Graduate School of Business and Leadership

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A study into prospective changes in consumer behaviour and buying patterns of graduate millennials due to COVID-19 in South Africa.
(2021) Lakman, Ushir.; Pelser, Theunis Gert.
The purpose this study is to determine the prospective changes in consumer behaviour and buying patterns of graduate millennials post COVID 19 in South Africa. To this end, a quantitative research project has been undertaken. Primary data was collected via a survey. Several theories were discussed such as consumer behaviour models, the buy decision process and dynamic consumer journey to gain a better understanding of the research that was conducted. Additionally, technology adoption models such as the TRA, TPB, TAM, ETAM and in particular MOCA is discusses as the study is seeking to determine behavioural movement toward online purchasing because of the pandemic. Research was conducted on the pandemic as well as the economy of South Africa as these are important consideration when conducting a study on consumer behaviour. This study seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge on technology adoption and consumer behaviour, particularly to determine whether the switch to online purchases during the pandemic is a permanent development or just as a result of consumers being forced to due to the pandemic. These findings may prove valuable to retailers and developers. It could provide a new lens with which to inform their marketing decision as well as development plans for the future.
An assessment of employee perception on the procurement process of a Southern African sugar company.
(2024) Gopal, Naveshan.; Chasomeris, Mihalis Georgiou.
In today's business landscape, competition is fierce, and procurement is a critical component of any organisation's success. Efficient and cost-effective procurement of goods and services, along with streamlined procurement processes, are crucial in helping businesses gain a competitive edge. However, the success of any procurement process depends not only on its technical aspects but also on how the people involved perceive and experience the process. Therefore, to gain valuable insights into the procurement practices of a Southern African sugar company, this study aims to explore the perceptions of its employees regarding its procurement process. To achieve the aim the researcher conducted a comprehensive literature review and used a mixed-methods research approach. This approach was deemed most suitable for the study. Considering the research design an online survey consisting of both open-ended and closed-ended questions was designed and disseminated to participants recruited for the study. To ensure that the study covered all aspects of the procurement process, the survey tested the perceptions of four departments, namely agricultural, engineering, operational support, and procurement. Each department was divided into three groups of employees, including line managers, middle managers, and senior managers. Participants were from three geographical locations, namely local, foreign, and the head office. Furthermore, participant data was evaluated according to years of work experience, specifically up to five years, five to ten years, ten to fifteen years, and greater than fifteen years. The online survey was designed using the principles of a mixed-method research approach. The survey questions were categorised according to the following themes: planning, supplier selection, specific management and contract management. The close-ended questions used a 5-point Likert scale, analysed quantitatively and used Factor Analysis. The open-ended questions were designed and analysed using NVivo version 14. The study recommends regular feedback and updates to bridge communication gaps, tailored training programmes to enhance planning skills, evaluating, and enhancing procurement systems, addressing skills gaps, enhancing awareness of procurement function, better communication between departments, and regular performance evaluations.
An exploratory study of the financial sustainability of philanthrojournalism in South Africa.
(2024) Khanyile, Charity.; Yalezo, Bhasela.
This research study delves into the intricate dynamics of donor funding for news organisations in South Africa, aiming to uncover the advantages and drawbacks of relying predominantly on external financial support. Through a qualitative approach and employing a case study design, the research explores the multifaceted challenges of achieving financial sustainability in philanthrojournalism within the South African context. The study places a keen focus on examining the potential influence that donors may exert on the editorial independence of these entities. Furthermore, it investigates the feasibility of integrating donor funding with traditional revenue sources. Grounded in the interpretivist research paradigm, the study utilises a nonprobability purposive sampling method to select its sample, while data collection hinges on semi-structured interviews. Fifteen potential participants were approached, however only 14 responded. The data analysis is anchored in thematic analysis, facilitating the exploration of emerging patterns and themes within the dataset. Drawing its theoretical framework from Resource Dependency Theory, this research uncovers notable challenges related to sustainability, stemming from the inherent dependence on external sources, which may not always align with the overarching goals and mission of news entities. Moreover, the findings indicate that donor funding may apply noteworthy influence on news agendas and priorities, potentially affecting the coveted editorial independence of these companies. In light of these findings, the study offers several recommendations to navigate the complex terrain of donor-funded newsrooms. It reiterates the necessity for news organisations to strike a delicate balance between accommodating donor interests and preserving editorial autonomy, thereby safeguarding their credibility and independence. This study underscores the critical significance of establishing explicit boundaries and ethical guidelines to maintain editorial independence in the context of donor-funded media outlets. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding financial sustainability in the evolving landscape of news organisations and offers valuable insights into the dynamics of donor funding in the realm of journalism.
