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This thesis traces and analyses the development of sport transformation and democratization in South Africa since the new constitutional dispensation, commencing in the early 1990âs. The origin, evolution and development of sport in South Africa are still in its infancy in comparison with sporting history in the global context. However, tremendous strides have also been made in other sport events, such as hosting rugby, soccer, cricket and golf, for example, at an international level. Furthermore, the knowledge about sport and democracy was not well addressed, defined and explicit. Additionally, the transformation and democratization of South African sport have been given only superficial attention since the dawn of the new democracy. In this regard rugby and politics have been intertwined in South African sport for more than fifteen decades (1861â2012). There was virtually no racial mixing of any kind in South African sport previously. The all-encompassing apartheid laws effectively prevented racial integration, both on and off the field. Above all sports apartheid was tragic in its denial of human dignity and its enforced waste of human talent and possibilities. Therefore, by using the grounded theory approach, this thesis examines empirical evidence gathered from the research participantâs data and information. The scope and nature of the research project necessitate applying the grounded theory approach which included many issues at hand to understand the origin and development of the issues, one has to determine whether transformation and democratisation of South African sport was politically or merit driven. In addition to that, a key outcome of the research was to construct a proposed theoretical framework by means of the grounded theory approach in qualitative research. The framework will eventually emerge from data collected from the relevant stakeholders involving in South African sport. The study also examines to what extent transformation has taken place since the new constitutional dispensation in the country. What progress has been made and at what pace. The latter issues necessitate the possibility to investigate the problem regarding quota systems, merit selection and development programmes in rugby. These issues form an integral part of the research on transformation and democratization in rugby. The thesis also addresses the questions on what is the relationship between sport and politics since the new democratic order in 1994.What are the basic assumptions that define transformation and democratization? Do representative teams at all levels reflect the demographics of the society or only the participating sport people? How appropriate are the principles of transformation? For example, democracy, non-racialism, equity and access, redress and representatively are principles which can be utilised or used to explain the process of transformation? Therefore to interface between rugby and sport has become a major focus of attention. Transformation in rugby since the unification in 1992 is not simply about replacing white faces with black faces but involved personal attitudinal, institutional and paradigm changes. By applying the grounded theory approach it was possible that all relevant theoretical contrasts could emerge as a possible theory. Political change in South Africa since 1994 has led to the transformation and democratization of sporting bodies and the acceptance of non-racialism in sport. But since 1995 Rugby World Cup transformation is viewed with suspicion from both the Blacks and Whites. The thesis attempts to address this vicious cycle of wrong perceptions. The conflict in sport is so intense because South Africa is culturally a mixed society. But clinging to the past both Blacks and Whites are dangerous obstacles to transformation. In fact, sport should be seen as a great equaliser in society. The research framework has been constructed from the data collected from the recorded narrative of the participants. The interpretation of the data created the context of emerging themes.

This thesis sets out to confirm the relationship between corruption and political transformation. The thesis commences by investigating different modes of political change with particular emphasis on the characteristics, nature and content of political transformation. With the relationship of the above phenomena being the focal point, the thesis extensively examines the concept of corruption by interrogating different definitions, its causes and consequences. It was also the aim of the study to context the role of ethics/morality as well as that of leadership within the relationship. The study applied a deductive and qualitative approach in exploring case studies in three African states prior to shifting focus to South Africa where both public sector departments as well as private sector experiences come under scrutiny. Apart from the broader South African environment, selected departments of the Eastern Provincial Government were also placed under the microscope as a continuation of the case-study approach. Drawing on the theories on the one hand and the case studies on the other, significant evidence could be found to categorically confirm the relationship between corruption and transformation. Overall this study is part of a growing body of research dealing with the effect of corruption in countries undergoing processes of political change. The study concludes by providing recommendations aimed at the development of an effective anti-corruption framework.

This research explored IT governance framework adoption, leveraging established IS theories. It applied both the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the technology, organization, environment (TOE) models. The study consisted of developing a model utilizing TOE and TAM, deriving relevant hypotheses. Interviews with a group of practitioners piloted a four-page Web-based survey, which was then deployed to large groups via social media and email. Statistical analysis approaches included SPSS, Excel, and the primary tool SmartPLS, which leverages the second generation statistical approaches of structural equation modeling - partial least squares (SEM-PLS). This path modeling technique measured the relationships between the independent and dependent latent variables of the research model. The results illustrated the strength of the model. The relevance of the core TAM model was validated. Hypotheses pertaining to the impact of perceived usefulness on intent were strongly supported. The aspect of ease of use was also supported. Hence, TAM was confirmed as an appropriate theory to provide insight into the adoption of IT governance frameworks. The study also found that organizational norms and support had a significant relationship with intent to adopt. The hypotheses that TOE factors influenced adoption were not strongly supported in this study. These aspects may nevertheless prove more material in a broader and less homogenous population. The other finding was that organizations had implemented tailored frameworks, not a single standard framework. The majority had established governance in some areas, although not throughout, while very few indicated that there was none in place.

M.Comm. / Corporate governance has become a heated topic of debate when meetings arise and new legislation is drafted. It is also a means to mould new ways of doing business as more and more businessmen are found to be committing irregularities in their actions. Fraud has become rife with over 30 000-fraud cases reported annually. Where will it end and how to curb this? Within this study, a comparison is drawn between corporate governance and ethics. The interrelationship between the two is noted and compared. The differences are brought forward and similarities discussed. The study tries to define ethics and corporate governance. It then moves on to establish which are the principles of corporate governance. This is followed by an evaluation of ethics and corporate governance. Finally, recommendations are made to make corporate governance more effective. These are hard questions but ones, which need answering. The study concerns itself with the study of corporate governance and ethics. Corporate governance is not merely a theoretical tool but one, which needs to be practiced. The question concerning the fact that ethics is synonymous to corporate governance is questioned and answered. In question are the definitions of ethics and corporate governance. Each is defined but the realisation that there is more than one definition of each, which is widely used, is debated. Each definition brings its own problems but also proves that it is vital to the whole. Definitions are usually one-liners, which instil an author’s point of view. To complement each definition further elaborance is made. Each of these further defining statements are discussed and compared to the definitions. A comparison is sought and the purpose of these elaborances is discussed. The principles of corporate governance are documented and later discussed in detail. Comparisons with ethics are drawn and the principles are later discussed with practical examples to serve as guidelines and examples. The driving principles of corporate governance and the King report are debated and transparency proves to be the driving factor over and above all other principles. Within the study, it becomes apparent that corporate governance is only essential in big business. Small to medium business is left out. Why should this be? Another provocative question reviewed is the question of whether corporate governance is essential or not. Why all this fuss over a theoretical report. However, to discuss corporate governance without ethics is like using only half measures in a teacup. Defining ethics is easy but the real study comes forth when the true essence of what is ethics is debated. Morality is a factor but the inner soul’s consciousness of what is right or wrong is discussed. The laws of human nature serve all. The scales can be tipped either way if the price is perceived high enough. The rights and obligations of ethics are questioned together with the director’s responsibilities in determining the ethical climate in business.

The government of Malawi has embarked on a decentralisation program, whose primary objective is to improve service delivery. The program is implemented by transferring responsibility and authority from central office to the district assemblies. The study aimed at assessing the implementation situation of education decentralisation and its effects on the district education office operations and the primary school support. The study uses qualitative research method and undertook a case study of two districts. Data was collected by using in-depth individual interviews and document analysis. The results show that decentralisation is a complex phenomenon with problems at all stages from design to implementation. On the one hand the government appears committed to transferring responsibilities and authority gradually to district assembly level while on the other hand it is not prepared to compensate for the disparities existing in the districts by increasing resources. There is an acute shortage of material and human resources in terms of numbers as well as competency levels. This has affected the pace and smooth implementation of decentralisation. Because decentralisation is not a ‘once and for all’ act but a complex process, it is recommended to intensify advocacy, capacity building and support with relevant resources at all levels.

ABSTRACT Recognising that governance is the key to South Africa's future as a global player in the property market, this study explores the protection of shareholders' interests in listed property funds in South Africa. The views of property managers, asset managers and analysts involved in the listed property sector were obtained through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The main themes highlighted in the data are transparency and disclosure which are a major factor in corporate governance being successful.

In the past decade and a half or so, the pace of civil service reforms in Africa has increased with high profile donor support as well as a growing demand locally for improved service delivery, greater accountability and more transparency. The development partners have promoted the enhancement of an agreed set of principles that characterizes these good governance initiatives. The thesis considers good governance characterized by the elimination of waste, fraud and abuse as well as a diligent regard for the rule of law. The major strategic development partners considered here include the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU). The thesis argument is that at present, the nature of social capital amongst the various Kenyan publics is a threat to the entrenchment of good governance principles in the civil service as espoused by major development partners. An attempt is made to interrogate the two concepts of good governance and social capital vis-à-vis the current trends of civil service reforms in Kenya. To develop the thesis, an international survey of the literature on good governance and social capital was carried out concurrently with a situational analysis of the Kenyan public provisioning in order to pinpoint policy implications for future reforms. This was done in order to obtain a theoretical angle to the major concerns of good governance that privilege participation and responsiveness in public provisioning. To answer pertinent questions in this regard, the Kenyan health sector was chosen as a mirror with which to analyze public provisioning in Kenya. The health sector was chosen because of the convenience it offers in terms of access as well as due to the fact that it makes it easy to interview and survey both the community of users as well as the service providers in one place (the hospital). The major finding was that abundant stocks of social capital exist amongst the various Kenyan publics; but it is mainly of the bonding and bridging type. There is need for society-wide civic education to inculcate the third element, that of linking social capital, in order to transcend the limitations of nepotism, tribalism, cronyism and other forms of corruption in public provisioning.

Thesis advisor: Philip Strahan / In my first essay, I find that CEOs with more control over the firm have smaller compensation packages and are less likely to have severance contracts. Despite lower pay, these CEOs have longer tenure and their boards' replacement decisions are less sensitive to their performance, which is consistent with the view that there is a trade-off between pay and dismissal risk. To mitigate endogeneity concerns, I use divorce as an exogenous shock to CEO equity ownership, and find that following a divorce, turnover risk goes up and pay increases significantly. My findings highlight the importance of turnover risk in studying executive compensation. The second essay shows that staggered boards are associated with higher private benefits of control. We find that companies de-staggering their boards experience a decrease in control premiums. Using two court rulings in 2010 with opposite decisions on the effectiveness of staggered boards, we show that our findings are not driven by the endogeneity of the corporate control. Finally, we find evidence that the stock market reactions to the court rulings are negatively associated with the changes in control premium. Overall, our results suggest that staggered boards decrease shareholder value via entrenchment. In my third essay, I study the impact of accounting practices on debt renegotiations and covenant violations. Firms that recognize losses in a timelier manner (i.e., have more conservative accounting practices) have less slack at any given time and are more likely to violate loan covenants. But the consequences of a covenant violation by such firms differ from those of firms with aggressive accounting practices. I also find that firms with more conservative accounting practices are more likely to renegotiate their loans with creditors. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Carroll School of Management. / Discipline: Finance.