scholarly journals Corporate culture: The perceptions of personnel managers in South Africa

1987 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-242
Author(s):  
J. Viljoen
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Culture Strength ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Managerial Employees

In this paper some core dimensions along which corporate culture can be analysed are identified. It is argued that, for large scale studies of corporate culture, personnel managers are the most appropriate sampling base. Using a mailed questionnaire a sample of 199 South African companies was surveyed in order to isolate their cultural attributes as perceived by the personnel manager. The research findings revealed: (i) a strong association between strategic management style and perceived culture strength; (ii) greater perceived performance potential and better labour relations amongst strong culture companies, and (iii) significant differences in perceived culture strength between managerial and non-managerial employees. The implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals The applicability of the 'Japanese management style', to the South African context: Preliminary Research

1983 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 131-139
Author(s):  
Linda Human ◽  
Leonie Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Management Style ◽  
South African Context ◽  
The South ◽  
Japanese Management ◽  
Cultural Heterogeneity ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
African Context ◽  
Research Questions

This introductory study of the applicability of the 'Japanese management style' to the South African context highlights a number of important issues relating to the study of Japanese economic progress and to the applicability of 'Japanese management methods to other contexts. It also questions the often-held assumption that the so-called 'Japanese methods' are so very different from those employed in the West.This article subsequently takes a look at the core workforce in Japan in relation to some research findings with regard to certain South African companies within which quality control circles are in use or are planned for the future. In so doing, it highlights certain problems relating not only to the delimitation of the 'Japanese' style but also its applicability to a context of cultural heterogeneity. In other words, this research questions the extent to which techniques of management which have proved successful in a relatively stable, equal, homogeneous and educated culture can be applied in a culturally and educationally heterogeneous society in which one particular group dominates the remainder.

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 Empirical Study on the Obstacles to the Success of Joint Ventures in Construction Projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Chen Lu ◽  
Zhiwei Yu ◽  
Xuetong Wang ◽  
Yuming Hong
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Joint Ventures ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Joint Venture ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Construction Joint ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Research Findings

As an effective way of completing technically complex buildings or large-scale infrastructure projects, a joint venture contracting approach has recently been widely used in the construction industry. However, numerous unfavorable results can occur in practice when undertaking construction joint ventures (CJVs). The contribution of this paper is its exploration of the potential obstacles to CJV practices and identification of the root causes of failure. First, through a literature review, semistructured interviews, and a questionnaire survey, seventeen variables were identified; the top three obstacle variables were (1) inconsistent management styles, (2) incompatible organizational cultures, and (3) organizational policy differences. Second, four grouped factors were extracted: (1) unfair and noneffective management; (2) lack of communication, understanding, and mutual trust; (3) policy, management style, and organizational cultural differences; and (4) potential conflicts beyond the CJV partnership. Finally, several strategies were proposed. The research findings could not only contribute to knowledge of CJVs but also provide valuable insights into promoting broader, better applications of CJV projects and contributing to their success.

Reading for pleasure : the influence of reading clubs in selected Bahananwa Limpopo primary schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-155
Author(s):  
Kgomotlokoa Linda Thaba-Nkadimene ◽  
Maletšema Ruth Emsley
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Cultural Theory ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Reading For Pleasure ◽  
Theory Of Reading ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
African Youth ◽  
Reading Clubs

The challenges of reading experienced by learners exerts a negative impact on reading for pleasure, and learners' outcomes. In an attempt to address such reading challenges, Reading Clubs were launched to promote reading for pleasure among South African youth. This study examines the influence of Reading Clubs on learners' attitudes to Reading for Pleasure and the outcomes thereof. The study was informed by the Top-Down Model of Reading and the Cultural Theory of reading for pleasure. Interviews were conducted in five purposively selected schools with five Sparker coaches and five teachers. The research findings reveal a positive influence of Reading Clubs on reading for pleasure and learners' outcomes. This is reflected through improved levels of reading for pleasure. This study ultimately recommends that schools learn from best practices of Reading Clubs, and that government strive to make Reading Clubs a sustainable project.

