Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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Item Drivers and barriers of fast fashion implementation in South African retail(2023) Biyase, Nokwanda; Mason, Roger Bruce; Corbishley, Karen M.This study aimed to identify the factors that comprise the drivers of, and barriers to, the implementation of fast fashion clothing in the retail industry in South Africa via a case study of one of South Africa’s major fast fashion retailers. Using a quantitative, questionnaire-based, e-mailed survey to collect data from a self-selected convenience sample of 78 managers and employees, the study findings confirmed the importance of both information (store feedback and stock planning) and supplier relationships (capability and flexibility) as drivers of fast fashion. Overall, ‘capability’ was perceived overall as the most important factor, enabling adjustments to range, order size and market closer to the selling season. Barriers were confirmed as issues related to product (quality, authenticity, perishability) and social responsibility (environmental and exploitation/ethics) in the opinion of this retailer. Although both were perceived as important, environmental issues dominated, with respondents seeing the wastefulness and excessive consumption of fast fashion as the main barrier to its implementation in South Africa. The first research of its type in South Africa, the study contributes to knowledge about fast fashion in South Africa, and possibly in other developing countries, and should assist with the implementation of this strategy by South African retailers. Furthermore, a clear understanding of some of the negative opinions about FF might assist with a more socially responsible implementation.Item Student protests and the brand image of a South African University of Technology(2023) Abdool, Sajida; Mason, Roger Bruce; Maharaj, MandushaStudent protests, often violent, can damage perceptions about universities and harm brand images. This study investigated the effects of student protests on the brand image of a university of technology in South Africa. An e-mailed questionnaire provided a sample of 402 students selected via purposive, quota and convenience sampling at a prominent University of Technology in South Africa. Participation was voluntary, confidential, and anonymous. Data was captured and analysed using descriptive and inferential, univariate and bivariate, statistics. Findings showed that student protests did disrupt learning, affecting operations such as the academic calendar being shortened, delay in graduation and threats to completion of the syllabus. Protests have a negative impact on the University’s brand image, sometimes leading to students deregistering due to the unsafe environment. Suggestions are provided for universities to better cope with student protests and further research is recommended with other universities to ascertain the wider impact of student protest.Item Consumer perspective of financial technology and digital personal banking in South Africa : a literature review(Sprint Investify, 2023-10-16) Ramsundra, Avikar; Mason, Roger BruceFinancial technology advancements have made personal banking simpler, allowing a range of services to be accessed anytime and anywhere via various digital methods However, the extent of digital financial technology's impact on consumer perception and adoption of digital personal banking in developing economies remains unclear. The purpose of this study therefore is to review literature on the issues that could influence the perception and use of digital personal banking by consumers. Data was drawn from 116 documents of academic and ‘grey’ literature according to the PRISMA protocol, and analysed by detailed reading, narrative summarising and then deconstructing and reconstructing the contents into the key issues influencing the adoption and use of digital personal banking. First an overview of digital banking in general, and then in South Africa, is provided. Then the different issues, or constructs, that could be drivers of preference for digital personal banking by South African consumers, as identified from the literature, are presented, namely Convenience, Practical quality, Branch service quality, Online service quality, Usability, Safety and Risk. These findings can form the basis of further in-depth research into the adoption and use of digital personal banking and can also assist banking executives to adapt their operational and marketing activities to influence consumers to further adopt digital banking.Item Potential of space science technology for water infrastructure management : a literature review(Center for Strategic Studies in Business and Finance SSBFNET, 2022-03-16) Mokgobu, Matlou Lesley; Mason, Roger BruceThis article examines the potential of space science technology for water infrastructure (WI) management. It defines space technology in detail, and when South Africa (SA) started using it as a tool. To explain the context, the different types of orbits, altitudes, and functions of satellites are given, as well as the challenges that satellites encounter in orbit, including the quantity and sizes of orbital debris also known as space junk. The article articulates the international and local challenges to WI and further introduces space technology as a tool that can assist to overcome the challenges. Legislation governing the application of space technology in SA is discussed and the different satellites owned by the various space agencies of Africa are outlined. A discussion on how space technology has boosted the economies and employment in Africa and South Africa is provided. How the various applications of the technology, such as remote sensing (RS), Earth observation (Eo), Geo-Information sciences, navigation, communication, safety, and security can assist WI management are discussed. Details about the involvement of various African and SA universities and colleges in space science programmes that benefit the communities are explained. Also outlined are some experiments performed on the International Space Station (ISS) that benefit the Earth and that could be useful to WI management.Item Social norm compliance and involvement with Covid-19: demographic differences in developing and developed countries(www.ssbfnet.com/ojs/index.php/ijrbs, 2022-06-30) Mason, Roger Bruce; Corbishley, Karen Margaret; Dobbelstein, ThomasConsumer decisions are influenced by various variables, including compliance with society’s social norms and by involvement by consumers with the issue under consideration. Both variables have influenced consumers’ actions during previous pandemics. Therefore, this study investigated involvement with the Covid-19 pandemic, together with social norm compliance (SNC), their mutual influence, and how demographic characteristics and country of residence influenced these three issues. The methodology involved a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey, with a quota sample of 1096 responses, based on age, gender, education, habitation, and income. The research was conducted with populations representing the consumers who patronize major retailers in a developed country (Germany) and a developing one (South Africa). Data was collected via questionnaires e-mailed to commercial consumer panels covering both countries. The findings showed that involvement is influenced by gender, age, education, habitation, and country of residence, but that SNC is not influenced by demographics but does differ according to country. Further findings were that involvement with Covid-19 strongly