School of Management, IT and Governance

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An exploration of the drivers of vulnerabilities in informal employment: a case study of the agricultural sector in uPhongolo Local Municipality.
(2023) Ndlangamandla, Wiseman Siboniso.; Mubangizi, Betty Claire.; Okem, Andrew Emmanuel.
This study explores the drivers of vulnerabilities in informal employment using the agricultural sector in uPhongolo Local Municipality as a case study. The study is against the backdrop of inefficient enforcement laws governing the relationships between employers. This study employed a qualitative research methodology with 30 purposively selected participants comprising, twenty farm workers, five municipal workers, and five officials of the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. Data were collected using face-to-face in-depth audio-recorded interviews. The interviews were transcribed, coded thematically, and analysed using the Institutional theory. The study’s findings revealed that informal agricultural labourers have substantial risks and vulnerabilities due to the unpredictability of their working status, the lack of a documented labour contract, and the lack of efficient enforcement of regulations surrounding the terms of their employment. The government's inability to effectively enforce labor regulations in the agricultural sector has resulted in worker vulnerability in this sector. Due to these factors, informal agricultural workers have limited access to good and affordable health care for themselves and their families. Most unprotected agricultural laborers face a variety of difficulties, including significant criminal exposure and a lack of legal and social protection. Lastly, most farm workers are victims of salary deductions without any contractual or verbal agreement, low remuneration including unpaid overtime, and inconsistent working hours. This study recommends that government must review current labour legislation in the agricultural sector, this could be done by creating a single joint interdepartmental collaboration structure. This study also recommended that there is a need for increasing digital communication mechanisms and media coverage on labour issues in the agricultural sector. There is a need for amendment and enforcement of the Labour Relations Act of 1995; and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 (Sectoral Determination 13: Farmworker Sector). The government has the mandate to ensure that Determination 13 for Agriculture is applied in agricultural farms. This can be done by maximizing the number of professional labour inspectors. Finally, the study recommended a need for the establishment of a workplace forum to represent farm workers’ labour rights.
Exploration of the impact of talent management practices on service delivery outcomes at eThekwini Municipality.
(2023) Mbele, Sindy Olive.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality established in 2000, that includes the city of Durban, South Africa, and surrounding towns. The vision of the eThekwini Municipality is that by 2030, eThekwini will enjoy the reputation of being Africa’s most caring and liveable City, where all citizens live in harmony. eThekwini Municipality is operating under unprecedented conditions of competition and turbulence in which it is increasingly difficult to attract and retain talented employees and scarce skills positions with a resulting impact on service delivery. Capacity constraints within the Municipality could hamper economic growth. Therefore, effective talent management is a business imperative as a lack of necessary skills could have serious consequences for the City’s economy. The objective of the study was to understand the impact of talent management on organisational performance from each participant’s point of view. This study was not intended to make any truth claims about the research topic, but rather to understand the impact of the phenomenon under investigation. The qualitative research methodology was selected as a preferred approach because it reinforces an understanding and interpretation of meaning as well as intentions underlying human interactions. This approach was suitable for this study as it allows for data collection through interviews for an in-depth investigation of a problem in one or more real life settings. The study reviewed and utilised the integrated talent management framework which assists organisations to understand the impact of talent management on organisational performance better. In today's world of global trade, talent can guarantee the success and excellence of organisations against competitors, especially at the managerial level. The major findings of the study indicate that eThekwini Municipality has significantly high levels of an aging workforce in leadership and critical positions leading to capacity constraints. There is a clear misalignment between people and organisational performance which needs to be corrected. The study recommends that eThekwini Municipality reviews the implementation of talent management initiatives with clearly stated success measures that drive organisational performance and talent retention strategies.
Exploring consumers’ perceptions of using celebrity endorsers to advertise cosmetics in the Chinese beauty industry.
(2020) Govender, Keriscia.; Tooray, Jenasha.
