A study of the use of value based management (VBM) by multinational entities in the Eastern Cape motor industry cluster (ECMIC)
- Authors: Blouw, Mbuyiselo Edwin
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Corporations -- Valuation , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8550 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/421 , Corporations -- Valuation , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa
- Description: Management’s response to shareholders’ return on investment as a priority occurs in an increasingly dynamic environment. Accompanying these activities is the need to realign responsibilities and to allocate scarce resources effectively. This is done in order to ensure that companies achieve global competitiveness and increase shareholders’ return on investment. Against this backdrop, local industry needs to find new methods or strategies in order to achieve world-class competitiveness, and to be able to access foreign investment. One way to achieve these goals is through Value Based Management (VBM). The objective of this study is to evaluate the strategic intent of Multinational Entities in applying VBM to increase shareholders’ return on investment. Based on the study, certain factors are critical to ensure the success of VBM. A postal survey to managers in the motor manufacturing and component manufacturing companies was conducted to check the managers’ familiarity with VBM, and their scope, and usage of VBM; and, based on the finding, to evaluate the impact of VBM on companies’ results. The empirical finding was compared with a literature review, and the following findings were made: There is a strong understanding and application of the VBM principle on the part of local entities with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); Departmental performance is critical to an entity’s overall performance; Based on the study, 23 per cent of the respondents use Economic Value Added (EVA) as an internal reporting measure, and an average of 19 per cent use other metrics; A total of 89 per cent of respondents indicated that they strongly agree with the use of incentives for motivation. The above-mentioned points were covered by means of 4-M framework ― that is: Measurement, Management, Motivation, and Mindset.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Blouw, Mbuyiselo Edwin
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Corporations -- Valuation , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8550 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/421 , Corporations -- Valuation , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa
- Description: Management’s response to shareholders’ return on investment as a priority occurs in an increasingly dynamic environment. Accompanying these activities is the need to realign responsibilities and to allocate scarce resources effectively. This is done in order to ensure that companies achieve global competitiveness and increase shareholders’ return on investment. Against this backdrop, local industry needs to find new methods or strategies in order to achieve world-class competitiveness, and to be able to access foreign investment. One way to achieve these goals is through Value Based Management (VBM). The objective of this study is to evaluate the strategic intent of Multinational Entities in applying VBM to increase shareholders’ return on investment. Based on the study, certain factors are critical to ensure the success of VBM. A postal survey to managers in the motor manufacturing and component manufacturing companies was conducted to check the managers’ familiarity with VBM, and their scope, and usage of VBM; and, based on the finding, to evaluate the impact of VBM on companies’ results. The empirical finding was compared with a literature review, and the following findings were made: There is a strong understanding and application of the VBM principle on the part of local entities with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); Departmental performance is critical to an entity’s overall performance; Based on the study, 23 per cent of the respondents use Economic Value Added (EVA) as an internal reporting measure, and an average of 19 per cent use other metrics; A total of 89 per cent of respondents indicated that they strongly agree with the use of incentives for motivation. The above-mentioned points were covered by means of 4-M framework ― that is: Measurement, Management, Motivation, and Mindset.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
A study towards the implementation of a fire service operational structure in the Eden District Municipality area
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Zanda
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/408 , Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Description: The Eden District Municipality (EDM) is a local authority whose area of responsibility covers the Garden Route and also includes the Klein Karoo. The boundaries are from Storms River in the east, to Swellendam in the west and the Swartberg Mountains in the north. The EDM covers a very big area with seven big municipalities to consider and work with. Five of the municipalities, Langeberg, Mossel Bay, Knysna, George and Oudtshoorn have their own fire fighting services. The EDM fire fighting serves mainly the rural area. This is very costly due to the large distance required to travel to a fire, whereas the local municipalities are operating in their own towns. The new municipal boundaries include the rural areas, but the municipalities cannot service the rural areas because they do not as yet charge rates in the rural areas and therefore there is no revenue for the fire fighting service. They operate on the basis of verbal working agreements that make coordination of fire fighting very difficult. The fire fighting functions of the EDM as a category C municipality and the local municipalities as category B municipalities have been specified in the Municipal Structure Act. The allocation (division) of functions and powers relating to fire fighting service between the district municipality and local municipalities as determined by the Municipal Structure Act (Act 117 of 1998) has not been done. Due to the lack of invested capital, the resources are in a bad state. Some of the services have no capacity to attend to chemical fires or hazardous substance emergencies. Internationally, private fire fighting services can be contracted by government departments. These private fire fighting services are very large and the areas that they serve are extensive. These services have their own personnel structures functioning in an organisational structure that serves them well. These private services are very cost-effective and can therefore offer reasonable rates. Based on an investigation of various fire fighting services and different structures, the proposed structure for fire fighting in the EDM area will be a combination of structures. The diverse nature of the area will make the location of a sectoral structure and extension of its capacity difficult, and several factors that will impact on an new structure must be kept in mind. If all works well it will be relatively easy to achieve the five operations performance objectives envisaged for restructuring namely quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Zanda
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/408 , Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Description: The Eden District Municipality (EDM) is a local authority whose area of responsibility covers the Garden Route and also includes the Klein Karoo. The boundaries are from Storms River in the east, to Swellendam in the west and the Swartberg Mountains in the north. The EDM covers a very big area with seven big municipalities to consider and work with. Five of the municipalities, Langeberg, Mossel Bay, Knysna, George and Oudtshoorn have their own fire fighting services. The EDM fire fighting serves mainly the rural area. This is very costly due to the large distance required to travel to a fire, whereas the local municipalities are operating in their own towns. The new municipal boundaries include the rural areas, but the municipalities cannot service the rural areas because they do not as yet charge rates in the rural areas and therefore there is no revenue for the fire fighting service. They operate on the basis of verbal working agreements that make coordination of fire fighting very difficult. The fire fighting functions of the EDM as a category C municipality and the local municipalities as category B municipalities have been specified in the Municipal Structure Act. The allocation (division) of functions and powers relating to fire fighting service between the district municipality and local municipalities as determined by the Municipal Structure Act (Act 117 of 1998) has not been done. Due to the lack of invested capital, the resources are in a bad state. Some of the services have no capacity to attend to chemical fires or hazardous substance emergencies. Internationally, private fire fighting services can be contracted by government departments. These private fire fighting services are very large and the areas that they serve are extensive. These services have their own personnel structures functioning in an organisational structure that serves them well. These private services are very cost-effective and can therefore offer reasonable rates. Based on an investigation of various fire fighting services and different structures, the proposed structure for fire fighting in the EDM area will be a combination of structures. The diverse nature of the area will make the location of a sectoral structure and extension of its capacity difficult, and several factors that will impact on an new structure must be kept in mind. If all works well it will be relatively easy to achieve the five operations performance objectives envisaged for restructuring namely quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An analysis of key factors responsible for and influencing the rate of employee absenteeism in the construction sector with specific reference to the Ngqura Harbour project
- Authors: Koen-Müller, Magdel
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9263 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/152 , Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Absenteeism places huge financial burdens on organisations and has a detrimental effect on productivity. Aware of the direct and indirect costs associated with absenteeism, management must determine what factors are responsible for the absenteeism and how these factors can be rectified in order to reduce the rate of employee absenteeism in the organisation. The study’s main aims were firstly to determine which key factors are responsible for employees being absent from work and secondly, how they can be rectified in order to reduce absenteeism. From the data that was obtained from the literature study stress, substance abuse, lack of job commitment and organisational factors account for some reasons given for absenteeism. Employee absenteeism may also be partly due to not enough emphasis being placed on career development, staff retention and salaries. Other causes of absenteeism include personal responsibilities, lack of motivation and low morale in the workplace. Only recently have managers become aware of the true impact which alcohol and substance abuse have on organisations. More productivity is lost through on-the-job absenteeism than due to any other single factor. On-the-job absenteeism is difficult to define and very difficult to identify. Such absenteeism includes the presence of employees at work while they are sick but incapable of performing to their true capabilities – this often occurring on Mondays or Fridays or the day after payday. With current staff retention programs, mergers and joint ventures, organisations now demand the same level of production with fewer employees. This has given rise to an increase in the level of stress employees experience, which led to stress becoming a key factor responsible for absenteeism. When managing absenteeism the implementation of a proper measurement system is essential. This will enable the company to determine the extent of their absenteeism. An evaluation and comparison of these statistics over a period of time will also shed light on the nature of the absenteeism. These will result in the proactive handling of a company’s absenteeism. This is also the first step away from the acceptance of absenteeism and subsequently the nurturing of an absence culture. Employers can take a number of steps to reduce absenteeism, such as giving responsibility for absence management to senior or human resource managers rather than line managers, introducing return to work interviews, introducing discipline procedures and others. The great majority of absence management solutions completely overlook organisational factors, instead focusing on individual, claim processing and health-related factors in the quest to reduce lost productive days. Absence management programs should focus on organisational (not individual) drivers of absence to encourage a present and committed workforce. Absenteeism will never be eradicated, but through careful management organisations can reduce the absentee rate and the effect it has on the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Koen-Müller, Magdel
