A framework for price tariffs in the costing structures of South African private hospitals
- Authors: Botha, Gideon
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Hospitals, Proprietary
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47489 , vital:40126
- Description: The increase of South African health care costs can be extrapolated into the global healthcare cost challenge, with various factors contributing to this problem. One of the factors viewed as being central to the rising cost of health care is the inability of health care provider organisations to accurately measure unit costs of resources used to treat a patient for their medical condition and patient outcomes. The measurement of an accurate unit cost and patient outcomes is imperative to improving value, which is seen as an improvement in outcomes for every rand spent. The determination of price tariffs and the price tariff payment model used to onward bill the price tariff for medical services have also been identified as having a central role in improving value in health care. In order for price tariffs to improve value, they should be reflective and be based on an accurate unit cost that reflects the cost of resources used to provide efficient and effective care for a patient’s medical condition. For the price tariff payment model to improve value, it needs to reward providers for delivering superior patient outcomes at a lower cost by making price tariffs contingent on achieving specified outcomes as well as incorporating performance payments or holdbacks based on outcomes achieved. This study provides a framework for price tariffs in the costing structures of South African private hospitals. Secondary research was conducted in the form of a comprehensive literature search in order to do an interpretative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the various combinations of unit costing models and price tariff payment models used to determine prices in private hospitals. The literature review was followed by primary research that involved three phases, all of which used a qualitative research approach. In Phase 1, primary data were collected using unobtrusive measures that consisted of a data request first, followed by unstructured interviews with representatives of Hospital A and Hospital B to obtain an analysis of the combinations of unit costing model and price tariff payment model used for a laparoscopic appendectomy. In Phase 2, data were collected by means of an unstructured interview with a surgeon describing a laparoscopic appendectomy procedure in detail and based on this process description, the approximate costs for the various resources that were sourced from different suppliers could be calculated. The data analysis and interpretation were done in three phases, with each phase having different research objectives. The data were first coded and then interpreted. In the first primary research phase, the combinations of unit costing models and price tariff payment models used by private Hospital A and Hospital B were evaluated. In the second phase, the recommended combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model was applied to a hypothetical example and evaluated. In the final phase, based on the outcome of the first and second research phases, a combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model for private hospitals was recommended. The results showed that the recommended combination of unit costing and price tariff payment model namely time-driven activity-based costing with the global fee price tariff payment model was the most appropriate to determine price tariffs in private hospitals when compared to the unit costing models and price tariff payment models used by Hospital A and Hospital B for a laparoscopic appendectomy. Furthermore, the recommended combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model was found to be usable for the determination of price tariffs in the costing structures of private hospitals. The time-driven activity-based costing model and global fee price tariff payment model should be adopted or used as guidelines for determining price tariffs in private hospitals in South Africa. Price tariffs would be more transparent as they would reflect the actual resource cost of treating the patient and the resources used and treatment provided could then be assessed against the delivery value chain that charts the principal activities involved in a patient’s care for a medical condition to ensure that patient best-practice protocols are followed. The proposed framework enables the determination of price tariffs based on an accurate unit cost reflecting the actual resources used to provide efficient and effective care and also improve value for the patient.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An investigation of the link between Financial sector development and economic growth in Zimbabwe from 1980 -2016
- Authors: Machokoto, Sydney
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Financial institutions-- Zimbambwe , Economic growth, development,planning -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49894 , vital:41814
- Description: This study investigated the link between financial sector development and economic growth in Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2016 using the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag model. Market capitalization as a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP), bank credit to the private sector as a ratio of GDP and financial assets of microfinance as a ratio of GDP were used as proxy variables for financial sector development. Economic growth was measured by real GDP. The Granger causality test indicated bi-directional causality between access to financial services and economic growth in Zimbabwe in the long run. Market capitalization and bank credit to the private sector did not Granger cause economic growth in Zimbabwe. It was recommended that the government should promote the functioning of the capital market as it is the conduit for providing long term capital to businesses. Bank credit to the private sector was found to be statistically significant. It was recommended that the government should promote decentralization of the banking sector to rural areas. The proxy variables of financial development used were statistically significant in influencing economic growth. The findings from the study led to the recommendation to open additional microfinance companies in remote areas and to increase the supply of financial services and products. Empirical evidence indicates that the link between financial development and economic growth depends on the proxy variables of financial sector development used in econometric modelling. The model was tested for heteroscedasticity, serial correlation, stability and normality. The econometric tests conducted were all satisfactory. This made the model ideal for policy formulation and recommendation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Commercial maritime higher education needs in South Africa
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Ann
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Marine resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47496 , vital:40117
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfills an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage, but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business, and government, known as the triple helix could be organized, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analyzed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: (i) that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; (ii) that a post-graduate degree iv in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on the first degree in business subjects, is required; (iii) that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business, and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; (iv) that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and (v)that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Consumer behaviour regarding stock market participation in South Africa
- Authors: Mbewe, Wise
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Financial Literacy -- South Africa , Stock ownership -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50328 , vital:42107
