Aligning business processes to the strategic goals of the organisation
- Authors: Thobela, Mondlane
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Business planning , Performance - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/417879 , uj:35407
- Description: Abstract: The aim of this study is to understand the role that business process engineering domain plays in aligning business processes to the strategic goals of the organization. Business processes are characterised by the receipt of input, conversion, and a specific output as required by the need that triggered the process. As a result, the execution of a business process is subject to numerous inefficiencies that prohibit the successful implementation of strategic goals that an organisation is intending to achieve. These inefficiencies could be eliminated by considering best practices that are applied to improve business processes. This study was seeking to understand the relationship between inefficiencies, business process redesign best practices, and process performance indicators. A great deal of work has been developed by various authors in understanding the effects of inefficiencies, and also a great deal of work has been done in studying best practices within business processes. There is also a lot of work done by various authors within different sectors regarding strategic alignment. There are probably few studies that have examined this relationship between inefficiencies, business process redesign best practices, and strategic goals. This study outlined a conceptual research model which consisted of the following factors: Identification of inefficiencies, Classification of inefficiencies, Business process redesign best practices, and Business process outcome. The model basically considers that identification of inefficiencies will lead to proper classification of inefficiencies, and classification of inefficiencies will result in applying an appropriate business process redesign best practice, which will influence the performance indicators that are normally associated with any business process leading to an aligned business process. A survey was conducted at the South African Post Office by distributing a questionnaire where respondents were allowed to rank each question in order to test the proposed research model. The results obtained were then analysed by applying statistical tools and the model was further analysed through the use of partial least square structural equation modelling. The research confirmed that the classification of inefficiencies is an important factor for the selection of an appropriate business process redesign best practice. The research also confirmed that business process redesign best practices that impact flexibility, time, and quality factors are more important in influencing the business process outcome factor leading to an aligned business process. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Thobela, Mondlane
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Business planning , Performance - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/417879 , uj:35407
- Description: Abstract: The aim of this study is to understand the role that business process engineering domain plays in aligning business processes to the strategic goals of the organization. Business processes are characterised by the receipt of input, conversion, and a specific output as required by the need that triggered the process. As a result, the execution of a business process is subject to numerous inefficiencies that prohibit the successful implementation of strategic goals that an organisation is intending to achieve. These inefficiencies could be eliminated by considering best practices that are applied to improve business processes. This study was seeking to understand the relationship between inefficiencies, business process redesign best practices, and process performance indicators. A great deal of work has been developed by various authors in understanding the effects of inefficiencies, and also a great deal of work has been done in studying best practices within business processes. There is also a lot of work done by various authors within different sectors regarding strategic alignment. There are probably few studies that have examined this relationship between inefficiencies, business process redesign best practices, and strategic goals. This study outlined a conceptual research model which consisted of the following factors: Identification of inefficiencies, Classification of inefficiencies, Business process redesign best practices, and Business process outcome. The model basically considers that identification of inefficiencies will lead to proper classification of inefficiencies, and classification of inefficiencies will result in applying an appropriate business process redesign best practice, which will influence the performance indicators that are normally associated with any business process leading to an aligned business process. A survey was conducted at the South African Post Office by distributing a questionnaire where respondents were allowed to rank each question in order to test the proposed research model. The results obtained were then analysed by applying statistical tools and the model was further analysed through the use of partial least square structural equation modelling. The research confirmed that the classification of inefficiencies is an important factor for the selection of an appropriate business process redesign best practice. The research also confirmed that business process redesign best practices that impact flexibility, time, and quality factors are more important in influencing the business process outcome factor leading to an aligned business process. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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Business model transformation as a response to digital technology adoption amongst manufacturing firms
- Authors: Mulaudzi, Mashudu Benedict
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Organizational change , Business planning , Strategic planning , Business management - Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/474884 , uj:42819
- Description: Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to explore how the process of digital transformation has occurred in relation to the firm’s business model? specifically how each business model element under the theme of value creation, delivery and capture was carried out before, what digital technology was used, and how the business model element changed or made different after the adoption of a certain digital technologies. In addition, the study highlights barriers to digital technology adoption and the business model transformation, and also looks at how the transformation of the business model can be classified in terms of being non-radical (meaning that the firm has transformed very little if any of the business model building blocks under each theme respectively), semi-radical (meaning that the firm has managed to transform at least half of the business model building blocks under each theme respectively) or radical (meaning that the firm has managed to transform all or the majority of the business model building blocks under each theme respectively)... , M.Com. (Strategic Management)
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- Authors: Mulaudzi, Mashudu Benedict
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Organizational change , Business planning , Strategic planning , Business management - Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/474884 , uj:42819
- Description: Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to explore how the process of digital transformation has occurred in relation to the firm’s business model? specifically how each business model element under the theme of value creation, delivery and capture was carried out before, what digital technology was used, and how the business model element changed or made different after the adoption of a certain digital technologies. In addition, the study highlights barriers to digital technology adoption and the business model transformation, and also looks at how the transformation of the business model can be classified in terms of being non-radical (meaning that the firm has transformed very little if any of the business model building blocks under each theme respectively), semi-radical (meaning that the firm has managed to transform at least half of the business model building blocks under each theme respectively) or radical (meaning that the firm has managed to transform all or the majority of the business model building blocks under each theme respectively)... , M.Com. (Strategic Management)
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Conflict resolution strategies in teams
- Authors: Zengetwa, Buntu
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Conflict management , Project management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/445238 , uj:38945
- Description: Abstract: Conflict is inevitable in teams. Unresolved conflict can lead to destructive consequences. Project managers must implement available conflict resolution strategies to resolve conflict within teams. A positive impact can be achieved through the implementation of appropriate conflict resolution strategies. Managed conflict within teams improves performance and productivity in a project. The research problem was the existence of conflict within teams, which impacted negatively on project performance. Conflict is a result of contradicting interests and disagreements within teams. The existence of unresolved conflict shifts attention away from the main purpose of teams. It creates an unpleasant experience for project managers, who must deal with conflict management... , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Zengetwa, Buntu
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Conflict management , Project management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/445238 , uj:38945
- Description: Abstract: Conflict is inevitable in teams. Unresolved conflict can lead to destructive consequences. Project managers must implement available conflict resolution strategies to resolve conflict within teams. A positive impact can be achieved through the implementation of appropriate conflict resolution strategies. Managed conflict within teams improves performance and productivity in a project. The research problem was the existence of conflict within teams, which impacted negatively on project performance. Conflict is a result of contradicting interests and disagreements within teams. The existence of unresolved conflict shifts attention away from the main purpose of teams. It creates an unpleasant experience for project managers, who must deal with conflict management... , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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An investigation of strategic management process in a local government
- Authors: Nxangani, Nhuyani Edward
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Local government - South Africa - Ekurhuleni , Local government - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/452327 , uj:39891
