Leadership influence on organisational performance at Eskom
- Authors: Xawuka, Asanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42433 , vital:36655
- Description: The role and the impact of leadership in business and society is a topic of interest to many in business. This is evident by the increase in the number of studies on the topic of leadership. Organisational leaders are responsible to oversee the company’s operations including the allocation of resources, people management and to facilitate process integration to enable the organisation to achieve its stated objectives. State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) such as Eskom has a mandate to provide infrastructure services to improve the country’s economic conditions. In particular, Eskom is responsible for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in South Africa and other neighbouring counties. Infrastructure development is much needed in South Africa (SA) to enable the country to attract investors and to grow local businesses, as its economy was downgraded to one notch above‘junk status’ in June 2017 (Mutize & Gossel, 2017). Apart from social responsibility, SOEs are required to operate efficiently in line with good corporate governance and become self-sufficient to fund their own future growth plans. Hence, the importance of SOEs to improve their own performance and efficiencies. In the past few years, Eskom has underperformed in meeting its key deliverables as stipulated in the shareholder compact. These include the electrification of households, maintenance of the current infrastructure and the building of excess electricity capacity. The poor performance has negatively affected the country economy due to planned outages when trying to balance electricity demand and supply. It has further contributed to ongoing community service delivery protests, which costs the country millions of rands (Kekana, 2017; Nyembezi, 2015). In the same period, the company faced many leadership changes which partly contribute to its not fully implementing its strategic plans. The objective of this study was to contribute to a possible improvement in Eskom’s performance by examining the influence of leadership on organisational performance, using the independent variables of the leadership conduct (authenticity), work support and performance determinants (culture, communication, change management, strategy implementation and talent management) and further to add to the current literature in explaining how leadership influences performance. The research design was positivistic asthe relationship amongst the above-mentioned variables was statistically tested. The sample consisted of 111 managerial and non-managerial employees in Eskom, across the nine provinces in South Africa. The empirical results were reported and interpreted. The results revealed that the talent management process, work support, effective communication and strategy implementation have a positive influence on employee performance, which in turn has a positive influence on organisational performance. These results were discussed in terms of the implications they hold for the leadership at Eskom. The limitations are reported, thereby providing areas for possible future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Entrepreneurial intention in the public service of South Africa
- Authors: Mhlanga, Unathi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship , New business enterprises -- South Africa Small business -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41106 , vital:36357
- Description: Entrepreneurship is a phenomenon that has been studied across the world by scholars, practitioners and governments. All these different researchers believe that it is a critical tool for economic growth, job creation and enhancing innovation. However, some researchers have conceded that there has been limited research in entrepreneurship and the public service. Thus, this treatise is one of the few studies that have been conducted in entrepreneurial intention in the public service and the examination of entrepreneurial intention of public servants and the factors that influence individuals to opt for employment in the public service. A literature review examining the current knowledge on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intention in various contexts was conducted. The reviewed literature allowed for the formation of the base for a conceptual model to be developed. The proposed model claimed that there was a positive influence of culture, family obligations, job security, role modelling, entrepreneurial self – efficacy, access to financial resources and locus of control on the entrepreneurial intentions of public servants in South Africa. Furthermore, the theory of planned behaviour and social learning theory also known as social cognitive theory were explored. There were various statistical analysis tests that were conducted on the quantitative data collected. The mono – method quantitative was used with 280 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests and exploratory factor analysis were conducted to test the proposed conceptual model. The conceptual model tested consisted of the independent variables; culture, family obligations, job security, role modelling, entrepreneurial self – efficacy, access to financial resources and locus of control with entrepreneurial intention being the dependent variable for assessing the entrepreneurial intention of public servants in the public service of South Africa. The study found that the South African public servants have high entrepreneurial intentions and are very optimistic about creating and running their own business someday. The various statistical analyses split the independent variables from seven to eighteen variables: Family Commitments, Career, Job Purpose, Risk, Access to Knowledge, Entrepreneurship Exposure, Influence, Access to Finance, Financial Support, Business Financing, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, Cultural Perceptions, Societal Standards, Cultural Dedication, Service, Self-Belief and Reward. However, after further analysis of the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable, some factors were rejected. A model comprising of factors useful for assessing the entrepreneurial intentions in the public service is recommended with the following factors: Family Commitments, Career, Entrepreneurship Exposure, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, Cultural Perceptions, Societal Standards and Reward. Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy was found to explain approximately 75% of the movement in the entrepreneurial intentions of public servants. Significant differences on the entrepreneurial intentions of individuals from different races and those who varied according to years of experience were found. The study also found that Culture and Job Security influenced the decision to pursue public service employment. To conclude, the study makes managerial recommendations implementable for government and other stakeholders. Some of the recommendations include incentivising public servants with tax breaks, entrepreneurship courses and easier access to funding to enable them to exit the public service to start their own businesses. Additionally, entrepreneurship education is recommended to become compulsory in schools and for public servants through the National School of Government (NSG). Entrepreneurial ecosystems that encourage pay-it-forward type of interactions were also recommended. Seasoned entrepreneurs can be used as mentors to those public servants who wish to pursue entrepreneurship instead of remaining in the public service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Exploring the financial giving behaviours at a congregational church in Port Elizabeth: a qualitative study