influences SNC and, similarly, SNC also strongly influences involvement with Covid-19. Furthermore demographics, excluding habitation, also influence these variables. However, the relationship between the involvement and SNC variables does not differ between the two countries. This study has provided a better understanding of consumers’ involvement with Covid-19 and SNC as components of consumer behavior, which is important since, during the Covid-19 pandemic, retailers have been instrumental in implementing health protocols. Therefore, understanding the relationship between involvement with Covid-19 and SNC, and how they are influenced by consumer demographics, is important.Item Measurements to support farmers’ markets - a South African German comparison(ISER Explore, 2022-05-25) Dobbelstein, Thomas; Mason, Roger Bruce; Corbishley, Karen MargaretFarmers’ markets have become fashionable places for shopping, entertainment, and socializing, and in many cases are not only sources of cheaper or more convenient shopping. With the growth of the craft and the organic food movements, such products are often marketed through farmers’ markets. Entertainment is also often provided. Such shopping locations often charge premium prices. Why farmers’ markets have become so popular may be due to a variety of reasons such as shopping, entertainment, and socializing. Furthermore, a variety of different factors may cause customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. This research identifies what attracts customers to farmers’ markets and what creates satisfaction for the customer. A quantitative study was used, based on a sample of 1141 respondents from an e-mailed survey. It is also a comparative study between a developed nation (Germany) and a developing nation (South Africa). The research culminated in a Kano model for farmers’ markets in each of the countries. There was considerable similarity in the ‘delight’ and ‘performance’ factors in the two countries, but only South Africa has ‘basic’ factors, while Germany had none. The study has thus contributed to knowledge about consumer behaviour and attitudes towards farmers’ markets and provides suggestions to increase their attractivity.Item Quick response and the supply chain in fast fashion in South Africa : a case study(2021) Biyase, Nokwanda; Corbishley, Karen Margaret; Mason, Roger BruceThe purpose of this study was to identify the factors that comprise the quick response and supply chain activities in the fast fashion clothing industry in a developing country, namely South Africa, and then to investigate the relative importance of these factors via a case study of one of the main fast fashion retailers in South Africa. The research used a case study method with a quantitative, questionnaire-based survey to collect data from a sample of 100 employees, self-selected via a convenience sample, from departments that were purposively selected. Data was collected via an e-mailed survey, resulting in a 45% response rate. The study findings confirmed the importance of both quick response and supply chain efficiency to a successful fast fashion implementation in a developing country like South Africa, in terms of picking up trends quicker, faster lead times and less mistakes, all leading to greater competitiveness. An additional benefit identified was the revival of local production. Since this was the first research of its type in South Africa, it will contribute to knowledge about fast fashion in South Africa, and possibly in other developing countries, and hopefully will initiate a continuing stream of research into fast fashion, especially with other retailers and provide more detail on the key drivers of drivers and barriers of fast fashion implementation.Item Factors encouraging and discouraging attendance at farmers’ markets : an application of The Kano Model(2021-07-27) Mason, Roger Bruce; Dobbelstein, Thomas; Corbishley, Karen M.Farmers’ markets have become fashionable places for shopping, entertainment, and socialising, and in many cases are no longer sources of cheaper or more convenient shopping. With the growth of the craft and the organic food movements, such products are often marketed through farmers’ markets. Entertainment (e.g., music) is also often provided. Such shopping locations often charge premium prices. Why farmers’ markets have become so popular may be due to a variety of reasons such as shopping, entertainment, and socialising. Furthermore, a variety of different factors may cause customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. This research is trying to identify what attracts customers to farmers’ markets and what creates satisfaction for the customer. A quantitative, descriptive, cross sectional study was used, based on a sample of 1141 respondents from an e-mailed survey to an online-accessed panel of consumers provided by a commercial panel provider. It is also a comparative study between a developed nation (Germany) and a developing nation (South Africa). The research culminated in a Kano model for farmers’ markets in each of the countries. There was considerable similarity in the ‘delight’ and ‘performance’ factors in the two countries, but only South Africa has ‘basic’ factors (two), while Germany had none. The study has thus contributed to knowledge about consumer behaviour and attitudes towards farmers’ markets and has added to the literature on the use of the Kano model, especially in South Africa.Item Towards an e-Learning support strategy for the retail sector in South Africa(IGI Global, 2020-07) Aspeling, Jonathan M.; Mason, Roger BruceE-learning is of increasing importance in delivering flexible and distributed programmes for workforce skill development such as induction, product knowledge, systems compliance, and customer service. This research consists of a desktop exploratory review of e-learning concepts, policies, surveys, and a set of proposals and recommendations from research into e-learning in the retail sector. The article presents international and local experience, relevant post-school education and training policies and key variables and themes that impact on e-learning. Institutional approaches in supporting e-learning within different countries are also contrasted. The outcomes are general recommendations regarding the focus, alignment and integration of e-learning for the retail sector, with activities proposed to support e-learning.Item Perceptions of service provided by South African police service community service centres(Informa UK Limited, 2019-07-25) Mason, Roger Bruce; Ngobese, Ndabazinhle; Maharaj, MandushaThis study investigated citizens’ perceptions of the service experienced when visiting Community Service Centres (CSC) of the South African Police Service (previously known as ‘police stations’ or ‘charge offices’). The study focuses on factors leading up to the visit and to the service experience as perceived by the visitors, and whether these perceptions differed according to various demographic factors. A survey of 400 respondents at three CSCs measured how and why the CSC was visited, overall satisfaction and respondents’ perceptions of the visit experience (measured via the service quality dimensions). The results indicate that overall satisfaction does not differ significantly according to demo-graphics, but that there are some differences in the lead-up factors and the experience according to education and income. Actions needed to improve the visit experience for citizens include customer service train-ing, regular assessment and monitoring of clients’ experiences, as well as CSC employees’ behaviour.