The purpose of this study is to explore procurement practices employed within the commuter bus industry in Gauteng. The contemporary procurement practices employed within the commuter bus industry in Gauteng have propagated a number of challenges for this industry, including a deficit in the allocated funds and a lack of coordinated relationship between the relevant stakeholders. This study is both descriptive and exploratory in nature and employed a mixed-method research approach to collect the research data. The data was collected from a sample of 18 respondents who are key stakeholders directly involved in the procurement of subsidised commuter bus services in Gauteng by means of a face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that there are three types of procurement practices employed within the commuter bus industry, namely, interim, negotiated and tender contracts. However, all these contracts are now outdated, due to the complex implementation of the policies guiding procurement. The study also revealed that there are minimal contributions towards the socio-economic objectives within the commuter bus industry. This has led to uncoordinated relations between the government officials and the subsidised commuter bus operators. Furthermore, there are challenges hindering effective procurement in the commuter bus industry, such as under-funding, fronting activities, frequent reshuffling of transport personnel and inconstant allocation of funds. The study also noted differences in the application of procurement practices between the government officials and the subsidised commuter bus operators, in terms of the industry’s contribution towards socio-economic objectives, policies and regulations, relationship and the challenges faced within the industry. Efficient procurement practices can contribute significantly to the commuter bus industry, especially towards job creation and economic growth. The study concludes with a recommended framework for enhancing the procurement practices of the commuter bus services in Gauteng. / Economics / M. Com. (Transport Economics)

Ph. D. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The use of technology in supply chain management has increased over the years. Procurement is one of the primary supply chain management areas where the use of technology has gained momentum. This has been realised through the use of e-procurement systems. However, the adoption and implementation of e-procurement can be achieved more effectively if available models of technology adoption are taken into consideration. This study tested a conceptual framework integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of the Acceptance and use of Technology (UTAUT) in the implementation of e-procurement practices in the South African public sector. Although there are several studies that have focused on procurement in the public sector in South Africa, there is no evidence of studies that extended the use of the TAM and the UTAUT within the public sector in South Africa. This study was conducted to fill this gap by proposing a framework combining the TAM and UTAUT and modelling their role in the adoption of e-procurement in the public sector. The study adopted a survey design and a quantitative research approach was used to evaluate relationships between different variables. The final sample for this study consists of 263 supply chain management (SCM) practitioners drawn from the public sector in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. A self-completion survey questionnaire was used to gather data to measure the eight constructs of the TAM and UTAUT. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) procedure was performed to assess the factor structure of the data collected in the study. Descriptive statistics were applied to examine the demographic profile of respondents and the perceptions of respondents towards the research constructs. Pearson correlations were used to test relationships and regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. In the EFA, two new factors, labelled as Personal Competence and External Assistance, were identified. The results of the hypotheses tests showed that five factors, namely: perceived use, self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, personal competence and external assistance significantly predicted attitudes towards the use of e-procurement systems. However, perceived ease of use was statistically insignificant. The results further show that attitudes towards system use significantly predict behavioural intention, which in turn significantly influences actual e-procurement system use. The theoretical framework fusing the TAM and UTAUT models provides useful insights for other researchers and adds valuable knowledge to the factors that might contribute to the adoption of e-procurement in the South African public sector. The study further makes significant contributions to SCM professionals in the public sector. It reiterates the challenges faced in SCM in the public sector and then demonstrates how the adoption of e-procurement could improve the system, while reducing service delivery inequality. By indicating the factors either promoting or impeding the adoption of e-procurement in the public sector, the study provides practitioners and other decision makers in SCM with suggestions on how to facilitate more rapid adoption and circumvent the influence of irrelevant factors. Among other things, the study recommends that to improve the adoption and continued use of e-procurement systems in the public sector in the Gauteng Province, it is necessary to customise the e-procurement system to ensure that it responds to the needs of users. In addition, it is important to increase the confidence and competence of users of the systems, providing the relevant technical infrastructure and support to users in order to positively influence their attitudes and behavioural intention towards the use of e-procurement systems.

M. Tech. (Department of Logistics Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The primary objective of this study was to investigate the supplier relationship management practices at Eskom. Currently, the challenges faced by the parastatal include diminished reserve margin, increased unplanned generation plant outages as well as coal supply and quality constraints coupled with ever-rising primary energy costs. It is, therefore, evident that as a national asset, Eskom cannot overcome the current challenges successfully without strong partnerships with key suppliers. A framework for supplier management containing four different elements was researched. The first element, which forms the basis for all supplier management operations, is the development of supplier management relationships. The framework also includes supplier collaborations and the various aspects of discovery, supplier pre-selection, and supplier selection, which relate to finding, qualifying, and choosing the best suppliers. Lastly, and also very important was the supplier development and localisation as well as the legislature thereof. A quantitative cross-company survey was conducted using a sample of 260 suppliers, who have been on the database for more than twelve (12) months and who responded to the business requests to update the data on the system. The findings of the study are largely supported by the literature. Finally, the study makes recommendations and highlights further research, managerial, and policy implications.