- Authors: Stoffels, Eldridge
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: United Congregational Church of Southern Africa , Bantu Congregational Church in South Africa Church finance -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Finance -- Psychological aspects Investments -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43990 , vital:37090
- Description: The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) was established in 1967 through the combination of Church bodies in the Congregational Union of Southern Africa (CUSA), The London Missionary Society (LMS) and Bantu Congregational Church of Southern Africa (BCCSA). The vision of the founders of the UCCSA (LMS) in 1799 was to establish the two Congregational Churches, complete the groundwork through erecting church buildings, provide training to Church Ministers and fund the churches until they became self-sustainable. Thereupon fruitful ways needed to be established to raise funds for the mission of the church. One of the primary methods of raising money was from financial giving of members. The Congregational Church that is the focus of this study forms part of the UCCSA, which includes the church bodies within Southern Africa. The financial statements of this church were scrutinised and it was found to be making losses in the prior 3 financial years (2015-2017). However, in the 2018 financial year the members’ contributions increased by 35 percent compared to the previous financial year. The study therefore explored the factors influencing financial giving behaviours among members at a Congregational Church in Port Elizabeth, taking into consideration a significant positive shift in financial giving in the 2018 financial year in comparison with the prior 3 financial years (2015-2017). Based on this exploration, recommendations will be developed that could assist in enhancing the financial position of the Congregational Church as well as its sustainability as a religious organisation in future. A qualitative, explorative and contextual design was used for the study. The causal model for financial giving described by Finke, Bahr and Scheitle (2006) was used as basis for a theoretical framework. Using purposive sampling, 12 church members that were aged between 18 and 60 years and had recently financially contributed through pledging (tithing), and other monetary donations as part of their church membership were chosen to participate in two focus group discussions, thereby ensuring the data collected was rich with context. The data was analysed by using ATLAS.ti software which has been proven to guarantee the reliability of results. To ensure a high standard of qualitative research, the study adhered to the main principles of trustworthiness by Lincoln and Guba, including dependability, transferability, confirmability and credibility of the research process. Ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, informed consent, privacy, anonymity and confidentiality of data, as well as obtaining ethical clearance, were adhered to in the study. The study yielded data that gave rise to eleven main themes and five sub-themes with regard to the factors that influenced financial giving behaviours of church members. These included: blessings members received from God, church attendance, belonging to a church community and church size, church financial needs (sub-themes included leadership, transparency about the financial position of the church and historic influences), stewardship (sub-themes included non-financial giving behaviours and other financial giving responsibilities), church involvement, tithing, member’s budget, spirituality, and stages of life. Participants were in agreement that blessings from God, belonging to a church community, transparency about the financial position of the church, member’s budget, and spirituality positively influenced their financial giving behaviours in the church. Factors that negatively influenced their giving behaviours included church size, historic influences, non-financial giving behaviours and other financial giving responsibilities. Church involvement, the member’s budget, as well as stages of life both positively and negatively influenced their financial giving behaviours. Participants were not in agreement whether church attendance, leadership and tithing influenced their financial giving behaviours in the church. Finke et al. (2006)’s conceptual model could be used to explain the findings. However, additional factors were identified to be influencing financial giving behaviours among members at the church under study. Some of the main recommendations made, based on the objectives of the study, are: For the Church Council to remain transparent with communication to church members of the financial position of the church; To continue with the stewardship campaign on a yearly basis to encourage members to give financially and of their time and talents to the church; Communicate with members of the church regarding the financial position of the church if it again experiences financial difficulties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Strategic service quality challenges within Metrorail in the Western Cape
- Authors: Skosana, Nkosinathi Thembinkosi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Customer relations -- Management Railroads -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43368 , vital:36862
- Description: Service quality has become a major area of attention for organisations as there is proven research that highlights a strong link between business performance, customer loyalty, profitability and customer satisfaction. Therefore, understanding factors that influences the organisations service quality becomes vital for managements (Fukey & Issac, 2014). According to (Kotler, 1991), the main objective of any transport organisation is to achieve passenger satisfaction and loyalty, as well as a superior quality service which is envisioned to keep the service provider at a competitive position in the field of passenger transportation. The primary research problem in this study is to understand perceived service quality challenges within Metrorail Western Cape. The study employs a modified SERVPERF models in developing a model suitable for testing the perception of commuter in public rail transport. In order to assess this, the study adopts a Positivistic view with the aim to produce quantifiable data, through the use of large samples and the testing of hypotheses. The study is quantitative in principle. Quantitative study supports the use of surveys as a means of data collection and because the data is quantitative, this allows the use of rigorous statistical analyses in order come to a conclusion or finding. The results of this are of a descriptive nature and can easily be used to infer to a larger population. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed electronically using the Questionpro links and manually distributed at stations. From the distributed total, a total of 257 responses were received and analysed using software package STATISTICA with the assistance of a qualified statistician. The key findings indicate that according to the perception of commuters, Metrorail service quality is below the expected levels. The major arears of importance for commuters in Western Cape are safety, communications and reliability of the service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A study on technology adoption in agriculture in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Keevy, Christine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Agricultural implements -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48628 , vital:41054