This study aims to explore consumers’ perceptions of using celebrity endorsers to advertise cosmetics within China’s beauty industry. A plethora of research has established that a favourable celebrity endorser has the power to persuade consumers into making a purchase of a cosmetic product, by enhancing an organisations’ brand image, brand loyalty and brand awareness. Seeing as China’s female consumers represent a lucrative market segment for marketing teams to infiltrate within the beauty industry, a questionnaire was administered for the purpose of uncovering whether a relationship exists between the use of celebrity endorsers as an advertising strategy and consumers’ perceptions of celebrity endorsers; and to determine the impact that this relationship has regarding an organisation’s brand image, brand loyalty, brand awareness and Chinese media platforms and coverage on consumers’ purchase intentions and perceptions. A sample of 217 consumers from a popular cosmetic franchise named Sephora located at six shopping malls in Dalian, North of China, was extracted for data collection using the convenience sampling technique. The data collected was evaluated in order to test the hypotheses of the study and the researcher employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. The empirical findings indicate that a significant difference exists among consumers’ perceptions of celebrity endorsers, Chinese media platforms and coverage within the beauty industry, celebrity endorsers’ influence on brand image, brand loyalty and brand awareness. It was also discovered that Chinese consumers are inclined to purchase a cosmetic product if the celebrity endorser is famous, white-skinned and from a western country. The results generated from this study created a framework which elucidates the recommendations for enhancing the understanding of consumers’ perceptions of celebrity endorsement. This framework is beneficial to marketing teams who aspire to improve advertising strategies, brand image, brand loyalty, brand awareness, and achieve an inordinate amount of media coverage using popular social media platforms in China.
Fostering employee innovation through engagement and skills development in the manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe=Ukukhuthaza ukusungulwa kwabasebenzi ngokuxoxisana kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwamakhono emkhakheni wezokukhiqiza eZimbabwe.
(2021) Chiboiwa, Malvern Waini.; Qwabe, Bongani Reginald.
The study focused on how employee engagement and skills development can influence employee innovation in the manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe. The study was guided by three theoretical perspectives namely the Social Exchange Theory, the Human Capital Theory and the Componential theory. The Social Exchange theory was adopted to explain employee engagement. The Human Capital theory, which emphasises investment in employees, was adopted to explain the concept of skills development whilst the Componential theory guided the concept of employee innovation. The study followed the positivist philosophical world view which provides the framework for the use of the quantitative research approach. The sample size of the study consisted of 335 participants comprising managerial and non managerial employees who were randomly selected. 200 participants responded to the questionnaires distributed by the researcher. The study adopted quantitative techniques of analysing data. Specifically, Structural equation modelling with confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the relationships between the variable items and the variables themselves. The results of the structural equation modelling showed that there were significant relationships between the variable items and the variable factor. Multiple regression analysis was also performed to determine the impact of the independent (employee engagement and skills development) on the dependent variable (employee innovation). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that employee engagement and skills development have a significant capacity to predict employee innovation with the resultant model explaining more than fifty per cent of the dependent variable. This, confirmed the viability of the proposed model of the study. Also, the Pearson Product Moment correlation method was used to explain the relationships between the research variables. The results of the Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that both employee engagement and skills development have moderate positive influence on employee innovation. These results of the study are significant in that they have theoretical and managerial implications. The findings represent a meaningful and incremental contribution towards existing literature on employee engagement, skills development and employee innovation by uprooting insights and showcasing the nature of the relationships amongst these variables. The results should assist management in the manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe on how they can improve employee innovation in their organisations. Iqoqa Lolu cwaningo belugxile ekutholeni ukuthi ukusebenza kwabasebenzi kanye nokucijwa kwabo amakhono kungaletha yiphi indlela entsha yokwenza izinto embonini yokukhiqiza eZimbabwe. Lolu cwaningo belulandela izinjulalwazi ezintathu, okuyilezi: injulalwazi ye-Social Exchange, injulalwazi ye-Human Capital nenjulalwazi ye-Component. Injulalwazi ye-Social Exchange isetshenziswe ukuchaza ukusebenza kwabasebenzi. Injulalwazi i-Human Capital, egxile ekubalulekeni kwabasebenzi, yona isetshenziswe ukuchaza ukuthi yini eyenziwayo ukucija amakhono abasebenzi, kanti injulalwazi ye-Component yona isetshenziswe ukubheka indlela entsha yokusebenza kwabasebenzi. Lolu cwaningo belulandela ipharadayimu ye-positivist futhi luwucwaningo oluyikhwalithethivu. Ubungako besampula buveza abahlanganyeli abangama-335 abahlanganisa abasebenzi abasezikhundleni nalabo abangekho ezikhundleni, abakhethwa ngendlela engahlelekile. Abahlanganyeli abangama-200 baphendula uhlu lwemibuzo. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela yekhwantithethivu yokuhlaziya imininingo. Le ndlela ebizwa nge-Structural equation modelling yayihlose ukuhlonza ubuqiniso mayelana nobudlelwane ezintweni ezazicutshungulwa nokucutshungulwa kwazo. Imiphumela ye-Structural equation modelling ikhombise ukuthi kukhona ubudlelwane obukhulu phakathi kwalezi zinto. Kuphinde kwasetshenziswa indlela eyinhlanganisela eyaziwa nge-Multiple regression analysis ukubheka umphumela ozimele (ukusebenza kwabasebenzi nokucijwa kwamakhono abo) nomphumela ongazimele (izindlela ezintsha zokusebenza kwabasebenzi). Indlela yokuhlaziya i-Multiple linear regression iveze ukuthi ukusebenza kwabafundi nokucijwa kwamakhono abo kudlala indima enkulu ekugaguleni ukuthi indlela entsha yokusebenza kwabafundi izoba njani, okuletha incazelo ngemiphumela ezimele ngaphezu kwamaphesenti angamashumi ayisihlanu. Lokhu, kufakazela okuyiyona njulalwazi ephakanyiswe kulolu cwaningo. Kwaphinde kwasetshenziswa indlela ye-Pearson Product Moment ukuchaza ubudlelwane bezinto. Imiphumela yokuhlaziya kwe-Pearson iveza ukuthi kokubili ukusebenza kwabasebenzi kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwamakhono abo kuba nomthelela ekuqhamukeni nezindlela ezintsha zokusebenza kwabasebenzi. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo ibalulekile ngoba iveza ukubaluleka kwendlela yokucabanga kanye nendlela yokuphatha. Imiphumela iletha ulwazi olubalulekile nolwengezayo kulolu olukhona mayelana nokusebenza kwabasebenzi, ukucijwa kwamakhono abasebenzi kanye nezindlela ezintsha zokusebenza kwabasebenzi ngokuqhakambisa imibono ephusile kanye nokuthuthukisa ubudlelwane obuhle kulezi zinto. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo kumele ikwazi ukwelekelela abaphathi embonini yokukhiqizwayo ukuthi bazithuthukisa kanjani izindlela ezintsha zokusebenza kwabasebenzi ezinkampanini zabo.
Management practices and implementation of strategic planning among small businesses in Ghana.
(2023) Eshun, Egya Gyanzah.; Naidoo, Vannie.
