Finding ways to deal with complex situations has been a long issue of interest by researchers and scholars alike. Researchers and scholars have provided the strategy community with an insightful understanding of the phenomenon of complexity. The traditional understanding of complexity in strategic management, mainly coming from the design school of strategy, has given way to modern complexity perspectives. These perspectives are from Chaos Theory, Dissipative Structures and Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). Complexity sciences seek to look at the challenges associated with knowing and understanding the unknowable by focusing on the interactions in complex systems. The properties of complex systems in turn provide lessons that can be transferred to the field of strategic management in a form of approaches to deal with complexity. The CAS metaphor will be used as a model to contrast the approaches in current use by the organisation of study in strategic management. Insights from studies on complex systems points to a need for constant exploratory studies in organisations to determine how well organisations are responding to complexity. The aim of this study is to explore approaches that inform thinking and management practices in strategic management by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (department) in view of complexity - increasing difficulties to understand the world. Firstly, results of the study are intended to contribute to understanding how insights arising from the study of complex systems, in the world, are being used to rethink and design government departments – public sector organisations - systems and strategic approaches, so that they are more flexible, adaptable and able to respond efficiently and effectively to changes in larger environment. Secondly, where the study finds that the current complexity approaches of the department are not informed by the latest thinking on complexity, recommendations are made on ways the department can improve its approaches. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

There are numerous government and private sector initiatives aimed at supporting micro business in South Africa, yet there seems to be a lack of coercion, synergy and harmony in these endeavours to assist such businesses. A common perception about government is that all of its business programmes, have a string of protocols, red tape and intermediaries resulting in delays and inefficient support. Efforts to access this assistance is burdensome for micro-business. There is loss of time and resources in the process. This research paper sought to establish what business management strategies are employed by the micro-business owner in the Pinetown area, as a means to survive and grow. Business management strategies have been discussed in light of their strength to help the business survive and grow. The effectiveness and the efficiency of these management strategies is measured based on the classification of micro- business and the research methodology chosen. Questionnaires have been self administered to the micro-business owners to obtain their response on strategies practical for their survival. The area of study selected has been the Pinetown Area located within the Ethekwini Municipality, and part of the Province of KwaZulu- Natal. Findings from literature have highlighted constraints limiting micro business growth in South Africa. Findings have also highlighted major survival strategies viewed as the main motivating factor for micro-business owners to survive. Two key findings emerged from the study; firstly the need micro business owners to be financially prudent and to manage their business better. The second major finding was the existence of collaborative savings (stokvel), utilized as a traditional investment strategy. Recommendations based on these are the provision of financial management skills to micro business, through mentorship and financial assistance programmes by government agencies. This would benefit the micro-business owners realize their dreams of substantial and extensive business expansion. / MBA. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2012.

This dissertation revolves around the topic of office decentralisation. The literature review chapter first discusses a systems approach to planning, and how it is the relationships between the objects within a system that makes the system as a whole useful. This chapter also discusses theories relating to city planning with reference to Kevin Lynch in terms of city elements as well as city planning typologies. Edmund Bacon’s theory of how movement systems of cities become powerful forces in terms of how the city is used and viewed is also discussed. Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City concept is discussed due to its intentional decentralisation but also for the manner in which nodes are linked. New Urbanism is touched on because many sprawling cities are turning this type of development in attempt to reduce the outward push of low density developments. Seeing that Apartheid city planning was informed by Modernist city planning, both of these concepts are looked at critically in relation to one another. This is to form the background on what impact office decentralisation has had on South African cities, and whether the locations of such decentralised office nodes have been in the correct locations in order to provide access to jobs to those who were marginalised during the years of Apartheid. With this background, office decentralisation is discussed in general, touching on office building typologies, the effect transportation technologies had on city planning, what causes office decentralisation, and the issue of office decentralisation in South African cities. Examples of how office decentralisation has been used as urban renewal projects have been discussed because it is of the opinion of the author that this needs to occur more often, especially in South Africa. Precedent studies of three cities which have undergone office decentralisation have been discussed in the next chapter. One is a South African city; one is another African city; and one an international city. This chapter discusses briefly their past, and the issues decentralisation is causing for the cities, as well as their solutions to the issues. Durban is used as a case study in the next chapter where decentralised office nodes have been identified and analysed. The challenges this decentralisation brings to the city are then discussed and possible solutions drawn from the abovementioned precedent studies have been suggested. These solutions were tested in a questionnaire which was sent to a selected group of working people. The results of which are discussed and analysed in chapters 5. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.