This study determined whether local manufacturers of light vehicles in South Africa employ supply chain best practices and strategies. The research design employed was a combination of exploratory and descriptive research design using qualitative and quantitative approaches based on a survey of light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. A face-to–face, semi-structured interview questionnaire was used, based on purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software were used for the data analysis and interpretation. The findings of the study revealed that across the supply chain, best practices were implemented to a large extent by all manufacturers. Light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, however face supply chain challenges, which include technological, infrastructural, cost, market/service and production/skills challenges. The most important supply chain performance indicator that contributes to optimisation of performance is quality, followed by final product delivery reliability, and then cost and supplier reliability. All the manufacturers followed a lean strategy for their inbound supply chain and some had a lean supply chain strategy for their outbound supply chain. A number of them also had an agile supply chain strategy in the outbound supply chain which suggests a leagile supply chain strategy. It was also found that in some instances there was a mismatch between strategies and practices in the area of product characteristics, manufacturing characteristics and the decision drivers of supply chain. One of the conclusions of the study was that local manufacturers of light vehicles do not always make decisions and implement practices in line with their chosen supply chain strategies. The study concluded by developing a framework for determining supply chain best practices in line with a chosen strategy that could guide supply chain managers (in locally manufactured light vehicles) in the automotive in South Africa in their decision making. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

This dissertation has shown that public procurement regulation takes place through regulatory documents that mainly underwent a name change and that the only changes are found in the reporting framework. The South African government identified public procurement as an active instrument to achieve social and economic goals. To provide substance to this realisation, public procurement was taken up in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. The constitution prescribes a procurement system that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective. / Public Administration & Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

This study determined whether local manufacturers of light vehicles in South Africa employ supply chain best practices and strategies. The research design employed was a combination of exploratory and descriptive research design using qualitative and quantitative approaches based on a survey of light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. A face-to–face, semi-structured interview questionnaire was used, based on purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software were used for the data analysis and interpretation. The findings of the study revealed that across the supply chain, best practices were implemented to a large extent by all manufacturers. Light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, however face supply chain challenges, which include technological, infrastructural, cost, market/service and production/skills challenges. The most important supply chain performance indicator that contributes to optimisation of performance is quality, followed by final product delivery reliability, and then cost and supplier reliability. All the manufacturers followed a lean strategy for their inbound supply chain and some had a lean supply chain strategy for their outbound supply chain. A number of them also had an agile supply chain strategy in the outbound supply chain which suggests a leagile supply chain strategy. It was also found that in some instances there was a mismatch between strategies and practices in the area of product characteristics, manufacturing characteristics and the decision drivers of supply chain. One of the conclusions of the study was that local manufacturers of light vehicles do not always make decisions and implement practices in line with their chosen supply chain strategies. The study concluded by developing a framework for determining supply chain best practices in line with a chosen strategy that could guide supply chain managers (in locally manufactured light vehicles) in the automotive in South Africa in their decision making. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

This dissertation has shown that public procurement regulation takes place through regulatory documents that mainly underwent a name change and that the only changes are found in the reporting framework. The South African government identified public procurement as an active instrument to achieve social and economic goals. To provide substance to this realisation, public procurement was taken up in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. The constitution prescribes a procurement system that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

Instances of fraudulent acts are often headline news in the popular press in South Africa. Increasingly, these press reports point to the government tender process as being the main enabler used by the perpetrators committing the fraud. The cause of the tender fraud problem is confidentiality breach of information. This is accomplished, in part, by compromising the tender information contained in the government information system. This results in the biased award of a tender. Typically, the information in the tender process should be used to make decisions about a tender’s specifications, solicitation, evaluation and adjudication. The sharing of said information to unauthorised persons can be used to manipulate and corrupt the process. This in turn corrupts the tender process by awarding a tender to an unworthy recipient. This research studies the generic steps in the tender process to understand how information is used to corrupt the tender process. It proposes that conflict of interest, together with a lack of information confidentiality in the information system, paves the way for possible tender fraud. Thereafter, a system of internal controls is examined within the South African government as well as in foreign countries to investigate measures taken to reduce the breach of confidential information in the tender process. By referring to the Common Criteria Security Model, various critical security areas within the tender process are identified. This measure is assisted with the ISO/IEC 27002 (2005) standard which has guiding principles for the management of confidential information. Thereafter, an information security policy,the Chinese Wall Model will be discussed as a means of reducing instances where conflict of interest may occur. Finally, an adapted Chinese Wall Model, which includes elements of the tender process, is presented as a way of reducing fraud in the government tender process. Finally, the research objective of this study is presented in the form of Critical Success Factors that aid in reducing the breach of confidential information in the tender process. As a consequence, tender fraud is reduced. These success factors have a direct and serious impact on the effectiveness of the Chinese Wall Model to secure the confidentiality of tender information. The proposed Critical Success Factors include: the Sanitisation Policy Document, an Electronic Document Management System, the Tender Evaluation Ethics Document, the Audit Trail Log and the Chinese Wall Model Prosecution Register.

