Electronic Theses and Dissertations (PhDs)

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A phenomenological study of female entrepreneurial identity, aspiration, and success in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Mlotshwa, Semukele Hellen; Murimbika, McEdward
Background: The rise of identity movements or politics may seem sudden in modern culture, revolutionary in a sense as the world witnesses the reordering of group and group affinity discourse from the #MeToo, #BLM to trans activism. Yet in academic milieu of disciplines such as entrepreneurship, traditional scholarship seems to be stunted in failure to accept that social narratives, group or tribal self-identification, definition and identity are as important in defining history just like any other underlying socio-cultural and economic forces. This is captured well in entrepreneurship scholarship where the discipline is still struggling to build a reliable definition of female entrepreneurship applicable to both developed and developing countries and its effect on their respective economies. There is no unified female entrepreneurship discourse nor a discursive space that effectively accommodate female entrepreneurship interest groups. South Africa as an emerging African economy has not be spared this anomaly where, researchers have paid little attention to women's contributions to socioeconomic well-being through entrepreneurial activity. Although there is a multitude of female-centric debates and policies, their application seems largely rhetorical further accentuating the fragmentation of the entrepreneurship with respect to women participation. This gives the impression that studying female entrepreneurs is the study of the “other”. It is these challenges that inspired this research to explore the phenomenon of female entrepreneurship specifically how they self-identify, set, or define their aspirations and what they consider to be entrepreneurial success. The study goes beyond the dominant quantifiable content of entrepreneurship but rather emphasises the meaning content of entrepreneurship (i.e., nature and characteristics) from female entrepreneurs’ experiences and perspectives of their entrepreneurial practices. Methods: Utilising semi-structured in-depth individual interviews, group meetings, business visits with participants, a qualitative study was conducted using a two-phased phenomenological approach with thirty-five female entrepreneurs in South Africa. The data was analysed in two phases: first, through summative analyses aided by ATLAS.ti version 9.1 data analysis software program and second phase focused on seven participants was through explorative, descriptive qualitative approach. Results: Key themes identified from the data analysis in the two-phased approach were: participative entrepreneurship; resilience and relationship-focused entrepreneurial practice; creativity, resource, and venture control; personal dimension, access to resources and growth; entrepreneurial role, influencers and professional autonomy; market acceptance, self-fulfilment, work-life balance, and financial achievement. Female entrepreneurs simultaneously build, balance, and manage a wide range of entrepreneurial ventures of varying sizes across sectors while maintain both role and social identities. They have diverse entrepreneurial aspirations for personal and collective growth, while defining entrepreneurial success more widely than the present subjective and objective measurements prevalent in extant literature. While others still see their entrepreneurial identities in the male-centric constructs, this phenomenological study illustrates that these generic and traditional male-centric constructs do not adequately captures female entrepreneurial experiences. There is a distinct exhibition of strong personality traits, a high need for achievement, determination as well as perseverance in pursuit of success broadly defined beyond bank balances and turn-over. Women entrepreneurs also express strong views on earning high returns and income to not only grow their business but support their employees, communities, themselves, and their families. Conclusion: Female entrepreneurs in the South African context do not seem to limit their entrepreneurial identities to those in extant definitions based on male-centric metrics. They aspire to build ventures, build and maintain entrepreneurial role identity but not in isolation from their other social identities such gender roles as daughters, sisters, mothers, partners, family builders and leaders, female role models and community leaders. Success is measured beyond the financial and allied subjective measures but is tied to other social identity constructs while accounting for role identity related outcomes such financial achievements, professional legitimacy and acknowledgement, and personal growth. Future studies should test the conceptual model and associated conceptual thresholds proposed in this study on the relationships between identity, aspirations, and perceptions of success by subjecting them to empirical tests. The study provided novel distinctive traits of female entrepreneurs that can provide researchers with improved and inclusive entrepreneurial identity constructs, new measures of entrepreneurial success beyond the dominance of financial super-profits focus which do not consider the other equally important societal measures such as gender equity, sustainability, societal impact, and inclusivity at all levels of entrepreneurship in society. The thesis closes by arguing that the discipline of entrepreneurship needs to be continuously creative, rather than reactive; problematisation of new issues such as addressing female identity, their respective aspirations and perceptions of what success looks like. Only then can the discipline of entrepreneurship continue to be relevant to the present with a future focus without the trap of relativisation of the discipline both in research and practice
A series of experimental analyses into the Disposition Effect and its manifestations among South African investor teams
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Shandu, Philani; Alagidede, Ihmotep
In behavioural finance literature, there is a significant amount of both empirical and experimental evidence to suggest that prior outcomes impact investment decisions through cognitive biases which most (if not all) human investors succumb to. Among the most pervasive of these biases is the disposition effect, which manifests as the tendency of the investor to sell winning stocks too soon and hold on to losing stocks for too long (Shefrin and Statman, 1985). Critically, the disposition effect is understood to lead to suboptimal portfolio returns (i.e., suboptimal levels of investor welfare). While there have been several studies in other emerging markets, studies remain few in Africa and do not address some of the important issues underpinning the intensity and nature of the disposition effect among African investors. This thesis responds to this gap by designing and analysing several field experiments which explore causal relationships between psycho-social, public health-related, and socio-political factors and the emergence, prevalence, and intensity of the disposition effect among South African university student investor teams participating in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 runs of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Investment Challenge. The thesis is organised into three experimental studies, each speaking to specific theme/s that form the research’s core objective while employing unique data and sound econometric techniques known to be relevant to experimental analysis in finance studies. The first study in Chapter 2 of the thesis endeavours to determine (i) whether the disposition effect exists among South African investor teams, (ii) whether it is causally intensified by a set of psycho-social factors, and (iii) whether the disposition effect causally reduces investor welfare. Among the study’s main findings are that South African investor teams are susceptible to the disposition effect, and that their susceptibility to the bias causally attenuates their investor welfare. Furthermore, low female representation in an investor team is found to causally intensify the disposition effect, subsequently leading to a decrease in investor welfare. Using ii evidence from real-world observation, the study contributes to the literature on team gender diversity and investment decision-making, and – using Hofstede’s (2001) cultural dimensions – it offers a comprehensive account for how differences in culture may lead to differences in gender-related disposition effects across different nationalities. The study also introduces to the literature experimental evidence from the field that clearly demonstrates that – among South African investor teams – a causal relationship exists (i) between female representation and the disposition effect, and (ii) between the disposition effect and investor welfare.
