Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
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Item The adoption of electronic data interchange among small to medium enterprise suppliers to a large distribution center in South Africa(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Naicker, Visvanathan; Pillay, Rubin; Mansfield, Glen; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesElectronic Data Interchange (EDI) plays an important role in improving organizational competitiveness. Information technology has been instrumental in integrating functional areas within and outside firms. This research used empirical evidence to evaluate the state of EDI in the in the willingness of SME's to connect electronically to a large distribution centre in South Africa. Furthermore, it investigated the EDI adoption rate from the viewpoint of a small business. Many such businesses feel coerced by larger trade partners to adopt EDI or lose the customer.Item An analysis of university policy responses in the Western Cape to government policy on the recognition of prior learning(University of the Western Cape, 2005) Mobarak, Kaashiefa; Blackmur, Douglas; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThe South African government plays a direct and active role in facilitation the development of a skilled workforce. The effective mobilisation, development and utilisation of South Africa's human resource capacity are critical for the success of the economy, institution building and the transformation process. In this context, the development of a system of Recognition of Prior Learning is one of the government's significant initiatives. This research examined whether the policy documents of the universities in the Western Cape comply with the requirements of the National Government Recognition of Prior Learning policy.Item An assessment of management practices in Chinese family-owned SMEs in the Cape Metropolitan area(University of the Western Cape, 2004) Ping, Yu; Visser, Kobus; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesChina is a country built on traditions and one of its most respected traditions is a preference for the family unit. The closeness of the family unit is carried over into the economic life of the country. Family members not only live together, but also work together in the fields or in enterprises. The advantage of this is that families have a guaranteed labour force that is not only loyal and can also be trusted. The disadvantage however is that positioning within the business is not always based on merit and competence, or trustworthiness which can ultimately impede growth. This research was an examination of Chinese family-owned businesses that focused on their management practices. The purpose of the study was to explore the management characteristics of Chinese family-owned businesses by means of interview data collected from five Chinese businesses in the Cape Metropolitan area. The emphasis of the project concentrated on the establishment, expansion and growth, ownership and leadership, management structure, the impact of cultural factors and the strategy for the future as well as challenges in terms of competitors and environments.Item Diversified mentoring relationships in the South African context: an exploratory framework(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Smith, Yusuf; Hirschsohn, hillip; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThe role that mentor and protégé play in transforming South African society in general and the business environment in particular, is important and lends new meaning to “leveling of the playing fields”. Fundamental to the success of any mentorship programme is the relationship between the mentor and the protégé. Since mentors play a key role in shaping the protégé they have to employ strategies that offer practical and emotional support to the protégé while understanding the implications of mentoring in a particular social and political context. The mentor is also an intermediary between the protégé and the organization. Diversified mentoring relationships, involving experienced ‘white’ mentors and protégés from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, pose particular challenges in the South African context. Despite the importance of mentoring there is a dearth of local literature on diversified mentoring relationships in the South African context. Drawing on the international literature, this research report develops an exploratory analytical framework to understand mentoring relationships, with particular reference to the South African regulatory context and the internal organizational factors that impact mentoring relationships, and the effect on affirmative action in South African organizations.Item Employment practices in the transition to lean production: worker perspectives in a South African auto components firm(University of the Western Cape, 2008) Jordaan, Anita; Hirschsohn, P.; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesProponents of lean production (LP) argue that successful implementation is dependent on creating an organisational climate that complements the adoption and implementation of innovation. Transformation of the organisational climate, from a culture of adversarialism (management versus workers) and worker exclusion (in terms of decision making) toward a culture of co-operation and worker participation, is thus a necessary complement to LP. Successful implementation of LP, and associated practices, thus requires the commitment of all stakeholders. This study explores worker attitudes towards transition to LP within a chosen company in the South African auto components sector. The study focuses on understanding worker perceptions of shifts in Human Resource and Industrial Relations practices which are associated with the transition to LP. The research reports on two surveys of workers to better understand their perceptions of the changes to the relationships among workers, and between workers and management.Item Entrepreneurship and the impact of entrepreneurial orientation training on SMMEs in the South African context: A longitudinal approach(University of the Western Cape, 2004) Solomon, Goosain; Friedrich, Christian; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThis thesis formed part of a existing longitudinal study. The overall study is an outcome of research done to understand success and failure issues in Africa, which is an attempt to understand the impact of a short entrepreneurial training programme on the performance of small scale enterprises over time. The study is unique in the South African context in that it is the first short term, 3 days, entrepreneurial training programme that is assessed by means of a longitudinal method incorporating a control group.Item Entrepreneurship education at tertiary institutions in Rwanda: a situation analysis(University of the Western Cape, 2005) Niyonkuru, Richard; Visser, Kobus; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThis study explored the provision of entrepreneurship education at higher education institutions in Rwanda with special reference to the levels of provision, support mechanisms, course objectives, contents, teaching and assessment methods to ascertain whether they are appropriately developed to prepare students for entrepreneurship as a career option.Item Evaluation of employment creation by African immigrant entrepreneurs for unemployed South Africans in Cape Town(University of the Western Cape, 2007) Kalitanyi, Vivence; Visser, D.J.; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThere has been a lot of comment and reaction to the presence of immigrants in South Africa, and most of it has been very negative. In light of the negative reaction, one can ask whether immigrants do in fact add any value to the well being of the host countries, given their education, experience and high involvement in small businesses. Several studies have noted that the relatively highr level of education and skills of migrants is at the same level as those of the host populations. This research is aimed at contributing to the debate of the perception that immigrants are taking up jobs that are supposed to belong to South Africans.Item Interorganizational relationship management: managing across hierachies, markets and networks(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Muleya, Cedrick; Isaacs, Eslyn; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThis study focused on understanding inter-organizational relationships (IOR) of a dynamic nature. A dynamic process that has repetitive sequences of negotiation, commitment, and execution stages is central to inter-organizational relationships. The dynamic process is a tool that is used by management through collaboration, co-operation, and coordination to engender formation, governance, and performance of inter-organizational relationships. This report looked into how the resource-dependency theory gives insight into the formation of an inter-organizational relationships and how the transaction-cost theory contributes to the understanding ofinter-organizational relationships governance.Item Major issues arising out of industrial relations disputes in Ghana since independence: 1957 - 2004(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Adu-Poku, Franci; Blackmur, Douglas; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesThis thesis analysed the significance of disputes or conflict in Ghana's industrial realtions since her independence in 1957. It further analysed the causes of industrial conflict and its management or resolution in Ghana in particular. Scholars argue that industrial conflict may not only adversely affect the living standards of both the employers and the employees but may also destabilize the labour market and bring about industrial injustices. The thesis outlines the historical development of Ghana's industrial realtions since independence with special reference to strikes.Item Perceptions of managers regarding the barriers to implementing the Employment Equity Plan of the City of Cape Town :an exploratory study(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Prince, Freddy; Jones, D.E.M; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management SciencesDuring the amalgamation of the seven substructures within the City of Cape Town specific problems arose around employment equity issues and consequently the City of Cape Town has introduced an Employment Equity Plan. This study investigated the perceptions held by managers regarding the barriers that can mitigate againsst the successful implementation of the Employment Equity Plan.