Thesis (D. Tech)--Central University of Technology, Free State, 2008 / The global, one-world economy has arrived and South Africa is part of it. Business needs to understand the challenge of global competitiveness. This study reflected the prominence of managing diversity in establishing service excellence and performance management for professionals in the mediumsize chicken breeder/broiler industry in South Africa, following the increased importance of the breeder/broiler industry in providing an affordable nutriment/commodity to the poor and needy South African population. The ongoing variables in the political, social, cultural and technology domains in South Africa also affect the chicken breeder/broiler industry. It necessitates the scientific evaluation of the effect of the external political and socio-political environment; internal training and development, leadership styles, literacy levels, employment equity, resistance to change, reverse discrimination and cultural diversity on service excellence and performance. Country Bird (Pty) Ltd., a significant role-player in the food production industry, was thus selected as the object of this study. The role of management and the workers was examined to determine the level of impact in attaining service excellence and organisational performance. Attention was also focused on the development of a service excellence and organisational performance management model that can be used in the chicken breeder/broiler industry to improve organisational performance and sustainable profits.

This research study is qualitative exploratory in nature, trying to gain insight into integrated communication at Eskom. The study presents the methodology of the investigation, the analysis of the data, the findings as well as the conclusion and recommendations. Data collection techniques include an online self-administered questionnaire, structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and content analysis of the organisations’ publications. The population selected consists of Eskom communication managers and professionals, human resources personnel and project managers to establish the extent to which integrated communication is practised within Eskom. Finally, the research findings are discussed and further recommendations proposed. The findings show that Eskom communication is predominantly top-down with the divisions still working in silos. Furthermore, a measuring instrument developed to evaluate the extent of integrated communication as proposed by Du Plessis and Scoonraad in Barker and Angelopulo (2006) were found to be applicable to the Eskom situation. / Communication Science / M.A. (Specialisation in Organisational Communication Research and Practice)

This study identifies the need for intercultural business communication competence and contends that a course in this field is of particular relevance to South African organisations. The aim of this study is to identify, through needs analysis, the specific intercultural business communication requirements of lscor managers with regard to Japan. The requirements are identified in such a way that they may be used as the criteria for an intercultural business communication course. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in the study. The results of the research indicate that managers generally lack knowledge of various communication aspects relating to Japan. Participants also indicated a high degree of culture shock in terms of specific intercultural factors. The findings of the study form the content topics around which a course in intercultural business communication may be developed. The relative value of the topics to specific managers is also identified. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

Thesis (MPhil (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This study investigates the role of that which the style concept people‐orientation plays with regard to image formation and image projection in documentation, with specific reference to the Stellenbosch University’s registration forms. The goal of this study was firstly to determine how the concept people‐orientation could be operationalized within this specific case study. Regarding image formation and image projection, the researcher aimed to determine (a) what students’ current image of the University Stellenbosch is, (b) if students regard peopleorientation as an important style aspect within communication and (c) if the presence or absence of people‐orientation has an effect on the image of an institution. The Integrated Model for Image Formation and Projection (IFP‐model), whereupon this study is based, suggests that different messages in a document can have an effect on the image of an institution. These messages can however be manipulated in order to determine or adjust the image of an institution. In reference to this, this study investigated the effects of a presence or lack of people‐orientation as an aspect of style in communication. The researcher defines people‐orientation as a concept that bears reference to those aspects which directly or indirectly writes the human role player (including the writer and the reader) into the text. In other words, it refers to communication that puts the role of the person in the foreground of the communication situation. The concept of people‐orientation is however very complex in the sense that it can be created by a number of document design aspects. Thus the best way to test people‐orientation was to identify a number of operationalizeable design aspects. The researcher selected five style aspects which at core has relevance to people‐orientation. These five aspects were forms of address, reference to self, the use of passive or active voice, the use of politeness and empathy markers and the use of graphical illustration, which for the purpose of this study also classifies as a stylistic signal. Thirty‐two respondents from the Humaniora faculties were selected to participate in this study. Although the faculty of Economical and Management Sciences and the Faculty of Law traditionally fall under this division, only the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education were used. Gender and race were incorporated as independent variables of this study. Respondents’ attitudes were tested using interviews as the primary methodology, aided by informal questionnaires as secondary methodology. Questionnaire results were however not processed by use of the traditional statistical methods, mainly because the sample of the study was too small. These results were only functional as a basis from which tendencies could be identified. Interview results had a very multi‐dimensional quality and the researcher therefore decided that it would be best to discuss these results in a thematic order rather than listing responses in tables. The results clearly demonstrate that students have a preference for forms which contain people‐orientation and that they dislike forms which lack people‐orientation. Their responses indicate that style aspects which promote people‐orientation have a relative to high probability to positively effect an institution’s image . Thus, Afrikaans‐speaking students from the Humanioria‐faculties regard people‐orientation as an important component in the management of effective communication, especially that of a positive image.

This research study is qualitative exploratory in nature, trying to gain insight into integrated communication at Eskom. The study presents the methodology of the investigation, the analysis of the data, the findings as well as the conclusion and recommendations. Data collection techniques include an online self-administered questionnaire, structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and content analysis of the organisations’ publications. The population selected consists of Eskom communication managers and professionals, human resources personnel and project managers to establish the extent to which integrated communication is practised within Eskom. Finally, the research findings are discussed and further recommendations proposed. The findings show that Eskom communication is predominantly top-down with the divisions still working in silos. Furthermore, a measuring instrument developed to evaluate the extent of integrated communication as proposed by Du Plessis and Scoonraad in Barker and Angelopulo (2006) were found to be applicable to the Eskom situation. / Communication Science / M.A. (Specialisation in Organisational Communication Research and Practice)

The thesis analyzes the interpreter's role in overcoming the cultural barrier between Czechs and Chinese. It focuses on interaction in business settings. The topic has not yet been sufficiently explored, so the first part aims to give a comprehensive overview of relevant literature. First, the role of the interpreter in liaison interpreting is discussed, followed by a systematic comparison of the Czech and Chinese cultures. The overview covers a whole range of cultural differences that can potentially create a barrier in intercultural communication. The second part is a research in interpreter's strategies of overcoming that barrier. The data is acquired via interviews with experienced interpreters. Having analyzed this data, the thesis concludes with taxonomy of factors, which influence how active a role the interpreter plays in the interaction, and of activities that make up the role of an interpreter as intercultural mediator.

Global society is threatened by many social and ecological challenges, together they form a complex environment defined in this thesis as the sustainability challenge. Organizations have a major impact on this challenge, with business strategy being the leverage point. This thesis identifies the gaps and recommendations to address those gaps to strategically move organizations towards reaching a sustainable society. The <IR> Framework by the IIRC is a reporting structure and method that includes sustainability elements within a business orientated context. Through 20 interviews, report comparison and system analysis we have generated the results. These highlight gaps with regards to planetary limits and lack of directing organizations towards sustainability. Based on the findings we conclude that <IR>can be a steppingstone by introducing organizations to sustainability elements within business language. However, <IR> cannot be used as a standalone tool to reach a sustainable society. <IR> does assist and succeed in making organizations more strategic, which prepares them to move to sustainability. Overall, organizations acquire a broader perception and understanding regarding non-financials. Recommendations include integrating systems thinking, formulating ‘success’ and back casting from it to strategically prioritize actions; also referring to other tools and concepts that can assist in niche areas within <IR>.

As social media platforms are increasingly becoming more popular and a part of everyday life, Business-to-Business (B2B) marketers from different industries are realizing social media’s potential for achieving marketing purposes. However, scientific literature regarding social media usage in B2B contexts is still filled with gaps in knowledge; especially when compared to literature about social media usage in Business-to-Customer (B2C) contexts. One of these research gaps is the lack of niched information about each effect of using social media. This paper aims at contributing to filling this research gap by presenting an extensive literature review about social media marketing in B2B; followed by an analysis of empirical data gathered from 11 different cases of B2B companies engaged in social media marketing. Moreover, this is to answer the research questions; how are B2B companies using social media to increase brand awareness? Which types of content inspire the most customer engagement? And how can B2B companies amplify their chances of succeeding in increasing brand awareness through social media? This paper will further contribute to this research topic, by identifying further research gaps and present suggestions for future research.

Analisa o contexto em que se inserem os grupos de teatro e seus públicos, suas características específicas e de que forma ações de Comunicação e de Relações Públicas podem provocar e influenciar o relacionamento entre ambos. A partir principalmente de produtos e projetos de memória de grupos de teatro, é possível identificar os potenciais de comunicação que contribuem para a formação e fortalecimento da imagem institucional desses grupos. Embora seja um paradoxo trabalhar a perpetuidade de uma arte cuja natureza é efêmera, encontramos no Grupo Galpão uma série de ações, projetos e produtos que demonstram que é possível, por meio de um projeto consistente, valorizar a imagem e reputação de grupos de teatro. / This study seeks to analyse the context of theater groups and their publics/audiences, their specifities and how Communication and Public Relations actions can cause and influence their relationship. Based primarily on memory products and projects of theater groups, it is possible to identify the potential of communication that contributes to the formation and strengthening of the institutional image of these groups. Although working the perpetuity of an art whose nature is ephemeral seems to be a paradox, the Galpão Theater Group keeps a set of actions, projects and products which show us that it is possible to enhance the image and reputation of a theater group by means of a consistent project.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences. / Department of Communication