primary study. Effective communication is one of the key elements which contribute to the success of Local Economic Development implementation. The communication strategies in Local Economic Development have been discussed and analysed to determine the ineffective methods of communication in Local Economic Development implementation. The literature indicated that a good communication strategy is determining the most effective method of communicating with ones’ target audience. The findings of the primary study revealed that the communication strategy between the stakeholders was not fully maximised in improving Local Economic Development implementation. It also revealed secondary factors that contributed to the ineffectiveness of Local Economic Development implementation. In order to improve the current communication strategies, the researcher recommended that new forms of communication medium between Government and the Private sector could be introduced. Lastly, the secondary factors which contribute to ineffective Local Economic Development implementation were analysed and recommendations were suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Headbush, Shambalda
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Communication in economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8666 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1246 , Communication in economic development
- Description: The purpose of this study is to improve Local Economic Development (LED) through effective communication strategies between Local Government and the Private sector in Nelson Mandela Bay. The study has been carried out by means of a literature and a primary study. Effective communication is one of the key elements which contribute to the success of Local Economic Development implementation. The communication strategies in Local Economic Development have been discussed and analysed to determine the ineffective methods of communication in Local Economic Development implementation. The literature indicated that a good communication strategy is determining the most effective method of communicating with ones’ target audience. The findings of the primary study revealed that the communication strategy between the stakeholders was not fully maximised in improving Local Economic Development implementation. It also revealed secondary factors that contributed to the ineffectiveness of Local Economic Development implementation. In order to improve the current communication strategies, the researcher recommended that new forms of communication medium between Government and the Private sector could be introduced. Lastly, the secondary factors which contribute to ineffective Local Economic Development implementation were analysed and recommendations were suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Improving project implementation in firms
- Authors: Hassen, Ismail
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Project management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8667 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1245 , Project management -- South Africa
- Description: Project implementation appears to be one the most difficult aspects of a manager’s job. The purpose of project management is to forecast or anticipate potential dangers and problems that may jeopardise the success of a project and then to plan, organise and control activities that will lead to the successful completion of projects in spite of all the envisaged risks. It is estimated that more than 80% of projects run late or over budget. Such failure often sinks small firms and erodes profits of larger organisations. Project implementation is therefore critical to the success of both small and big firms. The primary objective of this study is to improve project management in firms by investigating the variables that influence project implementation. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of organisational communication, leadership, business process management and resistance to change on project implementation. The sample consisted of 170 employees in a cross-section of industries. The sample was stratified to include senior managers, managers, supervisors and lower level employees. The empirical results show that organisational communication, participatory leadership, retention of the status quo and goal-oriented leadership increase project implementation, while resistance to change decreases project implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Hassen, Ismail
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Project management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8667 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1245 , Project management -- South Africa
- Description: Project implementation appears to be one the most difficult aspects of a manager’s job. The purpose of project management is to forecast or anticipate potential dangers and problems that may jeopardise the success of a project and then to plan, organise and control activities that will lead to the successful completion of projects in spite of all the envisaged risks. It is estimated that more than 80% of projects run late or over budget. Such failure often sinks small firms and erodes profits of larger organisations. Project implementation is therefore critical to the success of both small and big firms. The primary objective of this study is to improve project management in firms by investigating the variables that influence project implementation. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of organisational communication, leadership, business process management and resistance to change on project implementation. The sample consisted of 170 employees in a cross-section of industries. The sample was stratified to include senior managers, managers, supervisors and lower level employees. The empirical results show that organisational communication, participatory leadership, retention of the status quo and goal-oriented leadership increase project implementation, while resistance to change decreases project implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Improving the sales success at Avusa Publishing Eastern Cape
- Authors: Gerwel, Ettienne
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Sales management -- South Africa , Advertising, Newspaper -- South Africa , Selling
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8634 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1453 , Sales management -- South Africa , Advertising, Newspaper -- South Africa , Selling
- Description: Avusa Publishing (East Cape) (APEC) publishes several of the oldest and best known newspaper products in the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Province Herald is currently the oldest daily morning newspaper in South Africa and the average daily circulation of the paper is 25 000. Its main distribution is in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area, as well as the area up to the Garden Route and as far East as Port Alfred. APEC also publishes the Weekend Post. According to the financial statements and circulation and advertisement figures of the company, the revenue generated by the company has not increased, but stayed stagnant. In addition to this, the daily circulation of the flagship publication, The Herald, has decreased from 29 000 in 2005 to 24 000 in 2008. As the company only generates revenue from two sources, namely advertising sales and the sale of newspapers, the above mentioned situation negatively affects the financial wellbeing of the company. The management dilemma that needed to be researched was how APEC's circulation and advertising income could be increased. The primary objective of this study was therefore to improve APEC's sales success by investigating the determinants of such sales success. More specifically, the study investigated the influence of determinants such as newsworthiness, value proposition, brand awareness, customer service, customer loyalty, credibility and new media on sales success, as measured by increased circulation and advertising revenue. Convenience sampling was used to select 287 employees working for the company. A mail survey was conducted among these 287 employees, but only 114 usable questionnaires were returned (a response rate of 40 percent). The empirical results revealed that brand awareness, customer loyalty and the use of new media technologies exerted a significantly positive influence on the sales success of APEC. The results further showed that newsworthiness, editorial credibility, value proposition and customer service exerted no significant influence on the APEC’s sales success. Despite the latter findings, the results revealed that there was a high level of trust and loyalty in the editorial content of APEC, as well as the perception of good value for money among both readers and advertisers. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed and areas of future research are recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Gerwel, Ettienne
