Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37778

For queries relating to content and technical issues, please contact IR specialists via this email address : openscholarship.library@wits.ac.za, Tel: 011 717 4652 or 011 717 1954

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Competitive advantage

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effective use of payment gateways by travel and tourism SMEs in Gauteng
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sithole, Vulani; Kalema, Billy Mathias
    This study aimed to determine the effective use of payment gateways by travel and tourism Small and Medium Enterprises and to design a framework that will inform the effective use of payment gateways in Gauteng, South Africa. This study was a survey in design and followed a positivism paradigm utilizing a quantitative approach, and was underpinned by the Technology, Organisation, Environment model. The study used a sample of 297 participants randomly selected from the travel and tourism in Gauteng province. The study's findings show that, with the exception of technology characteristics and environmental factors, all other constructs positively contribute to the overall prediction of the model. The study recommends that SMEs in the travel and tourism sector in South Africa embrace and make use of the proposed framework to reap the rewards offered by payment gateways.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Sustainability of Video Streaming Services in South Africa: A Review of Digital Business Models and Strategies
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mkhize, Phumelele Wanda; Anning, Thomas Dorson
    This research paper examines the success and failure factors of Video Streaming Services (VSSs) in South Africa, specifically focusing on telco and broadcaster-launched platforms. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the study utilises a mixed-methods approach to identify critical factors within the context of business models and compare sustainability factors between successful and failed VSS ventures. The research highlights telcos' challenges in content leadership and business model alignment as key contributors to their struggles, in contrast to broadcasters who strategically leverage resources for sustained competitive advantage. The study offers practical recommendations for developing sustainable digital video platforms in South Africa while laying the groundwork for future investigations into cross-cultural dynamics and technological innovations within the evolving VSS landscape.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Compassion as a competitive advantage in South Africa's dialysis healthcare industry.
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Naidoo, Soveshen; Horne, Renee
    In the competitive dialysis industry in South Africa, dialysis organizations are required to useinnovative strategic initiatives to maintain or improve their positions as industry and marketleaders. The research aimed to understand the benefits of compassion towards individualpatients and the organization, as well as investigated if these benefits contribute to acompetitive advantage. Compassion in the dialysis healthcare industry is providing empathiccare and support to patients receiving dialysis treatment. This method prioritizescomprehension, compassion, and profound empathy towards the physical, emotional, andpsychological difficulties experienced by patients with kidney failure undergoing dialysis.This qualitative study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews with participants from adialysis organization in South Africa. The interviews consisted of direct questioning usingopen-ended questions to gather participant observations and experiences in the dialysishealthcare industry. A purposive sampling approach was used to choose the eighteenparticipants ranging from junior to executive management. The data was subjected to athematic analysis to discover the underlying themes.The study findings indicated that compassion may provide benefits for both the individualpatients and the organization, including enhancements in quality of life, patient experience,staff engagement, and physician engagement. Furthermore, the research underscored thesignificance of value-based care and patient-centred care, which provide advantages for bothindividual patients and dialysis organizations in South Africa.The study indicated that compassion provided a competitive advantage to dialysisorganizations in South Africa by adopting either a cost focused or differentiation focusedcompetitive strategy within the paradigm of Porter's generic competitive strategies. Based onthese findings, it is recommended that dialysis organizations implement a structured programto teach and encourage compassion, integrate compassion into the organization's culture,assess and track compassionate practices, and utilize technology to enhance compassionatecare
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Strategies of fibre network operators to address increasing competition and decreasing investment output in the South African fibre to the home market
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Tsoana, Molefe Donald; Bulbulia, Zunaid
