Conducted within the global corporation of the Hewlett-Packard Company, (HP),this research examines employee and contractor responses to strategic implementation. The research environment is a relatively small UK group withinthe corporation that has continuously experienced significant change as new strategies were implemented. Employee and contractor responses to three separate cycles of change are analysed together with data drawn from the wider corporation by using a psychological contract framework, semi-structured interviewing, a research diary and secondary data from the literature and electronic sources. The research is essentially qualitative but draws on quantitative data where appropriate. A case study approach within an action research paradigm is the chosen methodology to allow consideration and triangulation of multiple sources of data relevant to the natural workplace setting. The research has confirmed a change from old or original psychological contracts to new contracts where employees and contractors are more insecure in, and more cynical of, their employment. This change is perceived as a violation of their psychological contract and is causing employees and contractors to adopt a more mercenary approach to their employment with HP. The special bond between HP and its employees generated by the values and egalitarian working environment created by its founders has been broken by new leadership. Acquisition of the Compaq Computer Company has further impacted employees and contractors resulting in declining morale and increasing scepticism about its proposed benefits. Indeed the very legitimacy of the acquisition and the leadership of HP are being questioned as HP changes to a new form. According to the founders, the values established that made HP successful in its first fifty years were expected to continue for at least another fifty years. This research shows how changing these values has collectively impacted employees and contractors resulting in a major threat to the continuing existence of HP in its present form.

M.Com. / For most people the word "creativity" is more applicable to art than to business. In reality one of the highest art forms is, and could be, business. In business the tools with which we are working are extremely dynamic : capital, people, market and ideas. In order to enable people to discover and live up to their creative potential, the company has to establish and maintain an environment which promotes and enhances the creative abilities of its members. Most people have been part of a system, either at school, in their homes or elsewhere, where their creative abilities have not been promoted and supported. This experience background of a person still remains the strongest factor that can either stimulate or discourage creativity ...

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-135). / This research study focuses mainly on the internal environment of land reform in the South African Wine Industry. Therefore it deals specifically with empowerment projects in the South African Wine Industry on producer level. Given the concern as mentioned above the following research question was formulated: How does one increase the leadership and management capabilities of individuals within empowerment projects on the primary producer level in the South African Wine Industry?

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-107). / The environment, in which wine business operate, is the global wine arena. This environment is increasingly complex, competitive and fraught with challenges (Rabobank International, 2003). In addition to managing the changes in supply and demand, the competition is mounting and the challenges are increased by a structural and long-term oversupply that has caused falling prices and margins all round the globe (Rabobank International, 2006). The four recognised and accepted drivers of change for the wine industry are shifting demand; increasing retail power; the increasing impact of brands and increasing competition between wine countries and companies.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-101). / The objective of this dissertation is to understand the critical elements that are needed to ensure the viability of a government funded regional trade promotion organisation. This is done by using the Western Cape Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of the Western Cape (Wesgro) as a case study. The mandate of Wesgro is (a) to attract and facilitate foreign and domestic direct investment into the Western Cape, (b) to grow exports of products and services of the Western Cape through development of export capability, demand and market access, (c) to market the Western Cape as a competitive business destination within the national and international arenas. The mandate aims to contribute to the strengthening of the province and promote equitable participation in the economy by sectors of the community and all regions of the province.

