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Research Publications (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217

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Start date: 2022Subject: search.filters.subject.South Africa

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    Investigating the nexus of corporate social responsibility and marketing performance in a medium-sized clothing manufacturing enterprise in South Africa
    (Bussecon International Academy, 2024-07-27) Maome, Itumeleng Judith; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    Organisations all over the world are increasingly adopting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategic tool, not only for improving their brand image but also in making a meaningful contribution to the welfare of society. This trend includes incorporating socially responsible aspects into marketing strategies, resulting in goods and services that benefit the community at large. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in this framework as they contribute significantly to both social and economic growth. Using a quantitative methodology, this study examined the experiences of a manufacturing organisation in the eThekwini District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal that has included CSR into its marketing strategies. The analysis employed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method, with data evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This study collected and analysed pre- and post-CSR implementation quarterly data on sales performance and customer retention. The empirical findings offer a multifaceted picture of the impact of CSR on marketing performance. There appears to be a substantial relationship between customer retention rates and marketing performance following CSR implementation. Interestingly, the study discovered an inverse association between sales volumes and marketing performance, implying that a rise in sales does not always result in improved marketing results for the organisation in question. This unexpected consequence shows the intricate interplay between CSR programmes and marketing outcomes, providing useful insights for businesses, particularly those in the South African manufacturing sector that are attempting to negotiate the complexities of CSR-driven marketing strategies. This study contributes to a better understanding of how CSR efforts can be strategically integrated with marketing goals to promote both social and business success.
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    Size matters : the market–non-market strategy nexus and firm performance in South Africa
    (AOSIS, 2024-02) Parnell, John A.; Troilo, Michael L.; Dobbelstein, Thomas
    Purpose: This study seeks to discover how a firm’s size and its use of both market and non-market strategies (MS and NMS) impact firm performance in South Africa.Design/methodology/approach: We used the Prolific platform to gather survey data from 247 executives and managers across the country representing a variety of firm sizes and industries. Cronbach’s alpha, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and structural equation modelling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM) were then employed to test constructs and hypotheses. Configuration theory and social exchange theory (SET) are the conceptual foundations for this study.Findings/results: Firm size is a driver of the market strategy of differentiation, but not cost leadership. Larger firms are also more likely to pursue both political and social NMS. Differentiation and social NMS positively impact firm performance, but cost leadership and political NMS do not.Practical implications: Managers should emphasise differentiating their products and services rather than being a low-cost provider. When considering various non-market strategies, they should emphasise social NMS. Although large firms are more likely than small firms to pursue political NMS, they do not appear to accrue any benefit.Originality/value: This study fills gaps in the strategy-performance literature by directly linking firm size to strategic choices and by analysing the effects of different types of MS and NMS on firm performance. As such, it is valuable to both academics and practitioners. This study also advances our understanding of MS and NMS in South Africa.
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    Consumer perspective of financial technology and digital personal banking in South Africa : a literature review
    (Sprint Investify, 2023-10-16) Ramsundra, Avikar; Mason, Roger Bruce
    Financial 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.
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    Sexual education in addressing sexual harassment in South Africa
    (IntechOpen, 2023-09-12) Hamlall, Vijay; Sterling, Rogena
    Abstract Many countries lack adequate legislation to combat sexual harassment of women. The situation in South Africa however is quite different. Since the collapse of Apartheid, there are numerous legislatures and policies in place to protect women from acts of violence. Yet, South Africa has one of the highest prevalence of sexual violence in the world indicating that these laws are ineffective and not enough to stem the tide of violence against women. Cultural and traditional factors and masculinity construction play a major role in the creation of gender inequalities. Formal sexuality education at schools and universities in South Africa is absent from the curriculum. Sexuality education in South Africa is mainly rendered through community-based training and outreach programmes. This chapter explores this manner of education, the benefits of such education and the impact this education has had both on society at large and on combatting sexual harassment. The sexuality education initiatives discussed in this chapter are those that include men that offer them modes to address their own social dominance and the subordinate position of women. Keywords: South Africa, sexual harassment, masculinity, sexual education programmes, gender equity and reconciliation (GER)
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    Evaluating the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on the socioeconomic status of South African women
    (IKENGA International Journal of Institute of African Studies, 2023-03-30) Rena, Ravinder; Mbukanma, Ifeanyi
    This research was conducted to evaluate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the socioeconomic status of South African women. There is an urgent need for a better understanding of the unique circumstances and provisional assistance of effective support for women throughout the Covid-19 crisis and its aftermath considering the level of impact the virus had on women. To achieve the researchobjective, a literature- based analysis was employed, which provides an in-depth analysis and evaluation of previous literature on the unprecedented nature and trend of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on the socioeconomic status of women in South Africa. Thus, despite the limited scientific data on the most recent development of the pandemic, the findings revealed that the pandemic has escalated most variables of socioeconomic status of women in South Africa, which include high poverty rates, increased rates of unplanned pregnancy, school drop-out of schoolgirls and child labour among teenage girls, lack of income, decreased financial empowerment, reduced access to conducive healthcare, excessive maternal mortality, and growing food shortages and malnutrition. Thus, as the world continues to search for a reliable vaccine and other preventive measures for the virus, this paper recommended that policymakers and stakeholders around the globe, and most especially in South Africa, should develop coherent and strategic policies that will incorporate and attend to the socioeconomic needs of women.
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    The socio-economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the South African informal economy
    (Durban University of Technology, 2023) Langry, Fiona; Rena, Ravinder
    The informal business sector in many developing economies is often seen as a driver of economic growth due to the role that this sector plays in the creation of employment opportunities, increasing the social activities of its communities, and providing business opportunities for rural entrepreneurs. The informal economy has been known to be insulated from macro-economic volatility in the global markets, but this could be an oversight on the part of the national government as they have not taken this sector into account when determining GDP or strategic imperatives to bolster the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic showcased how unprepared many economies were in the face of harsh government-imposed lockdowns and the resultant job losses that occurred due to individuals being unable to go to work. The South African government, whilst acknowledging the informal sector and the subsequent economic and social role it plays, lacks the necessary policy framework and enablement of this sector, as well as a platform that enables the continuation of business practices for informal traders that will protect them from the daunting impacts of a pandemic or another global catastrophe. The purpose of this study is to comprehend and analyse the socio-economic ramifications of the COVID-19 epidemic and its impact on the informal economy in South Africa. To do so, the study utilises discourse analysis and which is carried out using a secondary data collection approach. Theses for master's and doctoral degrees, papers presented at conferences, policy documents, government gazettes, statistical data from governments, and reports from international organizations are all taken into consideration. Articles published in scientific journals that have been subject to the process of peer review are also taken into account. According to the findings of the study, in order to protect the informal sector from unforeseen disasters in the future, it is recommended that policies and protection mechanisms be put into place.
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    Standardisation of quality testing and inspection tools for product quality improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa
    (2023-07-31) Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    South Africa’s quality system in the automotive sector has developed a number of methods, tools and solutions to improve quality processes. The statistically analysed data, obtained from quality tests and inspections, is one of them. Thus, the product quality testing and inspection tools play a significant role in the control of variation in the production process. A good quality system cannot function without adequate quality testing and inspection tools. It has been established that the automotive sector has an abundance of such tools in their production processes, and it is necessary that they are standardised for optimum quality results. Therefore, this study examines the effects of standardising quality testing and inspection tools for product quality improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. The study was quantitative in design and examined production and related experiences of the automotive assembly organisation that has standardised its quality inspection tools for product quality improvement. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal. The study was achieved by collecting pre- and post-quarterly data for spoilage, cost of quality inspection and the external product failure as well as product quality. The results establish that the standardisation of quality testing and inspection tools does not improve product quality in the automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. However, the cost of quality testing and inspection has a relation to product quality resulting from the standardisation of quality testing and inspection tools. This study uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of standardising quality testing and inspection tools for product quality in an automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.
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    The role of business incubation programmes on the performance of small and medium enterprises in South Africa
    (2023-05-15) Zhou, Helper; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    Research has shown that Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) play a pivotal role in socio-economic development of countries across the globe. In recent years, business incubation programmes have gained popularity to address the perennial challenge of SME failure in South Africa. However, there have been very limited studies to empirically assess the impact of incubation in South Africa. To address this gap, this study utilised dataset, comprising 387 incubated and non-incubated firms to assess the impact of business incubation of performance. The originality of our study lies in valuable insights we established relating to the impact of incubators on SME performance. Utilising Generalised Least Squares technique in R, the study revealed that incubation has a positive impact on SME performance. Further to that the results revealed differing attributes between the incubated and non-incubated cohorts. It was recommended that the government should invest into incubation programmes to drive sustainable SME performance. Further to that, the heterogeneity between the two cohorts demands a shift from a “one size fits all” approach to supporting SMEs in South Africa
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    The impact of quality gates on product quality in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa
    (2023-06-05) Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    Nowadays, quality control influences competitiveness of organisations, continually demanding managerial attention. With the arrival of total quality management, quality control has become an almost all-embracing control system. Thus, the philosophy of the quality gate as a quality control tool plays an important role in the assembly organisations of South Africa. Quality gate is used to improve the visibility of quality at strategic points in the production process, its main goal being to conform to the service quality as per customer’s expectation. As a result, this study examines the influence of the quality gate on product quality in the selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. The study was quantitative in design and examined production and related experiences of the automotive assembly organisation that have adopted quality gate strategy for product quality improvement. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The selected company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study was achieved by collecting pre- and post-quarterly data for spoilage, production targets achieved and cost on quality. The results indicate that product quality has a relationship with both the spoilage rate and the cost on quality. Any decrease in the spoilage rate or the cost on quality increases product quality. This study uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of the quality gate on product quality in an automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.
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    The implications of automation in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa
    (2023-05-16) Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    Improving productivity in the manufacturing system is the core objective of all manufacturing companies as it determines how well the company utilises its resources compared to requirements. Emanating from a continued demand for efficiency and productivity, automation becomes the key driver in such an achievement. Thus, automated flow line manufacturing systems are becoming more relevant in the automotive sector. This study examines the influence of automation for productivity improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa, automation being the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of products and services. The study was quantitative in design and examined the production of an automotive assembly organisation that has adopted an automation system for productivity improvement in its automobile Deck Tailgate process in its weld plant. This company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study was conducted by collecting pre- and postquarterly data for labour productivity and process efficiency. The results established that labour productivity and process efficiency improve as a result of the application of automation. However, automation will lead to the reduction of human participation in the production systems. This may result in uncertainties amongst employees that must be properly communicated and managed. The original value of this study is its approach in uncovering strengths and weaknesses of automation for productivity improvement in South Africa.