Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006 viii, 105 leaves / The South African automotive leather export sewing industry was established in about 1991, when domestic firms were exposed to international markets. The industry’s success was largely attributed to the relatively cheap labour, infrastructure, leather and tax incentives given by the South African government. Interest in investment shown by multinational companies has resulted in significant growth in the industry today. However, at one time, the socio-political status in South Africa meant that the environment in which the industry developed was artificial. Economic, political and cultural conditions were not conducive to export manufacturing due to international sanctions. Consequently, the leather export industry was provided with an opportunity to integrate into the international arena primarily through the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP). The MIDP initiative allows South African automotive companies to offset import duties against exports. This duty offset programme aims to encourage firms to focus on high volume production runs and import less popular models that are expensive to produce locally. However, with the inclusion of the Eastern European countries into the European Union, it is expected that the market will become highly competitive. It has already been predicted by Ballard (2002) in a study on the South African leather business that the automotive leather sewing export industry is an “easy-come-easy-go” industry, with its success not linked to any intrinsic advantages South Africa possesses, but due to rebates from the Motor Industry Development Programme. Although South Africa has a number of advantages such as relatively cheap labour, material in leather hides, and a good infrastructure, the automotive sewing industry has yet to establish its efficiency when exposed to open market competition. Therefore, to create a perception of stability for international investors, the industry must seek contact with outside partners for market access, technology and process know-how through collaboration and benchmarking. This study therefore aims to develop a discourse related specifically to the sustainability of the leather export sewing industry as it approaches deregulation.

O estudo investiga se fatores institucionais dos países hospedeiros e atores da firma têm capacidade de explicar as opções seguidas elas multinacionais brasileiras na formatação de seus investimentos diretos no exterior. A pesquisa ampara-se em estudos que têm avaliado o poder de influência das instituições na tomada de decisão das firmas investidoras, dada a sensibilidade das companhias multinacionais a fatores como a existência de regras claras, o império da lei e o respeito a direitos conquistados. O tema insere-se em um esforço acadêmico para entender melhor a internacionalização de empresas oriundas de países mergentes, identificando-se eventuais especificidades no perfil de seus investimentos diretos, e, paralelamente, investigar a aplicabilidade da perspectiva institucional ao estudo dos negócios internacionais. O modelo conceitual apoia-se ainda em elementos do Paradigma Eclético, notadamente vantagens de propriedade da firma e vantagens de localização dos países hospedeiros (nível de desenvolvimento econômico-social). O estudo examinou as decisões de modo de entrada e modo de estabelecimento para uma amostra de 171 subsidiárias de 106 multinacionais brasileiras, testando-se as hipóteses por regressão logística. O estudo contemplou investimentos em múltiplos países de destino empreendidos por multinacionais com diferentes características. Após construção de questionário voltado aos fins específicos da pesquisa, realizou-se uma survey no intuito de coletar opiniões, sentimentos e percepções dos executivos de empresas multinacionais brasileiras. A decisão de medir os fatores institucionais através da percepção dos executivos partiu do princípio de que decisões estratégicas como as escolhas dos modos de entrada e de estabelecimento podem ser melhor explicadas se forem consultados aqueles que participaram da tomada de decisão, de modo a refletir a “real” influência de aspectos como a distância institucional entre os países. Os resultados do estudo mostram que fatores institucionais relativos aos pilares regulatório, normativo e cognitivo oferecem poder explanatório que incrementa a capacidade dos fatores da firma de explicar as decisões de modo de entrada e de estabelecimento. Verificou-se, também, que os fatores que afetam as decisões de modo de entrada e modo de estabelecimento são distintos, em consonância com autores que defendem a separação entre essas duas decisões. Concluiu-se, ainda, que o fato de o Brasil ser um país com lacunas institucionais torna peculiar a avaliação da influência da distância institucional no processo decisório das multinacionais brasileiras, uma vez que a importância atribuída a fatores correspondentes a fragilidades institucionais já presentes no cotidiano das empresas brasileiras, como interferência do governo, burocracia e risco político, tende a ser menor do que a atribuída por multinacionais oriundas de países desenvolvidos. / This study investigates whether host country institutional factors and firm-specific factors may contribute to explain Brazilian multinational choices with regards to foreign direct investment entry and establishment modes. The research is based on articles that have pointed out the influence of host country institutions on foreign multinationals decision-making, considering that multinationals are exposed to government's transparency policy, rule of law and protection of contractual rights, among other factors. The study helps to improve understanding of emerging multinationals phenomenon and its particular dimensions, and to assess the extension of institutional theory as foundation for international business research. The proposed conceptual model is also based on Dunning’s Eclectic Paradigm, particularly firm ownership advantages and host country location advantages (social and economic development level). The study involved investment deals in multiple host countries carried out by different types of companies that constituted a sample composed by 106 parent companies and 171 subsidiaries. Logistic regression was applied in hypothesis testing. After designing the questionnaire, a survey was developed to obtain executives’ opinions, feelings and perceptions. The use of primary data for measuring institutional factors influence took into account