Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)
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Item The influence of corporate social responsibility on business performance of a medium-sized manufacturing enterprise in eThekwini Municipal Area(2024) Maome, Itumeleng JudithCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an organisation's ongoing commitment to ethical behaviour and economic development, as well as improving the quality of life for its employees and their families, the local community, and society at large. It is an unavoidable requirement for long-term development, particularly in developing countries. Although there has been some focus on CSR and business performance in large corporations, research on CSR in SMEs, particularly in economically depressed African countries is becoming increasingly important. To reap the benefits of CSR efforts, SMEs should be encouraged to create strategic CSR frameworks. Hence this study aims to investigate the influence of CSR on the business performance of a medium-sized manufacturing enterprise in the eThekwini metropolitan area. It will contribute to theoretical discussions and improve their performance. The data for this study was gathered in two parts, that is quantitative and qualitative. The pre- and post-CSR quantitative data were derived from business performance values obtained from company records. To collect qualitative data, both semi-structured and focus group interviews with the manager and employees were used. The SPSS was used to analyse the quantitative data, while Nvivo analysed the qualitative data. Furthermore, inferential statistics used in quantitative data included regression analysis and factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while qualitative data analysis employed thematic content analysis. The findings of this study reveal that the medium-sized enterprise has a positive attitude towards CSR. Emanating from his humanity and Ubuntu, the owner of the organisation was inspired to practise CSR. The benefits gained by a sampled medium-sized enterprise that incorporated CSR into its business operations were highlighted in this study. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge on CSR and business performance in South African SMEs. It adds to the body of knowledge by creating a CSR framework for SMEs.Item The impact of the local government support on the sustainability of co-operatives and its role on poverty alleviation in the eThekwini Municipal region(2020-09) Ntambwe, Katambwe Leon; Balkaran, Rishidaw; Rawjee, Veena ParbooIt has been accepted that sustainable co-operatives create job opportunities and have become a source of income for many people worldwide. The concept and philosophy of co-operatives is deeply embedded in the traditional culture of many human societies, especially within African communities. There are many examples where individual members of communities work together in improving their socio-economic welfare and that of their communities. In this context, the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province has committed to promoting cooperatives through the establishment of a division that focuses on the establishment and promotion of co-operatives. The Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) in KZN has put in place a Co-operative Development Programme which started from February 2005; and since then, the programme has attracted more than sixty thousand individuals, who constitutes approximately six thousand co-operatives. Since 2001 the eThekwini Municipality developed a co-operative programme aimed at eradicating poverty by empowering people who were living below the poverty line to step into the mainstream of the economy. As a result, ninety six co-operatives were formed with an average of twenty members each, resulting in about 720 people being employed, thus enabling them to look after their respective families. However, although the preceding cases have been successful in terms of facilitating the establishment of new co-operatives, there are some challenges that still need to be addressed. Unfortunately, the government investment in co-operatives and the substantial increase in the registration of co-operatives have not been accompanied by a related increase in the contribution of co-operatives to poverty alleviation and growth of the economy. The rationale behind this research is to establish the impact of the local government support on the sustainability of co-operatives and its role in poverty alleviation in the eThekwini Municipality. The research aim is to understand the role of the local government’s support on co-operatives’ sustainability and its impact on poverty alleviation in the eThekwini Municipality. Such an understanding will lead to the development of an inclusive and sustainable approach/model for supporting cooperatives in the eThekwini Municipality that will take local co-operatives into a sustainable growth path to alleviate poverty. In terms of the literature review, a theoretical outlook was formulated around the study with three chapters detailing the perspectives of co-operatives at the international, African, South African and eThekwini Municipality levels were presented. The rationale was tested in the form of questionnaires and interviews with key stakeholders involved in the support of cooperatives from the provincial to the municipal levels. A target sample was selected with co-operatives supported by the local government. The case study approach was utilised with the eThekwini Municipal Region having been selected as the study area, as it is one of the many local municipalities which have programmes aimed at supporting co-operatives in the country. The major findings from the research may be gravitated towards the co-ordination of support, monitoring of the outcome and the overall approach used during the support. Co-operatives in the eThekwini Municipality have been provided with both financial and non-financial support. However, the provision of support to co-operatives has been undertaken without a clearly set up mechanism for a regular assessment and review of their impact. The study also found that the financial support to co-operatives has resulted in increased economic activities in the eThekwini Municipality, such as an increase in business volume (production), employment opportunities, additional gross value added (GVA), and the generation of personal income for co-operative members. However, co-operatives are still facing a number of challenges after being assisted and supported. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders will need to continue with the provision of support services to make them sustainable. This study recommended the reduction of promotional support; the increase of the aftercare support; the improvement of the holistic support through a fifteen-year cooperative support package with an exit strategy; the provision of incubation support for co-operatives; and the establishment of a cooperative sustainable and development model (CSDM).Item The influence of broad-based black economic empowerment policies on organisational effectiveness : a case of South African companies(2022-04) Mudau, Dzivhuluwani; Govender, L.N.B-BBEE is an integral part of the South African business landscape so long as there are real or perceived inequalities in the economy and society in general. Legislation came into effect to redress the economic imbalances caused by the apartheid system where black people were purposefully restricted from meaningful participation in the economy (B-BBEE Strategy, 2003). Since its inception B-BBEE legislation has been subjected to several amendments. Such amendments to the legislation required companies to adjust their resources both human and capital and strategies to comply with the legislation. The research was aimed at exploring the influence of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Policies on organisational effectiveness. B-BBEE is part of the South African business environment and knowing and understanding how it influences organisational effectiveness may assist in the understanding of the constraints of the transformation in the South African economy. B-BBEE is a very controversial subject that affects different companies in different ways, hence a subject of political debates, at government and organisational levels. B-BBEE affects different stakeholders of South African sectors of society such as employees, unemployed people, businesses, owners, and the State. These stakeholders have varied interests related to B-BBEEE that gave rise to the current study. The research study provided a different angle to what is currently available in terms of B-BBEE research. The study employed a mixed method approach to research. The primary data collection method was questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale where respondents were required to complete multiple choice questions. The qualitative study used interviews with selected respondents. The study findings confirmed that B-BBEE had a positive impact on organisational effectiveness with specific reference to managerial effectiveness, organisational sustainability, organisational strategy and organisational culture.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 Factors influencing operational performance for SMMEs in the textile and clothing manufacturing sector in the eThekwini district(2016) Dladla, Sbonelo Comfort; Zondo, Robert DumisaniSmall, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) play a pivotal role in the economy of a country through job creation, development and dealing with the issue of unemployment, all of which affect the government and its citizens. Therefore, it is important that SMMEs operate efficiently and run their businesses effectively in order to grow within their respective sectors. The low rate of success amongst SMMEs in South Africa (SA) over the years indicates that there are factors hindering the efforts of the country’s SMMEs from operating efficiently (Turton and Herrington 2012: 48). One of the factors is poor operational performance which is frequently quoted as a leading cause of failure amongst SMMEs within the manufacturing sector (Urban and Naidoo 2012: 146). Furthermore, the Economic Development and Growth in eThekwini (EDGE) (2013: 37-38) reveals that SMMEs within the textile and clothing manufacturing sector in the eThekwini district generally do not innovate and suffer from a lack of access to financial services. The study population was 94 small and micro enterprises (SMEs) in the textile and clothing manufacturing sector in the eThekwini district. The researcher could not find a data on medium enterprises as prospective participants in the study and obtained only 80 SMEs. A quantitative approach was used in the context of a census study. The study was descriptive and conclusive in nature. The results of the study indicate that SMEs apply innovative processes in their businesses and work at a favourable physical environment within eThekwini district. However, SMEs do not have sufficient access to government financial incentive schemes (GFIS) which could be a factor inhibiting their growth and development. Furthermore, despite the fact that many of the SMEs in the study agreed that assistance from government schemes can enhance their operational performance, almost half of them were not aware of relevant schemes. Therefore, it is important that the government, that is, the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and Small Enterprise Development Agency (seda) and other relevant government agencies, reach out to as many of these SMEs as possible. This is an opportunity for the SA government to improve their efforts to create more jobs for SA citizens.Item The relationship between event spend, social cohesion and economic development(2017) Gumede, Musa; Msweli, PumelaThe study addressed four questions using secondary annual time series data: (1) How is event spend related to economic development? (2) How are the physical attributes of the region (natural capital) related to economic development?(3) How is social cohesion related to economic development? (4) How does human capital influence economic development? The study period starts in 1994 and ends in 2016, accordingly 100 data points were pulled from the time series. Error Correction Model and Ordinary Least Squares were used as analytical tools to test the regression model developed for the study. Economic development is the dependent variable and is represented by tourism employment data sourced from Statistics South Africa. The independent variables are event spend represented by expenditure figures for culture, sports and recreation published by Statistics SA; human capital was measured using gross educational ratio for secondary education accessed from the World Bank database; natural capital was measured using the gross domestic product attained from Statistics South Africa; and social cohesion was measured using social expenditure data acquired from the South African Reserve Bank. The theoretical framework that underpins the study is the geography political theory as espoused by different authors including Collier (2007) and Kollosov (2001). On the basis of this theoretical framework the study seeks to look at the effect of event spend, natural capital, human capital and social cohesion on economic development. The findings of the study show that there is no relationship between economic development, event spend and human capital. However a relationship was established between natural capital and social cohesion. The results of the study will inform policymakers in the allocation of budgets towards