Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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    Investigating the determinants of Digital Financial Inclusion in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Betha, Tshegofatso; Ndlovu, C.
    Digital Financial Inclusion has emerged as a prominent global agenda, necessitating an exploration of the transformative influence of technology on financial service accessibility. Previous research has attempted to uncover the true factors that impact Digital Financial Inclusion, however, there is further opportunity to better understand the underlying factors. To contribute to the body of knowledge, this study seeks to uncover factors of successful Digital Financial Inclusion that may contribute towards the implementation of key strategies. To achieve this goal, the study employs a multidimensional financial inclusion framework that explores the impact of access, barriers, and usage on Digital Financial Inclusion. Additionally, it expands the framework to include digital readiness and financial literacy, enhancing the depth of the investigation. Utilising a quantitative approach, data for the study was obtained through a self- administered online survey, yielding 231 valid responses for analysis. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to investigate the relationship between user readiness, financial literacy, barriers, access, usage, and Digital Financial Inclusion. The findings indicate insufficient statistical evidence to suggest a significant relationship between user readiness, access and barriers, and Digital Financial Inclusion. However, the study underscores that financial literacy and usage have a positive and significant influence on Digital Financial Inclusion. To enhance Digital Financial Inclusion, financial literacy and usage should be leveraged as key drivers for adoption. Additionally, policy makers, financial service providers and technology developers need to focus on targeted interventions, and inclusive regulatory frameworks
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    Construction Professionals’ Awareness of Automation and Robotics in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mbhalati, Kurisani Luther; Jenika, Gobind
    In South Africa, the construction sector, which accounts for approximately 3% of the GDP, is essential for economic growth but struggles with issues such as falling productivity, quality concerns, and safety risks. The adoption of robotics and automation could address these challenges, offering more reliable and precise quality, boosting productivity, cutting costs, and increasing safety by automating dangerous tasks. This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the awareness of automation and robotics among South African construction professionals through a quantitative survey. Additionally, the research sought to capture the professionals' opinions on the benefits these technologies could offer to construction projects and identify the barriers to their wider adoption as perceived by these professionals. Findings indicated a varied level of awareness among construction professionals, with high familiarity in technologies like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and lower awareness in emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR). Moreover, the professionals acknowledged the benefits of adopting these technologies, notably highlighting increased productivity and safety as key benefits. They also identified significant barriers to adoption, citing high acquisition costs and socio-economic concerns over job displacement as major obstacles, particularly in a context of high unemployment rates. Considering the construction industry's role in economic growth and recognizing the dip in productivity, alongside the industry's reluctance towards innovation, the study recommends focused educational initiatives and promotional activities for robotics and automation. It further stresses the need for policy changes to ensure the safe and efficient implementation of these technologies. Moreover, from a governmental standpoint, the study suggests providing incentives to businesses to encourage the adoption of robotics and automation in the construction industry
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    Challenges faced by women in obtaining leadership roles in South African Higher Learning Institutions
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Qwelane, Nomsa; Koech, Roselyn
    The role of women in leadership positions in the South African Higher Learning Institutions (HLI) is crucial. It is inclusive to women from different ethnic groups, ages, abilities, socioeconomic status, and various other women who face marginalization due to their different walks of life. South Africa is formed of diverse societies; hence, HLI should enrol women from diverse backgrounds; however, the policy is not inclusive of women’s leadership roles. This has a negative impact on their work performance. Therefore, this study is inquisitive to understand whether the barriers are identifiable in policies of HLI. This study aimed to identify and characterise opportunities for growth for women in higher education institutions. Eleven adult females in senior administrative positions between the ages of 25 and 65 participated in the study. A phenomenological approach, including The Glass Cliff Theory, was used to ground the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and further analysed thematically. Results showed that the executive management had played a pivotal role in implementing diversity policy, such as removing these barriers. However, the participants have noted the fundamental challenge of the policies was not its framework but rather the speed at which it was implemented.
