Global markets : customers, competition and change - new paradigms for global business
- Authors: Voortman, Terence Craig
- Date: 2014-07-23
- Subjects: Organizational change - Management , Consumer satisfaction - South Africa , Competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11464
- Description: M.B.A. , Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text:
- Authors: Voortman, Terence Craig
- Date: 2014-07-23
- Subjects: Organizational change - Management , Consumer satisfaction - South Africa , Competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11464
- Description: M.B.A. , Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text:
Project management and strategic initiatives intersect for increased sustainable competitive advantage
- Authors: Grobler, Cornelius Bernhard
- Date: 2012-05-30
- Subjects: Project management , Competition , Strategic planning
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2280 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4741
- Description: M.Comm. , One of the challenges facing traditional stock broking firms, including Investec Securities, the firm used as the case study in the dissertation, is to strengthen and align their operational business to support the strategic initiatives of the revenue-generating component of the business, to enable them to deliver well diversified, top performing wealth generating investment products and services to the astute and knowledgeable investor of the 21st century. Projects and project management serve as primary capabilities of an organisation to respond to change and to strive to maintain a competitive advantage. Projects may be considered in the design and implementation of future strategies of the organisation. It is therefore necessary for management to shift their focus towards the simultaneous management of the whole collection of projects as one consolidated entity, linking the set of projects to the ultimate strategic business initiatives of the organisation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of implementing standardised project management methodologies in large stock broking firms in South Africa using Investec Securities, the largest stock broker in the country, as a case study. The secondary objectives were to assess the effectiveness of project management in the organisation, gain insight into the concept of standardised project management, and assess which methods the Project office applies to align strategic business initiatives with project expectations and delivery. Given the purpose and objectives of the study a qualitative approach was taken as the primary research methodology for the study. The sampling design was a purposive non-probability sample, and the survey population consisted only of individuals employed in Investec Securities that play an active role in the project management programme and/or strategy formulation of the organisation. Data was collected using the survey research method in the form of a questionnaire distributed to respondents with the purpose of obtaining a representative sample of the target population. This study aimed at gleaning respondent’s perceptions on project management, business strategy, and their alignment within the chosen organisation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Grobler, Cornelius Bernhard
- Date: 2012-05-30
- Subjects: Project management , Competition , Strategic planning
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2280 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4741
- Description: M.Comm. , One of the challenges facing traditional stock broking firms, including Investec Securities, the firm used as the case study in the dissertation, is to strengthen and align their operational business to support the strategic initiatives of the revenue-generating component of the business, to enable them to deliver well diversified, top performing wealth generating investment products and services to the astute and knowledgeable investor of the 21st century. Projects and project management serve as primary capabilities of an organisation to respond to change and to strive to maintain a competitive advantage. Projects may be considered in the design and implementation of future strategies of the organisation. It is therefore necessary for management to shift their focus towards the simultaneous management of the whole collection of projects as one consolidated entity, linking the set of projects to the ultimate strategic business initiatives of the organisation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of implementing standardised project management methodologies in large stock broking firms in South Africa using Investec Securities, the largest stock broker in the country, as a case study. The secondary objectives were to assess the effectiveness of project management in the organisation, gain insight into the concept of standardised project management, and assess which methods the Project office applies to align strategic business initiatives with project expectations and delivery. Given the purpose and objectives of the study a qualitative approach was taken as the primary research methodology for the study. The sampling design was a purposive non-probability sample, and the survey population consisted only of individuals employed in Investec Securities that play an active role in the project management programme and/or strategy formulation of the organisation. Data was collected using the survey research method in the form of a questionnaire distributed to respondents with the purpose of obtaining a representative sample of the target population. This study aimed at gleaning respondent’s perceptions on project management, business strategy, and their alignment within the chosen organisation.
- Full Text:
The level of competitiveness of the South African electricity industry
- Authors: Goldstuck, Alison
- Date: 2012-01-24
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) , Competition , Electric power distribution
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1945 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4304
- Description: M.Comm. , South Africa's demand for electricity is expected to outstrip the industry's generation capacity by 2010. If the government wants to avoid this situation, the construction of new plants must commence. At the moment this task has been delayed because the Government is at loggerheads with COSAU and Eskom about restructuring the electricity supply industry. This debate will remain unsolved unless the government can substantiate why exposing the industry to competition will improve its performance. Unfortunately this task is not as simple as it seems. Even though competition is one of the most widely used terms in economics, it still remains an elusive concept. The ambiguity regarding tl1e meaning of competition arises from the failure to divorce the concept of competition from a market structure; as a consequence an operational meaning of what it means to compete \n terms of contemporary business behaviour does not exist. As a result activities associated with industrialisation, such as a changing production function, the development of new products and t~chniqu'::s and business structures are not related to the concept of competition. In order to develop n clear understanding of "what it means to compete", this dissertadon uses a behavioural definition of competition to determine why exposing firms to. competitive pressure improves their performance, reflected in superior static and dynamic efficiency levels. Based on this conceptual framework, Schumpeter' s approach to competition, which emphasises innovation, profits and the entrepreneur as the agent of improvement combined with the idea that it is the uneven development of knowledge that matters in the process of creative destruction", is accepted (Metcalfe & Ramlogan &Uyarra: 2001). Based on the above notion of competition, competitive pressure positively influences firms' performance, improving their static and dynamic efficiency levels. A micro-economic analysis of a C!)IDp.etitive electricity industry is conducted in order to test the abov~ assumption. This case study demonstrates that the competitive process ultimately improves thr: integration of knowledge throughout the supply chain, which is used an input to stimulate innovation within firms and exploit new technologies (Murphy, 2002:21). As a result, firms facing competition will try to retaii1 their market position 2 by exploiting all knowledge and exploring all avenues of technological invention, before selecting the best method (Khan: 1998). In addition, this case study illustrates that stimulating dynamic efficiency goes beyond developing and implementing "hardware" (computers, CCGT plants, fuel cells etc). Although technology plays an important role in shaping industrial organisation, it is not the catalyst that drives innovation and change. Rather organisational innovation changes market participants' schemas, breeding new ideas that become the input to create technology. Therefore organisational innovation has profound efficiency consequences (Williamson, 1994: 183). If technological and organisational inncvation is intertwined, then innovation is a complex evolutionary process, which occurs over time. Furthermore innovation cannot occur in a vacuum, but is interconnected, interwoven and interdependent with an industry's physical and institutional context (Perez, 2000). Based on the stylised facts a competitive market provides the institutional context that stimulates innovation, and therefore it might be worth incurring the transactions costs and short-term losses in order to create these opportunities.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Goldstuck, Alison
- Date: 2012-01-24
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) , Competition , Electric power distribution
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1945 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4304
- Description: M.Comm. , South Africa's demand for electricity is expected to outstrip the industry's generation capacity by 2010. If the government wants to avoid this situation, the construction of new plants must commence. At the moment this task has been delayed because the Government is at loggerheads with COSAU and Eskom about restructuring the electricity supply industry. This debate will remain unsolved unless the government can substantiate why exposing the industry to competition will improve its performance. Unfortunately this task is not as simple as it seems. Even though competition is one of the most widely used terms in economics, it still remains an elusive concept. The ambiguity regarding tl1e meaning of competition arises from the failure to divorce the concept of competition from a market structure; as a consequence an operational meaning of what it means to compete \n terms of contemporary business behaviour does not exist. As a result activities associated with industrialisation, such as a changing production function, the development of new products and t~chniqu'::s and business structures are not related to the concept of competition. In order to develop n clear understanding of "what it means to compete", this dissertadon uses a behavioural definition of competition to determine why exposing firms to. competitive pressure improves their performance, reflected in superior static and dynamic efficiency levels. Based on this conceptual framework, Schumpeter' s approach to competition, which emphasises innovation, profits and the entrepreneur as the agent of improvement combined with the idea that it is the uneven development of knowledge that matters in the process of creative destruction", is accepted (Metcalfe & Ramlogan &Uyarra: 2001). Based on the above notion of competition, competitive pressure positively influences firms' performance, improving their static and dynamic efficiency levels. A micro-economic analysis of a C!)IDp.etitive electricity industry is conducted in order to test the abov~ assumption. This case study demonstrates that the competitive process ultimately improves thr: integration of knowledge throughout the supply chain, which is used an input to stimulate innovation within firms and exploit new technologies (Murphy, 2002:21). As a result, firms facing competition will try to retaii1 their market position 2 by exploiting all knowledge and exploring all avenues of technological invention, before selecting the best method (Khan: 1998). In addition, this case study illustrates that stimulating dynamic efficiency goes beyond developing and implementing "hardware" (computers, CCGT plants, fuel cells etc). Although technology plays an important role in shaping industrial organisation, it is not the catalyst that drives innovation and change. Rather organisational innovation changes market participants' schemas, breeding new ideas that become the input to create technology. Therefore organisational innovation has profound efficiency consequences (Williamson, 1994: 183). If technological and organisational inncvation is intertwined, then innovation is a complex evolutionary process, which occurs over time. Furthermore innovation cannot occur in a vacuum, but is interconnected, interwoven and interdependent with an industry's physical and institutional context (Perez, 2000). Based on the stylised facts a competitive market provides the institutional context that stimulates innovation, and therefore it might be worth incurring the transactions costs and short-term losses in order to create these opportunities.