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Sales management -- South Africa , Advertising, Newspaper -- South Africa , Selling
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8634 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1453 , Sales management -- South Africa , Advertising, Newspaper -- South Africa , Selling
- Description: Avusa Publishing (East Cape) (APEC) publishes several of the oldest and best known newspaper products in the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Province Herald is currently the oldest daily morning newspaper in South Africa and the average daily circulation of the paper is 25 000. Its main distribution is in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area, as well as the area up to the Garden Route and as far East as Port Alfred. APEC also publishes the Weekend Post. According to the financial statements and circulation and advertisement figures of the company, the revenue generated by the company has not increased, but stayed stagnant. In addition to this, the daily circulation of the flagship publication, The Herald, has decreased from 29 000 in 2005 to 24 000 in 2008. As the company only generates revenue from two sources, namely advertising sales and the sale of newspapers, the above mentioned situation negatively affects the financial wellbeing of the company. The management dilemma that needed to be researched was how APEC's circulation and advertising income could be increased. The primary objective of this study was therefore to improve APEC's sales success by investigating the determinants of such sales success. More specifically, the study investigated the influence of determinants such as newsworthiness, value proposition, brand awareness, customer service, customer loyalty, credibility and new media on sales success, as measured by increased circulation and advertising revenue. Convenience sampling was used to select 287 employees working for the company. A mail survey was conducted among these 287 employees, but only 114 usable questionnaires were returned (a response rate of 40 percent). The empirical results revealed that brand awareness, customer loyalty and the use of new media technologies exerted a significantly positive influence on the sales success of APEC. The results further showed that newsworthiness, editorial credibility, value proposition and customer service exerted no significant influence on the APEC’s sales success. Despite the latter findings, the results revealed that there was a high level of trust and loyalty in the editorial content of APEC, as well as the perception of good value for money among both readers and advertisers. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed and areas of future research are recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Innovation in post production stage of print Newspaper
- Authors: Fayo, Sicelo Nathaniel
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Newspaper publishing -- Technological innovations , Newspapers -- Circulation , Newspapers -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8614 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1544 , Newspaper publishing -- Technological innovations , Newspapers -- Circulation , Newspapers -- Marketing
- Description: Print newspapers in South Africa are the oldest formal mode of news and information dissemination but which has come under tremendous pressure with the advent and spread of technological innovation involving information communication infrastructure and processes, but specifically the internet. The main challenge facing print newspapers in terms of circulation growth of print and advertising revenue is speed to market. The internet has not only provided a new avenue for news and information dissemination but has the distinct advantage of tremendous speed to deliver news and information to readers. Meanwhile, print newspapers whose production is still almost entirely dependent on traditional structures, processes and physical mode of delivery are battling to stay afloat as the chase for readers' attention is gaining more ground on digital platforms. This new competition landscape has now cast focus fully on traditional print media‟s production processes competency levels as well as their suitability for the nature of competition posed by digital news platforms. The processes involved in the production of a print newspaper can be described as hybrid (Davis and Heineke. 2005: 220) in that they involve different types of processes at different stages to produce the final product. The focus of this study at Avusa Media (Port Elizabeth) was on the post production processes involving the printing and distribution of printed newspapers with the objective of gaining an understanding of the extent and impact of the information technology advancement in the post production phase of printed newspapers. v In pursuing the goal, the case study research followed a phenomenological paradigm involving exploratory and descriptive research processes as described by Yin (1994) in Collis and Hussey (2003: 69) and Clifford Geertz (1973) in Babbie and Mouton (2005: 272) The research found that the traditional business structure for printed newspapers is increasingly becoming unviable due to poverty of technological innovation in critical parts of the production value chain; namely post production processes that encompass printing and distribution of printed newspapers. The research established and revealed that while there are some technological innovations and advances in the print newspaper publishing industry value chain worldwide, they are not only severely limited and disjointed but are also seemingly moving apart rather than towards consolidation in terms of the speed to market need faced by print newspaper publishers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Fayo, Sicelo Nathaniel
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Newspaper publishing -- Technological innovations , Newspapers -- Circulation , Newspapers -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8614 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1544 , Newspaper publishing -- Technological innovations , Newspapers -- Circulation , Newspapers -- Marketing