An investigation of sustainable leadership practices of port executive in the Port of Durban.
(2021) Zungu, Nontobeko Londiwe.; Kanyangale, MacDonald.
Ship and port activities in a port such as Durban in South Africa are key in ensuring sustainability and growth of the economy in acceptable ways that meet the needs of industries and all citizens. While the practices of sustainability by strategic leaders of a port are critical in ensuring sustainable operations in every part of port activity, little is known about what members of the port executive actually do when it comes to leading sustainability at the port of Durban in South Africa. The objective of this qualitative study is to explore the sustainable leadership practices of Port Executives at the Port of Durban in South Africa. This exploratory study was conducted using qualitative in-depth interviews with nine experienced members of the port executive to explore their day-to-day practices of sustainable leadership in the port environment with multiple stakeholders whose activities have various environmental impacts at societal level while others relate to organisational sustainability of the port of Durban. The participants in this study were selected using purposive sampling technique because they are involved in shaping the strategic direction of shipping and port activities which affect sustainability and operations in the long term. Data were gathered using semi structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis to get dominant themes depicting sustainable leadership practices, practices of reinforcing green management, challenges of becoming sustainable leaders and key competences of sustainable leadership of a hybrid port. Results reveal a variety of four sustainable leadership practices by port executives at the port of Durban. These include prioritisation of environmental sustainability, commitment to strategic partnerships, strategic thinking about the business and people, and community building and corporate social responsibility. The key gaps in the sustainable leadership practice of port executive include silo behaviour, poor communication and strategic failure to develop green human capital. Port executives enforced green management practices by driving and reinforcing waste management practices and green innovation. However, this was predominantly operational, weak, but also poorly strategized to create and develop a lasting sustainability culture at the port. More importantly, lack of sustainability literacy within the upper echelon and sustainability expertise among employees undermined the practice of sustainable leadership by Port Executive. The study has proposed a framework of sustainable leadership competences for a port and also areas of future research.
Effects of digital transformation on employee morale in the business banking department of a financial organization.
(2023) Dookie, Deepak.; Chummun, Bibi Zaheenah.
Abstract available in PDF.
Examining emotional intelligence and self-efficacy to business management at a state-owned entity in South Africa.
(2023) Ndimande, Philani Emmanuel.; Mashau, Pfano.
The recent past has been challenging for the state-owned company because of mismanagement and abuse of leadership power. The devasting effects of weakening leadership, in critical business processes have resulted in a breach of business processes and the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The organisation has also suffured a devasting lost of critical skills due to the impact of COVID-19. All these issues are largely linked with the emotions of individuals, the calibre of leaders in this organisation and the overall approach to business management. The contamporary environment requires leaders that are able to work with others, lead and be prepared to be led, and ensure collaboration amongst stakeholders. This requires emotional intelligence and positive self-efficacy. It is necessary to examine the contribution of Emotional Intelligence and Self-efficacy in managing the state-owned entity. The study used a quantitative research approach to examine the relationships between variables. A census method of sampling was employed, and the entire population (n = 130) of management was studied through the distribution of the questionnaire made up of four tests; demographical questionnaire, GEIQ adopted questionnaire, GSE adopted questionnaire and BMT self-created questionnaire. Reliability, validity, and ethics were considered. The study findings revealed that demographics such as race, age, gender, and education had no statistical significance on EI and SE at this organisation. The correlation analysis revealed that there is correlation and statistical significance between the managers’ EI, SE, and business management in organisation. Recommendations from the study are such that all management levels and divisions, or departments of the organisation should be studied, and probability sampling should be considered to comprehensively study the variable. The methodology should be mixed-method approach gain full insight of managers’ emotions. The organisations can improve performance by giving continuous support to employees, this will create confidence in their capabilities and create a positive work environment. The emotional transitions in the organisation caused by COVID-19 and the repositioning strategy requires an effective change management process and transparency to be driven by top management. This study contributed to the sustainability of SOEs under the era of ethical leadership.