A theory of virtual culture formation
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Chitondo, Margaret Zvobgo; Carmichael, Terri
This research focused on the formation of organisational culture in virtual work teams that exist within the context of a virtual organisation. The concept of organisational culture has been studied since the late 1970s in traditional work contexts. Several studies have subsequently been carried out on the factors influencing and the processes involved in the formation of culture within the context of traditional brick and mortar workplaces. This study focused on the formation of culture in virtual organisations, which have become commonplace in the 21st century and whose key characteristics are technological enablement as well as geographic and spatial distribution. A sensitising literature review was presented to locate the study within the current discourse of organisational culture, process theory and virtual work teams within virtual organisations. A constructivist grounded theory study was carried out to investigate the phenomenon of culture formation in virtual organisations using respondents who were at the time working as part of a virtual team within a virtual organisation. Data from 18 interviewed participants and five sets of archival records were collected and analysed theoretically. The results of the study were integrated with extant literature to find that organisational culture within virtual contexts developed through managing the core theme of virtuality and by dealing with virtuality while maintaining organisational effectiveness and managing interpersonal relationships. The findings from this research are expected to inform stakeholders so that they may better anticipate, facilitate and r respond to organisational culture development within a virtual organisation context.
An exploratory study of creating opportunities out of solving societal challenges in the South African banking sector: A Creating Shared Value perspective
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Moloi, Tsele; Horne, Renee
The purpose of this study is to explore the Creating Shared Value (CSV) practices that the South African banking sector undertakes to create business opportunities out of solving societal challenges. Anchored on stakeholder theory, the study seeks to establish this potential link between the opportunity concept and societal challenges by deploying the qualitative multiple case study analysis of four major banks and the banking association of South Africa (BASA). The study proposes a CSV-opportunity conceptual framework. The research relied on a multi- method approach, including preliminary interviews, semi-structured in-depth interviews, document analysis, and field notes to collect qualitative data. Thematic content analysis and coding were deployed. The empirical findings suggest that CSV is mostly motivated and driven from a responsive business case (regulatory compliance, risk management, societal contract and legitimacy), a compelling societal case (desire for societal change), corporate societal initiatives (CSR, corporate philanthropy, corporate sponsorships) and a compelling business case (business opportunity). However, the compelling business case comes as a by-product or an after-thought of these other motivating factors. These motivating factors are leveraged as transitional vehicle and enabler of CSV business opportunities. This means that within social constructivism view, business opportunities are created regardless of the motivating driving factors. Findings further indicate that CSV is seen and understood as an extension of other related concepts. Most importantly, CSV is understood as an extension of the transformation of the banking sector and society to ensure that it is inclusive of many previously marginalised as a result of the country’s history of apartheid and its skewed economic activity. The empirical evidence shows that the stakeholder co-creation nature of CSV is both internal and external. Unlike CSV pioneers who presupposed CSV as a Utopian concept, free of trade- offs and challenges, the empirical results indicate a CSV that is fraught with both internal and external challenges. Internal challenges include measurement and trade-off challenges between business and society. The external challenges include external stakeholder co-creation and other external issues such as the deep-seated structural challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality facing South Africa, all of which appear to hinder CSV interventions. Through the newly proposed CSV-opportunity framework, this study contributes to theory and practice. The study further demonstrates that CSV is indeed a social constructionist phenomenon where opportunity is subjectively constructed through actions and interactions with the social world
An intersectionality of race and ethnicity: the glass ceiling in the banking sector in Kenya and South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Genga, Cheryl Akinyi Margaret; Maier, Christoph
Even though progress has been made in the Kenyan and South African banking sector, Black African women remain a minority in Top Executive leadership positions. Previous research on the “glass ceiling” focuses on Black African women as one homogenous group not acknowledging the diversity dimensions of Black African women from Africa. Invisible factors such as race and ethnicity have been stated to contribute to the glass ceiling in the banking sector, yet this has not been investigated making Black African women more invisible. This research primarily aims to provide an understanding of the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and career advancement of Black African women in the Kenyan and South African banking sector. This research further aims: to describe the obstacles that Black African women still face, to analyse the diversity of Black African women in management, to identify the reasons as to why some Black African women have been able to crack the glass ceiling in the Kenyan and South African banking sector and to give recommendations to stakeholders as to how they can help crack the glass ceiling for Black African women in the Kenyan and South African banking sector. To address the research objectives, this research applied a qualitative Intercatergorical Intersectionality Approach to provide an understanding of the relationship between race, ethnicity, and gender in the Kenyan and South African banking sector. This was facilitated by the use of semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups that were carried out with the participantsbeing Black African women managers in the Kenyan and South African banking sector in Nairobi and Johannesburg, respectively. Data collected from the interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis in which themes and patterns were identified to address the research objectives. Firstly, findings from the research illustrated a relationship between race, ethnicity, and gender. The extent of the relationship between race, ethnicity, and gender was discussed by the role of race, the role of ethnicity, the intersectionality of race and gender, and the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and gender in the career advancement of Black African women in the Kenyan and South African banking sector. Secondly, the findings identified the obstacles that Black African women still face in the banking sector, which were discussed and described into three groups: Black African women are their own worst enemies in the banking sector. Thirdly, the findings illustrated the diversity dimensions of Black African women managers from the Kenyan and South African banking sector in relation to their race, ethnicity, and the positions that they held in the banks they were working for. Fourthly, the findings highlighted reasons as to why some Black African women managers had cracked the glass ceiling (discussed with the use of the glass ceiling scale). Fifthly, the findings recommend that stakeholders have to be fully committed if they want to help Black African women crack the glass ceiling in the Kenyan and South African banking sector. In conclusion, through the findings, this research provides a conceptual framework to understand the glass ceiling in relation to the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and gender of Black African women in the Kenyan and South African banking sector
