Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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End date: 2024Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

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    Digital innovation and disruptive potential by FinTech companies in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Freund, Amelia; Omotoso, Pelayo
    FinTech companies are seen bring innovation to the financial services industry that provide an enhanced customer experience and improves financial inclusion. A contradiction exists between academic and business literature around the potential impact of the FinTech revolution on the industry and banks as incumbents in the financial services industry. This paper aims to clarify this by assessing the degree of potential disruption that domestic new-entrant FinTech companies in the payments sub-sector have on incumbent banks in South Africa, so that both parties could make informed decisions that benefit the industry and its customers. This qualitative study examines the drivers of potential disruption and the decisions made by both FinTech new-entrants and banks to develop a synthesis for a likely future scenario relating to potential changes in dominance within the financial services industry. It further analyses the advantages and challenges of each party in the context of a potential partnership and examines management views to determine alignment with the drivers of disruption. This cross-sectional study employs document analysis to examine 42 new-entrant FinTech companies in the payments sub-sector and 5 banks, in addition to the thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews 15 semi- structured interviews conducted. It was found that domestic new-entrant FinTech companies are not likely to disrupt banks (to the point where FinTech companies become more dominant) in the payments sub-sector in South Africa due to the influence of banks in the industry and the proactive response from banks to potential disruptions. Banks should, however, take notice of developments and more seriously consider solutions in the cross-border remittance and blockchain spaces. Managers may have slight differences in their opinions, but overall, they are aligned with the factors driving disruption and the influence of FinTech companies on the financial services sector. This alignment enables them to make strategic decisions effectively without significant misconceptions. The study discovered a potential mutually beneficial link between FinTech companies and banks that indicate partnerships between them might enhance their services to customers and enhance their overall competitive standing in the market
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    Exploring the role of social media influencers and brand ambassadors in influencing purchase intention
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Da Fonseca, Helen; Saini , Yvonne
    This study investigates the comparative influence of social media influencers and celebrity brand ambassadors on purchase intention within the South African cosmetics industry, specifically targeting millennial and Generation Z consumers. Grounded in the Source Credibility Model, the research examines how credibility, trustworthiness, and expertise shape consumer decision-making. Social Media Influencer-Driven Purchase Intention (SIPI) and Brand Ambassador-Driven Purchase Intention (BAPI) were introduced as higher-order constructs to evaluate and compare which type of endorser has a stronger influence on overall purchase intention. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) methodology was used to analyse survey data collected from 130 respondents. The findings indicate that both Social Media Influencer-Driven Purchase Intention (SIPI) and Brand Ambassador-Driven Purchase Intention (BAPI) influence consumer purchase intention, with celebrity brand ambassadors exerting a more substantial effect due to their higher perceived credibility and expertise. Celebrity brand ambassadors were shown to play a pivotal role in enhancing consumer trust and confidence, making them more effective in driving purchase behaviour compared to social media influencers. These insights offer strategic guidance for marketers and brands looking to refine their influencer marketing strategies to better resonate with the evolving preferences of millennial and Generation Z consumers in the South African market.
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    Predictors of Willingness to Participate in E-waste Recycling in Johannesburg: A Case of Electronic and Electric Repair Firms
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Chinomona, Rudo Cynthia Christine
    This study examines the predictor variables of willingness to participate in e-waste recycling in Johannesburg. Nine hypotheses are posited and in order to empirically test them, a sample data set of 307 was collected from Gauteng Province of South Africa. The results indicate that The results of the study reveals that awareness of e-waste hazard, awareness of benefits of e- waste practices and awareness of e-waste policies each have a significant, direct and positive influence on knowledge of e-waste practices and attitude towards e-waste practices. Furthermore, the results revealed that knowledge on e-waste recycling practices and attitude towards e-waste recycling practices each have a direct positive influence on willingness to adopt e-waste recycling practices. Drawing from the study’s findings, managerial implications are discussed and limitations and future research directions are suggested. By and large, this study immensely contributes new knowledge to the existing body of e-waste recycling literature in South Africa - a context that is often most neglected by some researchers in developing countries.
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    Effects of Investor Treatment on FDI Inflow: Developed v Developing States
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Carides, Telis
    It has been widely accepted that investor treatments afforded by states alone do not have a significant impact on FDI inflow. Rather, FDI inflow has been shown to be dependant on numerous other factors. This has however been traditionally examined against the backdrop of an ever-more globalised world, whereas more recent years have seen an uncharacteristic slowdown in globalisation, and indeed has ushered in a post-pandemic anti-globalisation trend. During this period, FDI in developed and developing states has faired very differently. Specifically, FDI into developing states has proven significantly more resilient compared to their developed counterparts, and indeed has overtaken developed states in net FDI inflow for the first time. Can this resilience be attributed to divergent approaches in investor treatments? This enquiry was undertaken by examining representative proxy states from the pool of developed and developing nations. After carefully electing said proxy states from both ends of the FDI inflow spectrum, I analysed whether, and to what extent they provided the most considered investor treatments; MST/FET, NT, MFN, pre-establishment protection and protection against expropriation. Notably, although the USA generally provides for these protections and is at the top of the FDI spectrum, Angola remained at the bottom of the spectrum whilst providing similar, and indeed broader protection in the case of NT and MFN. Furthermore, the Netherlands is the only state lower than Anglo during the examined period, yet it, save for pre-establishment protection, offered similar treatment. The study in casu was unable to establish that differences in investor treatments had any bearing on FDI inflows, and could not account for the converse performance of developed and developing states during the anti-globalisation period.
