College of Law and Management Studies

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6699

Browse

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

A strategic leadership framework for sustainability in hotels; a case study of 5-star hotels within KwaZulu-Natal = Uhlaka lobuholi obunobuhlakani bokusimama emahhotela asezingeni lezinkanyezi ezi-5 KwaZulu-Natali.
(2023) Motsamai, Ntombifuth Angel.; Mutambara, Emmanuel.
As the global hospitality industry faces increasing pressure to address environmental and social sustainability concerns, this research explores the development of a Strategic Leadership Framework tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within 5-star hotels in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. This study employed a comprehensive case study approach, drawing insights from a selection of ten (10) luxury hotels in the region. The primary objective of this research was to offer a holistic understanding of the sustainability practices and challenges encountered by high-end hotels within the context of KwaZulu-Natal province. It also sought to identify the strategic leadership attributes and practices that contribute to successful sustainability initiatives within these establishments. The study encompassed various dimensions of sustainability, including environmental conservation, social responsibility, and economic viability, acknowledging the intricate interplay between these factors. Methodologically, this study employed a qualitative approach for data collection and analysis utilised purposive sampling to select 20 participants with in-depth exposure and experience in the hotel industry. Interviews were used for data collection, generating rich and contextually embedded data. Thematic analysis was employed for data analysis, identifying recurring patterns, concepts, and insights related to hotel industry within KwaZulu-Natal province. The research findings highlight the multifaceted nature of sustainability in 5-star hotels, underlining the importance of strategic leadership in navigating complex sustainability challenges. This framework identifies key leadership attributes such as vision, innovation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning, which are essential for fostering sustainability-oriented organisational cultures. The implications of this research extend beyond the borders of KwaZulu-Natal, serving as a valuable reference for luxury hotels worldwide aiming to enhance their sustainability performance. The study ultimately contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable practices within the hospitality industry, offering a roadmap for strategic leadership that can help hotels balance environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and profitability in an increasingly conscious and competitive market. Iqoqa. Njengoba imboni yezokwamukela izihambi emhlabeni wonke ibhekene nengcindezi ekhulayo yokubhekana nokukhathazeka kwemvelo nokusimama komphakathi, lolu cwaningo luhlola ukuthuthukiswa Kohlaka Lweqhinga Lobuholi olwakhelwe izinselele namathuba ayingqayizivele ngaphakathi kwamahhotela asezingeni lezinkanyezi ezi-5 esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali, eNingizimu Afrikha. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela ebanzi yocwaningo oluyisibonelo, luveza imininingwane kumahhotela aphambili ayishumi (10) esifundeni. Inhlosongqangi yalolu cwaningo bekuwukunikeza ukuqonda okuphelele kwezinqubo zokusimama nezinselelo amahhotela asezingeni eliphezulu ahlangabezana nazo esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali. Iphinde yafuna ukuhlonza izici zobuholi bamasu kanye nezinqubo ezifaka isandla ezinhlelweni eziphumelelayo zokusimama ngaphakathi kwalezi zikhungo. Lolu cwaningo beluhlanganisa izilinganiso ezihlukene zokusimama, okuhlanganisa ukongiwa kwemvelo, umthwalo wemfanelo womphakathi, kanye nokuba namandla kwezomnotho, okuvuma ukusebenzisana okuyinkimbinkimbi phakathi kwalezi zici. Ngokwendlela yokwenza, lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela esezingeni eliphezulu yokuqoqwa kwedatha nokuhlaziya okusetshenziswe