Antecedents and consequences of online customer brand engagement in business-to-business in an emerging market
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sibanda, Tonderai Gilbert; Yvonne Kabeya , Saini
The purpose of the research is to study the antecedents and consequences of online CBE in the context of emerging markets and B2B. The role of mediators between CBE and its consequences is yet to be fully explored. CBE has not been studied much in the B2B context in emerging markets. Data was collected from ICT decision makers in South African and Kenya through an online survey on Qualtrics. In total, four studies were done, namely, a pilot study in South Africa, two main studies in South Africa using different samples and the last one in Kenya. A PLS structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed to test the hypothesis using SmartPLS4. A mediation analysis was done to check the effect on mediators between online CBE and its consequences. The research shows that involvement, brand equity, participation and brand love are antecedents of online CBE. Relationship quality amplifies the effect of online CBE on its consequences, namely loyalty, brand advocacy, brand preference and purchase intention. This research provides business and brand managers with ideas on how to approach online CBE in B2B. It shows that a multidimensional approach to online CBE is better because each of the online CBE components are affected by the antecedents differently and each one has a different effect on the consequences. Mediators amplify the effect of online CBE on its consequences. This thesis makes a contribution in four ways: a) It makes an incremental scholarly contribution by bringing together constructs from various cognate theories and study areas relating to relationship management; and investigates how the predictors of customer brand engagement and how customer brand engagement predicts the outcome variables, b) It makes a practical contribution in the sense that it adds to our understanding of the factors that influence customer brand engagement and the expected outcomes of customer brand engagement in practice, c) It also makes a contribution relating to the study of emerging market contexts by drawing data from more than one emerging market country, namely, South Africa and Kenya d) The thesis delves into highly significant and relevant topics, with a notable focus on introducing the construct (CBE) in the B2B context, ii incorporating data from emerging markets. This pioneering inclusion of CBE in a new context highlights the thesis's exceptional contribution, as well as originality, bridging a research gap and expanding knowledge in the field.
Antecedents of Social Networks and their Influence on the Propensity of Academic Entrepreneurs to Develop Successful Spin-Off Ventures
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Seely, Derek; Urban, Boris
There is an ongoing discussion about potentially commercialisable academic research not resulting in effective commercialisation in South Africa. This research adds to the body of knowledge by considering the role that an individual academic entrepreneur's social network plays in the spin-off process. The purpose of research is to improve our understanding of the social networks used by academic researchers that enable them to identify and commercialise their innovative research and commercialise it within the university context through the formation of an entrepreneurial spin-off. The study followed a quantitative methodological approach to establish the role of these networks in spin-off development and was actualised using a cross-sectional survey. Respondents were self-identified academic entrepreneurs, drawn from South African academic institutions. The research considered assumptions that research mobilisation, collaboration, unconventionality, university support, bureaucracy and the aspirations of the academic entrepreneur impact spin-off success. The study results provided a conceptual framework that integrates and enhances spin-off success using the academic entrepreneur's social network while enhancing entrepreneurial spin-off theory. The research showed that the existence of a triple helix is insufficient on its own to create a successful spin-off by providing insight on the networks needed for success. Further, the study clarified the importance of individual-level characteristics that are important for academic entrepreneurship to succeed. The outcomes highlighted that research mobilisation, collaboration, risk taking activities, bureaucracy and academic aspirations have significant implications for successful academic entrepreneurship. These findings are noteworthy as the research has been conducted across disciplines and universities with vastly different resource availabilities
Banking industry response to competition from the financial inclusion paradigm in Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Kamau, Simon Muhia; Ojah, Kalu
This study examines the effects of increased competition from microfinance institutions (MFIs)– reflective of the financial inclusion paradigm – on commercial banks in Africa. More specifically, I analyze the banking industry’s response to competition for financial inclusion and how the response affects the cost efficiency, asset portfolio risk, and social outreach (performance) of the banking industry. I employ panel data comprising 16 countries that possess the most advanced national banking markets in Africa, for the period 2010-2017. Fixed effects model (FE), Fractional Probit regression method (FRM), and Generalized methods of moments (GMM) are variously the main estimation techniques. I find that banks are responding to the competition for financial inclusion by increasing the supply of credit to households and SMEs, in support of the market power hypothesis of competition. Furthermore, estimation results show strong evidence that increased supply of credits to households and SMEs, in response to competition for financial inclusion, contributes positively to the banking industry’s cost-efficiency. Additionally, results suggest that increased bank lending to households and SMEs has a negative but statistically insignificant effect on banking stability. Interestingly, additional results indicate that banks’ positive response to the financial inclusion paradigm is mainly limited to the relatively wealthier segment of the low-income population. Moreover, these findings are robust to using alternative measures of competition for financial inclusion, and banking industry response, among several other robustness checks. From these results and more, I recommend policies such as enabling access to borrowers' information and supporting the development of financial market infrastructure, in order to promote competition in providing financial services to the low-income market and further drive financial inclusion. I also recommend the adoption of improved and proactive regulatory measures to ensure that competition for financial inclusion does not compromise the stability of the banking industry. Lastly, I propose policies that would ensure that competition for financial inclusion does not hurt outreach to the poorest segment of the population, as banks seek to enhance their efficiency while providing financial services to households and SMEs
Bicultural Life Experiences and Career Orientation of South African Indian Women Engineers
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Pillay, Vanishree Nundagopaul; Ndaba, Zanele
