Abstract
D.Phil.
The purpose of the study is to construct and evaluate a measuring instrument that could determine the business impact of enterprise risk management (ERM) processes on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in South Africa. In respect of ERM, various authors point out that there is little empirical research on the topic and almost no research regarding the evaluation of its effectiveness and value contribution to organisations. In addition, the current measurement tools for assessing the management of risk maturity are based on subjective assessments or comprised of checklists of activities that assess ERM components based on individual opinions.
It was against this setting that the literature review focuses on the components and the broader organisational improvement strategies within which ERM is practised. This entails outlining corporate governance and discussing its processes and practices. In particular, the discussion focuses on historical and current practices, corporate scandals and the lessons learned from them, internationally accepted codes, local corporate governance codes, and corporate governance codes applicable to SOEs. The discussion concerning the management of risk concentrates on its fundamental principles, the link with corporate governance, and the broader discipline and practice of ERM. The significance of ERM is further elaborated on by focusing on its approach, the key local and international ERM standards and associated principles, ERM evaluation practices, and current shortcomings identified in the management of risks.
In order to meet the empirical objectives of the study, a pragmatic research paradigm, using a mixed methods approach, was chosen. This selection was considered appropriate as the pragmatic paradigm applies all research approaches in understanding a problem. To this extent, a mixed methods research approach was adopted, comprised of the qualitative approaches to sampling, interviews, observations, the review of organisational documents, the Delphi method, construction of the questionnaire items, and development of the instrument. The point of interface between the research approaches occurred at
the level of sampling and the analysis of the results collated from the validation of the instrument by applying descriptive and inferential statistical methods.