amasampuli okuhlosiwe ukuze kukhethwe ababambiqhaza abangu-20 abanolwazi olujulile nolwazi embonini yamahhotela. Izingxoxiswano zisetshenziselwa ukuqoqwa kwedatha, ukukhiqiza idatha enothile negxiliswe ngokomongo. Kwasetshenziswa ukuhlaziya okuphathelene nendikimba ukuze kuhlaziywe idatha, kuhlonzwe amaphethini avelayo, imiqondo, kanye nemininingwane ehlobene nemboni yamahhotela esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali. Okutholwe ocwaningweni kugqamisa isimo esinezici eziningi sokusimama kwamahhotela asezingeni lezinkanyezi ezi-5, kugcizelela ukubaluleka kobuholi obunamasu ekuzuzeni izinselele eziyinkimbinkimbi zokusimama. Lolu hlaka luhlonza izici zobuholi ezibalulekile njengombono, ukusungula izinto ezintsha, ukusebenzelana nababambiqhaza, kanye nokuhlelwa kwamasu, okubalulekile ekukhuthazeni amasiko enhlangano agxile ekusimameni. Imithelela yalolu cwaningo idlulela ngale kwemingcele yaKwaZulu-Natali, isebenze njengesethenjwa esibalulekile samahhotela aphambili emhlabeni wonke okuhloswe ngawo ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwawo okuqhubekayo. Ucwaningo lugcine lubambe iqhaza enkulumweni eqhubekayo yezinqubo ezisimeme ngaphakathi kwemboni yokwamukela izihambi, enikeza umhlahlandlela wobuholi obunesu obungasiza amahhotela ukuthi alinganisele ukunakekela indawo ezungezile, imithwalo yemfanelo yomphakathi, kanye nokwenza inzuzo emakethe eqaphelayo nencintisanayo.
An evaluation of corporate sustainability and financial performance for JSE listed companies in the food and drug retail sector = Ukuhlolwa kokusimama kwezezinkampani nokusebenza kwezezimali emkhakheni wokudayisa ukudla nemithi yokwelapha.
(2024) Gregory, Vanessa Margaret.; Chasomeris, Mihalis Georgiou.
There has been a recent influx of research into integrated reporting and the degree of sustainability reporting in such reports. South Africa has become a key country of interest following the mandating of King III application for JSE-listed companies and the literature reviewed showed that the food and drug retail sector was particularly unexplored. This Doctor of Business Administration via publication examined annual integrated reports for companies within this sector to conclude on financial performance and the prominence of corporate sustainability reporting therein. Four objectives were addressed through four separate articles: 1) To use content analyses of integrated reports to identify the purpose of a company; 2) To create an analysis technique in which company purpose and financial performance (depicted through profitability) can be portrayed concurrently to stakeholders; 3) To explore the development of integrated reporting, and 4) To quantify and analyse the degree of sustainability reporting within integrated reports. The methodology adopted a mixed methods approach using quantitative and qualitative content analysis to identify company purpose, analyse integrated report development and arrive at sustainability indices, and ratio analysis to determine company profitability. It was first confirmed that annual integrated reports presented the Entity Maximisation and Sustainability Model as the company’s purpose. Thereafter an analysis technique was created, referred to as the purpose-profitability pentagon analysis, resulting in company purpose and profitability being presented in a single setting. The composition of the integrated reports was then analysed, revealing notable shifts in their presentation, with a common decrease in financial statement information and an increase in governance, strategy and sustainability information. Finally, the calculated sustainability indices showed that sustainability information for three of the four companies (Clicks being the exception) increased, but there was room for improvement in the quality of sustainability reporting within the integrated report. The compilation of all four articles contributes to the body of knowledge on integrated reporting, sustainability reporting and profitability and has created a platform for the studies to be applied to other JSE sectors. It is recommended that other JSE sectors are analysed