The purpose of this research is to explore the bicultural life experiences of South African Indian women engineers and from this, understand how identity experiences in their bicultural context inform their decision to remain in the profession. A review of the relevant literature offered biculturalism within the discourse of Identity Theory, and social cognition stemming from Social Cognitive Career Theory, as the main concepts to guide the trajectory of this investigation. The study is exploratory in nature with a qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 South African Indian women engineers from the public and private domains. Non-probability sampling strategy was adopted and effected through a snowballing technique to purposively secure candidates fitting the eligibility criteria. A narrative analysis of the transcripts was executed in a two-step process. First, by means of a three-part approach consisting of personal, social and temporal dimensions; life stories were unearthed from the interview transcripts in a deductive manner and formulated into a narrative. Secondly, narratives were inductively analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that support from family, coupled with the transformed application of an Indian androcentric cultural value system within the home, positively influenced participants’ socialisation process. This triggered optimistic social cognition that informed high levels of self-efficacy and progressive decision-making. The limited organisational support reported by participants pointed to ubiquitous gender challenges: these negatively impacted professional opportunities and growth. Also clearly evident were perceptions and bias about women in the profession, strongly premised on gender identity, as opposed to racial identity. Motivation to remain an engineer was predicated on: (a) passion for the discipline; (b) career growth and opportunities; and (c) financial independence/empowerment. The findings, and their implications, offer higher education institutions and engineering bodies a point of departure that can inform strategies to motivate female engineers to remain in the profession. The study contributes to the evolving body of knowledge on biculturalism through the bicultural life stories presented by a sample of ethnic minority women who are absent from the literature pertaining to biculturalism. The research offers an assimilated version of Lent and Hackett’s Social Cognitive Career model, represented in a Bicultural Social Career Trajectory, as an understanding of the interplay between identity tags, context, cognitive processing and action behaviour. The sample’s location and nationality impose certain limitations on this study. Participants were South African- born Indian women engineers from three of the country’s nine provinces. Hence, the findings cannot be generalised to South African Indian women engineers from the remaining six provinces, nor to foreign nationals of Indian descent. These limitations offer an opportunity for future research on ethnic minority women of Indian descent, regardless of nationality. This would entail an extended geographical reach to include countries that have a population of Indian womenengineers. Such a study could potentially unearth interesting nuances regarding the bicultural life experiences and career orientation of Indian women engineers on a global scale.
Combining complexity leadership with operational systems and structures for adaptability in South African private hospitals
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Nel, Karen
The global healthcare landscape is complex. The South African Government and various other researchers have highlighted the unequal nature of the healthcare system in South Africa. The system is unsustainable and urgently needs substantial transformation in its current form. As set out by the South African Government, introducing universal healthcare coverage for the whole population is a solution. This will, however, significantly impact and change all role- players relatively quickly, especially for private hospitals. The purpose of this study was to critically examine whether private hospitals in South Africa were positioned for adaptability, considering complexity leadership (with concepts: entrepreneurial leadership, operational leadership and enabling leadership) and operational systems and structures (with concepts: agile, lean and leagile), as an approach to deal with the potential changes. A mixed methods study with an explanatory sequential design was utilised where the quantitative results and sample informed the population and questions of the qualitative study. Additionally, the quantitative results' drivers were identified in the qualitative study, namely causal factors, leadership and operational consequences, and aggravating factors. This study confirmed that the leadership displayed in private hospitals and the operational systems and structures implemented in private hospitals were not aligned with complexity leadership and operational systems and structures as defined in the conceptual model of this study. A unique finding was that operational systems and structures in private hospitals had a significantly higher impact on the hospitals' daily management than the leadership displayed in these hospitals. This was especially evident between managers and non-managers and between clinical and non-clinical employees, with non-clinical employees viewing the impact of the operational systems and structures implemented in hospitals as significantly more impactful than the leadership displayed in these hospitals. Furthermore, it was identified that operational leadership and lean systems and structures were the preferred approaches in private hospitals and negatively impacted the display of entrepreneurial leadership and agile systems and structures in these hospitals. Moreover, it was found that exploitative leadership, which is the leadership approach when dealing with old certainties, labelled as operational leadership in the current complexity leadership framework, should be relabelled a administrative-operational leadership in South African private hospitals, as a result of the hierarchical, autocratic culture. Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the leadership displayed and the operational systems and structures that were implemented in these hospitals, it was identified that employees can either experience disruption in a positive light through an adaptive response supported flexibility, or be traumatised by it when management implemented an order response with increased controls. It was conclusively confirmed that private hospitals in South Africa do not regularly display complexity leadership nor implement operational systems and structures as defined in this study's conceptual model. Four recommendations were made that can assist the private hospital industry in becoming more adaptable. The first recommendation is for the industry to implement CL and OSS as defined by the study's conceptual model. This implementation will naturally develop into an adaptive space. The second recommendation is to overcome the disconnect between industry players, head offices and hospitals, and to increase collaboration. Although the adaptive space will impact this recommendation positively, it has to be driven and supported by senior leadership. The third recommendation is to develop a formal industry framework for adaptability in private hospitals. The fourth recommendation is for the implementation of integrated and applied development programmes for leaders and staff at all levels. The programmes will assist everyone to better understand the relationship between CL, OSS, business acumen, and business success
Competitiveness of South African ICT companies
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Christopher, Anton; Horne, Renee
A key issue facing the South African economy is the competitiveness of the ICT industry. With the growth of ICT multinationals in South Africa, the competitiveness of the local ICT industry is under scrutiny. A grounded theory-based qualitative methodology was deployed by interviewing participants drawn from the South African ICT industry and ICT multinationals in the country. Participants have experience of more than 20 years in ICT industry and worked at executive or senior management level. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation was reached. Data analysis was carried out using ATLAS.ti software. The study indicated that the South African ICT industry is only competitive within the South African ICT service sector, while not being globally competitive in the ICT manufacturing and ICT software development sectors. The study also found that ICT multinationals are competitive because of their strategically valuable resources (SVRs). These resources are both internal and external. External strategically valuable resources (SVRs) are their respective government policies and funding. Internal resources include cost-effectiveness, work ethics and innovation. Some of these resources are country-specific, while others are firm-specific. The study also showed that historically, the South African ICT industry was competitive and possessed strategically valuable resources (SVRs). It was also found that the South African ICT industry still possesses some strategically valuable resources (SVRs), these being mainly in the ICT service sector. Finally, the study also determined a framework of strategically valuable resources (SVRs) that can make the South African ICT industry competitive again. This research makes a significant theoretical contribution by enhancing resource- based theory, doing so by extending the theory – specifically an enhanced resource-based view – to a country and a heterogeneous ICT industry. This research also contributed a theoretical framework to the existing literature on resource-based theory. An empirical contribution is reached by firmly establishing the link between the competitiveness of ICT multinationals and their strategically valuable resources x (SVRs). A methodological contribution is gained by employing grounded theory-based qualitative methodology to research the ICT industry. Finally, the study provides practical recommendations to government policymakers and other stakeholders
