An exploration into an ESD-based teaching strategy to improve the critical thinking and problem-solving skills amongst development studies students at Nelson Mandela University
- Authors: Abrahams, Andre John
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Critical thinking
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50906 , vital:43149
- Description: In recent years, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a significant focus for research pertaining to teacher education and transformative approaches to teaching and learning. However, there has been less specific focus on the implementation of ESD in the context of higher education. This study, therefore, explored the use of an ESD-based teaching and learning approach in an undergraduate Development Studies programme. The focus was on developing a teaching approach that was informed by the principles of ESD and which could assist Development Studies lecturers in creating a more transformative, student-centred environment. This study was a qualitative undertaking, conducted at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Development Studies undergraduate programme. The ESD-based approach was implemented by two participating lecturers who utilised the approach across four undergraduate classes. Qualitative data were generated through a systematic literature analysis (SLA), exploratory interviews, student exercises and assessments, focus group discussions, and reflective journal entries. The gathered data were then analysed using a framework analysis rubric adapted from the theoretical framework utilised in the study. In addition, the data were coded using the six coding techniques promoted by Saldaña (2013). The findings suggest that the ESD-based approach developed in the study could effectively contribute towards promoting ESD in the Development Studies programme. The findings also suggest that, when properly implemented, the ESD-based approach could assist lecturers in creating a more transformative learning environment where students have greater control over their learning experience. In addition, this study found that students in the selected Development Studies undergraduate programme could benefit from continued exposure to the teaching methods and techniques adopted in the approach. The implementation of the approach also uncovered some of the inhibiting factors that may prevent an ESD-based approach being mainstreamed into the context of higher education. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Development Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An exploration into an ESD-based teaching strategy to improve the critical thinking and problem-solving skills amongst development studies students at Nelson Mandela University
- Authors: Abrahams, André John
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Problem solving -- Study and teaching , Divergent thinking -- Study and teaching , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Environmental education
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50907 , vital:43148
- Description: In recent years, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a significant focus for research pertaining to teacher education and transformative approaches to teaching and learning. However, there has been less specific focus on the implementation of ESD in the context of higher education. This study, therefore, explored the use of an ESD-based teaching and learning approach in an undergraduate Development Studies programme. The focus was on developing a teaching approach that was informed by the principles of ESD and which could assist Development Studies lecturers in creating a more transformative, student-centred environment. This study was a qualitative undertaking, conducted at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Development Studies undergraduate programme. The ESD-based approach was implemented by two participating lecturers who utilised the approach across four undergraduate classes. Qualitative data were generated through a systematic literature analysis (SLA), exploratory interviews, student exercises and assessments, focus group discussions, and reflective journal entries. The gathered data were then analysed using a framework analysis rubric adapted from the theoretical framework utilised in the study. In addition, the data were coded using the six coding techniques promoted by Saldaña (2013). The findings suggest that the ESD-based approach developed in the study could effectively contribute towards promoting ESD in the Development Studies programme. The findings also suggest that, when properly implemented, the ESD-based approach could assist lecturers in creating a more transformative learning environment where students have greater control over their learning experience. In addition, this study found that students in the selected Development Studies undergraduate programme could benefit from continued exposure to the teaching methods and techniques adopted in the approach. The implementation of the approach also uncovered some of the inhibiting factors that may prevent an ESD-based approach being mainstreamed into the context of higher education. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Development Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The role of climate change on food security in Northern Uganda a case study of Lira district
- Authors: Aciro, Prudence Estel
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Food security -- Uganda , Food security -- Climatic factors , Climatic changes
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57513 , vital:58054
- Description: The study examines the effects of climate change in Northern Uganda to create food security solutions through the improvement of local resilience mechanisms and adaptation devices. The study adopted the interpretive paradigm within the qualitative research methodology as it investigated the subjective opinions of the respondents about the role of climate change on food security in the Lira district. The researcher used non-probability purposive sampling to identify nine officials that possessed knowledge on resilience mechanisms and also interacted directly with individual farmers. The researcher used semi-structured interviews as a tool to collect data and thematic analysis to make conclusions on findings based on the emerging themes. The findings from the study revealed that the four determinants of food security are greatly affected by climate events and these are: food utilisation, food production, food availability and access to food as well as the stability of food supply. Food storage is a problem facing the community of Lira due to extreme climate