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Improving supply chain competitiveness through the application of technology : a case study on a routing and scheduling system
- Authors: Hollander, Ryan
- Date: 2010-10-25T06:28:29Z
- Subjects: Business logistics , Technological innovation , Business logistics management , Business logistics planning , Competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3443
- Description: M.Comm. , In the last hundred years there has been a technological revolution that has forced people to change the way they live and run their organisations. This technological revolution has had a major impact on the business world. Coyle, Bardi and Langley (2003; 57) have suggested that “the rate of change has accelerated with consequent negative impacts if organisations do not change.” With today’s emphasis on cutting costs, streamlining expenses while at the same time trying to offer a competitive edge with regard to customer service, many organisations are looking to improve their bottom line and financial performance by implementing new technology into their supply chains. A popular way for organisations to speedily reap the benefits of having a more competent and competitive, technology-enabled supply chain, is by outsourcing their supply chain needs to a third party logistics organisations. The Star newspaper reported that, according to Brett Bowes, inefficiencies in the supply chain meant that fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers and retailers were losing R7 billion every year (The Star, 16 March 2007; 2). Although there are many auxiliary benefits and advantages of implementing software systems into the supply chain, the two critical benefits which justify the expense are reduced costs and improved customer service. Implementing technology is a costly, challenging and sometimes risky endeavor. This often results in an unwillingness to change until these organisations outgrow their systems, or the business environment becomes so complex, that they are forced to implement new technology. This hesitancy to introduce new technology timeously could hamper the progress and growth of these organisations, and could also affect their competitiveness in a highly competitive environment. The purpose of this case study is to compare the benefits achieved from existing older technology to new technology, based on a routing and scheduling case study in a large 3PL organisation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hollander, Ryan
- Date: 2010-10-25T06:28:29Z
- Subjects: Business logistics , Technological innovation , Business logistics management , Business logistics planning , Competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3443
- Description: M.Comm. , In the last hundred years there has been a technological revolution that has forced people to change the way they live and run their organisations. This technological revolution has had a major impact on the business world. Coyle, Bardi and Langley (2003; 57) have suggested that “the rate of change has accelerated with consequent negative impacts if organisations do not change.” With today’s emphasis on cutting costs, streamlining expenses while at the same time trying to offer a competitive edge with regard to customer service, many organisations are looking to improve their bottom line and financial performance by implementing new technology into their supply chains. A popular way for organisations to speedily reap the benefits of having a more competent and competitive, technology-enabled supply chain, is by outsourcing their supply chain needs to a third party logistics organisations. The Star newspaper reported that, according to Brett Bowes, inefficiencies in the supply chain meant that fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers and retailers were losing R7 billion every year (The Star, 16 March 2007; 2). Although there are many auxiliary benefits and advantages of implementing software systems into the supply chain, the two critical benefits which justify the expense are reduced costs and improved customer service. Implementing technology is a costly, challenging and sometimes risky endeavor. This often results in an unwillingness to change until these organisations outgrow their systems, or the business environment becomes so complex, that they are forced to implement new technology. This hesitancy to introduce new technology timeously could hamper the progress and growth of these organisations, and could also affect their competitiveness in a highly competitive environment. The purpose of this case study is to compare the benefits achieved from existing older technology to new technology, based on a routing and scheduling case study in a large 3PL organisation.
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Strategic management in the South African gold mining industry : a case study of Sibanye Gold
- Authors: Tsoai, Kgotso Orient
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Strategic planning - South Africa , Gold mines and mining - South Africa - Management , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233604 , uj:23855
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: The South African gold mining industry dominated the global gold mining industry for more than 100 years since the late19th century. The industry has however faced significant challenges since its inception and has undergone a sequence of maturity stages and it is now considered to be in a declining phase. By 2012, South Africa was no longer the world’s largest gold producer, and of the seven great South African gold mining organizations, Anglo-American had abandoned gold, other organizations were swallowed by mergers, take over’s and attrition. Sibanye Gold Ltd (Sibanye) is one of the new entrants in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous South African gold mining environment and it is considered to be profitable and on a growth path. The main objective of this research paper is to understand how Sibanye uses strategic management (strategic formulation, implementation and control) to gain a competitive advantage in the South African gold mining industry. The research objective is achieved by answering two research questions: 1. Why is Sibanye considered to be profitable and on a growth path given the challenges facing the South African gold mining industry. 2. How is the organization utilizing strategic management as a tool to survive? This study utilizes a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand how Sibanye uses strategic management to survive. Adopting a mixed method research strategy may represent a strategy on its own or it may be incorporated within another research strategy as in the case of adopting a case study design. Mixed methods research also mean working with different types of data. This is achieved by presenting and analyzing results of structured questionnaires which utilizes Sibanye’s 40 employees at management level as the sample. The results of the structured questionnaires are compared with Sibanye’s archival documentation and participant observation to validate the research. The motivation for choosing this research design is elaborated in chapter 3. From the research data it can be concluded that Sibanye is performing satisfactorily regarding a variety of factors in its strategic management process; Strategic formulation: This research project established that Sibanye’s vision, mission, strategic goals and its SWOT analysis process are in line with recommendations cited in the literature review...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tsoai, Kgotso Orient
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Strategic planning - South Africa , Gold mines and mining - South Africa - Management , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233604 , uj:23855
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: The South African gold mining industry dominated the global gold mining industry for more than 100 years since the late19th century. The industry has however faced significant challenges since its inception and has undergone a sequence of maturity stages and it is now considered to be in a declining phase. By 2012, South Africa was no longer the world’s largest gold producer, and of the seven great South African gold mining organizations, Anglo-American had abandoned gold, other organizations were swallowed by mergers, take over’s and attrition. Sibanye Gold Ltd (Sibanye) is one of the new entrants in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous South African gold mining environment and it is considered to be profitable and on a growth path. The main objective of this research paper is to understand how Sibanye uses strategic management (strategic formulation, implementation and control) to gain a competitive advantage in the South African gold mining industry. The research objective is achieved by answering two research questions: 1. Why is Sibanye considered to be profitable and on a growth path given the challenges facing the South African gold mining industry. 2. How is the organization utilizing strategic management as a tool to survive? This study utilizes a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand how Sibanye uses strategic management to survive. Adopting a mixed method research strategy may represent a strategy on its own or it may be incorporated within another research strategy as in the case of adopting a case study design. Mixed methods research also mean working with different types of data. This is achieved by presenting and analyzing results of structured questionnaires which utilizes Sibanye’s 40 employees at management level as the sample. The results of the structured questionnaires are compared with Sibanye’s archival documentation and participant observation to validate the research. The motivation for choosing this research design is elaborated in chapter 3. From the research data it can be concluded that Sibanye is performing satisfactorily regarding a variety of factors in its strategic management process; Strategic formulation: This research project established that Sibanye’s vision, mission, strategic goals and its SWOT analysis process are in line with recommendations cited in the literature review...
