Browsing by Author "Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore."

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An analysis of complementary competence co-branding potential in the beer industry.
Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.; O'Neill, Charles.
Co-branding, where two or more brands are used to market one new product, has been proposed as a potentially cost effective marketing strategy in highly competitive mature industries. The objective of the study was to evaluate a potential role for cobranding to increase users’ overall brand preference and to stimulate non-users’ brand preference whilst suppressing any existing negative perceptions. In order to do so the research sought to probe how consumers develop and respond to a diverse and complex range of brand associations that result from a co-branding alliance. A unique aspect is that this study incorporates unknown real brands in cobranding alliances and distinguishes between low equity and unknown brands. A convenience sample of 711 business studies students were asked to participate in the research with 331 questionnaires suitable for analysis recovered (a response rate of 47%). They were presented with individual brands and with co-brands incorporating a little known or unknown beer and restaurant/fast food brand with a relatively well known or popular complementary brand to produce an overall consumption solution. The study addresses four important research issues: Firstly, it tests a conventional consumer-based multi-dimensional brand equity scale and demonstrates the limitations and conceptual inconsistencies of this approach. A formatively-indicated measurement scale is developed to measure respondents’ “overall brand preference”. Secondly the method with which co-brand concepts are presented to respondents and how their overall brand preferences are measured is addressed. Two experimental procedures are tested. Thirdly, the effect on overall preference for a co-brand is measured when the original brands are evaluated variously as combinations of high, medium or low overall preference. Finally, the research examines the effect on respondents’ overall preference for a co-brand when a third cause-related modifying variable is introduced. The research supports the findings of similar studies but also records a number of novel contributions. Principally, that when component brands in a co-branding alliance range from unknown to high equity brands, the relationship between the contribution that a component brand makes to a co-brand is non-monotonic. For example, an unknown brand may improve the overall brand preference for a low equity, known brand. This has important implications in understanding consumers’ behavioural response to co-branding. The practical implications include highlighting the contribution that start-up enterprises and unknown brands can make to established brands rather than simply the reverse. Keywords: Complementary competence co-branding, brand preference, consumerbased brand equity, little known/unknown brands, formative scales, cause-related marketing.
Applying lean principles in craft brewing to improve quality and reduce costs : two KwaZulu-Natal case studies.
(2018) Mahlangu, Sindisiwe.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
A significant number of companies around the world have implemented lean methodologies in order to remain competitive. Although these were initially developed for large manufacturing companies, the principles that serve as a foundation for these methodologies are, arguably, also applicable to small companies. The proposed research will focus on small craft breweries in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa to determine if they too can benefit from implementing practices that are based on lean principles. The world’s craft brewing industry is well-established and growing rapidly. Most of the beer brewed in South Africa is mass-produced at comparatively low cost. Craft beer brewed by smaller scale breweries is relatively more expensive to produce and consumers have to accept trade-offs between the perceived better quality and higher cost of craft beer. In order to gain and maintain market share, craft brewers need to produce quality beer whilst reducing production costs. The objectives of this study were threefold. Firstly, it sought to identify appropriate assessment tools that may be used to measure waste in craft breweries. Secondly, to identify and measure any sources of waste that may occur in craft breweries. Lastly, to determine if and how craft brewers can introduce lean methodologies based on lean principles in their production processes in order to improve quality and reduce costs. The study was guided by lean theory. The principles derived from this directed the deployment of lean tools and practices to implement lean production methodologies. Lean theory argues that lean methodologies, if implemented correctly, will yield positive results for all firms in all industries. A multi-case study approach was used, supported by five data collection instruments; direct observations, participant observations, documents & records and semi-structured interviews. A convergent, parallel, mixed methods design was used as this allowed both qualitative and quantitative data to be gathered, analysed and then merged to interpret the findings and results. The data was analysed using content analysis with NVivo software. The main findings of this study indicate that: 1. Lean tools, like the Lean Assessment Tool, which consists of several lean improvement programmes and tools (e.g. setup time reduction, visual controls) may be used to assess waste in craft breweries. 2. The sources of wastes and inefficiencies which were identified from the case studies relate to inventory, overproduction, waiting time, unnecessary transporting, processing waste, inefficient work methods, product defects and underutilised human resources. 3. Identifying lean tools and programmes that the company can implement under its current production capabilities is a key success factor in becoming a lean organisation. 4. Having a step by step implementation model which is clear to follow will help companies to implement lean production. 5. To produce good quality beer, the ingredients used must be of good quality. Also, close monitoring of the brewing processes, times and temperatures is essential. 6. The current challenges in the craft beer industry include high levels of competition from the mainstream beer producing giants, distribution problems, maintaining consistent quality and developing effective marketing plans in a highly contested market. The study was concluded by discussing the implications of these findings for theory and literature, as well as for practitioners. Recommendations, specific for these case studies were provided and areas for future research suggested.
