Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management

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    A review of South Africa’s National Research Foundation’s ratings methodology from a social science perspective
    (Academy of Science of South Africa, 2018) Callaghan, C
    One of South Africa's National Research Foundation's (NRF) activities is to award ratings to academics who apply according to predefined categories. Explicitly or not, these ratings are part of submissions academics make for promotions and for employment in South African universities. As such, methodological assessment of the validity of this system is important. This paper seeks to conceptually evaluate certain characteristics of this system against certain general principles of reliability and validity. On the basis of the results of this evaluation, it is argued that assumptions that the NRF rating system is always valid or reliable as a differentiator of individual academics cannot be made unconditionally. Using Management Science as an example of a social science field that draws from multidisciplinary theoretical and methodological frameworks, this paper identifies certain validity issues associated with the current NRF rating system, and makes recommendations for improvements. Significance: •Certain validity issues are highlighted and arguments are made to improve the methodology used by the NRF to rate researchers. •Issues related to multidisciplinarity and mode two knowledge production are considered. •Technological advances that have made it possible for scientific measurement of research productivity and impact are discussed. •Problems with subjective methodologies are identified, together with their ethical consequences. © 2018 The Author(s).
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    Business rescue practices in South Africa: An explorative view
    (AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2018-06-20) Naidoo, T; Patel, A; Padia, N
    Given the seemingly low rate of success of the current business rescue regime (at just 13.6% as at June 2015), this study sought to identify whether the current business rescue regime in South Africa realises its intended objectives and why this meeting of objectives or failure to do so may be the case. It focuses on practical issues and the investigation is undertaken through interviews with business rescue practitioners who are the facilitators of business rescue. The findings show that there is a lack of clarity in the definition of success which may be cause for concern and that, despite its consistency with other jurisdictions, in the views of practitioners, the success rate is expected to improve. The study finds that there is a lack of prompt action when signs of financial distress are noted and a lack of funding for companies in business rescue. The experience of the practitioner has a significant impact on the success or failure of the rescue and may be one of the reasons for the current low rate of success of the regime, while the specific qualifications of the practitioner play a smaller role. The plan is imperative but there is often a lack of information and insufficient time allocated to its preparation. Consistency of Court judgements also has a bearing on success of business rescue, while consistency with provisions of other jurisdictions is not considered to be important.
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    Public Policies to the Social Equality. Vol 1. (Políticas Públicas para la Equidad Social. Vol 1.)
    (Colección Políticas Públicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 2018) Rivera Vargas, Pablo; Muñoz-Saavedra, Judith; Morales-Olivares, Rommy; Butendieck-Hijerra, Stefanie
    Las políticas públicas son una de las principales herramientas que tiene, por un lado, la ciudadanía para plasmar su voluntad a la hora de construir una sociedad representativa, democrática y justa, y, por otro lado, el Estado, para resolver los problemas de distribución, equidad e inclusión social. Por lo general emergen a partir de activos y diversificados procesos de interacción y participación entre Estado, expertos/as y la sociedad civil. De manera que las necesidades o demandas sociales puedan transformarse en proyectos, programas, normas o intervenciones gubernamentales correctamente fundamentadas. No obstante, esto no ocurre ni con la frecuencia esperada ni en los términos ideales. En ocasiones, las políticas también pueden diseñarse desde una mirada preferentemente vertical e institucional, lo que puede afectar su sostenibilidad, legitimidad, y el cumplimiento de sus objetivos. Desde las ciencias sociales, económicas y naturales es posible aportar al diseño de las políticas públicas una perspectiva crítica que ayude a garantizar su representatividad, excelencia y validez. Las herramientas investigativas de la academia permiten, explorar y eventualmente conocer y analizar las principales necesidades que presentan los colectivos y el contexto social que los define. Con este objetivo, el presente libro ofrece un espacio de diálogo internacional e interdisciplinario en torno a las políticas públicas a partir de tres ejes temáticos considerados imprescindibles para la construcción de sociedades más justas, a saber: Educación, Género y Economía. Bajo el convencimiento que la producción de conocimiento científico se erige como un insumo necesario para desarrollar políticas públicas más eficaces, equitativas y sostenibles capaces de abordar y corregir las diversas causas de las desigualdades. Este libro, titulado “Políticas Públicas para la Equidad Social”, es el primero de dos volúmenes y cuenta con 24 capítulos de destacados/as especialistas internacionales, consolidados/as y nóveles, que, desde distintos enfoques nos invitan a la reflexión en torno a la complejidad e impacto de las políticas públicas en la sociedad. La publicación está separada en 3 bloques a partir los 3 ejes temáticos antes mencionados. En el bloque de educación se presentan ocho artículos que justamente dan a conocer esfuerzos políticos y científicos realizados en este ámbito (a nivel internacional) con el fin de construir una sociedad más equitativa y con iguales oportunidades para todos y todas. Entre sus principales autores/a destacan: Cristóbal Cobo, Pablo Rivera, Cristina Cárdenas, Carlos Anaya, Diego Apolo, Felipe Aliaga, Melisa Maina, Cristina Alonso, Víctor Climent, Juana M. Sancho, entre otros/as. En el bloque de género, los ocho capítulos que lo componen ofrecen una mirada transdisciplinar desde diferentes países, realidades y perspectivas teóricas, en la que se integran los principales debates teóricos en torno a las políticas feministas y/o de género. Entre sus principales autores/a destacan: Judith Astelarra, Karina Batthyány, José A Noguera, Judith Muñoz, Beatríz Revelles, Ana González, entre otras /os. En el bloque de Economía, los ocho capítulos que lo componen se erigen como diversas miradas transdisciplinares y globales desde la economía, la sociología y las ciencias políticas, que dan vida a una observación global, desde la mirada de investigadores del continente africano, América Latina y Europa. Entre sus principales autores/a destacan: Patrick Bond, Juan A. Bogliaccini, Rommy Morales, Sofía Docetti, Felipe González, Ángel Rodríguez, entre otros/as. Finalmente destacar que este libro ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración activa del Departamento de Gestión y Políticas Públicas de la Universidad de Santiago de Chile, y su publicación, Colección en Políticas Públicas. A la vez agradecemos a la Universidad de Barcelona, y particularmente a la Facultad de Educación y al Departamento de Didáctica y Organización Educativa, por su vital colaboración.