    The deployment of high-speed networks and connectivity technologies has evolved quickly from the past. From Copper infrastructure, Digital Subscriber Line (“x”DSL) technologies, namely; Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Very-high-bit- rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL), and High-speed Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) (Jenkinson, 2000). The “x”DSL face out started in about 2007 when Telkom South Africa (SA) started rolling out optical fibre distribution network (ODN) in SA. Passive Optical Network (PON) infrastructure is the most popular and adopted optical distribution network, globally. It is through this technology that the household broadband connectivity, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) is enabled (Keiser, 2006). While there is still an existing concern of the considerable digital divide in SA. The FTTH connectivity is one of the basic utility needs for most families. It is considered a potential driver for micro and macro-economic growth in Africa. As this seems an opportunity for infrastructure investment, the number of FNOs in the SA FTTH market has recently risen to over 38 while the cream of the crop areas are almost fibre saturated, making the FTTH market share competition very stiff. The motivation for this research from an academic perspective, is to add on to the existing body of knowledge regarding FTTH broadband service in SA. To study strategies of FNOs to address increasing competition and decreasing investment output in the SA FTTH market. This research also aims to study the; value-added services, customer value propositions (CVPs) and innovations implemented by these FNOs to stay competitive and sustainable, as well as to better their FTTH investment output. The evolution of the FTTH service is SA has proven to be challenging to most FNOs, and it has been evident post Covid-19 pandemic that pricing can never be a dependable differentiator thus the need for innovative offerings in order to combat an increasing market competition, to better their investment output
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The development of an artificial intelligence adoption framework for food retail marketing in South Africa.
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mpunzi, Sinenhlanhla; Saruchera, Fanny
    Industry 4.0 has taken the world by storm and impacted how we live, work, and behave. Focused on business transformation and revolution, industry 4.0 has given birth to one of the most celebrated inventions, Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has provided endless opportunities for businesses respective of industry. However, AI adoption frameworks have been limited as AI is a new phenomenon in South Africa. Previous studies in food retail marketing have identified low interest in AI adoption due to a lack of guidance. Therefore, the study aimed to develop an AI adoption framework for the food retail marketing industry in South Africa. In achieving the main objective, the study examined the influence of AI on marketing strategy outcomes, the influential determinants of AI adoption in the food retail marketing industry, and the major AI technologies adopted by retail marketers and assessed the moderating effect of competitive intensity. Guided by the Innovation Diffusion Theory, Technology-Organization-Environment framework, Institutional and Productivity Paradox theories, the study established the influential factors that determine AI adoption. Using literature, theoretical constructs were drawn on AI technologies adopted, the marketing mix components (4Ps), the competition intensity elements, and strategy outcome measures. The study adopted the quantitative research method. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires distributed to 380 respondents from food retail firms and marketing agencies with backgrounds in marketing, management, computer science, analytics, and sales. Data was analysed through SPSS version 27, where several analysis procedures were performed, such as CFA, EFA, model fitness and predictive power assessment. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling was performed to examine the significance and ascertain relationships. The study found that systems complexity, finance, firm size, perceived AI risk, vendor participation, and external pressure influenced AI adoption in retail marketing. The research also discovered that AI technologies adopted (robots, chatbots, data analytics systems, CRM, and communication tools) improve marketing mix components by influencing the price, placement of products, R&D procedures, and sales techniques. The study found that competition intensity significantly moderates the relationship between AI adoption and marketing strategy outcome. This study further emphasizes the importance of integrating AI technology in the retail food industry, given that it enhances their marketing mix capabilities with direct positive implications on their marketing outcomes. It is evident that decision-makers need to re-strategize and pivot towards innovation integration. Therefore, the study recommends that food retail marketers adopt AI technologies as they positively influence sales, ROI, profit, and market share. Equally, food retailers must understand the adoption determinants, followed by the AI technologies that can effectively improve marketing tasks, examine how the 4Ps can be strategically tailored to suit AI integration and assess the impact through marketing strategy outcomes. The findings of this study contributed to the development of the first AI adoption framework contextualized for the food retail industry. Theoretically, the findings provide extended and new knowledge about AI adoption in food retail marketing. The empirical findings also settle debates surrounding inconclusive determinants of AI adoption. The study provides potential technologies that food retail marketers can use and ranks them according to their use and cost. The findings prove that AI integration can improve the marketing practices of food retail marketers. It gives clear solutions on how AI can be used for descriptive, diagnostic, prescriptive and predictive purposes. Future studies could focus on developing frameworks for other non- marketing functions and how AI can be regulated to avoid unforeseen consequences should they be successfully integrated