- Description: South Africa (SA) has a highly sophisticated financial services sector that contributes significantly to the economy. A stock market forms a significant component of the financial sector of any economy. While the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has managed to arouse interest of many South Africans, there appears to be apathy and inertia when it comes to actual participation in the stock market by South African consumers. Stock market non-participation is considered a “puzzle” in microeconomics and finance literature because it is not easy to explain the reason why many consumers, in spite of high stock returns, do not own listed shares. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate consumer behaviour regarding stock market participation in SA by considering the antecedents and outcomes of stock market participation in SA.The study presented a theoretical literature review on the factors influencing stock market participation in SA. From the literature review, three sets of variables classified as independent variables, an intervening variable and dependent variables were identified. The independent variables (Demographic characteristics; Financial literacy; Investment risk tolerance; Communication; and Consumer trust) were identified as possibly influencing the intervening variable (Stock market participation) and ultimately the dependent variables (Client satisfaction and loyalty, Financial sustainability and Repurchase intentions). These variables were used to construct a hypothesised model and research hypotheses. The study further presented the research methodology (following a positivistic paradigm and quantitative research method), and the results of this study. In order to establish the influence of the independent variables on stock market participation, as well as ultimate influences on the dependent variables, an empirical investigation was conducted. Since it was not possible to reach all members of the target population, the population of this study was South African consumers located in four of the nine provinces, namely, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng. A sample of 510 respondents participated in the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Financial integration in the BRICS countries
- Authors: Nach, Marida Nephertiti
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Autogression (Statistics) -- mathematical models , Monetary policy -- Econometric models
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50609 , vital:42278
- Description: An optimum currency area (OCA) owes its definition to Robert Mundell (1961). In his seminal paper, Mundell (1961) defines an OCA as an area for which the costs of relinquishing the exchange rate as an internal instrument of adjustments are outweighed by the benefits of adopting a single currency or a fixed exchange rate regime. Mundell (1961) emphasises two major benefits of adopting a single currency: the elimination of transaction costs and a better performance of money as a medium of exchange and as a unit of account. Thus far, OCA theory has served as the framework for the discussion about monetary integration and has provided an explanation for the monetary integration processes around the world both developed and developing countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The emergence of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries can be a model and a representation of developing and emerging countries in the global economic and financial system. Hence, this has made the BRICS economies the object of many discussions and recent empirical researches. The research presented in this thesis uses a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) econometric model to explore whether there is a feasibility of macroeconomic convergence among the BRICS economies. The SVAR model permitted to examine the symmetry of shocks (supply, demand and monetary) among the five BRICS countries. The findings of this research showed that there was some degree of symmetry of shocks among the BRICS countries. Nevertheless, there is a need for more policy coordination in order to achieve the desired level of symmetry of shocks among these countries.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Identifying a Successful Accounting Student: Profiling of Postgraduate Accounting Students in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Weldon, Lana Joy
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Personality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Accounting -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50699 , vital:42343
- Description: Throughput rates and transformation have long been considered major challenges to accounting departments in South Africa. While much research has been done on various aspects of study techniques in an attempt to assist students to succeed, little attention has been paid to profiling students to ascertain whether there are common traits in terms of personality, aptitude, values and motives, which distinguish successful students from others. This study looks at these factors and uses sub-tests of the Differential Aptitude Test (DAT), selected with reference to the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Competency Framework, to determine the correlation between these aptitudes and the success of accounting students. In addition, the impact of biographical data, including gender, race and type of school attended, is considered on the success of the students and the individual sub-tests of aptitude. The study then considers the impact of various personality types, personality traits and values on the success or failure of accounting students, and finally seeks to ascertain whether there is a holistic profile of a student who has a statistically significant chance of succeeding in accounting studies. Results indicate that the sub-tests of aptitude for verbal reasoning and reading comprehension have the most significance in predicting student success and that gender and race have a medium effect. Furthermore, personality types, personality traits and values do not have a significant impact on student success. The only biographical factor to have an impact on success was race. Despite the findings in the individual factors considered, no distinct personality profile of a successful Results indicate that the sub-tests of aptitude for verbal reasoning and reading comprehension have the most significance in predicting student success and that gender and race have a medium effect. Furthermore, personality types, personality traits and values do not have a significant impact on student success. The only biographical factor to have an impact on success was race. Despite the findings in the individual factors considered, no distinct personality profile of a successful accounting student emerged. Future research on the use of literacy competency assessments in the admission requirements for chartered accounting programmes, or to inform student academic support initiatives is recommended. accounting student emerged. Future research on the use of literacy competency assessments in the admission requirements for chartered accounting programmes, or to inform student academic support initiatives is recommended.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Impact of climate finance on environmental quality in Sub-Sahara Africa
- Authors: Doku, Isaac
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects , Economic development -- Environmental aspects Macroeconomics -- Econometric models
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50513 , vital:42206
- Description: Most climate finances available to Sub-Sahara Africa countries tries to assist governmental and non-governmental institutions decarbonise by reducing greenhouse gases or promote conservation of forests through REDD+ programs. On that backdrop, three main general objectives arises for this study; (1) to examine the impact of climate finance on greenhouse gas emissions (2) To find the impact of climate finance on deforestation in Sub-Sahara Africa (3) To determine the major recipient characteristics that attracts more climate finance to Sub-Sahara Africa. The first general objective looked at three greenhouse gas variables; carbon emission, methane and nitrous oxide emission. Data was analysed using system GMM for all countries in Sub-Sahara Africa for the period 2006-2017 based on data availability. The first general objective of the study employed system GMM robust standard errors and triangulates the result by using DOLS and FMOLS for robustness check. The findings show that climate finance is not reducing nitrous oxide, methane and total greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, whereas carbon emission showed mixed results. System GMM results affirmed the existence of EKC, but DOLS and FMOLS results gave a contradictory finding. Based on that, we cannot conclude the existence of EKC for our studies. Energy consumption showed a positive significant impact on carbon, methane and total greenhouse gas for all three models in accordance to prior studies and affirming pollution haven hypothesis, but a mixed result for nitrous oxide. Finally, the findings from governance readiness showed governments in Africa’s unwillingness to reduce carbon but very keen in reducing the other greenhouses gases for all three models. Existence of pollution haven hypothesis shows that more hazardous and dirty investments are moving from developed countries to developing countries with less strict environmental rules like Sub-Sahara Africa. The second and third general objectives of the study employed system-GMM estimation technique to take care of time series variations in the data, as well as capture the unobserved country-specific time-invariant effect. Three and four stages hierarchical regressions are carried out for objectives two and three respectively and a panel quantile regression is employed to test sensitivity of the results for both analysis. The findings for objective two showed that increase in climate climate finance increases deforestation in two models and one model showing a decrease in deforestation, making the result very difficult to interpret and mixed. The study did not also get support for EKC but indicated that forest transition curve is rather U-shaped for all countries in Sub-Sahara Africa and two sub-regional blocks; EAC and CEMAC. Population growth and agricultural land use have been found to be major drivers of deforestation. Most of the governance indicators showed adverse impact on deforestation. The result for objective three indicates that Sub-Sahara African countries with high population growth rate, higher poverty levels, better ease of doing business profile, weaker governance policies, weaker control of corruption, stronger rule of law enforcement, deepened social inequality and better ICT usage have attracted more climate finance. Based on that, we recommend Africa countries to strengthen their practice of rule of law and more stringent rules to prevent or minimize corruption in the system. Climate finance managers should also undertake rigorous monitoring and supervision when funds are extended to reduce misappropriation of funds by recipients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Promoting leader intergrity through the human resource management chain
