Doctoral Degrees (Management)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/7868

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A conceptual framework for private higher educational institutions to respond to disruptions in South Africa.
(2024) Maota, Tshepo Religion.; Naidoo, Vannie.
During the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, global societies experienced widespread disruption and uncertainty, significantly affecting higher education. This "black swan" event tested the resilience of higher education institutions, necessitating an involuntary shift in instructional practices. This study explores the impact of pandemic disruptions on student and staff experiences in local PHEIs, with a focus on their operational flexibility and capacity to navigate turbulent circumstances. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, involving a sample size of 381 students and 316 staff members from various demographic backgrounds. We administered the survey using reliable measures to ensure high response rates. The findings indicate that lower-level students, such as undergraduates, faced greater difficulties in adapting to online learning compared to higher-level students, such as master's and doctoral candidates. The challenges included limited access to technology and resources, as well as difficulties maintaining engagement and motivation. In contrast, staff members initially reported high levels of support adequacy, but these ratings decreased with increased years of experience, possibly due to burnout and evolving expectations. Leaders within PHEIs highlighted the need for enhanced training and preparedness to manage disruptions effectively. They identified specific challenges, such as political and economic factors, system changes, and the absence of specialised tools for disruption management. Insights from leaders included the importance of scenario planning, robust communication strategies, and fostering a culture of adaptability and resilience. We developed a comprehensive framework for disruption management as a guiding beacon for navigating disruptive encounters. We created a machine-learning-based predictive model using a binary classification tree to predict disruption risks within this framework. The model was trained on variables such as potential impact, probability of occurrence, warning index, and relevance to the education sector, achieving high accuracy in classifying disruption risks. Despite limitations like region-specific focus and challenges of data collection during a pandemic, this study provides valuable insights into proactive strategies, support significance, effective leadership, and predictive models for disruption management in higher education. This research contributes to the understanding of disruption management in PHEIs and provides practical tools for enhancing institutional resilience.
The accommodation of people with disabilities within Transnet's workforce in KwaZulu- Natal.
(2018) Cebisa, Zwelakhe Erick.; McArthur, Brian Walter.
This research describes the factors influencing the inclusion of people with disabilities within the port environment in South Africa; hence the study was conducted at one of Transnet’s major divisions, the Transnet National Port Authority. The inclusion of people with disabilities has been on the country’s transformation agenda for some time. The literature review attests to the fact that historically, people with disabilities have been excluded and this phenomenon has translated itself into the labour market. It is for this reason that the inclusion of people with disabilities within organisations became a human rights issue as stated in the South African Employment Equity Act of 2000, the Act critically foregrounds the fact that the corporate world has not to date successfully included people with disabilities in the workplace. This research has used the model of organisational inclusion to describe factors which influence the inclusion of people with disabilities. The model consists of two components, namely the personal dimension and the organisational environment dimension. Personal dimension constructs have been used to describe the influence of both personal norms and values on the inclusion of people with disabilities, while the organisation environment dimensions have been used to describe the influence of policies, procedures and organisational rewards on the inclusion of people with disabilities. A probability sample of 361 employees was drawn from an estimated population of 6000 of the Transnet National Port Authority employees in KwaZulu-Natal, using stratified random sampling. The sample comprised employees with disabilities, employees without disabilities, members of management and human resources managers. Self-administered questionnaires with embedded checklists and interviews were used to collect the data. Qualitative data was collected by means of interviews. Only the human resources managers were interviewed because they generally had an in-depth understanding of organisational policies that affect the employment of people with disabilities. The survey revealed that Transnet was committed to employing people with disabilities. However, beliefs, myths, stereotyping and misconceptions surrounding those with disabilities also act as an impediment to the successful inclusion of people with disabilities within Transnet. Furthermore, the research revealed that the perceived cost of inclusion is a factor most likely to present more challenges. Furthermore, the results from qualitative analysis indicate that apart from perceived cost, the inclusion of people with disabilities at Transnet has genuine cost implications. It transpired that Transnet procures assets from global Original Equipment Manufacturers, so customisation to cater for people with disabilities can add to the costs of assets that are already expensive. The literature review acknowledges the important role that policies play in the organisation, as the development of policies is triggered by the gap in the inclusion of people with disabilities. The survey revealed that policies affecting the employment of people with disabilities are not effective in terms of their implementation, as most South African organisations are not on a par with the recommended target of 2%. Both the survey and the qualitative results recognise the significance of organisational procedures. However, organisational procedures cannot assist in achieving a successful inclusion where policies are not effectively implemented. Another issue is the rewards construct, which reveals that organisational rewards are more important to people with disabilities compared to those without. This could be due to the fact that people with disabilities have special needs and the exclusion experienced by this group has been extended to include organisational rewards. The research findings also endorse the notion that disability issues are not taken seriously by the Government and the corporate sector, as the employment of people with disabilities is being viewed as an onerous liability rather than a priority. Both the survey and qualitative results have revealed that the type of work to be performed also perpetuates exclusion. It emerged that most people with disabilities are not overly involved in Transnet’s core areas of business, such as the Crane and Pilot operation. They are mostly found in administrative departments such as human resources and finance. Apart from other divisions, the Transnet Freight Rail division was identified as the division that was unable to include people with disabilities; this exclusion is based on the tasks performed by this division. It also emerged that there is still non-compliance on the part of the company.
An agile based integrated framework for software development.
(2018) Ranjeeth, Sanjay.; Maharaj, Manoj Sewak.