Abstracts in English and Zulu / Quantitative and qualitative research methods, which are descriptive in nature, were employed in this study to investigate the ineffective and insufficient implementation of policies, procedures and processes of supply chain management and demand management. This topic was explored with particular reference to the Immovable Asset Management Component of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Data were gathered from managers and officials responsible for demand management in the SAPS through personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires. The collected raw data were analysed through the identification of key themes and the use of statistical methods and graphs. The findings revealed that the SAPS does not set realistic timelines and does not budget for all identified needs relating to immovable assets. End-user demands are subsequently not met. It was found that non-compliance with statutory requirements leads to inadequate implementation of generally accepted principles of supply chain management. It was also established that the SAPS does not have the capacity to fulfil its facility management needs. Importantly, there is a shortage of appropriately qualified technical officials. In addition, it was found that the commitment and accountability of officials involved in the implementation of demand management may be enhanced by creating a better common understanding of the meaning of demand management policies and procedures. Consequently, recommendations were made on how to strengthen demand management within the supply chain of the SAPS. The study therefore contributes to the effective implementation of demand management in public administration in South Africa, particularly at the SAPS. / Izindlela zocwaningo ezencike kumanani nakwizinga lengxoxo (Quantitative and qualitative research methods), okuyizindlela ezichaza ngokwezimpawu, zisetshenzisiwe kulolu cwaningo ukuphenya ngokungasetshenziswa ngokwanele kwemigomo, kwezingqubo nangokwezinhlelo zokuphathwa kochungechunge lwemisebenzi yokukhiqiza (supply chain) kanye nokuphathwa kwezinga lemikhiqizo efunekayo. Isihloko siye sahlolwa ngokubhekisisa kakhulu kohlelo Lwesigaba Sokuphathwa Kwempahla Engahambi/engagudluki Yophiko Lwezesiphoyisa (Immovable Asset Management Component of the South African Police Service) (SAPS). Idatha yaqoqwa kubaphathi kanye nkubasebenzi ababhekene nokuphathwa kwezinga lomkhiqizo ofunekayo ophikweni lwe-SAPS ngokusebenzisa izinhlolovo kubantu kanye nemibhalo equkethe imibuzo (self-administered questionnaires). Idatha eqoqiwe eluhlaza engekasetshenzwa yahlaziywa ngokwehlukanisa izindikimba ezibalulekile kanye nokusetshenziswa kwezindlela zamanani kanye negilafu (statistical methods and graphs). Ulwazi olutholakele lukhombise ukuthi uphiko lwe-SAPS alubeki uhlelo lwezikhathi zoqobo futhi lolu hlelo alwenzi ibhajethi lazo zonke izidingo ezimayelana nezimpahla ezingahambi/ezingagudluki. Izimfuno zabasebenzisi bokugcina bomkhiqizo azifinyeleleki. Kutholakele ukuthi ukungalandelwa kwezimfuno zomthetho kuholele kwizinga lokusetshenziswa ngokungagculisi kwemigomo eyamukelwa uwonkewonke yokuphathwa kohlelo lochungechunge lwemisebenzi yokukhiqiza. Kuye kwatholakala ukuthi uphiko lwe-SAPS alunamandla okufeza izidingo zalo zokuphathwa kwezinhlaka zokusebenza. Okubalulekile, kunokusweleka kothisha kanye nabasebenzi abanekhono elifanele lesithekhinikhali. Ngaphezu kwalokhu, kutholakele ukuthi ukusebenza ngokuzibophelela nangokuziphendulela kwabasebenzi kubandakanye ukusetshenziswa kohlelo lokufuneka kwempahla kungaqiniswa ngokwakha ukuzwisisana okungcono okuchaza imigomo kanye nezingqubo zokuphathwa kwezinga lempahla edingekayo. Okokugcina, kuye kwenziwa izincomo mayelana nokuthi amaxhama ezinga lokufuneka kwempahla ngaphakathi kohlelo lochungechunge lwemisebenzi yokukhiqiza ophikweni lwe-SAPS. Ngalokho-ke ucwaningo lufake igalelo ekusetshenzisweni kahle kohlelo lokuphathwa kwezinga lokufuneka kwempahla ohlelweni lokulawulwa kwezinhlaka zombuso eNingizimu Afrika, ikakhulukazi ophikweni lwe-SAPS. / Public Administration and Management / M. P. A. (Public Administration)

The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the brokered transport costs of road and rail transport for the independent timber growers of NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Reliability, flexibility, visibility, rates and total transport time were evaluated for each mode of transport. The impact of the carbon emissions was also considered and the option of performance based standard vehicles investigated. During the period 2000 to 2003, rail was the dominant mode of transport. However from 2004 onwards, due to the diminishing service levels and the high tariff structures of rail transport, road became the preferred mode of transport. The results of the survey conducted for the purposes of this study showed that although road transport outperformed rail transport, rail transport scored significantly higher than road transport as a cost-effective mode of transportation. Rail transport was shown to be a far less carbon intensive mode of transport than road transport, while there were substantial cost savings and benefits from performance based standard vehicles. / Transport Economics, Logistics and Tourism / M. Com. (Logistics)