Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Management and Entrepreneurship)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10566/12931

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    Contemporary leadership behavior enabling leadership effectiveness in a public university
    (University of the Western Cape, 2021) Jansen van Vuuren, Carel Daniel; Visser, Dirk; Du Plessis, Marieta
    The purpose of the present study is to enrich academic knowledge, the understanding of management theory, and professional management practice for leaders in a South African Higher Education Institution (HEI) under volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) conditions. Due to increased globalisation and rapid changes in the technological, social, economic, and political spheres, the environment in which organisations function has become increasingly VUCA. These factors create a unique set of challenges for the leaders of these organisations. Traditionally tested and proven methods of leading organisations no longer guarantee high performance. The dynamic environment is challenging leaders to find new ways to be successful. To further complicate matters, the speed, frequency, and intensity with which the organisational environment is changing are ascending in nature. The field of Higher Education in South Africa demonstrates the challenges and opportunities VUCA imposes on organisational leadership.
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    Crisis management competencies: perspectives from executive management of selected universities of technology
    (University of the Western Cape, 2023) Pharaoh, Courtley Darryll; Visser, DJ
    The start of the 2021 academic year saw a new wave of student protests erupt all over the South African Higher Education sector. Furthermore, the Covid-19 Pandemic reach its climax forcing the closure of all higher education institutions. The aim of this study was to identify the crisis management and management competencies needed to effectively manage a university of technology within South Africa from the executive management viewpoint. In this exploratory research study, the analysis of current literature on general management competencies, crisis management competencies plus qualitative interviews of executive management members, the researcher identified crisis management and management competencies necessary to effectively manage a university of technology within South Africa in non-crisis times as well as in times of crisis. This study identified the crisis management and management competencies needed by executive management members of universities of technology to manage these organisations within South Africa during a time of crisis and provided verbatim explanations for the importance of these crisis management and management competencies.
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    Employing developmental mentorship to enhance the livelihoods and entrepreneurial capabilities of waste pickers
    (University of the Western Cape, 2022) Sambo, Mogamat Adeel; Bayat, Abdullah
    Waste pickers are individuals who collect waste from household and commercial bins as well as at landfills. The vast majority are unskilled with a low-level of education. Waste pickers find themselves in poverty for various reasons associated with the South African economy and their life trajectories, including a lack of skills. The consequence of this is that these individuals are unable to find secure employment in the formal economy. The income they obtain is from the recyclable items that they collect, which are then sold to buy back centres or parties who are interested in buying their valorised items.
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    Ethico-political leadership in public organizations in Zimbabwe
    (University of the Western Cape, 2022) Mabwe, Nosheni; Bayat, Abdullah
    The study investigated the ethico-political leadership in two Zimbabwean State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Since Zimbabwe attained its independence in 1980, the citizens have witnessed an alarming rate of unethical activities within public organisations. Reports of dishonest behaviour such as embezzlement, bribery, self-serving interest, no answerability, and dishonesty of managers in public organisations are widespread. A case study research design was engaged to encompass an in-depth description of the experience of managers in the two public organisations. A qualitative research approach was used because it allows for a systematic approach to describe life experiences and meaning.
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    Exploring the access, usage and perceptions of ICT of women in marginalised communities in South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2019) Pokpas, Carlynn; Craffert, Leona; Van Audenhove, Leo
    The experiences and perceptions of ICT access and usage by women in marginalised South African communities is sorely under researched. Where information from a gender-based perspective reflecting potential digital gender disparities exists, it is typically a statistical view of the ICT landscape (largely reflecting access). Exploration of the complex underlying socio-cultural factors affecting women’s ICT usage is under-represented. There is an urgent need to hear women’s own voices and perspectives on such intricate and often obscure subject matter. This research has aimed to bring traditionally overlooked perspectives to the fore by exploring the experiences and perceptions of women in marginalised South African communities regarding ICT access and usage. This qualitative study, guided by a feminist phenomenological perspective, focused on the individual lived experiences of twelve women living in three marginalised areas of the Western Cape of South Africa. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed through the Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. The findings showed that the women had strong attachments to ICT and had integrated it into their own individual contexts, to fit their needs and activities. ICT had been interwoven into various social, economic, educational, political, cultural, recreational and spiritual dimensions of life. A range of factors emerged as having influence on women’s digital participation. Some of the more significant barriers were digital skills and confidence, poor social support systems, affordability of ICT, awareness of personally beneficial opportunities, time constraints, resistance from a male partner and poor literacy. Additionally, the women lived in highly gendered environments, with sociallyconstructed gender norms, roles and identities, which had a strong influence on digital experiences and perceptions. This socio-cultural gender inequality was fundamental in the time constraints, and in the power dynamics and resistance women faced from male partners. Findings indicated that gender identities and traits disadvantage females in the digital context, for example ideas of femininity being viewed as conflicting with a perceived ‘dirty’ ICT field. Detrimental perceptions associating sophisticated ICT activity with males were reportedly prevalent in the communities and some of the women interviewed subscribed to the essentialist theory which considers men inherently better suited to technology. These findings have important implications for policies and practices in view of enhancing the digital inclusion of women in marginalised South African communities. Recommendations towards this end are outlined, specifically centred on gendersensitive approaches in the planning and implementation of digital inclusion initiatives.