- Authors: De Villiers, Marie Bridget
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Leadersship --Moral and ethical Aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49791 , vital:41801
- Description: Ethical breaches in the public and private sector in South Africa are prevalent and the effects thereof pervasive on the economy and within broader society. These ethical breaches include corruption, bribery, and the mismanagement of resources and may be attributed to poor decision-making on the part of organisational leaders. The complexity of the circumstances in which organisations operate in the 21st century requires that leaders effectively navigate moral dilemmas while considering the broad range of interests represented by many organisational stakeholders. Leaders need to act in a manner that is ethically sound to avoid the negative consequences associated with unethical organisational conduct, including a loss of profit, credibility and reputation. Ethical leadership is central to moral organisational governance, as compliance with rules and regulations alone is ineffective in building and sustaining an ethical organisation. Literature points to the centrality of leader integrity to the notion of ethical leadership and that an ethical organisational culture is sustained by leaders who possess integrity. In promoting leader integrity studies highlight management interventions and organisational success factors that promote an ethical organisation. Within the context of this study these management interventions and success factors were identified as promoting leader integrity. Further, the literature identified the important role of leaders in supporting these interventions and creating the conditions necessary to foster the success factors. These management interventions are offered through and the success factors are linked to the human resource management value chain. The main aim of this study was to explore the promotion of leader integrity through the human resource management value chain in South African organisations. The main aim of the study led to the development of several theoretical and empirical sub-objectives that were addressed.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Rural enterprise development as a means to poverty alleviation
- Authors: Bodley, David Cyril
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa , Economic development projects -- South Africa Poverty alleviation -- methods -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50361 , vital:42118
- Description: South Africa’s disappointing economic performance over the last decade has resulted in a socio-economic crisis, with unemployment and inequality rates being of the highest rates anywhere in the world. Furthermore, unemployment is concentrated among the young, unskilled, and previously disadvantaged population posing a considerable threat to South Africa’s new democracy. Internationally, a method to absorb job seekers into the economy is to make small business the engine-room of economic growth and development. Consequently, the South African Government has identified in its National Development Plan the establishment of small businesses as a priority, including the development of small businesses in rural and marginalised communities. As rural communities in South Africa experience systemic problems such as the lack of infrastructure, financial capital, skills and potential markets, establishing enterprises in rural settings is often more complex than those more advanced parts of the economy elsewhere where fewer constraints exist. This makes the task of establishing and growing rural entities particularly challenging, suggesting bespoke policy and support is required. This study analyses the literature to gain an understanding of economic development theory and how this intersects with and informs small enterprise development policy. It then looks at South Africa’s strategy and policy framework pertaining to enterprise development. Specifically, the literature examines the role of rural enterprise development to establish whether this enables people to move out of poverty or further entraps people in poverty. The study collates data from a rural and marginalised community through observation and interview techniques. Firstly, multiple in-depth interviews were conducted with nineteen entrepreneurs in a rural community to collect data on business opportunities and explore the type of support entrepreneurs would require from government. Secondly, a focus group interview was conducted with entrepreneurs that had experienced institutional support to understand how well current policy and programmes support rural enterprise development. The primary data was analysed in conjunction with the literature on economic theory and enterprise development using the technique of triangulation to avoid logic leaps and formation of false assumptions. The insights and findings from the analysis reinforced certain facts within the body of knowledge pertaining to enterprise development, but there were also some interesting new insights that emanate from the data. South Africa has been able to introduce a wide range of policy initiatives and has multiple programmes and strategies to support small enterprise development. It has achieved firm success and impetus as well as experiencing certain failures. The study clearly highlights both and makes recommendations to improve policy promoting rural enterprise development as a means to alleviate poverty.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The Effects of exchange rates on bilateral trade balances of SACU members states with their trading partners
- Authors: Mhaka, Simbarashe
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Purchasing power parity -- Econometric models
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50371 , vital:42152
- Description: The fluctuations of exchange rates prevent countries from achieving stability in their external account records. Appreciation or depreciation has effects on international trade. This thesis examines the relationship between exchange rate fluctuations on bilateral trade balances focusing on the SACU region. There are several theories made to explain the relationship between exchange rate and trade balances. In examining this phenomenon, this thesis will unveil if the purchasing power parity theory, the Marshall-Lerner condition and the J-curve effect holds in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries. This analysis is divided into three parts. The first part examines the stability of the exchange rate in the SACU countries in the long run as given by the purchasing power parity. To test for the Purchasing Power Parity theory, the recently developed powerful unit root test was applied with multiple smooth structural breaks of Omay (2015), based on a Fractional Frequency Flexible Fourier Form (FFFFF) on unique data of SACU countries covering the monthly period of 1995M01-2017M11. The Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) results show that the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) of all SACU members does not provide evidence for PPP theory. In terms of the real effective exchange rate (REER), the PPP condition holds in the case of South Africa only. Further unit root investigations were carried out using the panel data for all SACU members, NEER and REER. The FFFFF test results for panel data shows strong evidence of the PPP while the standard DF test rejects PPP theory in the SACU’s NEER. Both the standard DF and the FFFFF tests show strong evidence of PPP theory in the case of SACU’s REER. The second section of the analysis examines the Marshall-Lerner condition employing annual data from the period of 1980-2017. The import and export model were examined firstly in a time series format and then in a panel data format. The time series data was examined using the ARDL (PMG) model while the panel data used the panel ARDL, fully modified OLS (FMOLS) method and the Dynamic OLS (DOLS) method of estimation. The PMG/ARDL model shows no evidence to support the existence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in the short run for all SACU members. However, only two out of five countries show evidence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in the long run. There is strong evidence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in Namibia and Botswana in the long run using the PMG/ARDL model.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Towards a community-based model for Agricultural development in Uganda : a case study of Kumi and Gomba districts
