School of Business Sciences (ETDs)
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Item Competitiveness and Profitability of e-Hailing Vehicle Ownership in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Balekwa, Bingo; Malikane, ChristopherA qualitative research method is employed to examine the competitiveness and profitability of owning an Uber and/or Bolt vehicle(s) in the e-hailing industry, in South Africa. In-person interviews were conducted with the use of unstructured paper-based questionnaire, on which participants’ responses were recorded. Porter’s Five Forces model is adopted as the research theoretical framework. A total of eight randomly selected participants from Uber and Bolt were involved in the study. Four interviews were conducted in the city of Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province, and four in the city of Durban, in the province of KwaZulu Natal, in South Africa. The results are based solely on the Uber and Bolt drivers’ personal experiences and perceptions. Part of the data was recorded from the Uber and Bolt drivers’ applications installed on the cellular phone device, that are used to conduct business. The results show that profits are significantly low, with the lowest monthly profit of just over R900, for one vehicle. All drivers interviewed, operated with fully owned vehicles that were not financed through debt. Competition is significantly fierce in the e-hailing industry in South Africa, with each Uber or Bolt vehicle driver having only 10% - 20% probability of securing business at any instance on a normal day. Lack of stringent regulations by the government, in the industry, also gives rise to unfair competitive advantage for (and rivalry between) some drivers. A lack of barriers to entry is significant, owing to establishment of regulations by the governmentItem The effects of coronavirus on SMEs business performance, technology adaptation, financial innovation, and sustainability(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kolobe, Benjamin; Maisela, SikhumbuzoBusinesses have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in significant economic hardship. An analysis of COVID-19's impact on Small Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) shows that these businesses' and their employees' financial outcomes are probably going to get worse before getting better. The main issue is that small and medium-sized business owners have restricted access to capital and innovative strategies, which has made it challenging for them to deal with the tight constraints. As a result, many SMEs have had to adopt innovative financial and technological strategies to promote sustainability and prevent closure (Puddister & Small, 2020). This study examines the impact on business performance, technology adaptation, financial innovation, sustainability, and lockdown restrictions of SMEs during the pandemic. An online questionnaire with 30 closed-ended questions was administered to entrepreneurs in the retail sector across Gauteng. The following inquiries are addressed in the study: What impact has the coronavirus had on SMEs' ability to do business? How has technology adoption improved small and medium- sized enterprises' performance during the coronavirus lockdowns? Is there a chance that financial innovation may sustain SMEs throughout the pandemic? Has the coronavirus epidemic affected SMEs' ability to survive? Using non-parametric tests, the researcher examined the correlations between the independent and dependent variables for each of the four hypotheses using IBM SPSS. The associations between the variables were examined using inferential statistics such as Spearman's rho correlation function, multinominal logistic regression, generalized linear model, and ordinal linear regression. All four of the hypothesis' correlations were determined to be significant. This study suggests that fostering financial inclusion, promoting technology adoption through training and grants, and encouraging innovative financial approaches can empower SMEs to navigate pandemic challenges and build resilience. Proactive policy interventions and support systems tailored to SMEs are crucial to mitigating the pandemic's economic consequences and promoting long-term sustainabilityItem The Role of Leadership in the Implementation of Strategic Projects in a Commercial Bank in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Mutshinya, Phathutshedzo; Wotela, Kambidima; Matshabaphala , JohnnyThis research highlighted the role of leadership in the delivery of strategic projects in a commercial bank setting. The research followed a quantitative research strategy whereby a sample of a commercial bank was approached to gather their insights and perceptions of the leadership role in the implementation of strategic projects. The views of commercial bank employees were analyzed to identify gaps that existed in the leadership behaviours and traits currently adopted in the banks. Findings from this research confirmed that there are indeed gaps in the leadership role that leave room for improvement for a more successful outcome of the strategic project implementation. The study highlighted that leaders in a commercial bank should lean towards agility to guide and support towards a more successfully implementation of strategic projectsItem Determinants of credit risk on residential mortgage loans in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2020) Mbulana, Alikho; Mthanti, ThantiResidential mortgages are an important asset class for banks as these assets provide the majority of bank’s income. By the nature of issuing loans to customers, this asset class also presents the greatest risk to the banks and as a result, banks need to constantly evaluate and review credit risk in order to ensure dynamic response strategies that curb losses and achieve sustainable profits. This study aims to investigate factors influencing credit risk on residential mortgage loans in South Africa. A regression analysis was conducted to capture the influence of both macroeconomic and bank specific factors on loans that have been in arrears for less than 89 days and on loans that have been in default for more