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    Longevity of family- owned businesses in Uganda
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Munene, Bob Bonabo
    Given the early demise of most family-owned firms, this study sought to investigate the factors that could explain their longevity in the Ugandan context where such evidence is glaringly lacking. By utilizing theories such as the leadership succession model, the Stewardship Theory, the Organizational Learning Theory, and the Resource-Based view theory a multi-theoretical model with factors that included succession planning, family involvement, organizational learning, and innovation capabilities was derived to explain family business longevity in the Ugandan context. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design that was quantitative where data from a sample of 241 family-owned firms was collected and analyzed. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and the Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to test factors that drive longevity in family-owned businesses.
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    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 Sciences
    This 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.
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    Managing Stakeholder Salience, Influence and Exposure with Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices and Triple Bottom Line Measures: The Case of Safaricom, Kenya
    (University of the Western Cape, 2018) Thomas, Ombati Ogoro; Hirschsohn, Philip
    As organizations face stiff pressure from various stakeholders, management has had to move beyond the idea of shareholder wealth maximization and incorporate the environmental and social concerns from the various stakeholders. The study identifies how Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices enable the firm to manage the social, environmental and economic Triple Bottom Line (TBL) for four key stakeholder groups - customers, suppliers, regulators and the community. The study adopted a case study design, focused on Safaricom, arguably Africa's most innovative cellular firm which has championed the M-pesa money transfer platform. The objectives were, first, to establish key attributes namely; power, legitimacy and urgency of selected stakeholders of Safaricom and the key determinants of their salience, second, to determine stakeholder expectations and how they hold Safaricom accountable; third, to identify the extent of Safaricom's influence and control over the selected stakeholders; and finally, to establish how and to what extent the firm manages stakeholder exposure through their SSCM practices and TBL measures. Data from semi-structured interviews with Safaricom management and the four key selected stakeholder groups, together with company and public documents, were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Stakeholder groups were selected to represent examples of low, moderate or high levels of salience and exposure. While all are considered important, the case reveals how Safaricom management prioritizes and addresses stakeholder needs according to their attributes. As each stakeholder group is heterogeneous, the case reveals how the firm manages each distinctively and adopts diverse SSCM practices, which are aligned with the firm's TBL measures. Moreover, stakeholder exposure has a moderating effect on the relationship between the firm's SSCM practices and the TBL measures.
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    The financial sustainability challenges of an energy efficient intervention project in a low-income earning urban community: lessons from the Kuyasa clean development mechanism (cdm)
    (Universty of the Western Cape, 2024) Maphosa, Thembinkosi; Bayat, Abdullah
    This research study explores using a mixed method approach the energy-efficient intervention project situated in the Kuyasa low-income community, Khayelitsha, in Cape Town. The renewable energy-efficiency project was an initiative that utilized renewable energy sources and minimized energy consumption through efficient technologies and practices. I constructed an IntegratedParticipatory Sustainable Framework. This theoretical study framework drew on the theories of sustainability, systems theory, energy transition and access, and community empowerment and participation. The implications of the theoretical framework are that for a renewable energy-efficiency project to be sustainable, it must have (a) a guaranteed revenue stream, (b) a repayment plan, (c) a contribution mechanism, and (d) an empowerment plan that takes into consideration community complexities. The study investigated the Renewable Energy Efficiency Technologies (REETs) energy-saving interventions that aimed to address South Africa’s electricity challenge, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), add value to Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses, change consumer behaviour and attitudes towards energy-efficient technologies, create employment, and to alleviate poverty.
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    The usefulness of the value added statement in South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 1998) Van Staden, Christiaan Johan; Vorster, Quintus
    The value added statement is published by about 200 of the 400 companies listed in the industrial sector on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This is the highest incidence of publication of such statements reported to date. It appears from a literature review that the usefulness of the statement has never been tested in depth from the perspective of the users. The importance of this study stems from the increased incidence of publication of the statement in South Africa and the lack of evidence substantiating its usefulness. The study aims to investigate the usefulness of the value added statement in South Africa from the perspective of all the different users of external financial information. The literature review revealed that, although the value added statement is based on the theory of value added and was aimed at broadening the scope of financial reporting, it did not develop to the point of being governed by statutory requirements. This resulted in diverse accounting treatment in the statement and the resultant loss of consistency and comparability, which gave an early indication from the literature that value added statements might not be very useful. The usefulness of the value added statement was evidenced by users actually using the statement and the explanatory and predictive power of value added information. No reliable evidence of users actually using the statement was found in the literature. Evidence was found that value added information had greater predictive and explanatory power than earnings, but these findings were found to be inconclusive. A questionnaire survey among users representing the South African users of external financial reports revealed little evidence of actual use of the value added statement. The general usage trend from past to present, was to use the statement less rather than more. More than fifty percent of the respondents do not intend to use the statement in future, even if the shortcomings experienced could be overcome. The major reason for this lack of support for the value added statement seems to be the shortcomings experienced by the users when publishing and using the statement, which stems mainly from the lack of statutory requirements. Another reason is that the value added statement introduces very little information that is not already available from the other financial statements. The predictive and explanatory power of value added information was examined by doing statistical analysis on empirical data of South African listed companies. This analysis indicated that value added information did not have additional explanatory and predictive power when compared to earnings and that the high inter-correlation between value added and earnings prevented value added from being used in prediction models in combination with earnings. The predictive and explanatory power of value added information is therefore limited. This research study could not find sufficient evidence of the usefulness of value added statements to justify their continued publication, neither could it find significant support for future use. It is therefore suggested that the publication of the statement be discontinued and that additional information be included in the income statement disclosures to accommodate this.