using these techniques for a cross-industry analysis to expand the research base. Iqoqa. Kunocwaningo oluningi muva nje mayelana nokubika okudidiyelwe kanye nokuvumelana ekubikeni. INingizimu Afrikha isiphenduke izwe elibalulekile nelithakaselwayo kulandela ukugunyazwa kwesicelo seNkosi yesithathu sokufakwa ohlwini lwezinkampani ezikwi-JSE futhi imibhalo yocwaningo ibonisa ukuthi umkhakha wokudayisa ukudla nemithi yokwelapha usangakalandelwa kakhulu. Lezi ziqu zobuDokotela kweZokuphathwa kweBhizinisi zenziwe ngokushicilela amaphepha ocwaningo ukuhlola imibiko yaminyaka yonke ehlanganisiwe yizinkampani ezingaphakathi kwalo mkhakha ukucubungula ukusebenza kwezimali kanye nokuvelela kokubika kokusimama kwebhizinisi. Ama-athikhili amane ocwaningo aveza lezi zinhloso ezine zocwaningo: 1) Ukusebenzisa ukuhlaziya okuqukethwe kwemibiko edidiyelwe ukuze kuhlonzwe inhloso yenkampani; 2) Ukwakha indlela yokuhlaziya lapho inhloso yenkampani nokusebenza kwezimali (okuboniswa ngenzuzo) kungavezwa kanyekanye kwabathintekayo; 3) Ukuhlola ukuthuthukiswa kokubika okudidiyelwe, kanye 4) nokulinganisa nokuhlaziya izinga lokubikwa kokusimama ngaphakathi kwemibiko edidiyelwe. Indlela yokwenza yamukele indlela yezindlela ezixubile kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziya okuqukethwe komthamo kanye nezinga ukuze kuhlonzwe inhloso yenkampani, ukuhlaziya ukuthuthukiswa kombiko odidiyelwe futhi kufinyelelwe ezindimeni zokusimama, nokuhlaziya isilinganiso ukuze kutholwe inzuzo yenkampani. Kuqale kwaqinisekiswa ukuthi imibiko yonyaka edidiyelwe yethula indlela yokukhulisa nokuthuthukisa izinhloso zenkampani zokwakha inzuzo. Ngemva kwalokho kwasungulwa inqubo yokuhlaziya, ebizwa ngokuthi ukuhlaziya ngenhloso yokwakha inzuzo, okuholele ekutheni inhloso yenkampani kanye nenzuzo yethulwe endaweni eyodwa. Ukwakhiwa kwemibiko edidiyelwe kwabe sekuhlaziywa, kwaveza izinguquko eziphawulekayo ezethulweni zayo, nokwehla okujwayelekile kolwazi lwesitatimende sezimali kanye nokwanda kokubusa, amasu nolwazi lokusimama. Okokugcina, izinkomba zibonise ukukhula kokusimama kwezinkampani ezintathu kwezine (uClicks ungabaliwe), kodwa bekukhona isikhala sokuthuthukiswa kwezinga lokubika kokusimama ngaphakathi kombiko odidiyelwe. Ukuhlanganiswa kwawo amane amaphepha ocwaningo kweza nolwazi oluningi ukuthuthukisa ulwazi mayelana nokubika okudidiyelwe, ukubika okusimeme kanye nenzuzo futhi kuvule ithuba lokuthi lolu cwaningo lusetshenziswe kweminye imikhakha ye-JSE. Kuphakanyiswa ukuba eminye imikhakha ye-JSE ihlaziywe kusetshenziswa la masu ukuze kubhekwe izimboni ezahlukene, kwandiswe isisekelo socwaningo.
Factors affecting the organic products market in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal: A diffusion of innovation perspective.
(2024) Mkhize, Sandile Simphiwe.; Ellis, Deborah Ann.
Organic products, cultivated using agricultural practices that avoid synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, offer a sustainable alternative to conventional farming methods. However, in South Africa, adoption remains limited, hindered by consumer perceptions of organic food as unfamiliar and niche. This study explores the determinants of organic food adoption, integrating traditional consumer behaviour factors with innovation-oriented constructs from Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and Consumer Innovativeness (CI). Employing a two-stage methodology, the study first conducted a systematic literature review to identify traditional and innovation-related drivers, followed by a quantitative analysis of survey data from 500 participants using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Results reveal that while traditional factors such as health consciousness and trust are significant, DOI constructs, including compatibility and relative advantage, also substantially influence adoption. These findings advance theoretical frameworks on consumer behaviour and offer actionable recommendations for marketers and policymakers to promote sustainable consumption practices in emerging markets.
Investor sentiments and performance of ESG funds in emerging and developed markets.
