Browsing by Author "Sibanda, Rosemary."
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Item The development of engineers into entrepreneurs and business leaders in South Africa.(2018) Ncwane, Lungelo Reginald.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Over the years there has been a great emphasis on the study of the transition of engineers to managers across business. The emphasis has resulted to the fact that a great number of engineers find the transition from engineers to managers a lot easier as structures in organizations have been put in place to allow this transition to be seamless. With a high-growth potential entrepreneurial ventures in terms of their creative ideas when it comes technology in various disciplines, engineers have not effectively been developed and have somewhat been neglected by the academia in general. The aim of the study was to investigate the development of engineers into entrepreneurs and business leaders in South Africa. The failure of South Africa to rapidly develop engineers into entrepreneurs and business leaders can be seen as one of the drivers of entrepreneurial activities being significantly low in the country. Understanding the importance of entrepreneurial activities in any emerging economy it therefore should become a priority for the government. A probability sample of 220 engineers was drawn from the database of the National Society of Black Engineers-South Africa (NSBE-SA). Data was collected using a web-based questionnaire developed specifically for this study by the researcher, the questionnaire was also emailed to other participants. A salient feature of this study is that 71.82% of participants were interested in becoming entrepreneurs and out of those 51% were male participants compared to female participants with 21.82%. The main driving forces for the participants wanting to be entrepreneurs was the ability to own their time and financial freedom which come with one being an entrepreneur. Over 60% of the respondents indicated that their engineering qualification did not prepare them to be entrepreneurs, further to that 90% of the participants indicated that the engineering curriculum should pay much more attention to entrepreneurship. The study went on further to recommend a long-term strategy of developing an Engineering Entrepreneurship Program in collaboration with the institutions of higher learning in order to develop engineers into entrepreneurs and business leaders. This recommendation is in line with the triple helix model of innovation which was greatly explored in both the literature and the findings.Item The effect of using multi-skilled workforce on the flexibility of project resource scheduling and project costs: Eskom PTM central group project execution department.(2017) Manyi, Thulisile.; Sibanda, Rosemary.ABSTRACT The introduction of multi-skilling within organisations is normally conducted with the aim of improving efficiency, quality, production and cost effectiveness. The study addressed the effect of using multi-skilled workforce in the execution of project activities by studying the changes in project execution resource scheduling flexibility and project costs in response to workforce multi-skilling strategy. A quantitative research design was used, to test the concept of workforce multiskilling to predict its influence on project resource scheduling, project cost saving, project duration, effect on optimal utilization of project technicians and members if adopted at Eskom PTM Central Group department. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to collect data and statistical analysis of data was conducted. The hypothesis testing performed concluded as follows; there is evidence that the use of multi-skilled workforce provides for flexible project resource scheduling as much as 3.3 times. However, there is probably no positive relationship between multiskilled workforce and project costs. Further results indicated that using multiskilling has 3.3 times negative significant impact on project duration. On the other hand, the use of multi-skilling could have as much as 3.8 times positive significant impact on job redesign. And lastly, the use of multi-skilling could have up to 3.5 times positive significant impact on multi skills adoption rate. It is recommended that for Eskom PTM Central Group to realize full benefits of multi-skilling strategy in project execution there must be an action to fast-track cross-skilling initiatives with the aim of reducing time taken to complete a task and ultimately improve the influence of multi-skilling on project duration and costs. This research contributes to knowledge of engineering project management staffing of teams and effective management of operations. The arrangement of research objectives was a carefully thought out exercise to allow for research results to be quantified and generalized to the research site, to enhance business decision making. Key words: Multi-skilling, flexible project scheduling, project costs, project duration, job redesign, multi skills adoption.Item The effectiveness of a male grooming solution to improve male shopper behaviour towards the purchase of personal care products.(2019) Amrithlal, Prathana.; Mutambara, Emmanuel.; Sibanda, Rosemary.The cosmetic industry over the years has proven to be one of the fastest growing and most profitable industries globally. In the male cosmetic industry, male grooming and metrosexual trends have rapidly expanded across global communities, and in recent years have become a leading trend amongst South African men who are looking after their health as well as their physical appearance. The advent of the metrosexual trend has captured enormous attention for men to be more alert and mindful of their self-image, how to enhance their external appearance and how to uphold their own handsomeness no matter what challenges they may be facing. These emerging trends subsequently shaped the way businesses and companies expanded product lines and developed strategies to influence the shopping behaviour of men. Therefore, this study - to influence and improve male shopper behaviour