Thesis (MTech (Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005 / This study illustrates the practical value of incorporating the assessment of data obtained from surveys conducted on tourists' views of current service offerings at eating establishments. The findings from such surveys can assist tourism and the hospitality industry managers to identify priorities for product and service improvements. In essence, the research report examines how tourists (both domestic and foreign) make the choice of an eating establishment. It also examines how greater understanding of user-satisfaction (tourists) with the hospitality products or services may improve planning for the development of these service offerings. In order to conceptualise the research problem, a review of literature is provided of selected aspects of visitors perceptions in the Cape Metropolitan region. Moreover, these aspects (facilities for children, persons with disability, special attention for pensioners, African dishes on offer) are also considered based on the argument that the views of visitors on current service offerings should be given far more prominence than generally occurs at present. The survey of two hundred tourists was conducted during the peak holiday season of December 2004 to January 2005 in the Cape Metropolitan region of South Africa. The survey examined views and perceptions of visitors about a range of services at eating establishments. Survey results reported selected aspects of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services of eating establishment in the Cape Town city centre, Waterfront and Camps Bay. The researcher concludes that current service offerings at eating establishments in the Cape Metropolitan region do little to accommodate visitors whose primary reasons for visiting are to experience the South African food and wine, especially cultural-specific foods, as well as accommodating the needs of disabled visitors, children and old age pensioners. The implications of the findings will assist relevant authorities to help enhance service offerings.

Due to high levels of globalization and outsourcing of employment an important aspect emerges which is the concept of decent work. This concept is important in that the struggle for many companies to stay afloat under global competition requires the cutting of costs. The cost which is the most easy to manipulate is that of labour. Through global competitiveness companies often increase working hours, decrease wages and decrease benefits for employees. This has caused increased attention to the idea and concept of decent work. This leads to the problem of providing and assuring decent work on a global scale. Decent work is an objective of the International Labour Organization (ILO) which aims to provide equitable employment to people of all spheres. This goal is wide and deals with nine indicators which are quantitative in nature. However these aspects do not deal with the subjective measures which pertain to employment. These subjective measures are as important as the quantitative measures. To better attain the goal of decent work this report argues that there is a need for the incorporation of these subjective measures when determining the level of decent employment. For the purposes of this research report the subjective measures are collectively termed job satisfaction. However while this combination of objective and subjective indicators better reflects working conditions, there is a need for more comprehensive concepts in understanding vulnerable work. In order to develop this deeper understanding of vulnerable work. This research report utilizes various literature in in the sociology of work . The restaurant industry in Gauteng is used as the site for this research report as a means of illustrating the pitfalls to the narrowly defined concepts of decent work and job satisfaction. This industry is particularly interesting as it is very different from other sectors as it is marked by interactive service work that involves high levels of emotional labour. Tips play a large role in supplementing the workers income. Tips , the report argues, is a means of workers consenting to servitude as they actively participate in their exploitation through conforming to the enterprises interests. This is not merely done through the system of tipping but also through their performance of emotional labour which is often increased in order to play these “games “which allow for higher tips. Consenting to servitude is not only the acceptance of exploitation but also the creation of a submissive and subservient work force. The notion of consenting to servitude is what lacks in both concepts. Exploitation plays a large role in whether a job is deemed decent or not but it is largely ignored within both the concepts of decent work and job satisfaction. Instead it is necessary to go beyond these two concepts and draw on the body of social theory on the world of work such as Burawoy and Foucault, if one wants to explain the nature of work and workers responses in the hospitality industry in Gauteng. This illustrates that every workplace is different and requires differing sets of indicators. The concepts of job satisfaction and decent work although incomplete on their own carry various advantages and cannot merely be dismissed.

