Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Creating Shared Value

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    An exploratory study of creating opportunities out of solving societal challenges in the South African banking sector: A Creating Shared Value perspective
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Moloi, Tsele; Horne, Renee
    The purpose of this study is to explore the Creating Shared Value (CSV) practices that the South African banking sector undertakes to create business opportunities out of solving societal challenges. Anchored on stakeholder theory, the study seeks to establish this potential link between the opportunity concept and societal challenges by deploying the qualitative multiple case study analysis of four major banks and the banking association of South Africa (BASA). The study proposes a CSV-opportunity conceptual framework. The research relied on a multi- method approach, including preliminary interviews, semi-structured in-depth interviews, document analysis, and field notes to collect qualitative data. Thematic content analysis and coding were deployed. The empirical findings suggest that CSV is mostly motivated and driven from a responsive business case (regulatory compliance, risk management, societal contract and legitimacy), a compelling societal case (desire for societal change), corporate societal initiatives (CSR, corporate philanthropy, corporate sponsorships) and a compelling business case (business opportunity). However, the compelling business case comes as a by-product or an after-thought of these other motivating factors. These motivating factors are leveraged as transitional vehicle and enabler of CSV business opportunities. This means that within social constructivism view, business opportunities are created regardless of the motivating driving factors. Findings further indicate that CSV is seen and understood as an extension of other related concepts. Most importantly, CSV is understood as an extension of the transformation of the banking sector and society to ensure that it is inclusive of many previously marginalised as a result of the country’s history of apartheid and its skewed economic activity. The empirical evidence shows that the stakeholder co-creation nature of CSV is both internal and external. Unlike CSV pioneers who presupposed CSV as a Utopian concept, free of trade- offs and challenges, the empirical results indicate a CSV that is fraught with both internal and external challenges. Internal challenges include measurement and trade-off challenges between business and society. The external challenges include external stakeholder co-creation and other external issues such as the deep-seated structural challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality facing South Africa, all of which appear to hinder CSV interventions. Through the newly proposed CSV-opportunity framework, this study contributes to theory and practice. The study further demonstrates that CSV is indeed a social constructionist phenomenon where opportunity is subjectively constructed through actions and interactions with the social world
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    Digitalisation of corporate firms in South Africa: a catalyst in shared value creation with rural communities
    (2020) Jonas, Nomakhosazana
    Introduction: The markets that corporations have historically drawn their profits from are increasingly becoming saturated, compelling firms to explore new competitive strategies and look for new markets. Rural communities present a potential new market for corporate firms. The opportunity exists to leverage the enabling potential of digital technology in creating shared value. The study aim was to explore the influence of digitalisation of corporate firms on fast tracking shared value creation with rural communities Method: A qualitative examination of commonalities in the perceptions and experiences of key influencers in large corporates in South Africa was undertaken. Using the phenomenological method, thirteen interviews with Board members and C-suite executives in corporate firms in South Africa were conducted. A thematic analysis was done using the Nvivo12 qualitative software. Findings: Shareholders need to shift the profit maximisation paradigm to one embracing inclusive societal progress as well as profits. This requires including social impact as a measurable output and key performance indicator. Data showed that Corporate Social Investment (CSI) should be more economically driven and a key focus of all managers across all business operations and not the sole responsibility of one department or individual. Additionally, digitalisation should be a priority in the agenda of the CEO due to its ongoing transformational impact on business models, processes, budgets and customer experience. Lastly skills such as emotional Intelligence and problem-solving skills are crucial in environments transformed by digitalisation and should receive the same attention as technical skills. Corporations need to first evolve the paradigm of rural communities to understanding and embracing technology before digitalisation can be used to enable Creating Shared Value (CSV). Conclusion: Key to unlocking the catalytic potential for digitalisation is a transformation of the paradigm where profit maximisation and complete ownership of the consumer are prioritised. This mindset stands in the way of collaborative strategies required to create CSV with rural communities. Further research is needed to explore rural communities ‘understanding of the enabling potential of technology and how it can be used to enable CSV.