Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

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A case study of superusers' influence towards productivity at Transient Port Terminals in Durban
(2024-05) Khumalo, Msizi Mafika; Sangham, Anilrai I
This thesis evaluated Superuser influence on organisational productivity in an organisation at Transnet Port Terminals in Durban. The study was motivated by a general concern in the Port terminals regarding Superusers, training, policies, leadership, and application information systems synergistical roles towards performance in Organisation. This study used qualitative data collection to gain a clearer view of the Durban Transnet Port Terminals environment and found that workers demand inclusivity when determining enablers and objectives. This study recommends the presence of a Superuser, structured training, application information systems, inclusive change management processes and engaging management to manage a successful Durban Port Terminal. It also identifies Superuser's positioning and input in enhancing the Port operational accomplishments. This review examines the influence of Superusers on organizational productivity in an organization. Due to the COVID-19pandemic, this study concentrated on the Durban Port Terminals, where access, mobility, and the open freedom of applying carefree observations were restricted. Only employees who were cleared to attend work and those with access to computers took part in the study, and interactions between respondents and the researcher were constrained by the COVID-19 protocols, study design research tools and safe distance guidelines. This study aims to evaluate the socio-economic impacts of malfunctioning systems, or users that are ill-equipped, on total productivity. It also aims to investigate the extent to which Superusers, and application information systems improvement could contribute to the performance and effectiveness of Transnet, and the impacts on national economic growth and social transformation. It is intended to reflect on superusers, strategies, leadership, and training which can synergistically bridge the gap between business, resources, and application systems to improve productivity. It aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding superusers, performance, and organizations. Superusers have the potential to significantly reduce the productivity gap
The application of space technology and the challenges of managing water infrastructure in a selected South African municipality
(2023-04) Mokgobu, Matlou Lesley; Mason, Roger Bruce
The installation of water infrastructure in cities poses a challenge to communities, municipalities, and installation contractors. These challenges range from the inaccessibility of streets, the community’s limited access to homes, traffic jams, deep trenches with few or no barricades, leaking water pipes, water supply cut-offs, electricity supply cut-offs, vandalism, and theft of water pipes and accessories. The research problem, therefore, revolves around a better understanding of these water infrastructural problems, how to mitigate such problems caused by inadequate planning, leading, organising, controlling, and coordination by management, arising from various technical aspects of water infrastructure. The need for this study arises from the inconvenience and dangers experienced by communities with heaps of materials lying around causing disturbances to traffic flow, open hazardous trenches becoming dangerous to children playing in their vicinity, vehicle accidents because of the trenches, and damaged kerbs. The study aimed to investigate the challenges of managing water infrastructure in a selected South African municipality to find possible ways to resolve such challenges with the help of space technology. The study achieved the objectives, namely, to identify the challenges experienced by the municipality during and after the installation of water infrastructure; to rank the importance of the experienced challenges; to explore the root causes of the challenges experienced during the installation of water infrastructure; to identify how space technology can help with the management of water infrastructure; to develop a framework of the challenges and the causes; and, to explore water management strategies with the effort of finding possible ways to resolve the challenges. The study was exploratory and applied mixed methods research methodology. Data was collected via a survey (402 City of Tshwane residents), in-depth interviews (20 City of Tshwane managers of the Water Division), and two focus groups (7 participants per group of City of Tshwane contractor managers and contractor employees) through the convergent parallel design method. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 27), and the qualitative data was analysed using NVivo version 27, charts, tables, and themes. The results from the three sets of participants indicated multiple challenges related to skills deficits, management deficits, political interference, and inexperienced staff in the water infrastructure division. The findings indicated knowledge, ability and performance gaps in human resources, management, technical skills, financial management, socio-politics, and legal frameworks. The study contributed new knowledge to systems theory regarding the policies, systems, installation and maintenance of water infrastructure, and communication, and these aspects are supported by the findings. The application of space technology on a large scale can help the City of Tshwane fight criminal acts of vandalism and theft of infrastructure. This study found that space technology is still in its infancy in the city, and that the application of this technology requires an elevated level of education, experience and specialised technical skills to operate. This study recommended extensive investment in space technology. The study further recommended that the City of Tshwane improve human resources, training, culture, finance, operations, and control measures. The study recommended further research on the proper use of funds, the causes of community violence against the contractors doing maintenance, investigation of the delays in the procurement of services, turnaround time for the various water infrastructure activities, relationship management between the city employees and the contractors, the impact of lack of reporting by the managers and employees to the superiors in the water infrastructure division, and clearer definition of roles between municipal employees and politicians. More academic research into water infrastructure, based on the use of and relationship between water infrastructure and space technology, is warranted.
Performance management : a case study of the emergency medical and response services in Limpopo province
(2023) Malatjie, Dipolelo Norman; Dorasamy, Nirmala; Fagabadebo, Omololu M.
The concept of performance management system (PMS) is fairly new within the South African public service system. It was introduced into the public sector in 2001 as a tool to assist, measure, develop and monitor the performance of public service employees in an effort to drive service delivery. The effective use of PM system has many benefits and contributes greatly to successfully managing the Emergency Medical and Response Services (EMRS). Thus, it is likely to result in improved quality of care and accountability in the provision of health services. This is as desired by national objectives and as stipulated by the national development plan and other national government goals towards improving public services. This research was conducted in order to assess the current state of performance management and development system in the public sector in South Africa. The research focus was on the implementation of the system in Limpopo Emergency Medical Response Services. The research approach adopted in this study was a mixed method. Interviews and questionnaires were used as primary data collection tools. Five districts were selected as a purposive sample for the study out of a total 64 stations in the Province, under the department Health. These are Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Waterberg and Vhembe. For the sample, 10% of operational staff members from the post establishment of each district were identified to participate in the study by filling in questionnaires distributed to them. Supervisors/Managers from respective units were sampled to participate in the interview, although only those the researcher judged to be knowledgeable about the topic under study were interviewed. Research design and method For the primary study, a sequential cross-sectional mixed-methods research design was employed, which was divided into two phases. The first phase consisted of a quantitative study, which was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 190 employees and shift managers. The second phase was a qualitative study; through purposive sampling, semi- structured interviews were conducted with 7 managers. Both phases were conducted at five districts of the Limpopo Province South Africa. Results The research results revealed that the current performance management and development system is not effective. The study further demonstrates that some employees are demotivated and have lost confidence and trust in the appraisal system. The results reveal that supervisors/managers are biased in managing and implementing the system. Supervisors used the system as a compliance rather than management tool. The study shows that employees are no longer motivated to perform and they suggested that the current system needs to be adjusted or amended in order to close the current gaps and challenges resulting from the bias and lack of commitment from managers. Findings from the scoping review revealed that PM systems methods may differ across various countries; however, the practices that are deemed effective for PM system are shared, and so similarities between countries were noted. For the primary study, both the quantitative and qualitative findings of this study confirm that the PMDS has been implemented to a certain extent. However, there exist major gaps and flaws in its implementation that threaten its usefulness within the EMRS. It was evident that the perception exists that Performance management is unfairly and poorly implemented. This, consequently, has a negative impact on staff motivation, team collaboration, employee-supervisor relationship and performance. Practical/Managerial implications The PMDS should not be implemented in isolation; instead, it should be utilised as part of a systems approach to drive effective staff performance to promote quality care within the EMRS settings. Evidently, the PMDS is flawed in its current state. Thus; the PM system is arguably unintentionally impacting negatively on staff morale, job satisfaction and the provision of quality care. Instead, its methods and practices should be improved to include the appraisal of attributes that are key to health outcomes, such as the provision of patient-centred care and promoting quality of care.
Public perceptions for the acceptability of recycled wastewater usage in households
(2023) Gul, Samiya; Govender, Ivan Gunass
South Africa is a water-stressed country as there is an imbalance between the demand and the supply of potable water. Wastewater reuse is one of the several vital strategies to find the delicate balance between water supply and demand. Reclaimed wastewater not only protects the release of pollutants into the environment but it adds to the supply of potable and non-potable water. However, reclaimed wastewater faces obstacles in sustainable implementation. Many studies have been conducted so far to identify the underlying factors behind the acceptability of wastewater reuse. Public acceptance is the primary threat to the acceptability of these programs or schemes. A noticeable resistance from the communities of different countries has been identified. Given these issues, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate socio-demographic variables including; gender, age, education, religion, marital status and income level on the willingness to use and participate in a reuse plan, to assess the role of knowledge on public acceptance of the recycled water, to identify and study the problems faced by the public towards the acceptability of recycled wastewater usage and to develop a framework to understand the behaviour of the people towards the reuse of wastewater. The study adapted well-structured questionnaires to collect the data. Proportionate random sampling was used with a sample size of 298 responses. The data were analysed through MS Excel, SPSS v 22.0 and AMOS v 24.0 to yield descriptive and inferential statistics. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to provide estimates and test the hypothesised relationships. The study identifies the critical antecedents of the behaviour of wastewater reuse, namely, trust, past experience, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, attitude and intention and tests the relationships using SEM. It further suggests that a significant relationship exists between the variables and the acceptability of wastewater reuse. The other findings were that flushing toilets are mostly accepted (90%), followed by watering gardens (86%), washing clothes (68%) and washing dishes (60%). The acceptance for favourable applications among participants from all religions is highest for toilet flushing, followed by watering gardens, washing clothes, washing dishes, growing food crops, swimming, and at last drinking. Financial incentives and reduced monthly costs on the recycled water were found to help accept the wastewater reuse. The study presents a broad and integrated framework of behaviour towards the acceptability of wastewater. Therefore, the study is an essential contribution toward the acceptability of wastewater reuse, and water stakeholders may use the study's implications to increase public acceptance and alleviate challenges for water reuse. The study recommends that the public should be provided with the education and information on recycling wastewater reuse benefits and risks to achieve both environmental protection and sustainable development.
The implications of grassroots soccer development and management for socio-economic development within the eThekwini Municipal area : KwaZulu-Natal
(2021-10) Sihamba, Taurayi; Parker, Kudayja Mahommed
This study aimed to determine the implications of grassroots soccer development for socio-economic development within the eThekwini Municipal Area in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The study employed a mixed research approach. Quantitative data was collected from 218 players at 11 grassroots soccer academies, using a survey questionnaire. While qualitative data was collected from four government officials and 11 representatives (management and coaches) from the grassroots soccer academies, using semi-structured interviews. The study found that grassroots soccer development influences youth developmental aspects of emotional development and social behaviour. The study further found that in line with both local and international studies, while the initial intent of grassroots soccer development programmes is to benefit the players involved, the benefits extend beyond individual development to benefit the society at large. For example, reduced crime as a result of sport contributes to safer communities. Study participants believed that policy implementation by the Department of Sport and Recreation is ineffective as far as grassroots soccer development is concerned. Lack of policy effectiveness is due to the absence of proper policy implementation caused by the confusion amongst key stakeholders in terms of their roles and functions as well as lack of budgetary support in line with the existing policies. Political influence was also highlighted as a serious problem from an administrative point of view. Pertaining to the extent to which grassroots soccer contribute towards the development of elite football, the study found that grassroots soccer development academies have the potential to play an important role in moulding young players to be successful professional soccer players. However, lack of funding poses a challenge that hampers policy implementation across all key stakeholders. The problem is more pronounced at the club level as they are the final implementers of such programmes. The study also found that sports participation was limited due to the lack of critical resources such as the soccer regalia and the finances required, especially when teams have to compete at tournaments
Distributed leadership at a South African university of technology : a multi-stakeholder model
(2019-11) Haniff, Naseem; Daya, Preeya
Leadership has been an area of interest for millennia, but never more so than within a 21st century VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. Globalisation, massification, rapid socio-economic changes in tandem with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are all challenges faced by higher education institutions internationally. South African higher education has not escaped these leadership challenges, but in addition faces its own unique issues, post-apartheid. The country’s democratic dispensation required that institutional governance and leadership be shared and participative, which aligns well to a distributed leadership stance. However, more than two decades later, events such as # FeesMustFall national campaigns, the strident student discourse and the rising clamour for transformation, questions if real change has actually taken place. This study examined the issue of university transformation by assessing multi-stakeholder participation in leadership and governance at a South African University of Technology. Taking cognisance of the multiplicity of issues facing higher education institutions it was important to utilise robust research methods, hence, the paradigm choice of a systems thinking worldview and complexity sciences. This study used multi-method research employing the Viable System Model (VSM) with the rich picture technique of the Soft System Methodology (SSM). Data was collected through qualitative interviews, respondent observation and archival data and examined using thematic analysis. Using the VSM as a diagnostic tool, enabled weaknesses and strengths of the institution to be identified, which informed the building of an institution specific model of distributed leadership. The findings of this study demonstrated institutional viability, albeit, in a hierarchical, bureaucratic manner. It nevertheless highlighted weaknesses of ‘soft’ or people-centred issues. Other identified concerns was that the university was more inward focused, on the ‘here and now’, often ignoring the ‘outside and then’ that is, the external environment and could imply that the institution is not well placed to handle national and global stressors. The model of distributed leadership addresses this deficit. This study established the appropriateness and applicability of using a systems thinking approach namely the VSM as a diagnostic tool to assess institutional shortcomings. In this way, it enabled appropriate recommendations and suggestions to improve the institutions viability to address the complexities facing 21st century higher educational institutions
Benevolent leadership and its implication for management education in South Africa
(2021) Bhagwan, Dharmesh Natvarlal
Benevolence is related to strong ethical behaviour, respect for all, trust, kindness, harmony, integrity, justice, interconnectedness with others, and care and concern for the community, corporate social responsibility, and the natural environment. Benevolent leadership has been defined as the process of creating a virtuous cycle of encouraging, initiating, and implementing positive change in organisations through: a) ethical decision making and moral actions, b) developing spiritual awareness and creating a sense of meaning, c) inspiring hope and fostering courage for positive action, and d) leaving a legacy and positive impact for the larger community (Karakas 2009: 1). This study was undertaken to investigate the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviours of benevolent leaders at business organisations in South Africa; to examine how benevolent leadership impacted organisational performance; to understand the extent to which university education prepared managers for benevolent leadership; and to make recommendations on what content related to benevolent management could be included in management education. The study was guided by a quantitative research approach, with a cross-sectional survey research design. Purposive and snowball sampling was the strategy used to identify participants for the study. Three hundred and fourteen (314) participants were recruited from the Western Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. A structured survey instrument adopted from Karakas (2009: 1) was used as the data collection instrument in the study. Data was analysed using SPSS version 2.0. The study found a high level of benevolent leadership qualities and characteristics amongst the sample. A majority of the participants showed that they are highly ethical, demonstrate care and compassion for their subordinates, and are very open to creating change in their work environments with a belief that through change and innovation they can create positive results. Participants also showed high levels of concern for the community and support for charitable causes. Consequently, this influenced organisational performance in the areas of employee morale, productivity, and corporate social responsibility. The study also found a high level of support for the introduction of benevolent leadership in leadership education.
The South African managed healthcare system and the general practitioner
(2000) Govender, Krishnavelli Marla; Raap, Peter John
Managed care is defined by Chetty (1999: 1) as "the practice of evidence based medicine with an approach to managing both the quality and cost of medical care". Managed care was introduced into South Africa in the last decade due to increasing cost of healthcare. All forms of managed care represent attempts to control costs by modifying the behaviour of general practitioners.
An integrative approach to quality
(2006) Singh, Shalini; Reddy, Karunanidhi
Managers and employees are faced with an increasing number of complex challenges including implementing and maintaining multiple management systems/codes of practice such as safety, environment and quality, increasing competitive advantage and showing continued sustainability with limited resources. In addition, corporate scandals like Enron and the impact of the Aids pandemic on the economy of a country, further burden the responsibility of managers and employees. Operating all these management systems/codes of practice in parallel, however, duplicates documentation, makes auditing the systems difficult and decreases employee morale. Hence, this study reviewed related literature which represented secondary sources of information, to determine the most suitable management systems/codes of practice, to show the benefits of using integrated management systems and to select appropriate business improvement tools to promote business excellence. It developed a simple management system and designed integrated documentation to support these integrated systems. A model was developed. The Process Approach was used as a foundation to develop this model which integrated safety, environmental management, corporate governance, quality and HIV/Aids management systems/codes of practice. The SECQA model is the name proposed for the model, it provides a holistic model to facilitate world class performance. This part of the study represented the qualitative method of research. The quantitative method of research complimented the findings above by using interviews with key role players, a pilot study of two manufacturing organisations and a principal study of thirty manufacturing and service organisations. The pilot and principal studies were conducted on organisations from the Kwa Zulu-Natal region and the interviews were conducted with representatives from Gauteng and Cape Province. Questionnaires were designed using open-ended and closed-ended type questions and together with interviews formed the primary source of information. The challenges of employees working with management systems and the suitability of the SECQA model were established from the questionnaire. The possible advantages and disadvantages of the SECQA model were also shown. The strengths and weaknesses of the management systems and how they can be addressed and overcome by the model are presented. The challenges that were evident from the results of the interviews and pilot study were that respondents found that there was a lack of resources, lack of training and understanding of the management systems by employees within their organisation. From the results of the principal study it was apparent that some organisations did not have the infrastructure and had limited resources to support multiple management systems. There was a lack of support from senior managers. Safety, environment and quality managements systems were the most commonly used in organisations. Most organisations found that their management systems were beneficial. Benchmarking, cause and effect diagrams and brainstorming were the most common business improvement tools used by organisations.
The challenges of working and studying at a satellite campus : a case study of the Riverside Campus of the Durban University of Technology
(2014-06-13) Gumede, Dumsile Cynthia; Dlamini, Bongani Innocent; Zondo, Robert Dumisani
Universities are seen to be facing a turbulent storm of challenges, demands, environmental changes, and facilitated thrust in the midst of economic meltdown. The environments in which these institutions are operating are becoming increasingly tempestuous, and competitive which makes leadership crucial as they continuously interface with the local and wider environments. At its best leadership is proximate, contextual and distributed especially in the case of complex organisations like universities. Changes and institutional mergers that took place worldwide two decades ago diffused to the south of Africa as well. These mergers resulted in the formation of mega universities and universities with satellite or branch campuses. If the trend continues with branch campuses spreading even into foreign countries, it will lead to growth and even more leadership complexity. This study was conducted in order to establish the challenges that are faced by staff and students at satellite campuses of universities using the Riverside Campus of the Durban University of Technology as a case study. Literature on leadership and management theories, leadership in higher education and organisational structures was reviewed in order to contextualise the study. A sample of the executive leadership of the university used as a case study was interviewed in order to determine their attitudes towards the current organisational structure. Data was also gathered from the academic and administrative staff at the satellite campus used for the study as well as first and third year students at the same campus using questionnaires. This study is significant because it feeds into the year-long study that was initiated by the Leadership Foundation on Higher Education and conducted from 2010 and finished in July 2011 by the Hull University’s Scarborough Campus that was aimed at determining the most effective relationship between the centre (mother campus) and its satellite campuses, identifying tensions between the strategic and operational levels and making students’ experience consistent. The whole project was undertaken to arrive at a better understanding of the challenges of managing two or more campuses with particular emphasis on strategic matters, organisation, leadership and management structures. The study discovered that there were leadership challenges which were not unique to the university and campus used as a case study, but similar to those identified during literature review. Issues such as lack of leadership and strategic direction, diverse cultures, incomplete merger, isolation, inequitable distribution of resources and lack of development were identified as challenges that needed to be addressed. The study advances as original contribution the ‘Radial Structure’, which was greatly inspired by the natural movement, flow and distribution of energy and information in fractals. This structure ensures equity across all campuses irrespective of size and location. In the radial structure as suggested and implied by the name the corporate division is the source of energy in the form of vision, mission, goals, strategy, and resources which it disburses or radiates equitably across all the campuses. The corporate division is not attached to any campus, but it is a pole that provides an anchor for all the campuses. The energy or feedback is also radiated back to the corporate office from the campuses in the form of student fees, research output from staff and students, pass rates, information to aid decision-making and so on. The relationship that was established between the radial structure and the regression model developed from the responses of the students and theory, was that each campus should be fully-equipped with all the services that the users require for the campus to be fit for purpose. The radial structure would also allow for student services to grow and develop as the campus grows. Like any organisational structure, the radial structure could be adjusted to suit the needs of any university with satellite campuses. The organisational structure would also have to be revisited and adjusted as the needs of the university change. In essence the structure is aimed at ensuring that there is no leadership vacuum at any of the satellite campuses of a university.

Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

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