M.Com. (Leadership in Performance and Change) / This research focuses on the factors affecting retention of employees in a global markets division of an investment bank comprising 500 employees. The research is quantitative in nature. Five factors are discussed and used as basis to see which factors contribute the most to retention of employees. These factors are remuneration, the job, the profile of the organisation, organisational processes and leadership style. Sub-factors relating to these factors were identified and discussed by way of a literature review. A questionnaire was compiled based on the five factors and the sub-factors in relation to the retention of employees. A statistical analysis was done using factor analysis, reliability analysis (Cronbach alpha) and descriptive statistics. From the results it can be concluded that employees are satisfied with the physical work environment, the company’s employer brand in the market and the opportunity to learn new skills and develop themselves for further advancement. Employees also feel confident about the leadership team; are satisfied that their co-workers share their expertise and there is teamwork. The one area about which employees differ, is related to remuneration. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that the employer use its positive employer brand more aggressively to retain employees since overall most employees seem to be happy with the current employment practices

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: PSG Investment Bank started out of the PSG Group in 1998. It was a successful enterprise that was rated highly by the public, institutions and employees. Through 1999, there was a struggle on executive level over the strategy that PSG Investment Bank should follow. The struggle culminated in 2000 with the resignation of the founder of PSG Investment Bank. The remaining executives put their strategy in action during 2000 and 2001. External factors made the environment difficult during late 2001 and 2002 and PSG Investment Bank was not able to respond in such a way that it could ensure its own survival. PSG Investment Bank was sold to Absa in August 2002, resulting in PSG Investment Bank's closure and delisting in 2003. This study examines the strategy of PSG Investment Bank through its life according to a model for strategic management put forward by Burger (2000). The vision of PSG Investment Bank, the external environment that influenced PSG Investment Bank and the internal environment of PSG Investment Bank are analysed as well as the strategic issues and options utilised by PSG Investment Bank. The conclusion of the study is that PSG Investment Bank faced a tough external environment that needed a strong internal environment to be able to survive. By not managing the most important internal resources, the employees, correctly, management lost the ability to ride out the storm brought about by the external circumstances and were left with few strategic options but to sell PSG Investment Bank. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: PSG Beleggingsbank is in 1998 uit die PSG Groep gebore. Dit was 'n hoogs suksesvolle onderneming wat deur die publiek, institusies en werknemers gerespekteer is. Deur die loop van 1999 was daar 'n stryd op topbestuursvlak oor die strategie wat PSG Beleggingsbank moes volg. Hierdie stryd het in 2000 die bedanking van die stigter van PSG Beleggingsbank tot gevolg gehad. Die oorblywende bestuurders het hulle strategie gedurende 2000 en 2001 in werking geplaas. Eksterne faktore het die omgewing moeilik gemaak gedurende laat 2001 en 2002 en PSG Beleggingsbank kon nie daarin slaag om sodanig op te treë om sy eie oorlewing te verseker nie. PSG Beleggingsbank is in Augustus 2002 aan Absa verkoop wat veroorsaak het dat PSG Beleggingsbank gedenoteer is en sy deure tydens 2003 gesluit is. Hierdie studie ondersoek die strategie van PSG Beleggingsbank deur die loop van die onderneming se lewe aan die hand van 'n model vir strategiese bestuur soos voorgestel deur Burger (2000). Die visie van PSG Beleggingsbank, die eksterne omgewing wat PSG Beleggingsbank beïnvloed het en die interne omgewing binne PSG Beleggingsbank sowel as die strategiese kwessies en keuses wat PSG Beleggingsbank uitgevoer het, word bestudeer. Die slotsom van die studie is dat PSG Beleggingsbank 'n moeilike eksterne omgewing ondervind het wat 'n sterk interne omgewing benodig het om in te oorleef. Deur nie sy belangrikste interne hulpbron, sy werknemers, reg te bestuur nie, het die bestuur die vermoë verloor om die storm wat deur eksterne faktore veroorsaak is, uit te sit en het met min strategiese opsies oorgebly anders as om PSG Beleggingsbank te verkoop.

This research explores the relationship between the organisational culture and financial performance of a South African investment bank by means of quantitative research. The Denison Organizational Culture Survey was used to measure the organisational culture of the investment bank and was administered to a sample of 327 employees. Income statement ratio analysis was selected as a means to assess the financial performance. The results indicate that very few of the financial measures selected could be shown to be correlated with the organisational cultural traits or subscales. Correlations between the cultural dimensions of team orientation, agreement, customer focus and vision were found with certain financial measures. Although these correlations were above the 0.50 level, the levels of significance were not sufficient in all cases to draw conclusions with confidence. The only cultural trait that was found to be correlated with financial measures was the consistency trait. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This research explores the relationship between the organisational culture and financial performance of a South African investment bank by means of quantitative research. The Denison Organizational Culture Survey was used to measure the organisational culture of the investment bank and was administered to a sample of 327 employees. Income statement ratio analysis was selected as a means to assess the financial performance. The results indicate that very few of the financial measures selected could be shown to be correlated with the organisational cultural traits or subscales. Correlations between the cultural dimensions of team orientation, agreement, customer focus and vision were found with certain financial measures. Although these correlations were above the 0.50 level, the levels of significance were not sufficient in all cases to draw conclusions with confidence. The only cultural trait that was found to be correlated with financial measures was the consistency trait. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)