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9263 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/152 , Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Absenteeism places huge financial burdens on organisations and has a detrimental effect on productivity. Aware of the direct and indirect costs associated with absenteeism, management must determine what factors are responsible for the absenteeism and how these factors can be rectified in order to reduce the rate of employee absenteeism in the organisation. The study’s main aims were firstly to determine which key factors are responsible for employees being absent from work and secondly, how they can be rectified in order to reduce absenteeism. From the data that was obtained from the literature study stress, substance abuse, lack of job commitment and organisational factors account for some reasons given for absenteeism. Employee absenteeism may also be partly due to not enough emphasis being placed on career development, staff retention and salaries. Other causes of absenteeism include personal responsibilities, lack of motivation and low morale in the workplace. Only recently have managers become aware of the true impact which alcohol and substance abuse have on organisations. More productivity is lost through on-the-job absenteeism than due to any other single factor. On-the-job absenteeism is difficult to define and very difficult to identify. Such absenteeism includes the presence of employees at work while they are sick but incapable of performing to their true capabilities – this often occurring on Mondays or Fridays or the day after payday. With current staff retention programs, mergers and joint ventures, organisations now demand the same level of production with fewer employees. This has given rise to an increase in the level of stress employees experience, which led to stress becoming a key factor responsible for absenteeism. When managing absenteeism the implementation of a proper measurement system is essential. This will enable the company to determine the extent of their absenteeism. An evaluation and comparison of these statistics over a period of time will also shed light on the nature of the absenteeism. These will result in the proactive handling of a company’s absenteeism. This is also the first step away from the acceptance of absenteeism and subsequently the nurturing of an absence culture. Employers can take a number of steps to reduce absenteeism, such as giving responsibility for absence management to senior or human resource managers rather than line managers, introducing return to work interviews, introducing discipline procedures and others. The great majority of absence management solutions completely overlook organisational factors, instead focusing on individual, claim processing and health-related factors in the quest to reduce lost productive days. Absence management programs should focus on organisational (not individual) drivers of absence to encourage a present and committed workforce. Absenteeism will never be eradicated, but through careful management organisations can reduce the absentee rate and the effect it has on the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An assessment of strategies used to retain nurses in selected hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipal area
- Authors: Zweni, Sisilo Sylvia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Nurses -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9260 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/147 , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Nurses -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Description: The harsh realities currently facing public hospitals such as budget cuts, understaffing and poor working conditions, have resulted in nurses experiencing low morale and finding it increasingly difficult to stay in the public health sector. The obvious targeting of South African nurses by recruitment agencies with job offers to work overseas is causing a massive skills’ drain that the country cannot afford. The situation is further compounded by the fact that the government is freezing posts of those nurses who have resigned. Consequently, nurses who are currently working in these hospitals have to cope with unreasonable workloads. Public hospitals are nowadays faced with the challenge of delivering quality health care within the constraints of gross staff shortages, and an increasingly competitive global health environment. The main objective of this study was to identify strategies that can be implemented by hospitals in order to reduce turnover, thereby enhancing retention of staff. Interviews were conducted with the matrons-in-charge of the hospitals under study to investigate strategies that are in place to improve retention. Secondary data regarding staff turnover in the hospitals under study was collected and analysed. It emerged that there are no concrete strategies in place to lower turnover. Hospitals are indeed experiencing staff turnover and posts that were vacated by those nurses that have resigned are frozen. The literature survey revealed three strategies that can be utilised to retain employees, namely, motivation strategies, effective leadership strategies and human resources strategies. Based on various literature reviews, it was concluded that the three strategies are interrelated. The empirical survey was conducted at the three selected hospitals, to determine the extent to which the retention strategies identified in the literature survey are being utilised. All three are invariably used in the hospitals. It is evident that the leadership behaviour in these hospitals affects the level of motivation of employees. The extent to which some of the human resources strategies are utilised invariably leads to low morale and dissatisfaction among employees. Lastly, research findings were assessed with the aim of drawing conclusions so that appropriate recommendations could be made. Recommendations focused on the retention strategies that can be implemented to boost morale of employees and enhance retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Zweni, Sisilo Sylvia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Nurses -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9260 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/147 , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Nurses -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Description: The harsh realities currently facing public hospitals such as budget cuts, understaffing and poor working conditions, have resulted in nurses experiencing low morale and finding it increasingly difficult to stay in the public health sector. The obvious targeting of South African nurses by recruitment agencies with job offers to work overseas is causing a massive skills’ drain that the country cannot afford. The situation is further compounded by the fact that the government is freezing posts of those nurses who have resigned. Consequently, nurses who are currently working in these hospitals have to cope with unreasonable workloads. Public hospitals are nowadays faced with the challenge of delivering quality health care within the constraints of gross staff shortages, and an increasingly competitive global health environment. The main objective of this study was to identify strategies that can be implemented by hospitals in order to reduce turnover, thereby enhancing retention of staff. Interviews were conducted with the matrons-in-charge of the hospitals under study to investigate strategies that are in place to improve retention. Secondary data regarding staff turnover in the hospitals under study was collected and analysed. It emerged that there are no concrete strategies in place to lower turnover. Hospitals are indeed experiencing staff turnover and posts that were vacated by those nurses that have resigned are frozen. The literature survey revealed three strategies that can be utilised to retain employees, namely, motivation strategies, effective leadership strategies and human resources strategies. Based on various literature reviews, it was concluded that the three strategies are interrelated. The empirical survey was conducted at the three selected hospitals, to determine the extent to which the retention strategies identified in the literature survey are being utilised. All three are invariably used in the hospitals. It is evident that the leadership behaviour in these hospitals affects the level of motivation of employees. The extent to which some of the human resources strategies are utilised invariably leads to low morale and dissatisfaction among employees. Lastly, research findings were assessed with the aim of drawing conclusions so that appropriate recommendations could be made. Recommendations focused on the retention strategies that can be implemented to boost morale of employees and enhance retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An assessment of the recruitment and selection strategies used in the sales department of Old Mutual Group Schemes in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Booi, Solomzi Kaya
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Employees recruiting , Insurance agents -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Old Mutual (Cape Town, South Africa) Employees , Group insurance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9261 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/150 , Employees recruiting , Insurance agents -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Old Mutual (Cape Town, South Africa) Employees , Group insurance
- Description: The aim of this research was to assess the recruitment and selection strategies used in the sales department of Old Mutual Group Schemes (OMGS) in the Eastern Cape. The company hopes to stem the high labour turn over in OMGS. After the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA) and Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA) were promulgated, organisations in this country introduced new recruitment and selection policies. The challenge to most organisations is the implementation of these policies by managers. The requirements of these two legislations create problems for small companies because of the high costs involved especially in the implementation stages. The organisation incurs costs in the development of the new processes and the training of staff. Even after the new processes, labour turnover did not improve in OMGS. Senior management is trying any means possible to rectify the situation. The company policy was examined against the literature available and the recruitment and selection processes of different authors were investigated. The findings indicated that some steps in the recruitment and selection processes were not followed. It was recommended that the organisation use more recruitment sources to broaden the scope of accessing more suitable applicants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Booi, Solomzi Kaya
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Employees recruiting , Insurance agents -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Old Mutual (Cape Town, South Africa) Employees , Group insurance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9261 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/150 , Employees recruiting , Insurance agents -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Old Mutual (Cape Town, South Africa) Employees , Group insurance
- Description: The aim of this research was to assess the recruitment and selection strategies used in the sales department of Old Mutual Group Schemes (OMGS) in the Eastern Cape. The company hopes to stem the high labour turn over in OMGS. After the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA) and Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA) were promulgated, organisations in this country introduced new recruitment and selection policies. The challenge to most organisations is the implementation of these policies by managers. The requirements of these two legislations create problems for small companies because of the high costs involved especially in the implementation stages. The organisation incurs costs in the development of the new processes and the training of staff. Even after the new processes, labour turnover did not improve in OMGS. Senior management is trying any means possible to rectify the situation. The company policy was examined against the literature available and the recruitment and selection processes of different authors were investigated. The findings indicated that some steps in the recruitment and selection processes were not followed. It was recommended that the organisation use more recruitment sources to broaden the scope of accessing more suitable applicants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An assessment of the viability of establishing a hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality area
