The focus of this study was to investigate the perception of employees on environmental performance within a corporate company. In this instance Absa Bank Limited was the organisation under investigation referring directly to the banks impact on the environment. A literature study was conducted to establish an awareness of all related terms and subjects to environmental performance. Further a specific focus on Absa Bank Limited?s environmental impact and the policies and procedures set out by this organisation was researched and discussed. An empirical study was conducted by means of a self completion questionnaire administered by a random sample of employees working for Absa Bank Limited. Quantitative research that was conducted by means of questionnaires were distributed through the Absa Bank Limited Group to 200 employees in the Gauteng and North West Province and distributed through different departments and management levels. 52 usable questionnaires were gathered out of the abovementioned areas. Cronbach Alpha coefficient values were used to determine the internal consistency amongst items in the research instrument. The research instrument used in this study to assess perception of employees on the environmental performance within Absa Bank Limited had acceptable reliability, since not one of the constructs had a lower Cronbach Alpha coefficient than 0.7. The correlation between the demographical variables and the seven constructs were examined by independent t–tests and effect sizes. The demographical factors used were the gender classification of respondents, number of years employed by Absa Bank Limited and the management level of the respondents. In all instances the effect sizes were too small to be of any practical significance since none of the effect sizes had a large effect (d–value = 0.8). Recommendations and practical ways in which environmental performance could be enhanced and maintained in Absa Bank Limited were discussed. It was also reccomended that systems and procedures should be revisited and adapted to ensure adherence to the requirements of environmental performance. The report concluded by addressing the achievement of all the objectives, and by recommending possible future research that could be undertaken based on this study. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The focus of this study was to investigate the perception of employees on environmental performance within a corporate company. In this instance Absa Bank Limited was the organisation under investigation referring directly to the banks impact on the environment. A literature study was conducted to establish an awareness of all related terms and subjects to environmental performance. Further a specific focus on Absa Bank Limited?s environmental impact and the policies and procedures set out by this organisation was researched and discussed. An empirical study was conducted by means of a self completion questionnaire administered by a random sample of employees working for Absa Bank Limited. Quantitative research that was conducted by means of questionnaires were distributed through the Absa Bank Limited Group to 200 employees in the Gauteng and North West Province and distributed through different departments and management levels. 52 usable questionnaires were gathered out of the abovementioned areas. Cronbach Alpha coefficient values were used to determine the internal consistency amongst items in the research instrument. The research instrument used in this study to assess perception of employees on the environmental performance within Absa Bank Limited had acceptable reliability, since not one of the constructs had a lower Cronbach Alpha coefficient than 0.7. The correlation between the demographical variables and the seven constructs were examined by independent t–tests and effect sizes. The demographical factors used were the gender classification of respondents, number of years employed by Absa Bank Limited and the management level of the respondents. In all instances the effect sizes were too small to be of any practical significance since none of the effect sizes had a large effect (d–value = 0.8). Recommendations and practical ways in which environmental performance could be enhanced and maintained in Absa Bank Limited were discussed. It was also reccomended that systems and procedures should be revisited and adapted to ensure adherence to the requirements of environmental performance. The report concluded by addressing the achievement of all the objectives, and by recommending possible future research that could be undertaken based on this study. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the social impact of arts festivals with reference to the ABSA KKNK. This goal was achieved by firstly analysing the social impact phenomena and the role thereof in events tourism. Secondly, a literature study was conducted in order to examine events as tourism products. Thirdly the results of the empirical research were discussed. Lastly conclusions were drawn from the research and recommendations were made with regard to the social impact of events as well as further research. From the literature, social impact was defined as the changes in the norms and values of society that are more apparent in the short-term. It was noted that when tourists vacate to a specific destination, visible impacts are noticed. Events can however provide employment opportunities, promote international peace and pride, as well as promote educational and cultural experiences but it can also lead to increased levels of irritation, crime, drug and alcohol abuse and cultural change. These positive and negative impacts were measured in the questionnaire, as adapted from Fredline and it was therefore the objective of the questionnaire to measure whether the community is positive or negative towards the festival, and whether there were any differences in the social impact when comparing the results of 2006 and 2007. The questionnaires were distributed in the community of Oudtshoorn based on a stratified sampling method followed by a random sampling method. A total of 444 questionnaires were completed, 179 in 2006 and 265 in 2007. On a positive note respondents agreed on the following aspects in 2006 and 2007: the public money spent on the ABSA KKNK would be better spent on other things, media coverage of the ABSA KKNK promotes development in Oudtshoorn and the basic skill base for event management in Oudtshoorn has increased. On a negative note respondents agreed on the