Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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End date: 2023Subject: search.filters.subject.South Africa

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    Financial inclusion in South Africa: An analysis of the financial sector regulatory framework and proposals for reform
    (2018-09) Duma, Amanda; Kawadza, Herbert
    Abstract Not Available.
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    Challenges and opportunities faced by social entrepreneurs in Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Moipane, Phasha Pharane
    Background: Social entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised as a powerful means to address pressing societal issues. However, a substantial gap exists in the literature regarding the challenges and opportunities faced by social entrepreneurs in the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) in Limpopo. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the specific hurdles and prospects encountered by social entrepreneurs within this geographically isolated context. Significance: Social entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in mitigating socio-economic challenges and fostering community development. Their contributions are especially significant in underserved areas like the SDM. Population and Sample Framework: Data for this study was collected through interviews, articles, reports, and websites. Out of 50 social entrepreneurs approached, 26 accepted to be interviewed, constituting the study's sample. Method of Data Collection and Analysis: Qualitative research methods were employed to conduct interviews with the 26 social entrepreneurs operating in the SDM of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The data collected was analysed to uncover the challenges and opportunities faced by these social entrepreneurs. Highlights of Results: The study's findings underscore the substantial obstacles faced by social entrepreneurs in this region, which include insufficient funding, restricted access to networks, and inadequate training. These challenges hinder their project financing and sustainability efforts. Conclusions and Recommendations: This study recommends expanding local economic development and municipal procurement policies to provide interest-free grants to emerging entrepreneurs in the region. Furthermore, it suggests that social entrepreneurs can overcome some of these challenges by harnessing support from customers and leveraging tender opportunities provided by the SDM and other entities
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    Financial inclusion through WhatsApp banking in Johannesburg
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Miller, Jade Rowan; Balabanoff,Garth
    Approximately three billion people will use mobile banking by 2024. Mobile devices and widespread Internet access are helping to boost mobile banking's popularity. Retail banks can now offer their customers even more convenience with mobile banking applications like WhatsApp. Consumers and financial institutions have embraced advanced technologies, including mobile banking, in recent years. Social media, mobile banking and new ideas like WhatsApp banking have made it easier for people to do business. Mobile banking is now possible thanks to high smartphone penetration and technological advancements. The fourth industrial revolution will continue to exponentially transform the modern economy. Globalisation has forced banks to open new channels to remain competitive in today's market. Banks have had to cut costs and improve their financial position by introducing new products and services. Mobile banking has grown rapidly globally due to the rapid development of information technology. Due to multi-channel distribution, most banks now have a global presence with cross-border customers. A quantitative approach was taken to examine factors that may influence behavioural intention to use WhatsApp banking in the context of financial inclusion. A questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. The survey was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to people living in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study adds to the body of knowledge by identifying factors that influence WhatsApp banking adoption, particularly in developing countries. The Technology Acceptance Model by Davis (1985) was used to investigate behavioural intention to use WhatsApp banking. My findings show that perceived trust, banking inclusion, perceived usefulness and awareness all play a significant role in WhatsApp banking adoption. Managers in financial institutions should focus on increasing consumer trust across all age groups to increase customer comfort with non-traditional banking platforms in general and thus increase financial inclusion. This is crucial because ix WhatsApp banking has the potential to bank the unbanked and underbanked while also increasing financial inclusion.