Challenges in green supply chain management in the pulp and paper industry: a KwaZulu-Natal case study.
(2017) Munemo, Nyasha Eugenia.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Although, the pulp and paper industry makes a substantial contribution to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) it is also considered to be a major contributor to industrial pollution. As a result, various stakeholders have voiced their concerns forcing companies within the industry to seek alternative practices that support more environmentally friendly operations. This study sought to establish the impact of the industry on the environment as well as the green practices being implemented in the KwaZulu-Natal operations of a pulp and paper company to reduce this impact. The literature consulted for this study suggested that stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, activists and government, may influence a supply chain to become more environmentally friendly or may hinder its efforts to do so. These stakeholders were subsequently identified and their influence assessed. In many other industries, the integration of lean and green supply chain practices results in less operational waste and environmental harm because both paradigms support waste minimisation and both engage employees in continuous improvement. This research suggested ways in which these paradigms might be considered in a more holistic way to exploit possible synergies for the pulp and paper industry. The research was exploratory in nature and a case study approach was used. The transcripts of semi-structured interviews with senior managers in the chosen pulp and paper company were analysed in combination with secondary data. This direct content analysis provided insights into the current green practices of the company and the influence of stakeholders. Evidence was presented on the company’s considerable progress towards a greener supply chain through the introduction of appropriate technology and practices which mitigate its effect on the environment. Stakeholders played a significant role in enabling the company to achieve this. Customers demand certification by standards bodies such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the International Organisation for Standards regulates the industry and ensures that it protects the environment while local communities use waste produced by the company to produce value-added products. However, some suppliers hinder these efforts. It was concluded that the further integration of lean and green practices will allow the company to continue to reduce its impact on the environment.
Closed-loop supply chain opportunities for SMME retailers in the South African fashion industry=Amathuba e-closed-loop supply chain kosomabhizinisi abasafufusa eNingizimu Afrikha embonini yengqephu.
(2021) Muhwati, Chenai.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Abstract Enhancing the social and environmental sustainability of the fashion industry’s supply chain has become an important topic in recent commercial and scholarly discussions. Consequently, closed-loop supply chains are emerging as opportunities for stakeholders to extend their roles and reduce post-consumption waste. This circular approach has been pioneered by large international retailers in developed countries, with research focused on their perspectives. As a result, SMME stakeholders have been neglected, but they contribute substantially to South Africa’s emerging economy. This study addresses the gap in the literature by investigating the potential for closed-loop supply chains for South African based SMME retailers in the fashion industry. Furthermore, consumer perceptions of this approach had not been probed in African countries. Research also shows that younger consumers are more inclined to support sustainable practices. As a result, this study selected to explore the responses of university students as potential consumers and supporters of the activities of closed-loop supply chains to evaluate possible market opportunities. As an accessible, emerging economy committed to introducing more sustainable practices, South Africa provided a suitable location for the study. The study used a mixed methods approach to better establish the presence of opportunities through evaluating perceptions, from multiple stakeholders, regarding the collection, recovery and redistribution of used fashion. Qualitative data were collected using interviews conducted with twelve SMME retailers of new and used fashion, one Cut, Make and Trim stakeholder, and one non-profit organisation. Quantitative data were gathered from questionnaires answered by 300 university students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The findings reveal that there are opportunities for SMME retailers to adopt and coordinate closed-loop supply chains in South Africa. They also reveal that there is consumer willingness to participate in the activities of these systems. Based on these findings, the study provides a comprehensive decision support model to enable SMME retailers and their partners to exploit the opportunities presented by closed-loop supply chains, despite the limitations of their relatively small size and their operation in a developing country. Iqoqa Ukwengezelela ekusimamiseni inhlalo kanye nesimo emkhakheni wengqephu mayelana nemboni yokuhlinzeka ngezinto ezizoba izihloko ezibalulekile emuva kwezingxoxo ezifaka ukudayisa kanye nongoti. Umphumela walokho, ukuvala kokuhlinzeka kuletha amathuba kulabo abayingxeye ukuqhubezela iqhaza kanye nokunciphisa incithakalo. Lokhu kungumzungezo wokwenza kahle okuqhakambiswa abathengiselwa emazweni asethuthukile, nalolu cwaningo olugxile kweyabo imibono. Umphumela walokhu kube ukunganakekelwa kosomabhizinisi abasafufusa, kodwa kunikela esimisweni sokuvela komnotho eNingizimu Afrikha. Lesi sifundo silungisa igebe mayelana nemibhalo ephenya okungenzeka kwabahlinzeka abangosomabhizinisi eNingizimu Afrikha embonini yengqephu. Uma sinezezela, iso labathengi kule ndlela yokwenza alikaze livukuzwe eNingizimu Afrikha. Ucwaningo lubuye lutshengise ukuthi abathengi ebasebancane ibona abanogqozi lokusekela ukusebenza okusimeme. Njengomphumela, isifundo sakhetha ukuphenya izimpendulo zezitshudeni eNyuvesi njengabathengi kanye namasekeli ezenzweni ezivale i-loop yabahlinzeki nokuhlonza okungaba amathuba emakethe. Njengoba kufinyeleleka, ukuphakama komnotho kuzibophezela ekwethuleni ukwenza okusimeme eNingizimu Afrikha, kunika isizinda esikahle sokufundwayo. Okufundwayo kusebenzise izindlela zokwenza ezixubile ukwakha amathuba amanje ngokuhluza ukuma kwezinto, kwababambe iqhaza abahlukene, mayelana nokuqoqiwe, nokutholiwe kanye nokusabalalisa osekusebenzile kwengqephu. Ulwazi lwaqoqwa ngokwekhwalithethivu kusetshenziswa izingxoxo ezenziwa nabathengelwa abasebasha kanye nokusebenzisa ingqephu, ukusika, ukwakha nokwehlisa kwababambisene nokuthi kungabibikho nzuzo enhlanganweni. Ulwazi ngekhwantithethivu lwaqoqwa ngamaphepha emibuzo eyaphendulwa abafundi baseNyuvesi yakwaZulu-Natali. Imiphumela iveza ukuthi kunamathuba kosomabhizinisi abasafufusa ekuthatheni nasekuzimaziseni ukuvalwa kwe-loop yabahlinzeki eNingizimu Afrikha. Luphinde lwaveza ukuthi abathengi abekho madolonzima ekubambeni iqhaza kuzo zonke izinhlelo. Ngokuncika kule miphumela, lesi sifundo sinika ukusekelwa kokuthathwa kwenzinqumo ezisekela osomabhizinisi abasafufusa kanye nabalingani babo abaxhaphaza amathuba athulwe okuvaliwe kwe-loop yokuhlinzeka, ngaphandle kwemikhawulo emincane ngokosayizi kanye nokwenziwayo ezweni elisathuthuka.
A critical analysis of quality management systems: a logistics perspective.
(2021) Mdiniso, Nontsikelelo.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
The management of quality in any organisation is critical to its success. The premise on which any organisation is built, is to satisfy the needs of its customers. Regardless of whether the organisation’s offering product is a product or a service, the former remains true. No matter the industry or the sector, organisations need to ensure they meet these needs. The management of quality in an organisation is difficult to measure, and it is for this reason, that organisations introduce Quality Management Systems. Organisations then need to determine what customers consider quality to be, and more importantly how they can measure quality. The aim of this study was to uncover the dimensions customers use to measure quality management. The theoretical framework used was the SERVQUAL model, which assumes the customer measures quality using five dimensions. These dimensions formed the basis of and influenced the development of the two data collection instruments used to determine whether Company A’s management of quality met the expectations of their customers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine whether Company A, in the transport and logistics industry in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, was aware of its customer needs and to establish whether the organisation’s usual method of managing quality was sufficient. Part of the aim of this study included determining customer perceptions of quality based on the five dimensions presented to them. The data was collected from a sample that included both customers and employees of Company A using survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, analysed using Gap analysis. The study showed areas where the employees’ and the customers’ perceptions of quality were similar or differed and provided clarity as to where the organisation should focus its improvements. The gaps identified can assist the company in reaching the level of quality expected by customers, and ultimately to exceed these expectations. The study also revealed that only certain dimensions contained these gaps and this meant that Company A could implement a targeted strategy aimed at improving their service quality. The recommendations generated from the results of this study provide insight into how managers of Company A can improve quality management and service quality in the organisation, which will ultimately lead to greater company success.
The demand for agile/leagile third party logistics services : an assessment of dairy industry needs.
(2015) Mbili, Theorene Sinegugu.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
The dairy industry is one of the fasted growing industries worldwide. This industry produces products that are used daily by many households and are regarded as a very important source of nutrition. Dairy products are usually sold in bulk to retailers who then sell to thousands of consumers on a daily basis. Since this is a product that is consumed daily, the assumption is that its demand can be forecast easily. There is a general assumption that because these are commodity product they need to be produced and supplied by a very lean system. However, this does not prove to be entirely true with dairy products. The dairy industry produces products that have a very short life span and have special requirements in terms of packaging, storage and delivery. With a short shelf life these products need to be delivered to retailers every day and cannot be stored in warehouses or retail outlets for long periods of time. As the dairy industry continues to grow, competition is likely to increase. This will induce organisations to redouble their efforts to differentiate their offerings. Increasingly, the industry may be expected to use third party logistics providers (generally referred to as 3PLs) that are agile and innovative. These 3PLs should work as an integral part of the organisation and leverage collaborative efforts to add value and increase competitive advantage in the dairy industry. Despite an apparent need for 3PLs, the findings of this study indicate that at present the dairy industry cannot afford to use these service providers. The 3PLs have proved to be very expensive and the dairy industry is not making sufficient money to meet the costs of the 3PLs that they require. In future, dairy companies may be compelled to use 3PLs since they need to focus their resources on improving their products. The 3PLs should be introduced for their competences, skills and expertise to service the dairy companies’ logistics needs and to assist in gaining a competitive advantage in this area. Third party logistics providers have the potential to add value to the dairy industry supply chain by providing it with the latest technological advancements that will contribute to greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Developing a Black Soldier Fly supply chain that beneficiates organic wastes: a Durban case study.
(2022) Smith, Brandon.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
As a result of the global population continuing to expand, the generation of waste is rapidly increasing. The global urban population generated 300,000 tonnes of waste a day in 1990. By 2000, this had increased to three million tonnes of waste a day, and is expected to double by 2025. The increasing volume of waste creates a number of problems including, but not limited to, the exploitation of natural resources and the expenses incurred handling the waste. The majority of waste generated is disposed of in landfills. Landfills are a major contributor to current environmental problems. Organic waste within landfills contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and toxic leachate in the soil and groundwater. There is commonly a build-up of flammable gases within landfills that pose health, safety and environmental risks. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is a wasp-like insect that has been identified as a potential consumer of organic waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills. The Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) are avid consumers of bio-degradable organic waste. Fully grown BSFL are rich in protein and fatty acids that provide opportunities for the production of various by- products. The purpose of this study is to assess the one commercial BSFL rearing site with operational documentation publicly available. The aim is to assess the on-site operations and develop a functional supply chain. The objectives of the study are to identify the stakeholders involved, understand the operations and logistical activity on-site and to identify key factors and variables within the operation. The study used a single case study approach to analyse documented data in a qualitative context. During the data analysis, each part of the operation was investigated and in summarising the findings, a diagram was presented to fulfil each objective. Each diagram was combined to create a functional supply chain for the BSFL operation. The supply chain outlines the key stakeholders, on-site processes and variables.
Exploring the biochar supply chain to determine the potential for biochar production in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2022) Timol, Abdullah.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Biochar is a product that has many beneficial properties but there are several socio economic and financial challenges associated with its production. By studying a potential biochar supply chain, many of these challenges can be identified and solutions sought. The available literature was studied in order to analyse the biochar supply chain from biomass collection to end product usage. This included all the steps involved in the collection of biomass and the logistical implications before and after production. Furthermore, it looks at how the feedstock and production method impact end product quality and how this would impact the commercialisation of biochar. For the purpose of this study, empirical research was utilised with participants chosen via a judgment sampling method. All participants were selected on the basis of their expertise on the subject of biochar. All research done was qualitative in nature in order to gain a deeper insight into the subject and to open up avenues for future research. The possibility of using biochar as a potential means of waste management does exist, but there are many challenges that make the undertaking of such a task difficult. The consensus amongst the majority of participants is that while a project is possible, many considerations need to be taken into account beforehand in order to assess the viability of such a project. Unless a very specific feedstock and production method is used, the end product may be limited in its usage. Making a higher-grade biochar will have a lot more end uses and a lot more commercial application, but this may require substantial capital and a quality feedstock source would have to be secured. While the benefits of biochar may be many, implementation will be a challenging task and necessary capital and knowledge will be required to make such a project a success.
Factors affecting the agility of firms implementing lean manufacturing.
(2015) Gurahoo, Neeshal.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Production methods lie on a continuum from mass production to Lean and or Agile. Agile production represents an innovative supply chain strategy that shows promise in the manufacturing sector. Many South African companies are not yet aware of Agility. Currently, many manufacturers are implementing Lean and JIT principles. However, Lean and JIT may not respond adequately to modern market demands and shortened product lifecycles. The Agile paradigm focuses on speed, flexibility and response: critical factors that enable companies to achieve a higher level of differentiation. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of different levels of Lean implementation on production Agility. This study was an innovative investigation into whether Lean and JIT contribute to, or detract from, Agility in manufacturing. There is little published research on this relationship. The study seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge and to benefit manufacturing companies: particularly those in South Africa. The research was exploratory in nature and consequently a case study approach was used. A non-probability, purposive sampling design was used to select three companies representing different categories on the spectrum of the Lean manufacturing continuum: Company A – beginner, Company B – intermediate and Company C – expert. The research was qualitative in nature. A review of the literature tends to suggest that Lean and JIT restrict Agility by restricting speed, flexibility and response. Contrary to expectations, the findings of the study indicate that Agility tends to increase in companies that have undertaken the Lean journey. The results of the study confirm that Lean contributes to Agility within the manufacturing sector. As Lean levels increase from beginner to expert so too do the levels of speed, flexibility and response (SFR). The conclusion drawn from this study is that Lean is a pre-requisite for Agile and companies may need to implement Lean before considering Agile systems. The results of this study have been used to construct a conceptual framework and road map that may be used by firms wishing to undertake the Agile journey. The strategy has been termed ParaLeagile and it may assist manufacturing companies to make more informed and appropriate decisions, thus boosting the economy.
Factors contributing to non-compliance in public procurement- a KwaZulu-Natal legislature case study.
(2017) Gabela, Sandile Eric.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Public procurement processes are central to the development of the particular society in which they operate. Effective government relies on this system to address the fundamental issues of service delivery. Non-compliance in public procurement is a common factor that affects the effectiveness of the system as a whole. Non-compliance issues must be identified and rectified before they can cause further problems in an already complex public procurement system. The South African National Treasury has indicated five important principles that need to be applied. These are delivering value for money, open and effective competition, ethical and fair dealing, accountability and reporting on equity. This study focuses on the factors that contribute to non-compliance in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature (KZNL) public procurement system. A qualitative, exploratory case study approach was used to assess the perceptions of KZNL procurement staff. The systems assessing non-compliance and the participants’ understanding of the causes of non-compliance were assessed. Their understanding of the legal framework which regulates public procurement and their input into the development of procurement prescripts was investigated. Finally, the steps which have been taken to rectify the extensive non-compliance present in the public procurement system were probed. Participants differed widely in their understanding of the legislative framework. They also exposed reasons for non-compliance ranging from internal causes such as officials not following procedure to political interference with the procurement process and supplier inadequacies. Finally, recommendations were generated from the literature and the participants’ suggestions to improve the public procurement processes in the Kwazulu-Natal Legislature.
The influence of promotional activity on supply chain stability: a fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) perspective.
(2014) Pillay, Crusann.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Today, most sales are stimulated at the point of purchase, so sales promotions are becoming a crucial element of any marketing campaign. The consequence of these promotions is the creation of unpredictable demand. The resultant instability has been termed the “Bullwhip Effect” (BWE). The BWE has a negative effect on business performance as it creates information distortions that cause excessive inventory holdings, higher overall costs, poor customer service and lost sales. An important strategy to achieve a smooth flowing supply chain is to mitigate or preferably eliminate the BWE. The aim of this research was to monitor the stock levels of a high value product flowing through the supply chain to determine whether marketing activities, such as promotions, contribute to increased instability in the chain. The study followed a case study approach and analysed the business activities of consumer packaged goods company (CPGC) “X” promoting their product “X”, an item of high value, with retailer “X”. The promotion was monitored in three phases. The phases included pre-promotion planning, execution of the promotion and post promotion analysis. The researcher employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The research established that the ROI on the promotion was greater than the target and that the retailer made an additional profit. However, when the assessment of ROI included more of the supply chain, there was a negative operating profit due to excess upstream inventory. The study confirmed that promotional activities contribute to the BWE and that this effect may be more pronounced with products of higher value. The phenomenon worsened as the distance of supply chain nodes from the real demand increased. This caused a major shift in ordering patterns and an altered total inventory pipe fill in the chain. The recommendations arising from this study are that the CPGC and retailer should implement a true scorecard and a joint business plan for those brands that have products of high value. Subsequently, a vendor managed inventory (VMI) system should be implemented. This will remove the retailer’s need to forecast and may prevent unstable ordering and delays due to cost avoidance. Shrinkage will be reduced as the CPGC would directly own, control and supply stock in the retailer’s DCs.
Inventory management in the electricity industry in South Africa: a case study.
(2017) Mohubedu, Nombuso Confidence.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
Electricity remains one of the most important technological innovations in human history, because of its importance to modern daily life, both domestically and industrially. In South Africa, Eskom Holdings is the state-owned power company responsible for generating, transmitting and distributing electricity. Eskom’s material management department deals with the planning and ordering of materials and their transportation to the regional distribution centres (warehouses). This department is expected to contribute to the company’s business goal of providing sustainable electricity for a better future. However, inept decision-making processes at Eskom have led to a number of problems associated with inventory. These costly problems diminish the material management department’s efficiency and hence the company's ability to reach its goals. This study used qualitative research to investigate the inventory management in Eskom’s KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) cluster with a view to identifying those decisions and actions responsible for such inventory anomalies. A conceptual model of inventory management was used to structure this research. This model emphasises the way in which managers’ decisions are influenced by the context in which the supply chain operates. The research objectives were to examine the impact of demand, the supply chain structure, information availability and Eskom's business goals on how inventory decisions are made, and to understand the effects of this decision making processes. The major finding was that the department has a significant problem of unbalanced stock, with an excess of certain items and shortages of others in all its six regional distribution centres in KZN. This inventory challenge facing the company was found to be caused by inadequate forecasting, poor information sharing, poor housekeeping, large quantities of inventory returns from projects and the disorganised scheduling of deliveries. The study also found that there is a gap in the system of classification of inventory in Eskom which adversely affects the management of inventory. Recommendations include replacing the economic order quantity system with a periodic order quantity system and incorporating elements of lean into the management of inventory. Furthermore, improving the information available to material requirement planners so that purchasing is responsive to customer demands will reduce the burden of inventory that is not required and ensure the availability of stock as it is needed.
Land reform projects as LED contributors : KwaZulu-Natal case study.
(2011) Matsho, Jim.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
This research focuses on KwaZulu-Natal case studies of land reform projects that serve as contributors to local economic development (LED). Key stakeholders and role players on LED matters within the KwaZulu-Natal province serve as respondents. The study seeks to answer critical questions regarding the success and viability of land reform projects. “Rural development is one of the the signature projects that swept the African National Congress (ANC) to power. It is supposed to distinguish the new administration from all that has gone before by having a dedicated ministry specifically to look after the forgotten countryside”, (Mabanga 2010, p. 36). For communities operating registered companies, some of the major challenges, amongst others, include a lack of farm management skills, business skills, financial skills and governance skills (including corporate governance). Leadership challenges are experienced between community members that ultimately may lead to the collapse of projects. There are also concerns regarding state support for post settlement. This affects the operation and capitalization of the projects and is required to kick-start projects after land transfers. Other challenges include skills shortage amongst managers and post settlement support for specific industries to ease transfer of skills to beneficiaries. The majority of the post-settlement support from the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has no, or limited, skills in specific industries like forestry, sugarcane, crop farming and animal farming. Consequently there is a shortage of proper advice to the community managers from inception and the incumbent official then still has to learn the industry operating systems. Ultimately all the parties rely heavily on consultants to provide assistance to newly emerging farmers or business entrepreneurs within the communities. The transfer of developmental grants is a major headache currently facing the majority of land beneficiaries. The department of rural development still owes communities post-settlement grants or development grants back-dated to the 2008/09 financial period. The objective of this study was to arrive at some guidelines and recommendations that will contribute to the success of land reform projects and thereby contribute to LED within KwaZulu-Natal province.
The potential role for social media to improve agility in South African fashion industry supply chains.
(2015) Muhwati, Chenai.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
With growing competition from international brands and increasing volatility, South African apparel companies have recently made significant efforts to improve their supply chain agility. Companies operating in this industry thus continue to seek ways to improve the flexibility and responsiveness of their supply chains. An insight into new technologies that could assist with these improvements could prove beneficial for South African brands to reach international benchmarks for agility. While academic literature on the subject is increasing but still limited, social media are growing in popularity, internationally, as technological tools that can facilitate visibility and responsiveness of extended supply chains. Studies on the use of social media in South African firms are currently largely focused on their use in marketing, with none identified on their potential or current usage in supply chain management. The Agile Supply Chain Framework, which was developed by Harrison, Christopher and Van Hoek in 1999, was used to guide the study. The four characteristics of agility: market sensitivity, virtual integration, process integration and network based management, as identified by the framework, were used to analyse if there is potential for social media to increase agility in the South African fashion industry. Qualitative research methods were used for the study. A case study approach was implemented and data was collected using in-depth interviews involving eight participants involved in the supply chain of one of South Africa’s top apparel retailers. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The results from the analysis reflected that the uses of social media in the supply chain are minimal, with one tool, Whatsapp surfacing as the most widely used in the Supply Chain and Logistics department. While management were mostly supportive of the introduction of social media in the organisation for supply chain management purposes, concerns were raised about issues such as the lack of security of information and the possibility of losing productivity amongst employees. However, despite these concerns, a substantial number of participants indicated that they would be willing to adopt social media if they were aware of other tools that could benefit their organisation.