events. Climate change was found to affect food prices in such a way that when agricultural inputs are bought expensively, it leads the cost of producing crops to increase, which in turn makes food more expensive at the market. The findings also displayed that Lira’s local communities are trying to apply adaptive farming practices to ensure there is an adequate food supply, such as planting a local variety of seeds that withstand the effect of climate change, such as sorghum millet and cassava. Based on the findings, valuable recommendations are offered. These include the government rolling out a national irrigation scheme to ease the use of the drip irrigation mechanism. Also, there is a need for more interventions that support local resilience mechanisms such as the use of agricultural inputs, as these require subsidisation. It emerged from the findings of this study that there is a need for better interventions to deal with flooding. For future researchers, it was found that there is a need to explore the best post-harvest handling methods as well as food storage. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
The factors that contribute to students’ positive perceptions towards service quality in selected off-campus residences in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Adeleke, Thobile
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: SERVQUAL (Service quality framework) , Student housing -- Resident satisfaction -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50922 , vital:43172
- Description: Post 1994 in South Africa there has been a notable increase in the number of students enrolled at different universities which offer student accommodation. Unfortunately, only 20% of the students can be accommodated in on-campus university accommodation, which results in most students seeking accommodation in off-campus student residences many of whom do not meet the quality requirements stipulated by the Department of Higher Education. This is what prompted this research study, whose aim was to investigate the perceptions of NMU students residing in off-campus residence, towards service quality. A literature review was conducted and focused on the service quality construct, delved into the definitions of services and quality and their benefits in all industries as well as within the student housing context. The different theoretical models used in the evaluation of service quality i.e., SERVQUAL, SERVPERF, the Gaps Model and Gronroos Model were discussed. A questionnaire based on the modified SERVQUAL tool was utilized in the evaluation of service quality levels in accredited NMU off-campus residences in Nelson Mandela Bay. Statistical evaluations were conducted on the five dimensions of SERVQUAL, namely, reliability; responsiveness; assurance; empathy and tangibles/physical attributes. The primary objective of this research was achieved, as the perceptions of students towards service quality in off-campus student accommodation were successfully measured using the SERVQUAL tool. Three service quality dimensions, namely, assurance, empathy and tangibles received positive assessments. On the other hand, the empirical research results clearly demonstrated two factors that scored low i.e., reliability and responsiveness, which reflects the respondents’ negative perceptions towards these two factors. Practical steps must be taken by off-campus residence management to ensure that the expectations versus perception service gap highlighted by the empirical findings of this study are addressed in order to keep their customers satisfied and remain competitive. Cronbach alpha coefficients above 0.80 were obtained for all the five variables, proving the SERVQUAL instrument’s internal consistency and reliability to be very good. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Investigating the consumer decision-making process and determinants of choice for prepaid services from mobile network service providers
- Authors: Ajayi, Ella
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53688 , vital:45713
- Description: The mobile telecommunications industry has been a fundamental and an important enabler in the advancement of the South African economy, with mobile network providers investing billions of rands in mobile infrastructure and facilitating a functional and progressive global marketplace (ICASA Annual Performance Plan, 2020/21). South Africa’s telecommunications system is one of the most sophisticated in the emerging markets, and according to Gillwald, Mothobi, and Rademan (2018, p.6), various indices including the ICT Development Index corroborate this view. The deployment of wireless communications networks in the country has had immeasurable social benefits for many consumers. The most rural areas of the country are now able to experience the convenience and ubiquity that comes with having access to mobile network technology. Though mobile network provision is making progress in terms of bridging the digital divide, inhibitors exist within the mobile competitive landscape that prevent consumers from exploring the full benefits of the advanced technologies at their disposal. According to Chinembiri (2020, p.6), mobile data costs remain high and out of reach for the average South African consumer, despite the recent requisite data price reduction by the dominant mobile network service providers. The prepaid segment is dominated by customers who either carry multiple SIM cards or switch between mobile network operators. The adoption by ICASA of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP), the process through which customers switch between mobile operators and keep their mobile number (Yadav, Dabhade, & Dabhade, 2013, p.1), resulted in significant reduction in switching costs thus perpetuating the migration of subscribers between mobile network providers. According to Olufemi and Strydom (2018, p. 52), the fiercest competition experienced by South African mobile providers is in the prepaid market. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Perspectives on leadership
- Authors: Arnolds, Cecil Ashleigh
- Subjects: Leadership , Industrial management , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21857 , vital:29794
- Description: My fields of study are business management and organizational behaviour (OB). In business management we study how to manage businesses effectively by executing various functions (marketing, finance, human resources management, general and strategic management, purchasing and logistics, public relations management, production and opertaions, information technology management) and management tasks (planning, organising, leading and control) (Bosch, Tait and Venter, 2006).