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Financial product development : a strategically competitive system engineering approach to innovative risk based financial engineering.
- Authors: Piquito, Nicholas Paul
- Date: 2012-08-27
- Subjects: Financial engineering , Risk management , Competition , Benchmarking (Management)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6621
- Description: D.Ing. , It is said that the development of innovative new products is set to become the economic battleground of the twenty-first century. Specifically, the innovative identification, development and subsequent marketing of financial products designed in order to allow organisations to manage their financial risk profiles will assume increased importance as volatility within the global business environment and capital markets increases. The discipline responsible for the development of such financial products, financial engineering, will increase in importance as financial services organisations compete to be the first to satisfy the needs of the market. The ultimate aim of financial engineering, as with any product development process, must be to develop the required product in an optimal manner at a minimised economic life-cycle cost to the organisation. Simultaneously, if correctly applied, the process of financial engineering can be a significant source of competitive advantage to the financial services organisation in an industry characterised by intense competitive pressures and exponentially increasing complexity and volatility. The financial services organisation which is able to successfully combine these two elements will have the capability to position itself as a leader in the identification and development of innovative financial products, a capability critical for success within the financial services industry. The science of engineering has within it a special subset devoted to the optimisation of the process of product development. This discipline, known as system engineering, has been extremely effective in the enhancement of product development processes within a traditional manufacturing environment. Tangible benefits of the application of system engineering include a reduced product development cycle, increased product adherence to client specifications, and a reduction in the economic life-cycle cost of the product. Within this thesis the author suggests that the optimal development of financial products in an increasingly competitive environment requires a two-pronged approach. In the first instance the financial services organisation must choose to develop the product which best promotes the medium to long-term strategic aims of the organisation. This is the concept of strategic fit. In the second instance the financial services organisation must have the capability to develop this product more effectively, and more efficiently, than its competitors. As an implementation mechanism the author develops a Financial Product Development Model based on system engineering principles chosen for their applicability to the process of financial product development. Simultaneously, the author develops a Competitive Strategy Framework, a collection of five strategic elements designed to ensure that the financial product development decision displays a measure of correlation to the strategic aims of the organisation. This Competitive Strategy Framework is implemented within the Financial Product Development Model via the use of a Strategic Circuit Breaker, a concept developed by the author and based on the concept of trading circuit breakers as used on the world's major stock exchanges. The aim of the Financial Product Development Model proposed within this thesis is to enhance the process of financial engineering and in so doing provide the financial services organisation with a means of improving its strategic competitiveness within the financial markets. The proposed Financial Product Development Model is validated via the practical application of the model. The results of this validation indicate that significant benefits may be obtained by correctly implementing the model. In addition the author conducts a limited scope industry survey designed to determine the opinion of financial services professionals to the major concepts underlying the model. The favourable results of this survey indicate that (1) the proposed model is practical and applicable within the financial services industry, and (2) the financial services industry in general is unaware of the importance of the process of product development and the manner in which system engineering can be used to enhance this process. By implication the financial services organisation that is able to differentiate its financial product development process from its competitors stands to achieve a significant competitive advantage.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Piquito, Nicholas Paul
- Date: 2012-08-27
- Subjects: Financial engineering , Risk management , Competition , Benchmarking (Management)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6621
- Description: D.Ing. , It is said that the development of innovative new products is set to become the economic battleground of the twenty-first century. Specifically, the innovative identification, development and subsequent marketing of financial products designed in order to allow organisations to manage their financial risk profiles will assume increased importance as volatility within the global business environment and capital markets increases. The discipline responsible for the development of such financial products, financial engineering, will increase in importance as financial services organisations compete to be the first to satisfy the needs of the market. The ultimate aim of financial engineering, as with any product development process, must be to develop the required product in an optimal manner at a minimised economic life-cycle cost to the organisation. Simultaneously, if correctly applied, the process of financial engineering can be a significant source of competitive advantage to the financial services organisation in an industry characterised by intense competitive pressures and exponentially increasing complexity and volatility. The financial services organisation which is able to successfully combine these two elements will have the capability to position itself as a leader in the identification and development of innovative financial products, a capability critical for success within the financial services industry. The science of engineering has within it a special subset devoted to the optimisation of the process of product development. This discipline, known as system engineering, has been extremely effective in the enhancement of product development processes within a traditional manufacturing environment. Tangible benefits of the application of system engineering include a reduced product development cycle, increased product adherence to client specifications, and a reduction in the economic life-cycle cost of the product. Within this thesis the author suggests that the optimal development of financial products in an increasingly competitive environment requires a two-pronged approach. In the first instance the financial services organisation must choose to develop the product which best promotes the medium to long-term strategic aims of the organisation. This is the concept of strategic fit. In the second instance the financial services organisation must have the capability to develop this product more effectively, and more efficiently, than its competitors. As an implementation mechanism the author develops a Financial Product Development Model based on system engineering principles chosen for their applicability to the process of financial product development. Simultaneously, the author develops a Competitive Strategy Framework, a collection of five strategic elements designed to ensure that the financial product development decision displays a measure of correlation to the strategic aims of the organisation. This Competitive Strategy Framework is implemented within the Financial Product Development Model via the use of a Strategic Circuit Breaker, a concept developed by the author and based on the concept of trading circuit breakers as used on the world's major stock exchanges. The aim of the Financial Product Development Model proposed within this thesis is to enhance the process of financial engineering and in so doing provide the financial services organisation with a means of improving its strategic competitiveness within the financial markets. The proposed Financial Product Development Model is validated via the practical application of the model. The results of this validation indicate that significant benefits may be obtained by correctly implementing the model. In addition the author conducts a limited scope industry survey designed to determine the opinion of financial services professionals to the major concepts underlying the model. The favourable results of this survey indicate that (1) the proposed model is practical and applicable within the financial services industry, and (2) the financial services industry in general is unaware of the importance of the process of product development and the manner in which system engineering can be used to enhance this process. By implication the financial services organisation that is able to differentiate its financial product development process from its competitors stands to achieve a significant competitive advantage.
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The effects of competition on cement prices and the productivity of cement producers in Ethiopia
- Authors: Tefera, Tesfaw Wondimu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Industrial policy , Competition , Cement - Prices , Cement industries
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/272721 , uj:29043
- Description: M.Phil. (Industrial Policy) , Abstract: Cement is a significant product for economic development in Ethiopia as elsewhere, due to it being a key input for infrastructure and construction. A competitive price and sustainable supply of cement are thus very important for growth and development. The cement industry is capital intensive, and requires relatively large-scale production to achieve low production costs. This implies that the industry is concentrated, and that the producers are likely to have market power that they can exploit, including via collusion. Therefore, the nature of competition and its relationship to investment and productivity in the cement industry, as well as the price of cement, are important concerns in a country’s development agenda. This dissertation uses data on the cement industry in Ethiopia, including data from a survey of cement producers, to assess the changing market structure and concentration, and the relationship between competition, productivity, and the cement prices in the country. It finds that the entry of new producers has had a significant in effect in reducing prices and on improving productivity. New producers are more energy efficient; however, some rationalisation is required, with smaller and older producers needing to be closed down and industrial policy assisting in industry restructuring.
