<p>This literature study aims to identify international best practice concerning the role of the board and more particularly that of the independent director in ensuring good corporate governance. The study is based on sources which include a large contingent of up to date sources on the subject ranging from newspaper articles, journal articles, various corporate governance codes, company reports and reports on governance such as Cadbury and Higgs.</p>

The selection of textbooks used at tertiary institutions in South Africa, in the discipline of Accounting, is an area where there is a lack of published studies. Factors citied by academics for selecting prescribed textbooks are the cost of the textbooks, comprehensive coverage of relevant topics and applicability to the South African context. Other criteria, such as readability, are often not taken into consideration. Students feel that the prescribed textbooks are prescribed for the wrong reasons and find them difficult to read and learn from. The research reviews the Managerial Accounting and Finance (MAF) textbooks used at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and other universities. Observations about the textbooks, from staff and students are considered from interviews. / Thesis (M.Ed. (Department of Education)) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

Although schools and industrial organisations have historically been, and in some cases still are, considered completely different entities, there is nevertheless an increasing awareness that similarities also exist. It can be a determining factor for the roles and competencies of school principals as leaders if indeed there is truth in the conception that schools ought to be led and managed as businesses (industrial organisations, companies). The aim of this study was to determine which comparisons (similarities and differences) can indeed be drawn between the environments in which school principals as leaders of education on the one hand and leaders of industrial organisations on the other operate. For this purpose the nature of a school and that of an industrial organisation were investigated. Furthermore, it was attempted to draw a comparison between the roles and competencies of leaders in both environments with the expectation that the roles which successful leaders fulfil in the industrial organisation and the competencies they should have at their command, can provide important guidelines for nurturing more efficient and more successful leaders in schools. In order to reach the afore-mentioned goal, a literature study was done on the nature of an industrial organisation and of a school and on the roles and competencies of leaders of organisations and leaders of education. Subsequently, as second objective, a quantitative investigation was undertaken, based on a questionnaire which was forwarded to school principals in the Gauteng Province. A representative sample of 400 school principals from all schools in the province was drawn for this purpose and the responses were statistically analysed with a view to establish which of the roles and competencies indicated by the literature study are indeed considered important and which of these roles and competencies are prominent among school principals. The first research objective was to determine the roles and competencies of managerial leaders, and it was found that they must have command over visionary thinking, be capable of planning strategically, be motivators and change agents, be able to communicate well and be capable of working with people, be able to manage and be adaptable themselves, be able to lead, be able to empower people and to evaluate them. Subsequently common orientations for industrial leaders and leaders of education were determined. Here, dealing with personnel was very evident, especially with regard to staff development., sound relationships with members of staff, acknowledgement of staff performances, teamwork, the integrity of the leader, as experienced by the staff, the climate within and culture of the organisation, how energetic the leader is and his/her abilities to organise, and to which extent standards are maintained. The information obtained by the research led to reaching the third objective, namely designing a model for improving the efficiency of the leader of education regarding his/her roles and competencies. The model recommends intervention from the part of the Department of Education as well as ways in which the school principal him/herself takes responsibility for improving the efficiency of school principals. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The focus of this paper is to present an exploratory study on the level of awareness regarding green marketing and its managerial implications, among selected, South African Manufacturing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), in the province of KwaZulu–Natal (KZN). The concept of green marketing and thought provoking managerial implications are still an issue of concern in the South African manufacturing sector. The study aimed to explore the awareness levels about green marketing by selected South African manufacturing SMMEs in KZN, and the resulting managerial implications. Primary data was collected from 84 manufacturing SMMEs. This research was quantitative in nature and a questionnaire was used to collect data from SMMEs owners/managers in KZN. Findings of the research indicate that SMMEs in the study are aware of green marketing and its managerial implications. It further reveals that SMMEs’ owners/managers indicate that the South African Environmental Act and Consumer Protection Act are additional factors that influence their businesses operations. The paper will benefit SMMEs owners/managers, SMMEs marketing managers, and affiliated stakeholders, by introducing a new understanding of green marketing and how to cope with the demand of new green marketing strategies. Most work on the Green Zone has concentrated on green products, with little emphasis on green marketing and its implications. The findings are limited by the study’s exploratory, quantitative nature and small sample. Generalisation should be done with care and further research, with a large sample and consideration of other provinces, is therefore recommended.

