The South African government like most governments around the world create public entities to perform functions on its behalf and achieve particular objectives ranging from facilitating investments, delivering services or providing goods and advice. These public entities receive annual funding either whole or in part from the national fiscus and report to parliament through their respective Ministries. In the 2005/6 financial year government funded Umalusi 7, 69 million rands through direct transfer payments from the Department of Education, excluding any indirect payments from other governmental structures. Many public entities, about three hundred and thirty odd or so in South Africa, were promulgated to ensure and improve service delivery to the nation. However, they were not intended to be seen as an extension of their reporting departments. This research work evaluates the effectiveness of Umalusi in the education regulatory system and seeks to find ways to improve public entity effectiveness using the South African Excellence Model (SAEM) as the base tool to measure organisational effectiveness. A brief conclusion to this study is that Umalusi as a public entity, is adequately meeting its intended purpose. This is confirmed through its annual reports having never received a qualified audit since its inception. This research triangulates the results of the South African Excellence Model, the Questionnaire to senior education officials and the Auditors' Reports to confirm that Umalusi is effective as a public entity in the South African regulatory system. / Busniness Management / M.Tech. (Busniness Administration)

The South African government like most governments around the world create public entities to perform functions on its behalf and achieve particular objectives ranging from facilitating investments, delivering services or providing goods and advice. These public entities receive annual funding either whole or in part from the national fiscus and report to parliament through their respective Ministries. In the 2005/6 financial year government funded Umalusi 7, 69 million rands through direct transfer payments from the Department of Education, excluding any indirect payments from other governmental structures. Many public entities, about three hundred and thirty odd or so in South Africa, were promulgated to ensure and improve service delivery to the nation. However, they were not intended to be seen as an extension of their reporting departments. This research work evaluates the effectiveness of Umalusi in the education regulatory system and seeks to find ways to improve public entity effectiveness using the South African Excellence Model (SAEM) as the base tool to measure organisational effectiveness. A brief conclusion to this study is that Umalusi as a public entity, is adequately meeting its intended purpose. This is confirmed through its annual reports having never received a qualified audit since its inception. This research triangulates the results of the South African Excellence Model, the Questionnaire to senior education officials and the Auditors' Reports to confirm that Umalusi is effective as a public entity in the South African regulatory system. / Busniness Management / M.Tech. (Busniness Administration)

Knowledge about the antecedents to and the consequences of innovation is often studied in a fragmented way, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the dynamics that drive organisational performance. The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive model explaining the relationship between leadership style, organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance. The systematic literature review procedure was used to identify, analyse and critically evaluate studies that examined the relationship between leadership style, organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance. Given this information as background a cross-sectional survey design was used to test the relationship between the named variables. Firstly, a measurement model was tested with data collected from 3 180 respondents, representing 52 companies. Secondly, a structural path model was tested, with data collected from 231 employees representing 112 companies. The findings of the systematic literature review revealed that empirical studies that link the four variables are scarce; in the main, combinations of three variables are found. It also revealed that measures of innovation and performance vary vastly, inhibiting the incremental development of a comprehensive empirical body of knowledge. The results of the measurement model substantiated differentiation between leadership styles and the expected positive correlation between both transformational and transactional leadership and innovative behaviour. Furthermore, the results showed that not all components of leadership impacted positively on innovative behaviours. The structural path model showed that a transformational leadership style has a direct impact on the organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance. In contrast, a transactional leadership style had a direct impact on organisational performance, but no relationship was found between transactional leadership style and organisational climate and innovation. This study is important as it provides a unified model of innovation that focuses on both antecedents, as well as the outcomes of innovation, in a more comprehensive manner than any previous study. / Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL / DBL

In following a lean transformation specifically for discrete manufacturing, how and why will the organisational structure be affected? How will the employees deal with this profound change? Lean theory and literature propose that organisations should be restructured according to the value stream of the organisation; what does this imply and how can it be accomplished? The purpose of this study was to determine, from a new perspective, guidelines and theory that could indicate how and why organisational structures and behaviours might change with lean transformation. Two discrete manufacturing organisations in South Africa were purposively sampled for this purpose. A conceptual framework was used at the outset that indicated constructs for the independent lean variables and the dependent organisational structure and behaviour variables. Using a mixed methodology case study and quantitative multiple linear regression approach, hypotheses and propositions for the research were developed. Multiple linear regression was used to test the hypotheses, and case study methodology was applied to analyse and test the qualitative data. Findings confirmed the hypotheses and propositions that a flat structure consisting of business units that support manufacturing cells achieves effective lean transformations in discrete manufacturing organisations. The research revealed the components of an effective lean structure as open constructive leadership, an effective lean champions unit and business units that support linked manufacturing cells. These are led by cell leaders who cultivate supportive behaviours through cross-functional teamwork and through self-directed work teams who run manufacturing cells or flow support functions. / Business Management / D.B.L.