Abstract This study focused on the management practices applicable and the extent of strategic planning among small firms in Ghana in order to propose measures for effective management of small firms. The research was conducted in the Kumasi metropolitan area of Ghana. The Pragmatic research philosophy was adopted for the research. The research respondents were small business owners/managers in Kumasi, Ghana. The study used mixed methods approach in data collection. Through this approach numerical data was gathered through the administration of questionnaire as also qualitative data was gathered through interviewing of selected small business owners/managers. The quota sampling method was applied to identify the sample of 500 small firms and the purposive sampling procedure was used to choose 10 small firm owners/managers to be interviewed. The quantitative data gathered in the research were analyzed applying the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21, whilst Content Analysis was applied for the qualitative data.The key findings identified in the study were that small businesses in Ghana have limited management skills and also some specific management practices were found to be significantly linked to various dimensions of growth of small businesses as well as competitive advantages enjoyed by small businesses.From the proposed framework developed for the effective management of small businesses it has been established that all the four categories of management practices studied, with the exception of operation-efficiency-focused management practices are significantly associated with the growth of the firm.Also all the four categories of management practices were found to be significantly associated with competitive advantages enjoyed by small businesses in Ghana. The study recommendations include improving the management capacity of small businesses in Ghana, especially in the area of strategic planning and also effectively resourcing and coordinating small business support institutions in Ghana to provide world class and seamless service to small businesses in Ghana. The study has also proposed measures for effective management of small businesses in Ghana so that they can perform their role as the prime mover of Ghana’s economy. Iqoqa Lolu cwaningo lwalubheka izindlela zokuphatha okuyizona kanye nokuthi imihlangano yokuhlonza inqubo yamafemu amancane eGhana ihamba kanjani ukuze aphathwe ngendlela efanele. Lolu cwaningo lwaqhutshwa kuMasipala weKumasi eGhana. Indlela yocwaningo ebheka ukusebenza kahle kwento yiyona eyalandelwa kulolu cwaningo. Abahlanganyeli bocwaningo ngosomabhizinisi nabaphathi bamabhizinisi eKumasi, eGhana. Lolu cwaningo lwasebenzisa indlela exubile yokukhiqiza imininingo. Ngale ndlela, imininingo eyizinombolo yakhiqizwa kusetshenziswa uhlakasikwele lwemibuzo kanti imininingo yekhwalithethivu yona yakhiqizwa kusetshenziswa inhlolovo nabahlanganyeli abangosomabhizinisi abancane nabaphathi bamabhizinisi. Indlela yokuqoka ngokungenhloso yasetshenziswa ukuthola amafemu amancane angama-500 kwase kusetshenziswa indlela yokuqoka ngenhloso ukuqoka abahlanganyeli abangosomabhizinisi abancane nabaphathi bamabhizinisi abayi-10 ababezohlatshwa ngemibuzo yenhlolovo. Imininingo yekhwantithethivu ihlaziywe kusetshenziswa indlela yokuhlaziya, iStatistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) ka-21, kwathi indlela yokuhlaziya ngokwengqikithi, iContent Analysis yona yasetshenziswa ukuhlaziya imininingo yekhwalithethivu. Imiphumela ebalulekile eyavela kulolu cwaningo ukuthi amabhizinisi amancane antula amava kwezokuphathwa kwawo kanti ezinye zezindlela zokukuphatha zinakho ukuletha ukukhula kwamabhizinisi amancane nokuwenza akwazi ukumelana nezimo zamabhizinisi amancane eGhana. Kule ndlela yokuphatha ngokuyikho amabhizinisi amancane, kuvelile ukuthi zozine izindlela zokuphatha amabhizinisi amancane, ngaphandle kwale ebheka indlela yokwenza izinto ngokuyikho, zonke zinakho ukwenza amabhizinisi amancane akhule. Zozine lezi zindlela zokuphatha amabhizinisi zatholakala zikwazi ukwenza amabhizinisi amancane akwazi ukumelana nezimo zamabhizinisi amancane eGhana. Lolu cwaningo luphakamisa ukuba kuthuthukiswe indlela yokuphathwa kwamabhizinisi amancane eGhana, ikhakhulukazi ekuhleweni kwamasu okulawula inkampani kanye nokuhlinzeka ngezidingo zokusebenza nokunikeza ukwesekwa kwezinhlaka zamabhizinisi ukuze iGhana ikwazi ukunikeza izidingo ezisezingeni lomhlaba kwezamabhizinisi amancane. Lolu cwaningo lunikezela ngamasu okwenza amabhizinisi amancane aphathwe kahle njengoba kuyiwona aphethe umcebo wezwe laseGhana kwezamabhizinisi.
Organisational learning during the restructuring of a finance-based organisation.
(2022) Mbatha, Nokukhanya Nolwazi Charlotte.; Ruggunan, Shaun Denvor.
Restructuring has become a popular practice for improving organisational performance. Despite the fact that rebuilding is becoming progressively more essential as a standard managerial strategy in organisations, its effectiveness in increasing organisational efficiency remains unknown. Typically, restructuring aims to improve organisational performance by lowering costs, increasing competitive advantage and increasing productivity. In some cases, restructuring has proven to be effective in achieving these goals. However, an increasing number of studies appear to suggest that restructuring results in irrelevant enhancements and, in some cases, a decrease in organisational performance. The study’s main goal was to comprehend the employee experience of organisational restructuring at a finance-based organisation in Sandton, South Africa. Data were gathered using a qualitative research method. The study’s 12 participants were chosen using non- probability sampling. In-depth interviews were used as the data collection instrument. Senge’s Fifth Discipline theory has been used in the study to explain the way in which individuals respond to change. The sample comprised 12 individuals employed by the organisation under study. The in-depth interviews covered various aspects, including biographical information of the respondents, team learning, personal mastery and systems thinking, as well as shared vision. A pilot study was undertaken to ensure the reliability and validity of the research instrument. The study was guided by the following research questions: 1. How did team learning occur during the restructuring process? 2. How did personal mastery occur during the restructuring process? 3. How did systems thinking evolve during the restructuring process? 4. In what ways did systems thinking occur during the restructuring process? 5. To what extent was a shared vision achieved as a result of the restructuring process? The findings of this study revealed that restructuring did affect staff working in the organisation under study. Most of them did not have an issue with transformation per se; however, they were concerned about the way in which it was being implemented at the organisation. The majority of them believed that to achieve transformational goals, the organisation’s leadership should have considered the fundamental requirements of properly evolving systems thinking and taking personal mastery into account. Furthermore, participants confirmed that “unplanned change” was happening too quickly. This, they believed, contributed to a state of confusion, doubt and disorganization. To summarise, broad consultation, active communication, a strong human resource team and a shared vision are required for effective organisational restructuring.
Social media marketing and purchase intentions of South African generation-Z during the coronavirus pandemic.
(2023) Naidoo, Sershan.; Perumal, Kressantha.
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic and consequential lockdowns reshaped consumers’ buying behaviour. Social media became crucial, globally influencing Generation-Z's buying patterns. Generation-Z consumers are becoming one of the most significant generations in the world. Tech-savvy Generation-Z has formed strong ties with social media. Despite the increase in the prevalence of Generation-Z consumers and its growing influence in the marketplace, there is limited research on how these consumers perceive social media marketing and its impact on purchasing intentions. The study addressed the gap in the extant literature by exploring how social media marketing impacted South African Generation-Z consumers’ purchasing intentions during the Covid-19 pandemic. To achieve this, the study examined the mediating role of trust in social media marketing as a plausible intervening variable in the relationship. The study was conducted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, across the Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, and a descriptive approach was embraced. The study focused on Generation-Z students (18-26 years) enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. A sample of 323 respondents completed the electronic questionnaires distributed through the University's notice system. This study used a nonprobability convenience sampling approach. Questionnaire validity and reliability were assessed through factor analysis and Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the study's results. The results revealed Generation-Z perceptions of social media marketing during covid 19. The perceptions included a number of key dimensions, and these ranked from highest to lowest: trendiness, interaction, convenience, entertainment, customisation and word-of-mouth. These dimensions had a significant impact on purchasing intentions. Trust was identified as a partial mediating variable, emphasising the importance of building trust between social media marketing and purchase intentions. The study provides marketing practitioners with substantial recommendations targeting Generation-Z as a consumer base on social platforms, especially in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape beyond the Covid-19 context.
The entrepreneurial intention development of municipal training programmes: the case of eThekwini small, medium and micro enterprises.
(2023) Mkize, Silindile Samkelokulungileyo.; Kunene, Lindiwe Nqobile.
