Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Given the increased uncertainty and unpredictability prevalent in the business environment, there is heightened pressure for organizations to become radically innovative and to constantly reinvent themselves, and ultimately change the rules of the game in their industry. The concept of new business models is relatively new to business literature. However, its significance cannot be underestimated where operating in a turbulent competitive landscape has made the traditional way of doing business ineffective, and consequently has changed the nature of competitive advantage. Despite the obvious importance of creating new business models, there seems to be inadequate understanding and definition of the term "business model", thereby hindering the understanding of the nature of new business models and the approaches needed for creating new business models. This paper initially investigated the concept of "business model" and its core dimensions, which revealed that the term lacks an adequate and comprehensive definition. In response to this, a comprehensive working definition for the concept was formulated after an analysis of the various definitions proposed in the business literature. Since the key elements of a business model are important sources of competitive advantage, this definition has been used to illustrate how organizations can create new business models by manipulating the basic aspects of the business model. Approaches and techniques that enable organizations to create new business models and to become radically innovative have been selected from those put forward by Govindarajan and Gupta (2001) and Amit and Zott (2001). Finally, an analysis was made of the performance measurement tools for new business models. This revealed a lack of such an evaluation tool and this study has proposed a framework from which its dimensions can be used to expand and develop a measurement instrument for proposed business models and/or industries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gegee die verhoogde onsekerheid en onvoorspelbaarheid wat teenwoordig is in die besigheidsomgewing, is daar meer druk op organisasies om radikaal innoverend te word, om hulself konstant te herontdek en uiteindelik om die reels van die spel in hulle bedryf te verander. Die konsep van nuwe besigheidsmodelle is relatief nuut in die besigheidsliteratuur, maar die belangrikheid van die konsep kan nie onderskat word nie, waar die tradisionele besigheidsbenaderings ondoeltrefferd geword het binne 'n fluktuerende mededingende omgewing. As gevolg hiervan, het die hele wese van mededingende voorsprong verander. Ten spyte van die duidelike behoefte aan die skep van nuwe besigheidsmodelle, blyk daar ook om onvoldoende begrip en definisie van die term "besigheidsmodel" te wees. Dit belemmer die begrip van die oorsprong van nuwe besigheidsmodelle en die benaderings benodig vir die skep van nuwe besigheidsmodelle. Hierdie skripsie het eerstens die konsep "besigheidsmodel" en sy kerndimensies ondersoek, wat aan die lig gebring het dat die term ontbreek aan 'n voldoende en volledige definisie. Nadat die verskeie definisies in die besigheids-literatuur is, is 'n volledige gangbare definiesie vir die konsep geformuleer. Aangesien die sleutelelemente van 'n besigheidsmodel belangrike bronne van mededingende voorsprong bied, is die definisie gebruik om te illustreer hoe organisasies nuwe besigheidsmodelle kan skep deur die basiese aspekte van die besigheidsmodel te manipuleer. Benaderings en tegnieke wat organisasies in staat stel om nuwe besigheidsmodelle te skep en om radikaal innoverend te word, is geselekteer vanuit die voorgestel deur Govindarajan en Gupta (2001) en Amit en Zott (2001). Ten slotte, is 'n ontleding gedoen van die instrumente wat gebruik word om die prestasie van nuwe besigheidsmodelle te meet. Dit het aan die lig gebring dat daar nie so 'n evalueringsinstrument is nie, en hierdie studie het dus 'n raamwerk voorgestel waarvan die dimensies gebruik kan word om 'n meetinstrument vir voorgestelde besigheidsmodelle en/of industrieë uit te brei en ontwikkel.

