Is country branding a panacea or poison?
- Mugobo, Virimai V., Ukpere, Wilfred I.
- Authors: Mugobo, Virimai V. , Ukpere, Wilfred I.
- Date: 2011-09
- Subjects: Competitiveness , Globalisation , Nation branding , Branding (Marketing) , Country branding
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5776 , ISSN 993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7783
- Description: The momentum towards complete globalisation advocated by proponents of the benefits of one big business village as the answer to the suffering of third world countries, has now been slowed down by the uncertainty resultant from the hitherto unprecedented global meltdown. With the coughing of America, the whole world seems to be catapulting into one big mess due to the global economic quagmire. Consequently, there is a global scramble for the limited and constantly contracting financial and market resources. Third world countries, rich in natural resources but insignificant global players, have been relegated to perpetual recipients of aid, finished products and obsolete or second rate technology. Despite having 53 countries, Africa is painted en bloc as a “dark continent” dogged by civil wars, disease, poverty and famine. This “bad continent” image thus affects all African countries including those that are fairly stable such as South Africa, Botswana, and Egypt. This scenario necessitates country differentiation through individualised or regionalised country branding.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mugobo, Virimai V. , Ukpere, Wilfred I.
- Date: 2011-09
- Subjects: Competitiveness , Globalisation , Nation branding , Branding (Marketing) , Country branding
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5776 , ISSN 993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7783
- Description: The momentum towards complete globalisation advocated by proponents of the benefits of one big business village as the answer to the suffering of third world countries, has now been slowed down by the uncertainty resultant from the hitherto unprecedented global meltdown. With the coughing of America, the whole world seems to be catapulting into one big mess due to the global economic quagmire. Consequently, there is a global scramble for the limited and constantly contracting financial and market resources. Third world countries, rich in natural resources but insignificant global players, have been relegated to perpetual recipients of aid, finished products and obsolete or second rate technology. Despite having 53 countries, Africa is painted en bloc as a “dark continent” dogged by civil wars, disease, poverty and famine. This “bad continent” image thus affects all African countries including those that are fairly stable such as South Africa, Botswana, and Egypt. This scenario necessitates country differentiation through individualised or regionalised country branding.
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The influence of interorganisational relationships on the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises
- Authors: Rensburg, Sizeka Monica
- Date: 2013-05-01
- Subjects: Small business - Management , Competitiveness , Business networks , Strategic alliances (Business)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8355
- Description: Ph.D. (Business Management) , This study is premised on the recognition that small and medium enterprises have a potential to significantly contribute to national economies through job creation, economic growth and innovation. However they have limitations with regard to resources that are required to achieve a competitive advantage, a prerequisite to survive and be successful in the globalised economy that is epitomised by intense competition. The potential that these enterprises hold can only be realised when they can compete effectively in the globalised market. The literature review conducted identified that there are a number of resources and capabilities that enterprises require to achieve a competitive advantage. There are however specific resources and capabilities that are pertinent to achieving and retaining competitive advantage under the prevailing intense competition emanating from the globalisation process. These are technology know-how, finance, human resources and leadership capabilities, the independent variables in this study. Given the resource limitations experienced by small and medium enterprises, literature reviewed further indicated that interorganisational relationships can be a source for resource gaps experienced by enterprises. In particular the relationships with large enterprises are considered to be an effective platform for accessing resources and capabilities by small and medium enterprises. However, it is recognised in literature that the identified resources and capabilities must enable small and medium enterprises to innovate, produce quality products and/or services, be efficient and effectively respond to customers if competitive advantage is to be achieved. In this study innovation, quality, efficiency and customer responsiveness were identified as mediating variables. In view of the problem identified above, that is achieving and maintaining competitive advantage in the globalised economy by small and medium enterprises, the primary objective of this study is to establish how interorganisational relationships with large enterprises influence the competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises. Competitive advantage is the dependent variable in this study and was measured in terms of cost reduction and unique and/or improved products and/or services.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rensburg, Sizeka Monica
- Date: 2013-05-01
- Subjects: Small business - Management , Competitiveness , Business networks , Strategic alliances (Business)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8355