- Authors: Kiggundu, Joseph
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48654 , vital:41056
- Description: This study intended to design a community-based model for agricultural development in Uganda, using Kumi and Gomba districts as case studies. The surge in attention towards community-based development is attributed to the growing challenges posed by the traditional approaches to community development, dominated by top-down mechanisms during the planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation phases of community development programmes. Driven by Robert Chambers and Conway’s theoretical perspectives, this study discusses that a community-based model is capable of filling knowledge gaps, not only in scientific research, but also in the community development process of many developing nations, such as Uganda. In this study particularly, a community-based approach has been identified as the better option in aiding and facilitating the current government efforts to transform the agricultural sector from its predominantly subsistence nature to commercial orientation. It has been acknowledged that the Ugandan government and its development partners do realise the significant role agriculture plays in directly or indirectly impacting the social welfare of Ugandans. The agricultural sector has been identified as a major source of livelihood for most rural Ugandans (over 95% depend on it for food, employment and income). Unfortunately, even with such recognition, coupled with many reforms initiated by government and supported by various development partners who have invested huge sums of money into the sector, agricultural productivity and profitability has remained extremely low. Most rural Ugandans still languish in abject poverty, hunger, malnutrition, vulnerability and powerlessness. This study has established that, while the agricultural sector in Uganda suffers from enormous institutional, technological, market, research and land-oriented challenges, if all these factors are kept constant, an effective community-based approach is capable of facilitating effective planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation of agricultural reforms, for increased agricultural productivity and profitability hence the improved quality of life of Ugandans. A qualitative elicitation interviewing technique involving in-depth discussions with agricultural extension workers, community development officers, representatives from NGOs, local farmers, farmers’ associations, local and religious leaders as well as key persons from the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries was conducted. The participants were selected through chain referrals until the level of theoretical saturation. In addition, directed field observations, document analysis and key informant interviews with other respondents selected through theoretical sampling enhanced the robustness of data acquisition methods. Group-based participatory data analysis and reflexive pragmatism also enhanced the rigour and quality of research findings intended to balance the knowledge generated from the recognised scientific audience and the views of the important but unknown “knowledge generators” (the local experts).The key findings indicate that, historically and currently, agriculture has been and is the predominant community development activity at household, community and national levels in Uganda. It is also anticipated that agriculture will remain a major contributor to the national economic development of Uganda even over the next hundred years. The efforts by government and its development partners to transform the sector are therefore justified by the sector’s strategic importance. It has been found out that although the sector faces huge challenges, there are numerous opportunities for the sector to become a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic development. A community-based model has been proposed as a viable option for facilitating faster agricultural development in Uganda, where technocratic developers tend to impose development reforms on local people. With the traditional approaches to planning and implementation, it was thought that local people do not know what they want, they are illiterate and ignorant and therefore incapable of driving government crafted programmes for effective change. From the proposed model, government technocratic development agents should engage local farmers who practically experience poverty, powerlessness, hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability, to jointly craft effective agricultural reforms that are not only life-changing, but also relevant and sustainable within the confines of community needs. Under this approach, the designers, planners, implementers, monitors, and evaluators, whether of government-initiated reforms, or initiatives from other development agencies, should learn to treat local people as subjects of the community development processes, as opposed to the traditional top-down mechanisms which view them as objects to be used and abused. The involvement of local experts during the planning, implementation, and management of development reforms, should cease to be applied as merely routine fulfilment of donor conditionality and requirements. Rather, the participation of local farmers during all phases of community programming should become intentional and consciously aimed at empowering local people to actively participate in the making of decisions critical to their own development.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Accountability deficits in local government in South Africa: implications for social and economic development
- Authors: Sepogwane, Pheladi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Budget deficits -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa Local government -- South Africa -- Evaluation South Africa -- Economic conditions Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43424 , vital:36879
- Description: Local government faces require that spheres of government provide accountable, effective, transparent, and good governance. Yet local government face challenges that compel a need for mechanisms that will improve the accountability and effective management of municipal resources. There have been concerns among scholars that development is not being coordinated by an evenly powerful formation of fitting accountability regimes (Abata, 2012; Adenuga, 2013). For this reason, the study aims to investigate to what degree and how trends towards local government policymaking and implementation have been matched by correspondent changes and innovations in accountability regimes and practices. In keeping with the distinctions made above, it undertakes research on accountability practices in two domains of politics. It entails a systematic comparative empirical research on accountability regimes surrounding: the municipal mayors, committees and managers in regular policymaking, implementation and crisis management; evaluating the effectiveness of accountability regimes as catalysts of development programmes. The Researcher observed growing concerns on the issues of accountability. Hence an exploratory study on the issue based on qualitative research methodology was undertaken. The method of research is comprised of a case study, observation and interviews that were conducted. The accountability systems that were examined include the political, bureaucratic and professional accountability systems. Yet the two accountability mechanisms that were designed highlight the challenges in the dominance, abuse of powers, non-compliance with the code of conduct, the lack of exemplary behaviour and accountability deficits. The major conclusion that is drawn from the research study is that a multi-dimensional is required to ensure effective accountability systems in municipalities. The recommendations include the enforcement of the legal instruments, codes of conduct; the impartial prosecution of violators; implementing effective policies on training and personnel management and encouraging associations and stakeholders to play a catalytic role in enforcing accountability in municipalities.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Challenges of subsistence farming in South Africa: a case study of Emjkweni village in Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mngqinya, Yoliswa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Subsistence agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44553 , vital:38142