- Full Text: false
Contract compliance in procuring and disposing entities (PDES) in state departments in Uganda: subtitle if needed. If no subtitle follow instructions in manual
- Authors: Babirye, Hamidah
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Communication , Records -- Management , Public contracts -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50933 , vital:43173
- Description: Contract compliance has continuously played a vital role in the development of nations globally. It is important, because it enhances the efficiency and success of projects; ensures value for money; mitigates risks and saves a considerable amount of time and resources. Despite its importance, projects continue to fail due to poor communication, untimely deliveries, poor quality deliveries and the lack of a suitable compliance environment. This study helped to address the aforementioned challenges by creating an enabling environment for contract compliance in procuring and disposing entities (PDEs) in state departments in Uganda. The purpose of this study was to determine the enabling factors necessary for contract compliance and how it can be effectively used to assist PDEs in the Ugandan context. This purpose was achieved through a qualitative research approach that provided insights into the need for contract compliance among PDEs and the perceptions thereof; the contract compliance processes; challenges associated with contract compliance and the factors to be considered when creating an enabling environment for contract compliance. Data was gathered from telephonic interviews with twenty one participants and focus group discussions via the Zoom online platform with eight participants, bringing the total number of participants to twenty nine. Participants included auditors, accounting officers, heads of finance departments, heads of procurement departments and procurement officers. Data was collected using an interview guide and analysed by means of content and thematic analyses. A conceptual framework for creating a suitable environment for contract compliance in PDEs was developed. Findings indicate that the critical factors for creating an enabling environment include: communication; reporting; records management; institutional structure; compliance checks; enforcement; a legal and regulatory framework; and evaluation. Other factors include: stakeholder involvement; contract management; funding; openness; ethical orientation; and capacity building. The proposed conceptual framework serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, especially those involved in public procurement. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The impact of public-private partnerships on Zambia's economic growth and economic development
- Authors: Banda, Zondwayo
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Public-private sector cooperation -- Economic aspects -- Zambia , Capital investments -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53711 , vital:45717
- Description: The current globalisation is pressuring both developed and developing nations to fast-track change and development with the intention of improving the living standards of the people. With limited financial resources and razor-thin budgets, national governments now turn to private sector to collaborate in financing infrastructure that is critical for economic and social growth. Despite the increase in public-private partnership (PPP) investments in Zambia, there have not been any formal assessments of the PPPs to evaluate their impact on Zambia’s economic growth and economic development. This research evaluates the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s economic growth (proxied by gross domestic product [GDP]) and economic development (proxied by unemployment, household consumption and Gini coefficient). The research adopts the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model as the time series approach to investigating the relationship between PPPs and gross domestic product (GDP) as well as the economic development. The ARDL model was also used for evaluating the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s GDP and economic development for the 18 years from 2000 to 2017. Thirty-two self-administered questionnaires (SAQs) were received and seven interviews were conducted with key research informants. The key research informants for both the SAQs and interviews were purposively selected to provide insights into the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s GDP and economic development. The ARDL model results have established that there is a stable and long-run relationship between PPPs and Zambia’s economic growth. Similarly, insights obtained from SAQs and interviews show that PPPs are not only important in Zambia but are related to economic growth. Therefore, Zambia should continue harnessing and promoting viable PPPs to enhance its economic growth. This also entails that private sector should continue providing financial resources and expertise to spur Zambia’s economic activities. Through the use of F-statistics, the ARDL model results reveal that PPPs are cointegrated with household consumption, unemployment and the Gini coefficient. As such the ARDL model results confirm the existence of a stable and long-run relationship between PPPs and economic development. The insights obtained from SAQs and interviews highlight that PPPs in Zambia are important. Furthermore, the insights from the key informants suggest that there is a relationship between PPPs and economic development. Hence, Zambia’s continued harnessing of PPP investments is pivotal in its quest to improve the living standards of ordinary people. Using long-run coefficients, the ARDL model results demonstrate that PPPs impact Zambia’s GDP positively. PPPs have spurred economic activities through the creation of businesses. Similarly, the insights from key informants demonstrate that PPPs relate positively to GDP. The overall results suggest that PPPs impact GDP positively. As PPPs impact GDP positively, the government of the Republic of Zambia should continue harnessing the PPP investments as a pro-poor model that bolsters economic activities and fosters economic growth. The harnessing of PPP investments means that the Zambian government, through its Finance Ministry, should scale up investments in PPPs and widen the scope of sectors for PPP investments so as to achieve inclusive and faster economic growth. The ARDL model results show that PPPs affect economic development positively through increases in household consumption and reductions in unemployment rates. However, the data on the Gini coefficient reveal that PPPs have a negative impact on economic development, as PPPs contributed to the rise in the Gini coefficient for the period under review. The key informants’ insights reveal that PPPs affect economic development positively by increasing household consumption and reducing the unemployment rate and the Gini coefficient. The mixed results on the Gini coefficient data representing income inequalities could be attributed to low-quality jobs and poor employment conditions created through PPP projects. Overall, the study’s results show that PPPs have a positive impact on economic development, as they have created businesses and employment thereby contributing to the increase in household consumption. Consequently, the Zambian government should continue engaging the private sector in PPP projects. The government should also scale up PPP investments and widen their scope to include other sectors of the economy as PPP present a viable option for the continued spurring of economic activities, the creation of employment and improvements in household consumption. The research results suggest that PPPs play an important role in improving economic growth and economic development thereby supporting the original intention of the PPP strategy for both developed and developing countries. The research strongly recommends the scaling up of investments in PPPs to contribute to the reduction or eradication of poverty in Zambia – and in other developing countries in Africa. The scaling up of PPP investments has implications that require attention from policy makers. There is a need for the development and dissemination of PPP policy guidelines to improve the design, development and implementation of PPPs in Zambia. The scaling up of investments in PPPs also requires changes to be made to the current PPP Act to widen the scope of PPP investments so as to include additional economic sectors to increase GDP, improve household consumption, create new jobs and reduce the Gini coefficient in Zambia. As PPP processes are complex, increased investments in PPPs will require further training of the PPP department’s staff, the contracting authorities and the private sector to improve their regulatory and technical capacity in the design, development and implementation of PPP projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Inflation, credit markets and economic growth: the case of BRICS Countries