towards the purchase of personal care products, investigated the effectiveness of a male grooming solution. This was a quasiexperimental study conducted among male shoppers at the Pavillion Shopping Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire between pre- and post-installation of the male grooming zone. Results indicated that pre installation of the male zone, shampoo, face care and body lotion were the highest consumed products while post installation results indicated that deodorant had the highest consumption rate followed by body lotion; while the face care and the perfume/cologne/aftershave segment were purchased at the same rate. It was also found that the intervention of the male grooming zone, post installation, had a perceived positive impact on self-image, self-esteem, lifestyle and celebrity association. The study revealed that emotional value, epistemic value and social value of the male shoppers were also perceived to have improved significantly post the installation of the male grooming zone. More than three quarters of male shoppers indicated that they preferred the new shopping environment. The outlook of male shoppers towards shopping for personal care products was also favourable and the amount of money spent on personal care products almost doubled. The study recommends that male grooming merchandise solutions be conceptualized and implemented for the improvement of male shopper behaviour towards the purchase of personal care products.Item Efficiencies and capacity of support services post college model adoption at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.(2017) Shamase, Slindokuhle Patience.; Sibanda, Rosemary.ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of the adoption of the College Model at UKZN and its effect on efficiencies and capacity of the support services. The study adopted a qualitative approach and a case study design. To achieve this purpose, the study used a questionnaire consisting of open ended questions in order to capture real life experiences consistent with a qualitative study. A questionnaire was placed on online notices and a call was made to staff to complete the questionnaire online or advise when they needed the researcher to come to their offices to help with its completion. Respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique in which all staff from all areas of the university could participate in giving relevant information concerning any possible area of the university operations. A total of 45 respondents participated in this study who ranged from Support Staff, Academic Staff and others in leadership in those categories. Some of the key findings of the study suggest that the College Model streamlined certain functions and devolved some responsibilities to schools which enabled them to focus on their core business of teaching and learning, research, community engagement and targeted internationalisation better. The new structure is ‘top-heavy’ with superfluous posts such as myriad of Directors and Managers, should be re-looked. Colleges have morphed into mini-universities with little collaboration between them. The Dean of Research and Dean of Teaching and Learning, with no line management responsibilities and no administrative support, appear unnecessary if not deployed differently. ICS were found to be efficient while HR and Finance should improve. Training should be offered to HR Officers/Consultants so that they become all-rounders and not just recruitment specialists. The study recommends that staff should be hired in critical areas such as College of Humanities, Finance and Library services which will ensure smooth operations and support teaching and learning respectively. It also recommends freeing academics to focus on teaching and learning, research and community engagement by not involving them in processes such as ERS and DP appeals. Given the improved collaborations between disciplines, capitalise on these synergies and share information, skills and know-how through cross-pollination of knowledges and practices. The study concludes with recommendations of a relook of support services and the college model to help improve efficiency and capacitate key staffing areas with adequate staff and training to help improve service delivery. Finally, the study recommends undertaking a comprehensive study which investigates both the qualitative and quantitative outcomes related to the financial impact or savings deriving from the College Model adoption.Item Exploring how to achieve a corporate entrepreneurial financial organisation in the 21st century: A case of Iemas Financial Services.(2018) Chiposi, Vusumuzi.; Sibanda, Rosemary.This study is aimed to increase the understanding of how financial service companies in South Africa can develop and enhance entrepreneurial innovation and promote entrepreneurial activity within the company’s boundaries that is necessary to generate profits. Financial service companies face macroeconomic challenges in order to sustain the revenue streams especially now with the fourth industrial revolution that is upon us; a shift in culture is required. Financial service companies need to create an entrepreneurial oriented company that pursues innovative opportunities that increase the company’s competiveness as well. The features of corporate entrepreneurship are explored to determine whether it exists at all in the organisation in order to drive innovation necessary to create the competitive advantage in financial services companies. Previous research supports the notion that manager’s has a significant impact on individual creative ability, and employees who reported high-quality relationships with their managers were more likely to generate creative ideas. This research study explores the role of corporate entrepreneurship orientation or leader administration in relation to corporate entrepreneurship with regards to business creativity and innovation at Iemas Financial Services. A case study approach was undertaken and qualitative data collected on sales and marketing, business development and information technology managers within the organization. A mixed method approach is employed involving audit questionnaire to compile quantitative data on innovative activity and an interview to gather qualitative data to identify some critical insights on the Iemas financial services. Findings from this case study (based on Iemas Financial Services) concluded that the dimensions of corporate entrepreneurship have a positive influence on innovation. The thorough and meaningful assessment of the financial service industry was not attained. The study provided insights that can be useful to companies that are looking to find methods to revive or improve their commercial services offered to customers.Item Factors influencing leadership ability to respond and adapt to change during turbulent times: a case study of Swaziland Railway.(2016) Nsingwane, Bonginkhosi Sibusiso.; Sibanda, Rosemary.The aim of this study was to investigate both positive and negative factors that influence an organisation’s leadership ability to respond and adapt to change during turbulent times, particularly in a government-owned enterprise. The investigated factors were based on the Complexity Adaptive Systems concepts, derived from complexity theory. A questionnaire was administered into 13 managers of Swaziland Railway, with varying years of service with the company, and from all the departments within the company. The research was a case study, conducted using the mixed methods approach, which used mainly both the qualitative (interview) and quantitative (questionnaire) method. The qualitative aspect of it was derived from the interview questions and analysis of the responses from the managers of Swaziland Railway with regard to how they perceived each Complex Adaptive System concept and its effect on influencing leadership ability to respond and adapt to change during turbulent times. The quantitative aspect of it was derived from the administered questionnaire. The results of the study indicated that the positive factors that largely influence leadership ability to respond and adapt to change were mainly artefacts, such as computers, which were viewed as extremely important as business enablers. The study also found that the setting of strategic objectives to guide the implementation of specific functions to ensure business sustainability was a positive factor that influences leadership ability to respond and adapt to change. One of the main negative factors hindering leadership ability to respond to change was historical legacy, which was used as a panacea to solve emerging problems, by replicating past solutions. Egalitarianism also featured as a strong negative factor, as the culture of the company was one of high respect for hierarchies and authority, leading to the belief that the longer you have served in the company, the more capable you are of making the best decisions for all levels of the company. The findings of the study were that organisations need a structured Leadership Development programme that focuses on using the Complex Adaptive Systems concepts to equip leaders with knowledge to apply effective leadership to adequately adapt and respond to change during turbulent times or when faced with sporadic organizational changes. The study will benefit stakeholders in leadership positions, which include Trade Union Leaders, the Public Enterprise Unit, and other Parastatal organisation leaders by pointing out that a long length of service and knowledge of the history of the company inhibits leadership ability to respond and adapt to change, leading to a compromised organisational sustainability.Item Green human-resource management towards sustainable organizations: a case of KwaZulu-Natal higher education institutions.(2017) Mtembu, Vuyokazi Ntombikayise.; Sibanda, Rosemary.; Hoque, Muhammad Ehsanul.The Human Resources Management Division, as a strategic partner and one of the important functions in any organisation, can make a significant contribution to ensuring environmental sustainability in the organisations where they operate. Higher education institutions with their power and potential to bring awareness, educate, and influence the nation’s thinking, can provide an invaluable contribution to natural resource conservation. The aim of the study was to explore how the Human Resources Management division can contribute to the crucial cause of natural resource conservation sustainability through the greening of organisations. This was a mixed method study conducted amongst Human Resource Practitioners in operational and management levels from three institutions of higher education. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. Results indicated that Human Resources (HR) Practitioners had a limited understanding of the concept ‘Green HRM’. Green HR activities in the institutions were mainly applied in recruitment and performance management systems where technologically advanced, green and resource-efficient HR methods were used. Regarding engagement of employees on greening issues, training, and compensation, results showed that nothing much is being done in these activities to incorporate ‘Green HRM’ principles in institutions. There was no established ‘green’ organisational culture in the HR divisions and in institutions at large. The study recommends that green clauses should be incorporated into the vision and mission statements of the instititutions as well as in organisational and HR policies. Management vision and commitment are key in ensuring success of greening strategies. All employees should be consulted and engaged in every stage of the greening process to ensure their buy-in and commitment. There should be financial and human capital investment in green projects to ensure their success. Establishing partnerships with the private sector is also very important as a source of benchmarking and sharing of ideas in greening projects.Item A growth analysis of the South African revealed comparative advantage exports within the BRICS economies.(2018) Madikizela, Nobantu.