In this paper, we present the ban on progressive depreciation of housing associations in connection with the change to K-regulatory frameworks. Bokföringsnämnden (2014) stated that progressive depreciation was no longer allowed, and this study explores what kind of implications it had for the housing associations' income statements. Additional problems have been addressed by examining what effects it could have on the perception of that accounting must be based on giving a fair view (Artsberg, 2005), and whether stakeholders can access and interpret this financial information (Burks, 2015). Based on theories that consider that a similar framework is not appropriate for housing associations and non-profit organizations, as for profit driven companies, we have used this criticism on the matter (Burks, 2014; Torres and Pina, 2003). We have also taken into consideration why Bokföringsnämnden decided to prohibit the depreciation method. The empirical study focuses on examining twenty newly constructed housing associations annual reports from 2012 to 2014 to see whether they have had to change their depreciation method, and if this in turn has had an influence on their results, and if this has led to changes in their annual report. The end result of this study is based on a quantitative research which shows that a change has occurred in housing associations' income statements. 95 percent of the sample reported a loss in 2014, while in 2012 only 5 percent showed negative results. In a combined analysis of the use of literature and empirical data, there are clear indications that there is a requirement for new regulatory alternative templates for housing associations to report financial information if they are to present a fair view and enable comparison between associations.

Research regarding employee well-being has generally been neglected in the non-profit organisation (NPO) sector. In many aspects NPOs function similar to for-profit organisations, but face challenges such as more financial restraints. Despite these difficulties, many people choose to work at and remain employed with NPOs. The NPO sector is expanding at a rapid pace and therefore needs to recruit and retain people more effectively without spending too many resources. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of psychological capital (PsyCap) in the decision to work in the NPO sector, and determine further reasons to choose and remain with this sector. An explanatory sequential mixed method design was used with an availability sample (N=108) of employees at an NPO in the social services sector in Gauteng and North West provinces. In the quantitative study, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) was used as measuring instrument. The qualitative study entailed semi-structured interviews with participants with lower (n = 8) and higher (n = 8) PsyCap. The results indicated that NPO employees had a higher level of PsyCap. Differences with regard to their preference to work at an NPO were found between individuals with higher and lower levels of PsyCap, specifically pertaining to the reasons for joining an NPO, motivation, meaning, fulfilment and viewing their work as a calling. No clear inconsistencies with regards to rewards and the choice of working in the NPO, public and private sectors were found among individuals with higher and lower PsyCap. The main reasons influencing the decision to work at an NPO were altruism, type of rewards, job satisfaction, organisational factors, positive social influence, and experiencing their work at an NPO as a calling. The study addresses the lack of research on employee well-being in the NPO sector and extends PsyCap research to NPOs. Characteristics of employees who choose to work in NPOs are emphasised. Recommendations for the organisation and suggestions for future research are presented. / MA (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

Research regarding employee well-being has generally been neglected in the non-profit organisation (NPO) sector. In many aspects NPOs function similar to for-profit organisations, but face challenges such as more financial restraints. Despite these difficulties, many people choose to work at and remain employed with NPOs. The NPO sector is expanding at a rapid pace and therefore needs to recruit and retain people more effectively without spending too many resources. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of psychological capital (PsyCap) in the decision to work in the NPO sector, and determine further reasons to choose and remain with this sector. An explanatory sequential mixed method design was used with an availability sample (N=108) of employees at an NPO in the social services sector in Gauteng and North West provinces. In the quantitative study, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) was used as measuring instrument. The qualitative study entailed semi-structured interviews with participants with lower (n = 8) and higher (n = 8) PsyCap. The results indicated that NPO employees had a higher level of PsyCap. Differences with regard to their preference to work at an NPO were found between individuals with higher and lower levels of PsyCap, specifically pertaining to the reasons for joining an NPO, motivation, meaning, fulfilment and viewing their work as a calling. No clear inconsistencies with regards to rewards and the choice of working in the NPO, public and private sectors were found among individuals with higher and lower PsyCap. The main reasons influencing the decision to work at an NPO were altruism, type of rewards, job satisfaction, organisational factors, positive social influence, and experiencing their work at an NPO as a calling. The study addresses the lack of research on employee well-being in the NPO sector and extends PsyCap research to NPOs. Characteristics of employees who choose to work in NPOs are emphasised. Recommendations for the organisation and suggestions for future research are presented. / MA (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

No description available.

