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 Employee-owned companies: A potential solution to minimising industrial action in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2016-03) Sebesho, Bonga; Horne, ReneeThe purpose of this research was to assess the employee-owned company model as a potential solution to minimise industrial action in South Africa. Employee ownership, positioned as a key pillar of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) (Mosai & Reynolds, 2003), is linked to increased employee participation and ultimately to improved industrial relations as a result of increased engagement between employers and employees. Research was undertaken through a study of the multiple methods in which employee ownership is implemented across various industries in South Africa taking into account the reasons for the implementation of employee ownership. This research attempted to cover a wide spectrum of employee ownership models ranging from once-off employee share ownership schemes (ESOPs) to closed employee ownership schemes. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews, utilising the Delphi technique, with a sample of 11 respondents who have been involved in the implementation of employee ownership schemes. The data was content-analysed and the findings suggested that employee ownership has the ability to engender increased participation. The findings of the study suggest that the successful implementation of employee ownership in South Africa has been severely impacted by historical issues relating to financial preparedness from employees and the deep entrenchment of the shareholder value as well as the compliance burden from a business perspective. The study concludes that employee ownership can play a role in engendering meaningful economic participation and consequently reduce the incidence of industrial action. However, in order to achieve its desired objective the government will need to put in place effective incentives as well as powerful disincentives to encourage implementation of long term ownership schemes. This study may provide guidance to South African companies, government and other stakeholders seeking to find broad-based and inclusive models in order to increase employee representation and participation in corporate decision making. The research findings may assist these organisations to find new ways to create a more inclusive economic environment through leveraging the benefits of employee ownership to decrease the incidence of industrial action and ultimately improve output.Item The effectiveness of detection and prosecution of cybercrime threats against companies in South Africa(niversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Naidoo, Shanine; Starosta, AlinaThe rise of digital technology has brought about many benefits to modern society. However, this advancement has also led to an increase in cybercrime activities, which has become a significant threat to individuals and organizations worldwide. In South Africa, cybercrime attacks against companies have become increasingly rampant, posing significant risks to their operations and even their existence. As a result, there is a growing concern about the effectiveness of the measures put in place to detect and prosecute cybercrime threats against companies. The purpose of this report is to investigate the efficiency of detecting and prosecuting cybercrime attacks against South African companies. While the term "cybercrime" encompasses a broad range of activities, this research will focus primarily on evaluating cybercrime threats that specifically target companies and their cybersecurity. The reason for this is that such attacks can have dire consequences on companies' operations and existence, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage. To achieve this objective, the study will pursue a twofold approach. Firstly, it will evaluate the effectiveness of South Africa's legislation in detecting and prosecuting cybercrime threats against companies. This includes a comprehensive examination of the legal frameworks and policies currently in place to combat cybercrime activities in the commercial sphere. Secondly, it will evaluate whether companies can rely on law enforcement agencies in South Africa to provide adequate protection against such threats. This will involve a critical analysis of the capacity and capability of law enforcement agencies to respond to cybercrime attacks against companies. The findings of this report will contribute significantly to the understanding of the effectiveness of detecting and prosecuting cybercrime attacks against South African companies. The recommendations made will provide valuable insights into how to improve the detection and prosecution of cybercrime threats in the commercial sphere. This study will be beneficial to policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and companies operating in South Africa, as it will help to enhance their understanding of the threats posed by cybercrime and the measures needed to mitigate them