M.B.A. / The paper industry and, more specifically, Sappi Fine Paper, has not been achieving the levels of innovation required to meet rapidly-changing market needs, especially when compared to manufacturers like 3M. The industry is therefore losing value and not achieving optimal returns on investment. The reasons for this lack of innovation are not known. This study aims to investigate these sub-optimal levels of innovation, and to define some of the possible reasons for it. The study begins with an examination of corporate culture and its impact on innovation. In this regard, a cultural audit was done on a selected group of Sappi employees involved in product development from manufacturing, and sales and marketing. The questionnaire used was aimed at measuring and quantifying innovation and creativity influencers, and both perceived and preferred dimensions of culture were recorded. A gap analysis was then undertaken between the two, and perceptual charts plotted for each of the research groups. The audit revealed that Sappi Fine Paper does, indeed, have a creative culture, but the gap analysis revealed that in certain dimensions there are large gaps between the perceived and preferred profiles. The most critical gap affecting innovation was the one in the “risk profile” dimension. This revealed a tendency for the company to be risk averse, while the expressed preference of staff is that it be more open to risk taking. The literature review also highlights the importance that risk taking plays in innovation. The conclusion drawn is that, in order to achieve improved levels of innovation, Sappi Fine Paper needs to support existing creativity with a greater openness to risk taking resulting in higher levels of innovation.

Mini-study project (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this dissertation is to attempt to analyse and evaluate the successes and mistakes Sappi Limited made when global ising the organisation from the inception of the organisation to the end of the millennium. It is very unique for a South African company to globalise from a South African base and it is the aim of this dissertation to analyse the steps such a company would follow to have success. Only a limited number of South African case studies exist in the field of strategic management and the writer will aim to structure this case study in such a manner that it will serve South African students in the field of Strategic Management. The study will start with the inception of the organisation and will describe the events that led to the globalisation of Sappi Limited as well as the financial results due to these events. This will be followed by a number of questions and answers. The focus will fall on the time frame 1980 to 2000 seeing that this is the time frame during which the greatest number of globalisation activities took place. The writer will aim to evaluate, with the limited information at hand, the company from a strategic management point of view and construct these facts into a practical case study for fellow students in the field of strategic management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie proefskrif is om die strategiese suksesse en foute wat Sappi Beperk gemaak het tydens die globalisering van hierdie maatskappy vanaf die onstaan van hierdie maatskappy tot en met die einde van die millennium te evalueer. Dit is uiters uniek vir 'n Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappy om vanaf 'n Suid-Afrikaanse basis te globaliseer en die doel van hierdie werkstuk is om te ondersoek watter stappe hierdie maatskappy gevolg het ten einde sukses te behaal al dan nie. Daar bestaan slegs 'n beperkte aantal Suid-Afrikaanse gevallestudies in die veld van Strategiese Bestuur en dit is die doel van skrywer om te poog om die gevallestudie so te struktureer dat dit gebruik sou kon word vir Suid-Afrikaanse studente in die veld van Strategiese Bestuur. Die studie begin met die ontstaan van die maatskappy en vertel van die gebeure wat gelei het tot die globalisering van Sappi Beperk sowel as die finansiële resultate wat bereik is as gevolg van hierdie gebeure. Hierna is daar 'n aantal vrae gestel en beantwoord. Die fokus van die ontleding is vir die tydperk 1980 tot 2000 aangesien dit die tydperk is waarin die grootste globaliseringsprojekte geskied het. Dit is die doel van die skrywer om met die beperkte inligting beskikbaar, die maatskappy uit 'n strategiese oogpunt te evalueer en hierdie feite dan saam te voeg ten einde 'n praktiese gevallestudie daar te stel vir die gebruik van mede studente in hierdie veld van bestuur.

Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Management, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / It has become imperative for organisations to create family-friendly work-environments, where employees can effectively balance work and family life, in order to ensure employee satisfaction and increased productivity. A critical review of the quality of work life factors and organizational commitment literature was therefore conducted, in order to ascertain their psychometric applicability to knowledge workers within the Pulp and Paper industry in the greater eThekwini Metropolitan Area. A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed to employees in the pulp and paper industry within the eThekwini metropolitan area. The employees were randomly selected, while the organisations were stratified selected. A questionnaire was used to measure the different dimensions of quality of work life factors as well as the different dimensions of organisational commitment. The gathered data was processed through an SPSS program. A number of statistical tests were then performed on the collected data, where biographical variables were compared with the independent variables. The questionnaire was considered moderately reliable because the overall coefficient alpha was 0.525. The Pearson’s value indicated that there was a positive relationship at 0.01 level of significance between the majority of the quality of work factors (organizational climate, task characteristics, job satisfaction, role behaviour, utilization and future orientation) and the organisational commitment. No relationship was found between remuneration and organizational commitment. There was no significant difference in organizational commitment across the biographical variables of marital status, age, length of service and span of control. There was, however, a significant difference in organizational commitment across different levels of education. The Analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant difference in organizational commitment across marital status group. There was however a significant difference in organizational commitment across length of service. There was a significant difference I organizational commitment across supervisory span of control. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression indicated that with the exception of age, education and experience, all other demographics variables do not have an impact on affective commitment. The results also indicated that age, education and experience had an impact on continuance commitment. Similarly, age and education contribute significantly to normative commitment. The structural equation model comparative technique was performed to all constructed models and indicated that all models had a good fit in relation to the data based on the GFI. The best-fitting model for consequences demonstrated that organisational citizenship behaviour and procedural justice were important variables. Apart from that, affective, continuance and normative commitment were also found to be part of the model.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 iii, 111 leaves / The purpose of this study was to determine the core competencies of Sappi Forest Product division as a basis for establishing future developments. The literature focused on the resource-based view where the analysis of the firm’s internal resources and capabilities can be used as the starting point of strategy. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 iii, 111 leaves / The purpose of this study was to determine the core competencies of Sappi Forest Product division as a basis for establishing future developments. The literature focused on the resource-based view where the analysis of the firm’s internal resources and capabilities can be used as the starting point of strategy.

This study evaluates the implementation of a performance management system within a division of a company operating in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry. The research has been carried out in order to establish the perceived effectiveness of a performance management system as well as to identify areas where the system can be improved upon. An empirical study was carried out in the form of an e-mailed questionnaire to approximately 350 employees at Paterson grading level Upper C to Upper 0 across all mills, covering all aspects of the performance management system which included the process of establishing individual performance agreements, performance feedback as well as performance rewards. An analysis on the relationship between salary, salary increase percentage and performance positioning was also carried out. The survey data showed an overall positive level of satisfaction with the performance management system. A shortcoming, however, was found in the link between performance and pay, which very few of the employees surveyed were satisfied with. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Commercial forestry in South Africa was born out of the need to alleviate the growing demand on limited natural resources. From small beginnings, the industry has grown over the years and currently plays a significant role in South Africa's economy. The industry is a source of employment, foreign exchange and it facilitates a number of downstream processing activities. However, with the growth of the industry, there has also been increasing concern from various sectors over the impacts of the industry on the environment, particularly on water and biodiversity. More recently, concern has also shifted towards challenging the social and economic benefits of timber to local communities. As a result of growing pressure, legislation, policies and institutions have been transformed to ensure that environmental and social issues are taken into consideration in carrying out any form of development. The forestry industry has also changed considerably and understanding stakeholders perceptions has also become evident. In 1995 as part of the process to adhere to ISO 14001 international standards, Sappi forests commissioned a study to enable them to have a better understanding of activities, products and services which could have an impact on the environment. The concerns of the stakeholder were incorporated into their management plan. In continued efforts to improve the image of the forestry industry, this study was commissioned in 1999 with the aim of understanding how peoples perceptions of the industry had changed since 1995. The change of perceptions was determined through structured as well as semi structured interviews. A comparison between the responses in this study with those in Murphy et al. 1995 was undertaken to determine how peoples perceptions had changed since 1995. Even though the forestry industry had included some of the concerns raised by stakeholder and improved their management plans since 1995, peoples perceptions ofthe industry were largely negative. External changes leading to increased awareness in the intervening period were seen as the reason for the lack of change in peoples perceptions. Among others the external changes include increased transformation of environmental legislation both internationally and nationally which is more focused on addressing social as well as environmental issues. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xiii, 128 leaves / The research study conducted was an investigation into the change process and its effect on employees, a case study of Antalis (Pty) Ltd. The objective of the research was to achieve a better understanding of how the company had changed and whether or not the change process was the correct one to have undertaken under the circumstances, and to investigate the effects the change had on the employees and the culture of the company. / M

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xiii, 128 leaves / The research study conducted was an investigation into the change process and its effect on employees, a case study of Antalis (Pty) Ltd. The objective of the research was to achieve a better understanding of how the company had changed and whether or not the change process was the correct one to have undertaken under the circumstances, and to investigate the effects the change had on the employees and the culture of the company.