Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

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

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    Cybersecurity Perspectives on Protecting Intangible Commodities in the South African Financial Sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Naidoo, Trevor; Ochara, Nixon
    The reliance on digital technologies in the financial industry has surged, elevating the value of intangible commodities like data and intellectual property. South Africa's financial sector faces escalating cyber threats, necessitating robust cybersecurity measures. This quantitative research aims to explore cybersecurity perspectives in safeguarding intangible assets within South African financial institutions. The importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding individuals and organisations from cyber threats is underscored, considering the significant financial losses and reputational damage that can result from breaches. However, challenges such as workforce shortages, skills gaps, and a lack of cybersecurity awareness persist, particularly among SMEs. The theoretical framework provides insights into individual and organisational behaviour regarding cybersecurity practices. The dissertation aimed to gather insights from technology professionals and influential leaders in cybersecurity within the financial sector of South Africa. Valuable insights into the factors influencing cybersecurity attitudes and behaviours in the South African financial sector, emphasising the importance of enforceability, subjective norms, and violation coupling in shaping attitudes towards behaviour. The study delves into key controls, monitoring effectiveness, and the feasibility of adopting global standards. By providing insights and recommendations, this research contributes to enhancing cybersecurity in South Africa's financial sector, crucial for maintaining trust, compliance, and stability in an increasingly digital world
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    Effectiveness of the funding model for construction companies in the Free State
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Pule, Gaositwe; Horvey, Sylvestor.
    This research delves into the nuanced realm of funding models within the construction industry,particularly focusing on their efficacy for struggling construction businesses in the Free StateProvince of South Africa. The primary objective is to critically evaluate the responsiveness offinancial institutions to funding requests from contractors and to delve into the intricacies ofthe funding process. Through a qualitative approach, the study aims to explore the diverserange of funding models that are currently employed by contractors, shedding light on boththeir strengths and limitations. Furthermore, the research endeavours to identify and analysethe various challenges that are associated with existing funding structures and offers, providingvaluable insights into potential areas for improvement. Additionally, by examining thepotential synergies between adequate funding and developmental programmes, this study seeksto ascertain their collective impact on the growth trajectory of contractors within the region.By conducting semi-structured interviews with registered construction contractors who faceindustry absorption challenges, this research aims to uncover rich qualitative data that canprovide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities that are inherent in the Small andMedium Enterprises (SME) contractor industry. Ultimately, the findings of this study areexpected to contribute to the enhancement of funding mechanisms and support systems thatare tailored to the unique needs of SME contractors; thereby fostering their sustainable growthand development.
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    The effectiveness of development finance institutions in South Africa in relation to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
    (2022) Xaba, Nonkosi
    With dire economic challenges in South Africa and understanding that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can play a role in fostering economic growth, there was a need to understand the effectiveness of state-owned Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). This was due to DFIs being mandated to assist SMEs access finance, since they tend to be excluded from traditional financiers. The main objective of this research was to uncover facts around the effectiveness of DFIs in relation to their mandate to support Small and Medium Enterprises. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to achieve these objectives, using interviews as a data collection method and thematic analysis for data analysis. It was found that there were challenges with the process of accessing finance where DFIs were stringent and lengthy with their internal processes, which prioritized ensuring that SMEs were able to service the debt facility. Although DFIs provided business support to aid SMEs, the level of support was perceived to be misaligned with the specific needs of the SME. These findings led to the conclusion that state-owned DFIs in South Africa are moderately effective in relation to SMEs and only support SMEs to a limited extent. It was recommended that, to balance out the sustainability of DFIs without abandoning the development objectives; DFIs together with the government, can agree on a specific capital adequacy ratio (CAR). This allows for some flexibility within the DFIs internal processes so that they are not long or stringent because the focus is on being profitable