Competitiveness has been part of central, monetary policy making for over 500 years where regions have aimed to improve competitiveness and productivity by focussing on specific factors. The focus of the research was to identify which factors are most relevant for the African continent on determining competitiveness which will allow policy makers to understand how best to direct their investment with the greatest productivity return. The research methodology was quantitative in nature, based on secondary data from the Global Competitiveness Report over the past five years. The sample included 39 of the 54 African countries which are the countries on which the report collected data from. The unit of analysis was GDP per capita. A multivariate Generalised Linear Model with a log link function and Gamma error structure was built. The results showed that the order of importance for Africa was macroeconomic stability; infrastructure; technological readiness; and market size with the other factors not having a material influence. Building a similar model on all the countries have included two additional factors namely health and primary education as well as higher education and training. This indicates that certain structural factors are more important for countries in the developing phase such as Africa. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

This study considers the predictive power of gender in the perceived job suitability of male and female applicants seeking employment as knowledge workers. Four research questions were generated in order to address the problem statement of identifying if suitability for job fit in the knowledge economy is influenced more by gender or qualification: • Do managers differentiate between the perceived job suitability of male and female potential employees? • Do managers differentiate between the perceived job suitability of less-qualified male and more-qualified female potential employees? • Do managers differentiate between the perceived job suitability of equally morequalified male and female potential employees? • Do managers differentiate between the perceived job suitability of equally lessqualified male and female potential employees? In this simple study, respondents were asked to rank eight candidates’ suitability for a knowledge worker job. The results were collated, cleaned and validated before being subjected to a Wilcoxon matched pairs signed ranks test (for non-parametric variables). The results demonstrated that overall, gender is the better predictor of job suitability, however, the more qualified a candidate is, the less gender can be relied upon as an accurate predictor for job suitability. All the results from this study have been discussed in terms of their suggestions for future research in selection bias in hiring and gender bias. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Recent media reports surrounding the 2010 Soccer World Cup infrastructure, and the fines imposed by the Competition Commission drew the public’s attention to the impact that regulatory fines have on the returns earned by shareholders in these convicted companies. The purpose of the research was to establish if any significant impact on shareholder returns can be identified as a result of regulatory fines. By using event study methodology, the researcher aimed to establish if an impact can be identified at the various stages of the regulatory process. Statistical tests were conducted via the implementation of Monte Carlo Simulations at the various stages of the process, to ensure that the findings were significant. The studies revealed that shareholder returns were neutrally affected at the initiation and payment stages of the process, but that the returns were positively affected at the conviction stage. A style analysis (longitudinal study) was undertaken to determine if a portfolio consisting of stocks of convicted companies would out-perform the market over certain determined timeframes. As a baseline test, a portfolio was constructed of stocks of companies which have never been fined. The results revealed that both portfolios out-performed the market (ALL160) over a 24-year period, but that the portfolio consisting of convicted companies did not out-perform the portfolio of companies which have never been fined. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The effect of advertising efforts on sales is of significant interest for global brands. Recent developments in emerging markets such as South Africa have brought the concept of consumer purchase behaviour in generating sales, under review. New media schedules are required to transition emerging market consumers to purchase products/services through effective marketing media platforms and through consumer brand equity whilst including price sensitivities into the media-mix. This study adds to the current literature by investigating which variables have the most significant influence in promoting and generating sales in emerging markets through the use of various advertising efforts. The primary focus was to establish an optimal marketing media schedule from which advertisers are able to choose a particular marketing media schedule to maximise their respective firms’ sales. This study investigated marketing media platforms, brand perceptions and price sensitivities. These included the influence of internet, television, radio, press and outdoor media platforms, price sensitivities and consumer brand equity in promoting sales within emerging markets. Data to support the relevant influences was gathered through secondary data from Nielsen Holdings N.V. (an American global information and measurement company) and the South African Research Audience Foundation (SAARF). Six washing detergent brands were selected for the study, where a complete data set could be sourced. The most influential variables in determining sales generation was consumer brand equity followed by price sensitivity. This allowed the derivation of a model extension from models identified in previous literature with the derived model including such influential variables by which brands could determine the most favourable marketing mix schedule and thereby allocate budgetary resources where necessary. / Dissertation (MBA) -- University of Pretoria, 2014. / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

There has been a vast amount of research done in the fields of Entrepreneurship and Risk Taking. There is, however, very little literature regarding the relationship between Risk Taking and Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE). This study attempts to understand that relationship whilst exploring the impact of Risk Propensity on Corporate Entrepreneurship with the intention of questioning current CE frameworks. The objective was to establish criteria to increase CE in the business environment. A bespoke questionnaire was sent out to determine both the individual Risk Propensity of the respondents and their perception of CE within their organisation. The elements of the questionnaire were based on well-known instruments available in literature. The variables used to explore the data further were based on the demographic information supplied by the respondents. The main objective of the study was to determine the relationship between Risk Propensity and CE with the secondary objectives looking to explore the variation in both Risk Propensity and CE across the established variables. The findings indicate little or no relationship between Risk Propensity and CE whilst the results from the variable analysis highlight the importance of Organisational Boundaries as a factor of CE. A framework is then proposed synthesising the results of the analysis before concluding with recommendations for future research. / Dissertation (MBA)-University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

