scholarly journals 'Hidden messages' emerging from Afrocentric management perspectives

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Van den Heuvel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
South African ◽  
The Body ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Local Management ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Corporate Values ◽  
Management Discourse ◽  
Research Findings

Purpose: This paper aims to examine how 'African management' discourse has emerged in South Africa. Altogether, it has stimulated debates - sometimes in controversial ways - on 'taboo issues', e.g. relating to 'cultural diversity' and 'ethnicity'. The stimulation of such debates within organisations is probably a more valuable contribution than a static, essentialised 'African identity' that it proclaims. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper draws on a qualitative research project conducted in South Africa in 2003-2004. Its relevance lies in gaining in-depth insights into ('non-western') local management discourse. It seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge on political and cultural contexts in which South African organizations operate, and how they impact on local management perspectives, and vice versa. Findings: The research findings make clear how and under what circumstances 'African management' discourse has come about in South Africa, and how it could be interpreted. Implications: 'African management' advocates allegedly attempt to revise dominant management thinking and promote 'humane-ness' and participatory decision-making in South African organisations, in search of a contextualised management approach. Amongst others, it has produced new meanings of 'Africanness' and has opened up space for 'hidden messages', resentments and aspirations to become openly articulated. This throws another light on phenomena such as cultural diversity and ethnicity that usually tend to be 'neutralised'. This may turn out to be far healthier for blooming organisational cultures in South Africa than relentlessly hammering on prescribed 'corporate values'. Originality/Value: This paper informs the reader in detail about the emergence and evolvement of 'African management' discourse in South Africa. It is a unique attempt to develop an interpretative viewpoint on this intriguing phenomenon that offers a potentially valuable contribution in reading cultural and ethnic identities within organisations.

Integrative taxonomic methods reveal an incorrect synonymisation of the South African Pseudonereis podocirra (Schmarda) as the widespread Pseudonereis variegata (Grube) from Chile

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyothi Kara ◽  
Angus H. H. Macdonald ◽  
Carol A. Simon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Haplotype Network ◽  
The Body ◽  
General Description ◽  
The South ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
The Status

The nereidid Pseudonereis variegata (Grube, 1866) described from Chile includes 14 synonymised species from 10 type localities with a discontinuous distribution, but no taxonomic or molecular studies have investigated the status of this species outside Chile. Two synonymised species, Mastigonereis podocirra Schmarda, 1861 and Nereis (Nereilepas) stimpsonis Grube, 1866, were described from South Africa and investigated here using morphological examination. MtCOI species delimitation analyses and morphology were used to determine the status of P. variegata in South Africa. Morphological examination revealed that museum and freshly collected specimens from South Africa that conform to the general description of P. variegata are similar to M. podocirra and N. stimpsonis with respect to the consistent absence of homogomph spinigers in the inferior neuropodial fascicle, expanded notopodial ligules and the subterminal attachment of dorsal cirri in posterior parapodia. The synonymy of M. podocirra and N. stimpsonis as P. variegata are rejected and P. podocirra, comb. nov. is reinstated. Morphologically, Pseudonereis podocirra differed from specimens from Chile with regard to the numbers of paragnaths, the absence of homogomph spinigers and changes in parapodial morphology along the body. Independence of these species was further supported by genetic distances, automatic barcode gap discovery and multi-rate Poisson tree process species delimitation analyses of 77 mtCOI sequences. Haplotype network revealed no genetic structuring within the South African populations. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F0B1A5AF-9CE9-4A43-ACCF-17117E1C2F21

scholarly journals A review of four decades of research in organisational career psychology by academia in South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dries Schreuder ◽  
Melinde Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Career Interventions ◽  
Career Psychology ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Career Research

Orientation: Career research in organisations has increased in importance since the 1970s, which heralded new directions for organisational career research and practice both globally and nationally. Research purpose: The study critically reviewed trends in organisational career psychology research in South Africa from 1970 to 2011 in terms of global and present national challenges that require empirical investigation in the contemporary South African world of work context.Motivation for the study: The increasingly complex contexts, in which people have been pursuing their careers since the catalytic 1970s, demand the continuous generation and development of knowledge for the benefit of the discipline and practice of careers.Research design, approach and method: A broad systematic review was carried out to analyse documented academia research (N = 110) on careers from 1970 to 2011, which was published in six accredited South African scientific journals.Main findings: Much of the research addressed issues pertaining to career theory and concepts, the world of work and career assessment and technology. Career development, professional issues and organisational career interventions in the multi-cultural South African context appear to be under-researched.Practical/managerial implications: The insight derived from the findings can be employed by academia and researchers, in this field, to plan future research initiatives that will contribute to the profession and practice of career guidance and counselling in the contemporary workplace.Contribution/value-add: The findings provide preliminary insight that adds to the body of knowledge concerned with career studies in the South African organisational context.

scholarly journals Exploring Perceptions of Bitcoin Adoption: The South African Virtual Community Perspective

10.28945/4080 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 165-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiden J Walton ◽  
Kevin A. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Transactions Costs ◽  
Barriers To Adoption ◽  
Perceived Benefit ◽  
Sub Saharan

Aim/Purpose: This paper explored the factors (enablers and barriers) that affect Bitcoin adoption in South Africa, a Sub-Saharan country with the high potential for Bitcoin adoption. Background: In recent years, Bitcoin has seen a rapid growth as a virtual cryptocurrency throughout the world. Bitcoin is a protocol which allows value to be exchanged over the internet without a central bank or intermediary. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are technological tools that arguably can contribute to reducing transactions costs. This paper explored the factors that affect Bitcoin adoption in South Africa, a Sub-Saharan country with the high potential for Bitcoin adoption, as little is known about the factors that affect Bitcoin adoption and the barriers to adoption. Methodology: A quantitative questionnaire was distributed to South African virtual communities where Bitcoin is a topic of interest, and 237 quantitative responses were received, along with 212 open-ended comments. Contribution: This research contributes to the body of knowledge in information systems by providing insights into factors that affect Bitcoin adoption in South Africa. It raises awareness of incentives and barriers to Bitcoin adoption at a time when financial literacy is a crucial issue both in South Africa and worldwide. Findings: The results indicate that perceived benefit, attitude towards Bitcoin, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control directly affected the participants’ intentions to use Bitcoin. Perceived benefit, usefulness, ease of use, and trust-related risk were found to indirectly affect intention to use Bitcoin. Further, it emerges that the barriers to Bitcoin adoption in South Africa consist of the complex nature of Bitcoin and its high degree of volatility. Recommendations for Practitioners: Bitcoin can contribute to reducing transactions costs, but factors that affect adoption and the barriers to adoption should be taken into consideration. These findings can inform systems and software developers to develop applications that make managing Bitcoin keys and transacting using Bitcoin less complex and more intuitive for end users. Recommendation for Researchers: Bitcoin adoption in South Africa is a topic that has not been previously researched. Researchers could research similarities or differences in the various constructs that were used in this research model. Impact on Society: South African Bitcoin users consider it as a universal currency that makes cross-border payments cheaper. A large number of refugees and workers in South Africa make regular payments across borders. Bitcoin could reduce the costs of these transfers. Future Research: Future research could explore Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) adoption in other developing countries. Researchers could look at factors that influence cryptocurrency adoption in general. The factors affecting adoption of other cryptocurrencies can be compared to the results of this study, and similarities and differences can thus be identified.

scholarly journals Should South Africa Criminalise Ukuthwala Leading to Forced Marriages and Child Marriages?

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Lea Mwambene ◽  
Roberta Hlalisa Mgidlana
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Law Reform ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Public Consultations ◽  
Research Show