- Description: Print newspapers in South Africa are the oldest formal mode of news and information dissemination but which has come under tremendous pressure with the advent and spread of technological innovation involving information communication infrastructure and processes, but specifically the internet. The main challenge facing print newspapers in terms of circulation growth of print and advertising revenue is speed to market. The internet has not only provided a new avenue for news and information dissemination but has the distinct advantage of tremendous speed to deliver news and information to readers. Meanwhile, print newspapers whose production is still almost entirely dependent on traditional structures, processes and physical mode of delivery are battling to stay afloat as the chase for readers' attention is gaining more ground on digital platforms. This new competition landscape has now cast focus fully on traditional print media‟s production processes competency levels as well as their suitability for the nature of competition posed by digital news platforms. The processes involved in the production of a print newspaper can be described as hybrid (Davis and Heineke. 2005: 220) in that they involve different types of processes at different stages to produce the final product. The focus of this study at Avusa Media (Port Elizabeth) was on the post production processes involving the printing and distribution of printed newspapers with the objective of gaining an understanding of the extent and impact of the information technology advancement in the post production phase of printed newspapers. v In pursuing the goal, the case study research followed a phenomenological paradigm involving exploratory and descriptive research processes as described by Yin (1994) in Collis and Hussey (2003: 69) and Clifford Geertz (1973) in Babbie and Mouton (2005: 272) The research found that the traditional business structure for printed newspapers is increasingly becoming unviable due to poverty of technological innovation in critical parts of the production value chain; namely post production processes that encompass printing and distribution of printed newspapers. The research established and revealed that while there are some technological innovations and advances in the print newspaper publishing industry value chain worldwide, they are not only severely limited and disjointed but are also seemingly moving apart rather than towards consolidation in terms of the speed to market need faced by print newspaper publishers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Investigating factors that negatively influence lean implementation in the Eastern Cape automotive industry
- Authors: Camagu, Sibo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Lean manufacturing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial efficiency , Automobile industry and trade
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8655 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1360 , Lean manufacturing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial efficiency , Automobile industry and trade
- Description: In this intensely competitive environment of the global economy, the survival of even the most established manufacturers depends on their ability to continuously improve quality whilst reducing costs. The resulting productivity of producing more with less is the only key to market leadership and sustainable competitive advantage. Changing production methods from mass-production to Lean Manufacturing has become the essential practise for successful manufacturers (Rogers and Sim, 2009). The purpose of this study is to investigate what factors negate the adoption and implementation of Lean Manufacturing as a means to gain competitive advantage. The focus was on companies that have participated in the AIDC Tirisano cluster programme. The study investigated what effect Organisational Culture, Leadership Behaviours, Employee Involvement and Strategy Integration have on Lean Manufacturing adoption and implementation. This study applied the mixed methodologies of qualitative and quantitative approaches using methodological triangulation. A cross sectional analytical survey approach in a descriptive case study was undertaken. The findings from the questions and the interviews from the respondents who participated in the survey indicated that the practices in some companies enable the successful adoption and implementation of Lean Manufacturing whilst in some others the practices will negatively affect the adoption and implementation. The study concludes by stating that South African automotive component manufacturers are under immense pressure to improve quality and reduce costs. Initiatives like Lean Manufacturing should be undertaken in order to bring about these improvements. But this improvement comes about by changing the current way of doing things. Companies need to undertake a total approach when implementing Lean as part of the business strategy and this must be driven by management as leaders and a team culture that involves all employees needs to be present.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Camagu, Sibo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Lean manufacturing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial efficiency , Automobile industry and trade
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8655 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1360 , Lean manufacturing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial efficiency , Automobile industry and trade
- Description: In this intensely competitive environment of the global economy, the survival of even the most established manufacturers depends on their ability to continuously improve quality whilst reducing costs. The resulting productivity of producing more with less is the only key to market leadership and sustainable competitive advantage. Changing production methods from mass-production to Lean Manufacturing has become the essential practise for successful manufacturers (Rogers and Sim, 2009). The purpose of this study is to investigate what factors negate the adoption and implementation of Lean Manufacturing as a means to gain competitive advantage. The focus was on companies that have participated in the AIDC Tirisano cluster programme. The study investigated what effect Organisational Culture, Leadership Behaviours, Employee Involvement and Strategy Integration have on Lean Manufacturing adoption and implementation. This study applied the mixed methodologies of qualitative and quantitative approaches using methodological triangulation. A cross sectional analytical survey approach in a descriptive case study was undertaken. The findings from the questions and the interviews from the respondents who participated in the survey indicated that the practices in some companies enable the successful adoption and implementation of Lean Manufacturing whilst in some others the practices will negatively affect the adoption and implementation. The study concludes by stating that South African automotive component manufacturers are under immense pressure to improve quality and reduce costs. Initiatives like Lean Manufacturing should be undertaken in order to bring about these improvements. But this improvement comes about by changing the current way of doing things. Companies need to undertake a total approach when implementing Lean as part of the business strategy and this must be driven by management as leaders and a team culture that involves all employees needs to be present.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Investigating the benefits of using selected lean techniques at a South African exhaust manufacturer-a case study
- Authors: Louw, Andre
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Automobile supplies industry , Factories
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8617 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1518 , Automobile supplies industry , Factories
- Description: This study investigates the implementation of supermarket-based scheduling of parts at a South African exhaust manufacturing plant. The study firstly investigates the requirements the manufacturer had to contend with in ensuring a valuable contract was won. The nature of the contract is such that it warrants building of a new facility. The design of the facility and the manufacturing processes is of importance as some Lean techniques are employed during these early stages. The research takes the form of a case study and data is collected mainly through interviews with staff, but also from direct observations on the shop-floor. Interviews were conducted with: - key project leaders responsible for the original design and commissioning of the facility; - production managers and technical staff currently operating the plant; and - shop-floor personnel involved in daily production and logistics operations within the plant. The as-built facility and procedures are compared with literature found on the topic of Lean manufacturing. Various findings are recorded, both on conforming to and not conforming to typical Lean theory. Potential changes are suggested in the following areas: - a Pull strategy is proposed to coincide with the appointment of a so-called pacemaker station; - a pacemaker would need to be further supported by a production leveling strategy; - although quality delivered to the customer is reported as very high, potential improvements are still possible by introducing an "at source" approach to reduce rework; and - finally, a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program will serve to reduce downtime even further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Louw, Andre
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Automobile supplies industry , Factories
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8617 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1518 , Automobile supplies industry , Factories
- Description: This study investigates the implementation of supermarket-based scheduling of parts at a South African exhaust manufacturing plant. The study firstly investigates the requirements the manufacturer had to contend with in ensuring a valuable contract was won. The nature of the contract is such that it warrants building of a new facility. The design of the facility and the manufacturing processes is of importance as some Lean techniques are employed during these early stages. The research takes the form of a case study and data is collected mainly through interviews with staff, but also from direct observations on the shop-floor. Interviews were conducted with: - key project leaders responsible for the original design and commissioning of the facility; - production managers and technical staff currently operating the plant; and - shop-floor personnel involved in daily production and logistics operations within the plant. The as-built facility and procedures are compared with literature found on the topic of Lean manufacturing. Various findings are recorded, both on conforming to and not conforming to typical Lean theory. Potential changes are suggested in the following areas: - a Pull strategy is proposed to coincide with the appointment of a so-called pacemaker station; - a pacemaker would need to be further supported by a production leveling strategy; - although quality delivered to the customer is reported as very high, potential improvements are still possible by introducing an "at source" approach to reduce rework; and - finally, a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program will serve to reduce downtime even further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Managing the implementation of management structure changes at the Eastern Cape Department of Education
- Authors: Muthige, Shumani Ralson
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1652
- Description: The Eastern Cape Department of Education has been in the forefront of the media – mostly for the wrong reasons. The major problems that have been reported range from the mismanagement of the feeding schemes, unpaid service providers, lack of adequate infrastructure, corruption committed by the officials, unfilled posts, poor service delivery and the second lowest matriculation pass rate in the country. Although there are many problems, as stated, this study research is focused on the management of change and its implementation in the organisational structure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Muthige, Shumani Ralson
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1652
- Description: The Eastern Cape Department of Education has been in the forefront of the media – mostly for the wrong reasons. The major problems that have been reported range from the mismanagement of the feeding schemes, unpaid service providers, lack of adequate infrastructure, corruption committed by the officials, unfilled posts, poor service delivery and the second lowest matriculation pass rate in the country. Although there are many problems, as stated, this study research is focused on the management of change and its implementation in the organisational structure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Managing the perceptions about affirmitive action (AA)
- Authors: Swartbooi, Aurick Devlin
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Affirmative action programs -- South Africa , Affirmative action programs -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8684 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1120 , Affirmative action programs -- South Africa , Affirmative action programs -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The main research problem focused on the effective management of the perceptions about Affirmative Action (AA). A literature study and a survey were conducted to investigate the extent and nature of perceptions, the effect of these perceptions on labour and personal relations, current and suggested management practice of the perceptions of AA. A definition of AA, earlier measures of AA, the implementation of AA in the South African context, the stages of AA, theories, relevant legislation, perceptions and the management thereof are discussed. The survey was conducted at the George and Beaufort West District offices of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) with a response rate of 78.95 percent. The perceptions about AA can be managed effectively by complying with legislation, by involving and making all levels of employees responsible for the achievement of employment equity, skills development, personal development, consultation and communication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Swartbooi, Aurick Devlin
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Affirmative action programs -- South Africa , Affirmative action programs -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8684 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1120 , Affirmative action programs -- South Africa , Affirmative action programs -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The main research problem focused on the effective management of the perceptions about Affirmative Action (AA). A literature study and a survey were conducted to investigate the extent and nature of perceptions, the effect of these perceptions on labour and personal relations, current and suggested management practice of the perceptions of AA. A definition of AA, earlier measures of AA, the implementation of AA in the South African context, the stages of AA, theories, relevant legislation, perceptions and the management thereof are discussed. The survey was conducted at the George and Beaufort West District offices of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) with a response rate of 78.95 percent. The perceptions about AA can be managed effectively by complying with legislation, by involving and making all levels of employees responsible for the achievement of employment equity, skills development, personal development, consultation and communication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Media convergence : an analysis of consumer engagement
- Authors: Muwanga-Zake, Semeyi
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mass media , Journalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1557 , Mass media , Journalism
