Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Hybrid work model plan for non-frontline employees in South Africa’s oil industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Serache, Tsholofelo
The study explored experience and perceptions of the hybrid work model plan and its impact on employee productivity and performance, company performance, and collaboration in the South African oil industry. The study focused on oil industry employees who were non-front line workers in South Africa. The research explored both high and low perceptions in order to capture how the employees really felt about the hybrid work model plan's (HWMP)impact on employee and company performance. Literature found that some other flexibility models and hybrid models contributed to employee happiness, where employees were able to manage family dynamics as well as be productive, while other literature also detailed that the hybrid work model was not effective in driving collaboration and networking amongst employees. The research study also gives suggestions and recommendations on how many days employees prefer to be in the office to drive both productivity, performance, and collaboration while managing family dynamics in between and ultimately being happyemployees
Organizational culture and performance in South Africa BASF Chemetall Pty Ltd
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Phuluwa, Fhatuwani; Sieff, Grant
The purpose of this study was to look into the relationship between organisational cultures andperformance within the South African operations of the BASF division BASF Chemetall. The goal ofthe study and the manner in which the data was gathered make it both qualitative and quantitative. AllSouth African employees of BASF Chemetall made up the study's statistical population. Employeeswere requested to respond to survey questions for this reason. One instrument for gathering data is thequestionnaire. The Gomez questionnaire et al. (2005) was employed to assess the correlation betweenorganisational performance and culture. The Yang (2004) et al. questionnaire is used to assessorganisational performance and culture. To determine the validity of data collection, the questionnairewas presented to 112 employees including managers of various departments. The validity ofquestionnaire was nearly 100%. The reliability of the questionnaire was conducted on organizationalculture and organizational performance, respectively. The results showed that there is a positiverelationship between organizational culture and organizational performance
The alignment of sub-cultures and performance within different operational units
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Lemekoana, Anna; Stacey, Anthony
This study investigates the alignment of subculture with performance in different units that forms an operation within a firm. Subcultures form when there is alteration in organizational structures, mainly due to outsourcing of specialized skills in the form of contractors. According to McLaughlin (2021), subculture emerges because of physical separation, departmental skill specialization, functional specialty, tenure, and identity. These subcultures can either promote or impede the performance of sub-units within a single operation and ultimately affect the overall performance of the operation. The objective of this study is to assess the existing subcultures in different operational units of New Vaal surface plant; explore the relationship between subculture and performance, and lastly to determine the ideal culture that supports good performance. The research design is quantitative in nature. A survey instrument was used to assess the existing cultures in the seven sub-units that collectively forms New Vaal surface plant operation. The survey questionnaires were mainly informed by the literature, but some were adopted from the OCAI (organizational culture assessment instrument) model which is highly recommended for cultural assessment (Cameron & Quinn, 1999). The SPSS programme was used to undertake the statistical analysis in this study. The result of this study shows that hierarchy is the most dominant culture that exists in 4 of the 7 subunits that forms New Vaal surface plant. Market culture is the second dominant existing in two of the seven subunits while clan culture was found to be dominant in only one of the seven subunits. Although adhocracy culture was found to be existing in some of the subunits, it was not dominant. Looking at the relationship between performance and the existing dominant cultures, it was found that, a) a positive but weak relationship between clan culture and organizational performance exist; b) there is no relationship between adhocracy culture and organizational performance, c) there is a positive and negative relationship between hierarchy culture and organizational performance, and d) there is no relationship between market culture and organizational performance.
Factors affecting individual job performance of software developers in Gauteng, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Brink, Eugene; Penman, Neale
Orientation The orientation of the study lies towards the human resources and managerial fields and focuses on the work performance of individual software developers within the Gauteng area of South Africa. The study attempts to address the question: “Which factors are important in contributing to the individual work performance of a software developer, and how important are each of these factors?”. Research Purpose The purpose of the research is to identify and quantify the magnitude and statistical significance of factors that affect the individual job performance of software developers. Motivation for the study There is a gap in existing academic literature on individual job performance for software developers. The motivation for the study is to contribute to this gap in knowledge. Results from the study could likely assist in reshaping human resource development and recruitment practises in the software development field. Research approach/design and method Software developers were surveyed and scored against a set criterion for performance. Factors that have been noted in literature to influence individual job performance, as well as factors stemming from informal conversation with those in the industry were measured at an individual level. A correlation and a stepwise exploratory regression analysis were used to identify and quantify factors influencing job performance of the individual software developer. Main findings Individual Performance was found to be a multilinear and complicated variable to quantify. Instead, the variable was broken up into task performance and contextual performance with total performance some superposition of both variables. Self-Esteem, Achievement Motivation and Work-Life Balance were noted as the most important personal factors in determining task performance. Self-Esteem and Job Satisfaction were considered the most important factors in determining contextual performance. Notably, quality of education, formal or informal, had no correlation to performance. Practical/managerial implications Self-Esteem was a high-quality predictor of both task and contextual performance. For this reason, further study at corporate level is strongly suggested to find ways of improving or fostering this personal attribute to maximise software developer performance. A similar argument can be made for Achievement Motivation and Job Satisfaction. Overall, the study highlighted and provided empirical evidence supporting fostering and maintaining good emotional health within the workplace. In turn, this will lead to higher individual job performance scores. The results also challenge the widespread practise of only appointing and recruiting degreed candidates for junior software developer roles, as there is no supporting evidence to suggest higher educated individuals have higher task or contextual performance scores
Establishing mathematics teaching and training institutes in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2020) Mashile, Mahlogonolo; Oba, Pius
This business venture proposal presents an idea that seeks to scale up an existing entrepreneurial idea that provides mathematics tutoring services and proposes the establishment of mathematics teaching and training institutes in South Africa. The business falls under the private tutor industry, which has a growing market size and an opportunity for the business to gain a significant share. The services offered will be mathematics teaching to high school students and training to both existing and new mathematics teachers (those who are entering the field of education). The project initially reviews literature to gain deep knowledge and understanding of the challenges experienced in the mathematics education of South Africa, and to acquire enabling data for managing a business of this nature. This enables us to design a business that will yield considerable profits and be sustained. South Africa produces poor mathematics results annually, which is very concerning for multiple stakeholders that depend on good performance in the subject. The government has used several strategies aimed at improving mathematics results in South Africa, but there has not been any improvement realised. This is very concerning for a country whose future depends on the success in technical subjects like mathematics. Studies conducted on mathematics performance indicated that South African students and teachers perform very poorly when compared to their peers in other countries (McCarthy & Oliphant, 2013). This project used the qualitative research method to gather data from the field to assist in understanding the market, its appetite and opportunities available. Data was collected from three provinces in South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. The results showed a low pass rate in mathematics, particularly in lower quintile schools, which constitute the highest number of schools and students in the country. Lower quintile areas are an untapped market because most mathematics tutoring services are based in big cities where the affordability is higher. The business will have partnerships with organisations that have corporate social responsibility to serve this market, while also serving the high- income market that pays tuition fees. The results from the survey conducted indicated an acknowledged gap in mathematics teaching. Most respondents noted that their students perform poorly in the subject, which they attributed to lack of student commitment and lack of workshops addressing challenging topics, among others. Over 92% of the respondents recommended consistent training for mathematics teachers. Several marketing strategies will be employed to introduce the mathematics services to our target market, grow the market share and increase the brand awareness. These include advertising on social media platforms, billboards and promotions. The business plans to establish institutions in Gauteng and Mpumalanga in the initial stages, and work towards increasing enrolments year on year. The business is expected to make a net profit of R2.6 million in year one, R5.8 million in year two and R7.5 million in year three. The business will be expanding into other provinces after the initial three years and work towards establishing mathematics, science and technology institutions in the future
Determinants of intrapreneurial performance within the banking industry in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Govender, Thanusha; Urban, B.
The ability for large corporates to remain competitive and grow ahead of the market in an era that has been defined by globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is a critical imperative for organisations to develop a new capability that equips them to navigate the turbulent global macro-economic environment and complex business markets successfully. Globally, banks have experienced severe pressure to transform their business models from capital intense businesses into revenue diversification drivers through new fee-based services. Investors are leaning towards new generation banking models that serve customers holistically, intuitively, and better by employing “new age” technology solutions, as profitability levels within global banks have slipped below the cost of shareholder equity. Coupled with the reality on the ground pre-2020, COVID-19 has become awatershed transformation moment for banks. It has accelerated many long-term banking trends that have resulted in customer shifts in relation to their needs, behaviours and expectations and has subsequently impacted their recovery performance. As such, African banks need to pivot their focus towards growth and relevance by ensuring the establishment of a fundamentally different business model that provides integrated digital ecosystem solutions that go beyond traditional banking, and offer to ensure market competitiveness. Corporate entrepreneurship is a strategic capability that enables organisations to embed innovation as a core competency and simultaneously engage in explorative and exploitative activities, which are essential thrusts in the strategic renewal of a company. This research study enriched the domain of corporate entrepreneurship by deepening the understanding of the mechanisms that underpin the corporate entrepreneurial embedment process, within a dynamic complex organisational setting. This was through the development of a core embedment capability model of corporate entrepreneurship that predicts the value drivers of corporate entrepreneurial performance and explores the contextual corporate entrepreneurship nuances attributed to banking corporations domiciled in Africa. This study importantly furthered contextual setting theory development and shed light over the heterogeneity of corporate entrepreneurship, which arose due to an idiosyncratic corporate entrepreneurship embedment process. This process consists of institutional path dependencies that resulted from gradations in the macro, meso, and micro layers. The model and theories emanating from this study not only aimed to bridge the research gap by exploring the dynamic complexity of corporate entrepreneurship, but also assessed the knowledge transfer of market intelligence into corporate entrepreneurial performance, and the significance of network ties in developing countries as an influencer of corporate entrepreneurial activity. In this research study, the levels of corporate entrepreneurship within the financial services sector of companies domiciled in South Africa were analysed to determine the quantum of influence that organisational, individual, and environmental antecedent factors have as predictors of corporate entrepreneurial performance. This was a precursor to crafting an embedment capability model that would enable financial services organisations to embed a corporate entrepreneurial ecosystem systematically, and enable effective and agile corporate entrepreneurial transformation. The research purpose was achieved by employing a three-prong approach. First, a configurational method was applied to existing literature to consolidate prevailing theories and to integrate existing models and frameworks as a basis of the proposed theoretical model. Second, the theoretical model was empirically tested using partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to validate the model and to establish causal relational influence among the three different sets of antecedent variables. This would determine their quantum of impact on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Finally, an optimal configuration was proposed as a premise to describe and predict corporate entrepreneurial performance as a function of system thinking. The empirical evidence from this study validated that the most significant transformational driver of corporate entrepreneurial activity within incumbents remained organisational antecedents and entrepreneurial corporate strategy as the bedrock of a corporate entrepreneurial embedment ecosystem. Its singular effect on corporate entrepreneurial activity was circa five times larger than any other predictor within the corporate entrepreneurial embedment ecosystem. This was flanked equally by employee enablement of the corporate entrepreneurial strategy and the execution of the corporate entrepreneurial strategy. Employee enablement consisted of two supporting predictors, namely, the decisions and behaviours of transformation leaders, and the entrepreneurial cognitive horsepower of employees to develop initiatives and formulate strategic plans that enable the delivery of the corporate entrepreneurial strategy. Strategy execution encompassed two underpinning predictors, namely, the implementation of an organic organisational structure and the deployment of novel resource recipes to build new capabilities and adjacent capabilities to a firm’s core offering. Considering the nuances in the African operating environment, both macro level antecedents and network ties were deemed non-significant direct value drivers of corporate entrepreneurial performance within African banks.
Determinants of intrapreneurial performance within the banking industry in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Govender, Thanusha; B, Urban
The ability for large corporates to remain competitive and grow ahead of the market in an era that has been defined by globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is a critical imperative for organisations to develop a new capability that equips them to navigate the turbulent global macro-economic environment and complex business markets successfully. Globally, banks have experienced severe pressure to transform their business models from capital intense businesses into revenue diversification drivers through new fee-based services. Investors are leaning towards new generation banking models that serve customers holistically, intuitively, and better by employing “new age” technology solutions, as profitability levels within global banks have slipped below the cost of shareholder equity. Coupled with the reality on the ground pre-2020, COVID-19 has become a watershed transformation moment for banks. It has accelerated many long-term banking trends that have resulted in customer shifts in relation to their needs, behaviours and expectations and has subsequently impacted their recovery performance. As such, African banks need to pivot their focus towards growth and relevance by ensuring the establishment of a fundamentally different business model that provides integrated digital ecosystem solutions that go beyond traditional banking, and offer to ensure market competitiveness. Corporate entrepreneurship is a strategic capability that enables organisations to embed innovation as a core competency and simultaneously engage in explorative and exploitative activities, which are essential thrusts in the strategic renewal of a company
Influence of Organisational Capability and Knowledge Sharing on Performance at Eskom Distribution
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mampuru, Thabo Mothobi; Kekwaletswe, Yar M.
This research report is about how organisational capability and knowledge sharing influence performance in a South African power utility organisation, namely Eskom Distribution division. Organisational capability in this report means the ability and capacity to do maintenance on the existing infrastructure, network, and equipment to have a sustainable and consistent electricity distribution. Electrical system maintenance has gained attention from both researchers and practitioners over the past few years due to, among other things, constant load shedding that affects the social and economic aspects of South Africa. To this point improving electrical system reliability and reducing maintenance costs are top priorities of a power utility, notably Eskom Distribution (ED). Knowledge sharing is the transferring of the know-what and the know-how of doing maintenance, from one person to the next; that is, the research problem is that transferring of experience, skills, and information among employees is still a key issue at the Power Utility. The purpose of the study was, thus, to explore and describe organisational capabilities and knowledge-sharing enablers and challenges, using Resource- based theory (RBT) and Social-exchange theory (SET) as theoretical lenses. Improved performance is inferred to be when there is less downtime, less failure of equipment due to good maintenance and restoration time of electrical supply, achieved without compromising the safety of personnel and equipment. The study was conducted following an interpretive research philosophy and a case study was employed as a research strategy to get an in-depth understanding of ways that could be used to improve organisational performance. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with managers, engineers, technicians, and artisans as study participants. In the present study, one way to improve performance is the understanding of resources and behaviour, especially how maintenance strategies are formulated and how knowledge sharing could happen among employees to subsequently enhance and effect performance. The study found that managers play a key role in designing organisational capability and that they should affect knowledge sharing through various internal processes. The outcome and the contribution of iii the study is a conceptualised framework that may help improve performance through an enhanced knowledge sharing and organisational capability, in the context of the Power Utility, Eskom distribution division
The relationship between digital transformation strategy and the performance of SMMEs in South Africa
(2022) Rasenyalo, Dieketseng
Small business growth is in the best interest of every nation as they are meant to contribute to employment creation, poverty alleviation, in turn one of the drivers of economic growth, therefore a study on SMMEs digital transformation is vital, especially in the 4th industrial revolution era. This study is set out to review the factors that affect digital transformation strategies of SMMEs, as well as the opportunities that are at SMMEs disposal to achieve digital transformation. This research is underpinned by Rogers’s theory (2016), which posits that digital transformation is not about updating technology but about the progression of strategic rationale to operate a business. This objective was achieved through qualitative data analysis, by interviewing and analysing data from selected SMMEs within the Gauteng province of South Africa. This study found that the factors that affect a digital transformation in SMMEs include; internet connectivity, technology applications, electricity and outdated skills of some officials. This study also found that opportunities available for SMMEs to deploy digital transformation are inherent in data usage, competition within the SMMEs cycle, business value, innovation and creativity as well as integrating customers into the business. Therefore, this study adds to the literature by proving that in order for SMMEs in South Africa to improve on performance, they need to enhance their business strategy by incorporating a digital transformation strategy. It is recommended that the government should step up in providing some of those factors identified by SMMEs, also that SMMEs should apply performance metrics, incentivize employees, collaborate with clients, and prioritise customers over profits to ensure effective performance and growth, especially in this digital era.
Impact of firm-level characteristics and international marketing strategies on export performance of SMES in South Africa
(2021) Siddiqui, Ammar
Internationalization has caused numerous businesses across the world to extend their operations to foreign countries. Amongst the various forms of internationalization, such as direct investment, franchising and joint ventures, the primary and most common mode used by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is exporting. Exporting allows businesses to function in their home country and serve customers in other countries. Exporting relieves businesses from domestic competition, increases production, from which economies of scale, competitive prices and competitive advantages are gained. Despite these advantages, there are reports that limited SMEs in emerging economies like South Africa that are facing increasing competition from international forms entering their markets are exporting. Such reports raise questions as to the factor that becomes barriers for SMEs in South Africa to export. Previous studies have produced mixed findings, with some suggesting that exporting determinants are SMEs characteristics in terms of size and age, others suggesting managerial capabilities and characteristics and some contending that it is environmental factors and competence in dealing with expert market conditions and requirements. Considering the mixed findings from literature, there was a need for a consolidated study to identify country-specific factors that will propel SMEs in South Africa to not only export to perform optimally and superiorly. Even though the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities view (DCV) theorists posit that firm performance is guaranteed when firms possess resources (tangible and intangible) and dynamic capabilities to adapt marketing strategies to changing market conditions, researchers have ignored the mediating role of the resultant marketing strategies in the relationships between performance drivers and export performance. Thus, this research had two main objectives: 1) examine the extent to which firm characteristics (firm size, age of the firm and employee education), managerial characteristics (international experience, education level, foreign language knowledge, risk taking ability, rigidness, proactive approach), environmental characteristics (psychic distance, cultural specificity), export market competencies (commitment, international expertise, market knowledge, innovation) impact both optimal and superior export performances); 2) test the mediating role of international marketing strategies in the relationships between the sets of drivers and export performance (subjectively) of South African SMEs. An integrated conceptual framework was developed delineating these relationships. iii To empirically test the conceptual framework, data was collected from 350 respondents of SMEs involved in export activities, located in the Gauteng and Western Cape of South Africa. Convenience sampling method was used in the research. The findings indicate that optimal export performance was significantly driven by an organization’s characteristics (i.e., size and education of employees), environmental characteristics of the firm (only psychic distance) and export market competence (internal market knowledge and experience, innovation and commitment. Superior export performance was significantly impacted by managerial characteristics (i.e., Foreign Language Expertise, International Experience, and Education level), Personality Factors (i.e., Risk Taking Ability, Rigidness, and Proactive Approach). The international marketing strategies and managerial characteristics had the greatest influence on the optimal export performance of the organisation, while the market competencies made the greatest impact on optimal export performance. The developed integrated model explained 87.6% of superior export performance, 78.5% of optimal export performance and 79.2% of international marketing strategy. With this high explanatory powers, this research theoretical contributes in the field of international marketing and strategic management by providing a holistic model with which to identify various factors and their facets helping and hindering SMEs to perform superiorly and optimally in not only an emerging market context but also in an African context. This study also theoretically contributes by confirming the RBV and DCV theories in an African market context. Practically, and for the SMEs that perform well, they can use insights from this study to identify what they are doing rightly. For the SMEs that perform poorly or are planning to export, this comprehensive findings will be a rich guide into internal factors (managerial and firm characteristics and export market competence) and environmental factors to focus on for effective strategy implementation and resultant superior and optimal export performances. Future research should test this model with a larger sample size and in other emerging and developing countries.

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