Complexity Theory and Leadership for Turbulent Environments
In: Journal of social sciences: interdisciplinary reflection of contemporary society, Band 36, Heft 3, S. 295-307
ISSN: 2456-6756
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In: Journal of social sciences: interdisciplinary reflection of contemporary society, Band 36, Heft 3, S. 295-307
ISSN: 2456-6756
In: Journal of enterprising culture: JEC, Band 14, Heft 4, S. 241-266
ISSN: 0218-4958
This paper considers the adoption of an entrepreneurial orientation as a paradigm for companies operating in a complex and turbulent environment, viewing the environment as a complex and turbulent system in terms of chaos theory. Approaches suggested by chaos theory are compared with the entrepreneurial orientation to identify if such an orientation matches these suggested approaches. Literature on chaos theory and entrepreneurship is compared, and a short case is presented, providing an illustration of how a company operating successfully in a complex and turbulent environment has used the principles of an entrepreneurial orientation. The paper identifies considerable similarity between the management approaches suggested by chaos theory and the principles of the entrepreneurial orientation, indicating that chaos theory may provide the theoretical underpinning of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and turbulent environments. The case also shows how an entrepreneurial orientation has been successfully used in a complex and turbulent environment. The conclusion is that companies operating in a complex and turbulent environment could benefit from adopting an entrepreneurial orientation.
In: International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science: IJRBS, Band 11, Heft 2, S. 306-317
ISSN: 2147-4478
This article examines the potential of space science technology for water infrastructure (WI) management. It defines space technology in detail, and when South Africa (SA) started using it as a tool. To explain the context, the different types of orbits, altitudes, and functions of satellites are given, as well as the challenges that satellites encounter in orbit, including the quantity and sizes of orbital debris also known as space junk. The article articulates the international and local challenges to WI and further introduces space technology as a tool that can assist to overcome the challenges. Legislation governing the application of space technology in SA is discussed and the different satellites owned by the various space agencies of Africa are outlined. A discussion on how space technology has boosted the economies and employment in Africa and South Africa is provided. How the various applications of the technology, such as remote sensing (RS), Earth observation (Eo), Geo-Information sciences, navigation, communication, safety, and security can assist WI management are discussed. Details about the involvement of various African and SA universities and colleges in space science programmes that benefit the communities are explained. Also outlined are some experiments performed on the International Space Station (ISS) that benefit the Earth and that could be useful to WI management.
This article examines the potential of space science technology for water infrastructure (WI) management. It defines space technology in detail, and when South Africa (SA) started using it as a tool. To explain the context, the different types of orbits, altitudes, and functions of satellites are given, as well as the challenges that satellites encounter in orbit, including the quantity and sizes of orbital debris also known as space junk. The article articulates the international and local challenges to WI and further introduces space technology as a tool that can assist to overcome the challenges. Legislation governing the application of space technology in SA is discussed and the different satellites owned by the various space agencies of Africa are outlined. A discussion on how space technology has boosted the economies and employment in Africa and South Africa is provided. How the various applications of the technology, such as remote sensing (RS), Earth observation (Eo), Geo-Information sciences, navigation, communication, safety, and security can assist WI management are discussed. Details about the involvement of various African and SA universities and colleges in space science programmes that benefit the communities are explained. Also outlined are some experiments performed on the International Space Station (ISS) that benefit the Earth and that could be useful to WI management.
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In: Journal of enterprising culture: JEC, Band 22, Heft 3, S. 331-348
ISSN: 0218-4958
Small businesses are critical to improving economic development in rural areas of South Africa. However, rural entrepreneurs are still faced with challenges and problems which make the success of small businesses, especially in rural areas, uncertain. This paper investigates business environmental, financial and infrastructural factors that influence the success or otherwise of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas. Primary data was collected in five rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from a sample of 374 business owners/managers, with respondents completing a questionnaire. Access to finance and skills shortages were the factors that most significantly differentiated between more successful and less successful rural businesses in KZN. The majority of respondents indicated that poor roads/transport and access to electricity were major problems.
In: Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai. Oeconomica, Band 65, Heft 2, S. 65-89
ISSN: 2065-9644
Abstract
Local or regional fast-moving consumer (FMCG) brands sold mostly in delimited geographic areas are a growing trend. This study aims to understand consumer attitudes towards such products and to identify factors critical to their success. The paper is a comparative study between developed (Germany) and emerging (South Africa) nations to identify differences between the preference criteria for FMCG. The methodology involved an online cross section survey in the two countries. Respondents from both countries preferred local brands and believe they are better quality and more supportive of, and connected to, local communities. South Africans feel this more strongly, show greater commitment, and are prepared to pay more than Germans. 'Beliefs' regarding quality, value for money, and trust in local brands are critical.
In: Development Southern Africa, Band 34, Heft 3, S. 365-382
ISSN: 1470-3637
In: International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science: IJRBS, Band 12, Heft 2, S. 1-14
ISSN: 2147-4478
Loyalty Programs (LPs) aim to increase profit by rewarding, with various benefits, customers who patronize the retailer. This study investigated the benefits LPs provide in the South African Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) marketplace and how these influence relationship quality and loyalty between retailer and customer. How the perceived benefits of LPs contribute to relationship quality (satisfaction, trust and commitment), and how they lead to loyalty are examined. To illustrate these relationships, a model showing three independent (perceived benefits, namely altruistic, consumeristic, and egoistic) and three dependent variables (relationship quality, namely trust, satisfaction, and commitment), plus customer loyalty, was developed. A quantitative survey was administered electronically over 11 days to a randomly selected sample of 5000 consumers per day from a commercial database, resulting in 1944 responses. After the deletion of incomplete or inappropriate responses, 479 usable replies remained. Since this sample was self-selected, it should be considered a convenience sample. Structural equation modelling (SEM) with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to test the hypotheses and develop the model. SEM indicated that respondents consider egoistic and consumeristic benefits as the same. Furthermore, trust and satisfaction manifest as a single construct. Both consumeristic and altruistic benefits had a significant positive relationship with this unified construct of trust/satisfaction, and the relationship between altruistic benefits and commitment was also positive and significant. Finally, although neither altruistic nor consumeristic benefits appeared to contribute directly to loyalty, a positive relationship existed between the new construct of trust/satisfaction and those of commitment and loyalty. The pathway to loyalty is indirect, and to reach this sought-after goal, relationship quality constructs must first be achieved.
In: International journal of sociotechnology and knowledge development: IJSKD ; an official publication of the Information Resources Management Association, Band 11, Heft 1, S. 29-51
ISSN: 1941-6261
The South African space industry is not seen by young learners as a potential career. The objectives of this study were to identify: high school students' awareness of the industry, their perceptions of employment opportunities, and their knowledge of the industry's educational requirements. A quantitative, descriptive survey with structured questionnaires was administered to 171 respondents. Purposive and quota sampling selected grade 10-11 students in rural, urban and suburban schools. Most respondents had some awareness of the industry, but had limited knowledge about career opportunities, especially in rural schools. Respondents were unclear about how and where to apply for space-related education. The space industry inadequately markets itself to students, so more outreach programs, sponsoring of science and technological projects, more scholarships, and encouragement of the Department of Higher Education to provide information about, and improve career guidance officers' knowledge of, the space industry are recommended.
In: International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science: IJRBS, Band 12, Heft 7, S. 427-442
ISSN: 2147-4478
The installation and maintenance of water infrastructure in South African cities poses a challenge to communities, municipalities, and installation contractors, who face problems such as inadequate access to homes, traffic jams, inadequately barricaded trenches, leaking water pipes, water supply cut-offs, vandalism, and theft of water. The research problem, therefore, involves an inadequate understanding of what drives these problems and how to mitigate them through better management. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges of managing water infrastructure as perceived by the citizens of a South African municipality. The study was a descriptive and cross-sectional survey, with data collected, via a literature derived, emailed questionnaire, from a self-selected non-probability sample of 402 City of Tshwane residents. Analysis, via SPSS Version 27, used descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that both the municipality and the contractors contributed to the challenges experienced by citizens, with maintenance challenges being more serious than installation challenges. Municipal and political challenges were the main drivers, with political ownership of construction companies and political interference being the biggest problems. The findings contributed to a better understanding of the challenges inhibiting effective installation and maintenance of water infrastructure, and are important to the municipality, and the community at large, because they contribute to a better understanding of service delivery from the citizens' perspectives.
This paper investigates the necessity for education and training within the survivalist retail entrepreneurship sector in Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. A structured questionnaire, informal interviews and observations were employed to collect data. To analyse the collected data, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) was employed. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, but only 128 usable completed copies were returned. The key findings were twofold: (1) an admission by the majority of the subjects that their businesses are not doing particularly well owing to their lack of basic business skills; and (2) the subjects' admission that competitive practices of the immigrant retail entrepreneurs in the township can be counteracted if they had adequate business skills. These findings imply that should survivalist retail entrepreneurs in Khayelitsha be expected to add greater value to the economy by creating employment opportunities, it is essential that they are provided with skills training on a regular basis by government agencies and other stakeholders such as the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA). This paper has its origin in the considered intention of the Wholesale and Retail Leadership Chair of CPUT1 to assist in developing the retail sector of the community of Khayelitsha.
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