In 2014 the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC)released a Discussion Paper on the practice of ukuthwala. TheDiscussion paper was revised and released again in 2015 toinclude public consultations and the proposed Prohibition ofForced Marriages and Child Marriages Bill (Prohibition Bill). TheProhibition Bill introduces an expanded crime of forcedmarriages and child marriages, including because of ukuthwala.In view of the SALRC's proposed Prohibition Bill, this paperinvestigates whether South Africa should criminalise ukuthwalaor not. The paper also examines the advantages anddisadvantages of criminalising breaches of ukuthwala in theprotection of women and girls affected by the practice by drawingupon the field research findings from the community where theS v Jezile 2015 2 SACR 452 (WCC) case originated. Amongother findings, the field research show that the practice ofukuthwala is deeply rooted in the communities where it is stillprevalent to the extent that the approach taken by the ProhibitionBill, expecting the victims to report their own parents or familymembers to law enforcement agents, might force the practice togo underground. Ultimately, we suspect that this might make itmore difficult to protect women and children's rights violationsassociated with ukuthwala. We therefore recommend that toeffectively address the malpractices surrounding ukuthwala, theprocess of law reform look at the elements of ukuthwala, theprocedure that is followed, appreciate the cultural significance ofthe practice, as well as understand the merits and demerits ofthe customary delictual claims that are already used bycommunities where processes of the practice have beenbreached. In this way, communities will be more receptive to anygovernment's efforts that are aimed at addressing forced andchild marriages linked to ukuthwala. In addition, we submit thatunless government prioritises awareness campaigns into thecommunities that are going to be affected by the proposed lawreform, such law, will again be what Himonga calls "paper law".

LOOKING FOR STEREOTYPICAL PORTRAYALS OF GRANDMOTHERS IN SOUTH AFRICAN MULTILINGUAL PICTUREBOOKS

Mousaion ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-127
Author(s):  
Maritha Snyman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Africa ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
South African ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Similar Nature

Picturebooks are vehicles of knowledge and socialisation for children. In portraying grandmothers in children’s picturebooks, existing stereotypes are often enforced (Crawford and Bhattacharya 2014). This article set out to determine how, and if, the portrayal of grandmothers in a sample of multilingual picturebooks in South Africa is stereotyped and how possible stereotyping relates to South Africa’s cultural diversity. Ten books were selected that have been translated into more than four of South Africa’s 11 official languages.By using quantitative coding these texts were deconstructed by looking for stereotypical representations of grandmothers and the relationships that exist between the portrayal of cultural groups and stereotypes. The findings indicated that stereotypical portrayals of South African grandmothers do not follow the patterns uncovered in studies of a similar nature in the United States (US) andthe United Kingdom (UK). South African grandmothers are stereotyped because of their goodness – their attitude of a positive servitude. In providing possible reasons for this deviation from the findings of similar studies elsewhere, the complex intricacies of politics and publishing activities in South Africa’s are briefly discussed.

South African conglomerates: A qualitative analysis

1981 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 99-102
Author(s):  
R. G.J. Mackintosh ◽  
F. E. Bisotto
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
South African ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Functional Relationships ◽  
Management Function ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
And Control

This qualitative analysis is based on research on conglomerates not previously undertaken in South Africa. Founded on the work of corporate strategy and development theorists, the research is aimed at establishing a 'character profile' of South African conglomerates. What differentiates passive and acquisitive conglomerates in terms of organizational structure, management function, style, and strategy, is also considered. The information for this analysis is derived from the results of a mail survey. The research findings indicate that in general South African conglomerates are structured on a multi-divisional basis with divisions specializing in product-market rather than functional relationships. Divisions tend to be controlled at arm's length by their corporate head offices, who perform auxiliary and co-ordinating functions. Compared to acquisitives, passives appear to be less flexible in their management style, function, and control. In terms of their strategy, passives tend to be, for the immediate future at least, more aggressive than acquisitives.Hierdie kwalitatiewe ontleding is gebaseer op navorsing oor konglomerate wat nie voorheen in Suid-Afrika onderneem is nie. Die navorsing, gebaseer op die werk van teoretici oor ondernemingstrategie en -ontwikkeling, beoog om 'n 'karakterprofiel' van Suid·Afrikaanse konglomerate daar te stel. Die verskilpunt tussen passiewe en aankopende ('acquisitive') konglomerate wat organisasiestruktuur, bestuursfunksie, styl en strategie betref, word ook beskou. Die inligting vir hierdie ontleding is verkry uit die resultate van 'n opname wat per pos geloods is. Die navorsingsbevindinge dui aan dat Suid-Afrikaanse konglomerate in die algemeen gestruktureer is op 'n multi-afdelingsbasis, met afdelings wat meer spesialiseer volgens produkmark as volgens funksionele verwantskappe. Afdelings word dikwels op 'n afstand beheer deur die moedermaatskappy se hoofkantoor, wat ondersteunende en koordinerende funksies verrig. In vergelyking met aankopende maatskappye, is passiewe maatskappye skynbaar minder buigsaam in hulle bestuurstyl, funksionering en beheer. Wat hulle strategie betref, neig passiewe konglomerate om ten minste ten opsigte van die onmiddellike toekoms, meer aggressief as aankopende konglomerate te wees.