Thesis (MA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the human race enters the new millennium it is challenged by factors such as continuos changed, demand for improved quality and increased competition of global proportions. This requires of organisations to be more responsive to change as well as that individuals will need to position themselves to meet the challenges of the knowledge era. These challenges demand creativity in order to meet the demands for value adding contributions to the organisation. The above mentioned situation gives rise to a number of questions: Firstly, how can the creative processes of an individual be assessed? Secondly, what role does personality play as an indicator of creativity? Lastly, can the knowledge concerning the relationship between creativity and personality be applied to enhance the expression of creativity in the working environment? This research is aimed at investigating the relationship between personality dimensions and creative thinking preferences. 305 managers from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd reporting levels of an organisation in the aviation maintenance and manufacturing industry took part in the study. Two instruments were used namely the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Step II, to assess the personality dimensions and the Neethling Brain Instrument (NBI) to assess the subjects creative thinking preference. A Pearson Product Moment analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between the subscales of the MBTI Step II personality dimensions and the NBI. Next a Principal Component analysis was conducted to determine if any of the NBI thinking style preferences measure the same factor as the subscales of the MBTI Step II, as well as to reduce the number of variables used to determine if a significant relationship exists between the principle dimensions of the MBTI and thinking styles of the NBI. Finally, a regression analysis was performed to determine if the principle dimensions of the MBTI Step II are significantly related to the thinking style dimensions of the NBI. The results of the Pearson Product Moment correlation indicated that significant correlations exist between the sub-scales of the MBTI Step II and the NBI thinking preferences. However, the significance of these correlations range from weak to strong, posing a challenge with regard to determining which of these correlations have any practical value. The results of the Principle Component analysis indicated the existence of four distinct factors, which are common to both the MBTI Step II, and the NBI. However, it was of interest to note that two of the dimensions of the NBI each loaded on two of the factors leading to the conclusion that these two dimensions each measure two unique factors. The results of the Regression analysis provided evidence that the NBI measures two dimensions of the MBTI Step II. Firstly, a preference for thinking is measured by the L1, Upper Left quadrant scale of the NBI and a preference for feeling is measured by the R2, Right Lower quadrant scale of the NBI. Secondly, that a combination of the Judging/Perceiving and Sensing/Intuition preferences are related as follows. The R1, Right Upper quadrant preference scale measures a combination of Perceiving and Intuition. The L2, Left Lower quadrant scale appears to measure a combination of Judging and Sensing. An obvious question that arises is, which personality type is more creative? The process perspective on creativity would appear to indicate that certain personality types have a preference for contributing more effectively to specific parts of the creative process. Thus it can be concluded that no single personality type is more creative than the other is, but that creativity requires the use of all the functions of Personality Type. The key to creativity is the integration of all the Type functions both preferred and not preferred in a synergistic manner. This requires recognition that creativity will require the expenditure of significant amounts of psychic energy to apply non-preferred functions in the process of being creative. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies wat die nuwe millenuim betree het, staar toenemende uitdagings in die gesig. Faktore soos konstante verandering, toenemende eise vir die verbetering van kwaliteit en die verhoging in kompetisie wereldwyd, stel aan organisasies hoer eise om vinniger te reageer op verandering. Dit verg ook van individue om hulself te posisioneer ten einde die uitdagings van die kennis-era aan te durf. Die uitdagings vereis kreatiwiteit om aan die eise van waarde-toevoeging in die organisasie by te dra. Die voorafgenoemde situasie laat 'n paar vrae ontstaan. Eerstens, hoe ‘n individu se kreatiewe prosesse geevalueer kan word, tweedens watter rol persoonlikheid speel as ‘n aanduider van kreatiwiteit en laastens of kennnis van die verband tussen kreatiwiteit en persoonlikheid prakties toegepas kan word om die uitdrukking van kreatiwiteit in die werksomgewing te verhoog. Hierdie navorsing is daarop gemik om die verband tussen persoonlikheidsdimensies en kreatiewe denk voorkeure te ondersoek. 