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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Economic development--South Africa

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    The influence of corporate social responsibility on business performance of a medium-sized manufacturing enterprise in eThekwini Municipal Area
    (2024) Maome, Itumeleng Judith
    Corporate 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.
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    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 Parboo
    It 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).
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    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.
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    Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in the KwaZulu-Natal hotels - barriers and drivers
    (2021-01) Maqalika, Lungile Rosemary; Sucheran, Reshma
    Hotels 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.