Abstract “Customer Satisfaction” has many dimensions. The purpose of this research is to explore these dimensions briefly (using the Service Value Chain concept) and to determine the fundamental drivers of success in customer satisfaction from the perspective of a service organisation. Employees proved to be the pivotal element influencing the outcome of customer satisfaction, as they influence organisational behaviour, customer experience and business profitability. The outcome of the research also promotes the idea that organisations need to become customer - orientated, which requires organisational cultures to change. “Nuclei Drivers of Success in Customer Satisfaction” 3 Two noteworthy results were obtained from this research, which is viewed by the author as a significant contribution to the Service Value Chain. The two specific findings are the empirical evidence in the results of the relationship between Staff Defection and Customer Satisfaction and the relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Organisation Profitability.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Both the income statement and the cash flow statement of a company provide useful information to the user of financial statements. The net profit after tax in the income statement and the cash from operating activities in the cash flow statement have basically the same transactions as source, however they still differ, because of timing differences between the accrual of income and expenses and the cash receipts or payments thereof, as well as the inclusion of items in the net profit after tax that rather forms part of cash flow from investment activities. A growth in turnover usually coincides with an increase in non-cash working capital. When the company is expanding at too high a rate, too much of his cash resources are taken up by the increase in non-cash working capital and that could lead to cash flow problems. This trend can be plotted on a graph, with a growing net profit after tax and a decline in the cash flow from operating activities. The two lines move away from each other when there is a significant difference between the net profit after tax and the cash flow from operating activities. This study tries to measure the angle between the two lines where they reach the danger zone. Users of financial statements will be able to use this as an indicator of companies that are going to be in cash flow trouble over the next period. In order to measure this angle when the company reaches the danger zone, 365 listed industrial companies were studied. The net profit after tax and the cash flow from operating activities were both transformed into an index, with cash flow relative to net profit. The difference between the index strings was calculated. This study only focuses on companies with an index-difference where the cash flow from operating activities is smaller than the net profit after tax. An index-difference of -2 was identified as the possible danger zone. In order to substantiate this figure, companies with an index-difference of -2 or larger negative that still were listed at the time of the study were examined to find the reason for the difference. Items that do not form part of the cash flow from operating activities cannot be used in the calculation of the index-difference, because it will generate a permanent difference between the net profit after tax and the cash from operating activities. Companies that have a huge negative index-difference only because of such items are not in the danger zone. 33 companies with an index-difference of -2 or more negative were identified. Focus was placed on the thirteen companies that did not have losses and that were still listed at the time of the study. Six of these companies were removed from the danger list after the individual examination, because of other reasons for the difference rather than an increase in non-cash working capital. That leaves seven companies that are shown by this study to be in danger to get into serious cash flow trouble in the foreseeable future. A few additional companies were examined which led to another six companies being placed on the danger list. Only time will tell whether these companies do get into serious financial difficulty. If so, the index-difference can be calculated as an indicator of the point when a company, regardless of a strong growth in turnover, and sometimes because thereof, does not generate enough cash from operating activities to finance the growth in non-cash working capital. Unless the company has a holding company that is willing to pour more cash into the company, or unless the company can do a successful rights issue, it will find itself in the position where it cannot finance the expansion and also cannot obtain more additional funding. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beide die inkomstestaat en kontantvloeistaat van 'n maatskappy verskaf nuttige inligting aan gebruikers van finansiële state. Die netto wins na belasting uit die inkomstestaat en die kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwiteite uit die kontantvloeistaat het basies dieselfde transaksies as bron, maar verskil tog, hoofsaaklik vanweë tydverskil in die erkenning van die toevalling van inkomste en uitgawes en die kontantontvangstes en -betalings daarvan, asook vanweë die insluiting van items in die netto wins na belasting wat eerder deel vorm van die kontantvloei uit investeringsaktiwiteite. Wanneer die maatskappy 'n groei in omset toon, gaan dit gewoonlik gepaard met 'n toename in nie-kontant bedryfskapitaal. Wanneer die maatskappy te vinnig groei, word te veel van sy kontantbronne vasgevang in die verhoogde nie-kontant bedryfskapitaal en dit kan lei tot kontantvloeiprobleme. Hierdie tendens kan op 'n grafiek uitgebeeld word met 'n stygende netto wins na belasting, terwyl die kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwiteite daal. Wanneer daar 'n aansienlike verskil tussen die netto wins na belasting en die kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwiteite is, beweeg die twee lyne uit mekaar. Dié studie poog om die grootte van die hoek tussen die twee lyne wanneer die gevaarsone bereik word, te bepaal. Dit kan dan deur gebruikers van die finansiële state as 'n aanduiding gebruik word om te voorspel watter maatskappye oor die volgende tydperk kontantvloeiprobleme sal hê. Ten einde die grootte van die hoek te meet waar die maatskappy die gevaarsone binne beweeg is 365 genoteerde industriële maatskappye se data bestudeer. Die netto wins na belasting en die kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwiteite is beide as 'n indeks uitgedruk, laasgenoemde relatief tot eersgenoemde. Die verskil tussen die twee indeks-reekse is bereken, naamlik die indeks-verskil. Die studie is slegs gefokus op maatskappye met 'n indeks-verskil waar die kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwitete kleiner is as die netto wins na belasting. 'n Indeks-verskil van -2 is geïdentifiseer as die moontlike gevaarsone. Ten einde hierdie syfer te steun is die maatskappye wat ten tye van die navorsing steeds genoteer is en 'n indeks-verskil van -2 of groter negatief het, individueel ondersoek om die rede vir die indeks-verskil vas te stel. Items wat op 'n ander plek in die kontantvloeistaat as in die bedryfsaktiwiteite hanteer word, kan nie in ag geneem word in die berekening van die indeks-verskil nie, aangesien dit 'n permanente afwyking tussen die netto wins na belasting en kontant uit bedryfsaktiwiteite sal veroorsaak. Maatskappye wat dus bloot as gevolg van sodanige items 'n groot negatiewe indeks-verskil het, val nie in die gevaarsone nie. 33 maatskappye is geïdentifiseer met 'n indeks-verskilvan -2 of groter negatief. Daar is gefokus op die dertien maatskappye wat nie verliese gely het nie en steeds ten tye van die afhandeling van die studie genoteer was. Ses van hierdie maatskappye is tydens die individuele ondersoek van die gevaarlys gehaal aangesien daar ander redes vir die groot indeks-verskil was as 'n toename in nie-kontant bedryfskapitaal. Dit laat dan sewe maatskappye wat deur dié studie aangedui word as om moontlik finansiële probleme op te tel binne die afsienbare toekoms. 'n Paar addisionele maatskappye is ondersoek, waarna 'n verdere ses op die gevaarlys geplaas is. Slegs die tyd sal leer of die betrokke maatskappye wel in 'n finansiële verknorsing beland. Indien wel, kan hierdie indeks-verskil bereken word en as 'n aanduiding gebruik word van die punt wanneer 'n maatskappy, in baie gevalle ten spyte van goeie groei in omset, maar dan ook juis as gevolg daarvan, nie genoeg kontant uit bedryfsaktiwiteite genereer om die groei in nie-kontant bedryfskapitaal te finansier nie. Tensy die maatskappy 'n houermaatskappy het wat bereid is om nog kontant te stort in die maatskappy, of tensy die maatskappy 'n suksesvolle regte-uitgifte kan maak, vind hy homself in die posisie dat hy nie die uitbreiding kan finansier nie en dat hy ook nie meer addisionele finansiering kan bekom nie.