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- Authors: Tefera, Tesfaw Wondimu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Industrial policy , Competition , Cement - Prices , Cement industries
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/272721 , uj:29043
- Description: M.Phil. (Industrial Policy) , Abstract: Cement is a significant product for economic development in Ethiopia as elsewhere, due to it being a key input for infrastructure and construction. A competitive price and sustainable supply of cement are thus very important for growth and development. The cement industry is capital intensive, and requires relatively large-scale production to achieve low production costs. This implies that the industry is concentrated, and that the producers are likely to have market power that they can exploit, including via collusion. Therefore, the nature of competition and its relationship to investment and productivity in the cement industry, as well as the price of cement, are important concerns in a country’s development agenda. This dissertation uses data on the cement industry in Ethiopia, including data from a survey of cement producers, to assess the changing market structure and concentration, and the relationship between competition, productivity, and the cement prices in the country. It finds that the entry of new producers has had a significant in effect in reducing prices and on improving productivity. New producers are more energy efficient; however, some rationalisation is required, with smaller and older producers needing to be closed down and industrial policy assisting in industry restructuring.
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Gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage in an optometric practice
- Authors: Alberts, Nicolaas Francois
- Date: 2010-11-09T07:22:11Z
- Subjects: Optometric practice , Competition , Success in business
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:6982 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3489
- Description: M.Comm. , Kotler (1997:53) defines competitive advantage as " ...acompany's ability to perform in one or more ways that competitors cannot or will not match". Companies strive to build sustainable competitive advantages. Those that succeed deliver high customer value and satisfaction, which lead to high repeat purchases and therefore high company profitability. Competitive positioning is important and crucial in the rapid changing environment wherein organisations find themselves. Differentiation of service or product is ofutmost importance to satisfy current clientele and to draw new business. Any organisation unable to differentiate to offer something unique finds itself part of a vast majority of "middle-of-the-road" organisations on the road to nowhere, even ifgeneral quality ofservice and productis acceptable. The study is aimed at developing a model by which a competitive advantage can be gained and sustained in an optometric practice. Different ways of gaining and sustaining competitive advantage is explored through current literature review in order to establish and develop the suggested model. Quantitative research was done in the greater Gauteng region by means of a mail survey to a random sample of optometrists. Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were sent out with a 19,2% response rate. The highest conformity amongst respondents is given to the Employee dimension with the least conformity given towards the Market dimension. Respondents thus value the Employee dimension as the most important factor in gaining competitive advantage. It is suggested that Porter's Value Chain be altered to have Human Resource Management forming the foundation ofthe value adding activities. Human Resource Management thus plays the most important role in adding value as it is utilised as medium through which value is passed on to clients. This view is in contrast with Porter's where Human Resource Management only served as a supporting function.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Alberts, Nicolaas Francois
- Date: 2010-11-09T07:22:11Z
- Subjects: Optometric practice , Competition , Success in business
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:6982 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3489
- Description: M.Comm. , Kotler (1997:53) defines competitive advantage as " ...acompany's ability to perform in one or more ways that competitors cannot or will not match". Companies strive to build sustainable competitive advantages. Those that succeed deliver high customer value and satisfaction, which lead to high repeat purchases and therefore high company profitability. Competitive positioning is important and crucial in the rapid changing environment wherein organisations find themselves. Differentiation of service or product is ofutmost importance to satisfy current clientele and to draw new business. Any organisation unable to differentiate to offer something unique finds itself part of a vast majority of "middle-of-the-road" organisations on the road to nowhere, even ifgeneral quality ofservice and productis acceptable. The study is aimed at developing a model by which a competitive advantage can be gained and sustained in an optometric practice. Different ways of gaining and sustaining competitive advantage is explored through current literature review in order to establish and develop the suggested model. Quantitative research was done in the greater Gauteng region by means of a mail survey to a random sample of optometrists. Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were sent out with a 19,2% response rate. The highest conformity amongst respondents is given to the Employee dimension with the least conformity given towards the Market dimension. Respondents thus value the Employee dimension as the most important factor in gaining competitive advantage. It is suggested that Porter's Value Chain be altered to have Human Resource Management forming the foundation ofthe value adding activities. Human Resource Management thus plays the most important role in adding value as it is utilised as medium through which value is passed on to clients. This view is in contrast with Porter's where Human Resource Management only served as a supporting function.
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Using fourth party logistics outsourcing to manage courier distribution
- Authors: Kiggell, Lance Spencer
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Business logistics - Contracting out , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/268910 , uj:28556
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: As a result of globalisation, manufacturers and retailers are finding increased competition in world markets. Companies have been forced to find innovative ways to maintain competitive advantages. Supply chain management is receiving increased attention as an area providing opportunities for better efficiency and improved customer service, and consequently is seen as a source of both competitive advantage and improved profitability. This worldwide trend in globalisation has led many organisations to outsource their logistics functions and focus on their core competencies. Outsourcing, therefore, has become an important means to improving logistics efficiency overall. This study focuses on the introduction of a fourth party into the logistics outsourcing relationship, specifically with regard to the management of courier distribution. The objective of this study is to determine if the use of a fourth party logistics (4PL) model to manage the courier distribution for a major retailer in South Africa is able to achieve ongoing cost savings. This research entails a case study of Company X (Pty) Ltd, one of the largest non-food retailers in South Africa. Distribution data covering a ten year period was analysed, and the findings extracted were then verified through semi-structured interviews of key personnel involved in the implementation and ongoing management of this contract. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that the use of a 4PL outsourcing partner by Company X to manage courier distribution was able to achieve consistent cost savings over an extended period. In addition, this occurred in an environment of weak economic growth and declining volumes, both of which had a dampening effect on the final savings achieved.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kiggell, Lance Spencer
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Business logistics - Contracting out , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/268910 , uj:28556
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: As a result of globalisation, manufacturers and retailers are finding increased competition in world markets. Companies have been forced to find innovative ways to maintain competitive advantages. Supply chain management is receiving increased attention as an area providing opportunities for better efficiency and improved customer service, and consequently is seen as a source of both competitive advantage and improved profitability. This worldwide trend in globalisation has led many organisations to outsource their logistics functions and focus on their core competencies. Outsourcing, therefore, has become an important means to improving logistics efficiency overall. This study focuses on the introduction of a fourth party into the logistics outsourcing relationship, specifically with regard to the management of courier distribution. The objective of this study is to determine if the use of a fourth party logistics (4PL) model to manage the courier distribution for a major retailer in South Africa is able to achieve ongoing cost savings. This research entails a case study of Company X (Pty) Ltd, one of the largest non-food retailers in South Africa. Distribution data covering a ten year period was analysed, and the findings extracted were then verified through semi-structured interviews of key personnel involved in the implementation and ongoing management of this contract. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that the use of a 4PL outsourcing partner by Company X to manage courier distribution was able to achieve consistent cost savings over an extended period. In addition, this occurred in an environment of weak economic growth and declining volumes, both of which had a dampening effect on the final savings achieved.
