Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14

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Academics perceptions of community engagement at a selected University of Technology in South Africa
(2021-09) Patchappan, Terslina; Govender, Ivan Gunass
The South African society is unambiguously in a flux, plagued with wicked challenges such as increased levels of poverty, youth unemployment and an extensive public health crisis, which have become the societal norm. Increased prominence exists for university programmes to alleviate these challenges and sustain the South African landscape. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of community engagement amongst academics at a selected University of Technology, namely the Durban University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Academics’ perceptions towards community engagement are significant for the institutionalisation of engagement at the university. Against this backdrop, the main objectives of this study were to evaluate academics’ understanding of community engagement; assess the extent of their initiatives; determine their enablers and constraints to undertake such initiatives; and recommend strategies that could lead to an improved community engagement experience. The research design adopted was the quantitative paradigm, which entailed the distribution of a structured open and closed-ended questionnaire to the respondents. Against a Five-Point Likert Scale, the questionnaire comprised of six sections, each under a specific main theme related to the research topic. The simple random sampling technique achieved a sample size of 80 respondents from a target population of 102 academics. The sample respondents returned seventy-four questionnaires. This represented a high response rate of 93%, through the attribution of a personal method of data collection. Furthermore, the data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24.0 for Windows. Upon completion, the entire dissertation was verified against plagiarism through the Turnitin programme and achieved a 10% rating. The study found that workload demand and time are main inhibitors of community engagement. The researcher recommended that DUT should consider offering rigid empowerment and support structures for academics. Lastly, the research project concluded with directions for future research based on the insights of academics into community engagement in South African higher education.
The effect of institutional research strategy on the attitudes of accountancy academics towards research engagement : a case study of higher education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal
(2020) Nzuza, Zwelihle Wiseman; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
Accountancy academics are choosing to embrace the accountancy profession rather than undertake research, with poor participation in research activities requiring investigation. IRS is a system by which universities can engage academics with research. This study, therefore, intends to bridge the gap and contribute to the body of knowledge by reviewing the effect of IRS on accountancy academics’ attitude towards research engagement and to identify factors affecting IRS operation by accountancy academics, with specific reference to public universities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The findings will be of particular relevance to historically disadvantaged public universities that view IRS as a form of praxis for instigating an accountancy research culture. This study was descriptive and cross-sectional in nature, with data gathered from a sample of 82 respondents. Likert-scaled self-administered survey questionnaires and an online survey among relevant staff of the public universities in KwaZulu-Natal were used, namely, Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and University of Zululand. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (frequency tables, figures, correlation tables, regression tables, and cross-tabulations) and categorised according to themes. The IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 was used to determine statistical results. The results revealed various external and internal factors related to the university that inhibit the IRS operation. In order to move the knowledge frontier forward, a conceptual model of the effect of IRS on the attitudes of accountancy academic staff towards research engagement has been suggested and tested. Nonetheless, the study concludes an existing disparity of research ideas between academics, universities and industry practitioners, with findings providing several recommendations
An investigation into employee job satisfaction and its impact on organizational effectiveness : a case study of the Buffalo City College
(2017) Sibhoko, Onesimo; Bayat, Mohamed Saheed
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of job satisfaction on organizational effectiveness at Buffalo City College in the Eastern Cape. When job satisfaction levels are low, the organizations efforts to attain organizational effectiveness may be compromised. For any organisation to be effective, it should have satisfied and committed workers. The levels of employee performance may be increased by job satisfaction in an organisation including the further education and training sector. The individual commitment of employees in the workplace may be stimulated by job satisfaction. This means that the satisfaction of employees is necessary for the development of any establishment. A quantitative methodological style was used for the collection of data in this study. The target population consisted of 100 lecturers at Buffalo City College. The personal method of administering the questionnaire was used and a 75% response rate was obtained. The Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0 was used for statistical examination. Significant findings emerged from the empirical analysis and results. Some respondents experienced job satisfaction while others experienced dissatisfaction with growth opportunities, pay, working conditions and recognition. The recommendations highlighted that top management should consider improving the working conditions of employees and opening up opportunities for individual advancement of the workers. Further, it was recommended that top management of Buffalo City College should pay a fair salary to the lecturers and involve them in decision making particularly on those things that have a direct impact on them. The study concludes by providing directions for future research.