than 90 days; using monthly data from an undisclosed bank over a period of eight years, 2010 to 2018. The results show that Housing Price Index, Unemployment, Household Disposable Income, Bank’s Capitalization and Operational Efficiency are the only significant determinants for non-performing residential mortgage loans that are less than 89 days. Credit Quality, Inflation, Unemployment, Household Disposable Income, Bank’s Capitalization, Operational Efficiency and are the main determinants of the non-performing residential mortgage loans greater than 90 daysItem Bancassurance on commercial banks and life insurance in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mapena, Thabang; Hoohlo, MphekeleliThe increase in competition and the scramble for customers in the financial industry has led to the convergence of banking and insurance to form what is known as Bancassurance. Bancassurance, as the name suggests is the distribution of insurance products using bank platforms. Although two parties get into the bancassurance agreement in search of some mutual gains, it comes with unintended consequences which among other things affect the banking efficiency of banks. This study assesses the efficiency changes brought about by Bancassurance in the SADC commercial banks. Using Data Envelopment analysis with the return to scale, an analysis was done on 21 banks with active insurance income on a case and control methodology. The results showed insurance income having no impact on the regional banks’ efficiencies. The income insurance however had an impact on some banks’ returns to scaleItem Coaching as a practice to develop and support social service professionals in the Gauteng Provincial Government(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Hartmann, Amanda Marié; Magida, AyandaThis research explored how Social Service Professionals (SSPs) in the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) perceive the role of coaching as a practice to develop and support the professionalisation of SSPs in the said department. For this basic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews assisted with data collection from fifteen (15) participants employed as SSPs in GDSD. Key findings are that coaching as a practice is non-existent for SSPs in GDSD and that the critical success factors for coaching in GDSD are no different from that in any other organisation. Most participants supported the contribution that coaching could be a practice to develop and support service professionals. Participants further indicated they would prefer a layered approach to introducing coaching to specific levels of staff in the SSP category. Participants favoured a systematic introduction of coaching to ensure its long-term sustainability and highlighted the organisational and personal hindrances that could impact its adoption and effectiveness as a practiceItem Business process management and innovation dynamics in a South African Bank(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Chang, Kai-Ruin; Mzyece, MjumoInnovation has been a topical focus for banks in achieving strategic value through new products development, efficient processes and improved services. Whilstdriving innovation, banks are however faced with barriers such as inertia exerted by legacy systems, unsupportive organisation structures and restrictive mindsets that are too risk avoidant. Thus, how innovation is managed by banks has become critical in overcoming these barriers. Despite business process management (BPM) having an overlapping objective to that of innovation management in achieving efficiency and lowering costs for an organisation, it has developed as a separate discipline to that of innovation management. The purpose of this study is the exploration of integrating BPM principles in innovation management in banks to overcome barriers and provide practical recommendations. The study further aims to contribute to the gap that exists between the body of academic knowledge and what innovation managers are aware of in a South Africa bank context. In this study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with senior employees within a South African bank. The data were further analysed using a qualitative research method to identify and interpret themes based on interviews with subject matter experts and managers in the South African bank. The study has identified the key layers from the total innovation management paradigm and BPM principles that can enable the innovation performance for a bank and raises further areas that can be exploredItem The use of Self-service Technologies (interactive screens) in enhancing the shopping experience in selected South African shopping malls: a consumer/shopper perspective(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Uta, Lloyd; Klopper, H. D.; Duh, H.With the South African consumer market continuously evolving, it is imperative for shopping- mall owners to create more innovative shopping ways to satisfy the needs of the 21st century South African consumers. One of the innovative ways is to provide the use of self-service technologies (SSTs), which reportedly provides consumers positive cognitive, affective, and sensory customer experience benefits. Using SSTs in banks, shopping malls, hotels and other business environments have become a trend as customers do not only enjoy fresh and actionable experiences, they also get service quality, efficiency and entertainment that can be better and consistent than the human services. Despite these benefits, emerging markets such as India and South Africa respectively are slow to adopt SSTs, especially in the shopping mall environment. This study integrated relevant elements of technology acceptance model, diffusion of innovation theory, theory of planned behaviour and the flow theory to examine SST site factors (i.e., user interface, aesthetics and authenticity), the technology-related factors (i.e., relative advantage, complexity, perceived ease of use[PEOU], perceived usefulness [PU]) and consumer factors (i.e., subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, enjoyment and concentration) driving attitudes and behavioural intentions to use SSTs at some