Browsing by Author "Madondo, Mfazo Cliford."

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Adoption of responsible and sustainable management practices by SMEs in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2019) Khumalo, Ayanda.; Madondo, Mfazo Cliford.
Globally, every organisation is measured by its adoption of responsible and sustainable management practices. However, the adoption of responsible and sustainable management practices by SMEs in South Africa is under-researched. The adoption of these practices enhances organisations’ performance. The research objective of this study was to explore the adoption of responsible and sustainable management practices by SMEs in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, by exploring the perceptions and the challenges confronting SMEs owner-managers in executing these practices. An integrative review of literature was used to explore the SMEs’ adoption of responsible and sustainable management. A mixed methods research approach was adopted utilizing the exploratory sequential mixed methods design. Thus, data were collected using two phases the qualitative and the quantitative phase sequentially from a sample size of ninety-one (91) SMEs owner-managers in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Data analysis was done in two phases. Firstly, the qualitative data sets were analysed using the thematic analysis technique to that inform the collection and analysis of the quantitative data sets using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The research findings show that SMEs in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are not adopting the responsible and sustainable practices. Therefore, this study concludes that SMEs should adopt and implement these practices in a similar manner as large corporates. This dissertation contributes to the research in the field of SMEs and responsible and sustainable management. It further challenges some SME owners-managers in Pietermaritzburg to adopt and embrace responsible and sustainable management practices.
An emerging form of the church? : community-based volunteers in HIV and AIDS work as a religious health asset.
(2009) Madondo, Mfazo Cliford.; De Gruchy, Steve M.
In South Africa faith plays an important role in community-based volunteering related to HIV and AIDS work. Many community-based volunteers make use of their faith to provide healthcare and social services related to HIV and AIDS. This research examines this faith or religious vibrancy and critic two things: (1) to what extent such volunteers can be understood as a Religious Health Asset, and (2) what criteria can be used to consider community-based volunteers as a new form of the church emerging in a time of HIV and AIDS. The research first examines the concept of voluntary work in South Africa, particularly in times of HIV and AIDS. Field research relies on community based volunteers linked to Sinomlando, a research centre at the University of KwaZulu- Natal through participant observation and open ended interview method. I examine faith or religious aspects in volunteers serving the communities. The research notes that in community-based volunteering, the use of prayers, religious choruses and/or quoting of the Bible is a visible faith practice. I learnt that prayers and choruses are spontaneous, and they are volunteers’ expression and release of emotions caused by socio-economic stressors. The use of the Bible is not a common practice among groups of volunteers as it is with praying and singing. Given this, the thesis argues that faith practices in community-based volunteering can be understood as a religious health asset. Using the ecclesiogenesis theory of Leonardo Boff, the thesis then analyses whether these groups signify a new form of the church is emerging. However, the finding is that they do not constitute a new form of the church, but rather a new form of missionary spirituality as the laity is taking on the responsibility of living out their faith in a new context and in the face of new challenges.
Growth at the Sinomlando Centre for Oral History and Memory Work in Africa : power partnerships and policies.
(2012) Madondo, Mfazo Cliford.; Hardman, Stanley George.
Employees‟ perceptions regarding the role of powerful partners in developing the managerial leadership of small and recipient organisations are vital, given the research developments regarding partnerships. This research has focused on the power that governs the relationships between large and self-governing funding organisations and dependent recipient organisations. The emergence of developing managerial leadership, linked to powerful partnership systems, appears to be a vital field for research in the developed world. For instance, this is evident in the United States of America but not in Africa, especially in the sub-Saharan region. Partnership is simply conceived of as a relationship between one or more NGOs, and in such a relationship, power is understood as being one partner having the ability to influence another partner, or other partners, to do what they would otherwise not do. Intentional and observable power between organisations often results in a diverse and complex managerial leadership and organisational life for small and recipient organisations. In this regard, the recipient partner organisations striving for leadership, management- and organisational growth, and change, commonly struggle with internal and external power influences embedded in powerful partnerships. Sub-Saharan Africa‟s, especially South Africa‟s, development NGOs and funding partnerships are not an exception to this challenge. This dissertation is an embryonic qualitative but objective enquiry into managers‟ and employees‟ perceptions regarding the influences of donors and the University of KwaZulu-Natal on growth at the Sinomlando Centre for Oral History and Memory Work in Africa. The research adopted the narrative and interpretive paradigm, combined with the qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. Three data collection methods were used: 1) archival; 2) face-to-face interviews; and 3) participant observation. The Sinomlando Centre is an organisation originally conceived as a research and community development entity, based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. While existing within, and depending on the University, the Centre predominantly relies on international funding partnerships. This environment is solely driven by the founding director, who steers the organisation towards its full cognisance. It is this very environment that inspired the question of employees‟ perceptions regarding the influence of these powerful partnerships, in augmenting leadership and management at the Sinomlando Centre. This research project draws on library-, internet-, and archival searches to explore concepts pertaining to: systems and systems thinking; behaviour and learning in organisations; leadership and management development, and power and partnerships. This research harnesses the findings generated from the interviews and participant observation studies, with the academic studies linked to these concepts. This is done in order to discuss and highlight the fact that the employees at the Sinomlando Centre think and confirm that the donors, the Director, and the University, are all systems that influence their organisation. The research found that the University, the donors, and the leadership, are all system structures that limit the Sinomlando Centre‟s organisational and leadership growth. Thus, in consideration of the existence of the Sinomlando Centre within the University, the dependence on foreign funding partnerships, and the reliance on the Director, this dissertation concludes that developing managerial leadership can be possible only if the organisation considers: 1) re-positioning itself and self-organisation within its environment of existence; 2) openness to change-management; and 3) widening internal opportunities for managing powerful partnerships.
Innovation management practices as a factor leading to the failure of small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa.
(2021) Kyalangalilwa, Mubake Steve.; Naude, Micheline Juliana Alberta.; Madondo, Mfazo Cliford.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that lead small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to failure in South Africa. Even though, small businesses can be major drivers of economic development, job creation, and innovation in South Africa, the level of failure of small businesses is extremely high. Based on this background, the aim of this study was to determine the innovation factors and managerial practices that lead to the failure of small and medium-sized enterprises and how they can be addressed in order to understand the causes of the failure of SMEs and to improve their survival rate in South Africa. In this study secondary data has been gathered from peer-reviewed and grey literature (such as online sources, and government reports). The data analysis for this research focussed on relevant literature that addresses the impacts of innovation on small businesses and the factors that can cause their failure. The PRISMA method was used in the research as a base for the systematic review of data collected. The findings revealed that the success and growth of small and medium enterprises in South Africa largely depends on the human capital of their owner/manager. The cause of small business failure has been mainly the lack of knowledge, lack of funding, and general lack of business decision-making skills. In addition, the findings also revealed a lack of financial literacy, underqualified employees or managers, and high competition. The study recommends that small business owners should ensure that the managers or the employees have the required basic skills and knowledge on how to run and manage the business. Furthermore, with the current development in the technological industry, small business owners must ensure that they keep up with the fast-evolving industries and competition. The contribution of this study is that it provides small business owners and managers with technical recommendations, which if applied, could result in small businesses’ success in their respective industries. Lastly, it provides insight into the impact of innovation on small businesses sustainability in developing countries and the causes of the failure of SMEs.