This thesis examines the extent to which Uganda s domestic legal framework promotes the right to participation of the Batwa, which is one of the indigenous tribes in the country. This is against the background that of all Uganda s diverse ethnic groups, the Batwa has been the most historically disadvantaged in the country. The main argument in this thesis is that all groups of people, regardless of their origin and status have a right to participate in making decisions that affect them in all public forums. The Batwa s right to participation can be accommodated within the mainstream legal framework including the 1995 Constitution of Uganda. However, compared to other ethnic groups in the country, the Batwa have remained victims to various forms of discrimination. This discrimination is mainly evident in some of the policies, practices and programmes relating to rights such as self-determination and land rights. There is also lack of special protection measures and respect towards the Batwa s socio-economic rights like the right to health, housing and education. Although the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 recognizes the Batwa as one of the ethnic groups in the country, they are not recognized as an indigenous and minority group. The central thrust of the thesis is to generate debate on the enhancement of Batwa s participation and enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by laying emphasis on non-discrimination and equality in participation. The right to participation both in public and private life by the Batwa has been a subject of debate and discussion among several professionals working with indigenous groups in Africa. The Constitution of Uganda 1995 (as amended) and the Local Government Act (Cap. 243) 1997 (as amended) recognize the right to participation by all persons in the affairs of government. However, there has been a challenge of implementation of the laws and policies which promote fair participation of the indigenous people considering the low levels of awareness regarding the right to participate among the Batwa. / Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2016 / Centre for Human Rights / LLD / Unrestricted

A company s main objective is creating shareholder value. International expansion is a strategy employed by companies in pursuit of growth and value creation. South Africa has been characterised by economic growth lower than the rest of Africa and developed countries. This trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Internationalisation becomes imperative for companies seeking growth and value creation. The objective was to investigate the impact of multinationality on value creation of multinational companies from South Africa. Geographic location and the degree of internationalisation were considered. Previous studies focussed on developed country multinationals, while this research study focused on South African multinationals to provide an emerging market perspective. Generalised linear models with fixed effects and t-tests were conducted to measure the effect multinationality, geographic location and degree of multinationality has on the return of shareholders funds and market capitalisation. Market capitalisation demonstrated statistically significant results when tested against multinationality, degree of internationalisation and geographic location. However the effect of geographic location on market capitalisation was negative. Return on shareholders funds had statistically significant results with negative effects when tested against multinationality and exhibited no significance with geographic location of investment and degree of internationalisation. Multinationality, geographic location and the degree of internationalisation do affect company value creation. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / pa2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Career switching represents an important component of employee turnover. The scourge of costs associated with employee turnover traverses geographies, organisations and occupations. Despite variations in reported figures, it is estimated that the total cost associated with employee turnover ranges between 120% and 200% of the annual salary of the employee who leaves depending on the skills, experience and level of the employee in the organisation. Whilst a lot of research has been done on job change, much less has been published on career change. In addition to exploring why professionals switch careers, this study aimed to probe differences between career switchers and non-switchers, define typical profiles for the career switcher and non-switcher, as well as predict the propensity of a professional to switch career given an array of input variables. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / zk2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The growing importance of Credit agency rating in the economic indicators for a country necessitates investigating the impact of various indicators on credit agency ratings. South Africa is a country which has experienced an increase in prolonged, violent and unprotected strike action. This study aimed to determine the impact of this labour relations action on the country s credit ratings over the last 15 years and the consequent related economic factors. Credit rating agencies do not specifically identify strike actions as a key indicator nor do they indicate which indicators dictate the outcome of the ratings granted. Twelve indicators were measured using a quantitative approve of hypothesis and statistical modeling. The study used the interrelated database of The Department of Labour, The PRS Group, Stats SA and studies by Hammer, Kogan, & Lejeune as well as the published indicators of Standard & Poor s, Moodys and Fitch. This study further used the scatter plots and t - tests to determine the relationship between the indicators and strike action. These were correlated using Pearson s correlation theory in order to substantiate the findings of the scatter plot and t test. Strike action was found to have an effect on the ratings granted. Eight of the twelve indicators correlated negatively with ratings of Standard & Poors indicating that if strike action increased ratings would downgrade. Strike action plays a fundament role in the outcome of ratings granted. This is due to the effect strike action has on the driving indicators. Wages lost during strike action has a 99% correlation with the fluctuation of ratings granted. Ratings determining interest rates and the amount of foreign direct investment into South Africa. With the results as indicated, South Africa s government needs to re-evaluate the significance of strike action as a legal for of resolution and the parameters dictating it. Alternative means need to be explored that supports the growth of South Africa for it to transition from a developing country into an advanced economy. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / sn2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms managing and distributing their brands within emerging markets often have to take a dual marketing approach to overcome the various socio-economic, institutional and retailing challenges that exist. This often requires the development of new distribution and brand management methods that are unique to these markets. Given that detailed marketing studies have only recently begun to receive attention, this study will add to the current set of literature, especially within the context of brand and distribution management within emerging markets. To the best of the researcher s knowledge as evidenced by the literature reviewed, this is the first study to empirically address the effect that various retail formats across rural and urban geographies have on branded product availability and price premium. The aim of this study was to establish which individual brands within various product categories are better at managing their availability and price premium across retail format and geography in the South African market. The study was quantitative in nature and descriptive in design, with pricing and availability data being gathered for 37 branded products by way of observational form. 272 retail formats across urban and rural geographies in each of the nine South African provinces made up the sample size. Although branded product availability was generally lacking in informal rural retail channels, the long-standing multi-national brands within the soft drink, cigarette and laundry detergent categories were found to be best at managing their brand and distribution footprints throughout South Africa. The findings also uncovered that counter to most emerging market literature, price premium was higher in formalised modern retailers compared to informal traditional retailers. These findings are further unpacked in the proceeding chapters. The limitations of the study and implications for emerging market literature are also discussed in detail. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / pa2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

