Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942
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Item Consumer perceptions and readiness to adopt “tap & go” card payments in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sekhoto, July MotlalepulePayment systems and models are said to be critical in a country’s economy and should a country’s payment systems be problematic then it is likely to affect the stability of the country’s economy. There are new trends in the banking industry which are developing continuously and for businesses to be aligned with these trends it is critically important for marketers, bankers, and business owners to invest and educate consumers on the effectiveness and benefits of using tap & go card payment method. This should also include flexibility in terms of which tap & go payment option to use, whether using a physical card or virtual card. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which the eight underlying constructs namely: optimism, innovativeness, convenience, discomfort, insecurity, resistance to change, lack of awareness and perceived risk, affects or impact on consumers’ perception, experiences, and readiness to adopt and use tap & go card payments. The respondents for this study we random people who own a tap & go enabled bank card within South African borders. The data collection method used was in a form of an online survey/questionnaire. The result of the study somehow indicates that, out of the eight constructs only innovativeness and resistance to change showed a bit of a significant impact on consumers’ readiness to adopt and use tap & go card payments. This proves that all other constructs like optimism, convenience, discomfort, insecurity, lack of awareness and perceived risk are somehow insignificant predictors of consumers’ readiness to adopt tap & go card payments. Given the results of this study, marketers, banks, and business owners should consider making consumers aware of different types of tap & go payment systems. Although respondents did not show any level of insecurity or discomfort on adopting and using tap & go card payments, it is still critical for future researchers to pay attention to these two constructs and add information privacy and cyber security as other constructs to determine how comfortable consumers are transacting using cashless methods like tap & go payment method. Several countries are working hard to try and move to cashless society, therefore South African banks, businesses, government, and business owners should join hands in helping South vii Africa move to cashless. Currently there is a considerable amount of money that is sitting offline, since most consumers still prefer paying for their purchases using cash. Educating consumers and offering them safe and convenient payment options, will help increase the circulation of cash in the system and this will help stabilise out economyItem Experiences of remote working by South African Lawyers during the COVID-19 lockdown(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Modibedi-Manentsa, Dineo; Kriek, DrikusOrientation: This study was aimed at understanding South African lawyers’ experiences with remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research purpose: In examining lawyers’ experiences with remote working during the COVID-19 lockdown period, this research considered the internal and external factors that may have affected that experience using the grounded theory approach The study assessed the degree to which the lawyers felt prepared for remote working and whether they felt productive. It also explored factors that may have affected their working experience and considered how these factors affected their mental health and physical well-being. To this end, it looked at internal factors, such as family and children, the nature of their work and their living standards measures, and external factors, such as loadshedding and internet access. Motivation for the study: The researcher did not find any evidence of research regarding the remote working experiences of South African lawyers during the COVID- 19 lockdown. Given that the legal profession functions differently from other professions, the researcher sought to determine the extent to which remote working may have had a negative effect on lawyers’ mental health and physical well-being. Further, the researcher wanted to gauge the need for a mental health intervention, as well as assistance from employers and the government. Research approach/design and method: A qualitative research design was applied through two focus group discussions and individual interviews with 25 South African lawyers. The data was analysed through thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti. 23 (Version 4.11.1-2023-02-23). Main findings: The participants were largely unprepared for remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic and reported varying levels of productivity, intermingled with overworking and burnout. The findings also revealed that certain internal and external factors, such as family and children, the nature of work, their living conditions, loadshedding and internet access, affected their mental health and physical well-being. Practical implications: Working remotely during the COVID-19 lockdown exposed lawyers to a range of experiences, including stress, anxiety, and unproductivity. These experiences point to the need for a mental health intervention by employers and the government. Contribution: The research provided knowledge in the field of study on the remote working experiences of lawyers in South AfricaItem Exploring Challenges Faced by Women in Executive Leadership in the Non-Profit Sector in South Africa(niversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Nsibande, Nondumiso; Alovokpinhou, SedjroWomen continue to face challenges in executive leadership positions within non-profit organisations in South Africa which negatively affects their performance. Limited progress has been made on women’s representation in decision-making in the last few years, however, those who make it to these positions tend to vacate them because of obstacles that exist while holding these positions. This study used a phenomenological qualitative research design to explore the experiences of women in senior management positions in the non-profit sector. The study used in-depth interviews to collect qualitative data from 20 participants: 16 women leaders, and four men leaders in the non-profit sector. Feminist theory was used to understand the different challenges and discriminations faced by women in senior management based on race, gender, and other forms of stereotype. The study found that the main challenges faced by participants which affected their ability to thrive in their role as leaders in the organisations was the reinforcement of patriarchal ideologies, including gender norms in the workplace, lack of resources, lack of mentorship and investment in leadership training, gender wage inequality, discrimination based on the intersections between race and gender, and a lack of a family work-life balance. Participants also identified factors that could contribute to sustaining women in leadership positions such as positive organisational culture, and being intentional in challenging toxic gender norms and overall gender inequality; promoting work-life balance policies; investing in mentorship and networking opportunities, networking and leadership training