- Description: Abstract: Is it ironic that after twenty-five years of democracy in South Africa, municipalities are still plagued by serious service delivery problems? The protests in the country are violent and seem to be too much for municipalities to handle. The reason among others is that many municipalities design strategies that are not implemented and communicated to staff. This then results in poor service delivery leading to also the protests. Strategy is the game plan of managers to deal with all manners of situations facing organisations to ensure achievement of pre-determined results. It is an expectation of stakeholders that managers should be able to solve organisational problems or at least be able to tell what it will take to resolve them. The purpose of this study is the investigation of strategic management process in local government using Ekurhuleni municipality as a case study. The qualitative method was used where purposive sampling method was applied. The content and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The study found that the city does not communicate strategy with employees and the formulation of strategy is not inclusive of all stakeholders. The study conclude that the city needs to align corporate strategy with IDP and recommend focused communication and further studies on the topic using mixed method and larger sample. , M.Com. (Business Management)
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- Authors: Nxangani, Nhuyani Edward
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Local government - South Africa - Ekurhuleni , Local government - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/452327 , uj:39891
- Description: Abstract: Is it ironic that after twenty-five years of democracy in South Africa, municipalities are still plagued by serious service delivery problems? The protests in the country are violent and seem to be too much for municipalities to handle. The reason among others is that many municipalities design strategies that are not implemented and communicated to staff. This then results in poor service delivery leading to also the protests. Strategy is the game plan of managers to deal with all manners of situations facing organisations to ensure achievement of pre-determined results. It is an expectation of stakeholders that managers should be able to solve organisational problems or at least be able to tell what it will take to resolve them. The purpose of this study is the investigation of strategic management process in local government using Ekurhuleni municipality as a case study. The qualitative method was used where purposive sampling method was applied. The content and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The study found that the city does not communicate strategy with employees and the formulation of strategy is not inclusive of all stakeholders. The study conclude that the city needs to align corporate strategy with IDP and recommend focused communication and further studies on the topic using mixed method and larger sample. , M.Com. (Business Management)
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Change management skill requirement for project managers
- Authors: Sheane, Pule Alfred
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Project management , Strategic planning , Management by objectives
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/424634 , uj:36321
- Description: Abstract: The research aim was to identify the skills required for the project managers to manage change to give input to the development plan of project managers. The skills were identified through a comprehensive literature study. Ten interpersonal skills were identified as the required skills for a project manager to be able to direct or manage a change process in a project. A questionnaire was developed following a guide from literature findings on the skill-set required for a project manager. A questionnaire was developed to answer two research questions. The score ratings were to measure the level of importance of the skills and measure it against the scored level of use and that was the first part of a questionnaire to answer the first research question. The second research question was to validate the skills identified by measuring the level of impact of each skill during a change process. The research methodology and the approach taken was a case study in a single projectbased organization. The participants subject to the study were project managers, engineering managers, engineers, and project support staff. The data received from the participants was analyzed in a cohort manner, using a quantitative framework to get to the results. The results obtained showed that across all four groups, two skills out of ten identified were strongly agreed on. Communication skills came out strong, followed by leadership skills. Furthermore, the score ratings showed that the skills are less used as opposed to the level of importance giving the conclusion that a project manager does not apply the required skills to the level at which they are required to manage change during project implementation. Further studies are recommended to be carried out to see why are the skills less utilized by the project managers. A project manager must learn from past mistakes and bad results as a tool towards self-development. Furthermore, for a project manager’s self-development, they must look at IPMA ICB4 Eye of Competence and PMI, PMCDF that defines integrated change control processes with performance criteria. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Sheane, Pule Alfred
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Project management , Strategic planning , Management by objectives
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/424634 , uj:36321
- Description: Abstract: The research aim was to identify the skills required for the project managers to manage change to give input to the development plan of project managers. The skills were identified through a comprehensive literature study. Ten interpersonal skills were identified as the required skills for a project manager to be able to direct or manage a change process in a project. A questionnaire was developed following a guide from literature findings on the skill-set required for a project manager. A questionnaire was developed to answer two research questions. The score ratings were to measure the level of importance of the skills and measure it against the scored level of use and that was the first part of a questionnaire to answer the first research question. The second research question was to validate the skills identified by measuring the level of impact of each skill during a change process. The research methodology and the approach taken was a case study in a single projectbased organization. The participants subject to the study were project managers, engineering managers, engineers, and project support staff. The data received from the participants was analyzed in a cohort manner, using a quantitative framework to get to the results. The results obtained showed that across all four groups, two skills out of ten identified were strongly agreed on. Communication skills came out strong, followed by leadership skills. Furthermore, the score ratings showed that the skills are less used as opposed to the level of importance giving the conclusion that a project manager does not apply the required skills to the level at which they are required to manage change during project implementation. Further studies are recommended to be carried out to see why are the skills less utilized by the project managers. A project manager must learn from past mistakes and bad results as a tool towards self-development. Furthermore, for a project manager’s self-development, they must look at IPMA ICB4 Eye of Competence and PMI, PMCDF that defines integrated change control processes with performance criteria. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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Effects of managers’ goal setting styles on subordinates’ degrees of commitment
- Authors: Van Lill, Xander
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Goal setting in personnel management , Strategic planning , Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/291980 , uj:31722
- Description: Abstract: Background: Given the centrality of goal setting to managerial roles, it is surprising that limited attention has been paid to the impact of managers’ goal setting styles on subordinates’ goal reactions. This, in part, could be attributed to the absence of a coherent theoretical account of managers’ goal setting styles. A limited understanding and contradictory views surrounding subordinates’ goal reactions might also have restricted the number of studies on the interpersonal exchanges between managers and subordinates when setting goals. Considering the limited research, it is not surprising that predictive models of hierarchical goal setting are restricted to a few direct effects. Models that uncover the psychological processes underlying the serial formation of subordinates’ goal reactions to managers’ goal setting styles could, however, provide a more eloquent representation of hierarchical goal setting. Other interpersonal factors and individual characteristics, such as supervisor-focussed justice and the dimensions of the Five-factor Model of Personality (also referred to as the Big Five personality traits) could also have bearing on the ways in which subordinates make sense of managers’ goal setting styles, and might have implications for the ways in which subordinates react to goals. Research objectives: In order to address the shortcomings with respect to managers’ goal setting behaviours, Objective 1 was to investigate whether eight styles could be differentiated and arranged around the circumference of a circle (also known as a circumplex model). The eight factors differentiated included the reasonable, deliberative, considerate, complaisant, distorted, hostile, disregardful, and directive styles. Objective 2 was to address the theoretical paucity regarding goal reactions by establishing the extent to which four higher-order factors (each consisting of a cognitive, affective, volitional, and behavioural intentional facet) could be differentiated and presented in a typology. Goal reactions were conceived to consist of goal commitment, compliance, withdrawal, and resistance. Based on the premise that more coherent and differentiated models of styles and reactions could be developed, Objective 3 of the study was to investigate the serial indirect effects of goal setting styles on goal reactions, thereby uncovering the cognitive motivational mechanisms underlying hierarchical goal setting. Supervisor-focussed justice was further included as a variable in the serial mediational models to address Objective 4, which was to investigate the fairness criteria that subordinates employ when making sense of managers’ goal setting styles. Finally, Objective 5 was to determine the moderating effects of personality traits on the... , Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van Lill, Xander