- Description: Media convergence has meant that the traditional separations between the various media industries, such as the internet, broadcasting and telephone networks are slowly collapsing due to the growing use and influence of digital electronics - in effect, morphing or transforming the media landscape. A fundamental change in today's media landscape has been the shift in control over media content, consumer consumption patterns as well as the manner and level at which consumers interact. Thus, the extent to which success is achieved now depends on a customer centric engagement strategy that can be implemented across converged platforms. This study considers the challenges posed by media convergence. It also investigates how organisations adjusted strategies to mitigate these challenges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Muwanga-Zake, Semeyi
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mass media , Journalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1557 , Mass media , Journalism
- Description: Media convergence has meant that the traditional separations between the various media industries, such as the internet, broadcasting and telephone networks are slowly collapsing due to the growing use and influence of digital electronics - in effect, morphing or transforming the media landscape. A fundamental change in today's media landscape has been the shift in control over media content, consumer consumption patterns as well as the manner and level at which consumers interact. Thus, the extent to which success is achieved now depends on a customer centric engagement strategy that can be implemented across converged platforms. This study considers the challenges posed by media convergence. It also investigates how organisations adjusted strategies to mitigate these challenges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
NMMU alumni as non-donors : why NMMU alumni do not become donors to the institution
- Authors: Knoesen, Evert Philip
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Alumni and alumnae , Universities and colleges -- Alumni and alumnae -- Charitable contributions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8642 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1432 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Alumni and alumnae , Universities and colleges -- Alumni and alumnae -- Charitable contributions
- Description: This project investigates why alumni do not become donors to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Interviews with non-donors created the opportunity for an in depth qualitative examination of the motivating process that led these non-donors to abstain from giving. This study used the Van Slyke and Brooks (Van Slyke & Brooks, 2005) model of alumni giving and the Schervish (Schervish, The spiritual horizon of philianthropy: New directors for money and motives, 2000) supply side theory of philanthropy, which has been successfully applied in similar studies (Wastyn, 2008), to provide the conceptual framework. This framework maintains that donors and non-donors differ in that the manner in which they socially construct their university experience in creating their own realities. This constructed reality becomes the filter through which non-donors pass requests for financial support (whether direct or indirect) from the institution. The study revealed that at NMMU factors including generic donor behaviour among alumni, the status of current non-donors as being mostly past donors to their respective constituent institution, attitudes toward the institutional reputation (or aspects thereof) of the NMMU, identified obstacles to engagement, pervasive negative attitudes to institutional giving and alumni support for commercialised but not tiered giving activities, can play a major role in restructuring the manner in which non-donor alumni should be approached. The study demonstrates the need to include non-donors in research that explores alumni giving to the university. It confirms the distinct impact of the abnormally distributed demographic characteristics of this university and confirms that examining the impact of these characteristics and experiences cannot be effectively done by simply relying on one or two simple variables. Being a management project, 13 (thirteen) distinct categories of management recommendations are made, ranging from strategy development, through accounting and budgeting practice, to proposing specific revenue generating initiatives. The study concludes with the view that Alumni can and should be able to make a notable contribution to the revenue of the university and in so doing, contribute to the sustainability of the pro-social transformation process of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Knoesen, Evert Philip
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Alumni and alumnae , Universities and colleges -- Alumni and alumnae -- Charitable contributions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8642 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1432 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Alumni and alumnae , Universities and colleges -- Alumni and alumnae -- Charitable contributions
- Description: This project investigates why alumni do not become donors to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Interviews with non-donors created the opportunity for an in depth qualitative examination of the motivating process that led these non-donors to abstain from giving. This study used the Van Slyke and Brooks (Van Slyke & Brooks, 2005) model of alumni giving and the Schervish (Schervish, The spiritual horizon of philianthropy: New directors for money and motives, 2000) supply side theory of philanthropy, which has been successfully applied in similar studies (Wastyn, 2008), to provide the conceptual framework. This framework maintains that donors and non-donors differ in that the manner in which they socially construct their university experience in creating their own realities. This constructed reality becomes the filter through which non-donors pass requests for financial support (whether direct or indirect) from the institution. The study revealed that at NMMU factors including generic donor behaviour among alumni, the status of current non-donors as being mostly past donors to their respective constituent institution, attitudes toward the institutional reputation (or aspects thereof) of the NMMU, identified obstacles to engagement, pervasive negative attitudes to institutional giving and alumni support for commercialised but not tiered giving activities, can play a major role in restructuring the manner in which non-donor alumni should be approached. The study demonstrates the need to include non-donors in research that explores alumni giving to the university. It confirms the distinct impact of the abnormally distributed demographic characteristics of this university and confirms that examining the impact of these characteristics and experiences cannot be effectively done by simply relying on one or two simple variables. Being a management project, 13 (thirteen) distinct categories of management recommendations are made, ranging from strategy development, through accounting and budgeting practice, to proposing specific revenue generating initiatives. The study concludes with the view that Alumni can and should be able to make a notable contribution to the revenue of the university and in so doing, contribute to the sustainability of the pro-social transformation process of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Occupational stressors that influence professional health workers
- Authors: Sontyale, Ulungile Klaas
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Job stress -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- Job stress , HIV-positive persons -- Care -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1098 , Job stress -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- Job stress , HIV-positive persons -- Care -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- South Africa