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    Implementation of Knowledge Management to improve performance in national government departments in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kwadjo, Mittah Lebogang; Stacey, Anthony
    Government Departments are still lagging behind in implementing Knowledge Management. Managing knowledge is critical to the success and longevity of any business. Whilst the private sector is gaining traction in this management practice, government is still behind. The benefits of knowledge management are improved decision making, increased innovation and business efficiency. The unique barriers to implementing Knowledge Management in government departments warrant investigation. The purpose of this research was to identify barriers to implementing knowledge management processes and systems in national government departments in South Africa and to rate the extent of significance to knowledge management implementation. Methodology used to collect data was an online survey questionnaire. The sample was taken from the population of National Department of Transport employees, and results generalised to all national government departments. Thirty-five (35) statements on a 7-point Likert scale were used. Using Principal Component Analysis, 6 components were extracted and analysed. The 6 components were 1) strength of knowledge management leadership 2) departmental support of knowledge management, 3) level of employee interaction, 4) use of technology, 5) accessibility of technology and 6) level of team work. Seventy-five (75) participants, who were managers, senior managers and knowledge experts responded to the questionnaire. The study found that the barriers to knowledge management were strength of knowledge management leadership, level of employee interaction, departmental support, and use of technology. The study also identified the most significant barriers in implementing knowledge management in government departments were the “strength of knowledge management leadership” and the “level of employee interaction”. A further study on leadership in government departments in implementing knowledge management in recommended. Future research examining the level of interaction among government employees related to increased sharing of tacit knowledge is also recommended
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    Customer resistance of self-service kiosks in the South African fast-food industry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Anderson, Samantha; Magida, Ayanda
    Self Service Kiosks (SSKs) have recently been introduced into the fast-food service setting in South Africa. They provide customers with a different method of service delivery where customers can place fast-food orders without the need to interact with a cashier. Customers however continue to resist using SSKs despite businesses investing in such technology. Businesses do not invest in technology with the intention that it will not be used. This study explored why customers resist SSKs at fast-food outlets in South Africa and whether there are context specific reasons for such resistance. Although innovation resistance research is gaining more attention than it previously has, in a South African context such research is scarce. Innovation resistance in respect of SSKs has also not received significant research attention. A majority of the SSK research is focused on adoption. A qualitative research design that was exploratory in nature was adopted for this study. A qualitative approached allowed for a deeper understanding of why customers resist SSKs and provided an opportunity to gather new information in a South African context. Data was collected at a singular level, being that of fast-food customers only. Multiple methods were adopted to recruit participants and included posting on social media and utilising the snowballing approach. All research participants were selected according to a purposive sampling method. To be eligible to participate in the research they had to have chosen not to use a SSK in a fast-food outlet in South Africa. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Most of the interviews were conducted online. The interviews were recorded, and transcribed, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that customers resist SSKs for a variety of reasons and that resistance and adoption can co-exist. Further to this, the findings also confirmed that resistance can occur in many forms and does not always result in rejection. For instance, customers may be opposed to using the SSKs but still have to use it where they have no other alternative but to use it. The reasons for SSK resistance that were identified, fall into groups that relate to SSK iii characteristics, customer characteristics, situational factors, and social factors. With reference to the SSK literature, similar groupings of reasons are considered for innovation adoption thus highlighting the complex relationship between resistance and adoption
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    The Role of Leadership in Driving Digital Transformation in the South African Financial Services Sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ngxola, Nomonde; Gobind, Jenika
    The purpose of the research is to provide an all-encompassing definition of Digital Transformation (DT) amid a sea of definitions and propose drivers that leaders operating in the South African Financial Services Sector can use to drive Digital Transformation within their respective organisations, not only as a mere project but also being mindful of the personal influence their role as leaders has on the success of a DT process (Bordeaux, 2019). From a systematic review of 100 peer-reviewed articles, the literature suggests there are seven common and key drivers of the Digital Transformation process. These were identified as digital business strategy, a review or augmentation of the organisations business model, big data-driven processes, process automation, customer centricity, digital competency, and culture (Bhardwaj et al., 2013). The literature also reflects the influential role that leaders play in the DT process through their traits and abilities (Kaidalova, Sandkuhl & Seigerroth, 2018). A close examination was made of the evolution of leadership theories: The Great Man Theory being the starting point, was premised on the leader’s abilities resting solely upon leader themself, believed to be born with a set of traits and behaviour that automatically deemed them leadership worthy (Cherry, 2019). During this era, the notion of leader development and training was not given thought (Hartl & Hess, 2017). The leader was according to this theory born and carried their own innate talents and capabilities to lead devoid any form of development and advancing. The paper seeks to explore the evolution of leadership theories that evolved from the trait and behavioural theories to that of transformational leadership, which looks specifically at leaders in relation to their subordinates to the latest DT theories to test for similarities, plus outliers when considered with respect to the methodological finding Additionally, the research incorporated notable barriers to the digital transformation process as noted by the leaders that were interviewed in the study. Themes of digital denialism, deflation and discomfort surfaced and were explored at length. vi The study adopted an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach compromising of qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews using creative methods of extraction. The population sampled consisted of a group of Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, and Digital Heads of Business.