Recent experiences in South Africa and Ethiopia to accommodate cultural diversity: a regained interest in the right of self-determination

2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Henrard ◽  
Stefaan Smis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
South African ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
The South ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
The Right ◽  
Right Of Self Determination

This article examines the right to self-determination and the various constitutional mechanisms that can be used to accommodate cultural diversity. Using the South African and Ethiopian constitutions as case-studies, it concludes that it is possible to respect the principle of equality and the right to identity of "population groups" in a way which will pre-empt calls for external self-determination, and it suggests that the mechanisms used in these two countries may serve as a model elsewhere in Africa and beyond.

scholarly journals Developing Innovative Integrated Business Solutions Using a Scrum Project Management Methodology

Businesses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Jamie McLellan ◽  
William A. Young ◽  
Elizabeth C. Levin ◽  
Lester W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
The Body ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Agile Method ◽  
Revenue Sources ◽  
Agile Project Management ◽  
Research Findings

Innovative manufacturers have used Integrated Business Solutions (IBSs) as a means to co-create products and services to solve diverse business problems and more effectively compete in their field of endeavour. However, the efficacy and benefits of IBSs have been diminished due to the rigid method in which project management has been applied. This paper provides a conceptual approach for manufacturers to create new revenue sources in collaboration with their customers by adopting an agile project methodology that accommodates the interactive and iterative nature of IBS development. The research findings highlight the lack of success in IBSs using traditional project management as the delivery method. It provides an alternative solution in the use of an agile project management approach with its customer-centred and iterative mindset. This paper provides a conceptual model of the agile method known as Scrum and describes how it better aligns with innovative IBS development. Though both IBSs and agile have been around for several decades, their development is still in a state of infancy. This research adds to the body of literature on the application of agile in IBSs and presents an argument for converting its conceptual model into a practice delivery.

scholarly journals Ability within disability: Reflective memories shared with Dr Kasturi Varley

2022 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kogielam K. Archary ◽  
Christina Landman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
The Body ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Community History ◽  
Shared Experiences ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
European Experience ◽  
Shed Light

In a post-apartheid South Africa, the value of reflective memories and their impact on community history gives credibility to their relationship with personal struggles such as disability, be it physical or political. Shaped by South African Indian heritage, an isolated individualised case of a second-generation descendant’s ability–disability experience is researched and narrated in this article. The respondent, Dr Kasturi Varley is a woman of the South African Indian community, who was born almost 101 years after the first shipload of Indian indentured labourers arrived in the then Colony of Natal. Her memories shed light on a unique Indo-African-European experience. Her indentured paternal grandfather arrived in the African continent in August 1900. Her reflective memories and shared experiences of various episodes of the ability–disability paradigm add to the body of knowledge of the Indian indentured labour system that already exists and partially fills up the prevalent gaps in the research on this topic. Her story is unique in that she worked wheelchair-bound at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria and subsequently settled in the United Kingdom. This study applied a qualitative research methodology.Contribution: This article provides insight on reflective memories within the domain of social memory and contributes to an understanding of the historiography of the descendants of Indian indentured labourers in South Africa. In 2020, this community commemorated the 160th anniversary of the arrival of the labourers to the Colony of Natal.

scholarly journals Universality of human rights and cultural diversity: A Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Leon Wessels
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
South African ◽  
Common Humanity ◽  
The World ◽  
Universal Human Rights

This speech is an attempt to offer á perspective, given the particular circumstances4 that moulded my thinking. I will sketch the background and confine myself to the unfolding South African scene. The problem, which I will not try and resolve today, is that the different regions in the world and some commentators, also in South Africa, hold firm views. Universal human rights imply inclusiveness because it reflects our “common humanity”.6 This is determined and refined through interpretation and application by humankind at particular moments in time and history. Universality is much more than the determination by a majority at a particular moment because universal human rights “are the rights of all persons in the world”.

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