Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2019 / The mining industry plays a positive strategic role in the South African economy. However, this industry is plagued by many socio-economic challenges. It continues to face an uncertain future due to, amongst other factors, the escalating overhead mining costs, labour protests and community unrests. Among these challenges, dissatisfied and disgruntled mining communities remain the most unmitigated threat to the sustainability of mining worldwide. Mining companies continue to be under immense pressure to effectively address the socio-economic needs of communities affected by their operations. The increased levels of poverty and unemployment have resulted in the relationship between host communities and mining companies being increasingly strained. Their relationship is characterised by deep resentment, suspicion and mistrust. The tension stems from the fact that despite mining companies being present and operating in their areas, host communities are not benefiting meaningfully from the mining activities. The study seeks to examine host communities’ perceptions about mining companies operating within Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. The study employed the qualitative research method and endeavoured to obtain first hand evidence or lived experiences narrated by host communities. The researcher used purposive sampling to choose the respondents who were deemed to possess intimate knowledge and the history of the state of relations between host communities and mining companies operating within Govan Mbeki municipal area. This paper reports the findings of a study undertaken to assess the socioeconomic impact of mining activities and the communities’ perceptions on these activities within Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. Mining companies are perceived as the main contributors to social, environmental, health and infrastructure destruction. In addition to sampling community perceptions on mining activities, the study prescribes interventions that can assist in mitigating the negative perceptions of mining companies

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The mining industry plays a positive strategic role in the South African economy. However, this industry is plagued by many socio-economic challenges. It continues to face an uncertain future due to, amongst other factors, the escalating overhead mining costs, labour protests and community unrests. Among these challenges, dissatisfied and disgruntled mining communities remain the most unmitigated threat to the sustainability of mining worldwide. Mining companies continue to be under immense pressure to effectively address the socio-economic needs of communities affected by their operations. The increased levels of poverty and unemployment have resulted in the relationship between host communities and mining companies being increasingly strained. Their relationship is characterised by deep resentment, suspicion and mistrust. The tension stems from the fact that despite mining companies being present and operating in their areas, host communities are not benefiting meaningfully from the mining activities. The study seeks to examine host communities’ perceptions about mining companies operating within Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. The study employed the qualitative research method and endeavoured to obtain first hand evidence or lived experiences narrated by host communities. The researcher used purposive sampling to choose the respondents who were deemed to possess intimate knowledge and the history of the state of relations between host communities and mining companies operating within Govan Mbeki municipal area. This paper reports the findings of a study undertaken to assess the socioeconomic impact of mining activities and the communities’ perceptions on these activities within Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. Mining companies are perceived as the main contributors to social, environmental, health and infrastructure destruction. In addition to sampling community perceptions on mining activities, the study prescribes interventions that can assist in mitigating the negative perceptions of mining companies

The discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in the 1950s has brought with it both benefits and consequences, with the latter purported to have resulted in violence as well as the loss of lives and properties (Hummels, 1998; Eweje, 2007). This study examines the nature of the relationships existing between stakeholders in the industry and the understanding of the connections between these relationships and CSR in the industry. This resulted in the choice of Social Contract and Resource Dependence theories to be used in harmony as part of the theoretical base for this study, as a further expansion of Stakeholder theory. The Social Contract theory helps to bring out the place of agreement in the maintenance of these relationships between stakeholders, with the resources being crucial in the determination of the power balance. The study was a qualitative one that involved interviews and surveys amongst the different stakeholders that make up the industry (oil companies, host communities, NGOs, Experts). The data gathered was analysed using Thematic Discourse Analysis, with the aim of finding out how the words and phrases used by respondents gave an indication of their perceptions and actions in these relationships. This thesis results in the proposition of a Micro-System Perspective Model which asserts that different stakeholders start their relationships with each other with varying objectives that can only be achieved as outcomes, only if certain mechanisms are properly applied to these relationships. These mechanisms are resources, licences and agreements impact these relationships as reflected by the different features of these relationships. This model also emphasizes the separation of the government from the relationship between the oil companies and the host communities and as a result can carry out its roles in the industry without bias. Also, the relationships between stakeholders in the industry are deemed to be dynamic in nature, as influenced by the use of these mechanisms by the different stakeholders in their interaction with each other. The findings show that such dynamism is also caused by the management of these relationships through the CSR activities undertaken by the oil companies operating in the various parts of the region. As a result, CSR is viewed in the region as being a social obligation owed to the host communities by the oil companies. It is asserted that the definition and identification of stakeholders should not be based on their relationships with the firm (Freeman, 1984), but on their relationships with the industry and its resource which should be deemed the focal point. In line with this, the findings show that the salience of a stakeholder group is not just dependent upon their power, urgency and legitimacy alone as earlier purported by Mitchell et al (1997). On the contrary, these attributes together with the resources held by such stakeholders are crucial in deciding who controls these relationships between stakeholders. This study makes significant contributions to knowledge, especially in relation to the advancement of stakeholder debate and theory. It proposes that stakeholders should be identified not just based on their relationships with the firm but a consideration of their control of the resources deemed crucial by other stakeholders. Such a relationship with the industry and its resource is deemed crucial in determining stakeholder salience, thereby leading to the call for resources to be regarded as a stakeholder attribute in addition to urgency, power, legitimacy and proximity which is another contribution. The study also shows the different challenges and complexities of managing stakeholder relationships in the region that cause these relationships to be dynamic in nature. The proposal of a Micro System Perspective is another contribution as this has a direct implication for the Nigerian Oil industry and its impact on the different stakeholders involved in its operations.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a subject of increasing interest among academics and business practitioners globally. This thesis contributes to the discourse on CSR in the context of the Nigerian oil industry with regard to corporate-community relations. Specifically, the thesis constitutes a critique of CSR initiatives by multinational oil companies (MOC) operating in the Niger Delta region and their impact on the traditional livelihoods of local communities. The research attempts to understand the link between CSR and Psychological contract from the perspective of both the host communities and the MOCs. This thesis examines community perceptions, expectations and seeks to interpret the relationship between the host communities and the MOCs. The study provides empirical data through the use of twenty-eight semi-structured interviews and three focus groups. This is significant given that most of the research conducted into CSR in this region has been limited to descriptive and extensive theoretical explanations. Findings from the research suggest that the relationship between the host communities and the MOC is a very complex one and that the impact of the MOCs activities can be interpreted from the host communities’ negative actions. The thesis makes an important contribution to the emerging literature on social license to operate (SLO) and in what manner the local communities seek to enforce it. It also offers an alternative approach to CSR based on need assessment and stakeholder involvement rather than corporate obligations and expectations from society in general.

This study investigates host community attitudes towards tourism in South Tyrol’s Puster Valley in Italy along with predispositions against the emerging phenomenon of overtourism and explores the factors influencing its formations, as similar research in the same European context with a more mature tourism industry is still underdeveloped. Applying quantitative methods, data was collected through an online survey between May and June 2021. A total of 17 attitude statements were analyzed using IBM’s SPSS and the results indicate that tourism impacts in the valley are perceived evenly throughout the whole community while it was proven with Social Exchange Theory that people involved within the tourism industry are less inclined to perceive negative impacts. Choosing the Pragser Wildsee as a case, the analysis further reveals that overtourism is not only affecting residents in its vicinity put has more far-reaching consequences. Even the results not being very surprising, the study is confirming tourism-related issues and suggests more need in investigating resident attitudes in similar environments.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a subject of increasing interest among academics and business practitioners globally. This thesis contributes to the discourse on CSR in the context of the Nigerian oil industry with regard to corporate-community relations. Specifically, the thesis constitutes a critique of CSR initiatives by multinational oil companies (MOC) operating in the Niger Delta region and their impact on the traditional livelihoods of local communities. The research attempts to understand the link between CSR and Psychological contract from the perspective of both the host communities and the MOCs. This thesis examines community perceptions, expectations and seeks to interpret the relationship between the host communities and the MOCs. The study provides empirical data through the use of twenty-eight semi-structured interviews and three focus groups. This is significant given that most of the research conducted into CSR in this region has been limited to descriptive and extensive theoretical explanations. Findings from the research suggest that the relationship between the host communities and the MOC is a very complex one and that the impact of the MOCs activities can be interpreted from the host communities’ negative actions. The thesis makes an important contribution to the emerging literature on social license to operate (SLO) and in what manner the local communities seek to enforce it. It also offers an alternative approach to CSR based on need assessment and stakeholder involvement rather than corporate obligations and expectations from society in general. / Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Cross River State government in Nigeria, and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).