- Authors: Allie, Dean Gerard
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Hyperbaric oxygenation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Hyperbaric oxygenation -- Practice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9262 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/151 , Hyperbaric oxygenation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Hyperbaric oxygenation -- Practice
- Description: At present, the Eastern Cape is the only province in South Africa lacking a clinical hospital-based hyperbaric facility. East Cape Hyperbaric, to be situated at Greenacres Hospital in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan, will offer the Eastern Cape community access to a world-class facility that will offer their patients Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and a Wound-Healing Facility. The objective of this study was to assess the viability of establishing a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) facility for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM), using sound business planning principles. A business plan precisely defines the business, identifies the goals, and serves as the firm's resume. A business plan will assist in allocating resources effectively, handle unforeseen complications, and assist in making sound business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about the company and how the company will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of business planning. In order to quantify the demand for a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy facility, a questionnaire was designed, in such a manner as to identify the current demand for a HBOT facility. The questionnaires were distributed to all medical practitioners within the NMMM by means of fax, e-mail and hand-delivery. Research conducted indicates that the results are promising enough to warrant the expedient creation of this business facility.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Allie, Dean Gerard
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Hyperbaric oxygenation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Hyperbaric oxygenation -- Practice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9262 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/151 , Hyperbaric oxygenation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Hyperbaric oxygenation -- Practice
- Description: At present, the Eastern Cape is the only province in South Africa lacking a clinical hospital-based hyperbaric facility. East Cape Hyperbaric, to be situated at Greenacres Hospital in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan, will offer the Eastern Cape community access to a world-class facility that will offer their patients Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and a Wound-Healing Facility. The objective of this study was to assess the viability of establishing a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) facility for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM), using sound business planning principles. A business plan precisely defines the business, identifies the goals, and serves as the firm's resume. A business plan will assist in allocating resources effectively, handle unforeseen complications, and assist in making sound business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about the company and how the company will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of business planning. In order to quantify the demand for a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy facility, a questionnaire was designed, in such a manner as to identify the current demand for a HBOT facility. The questionnaires were distributed to all medical practitioners within the NMMM by means of fax, e-mail and hand-delivery. Research conducted indicates that the results are promising enough to warrant the expedient creation of this business facility.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An evaluation of Volkswagen of South Africa's graduate training programme to develop a model for achieving programme outcomes
- Authors: Avrabos, Cheryl Lee
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: College graduates -- Recruiting -- South Africa , Volkswagen of South Africa (Firm)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9376 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/168 , College graduates -- Recruiting -- South Africa , Volkswagen of South Africa (Firm)
- Description: The purpose of this study was to develop a process model in order to meet outcomes of graduate training programmes, with specific relevance to Volkswagen of South Africa. To do this, VWSA’s Graduate Training Programme was assessed in terms of the approach currently used by VWSA to recruit, select and train graduate trainees. A literature study was conducted to reveal strategies for effectively training new recruits and the development of leadership competencies. Based on this study a model was developed to facilitate the graduate training programme process to achieve programme objectives. The study aimed at making a contribution to graduate training programmes by identifying key leadership competencies, as well as the training interventions which lead to the development of these competencies. It was found that the technical skills that the trainees acquire at their tertiary educational institutions are not sufficient in today’s workplace, thereby necessitating closer working relationships between these institutions and businesses so that needs can be shared, as well as more comprehensive training programmes being provided. The research methodology comprised the following steps: An analysis was made of VWSA’s current processes regarding recruitment, selection and training of their graduate trainees. iv An assessment of leadership competencies in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes that contribute to successful performance was undertaken. Training interventions as a process was studied. An analysis was made as to what extent the existing training interventions for VWSA’s graduate programme achieve the desired programme outcomes by means of a research questionnaire circulated to mentors/coaches and graduate trainees within the organisation. A model was developed to serve as a holistic framework for the recruitment, selection and training of graduate trainees for all motor and related industries undertaking graduate training programmes. The above was achieved through a practical study and a literature study, making use of questionnaires, as well as relevant published, unpublished and electronic texts and studies. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made based on data established through theoretical research and data obtained from the questionnaires.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Avrabos, Cheryl Lee
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: College graduates -- Recruiting -- South Africa , Volkswagen of South Africa (Firm)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9376 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/168 , College graduates -- Recruiting -- South Africa , Volkswagen of South Africa (Firm)
- Description: The purpose of this study was to develop a process model in order to meet outcomes of graduate training programmes, with specific relevance to Volkswagen of South Africa. To do this, VWSA’s Graduate Training Programme was assessed in terms of the approach currently used by VWSA to recruit, select and train graduate trainees. A literature study was conducted to reveal strategies for effectively training new recruits and the development of leadership competencies. Based on this study a model was developed to facilitate the graduate training programme process to achieve programme objectives. The study aimed at making a contribution to graduate training programmes by identifying key leadership competencies, as well as the training interventions which lead to the development of these competencies. It was found that the technical skills that the trainees acquire at their tertiary educational institutions are not sufficient in today’s workplace, thereby necessitating closer working relationships between these institutions and businesses so that needs can be shared, as well as more comprehensive training programmes being provided. The research methodology comprised the following steps: An analysis was made of VWSA’s current processes regarding recruitment, selection and training of their graduate trainees. iv An assessment of leadership competencies in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes that contribute to successful performance was undertaken. Training interventions as a process was studied. An analysis was made as to what extent the existing training interventions for VWSA’s graduate programme achieve the desired programme outcomes by means of a research questionnaire circulated to mentors/coaches and graduate trainees within the organisation. A model was developed to serve as a holistic framework for the recruitment, selection and training of graduate trainees for all motor and related industries undertaking graduate training programmes. The above was achieved through a practical study and a literature study, making use of questionnaires, as well as relevant published, unpublished and electronic texts and studies. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made based on data established through theoretical research and data obtained from the questionnaires.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation into the extent of focus by Metropolitan Retail, South Africa on the technology innovation capabilities and perspectives
- Authors: Motsoeneng, Thato Simon
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- Technological innovations , Insurance companies -- Technological innovations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8599 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/415 , Business enterprises -- Technological innovations , Insurance companies -- Technological innovations -- South Africa
- Description: This paper reviews the literature on innovation in order to build an agenda for an investigation into the extent to which Metropolitan Retail, within Metropolitan Life Pty in South Africa, focuses on technology innovation capabilities and perspectives. The research was conducted in the areas of, technology innovation capabilities, perspectives guiding the business strategy to integrate and accelerate innovation and contextual aspects influencing innovation perspectives. The extent of focus by the firm on capabilities and perspectives was measured. Data gathered was disseminated and processed by means of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The results on current focus indicate that the firm’s focus is mostly on improving core business, although the extent is less than adequate. In other words, generate incremental innovations that can be developed and implemented rapidly and inexpensively. This approach of implementing innovation is in line with the business strategy, more specifically, with the objective of reducing costs and making profits. The findings of the research further suggest that the firm should consider focusing mostly on exploiting strategic advantages. In many firms the fundamental emphasis on technology innovation in developing products, processes and services is thought to determine their ability to cope with never ending customer demands and competitive practices. Coupled with this thought is a reality of high failure rate of technology innovation projects. Against this backdrop, general managers are faced with strategic innovation options, which can make or break firms. Changes in the economic and government environments influence the innovation approach of the firm most. These changes have undoubtedly presented firms with opportunities as well as risks. Possibly the greatest challenge confronting general managers in this context is the building of critical capabilities to enhance the firm’s agility. This challenge presents opportunity for further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Motsoeneng, Thato Simon
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- Technological innovations , Insurance companies -- Technological innovations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8599 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/415 , Business enterprises -- Technological innovations , Insurance companies -- Technological innovations -- South Africa
