scholarly journals Investigating career progression experiences of women into top management at a South African bank

2021 ◽  
pp. 28-40
Author(s):  
Judy Kobus-Olawale ◽  
Chris Schachtebeck ◽  
Nelesh Dhanpat
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Underrepresentation Of Women

Despite South Africa’s progressive and comprehensive labour legislation that promotes gender equality in the workplace, this goal has not been fully achieved as yet. This is particularly evident when comparing managerial ranks, particularly in top management at South African banks. This phenomenon is still present today despite overwhelming evidence, supporting the benefits of a diverse management team. This study, therefore, explores the factors, influencing the underrepresentation of women in top management. Therefore, the main objective was to determine the challenges women face in progressing into top management at a South African bank. The study used a qualitative research approach in the form of a case study at one of the largest South African banks. The population for the study included women in top and senior management of the case study bank. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analysed through Atlast T. I. Findings indicate that poor career progression prospects exist, mainly hampered by organisational structure, lack of sponsorship and a hostile working environment. The study adds to the existing body of knowledge by providing insights into barriers to women's progression in the financial services sector and providing practical implementation measures to promote career progression for women.

scholarly journals Business Priorities Driving BYOD Adoption: A Case Study of a South African Financial Services Organization

10.28945/4284 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Bring Your Own Device ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Adoption Decision ◽  
Toe Framework

[This Proceedings paper was revised and published in the 2019 issue of the journal Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, Volume 16] Aim/Purpose: Bring your own device (BYOD) provides opportunities for both the organization and employees, but the adoption of BYOD also introduces risks. This case study of an organization’s BYOD program identifies key positive and negative influences on the adoption decision. Background: The consumerization of IT introduced the BYOD phenomenon into the enterprise environment. As mobile and Internet technologies improve employees are opting to use their personal devices to access organizational systems to perform their work tasks. Such devices include smartphones, tablets and laptop computers. Methodology: This research uses a case study approach to investigate how business priorities drive the adoption of BYOD and how resulting benefits and risks are realized and managed by the organization. Primary empirical data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 15 senior employees from a large South African financial services organization. Policy documents from the organization were analyzed as secondary data. Contribution: Thematic analysis of the data revealed six major themes: improving employee mobility; improving client service and experience; creating a competitive industry advantage; improving business processes; information security risks; and management best practices. Findings: The themes were analyzed using the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, showing the key positive and negative influences on the adoption decision. Recommendations for Practitioners: Organizations need to clearly understand the reasons they want to introduce BYOD in their organizations. The conceptual framework can be applied by practitioners in their organizations to achieve their BYOD business objectives. Recommendations for Researchers: BYOD remains an important innovation for organizations with several aspects worthy of further study. The TOE framework presents a suitable lens for analysis, but other models should also be considered. Impact on Society: The findings show that organizations can use BYOD to improve client service, gain competitive advantage, and improve their processes using their digital devices and backend systems. The BYOD trend is thus not likely to go away anytime soon. Future Research: The applicability of findings should be validated across additional contexts. Additional models should also be used.

scholarly journals Business Priorities Driving BYOD Adoption: A Case Study of a South African Financial Services Organization

10.28945/4303 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 165-196
Author(s):  
Jacques Ophoff ◽  
Steve Miller
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Bring Your Own Device ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Adoption Decision ◽  
Toe Framework

Aim/Purpose: Bring your own device (BYOD) provides opportunities for both the organization and employees, but the adoption of BYOD also introduces risks. This case study of an organization’s BYOD program identifies key positive and negative influences on the adoption decision. Background: The consumerization of IT introduced the BYOD phenomenon into the enterprise environment. As mobile and Internet technologies improve employees are opting to use their personal devices to access organizational systems to perform their work tasks. Such devices include smartphones, tablets and laptop computers. Methodology: This research uses a case study approach to investigate how business priorities drive the adoption of BYOD and how resulting benefits and risks are realized and managed by the organization. Primary empirical data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 15 senior employees from a large South African financial services organization. Policy documents from the organization were analyzed as secondary data. Contribution: Thematic analysis of the data revealed six major themes: improving employee mobility; improving client service and experience; creating a competitive industry advantage; improving business processes; information security risks; and management best practices. Findings: The themes were analyzed using the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, showing the key positive and negative influences on the adoption decision. Recommendations for Practitioners: Organizations need to clearly understand the reasons they want to introduce BYOD in their organizations. The conceptual framework can be applied by practitioners in their organizations to achieve their BYOD business objectives. Recommendations for Researchers: BYOD remains an important innovation for organizations with several aspects worthy of further study. The TOE framework presents a suitable lens for analysis, but other models should also be considered. Impact on Society: The findings show that organizations can use BYOD to improve client service, gain competitive advantage, and improve their processes using their digital devices and backend systems. The BYOD trend is thus not likely to go away anytime soon. Future Research: The applicability of findings should be validated across additional contexts. Additional models should also be used.

