Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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Item Playing with identity : fan role playing on Twitter(University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2015) Jeewa, Zakia; Wade, Jean-PhilippeThe participatory internet has revolutionized fandoms, making possible de territorialized virtual fan communities with enormous global memberships. The article draws on Fiske’s notion of the autonomous ‘cultural economy’ produced by ordinary ‘active’ audiences, Jenkins’ notion of an emergent ‘participatory culture’ spearheaded by popular culture fans, and Huizinga’s seminal study of ‘play’, to analyse two fan communities of Harry Potter and The Vampire Diaries on the social media platform, Twitter, focusing on fan role-playing, where fans either parodically masquerade as fictional characters while commenting on usually topical events, or interact in dramatic dialogues in the guise of fictional characters. The role-playing can be seen as a ludic playing with identity that foregrounds subaltern agency.Item Creativity in marketing communication to overcome barriers to organic produce purchases : the case of a developing nation(Elsevier BV, 2019-09-13) Mkhize, Sandile; Ellis, DebbieThe change from conventional to organic foods has been found to have benefits for environmental sustainability and for consumers’ health. Although a market for organic fresh produce has been found to exist in South Africa, consumption levels are low and there is incomplete understanding of the barriers to organic consumption. In this qualitative research interviews were conducted with participants who were aware of organic products but were not regular consumers of organic products. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants to the study to better understand barriers to organic purchases. Qualitative data obtained from interviews was transcribed and thematic analysis conducted. Generally, participants appeared to be concerned about the environment, however, their concern for the environment does not lead to organic consumption. Furthermore, participants had positive attitudes toward organic products, are not influenced by friends and family but are deterred by issues such as price, availability and labelling of organic products. The recommendations include initiatives that will assist marketers with communicating organic benefits to consumers thereby explaining the reasons for higher prices and leading to consumer trust. Creative communication strategies present an opportunity to overcome barriers to consumption.Item The entrepreneurial mind-set of university students : a cross-cultural comparison between Namibia and Germany(Inderscience Publishers, 2011) Haase, Heiko; Lautenschlager, Arndt; Rena, RavinderThe objective of this article is to set a cornerstone to compare and understand the phenomenon of graduate entrepreneurship in developing and developed countries. Our central research questions are: Are there differences in the entrepreneurial intentions of university students? What are the factors that might explain potential differences in their entrepreneurial mind-set? In response to these questions, we performed a cross-sectional study exploring the prospective career paths of 2,353 university students from Namibia as well as from Eastern and Western Germany. We found that Namibian students have a higher entrepreneurial intention compared to their German counterparts. We detected several differences between both countries and revealed explanatory factors. However, they are not sufficient to explain the ‘regional dimension’ of the higher entrepreneurial intentions in Namibia. Several implications are presented.Item Challenges for quality primary education in Papua, New Guinea : a case study(Hindawi Limited, 2011) Rena, RavinderThere is an urgent need to reform the educational system to achieve universal primary education in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Even after 35 years of independence, PNG has been struggling to educate an estimated 2 million elementary- and primary-aged children and faces numerous challenges in providing Education for All (EFA). This study was conducted in four primary schools of Buma Yong area of Lae district of Morobe Province, PNG. The study revealed that the quality of education has been deteriorated over the past few decades. Many schools in PNG do not have classrooms, teachers, and basic facilities. As a result, the children are losing interest in going to school. The children dropped out of school so as to assist their families in the household and agricultural activities. It also reveals that the dropout rate of girls is more than that of the boys due to the gender disparity in the country. The study recommended that budgetary allocations should be increased so as to improve the infrastructural facilities and encourage the children to attend primary school and thus achieve the Millennium Development Goal/Education For All in PNG.Item Influence of self-motivation and intrinsic motivational factors for small and medium business growth : a South African case study(AOSIS, 2018-05-29) Ncube, Thandukwazi R.; Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: This study investigates the influence of intrinsic motivational factors for small and medium enterprise (SME) growth in the eThekwini District Municipality in South Africa (SA). Aim: It examines whether self-motivation of business owners operating in the furniture manufacturing sector has an influence on SME growth. Setting: Of the 127 SMEs operating in the eThekwini District Municipality, 112 participated in the study representing 88% of the target population. Methods: Descriptive, chi-square and correlative analyses were used to test the two objectives. That is, to determine the influence of self-motivation of business owners for SME growth, as well as to establish the intrinsic motivational factors that stimulate creativity for SME growth. Results: The study revealed that the intrinsic motivational factors of business owners do influence SME growth in SA. These factors include exerting effort for business growth interest, finding new solutions to business problems to achieve growth, growing business for recognition, belief to produce the desired outcomes, taking responsibilities for business expansion, the need for advancement, and growth aspiration that enables the business owner to take risks in order to grow the business. Conclusion: The outcome is that a self-motivated business owner has the ability to grow the business. The study provides valuable data relating to intrinsic motivational factors. Such factors are the enablers of creativity and business growth. It provides initial baseline data upon which to base future work.Item Long-term preservation of digital records at the University of KwaZulu-Natal archives(Journal of the South African Society of Archivists, 2018-09-29) Matlala, Mpubane EmanuelThe long-term preservation strategies used for digital records are significant in that they can ensure access to records and archives. This study examines the strategies used for the digital preservation of records at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Archives. It describes how care is taken in order to ensure that the various plans of action that are adopted are appropriate for the university archives. A qualitative research design with an interpretivist world view was used in this exploratory study. In this study, interviews, observations and document analysis were employed as data-gathering techniques. The research sample was purposively selected from members of the archivist staff at the university archives. Findings revealed that staff members had started a data preservation project; however, it became clear, that there was no decisive policy