Includes bibliographical references. / A three phase investigation into the utility of wine consumer opinion as a viable source of information to wine consumers in South Africa. The research demonstrates that existing marketing and expert opinion is inappropriately constructed, using paradigms that are overly simplistic or language that is not valued by consumers. The paper further investigates the use of visual representations of wine to communicate the "tasting notes" of consumers, providing a first access trigger which can be quickly and accurately interpreted into an assessable taste for the wine. Lastly it examines the benefits of using consumers to provide narrative reviews of the wine, in whatever terms they choose, to represent the consumption experience of the wine.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The following study project was written by the author in the scope of his MBA Program at the University of Stellenbosch. While the number of articles and books that deal with the theory of real options is extremely large, the use of real options as a valuation tool is not widely accepted in practice. The reason for this obvious discrepancy is the fact that these papers and the models developed therein are highly mathematical and require a thorough knowledge of statistical methods. There are few papers or books that explain the fundamental ideas and basic techniques in such a way that general managers are likely to be convinced that real options valuation is an interesting and valuable tool. The purpose of this study project is to fill this gap, to bring the theory of real options closer to a wider range of people and to make it comprehensible for people who have not studied mathematics or finance. To achieve this aim the study project consists of four parts. Recalling the well-known concept of financial options, the first part explains in detail the basic idea of real options theory. The second part deals with the different existing models that are used to determine the value of real options. However, the focus lies on the comprehensibility of these models and not on the pure mathematical side. In the third and main part of this thesis the different variables that are needed for evaluating real options are discussed and methods to determine realistic values of these variables are explained. Some recommendations will be made as to what one ought to focus on in determining the variables. A valuation with "real" data is discussed in the fourth part. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die werkstuk is in die loop van die outeur se MBA-kursus aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch voltooi. Die aantal bronne en artikels wat betrekking het op die teorie is eindeloos, terwyl die werklike opsies nog nie wyd aanvaar word in die praktyk nie. Die rede vir die ooglopende verskil is die feit dat die artikels wat betrekking het op die teorie en modelle hoogs wiskundig is en 'n deeglike kennis van statistiek vereis. Daar is tans 'n tekort aan artikels en boeke wat die fundamentele idees en basiese tegnieke van reële opsies verduidelik/oordra op so 'n manier dat dit deur algemene bestuurders gebruik kan word. Die doel van die werkstuk is om hierdie probleem te oorkom deur reële opsie valuasies aan 'n wyer gehoor bekend te stel wat nie 'n wiskundige of finansiele agtergrond beskik nie. Om bogenoemde doelwit te bereik, word die werkstuk in vier dele opgedeel. Die eerste deel verduidelik die basiese beginsel van reële opsie teorie in groot detail. Die tweede deeI dek die verskillende modelle wat tans gebruik word om reële opsies te waardeer. Die fokus Iê egter op die verstaanbaarheid van die modelle en nie noodwendig die wiskundige onder bou nie. In die derde en kerndeel van die verhandeling word die verskillende metodes om reële opsies te waardeer, bespreek, asook die maniere om realistiese waardes volgens verskillende metodes te vind. 'n Waardasie met werklike data word in die finale deel aangebied.

