Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Start date: 2021End date: 2021Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 21
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    Integrated electronic human resource management systems for front- line employees and mine safety performance
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Nyelisani Clement , Mufamadi
    The South African mining industry heavily relies on manual labour, resulting insignificant risks to lives and production. Competency gaps, human behaviour, andviolations are major contributors to frequent accidents. Despite the implementation ofhuman resource management (HRM) systems, safety and productivity challengespersist, with base metals productivity declining annually by 0.3% from 2013 to 2017.Investing in competencies can enhance overall firm performance, as individualimprovements lead to better team and organizational performance.This study examined the impact of integrated electronic HRM (e-HRM) systems onsafety performance in mining. It explored the relationship between e-HRM practices,employee roles, and mine safety. The research utilized SPSS and PLS-SEM tools tovalidate and analyze data, testing eight hypotheses within a theoretical framework thatincluded performance management, HRM systems, and technological development.The findings showed that ability, opportunity, and motivation significantly and positivelyinfluence e-HRM practices, which in turn enhance employee roles, mine safetyperformance, and sustainable e-HRM systems.Sustainable e-HRM systems were identified as mediators that enhance e-HRMpractices and mine safety performance. However, the study could not substantiate theeffects of employee level, firm age, and industry experience on safety performance.Limitations included the cross-sectional study design and the omission of factors likeleadership and organizational culture. Despite these limitations, the study concludedthat sustainable e-HRM systems improve business success by integratingsustainability plans, ethical data management, and effective technology use, fosteringemployee autonomy and safety.The study suggests further longitudinal and qualitative research to evaluate the long-term sustainability of e-HRM improvements and their impact on safety performance.Comparative studies could also explore different system types and cultural variations,while investigating e-HRM's role in crisis management to reveal strategies fororganizational resilience
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    Business model innovation in South African companies under the changing post-COVID-19 world of work
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Hlabathi, Katekani; Mzyece, Mjumo
    Businesses that have survived pandemics and other major global disruptions have demonstrated the importance of continually re-evaluating their business models. Implementing business model innovation has been shown to significantly enhance a business's chances of surviving major global disruptions. This study aims to determine how the application of business model innovation, particularly in South African enterprises, has enabled these businesses to survive and remain profitable in a changing work environment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, business model innovation refers to the creative introduction of new ways of the business providing value to their customers through the products they sell or services they provide. A qualitative study with ten (10) respondents from South African enterprises was conducted to test the proposition that businesses who apply business model innovation in pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, will survive and become even more profitable. The study was conducted in several enterprises from different industries, using interviews and questionnaires. The study aims to provide a possible framework to be used by businesses during pandemics and to provide a basis for further research on the subject. The study's key findings show that there are both internal and external factors that influence the implementation of an innovative business model. COVID-19 was rated highly as an influence that is top of mind, affecting how firms conducted their businesses today. The study also revealed that customers and stakeholders are key to developing an innovative business model. The limitations of the study relate to the number of respondents and their location. This was a direct effect of the qualitative nature of the study and the physical and other restrictions due to COVID-19; thus, the results may not be widely representative or fully replicable. Nevertheless, overall, the study indicates that business model innovation could give businesses the competitive advantage and the differentiation needed to succeed during times of uncertainty.
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    Product innovation strategies that support an organisation’s reset business strategy
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Maithufi, Marang Norah; Mupfawa, Shungu
    Literature reveals that many organisations do not have well-communicated innovation strategies, or rarely articulate their innovation efforts to align with business strategies. In addition, research further emphasises that without innovation strategies, different parts of an organisation can find themselves pursuing conflicting priorities even in the existence of a clear business strategy. Organisation A, the case under study, has recently accounced its new refresh business strategy; in order to align itself with the changing business and consumer landscapes. The new business strategy focusses on value delivery through customer-centricity and market-focused businesses. The aim of this study is to ascertain product innovation strategies that can support Organisation A’s new business ambitions. Organisation A produces and markets a wide range of products, including chemicals; both commodity as well specialty chemicals. The products identifed for the study are polymers products, selected due to the unique challenges the products currently face; which include being commodity products at the mature stage of their product lifecycle. Parallel to this, these products have recently endured substantial environmental scrutiny relating to the increasing (polymers) plastics waste footprint in the environment and other externalities, with consumers thus demanding more environmentally sustainable product solutions. For a richer discovery, as well as uncovering perceptions which may influence how innovation is conducted at Organisation A, a qualitative single case study research strategy was pursued, via semi-structured interview schedules with Organisation A’ employees involved in and associated with the development, production, marketing, sales and support of polymers products under study. The study revealed that although innovation is widely acknowledged as important, the perceptions held within the business were that polymers product innovation was not a forefront imperative. This, according to the study participants, manifested as an environment that was unsupportive of product innovation endevours, a business that was overly risk-averse, internally focussed, and considered other categories of innovation such as manufacturing process innovations as more value creating than polymers product innovation efforts. Consequently, only incremental and sustaining product innovation activities that were perceived to not disrupt the business were embraced. Three strategies or opportunity areas are proposed, that Organisation A can explore for its polymers product innovation efforts to support the new business strategy
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    The adoption of technology in the Limpopo province agriculture sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Kganakga, Khomotso; Larbi, Lee
    The fourth Industrial revolution technologies offer us an opportunity to increase competitiveness, as well as an opportunity to overcome weaknesses prevalent in the current agricultural system and the persisting limits of intensive agriculture. The Limpopo province agricultural sector is a major producer of some of South Africa’s agricultural commodities and a competitor in the export markets of agriculture produce. This study seeks to explore the usage and adoption of technology in the Limpopo province agriculture sector. Even though there has been research in the agricultural sector of South Africa in the context of the fourth industrial revolution none has been done in the Limpopo province context. Therefore, this study will attempt to close the knowledge gap by providing more literature on the topic The research strategy adopted for this study is a qualitative interview research approach. The finding of this research indicates that role players in agricultural sector of Limpopo have embraced the use and adoption of technology within the sector, this adoption of technology has helped the industry to be competitive internationally, however the introduction of technology within the sector has bought about some level of uncertainty regarding job securities for some. Technology will continue to advance and bring about change in society and its environment, those in business who chose to ignore this fact and continue with obsolete practices are at the risk of finding their own businesses one day. The provincial government too has role to play in advancing awareness and developing policies
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    Adoption of locally developed Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology: Evaluation of South Africa’s manufacturing industry’s readiness
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Sono, Oscar James Hendrick; Wotela, Kambidima; George, James
    Presently, Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) has progressed to the stage where the manufacture of components for industries such aerospace, energy, automotive and medical industries, are possible to a high degree of reliability. The South African government has invested substantially on the technology’s advancement through various government entities, publicly funding the research and development programmes and infrastructure developments. Yet the adoption of the technology remains slow, contrast to the USA and other European countries. Therefore, this thesis sought to explore the readiness of South Africa’s manufacturing industry to adopt locally developed MAM technologies. This was undertaken by employing a quantitative research approach, in which a cross- sectional design survey was used to conduct the interrogation, guided by innovation diffusion theories, particularly DOI. The study applies descriptive analysis to determine the current state of MAM adoption and the level of awareness about the technology within the industry. Backward multiple regression was used to determine if cost, organizational capability, and potential job loss have an impact on the adoption of the technology within the industry testing the three hypotheses. The results indicated that the state of MAM adoption within the manufacturing industry was low, with only three machines owned/leased, and potential adopters that are likely to uptake the technology, believing it can bring value-add to their organisations. These potential adopters are familiar with awareness programmes driving MAM campaigns. On the other hand, they also indicated reasons they believed would lead to non-uptake of the technology, the non-adopters did too, with cost of material being the leading constraint. Furthermore, results of tested hypotheses inferred a causal relationship between the adoption of MAM technology and the variables, and the impact was significant on its uptake or non-uptake. However, it was important to note that the sample size was low to take a conclusive stance, hence the researcher recommends a continuation of the study
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    Feasibility Study of a Digital Platform for sharing household equipment and resources for a fee in Gauteng
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Nkomo, Greaterman; Totowa, Jacques
    This research seeks to investigate the feasibility of a digital sharing application that connects the supply and demand for everyday household components. The research methodology that was used in this study was the qualitative methodology, using interviews. Twelve interviews were conducted via video conferencing using Zoom and Microsoft Teams and all the participants were from the Johannesburg region in Gauteng. The research findings were that the participants had some assets that were not being utilized and they are willing to list them in a sharing application to make extra income. The research revealed that the key motivation for utilizing the digital sharing application is the economic benefits associated with participating, either through saving money by renting the tools instead of purchasing every tool that they may need to complete a project or to make extra money by sharing their tools for a fee or to save money. The research shows that people are open to utilizing digital sharing applications if the application meets certain standards such as having up to date information; secure and easy to use. The household equipment that people are willing to share include garden tools; toolbox kits; laundry equipment; outdoor furniture; picnic tables and many more. Based on this research, there is a market for a digital sharing application that focuses on the everyday household components
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    Perceptions of Carbon Capture and Storage as a CO2 emissions reduction technology in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Malemane, Gcobisa; Surridge, Tony
    This research aimed to establish the perceptions of role-players in South Africa of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. The CCS technology aims to capture CO2 emissions and prevent them from entering the atmosphere. The technology was mandated by Cabinet in 2012. The two role-players chosen for this study are the CO2 emitting Industry and Policy Influencers. The introduction of a new technology presents challenges, especially in its full adoption by those intended to use it. CCS was identified by government as a CO2 reduction technology, but has not been enforced on industry, it has merely been suggested as one of the climate change mitigation options, according to the National Development Plan 2030. Technology alone is not always a factor in its adoption, concerns of regulation, investment, safety and environment always arise. It is therefore of interest to ascertain if the mentioned role-players have the same or a differing understanding and regard for CCS. An aligned perspective is necessary so that each role-player may know its individual contribution to CCS development in South Africa. The study followed a quantitative approach using an electronic platform to reach respondents. The respondents received identical statements and were only differentiated by their sector of employment. The results were analysed using the Fisher’s exact test, suitable for small samples. Statistical significance was determined using p values as evidence against the null hypothesis. Key findings include a sizeable portion of respondents who neither agreed nor disagreed with posed statements. The role-player with the most overall neutral responses was Industry. Policy Influencers seemed to be more confident of their responses. The role-players produced more similar than differing responses. Industry respondents showed a noticeable gap (neutral) in the general knowledge of the CCS technology, compared to the policy influencers’ confidence in the general knowledge of the technology. Both industry and policy influencer are convinced that regulation and cost are potential barriers to the development of the technology in South Africa. Both industry and industry showed neutrality in the notion that CCS will lead to unintended consequences. The key message is that further stakeholder engagement is required between the two role-players, as both the Industry and Policy Influencers are in agreement of what could impede the development of CCS in South Africa
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    Management Practices for Digital Influencer Marketing
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Kajee, Ahmed; Beder, Laurence
    This research report highlights the growth of Digital Influencer marketing on social media, and how consumers interaction and engagement with brands are changing as a result. Through qualitative research with 17 Digital Influencer experts and practitioners in South Africa from various marketing disciplines, this study sheds light on best practices for this emerging marketing field. In South Africa, consumer attention and media consumption are increasingly becoming digitally centric, and the use of online channels for marketing continues to grow exponentially. This has implications for brand building, advertising, and marketing management. This research reports on how the traditional marketing and consumer behaviour paradigms have shifted from uni-directional static advertising, towards bi-directional digital engagement using Digital Influencer Marketing (DIM). As a growing field, the research found that although DIM as a marketing tactic is increasingly effective in meeting business objectives in modern day digital marketing environments, there is a lack of knowledge and shared best practices amongst marketing practitioners. The research finds that despite DIM growing and being strategically important in all the marketing environments that have been researched, most organisations are conducting DIM on a “best-effort” basis with limited cross functional co-ordination or strategic planning. Due to a lack of knowledge about the field, there is also relatively little action being taken by organisations to meet the growing demand by putting in place the requisite skills and apabilities to better manage influencer marketing initiatives. Aspects highlighted in this research such as Influencer Performance, Payment, Brand Safety, Campaign Management, Creative Control, Organisational Capabilities, and Risks associated with DIM are discussed and reported on, providing marketing practitioners with practical insights into this emerging marketing field. A key recommendation emanating out of this research is that DIM is not the responsibility of any specific marketing function, for it to be successful, cross-functional expertise, integration, and management is required
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    Chatbot says “Sorry, I don’t understand”: Recovery strategies for chatbot service failure
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Greaves, Claudette
    AI Chatbots, especially those that are in early stages of development, can often be prone to ‘failure’ such as the inability to understand a customer question or to retrieve appropriate answers. This paper integrates the theories of expectation- confirmation, equity, and justice to construct an understanding behind customer’s preferences for organisational recovery strategies when nascent chatbots fail in South African financial services. The study proposes that when a failure occurs with a chatbot, customer expectations, perceived inequity, and justice influence recovery of customer outcomes to pre-failure levels or even better. The research takes an experimental approach to examine the impact of different organisational recovery strategies on satisfaction, loyalty, and intent to re-use the chatbot in a banking case study
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    Investigating the relationship between automation and productivity in a South African firm
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Zvoushe, Nobert
    South African manufacturing industry productivity has been declining over the last 10 years. Automation intervention driven by advancement in manufacturing technology is becoming increasingly popular and is being touted as critical to reversing this trajectory and ensure the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry is sustained. However, in South Africa where high levels of unemployment and low-level of skills, automation interventions in the labour- intensive manufacturing industry draw mixed views due to the fears that it will lead to massive job displacement. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between automation and productivity in a South African manufacturing firm. It does so by critically evaluating the automation intervention of a production process by a manufacturing company. The study interrogated firm level production data looking at performance before when manual production was in use and after automation was implemented. The literature review by the researcher found that there are limited studies in South Africa evaluating automation of manufacturing process. As a result, the success of automation in South Africa has been constrained by the limited empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness and merits of such an intervention. Hence, an experimental study like this one is a valuable contribution to literature and addressed the contextual knowledge gap. The manufacturing industry is critical to the country and very labour-intensive. As such, understanding how automation of the manufacturing processes in the industry relates to issues such as productivity and costs is critical. The study draws from the secondary data from the company data base. The study showed that automation is an effective strategy to improve productivity, quality and reduce production costs. In addition, the immediate displacement of workers was notable, and this would have negative implications on the drive to create employment in the country