scholarly journals Multiple-concept management: The challenge to retail conglomerates

1985 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17
Author(s):  
M. Leibold ◽  
C. J. Van Tonder
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Organization And Management ◽  
Increasing Trend

The increasing trend towards formation of conglomerates (multiple-concept organizations) in South African retailing has brought about major managerial challenges. These challenges lie in the realm of corporate and business strategy, organization, and management expertise. This article briefly analyses the nature of retail conglomerates in South Africa, illustrates the emerging problems which confront them, and then offers suggestions for new approaches to assist management. The need for new conceptual and technical skills is emphasized, especially in the realms of corporate strategy orientation, implementation of portfolio frameworks, organizational flexibility, a negotiative corporate culture, differentiated management styles, and research.

scholarly journals Strategic positioning of EAP in South African workplaces

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Matlhape
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Employee Satisfaction ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Chain Model ◽  
Employee Assistance ◽  
Strategic Positioning ◽  
And Performance ◽  
A Company

Two phenomena are having a profound effect on management and industry in the 21st century. The first one is the increasing rate and depth of competition locally, regionally, and globally, and the consequent increase in focus on achieving competitiveness by companies. The second phenomenon is the increasing appreciation of the importance of employees in assisting the company to gain a competitive advantage over its competitors. Employee Assistance Programmes have been used as part of the business strategy to enhance employee functioning, loyalty, and performance in organisations around the world for a good part of the 20th century. In South Africa this service did not gain much momentum until the 1980. Despite the growth of EAP in South Africa, however, in most cases it still remains on the periphery of real business activities and is often regarded as a "nice to have" rather than as a business imperative. The location of EAP within a company is very important in determining its impact within the organisation. Because of EAPs capacity to impact on both individual employees and the organisation as its primary client, it has potential to make a great impact in organisations' business processes, where these interface with individual output and wellbeing. A service-profit-chain model was introduced as a link between employee satisfaction and company profitability. This article gives an in-depth focus on EAP and the important role it can play in achieving employee satisfaction.

Start-up Awareness and Access toFinance: The Case of South African SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (10) ◽  
pp. 391-400
Author(s):  
N H Bamata ◽  
K K Govender
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Study Finding ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
External Finance ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Start Ups

Start-up entrepreneurs in South Africa do not move from the stage of existence and survival to growth to maturity/ In order for Start-up businesses to have a competitive advantage, they have to grow beyond the survival stage and keep on growing. Despite the availability of external finance, access to finance from banks has been identified as the main challenge to the establishment and growth of SME Start-ups in South Africa. The aim of this study is toinvestigate the determinants of start-up awareness to improve access to finance from banks by Start-up entrepreneurs in Pietermaritzburg, the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. Data was collected through self-administrated questionnaires from a random sample of 253 respondents being members of the Chamber of Commerce in the capital city of one of the largest provinces in South Africa.The results from inferential statistical analysis revealed that start-up awareness factors such as conducting a feasibility study, finding a good location, knowing the amount of seed capital needed, developing a business strategy, a business plan, and business model as well as the source of seed capital, are significant determinants of access to bank financing by start-up entrepreneurs.Thus, entrepreneurs should understand the determinants of Start-up awareness in order to improve their ability to access bank finance.

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.

scholarly journals The board of directors in South Africa: Its role in corporate strategic planning

1986 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-219
Author(s):  
J. Viljoen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
South African ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Company Law ◽  
Strategy Evaluation ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Legitimate Concern ◽  
The Board Of Directors

There is a considerable degree of uncertainty regarding the precise role of the board of directors in corporate strategic planning. With reference to the South African Company Law and practice the objectives of this paper are (i) to isolate and categorize possible alternative relationships between top management and the board of directors in matters of corporate strategy; (ii) to identify the level at which the board should become involved in corporate strategy; (iii) to suggest which elements of strategy should be the legitimate concern of the board; (iv) to propose procedural guidelines which will facilitate optimal board involvement in corporate strategy. The author concludes that the board of directors, in terms of its mandate, should not only become involved in strategy evaluation but also in the formulation and implementation of strategic plans. This is particularly true within the context of the current socio-economic and political environment in South Africa. The implications of this conclusion for the composition of the board and for the conducting of board affairs are discussed.