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Goal setting in personnel management , Strategic planning , Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/291980 , uj:31722
- Description: Abstract: Background: Given the centrality of goal setting to managerial roles, it is surprising that limited attention has been paid to the impact of managers’ goal setting styles on subordinates’ goal reactions. This, in part, could be attributed to the absence of a coherent theoretical account of managers’ goal setting styles. A limited understanding and contradictory views surrounding subordinates’ goal reactions might also have restricted the number of studies on the interpersonal exchanges between managers and subordinates when setting goals. Considering the limited research, it is not surprising that predictive models of hierarchical goal setting are restricted to a few direct effects. Models that uncover the psychological processes underlying the serial formation of subordinates’ goal reactions to managers’ goal setting styles could, however, provide a more eloquent representation of hierarchical goal setting. Other interpersonal factors and individual characteristics, such as supervisor-focussed justice and the dimensions of the Five-factor Model of Personality (also referred to as the Big Five personality traits) could also have bearing on the ways in which subordinates make sense of managers’ goal setting styles, and might have implications for the ways in which subordinates react to goals. Research objectives: In order to address the shortcomings with respect to managers’ goal setting behaviours, Objective 1 was to investigate whether eight styles could be differentiated and arranged around the circumference of a circle (also known as a circumplex model). The eight factors differentiated included the reasonable, deliberative, considerate, complaisant, distorted, hostile, disregardful, and directive styles. Objective 2 was to address the theoretical paucity regarding goal reactions by establishing the extent to which four higher-order factors (each consisting of a cognitive, affective, volitional, and behavioural intentional facet) could be differentiated and presented in a typology. Goal reactions were conceived to consist of goal commitment, compliance, withdrawal, and resistance. Based on the premise that more coherent and differentiated models of styles and reactions could be developed, Objective 3 of the study was to investigate the serial indirect effects of goal setting styles on goal reactions, thereby uncovering the cognitive motivational mechanisms underlying hierarchical goal setting. Supervisor-focussed justice was further included as a variable in the serial mediational models to address Objective 4, which was to investigate the fairness criteria that subordinates employ when making sense of managers’ goal setting styles. Finally, Objective 5 was to determine the moderating effects of personality traits on the... , Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology)
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Exploring the understanding of strategic management by the proprietors of small and medium engineering companies in Polokwane city of Limpopo province
- Authors: Ezomo, Odion Taiwo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Engineering firms - South Africa - Limpopo - Management , Industrial management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/424687 , uj:36328
- Description: Abstract: Strategic management is a mainstay to every organization and can be adapted for the effective management of Small Medium Engineering (SME) companies. The area of interest of this study was to explore the understanding of the proprietors of SME companies in Polokwane city of Limpopo province about the use of strategic management principles in the operation of their organizations. It was primed by three objectives, firstly, to investigate the understanding and use of strategic management principles by the proprietors of SME companies in Polokwane city; secondly, to determine the impact of the application of strategic management principles on the progress or otherwise of SME companies. Thirdly, to understand the perception of the proprietors of SME companies on their knowledge of strategic management. To achieve these objectives, a structured questionnaire was sent to 155 respondents, proprietors of SME industries and 149 usable questionnaires were returned and acknowledged. This gave a response rate of approximately 96%. Statistical software SPSS (version 22) was used to analyse the quantitative data and results was represented on the frequency tables and figures. The exploratory factors analysis was adopted in order to explore the connections between the variables responded to in the questionnaire. The outcome of the analysis facilitated the identification of the most essential factors or variables and provision of group name for the associated variables. The Cronbach alpha was used to test the internal consistency of the empirical factors and were found satisfactory. The study established that proprietors’ knowledge and competence in management skills are means of growing SME companies, development of knowledge skills is key in the impact of application of strategic management principles needed for developing SME industries. Furthermore, the knowledge of strategic management principles is used to resolve business problems and offer significant benefits for SME industries. Therefore, the study recommended that proprietors of SME companies should embrace strategic management principles by investing sufficient resources to boost the holistic development of the capacity of their employee, in order to support the growth of SME companies. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ezomo, Odion Taiwo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Engineering firms - South Africa - Limpopo - Management , Industrial management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/424687 , uj:36328
- Description: Abstract: Strategic management is a mainstay to every organization and can be adapted for the effective management of Small Medium Engineering (SME) companies. The area of interest of this study was to explore the understanding of the proprietors of SME companies in Polokwane city of Limpopo province about the use of strategic management principles in the operation of their organizations. It was primed by three objectives, firstly, to investigate the understanding and use of strategic management principles by the proprietors of SME companies in Polokwane city; secondly, to determine the impact of the application of strategic management principles on the progress or otherwise of SME companies. Thirdly, to understand the perception of the proprietors of SME companies on their knowledge of strategic management. To achieve these objectives, a structured questionnaire was sent to 155 respondents, proprietors of SME industries and 149 usable questionnaires were returned and acknowledged. This gave a response rate of approximately 96%. Statistical software SPSS (version 22) was used to analyse the quantitative data and results was represented on the frequency tables and figures. The exploratory factors analysis was adopted in order to explore the connections between the variables responded to in the questionnaire. The outcome of the analysis facilitated the identification of the most essential factors or variables and provision of group name for the associated variables. The Cronbach alpha was used to test the internal consistency of the empirical factors and were found satisfactory. The study established that proprietors’ knowledge and competence in management skills are means of growing SME companies, development of knowledge skills is key in the impact of application of strategic management principles needed for developing SME industries. Furthermore, the knowledge of strategic management principles is used to resolve business problems and offer significant benefits for SME industries. Therefore, the study recommended that proprietors of SME companies should embrace strategic management principles by investing sufficient resources to boost the holistic development of the capacity of their employee, in order to support the growth of SME companies. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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Managing information technology service delivery : a conceptual frame work
- Authors: Sliep, Rachel Marie
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information technology - Management , Management information systems , Information technology , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/422288 , uj:36030
- Description: Abstract: Managing information technology (IT) in higher education institutions (HEIs) is not merely difficult but has almost become impossible. Information technology (IT) leaders in HEIs face a challenge to integrate and provide for the continuous accelerating transformation of technology and the way it is applied in HEIs to improve the quality of IT service delivery to satisfy their stakeholders’ expectations. IT leaders need to embrace change with the understanding that IT will need more than a secure set of knowledge and skills in today’s technology demands required from the unique composition of stakeholders. To position HEIs in their current marketplace and ensure competitive advantage, just implementing new technologies and innovations is not nearly enough. It is a requirement from institutional leaders to recognise IT as a key business enabler and to ensure that IT is positioned within the organisation as an investment rather than a cost. Key requirements for IT leadership are to recognise, agree and integrate various frameworks to ensure stability and agility when addressing the continuous challenges of HEIs and providing them with a dynamic application landscape and borderless end-user experience. IT departments within HEIs should dynamically change their philosophy, standards and way of thinking to meet the rapidly changing, everyday organisational demands. .. , Ph.D. (Information Technology Management)
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- Authors: Sliep, Rachel Marie
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information technology - Management , Management information systems , Information technology , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/422288 , uj:36030
- Description: Abstract: Managing information technology (IT) in higher education institutions (HEIs) is not merely difficult but has almost become impossible. Information technology (IT) leaders in HEIs face a challenge to integrate and provide for the continuous accelerating transformation of technology and the way it is applied in HEIs to improve the quality of IT service delivery to satisfy their stakeholders’ expectations. IT leaders need to embrace change with the understanding that IT will need more than a secure set of knowledge and skills in today’s technology demands required from the unique composition of stakeholders. To position HEIs in their current marketplace and ensure competitive advantage, just implementing new technologies and innovations is not nearly enough. It is a requirement from institutional leaders to recognise IT as a key business enabler and to ensure that IT is positioned within the organisation as an investment rather than a cost. Key requirements for IT leadership are to recognise, agree and integrate various frameworks to ensure stability and agility when addressing the continuous challenges of HEIs and providing them with a dynamic application landscape and borderless end-user experience. IT departments within HEIs should dynamically change their philosophy, standards and way of thinking to meet the rapidly changing, everyday organisational demands. .. , Ph.D. (Information Technology Management)