Software development practice has been guided by practitioners and academics along an evolutionary path that extends from a Waterfall approach, characterised as highly prescriptive, to an approach that is agile, embracing the dynamic context in which software is developed. Agile Methodology is informed by a set of generic principles and agile methods that are customised by practitioners to meet the requirements of the environment in which it is used. Insight into the customisation of agile methods is pivotal to uphold the evolutionary trajectory of software development methodology. The study adopted a ‘socio-technical’ orientation to enhance the implementation of Agile Methodology. The social component of the study was aligned to the role played by organisational culture in the adoption of software development methodology. The amorphous concept of organisational culture has been operationalised by implementing the Competing Values Framework to develop a model that aligns organisational culture to an optimal methodology for software development. The technical component of the study has a software engineering focus. The study leveraged experiential knowledge of software development by South African software practitioners to develop a customised version of a prominent agile software development method. The model has been developed so that it is compatible with a variant of organisational culture that is aligned with agile methodology. The study implemented a sequential research design strategy consisting of two phases. The first phase was qualitative consisting of a phenomenological approach to develop the study’s main models. The second phase was quantitative, underpinned by technology acceptance theory, consisting of a survey based approach to determine South African software practitioners’ acceptance of the agile-oriented technical model that was developed in the study. The results from the survey indicated an 80% acceptance of the model proposed in study. Structural Equation Modelling was used to demonstrate that the inclusion of organisational culture as an independent construct improved the predictive capacity of technology acceptance theory in the context of software development methodology adoption. The study’s overall theoretical contribution was to highlight the significance of organisational culture in the implementation of agile methodology and to extend the evolutionary path of software development methodology by proposing an agile oriented model that scales the software process to an organisational infrastructure level.
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.
Assessing emotional intelligence as a critical factor in organizational performance in the Zambian parastatal sector.
(2010) Mulambya, Alisala Aison.; Pillay, Kribendiren.
This study is focused on assessing emotional intelligence as a critical factor for people in organizational leadership and in the workforce to achieve the desired performance levels within an organisation. The study setting is in the Zambian Parastatal sector and more particularly at the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) and the Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (ZAMTEL). These are two large companies whose operations cover the whole nation. Since 1991, when a new government came to power and liberalized the economy, it has been trying ever since to find a solution to poor performance of parastatal enterprises. It has managed to privatize a good number of them, however, there are a few that it considers strategic to the country’s economy, which are still operating as state owned companies including ZESCO and ZAMTEL which the government has been looking at critically. The major reason cited by the government and scholars for the short-comings in these organizations has been that of poor leadership in their management. It is against this background, that this study attempts to provide a solution to the problem by identifying emotional intelligence as a critical factor needed by the leadership of the Zambian parastatal companies to improve organizational performance. Apparently, emotional intelligence is a new concept in the country and there is little that has been done in this area of knowledge worth noting. This study intends to provide more information on the subject and how it can be implemented to influence effective organizational leaderships. A literature review was undertaken on emotional intelligence together with instruments devised to measure it, which have been developed by a number of psychologists. A theoretical framework on the assessing of emotional intelligence has been provided from which the questionnaire was developed to bring out the content, predictive and construct validity. This questionnaire was subjected to internal evaluation by members of the Copperbelt University’s Department of Business Administration and it was used in a pilot survey involving the managers at a local company in Kitwe to test for consistency. The questionnaires were administered to all those managers at the two case study companies through random sampling to ensure that every manager had equal chance of being picked as a respondent. It took six months to administer the questionnaires. Thereafter, data was analysed on how managers assessed themselves and their organizational leadership with regard to emotional intelligence and how it contributed to the performance of their organization. The nature and management of the parastatal sector in Zambia has also been examined. After a discussion of the findings that emerged from the available literature, a conclusion was drawn that emotional intelligence is a critical factor among the other factors needed to increase organizational performance. Without this, good social relationships and industrial harmony in the work place would be difficult to achieve and maintain. Recommendations have been made for both future research and for the organization’s leadership to consider in its work. This study is focused on assessing emotional intelligence as a critical factor for those in organizational leadership and in the workforce to achieve the desired performance in the organization. The study setting is in the Zambian Parastatal sector and more particularly at the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) and the Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (ZAMTEL). These are two large companies whose operations cover the whole nation. Since 1991, when a new government came to power and liberalized the economy, it has been trying ever since to find a solution to the poor performance of parastatal enterprises. It has managed to privatize a good number of them which have gone into private hands. However, there are a few of them that it considers strategic to the country’s economy, which are still operating as state owned companies including ZESCO and ZAMTEL. As these are under-performing, the government has been looking for a solution to this problem. This research will hopefully make a contribution to knowledge that is both situational in that it recommends the application of the concept of emotional intelligence to the parastatal sector and other organizations in Zambia that has not been considered in the past and in the second place it is methodological in that it provides an assessing instrument that can be used to determine emotional intelligence in an organization. This will encourage organizational leadership to institute the necessary interventions to improve the emotional intelligence and social interactions and relations in the organization. With an abundance of emotional intelligence in the organization, this study brings to light the following: Organizations will be able to fulfil their mandates for which they were established through positive performance. This positive performance will be achieved through an effective and emotionally intelligent leadership in its management structures that will create an open and conducive work environment. There is a need for an organizational leadership that motivates and inspires the subordinates and that brings out the best in their work performance and to expected standards. The study has provided suggestions on how emotional intelligence can be developed and enhanced in the organization. There is a need to promote the use, understanding and application of emotional intelligence so that it may lead to better performance and better relationships between the organizations’ stakeholders. There is also a need to increase the level of awareness in Zambia of the crucial role of emotional intelligence as a social lubricant in the promotion of good human and social relations and productivity.