- Authors: Barayi, Bavuyile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Economic development -- BRIC countries , Inflation (Finance) -- BRIC countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53700 , vital:45714
- Description: The empirical study investigates the relationship between inflation, credit markets and economic growth in the context of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries. The BRICS group consists of five emerging market economies and was first coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001 whereby initially the bloc consisted of only Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa joined the BRICS group in 2010. The BRICS bloc was deemed to be the top fast-growing economies that showed great potential for growth. Consequent to the 2008 global financial crisis, there has been a large change in economic thinking as policy-makers have struggled to overcome the economic misfortunes caused by the crisis. Amongst the emerging countries, the BRICS countries have in effect, established a New Development Bank to play the role of the credit facilitator the BRICS countries and other emerging countries as well. This BRICS New Development Bank was established in 2014 and already has identified and funded some projects within the BRICS countries. Moreover, the main objective of this bank is to provide credit to be utilised for infrastructure, climate change measures, as well as to ensure sustainable development. Against this backdrop, the current study investigates the role played by credit and the extent of development in credit markets on enhancing growth in the BRICS countries, particularly looking at the levels of inflation that are conducive to credit market development. The study notes that in order for credit expansion to be successful, the credit received by a country must reflect positively on a country’s economic growth. In other words, with more credit coming into a country, the expected result is that there will also be a rise in economic growth. Furthermore, seeing that inflation erodes the value of money, this credit or these funds that a country receives may not have the expected influence on growth. Therefore, the study finds it imperative to investigate the levels at which inflation allows for credit expansion to promote growth in a country. Furthermore, central banks play an important role in credit markets via the interest rate channel and the study examines the role of monetary policy in credit markets of each of the BRICS countries by looking at the inflation targeting regime as well as the absence thereof within these countries. Moreover, BRICS central banks share more or less the same goal of maintaining price stability and low inflation through various monetary policy tools. Therefore, achieving this objective will allow a central bank to gain both investor and consumer confidence which plays a role in a country’s investment rates. Moreover, inflation that is not controlled results in uncertainty which makes investors hesitant and unwilling to embark on investments. Ha, Ivanova, Ohnsorge and Unsal (2019) associate a developed financial sector with low inflation, stating that stable inflation rates eliminate uncertainty and avoids the erosion of the value of money. The current study used an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the linear co-integration and Non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) for the non-linear empirical analysis of the relationship between inflation, credit markets and economic growth in BRICS countries. The non-linearity of this relationship is important to study as there has been many debates on the nature of the inflation-growth relationships with some studies implying that it is positive, some say it is a negative relationship and some say it is non-linear. The annual data time series is extracted from the World Bank Indicators and the Penn State database covering the period 1960-2019. The main variables used in the study are Inflation (CPI), Credit (Domestic Credit to Private Sector) and Economic growth (GDP). The study conducted various regressions including the total of five linear regressions which were run individually for each country, the non-linear regressions consisted of three regressions for each country which were on 1) Only Inflation partitioned, (2) Only Credit partitioned and (3) both Inflation and Credit were partitioned. The partitioning of the variables is made possible by the NARDL model which allows variables to be partially decomposed into negative and positive sums to identify thresholds of variables which have various effects on other variables. The overall findings of the study suggest that although inflation exerts various effects on growth, according to this study’s results, it does not have a significant impact on credit for all the countries except for China whereby credit in general is conducive to economic growth and Brazil where growth is enhanced when credit is declining. The study revealed that generally, inflation exerts a negative impact on growth, therefore, authorities must focus on keeping inflation rates low particularly for Russia, India and South Africa as Brazil’s results suggest that rising inflation is conducive to its economic growth in the long run. According to the findings of this study, credit does not have the significant impact on growth even under different inflation thresholds. Furthermore, this does not imply that the credit channel is a futile tool for authorities, the relationship between inflation, credit and growth particularly with the hypothesis that inflation enhances credit market development and therefore growth, is not significant. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development & Tourism, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
A multiple case study exploration into community members’ ecopsychological responses to environmental degradation in South Africa
- Authors: Barnwell, Garret
- Date: 2021-03
- Subjects: Environmental psychology -- South Africa , Environmental degradation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54892 , vital:48377