- Description: arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought with it a vast array of new technologies that can be applied across many industries and various applications, to help solve many of the social, economic and environmental issues the world faces. However, it also heralds in an unprecedented rate of change. The agricultural industry is expected to be heavily affected by new technology. As they are run by smaller management teams they may need support from organisations to introduce technologies. The study aims to identify drivers and barriers to technology adoption in agriculture through a conceptual model based on the Technology Adoption Model, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and a Technology-Organisation-Environment Model, along with a thorough industry analysis. The study obtained quantitative data from 59 respondents from the Eastern Cape farming community. The key findings include the identification of Perceived Usefulness and Industry Pressures as the variables with a significant driving influence on the intention to adopt new technologies. However, Perceived Ease of Use, Employee Knowledge and External Support Structures were found to have a negative relationship with the adoption of technology. It has been interpreted that improvements in these areas may enable farmers to adopt technology more easily but that farmers feel sufficient pressure to make them adopt technology despite the complexities and lack of required internal skills or external support. Due to the low number of respondents, it is not possible to infer the findings on the larger population of farmers. The findings can therefore only be used as exploratory findings which need to be verified in focus groups, with farmers, before any action is taken. However, the findings in the study can be used to aid the definition of frameworks for further studies and the development of action plans to support farmers in the adoption of technology.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The impact of perceived ethical leadership on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically: a case study within a South African-based financial institution
- Authors: Rudzani, Magau
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership -- Moral and ethical aspects , Leadership Business ethics Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40768 , vital:36234
- Description: Ethical leaders consistently set ethical principles within the institution and act in accordance with them; hence, leaders should be a key source of ethical guidance for employees. As the business world is constantly evolving, leaders increasingly are required to ethically lead across different sectors. Current literature on ethical leadership and its influence of employees reflects mostly a Western, European and Asian-based private-sector perspective, pointing toward a compliance-oriented understanding of ethical and unethical leadership. This study examined how perceived ethical orientation of a leader has an impact on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically within a South African context. Qualitative data was collected as the study adopted the interpretivist paradigm, which made it easier for participants to use descriptive words and qualifying statements to express the level of influence their leaders had on their ethical orientation. The target population of the study included all staff of the institution; and participants were chosen using the purposive sampling method. Data was collected from 12 employees using semi-structure interviews. Thereafter, thematic analysis was used to identify and organise participants’ experiences into themes that established the basis for the study findings. These findings confirmed that perceived leader ethical orientation has an impact on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically. The study found that ethical leaders had a track record of being consistent, honest, trustworthy, truthful and credible, and being a role model. In addition, the study also found that unethical leaders are easily identifiable by their perpetual inability to uphold principles of integrity, reliability, rationality, and social justice and fairness. The researcher concluded that the moral identity of the leader has an influence on followers’ predisposition to behave ethically or unethically. The implications of this study are that ethical morals, by their very nature, are transferable from one person to the other and ethical leadership was one antecedent through which this transfer takes place. However, ethical leadership was not the only apparatus that influenced employees’ ethical predisposition and these afford opportunities for future research.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Blockchain potential and disruptors for South Africa towards 2030
- Authors: Muntean, George
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic funds transfers -- Security measures , Blockchains (Databases) Finance -- Technological innovations Technological innovations -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41603 , vital:36544
- Description: Blockchain (also called distributed ledger technology), the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies, is resulting in a new era of openness, decentralisation and global inclusion (World Economic Forum, 2017). Blockchain technology is set to complement another emerging field or group of technologies which are collectively defined as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This revolution is characterised by a “range of new technologies that are blending the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human” (World Economic Forum, 2017). Certain features of Blockchain technology namely; decentralisation, implied anonymity, transparency and immutability presents people with a technology that may well transform business models and indeed entire industries in the world and in South Africa. Some of these industries are explored further in this research, delving into ideas of how Blockchains may add value to them. This research effort approaches Blockchain technology from a future studies perspective, and assesses whether South Africa is ready to embrace the technology. The research also explores what South African stakeholders can do to be better prepared for expected disruptors and opportunities that the technology will bring. South Africa is seen as a developing nation in the global context and can well benefit from strategic use of emerging technologies such as Blockchain. This research effort will implement Inayatullah’s (2008) six pillars methodology, incorporating the various tools and methodologies within each pillar, in an effort to describe and present possible future scenarios for Blockchains in South Africa. This insight will be used to provide well thought out strategic recommendations for South Africa to prepare for adoption of Blockchain technologies, which could ultimately provide a competitive advantage for the country in the global marketplace.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Customer loyalty programmes in the South African grocery and retail sector
- Authors: Harmse, Nyree
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Customer loyalty programs -- South Africa , Customer clubs -- South Africa Grocery trade -- South Africa Food industry and trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39599 , vital:35331
