Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management

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    Compliance with labour rights and international labour standards: Implications for workplace productivity and competitiveness
    (2014) Samuel, MO
    The common perception, particularly among employers of labour is that enforcement or implementation of enhanced labour standards would negatively impact on overhead costs thereby impeding the organisation’s competitive advantage through price mechanisms at both national and global marketplace. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis and draw inherent relationships between enforcement of labour standards by organisations and possible implications on workplace productivity and overall organisational efficiency, competitiveness and survival. Theorists of firm’s wage efficiency argue that implementation of enhanced labour standards will most certainly increase overhead costs and push up prices thereby disadvantaging the firm’s ability from competing favourably with other firm’s operating in territories where labour standards are not observed. However, comparative cost-benefit analysis of implementing labour standards by this paper suggests that organisations indeed benefit significantly by enforcing labour standards as this would translate to higher productivity and enhanced organisational competitiveness and survival as workers experience job satisfaction, safe and healthy working conditions and environment which reduces rate of industrial accidents, medical costs and sick leaves. Furthermore, employers benefit from implementing enhanced labour standards through low employee turnover rate and improved cooperation and understanding between workers and their employers resulting in a stable and positive labour relations environment that is devoid of unplanned work stoppages due to industrial actions and loss of production.
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    Key Factors Impacting the Chemical Engineering Skill Pool in the South African Economy
    (2012-10-05) Gina, Dumisa Cornelius
    For many years South Africa was isolated from the world economy by political sanctions. This period crippled the ability of the economy to compete at a global level. The year 1994 marked the end of these trade sanctions and the beginning of international trade. South Africa had to start producing enough goods to supply the local market as well as export to other countries and to compete efficiently in this new arena. These productivity initiatives had to be supported by the right set of processing skills. Chemical engineering is at the heart of any large-scale industrial production. This study explores the key factors that impact on the chemical engineering skill pool in the South African economy. Interviews were conducted by the researcher with leaders in the South African chemical engineering industry as well as lead chemical engineering researchers in the country. A semi-structured interview schedule was used. The research showed that the key factors that impact on the chemical engineering skill pool in the South African economy are:gender stereotypes; inadequate contact between engineers through professional bodies; poor quality of teaching maths and science at school level; poor career guidance systems; poor marketing of the career at school and university level; poor funding and subsidies from government and the private sector; improper government policies and practices; poor remuneration for chemical engineers; and a lack of the right role models for scholars. Other factors identified include: HIV/AIDS infection; poverty; the nature of the chemical engineering work environment; the poor communication skills of previously disadvantaged students; the poor culture of learning; inadequate government leadership and co-ordination strategies; poor skills transfer and mentorship systems; as well as equity considerations, given the country’s history. The government has the ultimate role to put a proper structure in place to enable economic development. There is also a need for the government to engage all stakeholders in developing socio-political systems, economic systems, and legal systems to address the chemical engineering skills shortage in the country.
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    Productivity measurement
    (2011-04-18) Awuah, Frank
    One of the most important industries in the world today is software development. It has become an essential part of an organisation’s production and management processes. Software development projects are growing larger in size and becoming more complicated and at the same time faster turnaround times are required. Therefore software development teams are expected to be highly productive. Hence measurement of productivity of software development projects has become an aspect of high interest to management. The purpose of the research was to explore the perceptions of and measurements of productivity of software development projects. This included exploring the levels of awareness and understanding of productivity measurement of software development projects among professionals and the practical ways in which productivity is measured. A qualitative research methodology was followed in order to adequately capture the richness of perceptions and levels of understanding, frustrations, challenges and the depth and breadth of the topic. Depth interviews were the instrument used to gather the data. The interview reports were then analysed using content analysis and cognitive mapping. The findings were further discussed with a control group which is made up of a panel of senior experts in the field. There is a high level of productivity awareness among software development professionals. Professionals are conscious about productivity and its continued improvements. However, only a few of the respondents understand and appreciate the contribution that the knowledge and the right application of productivity rate of a development team, for example, has on the success of the project. Among the respondents who understand and appreciate the need of using a productivity rate for accurate project planning and management, function point analysis was the most supported. The proponents of lines of code productivity measurement admit that it is not a perfect measure but simple to use. iii Productivity measurement and the correct application of the outcomes aid in proper project planning, ensures that there is better conformance to project schedule, helps with monitoring and control and intelligent outsourcing, aids in eliciting top management support and ultimately, leading to improved project delivery and project success.
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    The Role of Supervisors in a South African Team-based
    (2011-04-04) Deysel, Jacob Johannes
    The importance of teamwork in facilitating workplace change and increasing productivity is widely recognised. While the benefits of teamwork are often overpromoted, the difficulties of implementation are likewise often underestimated. The supervisor is a key driver and enabler of the development of learning within an organisation; however, the importance of the role of the supervisor in teamwork implementation has tended, in the past, to be overlooked, so that only limited research has so far been undertaken in this regard. This study aims to identify both barriers encountered by, and presented by, supervisors to the successful implementation of teamwork and to promote a better understanding of the role of supervisors in teamwork implementation. The research methodology applied in this study, which forms part of the interpretive paradigm of the social sciences, employs the case study methodology. The qualitative case study investigated the implementation of a workplace organisation initiative consisting of teamwork at Consolidated Minerals Limited (CML), a large South African mining operation. The researcher utilised participative observation, semi-structured interviews and documentary investigation to construct a rich database in order to provide a holistic view of the barriers to teamwork implementation both as encountered by, and presented by, supervisors. Three key themes, consisting of institutional culture, the motives of senior management and the changing role of the supervisor, emerged during the analysis of the research findings. Institutional culture was seen to impact significantly on teamwork, since such culture plays a key role in establishing the foundation on which teamwork initiatives are rolled out. The institutional culture was further recognised as impacting on the preparation of the organisation for the successful adoption of a teamwork culture, as well as influencing the ability of the organisation to learn from its mistakes. The reason for the implementation of iii teamwork by senior management emerged as a second theme for the study. The underlying motivation behind its implementation needs to be clearly communicated to, and understood by, both management and employees and must result in benefits for both parties. The research indicates that, where the reason for the implementation of teamwork is questionable, its implementation will continuously encounter resistance from the workforce. The changing role of the supervisor is a third issue that had a significant impact on the ability of supervisors to adapt their managerial style to teamwork requirements. By considering these underlying themes during the implementation process, the research should assist companies to focus their attention on the importance of institutional culture, as well as allowing management to rethink why they want to implement teamwork. Companies should also be encouraged to take another look at job descriptions, compensation schemes, career pathing and the performance evaluation of supervisors. In so doing, management should more easily be able to stimulate active involvement from a key player, the supervisor, in the teamwork implementation process.