Assessment of causes of the failure of Gikongoro Agricultural Development Project.
(2011) Musekura, Celestin.; Taylor, Robert Gordon.; Pillay, Kribendiren.
The Gikongoro Agricultural Development Project (GADP) was implemented in Gikongoro in 1990 and terminated in 2001. It covered 83,508 ha with 250,000 habitants and had a target group of 42,000 farm families, with an estimated total budget of U$ 31.2 million. Its objectives focused on land development, increase of farm crops, environmental conservation and protection, stores and roads construction and bank loans for small farmers. Its expected impacts included the increase of incomes, enhancement of nutritional status and the resolution of the employment problem. The project was closed without achieving these goals. On the basis of this situation, the following research questions were raised: • How and to what degree did inadequate processes of management and evaluation contribute to the GADP failure? • How and to what degree did external environmental events prevent the GADP from achieving its objectives? • How was the participatory development approach used by the GADP in the process of learning? • What were the main causes that led the GADP to fail? • What could be done and what lessons could be drawn from this experience for the benefit of ongoing and future projects operating in Rwanda? The answer to these questions required a review of literature regarding project management and evaluation principles and organizational environment. The methods used for data collection included documentation, systems thinking, observation and interviews. Thematic analysis and systems thinking were used for data analysis. The findings located the reasons for GADP failure in different problem areas. The civil war of October 1990 and the genocide of April 1994, and frequent droughts, swept away the GADP resources. The GADP failed to identify the real needs of the beneficiaries (farmers), coordinate its stakeholders’ activities, and cooperate and communicate adequately with them. This resulted in delays and budget overruns. The failure to bring together management and evaluation caused the project to be ineffective and inefficient in its management of resources. The GADP closed having made no significant positive impacts on the farmers, especially women. To prevent future potential failures, it is recommended to introduce systems thinking in Rwandan higher education programs and to develop strong partnerships between public and private role players.
An assessment of compensation management and motivation on organisational performance in the insurance industry in Nigeria.
(2014) Adeoye, Abayomi Olarewaju.; Fields, Ziska.
Compensation management is used by human resource practitioners and is a human resource functions that determines the decision of both job applicants, current employees’ and the management of any firm. This study investigates the relationship between compensation management, motivation and organisational performance in the insurance industry in Nigeria. The basic objectives of the research were to: to examine the extent of compensation management and its effect on the performance of insurance industry in Nigeria. Determine whether the firm is achieving employees’ satisfaction; investigate the organisational effectiveness in achieving its objectives and resource allocation. To ascertain the impact of compensation management on employees’ motivation. Determine the impact of compensation management on employees’ leadership roles; to examine the contribution of compensation management to employees’ self-actualisation; and to determine the effects of governmental policies on compensation management and workers motivation in insurance industry in Nigeria. The instruments used to collect data from study respondents were Compensation Management Questionnaire Scale (CMQS); the Short Form of Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ); Motivation Questionnaire Scale (MQS); Job Performance Scale (JPS); Multi-Factors Leadership Questionnaire-Form 5X (MLQ-Form 5X); the Reversed Brief Index of Self-Actualisation (BISA-R); Organisational Effectiveness Assessment Questionnaire (OEAQ) and Governmental Policy Questionnaire Scale (GPQS). The reliability coefficients or Cronbach’s Alpha (α) of the research measures were 0.87; 0.74; 0.81; 0.83; 0.80; 0.81; 0.71 and 0.73 respectively. 250 questionnaires were distributed to employees of Alliance and General Insurance Plc., 213 returned and out of which 212 (84.8%) were found useful and normal. The data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. It was established that a relationship exists between organisational performance and employees’ satisfaction; there is a relationship between organisational effectiveness and objectives achievement. There is a relationship between compensation management and employees’ performance; employees’ motivation, employees’ leadership roles; employees’ self-actualisation though all these relationship that was established were not strong. There is a very weak relationship that existed between government policies on compensation management and employees’ motivation in insurance industry in Nigeria. The findings of the study reflected that compensation management and motivation of employees are factors that employers can use to boost the performance of employee’s as well as that of organisations in the insurance industry in Nigeria. It is recommended that compensation management and employee’s motivation should by given attention by the management of insurance industry in Nigeria.
Brand naming for black owned fast moving consumer goods-small medium and micro enterprises in the KZN province: grounded theory approach.
(2022) Kunene, Lindiwe Nqobile.; Phiri, Maxwell Agabu.; Mbhele, Thokozani Patmond.
Brand names influence consumers’ purchase decisions and the success of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) depends on strong brand names. Black-owned Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa in the FMCG industry struggle to compete with established brands, partly due to inadequate brand name choices. In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, as in the rest of South Africa, SMMEs are at the heart of the economic development agenda and FMCG industries are a significant part of this strategy. It is argued that FMCG-SMMEs can accelerate economic growth as they provide essential goods, on-demand at all times, even during pandemics like COVID-19 and in the face of poverty. This study sought to identify the brand naming practices applied by black-owned FMCG-SMMEs without being influenced by the expectations of existing, usually Western brand naming theories. Exploratory qualitative research methods were employed and Grounded Theory (GT) was used to create theories to define brand naming by black-owned FMCG-SMMEs in KwaZulu-Natal. Saturation was employed to set the parameters for the sample size. Data was collected by means of open-ended interviews and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Data collection was guided by four objectives, namely, brand naming processes; strategies employed to select brand names; brand linguistic considerations including the use of African languages; and the socio-economic dimensions of the brand naming process. The study identified five steps in brand naming that are different from the Euro-American steps and similar to some East Asian steps. The seven strategies adopted by the FMCG-SMMEs included dimensions not commonly used in the West, including brand name motivation, promoting the family legacy in the form of selfnymic and childnymic practices, black economic consciousness and universality. Inrelation to linguistics, the study identified the use of the letter ‘d’ plosive, sound, semantics and fictitious words to define the role of language and brand naming by black-owned FMCG-SMMEs. In terms of socio-economic factors, it established that education and training programmes, as well as previous experience in a start-up business or as an employee influenced the brand naming practices of black-owned FMCG-SMMEs in KwaZulu-Natal.
