Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The consumer in 2000 has various new options on which to spend money, even when compared to only one year ago. In South Africa new spending destinations and higher interest rates, fuel prices and administered prices led to changes in consumer patterns, which implies less spending on traditional retail products such as furniture, clothes, shoes and more spending in the growth sectors such as cell phones and internet. The retailer who wants to ensure success in this changing environment has to competently address a number of strategic issues. Effective positioning significantly contributes to an organisations competitiveness and consequent success in any line of business. The loss of the Edgars group clothing, footwear and textile market share despite expensive efforts to buy sales and add space, was the clearest indicator that every retailer's most treasured asset, the customer, was migrating to competitors, and/or spending less with the group. In this study the key strategic issues that led to Edgars decline in marketshare from 1995 through to 2000 has been examined in the light of changes in the internal and external environment of retail. Case study research in the form of documentary analysis of Edgars, together with knowledge originating from the literature review, provided a sound basis for generating questions to be answered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verbruiker het in die jaar 2000 verskeie nuwe opsies waarop geld spandeer kan word. Nuwe bestedingsareas in Suid-Afrika het as gevolg van hoër rentekoerse, brandstofpryse en administraiewe kostes gelei tot verandering in verbruikerspatrone, wat impliseer dat minder op tradisionele handelsprodukte soos meubels, klere, en skoene teenoor sektore soos selfone en die internet spandeer word. Die handelaar wat 'n sukses in so 'n situasie wil verseker, moet 'n aantal strategiese vraagstukke op 'n bekwame en vaardige wyse aanspreek. Effektiewe posisionering sal 'n besondere bydrae maak tot enige onderneming se mededinging en sukses. Die verlies aan markaandeel van Edgars se klerasie, skoene en tekstiel bedryf ten spyte van hoë besteding aan bemarking en addisionele vloerspasie, was 'n duidelike aanwysing dat elke handelaar se mees gewaardeerde bate, die klient, na kompetisie migreer of minder by die handelaar spandeer. In hierdie studie word verskeie strategiese vraagstukke ondersoek in die lig van die interne en eksterne omgewing van die handelaar. Identifisering van hierdie veranderinge en tendense sal handelaars help om probleme te formuleer vir verdere strategiee. Gevallestudie navorsing in die vorm van dokumentere analise rakende die Edgars ondersoek, tesame met kennis verkry uit literatuuroorsig, het 'n sterk grondslag gelê vir die formulering van vrae wat beantwoord kan word.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters Degree In Management Sciences Business Administration, Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The retail industry is arguably one the most prosperous sectors in the global economy. Retail’s importance lies in the fact that it serves as an intermediary between producers and consumers. Given its significance in the everyday lives of people in communities and its role in national economies, the industry operates under extensive competition driven by growth in Information Technology which has dramatically changed the consumption patterns and buying behavior of consumers today. The changes are greatly influenced by different economic factors that impose change in the industry and impact on the bottom line of businesses. Thus, retailers are constantly realigning their businesses in ways that ensure that old customers are kept and new ones are sourced. It is from the foregoing that this study sets out to investigate the influence of transformation on the financial performance of the operational level of retail businesses: A case study. Using a quantitative research method, the study focused on 101 middle level branch managers of The South African Post Office obtained through the simple random technique. The questionnaires were administered to the branch managers and the data obtained was analysed using SPSS software. Findings from the study revealed that the overall business transformation has a positive impact on the financial performance of businesses. The results further revealed that continuous communication with regards to transformation inspires confidence among employees, thereby leading to productivity and the achievement of organisational goals and objectives. Findings also suggest that productive employees contribute positively to the financial performance of the business. The study recommends that retail businesses should consider overall business transformation in terms of structural design change, Information Technology, products and services and employee motivation to keep business relevant in the ever-changing global economy. / M

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this dissertation is to attempt to shed some light on the strategic issues and shortfalls that accompanied the OK Bazaars (1929) Ltd on its path from being the oldest and largest retailer in South Africa to becoming a spiralling loss-maker and being sold for a mere R1 at the end of what is probably the longest existing retail-trade history for a company this size in South Africa. Only a limited number of South African case studies exist in the field of Strategic Management and the writer will, in the latter part of the dissertation, condense the broad facts to a case study that will serve South African students in the field of Strategic Management. The study firstly follows a theoretical discussion on some Strategic Management theory, especially the two important concepts of vision and mission. This leads to the discussion of a model for Strategic Management or more specific, strategic analysis. The study then concludes with the application of the model on the OK Bazaars, which entails the essence of the report. The focus is on the company since the early seventies and thereafter up until its sale by The South African Breweries(SAB) in 1997. The period under discussion is fragmented into roughly the three decades, that is the seventies, the eighties and the years 1990 to 1997(the