Problem: Corporate social responsibility is said to result in strategic and reputational benefits, however, broadcasting it publicly has been proven to be a delicate matter. While stakeholders expect companies to engage in CSR, they do not appreciate if companies communicate their CSR-activities too loudly. Prior research instead suggests that communicating too extensively could cause skepticism from stakeholders. Purpose: This thesis is set to investigate how companies view and handle the challenge of communicating their good deeds, in the specific context of cross-sector collaborations, and how companies balance the need to increase awareness of their social engagements with the risk of inducing skepticism. Method: Primary data has been collected from semi-structured interviews within six case companies from different industries. Conclusion: Our results show that skepticism per se was not perceived as a problem – one reason could be that most companies chose to avoid communicating extensively. While all companies argued for the importance of doing rather than talking, controversial companies in particular expressed an aversion towards bragging about their collaborations. A difference between controversial and neutral industries could be seen in the way they valued communication. Having the right level of communication, demonstrating authenticity by linking cross-sector collaborations to company characteristics, together with the choice of partners and communicating “through” NPOs were seen as important aspects that could help companies to find the balance.

Social planning has remained a longstanding element of urban planning practice and continues to be pursued through different institutional structures in Canada. While the City of Winnipeg currently features no municipal social planning department, the City of Vancouver attempts to support its most disadvantaged neighbourhoods through its municipal sector. As these are two cities with high concentrations of Indigenous populations, this research uncovers the degree to which these two social planning models have worked to support the particular needs and interests of residents living in Winnipeg’s North End and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Through the comparative case study of these two research sites, comprehensive document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key informants from planning agencies in each city, it is evident both models promote socially just and socially sustainable planning processes and outcomes within their respective neighbourhoods. However, neither is without fault. As a government body Vancouver is able to create and track progress in a more systemic way, setting targets and metrics for other government agencies, while information sharing and relationship building are where non-profit organizations in Winnipeg truly excel. This research explains how most non-profit organizations are unable to successfully sustain themselves, while municipal departments lack the rapport grassroots organizations more easily attain. Therefore, an integration of both models could begin to better support Canada’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods with growing urban Indigenous populations. / May 2016

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On a global scale, there are substantial studies about volunteerism. However, literature on volunteerism in South Africa, especially qualitative studies, is limited. The limited literature in South Africa does, however, suggest differences between Northern and Southern global contexts in terms of motivation for volunteering. In order to further build the South African literature in this area, this study explored the experiences of volunteers in a Stellenbosch based NPO. Their experiences encapsulate their motivations, challenges, and benefits of volunteering in their role as mentors to marginalised youth in this area. An overarching developmental framework was utilised to understand the volunteers’ motivations, and supplementary perspectives (Role-ID theory; citizenship and mentoring) were used to explore and contextualise their experiences. Within this framework, a qualitative methodology was employed to explore, gather, describe, and interpret the data. Two group interviews with 5 participants each were conducted. This was supplemented by 3 individual interviews. An interpretive phenomenological analytical approach was used to analyse the data. Findings suggested that other-oriented motivations, citizenship, sense of belonging, social exchange, self-enhancement, positive role model identity, improved personal and familial relations, wilderness solo experience, personal satisfaction and reward in seeing the fruit of their labour were some of the significant themes that emerged for volunteers from their volunteer experience. The main challenge they faced was that of transport mobility to keep mentor appointments. The implications of the findings for South African perspectives on volunteering are discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwyd is daar navorsing gedoen oor vrywillige werk. Die literatuur is nietemin in hierdie vakgebied beperk, veral met betrekking tot kwalitatiewe studies in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks. Die Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur wat wel bestaan dui daarop aan dat daar sommige verskille bestaan tussen navorsing wat in die globale Noorde en Suide gedoen is. Die verskil is die van vrywillige werkers se motiverings om vrywillige werk te doen. Om Suid Afrikaanse navorsing in die gebied te versterk, fokus hierdie studie op die ervaringe van vrywillige werkers by ‘n nie-staat/regerings organisasie in Stellenbosch, Wes-Kaap. Hul ervaringe bestaan uit hul motiverings, uitdagings, en wat hulle beskou as voordele van hul rolle as mentors vir gemarginaliseerde jeug in die omgewing. ‘n Oorkoepelende ontwikkelingraamwerk was benut, om die motivering van vrywilligers en die aanvullende perspektiewe (burgerskap, mentorskap en identiteits-rol teorie) te verstaan en ook om verder hul ervaringe te verken en te kontekstualiseer. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologie is binne hierdie raamwerk gebruik om data te verken, versamel, beskryf, en te interpreteer. Twee groeps onderhoude van vyf deelnemers elk, was uitgevoer. Dit was verder aangevul met drie individuele onderhoude. ‘n Interpreterende fenomenologiese analitiese benadering was benut om die data te analiseer. Bevindings het die navorsing in hierdie gebied weerspiëel. Ander-georiënteerde motiverings, burgerskap, aanvaarding, sosiale uitruiling, self-verbetering, positiewe rol-model identiteit, en verbeterde persoonlike- en gesinsverhoudings, wildernis alleen ervaringe, persoonlike bevrediging, en om die ‘beloning’ te sien van hul harde werk, was sommige van die beduidende temas wat na vore gekom het. Die een groot probleem wat vrywilligers ervaar het, was die van toeganklikheid van vervoer om hul mentorskap afsprake na te kom. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir Suid Afrikaanse perspektiewe op die gebied word bespreek.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskeie navorsingsprojekte is oor die jare gedoen ten opsigte van die voorspellingsmoontlikhede van kontantvloei en winste, met teenstrydige resultate. Daar is egter weinig navorsing gedoen oor die verhouding wat tussen winste en kontantvloei bestaan. Hierdie navorsingsverslag beoog om ondersoek in te stel na die verhouding tussen kontantvloei en winste, dus om te poog om te bepaal watter een die drywer is, maar ook om te bepaal of die een veranderlike ingespan kan word om vooruitskattings ten opsigte van die ander te kan doen. Aangesien finansiële tydreekse die meeste van die tyd nie-stasionêr is, moet dit in ag geneem word wanneer die kousale verwantskap tussen die twee veranderlikes bepaal word, asook wanneer regressie-analise met die oog op vooruitskatting gedoen word. Daar word egter vermoed dat die aspek van stasionariteit weinig aandag geniet in menige navorsing wat ten opsigte van finansiële tydreekse gedoen word. Die feit dat weinig tydreekse stasionêr is, is bevestig deur te toets vir die bestaan van eenheidswortels in die veranderlikes. Die beste resultate vir stasionariteit is verkry deur die tweede verskille van die veranderlikes te bereken. Daar kon egter nie met sekerheid vasgestel word of winste kontantvloei dryf of andersom nie. Die gevaar van skyn-korrelasie is ook bewys, aangesien 'n groot aantal pare veranderlikes beduidende korrelasies tussen mekaar aandui, maar wanneer hulle stasionariteit en kousaliteit in ag geneem word, is weinig van die pare veranderlikes kousaal verwant aan mekaar. Die toets vir ko-integrasie is ingespan om steun te verleen by die regressie-analise en vooruitskatting van die tydreekse. Die regressie analise van die geko-integreerde tydreekse het in die meeste gevalle 'n hoë R2 en aangepaste R2 gelewer. Die vooruitskattings was egter teleurstellend onakkuraat. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Throughout the years a variety of research projects have been done about the predictive ability of cash flow and earnings, with contradictory results. However, limited research has been done about the relationship between cash flow and earnings. The aim of this research report is to investigate the relationship between cash flow and earnings, thus attempting to determine which one is the driver, but also to investigate the ability of one variable to predict the other. Because financial time series are non-stationary most of the time, this fact has to be taken into account when the causal relationship between the two variables is determined, as well as when regression analysis is done with forecasting in view. It is, however, suspected that the fact of stationarity has been neglected in much of the research that has been done on financial time series. The fact that very few time series are stationary has been established by testing for the existence of unit roots in the variables. The best results for stationarity were obtained by calculating the second differences of the variables. It could not be established beyond doubt whether earnings cause cash flows or vice versa. The danger of spurious correlation has been proved, because a vast number of pairs of variables indicates a significant correlation with one another, but when stationarity and causality are taken into account, only a few pairs of variables are truly significantly correlated to one another. The test for co-integration was used to assist in the regression analysis and forecasting of non-stationary time series. The regression analysis of most of the co-integrated variables resulted in a high R2 and adjusted R2. The forecasted values, however, were disappointingly inaccurate. / cmc2010