The use of benchmarking as a management tool for organisational effectiveness in South Africa: A focus on small to medium enterprises

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gareta ◽  
E. M. Bakama ◽  
C. M. Mukwakungu ◽  
N. Sukdeo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Organisational Effectiveness ◽  
Medium Enterprises

scholarly journals Managing Diversity and Capabilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Feriha Özdemir
Keyword(s):  
Process Design ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
German Economy ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Social Discrimination ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Managing Diversity ◽  
Medium Enterprises

As a powerful driver, small and medium enterprises (SME) has a huge contribution to the German economy. The shortage of skilled workers underlines an emerging and resilient German economy. However, the future prospects of SME depend on creative employees as key actors. Nevertheless, demographic change is perceptible so that the labour integration of resident immigrants becomes more important. But several studies investigated inequalities especially discrimination in the labour market intensifying brain drain. Social discrimination has great impact on the capabilities of people, particularly in labour. Disadvantages are exposed to a lack of opportunities with the result of a capability gap. Diversity management offers competitive advantages but is mostly a management tool of bigger enterprise performances. This paper will present a process of enabling and empowering management process of capabilities. It is presented by the example of the solution cycle which will be called a participatory process design contributing to the lack in the classic management of diversity.

scholarly journals The use of traditional versus e-marketing in SMEs in a developing country: A comparative analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-212
Author(s):  
Leanne Manley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Target Market ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Marketing Tool ◽  
Marketing Costs ◽  
Small Medium Enterprises ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Way

The revolution of the internet has changed the way many organisations conduct business in today’s market environment, and has specifically changed in the way companies market products to consumers. E-marketing allows a marketer to not only reach a broader target market than traditional methods, but substantially reduces marketing costs as well, which can mean the difference between success or failure in small medium enterprises (SMEs). Multiple studies have investigated traditional and e-marketing practices, however, few studies have focused on SME marketing practices and their use of e-marketing in developing economies. This article provides an insight into current marketing tools employed by SMEs in South Africa and provides a comparative analysis between traditional and e-marketing tool usage. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to SME owners, whereby data was analysed by means of frequency occurrence. The main results stemming from the research indicate that SME owners have no preference in using either traditional or e-marketing tools, with majority preferring to use both. However, the majority of marketing tools being used and receiving the most effective rating according to SME owners is directed towards e-marketing tools. From the results obtained recommendations are made to policy-makers, SME managers, development agencies and business owners so as to establish an appropriate strategy to improve SME marketability within South Africa. The findings can be universally applied as studies have shown that there is a lot of similarity in the challenges faced by SMEs irrespective of where they come from.

The use of social media by South African organisations

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomusa Nomhle Dlamini ◽  
Kevin Johnston
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
South African ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Main Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present how organisations in South Africa are using social media. The paper further explores the value of social media to South African organisations and if it is important for an organisation to have a social media presence. Design/methodology/approach The study used quantitative research methods to answer the main research question and sub-questions. Findings The data collected revealed that most organisations in South Africa are using social media for free advertising, CRM and marketing. The popular social media sites used by these organisations are Facebook and Twitter, with LinkedIn increasing in popularity. The data further revealed that social media is important in organisations for relationship building, contact keeping advertising, marketing, attracting customers, brand management and information gathering. Research limitations/implications The role of social media is changing, it was initially a marketing tool, but the findings revealed that majority of organisations are using social media for free advertising, CRM and marketing. Social media is an easy CRM tool that offers effective and efficient capabilities. Practical implications It is important to use integrate social media with the organisations processes to market and advertise new products, it is an instant and cost-saving way of communicating with customers, and helps in reaching and attracting new customers. Social implications Social media is important for keeping contact and building relationships with customers, advertising and marketing, way to attract customers, brand management tool and gathering information. Originality/value The study provides guidance to how organisation can use social media, identifying the value of using social media and highlighting the importance of social media in an organisation in the South African context.