- Full Text:
Competitive intelligence skills needed in South Africa
- Authors: Strauss, Alida Cornelia
- Date: 2010-11-09T06:33:55Z
- Subjects: Business intelligence , Strategic planning , Competition , International competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3469
- Description: M.Comm. , South Africa as a country continues to rank low in the world of competitiveness. The research done for this dissertation focused on the need for South African organisations to perceive Competitive Intelligence (CI) as one of the most important tools to improve their competitiveness through a systematic, practical approach to make the CI cycle worth while, especially through skills development. This study intends to identify the skills CI professionals in South Africa need in order to conduct the CI process in organisations effectively, thereby improving the country’s competitive position. However, the difficulty of this task lies with organisations in general not acknowledging the necessity of CI in the workplace. Only a limited number of organisations recognise the importance of such a unit. A survey was therefore conducted, by questionnaire, among organisations with existing CI units in which the respondents had to identify the skills they deemed necessary for the CI professional to run the CI process effectively. Findings suggested that the majority of respondents were 40 years and older, in the top structure of larger organisations and had been using CI for longer than five years. The overwhelming result is thus that there are skills inequalities between what skills respondents view as crucial and those that rated highest in their self-evaluation. Skills identified as most important include, among others, networking and research skills analytical abilities. The research also indicated that where CI had been established in certain organisations for at least five years, it did not reflect positively overall on South Africa’s current competitive situation. However, where there is a systematic CI approach, problem-solving is easier to address and negatives could be turned around. With this in mind and a proper “buy-in” into skills development, it will have a very positive outcome for all the organisations that wish to improve their competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Strauss, Alida Cornelia
- Date: 2010-11-09T06:33:55Z
- Subjects: Business intelligence , Strategic planning , Competition , International competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3469
- Description: M.Comm. , South Africa as a country continues to rank low in the world of competitiveness. The research done for this dissertation focused on the need for South African organisations to perceive Competitive Intelligence (CI) as one of the most important tools to improve their competitiveness through a systematic, practical approach to make the CI cycle worth while, especially through skills development. This study intends to identify the skills CI professionals in South Africa need in order to conduct the CI process in organisations effectively, thereby improving the country’s competitive position. However, the difficulty of this task lies with organisations in general not acknowledging the necessity of CI in the workplace. Only a limited number of organisations recognise the importance of such a unit. A survey was therefore conducted, by questionnaire, among organisations with existing CI units in which the respondents had to identify the skills they deemed necessary for the CI professional to run the CI process effectively. Findings suggested that the majority of respondents were 40 years and older, in the top structure of larger organisations and had been using CI for longer than five years. The overwhelming result is thus that there are skills inequalities between what skills respondents view as crucial and those that rated highest in their self-evaluation. Skills identified as most important include, among others, networking and research skills analytical abilities. The research also indicated that where CI had been established in certain organisations for at least five years, it did not reflect positively overall on South Africa’s current competitive situation. However, where there is a systematic CI approach, problem-solving is easier to address and negatives could be turned around. With this in mind and a proper “buy-in” into skills development, it will have a very positive outcome for all the organisations that wish to improve their competitiveness.
- Full Text:
Establishing knowledge management for competitive advantage in an enterprise
- Authors: Ndlela, Lorna Thembisile
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Competition , Strategic planning
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10184 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7560
- Description: M.Inf. , Enterprises are becoming more dependent on people than ever before and in the twenty first century, an enterprise's survival and success will highly depend on the ability to manage knowledge as a source for competitive advantage. This study is concerned with the establishment of a knowledge management program that will ensure sustainable competitive advantage within the enterprise. The main problem under investigation is to assess the importance of knowledge management within an enterprise and to ascertain how knowledge management can ensure sustained competitive advantage in an enterprise. In the first three chapters of the study a literature survey is done to get a better understanding of what knowledge management is, the importance of corporate culture when implementing a knowledge management program and how knowledge management can be a source for sustainable competitive advantage or business edge. The advancement in information technology has allowed enterprises to leverage people's knowledge onto higher competitive level by improving competencies and processes, reducing mistakes, etc. and the optimal application of knowledge in a knowledge-based environment is playing an ever-increasing role in enterprise success. The second part of the study was an empirical study where a qualitative research was conducted in the Eskom Transmission Group. The aim of the research was to investigate understanding of the knowledge management concept amongst business leaders, determine enablers and barriers to implementing a knowledge management, and to also determine whether knowledge is seen as a source for competitive advantage. Structured interviews were conducted with ten business leaders in the Eskom Transmission Group. The data obtained from the interviews were analysed and interpreted according to the grounded theory. It was found that although knowledge management is old but as a formalised concept in the business environment in South Africa it is new and there is no common definition or understanding of the concept. It is however evident that the need to manage knowledge is understood and its importance to the sustainability of the business. The majority of the respondents agree that people issues are critical to the success of knowledge management in an enterprise, as people own knowledge. It is suggested that enterprises should adopt a holistic and integrated approach when establishing a knowledge management program. The holistic approach together with the framework and guidelines as given in chapter six would afford enterprises the ability to manage and harness their knowledge for sustainable competitive advantage. Broad recommendations for establishing a knowledge management program that will be a source of sustainable competitive advantage are proposed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ndlela, Lorna Thembisile
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Competition , Strategic planning
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10184 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7560
- Description: M.Inf. , Enterprises are becoming more dependent on people than ever before and in the twenty first century, an enterprise's survival and success will highly depend on the ability to manage knowledge as a source for competitive advantage. This study is concerned with the establishment of a knowledge management program that will ensure sustainable competitive advantage within the enterprise. The main problem under investigation is to assess the importance of knowledge management within an enterprise and to ascertain how knowledge management can ensure sustained competitive advantage in an enterprise. In the first three chapters of the study a literature survey is done to get a better understanding of what knowledge management is, the importance of corporate culture when implementing a knowledge management program and how knowledge management can be a source for sustainable competitive advantage or business edge. The advancement in information technology has allowed enterprises to leverage people's knowledge onto higher competitive level by improving competencies and processes, reducing mistakes, etc. and the optimal application of knowledge in a knowledge-based environment is playing an ever-increasing role in enterprise success. The second part of the study was an empirical study where a qualitative research was conducted in the Eskom Transmission Group. The aim of the research was to investigate understanding of the knowledge management concept amongst business leaders, determine enablers and barriers to implementing a knowledge management, and to also determine whether knowledge is seen as a source for competitive advantage. Structured interviews were conducted with ten business leaders in the Eskom Transmission Group. The data obtained from the interviews were analysed and interpreted according to the grounded theory. It was found that although knowledge management is old but as a formalised concept in the business environment in South Africa it is new and there is no common definition or understanding of the concept. It is however evident that the need to manage knowledge is understood and its importance to the sustainability of the business. The majority of the respondents agree that people issues are critical to the success of knowledge management in an enterprise, as people own knowledge. It is suggested that enterprises should adopt a holistic and integrated approach when establishing a knowledge management program. The holistic approach together with the framework and guidelines as given in chapter six would afford enterprises the ability to manage and harness their knowledge for sustainable competitive advantage. Broad recommendations for establishing a knowledge management program that will be a source of sustainable competitive advantage are proposed.