- Description: This paper reviews the literature on innovation in order to build an agenda for an investigation into the extent to which Metropolitan Retail, within Metropolitan Life Pty in South Africa, focuses on technology innovation capabilities and perspectives. The research was conducted in the areas of, technology innovation capabilities, perspectives guiding the business strategy to integrate and accelerate innovation and contextual aspects influencing innovation perspectives. The extent of focus by the firm on capabilities and perspectives was measured. Data gathered was disseminated and processed by means of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The results on current focus indicate that the firm’s focus is mostly on improving core business, although the extent is less than adequate. In other words, generate incremental innovations that can be developed and implemented rapidly and inexpensively. This approach of implementing innovation is in line with the business strategy, more specifically, with the objective of reducing costs and making profits. The findings of the research further suggest that the firm should consider focusing mostly on exploiting strategic advantages. In many firms the fundamental emphasis on technology innovation in developing products, processes and services is thought to determine their ability to cope with never ending customer demands and competitive practices. Coupled with this thought is a reality of high failure rate of technology innovation projects. Against this backdrop, general managers are faced with strategic innovation options, which can make or break firms. Changes in the economic and government environments influence the innovation approach of the firm most. These changes have undoubtedly presented firms with opportunities as well as risks. Possibly the greatest challenge confronting general managers in this context is the building of critical capabilities to enhance the firm’s agility. This challenge presents opportunity for further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation of the factors that influence the decision-making of Chinese tourist travelling to South Africa
- Authors: Wan, Jiangtao
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa -- Decision making , Chinese -- Travel -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/411 , Tourism -- South Africa -- Decision making , Chinese -- Travel -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Description: The growth of the Chinese economy represents a significant opportunity for global travel and tourism and it has raised the expectation that the South African tourism industry will explore and benefit from the Chinese outbound market growth. Since international travel and tourism is becoming a significant component of the South African economy, it is important to understand the factors that influence consumer decision-making in tourism. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the decision-making of Chinese tourists that travel to South Africa. The research gives a systemic review of the Chinese outbound market, starting with the Chinese outbound travel history, and the impact of the social-economic issues on Chinese travel and tourism. An overview is provided of the size, growth and the regulation of the Chinese outbound market, as well as the main characteristics of Chinese outbound tourists. The factors that influence decision-making are compartmentalised into two categories: internal and external factors. Internal and external factors relate to the concept that people travel due to the fact that they are pushed by their own internal forces and pulled by the external forces such as the social environment, reference groups, social class, the restrictions from government regulations and the attraction of travel destination countries. The empirical findings reflect that the factors that have the most significant impact on the decision-making process of Chinese outbound tourists travelling to South Africa are perception about safety, lack of knowledge about South Africa and a growth in the use of the Internet as a source of tourist information. The study also reflects a tendency towards individualism and a shift away from traditional group decision-making. Based on the findings of the empirical study, South Africa tourism needs to offer a safe travel environment, provide greater access to information featuring South Africa as a tourist destination, and offer discounted travel packages
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Wan, Jiangtao
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa -- Decision making , Chinese -- Travel -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/411 , Tourism -- South Africa -- Decision making , Chinese -- Travel -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Description: The growth of the Chinese economy represents a significant opportunity for global travel and tourism and it has raised the expectation that the South African tourism industry will explore and benefit from the Chinese outbound market growth. Since international travel and tourism is becoming a significant component of the South African economy, it is important to understand the factors that influence consumer decision-making in tourism. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the decision-making of Chinese tourists that travel to South Africa. The research gives a systemic review of the Chinese outbound market, starting with the Chinese outbound travel history, and the impact of the social-economic issues on Chinese travel and tourism. An overview is provided of the size, growth and the regulation of the Chinese outbound market, as well as the main characteristics of Chinese outbound tourists. The factors that influence decision-making are compartmentalised into two categories: internal and external factors. Internal and external factors relate to the concept that people travel due to the fact that they are pushed by their own internal forces and pulled by the external forces such as the social environment, reference groups, social class, the restrictions from government regulations and the attraction of travel destination countries. The empirical findings reflect that the factors that have the most significant impact on the decision-making process of Chinese outbound tourists travelling to South Africa are perception about safety, lack of knowledge about South Africa and a growth in the use of the Internet as a source of tourist information. The study also reflects a tendency towards individualism and a shift away from traditional group decision-making. Based on the findings of the empirical study, South Africa tourism needs to offer a safe travel environment, provide greater access to information featuring South Africa as a tourist destination, and offer discounted travel packages
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Barriers confronting small and micro tourism enterprises of previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Authors: Clay, Mzwake Richard
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8536 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/422 , Small business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Description: The research problem in this study was to look at barriers confronting small and micro tourism enterprises of the previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. To achieve this objective, literature on the barriers confronting these enterprises, was reviewed. The empirical results obtained indicate a strong concurrence with the literature study emphasizing the importance of the barriers identified and the possible ways of resolving them. The main problems identified in the literature review were: lack of institutional support, legislation, lack of access to finance, and lack of entrepreneurial skill (planning and organizing, marketing, training and human resources, time management, conflict resolution and negotiation skill). These barriers identified in the literature study were then used to develop a questionnaire to test the extent to which small and micro tourism enterprises are constrained by barriers when starting up and how these barriers can be resolved. A sample of 18 small and micro tourism businesses was taken, one from Uitenhage and 17 from Port Elizabeth. The main results were that there are few small and micro tourism businesses of the previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The main reason for this is that previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs are not given adequate support by government institutions created for that purpose. iv Most of these businesses are not getting enough financial support during start-up because of problems with the owners’ credit records. The results also indicate that small and micro tourism businesses of the previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs view legislation intended to develop them, as actually stifling their development, such as the municipal credit laws. The study recommends that more institutional support should be given to small and micro tourism businesses that are starting up, and government institutions responsible for the development of small and micro businesses need to target the previously disadvantaged communities with their marketing. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) need to conduct research on alternative non-collateral financing for small and micro businesses. More training programmes on business skills have also to be conducted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Clay, Mzwake Richard
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8536 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/422 , Small business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Description: The research problem in this study was to look at barriers confronting small and micro tourism enterprises of the previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. To achieve this objective, literature on the barriers confronting these enterprises, was reviewed. The empirical results obtained indicate a strong concurrence with the literature study emphasizing the importance of the barriers identified and the possible ways of resolving them. The main problems identified in the literature review were: lack of institutional support, legislation, lack of access to finance, and lack of entrepreneurial skill (planning and organizing, marketing, training and human resources, time management, conflict resolution and negotiation skill). These barriers identified in the literature study were then used to develop a questionnaire to test the extent to which small and micro tourism enterprises are constrained by barriers when starting up and how these barriers can be resolved. A sample of 18 small and micro tourism businesses was taken, one from Uitenhage and 17 from Port Elizabeth. The main results were that there are few small and micro tourism businesses of the previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The main reason for this is that previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs are not given adequate support by government institutions created for that purpose. iv Most of these businesses are not getting enough financial support during start-up because of problems with the owners’ credit records. The results also indicate that small and micro tourism businesses of the previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs view legislation intended to develop them, as actually stifling their development, such as the municipal credit laws. The study recommends that more institutional support should be given to small and micro tourism businesses that are starting up, and government institutions responsible for the development of small and micro businesses need to target the previously disadvantaged communities with their marketing. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) need to conduct research on alternative non-collateral financing for small and micro businesses. More training programmes on business skills have also to be conducted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Brand awareness of students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Authors: Huang, Wei
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Brand name products , Brand choice , Consumers' preferences , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Students -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9350 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/187 , Brand name products , Brand choice , Consumers' preferences , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Students -- Attitudes