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Senior leaderships perception and understanding of the marketing role : a sales support or strategic function
- Sebatane, Malebusa Bernice Lineo
- Authors: Sebatane, Malebusa Bernice Lineo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Marketing - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/423727 , uj:36210
- Description: Abstract: Marketing is a discipline that has a lot of contentions due to the varying views of what the role should entail in organisations and how it should be measured. The aim of the study is to explore the similarities and differences between senior marketing professionals and non-marketing executive's perceptions and understanding of the role and how it should be measured within organisations in the construction and concrete industries in Gauteng. The study took a qualitative approach following Mayring’s (2014:80) eight step inductive category development model. A non-probability purpose sampling method was adopted entailing senior marketing professionals and nonmarketing executives within the mentioned industries being interviewed. The study revealed a similarity in the perceptions of both senior marketing professionals and non-marketing executives with regards to what the marketing role should entail. The major differences came about in how the role should be measured. Majority of the nonmarketing executives felt marketing could not be measured against anything tangible, yet the marketing professionals strongly believed marketing could be measured, especially with the digital platforms that are now available which are unfortunately not understood by some of the non-marketing executives. Issues relating to measurement contributed to how senior management perceived the marketing role. The study also revealed that an organisation’s orientation plays a crucial role in how marketing’s role is viewed. It revealed how organisations that are product-oriented view the marketing role as a sales support function as opposed to organisations that are customer-oriented that regard marketing as a strategic function and driver of corporate strategy. , M.Com. (Business Management)
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- Authors: Sebatane, Malebusa Bernice Lineo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Marketing - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/423727 , uj:36210
- Description: Abstract: Marketing is a discipline that has a lot of contentions due to the varying views of what the role should entail in organisations and how it should be measured. The aim of the study is to explore the similarities and differences between senior marketing professionals and non-marketing executive's perceptions and understanding of the role and how it should be measured within organisations in the construction and concrete industries in Gauteng. The study took a qualitative approach following Mayring’s (2014:80) eight step inductive category development model. A non-probability purpose sampling method was adopted entailing senior marketing professionals and nonmarketing executives within the mentioned industries being interviewed. The study revealed a similarity in the perceptions of both senior marketing professionals and non-marketing executives with regards to what the marketing role should entail. The major differences came about in how the role should be measured. Majority of the nonmarketing executives felt marketing could not be measured against anything tangible, yet the marketing professionals strongly believed marketing could be measured, especially with the digital platforms that are now available which are unfortunately not understood by some of the non-marketing executives. Issues relating to measurement contributed to how senior management perceived the marketing role. The study also revealed that an organisation’s orientation plays a crucial role in how marketing’s role is viewed. It revealed how organisations that are product-oriented view the marketing role as a sales support function as opposed to organisations that are customer-oriented that regard marketing as a strategic function and driver of corporate strategy. , M.Com. (Business Management)
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The link between financial performance and supply chain process strategy
- Authors: Kotze, Albertus Charles
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Corporations - Finance - Management , Production management , Business planning , Strategic planning , Industrial productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/414885 , uj:35009
- Description: Abstract: Many organisations set corporate goals and objectives focused on the financial targets they aim to meet. Meeting these targets ensures the long-term viability of the organisation and increases the likelihood of private and corporate investors investing in the organisation. To meet the financial targets that organisations wish to achieve; however, they need to align the strategies and processes within the organisation. Nevertheless, this is not always the case in many organisations as there is often a disconnect between the corporate strategy, goals and objectives and individual operations within the organisation. In many cases, the different strategies compete, which leads to sub-optimal operations and processes that ultimately result in poor financial performance and the organisation not meeting its targeted goals and objectives. Supply chain management and the different supply chain processes, therefore, are receiving increased attention as a discipline that provides opportunities for increased operational excellence, optimised business processes, and improved customer service, and consequently as a source of both competitive advantage and improved profitability. All related supply chain processes should support and contribute positively to the organisation’s corporate goals and objectives. This requires greater alignment between the corporate goals and objectives that an organisation sets itself to achieve and the supply chain processes the organisation employs. This study, therefore, focuses on the link between the financial performance objectives of the organisation, and the best supply chain process strategy which supports achieving the financial performance objectives of the organisation. The objective of this study is to determine which supply chain process contributes most to align best with the corporate financial performance objectives of the organisation. This research entails a case study of Pharma X, a major pharmaceutical organisation with markets in South and Southern Africa. The DuPont analysis was used to analyse the financial performance of the organisation. The Analytic Hierarchy Process method was used to establish the organisation’s preferences in terms of financial objective, supply... , M.Com. (Business Management)
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- Authors: Kotze, Albertus Charles
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Corporations - Finance - Management , Production management , Business planning , Strategic planning , Industrial productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/414885 , uj:35009
- Description: Abstract: Many organisations set corporate goals and objectives focused on the financial targets they aim to meet. Meeting these targets ensures the long-term viability of the organisation and increases the likelihood of private and corporate investors investing in the organisation. To meet the financial targets that organisations wish to achieve; however, they need to align the strategies and processes within the organisation. Nevertheless, this is not always the case in many organisations as there is often a disconnect between the corporate strategy, goals and objectives and individual operations within the organisation. In many cases, the different strategies compete, which leads to sub-optimal operations and processes that ultimately result in poor financial performance and the organisation not meeting its targeted goals and objectives. Supply chain management and the different supply chain processes, therefore, are receiving increased attention as a discipline that provides opportunities for increased operational excellence, optimised business processes, and improved customer service, and consequently as a source of both competitive advantage and improved profitability. All related supply chain processes should support and contribute positively to the organisation’s corporate goals and objectives. This requires greater alignment between the corporate goals and objectives that an organisation sets itself to achieve and the supply chain processes the organisation employs. This study, therefore, focuses on the link between the financial performance objectives of the organisation, and the best supply chain process strategy which supports achieving the financial performance objectives of the organisation. The objective of this study is to determine which supply chain process contributes most to align best with the corporate financial performance objectives of the organisation. This research entails a case study of Pharma X, a major pharmaceutical organisation with markets in South and Southern Africa. The DuPont analysis was used to analyse the financial performance of the organisation. The Analytic Hierarchy Process method was used to establish the organisation’s preferences in terms of financial objective, supply... , M.Com. (Business Management)
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Organisational citizenship and the post-acquisition of a global hotel brand
- Authors: Fisher, Wayne
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Hotel management , Consolidation and merger of corporations
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/402855 , uj:33732