(2024) Aboluwodi , Damilola Muyiwa.; Muzindutsi , Paul-Francois.; Nomlala , Bomi Cyril.
The niche of sustainable finance, despite relatively new, has become a mainstay in the discourse of global finance. Whilst there are multiple factors driving the research interest in this space, chief amongst this, is the purported consequentiality of sustainability concerns that is relatable to even people lacking financial knowledge. In this light, this study sought to examine the impact of investor sentiments on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) index returns and risk performance under bull and bear market conditions in emerging (BRICS) and developed (G7) markets. The study further examined the nature of volatility and the impact of investor sentiments, as well as the return and volatility spillovers among countries within and across the emerging and developed markets. Using the Morgan Stanley Composite Index (MSCI) ESG data from 01/10 /2007 to 31/12/2022, a composite investor sentiments (CIS) index was constructed using eight fundamental market sentiment proxies, which were further included in the empirical models employed. Firstly, employing a Markov Regime Switching Model, the study examined the impact of investor sentiment on ESG performance in bull and bear market conditions. Herein, findings of the study noted that investor sentiment impacts the performance of ESG funds in emerging markets more than in developed markets regardless of market conditions. More so, whilst the study established ESG performance varies across bull and bear conditions, from the standpoint of ESG return performance, the study established that emerging ESG markets performed better in bull market condition and developed ESG markets performed better in bear market condition. Conversely, from the dimension of ESG volatility performance, the study established that developed markets exhibited a higher volatility in bull market condition and emerging markets exhibited higher volatility in bear market condition. Secondly, adopting GARCH models such as the EGARCH, GJR-GARCH and GARCH-X models, the study evaluated the nature of volatility and the influence of investor sentiments on volatility of ESG funds in emerging and developed markets. Within this context, the research findings based on the mean equation coefficient suggest that there is a weak-form of market efficiency across emerging and developed ESG market blocs except the USA ESG market. Also, the study empirically established that based on the leverage effect, negative shocks (bad news) are more likely to increase the volatility of ESG returns than positive shocks (good news) in both emerging and developed market blocs. Additionally, the study established that although investor sentiments impacts the volatility of ESG returns regardless of market characterizations, emerging ESG markets are extensively more susceptible to investor sentiments than developed ESG markets. Thirdly, utilizing a Multivariate GARCH models such as the DCC-VARMA-AGARCH, DCCVARMA- GARCH and the CCC-VARMA-AGARCH models, the study explored the nature of return and volatility spillovers dynamics within and across emerging and developed ESG markets. In this regard, findings of the study evidenced that although there is evidence of return spillovers across emerging and developed ESG markets, ESG returns in emerging markets are likely to be adversely affected by the spillovers from developed markets. Also, the study also established that although there is evidence of return spillovers across emerging and developed markets, the developed ESG market bloc especially the USA and the EU, have significant volatility spillover influence on the volatility of emerging ESG markets. In addition to this, the findings of the study further established that negative shocks (bad news) from developed markets increases the volatility spillovers of ESG returns in emerging markets by more than positive shocks (good news), not viceversa. In general, these findings accentuate diverse implications from the standpoint of several finance theories. Most evidently, from the perspective of the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) theory, the findings challenge the notion of market efficiency by suggesting that investor sentiment can influence the performance of ESG funds, indicating potential inefficiencies in pricing. Likewise, from the standpoint of behavioral finance theory, the findings emphasize the importance of psychological factors in investment decision-making, highlighting how investor sentiment drives market outcomes. Lastly, the Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH) theory acknowledges the dynamic nature of markets and the role of investor behavior in shaping them, suggesting that the impact of sentiment on ESG fund performance is adaptive to market conditions. This research contributes to the finance literatures in the sphere of sustainable finance and ESG investing. In particular, this study offers novel critical contributions on how investor sentiment is intertwined with the discourse of ESG performance, risk and risk spillovers across market conditions and characterizations. Given these empirical revelations, this study recommends that individual and institutional stakeholders keen on sustainability concerns and ESG investing should consider the influence of market conditions on ESG performance, the distinctiveness of ESG market characterizations with regards to returns and risk spillovers, the subsisting relationships among ESG markets as well as the overarching impact of investor sentiments on ESG performance and volatility. Thus, the empirical establishments of this research are relevant for investment decision making, risk management, global financial markets and development of sustainable finance theory.
