scholarly journals Tapping into Opportunity beyond South Africa for Small Business Expansion

10.28945/4219 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 001-019
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Process Outsourcing ◽  
Data Services ◽  
Excellent Opportunity ◽  
External Constraints ◽  
The Future ◽  
New Business ◽  
Technology Services

Masana Twala and Emily Brown, the co-founders of ME Data Services (MEDS), believed they had identified an excellent opportunity in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) domain. They were excited to set their idea in motion and, as many technology services entrepreneurs do, they feared that if they did not act promptly they could lose this chance. However, as recent entrants to the fiercely competitive BPO) industry in South Africa, pausing to map out the future of their new company was a necessity rather than a luxury. The pair had several issues to consider before making their next move. They needed to take into account the various internal and external constraints in order to map out a strategy for their new business in the fast paced BPO domain. How should their 5-10 year plan look like?

Introduction

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Laurence Lock Lee
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Business Process ◽  
It Outsourcing ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Business Process Outsourcing ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
New Business ◽  
Disproportionate Number

The information technology (IT) industry has a relatively short history in global markets but can put claim to a disproportionate number of “business innovations” that it either participated in or has been the catalyst for. Concepts such as business process re-engineering (BPR), supply chain management (SCM), IT outsourcing (ITO), business process outsourcing (BPO), off-shoring and now multisourcing are tightly associated with the IT industry. The growth in the services economy and rapid escalation in the use of alliances and joint ventures for business growth is also clearly evident in the IT sector. A characteristic of an industry being a leader in the introduction of new business concepts is that it gets to experience both the excitement of forging new paths but unfortunately also the pain of unfulfilled aspirations.

scholarly journals Tracking SMME research in South Africa’s priority sectors

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Rogerson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Industrial Policy ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Creative Industries ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Business Process Outsourcing ◽  
Growth Initiative

The National Industrial Policy Framework and the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa emphasize the importance of promoting select ‘priority sectors’. This paper provides a review of existing research concerning SMME development in the three priority sectors of tourism, business process outsourcing and offshoring (BPO & O) and, creative industries. The paper argues for the importance of undertaking sector-differentiated research on SMME development in South Africa in order to complement other research which is focussed on sector development as a whole.

scholarly journals South Africa's business process outsourcing services sector: Lessons for Western-based client firms

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Lacity ◽  
L. P. Willcocks ◽  
A. Craig
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Time Zone ◽  
Business Process Outsourcing ◽  
The Uk

Since 2008, South Africa has become one of the world's upcoming offshore destinations for business process outsourcing (BPO), a market estimated to be worth $US 182 billion globally by 2013. Western-based client firms evaluating South Africa as a BPO destination must consider the country's relative value against alternative locations. Client firms also have a number of engagement models from which to choose, inclucling outsourcing, erecting a captive centre, or acquiring an existing BPO business. The research finds that, for the UK, US, and Australian client companies in this study, South Africa's value proposition is not just based on costs as other locations are often cheaper. South Africa's value proposition is about overall economic value, high quality service and staff, strong cultural compatibility, and a favourable time zone. The findings reveal that South Africa complements the global portfolio for Western-based client firms that already have BPO centres in Inclia, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe. Moreover, whether client firms build or buy services from South Africa, the research identifies clistinctive risks that need to be mitigated by investing in and effectively governing the business processes performed offshore. Finally, from the case study research, this article identifies management lessons for leveraging South Africa's identifiable BPO service advantage.

scholarly journals Lives in Data: Prominent Data Librarians, Archivists and Educators Share Their Thoughts

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Kristi Thompson ◽  
Guoying Liu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Data Services ◽  
The Future

We asked several data librarians, archivists and educators who have had prominent and interesting careers if they would be willing to let us profile them and share some of their thoughts on the field. Six graciously agreed to be interviewed via email. Many of our respondents played key roles in developing data services and infrastructure in their respective countries, while others are involved in building the future of the field through education, advancing standards, and advocacy. Our virtual panel includes Tuomas J. Alaterä, Finland; Ann Green and Jian Qin, United States; Guangjing Li, China; Wendy Watkins, Canada; and Lynn Woolfrey, South Africa. 

Transmedia Storytelling Initiatives in Brazilian Media

MedienJournal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Renira Rampazzo Gambarato ◽  
Geane Carvalho Alzamora
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Media Development ◽  
Future Scenario ◽  
Transmedia Storytelling ◽  
The Future

This paper is presented in order to understand the evolution of media dynamics in Brazil and investigate its perspectives for the future. Brazil, among the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), will be our focus. From a mono-mediatic paradigm to a convergent one, Brazil is developing new practices in fictional and non-fictional media. Our hypothesis is that the transmedia storytelling strategy is both the reality – although still timid – and the most probable future scenario for media development in Brazil. We can assert that transmedia storytelling is a tendency. Therefore, we will explore examples of transmedia storytelling initiatives in Brazilian media mainly related to journalism, entertainment, branding and advertisement.

‘VOICES’, MEANING AND ‘HETEROGLOSSIA’ IN PRISONERS OF HOPE (1995)

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-96
Author(s):  
Khatija Bibi Khan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Documentary Film ◽  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Political Prisoners ◽  
The Future ◽  
Human Capacity ◽  
Robben Island ◽  
Former Inmates

The documentary film Prisoners of Hope (1995) is a heart-rending account of 1 250 former political prisoners in the notorious Robben Island prison in South Africa. The aim of this article is to explore the narratives of Prisoners of Hope and in the process capture its celebratory mood and reveal the contribution that the prisoners made towards the realisation of a free South Africa. The documentary features interviews with Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada and other former inmates as they recall and recount the atrocities perpetrated by defenders of the apartheid system and debate the future of South Africa with its ‘new’ political dispensation led by blacks. A textual analysis of Prisoners of Hope will enable one to explore the human capacity to resist, commit oneself to a single goal and live beyond the horrors and traumas of an oppressive and dehumanising system.

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