Browsing by Author "Taylor, Michael Simon."
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Item Developing a leadership model to integrate Millennials and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the eThekwini Municipality.(2022) Nxumalo, Carol Dainne Pearl.; Proches, Cecile Naomi Gerwel.; Taylor, Michael Simon.As the generation of the fourth industrial revolution, millennials have been described as the sophisticated generation that relies on the internet for information and finding solutions to resolve workplace problems. While the Ethekwini Municipality employs millennials, it appears from the results of the study that it has not prioritised their integration into the workplace. The fourth industrial revolution is at an advanced stage in developed countries; however, South Africa is still behind on implementation and has not rolled out a plan to integrate it into all government spheres to increase efficiency and enhance service delivery. Consequently, the fusion of millennials and technologies into the workplace may necessitate a shift by government and workplace leaders to ensure that organisations are in sync with the rest of the world. Against this background, the study is conducted in the Ethekwini Municipality, Durban, South Africa and it seeks to develop a leadership model that can be adopted by the municipality to integrate millennials and the fourth industrial revolution. The study is empirical in nature and was conducted using a mixed methods approach. The data was collected through interviews with fifteen municipal leaders employed at various management levels, a questionnaire was sent to 332 millennials and six millennials participated in the focus group. The study provides recommendations for the municipality to implement the transforthentic leadership model developed to integrate millennials and the fourth industrial revolution. Among the key findings of the study is the importance of understanding the relationship between millennials and the fourth industrial revolution, the influence of the revolution on organisational culture, its role in enhancing strategy implementation, its impact on attracting and retaining millennials, and the importance of developing a leadership model to integrate millennials and the revolution to ensure that organisations are prepared for disruptive and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, virtual reality, cloud computing and robotics. Among others, change management is recommended to the Ethekwini Municipality to ensure that all employees share the common goal of integration of millennials and the fourth industrial revolution. Training and development are recommended to ensure that all employees are provided with the necessary skills to drive strategies that will assist the municipality to achieve its goal of building a smart city by 2025. It is also recommended that the municipality develops a vigorous talent management strategy to attract and retain millennials who will be at the forefront of implementation of fourth industrial revolution strategies. A leadership and coaching programme is proposed to ensure that the leaders are well equipped for the 4IR.Item Exploring the design and development of the real value (RV) methodology : a value-based business development leadership metrics system.(2009) Taylor, Michael Simon.; Taylor, Robert Gordon.The dissertation explores and explains the design and development of the researcher's Real Value© methodology, through participative action research. The action research (participative exploratory research) was undertaken in the form of professional pilot projects as real world commercial research, for the formulation and emergence of the value-based business development leadership metrics system: The Real Value© Methodology. The outcomes of the action research are captured in select strategic knowledge reports (i.e. client pilot project research reports) which demonstrate the emergence of the Real Value© methodology, in the client and commercial context, through the entire action research process. The clients were contracted on a professional basis and the fees generated from the commercial projects were utilised to fund the resources required to do the knowledge investigations of the client organisations. The methodology was intended as a strategic management system, and subsequently developed, through the action research and pilot projects, into a value-based business development leadership metrics system. The Real Value© methodology aims to create, develop and measure the real value of intangible assets (vs. physical assets) in a continuous and discontinuous process of business development: value that is created and sustained through the highest and best application and utilisation of intangible assets in the knowledge (and industrial) economic context. (Intangible assets herein classified as brand, intellectual property, technology, and human and customer capital). The participative action research was originally inspired by the first Module of the MSc programme 'Managing Complexity' facilitated by Professor Steen Martiny (Copenhagen Business School) during the comparative exercise on 'Extraordinary and Ordinary Management', and specifically during the reading of the first precept of Stacey's (2000) 'Extraordinary Management Theory': "Detect and attract attention to important external and internal issues, ordinarily not noticed." The above precept captures the essence and intrinsic motivation of the researcher for undertaking and performing the participative action research of the dissertation. The dissertation explains the real world professional pilot projects and participative exploratory action research that was undertaken by the researcher in the design and development of the Real Value© methodology.Item Financial viability of biomass produced in small-scale, low-cost aquaponic system in Ndwedwe.