- Description: To ensure a long-term successful product brand, it is important to build brand awareness, to reach the consumer’s mind, encourage a consumer to develop a preference and eventually provide a positive contribution to consumer decision-making. Therefore, there is a need to understand and identify the role of brand awareness in the purchase process. An understanding of students as consumers and their brand awareness is important to marketers, particularly as students are recognised as a specialised market segment for a variety of products. The research focused on identifying the differences, if any, in brand awareness and its role in students’ purchase of sportswear clothing and sportswear shoes (high-involvement products) and coffee (a low-involvement product). A drop-off survey was used to collect the required empirical data from a convenience sample of 450 students enrolled at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The empirical findings showed that students were more aware of sportswear clothing and shoe brands than of coffee brands. Advertising played an important role in the awareness of sportswear shoes and clothing brands, but seemed unimportant in the case of coffee. Brand elements were found to enhance brand awareness. The brand name was important for coffee, while the name and the logo played a role in students’ awareness of sportswear brands. The study deduced that differences in brand awareness between high-involvement and low-involvement products exist among the students. Marketers thus need to choose appropriate strategies to create and increase brand awareness for the different products.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Huang, Wei
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Brand name products , Brand choice , Consumers' preferences , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Students -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9350 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/187 , Brand name products , Brand choice , Consumers' preferences , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Students -- Attitudes
- Description: To ensure a long-term successful product brand, it is important to build brand awareness, to reach the consumer’s mind, encourage a consumer to develop a preference and eventually provide a positive contribution to consumer decision-making. Therefore, there is a need to understand and identify the role of brand awareness in the purchase process. An understanding of students as consumers and their brand awareness is important to marketers, particularly as students are recognised as a specialised market segment for a variety of products. The research focused on identifying the differences, if any, in brand awareness and its role in students’ purchase of sportswear clothing and sportswear shoes (high-involvement products) and coffee (a low-involvement product). A drop-off survey was used to collect the required empirical data from a convenience sample of 450 students enrolled at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The empirical findings showed that students were more aware of sportswear clothing and shoe brands than of coffee brands. Advertising played an important role in the awareness of sportswear shoes and clothing brands, but seemed unimportant in the case of coffee. Brand elements were found to enhance brand awareness. The brand name was important for coffee, while the name and the logo played a role in students’ awareness of sportswear brands. The study deduced that differences in brand awareness between high-involvement and low-involvement products exist among the students. Marketers thus need to choose appropriate strategies to create and increase brand awareness for the different products.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Critical analysis of a performance management system used by a tertiary education institution in the Eastern Cape
- Mkovane, Zenephone Bhekuyise
- Authors: Mkovane, Zenephone Bhekuyise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- Evaluation , Performance -- Measurement -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Border Technikon -- Employees -- Rating of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8567 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/412 , Performance -- Management -- Evaluation , Performance -- Measurement -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Border Technikon -- Employees -- Rating of
- Description: As argued by authors like Franzen on whose work the greater part of the introduction, the main problem and sub-problem has been based, the objective of this study was to establish the extent to which the performance evaluation system currently in use at the subject Institution conforms to the benchmark performance management systems as espoused in literature. Further, the objective was to establish the differences and commonalities between the performance management systems practiced in the corporate sector and current practice at the subject Institution. Best practice was thus lifted to form part of the recommendation of this study. A questionaire was designed based on the guidelines in the literature study in order to determine how the subject Institution conducts its performance appraisal and how this relates to the four general purposes of performance management mentioned in the study. The respondents' opinion obtained from the questionaire were compared with the guidelines in literature and clustered around the four identifiable general purposes of performance management. The study concludes with a statement of current practice at the subject Institution, and outlines the extent of conformance to benchmark practice on performance management systems. Recommendations are made based on best practice and direction is given to future research into contemporary practices with the express aim of enhancing quality in higher education applying the quality-related procedures of industry and commerce, where quality is crucial to success (Winch, 1996: 9-13). The current performance management system at the subject Institution proves to be largely conforming to the benchmark. However it should require comments made by the respondents that pertain to improvement.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Mkovane, Zenephone Bhekuyise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- Evaluation , Performance -- Measurement -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Border Technikon -- Employees -- Rating of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8567 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/412 , Performance -- Management -- Evaluation , Performance -- Measurement -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Border Technikon -- Employees -- Rating of
- Description: As argued by authors like Franzen on whose work the greater part of the introduction, the main problem and sub-problem has been based, the objective of this study was to establish the extent to which the performance evaluation system currently in use at the subject Institution conforms to the benchmark performance management systems as espoused in literature. Further, the objective was to establish the differences and commonalities between the performance management systems practiced in the corporate sector and current practice at the subject Institution. Best practice was thus lifted to form part of the recommendation of this study. A questionaire was designed based on the guidelines in the literature study in order to determine how the subject Institution conducts its performance appraisal and how this relates to the four general purposes of performance management mentioned in the study. The respondents' opinion obtained from the questionaire were compared with the guidelines in literature and clustered around the four identifiable general purposes of performance management. The study concludes with a statement of current practice at the subject Institution, and outlines the extent of conformance to benchmark practice on performance management systems. Recommendations are made based on best practice and direction is given to future research into contemporary practices with the express aim of enhancing quality in higher education applying the quality-related procedures of industry and commerce, where quality is crucial to success (Winch, 1996: 9-13). The current performance management system at the subject Institution proves to be largely conforming to the benchmark. However it should require comments made by the respondents that pertain to improvement.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2005
Developing a decision-making model that best closes the gap between strategy and the capital investment procedure for Cadbury South Africa
- Authors: Wilson, Brendan David
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Chocolate industry -- Capital investment -- South Africa , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Finance , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Decision making , Cadbury Ltd
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/406 , Chocolate industry -- Capital investment -- South Africa , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Finance , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Decision making , Cadbury Ltd
- Description: This study addresses the fact that the current Cadbury investment appraisal process does not adequately address the strategic implications of many capital investment decisions. Although attempts are made to quantify, in financial terms, the strategic benefits from a given investment, it appears that many perceived benefits are left out of the appraisal process because they lack precise financial quantification, resulting in managers placing greater reliance on the qualitative dimensions of their investment decision-making such as judgement and intuition. The current Cadbury process is based on the unequivocal advice that academics give to organisations and to managers about how to appraise largescale capital investment projects. The use of discounted cash flow techniques, based upon the discounting of decision contingent cash flows at the organisations opportunity cost of capital is regarded as the definitive investment appraisal technique. On this, the academic literature is clear. Whilst there are strong theoretical justifications for the use of discounted cash flow based models, managers continue to use non-DCF appraisal techniques such as payback irrespective of their theoretical shortcomings. The lack of use of a sophisticated risk assessment model is also disappointing, with Cadbury ignoring individual project risk and adopting a naive approach. Finally, this study indicates that Cadbury managers need not be forced into choosing either an economic/normative approach or a strategic/managerial approach to capital-investment decision-making but that rather a hybrid approach, including both the economic and strategic dimensions of choice, is more applicable for effective strategy incorporation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Wilson, Brendan David
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Chocolate industry -- Capital investment -- South Africa , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Finance , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Decision making , Cadbury Ltd
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/406 , Chocolate industry -- Capital investment -- South Africa , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Finance , Chocolate industry -- South Africa -- Decision making , Cadbury Ltd
- Description: This study addresses the fact that the current Cadbury investment appraisal process does not adequately address the strategic implications of many capital investment decisions. Although attempts are made to quantify, in financial terms, the strategic benefits from a given investment, it appears that many perceived benefits are left out of the appraisal process because they lack precise financial quantification, resulting in managers placing greater reliance on the qualitative dimensions of their investment decision-making such as judgement and intuition. The current Cadbury process is based on the unequivocal advice that academics give to organisations and to managers about how to appraise largescale capital investment projects. The use of discounted cash flow techniques, based upon the discounting of decision contingent cash flows at the organisations opportunity cost of capital is regarded as the definitive investment appraisal technique. On this, the academic literature is clear. Whilst there are strong theoretical justifications for the use of discounted cash flow based models, managers continue to use non-DCF appraisal techniques such as payback irrespective of their theoretical shortcomings. The lack of use of a sophisticated risk assessment model is also disappointing, with Cadbury ignoring individual project risk and adopting a naive approach. Finally, this study indicates that Cadbury managers need not be forced into choosing either an economic/normative approach or a strategic/managerial approach to capital-investment decision-making but that rather a hybrid approach, including both the economic and strategic dimensions of choice, is more applicable for effective strategy incorporation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Developing a model for establishing, implementing, and maintaining learnerships in South Africa