- Description: Abstract : The purpose of this study was to examine the power of organisational support, brand satisfaction and brand trust on the organisational citizenship for employees in the post-acquisition integration of a global hotel brand. This was conducted through theoretical and empirical objectives. The development of a conceptual model framework paved the way for the postulation of five hypotheses. To put the proposed research model and hypotheses to the test, data was collected in South Africa, in particular, a hotel group that was newly acquired, with hotels spreading through sub- Saharan Africa. This study used quantitative research methodology. A data collection tool was used to be able to measure data on a scale with a numerical value that was then subdivided into the various elements of the surveying measuring instrument. Descriptive statistics was used to measure and determine the strength of the relationship between the dependent variables and the independent variables to test the developed hypotheses in question. The total usable sample size was 235. As consequence, the findings of this research indicate that organisational support can have a strong influence on brand trust and brand satisfaction but only indicates that organisational citizenship is influenced by organisational support via brand satisfaction and not directly, nor via brand trust. Managerial implications of this research are discussed with limitations and future research advised. This research contributes new knowledge to the body of strategic management literature in Africa. , M.Com. (Strategic Management)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Fisher, Wayne
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Hotel management , Consolidation and merger of corporations
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/402855 , uj:33732
- Description: Abstract : The purpose of this study was to examine the power of organisational support, brand satisfaction and brand trust on the organisational citizenship for employees in the post-acquisition integration of a global hotel brand. This was conducted through theoretical and empirical objectives. The development of a conceptual model framework paved the way for the postulation of five hypotheses. To put the proposed research model and hypotheses to the test, data was collected in South Africa, in particular, a hotel group that was newly acquired, with hotels spreading through sub- Saharan Africa. This study used quantitative research methodology. A data collection tool was used to be able to measure data on a scale with a numerical value that was then subdivided into the various elements of the surveying measuring instrument. Descriptive statistics was used to measure and determine the strength of the relationship between the dependent variables and the independent variables to test the developed hypotheses in question. The total usable sample size was 235. As consequence, the findings of this research indicate that organisational support can have a strong influence on brand trust and brand satisfaction but only indicates that organisational citizenship is influenced by organisational support via brand satisfaction and not directly, nor via brand trust. Managerial implications of this research are discussed with limitations and future research advised. This research contributes new knowledge to the body of strategic management literature in Africa. , M.Com. (Strategic Management)
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Strategic supplier selection criteria during supplier selection process in sourcing
- Authors: Lesisa, Tumelo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Industrial procurement - Management , Strategic planning , Business logistics , Multiple criteria decision making
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/280371 , uj:30126
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: The rail industry has become important in executing government’s projects to improve South African transportation system. Rail industry is showing to have potential of becoming an alternative transport system, into which the South African government is investing money. This has led to the project that a company in rail industry is currently undertaking to manufacture new commuter trains for the South African community. The project requires a development of supplier base which includes South African suppliers when executing this project of manufacturing newly improved trains in South Africa. Regardless of how exciting this project is, a company in rail industry is faced with a challenge of searching for suppliers that are able to help it to achieve its objective. This can be achieved through a proper supplier selection process that is consistently assessing supplier risks prior to selecting them. A robust selection process must be in place with established selection criteria to assess areas in which risks could arise from. The selection criteria can assist in identifying risks in the early stages of the supplier selection process. This research studies supplier risk assessment implemented by a company in rail industry to identify supplier selection criteria. A literature review was completed to identify supplier selection criteria that should be considered during the supplier selection process and matched with criteria implemented by a company in rail industry. The research further studies risk management frameworks which would provide structure to the risk management process of a company. The frameworks that are considered in this research are: ISO 31000:2009 framework, COSO: 2004 framework, AS/NZ 2004 framework, SCRM framework as well as PMBOK framework. By utilizing pattern matching technique, gaps are identified between the supplier selection criteria implemented by a company and literature reviewed. Further the research proposed a theoretical supplier onboarding model which incorporates risk assessment activities within the supplier selection process focusing on all identified selection criteria. This would reduce chances of having inconsistencies during supplier risk assessments process.
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- Authors: Lesisa, Tumelo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Industrial procurement - Management , Strategic planning , Business logistics , Multiple criteria decision making
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/280371 , uj:30126
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: The rail industry has become important in executing government’s projects to improve South African transportation system. Rail industry is showing to have potential of becoming an alternative transport system, into which the South African government is investing money. This has led to the project that a company in rail industry is currently undertaking to manufacture new commuter trains for the South African community. The project requires a development of supplier base which includes South African suppliers when executing this project of manufacturing newly improved trains in South Africa. Regardless of how exciting this project is, a company in rail industry is faced with a challenge of searching for suppliers that are able to help it to achieve its objective. This can be achieved through a proper supplier selection process that is consistently assessing supplier risks prior to selecting them. A robust selection process must be in place with established selection criteria to assess areas in which risks could arise from. The selection criteria can assist in identifying risks in the early stages of the supplier selection process. This research studies supplier risk assessment implemented by a company in rail industry to identify supplier selection criteria. A literature review was completed to identify supplier selection criteria that should be considered during the supplier selection process and matched with criteria implemented by a company in rail industry. The research further studies risk management frameworks which would provide structure to the risk management process of a company. The frameworks that are considered in this research are: ISO 31000:2009 framework, COSO: 2004 framework, AS/NZ 2004 framework, SCRM framework as well as PMBOK framework. By utilizing pattern matching technique, gaps are identified between the supplier selection criteria implemented by a company and literature reviewed. Further the research proposed a theoretical supplier onboarding model which incorporates risk assessment activities within the supplier selection process focusing on all identified selection criteria. This would reduce chances of having inconsistencies during supplier risk assessments process.
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The adoption of corporate level strategies by logistics firms
- Authors: Gcabashe, Zamanguni
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Business planning , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/295842 , uj:32224
- Description: Abstract: The purpose of the study was to explore the corporate level strategies applied by the logistics companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and on the global exchanges. The general debate is that successful companies develop corporate level strategies that are long-term and provide companies with a competitive advantage. The study then investigated these strategies and determined how companies selected and used them to respond to the demands that came from the external environmental factors such as globalisation, competition, economy, politics and extreme weather conditions. The study was qualitative in nature, exploratory and descriptive methods were both used. Documentation was used as a technique to collect data from the integrated annual reports, and qualitative content analysis was used to analyse and interpret data. It was found that each company used a combination of unique corporate strategies to respond to their own challenges. , M.Com. (Business Management)
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- Authors: Gcabashe, Zamanguni
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Business planning , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/295842 , uj:32224
- Description: Abstract: The purpose of the study was to explore the corporate level strategies applied by the logistics companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and on the global exchanges. The general debate is that successful companies develop corporate level strategies that are long-term and provide companies with a competitive advantage. The study then investigated these strategies and determined how companies selected and used them to respond to the demands that came from the external environmental factors such as globalisation, competition, economy, politics and extreme weather conditions. The study was qualitative in nature, exploratory and descriptive methods were both used. Documentation was used as a technique to collect data from the integrated annual reports, and qualitative content analysis was used to analyse and interpret data. It was found that each company used a combination of unique corporate strategies to respond to their own challenges. , M.Com. (Business Management)
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Adapting IT management for effective IT strategy leadership
- Langa, Mthandeni, Marnewick, Carl
- Authors: Langa, Mthandeni , Marnewick, Carl
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Information technology - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/373894 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/231957 , uj:23644 , Citation: Langa, M. & Marnewick, C. 2017. Adapting IT management for effective IT strategy leadership. International Association for Management of Technology IAMOT 2017 Conference Proceedings.