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Transitioning to a Platform Business: A Resource-Based View Case Study of a South African Bank
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Ramrup, Kashil; Lee, Gregory
    Traditional incumbent banks have seen upstart digital-only banks and fintech, free of legacy systems, challenging their market share. In an effort to avoid disruption by fintechs, banks are embracing the platform strategy. Developing a platform makes it possible to interact with current communities and benefit from shared network effects that can hasten growth, save costs, and increase brand awareness. This research report investigates the impact on a large incumbent bank's resources transitioning to a platform business. A case study was completed on one of South Africa’s big five banks, focusing on the corporate and investment banking(CIB) division. The division is considered a thought leader around platforms within the bank and is actively engaged in shaping and driving its transitional journey. A qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with senior management and executive leadership. The study population comprised employees of the CIB division of Bank X, South Africa. The sample was selected based on seniority and exposure to the bank's platform business strategy formulation and implementation. The study found that, despite the bank intentions to pursue the platform strategy, there was an internal misalignment in precisely what it meant at the various levels within the organisation, compounded by the lack of platform and technical skills in multiple areas to support the transition. As CIB is a high-touch banking model, there was little understanding of how the physical network would be impacted or could be leveraged/integrated into the platform model. It also found that transitioning to a platform requires individuals with a platform thinking mindset, the ability to challenge the traditional linear pipeline business model, and an enabled and aligned culture with a new operating model that could blend the physical and digital worlds
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Monetising big data in South African financial services
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Ramruthan, Desmond
    Big data has grown to be an influential element in society impacting both individuals, governments and businesses. As its impact has accelerated on the corporate world, it was prudent to comprehend the effect that big data will have on these organisations. The purpose of the study was deliberate in its attempt to establish an understanding of the factors which influence an organisations ambition to monetise its big data assets. The study focused specifically on South African based entities operating within the financial services industry. With an increasingly digital financial market, big data contributes to improving revenue, increasing market share along with improving customer experience resulting in creating additional business value. The qualitative research process used semistructured interviews, established a set of principle findings, detailing seven key factors which can influence an organisations data monetisation plan. These findings were categorised into factors that are internal to the organisation suggesting that with appropriate tactics executive leadership can control or influence these factors. Some factors are external to the organisation to which senior management has limited control but can respond to these factors through a coordinated strategic approach. The research provides a suggestion to senior executives with an overview of these factors and recommendations localised to the South African financial markets on how to respond to each of the factors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Dynamic marketing capabilities and competitive advantage in the South African B2B renewable energy industry
    (2022) Pallett, Catherine
    Research Problem – Creating competitive advantage is important for renewable energy firms to succeed, but there is little existing knowledge on the strategic marketing factors that add value to businesses operating in this space. Research purpose – The research aims to understand how commercial dynamics affect renewable energy firm performance in an emerging economic context. Research Methodology – This study uses a quantitative approach. A survey instrument was distributed to suitable B2B renewable energy companies in South Africa 56 fully completed responses were obtained. After a confirmatory factor analysis, a PLS-SEM model was used to map the relationships between the construct variables and firm performance. Research Results – This research found a significant positive relationship between market orientation and firm financial and market performance and relationship capabilities. The research also found a significant positive relationship between relationship capabilities and customer performance. Research Implications – This research contributes to the literature on dynamic marketing capabilities on B2B companies in emerging market settings. The research also offers the first perspective into how these dynamic marketing capabilities affect the business outcomes of renewable energy companies in South Africa. Research limitations – This study was conducted in a cross-sectional nature, but performance is measured over time. Similarly, this study used a perceptive model for performance which may not be as accurate as objective measures of performance.