- Description: Background: Despite the prevalence of HIV/AIDS stabilizing and slightly decreasing in certain provinces, there are a number of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in South Africa. Many people seek help at primary health clinics and hospitals and receive chronic care at these facilities. Caring for these chronic patients and new patients entering the health system can be stressful to the health professionals who are involved. Many studies that have been conducted have focused on the clinical aspects of individual patients, while few studies have focused on the experiences and stressors of health professionals looking after PLWHA. To ensure quality of care for patients with HIV/AIDS, it is important to understand the experiences of health professionals looking after HIV/AIDS patients and how stressful experiences may influence their attitude towards these patients. Aim: The aim of this study is to report the factors health professionals perceive as occupational stressors caring for people living with HIV/AIDS in the public health sector of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. Research design and Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive and non-experimental research design was followed. A pilot study was conducted to determine the clarity of questions, effectiveness of the instructions, completeness of the response sets, the time required to complete the questionnaires and the success of the data collection. The primary method of data collection was self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires were dispatched to 30 health professionals at the public health facilities in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. A descriptive statistical analysis was done using a Statistical Package. This revealed the following findings. Findings: The following are the findings that were perceived to be occupational stressors: organizational factors, job design factors, career and promotional factors, role-related factors and cultural factors. iv Conclusion and recommendations: There are occupational stressors that affect health care professionals working in an HIV/AIDS setting. The following are the recommendations to rectify or to improve the situation: • Improve the communication of goals and objectives; • Redesign the job; • Human-resources development ; • Improvement of salaries; • Career planning and mentoring; and • Sensitisation of employees to cultural differences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Sontyale, Ulungile Klaas
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Job stress -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- Job stress , HIV-positive persons -- Care -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1098 , Job stress -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- Job stress , HIV-positive persons -- Care -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- South Africa
- Description: Background: Despite the prevalence of HIV/AIDS stabilizing and slightly decreasing in certain provinces, there are a number of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in South Africa. Many people seek help at primary health clinics and hospitals and receive chronic care at these facilities. Caring for these chronic patients and new patients entering the health system can be stressful to the health professionals who are involved. Many studies that have been conducted have focused on the clinical aspects of individual patients, while few studies have focused on the experiences and stressors of health professionals looking after PLWHA. To ensure quality of care for patients with HIV/AIDS, it is important to understand the experiences of health professionals looking after HIV/AIDS patients and how stressful experiences may influence their attitude towards these patients. Aim: The aim of this study is to report the factors health professionals perceive as occupational stressors caring for people living with HIV/AIDS in the public health sector of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. Research design and Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive and non-experimental research design was followed. A pilot study was conducted to determine the clarity of questions, effectiveness of the instructions, completeness of the response sets, the time required to complete the questionnaires and the success of the data collection. The primary method of data collection was self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires were dispatched to 30 health professionals at the public health facilities in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. A descriptive statistical analysis was done using a Statistical Package. This revealed the following findings. Findings: The following are the findings that were perceived to be occupational stressors: organizational factors, job design factors, career and promotional factors, role-related factors and cultural factors. iv Conclusion and recommendations: There are occupational stressors that affect health care professionals working in an HIV/AIDS setting. The following are the recommendations to rectify or to improve the situation: • Improve the communication of goals and objectives; • Redesign the job; • Human-resources development ; • Improvement of salaries; • Career planning and mentoring; and • Sensitisation of employees to cultural differences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Performance management at transnet national ports authority Port Elizabeth: the role of human resources
- Authors: Vezile, Cikizwa Aretha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Performance standards -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1105 , Performance -- Management , Performance standards -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: At Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), disagreement existed in terms of the role of human resources in performance management, which resulted in different role expectations and perceptions, often leading to conflict. An overview of existing literature reviewed that performance management was mostly presented from the view of line management, and that the role of human resources was not well defined. The purpose of this study was therefore to clarify the role of human resources in performance management, and with specific application at Transnet National Ports Authority. The purpose of performance management in Transnet is to influence each employee to perform optimally in his/her position by ensuring that each employee understands his/her role in the performance management process. A very important aspect of performance management is that it does not entail one activity only; it is part of the employee development life cycle in which the employee agrees with the manager on the expected performance of tasks, evaluation standards, tools required and important dates when performance will be formally discussed. The objectives of the study were achieved by means of a literature review. Following the literature review interviews were conducted with the Group Performance Manager, a line manager and a human resources practitioner at TNPA to get their views of performance management at TNPA and specifically of the role of human resources in performance management. The interviews, in addition to the literature study, also served as a basis for a survey questionnaire, which was used to probe the views of line iv management and human resources practitioners at TNPA on the role of human resources in performance management. The results of the interviews and the survey showed that performance management was not applied as a continuous and developmental process at TNPA, and that it was often perceived as punitive. The results also indicated that human resources at TNPA should be well versed in the