This thesis aims to investigate whether frequency of mandatory financial reporting affects management focus on long-term growth. Evidence from the market has illustrated how managers within listed firms sometimes strive to meet market expectations on the latest reported earnings regardless of long-term consequences (see for example Graham, Harvey &amp; Rajgopal, 2005; Grinyer, Russell &amp; Collison, 1998). Yet, the existing literature has neglected to research market pressure in terms of financial reporting frequency and its proposed influence on long-term growth. This study seeks to find if a more frequent mandatory reporting affects managers to more often sacrifice long-term growth in terms of reduced R&amp;D investments. By comparing six different stock exchanges with different interim reporting requirements, this study empirically examines the hypothesized relationship, using a robust multiple regression analysis based on 320 observations during the sample period 2008-2012. The statistically significant results show a negative correlation, suggesting that firms that are required to disclose quarterly reports invest less in R&amp;D than firms that are only required to disclose semi-annual reports. A negative correlation is observed for the whole sample as well as for the five sectors individually. The results provide additional empirical evidence to the research fields of financial reporting, managerial myopia and earnings management.

Since the early 2000s there has been a growing awareness of the indivisible link between ethical conduct on the one hand and business practice on the other. A spate of corporate scandals, due to poor ethical management and deficient ethical decision making, has increased public scrutiny of organisational conduct. This indivisible link between ethics and management warranted investigation; consequently some aspects of managerial ethics in the corporate environment of South Africa were analysed and the role of training in sensitising managers to ethical decision making was examined. Both a comprehensive literature review and an empirical investigation were conducted in order to satisfy the objectives of the research study. The literature review provided insight into some of major concepts relating to managerial ethics, while also providing an overview of the global and South African ethical situation. It also revealed some pertinent current issues regarding managerial ethics training and ethics training in general. The empirical investigation was based on a quantitative research approach and was conducted through a questionnaire. A diverse group of managers who are all furthering their managerial studies at an accredited South African business school formed the study population. A total of 108 respondents completed the questionnaires, which were then statistically analysed, by the North-West University’s (NWU) Statistical Consultation Services. Both the literature review and the empirical investigation indicated a growing perception that ethics and ethical leadership is deteriorating, while the prevalence of ethical conduct breach has been on the increase. On a positive note there are strong indications that a favourable climate is being created in South African organisations, by the establishment of formal ethical codes and the development of business values. However, further investigation revealed that while formal policies and codes are in place, the implementation of these policies is lacking. A lack of understanding of the importance of ethical management was also identified, along with indications that current managerial training does not provide managers with the practical tools for real world application of ethical codes. Recommendations regarding possible action steps to start bridging the gap between the stated business values and ethics codes and the physical implementation of these guidelines are made, along with suggestions for further research. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Since the early 2000s there has been a growing awareness of the indivisible link between ethical conduct on the one hand and business practice on the other. A spate of corporate scandals, due to poor ethical management and deficient ethical decision making, has increased public scrutiny of organisational conduct. This indivisible link between ethics and management warranted investigation; consequently some aspects of managerial ethics in the corporate environment of South Africa were analysed and the role of training in sensitising managers to ethical decision making was examined. Both a comprehensive literature review and an empirical investigation were conducted in order to satisfy the objectives of the research study. The literature review provided insight into some of major concepts relating to managerial ethics, while also providing an overview of the global and South African ethical situation. It also revealed some pertinent current issues regarding managerial ethics training and ethics training in general. The empirical investigation was based on a quantitative research approach and was conducted through a questionnaire. A diverse group of managers who are all furthering their managerial studies at an accredited South African business school formed the study population. A total of 108 respondents completed the questionnaires, which were then statistically analysed, by the North-West University’s (NWU) Statistical Consultation Services. Both the literature review and the empirical investigation indicated a growing perception that ethics and ethical leadership is deteriorating, while the prevalence of ethical conduct breach has been on the increase. On a positive note there are strong indications that a favourable climate is being created in South African organisations, by the establishment of formal ethical codes and the development of business values. However, further investigation revealed that while formal policies and codes are in place, the implementation of these policies is lacking. A lack of understanding of the importance of ethical management was also identified, along with indications that current managerial training does not provide managers with the practical tools for real world application of ethical codes. Recommendations regarding possible action steps to start bridging the gap between the stated business values and ethics codes and the physical implementation of these guidelines are made, along with suggestions for further research. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Although schools and industrial organisations have historically been, and in some cases still are, considered completely different entities, there is nevertheless an increasing awareness that similarities also exist. It can be a determining factor for the roles and competencies of school principals as leaders if indeed there is truth in the conception that schools ought to be led and managed as businesses (industrial organisations, companies). The aim of this study was to determine which comparisons (similarities and differences) can indeed be drawn between the environments in which school principals as leaders of education on the one hand and leaders of industrial organisations on the other operate. For this purpose the nature of a school and that of an industrial organisation were investigated. Furthermore, it was attempted to draw a comparison between the roles and competencies of leaders in both environments with the expectation that the roles which successful leaders fulfil in the industrial organisation and the competencies they should have at their command, can provide important guidelines for nurturing more efficient and more successful leaders in schools. In order to reach the afore-mentioned goal, a literature study was done on the nature of an industrial organisation and of a school and on the roles and competencies of leaders of organisations and leaders of education. Subsequently, as second objective, a quantitative investigation was undertaken, based on a questionnaire which was forwarded to school principals in the Gauteng Province. A representative sample of 400 school principals from all schools in the province was drawn for this purpose and the responses were statistically analysed with a view to establish which of the roles and competencies indicated by the literature study are indeed considered important and which of these roles and competencies are prominent among school principals. The first research objective was to determine the roles and competencies of managerial leaders, and it was found that they must have command over visionary thinking, be capable of planning strategically, be motivators and change agents, be able to communicate well and be capable of working with people, be able to manage and be adaptable themselves, be able to lead, be able to empower people and to evaluate them. Subsequently common orientations for industrial leaders and leaders of education were determined. Here, dealing with personnel was very evident, especially with regard to staff development., sound relationships with members of staff, acknowledgement of staff performances, teamwork, the integrity of the leader, as experienced by the staff, the climate within and culture of the organisation, how energetic the leader is and his/her abilities to organise, and to which extent standards are maintained. The information obtained by the research led to reaching the third objective, namely designing a model for improving the efficiency of the leader of education regarding his/her roles and competencies. The model recommends intervention from the part of the Department of Education as well as ways in which the school principal him/herself takes responsibility for improving the efficiency of school principals. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