Thesis (MTech (Business)) --Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / The Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology conducts research in the niche area: “The Effective Management of SMMEs” as identified by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The research contained within the ambit of this thesis, has as its objective to establish the current position of performance measures utilised daily in the business activities by fast food franchisees, to raise awareness of future performance drivers (i.e. the critical success factors or non-financials aspects), and to highlight the importance of measuring the key performance areas of both financials and non-financial indicators as significant contributors to sustainability and growth of an enterprise. The challenge managers is currently faced with pertain to the managing of businesses for results i.e. identifying the drivers of financial success, finding a balance to measure financial and non-financial performances, appraising and compensating people’s performance. Lacking such tools, businesses have encountered difficulties managing what they could not describe or measure, or that are exposed to the risk of failure. Financial accounting (historic information) does not provide details about factors that actually help grow market share and profits (the main drivers of future performance). The questions which should be asked, are: Are the managers of fast food franchisees able to identify critical information or articulate factors that are important to actually help grow market share and profits? What tools are utilized to measure and drive value in real-time? To what level is performance measured, and what is the role and purpose of the utilised measures in the fast food franchisees? Most importantly, to what extent are franchisees in the fast food industry equipped by franchisors through a franchise “package”? This remains problematic as the need to identify and understand information critical for decision making in the fast food industry becomes imperative for the growth and sustainability of the organization. To answer these questions, the performance measures actually used by franchisees, will be surveyed. The proposed study will involve the collection, compilation, and analysis of both financials and non-financials performance measures using survey data from fast food franchisees within the Cape Metropolis. Quantitative data will be collected through opened and closed ended questionnaires (distributed to owners/managers of outlets) to document the existing performance measures and resulting perceived benefits. The outcome of this thesis will help franchisees to identify critical success factors and raise awareness with franchisors on inadequacies in the franchise package, so as to contribute to the effective management of small businesses. Furthermore, the research will be of importance in empowering the fast food sector to take advantages of alternative performance measures, improve their business efficiencies and increase their capacity to grow and be sustainable.

For more than a decade (2001 – 2012) there has been extensive research conducted on the impact of marketing on food consumption, the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the use of media communication channels in the restaurant industry. However, no known research has focused specifically on the healthy fast-casual restaurant segment with a specific focus on media communication channels. This study attempts to address this limitation. The study deals with selected media communication channels and their influence on the healthy lifestyle perceptions and healthy lifestyle purchase intentions of young adult consumers in South Africa. The study considers the impact that a more selective choice of media communication channel can have on restaurants in the healthy fast-casual restaurant segment. Media communication channels are a vital part of a restaurant’s marketing communication program as they transmit messages between the business and its target market. In South Africa’s restaurant industry, there are numerous businesses that are conveying messages to consumers regarding their market offerings. This advertising clutter is aggravated by healthy fast-casual restaurants needing to compete against traditional fast-casual restaurants who are adding healthier items to their menus. The study’s secondary research included a literature review on marketing communication, selected media communication channels (print media, display media, broadcast media and online media) and the South African restaurant industry (with a focus on the healthy fast-casual segment). In addition, perception and purchase intention were discussed with a focus on healthy lifestyles and young adult consumers. In order to establish the influence of the selected media communication channels (print media, display media, broadcast media and online media) on young adults’ healthy lifestyle perceptions and healthy lifestyle purchase intentions an empirical investigation was also conducted. A positivistic research paradigm was used as quantitative methods were performed to identify significant relationships among the selected variables. The sample consisted of students from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. A total of 440 questionnaires were distributed, with 350 usable. Therefore, a response rate of 79.55 per cent was obtained. The empirical investigation revealed that the items in the questionnaire that were used to gather information about healthy lifestyle perception and healthy lifestyle purchase intention loaded together on one factor which was renamed healthy lifestyle buying behaviour. Multiple regression analysis indicated that positive and statistically significant relationships existed between print media and healthy lifestyle buying behaviour and between online media and the healthy lifestyle buying behaviour of young adults. These relationships imply that an increased use of print media will reflect increased buying behaviour that supports healthy lifestyles amongst young adults. Similarly, the more online media is used, the more young adult buying behaviour will reflect healthier choices. This implies that restaurants in the healthy fast-casual restaurant segment can increase the demand for their market offerings and stand out amongst the advertising clutter through a more deliberate use of print media and online media. The study includes strategies that can be used to improve the use of print media and online media in order to influence the healthy lifestyle buying behaviour of young adults. Healthy lifestyle buying behaviours essentially will increase the demand for goods that support healthy lifestyles and therefore increase the demand for healthy fast-casual restaurants. The provision of healthy menu items and a more focused marketing program can be used as a strategy to attract more young adults as consumers, to grow business relationships with this target market, to enhance business performance and to create a healthier South African community.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The business format, franchising, can be defined as "the granting of a licence for a predetermined financial return by a franchising company (franchisor) to its franchisees. The grant entitles them to make use of a complete business package, including training, support and the corporate name (branding and logos). Thus enabling them (franchisees) to operate their own businesses to exactly the same standards and format as the other units in the franchise chain." (Grant 1985, p4 as cited by Altinay, L. 2004) Franchising as a business model can be seen in essence as a proven business model that is sold as a "best practices knowledge" model to franchisees. Although the "best practices" approach is at the core of franchising no formal methodology was found to exist to guide the development thereof. The lack of a formal methodology in this regard has given rise to various self-designed so-called "project management" approaches as found to be applied in the development of franchise outlets. This mini-thesis sets about testing the theoretical and practical integration of a formal project management approach, in fast food franchising market. Both from a theoretical and practical point of view it was found that the integration of a formal project management methodology and franchising as a business model would improve the functionality of franchising as a whole. By developing a formal methodology in a course for the franchising model, better control over the limited scarce resources (money, time, quality and people) at its disposal can be obtained, allowing optimal growth through proper development, planning, monitoring and delivering of business outlets. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die besigheids formaat, naamlik agentskap, kan beskryf word as: die vergunning van 'n lisensie teen 'n voorafbepaalde finansiële tarief deur die maatskappy, aan sy agentskappe. Die vergunning leen hulle daaraan toe om gebruiksnut van die hele pakket te kan benut, insluitende opleiding, ondersteuning en korporatiewe naams- (handelsmerk en logo) gebruik. Sodoende bevoeg die gebruiksnut die agentskappe om hulle eie besighede tot dieselfde standaarde en formaat as die ander agentskappe in die groep te bedryf. (Grant 1985, p4 soos aangehaal deur Altinay, l.2004) Agentskap as 'n besigheids model kan beskou word in wese as 'n erkende besigheids model, wat verkoop word as 'n "beste kennis praktyk" model, aan die organisasie se agentskappe. Alhoewel die "beste kennis praktyk" metode, aan die kern van agentskap is, is geen formele metodologie gevind wat die ontwikkeling daarvan reguleer nie. Die tekort aan 'n formele metodologie in die aanwending van agentskap het tot gevolg gehad dat verskeie self ontwikkelde sogenaamde "projek bestuur" metodes in gebruik geneem is in die ontwikkeling van verskeie agentskappe. Hierdie mini-tesis is daartoe gemik om teoretiese en praktiese integrasie van 'n formele projek bestuur metodiek in die kits kos agentskap mark te beproef. Beide van 'n teoretiese en praktiese perspektief was dit bevind dat die integrasie van 'n formele projek bestuur metodologie en agentskap as 'n besigheids model, die funksionele toepassing van agentskap as 'n geheel sal bevorder. Deur die daarstelling van 'n formele agentskap kursus bied dit die organisasie beter kontrole oor hulle beskikbare skaars hulpbronne (geld, tyd, kwaliteit en mense), wat optimale groei bevorder weens die ontwikkeling van verbeterde ontwikkeling, beplanning, toesighouding, en lewering metodes.