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    The nexus between the World Governance Indicators’ scores on corruption and the financial performance of SOEs in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Mdluli, Mthokozisi Xolani
    South Africa, according to Crompton et al. (2017), is dealing with a triple threat of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. As a result, the government is faced with the task of meeting all of these urgent demands while being hampered by a tight budget and weak economic growth. Procurement is a critical component of the government's service delivery system, and it has been utilised as a policy tool to achieve the government's socioeconomic goals (Badenhorst-Weiss, 2012). Government spending is required to be thoroughly thought out on this basis before any public funds are spent. As a result, government expenditure should be monitored and evaluated as part of the architecture of all government-led projects (Crompton et al., 2017). SOEs (State-owned entities), also known as public entities, are tasked with specific responsibilities by the country's constitution in order to assist the state in fulfilling its mandate (Ovens, 2013). In line with international trends, South Africa has implemented corporatisation, or the transfer of state assets or agencies into state-owned corporations, in a number of areas to encourage more effective and efficient service delivery. Increased public procurement is the result of this. Public procurement involves a large amount of money, which has attracted corruption because of the scale at which it is carried out (Crompton et al., 2017). According to the South African Department of Commerce and Industries, government purchasing power contributed between 15% and 25% of GDP in 2016 (Makube, 2016). Makube (2016) estimates that, between 2013 and 2016, public infrastructure investment in healthcare facilities, schools, water, sanitation, housing, and electrification totalled R827 billion. As a result, the SOEs have been subjected to outside intervention, as well 2 as possible wrongdoing and corruption. According to recent media reports, the country has unacceptably high levels of corruption (Mantzaris, 2016). Understanding how this corruption affects the workings of SOEs is important if the country wants to attempt to start addressing this scourge. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the relationship that exists between a known measure of governance in a country, namely the World Governance Indicators and the financial performance of SOEs in South Africa
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    The adoption of efficient technology in emerging markets within State Owned Bank in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Malatji , Jaftha Sechube; Dladla, Pholile
    This study aims to explore the adoption of efficient technologies in a South African state-owned enterprise (SOE) or state-owned bank (SOB), specifically investigating the factors that affect how efficient technologies are adopted, the challenges that come during the adoption phase, and the advantages that result from successfully adopting efficient technologies. The research study applied a qualitative research design and used interviews with open-ended questions to collect data. The findings reveal a complex landscape influenced by various elements such as communication, leadership, organisational culture, and operational efficiency. The study highlights the importance of technology adoption within an SOE or SOB. Based on the findings, recommendations were formulated that can be used to enhance how the South African State-Owned Bank can manage the adoption of new technologies efficiently while reducing the risks connected with technology adoption. Despite certain limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of new technology adoption in a traditionally oriented country like South Africa.
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    Analysing Management Strategies and Models Applied by Amateur Sporting Federations in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Letsholo, Kabelo Johannes; Mati, Jacob
    This mixed methods research study was conducted to analyse management strategies and models applied by amateur sporting federations in South Africa. Since the advent of a democratic South Africa, only rugby, soccer, cricket and to some degree netball, golf and motorsport, have managed to maintain and/or increase their value proposition and thus attracted several stakeholders. The sports television coverage landscape has also largely remained the skewed only towards these federations. This is despite the fact that some amateur sporting federations have consistently and regularly participated in their respective sporting codes’ world championships and even Olympics games. Media coverage of these amateur federations’ participation in these events is scarce and covered nor the general South African population never gets to hear about them. Business entities have also been reluctant to partner with the amateur federations. This research therefore seeks to identify and understand practices that hinder amateur sporting federations from achieving their objectives to highlight and recommend practices that these federations specifically and other amateur sporting federations in general can adopt to enable them to reach their strategic objective. The study was conducted through interviews with three amateur sports federations in South Africa. The initial primary research data was collected using structured interviews and an online survey. Analysis of this data found that there is evidence to infer a correlation between constructs such as an organisational sport framework, governance, sport value creation, sports consumer behaviour/needs and organisational performance at the national level. It is hoped that this study will assist the sports fraternity in South Africa to appreciate that constructs such as sports value framework, good governance prescripts, sport value creation and offering value that sport consumers want, if implemented and/or adopted, can help elevate amateur sporting federations.
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    Leadership style and supervisory behaviour on employee wellbeing and performance at two Retail Banks in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Harris, Candy
    This study investigates leadership style and supervisory behaviour on employee wellbeing and performance at two retail banks in South Africa. The study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on management and leadership and with this, provide additional insight into the importance of wellbeing within the two banks. The concepts of motivation and supervisory behaviours were explored in relation to different styles of leadership while the importance of employee wellbeing was further investigated in relation to performance. The study was conducted and analysed using quantitative data that was collected through an online questionnaire. The sample size included 144 employees from two Retail Banks. Most of the sample included back-office managers, professional bankers and analysts which included 50% from Retail Bank A, and the other 50% were from Retail Bank B, both in Sandton, Johannesburg. The study found that democratic and transformational leadership styles were most effective at increasing employee motivation and employee performance. These two forms of leadership styles have a positive influence on productivity, job satisfaction, and overall employee performance. It was also found that the autocratic leadership style had negatively affected supervisory behaviour. Autocratic leadership style demotivated employees causing higher levels of job dissatisfaction. Relationships between supervisory behaviour and employee wellbeing together with employee performance were also identified.