- Description: Ph.D. (Business Management) , This study is premised on the recognition that small and medium enterprises have a potential to significantly contribute to national economies through job creation, economic growth and innovation. However they have limitations with regard to resources that are required to achieve a competitive advantage, a prerequisite to survive and be successful in the globalised economy that is epitomised by intense competition. The potential that these enterprises hold can only be realised when they can compete effectively in the globalised market. The literature review conducted identified that there are a number of resources and capabilities that enterprises require to achieve a competitive advantage. There are however specific resources and capabilities that are pertinent to achieving and retaining competitive advantage under the prevailing intense competition emanating from the globalisation process. These are technology know-how, finance, human resources and leadership capabilities, the independent variables in this study. Given the resource limitations experienced by small and medium enterprises, literature reviewed further indicated that interorganisational relationships can be a source for resource gaps experienced by enterprises. In particular the relationships with large enterprises are considered to be an effective platform for accessing resources and capabilities by small and medium enterprises. However, it is recognised in literature that the identified resources and capabilities must enable small and medium enterprises to innovate, produce quality products and/or services, be efficient and effectively respond to customers if competitive advantage is to be achieved. In this study innovation, quality, efficiency and customer responsiveness were identified as mediating variables. In view of the problem identified above, that is achieving and maintaining competitive advantage in the globalised economy by small and medium enterprises, the primary objective of this study is to establish how interorganisational relationships with large enterprises influence the competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises. Competitive advantage is the dependent variable in this study and was measured in terms of cost reduction and unique and/or improved products and/or services.
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Enhancing competitiveness and enterprise development needs through entrepreneurial skills training for SMEs in the South African Motor Body Repair sector
- Muyengwa, G., Battle, K., Mbohwa, Charles
- Authors: Muyengwa, G. , Battle, K. , Mbohwa, Charles
- Date: 2011-11-20
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship - Study and teaching , Auto-body repair shops , Competitiveness
- Identifier: uj:5190 , ISBN 978-0-620-52121-5 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14433
- Description: The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of entrepreneurship education as a leverage tool in enhancing both competitiveness and enterprise development within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Motor Body Repair (MBR) sector of the South African automotive industry. An exploratory survey was carried out to ascertain enterprise development needs and competitiveness requirements of these SMEs. The research established that curricula followed in auto body repair training do not consider entrepreneurship education as an important aspect. Major focus of auto body repair training is on repair and replacing of motor vehicle bodywork that would have been damaged in an accident or have suffered from vandalism. The research in addition, established that enterprise development is affected by poor infrastructure, lack of funding, use of poor and old equipment and limited access to markets. Competitive requirements noted were the need for certified multi-skilling training offered by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on new vehicle maintenance technologies, acquisition of recommended repair equipment from Original Equipment Suppliers (OES) and the need to integrate entrepreneurship education in the auto body repair curricula. The implications of entrepreneurship education in the auto body repair curriculum would enhance efficient business and financial management, creativity, innovativeness, marketing and job creation opportunities in the MBR sector. For educators’ entrepreneurship education in engineering would prepare students for the ever changing labour markets and encourage them to create new enterprises of their own rather than being perpetual job seekers.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Muyengwa, G. , Battle, K. , Mbohwa, Charles
- Date: 2011-11-20
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship - Study and teaching , Auto-body repair shops , Competitiveness
- Identifier: uj:5190 , ISBN 978-0-620-52121-5 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14433
- Description: The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of entrepreneurship education as a leverage tool in enhancing both competitiveness and enterprise development within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Motor Body Repair (MBR) sector of the South African automotive industry. An exploratory survey was carried out to ascertain enterprise development needs and competitiveness requirements of these SMEs. The research established that curricula followed in auto body repair training do not consider entrepreneurship education as an important aspect. Major focus of auto body repair training is on repair and replacing of motor vehicle bodywork that would have been damaged in an accident or have suffered from vandalism. The research in addition, established that enterprise development is affected by poor infrastructure, lack of funding, use of poor and old equipment and limited access to markets. Competitive requirements noted were the need for certified multi-skilling training offered by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on new vehicle maintenance technologies, acquisition of recommended repair equipment from Original Equipment Suppliers (OES) and the need to integrate entrepreneurship education in the auto body repair curricula. The implications of entrepreneurship education in the auto body repair curriculum would enhance efficient business and financial management, creativity, innovativeness, marketing and job creation opportunities in the MBR sector. For educators’ entrepreneurship education in engineering would prepare students for the ever changing labour markets and encourage them to create new enterprises of their own rather than being perpetual job seekers.
