This study attempts to examine and comprehend the connection between human resources management (HMR) practices and effective supply chain management (SCM) implementation by means of a conceptual framework and construct developed through a literature study and previous studies conducted in this area. The focus of this study was to determine whether a South African automotive manufacturer, implements identified human resources practices and to establish to what extent these practices enhance effective supply chain management implementation. A quantitative research approach was used to conduct this study. A census survey was used to collect data. Electronic data was collected using a monkey survey, and paperbased questionnaires were collected by the researcher at the participating organisation. Seven hypotheses were formulated to guide this study. The data analysis of this research was done for the purpose of testing these hypotheses and achieving the empirical research objectives. The findings from descriptive statistical analysis summarised the strong HR practices which facilitate the implementation of effective supply chain management in the participating automotive manufacturing organisation, and also focused on weak HR practices which might hinder the implementation of effective supply chain management. Some areas in which improvement is possible were identified. By taking into account that this study focused on one leading South African automotive manufacturer, further research is recommended with an expansive scope of South African automotive manufacturing organisations. The study aimed to provide recommendations on the adoption of human resource management practices for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of an effective supply chain management. It is of crucial value for the participating South African automotive manufacturing organisation to apply the study’s findings (The South African manufacturer should revise its compensation practices by ensuring that compensation is comparable to what other employees in similar jobs elsewhere are being paid, and it should also provide a sociable and transparent working environment to its workers). / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

This study attempts to examine and comprehend the connection between human resources management (HMR) practices and effective supply chain management (SCM) implementation by means of a conceptual framework and construct developed through a literature study and previous studies conducted in this area. The focus of this study was to determine whether a South African automotive manufacturer, implements identified human resources practices and to establish to what extent these practices enhance effective supply chain management implementation. A quantitative research approach was used to conduct this study. A census survey was used to collect data. Electronic data was collected using a monkey survey, and paper-based questionnaires were collected by the researcher at the participating organisation. Seven hypotheses were formulated to guide this study. The data analysis of this research was done for the purpose of testing these hypotheses and achieving the empirical research objectives. The findings from descriptive statistical analysis summarised the strong HR practices which facilitate the implementation of effective supply chain management in the participating automotive manufacturing organisation, and also focused on weak HR practices which might hinder the implementation of effective supply chain management. Some areas in which improvement is possible were identified. By taking into account that this study focused on one leading South African automotive manufacturer, further research is recommended with an expansive scope of South African automotive manufacturing organisations. The study aimed to provide recommendations on the adoption of human resource management practices for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of an effective supply chain management. It is of crucial value for the participating South African automotive manufacturing organisation to apply the study’s findings (The South African manufacturer should revise its compensation practices by ensuring that compensation is comparable to what other employees in similar jobs elsewhere are being paid, and it should also provide a sociable and transparent working environment to its workers). / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Despite reform processes in the employment of Supply Chain Management (SCM) as a strategic tool in the South African public sector, there are predicaments in SCM practices, especially in municipalities. This notwithstanding, research that demystifies the SCM implementation practices in local municipalities within the West Rand District, SA is lacking. This study explores supply chain management practices implemented at the West Rand District municipalities. An exploratory and descriptive study was conducted based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data was analysed descriptively using SPSS, inferentially using Fisher Exact test, as well as by content analysis using Atlas.ti. The findings of the study revealed that overall the West Rand District municipalities have adopted and implemented the SCM practices. However, SCM practices are sometimes not always aligned with government policies. The most implemented SCM practice was demand management, followed by acquisition management. The least implemented practices were logistics, disposal, risk and performance management. No significant differences were observed among the municipalities, except for municipality C (within its own supply chain practitioners). The municipalities face serious SCM challenges in implementing their SCM practices. These challenges stem from: a lack of training for SCM staff, lack of proper capacity, poor planning, and ineffective black economic empowerment in the West Rand District. Based on the results, there is a need of training for SCM staff, capacity building, better planning interventions, and more effective black economic empowerment. It should be reiterated that the lack of proper SCM processes and procedures are the root cause of problems in service delivery in South Africa. The study concludes by recommending that SCM practitioners should regularly update their SCM policies, ensure proper compliance with the elements of SCM, as well as to source competencies, skills, and knowledge from higher education institutions and private accredited service providers. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