This research explores the feasibility of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) as a funding mechanism for preventative social development and intervention programmes in South Africa. Persistent structural inequality in societies compounded by the difficulty of traditional public policies to cope with new economic and social challenges begs the question, how far the third sector can help to meet these challenges and consider taking over from public authorities in some cases. Public services is facing two major challenges; declining productivity and increasing competing needs for public expenditure. This has signaled a paradigm shift for social programmes, social finance and the third sector. SIBs are an innovative outcomes-based financial product to fund government social programmes in which private investors provide upfront capital to the service providers, the third sector, to implement interventions to improve specific, targeted social outcomes based on agreed contracts; expected savings from the intervention should exceed the project cost plus the return to the investors. For future success, think big and act small, it is easier to achieve success this way. A conducive environment is necessary, each sector requiring different conditions to be met, to increase the feasibility or probability of SIB issuance in South Africa. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / vn2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Market timing, market volatility and implied volatility have been well documented for equity markets. Implied volatility indices forecast the volatility expectation of stock index returns over the short term. Market timing and market volatility are closely linked and are used to optimise net investment returns. The South African Volatility Index (SAVI) is an index designed to measure the markets expectation of the three month volatility on the JSE. This study focus on the construction of an optimum market portfolio, taking into account the effects of market timing, market volatility and implied volatility as measured by the SAVI. The effect of transaction costs on a market timing strategy is evaluated. The annual returns of these portfolios are compared to those of a traditional buy and hold strategy for equities and bonds over the same period. A market timing portfolio is identified that outperforms a buy and hold strategy over the long term. Annualised returns of 24.4% have been achieved. The introduction of transaction costs makes this strategy not cost effective, depending on the level of costs. An investment in equities outperformed an investment in bonds for the period under review. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / ms2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The body of literature relating to staff retrenchment announcements is both extensive and broad and covers the impact of staff layoffs from an employee, company and wider society perspective. This paper takes the form of an event study and sets out to investigate whether investors on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), are able to make abnormal returns, 35 days prior to a staff retrenchment announcement, and over a 180 day window, after an announcement has been made. The stock exchange news service (SENS) database was used as a source for all of the retrenchment announcements made over the period 2001 to 2014. All announcements containing confounding events were removed, before a final population of 60 announcements was selected. After stratifying the list of companies by market capitalisation and frequency of announcements, statistical tests were run on the five datasets to test for abnormal returns. The study observed significant abnormal returns on the first day after an announcement (Day 1) in three of the five datasets. Companies with small market capitalisations produced significant abnormal returns 25 to 35 days prior to the announcement, whilst the short-term effects of the announcement were less pronounced in the group of companies that made multiple announcements. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / sn2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Enterprise Development (ED) is a worldwide concept which refers to the development of Enterprises. ED in SA includes the provision of financial and non-financial support to SMEs. The purpose of this research study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the performance of Financial Institution ED in SA as it relates to Impact Investing, the main focus being the funding of SMEs in SA by Financial Institutions. The key to reducing unemployment and poverty globally is through the creation and sustainability of small businesses which require funding to grow and develop. The research scope covers Financial Institution ED Funding in SA which includes Commercial Banks, Development Finance Institutions, Insurance Companies, Fund Managers and Specialist Risk finance companies. Government alone cannot solve social problems and private capital from institutions needs to be playing a bigger role in solving social problems. This research study is exploratory and qualitative in nature. The focus of the study is to obtain in-depth insights from ED funders. Qualitative data was gathered during the research process by interviewing participants from eleven (11) Financial Institution ED Funds in SA. / Mini-disseration (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / nk2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The increase in banking regulation globally is a rising trend and is demanding more time and attention from senior management. The aim of the case study is to analyse and asses the effects of banking sector regulations and corporate governance on the prioritisation of stakeholders by senior management. The role of senior management is to enter into contracts with the owners of the company to act as agents for the organisation. It is then the responsibility of management to establish contracts with various other stakeholders of the organisation. The responsibility of bank management is becoming more complex and senior management have the unenviable task of identifying and prioritising stakeholders based on how they perceive stakeholder salience as described in stakeholder theory. The research attempts to prove that managerial perception of stakeholder salience is affected by the regulatory institutions and the legislation, statutes and regulations that they enact, both internationally and locally. It is therefore critical for management to be aware of rate of change and frequency change in the regulatory environment to ascertain its ongoing effects on stakeholder salience to an organisation. The case study is specifically focussed towards the banking industry, but aims to contribute to understanding the effects of regulation on managerial perception on stakeholder salience which could be accepted in other highly regulated industries. / Mini-disseration (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / nk2016 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted