Thesis (MTech (Business)) --Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / The Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology conducts research in the niche area: “The Effective Management of SMMEs” as identified by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The research contained within the ambit of this thesis, has as its objective to establish the current position of performance measures utilised daily in the business activities by fast food franchisees, to raise awareness of future performance drivers (i.e. the critical success factors or non-financials aspects), and to highlight the importance of measuring the key performance areas of both financials and non-financial indicators as significant contributors to sustainability and growth of an enterprise. The challenge managers is currently faced with pertain to the managing of businesses for results i.e. identifying the drivers of financial success, finding a balance to measure financial and non-financial performances, appraising and compensating people’s performance. Lacking such tools, businesses have encountered difficulties managing what they could not describe or measure, or that are exposed to the risk of failure. Financial accounting (historic information) does not provide details about factors that actually help grow market share and profits (the main drivers of future performance). The questions which should be asked, are: Are the managers of fast food franchisees able to identify critical information or articulate factors that are important to actually help grow market share and profits? What tools are utilized to measure and drive value in real-time? To what level is performance measured, and what is the role and purpose of the utilised measures in the fast food franchisees? Most importantly, to what extent are franchisees in the fast food industry equipped by franchisors through a franchise “package”? This remains problematic as the need to identify and understand information critical for decision making in the fast food industry becomes imperative for the growth and sustainability of the organization. To answer these questions, the performance measures actually used by franchisees, will be surveyed. The proposed study will involve the collection, compilation, and analysis of both financials and non-financials performance measures using survey data from fast food franchisees within the Cape Metropolis. Quantitative data will be collected through opened and closed ended questionnaires (distributed to owners/managers of outlets) to document the existing performance measures and resulting perceived benefits. The outcome of this thesis will help franchisees to identify critical success factors and raise awareness with franchisors on inadequacies in the franchise package, so as to contribute to the effective management of small businesses. Furthermore, the research will be of importance in empowering the fast food sector to take advantages of alternative performance measures, improve their business efficiencies and increase their capacity to grow and be sustainable.

For more than a decade (2001 – 2012) there has been extensive research conducted on the impact of marketing on food consumption, the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the use of media communication channels in the restaurant industry. However, no known research has focused specifically on the healthy fast-casual restaurant segment with a specific focus on media communication channels. This study attempts to address this limitation. The study deals with selected media communication channels and their influence on the healthy lifestyle perceptions and healthy lifestyle purchase intentions of young adult consumers in South Africa. The study considers the impact that a more selective choice of media communication channel can have on restaurants in the healthy fast-casual restaurant segment. Media communication channels are a vital part of a restaurant’s marketing communication program as they transmit messages between the business and its target market. In South Africa’s restaurant industry, there are numerous businesses that are conveying messages to consumers regarding their market offerings. This advertising clutter is aggravated by healthy fast-casual restaurants needing to compete against traditional fast-casual restaurants who are adding healthier items to their menus. The study’s secondary research included a literature review on marketing communication, selected media communication channels (print media, display media, broadcast media and online media) and the South African restaurant industry (with a focus on the healthy fast-casual segment). In addition, perception and purchase intention were discussed with a focus on healthy lifestyles and young adult consumers. In order to establish the influence of the selected media communication channels (print media, display media, broadcast media and online media) on young adults’ healthy lifestyle perceptions and healthy lifestyle purchase intentions an empirical investigation was also conducted. A positivistic research paradigm was used as quantitative methods were performed to identify significant relationships among the selected variables. The sample consisted of students from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. A total of 440 questionnaires were distributed, with 350 usable. Therefore, a response rate of 79.55 per cent was obtained. The empirical investigation revealed that the items in the questionnaire that were used to gather information about healthy lifestyle perception and healthy lifestyle purchase intention loaded together on one factor which was renamed healthy lifestyle buying behaviour. Multiple regression analysis indicated that positive and statistically significant relationships existed between print media and healthy lifestyle buying behaviour and between online media and the healthy lifestyle buying behaviour of young adults. These relationships imply that an increased use of print media will reflect increased buying behaviour that supports healthy lifestyles amongst young adults. Similarly, the more online media is used, the more young adult buying behaviour will reflect healthier choices. This implies that restaurants in the healthy fast-casual restaurant segment can increase the demand for their market offerings and stand out amongst the advertising clutter through a more deliberate use of print media and online media. The study includes strategies that can be used to improve the use of print media and online media in order to influence the healthy lifestyle buying behaviour of young adults. Healthy lifestyle buying behaviours essentially will increase the demand for goods that support healthy lifestyles and therefore increase the demand for healthy fast-casual restaurants. The provision of healthy menu items and a more focused marketing program can be used as a strategy to attract more young adults as consumers, to grow business relationships with this target market, to enhance business performance and to create a healthier South African community.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The business format, franchising, can be defined as "the granting of a licence for a predetermined financial return by a franchising company (franchisor) to its franchisees. The grant entitles them to make use of a complete business package, including training, support and the corporate name (branding and logos). Thus enabling them (franchisees) to operate their own businesses to exactly the same standards and format as the other units in the franchise chain." (Grant 1985, p4 as cited by Altinay, L. 2004) Franchising as a business model can be seen in essence as a proven business model that is sold as a "best practices knowledge" model to franchisees. Although the "best practices" approach is at the core of franchising no formal methodology was found to exist to guide the development thereof. The lack of a formal methodology in this regard has given rise to various self-designed so-called "project management" approaches as found to be applied in the development of franchise outlets. This mini-thesis sets about testing the theoretical and practical integration of a formal project management approach, in fast food franchising market. Both from a theoretical and practical point of view it was found that the integration of a formal project management methodology and franchising as a business model would improve the functionality of franchising as a whole. By developing a formal methodology in a course for the franchising model, better control over the limited scarce resources (money, time, quality and people) at its disposal can be obtained, allowing optimal growth through proper development, planning, monitoring and delivering of business outlets. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die besigheids formaat, naamlik agentskap, kan beskryf word as: die vergunning van 'n lisensie teen 'n voorafbepaalde finansiële tarief deur die maatskappy, aan sy agentskappe. Die vergunning leen hulle daaraan toe om gebruiksnut van die hele pakket te kan benut, insluitende opleiding, ondersteuning en korporatiewe naams- (handelsmerk en logo) gebruik. Sodoende bevoeg die gebruiksnut die agentskappe om hulle eie besighede tot dieselfde standaarde en formaat as die ander agentskappe in die groep te bedryf. (Grant 1985, p4 soos aangehaal deur Altinay, l.2004) Agentskap as 'n besigheids model kan beskou word in wese as 'n erkende besigheids model, wat verkoop word as 'n "beste kennis praktyk" model, aan die organisasie se agentskappe. Alhoewel die "beste kennis praktyk" metode, aan die kern van agentskap is, is geen formele metodologie gevind wat die ontwikkeling daarvan reguleer nie. Die tekort aan 'n formele metodologie in die aanwending van agentskap het tot gevolg gehad dat verskeie self ontwikkelde sogenaamde "projek bestuur" metodes in gebruik geneem is in die ontwikkeling van verskeie agentskappe. Hierdie mini-tesis is daartoe gemik om teoretiese en praktiese integrasie van 'n formele projek bestuur metodiek in die kits kos agentskap mark te beproef. Beide van 'n teoretiese en praktiese perspektief was dit bevind dat die integrasie van 'n formele projek bestuur metodologie en agentskap as 'n besigheids model, die funksionele toepassing van agentskap as 'n geheel sal bevorder. Deur die daarstelling van 'n formele agentskap kursus bied dit die organisasie beter kontrole oor hulle beskikbare skaars hulpbronne (geld, tyd, kwaliteit en mense), wat optimale groei bevorder weens die ontwikkeling van verbeterde ontwikkeling, beplanning, toesighouding, en lewering metodes.

The South African fast-food industry is growing steadily, and so is the trend towards healthy eating. South Africans are becoming more aware of what they put into their bodies and not only do they want to consume meals that are quick and convenient, but they also want to ensure that what they are eating offers nutritional benefits. Although fast-food outlets have responded to customer demand by adding healthier food options to their menus, customer satisfaction regarding these options has not been investigated sufficiently in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to explore customer satisfaction with the healthier food options available at fast-food outlets in South Africa. An extensive literature review was conducted on the South African fast-food industry (the link between fast-food and obesity was noted, followed by a discussion on the trend towards healthy eating) and customer satisfaction. An empirical study was conducted, in which data was collected from students studying at the University of Pretoria by means of self-administered questionnaires. The study followed a mixed method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research in order to satisfy the research objectives. The results of this research study indicate that there is a high level of satisfaction amongst South African customers with the healthier food options available at fast-food outlets. / Business Management / M. Comm. (Business Management)

The South African fast-food industry is growing steadily, and so is the trend towards healthy eating. South Africans are becoming more aware of what they put into their bodies and not only do they want to consume meals that are quick and convenient, but they also want to ensure that what they are eating offers nutritional benefits. Although fast-food outlets have responded to customer demand by adding healthier food options to their menus, customer satisfaction regarding these options has not been investigated sufficiently in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to explore customer satisfaction with the healthier food options available at fast-food outlets in South Africa. An extensive literature review was conducted on the South African fast-food industry (the link between fast-food and obesity was noted, followed by a discussion on the trend towards healthy eating) and customer satisfaction. An empirical study was conducted, in which data was collected from students studying at the University of Pretoria by means of self-administered questionnaires. The study followed a mixed method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research in order to satisfy the research objectives. The results of this research study indicate that there is a high level of satisfaction amongst South African customers with the healthier food options available at fast-food outlets. / Business Management / M. Comm. (Business Management)

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between personality preference types (as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI]) Form M and psychological career resources (as measured by the Psychological Career Resource Inventory [PCRI]) of managers in the fast-food industry and whether groups from different races, ages and gender differ significantly regarding personality types and psychological career resources. A quantity survey was conducted on a sample (N = 81) of managers in the fast food industry in the Western Cape. The extraversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ESFJ) and the introversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ISFJ) personality types were the dominant ones in the study. Personality type preferences were significantly related to psychological career resources. The personality types differed significantly regarding the following PCRI variables: variety/creativity (career preference), growth/development (career value), self/other skills (career enabler) and social connectivity (career harmoniser). Significant differences between personality types, psychological career resources and age, gender and race were also established. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between personality preference types (as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI]) Form M and psychological career resources (as measured by the Psychological Career Resource Inventory [PCRI]) of managers in the fast-food industry and whether groups from different races, ages and gender differ significantly regarding personality types and psychological career resources. A quantity survey was conducted on a sample (N = 81) of managers in the fast food industry in the Western Cape. The extraversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ESFJ) and the introversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ISFJ) personality types were the dominant ones in the study. Personality type preferences were significantly related to psychological career resources. The personality types differed significantly regarding the following PCRI variables: variety/creativity (career preference), growth/development (career value), self/other skills (career enabler) and social connectivity (career harmoniser). Significant differences between personality types, psychological career resources and age, gender and race were also established. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)