School of Economics and Finance

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Browsing School of Economics and Finance by Author "Callaghan, CW"

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    Call centre job differences
    (2014) Jansen, A; Callaghan, CW
    This research tested theory that predicted differences in the relationships between perceptions of management, satisfaction and performance by call centre job type. A sample of a hundred and ninety respondents was drawn from South African call centres. Findings suggest that outbound call centre agents are significantly more job dissatisfied than inbound agents, along certain dimensions. Outbound agents, sales agents and after service agents were found to rate their performance quality significantly lower than the rest of the cohort; in contrast, inbound agents and customer queries agents were found to rate their performance more highly. On the basis of the findings it is argued that assumptions of homogeneity in call centre work is problematic. It is recommended that different management strategies be built around different types of call centre work, that are responsive to the needs of those engaged in each type of work. It is also recommended that job enrichment be applied to all types of call centre work to potentially increase variability in tasks, which might increase autonomy and job satisfaction in this type of work.
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    Doctoral and Masters Supervision: The potential role of self-efficacy
    (2014) Callaghan, CW
    This research investigated the potential contribution of self-efficacy and different forms of experience to the numbers of sucessful doctoral and masters degree supervisions of academics. Using a comprehensive purposive sampling procedure, academics at a large South African higher educational institution were sampled; 225 responses were received. Spearman Rho tests of association, Pearson partial correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were used to test the relationships between different types of self-efficacy, together with different forms of experience, and measures of doctoral and masters degree supervisions. Findings suggest that self-efficacy accounts for variance in doctoral and masters degree supervisions over and above the contribution of years of experience as a researcher, job satisfaction, gender and the number of people reporting to an individual. However, the effect of self-efficacy might only be significant up and until the point that an individual gains sufficient supervisory experience, of one form or the other (doctoral or masters degree supervision). Male academics are found to supervise more doctoral students. Individuals that supervise more doctoral students are found to have significantly higher levels of self-efficacy relating to statistical analysis.
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    A new probabilistic problem-solving paradigm: A conceptual critical reflection.
    (2014) Callaghan, CW
    For Coase, organisations exist because they manage resources more efficiently than markets can. In contrast, for Grant, organisations exist because they are more efficient at integrating knowledge. Therefore, according to Grant, certain types of knowledge, such as tacit knowledge, cannot be transferred efficiently; problem solving therefore needs to be devolved to the level of the individual. Similarly, the work of Hayek and von Hippel suggests that knowledge is ‘sticky’ and cannot easily be transferred. In this paper the argument is made that a second generation of problem solving research and development management systems need to be developed; as a global system of distributed problem solving, in order to be able to deal with specific types of problems, termed ‘catastrophic events’, that may arise.
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    R&D failure and second generation R&D: New potentialities
    (2014) Callaghan, CW
    Ample incentives exist for firms to pursue product, service, or process innovations to increase their profitability. In contrast, few incentives exist for firms to pursue innovations that provide social externalities if these are not inherently profitable. This article provides an argument that first generation research and development (R&D), or R&D that does not utilise economies of scale (as second generation R&D does), cannot effectively provide societal innovation that is not incentivised by market forces. An example of an alternative model for global societal problem solving, based on second generation R&D, is offered.
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    Research productivity and values
    (2014) Callaghan, CW
    According to the predictions of convergence theory, the implementation of best practices derived from the global context has been found to be associated with increased performance for both individuals and organisations. However, the values systems of individuals and within organisations have been found to constrain the adoption of best practices. This research tested Schwartz’s basic human values theory and the specific influence of basic human values upon individual work performance in the form of research productivity. The self-enhancement dimension of hedonism was found to be negatively associated with Thompson Reuters (Institute for Scientific Information) and ProQuest International Bibliography of the Social Sciences accredited journal article publication; Department of Education accredited journal article publication; conference proceedings publication; conference presentations and book chapter publication. Worryingly, openness to change values were not found to be associated with higher levels of research productivity. These results are taken to support Kuhn’s theory of paradigmatic values constraints to knowledge creation and scepticism as to the extent to which scientific research productivity is indeed inherently objective or innovative in nature. Recommendations for research practitioners and for further research are offered.
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    A Segmentation of Mall Shopping Motivations in the South African Gauteng Provincial Context
    (2014) Jogee, R; Callaghan, CW
    Consumer markets, globally, exhibit increasing diversity. Shopping malls that do not take cognisance of this diversity, along all appropriate dimensions, can lose market share to competitors that do. Despite extensive literature that is based on research done in other countries, absent from the South African literature is a current typology of market segmentation of mall consumers by mall shopping motivations. Using a sample of 224 mall consumers drawn from Gauteng, the economic hub of the country, k-means segmentation was used to test theory that relates different characteristics of consumers and their mall choices. On the basis of this analysis, a typology of shopping mall consumers is developed according to their preferences, or motivations, for mall shopping. Six different segments were found to be associated with different mall shopping preferences and other characteristics. These segments were classified as ‘Low Engagement Shoppers’; ‘Mean Oriented Shoppers’; ‘Brand Oriented Shoppers’; ‘Utilitarian Oriented Shoppers’ and ‘Ascetic Oriented Shoppers’. It is argued that knowledge of such typologies may be important in the South African context due to the increasing societal diversity that malls need to be able to take advantage of in an increasingly competitive environment.