Exploring how the emotional intelligence-social capital nexus in academics impacts third stream income: a case study of University of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2023) Reddy, Devendren Vengatas.; Proches, Cecile Naomi Gerwel.; Moodley, Thiruveni.
South African universities have been facing financial challenges brought about by the legacy of the apartheid education system. The higher education system is looking for solutions to manage the financial sustainability of institutions. The aim of the study was to determine whether the emotional intelligence and social capital nexus in academics has an impact on attitudes towards third stream income at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Third stream income draws on commercial practice to raise income through consultancy, commercialisation of research, philanthropy and the creation of public private partnerships. A challenge facing institutions is getting academics to participate in third stream income because they are consumed with academic responsibilities of teaching, learning and research. Literature review was conducted, which included the development of a mini case study of UKZN based on the 2017- 2021 strategic plan and factors that impacted third stream income generation at the university. The thesis used the four-dimensional theory of emotional intelligence model of Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee (Goleman et al., 2002:47) and the three-dimensional model of social capital (Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998). This thesis used a sequential exploratory mixed-methods case study methodology. The qualitative part of the study comprised 13 interviews and two focus group interviews. The quantitative part of the study was based on 100 respondents who participated in an online questionnaire. The qualitative data analysis used a thematic analysis, and the quantitative data analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics 26.0 software. The study found a strong relationship between the emotional intelligence – social capital nexus and attitudes towards third stream income. The study recommends the construction of a coaching framework to develop the participation of academics at UKZN in third stream income. Further research is required on the impact of how emotional intelligence can be used to grow social capital in academia. These studies may look at what the motivators are for academics to participate in third stream income generation and how to promote academic benevolence to promote increased social capital to support third stream income generation.
Exploring leadership competencies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Library in a digital age.
(2024) Magagula, Mbongiseni Phillip.; Kanyangale, MacDonald.
Digitalization as a mega-trend is affecting the library sector, triggering challenges and opportunities that demand new competencies for leaders of academic librarians. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore library leadership competencies in the digital age according to the perspectives of library leaders at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The study adopted an interpretive paradigm and non-probability sampling method to purposively select nine library leaders from the University of KwaZulu-Natal for in-depth interviews. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results from the study have shown that library leaders at the University of KwaZulu-Natal demonstrate a variety of five leadership styles and three key leadership competencies for the academic library to adapt to the changes brought by digitalization. The leadership struggles with clarity on the direction at UKZN, collective and shared leadership, an inclusive, partnership and alignment style, and the autocratic and adaptive leadership styles. Secondly, this study revealed three leadership competencies used by leaders of the academic library at UKZN to deal with adaptive change and provide services in a digital age. These leadership competences include developing people and programmes to achieve change within rules; strategic thinking competences; and leading teams. Lastly, the study provided a Leadership Competencies framework for library leaders in the digital age at UKZN, comprising seven different leadership competences and four tasks and roles by leaders at UKZN, which are necessary for effective academic library leadership in the digital era. The study recommended a variety of leadership competences that are key to leading the academic library through adaptive challenges in the digital era. Areas for future research were also highlighted.
Exploring the sustainable leadership of the top managers at Ermelo regional hospital.
(2021) Bodibe, Oupa Phillip.; Kanyangale, MacDonald.
Sustainability as a megatrend is influencing the leadership of different organizations in the world, including hospitals to maintain and improve the quality of their services. Despite calls in the literature for guidance on sustaining interventions regarding sustainability in hospitals, there is a dearth of research on leading and implementing sustainability in a hospital setting. The primary objective of this qualitative study was to examine the practices of Sustainable Leadership adopted by the Top Management Team at Ermelo Regional Hospital in Gert Sibande District in South Africa. Purposive sampling was utilized to identify and select 8 members of the top management team who participated in face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth, and audio-recorded interviews to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns which depict practices that enable or impede practices of Sustainable Leadership by members of the Top Management Team. The study’s limitation is that it only included a small sample which makes it not possible to generalize the findings. The key results of this exploratory study are that Ermelo Regional Hospital’s Top Management has got various practices of Sustainable Leadership that they use. These include staff development through training, encouraging leaders at all levels to be part of the organizational effort towards sustainability, flexible working and favourable labour relations which creates a sense of shared responsibility. However, succession planning was found to be influenced by nepotism and corruption while staff management is mostly crippled by the prevalence of autocratic leadership. The need for engaging the employees often through regular meetings to provide up-dates and share hospital performance were also emphasized as critical as they result in a work setting where effective communication becomes the norm and challenges are timeously addressed. The study concludes that while Ermelo Regional Hospital’s Top Management Team is trying in terms of skill development, the leadership style is less supportive of inclusive, sustainabilityrelated practices. Furthermore, the pillars of sustainability such as the environment and community are not given enough attention by the Ermelo Regional Hospital leaders, which adds challenges to practice effective Sustainable Leadership in a hospital setting. A few recommendations are provided as well as potential research areas.