Decentralisation in Cameroon and the Anglophones’ Struggle for Autonomy
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Epongo, Emmanuel Makia; Van Nieuwkerk, Anthoni
In Cameroon, decentralisation was introduced in 1996 to promote development, democracy and good governance at the local level. However, decentralisation exacerbated conflicts between the Anglophone minority and the Francophone-majority government, resulting in a civil war in 2017. Therefore, this research explores how the implementation of decentralisation in the two Anglophone regions exacerbated conflicts between the Anglophone minority and the Francophone-majority government. Despite the growing literature on decentralisation and conflicts, very little research has been conducted on conflicts arising from former independent colonial territories that reunited under a federal system and later evolved to a decentralised unitary system, a shortcoming addressed by this research. This study used qualitative methodology and a case study design. The research was conducted at the Kumba and Bamenda city councils in the Southwest and Northwest regions, respectively. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques for semi-structured interviews. Data from interviews, observation and archival documents were merged and analysed through thematic analysis. The findings suggest that decentralisation in the Anglophone regions is more of deconcentration than devolution. Understanding how decentralisation increased intrastate conflict between the Anglophone minority and the Francophone-majority government could have a broader significance for researchers, governments and policymakers seeking to mitigate conflicts, particularly in Africa, with diverse societies prone to intrastate conflicts
Determinants of intrapreneurial performance within the banking industry in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Govender, Thanusha; Urban, B.
The ability for large corporates to remain competitive and grow ahead of the market in an era that has been defined by globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is a critical imperative for organisations to develop a new capability that equips them to navigate the turbulent global macro-economic environment and complex business markets successfully. Globally, banks have experienced severe pressure to transform their business models from capital intense businesses into revenue diversification drivers through new fee-based services. Investors are leaning towards new generation banking models that serve customers holistically, intuitively, and better by employing “new age” technology solutions, as profitability levels within global banks have slipped below the cost of shareholder equity. Coupled with the reality on the ground pre-2020, COVID-19 has become awatershed transformation moment for banks. It has accelerated many long-term banking trends that have resulted in customer shifts in relation to their needs, behaviours and expectations and has subsequently impacted their recovery performance. As such, African banks need to pivot their focus towards growth and relevance by ensuring the establishment of a fundamentally different business model that provides integrated digital ecosystem solutions that go beyond traditional banking, and offer to ensure market competitiveness. Corporate entrepreneurship is a strategic capability that enables organisations to embed innovation as a core competency and simultaneously engage in explorative and exploitative activities, which are essential thrusts in the strategic renewal of a company. This research study enriched the domain of corporate entrepreneurship by deepening the understanding of the mechanisms that underpin the corporate entrepreneurial embedment process, within a dynamic complex organisational setting. This was through the development of a core embedment capability model of corporate entrepreneurship that predicts the value drivers of corporate entrepreneurial performance and explores the contextual corporate entrepreneurship nuances attributed to banking corporations domiciled in Africa. This study importantly furthered contextual setting theory development and shed light over the heterogeneity of corporate entrepreneurship, which arose due to an idiosyncratic corporate entrepreneurship embedment process. This process consists of institutional path dependencies that resulted from gradations in the macro, meso, and micro layers. The model and theories emanating from this study not only aimed to bridge the research gap by exploring the dynamic complexity of corporate entrepreneurship, but also assessed the knowledge transfer of market intelligence into corporate entrepreneurial performance, and the significance of network ties in developing countries as an influencer of corporate entrepreneurial activity. In this research study, the levels of corporate entrepreneurship within the financial services sector of companies domiciled in South Africa were analysed to determine the quantum of influence that organisational, individual, and environmental antecedent factors have as predictors of corporate entrepreneurial performance. This was a precursor to crafting an embedment capability model that would enable financial services organisations to embed a corporate entrepreneurial ecosystem systematically, and enable effective and agile corporate entrepreneurial transformation. The research purpose was achieved by employing a three-prong approach. First, a configurational method was applied to existing literature to consolidate prevailing theories and to integrate existing models and frameworks as a basis of the proposed theoretical model. Second, the theoretical model was empirically tested using partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to validate the model and to establish causal relational influence among the three different sets of antecedent variables. This would determine their quantum of impact on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Finally, an optimal configuration was proposed as a premise to describe and predict corporate entrepreneurial performance as a function of system thinking. The empirical evidence from this study validated that the most significant transformational driver of corporate entrepreneurial activity within incumbents remained organisational antecedents and entrepreneurial corporate strategy as the bedrock of a corporate entrepreneurial embedment ecosystem. Its singular effect on corporate entrepreneurial activity was circa five times larger than any other predictor within the corporate entrepreneurial embedment ecosystem. This was flanked equally by employee enablement of the corporate entrepreneurial strategy and the execution of the corporate entrepreneurial strategy. Employee enablement consisted of two supporting predictors, namely, the decisions and behaviours of transformation leaders, and the entrepreneurial cognitive horsepower of employees to develop initiatives and formulate strategic plans that enable the delivery of the corporate entrepreneurial strategy. Strategy execution encompassed two underpinning predictors, namely, the implementation of an organic organisational structure and the deployment of novel resource recipes to build new capabilities and adjacent capabilities to a firm’s core offering. Considering the nuances in the African operating environment, both macro level antecedents and network ties were deemed non-significant direct value drivers of corporate entrepreneurial performance within African banks.