- Description: Subsistence agriculture plays an important role in the livelihood of Africa’s rural population. Yet in many countries like South Africa, rather than seeing an upward projection of food production with an almost natural shift towards commercialising household production of food, the state of rural agriculture continues to go into decline. Since the advent of South Africa’s new dawn of democracy in 1994, agriculture has been the priority of government for the advancement of subsistence economy and rural development in rural communities. But progress in making a vibrant sustainable economy out of subsistence farming has remained stymied. At a time when there is a need to significantly increase the productivity of subsistence/smallholder agriculture and ensure long-term food security, rural subsistence farmers in the former bread basket of the Eastern Cape Province, have abandoned crop production. Characteristic of contemporary Eastern Cape’s rural landscape is the sight of large tracts of farm land lying uncultivated. Amidst a raging debate in South Africa on land the merits of the debate remain silent in the face of visibly idle crop land. This study has attempted to make a small incision into a growing body of knowledge on land reform with a view to and laying bare current challenges that keep rural folk out of the field, notwithstanding availability of land. Adopting multi-level research techniques, a purposive sample of 83 village respondents in eMjikweni was selected. Through a combination of face-to-face interviews using an open-ended interview instrument; focus group discussions and case studies, information was extracted from the sample to understand the current challenges of subsistence farming that make for poor household crop production, intensified dependence on social grants for income and growing food insecurity. Despite a conducive policy environment, the study findings suggest that as long as political will is absent, the formula for agrarian reform will remain incorrect, further entrenching rural poverty. As an exercise in social enquiry, the study employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods, while being careful to note how methodology impacts on the ability of respondents to narrate their lived experience, which, carefully crafted, can be valuable catalysts to a more bottom-up approach to rural development, sustainable agriculture and enhanced food security in the Eastern Cape. The merit of this study in making the said incision into a growing body of information on land reform is that it provides a glimpse into the life of a rural subsistence farmer. With the launch of the Presidential Panel Report on Land Reform (2019) a few days ago, the voice and experience of those who bear the brunt of land reform becomes critical. They are a people facing enormous challenges to restoring subsistence agriculture as a vibrant contributor to food security at household level and to reduced dependency on the state for its livelihood. They are a people who once created the “bread basket” of the Eastern Cape Province with a vibrant agricultural economy. They are a people who raise children to form part of the significant statistics of migrants to the economic hubs of Gauteng Province in particular in search of employment. They are a people who contribute significantly to the growing numbers of people dependent on the state for social grants. They are a people central to solving land reform for a better South Africa. It is based on their stories that this study’s findings argue for the revitalisation of the subsistence economies of rural communities which recognises the deeply entrenched socio-economic and geo-spatial transformations over time that make it quite complex to return to a past utopia. It is the premise of this thesis that the smallholder and subsistence agricultural sector has the potential to create job opportunities and promote local economic development in rural communities, which in turn would mitigate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality facing South African society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Employee talent management in the Uganda health sector: a public institutions perspective
- Authors: Nakato, Jamidah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Employee retention -- Uganda , Leadership -- Uganda Executives -- Training of Executive ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41751 , vital:36578
- Description: Globally, talent management has been acknowledged as a prime source of employee attraction and retention as well as organisational performance and commitment. Although the health sector plays an important role in the economic development of any country, in Uganda, the management of talented employees still remains a challenge. In this country, many institutions have not incorporated and adopted suitable talent management strategies, thus compromising access to and quality of care. A hypothetical model and measuring instruments were developed to investigate the factors contributing to and the benefits of effective employee talent management in the Ugandan health sector. The following ten independent variables that have the prospect of influencing effective talent management (intervening variable) were identified on the basis of organisational, management and personal factors: talent pool, organisational support, work conditions, social and work environment, reward system, leadership styles, career development, supervisor support, employee engagement and employee personality. In this study, it was also postulated that talent management has potential to effect the dependent variables, namely, talent attraction, employee retention, organisational performance and organisational commitment. In total, fourteen hypotheses were formulated to test relationships between independent, intervening and dependent variables. The study utilised the quantitative research paradigm in order to seek employee perceptions regarding public institutions within the health sector, in Uganda’s Central region. Using stratified random sampling, a sample of 910 participants was drawn from the identified population. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured, selfadministered questionnaire that was distributed to the seven categories of hospitals and health centres in Central Uganda; 910 questionnaires were distributed to doctors, consultants, dentists, dispensers, nurses, pharmacists, clinical officers, laboratory staff, occupational therapists, allied health staff, environmental health officers, general administrative cadres, cold chain technicians and support staff. Of these, 655 were useable, which indicates a 71% response rate. The data collected was captured and analysed using various statistical analysis techniques. The study findings reveal that organisational support, employee satisfaction, an enabling work environment, a stable working environment and career development effectively influence talent management. However, management in health sector institutions need to realise the importance of facilitating and monitoring job autonomy and personal values in order to effectively enhance talent management. The study results further reveal that talent management has a positive influence on employee retention and holistic development for organisational performance. For optimal talent management, the study recommends that organisations pay attention to cultivating an enabling and stable work environment that is suitable for motivating employees towards improved performance and work commitment. Therefore, health sector management should focus on potential, and not only on performance, by matching individuals with the right positions that can expose their capabilities and potential. It was further recommended that organisations need to accept and show confidence in their employees by allowing them freedom in carrying out their tasks. In addition, it was highlighted that ascertaining and utilising information about the values and principles that employees hold can help explain their behaviours and attitudes at work. This would increase the chances of talented employees realising their full potential and competencies in their jobs. Therefore, this study found that there is a need for public institutions within the health sector to focus on supporting employees by offering a well-defined career development programme, which caters for the needs of individuals and which acts as an incentive for the recruitment of qualified employees. Thus, management will succeed in retaining, attracting and maintaining talented individuals who can perform well. In order to uphold the expected ethical behaviour of conducting research, the researcher obtained approval and ethics clearance from Nelson Mandela University, permission to conduct the study from the Ugandan Ministry of Health, and communicated all the information relevant to the study to the participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Model for the alleviation of poverty in South Africa
- Authors: Visagie, Jana
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa , Poverty -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45701 , vital:38956
