This research is aimed at finding empirical evidence to support the relationship between Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) compliance and the financial performance of South African companies on the JSE. An independent measure of the BEE score was obtained from the Empowerdex Top Empowerment Companies (TEC) ranking from 2004 to 2009. 14 sectors on the JSE were selected to ensure inclusion of all major industries in South Africa. A total of 209 companies were selected, and the multivariate exploratory technique of Cluster Analysis was used. The predictor variable of the company’s BEE status was then compared to a number of financial performance indicators such as annual share price, price-tobook value ratio and the price-to-earnings ratio (i.e. the outcome variables). By standardising the variables of the BEE score and using Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), the k-means Clustering method yielded four interpretable clusters with 15, 64, 95 and 35 companies respectively. The finding indicate that only in the case of the cluster of companies that increased it’s BEE score, were all three profitability measures significantly different and, according to the means, in the direction of higher profitability. However, there were no significant differences in the results to support the proposition that low-BEE scores of companies had a negative impact on their profitability and their firm’s value over time. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This study endeavoured to establish, specifically, the effectiveness of enterprise development initiatives within the McCarthy Ltd franchised dealer network and also to understand their low occurrence within the group. Effective implementation of enterprise development initiatives within McCarthy Ltd franchised dealer network would also mean compliance to the BBBEE codes of good practice. The study found that there was a lot of optimism among dealer principals to introduce and manage the concept of enterprise development within the group. A convenience sample of dealer principals from within the group countrywide was taken as well as that of beneficiary enterprises initiatives operating countrywide as well for this study. The actual occurrence of enterprise development within the McCarthy Ltd franchised dealer network however was not encouraging, at least based on the actual reported initiatives in existence. The study found that there was a significant gap between the requirements of start-up or early stage enterprises and requirements of maturing to mature businesses. It also indicated that dealer principals were not necessaril y always adequately equipped to deal with the requirements of beneficiary enterprise requirements and hence the low occurrence or lack of introduction of enterprise development initiatives on a much wider scale. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

South Africa is listed among the world's top ten countries with the highest unemployment levels (World Bank, 2018). The National Development Plan (2013) envisioned that by 2030, 90% of new jobs in the country will be created by small and growing enterprises. Worryingly however, South Africa lags in meeting its target for job creation as set out in the National Development Plan despite some effort made by the government to promote and grow small businesses. Globally small and medium enterprises have been acknowledged for their key role in driving economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. Despite this important role, South Africa still has one of the highest small and medium enterprise (SME) failure rates in the world (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2014). To circumvent this challenge, the South African government established development strategies including the notable Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) to drive the growth and expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). BBBEE is intended to drive enterprise and supplier development (ESD) and improve the development and long-term growth of SMEs. Notably, large private corporations in South Africa have made significant investments in ESD; however many SMEs fail to survive past three years. This study therefore investigates the extent to which integration into a large corporate value chain promotes the sustainability of a SME. The study also examines the impediments that inhibit the growth of SMEs that are integrated in large corporate value chains. The research was conducted using an explanatory qualitative methodology. Five SME owners and six large corporate managers were interviewed to assess their perspectives and opinions on the SME-Corporate relationship. The research results concluded that corporate initiatives on ESD are of a significant benefit to SME growth, however challenges such as negative corporate perception and access to external funding remain a hindrance to SME growth. The study proposed recommendations to improve the successful integration of SMEs into corporate value chains.