Thesis (MBA)-- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The traditional cash flow statement consists of cash from operating activities, cash to investing activities and cash from/to financing activities. In essence, literature showed that, if cash from operating activities would be negative for two successive years, such listed industrial company may be classified as fmancially inflexible, resulting in a take-over by another company, a forced rights-issue or even a delisting/bankruptcy. The traditional cash from operating activities will be classified as EBIT - interest - taxation + depreciation and +/- non-cash items +/- changes in working capital. To enable capital-intensive companies to be classified as financially flexible or inflexible, it was found necessary to identify replacement investment activities as opposed to expansion investment activities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tradisionele kontantvloeistaat bestaan uit kontant uit bedryfsaktiwiteite, kontant aan investeringsaktiwiteite en kontant van/aan finansieringsaktiwiteite. In essensie het die literatuur aangedui dat, as kontant uit bedryfsaktiwiteite van twee agtereenvolgende jare negatief is, sodanige genoteerde industriële maatskappy as finansieel onbuigsaam geklassifiseer kan word en wat kan uitloop op 'n oorname deur 'n ander maatskappy, 'n geforseerde regte-uitgifte of selfs 'n denotering/bankrotskap. Die tradisionele kontant uit bedryfsaktiwiteite sal geklassifiseer word as bedryfswins - rente - belasting + depresiasie en +/- nie-kontantitems +/- veranderinge in bedryfskapitaal. Om kapitaal-intensiewe maatskappye in staat te stel om geklassifiseer te word as finansieel buigsaam of onbuigsaam, is daar bevind dat vervangende investeringsaktiwiteite onderskei moet word van uitbreidings investeringsaktiwiteite.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the last 20-30 years, the adoption of matrix management has become ever increasingly popular especially in organizations developing new products and product lines. As with any new organizational design or structure, problems are experienced. These problems must be managed constructively in order for the organization to realize the design/structure's full potential. When managing problems associated with the matrix design, simple solutions can be sought: • Know what the matrix can do, as well as know its limitations. • Communicate this to all levels of staff in the organization. • Ensure that conflict that arises from a dual command system is dealt with quickly. On the other hand, capitalize on the matrix structure's advantages such as retain more information, multi-skill staff and realize economies of scale. The above are "old" management principles, however very sound. The matrix in itself will not determine the success or the failings of the organization. The responsibility lies with the management team and the maturity level of the organization. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van matriks bestuur, het gedurende die afgelope 2-3 dekades toenemend gewild geraak, veral in ondernemings wat nuwe produkte- of produklyne ontwikkel. Dit is inherent aan nuwe organisatoriese ontwerp of struktuurwysiging dat probleme ondervind word. Hierdie probleme moet konstruktiefbestuur word, sodat die organisasie die volle potensiaal van die nuwe of veranderde ontwerp of struktuur kan benut. Wanneer probleeme aangaande die matriks ontwerp bestuur word, kan eenvoudige oplossings oorweeg word: • Bekom 'n grondige kennis van die vermoëns van die matriks, sowel as die beperkings daarvan. • Verseker dat alle vlakke van personeel in die organisasie ten volle ingelig is. • Pas konflik bestuur tydig toe indien probleme ontstaan ingeval van 'n tweeledige rapportering/opdragstelsel. Kapitaliseer egter op die voordele van matriks bestuur: • Versamel en bestuur verbeterde inligting en inligtingstelsels. • Opleiding van personeel vir meerdoelige take. • Meer ekonomiese aanwending van beskikbare bronne. Bogenoemde is "ou", maar tog bewese en gesonde bestuurspraktyke. Die matriks self, kan nie die sukses of mislukking van 'n organisasie bepaal nie. Hierdie verantwoordlikheid is die taak van die bestuurspan en die vermoënsvlak van die organisasie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations are struggling to cope with the pace of change and the pressure is on for them either to adapt or die. Consequently, project management has become the sought after management process to deal with this unprecedented rate of change and for survival. Why is project management so attractive recently? Is it because of its emphasis on teamwork and multidisciplinary approach? Of course yes. Its holistic approach makes it very useful in unfamiliar and risky projects in which information is either scanty or overwhelming. As the business environment continues to become more chaotic, project management will continue to be the management tool of the 21st Century. The use of matrix organisation has been spreading in the last ten years in response to a number of new needs. It has usually been a compromise between contradictory requirements and particularly between pressures for a responsive and self-contained project or product organisation and the greater efficiency, expertise and the economies of scale of a functional or departmental structure. It has been seen as a way of dealing with greater environmental complexity and as a more democratic alternative to traditional hierarchical structures. This study project focuses on matrix management as a structuring tool for organisations in this century. The literature study is conducted within the field of project management although matrix management can fall in other fields of organisational development or strategic management. A guide to successful matrix management in organisations with specific reference to project management is examined by addressing questions like, why matrix management is important for project management? What are the obstacles in organisations to the application of matrix management? What are the rules and guidelines to make matrix management successful in organisations? These and other questions on this subject are answered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies sukkel om tred te hou met die vinnige tempo van verandering. Daar is voortdurend meer druk op organisasies om aan te pas ten einde te oorleef. Om hierdie ongekende druk op verandering en oorlewing te verwerk, het projekbestuur 'n gesogte bestuursproses geword. Is dit omdat projekbestuur klem lê op spanwerk en multi-dissiplinêre benadering? Die antwoord is vanselfsprekend ja. Die holistiese benadering van projekbestuur maak dit toepaslik in ongewone en riskante projekte waar informasie kan wissel tussen uiters skaars of oorweldigend baie. Soos wat die sake-omgewing meer chaoties word, behoort projekbestuur sy status as die bestuurstegniek van die 21 ste eeu voort te sit. Die aanwending van die matriksorganisasie het in die laaste tien jaar, in antwoord of verskeie nuwe behoeftes, uitgebrei. Die organisasie-tipe is normaalweg 'n kompromis tussen teenstrydige vereistes, en in besonder tussen die druk vir 'n lewenskragtige en selfonderhoudende projek- of produkorganisasie, en die groter doeltreffendheid, kundigheid, en ekonomieë van skaal van 'n funksionele of departementele struktuur. Die word gesien as 'n manier om met meer komplekse omgewings oor die weg te kom, en ook as 'n meer demokratiese alternatief tot die klassieke hierargiese struktuur. Hierdie studie-projek fokus op matrikbestuur as 'n tegniek van die organisasie-ontwerp vir hierdie nuwe eeu. Die literatuurstudie word beperk tot die veld van projekbestuur, alhoewel daar ook in ander studievelde van organisasie-ontwikkeling of strategiese bestuur aandag aan matrikbestuur gegee word. 'n Riglyn vir suksesvolle matriksbestuur in organisasies, met spesifieke verwysing na projekbestuur, word ondersoek deur seker pertinente vrae te vra. Waarom is matriksbestuur belangrik vir projekbestuur? Watter struikelblokke is daar in organisasies met betrekking tot die toepassing van matriksbestuur? Wat is die reëls en riglyne vir die suksessvolle aanwending van matriksbestuur in organisasies? Antwoorde op hierdie, en ander soortgelyke vrae rondom die onderwerp, word met hierdie studie verskaf.