selected shopping malls in Johannesburg. The mediating roles of PU, PEOU and attitudes were also tested. Based on proximity to the researcher’s resident and malls similarities in size, ranking, and social class (i.e., middle and higher income) and socio-economic profiles of shoppers, the researcher selected three contemporary shopping malls which have been identified as super regional centres. These malls were Mall of Africa, Rosebank and Sandton City malls. Additionally, the malls have installed SSTs like information kiosks or interactive screens. A quantitative research study was conducted with data collected successfully from 260 respondents and analysed using structural equation modelling with Smart PLS. Sobel’s test was used to test mediation. Findings revealed that user-interface and aesthetics and authenticity positively impacted PU and PEOU. The PU and PEOU with relative advantage drove attitudes to adopt SSTs, which with perceived control, subjective norm and enjoyment were positive and significant drivers of behavioural intention to use SSTs. The mediating effects of PU, PEOU and attitudes were significant. Managerially, drivers of shoppers’ attitudes and intentions to adopt SSTS are exposed. Theoretically, the study’s integrated model enriches the explanation of the acceptance of a technology, that is SST, especially in emerging market and multicultural contextItem Factors affecting the adoption of business intelligence solutions in a public sector organisation(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Tshehla, ModiketseBusiness Intelligence Solutions (BIS) continue to play a significant role in organisations and businesses in today’s information age. The adoption of BIS enables an organisation to gain a competitive advantage, generate accurate and faster data reporting, improve customer service, and increase revenue. The benefits of BIS have been realised in private sector organisations. However, the South African public sector is yet to release the benefits of adopting business intelligence solutions. The factors that affect the adoption of business intelligence solutions in a South African public sector organisation have not been fully investigated. This study explores factors that division managers perceive to be salient in influencing the adoption of a visualisation and data exploration BIS available in a public sector organisation in South Africa. The study was underpinned by Tomatzky and Fleischer’s Technology Organisation Environment (TOE) framework which was applied previously in the adoption of information system (IS) at the organisation level.The framework provided the lens from which adoption was studied by considering influences from the technological context, the organisational context and the environmental context. The following main research question guiding the study was addressed: What aspects of the visualisation and data exploration BIS are perceived to influence the adoption of the BIS in the public sector organisation. The organisation in the study provides training and development to public sector employees of the South African government. The study interviewed 10 senior managers with at least three years’ experience in the organisation. It was found that expected benefits from the technology and its compatibility are important for the adoption of BIS. Within the public sector organisation studied, stakeholder engagement; organisational culture; and available financial resources were also found to be important and supported by the literature. While service provider support was found to be crucial in the BIS adoption from the environmental context, the size of the organisation and the government regulations were found not to be influential in the adoption of BIS in a public sector organisation. The stimulation of employee interest and the importance of data quality were discovered to be the most important reasons the BIS was adopted. This research contributed to the improvement of theory by extending IS literature on BIS adoption and by testing the TOE theoretical framework in the South African public sector context. This study adds to the body of knowledge by extending the use of the TOE framework as a suitable tool for the study of BIS adoption. Furthermore, the study contributed by uncovering factors that influence the adoption of BIS in the South African public sector context. The results may help the South African and other countries’ public sector organisations to become more aware of the factors that influence the adoption of BIS. Practitioners and managers could be better prepared and minimise the BIS adoption risks by considering these factorsItem Working from Home: Impact of COVID-19 on Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction among Non-Academic Staff at a Public University in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-02) Miruka, Dorothy; Mazingi, ArethaThis study explores the motivation and job satisfaction of the non-academic staff at a public institution of higher education in South Africa during the pandemic. This study investigates the motivation and job satisfaction of the non-academic staff at a public institution of higher education in South Africa during the pandemic. The pandemic brought challenges to society forcing various practices from work to travelling and daily responsibilities. This resulted in both employers and employees seeking alternative work arrangements. This research is on the impact of COVID-19 on employee motivation and job satisfaction on employees while they were working from home (WFH). Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study used a survey research methodology. Primary data was collected from 354 non-academic employees, using a 7 Likert questionnaire. The quantitative data results were analyzed using R studio (version 3.6.3). Multiple linear regression was carried out, data findings were then discussed presenting the results using and graphs. From the empirical results, the research found that there is a correlation between motivation and job satisfaction. These results indicate that there are correlations of sets of relationships between WFH, motivation, job satisfaction, and technological skills