Anglo American platinum South Africa: strategic renewal in a declining industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Mbanza Sichone ◽  
Charlene Lew
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Renewal Process ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Platinum Group Metals ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Renewal ◽  
Anglo American ◽  
The Impact

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: to demonstrate the phenomenon of strategic inertia in organizations and the impact this has on the type of renewal process that is undertaken; to differentiate between environmental and organizational adaptation strategies and synergies; to apply practical steps of renewal by outlining the influential forces and distinct stages of the process; and to create a practical framework that organizations can use as a guideline for sensing and reacting to changes in the business environment. Case overview/synopsis The case study examines the strategic renewal processes of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) for the period 2012–2019. Amplats is the world’s largest producer of platinum group metals (PGMs). Despite the adversarial business environment of the South African PGM mining industry, six years into its new strategy, the organization had emerged debt-free and was poised to be sustainable. This posed a unique dilemma in strategic decision-making, namely, how to maintain a strategic renewal process. Chris Griffith, CEO of Amplats, was about to retire, but realized that the organization had yet to fulfil its potential. The ambition of the organization was to redefine the industry benchmark for performance across multiple pillars of value for different stakeholders, and to become the most valued mining company by 2023. Set in 2019, the case invites students to look back at the symptoms of strategic inertia at the time of Griffith’s appointment as CEO, and to define the nature and stages of the renewal that the organization underwent. This will provide insights that will enable an examination of the application of a framework for continual strategic renewal. Complexity academic level Postgraduate business students Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy

UCOOK: growth challenges faced by a small- to medium-sized South African venture

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Geoff Bick ◽  
Jeanné Odendaal
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Teaching Case ◽  
Post Graduate

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: to understand how technology can be used to create innovative entrepreneurial opportunities; to develop analytical and critical thinking skills to understand organisations, industries and their dynamics; to analyse strategic options for an entrepreneurial organisations and motivate a proposed strategic direction; and to assess the inter-functional requirements for an entrepreneurship to successfully implement a strategy. Case overview/synopsis UCOOK, a successful emerging economy SME, is confronted with the threat of retail giants (e.g. Checkers and Woolworths) entering the meal kit space. No longer the only “new kid on the block”, UCOOK has to consider a sustainable growth strategy to remain competitive. The case provides the reader with a snapshot of experiences of a meal kit entrepreneurial venture and what it entails for them to grow in the South African milieu. Principally, this case is designed to impart knowledge and stimulate a practical understanding of entrepreneurship and strategic decision-making in the meal kit industry. Additionally, the purpose is to serve as inspiration for business students to see the opportunities that lie within strategically astute emerging market ventures. Complexity academic level The primary target audience for this teaching case is postgraduate business students, especially students of entrepreneurship, strategy and e-commerce. This teaching case is intended to be used as case study in post graduate business programmes such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), a specialist Masters programme such as MM (Entrepreneurship), post-graduate diploma in management (PGDip), as well as selected executive education programmes. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Triggerfish animation studios: the challenges of financing digital entertainment

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Craig Lowman ◽  
Mikael Samuelsson ◽  
Geoff Bick
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Video On Demand ◽  
Project Finance ◽  
Private Funding ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Master's Degrees ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
The Impact

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this paper are as follows: to critically assess and analyse public and private funding options and determine which private option is best suited to a company (finance – decision-making). To calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) of a project (finance – analytical). To critically assess the underlying structures of traditional and new industries (Strategy/BMI – analytical). To analyse the challenges and disruption potential of intermediated industries (Strategy/BMI – analytical). Case overview/synopsis The Triggerfish case looks at how films are funded in South Africa. The company is currently funding films mostly through government channels, but CEO Stuart Forrest would prefer to independently and privately fund their projects. The case looks at what returns can be expected by investors in film through the “recoupment waterfall” – the means whereby the producers and investors of a film recoup their investments and earn returns. The investment horizons of select private lenders (bank, mezzanine financiers, risk financers and venture capital firms) and public funders are explored. The case also explores the impact that video-on-demand platforms, such as Netflix and Disney+, is having on the traditional models of filmmaking. Complexity academic level This teaching case is aimed at postgraduate business students such as Master’s degrees in Business Administration degrees, postgraduate diplomas, executive education or specialist Master’s degrees. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