Impact of coronavirus on the motivation and performance of the sale team within a petroleum company in Southern Africa.
(2022) Govender, Thirumoney.; Mutambara, Emmanuel.
The unanticipated spreading of the Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) has had a devastating impact on the world, including South Africa. South Africa was susceptible to this impact as government enforced strict regulatory lockdowns, which required new ways of working in a workforce that was used to faceto-face business interaction. This study focused on retail sales employees within a petroleum company and the adaptation of their characteristics to drive work performance during the Coronavirus Pandemic. The main characteristic that this study focused on, was the motivational factors that influenced the employee’s lives for better or worse. The retail sales employees (Territory Managers) are responsible for the business development of service stations. Their roles include monitoring of fuel sales, convenience store sales, safety and regulatory compliance of the service station, environmental and disaster management of the site, routine corporate contractual monitoring of the equipment and infrastructure, and housekeeping of the site. Qualitative research was conducted via semi-structured interviews to 12 Territory Managers, from the perspective of the employees, to gain a better understanding of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The non-probability purposive sampling method was used. The research methods consisted of secondary research from existing academic and corporate literature, as well as primary research from the interviews that were conducted with the retail sales employees. The research found that the impact of the pandemic touched every person’s life in some way or the other. Whilst some people found ways to cope with the pandemic, others gave in to the stress which impacted on their physical and mental wellbeing. The research also pointed out the gaps in the company’s support system for employees and the company’s readiness to deal with the impact of the crisis. This study's main goal was to offer suggestions to the business, to help decisionmakers support employees’ productive ability, so that the employees remain inspired and performanceoriented during times of crisis.
Investigating impact of coronavirus lockdown regulations on public transport operations recovery of eThekwini Municipality.
(2024) Dube, Nkosinathi Blessing.; Ngwenya, Tony Charles Simphiwe.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted worldwide lockdown measures, significantly impacting public transportation systems. This study examines the effects of lockdown regulations on public transport operations in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, and assesses potential solutions. Using a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted with 50 randomly selected residents of eThekwini Municipality. The results reveal that awareness and preparedness are the primary factors influencing the impact of COVID-19 lockdown regulations on public transport activities. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, ethnicity, and years of experience were found to influence attitudes, preparedness, awareness, and responsibility towards public transportation during the lockdown. The study recommends enhancing staff training and developing capabilities to handle pandemic-related impacts in the transport sector. This research contributes valuable insights to assist decision-makers in eThekwini Municipality in making informed choices regarding transportation service delivery in the context of public health crises.
Leadership challenges facing the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital.
(2022) Mzimela, Innocent Khethukuthula.; Mutambara, Emmanuel.
Leadership is critical in any organisation. In the healthcare fraternity, the main reason for the existence of health care facilities is to serve human life, meaning that the management of these public institutions have a bearing on the services that get delivered to the public. However, there remains some gaps, with regards to how leadership in public healthcare facilities affect the quality of care given to the public. This study thus investigated the leadership challenges facing Ladysmith Provincial hospital. The main objectives of the study included to identify the current leadership challenges facing the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital, to assess the impact of the challenges on healthcare service at Ladysmith Provincial Hospital’s performance, as well as to critically analyse the factors that affect the execution of effective leadership practices at Ladysmith Provincial Hospital. The qualitative approach was adopted, whereby ten purposively selected participants were drawn from the various departments of the organisation, including the management. The main findings of the study indicated that the participants were particularly concerned about the high turnover rate in the institution, and essentially, the fact that the vacant positions do not get filled on time- thereby leaving a void in the operational processes of the organisation. The participants bemoaned financial challenges, human resources issues, as well as ineffective leadership in their organisation, noting that their leadership lacked the qualities of a good leader, while others did not possess the required qualifications for the positions that they occupied. Overall, the challenges identified have huge implications on service delivery. In view of these findings, some recommendations were made: the need to improve the leadership’s competencies through refresher courses, workshops and some form of training- to enable them to demonstrate the personal qualities of good leadership. It was indicated that the institution needed to put in place a more strategic and effective succession planning approaches across the board- in order to avoid the unnecessary challenges being faced in the absence of qualified personal to take up certain leadership positions. The poor infrastructures call for an urgent need to replace the broken equipment- through baseline support, so that the healthcare workers can execute their duties effectively.
Perceptions of teachers and school management teams on their participation in school-based professional development and its Impact on their teaching practice.
(2023) Malope, Nosipho.; Chikandiwa, Christopher Tarisayi.
The present study aims to investigate the viewpoints of educators concerning their participation in professional development initiatives within educational institutions. One facet of the research investigates the levels of participation and satisfaction among teachers and School Management Teams (SMTs). On the other hand, the other component focuses on the function of Subject Specialists as Departmental Heads (DH) in strategising and facilitating professional growth initiatives for educators at the institutional level. This study is grounded on the Continuing Professional Development (CPTD) policy, which mandates educators to amass 150 professional development points within three years. Professional development points can be obtained through diverse activities such as self-initiated, school-initiated, and externally initiated programmes. The research places particular emphasis on teacher development that educational institutions initiate. The study's results indicate that educators and School Management Teams (SMTs) were actively engaged in a diverse array of teacher development initiatives conducted within the school setting. The activities above hold significant value because they can furnish efficacious strategies that augment classroom practices. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that the SMTs were remiss in their obligation to report school-initiated activities to the South African Council for Educators (SACE), a crucial element in overseeing and promoting the professional growth of teachers. The present study employs a quantitative methodology, and the data were obtained through two survey instruments that the researcher developed. The questionnaires comprise several segments encompassing diverse topics. The Post Level 1 questionnaire for teachers comprises 25 questions, whereas the SMT questionnaire encompasses 31 questions. The themes that are covered in this study comprise various aspects such as engagement in teacher development initiatives, significance and influence of such activities, provision of resources to facilitate teacher development, duties and obligations of teachers, incentives for participation, guidance and assistance from School Management Teams (SMTs) (about SMT questionnaire solely), and allocation of time for teacher development. The adequacy of the sample size of 87 participants in this study should be emphasised, as it facilitated a thorough investigation of the research topic and yielded significant insights into the perspectives and encounters of educators and school administrators. The research was carried out within the Ehlanzeni district in Mpumalanga province, with a specific emphasis on a designated subset of educators and School Management Teams (SMTs) from the White Hazy1 Circuit, encompassing both primary and secondary schools. The statistical software package utilised for data analysis was SPSS version 27.0. The collected quantitative data is analysed using descriptive statistics, including graphs, cross-tabulations, and other figures, to present the results. The study utilised inferential methods, specifically correlations and chi-square tests, to analyse the data. The p-values determined the statistical significance of the results. A statistical significance was attributed to a significance level lower than 0.05. The study's results have significant policy implications that warrant consideration. The initial step is for the School Management Teams (SMTs) to ensure appropriate planning and allocation of time for teacher development within the school premises following the policy guidelines. Subsequently, Subject Matter Teachers (SMTs) must give precedence to their involvement in and documentation of Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD) endeavours, as it is a compulsory obligation stipulated by the SACE Act No.31 of 2008. Notably, the present study did not investigate the effects of teacher development programmes implemented within school settings on students' academic achievement. Therefore, it is recommended that additional research be conducted to explore this aspect.
Re-conceptualizing fiscal decentralization framework to improve service delivery: a case of uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
(2023) Msomi, Buhlebakhe.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.