A business model to improve the management and value creation of renewable independent power producer plants in South Africa.
(2018) Khonjelwayo, Bongani.; Fields, Ziska.
ABSTRACT The study proposes a renewable Independent Power Producer (IPP) business model. The model is a framework that identifies a number of business activities that need to be performed by managers in order to ensure that a IPPs business yields value for the shareholders and stakeholders. The main objective of the study was to propose an IPP business model by examining the various inputs, business processes and activities in an IPP plant that are designed to yield value to shareholders through effective and efficient management of resources. The study is important because IPPs are exposed to numerous business risks and challenges. These include construction risks, such as the risks of cost overruns and contractor underperformance. There are also operational, market and political risks to which IPPs are exposed. Additionally, existing business models don’t sufficiently capture the business risks that renewable IPPs are exposed to. These include market, technology, reputation and risks of change in legislation. This study was conducted in two stages. The first stage was conducted through interviews with managerial employees of the first 40 IPP companies that were successful bidders of the Renewable IPP Programme of the Department of Energy (REIPPP). The second stage of data collection was through a survey questionnaire to test themes and items that will be included in the proposed business model. The survey questionnaire findings were used to analyse the importance of each variable in order to make a decision whether to include it in the proposed business model. The main findings of the study are that the renewable IPP business model consists of a number of unique components which represent the chose inputs, business activities, outputs and outcomes that can be used by an IPP businesses to deliver value to its shareholders and stakeholders. These components consists of a number of themes relating to managerial activities should be executed to improve the management of IPPs, reduce business risks and create value the renewable IPPs in South Africa. Some of the inputs include pre-investment activities, post-investment activities, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) management, grid management, planning and executing operations and maintenance (O&M) activities. iv The study succeeded in collecting and contextualising the experiences of new IPPs and linking those to relevant business sector trends. The findings of this study make a contribution towards the existing body of knowledge in the fields of management as well as energy studies. One of the research gaps emanating from this study is that there is insufficient empirical research to understand the components of business models as a managerial concept. This study makes a contribution towards closing these gaps. The study also makes a contribution in the academic knowledge in the subject of business models by expanding on the knowledge about the components of business models and their importance as a management tool. The proposed business model is presented as an original contribution to the management of IPPs, based on empirical data collected from IPPs operating in South Africa. From a management point of view, the components of the business model can be used as a guideline for business management and improvement.
The causes and management of school-based violence in high schools in Umgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2016) Eke, Chidi Idi.; McArthur, Brian Walter.; Mutinta, Given Chigaya.
A great deal of research has been conducted globally on the phenomenon of school- based violence and the devastating effect it has on teaching and learning. School-based violence is a multifaceted phenomenon and no single perspective or factor can sufficiently explain why learners behave in the ways they do, at home and at school, that lead to violence. School-based violence is denying South African children their constitutional right to a basic education by creating a school climate that hinders teaching and learning. The obstruction of a learner’s academic learning process as a result of violence could threaten their future prospects and their achievement of a better life in post-apartheid South Africa. It is for these reasons that this study examined the causes and management of school-based violence from a school-based perspective. The study aimed to determine the causes of school-based violence in high schools in uMgungundlovu district of KwaZulu-Natal, and to proffer a management model that would assist high school managers to reduce and manage school-based violence to create a school climate that promotes teaching and learning. The study used Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to provide rich insights into the causes and solutions to school-based violence in high schools. A qualitative approach and purposive sampling technique were employed in the study. In-depth interviews and focus group interviews were used as data collection instruments for the study. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis and NVivo, a qualitative data analysis software. The study makes two contributions to the existing body of knowledge on school-based violence: the causes of school-based violence at each level of influence of the ecological systems model (microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem and macrosystem) were identified; and insights from these causes were used to develop a school-based violence management model that could assist school managers to reduce and manage school- based violence. The key themes that emerged from the findings include (1) lack of parental involvement in learners’ school issues; (2) learners’ misconduct in school influenced by the abuse of alcohol, drugs and other substances; (3) lack of adequate school security; (4) school managers lacking the required managerial skills to contain issues of school-based violence; e; and (5) female learners as the most significantly affected victims of cyber- violence.
Challenges to management practices in public technical and vocational education and training colleges in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
(2016) Beharry-Ramraj, Andrisha.; Fields, Ziska.
This study investigated Challenges to Management Practices in the public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. A mixed methods approach was used to conduct the study with a sample size of three hundred and eighty respondents for the quantitative study where the total population is 3700, and nine respondents for the qualitative study. These respondents were drawn from the nine different TVET colleges in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The sample of 380 is therefore a representative sample of the given total population. The significance of TVETs in skills development has been well acknowledged in literature, yet there is no evidence of the challenges faced by the TVETs in particular. This study undertook to examine the management practices in relation to the challenges faced by TVET sector in one of the leading provinces in the republic of South Africa. The statistical findings of the study were analysed using the regression analysis in the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) as well as content analysis. The work was done by an institutionally appointed statistician. Among the key findings of the study was the qualification demographic profile where fifty per cent of the respondents have degrees as opposed to a full contingent of qualified staff. These point to the need for the needed skills development in the sector in order to encourage skills functionality of the colleges to be enhanced. Among the challenges in the colleges are included financial constraints, low throughput rates, inadequate lecturer qualifications, poor teaching environment, poor facilities and limited oversight procedures in relation to the governance of colleges. Unlike in the past, the principals are expected to possess managerial skills from the department of education as well as from other stakeholders. This points to the need for effective skills development. The need for effective management is emphasised in the study within the framework of four constructs: leadership, governance, change management, and staff development. The revived TVET figure was credited to the figure developed in this study towards effective management using the above four constructs. A figure comprising the four constructs holistically is necessary in the effective management of TVETs. A management house model was developed in light of existing TVET challenges. The educational policy makers and institutions are presented with a model figure necessary for effective management and would benefit from its usage. It is also that similar research is done in other developing as well as developed economies to investigate the variations that could inform remedial interventions for the TVET sector.
A conceptual framework for teaching and learning entrepreneurship in universities in South-West Nigeria.
(2017) Fayomi, Ezekiel Jide.; Fields, Ziska.
The process of repositioning an education system in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the learners as well as the society at large is an emerging global issue in entrepreneurial research. This is because the quest for developing an entrepreneurial knowledge and skills within a classroom environment is found to be complex and full of several challenges. Previous studies have established the problem of a mismatch between the curriculum, delivery approach and learning outcomes. As a result, making the conventional learning model more innovative in a way that the intellectual capacity of graduates is promoted, has recently become an area of concerted interest among researchers. This study determined the significance of teaching and learning methods in entrepreneurship. The study also determined the current school practices in the context of teaching and learning entrepreneurship. Other innovations in teaching and learning methods from empirical evidence in entrepreneurial research were also determined in the context of university-level training in entrepreneurship. The significance of experiential learning strategies compared with the formal model of learning provides learners with more motivation for establishing business enterprises. Recent studies suggest that such innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs) boosts entrepreneurial intention, attitude, and behaviour of a potential or nascent generation of entrepreneurs. This study explores the potential embedded in blended learning model, which supports the integration of arrays of learning techniques, to validate a scientific framework for sustainable entrepreneurship training and development. By triangulating data collection techniques, questionnaires were administered to a sample of seven hundred and one (701) respondents comprising undergraduate and post-graduate students and lecturers of three selected universities in South-West, Nigeria using stratified and systematic sampling techniques. A response rate of 94.86% was achieved. In-depth interviews were also conducted with nine (9) senior academic planning experts in the universities. Advanced total content analysis (TCA) of the qualitative data and descriptive statistics including Pearson’s correlation, t-tests and regression analyses of the quantitative data at the 0.05 level of significance, were used to address the research objectives using SPSS (version 23). A significant positive correlation between delivery strategies, institutional framework and entrepreneurial intentions was established. The traditional learning model and the mindsets to seek after remunerative employment (r = 0.151, p<.0005) were found to be positively related. The study concludes that the pedagogical blend of regular academic activity and some strategic standalone learning activities have significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intentions. The implication is that only delivery approaches preferred by the entrepreneurial education stakeholders (students, lecturers, and academic planning experts), could drive entrepreneurial desirability and intention in HEIs. Such practices appear to have remained a challenge in most HEIs in the developing nations around the world.
A conceptual framework to measure the effectiveness of work-life balance strategies in selected manufacturing firms, Lagos metropolis, Nigeria.
(2018) Ganiyu, Idris Olayiwola.; Fields, Ziska.; Atiku, Sulaiman Olusegun.
Achievement of work-life balance (WLB) by manufacturing firms in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria is still a major challenge. Most manufacturing companies have put in place various work-life balance strategies (WLBS) such as parental leave, employees’ health and wellness programmes (EHWP), dependant care, personal development and flexible work arrangement to overcome this challenge. However, the efficacy of these WLBS at helping employees to address work and family stressors are still in doubt. Exploring the mediating influences of WLB satisfaction and WLBS on the link between work-family stressors and organisational performance could contribute to the body of literature in human resource management. Given the preceding, developing a conceptual framework to measure the effectiveness of WLBS in the selected manufacturing firms is of utmost importance to human resource management practice. This study employed explanatory sequential mixed methods research design in providing the required explanations of the mediating influences of WLBS and work-family satisfaction on the link between work-family stressors and organisational performance. A simple random sampling technique was adopted to select respondents for quantitative data ollection. A self-reported questionnaire was used as the main research instrument for this study. A total of 350 structured questionnaires were administered, while 315 questionnaires were returned from which three were not properly completed and were discarded. The remaining 312 which constituted an 89% response rate were coded and analysed for this study. Subsequently, six members of the management staff were purposively selected to participate in interviews for qualitative data. Five hypotheses which align with the research questions and objectives were formulated and tested using multiple regression and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Qualitative data was analysed utilising NVivo 11. The result of the statistical analysis revealed that there was no relationship between WLBS and employees’ job performance in the selected manufacturing firms. This implies that, the WLBS in place at the selected firms did not impact on job performance. The results also showed that there was no direct link between work-family stressors and the selected manufacturing firms’ performance. Rather, work-family stressors exert indirect influence on the selected manufacturing firms’ performance through WLBS and work-family satisfaction, indicating full mediation. The managerial implication of this study was drawn from the mediation analysis which illustrated that WLBS and work-family satisfaction mediate the relationship between work-family stressors and manufacturing firms’ performance. It is recommended that the manufacturing firms HR operate an inclusive policy in the redesigning of the WLBS by getting the employees involve in the redesign process.
The connection between work-life balance (WLB) and a sense of coherence (SOC) at a municipality in the South African public sector.
(2015) Abe, Ethel Ndidiamaka.; Fields, Ziska.
The main objective of this study was to explore the connection between work-life balance (WLB) and sense of coherence (SOC) among professional level employees at a municipality in the South African public sector. These individual employees struggle with WLB challenges like relational tension, parenting, child and elder care, alcohol and substance abuse, debt and financial issues, absence of job autonomy, function vagueness / role conflict and job stress. This study examined SOC as a proposed coping mechanism which could be viewed as an individual trait to continuously resist stress successfully. This study’s population includes all heads of units, managers, supervisors and coordinators at the municipality. A sequential transformative mixed methods research design was adopted. Data was collected using a self-report questionnaire administered to 370 respondents, 307 questionnaires representing a response rate of 83% were returned. Additionally, eleven members of top management were interviewed. The SOC-13 version of Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) was used to measure SOC. WLB was assessed with a three-dimensional scale. Work-life balance strategies (WLBS) were measured with a 10-item scale and wellness programmes were assessed with a work-life wellness scale (WLBW). Stressors were assessed on a three-dimensional work stressor and three-dimensional family stressors scales respectively. These scales yielded acceptable levels of Cronbach alpha coefficient ranging from 0.781 to 0.983. The study utilised a combination of cluster, simple random and convenience sampling methods. The research objectives were achieved through descriptive and inferential statistics. Quantitative data was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 to test for bivariate associations among the variables and to determine the validity and reliability of the evaluating measures. NVIVO was used in organising qualitative data for ease of content analysis. The overall intention was to derive sufficient and rigorous statistical assessment of data towards proffering sufficient explanations on the connection between WLB and SOC. The findings indicated that WLBS had a statistically significant association with the wellness programmes. It was empirically confirmed that work and family stressors predicted SOC at the municipality. The study found no statistically significant connection between WLB and SOC at a municipality in the South African public sector. This study furthers the boundary of knowledge in the work-family literature and organisational behaviour by examining WLB from both cognitive and behavioural perspectives.
A constructivist approach to Theory U as a transformation model in academic development within South African higher education.
(2012) Kimmie, Riedwaan.; Pillay, Kribendiren.
Rampant industrialization, rapidly shifting geo-political dynamics and an increasingly complex global social context, which is punctuated by bewildering, unpredictable and unprecedented transformation, is having a profoundly debilitating impact on human society. With no precedent to draw from, the overwhelming nature of these changes has resulted in many societal ills such as feelings of alienation, helplessness and societal fragmentation. Although the evolution trajectory shows transformation to be an intrinsic part of the human experience, paradoxically, humans generally do not cope effectively with change, especially drastic and sudden change without a conscious and constructive intervention. Hence from the perspective of this thesis, what is of major concern about pervasive transformation is its impact at the micro level of the mainly Black learners at academic development programmes in South African higher education. This must be seen within the context of the debilitating effects of apartheid, and the macro transformation pressures that were brought to bear on South Africa and which manifested in the significant socio-political shift from apartheid to a democratic system of governance. Research based on interviews and observations with Black students studying engineering at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, revealed that there were many, mainly non-academic factors that impacted on academic success; that the starting point towards overcoming academic deficiency and challenges, was to adopt an alternative ontological and epistemological perspective. These findings are supported by similar research on academic support programmes at other South African universities such as the University of the Witwatersrand (Agar, 1992:95) where surveys conducted with students have confirmed that among the problems which most influence their academic progress, non-academic problems are rated the most influential. Hence, the more an educational initiative addresses both the educational and socio-economic needs of students, the greater the impact on academic success that initiative is likely to have. It needs to be noted that a study of academic development in South African higher education cannot be pursued independent of the complex social system of which it is part. Besides having to contend with generic social transformation as a result of globalization as well as political changes at the local level, Black learners languishing from the effects of apartheid subjugation even after the onset of democracy, still bear the significant brunt of having to transition from socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue academic study, often at formerly „White‟ tertiary institutions. Unfortunately, the lack of academic preparedness, insufficient cultural capital and a myriad of non-academic ontological factors, have resulted in high failure, slow academic progression and increasing attrition rates. In spite of the extensive prevalence of academic development programmes at many institutions of higher learning, academic problems experienced by Black learners seem to be on the rise. This has raised critical questions about the implementation and epistemological approaches of academic development. This is more so since the dominant structural adjustment implementation model coupled with the mechanistic teaching methodologies applied in academic development programmes have largely proved ineffective in addressing learning problems which are systemic in nature. Through critically engaging the conceptual and applied strengths of the Theory U transformation model, the research proposes this model as an alternative to the mechanistic and reductionist methods which have thus far permeated the academic development discourse. This alternative approach challenges the prevailing educational orthodoxy whereby learners are perceived to be „passive‟ learning beings, and replaces it with a model which approaches learning from the premise that all „knowing‟ is subjective and that through a constructive „mindful‟ consciousness, learners can construct their own meaning of reality. Since education is fundamental to redressing the inequalities of the past and developing the potential for the future, there is an urgent need for an alternative approach. However in a fluid and vibrant context such as presented in South Africa, one cannot search for absolute answers, but needs to be receptive to alternative ways of thinking and to harness these with research findings as a route map for further exploration and meaning-making. Emerging research in such diverse fields as quantum physics, consciousness and various transformation discourses (which include Post-postmodernism and Nondualism) derived mainly from contemplative Eastern philosophical traditions (such as Buddhism), point to a new realization. This realization advocates that the alternative approach does not reside in the „grand narratives‟ which were reified during the eras of Enlightenment and Modernity, but that the ability to change our realities resides within each individual. This awareness posits the individual centrally within his/her reality. In other words, through conscious awareness and transformed mental models, individuals can construct a new reality. This research thesis seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the processes of learning and adaptive intelligence, particularly as applied in rapidly transforming, complex social systems. The approach involves the engaging of the human subject in a „mindful‟ process of deconstructing inhibiting thought patterns and then constructively, constructing new meaning. The parameters of the research have been set by the researcher in accordance with the established practitioner-researcher methodology. This method provides a voice to educators and classroom practitioners to interrogate their own experiences in order to improve their praxis.
Corporate social responsibility practices in small to medium enterprises in Zimbabwe.
(2016) Manuere, Faitira.; Phiri, Maxwell Agabu.
The corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement has become a strategic issue in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe. However CSR practices by SMEs in Zimbabwe are currently unknown. It is against this background that this study investigated corporate social responsibility practices in small to medium enterprises in Zimbabwe. This study sought to (a) gain an understanding of the meaning attached to CSR by SMEs in Zimbabwe, (b) have an insight into the impact of CSR practices on the operations of SMEs in Zimbabwe, (c) establish the legal, economic and ethical factors that motivate SMEs to engage in CSR practices, (d) highlight the legal, economic and ethical CSR activities undertaken by SMEs in Zimbabwe and (e) examine the legal, economic and ethical barriers to CSR practices by SMEs in Zimbabwe. The literature on CSR showed that the following areas have not been explored: 1) the meaning attached to CSR by SMEs in Zimbabwe is currently unknown,2) the impact of CSR on SMEs is currently unknown,3) the legal, economic and ethical factors that motivate SMEs to engage in CSR are currently unknown,4)the legal, economic and ethical activities of SMEs are currently unknown, and 5) the legal, economic and ethical barriers to CSR are currently unknown. Data was collected through 274 questionnaires and six semi-structured and open-ended interviews with owner-managers of SMEs in the Harare Region of Zimbabwe. The systematic random sampling method was used to select respondents for quantitative research while the purposive method was used to select respondents for qualitative research. The SPSS (version 20.0) was used to analyse quantitative data while the reduction method was used for qualitative data. Findings reveal that there is no standard meaning for CSR in Zimbabwe. SMEs consider CSR as having no quantifiable benefits. Legal, economic and ethical factors motivate SMEs to engage in CSR. SMEs in Zimbabwe engage in legal, economic and ethical CSR activities. Money, weak legislation and managerial attitudes are major barriers to CSR practice by SMEs in Zimbabwe.
A critical analysis of the emerging models of power amongst South African Women business leaders.
(2014) Kinnear, Lisa Caroline.; Ortlepp, Karen.
This study aims to understand and analyse the emerging models of power amongst South African women business leaders. The focus of this study is on women’s construction of power in relation to their leadership roles within an organisation. Traditionally models of power have been constructed within the dominant patriarchal discourse relating to the capacity to exert control over others. Current theories are redefining power and the nature of leadership in relation to the changing needs of society. Due to our patriarchal society women have traditionally been excluded from building theories on power, both within an academic and business context. In this thesis women’s autobiographies have been studied to include their growing awareness of power in their past, current leadership role and envisaged future. This has resulted in the identification of emerging models of power amongst these South African women business leaders. The empirical work is grounded in three key bodies of literature: theories on power; literature on leadership; and studies on transformation. Specific to this study has been the inclusion of feminist theories on power since the aim of the study is to include women’s perspectives into the process of theory building. This qualitative study is positioned within a social constructionist paradigm and uses the methodology of discourse analysis to identify emerging models of power. The 10 participants in the study include women executive directors and managers within large scale businesses across a range of industry sectors within South Africa. The findings of this work shows that women continue to grapple with the tensions of constructing their power and leadership identity within a patriarchal environment. As a result they move between models that entrench patriarchy; adapt to patriarchal systems through survival strategies; or tentatively assert an alternative transformative model of power. This emerging model reflects social, psychological and spiritual dimensions of power experienced by the women research participantswithin their leadership context. The research highlights the fact that despite efforts to create gender equality in organisations, transformation will not occur without fundamentally shifting perceptions of power to include these emerging models which are consistent with current leadership thinking.
Customer perceptions and expectations of service quality in the medical insurance sector in Zimbabwe.
(2018) Mufudza, Tsitsi.; Naidoo, Vannie.