- Authors: Hamlet, Brian
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- South Africa , Experiential learning -- South Africa , Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9377 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/156 , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa , Experiential learning -- South Africa , Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Description: The research problem in this study was to identify how successful the methods are that organisations use within the Manufacturing Engineering and Related Services Education and Training Authorities (MERSETA) chambers to develop, implement and maintain learnerships. To achieve this aim a literature examination to determine the aspects of workplace learning were explored, including the various perspectives of learning, together with an investigation into workplace learning. Further, apprenticeships, traineeships, learnerships were discussed; including the concepts vocational education and training standards, and competence explored. Finally a process model for effective learnership implementation was presented based on international approaches together with the South African models and current practices. - v - The process learnership model served as a basis for drawing up a survey questionnaire to establish the extent to which organisations agreed or disagreed with the learnership model developed. The survey was limited to the “automobile” and “new tyre” chambers of the MERSETA. The results obtained from the empirical study indicted a high degree of agreement with the process model for effective learnership implementation. The results obtained from the quantitative data, and qualitative data were used to adapt the learnership process model, and produce a six-phase integrated learnership model. From the survey it become evident that organisations needed to be sensitised and educated as to learnerships before considering more seriously learnership implementation. Further, it emerged that learnerships cannot only be effective within a process approach, and that it should also take place within a positive “organisational learning culture”. Organisations and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) can now use the six-phase integrated learnership model with confidence, as there was a high degree of agreement with the learnership model that was developed as part of this research study. The six-phase integrated learnership model has been comprehensively developed and surveyed by organisations that are currently implementing learnerships on a large scale. Organisations and SETAs can now give effect to the Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998, and contribute to the National skills Development Strategy of 2001, which aims to improve the workplace skills of all South Africans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Hamlet, Brian
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- South Africa , Experiential learning -- South Africa , Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9377 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/156 , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa , Experiential learning -- South Africa , Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Description: The research problem in this study was to identify how successful the methods are that organisations use within the Manufacturing Engineering and Related Services Education and Training Authorities (MERSETA) chambers to develop, implement and maintain learnerships. To achieve this aim a literature examination to determine the aspects of workplace learning were explored, including the various perspectives of learning, together with an investigation into workplace learning. Further, apprenticeships, traineeships, learnerships were discussed; including the concepts vocational education and training standards, and competence explored. Finally a process model for effective learnership implementation was presented based on international approaches together with the South African models and current practices. - v - The process learnership model served as a basis for drawing up a survey questionnaire to establish the extent to which organisations agreed or disagreed with the learnership model developed. The survey was limited to the “automobile” and “new tyre” chambers of the MERSETA. The results obtained from the empirical study indicted a high degree of agreement with the process model for effective learnership implementation. The results obtained from the quantitative data, and qualitative data were used to adapt the learnership process model, and produce a six-phase integrated learnership model. From the survey it become evident that organisations needed to be sensitised and educated as to learnerships before considering more seriously learnership implementation. Further, it emerged that learnerships cannot only be effective within a process approach, and that it should also take place within a positive “organisational learning culture”. Organisations and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) can now use the six-phase integrated learnership model with confidence, as there was a high degree of agreement with the learnership model that was developed as part of this research study. The six-phase integrated learnership model has been comprehensively developed and surveyed by organisations that are currently implementing learnerships on a large scale. Organisations and SETAs can now give effect to the Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998, and contribute to the National skills Development Strategy of 2001, which aims to improve the workplace skills of all South Africans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Dimensions of guest house service: perceptions of owners and expectations of business travellers
- Wang, Yi
- Authors: Wang, Yi
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Hospitality industry -- Customer relations , Boardinghouses -- Customer services -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9354 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1006215 , Hospitality industry -- Customer relations , Boardinghouses -- Customer services -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa
- Description: The need for successful management of a guest house in the increasingly competitive hospitality industry in South Africa, compels guest house owners to understand their customers’ needs and deliver service of acceptable quality. The objective of the research is to find out what business travellers expect from a guest house and how these expectations compare with the perceptions of guest house owners in Port Elizabeth. Conclusions drawn from this research would also benefit guest house owners in other parts of the country. A literature review was conducted to provide an understanding of the nature of service and the role “evidence of service” can play in the perception of quality. The empirical study aimed at comparing business travellers’ expectations of guest house service with guest house owners’ perceptions of their guests’ expectations. The empirical findings showed that business travellers deemed secure parking and professionalism of staff as the most important attributes, while guest house owners thought it would be friendliness of front desk staff and efficient handling of complaints. Moreover, both groups indicated that cleanliness of rooms and services performed by staff adequately the first time, were of particular importance. It was also found that the importance rating of the different service dimensions were not significantly influenced by the business travellers’ gender, managerial position, nights of stay or by the guest house grading. The study proposes that guest house owners continue to focus on strategies for training and developing competent employees, simplify the steps of service delivery and improve on the standards of the servcie to ensure that business facilities are in line with the expectations of business travelers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Wang, Yi
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Hospitality industry -- Customer relations , Boardinghouses -- Customer services -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9354 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1006215 , Hospitality industry -- Customer relations , Boardinghouses -- Customer services -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa
- Description: The need for successful management of a guest house in the increasingly competitive hospitality industry in South Africa, compels guest house owners to understand their customers’ needs and deliver service of acceptable quality. The objective of the research is to find out what business travellers expect from a guest house and how these expectations compare with the perceptions of guest house owners in Port Elizabeth. Conclusions drawn from this research would also benefit guest house owners in other parts of the country. A literature review was conducted to provide an understanding of the nature of service and the role “evidence of service” can play in the perception of quality. The empirical study aimed at comparing business travellers’ expectations of guest house service with guest house owners’ perceptions of their guests’ expectations. The empirical findings showed that business travellers deemed secure parking and professionalism of staff as the most important attributes, while guest house owners thought it would be friendliness of front desk staff and efficient handling of complaints. Moreover, both groups indicated that cleanliness of rooms and services performed by staff adequately the first time, were of particular importance. It was also found that the importance rating of the different service dimensions were not significantly influenced by the business travellers’ gender, managerial position, nights of stay or by the guest house grading. The study proposes that guest house owners continue to focus on strategies for training and developing competent employees, simplify the steps of service delivery and improve on the standards of the servcie to ensure that business facilities are in line with the expectations of business travelers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Factors influencing employees to seek supervisory positions in manufacturing
- Authors: Ficker, Liezel
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Supervisors, Industrial , Supervision of employees
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8539 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/190 , Supervisors, Industrial , Supervision of employees
- Description: This research was undertaken at a hosiery manufacturing plant situated in Cape Town. The two research questions were: 1) What are the main factors that influenced, as well as previously discouraged, current supervisors to seek supervisory positions? and 2) What are the main factors that influence employees to want to become a supervisor, and what factors would discourage them from wanting to become a supervisor? Questionnaires were used as the measuring instrument. The results revealed that internal motivation was the most important factor that positively influenced current supervisors to seek a supervisory position. This was followed by self-perceived management ability, self-belief and confidence factors. Supervisors revealed a low social and affiliation need. Factors that discouraged current supervisors from seeking a supervisory position were limited management involvement, negative work related issues, and self-doubt factors. Most employees, who were not interested in seeking a supervisory position, indicated that there were no factors that would motivate them to want to become supervisors. Amongst the four content theories of motivation, the most relevant theory in interpreting the results was the Herzberg’s two factor theory. He stated that “employees are motivated by their own inherent need to succeed at a challenging task”. This is exactly what was also found in this research. One of the interesting findings is that Herzberg’s hygiene factors played almost no role as a motivator or demotivator for either current supervisors or employees. The significance of the findings for managers is that they should not strive to motivate employees to become supervisors, but rather select people who already have a high level of internal self-motivation. If they are simply looking for good workers, they should select a different type of employee who does not have a high need for achievement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ficker, Liezel