scholarly journals Risk Assessment of Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects—Assumptions and Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Jana Korytárová ◽  
Vít Hromádka
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Statistical Characteristics ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Individual Risk Factors

This article deals with the partial outputs of large-scale infrastructure project risk assessment, specifically in the field of road and motorway construction. The Department of Transport spends a large amount of funds on project preparation and implementation, which however, must be allocated effectively, and with knowledge of the risks that may accompany them. Therefore, documentation for decision-making on project financing also includes their analysis. This article monitors the frequency of occurrence of individual risk factors within the qualitative risk analysis, with the support of the national risk register, and identifies dependent variables that represent part of the economic cash flows for determining project economic efficiency. At the same time, it compares these dependent variables identified by sensitivity analysis with critical variables, followed by testing the interaction of the critical variables’ effect on the project efficiency using the Monte Carlo method. A partial section of the research was focused on the analysis of the probability distribution of input variables, especially “the investment costs” and “time savings of infrastructure users” variables. The research findings conclude that it is necessary to pay attention to the setting of statistical characteristics of variables entering the economic efficiency indicator calculations, as the decision of whether or not to accept projects for funding is based on them.

scholarly journals Whole-genome sequence data suggests environmental adaptation of Ethiopian sheep populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Wiener ◽  
Christelle Robert ◽  
Abulgasim Ahbara ◽  
Mazdak Salavati ◽  
Ayele Abebe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Environmental Adaptation ◽  
Whole Genome Sequence ◽  
Single Nucleotide Variants ◽  
High Altitude Adaptation ◽  
Altitude Adaptation

Abstract Great progress has been made over recent years in the identification of selection signatures in the genomes of livestock species. This work has primarily been carried out in commercial breeds for which the dominant selection pressures, are associated with artificial selection. As agriculture and food security are likely to be strongly affected by climate change, a better understanding of environment-imposed selection on agricultural species is warranted. Ethiopia is an ideal setting to investigate environmental adaptation in livestock due to its wide variation in geo-climatic characteristics and the extensive genetic and phenotypic variation of its livestock. Here, we identified over three million single nucleotide variants across 12 Ethiopian sheep populations and applied landscape genomics approaches to investigate the association between these variants and environmental variables. Our results suggest that environmental adaptation for precipitation-related variables is stronger than that related to altitude or temperature, consistent with large-scale meta-analyses of selection pressure across species. The set of genes showing association with environmental variables was enriched for genes highly expressed in human blood and nerve tissues. There was also evidence of enrichment for genes associated with high-altitude adaptation although no strong association was identified with hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF) genes. One of the strongest altitude-related signals was for a collagen gene, consistent with previous studies of high-altitude adaptation. Several altitude-associated genes also showed evidence of adaptation with temperature, suggesting a relationship between responses to these environmental factors. These results provide a foundation to investigate further the effects of climatic variables on small ruminant populations.

Language and the geopolitics of (dis)location: A study of Zimbabwean Shona and Ndebele speakers in Johannesburg

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gugulethu Siziba ◽  
Lloyd Hill
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Migration Literature ◽  
African Migrants ◽  
Social Positioning ◽  
Language And Ethnicity ◽  
The City

AbstractThe Zimbabwean diaspora is a well-documented phenomenon. While much research has been done on Zimbabwean migration to South Africa, the role that language plays in this process has not been well researched. This article draws on South African census data and qualitative fieldwork data to explore the manner in which Zimbabwean migrants use languages to appropriate spaces for themselves in the City of Johannesburg. The census data shows that African migrants tend to concentrate in the Johannesburg CBD, and fieldwork in this area reveals that Zimbabwean migrants are particularly well established in two suburbs—Yeoville and Hillbrow. The article explores migrant language repertoires, which include English, Shona, Ndebele, and a variant of Zulu. While many contributions to the migration literature tend to assume a strong association between language and ethnicity, the article shows how this relationship is mediated by geographic location and social positioning within the city. (Language, migration, Johannesburg, South Africa, Zimbabwe)*