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Application of total quality management (TQM) and statistical process control (SPC) in improving business competitiveness for manufacturing organizations
- Madanhire, Ignatio, Mbohwa, Charles
- Authors: Madanhire, Ignatio , Mbohwa, Charles
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Competitiveness , Total quality management , Manufacturing industries - Zimbabwe , Statistical process control
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4884 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12598
- Description: The success of TQM and SPC as a boost to business competitiveness has had its own share of controversies. Many organizations all over the world have embarked on the TQM journey, with their process under statistical control, to achieve increased competitiveness, some recorded success while others regretted ever embarking on such a journey. The purpose of this research study is to determine if the myth of TQM and SPC in enhancing business competitiveness is true for Zimbabwean manufacturing organizations.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Madanhire, Ignatio , Mbohwa, Charles
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Competitiveness , Total quality management , Manufacturing industries - Zimbabwe , Statistical process control
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4884 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12598
- Description: The success of TQM and SPC as a boost to business competitiveness has had its own share of controversies. Many organizations all over the world have embarked on the TQM journey, with their process under statistical control, to achieve increased competitiveness, some recorded success while others regretted ever embarking on such a journey. The purpose of this research study is to determine if the myth of TQM and SPC in enhancing business competitiveness is true for Zimbabwean manufacturing organizations.
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Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa : historical evidence from Malawi
- Magombo, Alice, Rogerson, Christian M., Rogerson, Jayne M.
- Authors: Magombo, Alice , Rogerson, Christian M. , Rogerson, Jayne M.
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Tourism geography , Accommodation services , Competitiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/244485 , uj:25281 , Citation: Magombo, A., Rogerson, C.M. and Rogerson, J.M., 2017: Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical evidence from Malawi. In: Biegańska, J. and Szymańska, D. editors, Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, No. 38, Toruń: Nicolaus Copernicus University, pp. 73–92. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bog-2017-0035
- Description: Abstract: The accommodation services sector is a vital underpinning of the competitiveness of destinations in especially emerging tourism regions of the global economy. Within the environment of Africa building the competitiveness of countries as tourism destinations is inseparable from the challenge of establishing a network of different forms of accommodation at competitive prices and internationally acceptable quality standards. This paper uses a longitudinal approach to analyse the development of the accommodation services sector in one African country – Malawi – which is scaling up its tourism industry. Using historical evidence the objective is to examine the unfolding evolution of accommodation services as a factor in enhancing tourism destination competitiveness. The chequered pathway followed in Malawi to building the country’s network of hotels and small-scale accommodation establishments is traced from the colonial period to post-independence developments. It is argued that in understanding the historical evolution of accommodation services policy re-orientations have been significant drivers of change.
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- Authors: Magombo, Alice , Rogerson, Christian M. , Rogerson, Jayne M.
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Tourism geography , Accommodation services , Competitiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/244485 , uj:25281 , Citation: Magombo, A., Rogerson, C.M. and Rogerson, J.M., 2017: Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical evidence from Malawi. In: Biegańska, J. and Szymańska, D. editors, Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, No. 38, Toruń: Nicolaus Copernicus University, pp. 73–92. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bog-2017-0035
- Description: Abstract: The accommodation services sector is a vital underpinning of the competitiveness of destinations in especially emerging tourism regions of the global economy. Within the environment of Africa building the competitiveness of countries as tourism destinations is inseparable from the challenge of establishing a network of different forms of accommodation at competitive prices and internationally acceptable quality standards. This paper uses a longitudinal approach to analyse the development of the accommodation services sector in one African country – Malawi – which is scaling up its tourism industry. Using historical evidence the objective is to examine the unfolding evolution of accommodation services as a factor in enhancing tourism destination competitiveness. The chequered pathway followed in Malawi to building the country’s network of hotels and small-scale accommodation establishments is traced from the colonial period to post-independence developments. It is argued that in understanding the historical evolution of accommodation services policy re-orientations have been significant drivers of change.
- Full Text:
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