major events. It will also contribute to the equitable distribution of resources to promote social cohesion in communities.Item Impact of trade and economic liberalisation policy reforms on the operations of selected small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe : a comparative study with South Africa's experiences(2015-01-15) Chingwaru, Trymore; De Beer, Marie; Zondo, Robert DumisaniThe study assesses the impact of trade and economic liberalisation policy reforms on the operations of selected manufacturing small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe, and then compares the findings with experiences from South Africa’s SMEs. Motivation for the study was premised on two fronts. Zimbabwe and South Africa are currently faced with high unemployment rates (80% for Zimbabwe and 25% for South Africa). It therefore follows that job creation and poverty alleviation are the two pressing challenges facing the governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Secondly, the governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa have identified SMEs as the engines of economic growth with a special focus on addressing the twin challenges of unemployment and poverty alleviation. The roles and hopes bestowed on SMEs calls for a thriving and vibrant SME sector. On the other hand the adoption of trade liberalisation policies in the two countries has led some analysts to cast doubts on the ability of SMEs to withstand the fierce competition from established Multi-National Corporations and cheap imports. Employing a combined qualitative-quantitative approach, the study finds that trade and economic liberalisation policy had a negative impact on the operations of manufacturing small to medium enterprises in both Zimbabwe and South Africa. Cash-strapped SMEs have been strangled by resource-rich Multi-National Corporations. So dire is the situation that in the absence of significant government intervention, SMEs face an uncertain future. Compounding the matter is the fact that most SMEs in two countries are not involved in exports due to lack of knowledge and resources. The innovativeness ability of most SMEs remains very low. The study does not find significant differences on the impact of trade liberalisation policy reforms between SMEs in Zimbabwe and those in South Africa. It is recommended that the governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa need to introduce incentives to encourage SMEs to export and thus employ more people. Governments in Zimbabwe and South Africa need to factor in the transfer of technology to SMEs as one of the clauses when they negotiate the entry conditions of MNCs. In addition, the governments in Zimbabwe and South Africa must reintroduce tariffs in certain critical sectors of the economy to curtail cheap imports. It is cautioned that failure to protect SMEs could jeopardise the survival of most SMEs in Zimbabwe and South Africa, translating into increased unemployment, poverty and unequal wealth distribution.Item Communication challenges faced by employers in the implementation of the Black Economic Empowerment policy in KwaZulu-Natal(2010) Juggernath, Swastika; Rampersad, Renitha; Reddy, KarunanidhiThis study presents the research of an investigation into communication challenges that affected the implementation of Black Economic Empowerment and the communication strategies/policies used to inform and communicate with employees in businesses. To achieve this aim questionnaires were administered to seven BEE compliant organizations in KwaZulu-Natal. Mersham’s communication model for development provides a basis for evaluation of the BEE communication challenges. This study reviewed theories and literature relevant to the implementation of Black Economic Empowerment and Communication Strategies. The perceptions gained from the literature review were used to interpret the results which were obtained through a qualitative paradigm. The findings revealed that communication is a pivotal pillar in any organization and both employers and employees need to maintain the strength that binds these pillars and brings the organization together. South Africa has faced many challenges since the apartheid era. The BEE policy therefore, aims to iron out unfair practices in businesses, which is why communication is extremely important to this process.Item The ability of the South African Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme to promote economic growth and employment(2008) Jessup, Dylan; Myburgh, Cornelius; Raap, Peter JohnThe ability of the South African Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme to promote economic growth and employment. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offers the Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme (SMEDP) incentive grant programme to qualifying manufacturers in South Africa. The status of the progress of this incentive grant programme is unknown. The DTI alluded to an impact study in the 2004 DTI Annual Report but no further reference or publication of results of the impact study has been made. The objectives of the study are to investigate the following three criteria of the SMEDP and to develop benchmarks and recommendations for future incentive grants offered by the DTI. • Rationale for implementation of SMEDP; • Exploration of SMEDP merits; and • Measure of SMEDP success. The study is a secondary analysis design with both qualitative and quantitative components. The qualitative component allows the researcher to reflect on the process by which the incentive programme under investigation came into being, whilst the quantitative component allows for comment on the result of the process as per the markers developed in the qualitative component of the design. There were 152 sample cases used in the study. The outcome measures are the output measures stated in the Medium Term Strategic Plan which are: • The number of jobs sustained. v i • The number of jobs created. • The number of Greenfield’s projects supported. • The fixed investment in Rand terms. • The improvement in employment levels. The DTI achieved certain of the stated objectives. The empirical data analysed confirms the achievement of these objectives. There is scope for further empirical investigation for the future development of incentive grants. The contribution of the SMEDP to economic growth and employment growth is evident and such government interventions should be continued. The recommendations from the study include further investigation into the following areas to improve the benefits provided by manufacturing incentive programmes: • Limit the incentive to a specified Rand value per job created; • Volume driven turnover growth not price driven turnover growth; • The continued inclusion of expansions in future programme; and • Specified sector programmes i.e. textile sector.