Stokvels are South Africa's version of Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) or Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations (ACSAs). There are over 820 000 stokvels with a combined membership of 11.4 million people and handling over R44 billion per annum. It is well documented that the majority of the funds that stokvels handle are spent on consumables. This research sought to determine how to transition these stokvels from pure consumers to investors. In order to answer the research question, phenomenology was used as a research method. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were used as the research instrument. After spending six months with 36 stokvels, the research findings show that there are six factors that influence the current consumption patterns of stokvels. These also provide key insight on how stokvels can be transitioned from consumers to investors. Of the six factors, two of them were identified as key inhibitors to this transition. One being financial institutions, specifically banks, which have built their entire product offering to stokvels based on a small aspect of their governance (constitution and key roles). Second is members' reliance on the stokvels funds for livelihoods. This makes them risk averse as they cannot afford to lose their money nor delay their expenditure. The research also shows that financial education is central to the transition from consumers to investors, specifically seeing, reading or hearing of the financial successes of other stokvels.

Due to competing strategic demands and limited resources, small-to-medium sized enterprise (SME) managers struggle to integrate sustainability comprehensively into their firms' strategy, while increasingly being targeted as significant contributors of unsustainable practices that compromise environmental services and societal wellbeing. Studies on why managers struggle to integrate sustainability strategies into their firms suggest managers face interrelated yet competing demands that surface a diversity of sustainability tensions that go beyond the traditional triad of economic, social and environmental agendas. The literature has primarily focused on the conscious cognitive sensemaking processes of managers in larger corporations as they face sustainability tensions. This lens does not surface the range of other inner experiences like emotions, values, and intuition that influence individuals' sensemaking process. The resulting research question for this study asks how SME managers' experience of strategic sustainability tensions influences their sustainability decision-making process. This research aimed to surface the full range of conscious and unconscious inner experiences managers had during their sustainability sensemaking processes. SMEs were a favourable research context in which to delve into the significance of managers' internal experiences because managers have a high degree of decision-making control in their firms, and there is scarce empirical evidence on what leads SME managers to make sustainability decisions. Over a one-year period in an inductive qualitative and exploratory research process, I interviewed twelve SME managers from the Western Cape's metals and manufacturing sector twice through two rounds of interviews. This study finds that SME managers undergo a range of emotions that influence their sustainability sensemaking experience. Conflicting emotional sustainability triggers cause unconscious internal sustainability tensions for managers between their personal values and managerial responsibilities. The SME resource-constrained context causes managers to instinctually prioritise managerial responsibilities to keep their firm afloat and maintain their pride through the legacy of the company. This study contributes to the literature by unearthing and legitimising the range of experiences and tensions that influence SME managers' sustainability sensemaking processes. It prompts further examination into managers' experience of sustainability tensions in the SME context and what experiences lead to integrative sustainability decisionmaking in highly volatile SME environments.

Due to increasingly complex and uncertain environments, businesses must deal with multiple competing and often opposing models, what we may call 'ontological relativity'. To deal with this, the practice of innovation management requires a new type of practical-epistemology. The best insight into these new types of knowledge is an exploration of lived experience of innovation management practitioners. This research then explores the phenomena involved in the practice of business model innovation in the context of two innovation projects. To achieve these goals, a phenomenological method is used to uncover fundamental aspects of the innovation process. The outcome of the inquiry is a set a set of phenomena that hope to contribute to the discourse around this emerging field of management knowledge.