In following a lean transformation specifically for discrete manufacturing, how and why will the organisational structure be affected? How will the employees deal with this profound change? Lean theory and literature propose that organisations should be restructured according to the value stream of the organisation; what does this imply and how can it be accomplished? The purpose of this study was to determine, from a new perspective, guidelines and theory that could indicate how and why organisational structures and behaviours might change with lean transformation. Two discrete manufacturing organisations in South Africa were purposively sampled for this purpose. A conceptual framework was used at the outset that indicated constructs for the independent lean variables and the dependent organisational structure and behaviour variables. Using a mixed methodology case study and quantitative multiple linear regression approach, hypotheses and propositions for the research were developed. Multiple linear regression was used to test the hypotheses, and case study methodology was applied to analyse and test the qualitative data. Findings confirmed the hypotheses and propositions that a flat structure consisting of business units that support manufacturing cells achieves effective lean transformations in discrete manufacturing organisations. The research revealed the components of an effective lean structure as open constructive leadership, an effective lean champions unit and business units that support linked manufacturing cells. These are led by cell leaders who cultivate supportive behaviours through cross-functional teamwork and through self-directed work teams who run manufacturing cells or flow support functions. / Business Management / D.B.L.

As stakeholders start holding companies accountable for the non-financial impacts of their operations, it is increasingly recognised that the parties to whom companies are accountable extends beyond shareholders to include other stakeholders as well. Around the world, companies are responding to stakeholder demands by voluntarily reporting on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. Unscrupulous companies may however, be tempted to use green-wash to make false claims relating to their CSR performance in order to reap the associated benefits. This information risk may be ameliorated through the independent assurance of CSR disclosures, enhancing the confidence of stakeholders in its veracity. Reporting companies usually voluntarily obtain independent assurance on their CSR performance. However, in South Africa, independent CSR assurance is a regulatory requirement for all JSE-listed companies, albeit on an ‘apply or explain’ basis. This thesis, which utilises a mixed methods research approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative components, seeks to identify and understand the characteristics of the emerging independent CSR assurance phenomenon. In this regard, the empirical component of the study was conducted in three phases: in the first phase companies’ CSR disclosures and assurance reports are examined; in the second phase survey responses from companies are reviewed; and in the third phase interviews with CSR assurors are analysed. In this thesis, the extent to which companies provide independent assurance on their CSR disclosures is established; the providers of independent CSR assurance are identified; the reasons that companies select certain CSR assurance providers are explored; the reasons that companies provide independent assurance on their CSR disclosures are determined; the CSR assurance practices of the various CSR assurors are reviewed and compared; and the primary standards and/or frameworks used in CSR assurance engagements are identified. A conclusion is reached that although independent CSR assurance is a de facto mandatory requirement for JSE-listed companies, only 26% of the companies had their CSR disclosures independently assured. Despite its de facto mandatory nature, the study found that South African CSR assurance practices remain largely unregulated, resulting in a diversity of CSR assurors; utilising various assurance approaches, standards and practices. In this thesis, it is argued that these inconsistencies undermine the purpose of CSR assurance and reduce stakeholder confidence. It is accordingly proposed that the identified deficiencies could be addressed through the regulation of CSR reporting and assurance. An oversight/regulatory body should be established to prescribe the competencies that CSR assurors should possess; to develop appropriate CSR assurance engagement standards; and to clearly articulate the scope that CSR assurance engagements should cover; with which all CSR assurors should comply. / Auditing / D. Com. (Auditing)

As stakeholders start holding companies accountable for the non-financial impacts of their operations, it is increasingly recognised that the parties to whom companies are accountable extends beyond shareholders to include other stakeholders as well. Around the world, companies are responding to stakeholder demands by voluntarily reporting on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. Unscrupulous companies may however, be tempted to use green-wash to make false claims relating to their CSR performance in order to reap the associated benefits. This information risk may be ameliorated through the independent assurance of CSR disclosures, enhancing the confidence of stakeholders in its veracity. Reporting companies usually voluntarily obtain independent assurance on their CSR performance. However, in South Africa, independent CSR assurance is a regulatory requirement for all JSE-listed companies, albeit on an ‘apply or explain’ basis. This thesis, which utilises a mixed methods research approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative components, seeks to identify and understand the characteristics of the emerging independent CSR assurance phenomenon. In this regard, the empirical component of the study was conducted in three phases: in the first phase companies’ CSR disclosures and assurance reports are examined; in the second phase survey responses from companies are reviewed; and in the third phase interviews with CSR assurors are analysed. In this thesis, the extent to which companies provide independent assurance on their CSR disclosures is established; the providers of independent CSR assurance are identified; the reasons that companies select certain CSR assurance providers are explored; the reasons that companies provide independent assurance on their CSR disclosures are determined; the CSR assurance practices of the various CSR assurors are reviewed and compared; and the primary standards and/or frameworks used in CSR assurance engagements are identified. A conclusion is reached that although independent CSR assurance is a de facto mandatory requirement for JSE-listed companies, only 26% of the companies had their CSR disclosures independently assured. Despite its de facto mandatory nature, the study found that South African CSR assurance practices remain largely unregulated, resulting in a diversity of CSR assurors; utilising various assurance approaches, standards and practices. In this thesis, it is argued that these inconsistencies undermine the purpose of CSR assurance and reduce stakeholder confidence. It is accordingly proposed that the identified deficiencies could be addressed through the regulation of CSR reporting and assurance. An oversight/regulatory body should be established to prescribe the competencies that CSR assurors should possess; to develop appropriate CSR assurance engagement standards; and to clearly articulate the scope that CSR assurance engagements should cover; with which all CSR assurors should comply. / Auditing / D. Com. (Auditing)