D.Com. (Business Management) / The aim of this thesis is to develop and apply a method to measure and evaluate the productivity performance of the branch offices of a financial institution. The thesis has two focal points. The first focal point is the development of a method for productivity measurement and the evaluation of productivity performance based on existing productivity measurement methods. The second focal point is the application of the method and thereafter the interpretation of the productivity measurement results. The unique characteristics of branch offices that had to be taken into consideration and provided for in productivity measurement y!ere highlighted. The requirements for sound productivity measurement, such as the validity and consistency of productivity measurement methods, techniques and models were pointed out. A wide range 0: existing productivity measurement methods and models were researched. The existing methods and models for productivity measurement were found to be lacking in respect of their inability to reflect the effect of free products and services or the effect of resource substitution in the case of multiple resources. The productivity measurement method proposed in this thesis is based on productivity accounting, standard costing and baseline rate analysis.

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M.Com. (Business Management) / A higher standard of living is one of the greatest needs of the South African population. Labour movements believe that a higher standard of living can actually be achieved by paying higher wages. Unfortunately higher wages are demanded and paid at the expense of productivity which is a vital ingredient for economic growth and ultimately economic survival. Employers within the South African economy can address the low productivity ratios through the implementation of performance related schemes. Gain sharing is one of many interventions management can implement to achieve greater performance through labour. By implementing a gain sharing scheme management is able to relate pay to performance and address efficiency ratios which ultimately affects the competitiveness of South African goods and services against world competitors.

M.A. / The objective of this study is to estimate the productivity of labour in the South African textile industry. This was achieved by firstly looking at the theoretical background which will facilitate the calculation of labour productivity. The Cobb-Douglas production function was found to be most suitable to estimate labour productivity in the South African textile industry. Conditions necessary and sufficient for equilibrium to hold were explored which gave an indication on efficiency in the allocation of input factors , capital and labour. South African textile industry's performance over the years has been influenced by the changing trade policies brought about by the Uruguay round of talks of 15 December 1993. The talks concluded that countries should reduce tariffs and embark on export-led growth. Exporters should have free access to imported intermediate inputs and countries should do away with anti export bias associated with import protection. Inevitably the South African textiles industry was affected by the conclusions drawn at the Uruguay Round of talks. The textile industry which had enjoyed growth under high protection tariffs and other import duties had shed down the high tariffs and liberalise trade. But the tariff reductions had to happen over the period ranging between five and twelve years. This further implied that export incentive schemes will have to be eliminated as they were in contradiction with GATT Agreement so, R2 billion that the government had budgeted for the General Export Incentive Scheme will have to be dispensed with and according to GATT South Africa has been given three years to dispose of the export incentive scheme. ix The long term strategy for the textile industry was formulated as an industrial strategy to prepare the industry for the changing policies. The long term objectives emphasised on achieving international competitiveness, labour demanding growth to foster employment in the textile industry and lastly to supply local consumers with textiles at affordable prices. But it should be noted that trying to gain international competitiveness imply laying off workers as new technology comes in. This is in contradiction with the Industrial strategy which advocates for labour absorbing economic growth in the textile industry especially in the light of the fact that employment has been on the decline over the years and it is expected that the new industrial strategy, will be able to create more jobs.