This research explored the concept of fiscal decentralisation by proposing a comprehensive framework tailored to the unique context of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. Fiscal decentralisation, a pivotal component of effective governance, aims to redistribute financial authority and responsibility between higher-level governments and local authorities. This research aimed to redefine the fiscal decentralisation framework within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, with a focus on crafting a comprehensive model that accommodates the distinctive socio-economic and political intricacies of the region. The research problem stems from the absence of a customized fiscal decentralisation framework tailored to the nuances of the district, as the conventional one-size-fits-all approach to fiscal decentralisation seem to fall short in effectively addressing the unique challenges faced by uMgungundlovu. In doing so, it sought to address the research problem of how fiscal decentralisation can be effectively structured and implemented to promote local development and efficient resource allocation. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study utilised purposive sampling to select 19 participants with in-depth knowledge and experience in local governance and fiscal matters. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse these qualitative data, identifying recurring patterns, concepts, and insights related to fiscal decentralisation within uMgungundlovu District Municipality. The findings underscore the need for community participation in fiscal decision-making, emphasizing the need for a re-conceptualized framework that empowers both local governments and actively involves communities in budgetary discussions. The findings thus stressed the importance of capacity building and institutional strengthening at the local level, addressing challenges in human resources, financial management, and technological infrastructure. The research recommends targeted interventions to enhance local government capabilities. Moreover, it contributes to the theoretical foundations of fiscal decentralization by promoting a context-specific approach, incorporating community perspectives, and offering practical guidance for policymakers to design and implement effective policies aligned with the realities of local governance. Based on the study's outcomes, it is recommended that uMgungundlovu District Municipality develop a clear and inclusive fiscal decentralisation framework tailored to its unique socio-economic context. This framework should address issues of revenue generation, allocation, and expenditure, while also emphasising mechanisms for transparent governance and community involvement.
Strategic leadership and change management imperatives in a volatile era: a case study of Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.
(2022) Zungu, Knowledge Lungisani.; Ngwenya, Tony Charles Simphiwe.
The South African public healthcare system plays a critical role in rendering care to the majority of the population. Public healthcare is one of the democratic government’s key priorities, reflected in the constitutional commitment to providing accessible and quality healthcare efficiently and sustainably to all citizens. To realise this commitment, leadership and management of public healthcare facilities play a significant role as they can influence the success or failure of delivering quality and efficient healthcare services. Primarily because it is the responsibility of leaders to render healthcare sector demands efficiently and effectively. Strategic leadership is one of the effective tools for efficient management. Its effect on managing complexities, shocks, and various forms of turbulence and its efficiency is well documented in the literature. As a country heavily burdened by socio-economic development challenges such as the increasing poverty and unemployment rate, the number of people relying on public healthcare continually increases. With increasing healthcare demands and the burden of disease, public hospitals and clinics as institutions operate in challenging, complex and dynamic environments. Additional to an already turbulent environment prone to change and instability, public healthcare institutions in South Africa operate under the globally experienced volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous business environment. Therefore, the assessment of leadership styles, practices, and their impact is of performance in of great importance. Given such a state, the literature points to the importance of strategic leadership being a vital requirement for healthcare management and leadership. The wide range of strategic leadership competencies enables leaders to adapt continuously to change and the fast speed of innovation. This is because strategic leaders are visionary; they have the capacity to innovatively and creatively navigate organisations through volatility to improve performance. This study aimed to investigate the role of strategic leadership and change management at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Through a qualitative inquiry, an interview schedule of sixteen questions was administered to fifteen participants in leadership positions within the hospital. Questions probed to unearth the strategic activities and successfully captured experiences and viewpoints on the impact of strategic leadership in managing change and the hospital's performance in this era of unpredictable constant change. The findings of this study pointed out that Mshiyeni hospital operates in a complex and demanding environment with constrained human and financial resources. The hospital tackles extensive responsibilities of regional and district hospital services in an overly populated location dominated by socio-economically challenged communities. Results further showed that keeping the hospital operational at a satisfactory level has been achieved through strategic leadership approaches designed and actioned by the leaders at the hospital level. As access and delivery of quality healthcare is a constitutional mandate in SA, the commitment to deliver efficient and effective healthcare service is cited as one of the main priority objectives of the department of health. However, the financial provisions for public healthcare facilities seem not to match the service demands in a manner that can enable public hospitals to deliver their service sufficiently. It is recommended that future research probe into this matter at an executive level within the health department. This recommendation will aid in getting an idea of how the health department idealises its public institutions to execute its services in the context of the existing constrained resources state.
The effects of entrepreneurial management and leadership on township economic development in the eThekwini Municipality.
(2023) Sumo, David Bhekamandla.; Yalezo, Bhasela.