This dissertation investigates the development of South African rugby franchises into inclusive and successful business models. An analysis of the current financial business models for rugby in South Africa, using the Sharks (Pty) Ltd as the case study for the research, compared with similar international professional rugby franchises in overseas countries, was conducted so as to formulate a sustainable business model. In order to do so, the research focused on three major areas: transformation in rugby, rugby as a business and player exodus. Inclusive innovation is regarded as the basis for developing these business and transformation strategies, as rugby has long been perceived as a sport that excludes people who were unfairly discriminated against during apartheid, whether in administrative structures or at the grassroots level. Research indicated what progress has been made in this regard and identified areas where transformation processes can be improved, by reviewing pertinent literature (including historical records, autobiographical accounts, journal articles, and statistical research reports), investigating the programs in place, and through conducting contact interviews with pertinent players, both on and off the field. Declining traditional revenue streams as indicated by, for example, lower match day revenue reinforced the need to propose a new business model to ensure sustainability. The increasing number of high profile rugby players currently playing professionally in Europe and Asia impacts negatively on the commercial product offered to the public, sponsors and broadcasters. The literature review examined the three areas mentioned above; however, while there was extensive information published on transformation, particularly in the media, a paucity of written reports on player exodus and rugby as a business was identified. The methodology combined deductive and inductive research strategies. Initially, the approach was primarily a deductive, quantitative research strategy to analyse the past and present state of rugby in relation to business, transformation and player retention. The second thrust of the research shifted to the development and testing of a hypothesis for a more inclusive and sustainable model than that tested above, utilising an inductive approach, underpinned by qualitative data derived from interviews, empirical observations and relevant textual material. The study is significant as it gives a deeper understanding of the relationship between professional and amateur rugby in South Africa, and an understanding of what is required to ensure that rugby becomes an inclusive sport. It provides a business model that creates a framework for necessary synergy between the professional and the amateur divisions to develop proactive policies which will foster inclusivity in South African rugby.

This research explores and identifies the various reasons for which informal traders in Cape Town, South Africa, do not adopt mobile payment technology and prefer cash. In the informal economy, a cash preference creates challenges such as financial exclusion (Bromley, 2006; Donner & Tellez, 2008; Blanco et al., 2009; Bick et al., 2009; Kendall et al., 2014). Recently, with the mobile phone's ubiquity, mobile payments have emerged as one of the ways to enable access to finance for underbanked or unbanked people, primarily because mobile payments are considered low-cost and easy to use (Donovan, 2012; Mbogo, 2010; Maurer, 2012). However, research reflects low adoption of mobile payments in South Africa (Pew Research Centre, 2015). In light of this low adoption, this research is interested in asking: 'Why don't informal traders in Cape Town, South Africa use mobile payment facilities?' This research explores this question through the critical social theory perspective. This qualitative study was conducted in four trading locations in Cape Town's inner city over June to September 2015. Primary data was collected through semi-structured face to face interviews with twenty informal traders, and participant observations. The empirical findings demonstrate that social and cultural factors influence non-adoption. The theoretical contribution made in this paper is the contributes to the development ofmodification of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM, 1989). The modified model places social and cultural factors as central to the determinants of adoption. This modified TAM contributes towards the field of mobile technology acceptance research in South Africa, and is a response to the call for information systems research exploring social and cultural explanations for adoption or non-adoption (Lee, 2003; Bagozzi, 2003; Ventakesh, 2007; Dahlberg et al., 2008; Donner & Tellez, 2008; William et al., 2009; Crabbe et al., 2009; Morawczynski, 2009).

This study is an attempt to develop further theoretical insights into the link between language and cohesion across class and race within organizations operating in contemporary South Africa. Due to the combination of extensive diversity and pernicious inequality inherited from the country's colonial history, English – and to a lesser extent, Afrikaans – enjoys disproportionate power in education, commerce and industry over the other languages across South Africa. Notwithstanding the constitutional imperative of linguistic equality, English is the dominant tongue of power, which has led to indigenous languages – African indigenous languages in particular – assuming a subservient position within society. This has led to a myriad of knock-on effects that have either reinforced existing complex societal problems or have birthed entirely new issues, all of which have stifled attempts to build a non-racial, equal and prosperous South Africa for all. By using the existing literature compiled on subjects such as linguistic diversity, language acquisition, multiculturalism, organisational cohesion and their interconnectedness, this study aims to discover new thinking on how language can be used as a tool to re-order hierarchies and diminish divisions within an organization primarily and society more broadly. By measuring the level of cohesion and language capability and drawing inferences to their respective impacts on each other, it was investigated whether solidarity can be built across racial and class lines. The initial research question the researcher sought to answer morphed slightly from a specific focus on how teaching of indigenous languages by blue-collar workers to executives could affect cohesion within an organization into how such languages classes could impact interorganizational cohesion when conducted by juniors for their seniors within any company. This not only resulted in the research becoming more industry-agnostic, but empowered my findings to become broader, conclusions more comprehensive and recommendations more extensive. Research groups were formed across a variety of organizations from different sectors and research was conducted over a period of eight months. The extensive data collection was at once longitudinal - as cohesion and linguistic capability were measured before, during and after the study through questionnaires and written tests – but also auto-ethnographic in the personal conclusions the researcher drew throughout the study based on his adult life as a purveyor of multilingualism and ardent supporter of multiculturalism. Although the results of the research showed little direct change in measurable cohesion among participants, the process of language learning conducted by juniors for seniors presented a meaningful strategy to not only forge unity among participants but also understanding among individuals from disparate backgrounds, with a specific focus on identity, culture and class. It prompts further study into how language can be an easily accessible tool to build consensus not only within organisations, but in South African society at large, which remains one of the world's most unequal.