- Description: Abstract: This article argues that the lack of consistent information technology (IT) and organisational strategies heightens the proclivity to cancel IT initiatives. Organisational strategy loosely conveys a compounded perspective pertaining to business and organisational strategies. The combination of these strategies logically hinge on efficient enterprise IT integration concepts contextualising conceptual links between their respective architectures to best suit prevailing business and socioeconomic needs. However, an effective socioeconomy demands contextual strategic management of IT, aligned with geopolitical and other factors affecting the nature of IT, to optimise the applied context of principles of governance and management. Strategic management of IT is alleviated by the concept of levels of abstraction inherent in the principle of separation of concerns. Hence the strategic use of the concept in ‘opinion’ formulation within the paradigm of a sociotechnical system design, development and management. Accordingly, optimal business performance demands that business and IT leadership and management develop mechanisms to establish symbiosis between governance and management principles, glued together by an adaptive enterprise‐wide standard architecture. There is therefore a contended need to integrate IT, processes and strategies. This demands that business and IT professionals possess an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary set of competencies. The perceived set of competencies supposedly help professionals to effectively navigate the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of information technology management (ITM). Thus the ensuing sociotechnical system constructs represent the challenge imposed by the journey to purposefully adapt ITM for effective IT strategy leadership for a competitive economic system. The research used an advanced mixed research methodology embedding quantitative methods in a qualitative study...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Langa, Mthandeni , Marnewick, Carl
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Information technology - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/373894 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/231957 , uj:23644 , Citation: Langa, M. & Marnewick, C. 2017. Adapting IT management for effective IT strategy leadership. International Association for Management of Technology IAMOT 2017 Conference Proceedings.
- Description: Abstract: This article argues that the lack of consistent information technology (IT) and organisational strategies heightens the proclivity to cancel IT initiatives. Organisational strategy loosely conveys a compounded perspective pertaining to business and organisational strategies. The combination of these strategies logically hinge on efficient enterprise IT integration concepts contextualising conceptual links between their respective architectures to best suit prevailing business and socioeconomic needs. However, an effective socioeconomy demands contextual strategic management of IT, aligned with geopolitical and other factors affecting the nature of IT, to optimise the applied context of principles of governance and management. Strategic management of IT is alleviated by the concept of levels of abstraction inherent in the principle of separation of concerns. Hence the strategic use of the concept in ‘opinion’ formulation within the paradigm of a sociotechnical system design, development and management. Accordingly, optimal business performance demands that business and IT leadership and management develop mechanisms to establish symbiosis between governance and management principles, glued together by an adaptive enterprise‐wide standard architecture. There is therefore a contended need to integrate IT, processes and strategies. This demands that business and IT professionals possess an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary set of competencies. The perceived set of competencies supposedly help professionals to effectively navigate the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of information technology management (ITM). Thus the ensuing sociotechnical system constructs represent the challenge imposed by the journey to purposefully adapt ITM for effective IT strategy leadership for a competitive economic system. The research used an advanced mixed research methodology embedding quantitative methods in a qualitative study...
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Corporate strategy implementation among small and medium consulting businesses
- Authors: Mbombo, Kalamba Prisca
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Small business , Business planning , Small business - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/271903 , uj:28928
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: The success of corporate strategy implementation has become the focus of many organisations to sustain a competitive advantage. Strategic management helps organisations to set their vision, mission and objectives that will enable them to survive and operate within a competitive environment. However, many organisations have experienced little success in the implementation of corporate strategy. The majority do not have strategies in place, and strategy implementation fails because of poor implementation and not because of the strategy itself. Many factors may affect the implementation of corporate strategy within any organisation, such as lack of resources, poor communication and resistance to change. The main objective of this research was to determine how small and medium consulting businesses are implementing corporate strategies to ensure sustainability and growth. To achieve this objective, a qualitative approach was used with the aim of understanding, analysing and evaluating the success of corporate strategy implementation of small and medium consulting businesses. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted with 13 small and medium consulting business owners/managers in the Randburg central business district. The empirical findings indicate that corporate strategy implementation with specific reference to the components of implementation has a significant contribution to small and medium consulting businesses’ sustainability, growth and performance. Owners/managers of these businesses should ensure that the strategy applied is communicated effectively to the staff members in order for them to embrace the implementation and to understand and adopt the strategy; however, the lack of a strategy can cause the failure of these businesses.
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- Authors: Mbombo, Kalamba Prisca
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Small business , Business planning , Small business - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/271903 , uj:28928
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: The success of corporate strategy implementation has become the focus of many organisations to sustain a competitive advantage. Strategic management helps organisations to set their vision, mission and objectives that will enable them to survive and operate within a competitive environment. However, many organisations have experienced little success in the implementation of corporate strategy. The majority do not have strategies in place, and strategy implementation fails because of poor implementation and not because of the strategy itself. Many factors may affect the implementation of corporate strategy within any organisation, such as lack of resources, poor communication and resistance to change. The main objective of this research was to determine how small and medium consulting businesses are implementing corporate strategies to ensure sustainability and growth. To achieve this objective, a qualitative approach was used with the aim of understanding, analysing and evaluating the success of corporate strategy implementation of small and medium consulting businesses. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted with 13 small and medium consulting business owners/managers in the Randburg central business district. The empirical findings indicate that corporate strategy implementation with specific reference to the components of implementation has a significant contribution to small and medium consulting businesses’ sustainability, growth and performance. Owners/managers of these businesses should ensure that the strategy applied is communicated effectively to the staff members in order for them to embrace the implementation and to understand and adopt the strategy; however, the lack of a strategy can cause the failure of these businesses.
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The effectiveness of strategic management intervention in developing profitable high growth African businesses
- Kaija, Godfrey, Nieuwenhuizen, Cecile
- Authors: Kaija, Godfrey , Nieuwenhuizen, Cecile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Business enterprises , Small business - Economic aspects , Small business - Management , Sustainable development , Human capital
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/235963 , uj:24141 , Citation: Kaija, G. & Nieuwenhuizen, C. 2017. The effectiveness of strategic management intervention in developing profitable high growth African businesses.
- Description: Abstract: The objective of the research was to determine how the the strategic management intervention of the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) has contributed to improved profitability, growth and sustainability of businesses in African countries. Businesses ranging from very small to multinational subsidiaries that were involved in a three year AMSCO intervention were selected to participate in the study. Self-administered questionnaires as well financial and other records and documents of 55 participating businesses resulted in the findings that the intervention, especially with the placement of the AMSCO managers, was instrumental in successfully transferring business and management skills to local employees within these enterprises and organisations. During and after the intervention the profitability, growth, sustainability, employment numbers and retention of the majority of the businesses increased and training became a norm.
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- Authors: Kaija, Godfrey , Nieuwenhuizen, Cecile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Business enterprises , Small business - Economic aspects , Small business - Management , Sustainable development , Human capital
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/235963 , uj:24141 , Citation: Kaija, G. & Nieuwenhuizen, C. 2017. The effectiveness of strategic management intervention in developing profitable high growth African businesses.