Characteristics such as speed of reaction, order accuracy, operational flexibility and sustained quality have become fundamental in successful business today. The success of aligning a supply chain to attain these characteristics depends largely on the use of efficient communication and information technology. Communication between supply chain members requires that relevant information is transferred from its point of inception to the next point(s) of use. The transfer of information entails an efficient flow of information between systems, between systems and humans and between humans, which is directly associated with the effective interoperability between the various entities handling the relevant information. Accordingly, the realisation of interoperability will mean a faster information flow and, thus, an effective decision-making process. This research, therefore, will propose indicators and metrics for the assessment of the information flow efficiency of a business and, in particular, of a supply chain, examine the existing techniques of information flow measurement, and identify inherent weaknesses. New information flow efficiency metrics are developed and categorised into different indicators, which are based on the quality of the information as it is applied in finance, information technology and the principles of business performance measurements. This research will illustrate that these quality characteristics drive an effective and efficient information flow which, in turn, enables them to be used both as indicators and as associated metrics of information flow efficiency. Explorative analysis and statistical cluster analysis identified the most important indicators and associated metrics based on the results of a survey instrument designed specifically for this purpose. Scales were developed to facilitate the numeric assessment of the metrics and indicators. In order to prove the ability of the new indicators and associated metrics to differentiate between different levels of information flow efficiency, the new metrics were applied in sample organisations and the responses evaluated. This research lays an important foundation in terms of the ability to assess information flow efficiency which is, in turn, necessary in order to gain a better understanding of the performance of supply chains in a time where real-time information flow and electronic integration are becoming strategic business success factors. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

The advent of the global financial recession, its impact on the economy with respect to market turbulence and the increase in customer demands have put organisations under intense pressure to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations. By virtue of it not being business as usual in the business arena, organisations are forced to constantly devise strategies that are geared towards growth, transformation and continuous improvement. This cuts across all spheres of organisational structures, which means that every division has a role to play.

The Internet has made a considerable impact on how business is conducted. Empowered by technology consumers are using the Internet as a tool to communicate and transact online. E-commerce (electronic commerce) presents opportunities for business to gain a competitive advantage, however it also posses certain challenges. Small and Medium Hospitality Enterprises (SMHEs) sector within the tourism industry, is one of the sectors which stands to benefit from using the Internet for business. Researchers agree that the contribution made by the tourism sector in developing economies is substantial. However, SMHEs are noted for their failure to derive optimal benefits from using the Internet for business to improve their competitiveness. This study which seeks to develop a model for use by SMHEs as a guide when making the decision to adopt technology was necessitated by the importance of SMHE’s contribution in the economy of developing countries. This model is based on the examination of existing theories and models such as; the Delone and McLean IS success model (2004), and the ITGI’s (2007) IT governance focus areas model. To elicit the desired outcomes, additional data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The collected data was analysed and resulted in the development of a model that can be used by SMHEs in order to derive value from IT and to gain a competitive advantage.

PhD (Public Administration) / Department of Public and Development Administration

This research examines the impact of purchasing constraints and demand variability on working capital balances. The working capital accounts considered are creditors, debtors and raw material inventories. Purchasing constraints and demand uncertainty are defined. The supply chain of the South African cable industry, and one manufacturer in particular, and the challenges faced in the cable manufacturing process are discussed. To quantify the influences, a comparison between working capital accounts in the case of economic order quantity and actual purchasing practices is performed. A simulation model is developed to reproduce a larger sample of demand data, matching the cumulative probability density function of each cable type contained in the annual sales budget. The results show, that the working capital accounts react differently to changes in purchasing conditions and variations in demand, the most sensitive being raw material inventories. The study quantifies the influence of purchasing constraints on each working capital value. / Business Management / M.Com. (Business Management)

The South African automotive industry has experienced significant changes in the last 20 years. Globalisation, the implementation of lean production and the development of modularisation have had a profound influence on the relationships between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers, the automotive component manufacturers (ACMs), and their suppliers. South Africa has a number of OEMs and a vibrant automotive component manufacturing industry (ACM), which supplies the South African aftermarket and a spread of export markets. These ACMs are the focus of this study. The main objective of this research study was to identify the supply chain management problems ACMs in South Africa encounter, to what extent they face these problems and how these can be overcome. The problems were identified through a literature review and interviews with two OEMs in South Africa. Using this data a questionnaire was compiled and sent to all NAACAM members for completion. This study is by nature descriptive and exploratory and contains quantitative and qualitative elements. Seven hypotheses were formulated to guide the research. The findings of this research indicate that the geographic location, age and size of the business, have no bearing on the supply chain problems ACMs face, whist the relationship between ACMs and their suppliers and ACMs and their customers is a significant problem. The findings also indicate that the following are some of the main supply chain problems facing ACMs: pressure by OEMs to reduce prices; the price of materials; cancellation of orders; excessive inventory; the unreliability of rail transport and rail capacity problems; the high cost of South African ports; the cost of replacing outdated technology; and BBBEE – achieving and verifying BEE scorecards. The findings further indicate a lack of skills and labour problems, both of which are time consuming to resolve. This study was completed over a four-year period. At the commencement of this study the automotive industry was booming, but in mid-2008, a global economic crisis started. This crisis impacted adversely on the automotive industry globally and in South Africa. Despite these challenges, leaders in the South African automotive component industry remain positive about the future. This study was completed over a four-year period. At the commencement of this study the automotive industry was booming, but in mid-2008, a global economic crisis started. This crisis impacted adversely on the automotive industry globally and in South Africa. Despite these challenges, leaders in the South African automotive component industry remain positive about the future. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management)

Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master's Degree of Technology: Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2008. / Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) allows for the wireless transfer of data between a small electronic transmitting tag and a reader without the necessity of line-of-sight. A feature of RFID, is that this read operation may occur over long distances and that multiple reads may occur. The aim of this study is to analyse the nature and extent of RFID adoption in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The study fits within the theory of innovation diffusion and is concerned with issues around technology diffusion, adoption rates, and its associated critical success factors. The estimation of RFID diffusion rate in the study is based on a telephonic survey of 140 companies. The respondents were chosen from a marketing database that had extensive information on South African companies. Size was determined to be the selection criterion as the literature indicates that size is the most compelling concomitant to innovativeness. In this study, size was deemed to be companies that had more than 50 PC’s in one geographic unit, of the company, in KwaZulu-Natal. The key research result locates the RFID diffusion rate in KwaZulu-Natal to be around 19% which corresponds to points beyond the “chasm” as defined by innovation diffusion theory. The second phase of the study comprised the administration of a questionnaire to two groups of IT professionals with the aim of comparing perceptions and other characteristics between the two groups. The 140 respondents were asked to submit as many professional staff as they could for an in-depth interview. The result was that 21 companies submitted 30 candidates. This yielded the two groups: the Adopter sample with 14 respondents, and the non-adopter sample with 16 respondents. The analysis of results shows the two groups have similar views on many strategic factors such as privacy, security, cost and standards etc. Adopters perceive that the following factors impacts RFID adopting decisions more (than non-adopters): Turnover, Having labour cost savings, RFID ubiquity, It will take as long for my company to adopt RFID as it did for barcode, RFID cost awareness. On the other hand non-adopters felt that the following factor impacts non-adoption of RFID Technology unproven or immature, Human skills non-availability, Implementation costs, Corporate resistance, and, Support Concerns.