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Abstract There is much debate about the long-term benefit of South Africa’s membership to the BRICS partnership. Generally, there has been a perception that all the other BRICS partner countries are growing to the detriment of the South African economy. The purpose of this research was to analyse the performance of 20 product categories with a high revealed comparative advantage for South Africa within the BRICS bloc, to determine if these product categories have experienced growth in the period of 2012 to 2016. The population for this research comprised of the 37 product categories with a revealed comparative advantage for South Africa within the BRICS bloc in 2012, that the country could potentially export in greater quantities, or for the first time, to other BRICS markets. A quantitative approach was adopted for this study. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to select a sample comprised of all the 20 product categories that had a revealed comparative advantage which was much higher than that of the leading import sources in the BRICS bloc for South Africa in 2012. To understand the impact of trade volumes on the trade values and therefore assess growth, the ordinary least squares regression method was applied on the time series data of the export categories. The study found a strong positive relationship between the flows of trade volumes and the strength of trade. The aim of this study was to analyse the level of growth for the identified exports during the specified period of 2012 to 2016 and the findings revealed that eight of the categories had experienced significant growth in trade during the period under review, while eleven experienced a decline in trade during the same period. One category of the exports did not experience any trade for the period, and thus remained unchanged. The findings further indicated that at country level trade was significantly higher for South Africa with China than the other BRICS partners. In conclusion, the product categories with a high revealed comparative advantage for South Africa within the BRICS bloc experienced significant growth in trade values and trade volumes between 2012 and 2016 implying a benefit to South Africa in joining the BRICS bloc. It is recommended that deeper diplomatic engagement by the South African government be embarked on with the BRICS partners to create further access to markets for South African exporters. Key words: Revealed comparative advantage, international trade theory, trade agreements, BRICS.Item The impact of ethical climate on organisational commitment.(2015) Dubazane, Xolani Ngcebo Sydney.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Though there has been some research on ethical climate in both the public and the private sectors, but more particularly in retail industry, the importance of the issue is no way proportionate to the amount of research on the topic. The retail industry that is more labour intensive would benefit from conducting their organisations in a more responsible and ethical manner. This study examines the impact of an ethical climate on employee commitment which includes employee deviance and employee turnover. The study also looks at what decides employees to leave or commit to the organisation or behave in an unproductive manner while they are within the organisation. It is proposed that employees who work in an ethical business environment are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and more committed to the organisation resulting in low staff turnover. A high level of an ethical climate can have a positive effect on the organisational commitment with a concomitantly negative effect on turnover intentions. Literature further supports that the perception that employees have on the ethical climate of the organisation predicts the level of commitment and turnover intentions. For the purpose of this study, a number of selected demographic variables (i.e. age, gender, length of service and level of management) were analysed in order to examine the extent to which they influence these relationships. Data was collected through the use of a survey where questionnaires were distributed via emails to strategically selected members of the organisation. A total of 113 usable survey were collected from this method. The results showed that employees’ perception of their organisational ethical climate had a less significant effect on the turnover intentions while other factors i.e. rewards and career development had a significant influence on the intentions of employees to leave their organisations.Item Impact of process controllers’ development program on job satisfaction at Umgeni Water.(2018) Mtshali, Silindile Grace.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Organizations have implemented career development programs in order to address the issue of employee retention, job satisfaction and career advancement among others. These programs are designed to teach employees how to work toward their own developmental goals while continuing to do productive work for the organization. Organizations with such programs claim they retain a greater number of employees. Job satisfaction is a result of clearly outlined likes and dislikes experiences with the job. The level of employee job satisfaction in an organization is influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors which include nature of the job, training and development, responsibility, promotion opportunity and working environment. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of Process Controllers’ development program on job satisfaction at Umgeni Water. One hundred and thirty-two (132) out of the target population of 211 respondents were selected as the sample size for the quantitative the study. The sample size was arrived at after making use of the Sekaran and Bougie’s 2014 list for selecting a sample size from a given population size. Questionnaires were developed and distributed to the nineteen Process Controllers who attended the development program. A questionnaire was also sent to the supervisors of these Process Controllers. Statistical analysis of the data collected revealed that the Process Controllers were satisfied with the positive impact the development program had on their personal attributes such as attitudes, behaviour, morale, self-esteem. The results also indicated that the Process Controllers were satisfied with the impact the programme had on their understanding and troubleshooting of the water and wastewater treatment process. The study also revealed that the Process Controllers were satisfied with the impact the development programme had to the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect their satisfaction with the job. It is recommended that Umgeni Water constantly provide the Process Controllers with information about the operations of the organization, especially those that will have impact to their job and as a result their satisfaction. It is also recommended that Process Controllers need to be continuously recognized when they perform their job well.Item Impact of public private partnerships on community –based tourism projects, Jozini Tiger Lodge case study.(2017) Thiyane, Thobile Thelma.; Sibanda, Rosemary.ABSTRACT Public Private Partnership (PPP) establishments are usually prone to prolonged implementation due to their complex nature. The South African Government as well as private sector businesses play equally vital roles which, according to their efficient implementation, greatly impact on the success or failure of Public Private Partnerships. As risks are inherent in all establishments, Private Public Partnerships are even more prone to higher risks due to their natural demand for various stakeholder involvement and/or ownership. This study uncovers a case study of the Jozini Tiger Lodge to describe and explore the impact of Public Private Partnerships and their benefits to community-based tourism projects. Furthermore, the study explores Public Private Partnerships in terms of the partnerships’ stakeholders and their roles within such partnerships. The ownership and management of PPPs, PPP opportunities and constraints as well as issues of long term sustainability in Public Private Partnerships are also uncovered. A qualitative research methodology was used as an approach for data collection. The qualitative approach was used through conducting interviews as the main form of data collection for the research study. The study concludes that the Public Private Partnership of the case study of the Jozini Tiger Lodge is a success story as it has contributed to the establishment of the Jozini community and its members. As all PPPs require sound partnerships with various stakeholders, the Jozini Tiger Lodge has not only stood the test of time, but has also made the Jozini area to become a tourist attraction, of which has served the community through the minor alleviation of socio-economic issues.Item Implementing of cost and profit management systems: a case of small, medium and large construction firms in Swaziland.(2018) Shabangu, Sihle Seedwell.; Sibanda, Rosemary.The construction industry in Swaziland consists of small, medium and large construction firms both in building and civil construction works. The industry is guided by several management systems such as quality, health and safety, environmental, cost and profit management systems. The study focused on the implementation of cost and profit management systems, it sought to compare effectiveness of the use of these systems by large construction firms and challenges faced by small or medium contractors in adopting this system. Through this comparison the aim was to find ways in which small and medium contractors could be capacitated for them to be able to master the use of cost and profit management systems so as to track financial performance of the organization and execution of projects. The purpose of the study is to understand the extent to which construction companies employ cost and profit management systems to predict profitability. In previous research inadequate capacity, lack of financial capital, poor management systems have been identified as contributors to the failure of these companies thus this study will collate these contributors, analysing the cost and profit management systems between the small, medium and large construction firms. The interpretivist paradigm and inductive research was conducted in a case study methodology which was qualitative research design in nature as it needed to investigate and understand in depth the reasons for failure to implement cost and profit management systems by small and medium contractors. The research was conducted using semi- structured interviews with nine construction firms in the different categories from the Mbabane- Manzini corridor selected by purposive sampling. These were selected because they had projects at the time of the study. Data was analysed by thematic analysis. The findings were that the firms scarcely used cost and profit management systems and it they used them they were not fed properly with information because of the lack of expertise among staff. It is recommended that employers and employees are given training to understand the intricacies of the industry and the implications are that firms need capacity building.Item Investigating the impact of mathematical skills development provided to manufacturing staff by Optimum Learning Technologies.(2017) Mkhize, Elianorah Nokubonga.; Sibanda, Rosemary.ABSRACT Although there has been a considerable amount of research relating measures of schooling years, qualifications, or training spells to workers' labour market success, there has been very little assessment of the role of more basic literacy and numeracy skills, largely due to problems with measurement and data availability. Yet it is obviously crucial, in an era of apparently rising demand for skills, that we have evi- dence on the labour market value of the full range of worker skills, including basic literacy and numera Although there has been a considerable amount of research relating to measures of schooling years, qualifications, or training spells to workers' labour market success, there has been very little assessment of the role of more basic literacy and numeracy skills, largely due to problems with measurement and data availability. Yet it is obviously crucial, in an era of apparently rising demand for skills, that we have evidence on the labour market value of the full range of worker skills, including basic literacy and numeracy. The study was conducted to Investigating the impact of mathematical skills development provided to manufacturing staff by Optimum Learning Technologies. The research took a quantitative approach by which a probability sampling was done using stratified random sampling method to select the samples. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that although the numeracy skills are adapted to specific strategies for each industry, they tend to be based on an underpinning of skills developed through a range of prior learning experiences and, in many cases, transferred between workplaces and life situations. Numeracy is not a skill or fixed entity that can be earned. Instead, people’s skills are situated along a continuum of different purposes and levels of accomplishment with numbers. There is need for senior management to show commitment for the programme, monitoring and evaluation of the programme, strengthening communication, creating a learning culture among employees as well as providing incentives for participating in the programme. Keywords: Numeracy; Optimum Learning Technologies; Mathematical skills; manufacturing employees.Item Professional services staff perceptions of performance management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal: a case study of the College of Humanities.(2017) Ramsamy, Aghasphree.; Sibanda, Rosemary.In a contemporary society, globalisation-induced competition has given rise to significant improvements in human resource management styles to improve competitive advantage. This is not only in the private sector but in the public sector as well. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have caught on to this phenomenon and have adopted these management practices. This means that the same principles involved in managing the private sector, such as introducing performance management systems, are now applied in the public sector. The University of KwaZulu–Natal (UKZN) recognised that “managing and reviewing employee performance and fostering employee development are critical factors in achieving institutional strategic priorities and overall success.” In pursuit of its vision and mission, UKZN had embarked on a strategic plan to introduce a performance management system to the organisation in 2008. There is very limited knowledge on what the perceptions of professional services staff regarding performance management are. Furthermore, there is minimal empirical evidence relating to how professional services or support staff perceive performance management. The aim for this study is to investigate the effectiveness of performance management at the College of Humanities as a strategic tool for motivation. Since the appraisee or employee is meant to be the beneficiary of performance management, knowing how they perceive the process can result in the rehabilitation of strategic procedures in the organisation. The researcher used a survey research design and conducted a quantitative research analysis for this study. A pilot study and pretesting confirmed the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Purposive sampling method was used to forward the online questionnaire to a sample of 166 professional services staff. The response rate was 106. The raw data was statistically analysed by descriptive and inferential tests. The results indicated positive responses for the research objectives. The research findings indicated that professional services staff are satisfied with the performance management process and its strategic purpose of improved performance objectives. It was recommended that additional training in the use of the system is required and for management to consider both monetary and non-monetary incentives.Item Promoting sustainability and growth in SMEs manufacturers through the adoption of strategic management in Pinetown.(2019) Banda, Dereck.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Strategic management is a major contributor to the success of any organization. It is not limited to larger companies or organization in specific sectors but to all. Due to the advances in technology and the opportunities being created, SMEs keep emerging either to compete or compliment large corporations. Most of the founders and managers in these SMEs may not have knowledge of strategic management or business-related academic background. The purpose of this study was to establish the level of adoption of strategic management practices by manufacturing SMEs in South Africa and its influence on their performance and sustainability. The study was anchored on four theories namely, resource-based view of the firm, the contingency theory, profit maximization and competition-based theory and survival-based theory. The research design employed in this study was survey method. The target population was 150 manufacturing SMEs that are based in Pinetown, South Africa. The sample size was of 108 manufacturing SMEs, being a calculation by the guidance of Sekaran and Bouge (2014)’s table of sample size. The researcher used a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The study relied on primary data that was obtained from questionnaires that were distributed to the companies. The data was analysed using SPSS version 22 and descriptive statistics. Frequency distribution table were used to summarize the data that was received from the respondents. From the findings, the study did establish that majority of the companies did not have employees with a business-related academic background and also are not managed by employees who have experience in managing an organization. It was noted that adoption of strategic management is more in line with product strategies compared to other areas like human resource and marketing. The study found out also that the organizations believe that the adoption of strategic management has had an influence on the performance of their organizations. The study concludes that majority of the organisations have adopted strategic management practices in their operations. Most of the focus of the organisations has been in product strategy and operations. The study has also concluded that adoption of strategic management practices has an influence on the performance of the organization. The study recommends that manufacturing SMEs should focus on creating strategies that would help them gain a competitive advantage and also help in improving their performance for sustainability.Item Quality management performance modelling for the South African contact centre industry.(2019) Ramchunder, Rajesh.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Against the background of an extreme youth unemployment problem, South Africa seeks to identify and support industries that may offer substantial solutions. The employment potential of the contact centre industry was recognised by the South African government as far back as 2004. By capitalising on comparative advantages such as lower costs, South Africa has successfully claimed a place amongst the preferred international customer service destinations. While lower costs remain a key driver behind the outsourcing of services to offshore destinations like South Africa, a shift in focus towards the ‘quality of service’ is increasingly featured in outsourcing decisions. It follows that, in order to maintain the competitive momentum amidst intense international rivalry, it is imperative that contact centre managers understand the relationship between quality practices and business performance. While these relationships have been investigated across various industry sectors and in various locations globally from as far back as the early 90s, such relationships have not been empirically investigated in the contact centre environment and specifically not in the South African context. The primary objective of this study is to address this gap by developing a model that reveals the nature of the quality practice / performance relationships together with the moderating impact of contingency factors. This should serve as a valuable, context-specific, industry reference while academically contributing towards the development of quality management theory. Based on extensive academic and practice literature, a new industry-specific measurement instrument was developed that demonstrated very good reliability and validity. By initially exploring the extent and manner in which quality practices are deployed it was found that the South African contact centre industry are generally ‘high users’ of quality practices that are normally deployed as part of a more holistic quality program. The proposed quality practice / performance model was based on features of prominent models found in the literature where Path Analysis techniques were employed to test the relationships among variables. Regression analyses confirmed the importance of ‘Top Management Support’ where Leadership quality practices showed a strong, positive and significant impact on the deployment of ‘Core quality practices’ such as Customer, Human Resource, Operational, Infrastructure and Relationship practices. When the impact of each core group of quality practices was measured in isolation i.e. via directly related performance metrics, the results show that all groups have a strong, positive and significant impact on performance. Similar results were obtained when performance was measured at an organisational level for both operational and business performance. Further, synergistic value was found in the deployment of quality practices thus confirming the interdependent nature of such practices. The key implication is that although there are variations in the impact among the various quality practices, all contribute significantly to operational and business performance – thus supporting the deployment of full-blown quality programs. The results may however be used for piecemeal program implementations that focus on the practices that offer the highest impact on performance i.e. customer and human resource-related practices. Finally, the contingency factors that demonstrated the highest moderating impact on the practice / performance relationships included ‘Management Knowledge’, External Demand for Compliance’ and ‘Culture’ while demographic factors had no significant impact. The result partially supports both the universal and context driven approaches to quality management. Path analyses revealed a good fit of the model to the data.Item The retention of women in the marine operations.(2018) Khuzwayo, Sanele Nokuthula.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Abstract The marine industry has been known over the years for the responsibility of carrying over 90 percent of the world trade and maintaining the logistical pipeline in the international crisis. The industry affects almost everyone globally, with regards to their daily living, as the goods that are consumed in every household are shipped in and out, worldwide. This study focused on the female marine pilots, the female tug masters and marine engineers of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)’s 8 ports, who penetrated the male dominated industry, the maritime industry. The aim of the study was to investigate the retention of female mariners in this male-dominated industry. To achieve this, the qualitative methodology was employed. Purposive sampling was done to recruit the participants for this study. A non-probability sample of 18 female mariners was drawn out of a population of approximately 100 TNPA women working as marine pilots, marine engineers and tug masters. The findings of the study indicated that only a minority of women can succeed in this industry, but the majority is unable to stand against the challenges, which result in them giving up their careers. The findings of the study also revealed the notion that the maritime industry is a man’s world, the stereotype that a woman should be at home cooking in the kitchen and bearing children. The participants of the study also hinted on the rising challenge of sexual harassment, in addition to the gender stereotypes. This demoralises the female mariners, whose decisions are also often downplayed by their male counterparts. Based on these findings, it was recommended that more females should be attracted to this industry, for instance, in the form of sponsorships to support them to pursue studies in this field. It was also recommended that awareness should be raised, in order for potential mariners to familiarise themselves with the industry, prior to joining it. Essentially, it was noted that policy makers should ensure that affirmative action is emphasised, for women to realise their dreams of becoming mariners. Key words: female mariners; retention, marine sector.Item The role of Majuba Technical and Vocational Education and Training College programmes in addressing industrial skills shortages in Newcastle and Amajuba District.(2015) Dlamini, Phakamani Irvine.; Sibanda, Rosemary.This research assesses how the programmes offered by Majuba College, a Technical Vocational Education and Training centre (TVET), are best suited in their design to address the skills shortages pertaining the industries operating within the Newcastle area and the Majuba district as a whole. Furthermore, the study sought to establish whether vocational training programmes were designed in line with the goals of the South African government to equip the youths with the requisite skills, knowledge and attitudes that are of utmost importance for their absorption into the labour market. The problem statement was formulated from the concern that the college programmes being offered to the students were not really in sync with the needs of the industrial community of the particular area where the college is located. A case study strategy was employed for the research and the setting was non-contrived. It was also exploratory in nature. The choice of the research strategy was motivated by the need to collect qualitative data from the participants and thus meet the research objectives. A case-study of the Majuba TVET College portrayed views of two experienced representatives of local industries in Newcastle. The representatives were from the textile and the manufacturing industries. The information collected from the interviews pointed out various challenges that the institution (Majuba TVET College) is currently facing. These challenges include lack of infrastructure, poorly resourced campuses, competency of lecturing staff and inadequate lecturing staff with specialised skills. A structured interview method was applied in the study under review to gain the perceptions of the Majuba TVET programmes from role players. The researcher, as a practitioner in the field, has also made some observations during data collection. A broader purpose of the TVET sector was analysed in the literature and included views of other industries in relation to the TVET College programmes. It was also evident from the research that a paradigm shift is needed in the design of college programmes if the government is to achieve its goal to minimise unemployment amongst youth. Findings indicated that Majuba TVET College programmes are mostly focusing on Engineering field in equipping its learners with the necessary skills that are required by industries. However, the case study discussions during the research process indicated that the college paradigm has shifted from one area of discipline, and is expanding its partnership with other local industries as well.Item A systems thinking approach to a sustainable management model for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s Youth Academies.(2018) Xaba, Frederick Matthews Dumisani.; Sibanda, Rosemary.In South Africa, like in most developing countries, the provision of integrated youth development programmes is vitally important to provide the future workforce with the crucial and relevant skills for the modern economy. The youth development academies under the Department of Social Development in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are an innovative approach by government to deal with the dearth of skills, and high unemployment rates among the youth. Through the examination of the youth academy vignettes, the study sought to examine whether the current management approaches were effective in supporting the objectives of the youth development academy conceptual framework and what theoretical framework underpinned the model for the youth development academies and the management thereof. The study followed a mixed method approach where both quantitative and qualitative methods of data generation were used. The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was applied to critically analyse the environmental dynamics that had an influence in the organizational complexity. Furthermore, the study used the Ralph Stacey Model and stakeholder theory to highlight and analyse complex areas of contestation between the different stakeholders. The study then proceeded to use a causal loop analysis to identify systems determinants for sustainability. The study found shortcomings and limitations with the current management model which is based on partnerships because of the complex relationships between stakeholders. The study also found that causal loop analysis provides an opportunity to identify explicit complex cause-and-effects relationships and high probability risks, which need to be anticipated and mitigated. It then recommends a systems approach for managing the academies in a complex dynamics of power relations, complexity and social norms. This study contributes to the knowledge domain of the management of youth development academies using a systems approach in a state and the not-for profit organization partnership model. It further enhances the deeper understanding of the complex challenges that exist in such a partnership model within a community development praxis. Keywords: Systems thinking, complexity theory, causal loops, Ralph Stacey Model, youth development academiesItem Towards effective project delivery: the influence of the Project Management Office in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.(2018) Zungu, Nokubonga Petronella Cheryl.; Sibanda, Rosemary.Available in PDF.