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Supervisors, Industrial , Supervision of employees
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8539 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/190 , Supervisors, Industrial , Supervision of employees
- Description: This research was undertaken at a hosiery manufacturing plant situated in Cape Town. The two research questions were: 1) What are the main factors that influenced, as well as previously discouraged, current supervisors to seek supervisory positions? and 2) What are the main factors that influence employees to want to become a supervisor, and what factors would discourage them from wanting to become a supervisor? Questionnaires were used as the measuring instrument. The results revealed that internal motivation was the most important factor that positively influenced current supervisors to seek a supervisory position. This was followed by self-perceived management ability, self-belief and confidence factors. Supervisors revealed a low social and affiliation need. Factors that discouraged current supervisors from seeking a supervisory position were limited management involvement, negative work related issues, and self-doubt factors. Most employees, who were not interested in seeking a supervisory position, indicated that there were no factors that would motivate them to want to become supervisors. Amongst the four content theories of motivation, the most relevant theory in interpreting the results was the Herzberg’s two factor theory. He stated that “employees are motivated by their own inherent need to succeed at a challenging task”. This is exactly what was also found in this research. One of the interesting findings is that Herzberg’s hygiene factors played almost no role as a motivator or demotivator for either current supervisors or employees. The significance of the findings for managers is that they should not strive to motivate employees to become supervisors, but rather select people who already have a high level of internal self-motivation. If they are simply looking for good workers, they should select a different type of employee who does not have a high need for achievement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Feminisation a period of labour market changes in South Africa
- Authors: Lee, Deborah Ellen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Discrimination in employment -- South Africa , Wages -- Women -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:11008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/363 , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Discrimination in employment -- South Africa , Wages -- Women -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa
- Description: The post-1994 role of women in the South African economy is changing with respect to issues such as education and employment opportunities. In the past, men tended to hold the primary or ‘good’ jobs, which have the greatest stability and promotional potential, whilst women tended to hold the secondary or ‘poor’ jobs, which have lower stability and lower wages (Kelly, 1991). Women’s labour force participation has risen significantly over the years since 1994, but more in depth research is needed in order to determine where and how changes could be implemented to ensure that any past gender inequalities fall away with minimal impact on the economy as a whole. As such, certain dynamics within the labour market need to be considered. Firstly, pre-market types of discrimination, including issues such as gender discrimination during the acquisition of human capital through educational attainment should be considered. In most countries, women enter the labour market with severe disadvantage in that they have been subject to discrimination in schooling opportunities (Standing, Sender & Weeks, 1996). Secondly, the feminisation of the labour force is dealt with, as well as what factors affect the female labour force participation decision (i.e. the decision of whether to participate in the labour market or not). iv Thirdly, employment discrimination is investigated, including the concept of ‘occupational crowding’. An analysis of trends in the occupational structure of economically active women in South Africa shows the typical shift out of agriculture into industrial related jobs (Verhoef, 1996). Lastly, wage discrimination is analysed, in order to determine if women get lower rates of pay for ‘equal work’. The objectives of this study are aimed at determining whether there have been any positive changes with respect to women in any of these focal areas mentioned above. There are studies that have established gender differentials when it comes to formal education, and these place women at the disadvantaged end (Bankole & Eboiyehi, 2000). If one considers the educational measures, namely, the levels of literacy, years of education, and overall educational attainment, employed by this country to determine whether there are in fact observed differences between the education of boys and girls, the following was found: Males rate higher with respect to two of these measures, namely literacy and educational attainment, and are thus able to exhibit lower levels of poverty than females in South Africa. Men exhibit slightly higher literacy rates than women of the same age (Statistics South Africa, 2002), and men also rate higher than women when it comes to university education. With regards to primary and secondary school attainment v since 1994, the gender gap does appear to have disappeared. The ‘neoclassical model of labour-leisure choice’, as applied in this study, shows that as the wage rate increases, women have an incentive to reduce the time they allocate to the household sector and are more likely to enter the labour market. In South Africa, however, the increase in the female participation rate has merely translated into a rise in unemployment and has not been associated with an increase in the demand for female labour. This implies that South African women are being ‘pushed’ into the labour market due to economic need, rather than being ‘pulled’ into the labour market in order to earn a higher wage. Women are gradually becoming better represented at all levels across a wide range of occupations. Women, however, continue to face greater prospects of unemployment and to earn less than their male counterparts even when they do find employment. These lower female wages are partly as a result of ‘occupational crowding’, whereby women are over-represented in certain occupations resulting in excess labour supply which drives down the wage rate. It has been determined that the problem of occupational crowding is a real and immediate one and has been found to depress wages within certain female specific occupations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Lee, Deborah Ellen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Discrimination in employment -- South Africa , Wages -- Women -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:11008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/363 , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Discrimination in employment -- South Africa , Wages -- Women -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa
- Description: The post-1994 role of women in the South African economy is changing with respect to issues such as education and employment opportunities. In the past, men tended to hold the primary or ‘good’ jobs, which have the greatest stability and promotional potential, whilst women tended to hold the secondary or ‘poor’ jobs, which have lower stability and lower wages (Kelly, 1991). Women’s labour force participation has risen significantly over the years since 1994, but more in depth research is needed in order to determine where and how changes could be implemented to ensure that any past gender inequalities fall away with minimal impact on the economy as a whole. As such, certain dynamics within the labour market need to be considered. Firstly, pre-market types of discrimination, including issues such as gender discrimination during the acquisition of human capital through educational attainment should be considered. In most countries, women enter the labour market with severe disadvantage in that they have been subject to discrimination in schooling opportunities (Standing, Sender & Weeks, 1996). Secondly, the feminisation of the labour force is dealt with, as well as what factors affect the female labour force participation decision (i.e. the decision of whether to participate in the labour market or not). iv Thirdly, employment discrimination is investigated, including the concept of ‘occupational crowding’. An analysis of trends in the occupational structure of economically active women in South Africa shows the typical shift out of agriculture into industrial related jobs (Verhoef, 1996). Lastly, wage discrimination is analysed, in order to determine if women get lower rates of pay for ‘equal work’. The objectives of this study are aimed at determining whether there have been any positive changes with respect to women in any of these focal areas mentioned above. There are studies that have established gender differentials when it comes to formal education, and these place women at the disadvantaged end (Bankole & Eboiyehi, 2000). If one considers the educational measures, namely, the levels of literacy, years of education, and overall educational attainment, employed by this country to determine whether there are in fact observed differences between the education of boys and girls, the following was found: Males rate higher with respect to two of these measures, namely literacy and educational attainment, and are thus able to exhibit lower levels of poverty than females in South Africa. Men exhibit slightly higher literacy rates than women of the same age (Statistics South Africa, 2002), and men also rate higher than women when it comes to university education. With regards to primary and secondary school attainment v since 1994, the gender gap does appear to have disappeared. The ‘neoclassical model of labour-leisure choice’, as applied in this study, shows that as the wage rate increases, women have an incentive to reduce the time they allocate to the household sector and are more likely to enter the labour market. In South Africa, however, the increase in the female participation rate has merely translated into a rise in unemployment and has not been associated with an increase in the demand for female labour. This implies that South African women are being ‘pushed’ into the labour market due to economic need, rather than being ‘pulled’ into the labour market in order to earn a higher wage. Women are gradually becoming better represented at all levels across a wide range of occupations. Women, however, continue to face greater prospects of unemployment and to earn less than their male counterparts even when they do find employment. These lower female wages are partly as a result of ‘occupational crowding’, whereby women are over-represented in certain occupations resulting in excess labour supply which drives down the wage rate. It has been determined that the problem of occupational crowding is a real and immediate one and has been found to depress wages within certain female specific occupations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Military strategy and it's [i.e.] its use in competitive strategy with reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropole automotive industry
- Authors: Fouché, Craig
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8542 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/177 , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Description: Presently in the South African automotive industry competition is becoming more fierce. It is becoming more important for companies to concentrate on thier competitive strategies to ensure that they remain competitive in this industry. Military strategy techniques have always been successful in defeating an anemy opponent. An enemy in a military sense could be considered as a competitor in a business sense. There is currently a potential for an improvement of the competitive strategies that South African organisations, in particular the South African automotive industry uses to remain competitive. Military strategists such as Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz have provided valuable strategy theories and philosophies to many military institutions. Military strategies such as Attrition and Maneuver have long been used by these institutions in battle to defeat the enemy. Military strategies could provide the edge that companies ranging from manufacturers, suppliers of components and dealerships need, to remain competitive in the automotive industry.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Fouché, Craig
