Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942

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Subject: search.filters.subject.City of Johannesburg

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    The effectiveness of the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant: A City of Johannesburg Case Study
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kondile, Bulelwa
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    Operational Efficiencies on Roads Infrastructure Development within the City of Johannesburg
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mdubeki, Yonela; Oba, Pius
    South Africa faces economic uncertainty due to deteriorating infrastructure and a historical backlog in its management, especially in the City of Johannesburg (COJ), where there is immense pressure to provide and deliver sustainable roads that are safe and efficient. This study explores the operational efficiencies and inefficiencies within the infrastructure management sector, focusing on roads and related services. It aims to identify and address the challenges hindering COJ's ability to deliver efficient and safe road infrastructure. In the pursuit of addressing the primary research objective, which sought to gain insights into the attainable operational efficiencies in road infrastructure management, a qualitative research methodology was adopted, including a qualitative analysis where interviews were conducted with knowledgeable and experienced respondents. Three key research questions were posed: How do you measure operational efficiencies in relation to roads infrastructure? How does the application and the types of technology improve efficiency in roads infrastructure lifecycle management? How would strategic sourcing help COJ improve efficiency and sustainability? From the interview data, common patterns were identified and translated into themes to derive answers to the research questions. The study's findings revealed that various interconnected elements contribute to COJ's operational inefficiencies in road infrastructure development. Efficiency in road infrastructure is defined by its ability to transport goods and commuters safely and swiftly. Furthermore, technology adoption improves road infrastructure management, while strategic sourcing, utilising existing assets, can enhance efficiency and address maintenance challenges while alleviating budget constraints. To fully leverage technology and operational efficiencies, the study concludes with a recommendation for COJ to initiate a strategic review, aligning all resources, including supply chain management, strategic assets, and employee skills, with the organisation's goals of providing more efficient roads. Continuous improvement in personnel skillsets and strategic objectives will be crucial for achieving this transformation.
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    Entrepreneurial orientation of the City of Johannesburg
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2019) Malakoane, Jones
    The notion of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is important because it contributes to the fundamental apprehension of entrepreneurship. Increasingly, attention is being paid by scholars and policy makers to the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE) as incubators of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. Though the concept is still in its embryonic phase, well performing entrepreneurial ecosystems such as the Silicon Valley in California are the envy of many governments striving for economic success, through promotion of entrepreneurship. The primary objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the perceived entrepreneurial orientation of the City of Johannesburg Department of Economic Development (CoJ-DeD) and the perceived City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) local EE performance. EO of an organisation, for the purpose of this study, is reflected in the organisation’s innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking abilities while EE was measured by the three variables, opportunity exploitation (OE), opportunity recognition (OR) and entrepreneurial activity (EA). The data relating to the perceived city’s EE performance was from 109 usable questionnaires collected from a target sample size of 150, the sample’s population was comprised of nascent entrepreneurs, early start-up and established business owners in the CoJ. The data concerning perceived EO of CoJ-DeD officials was from 46 usable questionnaires, this sample was collected from a population of 50 CoJ-DeD officials, comprised of middle and senior managers. The measuring instruments construct validity was evaluated by means of Cronbach alpha coefficients and principal component exploratory factor analysis. The Welch’s t-test was utilized to assess the study’s conceptual framework model. The results showed that EO of the CoJ-DeD officials is defined by proactiveness, innovativeness and risk-taking and the city’s local EE perceived performance is defined only by opportunity exploitation and opportunity recognition. The results also showed a positive relationship between innovation and opportunity recognition, proactiveness and opportunity recognition and between risk-taking and opportunity recognition. It is vi recommended that entrepreneurship becomes the dominant strategic thinking in the CoJ to help unlock opportunities and new sources of value, services and innovation.
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    Thermal conversion of waste-to-energy by incineration in Johannesburg
    (2022) Sithole, Nkumbulo Edwin
    The City of Johannesburg's population growth and economic activity have resulted in increased amounts of generated municipal solid waste (MSW); concerns developed about landfill airspace depletion. Environmental concerns subsist as a landfilling activity often create greenhouse gases, air pollution and water contamination, therefore, contributing to climate change. Conversely, the City requires electricity to keep its economic activity functional, while providing its citizens with electricity. This case study examined the opportunities and impediments of waste-to-energy (WtE) implementation in the City of Johannesburg. Focus was on thermal conversion by mass-burn incineration, identifying the function of decision-making frameworks in supporting the integrated solid waste management leading to development and WtE implementation. The study established that WtE will stimulate the circular economy in the City of Johannesburg, therefore, contributing to environmental preservation, waste minimisation, and additional electricity capacity for the City. To align with the legislated decision framework, the waste hierarchy, the WtE facility should incorporate the material recovery facility (MRF). The waste hierarchy and other legislated processes, such as the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the public-private partnership (PPP) Framework, are inadequate to support WtE development. The research recommendsdeveloping a local government-based decision-making framework by the City of Johannesburg—service delivery focused; this would complement existing legislation. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model is suggested. Theincrease in grid tariffs, cost-reflective gate fees, and introducing landfill tax could contribute to the commercial viability of WtE. The identified barriers are a lack of education and awareness, and improper stakeholder engagement with WtE. Findings indicate a lack of expedited legislation processes tailor-made for projects, such as WtE and five-year political terms, hampering service delivery plans. Findings also identified access to waste by independent power producers (IPPs) and the City of Johannesburg’s financial viability as barriers. These should be focusedon to realise WtE implementation.
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    Thermal conversion of waste-to-energy by incineration in Johannesburg
    (2022) Sithole, Nkumbulo
    The City of Johannesburg's population growth and economic activity have resulted in increased amounts of generated municipal solid waste (MSW); concerns developed about landfill airspace depletion. Environmental concerns subsist as a landfilling activity often create greenhouse gases, air pollution and water contamination, therefore, contributing to climate change. Conversely, the City requires electricity to keep its economic activity functional, while providing its citizens with electricity. This case study examined the opportunities and impediments of waste-to-energy (WtE) implementation in the City of Johannesburg. Focus was on thermal conversion by mass-burn incineration, identifying the function of decision-making frameworks in supporting the integrated solid waste management leading to development and WtE implementation. The study established that WtE will stimulate the circular economy in the City of Johannesburg, therefore, contributing to environmental preservation, waste minimisation, and additional electricity capacity for the City. To align with the legislated decision framework, the waste hierarchy, the WtE facility should incorporate the material recovery facility (MRF). The waste hierarchy and other legislated processes, such as the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the public-private partnership (PPP) Framework, are inadequate to support WtE development. The research recommends developing a local government-based decision-making framework by the City of Johannesburg—service delivery focused; this would complement existing legislation. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model is suggested. The increase in grid tariffs, cost-reflective gate fees, and introducing landfill tax could contribute to the commercial viability of WtE. The identified barriers are a lack of education and awareness, and improper stakeholder engagement with WtE. Findings indicate a lack of expedited legislation processes tailor-made for projects, such as WtE and five-year political terms, hampering service delivery plans. Findings also identified access to waste by independent power producers Thermal conversion of waste-to-energy by incineration in Johannesburg iii (IPPs) and the City of Johannesburg’s financial viability as barriers. These should be focused on to realise WtE implementation.
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    A human capital perspective of digital business and service delivery in Johannesburg
    (2022) Thari, Kagiso
    The digitalisation of processes and services has grown popular as a result of the fourth industrial revolution. Digital businesses have successfully demonstrated that technology can offer strategic value, inspiring global governments to improve the quality of services offered to the public through digitalisation. The integration of digital technology into the service delivery strategy of the City of Johannesburg remains a subject with limited understanding. This qualitative study explored the level of integration of digital technologies in the delivery of public services by conducting six semi-structured interviews with the middle managers within the city. The collected data were thematically analysed by applying a dynamic capabilities framework with a focus on human capital. It was determined that the level of integration is still in its infancy, owing to the decentralised nature of the organisation. It was further determined that the human capital within the city is adequate to improve the level of integration of digital technology with the service delivery strategy from infancy to an advanced state, provided that there is organisational support for the middle managers.
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    Human capacity to coordinate the City of Johannesburg’s monitoring and evaluation framework
    (2021) Mohlamonyane, Phello
    The City of Johannesburg adopted a monitoring and evaluation system, the City-wide M&E framework in 2012The framework was adopted primarily to help the City of Johannesburg to track the progress made towards the achievement of the outcomes of its long-term strategy, the Joburg 2040 GDS. Literature points to the fact that making effective use of an M&E system requires human capacity as one of the key components. This study aimed to assess the existing human capacity levels for the coordination of the City-wide M&E framework in the Group Strategy, Policy Coordination and Relations -M&E (GSPCR-M&E) unit. To answer the research question empirically, a qualitative case study research approach was used through which semi-structured interviews were utilised in the collection of narrative data. Using these interviews, primary data was collected from M&E specialists currently and previously employed in the GSPCR-M&E unit. The participants were selected using purposive non-probability sampling method. Thematic analysis of the participants' responses points to the fact that the City-wide M&E framework is not adequately utilised. The analysis further indicates that the reason for this inadequate use relates to the fact that the framework is not practical on the one hand and the fact that the M&E unit does not have adequate human capacity on the other. The results of the study demonstrate that the M&E unit does not have adequate capacity to coordinate the City-wide M&E framework. On the basis of this conclusion, it is recommended that the City increases its M&E human capacity for the enhancement of overall functioning of M&E in the City of Johannesburg