the importance of real-life investigation to realize how institutional distance might influence entry mode and establishment mode choices. Research findings indicate that regulatory, normative and cognitive pillars of the institutional framework have significant explanatory power and may be added to theoretical models of foreign direct investment. Research findings also indicate distinctions between entry mode and establishment mode choices, once factors affecting each decision are different. Finally, the study showed that institutional factors influence on internationalization process of Brazilian multinationals should be regarded with slightly more caution, since Brazilian companies have been able to adapt to the institutional voids existing in the Brazilian market, and therefore tend to give little attention to factors such as government interference, bureaucracy and political risk, differently from developed countries multinationals. / Bibliografia: p. 299-338 / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto COPPEAD de Administração, Rio de Janeiro, 2013. / Tese ganhadora do Prêmio Capes de Tese, 2014 na área de Administração, Ciências Contábeis e Turismo.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Business Administration)-Durban University of Technology, 2006 vi, 70 leaves / One of the major problems facing SMME’s in the South African clothing industry is the surge of clothing imported particularly from China, which negatively impacts on the ability of local firms to survive in business. Despite this challenge within the volatile business environment some SMME’s within the clothing industry have been resilient and have remained in business. This survey focused on the existing business strategies of SMME’s within the clothing manufacturing sector of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The main aim of the research was to establish the underlying factors of competitive advantage of SMME’s and to determine the strategic action taken by businesses in order to combat the impact of the sale of imported clothing in South Africa. In addition, an evaluation of the success of these strategic choices was carried out so that future business strategies for SMME’s can be developed to ensure sustainable competitive advantage.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xiv, 129 [19] leaves / This study examined brand awareness after a change in sponsor and audience perceptions about the sponsors and the event before and after the change.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2006 v, 96 leaves, Annexures A-F / The marginal and low-income groups face a number of obstacles in their quest to secure housing finance to improve their living conditions. South Africa has a sophisticated and effective finance system. However, it appears that the only beneficiaries from it are the middle and upper income groups of the housing market. The whole system of accessing housing finance has proven to be problematic for the marginal and lower income groups for various reasons, among others: it is not user friendly and is not easily understood by an illiterate or poorly educated person. The key challenge for the South African housing finance system is to find ways of bridging the gap between those who have a regular income and those who do not. The credit gap exists because of the relationship between risk and cost which is a standard lending issue across the globe. The study has unpacked the obstacles by looking at the literature and role players in the housing finance. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2006 xii, 117 leaves / In 2005, Masonite (Africa) Ltd embarked on a level 1 learnership program, in line with the National Skills Development Strategy. Within a few months, it became apparent that there was a need to investigate the job satisfaction of the level 1 learners (learners) in the work component of their learnership program. To investigate their job satisfaction, a study was conducted which was guided by three objectives. These were: firstly to determine the general job satisfaction of the learners; secondly, to assess the satisfaction of the learners according to twenty dimensions of the job, as measured by the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and thirdly, to investigate the relationship between the job satisfaction of the learners and their demographic variables gender, age, work experience and level of education. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xxvi, 221 leaves / The research problem investigates to what extent the introduction of change has affected employee motivation and job satisfaction with reference to organizational productivity. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2007 iv, 116 leaves / The research assesses employee readiness at eThekwini Electricity to form part of the Regional Electricity Distributor, which had been legislated by Government. The premise of the study is to investigate, identify and understand key factors likely to promote or inhibit effective readiness to change. If these factors can be measured by the organisation, an evaluation of the difficulty of the change effort can then be used to plan accordingly. By assessing readiness for change in the organisation, Top Management will be in a position to identify gaps that may exist between their own expectations about the change effort and those of other organisational members. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 vii, 108 leaves / The South African nursery industry has faced many challenges over the last ten years. Excess in both demand and supply occur in any given year. The cost of maintaining a plant beyond its ideal ‘sell-by-date’ erodes profit and after time, results in complete wastage. The seedling nursery industry cannot afford to throw away large quantities of surplus seedlings or those that have become root-bound. The size of the wastage problem was unknown. It was believed that a website for trading surplus stock of seedlings might be the answer to the oversupply experienced by individual nurseries. The literature was consulted to establish what had made large companies successful. The advantages and disadvantages of E-business were investigated. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2006 x, 113, [6] leaves / This study is aimed at understanding the potential organisational performance management systems that could be used by municipalities and hence the topic "Selecting an appropriate organisational performance management system for South African municipalities" / M