305 bestuurders in die eerste, tweede en derde rapporteringsvlak van 'n lugvaart vervaardiging en onderhoud organisasie het aan die navorsing deelgeneem. Twee meetinstrumente is gebruik in die navorsing naamlik die Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Step II, om die persoonlikheidsdimensies te meet en die Neethling Brein Instrument (NBI) om die individue se kreatiewe denkvoorkeure te meet. Die Pearson Produk Moment ontleding is gebruik om die korrelasie tussen die persoonlikheidsdimensie sub-skale van die MBTI Step II en die NBI te bepaal. Daarna is 'n Hoofkomponent ontleding uitgevoer om te bepaai of enige van die NBI denk voorkeurstyle dieselfde faktor as die MBTI Step II subskale meet, asook om die aantal veranderlikes te verminder om sodoende te bepaai of daar ‘n betekenisvolle verband bestaan tussen die hoofdimensies van die MBTI Step II en die denkstyle van die NBI. Laastens is ‘n Regressie ontleding gebruik om te bepaai of die hoofdimensies van die MBTI Step II ‘n betekenisvolle verband toon met die denkstyl dimensies van die NBI. Die resultate van die Pearson Produk Moment ontleding het daarop gedui dat daar ‘n betekenisvolle korrelasie bestaan tussen die sub-skale van die MBTI Step II en die NBI denk voorkeure. Die betekenisvolheid van die korrelasies wissel egter van swak tot sterk korrelasies, wat ‘n uitdaging skep in terme van die bepaling van die korrelasies wat enige praktiese waarde inhou. Die resultate van die Hoofkomponent ontleding het die bestaan van vier kenmerkende faktore aangedui wat biede algemeen is in die MBTI Step II, en die NBI. Dit was egter interressant om te merk dat twee van die NBI se dimensies op twee verskillende faktore gelaai het. Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak word is dat die twee dimensies elk twee afsonderlike faktore meet. Die resultate van die Regressie Ontleding het aangedui dat die NBI twee dimensies van die MBTI Step II meet. Eerstens, word ‘n voorkeur vir “Thinking” gemeet deur die L1, Linker Bokantste kwadrant op die NBI en 'n voorkeur vir “Feeling” word gemeet deur die R2, Regter Onderkantste kwadrant van die NBI. Tweedens, dat 'n kombinasie van “Judging/Perceiving” en "Sensing/Intuition” voorkeure die volgende verband toon. Die R1 Regter Bokantste kwardrant meet 'n voorkeur vir ‘n kombinasie van “Intuition” en “Perceiving”. Die L2 Linker Onderkantste kwadrant meet ‘n voorkeur vir 'n kombinasie van “Sensing" en “Judging”. ‘n Ooglopende vraag wat gevra word is die van watter persoonlikheidstipe meer kreatief is? Uit die prossess perspektief wat geneem is in die studie, wil dit voorkom dat sekere persoonlikheidstipes ‘n voorkeur het om meer effektief te kan bydra tot specifieke gedeeltes van die kreatiewe prosess. Die afleiding kan dus gevorm word dat geen enkele persoonlikeidstipe meer kreatief is as die ander nie, maar eerder dat die gebruik van al die funksies van persoonlikheidstipe nodig is om kreatiewiteit te ontsluit. Die sleutel tot kreatiewiteit is dus die sinergistiese integrasie van al die Tipe funksies, beide die waarvoor ‘n voorkeur bestaan en die waarvoor daar nie ‘n voorkeur is nie. Dit verg ook die besef dat kreatiwieteit die spandering van groot hoeveelhede psigiese energie benodig, om funksies waarvoor daar nie 'n voorkeur is nie, toe te pas om die kreatiewe process te volbring.

The theory of self-leadership is gaining credibility and support in the era of globalisation and knowledge workers. As with many leadership theories, culture has been proposed to have a major impact on leadership processes. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent that self-leadership is correlated with national culture dimensions. Self-leadership was measured through the Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire developed by Houghton and Neck (2002). The cultural values were measured through the use of Hofstede’s Value Survey Module 94 (VSM94). Hypotheses were formed regarding relationships between national culture background and Self-leadership practice. Pearson r, Chi-square test with cross tabulation and multiple regression were used to determine the associations. The results from the statistical tests showed associations between national culture values and self-leadership dimensions. PDI and UAI showed a positive relationship with visualising successful performance but a negative relationship with self-talk both aspects of constructive thought pattern strategies. MAS had a positive relationship with self-talk while negatively correlated to visualising successful performance. IDV had positive relationships with behaviour-focussed strategies, natural reward strategies and constructive thought pattern strategies. Long-term orientation had a strong negative relationship with behaviour-focussed and natural reward strategies and a very weak negative association with behaviour focussed strategies. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / M.B.L.

M.Ing. / The purpose of the research was to determine the relationship, between the innovative culture and employee retention within the organisation. High labour turnover impacts on organisational performance and survival. Despite an organisation’s level of development, many organisations face employee retention challenges. Therefore devising strategies to improve employee retention has become a priority for most organisations. The problem of high labour turnover was also observed during a pilot study conducted at the initial stage of this research study. From the pilot study it appeared as though a relationship existed between an organisation’s innovative culture and employee job satisfaction. A review of literature revealed that there were no extensive studies which had been conducted to establish the relationship between innovative culture an employee retention especially in South Africa. The need to develop strategies to improve employee retention and the lack of extensive studies in South Africa about whether innovative culture could influence employee retention motivated the current research study. High labour turnover has the potential to affect an organisation negatively with regards to employee morale, productivity, etc. Therefore, there was a need for a study to be carried out to determine the relationship between an organisation’s culture on innovation and labour turnover within the organisation. The research involved conducting a desk and pilot study to establish the problem of labour turnover; an extensive literature review to inform the researcher about labour turnover, employee retention, organisational culture, innovation and employee conditions of service. Finally a questionnaire survey and interview was used to establish the existing conditions among the selected sample. A relationship between innovative culture, employee satisfaction and employee retention was inferred from the data obtained from the questionnaire and interview survey. The empirical data obtained from the questionnaire survey and interviews was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS) providing descriptive and inferential statistics. Recommendations on employee retention were informed by the findings from the survey. The respondents to the questionnaire survey and interviews were professionals and employees in the selected organisations from all departments (Marketing, Finance, Human Resources and Trade Marketing). The participants to the study were drawn from the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, Manufacturing and Construction Industry Sector and from the Services (Banking and Utilities) sector.

The purpose of this research is to better understand how marketers and consumers solve problems. This research first reviews the problem-solving literature, discusses several areas of confusion related to problem-solving, and offers solutions. After resolving the confusion, this research then develops a theoretical model of problemsolving. Four hypotheses are derived from the model, and then empirically tested. The model states that the distinct cognitive domain of problem-solving begins with problem recognition. Given a problem, associative memory and associative activation provide a solution (H #1). This solution is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If satisfactory, the individual engages in the satisficing process and accepts the solution (H#2). If unsatisfactory, the individual engages in the decision-making process and searches for information related to an alternative solution (H #3). Thus, the difference between satisficing and decision-making is the search for information (H #4). Problemsolving ends when an intended solution is chosen. A pretest and two studies are conducted to test the four hypotheses. The Pretest demonstrated situations that elicited problem recognition. Study 1 tested hypothesis #1 and found that at least 75 percent of the time associative memory and associative activation provided a solution. Study 2 tested hypotheses #2, #3, and #4. Hypotheses #2 and #3 were tested using a two-way ANOVA, Chi-Square, and Point Biserial Correlation and hypothesis #4 was tested using an independent sample t-test and Point Biserial Correlation. Results of all empirical tests confirm each of the hypotheses, which in turn support the theoretical model. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Professional service entrepreneurs (PSEs) paradoxically practice their profession in highly institutionalized contexts which require significant socialization, while at the same time enacting their role as an entrepreneur. Some activities consistent with entrepreneurship may be unnecessary for—and possibly even contradictory with— activities consistent with professional roles. In this dissertation, I addressed the questions of how two highly central role identities (professional and entrepreneurial) related to entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in professional service practices, and how EO influences performance in the context of professional practices. Using a sample of 139 physicians, I examined the relationships between the role identity centrality of two primary roles (professional and entrepreneurial) that PSEs occupy, the EO of their firms, and firm performance. This study utilized a mixed methods design, consisting of both a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews administered to a sample of professionals who own professional practice firms in the southeastern region of Florida. Findings suggest a significant and positive relationship between entrepreneurial role identity centrality and entrepreneurial orientation and a marginally significant and negative moderation of entrepreneurial role identity centrality upon the relationship between professional role identity centrality and EO. A qualitative study served to elaborate on the findings of the quantitative study, and revealed the potential of very unique understandings of the intersection of entrepreneurship and professional practice across a selection of physicians. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Researchers have proposed several theoretical explanations of how employee creativity is fostered and developed in organizations. The early literature attributed creativity to personal factors, such as personality and cognitive ability. Researchers also examined the role of environmental factors, such as role models, support and feedback in creativity. More recent research suggests that when individuals lack creativity-relevant skills, there are certain contextual factors that can provide support for the development of the necessary skills. However, there is a dearth of empirical research investigating these relationships. This dissertation summarizes extant research and advances the field by empirically testing the individual and collective roles of personal and contextual factors in employee creativity. / by Jennifer M. (Bowers) Collins. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Utilizing a modified Delphi Technique research study, consensus was sought from 298 practitioners in the public assembly facility management (PAFM) industry regarding their perceptions on varied matters connected to the academic preparation of managers/executives serving the industry. A comprehensive literature review and a prior pilot study were conducted for the purpose of creating the initial survey (Questionnaire 1). The pilot study consisted of an open-ended interview session with a panel (N=16) of PAFM managers. Sixty-four (64) of 66 consensus-seeking items attained consensus from the respondents (N=298) after Questionnaire 1 results were tabulated. Respondents were given the opportunity to re-assess their Questionnaire 1 choices in Questionnaire 2 and if compelled, change them. Items related to Kinesiology and Physical Education did not attain consensus status in Questionnaire 1 or Questionnaire 2. This study concluded: a) academic program in PAFM is beneficial to the industry (96%) and 63.5% viewed the degree as very important or essential; b) the preferred academic delivery level was Bachelors/undergraduate (52.7%); c) the degree program should be housed in Business (42%); d) the preferred competencies and skill sets were identified; e) the preferred course components were identified. / Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the type of public assembly facility where a respondent worked and the preferred academic unit of the program, as well as preferred general course components. Recommendations for future research include: (a) conducting a similar study employing solely qualitative methodology; (b) seeking potential significant relationships with gender, ethnicity, geographic location, ownership and governance of facilities, years of experience; and (c) comparing and contrasting results of this study among faculty who currently teach public assembly facility management courses and the students that are in said courses . The rising cost of providing safe and cost-efficient public assembly facilities require that the people operate these facilities possess the best set of managerial, administrative and technical skills related to the management of these facilities; this study aids in that quest by suggesting competencies and course components, and potentially a PAFM general academic curriculum, based on practitioner viewpoint. / by James J. Riordan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The effect of globalization is recognized as the impetus which is forcing places to compete globally. Place marketing approach is an alternative for places to attract their target markets. Review on past literature indicates sustainable competitive concept is a possible solution to handling problem of place competition. The gap in knowledge indicated by rare studies on sustainable competitiveness implies the need to identify factors that describe sustainable competitive places. The sustainable competitive concept is explained through the assessment of the roles and the relationships among factors of place sustainability, place competitiveness, place attachment, place satisfaction, and place loyalty. Conceptual model of sustainable competitive factors demonstrates the relationships of these factors. Quantitative technique based on samples of two medium-sized Malaysian cities provides usable data on residents’ perception of the sustainable competitive factors. Variance based Structural Equation Modeling reveals the conceptual model’s explanatory power and predictive capability to explain sustainable competitiveness of places. The findings mark the importance of place attachment in explaining sustainable competitive places. Economic and social factors are the main components of place sustainability, and quality of life is the main component of place competitiveness. The findings reveal place loyalty as the main factor that influences sustainable competitive place. Inconsistencies in the conclusions of previous studies suggest that they fail to notice the aspect of attachment as an important predictor in investigating place - human relationships. Implications of the thesis findings are given to policymakers.

Innovation is a necessity, not a nicety - but many companies still think of innovation as being important rather than urgent. For innovation to be successful, it requires different behaviours and new ways of thinking. It is fundamentally a human activity; hence the people that make innovation a reality are the inner workings of this process. In this study, a measurement tool has been designed to assess the different types of personalities that exist in new product development teams. A model has also been proposed. This model classifies the different personalities according to their dominant traits. It was derived from a tool that is well known within many innovation driven organisations: the model for assessing brand personalities that is very similar to the Heylen model. Using this model, a new model is proposed for the assessment of individual personalities. The individual personality types were established and the overall team structure was examined to determine if diverse personality innovation teams have any correlation with the perceived output of innovation. This study served the purpose of determining if this relationship exists as well as introducing a new model for the classification of different personality types. Three companies within the Durban region were selected and upon investigation it was learned that there does exist a relationship between diverse personality innovation teams and the perceived output of the process. It was learned that diversity does contribute to the measured innovation output. There were four different personality types classified. It was established that too many of one or more type of personality (e.g. originators or effectors) or the lack of other types (in this case motivators) in a new product development team hinders the optimal output of the process i.e. it effectively delays innovation and a valuable market offering since the abundant personality types dominate with their respective functions and inhibit other critical functions for the innovation journey to run smoothly. Effective innovation is about each personality type adding his/her contribution to the process. In this study it was established that not many motivators were identified in teams and an increase in originators and effectors correlated with a decrease in perceived innovation output. Each team member exists in a team at the opportunity cost of another, and it is essential that the right mix of personalities be present for effective innovation. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003.