- Full Text:
Strategic alignment in the South African lead industry
- Van der Merwe, Willie Hendrik
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Willie Hendrik
- Date: 2010-10-26T07:22:26Z
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Lead industry and trade , Lead-acid batteries , Competition
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:6944 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3454
- Description: M.Comm. , Lead is one of the oldest metals known to man, and has been used since the earliest civilizations. Lead is a homogenous commodity, manufactured to standard international specifications with little opportunity for product differentiation. The leadacid battery is the largest application for lead in South Africa, and with increased pressure on environmental regulatory legislation and higher performance are there increased pressures and challenges confronting the secondary lead producers, who will have to supply a growing market which demands higher purity lead. The South African lead demand is dominated by the use of lead in lead-acid batteries, and the secondary lead supply is dependent on the recycling of scrap lead. South Africa does not have a national lead strategy to compare an organisations alignment to the strategy; however, in order for an organisation to be aligned in the lead industry, alignment in the industry will require alignment on one or more dimensions, such as the competitive environment, management, organisational structure, supply chain, and manufacturing. Management needs to decide how they will tackle the strategic issues facing their company, within the South African lead industry, which could not only require large amounts of the firms resources, but also affect a companys long-term prosperity. The main concern of this study is therefore to determine strategic aligned in the South African lead industry, as this will influence an organisations ability to sustain their competitive advantage and to create long-term prosperity for all stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Willie Hendrik
- Date: 2010-10-26T07:22:26Z
- Subjects: Strategic planning , Lead industry and trade , Lead-acid batteries , Competition
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:6944 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3454
- Description: M.Comm. , Lead is one of the oldest metals known to man, and has been used since the earliest civilizations. Lead is a homogenous commodity, manufactured to standard international specifications with little opportunity for product differentiation. The leadacid battery is the largest application for lead in South Africa, and with increased pressure on environmental regulatory legislation and higher performance are there increased pressures and challenges confronting the secondary lead producers, who will have to supply a growing market which demands higher purity lead. The South African lead demand is dominated by the use of lead in lead-acid batteries, and the secondary lead supply is dependent on the recycling of scrap lead. South Africa does not have a national lead strategy to compare an organisations alignment to the strategy; however, in order for an organisation to be aligned in the lead industry, alignment in the industry will require alignment on one or more dimensions, such as the competitive environment, management, organisational structure, supply chain, and manufacturing. Management needs to decide how they will tackle the strategic issues facing their company, within the South African lead industry, which could not only require large amounts of the firms resources, but also affect a companys long-term prosperity. The main concern of this study is therefore to determine strategic aligned in the South African lead industry, as this will influence an organisations ability to sustain their competitive advantage and to create long-term prosperity for all stakeholders.
- Full Text:
Competing over Ministers of religion as illustrated in P.T. Mtuze's Indelel'Ecand' Intlango
- Authors: Mtumane, Zilibele
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Competition , Indelel'Ecand' Intlango , Ministers of religion
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/244626 , uj:25299 , Citation: Mtumane, Z. 2017. Competing over Ministers of religion as illustrated in P.T. Mtuze's Indelel'Ecand' Intlango.
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Mtumane, Zilibele
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Competition , Indelel'Ecand' Intlango , Ministers of religion
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/244626 , uj:25299 , Citation: Mtumane, Z. 2017. Competing over Ministers of religion as illustrated in P.T. Mtuze's Indelel'Ecand' Intlango.
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text: false
Challenging anti-competitive behaviour by SMEs in the South African manufacturing sector
- Authors: Kupka, Julia Elisabeth
- Date: 2012-10-30
- Subjects: Competition , South Africa. Competition Act, 1998 , Small business - Government policy
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:10485 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7982
- Description: M.Comm. , The South African Competition Act (Republic of South Africa, 1998) has had little impact in diluting the dominance of big business in the agri-food and steel value chains despite being in existence for over ten years. It is in this context that the study seeks to create a picture of the impact of anti-competitive behaviour on SME manufacturers in these value chains and, from this, to determine whether the Competition authorities should focus specifically on supporting SMEs as competitors. The study adopted an inductive approach and fell within the positivist research philosophy. The research methodology was based on work undertaken internationally to create a database of evidence of anti-competitive behaviour from newspaper reports. This research methodology was qualitative in nature in so far as content analysis was used to analyse the data, being English language newspaper reports and Competition Commission press releases. The findings showed that anti-competitive practices that were engendered during Apartheid have continued into the modern South African agri-food and steel value chains, despite state support and regulation in these value chains having ceased. Anti-competitive behaviour in these value chains has not targetted SMEs specifically; it has also increased the costs of doing business and foreclosed opportunities for bigger businesses. However, SMEs do face unique difficulties in fighting cases of anti-competitive behaviour. The study concludes there is considerable scope for the Competition authorities to facilitate the participation of SMEs in the economy without having a specific focus on SMEs. They can do this by using tools such as market inquiries, the Corporate Leniency Policy and structural remedies. However, these tools are still relatively new and, accordingly, it is not yet possible to assess the efficacy of the Competition authorities in creating a more supportive market structure for SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kupka, Julia Elisabeth
- Date: 2012-10-30
- Subjects: Competition , South Africa. Competition Act, 1998 , Small business - Government policy
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:10485 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7982
- Description: M.Comm. , The South African Competition Act (Republic of South Africa, 1998) has had little impact in diluting the dominance of big business in the agri-food and steel value chains despite being in existence for over ten years. It is in this context that the study seeks to create a picture of the impact of anti-competitive behaviour on SME manufacturers in these value chains and, from this, to determine whether the Competition authorities should focus specifically on supporting SMEs as competitors. The study adopted an inductive approach and fell within the positivist research philosophy. The research methodology was based on work undertaken internationally to create a database of evidence of anti-competitive behaviour from newspaper reports. This research methodology was qualitative in nature in so far as content analysis was used to analyse the data, being English language newspaper reports and Competition Commission press releases. The findings showed that anti-competitive practices that were engendered during Apartheid have continued into the modern South African agri-food and steel value chains, despite state support and regulation in these value chains having ceased. Anti-competitive behaviour in these value chains has not targetted SMEs specifically; it has also increased the costs of doing business and foreclosed opportunities for bigger businesses. However, SMEs do face unique difficulties in fighting cases of anti-competitive behaviour. The study concludes there is considerable scope for the Competition authorities to facilitate the participation of SMEs in the economy without having a specific focus on SMEs. They can do this by using tools such as market inquiries, the Corporate Leniency Policy and structural remedies. However, these tools are still relatively new and, accordingly, it is not yet possible to assess the efficacy of the Competition authorities in creating a more supportive market structure for SMEs.
- Full Text:
Using competitive intelligence in determining potential competitor strategies
- Authors: Du Bruyn, Heyns
- Date: 2011-11-30
- Subjects: Business intelligence , Competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1759 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4113
- Description: M.Comm. , It is critical for companies in today's competitive business environment to understand the impact and influence competitors and the external environment have on the success of their strategies and competitive advantage. Business must therefore comprehend how the strategies of competitors and forces of the external environment may affect the competitive advantage of the business. Businesses require actionable intelligence to enable them to monitor, analyse and determine the impact from external environmental forces and actions from competitors. Businesses have to develop appropriate strategies to achieve competitive advantage over competitors in their industry. The question which this study addresses, is whether businesses are able to monitor the strategies and influences from the external environment effectively. This is needed to gain a competitive advantage, and is accomplished by producing actionable intelligence utilising the competitive intelligence cycle. The purpose of the study is to determine how a business can utilise competitive intelligence in order to determine the potential strategies of competitors. To achieve these objectives, a literature study was completed on the subject matter. This study has established that the competitive intelligence function consists of tour distinct phases. Phase one determines the intelligence requirements of the end users of the intelligence. Phase two involves the collection of information. Phase three involves the analysis of the information in order to produce intelligence. Phase four disseminates the intelligence to the end users (those who requested the intelligence). Each of the four phases of the competitive intelligence cycle have been examined and discussed. Special reference and attention has been paid to the analytical techniques and tools - phase three - that id used to produce actionable intelligence.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Du Bruyn, Heyns
- Date: 2011-11-30
- Subjects: Business intelligence , Competition
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1759 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4113
- Description: M.Comm. , It is critical for companies in today's competitive business environment to understand the impact and influence competitors and the external environment have on the success of their strategies and competitive advantage. Business must therefore comprehend how the strategies of competitors and forces of the external environment may affect the competitive advantage of the business. Businesses require actionable intelligence to enable them to monitor, analyse and determine the impact from external environmental forces and actions from competitors. Businesses have to develop appropriate strategies to achieve competitive advantage over competitors in their industry. The question which this study addresses, is whether businesses are able to monitor the strategies and influences from the external environment effectively. This is needed to gain a competitive advantage, and is accomplished by producing actionable intelligence utilising the competitive intelligence cycle. The purpose of the study is to determine how a business can utilise competitive intelligence in order to determine the potential strategies of competitors. To achieve these objectives, a literature study was completed on the subject matter. This study has established that the competitive intelligence function consists of tour distinct phases. Phase one determines the intelligence requirements of the end users of the intelligence. Phase two involves the collection of information. Phase three involves the analysis of the information in order to produce intelligence. Phase four disseminates the intelligence to the end users (those who requested the intelligence). Each of the four phases of the competitive intelligence cycle have been examined and discussed. Special reference and attention has been paid to the analytical techniques and tools - phase three - that id used to produce actionable intelligence.
- Full Text:
The internationalisation of supermarkets and the nature of competitive rivalry in retailing in southern Africa
- Authors: das Nair, Reena
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Internationalisation , Supermarkets , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/251082 , uj:26176 , Citation: das Nair, R. 2018. The internationalisation of supermarkets and the nature of competitive rivalry in retailing in southern Africa. Development Southern Africa, 35:3, 315-333, DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2017.1390440
- Description: Abstract: In the past two decades, southern African countries have experienced rapid growth and spread of supermarket chains. This paper assesses the internationalisation of supermarkets and potential reasons for the uneven outcomes seen in different countries in the region. Several factors account for the spread, including rising urbanisation, increasing per capita income, greater economies of scale and scope and more efficient procurement and distribution systems. However, the current literature does not adequately consider the importance of culture, proximity to suppliers and impact of policy objectives of national governments on the success of supermarkets in host countries, especially in developing countries. It also does not consider the nature of competitive rivalry between supermarkets and how this affects internationalisation. This paper highlights the importance of these factors in understanding the outcomes in selected southern African countries.
- Full Text:
- Authors: das Nair, Reena
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Internationalisation , Supermarkets , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/251082 , uj:26176 , Citation: das Nair, R. 2018. The internationalisation of supermarkets and the nature of competitive rivalry in retailing in southern Africa. Development Southern Africa, 35:3, 315-333, DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2017.1390440
- Description: Abstract: In the past two decades, southern African countries have experienced rapid growth and spread of supermarket chains. This paper assesses the internationalisation of supermarkets and potential reasons for the uneven outcomes seen in different countries in the region. Several factors account for the spread, including rising urbanisation, increasing per capita income, greater economies of scale and scope and more efficient procurement and distribution systems. However, the current literature does not adequately consider the importance of culture, proximity to suppliers and impact of policy objectives of national governments on the success of supermarkets in host countries, especially in developing countries. It also does not consider the nature of competitive rivalry between supermarkets and how this affects internationalisation. This paper highlights the importance of these factors in understanding the outcomes in selected southern African countries.
- Full Text:
Team development - applicability of the efficiencies and effectiveness of team development
- Mbohwa, Charles, Edward, Leona, Nicole
- Authors: Mbohwa, Charles , Edward, Leona, Nicole
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness , Organizational change , Competition , Teams in the workplace
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:6165 , ISBN 978-93-82242-26-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13769
- Description: Organizations are under constant pressure due to the rapid changes in the external environment. Therefore, organizations are continuously striving to sustain their competitive advantage. Within the banking industry, being innovative is inadequate to support the company’s competitive advantage. No sooner Bank A introduces an innovative service offering, Bank B and C soon replicates this offering to satisfy and to retain their customers. Sustainable excellent service delivery is an imperative within this industry. Therefore, the focus of this study looks into team development to enhance productivity to achieve the organization’s objectives.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mbohwa, Charles , Edward, Leona, Nicole
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness , Organizational change , Competition , Teams in the workplace
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:6165 , ISBN 978-93-82242-26-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13769
- Description: Organizations are under constant pressure due to the rapid changes in the external environment. Therefore, organizations are continuously striving to sustain their competitive advantage. Within the banking industry, being innovative is inadequate to support the company’s competitive advantage. No sooner Bank A introduces an innovative service offering, Bank B and C soon replicates this offering to satisfy and to retain their customers. Sustainable excellent service delivery is an imperative within this industry. Therefore, the focus of this study looks into team development to enhance productivity to achieve the organization’s objectives.
- Full Text:
Evaluation of decision methods for research and development projects
- Authors: Tras, Ahmet Mete
- Date: 2012-09-11
- Subjects: Engineering firms , Competition , Engineering - Management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10035 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7424
- Description: M.Ing. , This study proposed to evaluate decision methods for R&D projects to assist managers to choose the appropriate type of model for their organization. In order to enhance the understanding of selection of R&D projects, general characteristics of project selection models have been explained with their advantages and disadvantages. For this purpose, model groups, criteria for models and usage of models have been addressed in detail. For better understanding of project selection models, the general characteristics of R&D projects, which are uncertainty, sequentiality and project interactions have been explained. It has been found by literature survey that the most used models are scoring models, economic models and optimization models. Among these models scoring models have more advantages than the others. However, there is not a perfect model for all types of projects and organizations. The criteria for selection of projects and models have been introduced. It has been found that criteria for selection of projects differ according to the type of projects under consideration, to the managers' view of project selection and to the size of the organizations. Research projects are often selected by using scoring models, which allow subjective estimation. On the other hand development or new product projects are selected mostly by using economic models. It has also been found that realism, flexibility, cost, ease of use, and capability were the most accepted criteria for selection of models. In order to make the discussed subjects clearer the project selection practice of Premet R&D has been explained in a step by step fashion. The model used by Premet R&D in the project selection process has also been addressed. Premet R&D's model has been compared with other models and weighted factor scoring model, which is a better version of their model, has been recommended for Premet R&D.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tras, Ahmet Mete
- Date: 2012-09-11
- Subjects: Engineering firms , Competition , Engineering - Management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10035 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7424
- Description: M.Ing. , This study proposed to evaluate decision methods for R&D projects to assist managers to choose the appropriate type of model for their organization. In order to enhance the understanding of selection of R&D projects, general characteristics of project selection models have been explained with their advantages and disadvantages. For this purpose, model groups, criteria for models and usage of models have been addressed in detail. For better understanding of project selection models, the general characteristics of R&D projects, which are uncertainty, sequentiality and project interactions have been explained. It has been found by literature survey that the most used models are scoring models, economic models and optimization models. Among these models scoring models have more advantages than the others. However, there is not a perfect model for all types of projects and organizations. The criteria for selection of projects and models have been introduced. It has been found that criteria for selection of projects differ according to the type of projects under consideration, to the managers' view of project selection and to the size of the organizations. Research projects are often selected by using scoring models, which allow subjective estimation. On the other hand development or new product projects are selected mostly by using economic models. It has also been found that realism, flexibility, cost, ease of use, and capability were the most accepted criteria for selection of models. In order to make the discussed subjects clearer the project selection practice of Premet R&D has been explained in a step by step fashion. The model used by Premet R&D in the project selection process has also been addressed. Premet R&D's model has been compared with other models and weighted factor scoring model, which is a better version of their model, has been recommended for Premet R&D.