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    A practical review of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in the automated review of legal contracts
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Fouché, Jacques Gerrit
    This research report compares the performance of AI-driven automated contract review platforms with that of human contract reviewers, aiming to see improved effectiveness for the elements of time, cost and quality. An empirical study is done by comparing the specific performance of an automated contract review platform provider, Lawgeex, to the human contract reviewers of a business entity, Endress+Hauser. The results of the effectiveness assessment are reported on through dashboard data and questionnaires to the users of the platform. Recommendations are made both in general and specific to the two entities of the empirical study.
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    Mobile banking apps curation: Assessing the factors that influence mobile banking’s continuous use amongst Millennials and Generation Z
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mashishi, Neo; Zulu, Melissa
    The proliferation of mobile banking platforms and the widespread use of intelligent devices like smartphones and tablets have caused a paradigm change in the banking industry in recent times. Millennials and Generation Z (Gen Z), dubbed the "digital natives," make up most of these service consumers. Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly using mobile banking apps, which has transformed how financial services are delivered. Nevertheless, despite being widely adopted, banks need help to ensure the continuous use of these apps to sustain a devoted and loyal consumer base while competing in the market. This study, therefore, investigates the factors influencing Millennials and Gen Z's continuous use of mobile banking applications. Five theoretical frameworks have been adopted to direct the research inquiry: Computers As A Social Actor (CASA), Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT-IS), Social Response Theory (SRT), Task Technology Fit (TTF), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study adopted these frameworks based on their theoretical and empirical applicability and ability to provide perspectives into the variables impacting Millennials and Gen Z's continuous use of mobile banking apps. The study employed SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for the analysis of descriptive statistics. To validate the theoretical model and investigate the interactions between variables, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). PLS-SEM, Smart PLS software was used to assess the validity and reliability of the constructs as well as the strength and importance of the proposed paths in the structural model was made possible by the PLS-SEM methodology. This provided an overview of the dataset and made it possible to do a thorough analysis by outlining important features like means, frequencies, and standard deviations. The research used quota sampling for a sample size of 505 participants. The study's conclusions indicate that there is a substantial correlation among perceived anthropomorphism, expectation confirmation, service quality of mobile applications, mobile banking app satisfaction, technology fit, and consistent usage of mobile banking apps. The study’s goal is to advance our understanding of the field of banking and financial services marketing. The banking sector can apply the findings and insights to differentiate its offerings from its competitors and gain a competitive edge while potentially boosting profitability.
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    Can emoji constitute defamatory content in the context of the South African law of defamation?
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Saloojee, Raeesa
    The use of emoji in digital communication often reflects a casual and carefree approach to conveying emotions and sentiments. Frequently added alongside text messages, emoji are seen as harmless embellishments, requiring little thought regarding their meaning or potential consequences. However, these seemingly innocuous additions may carry significant legal implications. Some emoji have acquired secondary meanings and connotations, which may give rise to defamation claims. This research report thus delves into the intersection of defamation law and emoji. Specifically, we examine the potential for emoji to constitute defamatory elements and explore how courts may interpret their usage. Drawing on legal perspectives from the United Kingdom and Australia, this research report sheds light on the evolving challenges posed by emoji in the realm of defamation law. As South African jurisprudence has yet to grapple with the defamatory potential of emoji, this research report explores whether South African courts will follow the lead of their international counterparts in interpreting emoji. This study thus contributes to the evolving discourse on the intersection of technology, communication, and the law in the digital age.
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    Factors Affecting Blockchain Technology Adoption by Organizations in the Livestock Supply Chain Industry in Zimbabwe
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tambudze, Pelagia; Isabirye, Naomi
    Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that provides the building block for many innovations. The distributed nature of blockchain, its immutability, and anonymity enable trust, transparency, and security among transacting or trading partners. The accelerated unfolding of 4IR due to the COVID- 19 pandemic recently unveiled several critical gaps within global supply chains, including livestock supply chains. The main challenges faced by organizations in the livestock supply industry in the developing world include difficulties for farmers in accessing new markets, no flexibility in production times, and no traceability for the consumer market to trace food component authenticity. In Zimbabwe, livestock is an important sector contributing about 22% of the total GDP. From several studies done by other researchers in different industries, such as health care, banking, mining, education, and agriculture, it is evident that blockchain technology solves most of these issues by decreasing data asymmetries and the cost of transactions to benefit all stakeholders. Blockchain-based solutions have recently been introduced to the livestock sector, and Zimbabwe is one of the early adopters among its African counterparts. However, the adoption rate by organizations within the livestock supply chain has been minimal. Using the lens of the TOE framework, this study investigated the factors that affect the decision by organizations in Zimbabwe's livestock supply chains to adopt blockchain technology. A qualitative approach was applied, interviewing fifteen informants from various levels of the livestock supply chain. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that adopting blockchain benefits organizations and the overall livestock supply chain. The study found that technological, organizational, and environmental factors influenced organizations' decision to adopt blockchain technologies within livestock supply chains. These factors included availability of the technology, cost of the technology, skills availability, regulation and policies, competitive pressures, presence of blockchain providers, political and socio- economic factors and market trends.