following aspects in 2006 and 2007: ordinary residents get no say in the planning and management of the festival and traffic congestion is a problem. The positive impact has increased from 2006 to 2007. Two factor analyses were performed to determine the social impact factors in order to determine differences in the social impact of 2006 and 2007. The first analysis resulted in nine factors which accounted for 56.85% of the total variance and were labeled as: community issues, damage to the environment, community activities, local business and community opportunities, pricing, public facilities, traffic, disturbances and visitors. The second analysis resulted in three factors that accounted for 44.22% of the total variance and were labelled according to similar characteristics which included: community opportunities, community problems and community image. Means and standards deviations were determined after which the effect sizes were determined to explore the differences between the social impact for 2006 and 2007 on the dimensions of the various factors as determined in the factor analysis. It is clear that a small effect (0.2-0.4) exists between 2006 and 2007 concerning local business opportunities (0.25), pricing of goods (0.24), community activities (0.35), public facilities (0.39) and community activities (0.48). There were therefore no huge differences in the social impact between 2006 and 2007. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

M.A. / The purpose of the mini-dissertation is to investigate the implementation of the language policies of financial institutions. These institutions are ABSA and NEDCOR. The research was conducted against the backdrop of the 1996 Constitution. Despite the constitutional recognition of eleven official languages, the use of official languages is only enforced in national, provincial and local government institutions. The task of promoting functional multilingualism in the private sector has fallen to PANSALB. However, English is being used overwhelmingly, especially in business. Unfortunately only 25% of speakers of indigenous languages speak English well enough to actively partake in the economy. Scant research exists regarding language preferences of clients of financial institutions. Banks claim their research shows English as the preferred banking language. They are therefore reluctant to implement indigenous languages ABSA and NEDCOR were chosen for the study and research was conducted at selected branches of ABSA, Nedbank and People’s Bank. Both quantitative and qualitative research was employed and managers, ground staff and clients were included in the study. Information was gathered over a period of eighteen months, starting from February 2003. Two hypotheses were tested: a) A discrepancy exists between the theoretical and practical implementation of the language policies of financial institutions; and b) A discrepancy exists in the language behaviour of people with different educational levels. During the empirical part of the study qualitative interviews were held with representatives of ABSA and NEDCOR who deal with the language policies of their respective banks. The sentiment is expressed in each case that the bank knows that its organic growth lies in the so-called “unbanked” sector of the market, which translates into the speakers of indigenous languages. The official/unofficial policies state that there is no discrimination against any language, but that in the case of services not being available in a specific language, English will be used. The argument used for the fact that there are few services available in indigenous languages is the lack of financial terminology and lack of legal validity of documents written in indigenous languages. Research proved both arguments invalid. Banks felt that the implementation of indigenous languages would incur great costs. Ground staff and clients at all the branches answered questionnaires and were interviewed. In this way quantitative as well as qualitative data was collected. Looking at the two hypotheses that were tested, the results show that a discrepancy exists between the theoretical and practical implementation of the language policies of ABSA and NEDCOR. Far more is done by managers and ground staff at both these institutions to accommodate speakers of indigenous languages than by policy makers. The second hypothesis, which examines a discrepancy in the language behaviour of people with differing educational levels, also proves to be valid. Respondents with a low educational level need services in their mother tongue to operate but those with a high level of education, want to see their languages being used because of a cultural identification and a pride in their languages.

Prof. F. Herbst

Fourteen years into democracy, South Africans yet need to transform into a truly united society. Transformation entails meaningful change and requires new mindsets, behaviours and worldviews. In this country, such change hinges on interaction and communication between all South Africans to facilitate insight into the unfamiliar lifeworlds and beliefs of others. In 2005 Dr. Steve Booysen, Group Chief Executive of the Absa Group, initiated an internal choir festival as a platform for social interaction and team building of staff across all cultures, age groups and post levels in the bank. This happened in the process of the Barclays Bank investment of billions of rands that would translate to its controlling share in Absa. Recognising the merge as a potential threat to the morale of the Absa work force, Booysen envisaged the choir project as a means to support staff during this phase of transformation in the bank. This study links theories relating to organisational development and the inherent power in music and musicking for positive change. The questionnaire (administered in three interventions between 2006 and 2008) was the primary instrument for obtaining data for this study. Absa’s choir project (the first of its kind in South Africa and possibly elsewhere in the world) offers unique possibilities for investigating the positive effects of musicking, and in particular choral singing, within a corporate environment. For optimal functioning, societies rely on their citizens to trust each other and share a civic culture. With the exception of the Indian community, choral singing is a practised tradition across all cultures in South Africa and thus presents a possible vehicle to promote healing and nation building in post-Apartheid South Africa. Genuine communication between citizens from all cultural backgrounds could help liberate South Africans of superficial prejudgments of each other. Where the inability to speak the others’ language(s) inhibits authentic communication, choral singing proffers unique opportunities for shared communicative experiences. Should choral singing prove to be an appropriate key to unlock such experiences for South Africa of differing cultural and language backgrounds, then choral singing is of great value to this society. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Music / unrestricted