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The question of whether outsourcing is a good or bad organizational practice has traditionally come down to whether the positive financial impact of outsourcing overcomes the potential organizational liabilities. The theoretical model proposed in this thesis argues that such thinking underestimates the positive organizational benefits that arise from outsourcing by giving inadequate consideration to impacts that outsourcing has on the innovation cycle of outsourcing providers. This research adds to our understanding of outsourcing decision-making in three important ways. First, the thesis presents how innovation benefits can arise from outsourcing and proposes four potential innovation benefits from outsourcing – the motivation for creativity, innovation scale, innovation scope and complementarity of capability. The central hypotheses argue that these beneficial factors should increase the likelihood of a decision to outsource an activity. Second, this research extends our understanding of outsourcing by examining the moderating effect of value appropriation on the decision to outsource. Third, the thesis provides a rigorous empirical utility theoretical approach – best-worst scaling and discrete choice modeling – to understanding managerial preferences and the components of outsourcing decision making. The findings reveal that a significant segment of managers do indeed look beyond cost in choosing to outsource, focusing instead to concentrate broadly on a supplier’s commitment to innovation, complementarity of capabilities and the ability of an outsourcing contract to appropriate value created in a relationship. This implies that the managerial application of outsourcing is not restricted to a short-term solution for cost savings, but can potentially be thought of, and used as, a strategic mechanism to drive innovation in organizations. Some benefits may not be immediately obvious (e.g., a supplier’s motivation for innovation) and require more awareness from managers. Together, the theory and empirics provide insight into outsourcing decision-making and the opportunities for extending outsourcing as a strategic mechanism to drive innovation more broadly.