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    SOUTH AFRICA’S POST-APARTHEID FOREIGN POLICY
    (2011-06-23) van Nieuwkerk, Anthoni
    This study examines foreign policy decision-making processes of the South African government relating to African crises in the period 1994 to 2002. It takes as its point of departure the question of who makes foreign policy, how, and to what effect. The theory relating to foreign policy and public policy gives rise to a variety of models to explain policy formation and in particular decision making in government. From the survey, three models developed by Graham Allison – the rational actor, organisational behaviour, and governmental politics models – are selected to analyse and better understand South African foreign policy decision-making. Foreign policy decision making relating to crises in Nigeria (1995), Lesotho (1998) and Zimbabwe (2000-2002) are examined. The question in each case is which model best helps to enlighten our understanding of the South African foreign policy response to the perceived crisis. Case study materials were gathered by means of primary and secondary literature as well as open, semi-structured interviews with key individuals involved in relevant policy formation processes. Prior to the analysis of decision making the study constructs a view of the institutional settings of post-apartheid foreign policy making, in particular identifying actors and process, and provides a short contextualisation of the crises in Nigeria, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The study concludes that public policy making ought to be seen as a political problem solving activity in the face of complexity rather than a logical process involving wellinformed calculations by rational actors who seek to maximise economic utility, political power, or organisational effectives. It supports the view that reliance on the dominant rational actor model is inadequate to explain a foreign policy decision or event. Although of limited use it nevertheless acts to clarify issues, such as broad objectives (actions to achieve peace and stability in Africa as well as the promotion of national interests). Little x evidence emerges to suggest that foreign policy decisions can be understood as outputs of large organisations functioning according to regular patterns of behaviour (such as the Presidency or department of foreign affairs). To the contrary, in the years immediately following 1994, senior governmental decision makers were faced with inadequate, inappropriate or malfunctioning organisational settings and procedures, leading to choices being made by a small circle. The governmental politics model assists in identifying, in all three cases, the lack of an ‘action channel’ – that is, a process to allow for the aggregation of competing perceptions and preferences for making decisions and taking action. Whether institutional overhaul (integrated governance, the cluster system, policy frameworks and a National Security Council) improved matters in later years could not be fully determined. The study found that the governmental politics model was difficult to operationalise because certain data relating to decision making processes remain confidential. The study concludes with recommendations regarding the application of Allison’s models in the South African setting
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    PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA BY SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES
    (2011-03-22) Benza, Yewande Omolola
    Southern Africa today is characterised by poverty, a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, war, conflict, unemployment and food shortages. What is lacking, but clearly necessary for the advancement of the region, is the promotion of sustainable development practices. The challenge is for Southern Africa to reverse its present decline with the active help of business. This study assesses how South African companies are currently operating in Southern Africa, in terms of their promotion of sustainable development practices, and highlights factors that curtail company adoption/promotion of sustainable development. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were held with managers in twenty South African companies with operations in the rest of Southern Africa to assess their promotion of sustainable development practices. The main findings are that companies promote a number of sustainable development practices at varying degrees. However it is clear that to achieve the advancement of the region, there needs to be an increase the current level of promotion of sustainable development practices. Secondly, the findings indicate that the primary inhibiting factors to the promotion of sustainable development practices are lack of financial resources, wrong mindset, nature of company business, limited adoption of sustainable development practices in South Africa, the underdevelopment of economies in the Southern African countries, and the lack of political buy in of senior management.
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    Factors influencing the selection of environmental inpact services in South Africa
    (2011-03-10) Simpson, Ainsley
    The environmental consulting industry in South Africa is still in a growth phase, and the dominant service offering is that of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Understanding consumer behaviour in the purchase process of environmental services will enable service providers to effectively target and service their desired markets. This research examined factors influencing the selection of EIA Consultants in South Africa, specifically in the pre-purchase phase. This included determining the nature of the service offering and the related perceptions of risk as well as the information sources consulted and criteria used as risk reducing strategies. The research was conducted by means of a structured written survey, which was completed by 77 respondents across South Africa. The research revealed that EIA’s are experience offerings, that is, they are easy to assess after the service has been rendered. It was also determined that the major factor contributing to the selection process is the multi-faceted nature of the service, as this can lead to negative reputation-based consequences. One such facet of EIA’s is the length of time required to complete the process. Temporal risk was found to be the most dominant concern, followed by financial risk, specifically the incurrence of unforeseen costs. It was established that consumers consult personal non-marketer controlled information sources as a method of reducing risk; most notably, consultants known to the developers through previous experience. Reliability, represented largely by tangible criteria, and reputation, comprising less tangible criteria, were found to be the factors underlying the evaluation of environmental consultancies. The research highlighted the need for EIA Consultants to understand the buying behaviour of their target market to effectively understand and manage perceived risks. Tangible indicators of reliability and reputation that address these risk areas must be a central theme in any direct marketing strategies developed. Furthermore, continuous improvement of processes and systems is essential such that a healthy reputation, based on sound experience, can be developed and maintained well into the future.