Determinants of intrapreneurial performance within the banking industry in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Govender, Thanusha; B, Urban
The ability for large corporates to remain competitive and grow ahead of the market in an era that has been defined by globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is a critical imperative for organisations to develop a new capability that equips them to navigate the turbulent global macro-economic environment and complex business markets successfully. Globally, banks have experienced severe pressure to transform their business models from capital intense businesses into revenue diversification drivers through new fee-based services. Investors are leaning towards new generation banking models that serve customers holistically, intuitively, and better by employing “new age” technology solutions, as profitability levels within global banks have slipped below the cost of shareholder equity. Coupled with the reality on the ground pre-2020, COVID-19 has become a watershed transformation moment for banks. It has accelerated many long-term banking trends that have resulted in customer shifts in relation to their needs, behaviours and expectations and has subsequently impacted their recovery performance. As such, African banks need to pivot their focus towards growth and relevance by ensuring the establishment of a fundamentally different business model that provides integrated digital ecosystem solutions that go beyond traditional banking, and offer to ensure market competitiveness. Corporate entrepreneurship is a strategic capability that enables organisations to embed innovation as a core competency and simultaneously engage in explorative and exploitative activities, which are essential thrusts in the strategic renewal of a company
Digital Collaborative Consumption in an emerging market: South African food delivery services
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Tinayeshe, Shumba; Saruchera, Fanny
Many consumers have complained about food delivery services. The applications make double payments, and sometimes, the call centres are not easily accessible. Orders get mixed up, and sometimes food is delivered to the wrong addresses. Digital collaborative consumption (DCC) enables consumers to share products and services instead of owning them. A new and rapidly growing class of business models uses digitally mediated platforms to facilitate the DCC of goods and services. Smartphones' development and their rapid spread suggest that these business models could address typical low capital formation and high unemployment in emerging markets (EMs). However, although DCC is integral to daily life in emerging marketplaces, very little is known about DCC business models. The research aimed to evaluate the impact of DCC in the food delivery industry in emerging markets, focusing on South Africa. To achieve this goal, the study specifically aimed at assessing the drivers and deterrents of digital collaborative consumption in the food delivery industry, the impact of the DCC business model and develope a conceptual model which explains and predict consumer attitudes and buying intentions in EMs. Data was collected from 828 participants using validated instruments from South Africa. The theorised relations were assessed simultaneously using structural equation modelling. Models were fit to item covariance matrices using robust maximum likelihood estimation in Mplus, version 7. The research advanced the understanding of DCC to make conceptual, methodological, empirical, and practical contributions. Conceptually, the study included cognitive response and attitudes as potential mediators of DCC drivers in EMs. Empirically, the study brought together variables and relations not previously studied in EMs, including environmental influences and individual differences influencing consumer adoption. Methodologically, a new scale measuring DCC was developed from existing scales, assessed rigorously using confirmatory factor analysis, and showed good measurement properties. Home delivery, economic benefits, social benefits and security assurance strongly influenced the intention to continue using the DCC business model, while trust in the platform showed a non-significant relationship. Practically, the effect size estimates suggested that home delivery, economic benefits, Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and security assurance have practical relevance for marketing strategies and reshaping public policy in DCC. The study recommends approaches that the research institutes, government, policymakers and business leaders can use to unlock opportunities and get new guidance on this rapidly growing business model in EMs
Empirical essays on exchange rate dynamics in large emerging market economies
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Iwegbunam, Ifeoma Anthonia; Odei-Mensah, Jones
This study investigates the impact of exchange rate volatility on international trade flows using disaggregated industrial trade data, the effects of nominal exchange rate changes on the validity of real interest rate parity conditions, and the effects of monetary policy responses on real effective exchange rate volatility in large emerging market economies (LEMEs) were also examined. As part of countries with convertible currencies, the exchange rate plays a vital role in LEMEs’ economic activities, including engagement in the global markets. The countries’ participation in international trade and financial markets has improved since the liberalisation of global markets at the end of the Bretton Woods era. However, just as they have enjoyed and recorded tremendous successes through economic openness, lack of suitable monetary policy makes LEMEs susceptible to external global contagion shocks ranging from financial crises to interest rate hikes or monetary policy changes in foreign countries. As commodity-dependent countries with increased exchange rate volatility, LEMEs have not benefited profitably from participating in international trade compared to their comparative advantages, such as abundant natural resources, human capacity, skills and production capacity. Moreover, the economies also suffer from internal policy instabilities and other systemic challenges that weaken the institutions and worsen the external challenges faced by LEMEs. All these problems are believed to result from increased exchange rate volatility prevalent in LEMEs. As such, problems related to exchange rate volatility and its impacts on international trade flows in LEMEs have lingered on for years as economic and financial instabilities widened. These challenges can be viewed from increased levels of current account deficits, the rising balance of payment disequilibrium, market imperfections such as asymmetric information, uncertainties leading to increased risk aversion, and systemic imbalances faced by LEMEs. This implies that growth recorded from economic openness have not shielded LEMEs from exchange rate volatility, monetary policy instabilities and economic sustainability challenges. Therefore, whether LEMEs should adopt unconventional monetary policies that suit the characteristics of the economies or the fixed exchange rate regime to mitigate exchange rate volatility and the associated negative effects remains conflicted. The way forward can only be determined by examining the impacts of exchange rate volatility on international trade flows in LEMEs. These unanswered questions have also left the economies hanging as the ripple effects result in real interest rate parity deviations. This reflects the assumption that when financial flows are restricted in economies, the chances of deviation in real interest rate parity increase. Additionally, recorded financial crises since financial market liberalisation also affect exchange rates in countries with convertible currencies. LEMEs are undoubtedly vulnerable to external contagion effects due to the poor-quality financial systems in the economies. Furthermore, research has shown that countries with underdeveloped financial systems remain trapped in vicious cycles affecting their global market performance. However, achieving real interest rate parity conditions is essential and requires standards for adequate capital mobility and efficient market integration. Since achieving real interest rate parity conditions seems implausible due to challenges faced by LEMEs, it would be insightful