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8542 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/177 , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Description: Presently in the South African automotive industry competition is becoming more fierce. It is becoming more important for companies to concentrate on thier competitive strategies to ensure that they remain competitive in this industry. Military strategy techniques have always been successful in defeating an anemy opponent. An enemy in a military sense could be considered as a competitor in a business sense. There is currently a potential for an improvement of the competitive strategies that South African organisations, in particular the South African automotive industry uses to remain competitive. Military strategists such as Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz have provided valuable strategy theories and philosophies to many military institutions. Military strategies such as Attrition and Maneuver have long been used by these institutions in battle to defeat the enemy. Military strategies could provide the edge that companies ranging from manufacturers, suppliers of components and dealerships need, to remain competitive in the automotive industry.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2005
Optimising the material distribution process for the southern region of Telkom SA
- Authors: Naicker, Kosalin Ganasen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/407 , Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Description: Most government owned telecommunication operators across the world have to deal with a number of regulatory, technology and service challenges, as the industry is liberalised in co-ordinance with worldwide trends. Telkom SA will be facing a number of strategic challenges that will test its ability to survive as a telecommunications company over the next number of years. To remain competitive, Telkom must develop strategies to assure survival in a competitive environment. To assure the long-term survival of Telkom SA when moving into a competitive environment, the organisation must build a sustainable competitive advantage. In the face of increasingly fierce competition, the adoption of collaborative alliances between firms is becoming more and more common and the adoption of a world-class supply chain will be an ideal scenario for Telkom SA. A worldclass supply chain goes beyond the scope of the internal operations of an organisation, therefore the material distribution process was chosen for this study, which involved the internal operations in the organisation. The study included the availability of material up to the transportation of the material to the staging areas. The aim of this research was to identify the inefficiencies of the material distribution process of the Southern Region of Telkom SA to become worldclass. A quantitative technique was used to identify the inefficiencies. It was found that the availability and transportation of material were the inefficient categories, preventing the customer to receive the product or service on time. Communication, inaccurate forecasting and inefficient transportation of material were some of the reasons for not delivering material on time. Some of the recommendations included developing a model that could overcome the current inefficiencies in transportation, improving the communication channels, training and the development of employees at all levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Naicker, Kosalin Ganasen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/407 , Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Description: Most government owned telecommunication operators across the world have to deal with a number of regulatory, technology and service challenges, as the industry is liberalised in co-ordinance with worldwide trends. Telkom SA will be facing a number of strategic challenges that will test its ability to survive as a telecommunications company over the next number of years. To remain competitive, Telkom must develop strategies to assure survival in a competitive environment. To assure the long-term survival of Telkom SA when moving into a competitive environment, the organisation must build a sustainable competitive advantage. In the face of increasingly fierce competition, the adoption of collaborative alliances between firms is becoming more and more common and the adoption of a world-class supply chain will be an ideal scenario for Telkom SA. A worldclass supply chain goes beyond the scope of the internal operations of an organisation, therefore the material distribution process was chosen for this study, which involved the internal operations in the organisation. The study included the availability of material up to the transportation of the material to the staging areas. The aim of this research was to identify the inefficiencies of the material distribution process of the Southern Region of Telkom SA to become worldclass. A quantitative technique was used to identify the inefficiencies. It was found that the availability and transportation of material were the inefficient categories, preventing the customer to receive the product or service on time. Communication, inaccurate forecasting and inefficient transportation of material were some of the reasons for not delivering material on time. Some of the recommendations included developing a model that could overcome the current inefficiencies in transportation, improving the communication channels, training and the development of employees at all levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Strategies engaged by a South African beverage organisation entering African markets
- Authors: Brink, Andries Petrus
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: International business enterprises , Coca-cola Sabco (Firm) , Soft drink industry -- South Africa , International trade
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/410 , International business enterprises , Coca-cola Sabco (Firm) , Soft drink industry -- South Africa , International trade
- Description: Africa is acknowledged as a vast, untapped market for consumer goods as trade barriers are coming down and economies are starting to develop. The need for consumer goods arises with economic activity. This poses the following question, which will be addressed by this research: How can potential African consumer markets be successfully unlocked by a South African beverage organisation, thereby reducing risk of failure and eliminating the cost of a hit-and-miss approach? The secondary study focused on evaluating the aspects involved with risks and the modes of entry into foreign markets. The macro-environmental factors affecting the expansion into foreign markets were investigated to determine what influence they had on the entry mode chosen for a specific country targeted for expansion. Finally the marketing factors influencing the entry mode were analysed. The significance of trade blocs together with the advantages thereof was included in the study. The primary study was based on the theory and principles of existing literature. The Coca-Cola Sabco organisation was taken as a case study. Four countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Namibia, were investigated. Questionnaires containing a set of questions to satisfy the sub-problems were sent to the various country managers and their first layers of management. Likewise, interviews were conducted with Coca-Cola Sabco head office strategic management. The empirical results obtained, indicated a strong concurrence, with the theory of entry modes and the influences of macro-environmental factors. In certain aspects, however, some contradictions with the theory pertaining to the Coca-Cola Sabco organisation, were observed. The findings concurred with the theory in that risk were minimised by the acquisition of a going concern that already possessed the infrastructure and logistics such as raw material procurement, manufacturing staff skills, distribution networks and political contacts. The empirical results contradict theory with respect to location economies and scale economies, as the Coca-Cola Company’s franchise agreement excludes the exporting of beverage products. Furthermore, Coca-Cola Sabco becomes involved in expansion initiatives only in reaction to an invitation from the Coca-Cola Company and not of its own desire. Therefore, market surveys are conducted subsequent to an invitation from the Coca-Cola Company. South African organisations planning expansion initiatives into emerging African markets need to take the specific macro- environmental factors of the country in question into consideration in order to minimise risk. A franchise agreement restricting exporting as in the case of Coco-Cola Company or any other restrictive agreement, might cause a deviation from contemporary theory, for example, where markets will be assessed for purposes of location and scale economies. Deviations from contemporary theory could also occur where a franchise opportunity is offered in a specific country that may not be the preferred market choice, due to its lack of growth potential.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Brink, Andries Petrus
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: International business enterprises , Coca-cola Sabco (Firm) , Soft drink industry -- South Africa , International trade
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/410 , International business enterprises , Coca-cola Sabco (Firm) , Soft drink industry -- South Africa , International trade
- Description: Africa is acknowledged as a vast, untapped market for consumer goods as trade barriers are coming down and economies are starting to develop. The need for consumer goods arises with economic activity. This poses the following question, which will be addressed by this research: How can potential African consumer markets be successfully unlocked by a South African beverage organisation, thereby reducing risk of failure and eliminating the cost of a hit-and-miss approach? The secondary study focused on evaluating the aspects involved with risks and the modes of entry into foreign markets. The macro-environmental factors affecting the expansion into foreign markets were investigated to determine what influence they had on the entry mode chosen for a specific country targeted for expansion. Finally the marketing factors influencing the entry mode were analysed. The significance of trade blocs together with the advantages thereof was included in the study. The primary study was based on the theory and principles of existing literature. The Coca-Cola Sabco organisation was taken as a case study. Four countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Namibia, were investigated. Questionnaires containing a set of questions to satisfy the sub-problems were sent to the various country managers and their first layers of management. Likewise, interviews were conducted with Coca-Cola Sabco head office strategic management. The empirical results obtained, indicated a strong concurrence, with the theory of entry modes and the influences of macro-environmental factors. In certain aspects, however, some contradictions with the theory pertaining to the Coca-Cola Sabco organisation, were observed. The findings concurred with the theory in that risk were minimised by the acquisition of a going concern that already possessed the infrastructure and logistics such as raw material procurement, manufacturing staff skills, distribution networks and political contacts. The empirical results contradict theory with respect to location economies and scale economies, as the Coca-Cola Company’s franchise agreement excludes the exporting of beverage products. Furthermore, Coca-Cola Sabco becomes involved in expansion initiatives only in reaction to an invitation from the Coca-Cola Company and not of its own desire. Therefore, market surveys are conducted subsequent to an invitation from the Coca-Cola Company. South African organisations planning expansion initiatives into emerging African markets need to take the specific macro- environmental factors of the country in question into consideration in order to minimise risk. A franchise agreement restricting exporting as in the case of Coco-Cola Company or any other restrictive agreement, might cause a deviation from contemporary theory, for example, where markets will be assessed for purposes of location and scale economies. Deviations from contemporary theory could also occur where a franchise opportunity is offered in a specific country that may not be the preferred market choice, due to its lack of growth potential.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005