The Buyout at Tru-Foods For You

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Linda Ronnie
Keyword(s):  
Mergers And Acquisitions ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Target Firm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Acquisition Process ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
The Impact

Learning outcomes Learning outcomes are as follows: to appreciate the people challenges imbedded in an acquisition; to assess and analyse the impact of an acquisition process; to propose appropriate strategies for managing an acquisition; to explore the advantages and disadvantages of mergers and acquisitions; to describe the main reasons for the failure of M&As. Case overview/synopsis Often mergers and acquisitions fail because of the inability to either manage or consider organisational and people management issues. It has also been acknowledged that during a process of extreme change or transition, such as a merger and acquisition (M&A), employees view the past as a time of safety and security with the future appearing as uncertain and confused. This teaching case study highlights these challenges and the change processes imbedded in an acquisition. The acquiring firm is Marshall Foods, a well-established branded continental distribution company with a strong emphasis on nutritional whole food products based in South Africa, and the target firm is Tru-Foods For You, a small Cape Town online company that sold natural and organic foods. The case study explores the challenges faced by the Tru-Foods For You owner and staff as a result of the acquisition process. The case describes the background to the acquisition, the processes during this phase and the resultant outcomes. Complexity academic level Business students who are studying at postgraduate or MBA level and executive short courses in strategy and change management. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.

Measuring the impact of out-of-class communication through instant messaging

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 318-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Akuzike Nkhoma ◽  
Susan Thomas ◽  
Mathews Zanda Nkhoma ◽  
Narumon Sriratanaviriyakul ◽  
Trang Huyen Truong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Despite the growing body of literature demonstrating the role of communication in educational settings, there are limited up-to-date studies exploring the use of an instant messaging (IM) tool and its impacts on students’ learning outcomes, especially in the tertiary education in Vietnam. This study approached IM as an out-of-class communication (OCC) approach in computer-mediated communication. The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ perceived quality of information received and its influence on their perceived performance proficiency as a result of their lecturers’ clarification of their enquiries through an online instant message application, namely Remind (www.remind.com/). Design/methodology/approach The target groups were first-year business students in an international university in Vietnam. The analysis of the data gathered from the questionnaire was carried out using a measurement model and a structural equation model. Findings The findings indicate that using OCC technology creates social bonding between students and lecturers by allowing students to clarify the ambiguity of concepts learnt in class and create a sense of connection with their lecturers which leads to better student engagement and hence improved learning outcomes. Originality/value The authors highlight the evidence of effective usage of IM tool by university students as a meaningful communication tool and the need to integrate technology into all educational settings.

Business students’ attitudes toward business ethics: an empirical investigation in Vietnam

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loan N.T Pham ◽  
Lam Dang Nguyen ◽  
Monica J Favia
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethics Research ◽  
Ethics Course ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes toward business ethics of Vietnamese business students based on gender and the experience of having taken a business ethics course. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative self-administered survey was conducted with a convenience sample of Vietnamese business students at a banking university in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This study used the 30-item Attitudes Toward Business Ethics Questionnaire (ATBEQ) constructed by Neumann and Reichel (1987) based on the work of Stevens (1979). The Vietnamese version questionnaire was distributed, and 282 surveys were used for analysis. An item-by-item analysis was conducted based on gender and the experience of having taken a business ethics course. Findings – Significant differences were found on seven items based on gender and four items based on the experience of having taken a business ethics course. However, respondents appeared to have similar attitudes on the majority of the items. Research limitations/implications – Perhaps the greatest limitation of this study is the relatively uneven distribution of the respondents in the sample. The sample is skewed slightly toward women who are a bit older, fourth year or post-graduate and those who have not taken a business ethics course. In addition convenience sampling technique reduced its generalizability. This study is important because it supports the idea of ethics education to improve ethical decision-making of future business leaders and that education has an effect in Vietnam. Practical implications – As business students are the main subjects of this research, it can be useful for those involved in development of management and business education in Vietnam to have an overview on how gender impacts business students’ ethics perception. For the executives of multinational corporations, this study provides important information and adds support to a decision to do business in Vietnam. Social implications – Although there may be a perception of a less than ethical climate in Vietnam based on its Corruption Perception Index scores, it appears that Vietnamese business students in general express an ethical viewpoint. This study emphasizes the importance of ethics education that is culture-specific to build a strong ethical business environment that can help Vietnam prevent bribery and corruption and achieve sustainable growth and prosperity. Originality/value – This study contributes to the attitudes toward business ethics research and sheds light on the impact of gender and education (business ethics course) on Vietnamese business students’ ethical attitudes. There has been little research on business ethics in Vietnam. Academicians, managers, practitioners, policymakers, government leaders and the like can benefit from the findings of this paper.

Tax me not: Vodafone's plea to India

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev Prashar ◽  
Lokesh Haridoss ◽  
V. Jagadeesh Kumar ◽  
Rashmi Kumar Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
International Business ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Political Risk ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
The Political ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Risks ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Subject area Business environment, international business management. Study level/applicability The case is suitable for students of the business environment, and of international business management. Case overview The case revolves around the reaction of the Finance Ministry of India on Vodafone's tax case and its implications on FDI and the foreign investors who are investing in India. The core issue is the political risk(s) faced by Vodafone even after having won the tax case in the Supreme Court, the highest judiciary body in India. The Government of India has amended the law to bring the tax into retrospective mode and it signifies the impact of political decisions on business organizations. Expected learning outcomes The case can aid in understanding the effects of changes in a political system and legal framework on the efficacy of business entities; and the importance of, and intricacies involved in, the formulation of political risk mitigating strategies while entering into new markets. The key learning outcomes are: understanding various types of political risks faced by multinationals; assessing the political risks involved in foreign investments; and appreciating the possible mitigating strategies to handle such risks. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available, please consult your librarian for access.

Taj hotels, palaces and resorts: the road ahead

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Anuj Sharma ◽  
Parul Kochher
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Hotel Industry ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
General Management ◽  
The Impact

Subject Area General Management, International Strategic Management, International Marketing and Brand Management. Study level/applicability MBA (General Management), MBA (Marketing), Management and executive development programme. Case overview The Indian Hotels Corporation limited known as the Taj Group was set up by JRD Tata in 1903. The company has undertaken a long journey since then. It is one of the most recognized hotel brands in luxury market segment of the hotel industry. Off late some micro- and macro-level changes in the business environment have not been in favor of the group. The strategy of international expansion in acquiring and refurbishing of assets has mounted the debt and the growing losses. What has compounded the growing troubles is the entry of aggressive multinational brands in the luxury segment of the hospitality industry. The group prioritizes to get its financials in order. It thereafter needs to rework on its competitive strategy and take advantage of the booming domestic hotel industry for profitable future growth. Expected learning outcomes Expected learning outcomes are as follows: to understand the impact of expansions on the top line and the bottom line on the hospitality industry; to understand the impact of expansion on brand image for the legacy brand; to understand and develop strategies for a company which make it profitable in the hotel industry; and to formulate entry and exit strategies for companies dealing in the hospitality industry. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS: 11: Strategy.