Management of Records in Adapted Buildings as Records Centres in Zimbabwe

Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Mutsagondo ◽  
Getrude Maduyu ◽  
Godfrey Tsvuura
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Personal Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Professional Management ◽  
The Government

This paper discusses the challenges of records management that arise from the use of adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, despite the advantages of using such buildings. A qualitative research approach was used as well as a case study research design. Data were collected from seven officers of the Gweru Records Centre through semi-structured interviews. Personal observation was used to triangulate findings from interviews. It was found that the use of adapted buildings as records centres was a cheaper and quicker way of establishing records centres throughout the country. However, a number of preservation, security and management challenges cropped up as the conditions of the buildings and the environment of the adapted buildings were not conducive to the proper and professional management of records. This study is important in that it explores the prospects and challenges of using adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, an area that has not been researched by many authors. This provokes archival authorities and the government to seriously consider establishing purpose-built records and archival centres.

scholarly journals An exploration into the opportunities and constraints for career progression into leadership roles for School Business Managers in the state sector in England

2021 ◽  
pp. 089202062199967
Author(s):  
Josephine Marchant
Keyword(s):  
Career Progression ◽  
The State ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Business Managers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
State Sector ◽  
Education Professionals ◽  
School Business ◽  
Survey Responses

Drawing on data from 116 survey responses by School Business Managers, and 7 semi-structured interviews with education professionals carried out between October 2017 and February 2018, this article reports on findings from a research project focussing on the opportunities and constraints for career progression into leadership roles for School Business Managers (SBMs) in the state sector in England. The article considers the differing roles and responsibilities of SBMs, how leadership is perceived in schools, the visibility of the SBM role, career aspirations of the SBMs who were surveyed, and the perceived constraints to progression to leadership roles. Analysis of the data was carried out using an inductive research approach using mixed methods. Snowballing was used to obtain a meaningful sample size for survey responses. Interviewees were chosen on the basis of judgement sampling. The sampling design for the survey and the interviews was one of non-probability. Findings suggest that leadership roles for SBMs do exist but that there are considerable constraints to these being achieved, not least the lack of appetite amongst SBMs to do so.

Building Employer Brand Image for accumulating Intellectual Capital

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Azam ◽  
Jawaid Ahmed Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Training Development ◽  
Employer Brand

The purpose of this research is to explore factors that build Employer Brand Image (EBI) for attracting and retaining intellectual capital comprising human capital too. The impression of an organization as an employer in the mind of current or prospect employees is called EBI. There are certain factors that shape the image of employer as a brand. Literature review suggested that researches, already done, have been carried out in Europe, Australia, and USA. The gap in literature is found that no study has been carried out to explore the social phenomenon of EBI in Pakistan; not even in South Asia. This is exploratory, qualitative, and phenomenological research. Purposive sampling is carried out using Sequential and Emergence-driven sampling technique whereas sampling method is snowballing. Total 14 semi structured interviews are taken from permanent faculty of private universities of Karachi. Numerous themes have been emerged, out of which six are categorized as core factors and the rest of them are sub-factors. Explored core factors include Organizational Culture and Environment, Package of Benefits, Training, Development and Career Progression, Market Value and Prestige, Recognition, and Location. Employers can build good EBI if they are establishing ideal working environment and positive culture, offering competitive package of benefits, providing training, development, and career progression opportunities, have good social recognition and prestige, recognizing employees’ work, and located in nearer, safer and securer area. EBI is important for employers because they can establish huge pool of applicants and social recognition as good employer, which helps picking the best talent that serves as intellectual capital.  

Gender Inequality and Intersectional Disadvantage among Students in South African Universities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-172
Author(s):  
Oliver Tafadzwa Gore ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
South African Higher Education

Although policies to widen participation have been implemented in South African higher education since 1994, inequality of achievements persists in universities. The failure of the higher education policy to clearly define ‘disadvantage’ in various interventions seems to have contributed to the continuing inequalities. This study theorises disadvantage using the capabilities approach pioneered by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum and argues for a more nuanced definition of disadvantage by exploring the opportunities, agency and achievements available to students in universities. The theorisation is based on findings from a qualitative case study of 26 semi-structured interviews conducted with students from one South African university. Using empirical findings, the theorisation in this study shows how the conversion factors intersect, resulting in some students achieving fewer functionings, which put them at a disadvantage. While gender equality seemingly has been achieved through enrolment figures that show parity levels, some female students are still disadvantaged through subtle forms of discrimination and sexual harassment in universities. This study therefore recommends that higher education policies should consider an expansive definition of disadvantage that encompasses the various dimensions of student wellbeing for all students to have flourishing lives.