- Description: While there has been substantial research on loyalty programmes, few studies specifically focus on the attitudinal and behavioural components of a loyalty programmes within grocery and retail sector programmes in South Africa. This study is part of a broader study of South African loyalty programmes, but specifically examines the attitudinal and behavioural influences on loyalty programmes in the South African grocery and retail sector. A comprehensive literature review was conducted and factors influencing loyalty programmes were identified. The literature reviewed informed the conceptual model that proposed purchasing behaviour, trust, communication, personalisation, flexibility, rewards and method of participation influenced the success of grocery and retail sector loyalty programmes with attitude and behaviour serving as intermediate variables. The academic literature selected for the study is grounded in the academic theories of social exchange and planned behaviour. The methodology followed was through self-administered questionnaires developed from academic literature. Data were collected from 1090 respondents across South Africa, of which 643 respondents were members of grocery and retail sector loyalty programmes. The data analysis conducted through various descriptive and inferential statistical tests and exploratory factors analysis identified that factors of purchasing behaviour, trust, communication, personalisation, flexibility, rewards and general assessment were factors influencing loyalty programmes. Loyalty programme studies in South Africa are generally conducted on specific loyalty programmes, which are owned by the programme owners and therefore unpublished. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by using academic theory to establish the attitudinal and behavioural factors that affect loyalty programmes within the South African grocery and retail sector. The study concludes with managerial recommendations that grocery and retail sector managers can implement to influence the success of loyalty programmes. Some of the recommendations include the use of communication as a lever to influence other factors and the overall effectiveness of the programme. Other recommendations include data management and rewards that create flexible and personalised experiences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Lean leadership behaviours required for employee engagement
- Authors: Grewan, Symone
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership , Management -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa Employees -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39665 , vital:35345
- Description: The study highlighted the importance of leadership and employee engagement in LEAN manufacturing. Dombrowski and Mielke emphasised the critical importance of leadership as a cornerstone for stimulating employee engagement in continuous improvement systems. It was also noted that leadership was listed as either the key failure factor or key success factor for LEAN Implementation. This study confirmed that LEAN Leadership behaviours have a definite effect on employee engagement. The LEAN Leadership Model was tested on employee engagement in a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) confectionery plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Two mail surveys were used. The first survey was directed towards shop-floor factory operators, which included 141 respondents. This figure was greater than 50% of the target population. The survey tested for employee engagement (dependent variable) and the operator’s perception of their line manager behaviours (independent variables). The second survey was directed towards line managers, which included 8 respondents, providing 100% of the desired population. The survey for the line managers requested them to respond to their own engagement, as well as their perception of their own leadership behaviours. The study aimed to answer three research questions related to: The effect of LEAN Leadership behaviours on employee engagement. The suitability of the LEAN Leadership Model for promoting employee engagement. Whether or not the perception of shop-floor employees met the perception of line managers on leadership behaviours. In answering the first research question, the descriptive statistical analysis showed that LEAN Leadership behaviours have a positive influence on employee engagement. This was confirmed using a Pearson Correlation Test and the ANOVA Test amongst the different line managers. The findings correlated with studies reviewed in the literature chapter. The second research question asked whether the LEAN Leadership Model was a suitable framework for employee engagement or not. It was found that the hypothesised framework was not validated. Through conducting an EFA and mediating variable test, a new model i.e. The LEAN Leadership – Employee Engagement Model was constructed. The model comprised of two independent variables (Authentic Improvement Culture and Hoshin Kanri), one mediating variable (Gemba Qualification) and one dependent variable (Employee Engagement). Overall, the LEAN Leadership - Employee Engagement Model suggested that line managers were able to promote employee engagement by spending time with employees and recognising them on the shop-floor. The model also showed that Authentic Improvement Culture leadership behaviours and strategic management behaviours (Hoshin Kanri) had a direct positive influence on employee engagement, while they also indirectly worked through the Gemba Qualification to positively influence engagement. It is worth mentioning that the role of the Team is the centre of the LEAN Leadership Model, from which the LEAN Leadership – Employee Engagement Model was derived. It is important that the role of the team in LEAN methodologies, and the behaviours that promote teamwork amongst the shop-floor employees, does not lose focus. The final research question on whether or not shop-floor perceptions met line manager perceptions regarding line manager behaviours was also answered through a Two Sample T-Test. Large effects in perception were not apparent regarding Authentic Improvement Culture behaviours. With regard to the Gemba Qualification and Hoshin Kanri, line managers felt that they displayed more of these behaviours than what was perceived by their shop-floor employees. Overall, large effects showed that in some cases, perceptions differed. This had the potential to influence shop-floor employee engagement. The findings from this research study provided a management solution and an academic contribution to influence and correct leadership behaviours to aid sustainable LEAN Implementation. In addition, the findings could be used to troubleshoot stagnations in LEAN phase executions from a possible lack of employee engagement.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Job performance and the relationship between employee engagement, goal setting, training, job fit and trust
- Authors: Brood, Ayoob
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Job satisfaction -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa Labor productivity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37846 , vital:34253
