Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

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

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    The role of corporate governance on the efficiency of state- owned enterprises and the impact on entrepreneurship
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mantirisi, Lesedi; Mogotsi, K.
    State Owned Entities are established as a governance recourse by governments to promote economic growth. Corporate governance has been enforced as a measure of catching up corporate practices as well as global laws and regulations. Entrepreneurship has seen growth in recent years and thus needs to be governed by standard rules and regulations for it to be uniform. The aim of this research was to assess the role of corporate governance on the efficiency of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the impact on entrepreneurship in South Africa. This study contributes to the importance of instilling the guidelines of corporate governance in SOEs, while linking them to entrepreneurship. The study emanated from a wide viewpoint of envisioning state-owned enterprises as possible catalysts for economic growth as well as vehicles that can spread government’s resources and capabilities. The study bore three objectives: (1) to investigate the extent to which transparency and accountability affect the efficiency of state-owned enterprises as experienced by entrepreneurs; (2) to evaluate how values and ethics drive the efficiency of state-owned enterprises as experienced by entrepreneurs; and (3) to assess how management board, supervisory board and committees propel the efficiency of state-owned enterprises as per the entrepreneur’s point of view. A theoretical framework of corporate governance was instituted, and a conceptual framework was proposed to explore the key constructs identified. As per the proposed conceptual framework, the efficiency of SOEs was determined by three factors: transparency and accountability; values and ethics; and management board, supervisory board and committees. A total sample of 314 online participants in South Africa, of which 89% were based in Gauteng, was tested. SPSS software was utilised for the data analysis and the results indicated that the relationships between the constructs forming the conceptual framework and the efficiency of SOEs, linked to entrepreneurial activity, were insignificant. The hypotheses were tested using Spearman’s correlation values. The study included recommendations on improving the efficiency of SOEs as well as suggestions for future research
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    The Impact of Big Data Analytics in the South African Retail Industry
    (2023) Sethathi, Mohlahlami David
    The utilisation of big data analytics has emerged as a promising way for companies to improve their performance, and more retailers are adopting this technology to enhance their customer service and competitive abilities. Despite the extensive exploration of the impact of big data analytics within the global retail context, a noticeable research gap exists with regard to its specific utilization by South African retailers to improve their competitiveness. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of big data analytics in the South African industry. The research design employed in this study is qualitative; the data collection was done through semi-structured interviews with two South African retail organisations. The data was analysed using the thematic-analysis process to formulate codes and themes emerging from the study. The study's findings revealed that the adoption of big data analytics in the South African retail industry is limited. However, those retailers leveraging this technology are gaining notable benefits, such as a better understanding of customers, effective inventory management, strategic pricing, and accurate forecasting. Conversely, challenges encountered by South African retailers in implementing big data analytics include insufficient skills, poor infrastructure, cost, and lack of support from top management. The study's implications underscore the critical role of skill development, data utilization, infrastructure, and leadership support in successful big data analytics implementation within the South African retail sector. These findings provide a comprehensive framework for navigating the complexities of data-driven decision-making, offering valuable guidance for strategic investments and sustained competitiveness in an evolving technological landscape.
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    The Impact of Digital Banking Amongst South African Consumers
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Suthan, Dhivaker Navin Mahadev; Magida, Ayanda
    In light of the constant and swift evolution of digital banking, it is imperative that consumers quickly adapt to these changes. The advancements in technology are having a significant impact on businesses' strategic objectives and business models, as they are altering consumer behavior and expectations. As a result, numerous organizations have modified their business platforms in order to enhance their competitive edge by offering proximate and efficient solutions to consumers, thus influencing their approach to conducting business. This research aimed to elucidate the effects of digital banking on consumers and their inclination to modify their behavior, utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as primary frameworks. The research methodology employed in an online survey, utilising a sample population of 240 respondents. The research effort was specifically focused on establishing if consumers are impacted, either positively or negatively due to technological advancements in digital banking. The primary data suggests that a significant number of individuals aged 46 or older in South Africa are hesitant to fully embrace digital banking. On the other hand, consumers between the ages of 18 and 45 appear more inclined to shift from traditional banks to digital-focused banks, such as Tyme Bank, Discovery Bank, or Bank Zero. The limited access to the internet in South Africa may be a factor contributing to the underutilization of digital banking by consumers.
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    The Impact of employment benefits on employee performance and productivity in the South African mining industry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Shiluvana, Theron Fana; Appiah, Erasmus
    This research study considers themes such as housing allowances, health care benefits, retirement plans and other non-cash incentives, to learn more about how employees feel about their benefits and how these perceptions affect their work performance and productivity.It is anticipated that the findings of this research will contribute valuable insights to both academia and industry practitioners by shedding light on the intricate dynamics between employment benefits, employee motivation and organisational productivity in the South African mining context. Moreover, the study aims to offer actionable recommendations that mining companies can implement to optimize their benefit packages in order to enhance employees’ satisfaction, engagement and, ultimately,performance and productivity
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    Digitalisation of risk management in the South African banking industry: a case study of a major South African bank
    (2020) Gresse, Lambert Francois
    The research studies the impact that digitalisation has on banking in South Africa, how it impacts the inherent risk in the system and accordingly, how banks respond to those risks that digitalisation presents using digitalised risk response strategies. The fourth industrial revolution has meant that the way in which banks are differentiating themselves from their competitors and what customers are demanding from them are rapidly changing. This is distinct from previous industrial revolutions as it is characterised by velocity, scope and systems impact. Companies are being exposed to disruptive technologies and with it comes increased complexity and risk. Therefore, there is an apparent link between digitalisation and risk management. The research aims to understand the impact of digitalisation on risk management and accordingly how banks should respond to mitigate those risks. The research adopted a mixed method, case study approach. The research was conducted using online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, with structured and semi-structured questions. The data collected from the questionnaires and feedback from participants in the interviews were then combined to draw a conclusion based on the findings. Key findings and insights were that banks should revisit the methods and models used to perform risk management, as velocity plays an increasing role in the types of risk that disruptive technologies introduce. Furthermore, the role that staff members, their skills and the tools that they have access to, to respond to risks, needs to improve.