The ANC government has implemented various mechanisms to promote inclusivity of all economic citizens over the past 15 years. The main objectives of all the policies was to promote economic transformation in order to enable meaningful participation of black people in the economy and to change the racial composition of ownership and management structures of existing and new enterprises. The purpose of the research was to determine the contribution of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) to the financial performance of companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) during the economic recession. The underlying assumption was that companies with greater overall BBBEE compliance rating should outperform companies with a lower overall BEE compliance rating. The top BBBEE rated companies on the JSE were analysed to determine whether these companies outperformed that sector indices. Market-to-book-value, Price-Earnings Ratio and Annual Return were used as financial performance measures. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between the companies’ BBBEE rating and the financial performance. On further investigation it was revealed that on average the companies with greater BBBEE ratings did not outperform companies with lower BBBEE ratings nor did they outperform the sector indices Copyright 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Van Heerden, JH 2011, Contribution of broad-based black economic empowerment to the financial performance of companies listed on the JSE during a recession, MBA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03202012-121101 / > F12/4/211/gm / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The post-1994 South African government has introduced multiple initiatives, programmes and passed various legislations which were aimed at assisting previously disadvantaged individuals to participate in the mainstream economy. These interventions by government are aimed at advancing mass participation in the economy by all groups of the society. Because of the laws during the apartheid regime, blacks in particular found themselves excluded in business opportunities and thus prohibiting them to actively participate in the economy. This study was therefore aimed at considering the impact made by BEE procurement policy on the BEE entrepreneurial activities in Fezile Dabi District. Fezile District is one of the four District Municipalities within the Free State province. The study aims to assess the impact of procurement policy as one of the elements towards BEE entrepreneurship activities. The study used both literature review as well as the empirical study to come to the conclusions revealed in the last chapter. The empirical study which was conducted using the questionnaires surveys over the four local municipalities within the District revealed that small business owners agree and believe that the BEE procurement policies introduced by government are very good instruments to enable them to enter the business sector and participate actively in the economy. However the challenge acknowledged by the small businesses is that despite this good legislation the implementation at the Fezile Dabi District is not properly executed. Lack of transparency and favouritism in awarding contracts and tenders were revealed as the biggest challenges facing the District. Practical recommendations were made to address these challenges and improving the system. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The post-1994 South African government has introduced multiple initiatives, programmes and passed various legislations which were aimed at assisting previously disadvantaged individuals to participate in the mainstream economy. These interventions by government are aimed at advancing mass participation in the economy by all groups of the society. Because of the laws during the apartheid regime, blacks in particular found themselves excluded in business opportunities and thus prohibiting them to actively participate in the economy. This study was therefore aimed at considering the impact made by BEE procurement policy on the BEE entrepreneurial activities in Fezile Dabi District. Fezile District is one of the four District Municipalities within the Free State province. The study aims to assess the impact of procurement policy as one of the elements towards BEE entrepreneurship activities. The study used both literature review as well as the empirical study to come to the conclusions revealed in the last chapter. The empirical study which was conducted using the questionnaires surveys over the four local municipalities within the District revealed that small business owners agree and believe that the BEE procurement policies introduced by government are very good instruments to enable them to enter the business sector and participate actively in the economy. However the challenge acknowledged by the small businesses is that despite this good legislation the implementation at the Fezile Dabi District is not properly executed. Lack of transparency and favouritism in awarding contracts and tenders were revealed as the biggest challenges facing the District. Practical recommendations were made to address these challenges and improving the system. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Magister Commercii - MCom / In a contemporary local context characterised by significant socio-economic challenges, exacerbated by rising systemic risks, and hampered by capacity constraints of the state, we examine the case for a strategic approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) as risk management for the public good. In this study, we propose that CSR could offer value as risk management to firm stakeholders and broader society, by aligning state, business, and societal objectives in tackling shared risk and by addressing some of the challenges associated with contemporary CSR practice. The objectives of this thesis were, therefore, twofold. First, to explain the relevance between the concepts of risk management and CSR and how a strategic approach to CSR as risk management may operate as a mechanism influencing practice and impact. Second, to analyse such an approach in practice to interrogate our propositions of CSR as risk management and to identify its key enabling and disabling factors. To achieve the first objective, we developed a theoretical and conceptual framework that positions CSR as a necessary and appropriate strategic risk management response to inefficient and inequitable markets. To achieve our second objective, we undertook an instrumental case study of Santam Limited and its proactive, pro-social risk management initiative, Partners for Risk and Resilience (P4RR). Using a critical realist case study approach, we interviewed 22 participants drawn from the company’s social and organisational contexts. Our findings suggest that the interaction of four principal stakeholder entities gave rise to P4RR: investors, company management, employees, and the state, and we would characterise the primary mechanism driving the Initiative as competitive pressures emanating from the market. Our findings broadly support our propositions that risk management is a useful analytical framework for CSR and, as a strategic approach, may encourage firm-wide integration of CSR practice and cooperation with salient stakeholders, while providing a rubric with which to evaluate its usefulness. Our findings are somewhat supportive of the proposition that such an approach may lead to a response to uncertainty that aligns more closely with economic risk management. Recommendations for future research include multiple case study analyses of different companies that engage in risk management for the public good. Strategically, we recommend the elevation of local government planning processes as a tool with which to align corporate pro-social activities to maximise the contribution to the public good.