Navigeren in het onderzoeksveld en het onderzoekersveld: reflecties op onderzoekspositionaliteit in (vermeend) insideronderzoek

KWALON ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
Jing Hiah
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Insider Research ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Navigating the research and researchers’ field: Reflections on positionality in (assumed) insider research To challenge rigid ideas about objectivity in social science research, qualitative researchers question their own subjectivity in the research process. In such endeavors, the focus is mainly on the positionality of the researcher vis-à-vis their respondents in the research field. In this contribution, I argue that the positionality of the researcher in academia, what I refer to as the researchers’ field, is equally important as it influences the way research findings are received and evaluated. Through reflections on positionality in my insider research concerning labour relations and exploitation in Chinese migrant businesses in the Netherlands and Romania, I explore how my positionality as an insider negatively influenced my credibility and approachability in the researchers’ field. I conclude that it is necessary to pay more attention to researchers’ positionality in academia as it may shed light on and make it possible to discuss the written and unwritten standards of researchers’ credibility and approachability as an academic in the researchers’ field. Accordingly, this could provide insights into the causes of inequalities in academia and contribute to the current challenge for more diversity in academia.

scholarly journals A first step towards service-dominant logic as a new approach to overcome challenges in business intelligence

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-231
Author(s):  
Pamela Clavier ◽  
Hugo Lotriet ◽  
Johan Van Loggerenberg
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Intelligence ◽  
New Approach ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Dominant Logic ◽  
Interpretive Case Study ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Banking Institution

High expectations are set for Business Intelligence (BI), yet it fails to consistently deliver accordingly: there are numerous reports of BI challenges and failures. Existing approaches to address BI challenges are largely found to be ineffective, highlighting the need for a new approach. This paper examines how BI is perceived or understood and establishes that, firstly, BI is inherently grounded in Goods-Dominant (G-D) logic and secondly, that this can be linked to the challenges that are experienced within BI. A recommendation is made for a shift to Service-Dominant (S-D) logic as a new avenue of exploration to assist in overcoming BI’s prevailing challenges. Identifying the inherent G-D logic in BI provides the first step necessary in making this shift. Research findings are based on an interpretive case study of a South African Banking institution as well as a literature review.

scholarly journals Quantification of water purification in South African palmiet wetlands

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 1199-1207
Author(s):  
Alanna J. Rebelo ◽  
Willem-Jan Emsens ◽  
Karen J. Esler ◽  
Patrick Meire
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Valley Bottom ◽  
Major Cations ◽  
Dissolved Silicon ◽  
Wetland Processes

Abstract Despite the importance of water purification to society, it is one of the more difficult wetland ecosystem services to quantify. It remains an issue in ecosystem service assessments where rapid estimates are needed, and poor-quality indicators are overused. We attempted to quantify the water purification service of South African palmiet wetlands (valley-bottom peatlands highly threatened by agriculture). First, we used an instantaneous catchment-scale mass balance sampling approach, which compared the fate of various water quality parameters over degraded and pristine sections of palmiet wetlands. We found that pristine palmiet wetlands acted as a sink for water, major cations, anions, dissolved silicon and nutrients, though there was relatively high variation in these trends. There are important limitations to this catchment-scale approach, including the fact that at this large scale there are multiple mechanisms (internal wetland processes as well as external inputs) at work that are impossible to untangle with limited data. Therefore, secondly, we performed a small field-scale field survey of a wetland fragment to corroborate the catchment-scale results. There was a reasonable level of agreement between the results of the two techniques. We conclude that it appears possible to estimate the water purification function of these valley-bottom wetlands using this catchment-scale approach.

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