- Description: The existence of extreme poverty in an affluent world is morally unacceptable and action needs to be taken. The reduction of economic and social inequality within countries and between countries, as well as the honouring of human rights, is of utmost importance, but the eradication of poverty must take priority One of the main problems with poverty is that poverty impedes human flourishing). People are hungry and constantly live in pain and anguish while education is hampered. People do not develop fully on cognitive and physical levels as poverty allows the exploitation of the poor and their bodies. Feelings of shame and worthlessness are established for reasons people cannot control. To contribute to the ongoing attempts to reduce poverty, it is necessary to have an understanding as to why people remain poor in an affluent world and what can be done to address the causes of poverty. Unless a global culture of ethics and value alignment is pursued for the reduction of poverty, there will be devastating effects for the future Underwriting lasting escapes from chronic poverty demands more investment in education, employment and human development potentials and in the related infrastructure that permits people to enhance their living standards while developing their resilience to handle setbacks and the effects of climate change.ffects include, for example, disaster-risk management, global healthcare and social cohesion. These investment efforts 9 have the ability to generate a virtuous cycle of poverty reduction, national economic growth and enlarged individual opportunity This could diminish the inequalities that decelerate human development. The lack of practical and outcome-based poverty reduction models affords this research with a unique opportunity to fulfil the need and to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the reduction of poverty towards 2030.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Residents’ perspectives on township tourism in Mondesa, Swakopmund, Namibia
- Authors: Auala, Lovisa Sisco Ndapanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Tourism — Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42448 , vital:36661
- Description: Township tourism is regarded as one of the fastest growing tourist activities in Namibia (Buning, Legant, Schauwinhold, Steinbrink & Subenguth, 2016:14). This research study presents an exploratory inquiry that seeks an in-depth understanding of residents’perspectives on township tourism in Mondesa, Swakopmund, Namibia.In order to conceptualise the extent to which the residents’needs are being met through the benefits derived from township tourism. The residents’ perspectives on township tourism in Mondesa areexplored with respect to the benefits and costs derived from township tourism, participation in township tourism, and interaction with tourist during a township tour and consultation on township tourismwhich forms part of the research questions ofthe study. By applying the Social Exchange Theory (SET) in this study, the relationships between the variables that influence the residents perceived benefit and costs of township tourism in Mondesa are explored further in depth in combination with Pretty’s Typology of participation and Scheyne’s typology of community empowerment in tourism (Ap, 1992: 668; Mason, 2003:119; Sharpley and Telfer, 2002:152;Cooper, Fletcher, Gilbert & Wanhill, 1993:91).These variables are namely; social, economic, psychological, environmental, cultural, Manipulative, passive, educational and political factors. They form part of the conceptual framework of the study.This study followed a qualitative research approachandmultiple data sources were collected including semi-structured interviews with residents from Mondesa:these included residents involved in township tourism and those not involved in township tourism. To triangulate the data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from tourism industry and government bodies related to townshiptourism. Data analysis was done through the facilitation of Atlas tiaqualitative data analysis software and deductive codes were established from the literature(variables from the conceptual framework)and themes were developed from the research questions.The findings indicate that residents who are not involved in township tourism arenot influenced by the benefit and cost equation of the social exchange theory (Andriotis, 2005:69). Therefore residents not involved in township tourism are positive about tourism irrespective of whether they benefit directly from financial gain through tourism. The findingsfurtheremphasis oncommunity benefitsfrom township tourism being as important, than individual benefits. This study also provides knowledge that meaningful interaction between tourist and residents has the ability to reduce the apartheid paradigm of racial division and discrimination, which was the basis of the formation of townships.Residents’ misconception about white people are changed due to their personal interaction and cultural exchange with white tourist during a township tour. Anothersignificant findings to emerge from this study is the ability for township tourism to transform the lives of residents living in townships through the intrinsic benefits derived from township tourism. Township tourism has the ability to contribute to positive human exchange through interaction between residents and tourists. By sharing a positive cultural exchange, strong relationships are built between the tourists and residents, which may provide long term sustainability of township tourism. The positive personal transformational effect on residents through interaction with tourists is contributing to residents’ socio-economic well-being. Therefore township tourism has the ability to quantitatively and qualitatively address the alleviationof poverty in townshipsand fostering understanding and mutual respect among peoples of the world.The studyconcluded with a framework of guidelines toaid key stakeholders in the development and planning of township tourism and encourages the practice of sustainable tourism in townships.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The development of a socio-economic model to promote women empowerment initiatives in the renewable energy sector of South Africa
- Authors: Keown, Harvey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Women in development -- South Africa Equality -- South Africa Economic development -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 2000-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40621 , vital:36199
- Description: The objective of this research was, therefore, to evaluate and recommend new approaches to mainstream gender in the renewable energy sector. This objective would be achieved by introducing a model of the factors that contribute to the perceived success of the socio-economic empowerment of women within the renewable energy sector of the RSA. This study is equally beneficial to any Country that might be embarking on a Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program. Also, the research findings and recommendations are equally relevant to the mining, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors who wish to mainstream gender in their sectors. From the empirical evidence, Executive Leadership (ethical leadership) positively influences Good Governance and Successful Women’s Empowerment. Therefore, the inference can be made that the respondents deemed Executive Leadership to be a primary contributing factor to both Good Governance and Successful Women’s Empowerment. According to the empirical results, Social Investment (funding) and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (policy) positively influence Successful Women’s Empowerment. Finally, the empirical results indicate that Sustainable Programmes are a positive contributing factor to Good Governance. The respondents did not consider Stakeholder Engagement statistically significant in relation to Good Governance or Successful Women’s Empowerment. This could be a case of misinterpretation, or lack of experience regarding the importance of Stakeholder Engagement. However, the literature indicates the criticality of Stakeholder Engagement, as well as Change Management. Further research should be conducted to establish the lack of appreciation by respondents for the importance of Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management. These findings shed light on the opportunities for the socio-economic empowerment of women in the renewable energy sector of the RSA, by developing women-led Independent Power Producers.The South African Constitution is lauded as one of the most progressive in the world, and in some respects considered better than the Constitution of the United States of America with regards to Human and Socio-Economic Rights. Yet, South Africa exhibits the highest incidence of recorded rape in the world, with an increase in femicides, violence against women and children, and even more barbaric acts of burning their victims, and cannibalism in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. This research argues that if women were economically empowered, they would be able to extricate themselves from these perilous situations. The paradox between the South African Constitution and the reality, is indicative of deep structural challenges that will require exceptional solutions that will address the systemic issues that this study will discuss. The renewable energy sector, which is one of the fastest growing business sectors in South Africa, could be that catalyst for this change, and, more importantly, change the stereotypical paradigm of women entrepreneurs as owners of ‘chicken coops’ and ‘veggie patches’, to become owner-operators of their own power generation facilities, thereby making a meaningful contribution to women-led Independent Power Producers. However, it would be a lost opportunity if the renewable energy sector were to follow a similar trajectory to the mining sector in failing to mainstream gender, or if the renewable energy sector were to repeat the errors of the mining sector in attempting to empower women. Based on the literature review, guidance from subject matter experts, survey data, and personal field experience, I examine the primary research question: What are the main contributors and variables which can positively influence the socioeconomic empowerment of women initiatives in the renewable energy sector in the Republic of South Africa? In order to respond to this primary research question, a theoretical model was developed, which was informed by the academic literature, reports and studies from the public and private sectors, data garnered through a questionnaire, as well as face-to-face dialogue sessions. In order to address the primary objective of developing the theoretical model, several secondary goals were established by developing a conceptual model that comprised of variables determined through a detailed review of the related gender and renewable energy literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The influence of customers’ culture on sales promotions and store equity for pick n pay stores South Africa and Zimbabwe