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, partly for the fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg 2016 / This dissertation aims to identify whether or not there is clear and tangible evidence to suggest a relationship between the presence of total quality management (TQM) practices and service quality in the restaurant industry. It attempts to investigate if restaurants that show higher levels of service quality do so because they implement quality management practices in some form or another. The study considers four restaurants in Johannesburg. A research method was devised purely for this dissertation to measure the presence of quality management practices within the restaurant and the level of service quality experienced by the customer. Three research instruments were designed for the study by using various frameworks, specifically TQM (a type of quality management practice), the SERVQUAL instrument (a tool used to measure service quality) and qualitative research interviewing. Quality management practices at the restaurants were assessed using the first research instrument: The TQM Questionnaire, which was conducted as an interview between researcher and restaurant employees. The level of service quality was assessed using the second research instrument: The Customer Survey, which was dispensed to the restaurant customers. The third instrument, an observations table was used to corroborate the results obtained by the first two instruments and was designed by the researcher. The results of the TQM Questionnaire were analysed using content analysis, and each restaurant was assigned a total TQM score, which signified the degree to which they implement TQM practices. These scores were compared to the results obtained from the customer surveys, which assigned each restaurant with a SERVQUAL score that measured the degree of customer satisfaction. The TQM results were compared to the SERVQUAL results for each restaurant in order to identify a relationship between the two aspects. The research identified that 3 of the 4 restaurants showed a clear relationship between the presence of TQM practices in their operations and the level of service quality experienced by the customer. It was identified that restaurants that achieved high TQM scores also achieved the highest SERVQUAL scores. This finding recognises that there is a relationship between TQM and service quality, however the study does not go forward to investigate the nature of this relationship. / MT2016

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Quality, service and ambience are concepts synonymous with the restaurant industry. Whilst the importance of these, and the integral function they perform in ensuring guest satisfaction and ultimately the success of a restaurant can hardly be denied, how effectively these inextricable concepts have been integrated within restaurants of Hermanus is of particular interest to various stakeholders. In a recent article submitted to an impact study conducted by GHACT (Greater Hermanus Association for Commerce and Tourism) titled: "Restaurateurs and Other Catering Outlets - February 2002", the Chairman of the Restaurateurs Association of Hermanus stated: "Restaurateurs usually are very impulsive individual personalities, working long hours - they do not comply with regulations; do their own thing and do not plan their strategies for the future - seat of the pants. We urgently need to start managing and policing our industry similar to accommodation establishments (e.g.... cleanliness, quality control and star ratings.)" The aim of this study project, originally commissioned by GHACT, is to contribute to GHACT's aim of stimulating commerce and tourism to Hermanus as part of their functions of core marketing, project development (impact studies), environment maintenance, and complaint resolution. A review of related literature as well as information gathered from 273 interviews, concerning 43 out of approximately 51 restaurants, forms the backdrop to this document. Definitions of key terms, investigation into previous empirical research, and identification of various excellence and guest satisfaction techniques, are the major focal points of this literature review. Four quality, service and ambience related assessments form part of the research, namely: 1) industry consistency in dealing with seasonality; 2) competitiveness between six specific restaurants; 3) tourist versus resident perceptions of restaurant excellence; and 4) individual restaurant excellence development areas. It was concluded that, although consistency throughout 2002 does not appear to be a concern for the Hermanus restaurant industry, the actual levels of quality, service and ambience offered by certain restaurants are below an acceptable standard. The Quality Matrix intervention presented in Chapter 5 integrates the tangible and intangible product and service standards essential for service excellence and guest satisfaction within all restaurants of Hermanus. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kwaliteit, diens en atmosfeer is konsepte wat sinoniem is met die restaurantbedryf. Alhoewel die belangrikheid van hierdie konsepte sentraal is om tevredenheid by gebruikers te verseker en uiteindelik om sukses te bepaal, is dit ook belangrik vir belanghebbendes om te sien hoe effektief hierdie konsepte in die restaurantbedryf van Hermanus ingeburger is. In 'n onlangse artikel deur GHACT (Greater Hermanus Association for Commerce and Tourism), getiteld: "Restauranteurs and Other Catering Outlets - February 2002", sê die voorsitter van die Restauranteurs Assosiasie van Hermanus dat "Restaurateurs usually are very impulsive individual personalities, working long hours - they do not comply with regulations; do their own thing and do not plan their strategies for the future - seat of the pants. We urgently need to start managing and policing our industry similar to accommodation establishments (e.g.... cleanliness, quality control and star ratings.)" Hierdie projek is deur GHAT aangepak in 'n poging om toerisme en koophandel in Hermanus te stimuleer deur impak studies, bemarking, omgewingsbeheer en klagte oplossing. 