use of the score card method and apply quality assurance in performance management. Recommendations were made for the role of line management and the role of human resources in performance management at TNPA, as well as for the relationship between the two parties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Vezile, Cikizwa Aretha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Performance standards -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1105 , Performance -- Management , Performance standards -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: At Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), disagreement existed in terms of the role of human resources in performance management, which resulted in different role expectations and perceptions, often leading to conflict. An overview of existing literature reviewed that performance management was mostly presented from the view of line management, and that the role of human resources was not well defined. The purpose of this study was therefore to clarify the role of human resources in performance management, and with specific application at Transnet National Ports Authority. The purpose of performance management in Transnet is to influence each employee to perform optimally in his/her position by ensuring that each employee understands his/her role in the performance management process. A very important aspect of performance management is that it does not entail one activity only; it is part of the employee development life cycle in which the employee agrees with the manager on the expected performance of tasks, evaluation standards, tools required and important dates when performance will be formally discussed. The objectives of the study were achieved by means of a literature review. Following the literature review interviews were conducted with the Group Performance Manager, a line manager and a human resources practitioner at TNPA to get their views of performance management at TNPA and specifically of the role of human resources in performance management. The interviews, in addition to the literature study, also served as a basis for a survey questionnaire, which was used to probe the views of line iv management and human resources practitioners at TNPA on the role of human resources in performance management. The results of the interviews and the survey showed that performance management was not applied as a continuous and developmental process at TNPA, and that it was often perceived as punitive. The results also indicated that human resources at TNPA should be well versed in the use of the score card method and apply quality assurance in performance management. Recommendations were made for the role of line management and the role of human resources in performance management at TNPA, as well as for the relationship between the two parties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Small town regeneration as a strategy for rural development : case study of Keiskammahoek
- Authors: Qayi, Sandiswa
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa Case studies , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1361 , Rural development -- South Africa Case studies , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the research topic, conceptualising and defining three critical concepts that the research will focus on. The first part deals with the South African understanding of local economic development, rural development, as well as the role of small towns to local economic development. In order to present the role of small towns in rural economic development it is important to define and contextualise the current meaning and understanding of rural development and local economic development. How small towns can promote the role of rural economic development particularly in relation to their surrounding rural villages. The chapter also briefly introduces the small town of Keiskammahoek as research study area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Qayi, Sandiswa
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa Case studies , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1361 , Rural development -- South Africa Case studies , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the research topic, conceptualising and defining three critical concepts that the research will focus on. The first part deals with the South African understanding of local economic development, rural development, as well as the role of small towns to local economic development. In order to present the role of small towns in rural economic development it is important to define and contextualise the current meaning and understanding of rural development and local economic development. How small towns can promote the role of rural economic development particularly in relation to their surrounding rural villages. The chapter also briefly introduces the small town of Keiskammahoek as research study area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Strategic management guidelines for construction SMEs in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Appels, Gaynor
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1414 , Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Description: SMEs fulfil an important role in the long-term growth and development of the economy of the country. The development and growth of construction SMEs are important for all countries, as a strong SME base has the capacity to produce a high-quality infrastructure for the country. Construction SMEs also stimulate economic activity in other sectors of the economy. Research has, however, shown that the failure rate of small businesses within the first five years is high in South Africa. Reseatch has also indicated that the lack of long-term planning and the lack of strategic thinking are major contributing factors to the business failure of SMEs. SMEs operating in the construction industry are faced with the same challenges as their counterparts in other sectors of the economy, but in addition to those difficulties, construction SMEs also have to deal with the unique characteristics of the industry that have adverse implications for them. The construction industry has experienced considerable growth and success, in the past decade, particularly as a result of the government's considerable infrastructural spending, especially in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The growth in the construction industry has, however, not resulted in similar results for Construction SMEs; and research has shown that most of them have not developed into more established entities. In fact, in the Eastern Cape, 91 per cent of all registered contractors fall within the lowest level of the Construction Industry Development Board's classification system. Many construction SMEs perform poorly, but among them there are those that have the potential to grow and develop into larger more established entities. Research has shown that contractor development programmes aimed at assisting the growth and development of construction companies have been successful in increasing participation in the industry, but not in ensuring that small enterprises grow into self-sustainable established enterprises. In contrast, the research has shown that SMEs that practice strategic management perform better, and that there are many advantages for SMEs in applying strategic management principles. This study, therefore, investigates how strategic management can be applied to address the problems faced by construction SMEs, and to exploire techniques and tools of strategic management that can make a significant contribution to their growth and development.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Appels, Gaynor