scholarly journals Potentiality of the South African Construction SMME Contractors Globalising within and Beyond the SADC Construction Markets

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Iruka Chijindu Anugwo ◽  
Winston Shakantu ◽  
Ibrahim Saidu ◽  
Anita Adamu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Construction Market ◽  
Potential Capacity

The African continent stands on the verge of developmental take-off, most especially the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region being one of the emerging economies. The 15 years SADC strategic plan for implementation of infrastructure and construction development is believed to stimulate economic, social and technological advancement; and increase the competitiveness and sustainability amongst the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) and large contractors within the region and globe. The major problem is that most of the SMME contractors within South Africa, which have the potential to grow into large construction companies and, to further internationalise their businesses lacks the global readiness. Thus, the global thrusts have generated the concepts of globalizing business strategy and operations, as one of the drivers of competitiveness of many countries and organisations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of the South African construction SMME /contractor's capability for globalizing within and beyond the SADC construction market. This study was conducted among the construction SMME contractors in Port Elizabeth, the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.  The qualitative research method was adopted an in-depth interviewing technique with 34 contractors (civil engineering and general building contractors) within the cidb grade 4 to 6 contractors. These SMMEs are being perceived to have the potential capacity to become large-scale construction organisations shortly. Findings revealed that only two SMME contractors are operating internationally while other contracting firms are currently sustainable and competitive in the domestic market, and however, few are planning to go global. The study also revealed that most of the SMME contractors are reluctant to amplify their potential capabilities, and needed the readiness to develop international business strategies that would enable them to penetrate and participate in the SADC region and global construction market. The study recommends that the SA construction contractors both SMME and large contractors should strive earnestly to harness their potential capacity towards globalizing their businesses, strategies and operations frameworks that would foster their global competitiveness.  Keywords: Business Strategies, Capability, Globalisation, SMME Contractors, South Africa.

South African corporate ethics codes: establishment and communication

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-396
Author(s):  
Mornay Roberts-Lombard ◽  
Mercy Mpinganjira ◽  
Greg Wood ◽  
Göran Svensson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Corporate Ethics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this study is on the top 500 companies in South Africa (as per the TopCo, 2014 list) that have a code of ethics, to see the current state of development in this area after 20 years of focus by the government and business on making corporate South Africa a more ethical environment, in which to conduct business. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire survey method was used to gather the data and it was directed to the company secretaries of these top 500 companies. Findings Many companies in South Africa have a well-established set of protocols to enact the ethos of their code of ethics, indicating that they are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits to them of having a code. South African companies are, therefore, implementing both a code of ethics and strategies that contribute to creating an ethical corporate culture. Research limitations/implications This study provides an opportunity to further research assessing and comparing other companies in non-Western and emerging economies. Practical implications After 20 years of endeavours by business people and lawmakers to improve the ethical framework of South African business, there is still plenty of work to be done, as so many top companies do not appear to have a code of ethics. Originality/value There have been limited studies in the area of business ethics in South African companies. This study is the first of its kind in the South African context and establishes the current practice 20 years after the King I report.

scholarly journals The alignment between effective people management, business strategy and organisational performance in the banking and insurance sector

2002 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruwayne Kock ◽  
Gert Roodt ◽  
Theo H. Veldsman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Management Effectiveness ◽  
Insurance Sector ◽  
Industry Needs