'n Oorsig van soortgelyke literatuur sowel as informasie wat versamel is van 273 onderhoude met betrekking tot 43 restaurante vorm die agtergrond van hierdie dokument. Die fokuspunt van hierdie literatuuroorsig was om die kern begrippe te definiëer, die bevindings van ander empiriese navorsing te analiseer, en tegnieke wat uitstaande diens en tevredenheid by gebruikers te verseker, te ondersoek. Vier kwaliteit, diens en atmosfeer verwante evalueringsareas vorm deel van die ondersoek, naamlik: 1) die eenvormigheid van die industrie in die hantering van seisoensverandering; 2) mededinging tussen ses spesifieke restaurante; 3) toeriste se persepsie teenoor die plaaslike inwoners se persepsie van restaurant kwaliteit en 4) individuele restaurant ontwikkelings areas. Alle gevolgtrekkings wat gemaak is in hierdie dokument is gebaseer op die bevindings van bogenoemde toetse. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat alhoewel betroubaarheid nie 'n probleem blyk te wees vir die Hermanus restaurantbedryf nie, werklike kwaliteit, diensvlakke en atmosfeer deur sekere restaurante aangebied, wel onder aanvaarbare standaarde was. Die kwaliteitsmatriks voorgestel in Hoofstuk 5 integreer die tasbare en ontasbare produk en noodsaaklike standaarde vir kwaliteit diens en tevredenheid by gebruikers by al die restaurante in Hermanus.

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between personality preference types (as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI]) Form M and psychological career resources (as measured by the Psychological Career Resource Inventory [PCRI]) of managers in the fast-food industry and whether groups from different races, ages and gender differ significantly regarding personality types and psychological career resources. A quantity survey was conducted on a sample (N = 81) of managers in the fast food industry in the Western Cape. The extraversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ESFJ) and the introversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ISFJ) personality types were the dominant ones in the study. Personality type preferences were significantly related to psychological career resources. The personality types differed significantly regarding the following PCRI variables: variety/creativity (career preference), growth/development (career value), self/other skills (career enabler) and social connectivity (career harmoniser). Significant differences between personality types, psychological career resources and age, gender and race were also established. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between personality preference types (as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI]) Form M and psychological career resources (as measured by the Psychological Career Resource Inventory [PCRI]) of managers in the fast-food industry and whether groups from different races, ages and gender differ significantly regarding personality types and psychological career resources. A quantity survey was conducted on a sample (N = 81) of managers in the fast food industry in the Western Cape. The extraversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ESFJ) and the introversion, sensing, feeling, judging (ISFJ) personality types were the dominant ones in the study. Personality type preferences were significantly related to psychological career resources. The personality types differed significantly regarding the following PCRI variables: variety/creativity (career preference), growth/development (career value), self/other skills (career enabler) and social connectivity (career harmoniser). Significant differences between personality types, psychological career resources and age, gender and race were also established. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The South African fast-food industry is growing steadily, and so is the trend towards healthy eating. South Africans are becoming more aware of what they put into their bodies and not only do they want to consume meals that are quick and convenient, but they also want to ensure that what they are eating offers nutritional benefits. Although fast-food outlets have responded to customer demand by adding healthier food options to their menus, customer satisfaction regarding these options has not been investigated sufficiently in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to explore customer satisfaction with the healthier food options available at fast-food outlets in South Africa. An extensive literature review was conducted on the South African fast-food industry (the link between fast-food and obesity was noted, followed by a discussion on the trend towards healthy eating) and customer satisfaction. An empirical study was conducted, in which data was collected from students studying at the University of Pretoria by means of self-administered questionnaires. The study followed a mixed method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research in order to satisfy the research objectives. The results of this research study indicate that there is a high level of satisfaction amongst South African customers with the healthier food options available at fast-food outlets. / Business Management / M. Comm. (Business Management)