Research has shown that firms within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector are innovating and launching new products to sustain and enhance market share. For innovation to be successfully launched and supported, however, resources – especially financial resources – are required. This research aimed to establish the relationship between market share and new product launches. Do firms achieve higher market share through new product launches, or is it those firms with an already strong market share that are best positioned to undertake and leverage from innovation? The research was designed as a causal study. Data from four sub-categories within the Personal Care sector in South Africa over a period of five years were obtained from Datamonitor. The unit of analysis was firm per market, and descriptive statistics were used to analyse patterns of market share and new product launches as variables per firm. The results indicated that market share precedes new product launches. In all categories, it was the three existing market leaders that were launching new products, and the market share of each was increasing or at least holding stable. Market leaders are driving innovation within FMCG. However the findings also underlined new product development as a key factor in a firm‟s ability to hold or improve market share. The findings of this research contribute to the literature by enhancing understanding of the practice of innovation as a competitive advantage for businesses within FMCG in survival, sector leadership and attainment of strategic goals. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The decision to expand the operational base of the company into developing markets is but one of the many decisions that executives of multinational companies should be considering in today’s age of increased globalisation. As foreign direct investment can provide excellent alternatives to formal development capital, developing economies are increasingly leveraging this option to develop their home economy and industries within it. This research paper investigates the determinants of foreign direct investment by multinational United States based chemical companies into the chemical industries of the world. This offers a potential solution as to what the strategic reasons for this investment may be, as well as determines what the local country can do better to improve its position. The research clusters 26 variables into five cluster groupings that include the value of human capital, level of country infrastructure, industry performance factors, governance indicators and environmental compliance indicators. The variables within the cluster groupings are subjected to a regression analysis with the investment of US multinational companies into worldwide chemical industries as the constant variable. The results yield a model with a R² value for the regression of over 0.8 with six variables considered significant contributors to the model. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Poor project performance creates a dilemma for managers in both the public and private sectors. Much research has been conducted on project success, but the relationship between organisational architecture and project success has not been fully explored. This led to the main research question of the study, which was: How can project success be better explained and understood from the perspective of organisational architecture theory? A literature review was conducted on the nature of projects, the project environment, and how project success can be defined and measured, including a discussion on success criteria and critical success factors. Organisational architecture was broken down into its core components. These components were further categorised into structural, operational or procedural, and behavioural (culture, motivation and leadership) components after which literature within each of these components were analysed and discussed. The study used a positivistic paradigm and collected quantitative data that was statistically analysed. An electronic questionnaire was successfully launched and distributed via an email link, which worked through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) web survey system. This was done within the framework of built environment projects that are typically implemented through partnerships between the public and private sector. A satisfactory response rate was obtained from built environment professionals in South Africa to allow inference of the sample results to the population. The following hypotheses were tested in this study: H1.1: The perception of South African built environment professionals is that there is a significant relationship between organisational structure and project success. H1.2: The perception of South African built environment professionals is that there is a significant relationship between the use and application of traditional operations management tools and techniques and project success. H1.3: The perception of South African built environment professionals is that there is a significant relationship between organisational culture and project success. H1.4: The perception of South African built environment professionals is that there is a significant relationship between motivation and project success. H1.5: The perception of South African built environment professionals is that there is a significant relationship between leadership and project success. An analysis of the survey results revealed that, according to South African built environment professionals, there is an overall significant relationship between organisational architecture and project success. Following an overview of the main findings, an Organisational Architecture – Project Success (OAPS) framework was presented as a recommendation of how to better explain and understand the relationship between organisational architecture and project success.

Effective leadership is one of the most important factors that influence the performance of an organization. Effective leadership together with supervision are similar in terms of their influence on others towards achieving the goals of the organization. Therefore, effective leadership and supervision are principal activities through which organizational goals and objectives are achieved.

Leadership and planning requires more strategic thinkers on all management levels in an organization. Historically, senior management does not effectively identify those leaders that posses the core traits and competencies to adequately influence the corporate culture by way of transformational and visionary leadership styles, so that it is aligned to the long-term strategy. In this research the author first embarked on a theoretical study into leadership and the associated contingency models, which have lead to the emergence of new styles of leadership, such as transformational, situational and visionary leadership. Thereafter, successful strategy planning and implementation was investigated to determine which leadership styles did the literature reveal are more conducive to successfully executing strategy in adaptive and culturally diverse corporate cultures. Thirdly, an empirical study was conducted to ascertain to what extent transformational and transactional leadership practices by South African firms are being adopted, and the amount of emphasis placed on the strategic thinking process between the leadership styles. Lastly, the data was analysed to explain the relationship between transformational and transactional leadership and strategic planning, and to make recommendations based on the research.

M.Comm. (Strategic Management) / Due to dramatic changes in the organisational landscape, organisations have had to review and amend risk management frameworks, processes and principles more regularly. Consequently, organisations now require an approach to risk management that enables the achievement of strategy, objectives and business activities. Risk management has to be implemented with the consideration of both the internal and external business environment on an enterprise-wide basis. The latter should result in a competitive advantage that drives organisational performance and reduces the total cost of risk. A pro-active approach to managing the effects of uncertainty on objectives has become a necessity for remaining competitive in constantly changing business environment. This study investigates the context and ideology through which risk management can be implemented. The purpose of the research was to identify, customize and recommend a sound methodology which can be incorporated in order to implement risk management as a business enabler. By adopting an exploratory approach, the researcher conducted qualitative research, in the form of an in-depth case study, on a multinational financial services organisation. Structured interviews were held with senior individuals in order to gather data regarding the risk management practices of the organisation.