- Description: Every business has a goal of being profitable which relies on employee job performance. To determine the relationship employee engagement, trust, goal setting, job fit and training had on job performance surveys was sent to 8 MTN Branded retail stores within the Eastern Cape to gather data. Each survey once completed would then be dropped off and the MTN head office in Cape Road. Previous work has looked at these independent variables and how they affect job performance separately and not as a whole. Contrary to the literature, goal settings were the only variable that had a significant influence according to the findings of this study. The statistical results of this study revealed that goal settings influenced job performance with a p-value of 0.010 (p<0.05) and had a positive relationship, indicating that the respondent’s goal settings had an influence on their job performance. The mean values indicated that the respondents agreed that the independent variables would affect the performance. Thus, it is highly recommended that management investigates the requirements of implementing strategies of these variables to improve job performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The relationship between psychological contract, job satisfaction, organisation citizenship behaviour and turnover intention
- Authors: Pal, Ajay Kumar
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Contracts -- Psychological aspects , Job satisfaction Organizational behavior Psychology, Industrial
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43127 , vital:36740
- Description: Psychological contracts, which are made up of employees’ beliefs about the reciprocal obligations between them and their organisation, lie at the foundation of employment relationships (Rousseau, 1989; Schein, 1965). Yet many trends, such as restructuring, downsizing, increased reliance, pressure on cost and high competition, have a profound impact on employees and organisations, leading to an impact on psychological contracts. These trends increasingly make it unclear what the employee and organisation owe each other. The intention of this study is to the relationship between, psychological contract, job satisfaction, organisation citizenship behaviour, and turnover intention in the factory workers of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in the Durban area of South Africa. This research made use of quantitative research methods in order to conduct this study using a cross sectional design. A composite questionnaire was used to gather the necessary data for the study using a sample of 63 employees, which constitute 26% of work force working in the factory of a pharmaceutical company, represented by the different departments that operate in the factory setup. The quantitative findings indicate that all three of the measurement scales were reliable due to Cronbach’s alpha coefficient exceeding 0.60. Out of the three dependent variables, psychological contract is found to be highly correlated to job satisfaction. The findings of the study revealed that psychological contract has a positive medium correlation with job satisfaction, and that psychological contract has a medium negative correlation with turnover intention, while it has negligible correlation with organisation citizenship behaviour for the samples. The findings of this research study contribute to the literature available in terms of the construct of psychological contract, job satisfaction, organisation citizenship behaviour and turnover intention. Consequently, the results from this study provided the management of this company with important information on psychological contract and its relationship with work-related behaviours.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The role of leadership in shaping school culture in a secondary school
- Authors: Kofi, Linda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Educational leadership , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Corporate culture
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92247 , vital:30698
- Description: SDG 4 calls for an “inclusive, quality and equitable education and lifelong opportunities for all”. The purpose of the study is to investigate how leadership has shaped the school culture, which culminates to higher academic performance in a secondary school. This case study is done in a previously disadvantaged secondary school within the Buffalo City Metro Education District, in the Eastern Cape. Despite the socio-economic challenges faced by the school, the NSC examination pass rate results for the school are constantly above the Provincial NSC pass rate results. Consequently, the aim of the study is to determine the unique characteristics of the school culture that have contributed to high academic performance, and how the school leadership has cultivated this culture. The study reviews school culture using Schein’s organizational culture model. Moreover, it reviews school principalship, leadership and how leadership shapes school culture. Lastly, the study reviews literature on instructional, transformational and distributed leadership theories, as they resonate well with South African school environment. The study utilizes a qualitative research method in its investigation, gathering data through document analysis and interviews. After the data was collected, the pattern matching method was utilized to analyse the findings. The key characteristics of school culture that contributed to the school performing well academically, are the values of disciplined hard work and academic excellence. Furthermore, findings proved that characteristics of instructional leadership such as the provision of professional development and the management of curriculum and instruction have the shape the school culture. Transformational leadership characteristics such as individualized consideration, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation, have also shaped the school culture; as have characteristics of distributed leadership such as sharing authority and accountability. The study discusses the findings and then concludes by recognizing the research limitations such as the time constraints and purposeful exclusion of certain school members, for example learners. In its conclusion the study presents it contributions to the body of knowledge and provides recommendations for practitioners and future studies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Exploring the financial giving behaviours at a congregational church in Port Elizabeth: a qualitative study
- Authors: Stoffels, Eldridge
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Tithes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43979 , vital:37089
- Description: The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) was established in 1967 through the combination of Church bodies in the Congregational Union of Southern Africa (CUSA), The London Missionary Society (LMS) and Bantu Congregational Church of Southern Africa (BCCSA). The vision of the founders of the UCCSA (LMS) in 1799 was to establish the two Congregational Churches, complete the groundwork through erecting church buildings, provide training to Church Ministers and fund the churches until they became self-sustainable. Thereupon fruitful ways needed to be established to raise funds for the mission of the church. One of the primary methods of raising money was from financial giving of members. The Congregational Church that is the focus of this study forms part of the UCCSA, which includes the church bodies within Southern Africa. The financial statements of this church were scrutinised and it was found to be making losses in the prior 3 financial years (2015-2017). However, in the 2018 financial year the members’ contributions increased by 35 percent compared to the previous financial year. The study therefore explored the factors influencing financial giving behaviours among members at a Congregational Church in Port Elizabeth, taking into consideration a significant positive shift in financial giving in the 2018 financial year in comparison with the prior 3 financial years (2015-2017). Based on this exploration, recommendations will be developed that could assist in enhancing the financial position of the Congregational Church as well as its sustainability as a religious organisation in future. A qualitative, explorative and contextual design was used for the study. The causal model for financial giving described by Finke, Bahr and Scheitle (2006) was used as basis for a theoretical framework. Using purposive sampling, 12 church members that were aged between 18 and 60 years and had recently financially contributed through pledging (tithing), and other monetary donations as part of their church membership were chosen to participate in two focus group discussions, thereby ensuring the data collected was rich with context. The data was analysed by using ATLAS.ti software which has been proven to guarantee the reliability of results. To ensure a high standard of qualitative research, the study adhered to the main principles of trustworthiness by Lincoln and Guba, including dependability, transferability, confirmability and credibility of the research process. Ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, informed consent, privacy, anonymity and confidentiality of data, as well as obtaining ethical clearance, were adhered to in the study. The study yielded data that gave rise to eleven main themes and five sub-themes with regard to the factors that influenced financial giving behaviours of church members. These included: blessings members received from God, church attendance, belonging to a church community and church size, church financial needs (sub-themes included leadership, transparency about the financial position of the church and historic influences), stewardship (sub-themes included non-financial giving behaviours and other financial giving responsibilities), church involvement, tithing, member’s budget, spirituality, and stages of life. Participants were in agreement that blessings from God, belonging to a church community, transparency about the financial position of the church, member’s budget, and spirituality positively influenced their financial giving behaviours in the church. Factors that negatively influenced their giving behaviours included church size, historic influences, non-financial giving behaviours and other financial giving responsibilities. Church involvement, the member’s budget, as well as stages of life both positively and negatively influenced their financial giving behaviours. Participants were not in agreement whether church attendance, leadership and tithing influenced their financial giving behaviours in the church. Finke et al. (2006)’s conceptual model could be used to explain the findings. However, additional factors were identified to be influencing financial giving behaviours among members at the church under study. Some of the main recommendations made, based on the objectives of the study, are: For the Church Council to remain transparent with communication to church members of the financial position of the church; To continue with the stewardship campaign on a yearly basis to encourage members to give financially and of their time and talents to the church; iv Communicate with members of the church regarding the financial position of the church if it again experiences financial difficulties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Factors driving the staff turnover in the motor retail industry
- Authors: Monakali, Phatuxolo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa , Job satisfaction -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa Motor vehicle industry -- Employees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42008 , vital:36617
- Description: Organisations in large have been featured by large competition and this necessitates that organisations continuously improve on their competitive advantage in order to capture and retain market share. This is no different from whether the organisation render services or sell products. Employees become key in assisting organisations to ensure that they deliver quality services or products to these customers, as they are mostly the ones that liaise with these customers. Attracting and retaining employees that are able to identify the needs of the customer and deliver the products and services to the customer’s satisfaction is one of the ways to improve the competitive advantage. Staff turnover becomes an important matter that needs to be understood together with the factors that drive the staff turnover. The aim of this research is to assist organisations to improve the retention rate of quality employees by investigating the factors that drives staff turnover and provide recommendations to avoid it. This research is specifically looking at the staff turnover at the motor car dealership level of the motor retail industry focusing on human resource management, management styles, organisational culture and remuneration as the key pre-identified drivers of high staff turnover. A quantitative research, consisting of online mail survey was conducted amongst sixty (60) people who voluntarily resigned from a motor retail group named company A in the Eastern Cape. The key findings indicated that management styles, organisational culture and remuneration were found to be the significant factors that drive the staff turnover at the dealership level of the motor retail industry. Recommendations were made to management to develop policies and procedures to address the factors in order to reduce the staff turnover.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Risk management for port management information systems
- Authors: Jafta, Ntembeko
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Management information systems , Harbors -- Management Risk management Risk assessment Computer security -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40327 , vital:36141
- Description: Port Management Information Systems (Port MIS) are systems that support port managers in the facilitation of port activities. However, little is known about the system and the risk that it presents. Much information is exposed, and security needs to be strengthened. Port MIS helps managers to make decisions relating to the activities that enable effective management and leadership of the port. Inadequate and poor risk management would lead to loss of business and potential loss of human life. This research study focused on the subsystems that make up Port MIS. There is limited research on port management, and more specifically the risks involved in such national assets. The study explored the purpose of such systems and how they contribute to the whole system. The findings and recommendations would benefit port managers both nationally and internationally as globalisation becomes the basis of world trade and economies.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Loyalty programmes in the South African restaurant industry
- Authors: Raepsaet, Vincent
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Customer loyalty programs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43019 , vital:36733