In South Africa, where 55.2 percent of youth are without a job, financial inclusion has been put forward as a way to tackle unemployment and the grinding poverty and inequality that come with it. The salient features of the discourses on financial inclusion tend to focus on increasing the accessibility and usability of financial services and products for those who are un- and/or under-banked, due to its promises of economic empowerment. Whilst there is an acknowledgement that a youth specific focus is needed there is a lack of scholarship on this demographic. Interventions for youth have tended to focus on banking youth early in life as well as increase their financial literacy and savings behaviour. The literature affirms that the objectives of youth specific financial inclusion efforts are meant to assist them in achieving their aspirations, and enable them to participate more fully within society. However, the heterogeneity of youth and the complexity of social and economic realities challenge assumptions that financial literacy and improved savings behaviour could support the multitude of youth in South Africa, especially as their realities manifest at the systemic rather than the individual level. This research study, therefore, set out to explore the relationship that youth have to the formal financial system and their wellbeing. The study employed qualitative research methods such as interviews and focus groups as a means to gain deeper insight into youth financial behaviour as well as their perspectives and experiences of both their financial and overall wellbeing. The study found that it is necessary to expand the narrative of youth financial inclusion beyond an interaction with financial services, products, and interventions. It proposes that an expanded narrative starts with an in-depth understanding of the different layers of youth experiences, as they play out through the personal, relational (social and cultural), and contextual (economic and political). In addition, there is a need to take the dynamicity of different life circumstances and the external environment into account. In this way, a consideration is allowed of the external structures that may, or may not, enable individuals to exercise financial decision-making in pursuit of their overall wellbeing goals. This journey must be walked in order to move away from reductionist wellbeing assessment approaches and resulting in narrowly focused interventions. An approach that centres wellbeing would ultimately take into account the priorities and aspirations of the different stakeholders within an ecosystem, thereby putting in place institutional arrangements that enable solutions that are consistent with broader principles of social and economic justice.