M.B.A. / Newspapers traditionally have had little trouble in producing profits. This is no longer the case and aspects such as the number of newspapers competing with each other for marketplace, have definitely brought in a sense of business to the world of communication. Coupled with ever increasing and very strong competition from both broadcast and new internet media for the same advertising slice, newspapers are slowly realizing that the media-marketplace is very different in the 21s t century. In a changing world, newspapers have to adapt or die. The challenge newspapers of 2002 and beyond face, is to appeal to even more readers and advertisers, to segment those readers better than ever before, to control costs while still investing in new technologies and to compete better with television yet retain the essential characteristics of newspapers. Change in the newspaper business is inevitable and in order to survive, newspapers will have to look more and more towards sound Media Management Principles, including Strategic Media Management, in order to turn newspapers into businesses and ensure survival

M.Com. (Computer auditing) / 1. Overview of Topic This dissertation deals with the question of the computer auditor's involvement in IT (Information Technology) strategic planning. Increasingly, organizations have come to value IT for the competitive or strategic advantage that it can provide in the modern marketplace. IT has thus moved from being an administrative function to being of strategic importance to an organization. The IT strategic plan expresses an organization's beliefs and goals relating to the use of information technology and the use of IT for strategic purposes. The IT strategic plan should ideally support the organizational goals and the principles identified in the organizational strategic plan. 2. Research Problem and Methodology The purpose of this research project is to identify whether a computer auditor should be involved in IT strategy planning. It is contended that the involvement would normally be that of auditing an IT strategy, but could also extend to providing input into the development of such a strategy. This dissertation suggests that the IT strategy is a risk area in the organization and as such should be examined by the computer auditor. In addition, the concept of IT strategy being a key control system within the organization is introduced. A survey of literature is used to justify the above. Based on points gleaned from the literature survey, a suggested guideline for auditing an IT strategy is proposed. 3. Results of the Research Although a comprehensive survey of literature was performed. no indication was found that this topic had been dealt with in the past. The literature survey. however, proved to be of value in defining IT strategy and identifying it's risk areas. In addition, some of the literature did imply that there was scope for the involvement of the computer auditor in IT strategy planning. The literature survey also indicated that the topic of IT strategy was of importance to South African companies. Based on the literature survey it was concluded that, because IT strategy represented a risk area to the organization, the computer auditor should be involved in the audit thereof. The following guidelines were drawn up: one to assist in identifying when an IT strategy should be audited, one to identify control objectives relating to IT strategy and a corresponding audit guideline for each control objective. 4. Conclusion The literature surveyed indicated that there was a definite need for the computer auditor to become involved in the audit of IT strategy. The guideline presented for the audit of an IT strategy should prove to be useful to the computer auditor in identifying when and how an IT strategy should be audited. Investigating the actual involvement of the computer auditor in IT strategic planning was identified as an area for possible future research.

To achieve optimum results business leaders need to focus substantial resources towards developing a long term business strategy. However through a constantly changing business environment, leaders have to continuously review and adapt this strategy to meet new demands and challenges. Regulatory change has a major impact on business, as regulation serves as the convergence touch point between business and government, and this dimension has been identified as the number one contributor to business uncertainty. To meet this challenge business needs foresight and a knowledge of the future in uncertain times best achieved through the undertaking of future studies. There are many methodologies to undertake a future study, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. General morphological analysis was identified as a method which through its specification and design is an ideal candidate through which the complex and uncertain regulatory future could be thoroughly investigated. This studies aims to critically evaluate the robustness and appropriateness of general morphological analysis as an aid in strategic design when dealing with regulation, regulatory change and regulatory uncertain. The methodology was thoroughly evaluated through the undertaking of a general morphological analysis of the airline industry. Through interviews with airline c-suite executives and senior consultants to the industry, dimensions affecting airline future states were identified. Through this process a likely future for the airline industry relating to the regulatory environment was described, specifically highlighting ownership and route access as dimensions of primary impact and uncertainty. This report was presented to the airline executives and consultants who assessed the report to evaluate the methodology. 83% of the executive and consultant feedback found that the report produced using general morphological analysis would be accurate. Further they found that through the process; strong, in-depth and thorough insight was uncovered. Two thirds of the expert respondents stated that they would now consider utilising general morphological analysis in their organisation as a strategy planning tool going forward. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Community colleges spend considerable amount of time and resources on strategic planning. They engage in strategic planning for a variety of reasons ranging from responding to changes in the external environment to increased expectations for accountability from external agencies such as regional accreditation agencies. While there is no shortage of evidence about the involvement of these organizations with strategic planning, very little research exists about the benefits community colleges derive from engaging in strategic planning. This dissertation explores the relationship between strategic planning and perceived institutional benefits in Maryland community colleges. / Ph. D.