One of the key priorities of developing countries governments and policymakers is to improve national welfare and address poverty alleviation. Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are regarded as important external sources of financing economic growth around the world and are a more stable and beneficial capital injection substitute to financial aid in developing countries (Adam, 2009; Özkan-Günay, 2011). More recently, there has been a surge in foreign investments into developing countries as investors seek to diversify their investments in order to receive better returns which have become difficult to attain in the developed countries due to market saturation and the effects of the 2008 global financial crisis. The challenge that developing governments are faced with is how to ensure that the FDI inflows into their countries result in accelerated economic growth. Contemporary literature suggests that one of the reasons why FDI has produced contradictory results in various countries and economies is that FDI in various economic sectors impacts economic growth differently (Madem, Cudla & Rao, 2012). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of sectorial FDI on economic growth in developing countries. Panel data estimation techniques were employed to estimate the impact of various economic sectors on economic growth as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Further, an analysis was performed to estimate whether there is a better form of FDI which is preferable to enhance FDI driven economic growth. The sample data used for this study was for South Africa as convenience sampling technique was employed. The study established that there is statistically significant evidence that sectorial FDI has variable impact on economic growth and as such priority should be directed to investments in economic sectors with the greatest impact on economic development. Further, it was established that greenfield as a form of foreign investment does not have statistically significant impact on economic sectors’ ability to impact economic growth. As such there is no preferred form of FDI to enhance economic growth as measured by GDP. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Amid increased competition associated with globalisation, the South African manufacturing sector has come under increased pressure in recent times, with an associated decline in competitiveness. There has been a strong drive by organisations to invest in innovations in the form of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) in an effort to improve their technological status and performance. While investment in AMTs often has a positive impact on performance, numerous accounts of the AMT not meeting expected benefits have been reported. Inability to effectively extract intended benefits from the AMT is often a result of the complex nature of the process, which requires technological considerations and a strategic approach. The objective of this research was to identify the critical organisational factors that impact AMT implementation and establish the relative importance of the factors to provide a guide to managers implementing AMTs to prepare their organisations for the new technology and extract the intended benefits. The research took the form of a quantitative study guided by a self-developed survey and was carried out on manufacturing organisations operating in South Africa. The survey put forward a set of four critical factors that impact AMT implementation, each defined by a proposed set of sub-factors that were validated as accurate definitions in the research. The research established the importance of the proposed factors in contributing to effective AMT implementation, with top management ability and training and education ranked highest, followed by organisational ability a level below and incentives and rewards occupying the lowest level of importance. The importance of these factors was validated through a correlation established between AMT implementation success and the degree to which the organisational factors are evident within an organisation. Organisational readiness of manufacturing companies in South Africa to effectively implement AMTs was also assessed. AMT Considerations related to the size of the organisation and the type of AMT being implemented are also presented along with a summary of key benefits targeted from AMT implementations. Findings were used to develop a model that presents a guide to highlight areas that need attention within an organisation to assist in the allocation of resources during AMT implementations. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The increased competition in the business environment requires organizations to be innovative and dynamic in order to survive. Entrepreneurial behaviour holds the enabling forces for such innovative and dynamic behaviour and could also become a strategic advantage for an organization. The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of organizational culture on entrepreneurial capital of employees. A quantitative research methodology was followed to collect the research data. The organizational culture of 185 respondent’s organizations was measured with the organizational culture assessment instrument and was classified according to the competing values model. The entrepreneurial intent, a proxy for entrepreneurial capital, of these respondents was measured with the theory of a planned behavior instrument. Sequential multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the relationship between entrepreneurial intent and organizational culture. The results confirm that an organization’s culture indirectly influences entrepreneurial capital through the antecedent of planned behaviour. This research contributes to explaining why certain organizations are more entrepreneurial than others. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The last decade has seen a tremendous shift in global FDI inflows from developed to developing economies which has greatly benefited these countries to gain access to much needed capital to supplement their typical low domestic savings. The major focus of existing research conducted has been on developed countries and limited empirical work has acknowledged the role of infrastructure development in attracting FDI. Major aim of this is to assess the relationship between ICT, power and transport infrastructure and FDI inflows. Furthermore, the relationship between FDI and economic growth is also explored. Panel data analysis using the random effects model was utilised to analyse the abovementioned relationship on a panel of 27 developing economies between 2000- 2013. The developing countries were categorised into different categories based on income levels and mixed results were found across these levels. Unidirectional testing was performed in assessing these relationships. The direction was from infrastructure development to FDI and the latter to economic growth. When combining the developing countries together, the results show a significant and positive relationship between ICT, power and transport infrastructure and FDI inflows. FDI was also found to have a positive and significant relationship with economic growth. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The last decade has seen a tremendous shift in global FDI inflows from developed to developing economies which has greatly benefited these countries to gain access to much needed capital to supplement their typical low domestic savings. The major focus of existing research conducted has been on developed countries and limited empirical work has acknowledged the role of infrastructure development in attracting FDI. Major aim of this is to assess the relationship between ICT, power and transport infrastructure and FDI inflows. Furthermore, the relationship between FDI and economic growth is also explored. Panel data analysis using the random effects model was utilised to analyse the abovementioned relationship on a panel of 27 developing economies between 2000- 2013. The developing countries were categorised into different categories based on income levels and mixed results were found across these levels. Unidirectional testing was performed in assessing these relationships. The direction was from infrastructure development to FDI and the latter to economic growth. When combining the developing countries together, the results show a significant and positive relationship between ICT, power and transport infrastructure and FDI inflows. FDI was also found to have a positive and significant relationship with economic growth. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted