Faculty of Management Sciences
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Item Team cohesion for operational performance of co-operative enterprise members in South Africa(International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Buthelezi, Nhlanhla Kenneth; Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniCo-operative enterprises have been able to create employment potential, thus improving the economic lives of many people. Despite South African government support, many cooperatives have closed down. However, the government continues to seek ways to improve their performance. It has thus been established that co-operative members lack interpersonal connections and teamwork when engaged on their operational processes. The lack of such a bond affects effective participation in their businesses aimed at accomplishing their set goals. Hence, this study examines the influence of team cohesion on the operational performance of co-operative members in South Africa. Study objectives were achieved by examining production and related experiences of co-operative members. It assessed if team cohesion among team members is responsible for their company’s operational performance. The study was quantitative in design. The primary data was collected from 136 co-operative members whose businesses operate within uThukela Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal (in South Africa), using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive and one-sample statistics. The results indicates that team cohesion influences the operational performance of co-operative members in South Africa. Co-operative performance is thus enhanced by team cohesiveness. The original contribution of this study is its value in uncovering the strengths and weaknesses of team cohesion on co-operatives in South Africa.Item Exploration of systems thinking in the Universities of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal(International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Mhlongo, Patrick Mbongwa; Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniThe environment in which organisations operate is almost unpredictable and hence they have to deal with complex challenges. It is necessary for organisations to continuously improve their processes and practices to remain competitive. The Universities of Technology (UoTs) are not immune from those challenges. Systems thinking philosophy has been identified as an effective management approach that helps organisations deal with such challenges. Hence, this study explores the application of systems thinking in the UoTs in KwaZulu-Natal. KwaZuluNatal, one of the nine provinces of South Africa, created in 1994 when the Zulu Bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province were merged. It is located in the southeast part of the country. The province has two UoTs situated within the eThekwini District Municipality. Organisational silos are still prevalent in the UoTs. This creates an attitude of “us-and-them”. Consequently, collaborative efforts across the organisations become difficult. Systems thinking has the ability to help UoTs respond effectively to complex and unpredictable challenges. It facilitates this possibility as it assists members to focus on the organisation as a whole, including its stakeholders, rather than on individual parts of the organisation. It considers the organisation as a complex system with interrelated parts. Hence, this paper provides insights on its application at the UoTs in KwaZulu-Natal.Item Participatory approach and good governance : the Alpha and Omega of sustainable local development in South Africa(International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniThis paper assesses the significance for good governance of inclusiveness through participatory processes in rural communities. It describes the importance of a participatory approach as a means for sustainable development, an approach that has exerted an increasing influence upon the conduct of local, national and international public administration. Similarly, sustainable development exhibits a fundamental contemporary expression of the commitment towards humankind, enabling them to develop economically while improving or maintaining their wellbeing. Over time, it has as its principal objective the integration of social considerations in economic development. The constructs for a participatory approach and sustainable development are discussed in this paper. These constructs are considered as essential considerations for rural development in South Africa. Rural communities are said to be unproductive and passive, hence the level of underdevelopment. Their contribution does not have an economic value and cannot be counted in hard currency. Resources developed through rural initiatives are not utilised for the betterment of the rural communities. Hence, there is a gap between what the rural communities understand as development compared with those who facilitate the developmentItem Insights into corporate social responsibility in small and medium enterprises in South Africa(International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Maome, Itumeleng Judith; Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are recognised around the world for their contribution to a country's social and economic growth. They are the fertile generators of economic growth and development for South Africa. It has been recognised that one of the strategies that contributes to the longevity and success of businesses is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Hence, this study provides an insight into the influence of CSR on business growth in South Africa. Various scholars assert that CSR is more evident in major corporations with structured CSR strategies. Such businesses have separate divisions dedicated to CSR initiatives. However, CSR activities in SMEs in South Africa are still sketchy. They are based on the personal judgement and beliefs of owners and managers. There is a lack of awareness of the advantages of CSR in SMEs in South Africa. The lack of top management commitment has also been identified as a barrier to SMEs participating in CSR in South Africa. Consequently, there is more focus on the application of CSR in big corporations, thus neglecting SME participation in this initiative. It has thus been established that CSR remains a development tool that facilitates growth for SMEs in South Africa. Not all CSR activities require businesses to spend millions on such activities. SMEs may choose projects that are within their economic means. Hence, CSR awareness campaigns are useful to assist SMEs to make their projects more explicit.Item The adoption of innovative approach in research proposal development in the Management Sciences of the Higher Education sector(International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniSeveral innovative factors transforming higher education provide opportunities of changing its context. This influence the sector to continuously learn new ways of conducting business and introduce innovative methods in its post- graduate research-based teaching. Thus, the future of academia in Higher Education lies in the continuous search for innovative methods of evaluating students’ research proposal. This sentiment underpins the significance of the Research Proposal Evaluation Tool (REPRET). REPRET is a computer-based innovative tool that assists emerging research supervisors (or promoters) in the management sciences in evaluating students’ research proposals effectively. It has built-in functions that provide technical and methodological guides regarding students’ proposals. It assists students in improving the quality of their research proposals, the efficiency of research proposal development, as well as throughput. It is a Microsoft Excel-based tool managed by the research supervisor (or promoter), covers various sections of the research proposal and is compatible with quantitative, qualitative and mixed paradigms. The contribution of REPRET as an innovative tool relies on higher education’s ability to adapt to new processes. REPRET represents an innovative practice in education. It helps the higher educational sector, particularly the management sciences, to achieve competitive advantage and higher performance.