Corporate governance practices and capital structure decisions: the moderating effect of gender diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 939-964
Author(s):  
Mohammad A.A Zaid ◽  
Man Wang ◽  
Sara T.F. Abuhijleh ◽  
Ayman Issa ◽  
Mohammed W.A. Saleh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Capital Structure ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Board Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financing Decisions ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Motivated by the agency theory, this study aims to empirically examine the nexus between board attributes and a firm’s financing decisions of non-financial listed firms in Palestine and how the previous relationship is moderated and shaped by the level of gender diversity. Design/methodology/approach Multiple regression analysis on a panel data was used. Further, we applied three different approaches of static panel data “pooled OLS, fixed effect and random effect.” Fixed-effects estimator was selected as the optimal and most appropriate model. In addition, to control for the potential endogeneity problem and to profoundly analyze the study data, the authors perform the one-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator. Dynamic panel GMM specification was superior in generating robust findings. Findings The findings clearly unveil that all explanatory variables in the study model have a significant influence on the firm’s financing decisions. Moreover, the results report that the impact of board size and board independence are more positive under conditions of a high level of gender diversity, whereas the influence of CEO duality on the firm’s leverage level turned from negative to positive. In a nutshell, gender diversity moderates the effect of board structure on a firm’s financing decisions. Research limitations/implications This study was restricted to one institutional context (Palestine); therefore, the results reflect the attributes of the Palestinian business environment. In this vein, it is possible to generate different findings in other countries, particularly in developed markets. Practical implications The findings of this study can draw responsible parties and policymakers’ attention in developing countries to introduce and contextualize new mechanisms that can lead to better monitoring process and help firms in attracting better resources and establishing an optimal capital structure. For instance, entities should mandate a minimum quota for the proportion of women incorporation in boardrooms. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence on the moderating role of gender diversity on the effect of board structure on firm’s financing decisions, something that was predominantly neglected by the earlier studies and has not yet examined by ancestors. Thereby, to protrude nuanced understanding of this novel and unprecedented idea, this study thoroughly bridges this research gap and contributes practically and theoretically to the existing corporate governance–capital structure literature.

Understanding how the contextual variables influence political behaviour in strategic decision-making

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Said Elbanna ◽  
Ioannis C. Thanos ◽  
Vassilis M. Papadakis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Behaviour ◽  
Practitioner Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enhance the knowledge of the antecedents of political behaviour. Whereas political behaviour in strategic decision-making (SDM) has received sustained interest in the literature, empirical examination of its antecedents has been meagre. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a constructive replication to examine the impact of three layers of context, namely, decision, firm and environment, on political behaviour. In Study 1, Greece, we gathered data on 143 strategic decisions, while in Study 2, Egypt, we collected data on 169 strategic decisions. Findings – The evidence suggests that both decision-specific and firm factors act as antecedents to political behaviour, while environmental factors do not. Practical implications – The findings support enhanced practitioner education regarding political behaviour and provide practitioners with a place from which to start by identifying the factors which might influence the occurrence of political behaviour in SDM. Originality/value – The paper fills important gaps in the existing research on the influence of context on political behaviour and delineates interesting areas for further research.

The relationship between narcissism, managerial overconfidence and comparability of financial statements of listed companies

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-700
Author(s):  
Mohammad Almaleki ◽  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahdi Moradi
Keyword(s):  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Managerial Overconfidence ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of managerial narcissism and overconfidence on financial statements’ comparability. In other words, this paper seeks to answer the question of whether the personality characteristics of managers may affect the level of financial statements’ quality of commercial entities or not. Design/methodology/approach The research hypotheses are tested using a sample of 896 observations taken from the Tehran Stock Exchange and 245 observations from the Iraqi Stock Exchange during 2012 and 2018 using the multiple regression model based on the combined data technique. Findings The findings show that managerial narcissism is positively and significantly associated with Iran’s financial statement comparability. In contrast, Iraqi data articulate a negative association between these two variables. This paper finds that Chief Executive Officer overconfidence and financial statements’ comparability are negatively related in both countries. Following the market variation, the different findings suggest that institutional settings such as the general managerial style, adopting international accounting standards (now IFRS) leading to the extent of auditing market globally in Iraq and suffering from international sanctions in Iran, the governing business environment may play an allocative role in preparing financial statements. Originality/value The present research is the first research conducted in two emerging markets (Iran and Iraq) examining the relationship between managers’ narcissism and overconfidence and financial statements’ comparability. Therefore, the present research in this area can significantly contribute to the development of science and knowledge.

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