Transformation in the civil consulting engineering industry has been addressed, but there are still some shortcomings. This transformation is based on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, Affirmative Action and Employment Equity. > The main aim of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is to redress historical inequalities in such a manner that it does not impact negatively on existing enterprises. > The aim of Affirmative Action is to promote equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination and the implementation of Affirmative Action measures. The aim is to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups in order to ensure their equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels of the workforce. > The main aim of Employment Equity is to promote equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination and to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups. The existing drive to successfully implement transformation in the Civil Consulting Engineering Sector creates the opportunities for suitably qualified and experienced black engineering candidates to be selected for appointment above an equally qualified and experienced white candidate who applies for the same position. Although Civil Engineering as we know it in South Africa is only 105 years old, it has a rich history and contributed substantially to turning South Africa into a jewel and economic hub on the African continent. The Civil Consulting Engineering Sector forms part of the Construction Sector and abides by the set of rules that has been compiled for the construction sector, known as the Construction Sector - Broad-Based Black Economic Charter - Version 6, 2006. This Construction Sector - Broad-Based Black Economic Charter - Version 6 is intended to assist all existing as well as any future businesses or stakeholders by providing a framework for the construction sector to address Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, enhance capacity and increase the productivity of the sector to meet world standard. The Government's strategy or vision is to utilise Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment as a tool to redress past inequalities and to broaden, expand and increase the country's economic base by including everybody that can participate in and contribute to the South African economy. The envisaged spin-offs from the implementation of this strategy by the Government would be to accelerate economic growth and this would then lead to job creation, and consequent poverty eradication. The Government intends to achieve Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment by making use of a balanced approach that includes contributions and measures that will mainly readdress ownership, control, employment equity, skills development, procurement, enterprise development and Corporate Social Development. This approach by Government will further address additional elements as indicated on the Broad-Based Black Economic scorecard. Transformation in the Civil Consulting Engineering Sector is currently hampered by a shortage of suitably qualified and experienced black engineering candidates that can be employed in the Civil Consulting Engineering Sector. The researcher is also employed in the Civil Consulting Engineering Sector and therefore experiences all the frustrations on a daily basis, which inspired this research to determine the status quo with regard to transformation in the Civil Consulting Engineering Sector. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This study investigates employees' perceptions of diversity and its impact on the workplace, as perceived by employees themselves. The focus will specifically be on external diversity factors such as culture, race and gender and to what extent these factors can possibly be linked to differences in perceptions of the influence of diversity in the workplace. We know that equality and diversity programmes should be aligned with an organisation's core strategic objectives. Not only is this alignment critical to achieving equality and diversity goals, but it also enables organisations to benefit from the business opportunities that diversity offers. To better understand the role and importance of diversity and gain insight into social systems, quantitative measures of diversity were examined by means of questionnaires. A major consideration for managers is the wide scope of behaviours, attitudes, and values of the diverse staff across socio–cultural boundaries, which are bound to affect organisational processes. Thus, it is crucial for managers to distinguish how staff of different socio–cultural backgrounds could be interacting within the organisation, and identify how perceptual effects may be manifested in multicultural group relationships. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment could possibly be the utmost strategic issue, challenge, threat and potential opportunity facing businesses of all sizes, structures and shapes currently in South Africa. Broad–Based BEE is a government initiative to promote economic transformation in order to enable meaningful participation in the economy by black people. Broad–Based BEE is a reality and a business imperative. Broad–based BEE already have a huge impact in the way business is done in South Africa by large corporate entities, family businesses, small and medium sized businesses and professional practitioners. Broad–based BEE affects almost every participant in the South African economy. Broad–Based BEE can be divided into three components, which holds the seven elements of Broad–Based BEE, namely direct empowerment, human resource development and indirect empowerment. These elements include Equity Ownership, Management, Employment Equity, Skills Development, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Corporate Social Investment. The agricultural businesses in South Africa have implemented unique types of Broad–Based BEE strategies to conform to Broad–Based BEE. These strategies include shareholding by external Broad–Based BEE companies, and registering Broad–Based BEE employee trusts that obtains shareholding in the company. According to the AgriBEE Framework its vision is to pursue Broad–Based BEE in support of a United and Prosperous Agricultural Sector. The objectives of AgriBEE as described by the AgriBEE Steering Committee are to facilitate broad–based black economic empowerment in the agricultural sector by implementing initiatives to include Black South Africans at all levels of agricultural activity and enterprises along the entire agricultural value chain by following certain steps and ideologies. The contribution of the agribusinesses has some clear indications of shortcomings within the industry as well as and indication of possible elements to be pursued in future. There are however also serious implications to the respondents actions and attitude towards Broad–Based BEE now and in future. It also very apparent that the agribusiness does not distance themselves from the Broad–Based BEE Act and its requirements as well as the consequences thereof. The agribusiness industry is actively involved in Broad–Based BEE. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.