- Description: Abstract: The objective of the research was to determine how the the strategic management intervention of the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) has contributed to improved profitability, growth and sustainability of businesses in African countries. Businesses ranging from very small to multinational subsidiaries that were involved in a three year AMSCO intervention were selected to participate in the study. Self-administered questionnaires as well financial and other records and documents of 55 participating businesses resulted in the findings that the intervention, especially with the placement of the AMSCO managers, was instrumental in successfully transferring business and management skills to local employees within these enterprises and organisations. During and after the intervention the profitability, growth, sustainability, employment numbers and retention of the majority of the businesses increased and training became a norm.
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Adapting information technology management for effective information technology strategy leadership
- Authors: Langa, Mthandeni
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Information technology - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237644 , uj:24352
- Description: M.Com. , Abstract: In this dissertation, it is argued that the lack of consistent information technology (IT) and organisational strategies heightens the proclivity to cancel IT initiatives in a given industry sector. Organisational strategy loosely conveys a compounded perspective pertaining to business and organisational strategies. In theory business, IT and organisational strategies are reasoned to hinge on efficient enterprise IT integration concepts that contextualise conceptual links between business, IT and organisational architectures to best address contextual business and socioeconomic needs. However, an effective socioeconomy demands contextual awareness of strategic management of IT, leadership and management, geopolitical and other factors affecting the evolutionary nature of the IT industry, enterprise architecture, enterprise risk optimisation and principles of governance and management. Business and IT leadership’s contextual awareness is necessitated by the concept of levels of abstraction inherent in the principles of separation of concerns. Hence the strategic use of the concept in ‘opinion’ formulation within the paradigm of a sociotechnical system design, development and management. Thus, optimal business performance demands that business and IT leadership and management develop mechanisms to establish symbiosis between governance and management principles, glued together by an adaptive enterprise-wide standard architecture. There is therefore a contended need to integrate IT, processes and strategies. This demands that business and IT professionals possess an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary set of competencies. The perceived set of competencies supposedly help professionals to effectively navigate the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of the concept of information technology management (ITM). Thus the resulting entangled sociotechnical system constituents, responsible for the overall perspective of the ITM concept, are constructs representing the challenge imposed by the journey to purposefully adapt ITM for effective IT strategy leadership for a globally competitive economic system. The research balances deontological and teleological philosophical theories, embracing an advanced mixed research methodology and embedding limited quantitative methods in a predominantly qualitative study. These theories underline systemic and deliberate practice aimed at optimising similarly credible research findings as well as provide a realistic perspective. Consequently, analysis employs a systematic approach based on four contextual themes, viz. administrative, investment management, management and technology practices and a closing perspective, in deliberate efforts to optimise triangulation. The outcome is an adaptive ITM process model facilitating discovery, construction, governance and management of a purposeful sociotechnical system in any given geopolitical context. Thus the adaptive ITM process model can benefit both academics and practitioners in their respective quests to contextualise philosophies and concretise processes sustaining purposeful sociotechnical system design, development and management. In principle, the research introduces a general theory of collaboration theoretically thriving on ITM as the art, philosophy and science of orchestrating strategic management principles to enliven the value of IT in pursuit of an optimum strategic intent in a continuum.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Langa, Mthandeni
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Information technology - Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237644 , uj:24352
- Description: M.Com. , Abstract: In this dissertation, it is argued that the lack of consistent information technology (IT) and organisational strategies heightens the proclivity to cancel IT initiatives in a given industry sector. Organisational strategy loosely conveys a compounded perspective pertaining to business and organisational strategies. In theory business, IT and organisational strategies are reasoned to hinge on efficient enterprise IT integration concepts that contextualise conceptual links between business, IT and organisational architectures to best address contextual business and socioeconomic needs. However, an effective socioeconomy demands contextual awareness of strategic management of IT, leadership and management, geopolitical and other factors affecting the evolutionary nature of the IT industry, enterprise architecture, enterprise risk optimisation and principles of governance and management. Business and IT leadership’s contextual awareness is necessitated by the concept of levels of abstraction inherent in the principles of separation of concerns. Hence the strategic use of the concept in ‘opinion’ formulation within the paradigm of a sociotechnical system design, development and management. Thus, optimal business performance demands that business and IT leadership and management develop mechanisms to establish symbiosis between governance and management principles, glued together by an adaptive enterprise-wide standard architecture. There is therefore a contended need to integrate IT, processes and strategies. This demands that business and IT professionals possess an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary set of competencies. The perceived set of competencies supposedly help professionals to effectively navigate the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of the concept of information technology management (ITM). Thus the resulting entangled sociotechnical system constituents, responsible for the overall perspective of the ITM concept, are constructs representing the challenge imposed by the journey to purposefully adapt ITM for effective IT strategy leadership for a globally competitive economic system. The research balances deontological and teleological philosophical theories, embracing an advanced mixed research methodology and embedding limited quantitative methods in a predominantly qualitative study. These theories underline systemic and deliberate practice aimed at optimising similarly credible research findings as well as provide a realistic perspective. Consequently, analysis employs a systematic approach based on four contextual themes, viz. administrative, investment management, management and technology practices and a closing perspective, in deliberate efforts to optimise triangulation. The outcome is an adaptive ITM process model facilitating discovery, construction, governance and management of a purposeful sociotechnical system in any given geopolitical context. Thus the adaptive ITM process model can benefit both academics and practitioners in their respective quests to contextualise philosophies and concretise processes sustaining purposeful sociotechnical system design, development and management. In principle, the research introduces a general theory of collaboration theoretically thriving on ITM as the art, philosophy and science of orchestrating strategic management principles to enliven the value of IT in pursuit of an optimum strategic intent in a continuum.
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Project portfolio management : managing uncertainty in dynamic environments
- Authors: Hlophe, Ntebaleng Patience
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Project management , Project management - Case studies , Strategic planning , Portfolio management - Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233792 , uj:23877
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Currently, many project dependent companies are facing a number of problems such as too many active projects, not enough resources to complete the projects and lack of ability to deal with changes in the project environments. These problems will lead to failure in the company’s ability to fulfil its mandate and execute their strategic imperatives. These problems were identified to lead to numerous complications that may threaten the company’s business. The question that was asked was how can organisations use proper project portfolio management to deal with uncertainties in their environments. Hence, the purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the ability of project portfolio management in handling uncertainty, and the extent to which project portfolio management is used to circumvent the effects of uncertainty on the projects. To this end, two project-driven companies were investigated. The choice of company was made by looking at the availability of information and the company structures. The author had access to resources within the company. It was found that there is an unclear understanding on the role of project portfolio management in both companies. One company claimed to have a fully functioning project portfolio management department, while the other is still in its infancy in this regard....
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hlophe, Ntebaleng Patience
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Project management , Project management - Case studies , Strategic planning , Portfolio management - Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233792 , uj:23877
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Currently, many project dependent companies are facing a number of problems such as too many active projects, not enough resources to complete the projects and lack of ability to deal with changes in the project environments. These problems will lead to failure in the company’s ability to fulfil its mandate and execute their strategic imperatives. These problems were identified to lead to numerous complications that may threaten the company’s business. The question that was asked was how can organisations use proper project portfolio management to deal with uncertainties in their environments. Hence, the purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the ability of project portfolio management in handling uncertainty, and the extent to which project portfolio management is used to circumvent the effects of uncertainty on the projects. To this end, two project-driven companies were investigated. The choice of company was made by looking at the availability of information and the company structures. The author had access to resources within the company. It was found that there is an unclear understanding on the role of project portfolio management in both companies. One company claimed to have a fully functioning project portfolio management department, while the other is still in its infancy in this regard....
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Strategic management intervention towards the transitioning of African enterprises into profitable and sustainable enterprises
- Authors: Kaija, Godfrey
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Business enterprises , Small business - Economic aspects , Small business - Management , Sustainable development , Human capital
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237611 , uj:24348
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: As most African economies emerge from conflict, subsistence and most recently from the financial crisis, it has become apparent that enterprise is going to play a key role in aiding economic recovery and success. It should be appreciated that Africa as a continent has emerged post the conflict era with a big shortage of human capital. The objective of the research was to understand how the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) with the patronage of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) the private arm of the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has spearheaded the fight of the challenges of human capital development on the continent. The problem statement was that Enterprise is an important driver of growth in economies across Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and SMEs account for up to 90% of all enterprises in these markets. In southern African research, it is estimated that only 1% of new enterprises will make the transition to a successful established profitable enterprise (Fatoki 2014). This study aimed therefore to establish the relationship between strategic management interventions as well as the role these interventions play in helping transition selected enterprises into profitable and sustainable enterprises. The research study purposively sampled 100 enterprises that have benefited from a Strategic management intervention from AMSCO. It engaged the enterprise owners, and relevant business heads within the intervention process. The objectives of the study were geared towards analysing the process and ensuring that the results achieved during the AMSCO interventions had been properly executed and that the various SME’s that AMSCO set out to satisfy had been adequately served. The study achieved a response rate of 55% which offered credible and dependable information about AMSCO assisted enterprises. According to the findings, most of the respondents were males i.e. 74.5%, with only 23.6% of the respondents being females. The respondents indicated a high number of respondents within the age group of 36 – 55 years. The research found that the strategic management intervention by AMSCO especially with the placement of the AMSCO managers was instrumental in successfully transferring business and management skills within these enterprises and organisations. And after 3 years, many were turned into profitable and sustainable enterprises. A large percentage of respondents i.e. 70% indicated that after the intervention by AMSCO, training became a norm. With the seconded manager expected to pass on skills to the local staff.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kaija, Godfrey
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Business enterprises , Small business - Economic aspects , Small business - Management , Sustainable development , Human capital
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237611 , uj:24348
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: As most African economies emerge from conflict, subsistence and most recently from the financial crisis, it has become apparent that enterprise is going to play a key role in aiding economic recovery and success. It should be appreciated that Africa as a continent has emerged post the conflict era with a big shortage of human capital. The objective of the research was to understand how the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) with the patronage of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) the private arm of the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has spearheaded the fight of the challenges of human capital development on the continent. The problem statement was that Enterprise is an important driver of growth in economies across Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and SMEs account for up to 90% of all enterprises in these markets. In southern African research, it is estimated that only 1% of new enterprises will make the transition to a successful established profitable enterprise (Fatoki 2014). This study aimed therefore to establish the relationship between strategic management interventions as well as the role these interventions play in helping transition selected enterprises into profitable and sustainable enterprises. The research study purposively sampled 100 enterprises that have benefited from a Strategic management intervention from AMSCO. It engaged the enterprise owners, and relevant business heads within the intervention process. The objectives of the study were geared towards analysing the process and ensuring that the results achieved during the AMSCO interventions had been properly executed and that the various SME’s that AMSCO set out to satisfy had been adequately served. The study achieved a response rate of 55% which offered credible and dependable information about AMSCO assisted enterprises. According to the findings, most of the respondents were males i.e. 74.5%, with only 23.6% of the respondents being females. The respondents indicated a high number of respondents within the age group of 36 – 55 years. The research found that the strategic management intervention by AMSCO especially with the placement of the AMSCO managers was instrumental in successfully transferring business and management skills within these enterprises and organisations. And after 3 years, many were turned into profitable and sustainable enterprises. A large percentage of respondents i.e. 70% indicated that after the intervention by AMSCO, training became a norm. With the seconded manager expected to pass on skills to the local staff.
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The significance of facilitation skills for business process engineering : financial institutions
- Authors: Choshi, Madimetja Frans
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Reengineering (Management) , Organizational effectiveness , Management information systems , Strategic planning , Financial institutions
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213386 , uj:21146
- Description: Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the lack of communication and facilitation skills negatively affecting the success of business process improvement projects conducted by engineers within the financial institutions. Recent studies have shown that successful and sustainable process improvement initiatives partially dependent on stakeholder (all levels) support and buy-in within any service industry. Resistance by the stakeholders has become a major concern in implementing improvement initiatives because the project outcomes are not clearly understood. An organisations ability to constantly improve processes enables it to constantly meet customer expectations and protect or improve its competitive edge. The first chapter provides insights on the certain causes and failures of business process improvement initiatives based on the research title. The chapter highlights certain information from past research conducted within the background and introduction. It further provides the significance of the study, brief introduction to each chapter and objectives the researcher wanted to achieve. In chapter two, literature information is provided to further support the study conducted. The literature focuses on business processes, business process improvement, common best practise methodologies and how they relate to facilitation. A survey was conducted by 21 experienced process engineers to analyse the process improvement projects failures researched. The outcomes indicated that most projects fail as a result of lack of leadership support, poor change management and project buy-in. The researcher further provides recommendations on how to better manage, get support and implement successful business process initiatives using facilitation skills. The researcher perceives facilitation skills as the added catalyst to ensuring positive outcome for business process improvement initiatives. The researcher anticipates that information will provide readers with a different perspective of the challenges experienced by engineers in service industries and ideas for future development of business process improvement methodology. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Choshi, Madimetja Frans
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Reengineering (Management) , Organizational effectiveness , Management information systems , Strategic planning , Financial institutions
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213386 , uj:21146
- Description: Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the lack of communication and facilitation skills negatively affecting the success of business process improvement projects conducted by engineers within the financial institutions. Recent studies have shown that successful and sustainable process improvement initiatives partially dependent on stakeholder (all levels) support and buy-in within any service industry. Resistance by the stakeholders has become a major concern in implementing improvement initiatives because the project outcomes are not clearly understood. An organisations ability to constantly improve processes enables it to constantly meet customer expectations and protect or improve its competitive edge. The first chapter provides insights on the certain causes and failures of business process improvement initiatives based on the research title. The chapter highlights certain information from past research conducted within the background and introduction. It further provides the significance of the study, brief introduction to each chapter and objectives the researcher wanted to achieve. In chapter two, literature information is provided to further support the study conducted. The literature focuses on business processes, business process improvement, common best practise methodologies and how they relate to facilitation. A survey was conducted by 21 experienced process engineers to analyse the process improvement projects failures researched. The outcomes indicated that most projects fail as a result of lack of leadership support, poor change management and project buy-in. The researcher further provides recommendations on how to better manage, get support and implement successful business process initiatives using facilitation skills. The researcher perceives facilitation skills as the added catalyst to ensuring positive outcome for business process improvement initiatives. The researcher anticipates that information will provide readers with a different perspective of the challenges experienced by engineers in service industries and ideas for future development of business process improvement methodology. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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