Sustainable waste management through reverse logistics: A case of selected municipalities in Zimbabwe.
(2024) Ruzive, Benson.; Phiri, Maxwell Agabu.; Naude, Micheline Juliana Alberta.
The study investigated the impact of reverse logistics activities on sustainable solid waste management in selected municipalities in Zimbabwe. Developing countries globally face the challenge of municipal solid waste management and Zimbabwe is among these countries. Five objectives were pursued which were; to establish the perceptions of households/residents on municipal authorities’ practices on municipal solid waste management, to determine the practices of households/residents in municipal solid waste management, to examine how residents perception of municipalities towards municipal solid waste management influences the way in which residents manage their municipal solid waste, to ascertain the current state of sustainability and to determine the relationship between reverse logistics of municipal solid waste and sustainability in selected municipalities in Zimbabwe. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used in the study. These techniques utilised a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to solicit information from 450 households and 7 management workers. To reduce chances of documents getting lost, questionnaires were distributed and collected within a two-week period. SPSS was used to analyse the quantitative data collected from the respondents. Study findings revealed a significant level of disagreement among residents in non-performing areas regarding the quality of services provided in solid waste management. Positive agreement was observed in performing areas regarding the services delivered by municipalities for municipal waste management. The study recommends educating residents about acceptable practices of the management of municipal solid waste. Stakeholders should actively support reverse logistics activities related to municipal solid waste. Furthermore, residents should be encouraged to change their behaviour towards municipal solid waste management by adopting correct solid waste disposal practices, such as separation of different types of municipal solid waste. Lastly, corporate firms should act sustainably by managing end-of-life products through the implementation of reverse logistics practices. Implementing these recommendations can contribute to improving solid waste management practices, enhancing sustainability, and addressing the challenges faced by local government municipalities in Zimbabwe. The study contributes to four SDGs (3,6,11 and 12) by identifying households’ perceptions and practices on municipal solid waste management.
Young consumers’ purchase intentions towards plant-based products during the global climate crisis and Coronavirus pandemic.
(2024) Tooray, Jenasha.; Ellis, Deborah Ann.
The COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis have impacted individuals’ purchasing habits across many sectors. Plant-based products are one of the burgeoning sustainable products demanded by consumers. This research investigated the traditional green behaviour antecedents, namely environmental knowledge, environmental concern, attitude towards plantbased products, moral attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control influencing plant-based product purchase intention, relative to health consciousness and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, not considered by previous South African research, to address the climate crisis in an emerging economy that is most vulnerable to climate change. A conceptual framework was developed, based on an extension of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Data was collected through the personal administration of questionnaires, from registered students at the five UKZN campuses. The positivist paradigm and cross-sectional quantitative, descriptive-correlational empirical research method were applied. Quota sampling resulted in 381 respondents. Exploratory factor analysis, descriptive analysis and structural equation modelling were employed. The data revealed that plant-based product adoption among young South African consumers is still in its infancy, albeit gaining momentum, as this cohort intends purchasing plant-based products for ecological reasons. The direct positive and significant predictors of influencing plant-based product purchase intention were subjective norm, moral attitude, and attitude towards plant-based products; with environmental concern, environmental knowledge, and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic serving as predictors of influencing plant-based product purchase intention through attitude towards plant-based products. By understanding these factors, green marketers can devise appropriate tactics that support and promote influencing plant-based product purchase intention. This study also contributes evidence of young consumers’ plant-based product purchase intentions and underscores the need for climate change education, plant-based product awareness and government intervention, thereby increasing young consumers’ knowledge and willingness to adopt plant-based products during two major social issues facing mankind today.

Browse

Browsing College of Law and Management Studies by SDG "SDG12"