(2019) Phungula, Mthabiso Lethukuthula.; Pillay, Kribendiren.; Taylor, Michael Simon.This study sought to determine the financial viability of small-scale, low-cost aquaponic systems in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly a small-scale, low-cost aquaponic system based in a rural homestead in Ndwedwe. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the financial viability of biomass yield (both fish and plants) in a small-scale, low-cost aquaponic system and to determine factors that affect the biomass output of a small-scale, low-cost aquaponic system. Aquaponics possesses the potential for food security and local economic development, because in aquaponics two enterprises (fish and vegetables) could be developed. However, aquaponics is an emerging practice in South Africa that possesses the potential of creating employment and ensuring household food security. The conventional methods of producing food have been criticised for producing toxic runoff which has had cumulative pollution effects. These effects include; the toxins from artificial fertilizers seeping into water bodies where people and marine life consume the intoxicated water. Conventional farming methods also increase soil run- off which depletes the soil reserves needed for sustainable farming practices. Aquaponics provides an alternative, sustainable method of farming which does not pose a threat to any ecosystems. On a global scale, it is evident that there is a need for innovative means of food production to address food and nutrition insecurity and the social ills that come with it such as poverty. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs. Food and nutrition security are measured by four pillars, namely; access, availability, utilization and stability. These four pillars are determinants of food security, they measure whether people have sufficient access to safe and healthy food, and they are the standard by which food and nutrition security is determined. Access, availability, utilization and stability in food security is influenced by numerous factors such as politics, economic stability, location and dietary preferences. Aquaponics could enhance food sovereignty for both food and nutrition security, if implemented in communities, thereby serving all food security pillars.Item From a manual to a system-guided process: implementing change in a fast-moving consumer goods company in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.(2021) Chinniah, Neville.; Proches, Cecile Naomi Gerwel.; Taylor, Michael Simon.The purpose of this study was to develop a change management framework in transitioning from a manual process to an automated system-guided process using digital technology for managing short-dated inventory in the logistics operations environment. The manual process at the logistics study site entailed the operational staff physically going through all bin locations of inventory in the warehouse and manually checking the shelf-life expiry date (SLED) of the inventory, and as recorded on manually created documents. A qualitative methodology was applied due to the exploratory nature of this study. The data collection strategies utilised were semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The participants were from a purposefully selected sample which constituted all levels of the operational staff. They were managers; despatch/receiving co-ordinators; inventory counters; clerical stock controllers; administration clerks; forklift drivers; reach truck drivers; and supervisors. There were fourteen interviews and three focus group interviews. The data were analysed thematically and subsequently the change management framework was imposed, which was the theoretical underpinning in support of the transition from a manual process to an automated system-guided process utilising digital technology. An understanding of the theoretical underpinning of the change management framework and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) emerged as the discussion developed. The application of the UTAUT model indicated user intention to embrace new technology. The thematic concepts that emerged from the data generated were technology exposure and awareness; skills and competencies; challenges and recommendations; and system implementation: manual-to-automated. The contributions and findings of this study included that the integration of technology and the workforce at the study site did not result in job losses, which is positive for the people, the company, and the economy. Policy contributes to, and informs, job security, skills development, ways of working, and technology adoption frameworks. The contribution from the leadership and management team, with their practical approach, supported the workforce in transitioning from a manual to an automated system-guided approach. One of the inherent fears that the participants cited was that of job losses. Effective communication; training; and management support and presence, contributed to the change in behaviour required to adopt the technology and embrace change. The study ultimately proposed the Logistics Change Management Model, which was adapted to the South African context and is applicable when transitioning from a manual to a system-guided process at the focal company. It is recommended that further studies are conducted to strengthen the theoretical framework.