Faculty of 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
Challenges during installation and maintenance of water delivery infrastructure : a citizen perspective
(Beykent University, 2023-10-30) Mokgobu, Matlou Lesley; Mason, Roger; Dobbelstein, Thomas
The installation and maintenance of water infrastructure in South African cities poses a challenge to communities, municipalities, and installation contractors, who face problems such as inadequate access to homes, traffic jams, inadequately barricaded trenches, leaking water pipes, water supply cut offs, vandalism, and theft of water. The research problem, therefore, involves an inadequate understanding of what drives these problems and how to mitigate them through better management. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges of managing water infrastructure as perceived by the citizens of a South African municipality. The study was a descriptive and cross-sectional survey, with data collected, via a literature derived, emailed questionnaire, from a self-selected non probability sample of 402 City of Tshwane residents. Analysis, via SPSS Version 27, used descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that both the municipality and the contractors contributed to the challenges experienced by citizens, with maintenance challenges being more serious than installation challenges. Municipal and political challenges were the main drivers, with political ownership of construction companies and political interference being the biggest problems. The findings contributed to a better understanding of the challenges inhibiting effective installation and maintenance of water infrastructure, and are important to the municipality, and the community at large, because they contribute to a better understanding of service delivery from the citizens’ perspectives.
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
Organisational cybernetics : a systems thinking method used for small and medium enterprises
(AOSIS, 2023-03) Bugwandin, Vinay; Bayat, Mohamed S.
Orientation: Systems thinking stems from the Twenties and has constantly developed over the years in assisting sectors in operations, management and the environment in checking for interdependencies, interconnections and coherence in all aspects of the elements inputted. In particular, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics of systems thinking can be considered as a tool used for validating elements and being goal-oriented in nature.Research purpose: The purpose of this research is to showcase the role and influence that the viable systems model in organisation cybernetics has in a study conducted on small and medium enterprises.Motivation for the study: In the business world, there is a profound need for organisations to ensure that process flows are maintained to achieve sustainability. The systems thinking approach ensures that process flows are maintained; however, they have proven to be robust in validating elements and achieving goals. In this regard, this study encourages organisations to embrace and utilise systems thinking approaches to improve productivity and, ultimately, sustainability.Research design, approach and method: In conjunction with the mixed methodology approach, namely the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for quantitative research and NVivo for qualitative research, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics was used in this empirical study.Main findings: The core element of ‘strategy’ and the subelements of ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were investigated. It was found that ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were the main contributors towards achieving sustainability. Furthermore, a systems thinking model – the viable systems model – was used successfully to indicate the interdependencies to purport the goal of achieving sustainability. Ultimately, it was found that ‘strategy’, ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were required to achieve a ‘sustainable business strategy’.Practical/managerial implications: Leaders should consider the use of systems thinking as a tool to ensure the output of a robust process flow, increased productivity and good governance in their organisations.Contribution/value-add: The viable systems model in organisational cybernetics proved to be successful in checking for interconnections, interdependencies and coherence of the elements used in the research study. Researchers in today’s era should consider the use of systems thinking in future research studies.
The critical role played by big data management in effectively addressing the security and overall privacy concerns through correlation analysis
(IEEE, 2022-04-28) Ahamad, Shahanawaj; Roshan, Amit; Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Shekher, Vineet; Joshi, Kapil; Alanya-Beltran, Joel
Due to the widespread application of big data in a wide range of fields, there has been a significant rise in a diverse range of data assets, and numerous data analysis technologies, such as standardized data mining or quantitative analytical techniques, are speeding up the constant enlargement of the big data industry. The fact that information from several different resources has a life cycle from acquisition to disposal is a key property of big data, as is the fact that new information may be obtained via analysis, combining, and exploitation of existing data. Yet, information security & dependability challenges arise at every stage of the life cycle, rendering the protection of individually identifying data a vital goal throughout the whole process. It is possible to evaluate user behavior using different big data analytics techniques, and the collection of this information results in the violation of personal privacy. This study analyses dangers and security challenges that arise during the administration of large amounts of data by verifying the existing standards produced by international standardization bodies and doing an analysis of relevant research.
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.
Reflections on the impact of talent management on employee performance: perspectives from Zimbabwe
(Advanced Scientific Research, 2020-09-01) Mahlahla, Linah; Lourens, Melanie; Oparinde, Kunle
This paper investigates the impact of talent management on employee performance at the Masvingo City Council in Zimbabwe. The main challenge facing the council remains the inability to attract, attain and develop talented employees who perform effectively, which in turn intensifies the service delivery challenges across City Councils in Zimbabwe. Therefore, this study will endeavour to examine the talent management strategies that can be employed by the Masvingo City Council to improve on employee performance. The study adopts a quantitative research approach using questionnaires administered to a total of 67 professionals at the Masvingo City Council. Responses were captured and analysed using SPSS. Statistical tests were used to test six hypotheses which were formulated for the various sections of the study. Findings indicate that talent management has an impact on employee performance at the Council level. It was recommended that the Masvingo City Council provide employees with adequate training and resources, revise and improve personnel policies, and reward employees for outstanding performance.

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