to explore the possibility of such parity conditions holding amid monetary policy reforms that result in nominal exchange rate regime changes in LEMEs. The problems related to the impacts of exchange rate volatility on international trade flows and achieving real interest rate parity conditions in LEMEs beg for an answer on how monetary policy should be strengthened to suit LEMEs’ financial stability agenda. Over the years, the attempt to restructure LEMEs’ financial systems through monetary policy reform has constituted a significant discussion. Considering that LEMEs suffer institutional setbacks caused by increasing price variability, a poor policy framework, underdeveloped financial systems, and institutional imbalances through exchange rate volatility. Adjusting how monetary policy responds to real effective exchange rate volatility vis-a-vis the inflation targeting (IT) framework guided by the Taylor policy rule does not seem to be the answer. Arguments have been presented regarding the practicability of the Taylor rule in LEMEs, considering the developmental level of policies in these economies. Moreover, there are concerns that the Taylor rule is limited, lacks some macroeconomic instruments that cater to the disadvantages associated with LEMEs, and might not adequately capture the relevant factors needed to restructure monetary policy
Empirical Evaluation of the Possible Impacts of the Transformation of Microfinance Institutions in Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Karuitha, John King’athia
This dissertation explores the impacts of Microfinance Institutions’ (MFIs) trans- formation from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) model to profit-seeking commercial firms’ model. Specifically, the research examines the drivers of this MFI operating model transformation and the transformation’s attendant effects on financial inclusion in Africa. The study also explores the drivers of financial efficiency, social efficiency and joint socio-financial efficiency of Africa’s MFIs. Lastly, the study examines the prevailing financing structures of Africa’s MFIs and the factors associated with these MFIs’ choice of financing alternatives. Fundamentally, older MFIs and MFIs in civil law countries are more likely to convert their operational mode from the conventional NGO model to the for- profit, financially sustainable model. Additionally, larger MFIs and MFIs located in countries with “other” legal traditions and better institutional quality, are more likely to transform. However, stock market size negatively relates to the odds of transformation. Interestingly, the transformation to the for-profit model negatively affects the depth of MFIs’ outreach. MFIs with NGO-based models reach more women and advance smaller denomination loans. Similarly, NGO- type MFIs have markedly better social efficiency and socio-financial efficiency scores than other MFIs models. Only cooperatives and rural banks consistently outperform traditional NGO-type MFIs in financial efficiency. Stock market and private credit market sizes, proxies for financial sector development, negatively affect social and socio-financial efficiencies. Most MFIs in Africa attain both financial and social goals. However, rural banks and NGO-type MFIs are more likely to achieve the dual goals than other MFI legal forms. Age, size, financial development, institutional quality, legal tradition, and legal status are statistically significant factors in MFIs attaining joint financial and social objectives. Furthermore, at the firm level, size, age, legal status, and profitability drive MFIs’ choice of financing alternatives. For example, asset structure varies inversely with leverage. And at the country level, institutional quality varies inversely with deposits and donations, respectively. Overall, most of these results indicate that the transformation of MFIs in Africa, does not necessarily lead to financial sustainability; instead, it appears to be harmful to the financial inclusion goal. There also seems to exist a need to craft better financing models for MFIs to support their twin objectives of social outreach and sustainabiliy
Entrepreneurial Orientation and Performance within the South African Minibus Taxi Industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Kier, Jessica; Urban, Boris
The primary purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation within the South African minibus taxi industry. This industry is pivotal to the South African economic structure and landscape as a whole. The taxi industry serves as the main mode of public transport in South Africa. A survey was used to conduct an empirical research study. A sample size of 120 participants was originally selected; however, of those 120, only 95 surveys were valid and used due to missing values in the data provided in the others. This sample size is representative of the population concerning the taxi industry. The research instrument included a 7-point Likert scale. Further, the instrument included demographic coverage and sections covering the three entrepreneurial orientations’ dimensions. The aim of this study is to understand the extent to which entrepreneurial orientation enables small- to medium-enterprise growth performance within the South African taxi industry. Empirical data to support research suppositions is difficult to access within the public domain, but this research identified and provided an analysis extracted from private enterprise which fills the gap in the current research literature space. The results indicated a weak positive influence between the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation and growth performance within the industry. Due to the significance of the findings, the results are not strong enough for generalising the same findings for the entire South African minibus taxi population. This industry is the main source of public transport within the country and needs to increase its literature in order to grow and further improve. Further findings can contribute to the understanding of the complexity that surrounds the industry’s atmosphere. The value of working to formulate constructive information on the taxi industry will allow for further engagement within the field
Entrepreneurial potential and career choice regret: A focus on switching intention among employees and entrepreneurs in the DRC
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ephrem, Akilimali Ndatabaye; Murimbika, McEdward
This thesis is made of four pieces. In the first piece, it is shown that as good as extant measurement scales of entrepreneurial potential might appear in the literature, they suffer from the lack of theory integration and clarity and are fragmented among ‘siloed’ scholars repeating each other without real progress. Through several studies, the thesis develops and validates a new entrepreneurial potential scale, therefore setting an important pre-condition for advancing entrepreneurship theory and practice. The remaining thesis problematizes that, despite the merit of extant studies on career decision regrets, they do not address important questions about the prevalence, the antecedents and consequences of regret arising from choosing entrepreneurship instead of paid employment and vice versa. The thesis examines the mediation role of career choice regret in the relationship between entrepreneurial potential and career switching intention, the moderated effect of entrepreneurial potential on career choice regret, and the moderated effect of the latter on career switching intention. The relationships between the constructs were examined by applying the PLS-SEM on data collected on 721 employees and 724 entrepreneurs from the DRC. In the second piece, it was found out that career choice regret partially mediates the effect of entrepreneurial potential on career switching intention. Thus, a contribution is made to the regret regulation theory by arguing and justifying that, what is or must be regulated is not regret only but also and most importantly the choice and the outcome. In the third piece, evidence is provided that the effect of entrepreneurial potential on career choice regret is moderated by duration in the career, social comparison, former career status, decision justifiability, and perceived environment’s supportiveness. Thus, the thesis reconsiders the regret regulation theory, in particular the propositions that relate to regret cyclicity, decision justifiability and external attributions of regret. In the fourth piece, the thesis examines when individuals consider reversing their career choices to manage regrets. By doing so, the thesis does not only test but also clarifies and extends the regret regulation theory in relation to the post- decision regret management strategies. The findings indicate that individuals consider reversing career choices to manage regrets when: (1) the foregone career is accessible and resistance to change does not prevail; (2) it is not yet too late to do so; (3) they never tried the forgone option or, mistakenly or strategically gave up on it; (4) the decision can benefit from sincere social support and approval of referent individuals; and (5) can advance valued active goals. Overall, the thesis offers novel human resource management and entrepreneurship policy implications
Essays on industrialisation, innovation, and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Akorsu, Patrick Kwashie; Tweneboah, George
Sustainable development has attracted discourses from academics and policymakers for some time now. The United Nations has instituted seventeen (17) goals to promote sustainable development, and these goals have been decomposed into 169 sub-goals to be achieved under the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The goals are essentially grouped into economic, ecological, and social goals. Following this, the African Union (AU) has embraced the SDGs by motivating member countries to come up with programmes that are directly related to the goals. However, whereas a lot of discussions have occurred, much of the talk has been oblivious to empirical data analysis. The AU has realised the importance of industrialisation in spearheading the bridging of the poverty gap in Africa. Industrialisation is seen as the panacea for job creation, prosperity, and wealth creation. Industrialisation induces innovation by introducing new equipment, new production techniques, increasing capacities and spreading improvements across sectors of the economy. However, since the 1990s when the policymakers started talking about industrialisation, not much has been achieved on that score. Common to industrialisation and economic development is financial development. The level of financial development can stimulate positive or negative externalities on sustainable development. The drive towards the promotion of sustainable development in Africa by the African Union and other parastatal bodies, especially the UN, motivated this thesis to examine the convoluted connections between financial development, technological innovation, industrialisation, and sustainable development in Africa in three related studies. The first study analysed the complementary role of financial development in the relationship between industrialisation and sustainable economic development in Africa. The system dynamic Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) technique was employed with a dataset covering 2010-2019 for 48 African countries. Under this analysis, this thesis found that Industrialisation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Africa © Patrick Kwashie Akorsu, 2023 industrialisation is a significant positive driver of economic development. The role of financial development in the economic development agenda among African economies was also emphasised by the results. The outcome of the moderation analysis suggested that the level of financial development significantly complements industrialisation towards improving economic growth. Thus, a more developed financial sector is potent in building an industrial economy which facilitates value addition in the manufacturing sector. The second empirical analysis examined the interactive role of technological innovation in the relationship between financial development and sustainable development in Africa after controlling for the influence of ICT infrastructure, trade openness, inflation, and population size. The results indicated significant effects of financial development on sustainable development as well as significant relationships between technological innovation and sustainable development. In terms of social sustainability, the findings suggested that financial development tends to reduce social sustainability among African economies such that increasing the quantum of broad money and increasing the amount of domestic credit to the private sector either by households or by banks would not necessarily improve the level of social development in Africa. Concerning economic sustainability, the findings divulged a positive relationship between financial development and the economic dimension of sustainable development (i.e., economic sustainability), suggesting that African countries could leverage financial development, particularly by encouraging the supply of credit to the private sector either by households or banks to enable industries to improve their operations. As regards ecological/environmental sustainability, findings from this empirical analysis indicated mixed relationships between financial development and ecological sustainability. Thus, depending on the proxy, financial development either increases or decreases energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in Africa. Meanwhile, the effect of technological Industrialisation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Africa © Patrick Kwashie Akorsu, 2023 innovation on sustainable development was positive for all dimensions of sustainability but had varied implications. This emphasised the need to analyse how sustainable development is affected by the interaction between financial development and technological innovation. The findings from the moderation effect divulged that more technological innovation lessens SDI but increases GDP growth per capita, carbon dioxide emissions, and energy consumption. The last empirical chapter revealed investigated the interactive role of technological innovation in the relationship between financial development and sustainable development in Africa. The findings from such an analysis highlighted the complementary role of technological innovation in the relationship between financial development and sustainable development in Africa. In an era of an increasing need for sustainability, these findings stressed the need to further ascertain possible convolutions between sustainable development, technological innovation, and industrialisation among African economies. The impetus for this analysis partly stemmed from the fact that industrialisation has some externalities it poses to economies. Therefore, there was a need to provide empirical evidence that helps understand the true role of industrialisation in the relationship between technological innovation and sustainable development to foster policy formulation. Upon analysing the mediating effect of industrialisation on the relationship between technological innovation and the three dimensions of sustainable development (social, economic, and ecological/environmental sustainability) in Africa, positive relationships between technological innovation and all dimensions of sustainable development, emphasise the need to analyse how sustainable development is indirectly affected by industrialisation. The findings provide evidence of a partial contribution from industrialisation toward the impact of technological innovation on sustainable development. As a result, this thesis Industrialisation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Africa © Patrick Kwashie Akorsu, 2023 concluded that the level of industrialisation complementarily mediates the relationship between technological innovation and sustainable development in Africa. The study recommends that economies within Africa should focus on industrialisation and financial development to achieve sustainable development. Policymakers should prioritise the development of a resilient financial sector to complement industrialisation, while promoting technological innovation to support all dimensions of sustainability. Also, a balanced approach to sustainable development should be promoted by managing the trade-offs between sustainability dimensions. Finally an effectively coordinated set of policies should be put in place to reduce negative externalities resulting from industrialisation, and policymakers should carefully select implementation policies and channels

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