This study sought to evaluate customers’ perceptions and expectations of service quality in the medical insurance sector in Zimbabwe. This will help to identify the service quality gaps experienced and to come up with strategies to improve service delivery in the industry. Literature has shown that service quality has been least reflected on by researchers in private health insurance, and efforts to improve quality in the sector were mainly centred on regulations and benchmarking against practices adopted in developed countries. Therefore, an empirical assessment of service quality in the Zimbabwean medical insurance industry will greatly contribute to understanding the service quality dimensions, which could bring efficiency, profitability and sustainability to the industry threatened by increased competition and economic challenges. Furthermore, to ensure continued subscription by members in such a volatile situation, medical insurance companies need to align their service offerings with customer needs. The theoretical underpinnings of the study were the SERVQUAL and gaps models of Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1985). A positivist research philosophy and quantitative methodology were adopted. The population constituted of 1000 000 members of five major medical insurance companies in Zimbabwe, namely PSMAS, CIMAS, First Mutual Health, Fidelity and Altfin. A sample of 384 was chosen from five major health institutions in Harare using quota and convenience sampling. Data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from a generic instrument (SERVQUAL scale), based on a fivepoint Likert-type scale. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for data analysis in which both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The major findings were that medical insurance customers in Zimbabwe are dissatisfied with service offerings in the industry with highest levels of dissatisfaction being expressed towards the quality dimension, reliability and lastly tangibility. Levels of dissatisfaction also varied across the service quality dimensions in terms of age groups, periods of membership to medical insurance companies and other demographic variables. The study also found that service quality was lower in government-owned than in privately owned medical insurance companies. Strategies to improve service quality in the industry are suggested, with some managerial and theoretical implications being highlighted.
Customer satisfaction with the electronic banking services in Zimbabwe: a case of Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe.
(2018) Manyeruke, Josphat.; Phiri, Maxwell Agabu.
With the constant advances in technology, it is expected that life should become easier in various way, one of these being that people would no longer have to wait in queues in banks as technology allows people to do most of their transactions by computer or cell phone. This research sought to gather information on customer satisfaction with the electronic banking (e-banking) facilities and services in Zimbabwe. The problem which was identified is that people spend a lot of time waiting in queues for services they could access much more quickly on e-banking platforms. Three e-banking platforms were examined, these being automated teller machines (ATMs), internet banking, and mobile banking (m-banking). The research took the form of a descriptive case study design. It also took a mixed method approach where both quantitative and qualitative data was used. Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe was the location for the study. Questionnaires were distributed in all seven districts of this province, on a pro rata basis depending on population size. According to the 2012 census survey in Zimbabwe, the total population of economically active people, between the ages of 15 and 64 years living in the province was 825 911 people. The researcher used Kredjice and Morgan’s table to calculate the sample size of 384 people. Two hundred and eighty-three (283) questionnaires were returned out of the three Hundred and eighty-four (384) questionnaires which were distributed, thus the response rate was 73.7%. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 20) was used to analyze the data. Results showed that e-banking services in Zimbabwe are satisfactory as there was not a single attribute of banking where the majority of people showed dissatisfaction. However, there is a need for Zimbabwean banks to continue to educate citizens on how to use e-banking facilities effectively. Internet banking had the lowest levels of reported user satisfaction with the problem emanating from a lack of internet access by the majority of citizens. There was also no significant gap realized between bank sector managers’ perceptions of customers’ needs and wants and the actual needs of customers. A model for adoption of electronic banking in Zimbabwe has been developed by the researcher and is made up of five key factors which determine the adoption of electronic banking in Zimbabwe, these are: education, accessibility, ease of use, friendliness, and security. These key factors determine the success of electronic banking in Zimbabwe. If this model is adopted it can assist Zimbabwe banks in new products development, improving service quality and therefore establish sustainable competitive advantage.
Determinants of commercialization of technological innovations in developing economies : a study of Zimbabwe's research institutes.
(2014) Saruchera, Fanny.; Phiri, Maxwell Agabu.
While preceding studies on innovation management have expressed satisfaction in innovation creation by research institutes worldwide, the commercialization of these technological innovations (TIs) remains a major challenge in most developing economies such as Zimbabwe. Despite the numerous and creditable innovations developed to date, Zimbabwe is yet to benefit from the full commercialization of these research outcomes. The main aim of this thesis was to establish the determinants of commercialization of innovations in Zimbabwe’s research institutes. Guided by the study’s objectives, theoretical constructs were drawn from extant literature on commercialization enabling factors, inter-firm commercialization partnerships and market-based factors, and these were key inputs in designing the study’s framework for both quantitative and qualitative investigation. The study utilized mixed research methods, based on the integrative nature of the study’s research design and philosophy. Multiple data collection sources were used, inclusive of literary analysis, self-administered questionnaires for customers (260), for research institutes’ staff (94) and key informant interviews with both private and public research institutes (6). The study found that successful commercialization of a new product is influenced by perceptions that consumers hold of it, correct application of launch decisions and the level of customer involvement. Although it emerged that Zimbabwe’s technological innovations are perceived to be meeting customer expectations, the study revealed that successful commercialization is being hindered by financial constraints, lack of proper commercialization infrastructure, limited consumer access to new products, poor sectoral support, patents mal-administration, and long time lags between new product development and market introduction, among other hindrances. Using the Principal Component Analysis technique, it emerged that there are numerous essential predictors of successful commercialization including test marketing, feedback use, product accessibility and sectoral support in the form of Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs). The study’s findings have obvious important repercussions for re-shaping public policy. The researcher recommends approaches through which research institutes and policy makers can unlock value in commercializing Zimbabwe’s technological innovations essentially in form of revitalizing the Commercialization Fund, making efficient use of PPPs and improving consumer communications and access to new products. Future studies could focus on developing a framework which developing economies can adopt in creating a platform for PPPs, responsibility or role distribution, management issues as well as “best practices” for running PPPs.

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