M.A. (Economics) / The objective of this study is to highlight the problematic aspects regarding labour productivity in the South African motor vehicle industry. The perfomance of the South African motor vehicle industry in the national economy has not been as what was expected from the industry, purely because of the pressure of rising costs link to a lack of productivity. A study of labour productivity and any comparisons regarding labour productivity is very difficult and stays a problematic issue. The reason for this is two-fold in that firstly relevant and applicable data was not available until recently and secondly the data that is available is very diverse in the sense that it is applicable to the different levels of economic activity. The fact remains that the productivity levels of both labour and capital stays important indicators of the competetiveness of any nation. In this sense the South African motor industry could be a potential source of competitive advantage and economic growth for South Africa. The method used to study labour productivity in the South African motor vehicle industry was to look at the theory surrounding labour productivity, the South African labour market and the general trend of labour productivity in South Africa and the trend of labour productivity in the South African motor vehicle industry compared to international industry trends. The traditional micro economic theory consider labour as just another production factor and competition in the labour market is determined on the principles of demand and supply. The criticism against the traditional micro economic theory is based on the applicability of the theory on the modern business world. The macro economic theory surrounding labour productivity showed the importance of this variable as determinant of international competetive advantage. The theory further showed that there is a strong link between labour productivity and inflation. The most important characteristics of the South African labour market include a labourforce of thirteen million workers{which includes the informal sector and unemployed) against a total population of forty million, a population growth rate of 2,7% that is higher than the average economic growth rate and high levels of unemployment, illiteracy, inequalities and discrimination. Labour productivity in South Africa has been characterised by a drastic increase in the amount of strikes and work stoppages since the mid eighties. The international comparison of South Africa with its most important trade partners regarding labour productivity, was not positive for South Africa. On most of the variables like unit labour cost, real output in manufacturing, output per worker in manufacturing and gross domestic product per capita, South Africa did not compare favourable with its leading trading partners.

M.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. / South Africa had a stormy political past with the result that as a nation it needs peace and job opportunities. One of the methods of increasing job opportunities is to make use of more labourers and less machinery. But, according to The Mail and Guardian (1996a:1), South Africans have an obsession with capital-intensive projects instead of labour intensive projects.

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M.Com. (Business Management) / The purpose of this study is to show that local government as a section of the public sector can contribute to the improvement of productivity, and more specifically labour productivity, in South Africa. An empirical study was undertaken to determine the methods applied by the Town Council of Alberton in order to improve labour productivity to such an extent as to be awarded a Golden National Productivity Award in 1987. Reference is made to the application of principles re1evant to the improvement of labour productivity as found in the literature. The role of the National Productivity Institute with regard to instruments for the improvement and measurement of productivity, is discussed. The reasons for Alberton's success are identified, the one being management's total commitment to the improvement of productivity. The other being the staff's involvement in productivity improvement and the fostering of their needs for self-actualisation through participative management. The Town Council of Alberton's achievements regarding the improvement of labour productivity, are evaluated. Recommendations are made for application by the Town Council of Alberton specifically and local authorities in general. Although the endeavours of the Town Council of Alberton to improve labour productivity form the subject of this study, it is assumed that this town council is not the only local authority to have developed and implemented strategies for the improvement of productivity. This study concludes that local authorities are in a position to contribute to economic growth and the creation of prosperity by means of effective productivity management.

Manufacturing in South Africa constantly face competition from both local as well as foreign entities. Productivity growth is viewed by many executives and business leaders as the key element in maintaining competitiveness in the global economy. The success of the South African manufacturing and its global competitiveness lie in its productivity. By focusing on promoting productivity, South African manufacturers will establish a source of sustained competitive gains, while labour will establish a sustainable source of income growth. The Eberspacher South Africa Port Elizabeth (ESA) is not in any way immune to the level of competition that impacts all businesses in South Africa. ESA not only competeswith other local catalytic converter companies in terms of a high level of productivity, but also with other manufacturing plants within the Eberspacher Group globally. In Eberspacher all exhaust manufacturing plants are constantly benchmarked, comparing productivity levels, quality levels, cost and delivery. This data is used not only to determine goals, but also forms a key determinant as to where any new business is placed. The internal competition encourages all manufacturing plants within Eberspacher to continously improve plant productivity within group. A company is competitive if it is able to produce products that are either cheaper or better than those of other firms. Most of ESA customers are internal final assembly plants from Europe, USA, India and China. ESA therefore constantly have to ensure that they are competitive in all aspects of business, including productivity. In ESA, the overall productivity performance of the manufacturing plant is of utmost importance to ensure the ability to supply all the customers with cost competitive products, at the right time and with zero defects. Productivity in Eberspacher is used as a vital measurement to the sourcing decision for any new business awarded to the group. The main purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of productivity improvement initiatives at the Eberspacher Port Elizabeth Manufacturing Plant.