- Authors: Musekiwa, Albert
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Consumer behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44565 , vital:38144
- Description: The store industry is globally the main distribution channel for grocery items to reach final consumers. Specifically for South Africa and Zimbabwe the store industry greatly contributes to the countrys economic growth. However, increasing competition in developed countries has forced store chains with a competitive edge in terms of promoting their brands and building market share such as Walmart and Spar to expand into the growing African market. Concomitantly, growing African store chains such as Choppies of Botswana are moving into new African markets such as South Africa and Zimbabwe. Following this increasing competition, Pick n Pay a leading store chain in South Africa has responded by opening stores in African townships and other African countries such as Zimbabwe. This has resulted in Pick n Pay customers’ cultural diversity, and how to build and maintain market share through effective promotional and brand building strategies being areas of concern. Therefore the primary objective of this study is to determine the influence of Pick n Pay customers’ cultural orientations on their buying behaviour towards monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions and store equity in South Africa and Zimbabwe. From a comprehensive literature review, a hypothesised model was developed to determine the customers’ cultural orientations that might influence the buying behaviour towards monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions and Pick n Pays store equity in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Four customers cultural orientations were investigated namely, ubuntu/unhu, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and status consumption. This quantitative research approach study sought the perceptions of Pick n Pays customers on their cultural orientations, buying behaviour towards monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions and on store equity in South Africa and Zimbabwe. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured hardcopy questionnaire, distributed via fieldworkers in both countries using a combination of convenience- and snowball sampling. A final usable sample of 500 respondents was obtained. The items in the questionnaire were validated by conducting exploratory factor analysis, where after the Cronbachs alpha values were calculated for each of the valid constructs to confirm inter-item reliability. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency distributions was used to summarise the demographic profiles of the respondents and to describe the means and standard deviations of the valid constructs. The Pearsons product moment correlations revealed moderate correlations between monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions as well as non-monetary sales promotions and store equity in the full sample, and for the South African and Zimbabwean samples. Moderate correlation was also found in South African sample between Ubuntu ubuntu/unhu cultural orientation and non-monetary sales promotions. Multi-collinearity diagnostics testing was conducted prior to multiple regression analysis to confirm that there is no evidence of collinearity between the independent-, mediating- and dependent variables. The multiple regression analysis revealed eight statistical significant relationships between the independent-, mediating- and dependent variables for the full sample while for the South African and Zimbabwean samples four and nine were found respectively. Although the full sample and Zimbabwean sample had similar statistically significant relationships, the relationship between an uncertainty avoidance cultural orientation and store equity was unique to the Zimbabwean sample only. There was only a statistically significant relationship between a power distance cultural orientation and store equity for the South African sample. Structural equation modelling was used as the main statistical procedure to test for mediation in the study. Only two relationships found in the multiple regression analysis were not confirmed in the structural equation modelling results, namely the relationships between an confirmed in the structural equation modelling results, namely the relationships between an uncertainty avoidance cultural orientation and monetary sales promotions, as well as with non-monetary sales promotions. Six path relationships were confirmed in the structured equation modelling. These statistical significant path relationships were between an ubuntu/unhu- cultural orientation with monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions, as well as with store equity. A statistical significant path relationships were also found between a status consumption cultural orientation with non-monetary sales promotions and store equity. The sixth statistical significant path relationship was between non-monetary sales promotions and store equity. Furthermore, SEM confirmed full mediation of monetary sales promotions in the relationship between a status consumption cultural orientation and store equity. On the other hand, there were partial mediations of non-monetary sales promotions in the relationships between an ubuntu/unhu and status consumption cultural orientations with store equity. The SEM results also confirmed that the data fits the complete model. Multi-variant analysis of variance was carried out to determine if respondents’ demographic profiles influenced their cultural orientations and buying behaviour towards monetary-and non-monetary sales promotions. Post-hoc Scheffe tests identified sixteen statistically significant mean differences between the demographic data groups and the cultural orientation and sales promotions variables. Subsequently, the Cohens d analysis confirmed thirteen practical significant relationships, of which only three had large practical significance. Based on the MRA and SEM confirmed relationships, several suggestions are made. Ubuntu/Unhu and status consumption cultural orientations influenced buying behaviour towards non-monetary sales promotions. For ubuntu/unhu orientated customers, it is suggested that Pick n Pay keeps its non-monetary sales promotions open and accessible to most customers and sponsor more popular events such as competitions for baking, cooking and soccer. To target status consumption orientated customers, Pick n Pay should position its non-monetary sales promotions in line with their expectations such as promoting healthy living to appeal to its healthy conscious customers. Pick n Pay should also avoid making price the focal point when communicating to status consumption orientated consumers but rather focus on image building selling points such as store service. For ubuntu/unhu orientated customers, Pick n Pay should underscore the interdependence value in its communication of monetary sales promotions by offering monetary promotions with benefits for all family members. To entrench brand equity, Pick n Pay should engage ubuntu/unhu brand ambassadors from influential family members, friends and community groups such as church groups and provide after-sales service using 24hr customer service hotlines and social media to promote customer interaction any time of the day. Pick n Pay must consider entrenching the status consumption health conscious customers into interaction between themselves or the store through chatrooms or clubs to make sure they remain loyal to the store. It is recommended that Pick n Pay conduct non-monetary sales promotion by creating awareness campaigns for its organic and finest private brands in their Fresh Living Magazine so that customers have product knowledge and encourage them to become regular buyers. In-store distribution of product samples can also help build interest in the brands. Furthermore, employing data mining techniques on customer databases provided in Smartshopper and Rich Rewards loyalty programmes can help understanding specific target customer groups and developing target marketing campaigns. For status consumption orientated customers, Pick n Pay can incentivise the adoption of online shopping through sales promotions such as free delivery for first time shoppers. The store can also have personalised free rewards for its most loyal customers. For ubuntu/unhu orientated customers, it is recommended that Pick n Pay engage in corporate social responsibility that target the needy in the society such as donating to elderly and orphanages and request their customers to donate their loyalty points to charities of their own choices. It is suggested that Pick n Pay promote excellent service and a wide variety of quality products to ensure their status consumption orientated customers remain loyal to the store. They can also offer a suggestions box for these customers to make them feel heard. Their employees should be selected based on contemporary skills such as digital- and green marketing and healthy living product knowledge and they should train their current employees on these areas to enable addressing customers’ queries confidently. This study has added to scarce academic literature on customers’ cultural orientations, sales promotion buying behaviour and store equity in Africa in general. From the hypothesised model developed in this study, a significant contribution has been made in the body of knowledge on the influence of customers’ culture on buying behaviour towards sales promotions and store equity, especially in the retail field for stores such as Pick n Pay. This study was also the first to identify the major role demographics can play in customers’ cultural orientations and sales promotion buying behaviour. The recommendations can be useful to assist with developing marketing strategies suitable for any retail store such as Pick n Pay which wants to venture into African markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Water utility efficiency and stated choice responses: status quo effects, effects of presentation format and response time
- Authors: Murwirapachena, Genius
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water utilities -- Finance , Waterworks -- Finance Waterworks -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41741 , vital:36577
- Description: Water regulators and policymakers around the world are increasingly influencing water systems towards efficiency and sustainable consumption. In pursuit of these, most regulators mainly use traditional economic-analysis methods to benchmark water utilities and elicit water-service preferences. There have been discussions of several other techniques that extend the commonly used traditional economic analysis tools in the literature. Regardless of these discussions, the practical application of new economic analysis tools in the water sector remains relatively low. This study intends to extend the existing literature by providing more robust methods that could be useful to water regulators. The study asks four research questions to shed light on whether more robust methods are the way forward in water regulation. More precisely, the study investigates the consistency of efficiency scores obtained from the data envelopment analysis (DEA), stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and stochastic non-parametric envelopment of data (StoNED) techniques on a sample of South African water utilities. Additionally, the study examines the impact of status quo bias, presentation format and response time on results from discrete choice experiments conducted using a case of the South African water sector. The study reports four main findings. First, we find that the StoNED method (based on the methods of moments estimator) outperformed both SFA and DEA. However, SFA outperformed StoNED, when the latter was based on the pseudolikelihood estimator. Second, we find that including a partially relevant status quo reduced status quo bias but did not significantly affect empirical estimates. Major differences are noted in the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) estimates reported for one of the sub-samples. Third, we find that presenting attributes and levels using the visuals format generated more statistically significant coefficients than presenting them as text or text-and-visuals. Generally, we find that the presentation format significantly affects choice. Finally, we find that removing fast or slow responses from the sample did not significantly affect both utility function and MWTP results. Based on these findings, the study makes four main recommendations. Firstly, the study argues that StoNED (method of moments estimator) and SFA are more appropriate for estimating efficiency in heterogenous water sectors. The study makes recommendations for future studies that seek to do a methodological cross-checking of the three efficiency analysis techniques in the water sector. Secondly, the study argues that a text-and-visuals experiment improves choice task clarity and yields more robust estimates. Thus, more research on the effects of presentation formats is required in environmental economics so that guidelines on developing valid presentation formats for choice tasks can be established. Finally, the study argues against the exclusion of fast and slow responses from the dataset; and recommends approaches for future studies that investigate the impact of response time on choice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A framework to implement social entrepreneurship activities in higher education institutions
- Authors: Tai Hing, Paul
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Social entrepreneurship -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa Business enterprises -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa , Social responsibility of business -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15923 , vital:28291
- Description: The development of social enterprises are recognised by the broader community as an effective tool for addressing social problems. As a result, the development and emergence of social enterprise sectors have taken various paths in different geographic regions in the world. For the African context, the withdrawal of funding from the state as a result of external conditions imposed by foreign actors as well as the institutional support provided by foreign aid organisations were the key drivers behind the emergence of the social enterprise sector in Africa. Within the South African context, job creation and poverty alleviation are pressing priorities, both politically and economically, so providing an environment that is conducive for the development of social enterprises or social entrepreneurship. Implementing social entrepreneurship activities in higher education is important as universities are under increasing pressure to become responsive to student needs, and there is a growing scrutiny of their engagement, supportive, and economic role in local communities. By supporting local communities, institutions can broaden the student experience and create an economic impact. In addition, as the student experience entails more than curricular learning opportunities, social entrepreneurship practices are an important dimension for higher learning. This study used a series of case studies of social entrepreneurship projects that were implemented in the classroom of the first and second year Management students on the 2nd Avenue Campus of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). These case studies highlighted the possibilities of how classroom space and students can be utilised to set-up social enterprises to improve the conditions of the many disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities within which the university functions. At the same time, learning takes place through the practical application of the theory taught in the classroom. From the seven case studies highlighted in the study, a framework was developed to implement social entrepreneurship activities in the context of higher education. This framework includes five steps, namely, motivation and inspiration to develop social enterprises in the classroom, student involvement in creating and developing a product for sale, use of appropriate teaching strategies to provide the learning experience, provision of adequate mentoring and control of the social enterprises and, finally, assessment of the social enterprises. With the funds generated from the projects, communities benefited, for example, the upgrading of community facilities. Educators in higher education institutions are responsible for developing future business leaders. Given the increasing importance of social issues, especially poverty, this educational experience ensured that the students were made aware of the importance of using the powers yielded by business to solve some of these social issues, and thus contribute to the improvement of the South African economy. As a result, social entrepreneurship has a role to play in addressing social and economic issues. For example, the entrepreneurship part of the business will help to alleviate the unemployment strain placed upon the South African economy, whereas, the social part of the business will assist in alleviating poverty. Regarding the implementation of social entrepreneurship activities within the environment of higher education, it is evident from the case studies that successful social enterprises can be established within the classroom and sufficient funds generated to effect positive change within disadvantaged communities. Other higher education institutions in South Africa may find the implementation of social entrepreneurship activities more problematic as they might not possess a similar university culture as the NMMU.
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- Date Issued: 2017