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the social determinants of arts festivals with reference to the ABSA KKNK. This goal was achieved by firstly analysing the event/festival phenomenon and the role thereof in event/festival tourism. Secondly, a literature study was conducted in order to examine the role of the community in supporting events/festivals. And thirdly, the results of the empirical research were discussed. Lastly, conclusions were drawn from the research and recommendations were made with regard to the social determinants of events/festivals. Literature indicated that events/festivals are central to daily living as perhaps never before and it can also be said that events/festivals play certain social, economic, cultural and environmental roles. Events/festivals can have various positive impacts on a community, such as job opportunities, economical growth and upliftment of the community. However it can also create various negative impacts such as crime, prostitution and damage to the environment. It is important to increase the number of positive impacts and decrease the number of negative impacts. This may improve the support of the community for the event/festival and improve the sustainability of the event/festival. The support of the community is also influenced by aspects such as community concern, ecocentric attitudes, community attachment. These social support determinants were measured by means of a questionnaire, as adapted from Gursoy and Kendall (2006) and it was therefore the objective of the questionnaire to analyse the social determinants that that may improve community support. The survey was distributed in the community of Oudtshoorn in 2007 and the determinants, as well as the relationship between the determinants and support for the event/festival, were based on structural equation modeling. A total of 279 questionnaires were completed during the festival. Respondents were, in general, more positive about the festival than negative. The results of the structural equation modelling suggest that community attachment and benefits and costs perceived are the most important social determinants in gaining local support for the ABSA KKNK. In the case of this study, ecocentric attitudes and issues of community concern did not influence the level of support given to the event/festival. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the social determinants of arts festivals with reference to the ABSA KKNK. This goal was achieved by firstly analysing the event/festival phenomenon and the role thereof in event/festival tourism. Secondly, a literature study was conducted in order to examine the role of the community in supporting events/festivals. And thirdly, the results of the empirical research were discussed. Lastly, conclusions were drawn from the research and recommendations were made with regard to the social determinants of events/festivals. Literature indicated that events/festivals are central to daily living as perhaps never before and it can also be said that events/festivals play certain social, economic, cultural and environmental roles. Events/festivals can have various positive impacts on a community, such as job opportunities, economical growth and upliftment of the community. However it can also create various negative impacts such as crime, prostitution and damage to the environment. It is important to increase the number of positive impacts and decrease the number of negative impacts. This may improve the support of the community for the event/festival and improve the sustainability of the event/festival. The support of the community is also influenced by aspects such as community concern, ecocentric attitudes, community attachment. These social support determinants were measured by means of a questionnaire, as adapted from Gursoy and Kendall (2006) and it was therefore the objective of the questionnaire to analyse the social determinants that that may improve community support. The survey was distributed in the community of Oudtshoorn in 2007 and the determinants, as well as the relationship between the determinants and support for the event/festival, were based on structural equation modeling. A total of 279 questionnaires were completed during the festival. Respondents were, in general, more positive about the festival than negative. The results of the structural equation modelling suggest that community attachment and benefits and costs perceived are the most important social determinants in gaining local support for the ABSA KKNK. In the case of this study, ecocentric attitudes and issues of community concern did not influence the level of support given to the event/festival. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / The world is constantly changing, creating a new environment and challenging businesses, societies and countries with unpredictable and volatile economic currents on a global scale. The new economy is the big second wave of change that will stay with us for the next century. People and organisations that want to participate in the new economy have to adapt to the new rules of the game or become extinct. Speed, agility, reliability, knowledge and networking globally are some of the skills necessary to survive, in this changed world. Values and strategy execution are critical elements in the quest to become a high-performing organisation in the new economy. Strategy in organisations is the creation of a unique and valuable position, involving a different set of activities. Whilst a brilliant strategy can put you on the map, only a solid execution process will keep you on the map and competitive. Most organisations set the vision and strategy, but do not set the operational requirements executing the strategic objectives. The new economy represents a historic shift in values, a new paradigm from which people in organisations cannot separate themselves if they want to stay relevant