- Description: Loyalty Programme is the term used most commonly used when referring to a structured and long-term marketing effort, designed to motivate the customers in a business's target market, to make frequent purchases and shun competitors. This behaviour is achieved by providing repeat customers with certain incentives as a reward for loyal buying behaviour. In today’s ultra-competitive global marketplace, competition is rife and customers are faced with a plethora of choices, offerings and more specifically, Loyalty Programmes. Businesses, in a bid to retain and even increase their customer base, spend millions on their Loyalty Programmes, seeking to encourage customer loyalty, but with varying and often disappointing results. This treatise endeavours to embrace and delve into customer loyalty and the design of these Loyalty Programmes, by looking at Loyalty Programmes in general and then, more specifically, at those within the Restaurant Industry, with the purpose of exploring the factors that Loyalty Programmes in the South African Restaurant Industry should include in order to improve their design and increase their effectiveness. Loyalty Programmes in this industry have not been adequately addressed, this despite the fierce competition which exists amongst restaurants and the relatively low barriers to entry for new competitors. An in-depth literature review was conducted. Attitudes and behaviours were identified as the two dimensions common to customer loyalty, with both, therefore, being examined. Pertinent theories, such as Social Exchange Theory, Equity Theory, Relationship Marketing Theory and Commitment-Trust Theory were explored. Additionally, the factors that influence customer loyalty in the Restaurant Industry in South Africa were explored, with the literature laying the foundation for the conceptual model that included proposed communication, flexibility, personalisation, purchase behaviour, method of participation, rewards and trust as being the factors which influence Loyalty Programmes. This treatise was part of a bigger study of Loyalty Programmes, undertaken using a survey (questionnaire) distributed via email, which received 1090 respondents. The sample size applicable to this treatise is n = 399. Data analysis included the use of descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as Exploratory Factor Analysis. The results of the analysis identified relevant factors in regard to the effectiveness of Loyalty Programmes to be those with attitudes related to communication, flexibility, general assessment, rewards and trust, as well as those with behaviours related to communication, flexibility, general assessment, personalisation, purchase behaviour, and rewards. The Pearson Product Model Correlations identified the strongest factor relationships to be Attitude – General and Behaviour – General (.739), as well as Attitude – Communication and Behaviour – Communication (.711). In light of these results, as part of the managerial recommendations made to help improve the design of Loyalty Programmes, the need to embrace and employ new and varied communication channels and strategies must be considered, as well as the responsiveness of said communication to customers. Further important results of the study encourage Loyalty Programmes (LPs) to be more personalised by taking customer demographics into consideration. LPs need to incorporate more transparency into how the personal information of customers will be used, flexibility in terms of the reward type, accrual and redemption needs to be embraced through the use of more modern, relevant and popular platforms such as those offered via technological means. In summary, a regular review of LPs is recommended to keep them current and applicable, with an emphasis being placed on personalisation, the expectations of customers and the method of participation.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Factors influencing parents’ decisions when choosing a private school
- Authors: Arendse, David
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: School choice -- South Africa -- Case studies , Competition -- South Africa , Private schools -- South Africa , Consumer behavior , VRIO framework (Valuable, Rare, Imitable and Organized) , St. Stithians College
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92628 , vital:30738
- Description: Purpose: Consumers make decisions based on multiple factors that influence their decision-making process. These decisions can be influenced by deep personal reflection to the simple impulsive purchase done to fulfil a need or want. This research study explored the relationship between the resource-based view and the factors considered by parents when selecting a school for their child/children. The Valuable, Rare, Imitable and Organized (VRIO) framework as developed by Barney, J. (1991) outlines the framework through which an organisations resources can be assessed in terms of their potential competitive advantage. The research study was interested in understanding how an educational institution can identify and then leverage its resources to create a competitive advantage. Methodology: Each family that has one or more child enrolled at St Stithians College, which is a private school in Gauteng, South Africa, was invited to participate in the study. This represented a potential population size of 1 700 families, however a sample of 334 was used. The educational institution caters to both boys and girls from Grade R to 12 (Matric). Each family was requested to participate in the study as they had already chosen to have at least one child enrolled. A self-administered close-ended questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection and the questionnaire was broken into two sections. Section A focused on building a profile of the respondent while section B assessed the level of influence the factors had on a parent’s decision. Section B’s questions were structured as Likert-Scale questions requiring a response between 1 and 5, with 5 being the highest influence, and 1 being the lowest. The responses to the questions were then grouped into the factors they spoke to and the average results per factor were assessed via an ANOVA table to test the null hypothesis that parents do not consider factors when choosing a school for their children. Findings: As a paper, this study set out to discover what the competitive advantage was of a private education institution in South Africa. It did so by identifying what the key factors were when parents selected the school of their choice and then analysed these findings against the resources of the given institution. The ANOVA table analysis of the responses identified that parents do consider factors and that the factor that they were most influenced by was convenience factor, represented by location of the institution and the distance to it. While there are multiple private education suppliers in South Africa, no other provider has the location that St Stithians College has, and as such, its location is its competitive advantage. Significant: This research study will expand the existing but limited competitive advantage body of knowledge in the South African education sector. South African educational institutions will be able to develop similar studies which will then assist in identifying their own competitive advantages. This can better enable education providers to entice consumers to their education services.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A corporate social responsibility (CSR) analysis of the transformation of the mobile telephone industry of South Africa
- Authors: Nyamande, Godfrey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa , Cell phone systems -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Mobile communication systems -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93887 , vital:30967