- Full Text:
The role of strategic leadership in facilitating sustainable competitive advantage
- Authors: Maree, Suzaan
- Date: 2012-06-05
- Subjects: Leadership , Special events marketing , Competition , Strategic planning , Communication in marketing
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2393 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4847
- Description: M. Comm. , The primary purpose of this study was to consider the components of each pillar of competitive advantage, how leadership influences each pillar and to determine whether this in turn influences customer satisfaction and/or sustainable competitive advantage leading to the survival of the organisation. The literature review was used to accomplish the secondary objectives of discussing strategy, strategic leadership, sustainable competitive advantage and its pillars. The literature review was also used to model the interconnected relationships present in the industry. An overview of the event management industry was provided by means of the research that was conducted.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Maree, Suzaan
- Date: 2012-06-05
- Subjects: Leadership , Special events marketing , Competition , Strategic planning , Communication in marketing
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2393 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4847
- Description: M. Comm. , The primary purpose of this study was to consider the components of each pillar of competitive advantage, how leadership influences each pillar and to determine whether this in turn influences customer satisfaction and/or sustainable competitive advantage leading to the survival of the organisation. The literature review was used to accomplish the secondary objectives of discussing strategy, strategic leadership, sustainable competitive advantage and its pillars. The literature review was also used to model the interconnected relationships present in the industry. An overview of the event management industry was provided by means of the research that was conducted.
- Full Text:
The internationalisation of supermarkets, the nature of competitive rivalry between grocery retailers and the implications for local suppliers in Southern Africa
- Authors: Das Nair, Reena
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Retail trade , Competition , Supermarkets
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/402734 , uj:33718
- Description: Abstract : The growth and spread of supermarket chains globally has transformed how consumers purchase groceries and household consumable products and how these supply chains have developed. This thesis analyses the spread of supermarket chains in Southern Africa, with a specific focus on South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It analyses how the internationalisation of supermarket chains in these countries has affected, and is affected by, competition dynamics and what the implications on suppliers are. This study is among the first to assess these topics in Southern Africa, particularly the implications on the competitive landscape and the effects of market power of supermarket chains on rivals and suppliers. The thesis draws on a critical review of the literature on industrial organisation-based theories of foreign investment and Ownership-Location-Internalisation (OLI) principles to understand the patterns of supermarketisation and internationalisation in the region. It identifies the significance of national policies, political economy dynamics, proximity to suppliers and firmspecific strategies related to market power in understanding the spread of supermarkets. A key finding is that internationalisation has not been to the extent that the literature predicted, including the entry and growth of transnational retailers in Southern Africa. What is seen instead is the ‘regionalisation’ of South African supermarket chains, essentially extending their home networks and oligopolistic rivalry into the region. The thesis also identifies the resilience of alternative forms of retail through buying group-led independent retailers in South Africa, alongside supermarketisation that started in the apartheid period. The complexities of how supermarket chains compete and how market power is exerted affects their spread. The study examines the impact of market power of supermarket chains, showing that competition needs to be understood narrowly by format and segment in very localised markets, possibly limited to a shopping mall in the South African context. Importantly, the analysis reveals the shortcomings of viewing competition through just a price lens and highlights the importance of understanding non-price dimensions of competition, given the characteristics of supermarkets and the way in which the positioning of supermarkets changes over time. This requires a more dynamic perspective. Through extensive firm-level and organisation interviews in each country, the thesis evaluates the impact on suppliers through a combination of a global value chains framework and industrial organisation principles of competition in markets. The forms in which buyer power is exerted in Southern Africa and the impact that this and other requirements has on regional supplier development is evaluated. It finds that supermarket chains are important in driving the upgrading of supplier capabilities to meet these requirements by providing access to wider ii markets, facilitating their climb up a regional or global value chain ‘ladder’. The study however also finds strong concerns of buyer power imposed through the trading terms negotiated with suppliers. As gatekeepers to store networks in the region, supermarkets offer suppliers the opportunity to access more consumers. However, unequal bargaining power leads to rents extraction from value chains by supermarkets, negatively affecting supplier participation and upgrading. The thesis shows that these topics are complex and inter-related, requiring multiple lenses to analyse them. Supermarketisation and internationalisation affect the structure of markets and the competitive landscape, while the degree of competitive rivalry and market power in turn impacts the pace of supermarketisation and internationalisation. Similarly, the market power of supermarket chains has a significant impact on suppliers, while the ability of supermarkets to grow into new markets hinges on the proximity and links to well-established supplier networks. , D.Phil. (Economics)
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- Authors: Das Nair, Reena
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Retail trade , Competition , Supermarkets
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/402734 , uj:33718
- Description: Abstract : The growth and spread of supermarket chains globally has transformed how consumers purchase groceries and household consumable products and how these supply chains have developed. This thesis analyses the spread of supermarket chains in Southern Africa, with a specific focus on South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It analyses how the internationalisation of supermarket chains in these countries has affected, and is affected by, competition dynamics and what the implications on suppliers are. This study is among the first to assess these topics in Southern Africa, particularly the implications on the competitive landscape and the effects of market power of supermarket chains on rivals and suppliers. The thesis draws on a critical review of the literature on industrial organisation-based theories of foreign investment and Ownership-Location-Internalisation (OLI) principles to understand the patterns of supermarketisation and internationalisation in the region. It identifies the significance of national policies, political economy dynamics, proximity to suppliers and firmspecific strategies related to market power in understanding the spread of supermarkets. A key finding is that internationalisation has not been to the extent that the literature predicted, including the entry and growth of transnational retailers in Southern Africa. What is seen instead is the ‘regionalisation’ of South African supermarket chains, essentially extending their home networks and oligopolistic rivalry into the region. The thesis also identifies the resilience of alternative forms of retail through buying group-led independent retailers in South Africa, alongside supermarketisation that started in the apartheid period. The complexities of how supermarket chains compete and how market power is exerted affects their spread. The study examines the impact of market power of supermarket chains, showing that competition needs to be understood narrowly by format and segment in very localised markets, possibly limited to a shopping mall in the South African context. Importantly, the analysis reveals the shortcomings of viewing competition through just a price lens and highlights the importance of understanding non-price dimensions of competition, given the characteristics of supermarkets and the way in which the positioning of supermarkets changes over time. This requires a more dynamic perspective. Through extensive firm-level and organisation interviews in each country, the thesis evaluates the impact on suppliers through a combination of a global value chains framework and industrial organisation principles of competition in markets. The forms in which buyer power is exerted in Southern Africa and the impact that this and other requirements has on regional supplier development is evaluated. It finds that supermarket chains are important in driving the upgrading of supplier capabilities to meet these requirements by providing access to wider ii markets, facilitating their climb up a regional or global value chain ‘ladder’. The study however also finds strong concerns of buyer power imposed through the trading terms negotiated with suppliers. As gatekeepers to store networks in the region, supermarkets offer suppliers the opportunity to access more consumers. However, unequal bargaining power leads to rents extraction from value chains by supermarkets, negatively affecting supplier participation and upgrading. The thesis shows that these topics are complex and inter-related, requiring multiple lenses to analyse them. Supermarketisation and internationalisation affect the structure of markets and the competitive landscape, while the degree of competitive rivalry and market power in turn impacts the pace of supermarketisation and internationalisation. Similarly, the market power of supermarket chains has a significant impact on suppliers, while the ability of supermarkets to grow into new markets hinges on the proximity and links to well-established supplier networks. , D.Phil. (Economics)
- Full Text: