4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions
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Item Effects of diversity in senior management teams on corporate sustainability of South African publicly listed companies(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mtshwane, Busisiwe; Mati, JacobThis study examines the effects of diversity within senior management teams on corporate sustainability of South African publicly listed companies. While earlier research has examined the effects of diversity on organisational performance, limited research has focused on the link between diversity in senior management teams and corporate sustainability outcomes in the South African context. A sequential mixed-methods approach was employed. First, quantitative data was collected using secondary data from publicly available sources, especially the integrated annual reports. Key indicators of diversity within senior management teams, including gender, race, and age were examined alongside corporate sustainability outcomes. Secondly, qualitative data was collected through interviews conducted with senior managers to gain insights into their perceptions of diversity and its influences on sustainability outcomes. The quantitative elements exploring the influence of diversity in senior management on corporate sustainability within the top 40 JSE listed companies uncovers a statistically significant relationship between White executive demographic composition and firm sustainability practices, but a positive correlation and statistically partially significant relationship between ESG Score and Black demographic executives. With regards to age, executives in the 50-59 Age group exhibit moderately positive correlations with ESG Score and statistically significant results while the 40-49 Age group exhibit low negative correlations with ESG Score and statistically partially significant results. Notably, executive members gender shows no correlation with ESG Score. Insights from interviews with 12 managers reveal consensus on the positive impact of diversity within organisations. Managers highlighted that diversity contributes significantly to organizational growth, foresters’ innovation and enhances environmental, social and governance practices. These results provide useful insights to organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders on the potential benefits of diverse leadership teams in driving sustainability performance.Item Combined Assurance and its Role in Organisational Performance: A Case Study on Risk Professionals’ Perspective in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kekana, Lebogang Nkhokhola; Sieff, GrantSouth Africa has been in the spotlight for its poor governance practices even though various laws, regulations, and frameworks are in place to guide how business should be conducted. Oversights committees, especially the board of directors are tasked with the governance of risk and achievement of organisational goals. Combined assurance is used as one of the tools to promote efficient risk management and mitigate against poor control environment and governance processes. Regardless of legislation and governance frameworks providing direction and tasking the three lines of defense with clear assurance responsibilities, the South African public and private sectors are in shambles. This study aimed to understand combined assurance and its role on organisational performance from the second line of defense perspective. The impact of combined assurance on organisational performance, as well as the influence of combined assurance drivers and the three lines of defence on organisational performance has been assessed in this study. The research project followed a quantitative research design. Data was collected through a structured survey questionnaire using Qualtrics. The survey questionnaire was distributed to risk professionals within South African boundaries in both the public and private sector via e-mail.44 participants (37%) of the targeted 120 risk professional have responded to the survey. The study found that the alternative hypothesis being that effective combined assurance seems to contribute positively to organisational performance is accepted. In addition, the study found that the alternative hypothesis being that the drivers of combined assurance seem to be associated with positive organisational performance is accepted. The study further revealed that the alternative hypothesis being that effective three lines of defense contributes positively to organisational performance. The study contributed to the body of knowledge by providing the perspective of the second line of defence on combined assurance and how it impacts organisational performanceItem Combined Assurance and its Role in Organisational Performance: A Case Study on Risk Professionals’ Perspective in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kekana, Lebogang Nkhokhola; Sieff, GrantSouth Africa has been in the spotlight for its poor governance practices even though various laws, regulations, and frameworks are in place to guide how business should be conducted. Oversights committees, especially the board of directors are tasked with the governance of risk and achievement of organisational goals. Combined assurance is used as one of the tools to promote efficient risk management and mitigate against poor control environment and governance processes. Regardless of legislation and governance frameworks providing direction and tasking the three lines of defense with clear assurance responsibilities, the South African public and private sectors are in shambles. This study aimed to understand combined assurance and its role on organisational performance from the second line of defense perspective. The impact of combined assurance on organisational performance, as well as the influence of combined assurance drivers and the three lines of defence on organisational performance has been assessed in this study. The research project followed a quantitative research design. Data was collected through a structured survey questionnaire using Qualtrics. The survey questionnaire was distributed to risk professionals within South African boundaries in both the public and private sector via e-mail.44 participants (37%) of the targeted 120 risk professional have responded to the survey. The study found that the alternative hypothesis being that effective combined assurance seems to contribute positively to organisational performance is accepted. In addition, the study found that the alternative hypothesis being that the drivers of combined assurance seem to be associated with positive organisational performance is accepted. The study further revealed that the alternative hypothesis being that effective three lines of defense contributes positively to organisational performance. The study contributed to the body of knowledge by providing the perspective of the second line of defence on combined assurance and how it impacts organisational performance.