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    The use of social media to drive the growth of South African brands
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Reddy, Nishanta; Budree, Adheesh
    The proliferation of social media usage has coincided with the expansion of social media marketing efforts. However, the mere escalation in social media activity does not uniformly translate into user interaction or engagement with advertisements disseminated through these platforms. Consequently, it becomes imperative to scrutinize the determinants of engagement and discern how such engagement can impact the development of indigenous South African brands. Existing scholarly literature offers limited insights into the factors underpinning social media brand engagement and the resultant effects on the advancement of local brands within the South African market. This research aims to augment the Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) model with the aim of delineating the catalysts propelling engagement with social media brands and investigating the ramifications of such engagement on the performance metrics of domestic brands. Employing a quantitative methodology, the study leveraged an online survey to solicit responses from 272 South African social media users. The findings underscore that the principal determinants of social media brand engagement encompass entertainment value, brand resonance, informativeness, and social influence. Furthermore, the analysis reveals those interactions with brand advertisements on social media platforms bolster purchase intent, thereby fostering an amelioration in brand performance metrics. This emphasizes the pivotal role played by social media platforms in fostering the growth of local brands in South Africa. Consequently, social media engagement emerges as a pivotal determinant shaping the trajectory of growth and performance for local brands, underscoring the imperative of deploying strategic social media marketing initiatives tailored to the specificities of the South African market landscape.
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    Succession planning and performance of family businesses in Rustenburg and Soweto, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Nduna, Sandile Michael
    i ABSTRACT This study explored succession planning challenges faced by family businesses in Rustenburg and Soweto, South Africa, and examined their impact on business performance. The motivation for this study stemmed from the recognition of the crucial role of succession planning in ensuring the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of family businesses. The purpose of the study was to identify the current succession planning procedures in place, understand the challenges encountered, examine their implications on business performance, and explore the effectiveness of government initiatives in supporting family businesses. The study utilised interviews as the primary method of data collection, targeting a sample of 10 family business owners from Soweto and Rustenburg. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the collected data, uncovering key themes and patterns related to succession planning challenges and their impact on business performance. The findings of the study indicated that family businesses faced several challenges in creating effective succession plans, including a lack of awareness and knowledge about succession planning, family conflicts, and financial constraints. These challenges directly impacted the operational efficiency and competitiveness of family businesses, resulting in financial strain, operational disruptions, and limited innovation. Moreover, the study revealed mixed perceptions regarding the effectiveness of government initiatives, highlighting the need for further exploration to assess their influence on family business development and expansion. The practical contribution of this study lies in providing insights and recommendations for family businesses in Rustenburg and Soweto to enhance their succession planning efforts. Recommendations included fostering awareness and knowledge about succession planning, managing family dynamics and conflicts, addressing financial constraints through resource ii support, and leveraging government initiatives. By addressing these challenges, family businesses could improve their operational efficiency, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability. The theoretical contribution of this study was twofold. Firstly, it highlighted the importance of including both family and outside directors on the board of family businesses to maximise the benefits of family engagement while mitigating potential drawbacks. Secondly, it underscored the significance of cultural and contextual factors in shaping succession planning practices, emphasising the need for culturally sensitive approaches to ensure effective succession planning in diverse contexts.
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    Organisational Readiness for Digital Innovation within the Automotive Manufacturing Sector in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mufumadi, Mendy Konanani; Oba, Pius
    Global digital disruption is an inescapable fact of the 21st business environment. The consequences thereof have major implications for all sectors, including the automotive manufacturing industry. The advent of electric cars and self-driving vehicles are just some examples of digitial innovations in the sector. Digital technologies have significantly advanced the automotive manufacturing industry, altering how processes are executed, customer interactions are carried out, and supply chain management is handled.However, despite the benefits of Digital Innovation, many organisations struggle to adopt and integrate these technologies effectively, with one of the challenges being organisational readiness for Digital Innovation. It is against this backdrop that the current study investigated the factors that influence organisational readiness for Digital Innovation in the South African automotive manufacturing context, specifically at Company X, and how organisations can overcome those barriers/ factors. A review of extant literature showed a dearth of studies on Digital Innovation in this sector within the SA context. Therefore, there was a need to investigate the factors that influence organisational readiness within the automotive industry in South Africa, and to identify strategies that can help with overcoming the barriers. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, using interviews as a research tool in which 12 participants were interviewed. The data analysis yielded 3 main themes and various related sub-themes, namely (a.) Understanding and involvement of Digital Innovation, (b.) Readiness FactorVersus Digital Innovation and (c.) Challenges and Barriers that hinder Digital Innovation As with many other businesses, automotive manufacturing is also compelled to respond to the challenge posed by technological advancements. For Company X, leadership and management were the most highly ranked factors influencing organizational readiness. The perceived meaning of Digital Innovation revolved iv around improving processes and adding value to both internal and external customers, making use of technology to improve decision-making. The use of technology such as AI, IoT and Power BI has gained momentum as well. This study covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to the business, management, organizational and professional areas. It emphasizes the significance of management and leadership as key factors impacting organizational readiness. Managers, engineers, and IT professionals can gain valuable insights regarding the challenges and best practices for implementing digital technologies from this work as it also clarifies organizational dynamics and the prerequisites for successful digital innovation, offering practical strategies for organisations to enhance their readiness