in the new economy. Transforming organisational values from the old economy to the new economy is a challenge – primarily a leadership challenge. Absa (Amalgamated Banks of South Africa), a leading financial services organisation in South Africa and part of the global financial service group, Barclays, offers life insurance to its customers, through its subsidiary Absa Life. Absa Life is the target audience for this research study. In the group, Absa Life contributes almost six per cent to the total earnings of the Absa Group. The organisation embarked on a strategy, in 2008 to become a top-five life insurer in South Africa by 2012. ‘Big hairy audacious goals’ (BHAG’s) were set and the 230 members of the Absa Life team at the time bought into the vision and strategy. For Absa Life to reach the stretched goals the leadership team has to take note of important elements of a high-performance organisation. This research study assesses the current value profile of Absa Life, the organisation. The researcher utilises an instrument, the Beehive questionnaire, developed by the Village Leadership Consulting for the value profile assessment. A valid sample, including all job levels and divisions in Absa Life formed the target audience for this questionnaire. The questionnaire (electronic survey format) benchmarks the Absa Life value profile against the old and new economy value profiles. The researcher uses the results of the Beehive questionnaire and the Evolution to Excellence framework, to highlight the organisational and leadership challenges and recommend best practices for Absa Life leadership team. The Absa Life leadership team will determine their readiness, embracing these challenges and will be the team that is responsible for the survival of Absa Life in the 21st century or not.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to fit the external forces driving change with the ABSA Group's transformation since 1998; as well as to measure the success of it by evaluating the market's response to the changes. To provide a theoretical framework, a background to the external forces driving change, with specific reference to the South African banking industry is given. It was concluded that the entry/exit of major firms, globalisation, regulation and technological changes are the major forces impacting on the banking industry. There are however, also a number of unique forces driving change that is related to the South African environment. ABSA also had to deal with these factors such as the socio-political change and the domestic economic development. ABSA responded to these challenges by implementing various projects since the merger in 1991. Since 1998 (the time frame within which this study is undertaken), two major projects were initiated and implemented. Both these projects (Project IMPACT and Project ABLE) are two of the biggest transformation exercises ever undertaken in South Africa. ABSA's strategy evolved over time to such a point where the Group is currently focussed on the customer in targeted market segments. Strategic Business Units were established to optimise the focus on the customer. This process is currently still continuing. The success of the ABSA Group's transformation exercises is however, only as successful as the degree to which their changes fit the driving forces and the market's response to it. Against the backdrop of the major external driving forces (Chapter 2), it is concluded that these forces do fit the forces driving change within the ABSA Group. Looking at the cost-to-income ratio, it is evident that ABSA still need to do much more to improve this figure and to bring it more in line with its peer competitors. It is however heartening to see that the Group managed to reduce the ratio constantly year-an-year in spite of the considerable cost of the major initiatives undertaken. A comparison of the price-earnings ratio's of the four major banks over time indicate that the market's trust in ABSA's earnings potential increased and that their response to the changes is therefore in general positive / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die eksterne kragte wat verandering dryf, te pas met die ABSA Groep se transformasie sedert 1998; asook om die sukses daarvan te meet deur te kyk na die mark se respons op die veranderinge. Ten einde 'n teoretiese raamwerk te verskaf, word as agtergrond die eksterne kragte geskets wat veranderinge dryf, met spesifieke verwysing na die Suid- Afrikaanse bank industrie. Die belangrikste kragte wat 'n impak het op die bank industrie is die intree/uittree van groot firmas, globalisering, regulering en tegnologiese veranderinge. Behalwe vir hierdie belangrike kragte, moes die Groep ook verskeie kragte uniek aan die Suid-Afrikaanse omgewing in ag neem, naamlik die sosio-politieke veranderinge en die plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling. ABSA se reaksie op hierdie uitdagings was die implementering van verskeie projekte sedert die samesmelting in 1991. Sedert 1998 (die tydsraamwerk waarbinne hierdie studie handel) is twee groot projekte geïnisieer en geïmplementeer. Beide hierdie projekte (Projek IMPACT en Projek ABLE) was reuse ondernemings en kan beskou word as twee van Suid-Afrika se grootste transformasie oefeninge wat nog onderneem is. Die ABSA strategie het egter onwikkel oor tyd tot die huidige punt waar die Groep gefokus is op die kliënt in spesifieke mark segmente. Ten einde hierdie fokus te optimaliseer, is Strategiese Besigheidseenhede gevestig. Die vestiging en ontwikkeling van hierdie fokuspunt is steeds in proses. Die sukses van ABSA se transformasie oefeninge is egter net so suksesvol soos die mate waartoe dit die dryfkragte en die mark se respons daarop pas. Teen die agtergrond van die belangrike dryfkragte (Hoofstuk 2) is tot die slotsom gekom dat die Groep se transformasie proses wel in pas is met die eksterne dryfkragte Die koste-inkomste verhouding is 'n syfer wat deur beide die Groep en die mark uitgelig word. Deur hierdie syfer te vergelyk met die kompetisie, is dit duidelik dat ABSA nog baie werk het om te doen om hierdie syfer te verbeter. Dit is egter gerustellend dat die Groep daarin geslaag het om die syfer konstant jaar-op-jaar te verlaag, ten spyte van die groot kostes wat aangegaan is met die verskeie inisiatiewe. 'n Vergelyking van die vier groot banke se prys-verdienste verhoudings oor tyd dui dat die mark se vertroue in ABSA se verdienste potensiaal toeneem en dat hul respons tot die verandering oor die algemeen positief is.