Unemployment and poverty especially among the youth have remained major challenges threatening the economic growth and development of townships. “Poverty Trends in South Africa” report, released by (Statistics SA 2017), cites that more than half of South Africans were poor in 2015, with the poverty headcount increasing to 55.5 percent from a low of 53.2 percent in 2011. These challenges therefore demand that the youth be empowered with creative entrepreneurial skills which is one of the skills available to them, in order to make an invaluable contribution to their life and communities. Entrepreneurship is one of the tools to eliminate unemployment and improve economic growth, as result see an increase in entrepreneur incubation center's which are sponsored by government, universities and private companies in townships. These incubations are there to assist entrepreneurs grow their business by providing support and financial assistance. However, despite the rise these incubation programs we don't see their spin-off or benefit in society particularly in townships. They have problems of management, poor infrastructure, poor access to funding for entrepreneurs, lack of entrepreneurial start up programmes, poor or lack of mentoring and coaching problems, and lastly lack to access networks. The main research question is how does enrolling in entrepreneur incubation program impact entrepreneurial behaviour of township entrepreneurs?? A qualitative research approach was chosen as the methodology because this approach underpins an understanding and interpretation of meaning as well as intentions underlying human interaction. Data was collected using semi- structured interviews and 45 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The major findings of the study are as follow:  Incubators in the Northern Cape provides mixture of services in relations to first, second, third and fourth generations incubators. The majority of these incubators are considered weak as they provide only basic services which is shared office facilities to incubatees. The services such mentoring and coaching, training, Wi-Fi, access to finance and networking are lacking. This is considered weakness in terms of theory of incubation.  There is also confusion regarding the typology of incubators. In the Northern Cape we have two mixed incubators, one economic development incubator and one Technology incubator. The incubator missing is the Basic research incubator that should aimed at research and discovery of innovations.  We have also discussed the different success factors of incubation and rated each incubator based on these factors. The majority of incubators performed dismally and are regarded as bad incubators.  The entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial resourcefulness will ultimately affect entrepreneurial behaviour. In nutshell, the entrepreneurial environment is government legislation that create conducive environment for incubation but what is lacking is practical support from government. Entrepreneurial resourcefulness which is incubation services offered to entrepreneurs. Incubation centres offered poor services to entrepreneurs. As result the entrepreneurial behaviors of entrepreneurs have not been affected as much or improved during the period of incubation. Lastly, we recommend that there must be a System approach to incubation, incubators adopt incubation model that focus on the needs and circumstance of community. Incubators must have functioning and expert advisory board, business plan and be financially viable in order to survive in the new economy. We also recommend that incubator employ the services of expert professional with experience and qualification in SMME development, business management and understand entrepreneurship or have been entrepreneurs themselves. The purpose of this study was to explore whether these incubators developed the entrepreneurial behaviors of incubatees in the Northern Cape. We have established that that has not happened as result in the future recommend that incubators concentrate on skills development, mentoring and coaching as key aspects of incubation. They must invest on the personal growth and development of their incubatees.

Communication for Development (C4D) appeared after World War 2 and has since become a key approach to achieving sustainable and democratic development, especially in the Global South. It borrows from behaviour economics and psychology, focusing mostly on behaviour change outcomes. While it has been effective in public health campaigns, it consistently fails at addressing more complex issues, or “wicked problems”, like as climate change. Inspired by agentic perspectives in development studies and the potential of radio as a critical thinking development, dialogue, and mobilisation tool, I wondered what the potential of communication for social change to activate agency in the face of wicked problems could be. I thus decided to explore the potential of media, and community-based radio projects to address wicked problems and catalyse agency. I studied the impact of a youth-led sustainable living radio campaign and its impact on its producers and listeners in three communities in South Africa to understand to what extent engagement with the campaign manifested agency within its producers and listeners. In the face of wicked environmental issues, collective agency emerged as the only potentially effective power to mobilise. I concluded that more participatory approaches are needed when designing and implementing communication for social change campaigns and recommend that agency be reconsidered as a practical and achievable short-term outcome with potential exponential impact, rather than the abstract long-term goal it's often envisioned as.

Social change leaders address systemic inequities, aiming to create a just society through transformation. The existence of social change leaders has resulted in studies or models exploring social change leadership, including motivators or values that characterize leaders, such as common citizenship and concern for humanity. This study investigates the impact of formative years in developing social change leaders and the area of interest of social change leaders. Using hermeneutic phenomenology and qualitative interviews with social change leaders, the study found that formative years contribute to the development of social change leaders in two ways. First, one of the critical dimensions of formative years, socio-economic background growing up grounds social change leaders' understanding of their community, gradually changes their perception of and approach to leadership and teaches the principles of social change leadership (interconnection between individual values, group values, and societal values). Second, formative years influence the area of interest, or the social challenge addressed. The study also found that social change leaders address challenges they have faced, feel a sense of responsibility, and have a deep interest in the challenges they address. The findings suggest that: to understand social change leaders and their interest in social change work, we need to understand the existence of the challenges they are working to address and their lived experience with such challenges. Equally, to solve the systemic, endemic, and emerging social challenges, focus should be on developing leadership qualities in young adults or working with individuals and communities to address challenges facing them.