framework for the preservation of digital records for the UKZN Archives. Therefore, it is recommended that these issues be dealt with via the implementation of an Information Communication Technological (ICT) infrastructure and the devising of policies and strategies to help ensure the long-term preservation of digital records.Item The impact of educational attainment on household poverty in South Africa : a case study of Limpopo province(Informa UK Limited, 2019-07-29) Wanka, Fru Awah; Rena, RavinderThe provision of education in South Africa during the apartheid regime was poor, particularly for the African population and especially those living in the homelands. This has hindered those lacking the required skills from obtaining lucrative employment and earning prospects. The Income and Expenditure Survey data conducted by Statistics South Africa, for the period 1995, 2000, 2005/06 and 2010/11 were used to carry out this investigation. The official absolute income poverty lines of R3864 (lower bound) and R7116 (upper bound) per annum in 2000 prices were used. In order to establish the relationship between education and poverty status of an individual, a probit regression model was used. This model helped to determine the relationship between the head of a household’s level of education and the poverty status of the household. The results obtained reveal that there is a strong tendency for lower educational attainment to be associated with a higher prevalence of household poverty. This study aims at investigating the impact of a household head’s educational attainment level on the poverty status of the individual household in South Africa, using Limpopo province as a case study. This study seeks to establish whether education has an effect on poverty alleviation in Limpopo province.Item The impact of training and assessment register (TAR) on productivity in the automotive parts manufacturing organisation in South Africa(AOSIS, 2019-11-28) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniOrientation: Organisations are confronted with the challenge of competency among its employees for productivity improvement. They implement strategies that improve employee skills proficiencies for higher productivity. These can also be achieved by implementing a training model that develops employee’s skills and knowledge so that they become the specialists in their work areas. This sentiment underpins the concept of employee Training and Assessment Register (TAR).Purpose: This study evaluates the influence of TAR on productivity in automotive parts manufacturing organisation in South Africa.Motivation for the study: The South African manufacturing sector has a low level of productivity compared to its counterpart industries in the Asian and Western countries. The sector experiences the lack in short to medium term growth in productivity.Research design, approach and methods: The automotive parts manufacturing company that has used a TAR strategy for productivity improvement participated in the study. The study objectives were achieved by examining the production and related experiences in the company. The collection of data was carried out in two phases. This includes the collection of pre- and post-quarterly data for spoilage, overtime and customer complaints. The pre-TAR results were quarterly data reflecting the company’s performance over the three-year period prior to the implementation of TAR. This company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.Main findings: The results established that spoilage rate has a relationship with company productivity. Any decrease in spoilage rate would result to an increase in company productivity. However, the overtime and customer complaints do not statistically have a relationship with company productivity.Contribution: This article uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of TAR on productivity in the automotive parts manufacturing organisation in South Africa.Item The appropriateness of the design of experiments to support Lean Six Sigma for variability reduction(AOSIS, 2018-09-27) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniA Design of Experiment (DoE) is a strategy for planning, conducting, analysing and interpreting the experiment so that valid conclusions can be drawn efficiently and economically. It has the ability to reduce product and process variability. Hence, this study examined if DoE is an appropriate tool to support Lean Six Sigma in selected automotive component manufacturing companies in South Africa. The automotive component manufacturing sector uses various tools aimed at reducing variability. This includes Lean Six Sigma. Consequently, companies that participated in the study have (over and above Lean Six Sigma) adopted a DoE strategy. Thus, the study was designed to establish if DoE is an appropriate tool to support Lean Six Sigma. Of the 123 participants identified, 107 completed the questionnaires. Middle managers of four automotive component manufacturing companies in the eThekwini District Municipality participated in the study. The study investigated production and the related experiences of the automotive component manufacturing companies. Descriptive and correlation were used to analyse data. Results indicated that the appropriateness of DoE to support Lean Six Sigma in various business activities (like finance, strategy and product development) has no relation to both product improvements through reformulation during product development and process optimisation using quality control tools. However, study participants provided a number of reasons for implementing DoE in the automotive component manufacturers. It is advised that the automotive component manufacturers develop a comprehensive variability reduction policy that aligns DoE tools to business performance.Item The influence of a 360-degree performance appraisal on labour productivity in an automotive manufacturing organisation(AOSIS, 2018-07-30) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: South Africa’s (SAs) decline in labour productivity in the manufacturing sector is a cause for concern. The sector turns to employees for innovative productivity improvement initiatives. Employees need to know what activities they are currently performing that need to improve. This is where a 360-degree performance appraisal system plays a growing role. The 360-degree performance appraisal is a valuable tool that provides an opportunity for employees to work together to identify strengths and areas that need improvement. Aim: This study investigates the influence of a 360-degree performance appraisal system for the improvement of labour productivity in the automotive parts manufacturing sector in SA. Settings: The study investigated the production and related experiences of an automotive parts manufacturing company that has adopted a 360-degree strategy. The company operates in the eThekwini district Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. It assessed if 360-degree performance appraisal is responsible for the company’s labour productivity improvements. Methods: The investigation was achieved by collecting pre- and post-360-degree quarterly data for spoilage, absenteeism, capital investment and labour productivity. Results: The 360-degree performance appraisal has no influence on labour productivity improvement. However, past capital investment plays a significant role in labour productivity increase. Results also showed a relationship between spoilage rate and labour productivity improvement. Conclusion: In order to maximise performance, a comprehensive performance policy must be developed, which aligns employee appraisal to performance. The study uncovered the strengths and weaknesses of a 360-degree performance appraisal system for labour productivity improvement in SA.