Entrepreneurship is vital for any local economy and the long-term sustainability of socioeconomic conditions. However, in South African townships, there is a significant gap in effectively managing and leading entrepreneurial pursuits for local townships’ sustainable economic development. This research aims to address the challenges township entrepreneurs face and to examine the impact of entrepreneurial management and leadership on township economic development and growth. To address these challenges, this research extensively engaged the opinions and findings of different scholars in literature review on the variables critical for conducive a environment for entrepreneurship development, with the purpose of analysing and measuring the effects of entrepreneurial management and leadership regarding township economic development in the eThekwini Municipality. A qualitative approach was employed to address this research problem, utilising the interpretivism paradigm. The research had anticipated to a get a population of forty but got twenty. The sample size was fifteen township entrepreneurs but interviewed twelve. The study conducted face-to-face interviews with twelve township business operators from eThekwini Municipality, selected from a larger population of twenty. The findings of this research revealed two crucial aspects. Firstly, it revealed ineffective entrepreneurial management drive because of communication and collaborative gaps identified. There is a substantial lack of knowledge among township entrepreneurs regarding available resources and business support programs for township business growth. Many participants were unaware that there are local economic development programs for SMME’s, from the eThekwini Municipality and the KZN Provincial Government, available to provide opportunities for skills transfer and collaboration with tertiary institutions, corporations, financial institutions, and regulatory authorities. This knowledge gap presents a significant barrier to accessing essential resources for business development. Secondly, the study highlighted the isolated nature of township entrepreneurs' operations. They often lack connections and collaborations with potential stakeholders, limiting their access to valuable networks, expertise, and support. This isolation further impedes their ability to grow and expand their businesses effectively. All the above-mentioned variables are crucial in township economic development for socioeconomic upliftment. To address these findings, the study recommends the establishment of dedicated business units within township enterprises. These units should actively foster partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders, such as tertiary institutions, corporations, financial institutions, and regulatory authorities. By establishing these partnerships, township entrepreneurs can bridge the knowledge gap, enhance their business operations, and achieve meaningful economic growth. This research underscores the significant challenges township entrepreneurs face in South African townships and the impact of institutional arrangements on entrepreneurial management and leadership on local economic development. The findings highlight the need for knowledge sharing, resource access, and collaborative networks, which can contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of South African township businesses. The conclusion drawn from this research is that the effects of entrepreneurial management and leadership show significant gap between policy initiatives and its implementation. It also shows major collaborative gaps amongst individual township business operators in terms speaking in one voice to tackle institutional barriers. There are significant barriers to economic development because of the leadership approach that is prescriptive on what needs to happen to grow township economy, without the consultation of the affected key players on the ground. This research recommends that local authorities, as implementing agents, adopt a place based economic development planning framework that involves local entrepreneurship communities to close implementation gaps. It is the infrastructure ecosystem that contains local infrastructural development constructs, synchronized in a manner that talk to one another which determines the level of required local economic outputs. The spatial approach is the ideal method that ensures a focused intention of policy initiatives that are operationalized to sustain township economic growth and development consistent with the National Development Plan.
The impact of remote working in Engen Petroleum Limited, South Africa, emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2022) Mohan, Sudhir.; Yalezo, Bhasela.
This study examines the impact of remote working during the COVID 19 pandemic on employee retention and work-life balance at Engen Petroleum Limited South Africa. South Africa had the most reported cases in Africa resulting in the South African government declaring one of the strictest lockdowns in the world on 23 March 2020. Developments in cloud technology and globalisation have given rise to new flexible work arrangements known as remote working which became prevalent in many organizations, allowing employees to perform work away from the traditional office environment. Due to a lack of stable internet connectivity in some areas in South Africa, remote working was a challenge. Only 53 per cent of South African’s use the internet and people with the least connectivity live in poorer rural areas. To prevent the spread of the virus, many organizations implemented remote working. The advent of remote working in South Africa seriously impacted the informal sector of the economy. The study adopted a quantitative approach. Data was collected via an online survey that was distributed to employees of Engen Petroleum Limited South Africa that were working remotely. A total of 67 respondents were received from various departments within the organization. The data was analysed using statistical software to test the impact of remote working on the constructs of employee retention, work-life balance, productivity and job satisfaction. The study found that remote working had an overall positive impact on employee retention, work-life balance and job satisfaction with productivity either increasing or remaining unchanged. Management needs to invest in a substitute for “water cooler conversations” and similar social interactions that are lacking in the remote working environment. The study recommends that the building of trust between managers and employees will assist in determining the effectiveness of remote working. The manager team need to explore innovative ways of improving communication that will ensure that remote workers are included in the activities of the organization. The organization needs to have an awareness of the setup that remote workers have at their homes to provide the required human resource support.

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