scholarly journals The impact of green supply chain management in small to medium enterprises: Cross-sectional evidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengedzai Mafini ◽  
Asphat Muposhi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Green Manufacturing ◽  
Green Supply Chain Management ◽  
Green Supply Chain ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

Background: South Africa has a high rate of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) failure, especially in the manufacturing sector. The operational challenges confronting manufacturing SMEs are acknowledged by the Global Competitiveness Index that ranked South African SMEs as one of the lowest in emerging economies.Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the association between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, environmental collaboration and financial performance in SMEs.Method: The study is quantitative in nature and involves a convenient sample of 312 SMEs based in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analyses follow a two-step process involving a confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric properties of the measurement scale and Structural Equation Modelling to test the proposed hypotheses.Results: The study shows that three GSCM practices, namely, green procurement, green logistics and green manufacturing in SMEs exert a positive effect on environmental collaboration, with green manufacturing exerting a higher effect than the other two constructs. In turn, higher levels of environmental collaboration inspired higher levels of SME financial performance.Conclusion: The study advances that SMEs can succeed financially through the influence of enhanced environmental collaboration, which emanates, in part, from the adoption and implementation of GSCM practices.

scholarly journals Underlying structures of risk response measures among small and medium contractors in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berenger Yembi Renault ◽  
Justus Ngala Agumba ◽  
Nazee Ansary
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Risk Avoidance ◽  
Risk Response ◽  
Response Measures ◽  
The One ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Although attention has been given to the measures used to respond to risk in the construction industry (CI), there is limited literature that scrutinizes underlying structures of risk response measures (RRMs) especially among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study, therefore, presents findings from an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of RRMs. A positivist paradigm was adopted to collect empirical raw data from 181 conveniently sampled respondents in Gauteng, South Africa (SA), using a structured questionnaire. The results support the extant literature and empirically established the structural composition of risk response by two constructs. The construct with emerged measures was termed trailing measures while the one with popular measures was termed leading measures of risk response. However, the study yielded a two-factor model with all the six items supposed to measure risk response. Based on the results obtained, it seems that risk avoidance and risk mitigation are reliable measures for measuring risk response. This study could thus serve as a reference for the accurate measurement of risk response and for the development of agreed responses for each risk, including an appropriate strategy and specific responses to implement the chosen strategy. The study was limited to the CI and to a lesser extent, construction SMEs in Gauteng; hence the findings cannot be generalized to all SMEs in SA.

scholarly journals The role of managed healthcare in the South African context: A systemic approach

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-86
Author(s):  
P. F. Hugo ◽  
S. S. Loubser
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Healthcare Delivery System ◽  
Unknown Quantity ◽  
Private Healthcare ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Role Players

Managed healthcare, in the context of this study, is defined as a series of management interventions in the healthcare supply chain, aimed at promoting appropriate and necessary care at a cost which is affordable to the consumer. It has evolved precisely because the healthcare supply chain is inefficient, too costly to be affordable to the majority of consumers in South Africa. Since managed healthcare represents a collection of interventions it is probable that these interventions will provoke responses which either support or counter the objectives of the intervening parties. The study focuses on trends which can be quantified in order to demonstrate this process, as well as on qualitative responses from role-players within the system, in order to explain behavioural changes that give rise to these trends.Managed healthcare is a management tool that is used in the private healthcare environment to manage the provision of care. In the past it was based on retrospective intervention and had cost containment as its main focus. Managed healthcare aims to address efficiency and quality of care but has yet to demonstrate measurable outcomes that would significantly impact on its WHO ratings. However, little attention is paid to the relationships and structure of the system within which care is provided and the dynamics that exist between and amongst role-players. The extent to which these relationships have an effect on the outcomes of the Private Healthcare Delivery System in South Africa is a relative unknown quantity. This article describes the research process which endeavours to develop a systemic approach to understand the current challenges in the PHDS better in order to optimise the outcome of it.

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