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1414 , Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Description: SMEs fulfil an important role in the long-term growth and development of the economy of the country. The development and growth of construction SMEs are important for all countries, as a strong SME base has the capacity to produce a high-quality infrastructure for the country. Construction SMEs also stimulate economic activity in other sectors of the economy. Research has, however, shown that the failure rate of small businesses within the first five years is high in South Africa. Reseatch has also indicated that the lack of long-term planning and the lack of strategic thinking are major contributing factors to the business failure of SMEs. SMEs operating in the construction industry are faced with the same challenges as their counterparts in other sectors of the economy, but in addition to those difficulties, construction SMEs also have to deal with the unique characteristics of the industry that have adverse implications for them. The construction industry has experienced considerable growth and success, in the past decade, particularly as a result of the government's considerable infrastructural spending, especially in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The growth in the construction industry has, however, not resulted in similar results for Construction SMEs; and research has shown that most of them have not developed into more established entities. In fact, in the Eastern Cape, 91 per cent of all registered contractors fall within the lowest level of the Construction Industry Development Board's classification system. Many construction SMEs perform poorly, but among them there are those that have the potential to grow and develop into larger more established entities. Research has shown that contractor development programmes aimed at assisting the growth and development of construction companies have been successful in increasing participation in the industry, but not in ensuring that small enterprises grow into self-sustainable established enterprises. In contrast, the research has shown that SMEs that practice strategic management perform better, and that there are many advantages for SMEs in applying strategic management principles. This study, therefore, investigates how strategic management can be applied to address the problems faced by construction SMEs, and to exploire techniques and tools of strategic management that can make a significant contribution to their growth and development.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
Sustainable growth of SME's
- Monks, Patrick Grant Standish
- Authors: Monks, Patrick Grant Standish
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Success in business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8627 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1488 , Success in business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: South Africa and more specifically Port Elizabeth is faced with many challenges with regard to economic growth and unemployment. It is generally acknowledged that the “Small to Medium Enterprises” (SME) are the largest employers in any economy, additionally SME’s are large contributors to the gross domestic product. Successful SME’s are the catalysts of the economy and over time they can develop into large enterprises. It is clear that in order for a country to have a strong and sustainable economy it needs to have a strong and successful SME sector. Unfortunately the South African SME sector performs relatively poorly in comparison with the SME sectors around the world (Herrington, Kew & Kew, 2009). With the knowledge of the importance of the SME sector to the economy and the knowledge that the South African SME’s are generally underperforming, this study will identify how to improve the relative success rate of the SME sector in Port Elizabeth South Africa. In order to achieve this, this study needs to identify why the SME sector is not performing on a par with other SME sectors from around the globe and what initiatives need to be implemented in Port Elizabeth that will enable its SME sector to perform at the same level or better than other SME sectors from around the globe. This study identifies that the South African SME’s are provided with a number of support initiatives. Some of these support initiatives have been very effective, while other support initiatives have been unsuccessful or have failed. This study concludes by identifying a number of areas that need improvement; of these areas two are identified as being critical to SME’s success and sustainability, these two areas are: · The need to make SME’s more aware of the government / business initiatives that are available; and · Establish more effective mentoring and coaching. In order to address these critical areas, the study suggests the use of an internet portal that can be used to coordinate all the activities between the mentors and the SME’s. This internet portal will be expanded to become the core information hub and collaboration centre for the flow of information between the SME’s and any of their stakeholders. Once all this information is centralised it will be a relatively simple process to measure the success rate of the SME’s and the effectiveness of the different mentors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Monks, Patrick Grant Standish
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Success in business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8627 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1488 , Success in business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: South Africa and more specifically Port Elizabeth is faced with many challenges with regard to economic growth and unemployment. It is generally acknowledged that the “Small to Medium Enterprises” (SME) are the largest employers in any economy, additionally SME’s are large contributors to the gross domestic product. Successful SME’s are the catalysts of the economy and over time they can develop into large enterprises. It is clear that in order for a country to have a strong and sustainable economy it needs to have a strong and successful SME sector. Unfortunately the South African SME sector performs relatively poorly in comparison with the SME sectors around the world (Herrington, Kew & Kew, 2009). With the knowledge of the importance of the SME sector to the economy and the knowledge that the South African SME’s are generally underperforming, this study will identify how to improve the relative success rate of the SME sector in Port Elizabeth South Africa. In order to achieve this, this study needs to identify why the SME sector is not performing on a par with other SME sectors from around the globe and what initiatives need to be implemented in Port Elizabeth that will enable its SME sector to perform at the same level or better than other SME sectors from around the globe. This study identifies that the South African SME’s are provided with a number of support initiatives. Some of these support initiatives have been very effective, while other support initiatives have been unsuccessful or have failed. This study concludes by identifying a number of areas that need improvement; of these areas two are identified as being critical to SME’s success and sustainability, these two areas are: · The need to make SME’s more aware of the government / business initiatives that are available; and · Establish more effective mentoring and coaching. In order to address these critical areas, the study suggests the use of an internet portal that can be used to coordinate all the activities between the mentors and the SME’s. This internet portal will be expanded to become the core information hub and collaboration centre for the flow of information between the SME’s and any of their stakeholders. Once all this information is centralised it will be a relatively simple process to measure the success rate of the SME’s and the effectiveness of the different mentors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010