scholarly journals How Robot/human Orchestration Can Help in an HR Department: A Case Study From a Pilot Implementation

Organizacija ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalibor Šimek ◽  
Roman Šperka
Keyword(s):  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Multinational Company ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Service Orchestration ◽  
Study Research

Abstract Background and Purpose: Motivation of this research is to explore the current trend in automating the business processes through software robots (Robotic Process Automation – RPA) and its managing within enterprise environment where most of the processes are executed by human workforce. As the RPA technology expands the demand for its coordinating grows as well. The possible solution to this challenge is shown in case study research in form of implementing orchestration platform to a concrete business process of onboarding in HR department of a multinational company. The aim of this paper is to explore the phases and activities of the pilot project implementation of Robotic Service Orchestration (RSO) in combination with RPA technology and to assess the potential benefits. Design/Methodology/Approach: Case study research approach was selected to explore the research phenomena, which is the implementation of RSO platform in combination with RPA technology and assessing incoming benefits. The case is formed with 2 companies – (1) multinational company with ongoing effort of automating onboarding process, (2) technology and consulting company delivering the automation solution. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with respondents from two involved companies and by analysing internal documents. Results: The analysis of case provided in this paper revealed some key insights: (1) strategical position of RSO and tactical position of RPA towards the existing legacy systems, (2) need for increased focus on initial process modelling phase, (3) Application Programming Interface (API) integration is more viable solution for RPA, (4) the biggest benefit of RPA - its agility, (5) future potential of the RSO replacing the BPMS. Conclusions: First of all, there is a need of higher number of software robots adopted in a company before orchestration could pay off. On the other side, current Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) solutions don’t offer functionalities for managing human and software robots workforce altogether. RPA is expected to expand and without proper orchestration the effectivity will not grow constantly.

The promise of a four-day week? A critical appraisal of a management-led initiative

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Delaney ◽  
Catherine Casey
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Measurement Monitoring ◽  
Critical Scrutiny

PurposeThis article critically investigates a management-led experiment to institute a four-day work week with stated intentions of improving productivity and worker wellbeing. The article analyses the framing and implementation of the reduced work hours (RWH) trial, the responses of employees and the outcomes and implications of the trial. It raises concerns regarding the managerial appropriation of employee aspirations for more autonomy over time and improved work life.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a qualitative case study of a medium-sized company operating in the financial services sector in New Zealand. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 employees.FindingsOur study finds that the promise of a four-day week attracted employee favour and individualised benefits. However, entrenched managerialist practices of performance measurement, monitoring and productivity pressures were intensified. Pro-social and collective interests evident in labour-led campaigns were absent. We urge greater critical scrutiny into seemingly advantageous “business case” initiatives for reduced work hours.Originality/valueLittle is known about what happens to concern for social and employee interests entailed in reduced working hours initiatives when a management-led initiative is implemented. Indeed, the majority of research focuses on the macro-level rather than interrogating the “black box” of firms. Our inquiry contributes to these debates by asking, how does a management-led RWH initiative affect employees?

Boundary Critique and Stakeholder Collaboration in Open Source Software Migration

2012 ◽  
pp. 194-208
Author(s):  
Osden Jokonya ◽  
Stan Hardman
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
South African ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
South African Government ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
African Government ◽  
Stakeholder Collaboration ◽  
Boundary Critique ◽  
Software Migration

This paper investigates the contribution of stakeholder collaboration during an open source software migration using a case study. The case study is based on the Presidential National Commission, a South African government department that migrated from proprietary software to open source software in 2007. The organization was one of the few that migrated to open source software as part of a South African government initiative. The case study consisted of semi-structured interviews with the participants involved in the migration. The interviews centered on the contribution of stakeholder collaboration during the software migration using a boundary critique. The results suggest that stakeholder collaboration can contribute to open source software migration. From a managerial perspective, business leaders must understand the value of stakeholder collaboration in open source software migration. Boundary critique can be an important tool for achieving broader collaboration of stakeholders.

Barriers in Business-IT Alignment in a Large Company in Manufacturing Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Fadi Shammas ◽  
Guanjie Meng ◽  
Lazar Rusu
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Large Company ◽  
It Alignment ◽  
The Status ◽  
Business It Alignment

Business-IT alignment (BITA) continues to be a top management concern for the last ten years. Moreover, organizations mangers are still looking to understand the barriers between the status of alignment and misalignment. The barriers in BITA differ from a business area to another and particularly the authors have not found any research studies concerning the barriers in BITA in the manufacturing area in Sweden. Therefore, the research question is: What are the strategic, tactical, and operational barriers in business-IT alignment in a large company in manufacturing area? The research strategy is case study, and the data was collected through semi-structured interviews and also from company's internal documents and it was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study are a number of thirty barriers in BITA that includes six new barriers in BITA at operational, tactical and strategic level.

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