- Description: The psychological impact of environmental degradation in South Africa and its impact on communities’ relationships to the natural world is an understudied area. This study’s main aim was to explore community members’ reactions and responses to different forms of environmental degradation in South Africa by analysing two case studies: Rustenburg in the North West province and Limpopo province’s Vhembe District. The qualitative case studies relied on emplaced individual and focus group interviews. The findings from this study are presented in this doctoral thesis by publication. The first case study of Rustenburg in the North West’s platinum mining belt was selected due to the extractive industry’s historical impact on the natural environment, which is interlinked with the identity and heritage of host mining communities who could be considered land and environmental defenders. Two publications have been published on this case study. The first article, Critical reflections from South Africa: Using the Power Threat Meaning Framework to place climate-related distress in its socio-political context, was published in the British Psychology Society’s Clinical Psychology Forum Special Issue: Psychology and the Climate and Environmental Crisis in August 2020 and provides a critical reflection on psychological distress in Rustenburg, and questions whether popular terms used, such as “climate anxieties”, are useful for communities confronted by ecological crises. The paper concludes that there is danger in the dehistoricisation and medicalisation of distress that is rooted in climate, land and environmental injustices. The paper sets the scene for papers to follow that examine the interrelationship between place attachments and psychological responses to environmental degradation associated with slow violence. The second article, ’Nothing green can grow without being on the land’: Mine-affected communities’ psychological experiences of ecological degradation and resistance in Rustenburg, South Africa, was published in Community Psychology in Global Perspective Special Issue: Communities reclaiming power and social justice in the face of climate change and presents a broad overview of psychological responses to ecological degradation associated with environmental injustices. The paper suggests that psychological distress is attributed to environmental injustices. Furthermore, the process of place severing – the psychological threats, harms and disruptions to place-based dialogues – contributes to distress experienced in extractive settings. The two articles in this case study concluded by demonstrating how community resistance plays a part in addressing cumulative ecological harms and restoring the ancestral relationship with place. The second case study in the Vhembe District was selected due to the community’s psycho-spiritual connection to the sacred sites in the area and the histories of environmental degradation in the area. Article three, ‘Mupo is life’: Intergenerational community identity and safeguarding of sacred natural sites is in press in the journal Ecopsychology. The paper found that place plays a role in shaping and transferring intergenerational community identities. Furthermore, Zwifho shape worldviews about Mupo, i.e. all of existence, that underpin land and environmental defenders’ responses to environmental degradation and place severing. The fourth article, “Restoring roots”: Lived experiences of place severing and dialogical resurgence associated with deforestation and land dispossession in Limpopo province, South Africa, is under review by AWRY: Journal of Critical Psychology. The article demonstrates that place severing is rooted in histories of colonialism and that distress is related to losses and cumulative ecological harm. Furthermore, the article shows how decolonial dialogical resurgence responds to the mechanisms that drive place severing. The fifth and final publication, Grounding community psychology in ecopsychosocial accompaniment, is a chapter that explores opportunities for community psychologists to accompany others, specifically in relationship with people who have experienced displacement and environmental justice struggles. Collectively, these four articles and book chapter present the first publications of a larger research study that spans two South African case studies and that should yield several more publications. These publications draw on critical psychologies, including decolonial theory, liberation psychology, critical community psychology and radical ecopsychology. Within this thesis, the journal articles and book chapter are consolidated by an overarching discussion chapter that situates these five publications within the context of existing literature, and describes how existing theory and methodology have been advanced. The study demonstrates the interconnectedness between histories of colonialism, land injustices and environmental degradation that contribute to intergenerational psychological distress. Grassroots community organising groups play a critical role in addressing the resulting cumulative environmental harms through place-based resistance and dialogical resurgence. Moreover, the study suggests that critical psychologies have important roles to play in supporting land and environmental justice struggles through critical research, evaluations and assessments, and litigation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-03
The technical efficiency of SACU Ports: a data envelopment analysis approach
- Authors: Bekebu, Siyanda
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Free ports and zones -- Africa, Southern , Harbors -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53813 , vital:45982
- Description: There ever growing international trade and increasing congestion of ports led to an increased focus attention on technical efficiency. Seaports are a central and necessary component in facilitating international trade. Yet, there is only limited comprehensive information available on the technical efficiency of African ports. The study investigated the technical efficiency of the SACU ports during the period 2014-2019 using DEA model. The DEA model is effective in resolving the measurement of port efficiency since the calculations are nonparametric and do not need definition or knowledge of a priori weights for the inputs or outputs, as is necessary for estimate of efficiency using production functions. To identify the roots of the technical inefficiency of the SACU ports, the study subdivided technical efficiency into pure technical and scale efficiency. The model used cargo handled, container throughput, ship calls as output variables. Whilst, quay cranes, number of tugboats, draft, quay length and number of quays were used as input variables. The study used the scores of DEA-BCC model as explanatory variables in Tobit model. The results showed that quay cranes and quay length are the cause of technical inefficiencies in the ports. , Thesis (MCom (Economics)) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Investigating talent management strategies influencing the retention of employees with technical expertise at Aspen Pharmacare
- Authors: Ben-Mazwi Matolengwe, Yonela
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa , Talent management -- South Africa , Human capital
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50944 , vital:43174
- Description: This study examines the influence of talent management strategies on employee retention with employee engagement as a mediating variable. This study was conducted at Aspen Pharmacare Port Elizabeth site, South Africa. The population in this study is approximately 1500 employees from Aspen Pharmacare Port Elizabeth. The sampling method uses census techniques so that the number of samples used is 49 employees. The research data was collected using an online questionnaire which is then analysed using a path analysis technique using SPSS software to examine the relationships among the variables, which are: employee value proposition, work motivation and employee performance. The results show that there is a positive relationship between all talent management strategies and retention. Leadership has a largely significant correlation with retention, however, it is indicated that engagement is a mediating variable. Employees with technical expertise value the impact that leadership has in their roles at the organisation. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Desired sensory branding strategies in-store versus online: the skincare industry
- Authors: Berman, Gabriella
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Sensory branding , Hides and skins industry , Teleshopping
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60970 , vital:69556