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires companies to fulfil certain responsibilities in society that are outside of the core operational activities of the company. The socio-economic dynamics of the region or country that the company operates from, as well as the pressures those stakeholders tend to apply, have a bearing on the direction that the CSR development takes. Mirvis and Googins (2006) described the CSR developmental path followed by international companies. Before that Carroll (1991) had suggested a developmental pyramid that suggested that philanthropy represented the highest level of CSR development. This pyramid was later revised by Visser (2005) in order to suit the African environment. In South Africa CSR development is mainly driven by legislation through the BEE Act of 2003. This has resulted in the birth of industry charters that guide the development of CSR in different industries. To fulfil the requirements of the charter and score vital B-BBEE points, companies have to engage with both internal and external stakeholders, holistically. One such industry is the telecommunications industry, which formed the basis for this research, with special emphasis on the mobile telecommunications industry. The research set out to explore how the industry charter and company practices compared with the existing literature on CSR. The aim of this research was therefore to analyse the existing CSR practices in the mobile telecommunication industry in South Africa, where the B-BBEE Act plays a pivotal role in influencing practice. Using publically available documents, this research conducted an analysis of the B-BBEE components in the telecommunications charter as the catalyst to development of CSR in the South African mobile telecommunications industry, with the three dominant companies, - MTN, Vodacom and Cell C – being utilised as case studies. Key research findings were that transformation is still low in terms of equitable gender and racial representation at the top management level. The industry charter attempts to address these and other social challenges and economic problems. However, it does not address ecological issues that may emanate from the industry operations. Therefore, a CSR assessment framework that addresses all stakeholders for sustainable economic development is proposed.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Study into the Road Accident Fund adopting a semi-paperless strategy
- Authors: Lugebu, Sisonke
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Road Accident Fund (South Africa) , Business planning -- Computer simulation Information technology -- Management Computer systems -- Environmental aspects Green technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40522 , vital:36179
- Description: The study sought to explore the feasibility of the South African Road Accident Fund(RAF) transitioning from traditional offline paper management system to a semi-paperless management system. the study was conducted with the RAF offices in the East London region. the researcher explored the benefits, risks and challenges inherent in business process automation. the literature study covered business process automation, service delivery in South Africa and other diverse related aspects. the population sample was drawn from departments within RAF offices in East London region. Primarily data was collected by means of semi-structured questionnaire, which was handed to participants. the study was guided by interpretivist paradigm and made use of qualitative research method.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Community perception of air pollution: health and environmental impact of manganese operations at PE port
- Authors: Mtati, Vuyani
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Air -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Manganese -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Manufacturing industries Environmental health Sustainable development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41919 , vital:36609
- Description: The Mining industry in South Africa is viewed as the backbone of the country’s economy; however, while benefiting from this engine of economic development, its impact on the environment and health has been of major concern to different stakeholders. The majority of people acknowledge the role of mining in the economy and the country. Others put more emphasis on public health and the environment. Furthermore, manganese plays an important role in the economic growth and development within the Eastern Cape Province. Responding to recent public concern over manganese dust emissions, Port of Port Elizabeth manager, Rajesh Dana, outlined a five-point manganese management plan formulated by Transnet. Mr. Dana stated the following: “We do not dispute the fact that our manganese operation in the Port of Port Elizabeth creates an inconvenience to port tenants and residents. However, as a responsible corporate citizen we have superior operational and compliance controls in place to mitigate these negative impacts.” Some of the concerns raised by community members are that the manganese ore dust has long term negative effects on the health of this city’s residents, the marine life, as well as the properties within, roughly, a 5km (own opinion estimate) radius of the tanks. Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay) has the potential to become a tourism and economic hub within this radius and beyond, and by removing this hazard it will allow for a green environment to be established that gives all the citizens as well as tourists, a place to take part in a healthy lifestyle. Some believe that the city, specifically the CBD area, has the potential to be world renowned for green innovations but having a major hazard in the way, which can be moved to, and better controlled at, Coega IDZ, is not only damaging to the health of its citizens but also the economy of the city. Air pollution affects both physical and human environments. Often, communities that are in close proximity to pollution sources are more vulnerable and experience its greatest effect. As a result, many residents complain of negative health related impacts caused by air pollution which is attributed to industries located close to these communities. About two million deaths annually are attributed to urban air pollution worldwide, which is an indication that air pollution remains an enormous health risk to people. Due to the health impacts on humans, air pollution has also been negatively categorised based on perceptions around the world. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of environmental pollution and public health on the South End, Humewood and Humerail occupants and their perceptions of air quality effects and health risks from the Transnet manganese operation in Port Elizabeth. The present study can be described as a quantitative descriptive survey that uncovered serious levels of pollution in the said areas that had dire health consequences for the people involved. The findings of the study indicate that residents live with the constant dust of a variety of chemical pollutants released both by normal Port operations and by periodic incidents caused by other polluters. They experience chronic respiratory symptoms, burning eyes, hearing deficiency and skin irritations. The study revealed that environmental pollution consequences affecting residents are inversely related to distance from the Port. The results obtained in this study are evidence that environmental pollution, especially manganese in the area, is a definite risk to the health of people living within the surrounding area. Although indicating the need to carry out a comprehensive study, the results call for immediate action to engage community members in order for them to understand the risks associated with the Port operations and prevent continued public over-exposure to environmental pollution.
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- Date Issued: 2019