Small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are contributors to economic development and growth. As such, an emphasis on developing them has been at the forefront of most economic policies across governments. The South African Government has established different institutions and training programmes, in all provinces and municipalities, aimed at nurturing and developing entrepreneurial intention, and supporting small businesses across the country. It is, therefore, crucial to constantly monitor and improve these programmes to ensure they deliver on their intention. Therefore, this study evaluated the entrepreneurial intention (EI) development achieved by the SMME training programmes in eThekwini Municipality. The researcher conducted the study using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a guiding framework to determine whether the curricula design of municipal training programmes for SMMEs in eThekwini influenced EI. Using a mixed-method approach, quantitative data was collected from the SMMEs of eThekwini municipality who have undergone municipal entrepreneurship training programmes to ascertain if they achieved what was intended by the training programmes. Qualitative data was collected from the Small Business Support Unit (SBSU) in eThekwini municipality to study the curricula development and appropriateness of the programmes. Documents were systematically examined as secondary qualitative data. The findings indicate that SMME EI was well developed by the training programmes, but SMMEs lacked business- offering transformation. The SBSU’s role in developing EI is incomplete, as there is no monitoring and evaluation to assess EI development. It was discovered that the curricula design of the SMME training programmes had a positive impact on SMMEs’ attitude. However, the SBSU had no direct influence on the attitude of SMMEs. SBSU is not involved in the curricula design of SMME training programmes. It was further found that SMMEs perceived behavioral control (PBC) towards developing EI is good. SBSU work well in ensuring that SMMEs’ PBC develops through numerous strategies. The findings provide insight into the EI development capability of the programmes, and where they are lacking. The data assists in correcting and redesigning the programmes where it is required. The study plays a role in informing policy makers on policy decisions that relate to economic development and entrepreneurship in South Africa.
Work motivation and employee engagement at a state-owned enterprise in Richards Bay.
(2024) Xulu, Lungile Sinethemba.; Maharaj, Ashika.
The study aimed to explore the relationship between work motivation and employee engagement at a selected parastatal organisation in Richards Bay, South Africa. Employees are a company's greatest asset, and increasing their motivation and engagement is essential for corporate expansion. Organisations are confronted with several difficulties, including high absenteeism rates, low productivity, and high labour turnover rates which are related to low employee engagement and a lack of motivation at work. The following theories were used in the study, that is Herzberg's Two Factor Theory and Alderfer's ERG Theory, both of which recognize the components that are related to motivation. The researcher selected Kahn’s Need Satisfying approach, Job Demand Resource Model (2007)and Lawrence & Nohria's Four Drive Theory (2002) to unpack the factors of employee engagement. A quantitative research approach was adopted to collect primary data in the form of questionnaires. Standardized questionnaires namely the revised Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) were used to measure employee engagement and they were distributed electronically and manually. The Work Preference Inventory was employed to evaluate both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 24 was used to analyze the data since it enabled data analysis and statistical test execution. The research population consisted of 329 junior employees from the parastatal the”Krejcie and morgan model” suggested that 180 participants was appropriate for the study. The researcher received 93 responses. The findings show that only 52% of the employees feel like they are bursting with energy as they are not motivated, while approximately 48% feel happy when they are working intensely. Only 41% indicated that they feel like going to work every day. The study found about 54% of the respondents enjoy trying to solve complex problems at their workplace, while about 56% enjoy tackling problems that are completely new to them. The Work Preference Inventory, which measures intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in individuals, is built to be reliable as it captures the key components of the intrinsic drive, which are self-determination, competence, and work participation. The study concluded that motivation was related to needs satisfaction and a product that comes from a cognitively conscious decision. Given the limitations of the research and operational nature of the parastatal setting, it proved difficult to get questionnaires promptly as the employees follow a shift schedule. The study recommended the need for organisations to involve employees in decision-making to address employee engagement and employee motivation. It further recommends the need to invest in the two constructs.

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