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    Universal internet access in South African disadvantaged communities: is there adequate regulation?
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Thomas, Khayakazi
    As a result of the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, artificial intelligence, the technology of things and other similar technologies, information communications technologies (ICT) form the basis of our routine lives and sit at the core of both economic and social development. Therefore, the advancement of universal access and service is indispensable for the equal and full enjoyment of all freedoms and rights by all and provides for the improvement of the quality of life for all citizens, and further presents a gateway to freeing each person's potential, as envisaged in the Constitution. This is particularly true for the digitally marginalised situated in informal settlements, townships and remote rural areas (Disadvantaged Communities). Notwithstanding the above, statistics show that to date the digital community in South Africa is still very much skewed towards the affluent urban communities, with only 1% of rural households able to access the internet in their homes. Achieving universal access and service in Disadvantaged Communities is a key policy goal in a democratic society such as ours. It is in light of this that this research report presents a multi-method research approach to holistically conclude on the adequacy of the South African regulatory framework to drive the advancement of universal access and service in Disadvantaged Communities, and recommend law reform. This entails a review of the regulatory framework governing universal access and service (in the South African historical background context under the apartheid regime) compared against international best practices on the regulation of universal access and service in Disadvantaged Communities (using the prevailing socio-economic realities in Disadvantaged Communities as guiding principles). The research report findings, taking into consideration the South African historical background and the prevailing socio-economic realities in Disadvantaged Communities, indicate that the South African regulatory framework is to a great extent on par with international best practices on regulation aimed at the advancement of universal access and service in Disadvantaged Communities, barring its unsuccessful implementation. The research report identifies that the unsuccessful implementation of the regulatory framework is largely owing to its fragmentation (i.e., the regulatory framework relies on vast legislation, policies and regulations and different stakeholders for its implementation). Therefore, the proposed law reform constitute regulatory framework structural measures aimed at redressing the identified fragmentation so as to achieve a regulatory framework that adequately facilitates the implementation of the universal access and service objective in Disadvantaged Communities..
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    Embracing technology to rejuvenate South African mining: a comparative case study analysis of a South African and an Australian mining firm
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Vink, Tarryn; Callaghan, Chris
    It is well recognised that the mining industry is the historic bedrock of the South African economy. However, since 2000 the industry has shown signs of decline that include, inter alia, a slowdown in growth along with productivity issues. Since South Africa (SA) lags behind its global competitors in terms of technological innovation and implementation; many leaders in the mining industry are of the view that the increased use of technology will arrest this decline and restore the mining industry to a stronger position in the South African economy. What is, however, not fully understood is the extent to which technological change is contextually path dependent. This meaning that technological change in an industry is restricted by past events which enhance its resistance to change. This results in a lack of knowledge regarding how best to manage technological change. This would include understanding the most suitable implementation methods for certain contexts. The intention of this dissertation is to explain why firms in the South African mining industry lag behind their global competitors in terms of technological adoption. It aims to understand how differing contextual factors influence mining firms’ behavior, that, in turn, has an industry- level effect. It aims to understand how firms should manage this technology properly to optimise its interaction with its environment. Additionally, it aims to understand which theoretical approach, in relation to technological change, mining firms should follow to properly navigate their technological trajectories in light of contextual imperatives. The unit of analysis in this methodology is at the firm level. It takes specific contextual factors into account to determine which method of implementation is more appropriate for new technological advancements. This was executed by conducting two methodology phases. Phase 1 of the methodology which consisted of a holistic comparative case study analysis of a South African and an Australian mining firm. This study phase analysed archival documents that tracked changes in the responses of these mining firms over time. This was conducted using information from their financial statements and company reports, with the aim of investigating how these matched the government and environmental contexts seen in policy and country related documents. Phase 2 of the methodology comprised a qualitative analysis that used individual interviews in an attempt to develop useful insights that contextualise and support the findings of Phase 1. Various theoretical predictions have been derived in the form of propositions. The theory thus inductively developed has been used to answer some how and iii why questions about the strategic responses of firms to contextual imperatives. The study therefore produced a holistic analysis illustrating how each firm engaged with its respective contexts and how this may have resulted in path dependant relationships regarding technological innovation. The research emphasises that the South African mining industry's lag in technological adoption compared to global competitors could be attributed to an imbalanced innovation focus and a restrictive business context. It suggests that firms should address their technological and contextual needs separately to effectively manage innovation. The findings also stress that incremental improvements alone, are unlikely to enable a catch-up up with global leaders. Instead, radical interventions are necessary to shift the current trajectory toward one that prioritises productivity to achieve social objectives, enabling a plausible catch up.