Competitiveness and social redress at the Monte Vista Hollywood, and Sugar Mill casinos in KwaZulu Natal.

Abstract

Organisations in South Africa are facing many local and global pressures for reconfiguration through various interventions that encourage global integration and competitiveness, and simultaneously aim to promote social redress and empowerment of the previously disadvantaged in the region. Organisations are required to achieve global competitiveness and economic success, as well as simultaneously allow for redistribution. The aim of the research reported on here, was to explore the influences of local and global trends on the structures and practices of organisations. Questions were asked about the imperatives behind these dynamics specifically those of global competitiveness and local redress, as well as the feasibility of realising these apparently contradictory demands. This was done through a case study of the Monte Vista Hollywood and Sugar Mill Casinos in KwaZulu-Natal, and a comparison with U.S. Indian Reservation casinos. The research findings showed that the responses to the global pressures of competitiveness and local pressures of social redress used by the two casinos, were at times contradictory, questioning whether the industry would have the envisaged positive impacts of economic growth and social redistribution. However, clear answers to these were not forthcoming due to the lack of reliable information, suggesting further research into the topic.