- Description: Modern shoppers are inundated with purchasing options in every product category, with thousands of brands competing for their patronage. It has therefore become increasingly important for organisations to differentiate product offerings in the market if they want to be competitive. It has further been highlighted that an individual’s experience of a brand is of paramount importance, as it is directly linked to brand loyalty. A vehicle for creating memorable brand experiences is the utilisation of multi-sensory experiences or sensory branding. Within the context of traditional or in-store shopping, sensory branding encompasses the use of visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile and gustatory stimuli to adjust consumer purchasing behaviour. However, more and more consumers are opting for online shopping, spurred on by the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and are no less demanding of brands online than they would be in-store. The cosmetics and personal care industry is one of the more predominant gainers from e-commerce. The skincare industry exhibited one of the largest growth rates from 2019 – 2025 and had an estimated market value of $155.8 billion in 2022. When considering the South African skincare industry in isolation, there is no exception, categorised by high average growth rates and many competitive players in the market. This is apparent when considering that the skincare industry within South Africa is expcted to grow annually by 5.48% from 2023 to 2027, translating to an industry value of $788.4 million by 2027 (Statista 2023). With reference to in-store shopping for skincare products, sensory marketing strategies have been known to be heavily relied on. Therefore, with consumers moving towards online shopping, it is essential for skincare businesses to consider how to deliver sensory experiences online as well as in-store. Whilst the importance of the use of sensory branding and marketing in the skincare industry is notable, both in-store and online, it was established that while there is research available on sensory branding, there is very limited academic research on digital sensory branding and the sensory branding of v skincare products. Moreover, to the researcher’s knowledge, no academic literature specifically investigates the digital sensory branding of skincare brands. Therefore, this study will contribute not only by adding academic research to the topic being investigated but also through rreccomendations made based on the outcomes of this study to skincare brands in South Africa. From the comprehensive literature review, a conceptual model was constructed to investigate the relationship between traditional and digital sensory branding strategies (independent variables) and brand loyalty (dependent variable). Two sets of hypotheses were formulated relating to the identified variables of this study and the empirical research conducted was utilised to deduce whether these hypotheses should be rejected or supported. To conduct the empirical research needed for this study, certain research methodology was employed. This study made use of a positivistic paradigm and a quantitative approach. The target population of this study constituted consumers who had purchased skincare products in-store as well as online and, as no true sample frame existed, respondents were selected through the use of non-probability sampling, more specifically, convenience sampling. To collect the data, an online survey was used, with the specific data collection instrument being a web-based self-administered questionnaire, which was distributed via social media platforms, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as via email. Section A of the questionnaire focused on the demographic details of the respondents, while Section B – Section F related to the variables of the study. A total of 372 potential respondents started the questionnaire, however only 321 questionnaires were deemed usable after the data had been coded and cleaned, indicating a response rate of 86.3%. This study made use of both descriptive (measures of central tendency as well as standard deviation and skewness) and inferential (SEM Models, Primary Models, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, Chi-Square test of Association, ANOVAs and Welch Robust test, Tukey test and Games Howell Test as well as Cohen’s d) statistics to interpret the data, which was graphically illustrated. vi The empirical investigation conducted in this study between the variables and sub-variables revealed that significant relationships exist between traditional sensory branding strategies (traditional olfactory and tactile stimuli) and digital sensory branding strategies (digital visual, olfactory and tactile stimuli) and brand loyalty, with refence to the skincare industry. It was further notable that, with specific reference to the skincare industry, the sense of sight, smell and touch are key factors for sensory branding, whereas auditory stimuli were found to only be useful when used in unison with the other senses. Moreover, with reference to in-store shopping, it was deduced that consumers shop for skincare mostly via retail outlets, which could lead to sensory overload. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that younger consumers are price sensitive. Based on the pertinent empirical results, and corresponding literature findings, of this study, recommendations were provided to businesses operating in the skincare industry. With reference to in-store trading, it was recommended that because skincare is mostly sold via retail outlets, the brand itself does not have control over all sensory stimuli to which the consumer is exposed. As a result, consumers may be subject to sensory overload and skincare brands should keep their sensory branding in-store simple. Moreover, skincare brands could make use of an in-store aesthetician or beautician, which would facilitate consumer-product interaction. With regards to online trading, a recommendation for skincare brands would be to use moving images or GIFs, which will allow the consumer to more easily imagine the feel of the product. Moreover, skincare brands can make use of brand ambassadors to create “unboxing” videos, which will convey more clearly the sensory information of the product and instil confidence in consumers. Reccomendations were also made with reference to the financial state of consumers, as the financial position of the respondents could influence their decision making. The limitations of this study comprised the availability of reliable existing sources to support the study as the concept of digital sensory branding is still relatively new and, due to the study being focused on the skincare industry, taste stimuli were excluded as they were found to have no relevance. Finally, vii based on all the literature findings and empirical results, recommendations for future areas of study were made. This study provides evidence that both traditional and digital sensory branding strategies have an influence on, or relationship with, brand loyalty. Through this study, the importance of sensory branding, with specific reference to the skincare industry, is brought to light. Furthermore, skincare brands can utilise the information provided to improve the experience of their consumers when shopping in-store, as well as online, thereby increasing their base of brand loyal consumers. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Overall experience of expatriate TEFL teachers in China using positive and negative affectivity
- Authors: Berman, Gabriella Kirsty
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers , English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign countries , Teachers, Foreign -- China
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50955 , vital:43175
- Description: Mirroring the growth in the global population, there is a growth in unemployment and due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment statistics are set to soar. In many countries, the lack of quality working opportunities results in qualified, educated and trained people (often the youth) opting to emigrate in order to pursue better quality jobs as well as to increase their standard of living and reduce their socio-economic costs, known as the “brain drain” phenomenon. While there are many work opportunities which youth are pursuing, teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in a foreign country has become a very popular option, specifically in China. According to the Experience Model by Pine and Gilmore, the overall experience an individual has will be impacted by different factors, with the experience of being a foreign TEFL teacher in China being no exception. Furthermore, following the principles of human affectivity, the individual’s personal disposition or affectivity towards the activity will also influence their experience. It is therefore of interest to distinguish which factors influence the overall experience of teaching TEFL in China. From the comprehensive literature reviews, a proposed theoretical framework was constructed to identify the influence which social influences, work environment, location, cultural aspects, monetary benefits and non-monetary benefits (independent variables) have on the overall experience of teaching TEFL in China (independent variable). Six sets of hypotheses were formulated relating to the identified variables and through empirical research, it was decided whether the hypotheses of this study were accepted or rejected. In order to establish the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable of this study, empirical research was conducted. The study employed a positivistic paradigm and a quantitative approach. The sample population of this study was TEFL teachers, who were teaching in China, during the time of the study. Due to the fact that no true sample frame exists for TEFL teachers who are working in China, non-probability sampling, more specifically, convenience sampling, was used to select respondents. Respondents were reached through online social media platforms. For the purpose of this study, online surveys were utilised as a data collection method and the specific data collection instrument was a web-based self-administered questionnaire. Section A of the questionnaire was used to collect the demographic data of the respondents, while Section B – Section G related to the variables of the study. A total of 379 usable questionnaires were received from a possible 479 respondents, indicating an 80.2% response rate. The study made use of descriptive (measure of central tendency as well as standard deviation and skewness of the data set) as well as inferential (Spearman’s correlation coefficient, ANOVA’s, Tukey Test, Cohen’s d, Kruskal-Wallis test and ordinal regression) statistics to interpret the raw data quantitatively, which was graphically illustrated. The empirical investigation conducted in this study between the variables, and sub-variables, revealed significant relationships between social influences (the presence of an expat community, the potential influence of a language barrier, acceptance by locals, access to healthcare), work environment (the work conditions of the TEFL teacher, specific working hours), location (the standard of accommodation provide, the specific city in which the TEFL teacher works and resides), cultural aspects (the lifestyle TEFL teachers are known to have, increased tourism opportunity), monetary benefits, and nonmonetary benefits and the overall experience of teaching TEFL in China. Within this study, the independent variables social influences, work environment, location cultural aspects and monetary benefits presented the highest correlation with the dependent variable, the overall experience of teaching TEFL in China. Additionally, of the above-mentioned variables, it was established that respondents with a higher monetary benefits factor score, were 3.64 times more likely to have a more positive overall experience, while respondents with a higher social influences factor score, were 2.80 times more likely to have a more positive overall experience. Based on the empirical findings, and corresponding literature findings, of this study, recommendations were provided to both aspiring TEFL teachers as well as to the institution in China who employ expatriate TEFL teachers regarding the variables of this study. The limitations of this study comprised of a lack of time; minimal budget; slow questionnaire response or access to respondents, and; availability of reliable resources to support the study. Finally, based on the findings of this study, the researcher made recommendation for future areas of study. The research conducted indicates the importance of the influence of the variables identified in this study on the overall experience of teaching TEFL in China. Through this study it is hoped that the experience of TEFL teaching in China can be brought to light, and enable the experience to be bettered for aspiring TEFL teachers, as well as for the institutions who employ them, as the phenomenon has an influence, not only on these two parties, but on host nationals of the country. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Marketing, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Rural enterprise development as a means to poverty alleviation
- Authors: Bodley, David Cyril
- Date: 2020-12
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49759 , vital:41797
- 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 ii 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. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-12
The readiness for the 4th industrial revolution by SARS towards 2030
- Authors: Botha, Reneé Chrystal
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: South African Revenue Service , Technological innovations -- Economic aspects , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50966 , vital:43176
- Description: The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is an autonomous agent that was established to collect taxes on behalf of the state. This mandate is shared across countries where the common thread of revenue collection agencies is that they all need to collect revenue, want participants within the system to act responsibly, the process to be fair and to act within the boundaries of legislation. It has become increasingly challenging for revenue collection agencies across the world to ensure tax compliance and ensure optimal revenue collection when unemployment rates are high, and the economy continues to struggle. It is a shared objective between revenue collection agencies to optimise revenue collection initiative and to narrow the tax gap. The technological advances in all sectors have grown at an exponential rate within a very short period. The WEF (2018) emphasised that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) brings with it an era of unprecedented innovation, technical change and global connectivity. Technology has become the key driver in assisting SARS to achieve its objectives to inform taxpayers of their responsibilities, make it easy for them to comply and ensure compliance to the tax laws. The primary objective of the research study is to investigate the possible factors that could influence the future state of revenue services, develop a series of alternative scenarios, and provide the preferred future of the South African Revenue Services towards 2030. The Six Pillars of futures studies provide a theory of futures thinking that links method and tools, that is developed through praxis (Inayatullah, 2012). The Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) was the preferred research tool used in this study to deepen the future analysis. Emphasis was placed on scenario planning and the creation of alternative futures for the South African Revenue Services towards 2030. The drivers of change that impacted the economy were identified and how it can be utilised to close the tax gap. SARS has been a victim of seizure where the destabilising of corporate governance and efficiency was the core objective. It is therefore important to understand the past and present to enable better planning. This paper aims to better understand the disruptors to industry and the opportunity to improve efficiency and effectiveness using technology associated with the 4IR. SARS has great potential in being globally competitive with other countries, if government, stakeholders and SARS leadership have a shared vision of what the future revenue services will look like, what its capabilities will be and resource availability to ensure this vision is realized. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences , Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem framework for Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Boucher, Marilyn Sasha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Sustainable development--Eastern Cape (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53562 , vital:45630
- Description: In recent years, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems increased in status amongst policy makers, scholars, practitioners, and mainstream media as a regional economic development strategy. Yet, despite the opportunities presented by the entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is both under-theorized and lacks data on a sub-national scale. Furthermore, research from an African and sub-Saharan African context remains in its infancy. The limited research within these resource-constrained countries creates a challenge to determine the underlying factors that influence entrepreneurship. As a result, developing economies, as in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, have applied generalizations of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which undermine the temporal differences of places and reduce the potential to benefit from agglomeration economies. With the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, the South African government strives to achieve an inclusive economy through enhancing the capacity of the state, building capabilities, and promoting partnerships amongst sectors. Motivated by the mandate to redress the inequality caused by economic exclusion, the South African government has taken counteractive measures focused on promoting entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth. Despite the measures placed, South Africa struggles with high levels of inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.63, unemployment of 32.6% and negative GDP per capita growth of - 8.137%. Furthermore, most small businesses in South Africa are informal, which means that a disproportionate concentration of employment exists in the informal sector. Against this backdrop, the problem addressed in this study is based on the challenge of creating productive entrepreneurship that acknowledges the unique structure and resources of Nelson Mandela Bay. To address this gap, a critical inquiry into entrepreneurial ecosystems was motivated. First, the inquiry is focused on a real-world context, namely Nelson Mandela Bay, which is one of the eight metropolitan regions in South Africa, a developing economy. Second, the inquiry uses multiple perspectives through multiple data collection methods. To commence the inquiry, a literature review was conducted on secondary sources to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial ecosystems and formed the basis of the theoretical framework. The study followed the pragmatism research philosophy and used an abductive research approach. A mixed method research design was utilized and followed a sequential independent process, which was performed in two phases and independently analyzed. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
A causal analysis to investigate low production efficiency in the tyre manufacturing industry in South Africa
- Authors: Bruinders, Bramwill Bertram
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Industrial efficiency , Production management , Lean manufacturing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50977 , vital:43177
- Description: The evolution of tyre manufacturing in South Africa went back to the early 1930s and matured technologically, becoming automated in the 1960s. The tyre industry in South Africa is worth approximately R30bn per annum and is one of the major supporting industries for domestic vehicle manufacturers. The local industry manufactures only 11 million tyres but can manufacture 18 million tyres per annum. The tyre industry thus plays a crucial role in South Africa’s economic development. Consumers are opting to buy cheaper imported tyres even though tyres are essential purchases. Therefore, the major tyre manufacturers must compete against an estimated 200 importers of various brands, most from China and Japan. The excess local capacity and increasing volume of imports put the local tyre manufacturers under severe pressure to grow their market share, reduce operational cost and achieve economies of scale. The study’s general objective was to conduct a root cause analysis of South African tyre manufacturers’ underlying issues resulting in low production efficiencies. This study used critical manufacturing principles such as traceability, knowledge of lean principles, lean implementation challenges, Total Quality Management, organisational buy-in, waste and rework and maintenance planning that constitute tools of lean practices. These principles provided an opportunity to adopt efficient manufacturing practices in tyre manufacturing companies and help organisations identify improvement areas. A questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically to 93 respondents employed in the tyre manufacturing industry in South Africa. The study addressed product traceability, investigated the quality measures in place, and examined the influence of the workforce’s attitude and morale on productivity, and determined management’s influence on decision-making. The key findings indicated that traceability, lean implementation challenges and organisational buy-in played a significant role in improving production efficiency. Recommendations were made to management to ensure that they lead by example and enhance these key constructs to foster their growth. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration , 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Ranked factors influencing the sustainability and growth of SMMEs in the city of Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Bussy, Matthew
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Small business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51050 , vital:43204
- Description: SMMEs are the backbone of both established and developing economies with their ability to contribute to a country’s GDP, create employment, stimulate innovation and create new revenue streams. In South Africa the majority of SMMEs do not reach the critical threshold period for sustainability, defined by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) as three years. This study explores twenty-five barriers and influences (nine external and sixteen internal) as experienced by small businesses operating in the city of Port Elizabeth, and their effect on the sustainability and success of the small business. The internal barriers and influences are ranked according to their relative importance to business sustainability and success as viewed by small businesses in the city of Port Elizabeth. The research is exploratory in nature and was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The findings show that the nineteen barriers and influencers that are controllable within the business are all important to the success and sustainability of small businesses. Of these internal factors, the most important one relatively speaking is found to be the general management abilities of management, and the least important, relatively speaking, is the education levels of the non-management employees. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04