Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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Item Challenges during installation and maintenance of water delivery infrastructure : a citizen perspective(Beykent University, 2023-10-30) Mokgobu, Matlou Lesley; Mason, Roger; Dobbelstein, ThomasThe installation and maintenance of water infrastructure in South African cities poses a challenge to communities, municipalities, and installation contractors, who face problems such as inadequate access to homes, traffic jams, inadequately barricaded trenches, leaking water pipes, water supply cut offs, vandalism, and theft of water. The research problem, therefore, involves an inadequate understanding of what drives these problems and how to mitigate them through better management. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges of managing water infrastructure as perceived by the citizens of a South African municipality. The study was a descriptive and cross-sectional survey, with data collected, via a literature derived, emailed questionnaire, from a self-selected non probability sample of 402 City of Tshwane residents. Analysis, via SPSS Version 27, used descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that both the municipality and the contractors contributed to the challenges experienced by citizens, with maintenance challenges being more serious than installation challenges. Municipal and political challenges were the main drivers, with political ownership of construction companies and political interference being the biggest problems. The findings contributed to a better understanding of the challenges inhibiting effective installation and maintenance of water infrastructure, and are important to the municipality, and the community at large, because they contribute to a better understanding of service delivery from the citizens’ perspectives.Item Organisational cybernetics : a systems thinking method used for small and medium enterprises(AOSIS, 2023-03) Bugwandin, Vinay; Bayat, Mohamed S.Orientation: Systems thinking stems from the Twenties and has constantly developed over the years in assisting sectors in operations, management and the environment in checking for interdependencies, interconnections and coherence in all aspects of the elements inputted. In particular, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics of systems thinking can be considered as a tool used for validating elements and being goal-oriented in nature.Research purpose: The purpose of this research is to showcase the role and influence that the viable systems model in organisation cybernetics has in a study conducted on small and medium enterprises.Motivation for the study: In the business world, there is a profound need for organisations to ensure that process flows are maintained to achieve sustainability. The systems thinking approach ensures that process flows are maintained; however, they have proven to be robust in validating elements and achieving goals. In this regard, this study encourages organisations to embrace and utilise systems thinking approaches to improve productivity and, ultimately, sustainability.Research design, approach and method: In conjunction with the mixed methodology approach, namely the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for quantitative research and NVivo for qualitative research, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics was used in this empirical study.Main findings: The core element of ‘strategy’ and the subelements of ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were investigated. It was found that ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were the main contributors towards achieving sustainability. Furthermore, a systems thinking model – the viable systems model – was used successfully to indicate the interdependencies to purport the goal of achieving sustainability. Ultimately, it was found that ‘strategy’, ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were required to achieve a ‘sustainable business strategy’.Practical/managerial implications: Leaders should consider the use of systems thinking as a tool to ensure the output of a robust process flow, increased productivity and good governance in their organisations.Contribution/value-add: The viable systems model in organisational cybernetics proved to be successful in checking for interconnections, interdependencies and coherence of the elements used in the research study. Researchers in today’s era should consider the use of systems thinking in future research studies.Item The critical role played by big data management in effectively addressing the security and overall privacy concerns through correlation analysis(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Ahamad, Shahanawaj; Roshan, Amit; Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Shekher, Vineet; Joshi, Kapil; Alanya-Beltran, JoelDue to the widespread application of big data in a wide range of fields, there has been a significant rise in a diverse range of data assets, and numerous data analysis technologies, such as standardized data mining or quantitative analytical techniques, are speeding up the constant enlargement of the big data industry. The fact that information from several different resources has a life cycle from acquisition to disposal is a key property of big data, as is the fact that new information may be obtained via analysis, combining, and exploitation of existing data. Yet, information security & dependability challenges arise at every stage of the life cycle, rendering the protection of individually identifying data a vital goal throughout the whole process. It is possible to evaluate user behavior using different big data analytics techniques, and the collection of this information results in the violation of personal privacy. This study analyses dangers and security challenges that arise during the administration of large amounts of data by verifying the existing standards produced by international standardization bodies and doing an analysis of relevant research.Item Reflections on the impact of talent management on employee performance: perspectives from Zimbabwe(Advanced Scientific Research, 2020-09-01) Mahlahla, Linah; Lourens, Melanie; Oparinde, KunleThis paper investigates the impact of talent management on employee performance at the Masvingo City Council in Zimbabwe. The main challenge facing the council remains the inability to attract, attain and develop talented employees who perform effectively, which in turn intensifies the service delivery challenges across City Councils in Zimbabwe. Therefore, this study will endeavour to examine the talent management strategies that can be employed by the Masvingo City Council to improve on employee performance. The study adopts a quantitative research approach using questionnaires administered to a total of 67 professionals at the Masvingo City Council. Responses were captured and analysed using SPSS. Statistical tests were used to test six hypotheses which were formulated for the various sections of the study. Findings indicate that talent management has an impact on employee performance at the Council level. It was recommended that the Masvingo City Council provide employees with adequate training and resources, revise and improve personnel policies, and reward employees for outstanding performance.Item Follow me, I’m right behind you : leading from a complexity viewpoint(University of Reading, UK., 2008-11) Mason, Roger BruceThis paper is based on the premise that businesses and their environments are complex adaptive systems (CAS), and are therefore too complex to be ‘managed’ by a single leader. The literature suggests that CASs are self-organising systems and that effective direction and guidance emerges from such self-organisation. Thus, the traditional view of a leader as a decision-maker, instructing and controlling the organisation is inappropriate in a complex/turbulent environment. A qualitative, case study method was used to investigate the leadership activities in four companies, two each in a turbulent industry (computers) and in a stable industry (packaging). Depth interviews were conducted with 31 respondents. Interview transcripts were analysed using NVIVO, and then compared with field notes and documentary analyses. The objective was to identify if a self-organising leadership approach was prevalent in the more successful company in the turbulent industry, and if bureaucratic management was more prevalent in the more successful company in the stable industry. In other words, is self-organising leadership more effective in a turbulent environment? The study has value as it is based on theories not common in the management literature. It is also of value to educators, as many management courses are still based on the assumption of the manager as all-knowing planner and controller. Furthermore, it will be of interest to practitioners who are under pressure from environmental changes, and from societies that are demanding more from their organisations. The findings showed that both the more successful companies, and the less successful computer company, operate via considerable self-organisation principles. Company activities and performance emerge from the interactions amongst the managers, staff and customers, with little direct instructional management from the CEOs. The less successful packaging company managed via the traditional bureaucratic model. These findings and their implications are discussed, and recommendations for further research are made.Item Complexity theory and leadership for turbulent environments(Kamla-Raj, 2013) Mason, Roger BruceBusinesses and their environments are complex adaptive systems, and are therefore too complex to be ‘managed’ by a single leader. Thus, the traditional view of a leader as a decision-maker, instructing and controlling the organisation is inappropriate in complex/turbulent environments. A qualitative, case method, using depth interviews, investigated leadership activities in four companies, in a country with a turbulent environment, to identify if self-organising leadership is more effective in turbulent environments than traditional bureaucratic management. The findings showed that self-organising leadership appears superior in turbulent environments. These findings and their implications are discussed, and recommendations for further research are made.Item Monitoring and evaluation capacity development of municipalities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa(Kamla-Raj Enterprises, 2016) Govender, Ivan GunassThe purpose of the study was to assess the monitoring and evaluation capacity development in local municipalities in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The research method included the case study and the mixed method approach. The study found that monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacity development is perceived to positively impact staff motivation, training and placement; allocation of resources; and stakeholder participation. The results of the study are relevant to the National, Provincial and the Municipal Councils in exercising their oversight roles to capacitate municipalities to plan, implement and manage M&E systems to ensure an accountable and responsive local government. This study is significant as it provides a platform for the three spheres of government to address the current M&E capacity development gaps and to collectively develop an evidence-based national M&E capacity development strategy. The paper proposes further detailed research be undertaken for M&E capacity needs analysis in each municipality to ensure the developmental mandates are achieved.Item Monitoring and evaluating service delivery as a wicked problem in South Africa(KRE Publishers, 2016) Govender, Ivan GunassThe South African government is challenged by an increasing number of service delivery protests throughout the country, despite it improving the provision of basic services to the majority of citizens. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to evaluate service delivery as a wicked problem and to propose various approaches to deal with enhancing service delivery, via the documentary analysis approach. The paper established that both service delivery and wicked problems exhibit common characteristics of complexity, uncertainty, conflict and power inequalities amongst stakeholders. Traditional methods of solving service delivery problems, are inadequate in a socially and technologically complex developmental context and the application of networks, innovations and integrated leadership could result in improved service delivery outcomes and impacts. The paper is of value to public sector entities and state departments engaged in service delivery and the oversight of the provision of water, sanitation, electricity and housing.