The aim of the study was to determine the nature of the alignment between people management effectiveness, business strategy and organisational performance within the banking and insurance sector in South Africa. From the field study, it was evident that the majority of the participating companies fell short of people management best practices and were therefore unable to support their business strategies, which were in line with best practices. The organisational performance data was insufficient to determine the nature of the alignment between organisational performance, people management, and business strategy. The South African banking and insurance industry needs to realign their people management component to support the appropriate business strategy and to produce a desired level of organisational performance. Opsomming Die doel van die studie was om die onderlinge verhouding tussen mensbestuursdoeltreffendheid, besigheidstrategie en organisasieresultate binne die Suid-Afrikaanse bank- en versekeringsektor te ondersoek. Diestudie het duidelik gewys dat toonaangewende bestuurspraktyke by die meerderheid van die deelnemende organisasies ontbreek. Die mensbestuur was nie in staat om die besigheidstrategieë te ondersteun nie wat wel met wêreldwye beste praktyke ooreenstem. Inligting oor organisasieresultate was onvoldoende om enige afleiding te maak. Mensbestuur in die Suid-Afrikaanse bank- en versekeringsektor moet met die besigheidstrategie belyn word om die verwagte organisasieresultate te lewer.

Return and volatility spillovers between oil and stock markets in South Africa and Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babajide Fowowe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Stock Markets ◽  
Market Returns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Volatility Spillovers ◽  
Oil Market ◽  
Oil Markets ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine return and volatility spillovers between oil and the stock markets of Nigeria and South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The authors make use of an innovative new methodology of capturing spillovers, which is different from what many existing studies use. The authors employ the measures of return spillovers and volatility spillovers of Diebold and Yilmaz (2009, 2012), referred to as spillover indexes. The spillover index facilitates an assessment of the net contribution of one market in the information transmission mechanism of another market. Findings The empirical results show bi-directional, but weak interdependence between the South African and Nigerian stock markets returns and oil market returns. The results for volatility spillovers show independence of volatilities between Nigeria stock markets and oil markets, while weak bi-directional spillovers were found between South African equity volatilities and oil volatilities. The time-varying total spillover plots for returns and volatilities are broadly similar and show a trend that has been observed in other studies: an increasing trend during the non-crisis period, a burst in the crisis year, a maintained higher level of transmission afterwards. Originality/value Existing studies examining spillovers between oil and stock markets have largely ignored Sub-Saharan African markets. A common feature of existing studies is that they have been conducted for two groups of countries: either European and US markets; or Gulf Cooperation Council markets Thus, this study fills this gap in the literature by examining return and volatility spillovers between oil and the stock markets of Nigeria and South Africa.

Reframing Xenophobia in South Africa as Colour-Blind: The Limits of the Afro Phobia Thesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-444
Author(s):  
Amanuel Isak Tewolde
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Black African ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Online Newspaper ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Realistic Conflict Theory

Many scholars and South African politicians characterize the widespread anti-foreigner sentiment and violence in South Africa as dislike against migrants and refugees of African origin which they named ‘Afro-phobia’. Drawing on online newspaper reports and academic sources, this paper rejects the Afro-phobia thesis and argues that other non-African migrants such as Asians (Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis and Chinese) are also on the receiving end of xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa. I contend that any ‘outsider’ (White, Asian or Black African) who lives and trades in South African townships and informal settlements is scapegoated and attacked. I term this phenomenon ‘colour-blind xenophobia’. By proposing this analytical framework and integrating two theoretical perspectives — proximity-based ‘Realistic Conflict Theory (RCT)’ and Neocosmos’ exclusivist citizenship model — I contend that xenophobia in South Africa targets those who are in close proximity to disadvantaged Black South Africans and who are deemed outsiders (e.g., Asian, African even White residents and traders) and reject arguments that describe xenophobia in South Africa as targeting Black African refugees and migrants.

Region of Birth and Child Mortality among Black Migrants to South Africa: Is there a foreign-born advantage?

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany L Green ◽  
Amos C Peters
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Child Mortality ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Black Immigrants ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Region Of Origin ◽  
Child Deaths

Much of the existing evidence for the healthy immigrant advantage comes from developed countries. We investigate whether an immigrant health advantage exists in South Africa, an important emerging economy.  Using the 2001 South African Census, this study examines differences in child mortality between native-born South African and immigrant blacks.  We find that accounting for region of origin is critical: immigrants from southern Africa are more likely to experience higher lifetime child mortality compared to the native-born population.  Further, immigrants from outside of southern Africa are less likely than both groups to experience child deaths.  Finally, in contrast to patterns observed in developed countries, we detect a strong relationship between schooling and child mortality among black immigrants.

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