Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14
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Item Evaluating the ethical management practices of small, medium and micro-enterprises to ensure effective business decision-making in the eThekwini Municipal area(2023-01) Ndlazi, Sandile Edwin; Dlamini, Bongani InnocentThis study is premised on the understanding that the democratic government of South Africa has made use of many initiatives to sustain the development of SMMEs. This is due to the fact that this sector has the potential to develop the country's economy. The study then aimed to explore the effect of a knowledge of ethics and its management on the business decisions of entrepreneurs. This research examined the potential of SMME managers and business owners in terms of how they can use their ethical management knowledge to ensure effective decision-making which can make their enterprises promote viable economic growth. The basis on which this research was initiated was that of the human behaviour of SMME managers, operators and business owners in relation to how they can contribute to economic development and survive the competitive market using ethical management practicesto make good decisions. The data of the study was accumulated from different SMMEs in the eThekwini Municipal Area using simple random sampling. A total of 200 entrepreneurs answered to the questionnaire, which comprised the sample of the study. This data was captured and evaluated on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 28 and yielded the descriptive statistics. Significant findings of this research were that to add positively to economic development, SMME owners, managers and operatives must be equipped with knowledge to run their operations with elements of trustworthiness and values of honesty, integrity, fairness accountability, loyalty and empathy if they are to succeed in their choice of operation. The constraining factors that stemmed from the answers of the respondents were that they did not give preference to the legal standards and ethical ideas that regulate their operation with results that end up affecting their ability to make good decisions. The main recommendation is that prospective entrepreneurs must be equipped with knowledge to understanding of how to cope with the changing risks encountered in the process of operation, as well as how to come up with emergency plans that can mitigate this problem. This could also be an avenue for further research.Item Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in the KwaZulu-Natal hotels - barriers and drivers(2021-01) Maqalika, Lungile Rosemary; Sucheran, ReshmaHotels in the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa face vast barriers and drivers for Corporate Social Responsibility implementation. The study investigated the nature and extent of Corporate Social Responsibility implementation in the KwaZulu-Natal hotel sector. Challenges and benefits associated with Corporate Social Responsibility implementation in the sector were identified as well as how hotels report the Corporate Social Responsibility practices. The quantitative approach was adopted using self- administered questionnaires to collect primary data via electronic mail. The population comprised of 114 star graded hotels in KwaZulu-Natal, a total of 74 (65%) responses were obtained. The key findings in the study indicated that the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility practices focused on social, environmental, and economic pillars with specific activities related to each pillar. The major barriers to Corporate Social Responsibility implementation cost, knowledge and expertise, lack of training and opportunities, time, and thecomplexity of Corporate Social Responsibility, were identified as well as the drivers; profitability, positive business reputation, costs saving, improved branding, and improved public image. Hotels used websites, annual reports, and word of mouth to report their Corporate Social Responsibility practices.Item Assessing the impact of language diversity on communication : a narrative inquiry conducted at a South African stevedoring company(2021-11-14) Naidoo, Ashegan; Adam, Jamila KhatoonPrior to 1994, South Africa was a country that had segregation among race groups due to apartheid legislation. Post 1994 South Africans had to deal with the combining of culture and races. The merging of communities required businesses to employ previously disadvantaged groups for a more diverse organisation. Although this produces superior results over uniformity, since development and creativity are more reliant on diversity working together and capitalising on their individuality than on high-intelligence sole thinkers (Herring, 2009). It also has its own set of unique challenges, according to Herring (2009) diversity can present conflict, separating a nation and other issues that diminishes an organisations effectiveness and productivity. There is a rising pressure placed on employers and employees for accountability in the workplace and an increasing importance for evaluation of performance (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003). Twenty-three years post-democracy South Africa faces many challenges in various sectors of society. Living in a rainbow nation means living amongst people of different nationalities, beliefs and customs. At the organisation which this research is based upon, there are people of varying races and culture. The problem with this is that in a predominantly English medium of instruction, the employees who communicate via other languages are finding it difficult to understand and follow instruction. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of language diversity on communication at a South African stevedoring company. This study was driven by three research questions, namely: What are the identities of the participants of the study? Secondly, what are the employee experiences of the effects of language diversity on communication? And lastly, how does communication style between the participants affect the rate of productivity at the workplace? This research study was supported by using the principles of the Social Identity Theory and the Communication Accommodation Theory. The paradigmatic approach used viewed this research study through the lens of the interpretivist paradigm in order to understand and learn from the narratives of casual employees at a South African stevedoring company. This research study was performed within the boundaries of the qualitative design. The narrative inquiry methodology was applied to this study in order for the researcher to narratively explore the lived experiences of the participants. Five participants were selected for this study by putting into effect the principles of the purposeful sampling method. Field texts (data) were generated by employing the unstructured interviews and the collage inquiry method. The generated data was then analysed through two methods of analysis. These methods are the narrative analysis and analysis of narratives. The findings of this study show that one of the key components of high productivity is effective communication. Due to many employees including all five participants being second language (Isizulu) speaking, a barrier to language could be considered as a communication barrier. Communication barriers arise when the individuals involved speak in completely different languages from one another (van Rosse et al., 2016). Language barrier or linguistics barrier can be defined as miscommunication (Harzing and Feely, 2008). In any company or organisation, communication is the pillar of strength for any organisation, and poor communication has severe repercussion to productivity. The success of an organisation depends heavily on the flexibility and the effectiveness of the internal organisational communications between all levels of employees. For this reason, it is the job of managers to lead employees with effective communication.