nineties). The writer at this stage wishes to emphasise that, due to a number of factors which will be discussed shortly, a broad analytical approach is followed on the seventies with a somewhat more detailed analysis being done on the eighties and, as far as is possible, a full-on analysis of the nineties. The reasons for this approach are as follows: • The 0K Bazaars in its pre-1997 form does not exist anymore and the people involved with the then-existing company are no longer available for comment. Almost no media-published material is available on the OK Bazaars during the seventies with only limited published material on the eighties. • Due to the SAB and Shoprite Holdings, the new owners of OK Bazaars, currently still being in a dispute as to the exact extent of the losses incurred by the OK just prior to the take-over and the nett asset value of the OK Bazaars at the time of the take-over, the situation surrounding the OK and its financial figures are very sensitive at present. As a result very little information is available from Shoprite with no information from SAB except the annual financial reports. By August 2000 there were still indications that the dispute was not yet resolved (De Vynck,2000). Due to the poor performance of OK Bazaars in the last years of its presence in the SAB stable, the annual financial reports of SAB also reflect the minimum information on the company (OK). It is however the aim of the writer to evaluate, with the somewhat limited information at hand, the company from a strategic management point of view and construct these facts to a practical case study for fellow students in this interesting field of management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie proefskrif is om te poog om die strategiese probleme en tekortkominge uit te lig wat bygedra het tot die ondergang van OK Bazaars (1929) Bpk, vanaf die stadium dat die OK die grootste kleinhandelaar in Suid-Afrika was totdat dit 'n onomkeerbare verliesmaker geword het en verkoop is vir 'n skamele R1 aan die einde van wat waarskynlik die langsbestaande kleinhandelsgeskiedenis vir 'n maatskappy van hierdie grootte in Suid Afrika is. Daar bestaan slegs 'n beperkte aantal Suid Afrikaanse gevallestudies in die veld van Strategiese Bestuur en die skrywer sal, in die laaste deel van die proefskrif, die breër feite tot 'n gevallestudie reduseer wat gebruik kan word deur Suid Afrikaanse studente in the veld van Strategiese Bestuur. Die studie begin met 'n bespreking van sekere teoretiese aspekte van Strategiese Bestuur, veral die twee belangrike onderwerpe van visie en missie. Dit lei tot die bespreking van 'n model vir Strategiese Bestuur, of meer spesifiek strategiese ontleding of analise. Die studie gaan dan voort met die toepassing van die model op die OK Bazaars, wat die kern van die verslag vorm. Die fokus is op die maatskappy sedert die vroeë sewentigerjare en daarna tot en met die verkoop daarvan deur die SAB in 1997. Die tydperk onder bespreking word rofweg opgedeel in die drie dekades, naamlik die sewentigerjare, die tagtigerjare en die jare 1990 tot 1997 (die negentigerjare). Die skrywer wil reeds op hierdie stadium beklemtoon dat, as gevolg van 'n paar faktore wat hierna bespreek sal word, 'n breë oorsigtelike benadering gevolg word ten opsigte van die sewentigerjare met 'n ietwat meer gedetailleerde ontleding wat ten opsigte van die tagtigerjare gedoen word en, sover as moontlik, 'n volwaardige ontleding van die negentigerjare. Die redes vir hierdie benadering is as volg: • Die OK Bazaars soos dit gelyk het voor 1997 bestaan nie meer nie, en die persone wat betrokke was by die maatskappy soos dit op daardie stadium daar uitgesien het, is nie meer beskikbaar vir kommentaar nie. • Daar is feitlik geen media-gepubliseerde materiaal omtrent OK Bazaars gedurende die sewentigerjare beskikbaar nie, terwyl slegs beperkte gepubliseerde materiaal omtrent die tagtigerjare beskikbaar is. • As gevolg van die feit dat SAB en Shoprite Holdings, die nuwe eienaars van OK Bazaars, tans steeds in a dispuut is insake die presiese omvang van die verliese aangegaan deur die OK net voor die oorname asook die netto batewaarde van OK op die stadium van die oorname, is die situasie rakende die OK en die finansiële resultate daarvan hoogs sensitief op die oomblik. Gevolglik is baie min inligting beskikbaar vanaf Shoprite, terwyl geen inligting vanaf die SAB kant buiten die statutêre jaarverslae beskikbaar is nie. Teen Augustus 2000 was daar steeds aanduidings dat die dispuut nie opgelos is (De Vynck,2000). As gevolg van die swak vertoning van die OK Bazaars in die laaste jare waartydens dit nog binne die SAB stal geval het, reflekteer die jaarlikse finansiële verslae van die SAB slegs die minimum inligting omtrent die maatskappy (OK). Dit is egter die doel van die skrywer om met die beperkte inligting beskikbaar, die maatskappy uit 'n strategiese bestuur-oogpunt te evalueer en hierdie feite dan saam te voeg ten einde 'n praktiese gevallestudie daar te stel vir mede studente in hierdie interessante veld van bestuur.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study acts as a consulting solution to a South African small retail enterprise in developing an information system process model that will assist them to achieve their goals. A thorough analysis of the enterprise and the existing processes is conducted, where after the development of a transactional processing system is critically analysed. Small enterprises have specific information technology needs that are vastly different from large firms. The study takes into consideration the very specific conditions that will lead to successes and failures for this enterprise. It illustrates that from planning through to implementation and evaluation, it is important to integrate the technology as seamlessly as possible with the existing culture and operation. A review of existing principles for small enterprises is conducted and the guidelines flowing from this are outlined and applied to the business under investigation in a developing a practical solution. The owner understands that technology could be utilised to the benefit of his business. His backing and conviction that this is the way forward is imperative to the long-term success of the ultimate solution. Some guidelines to the study are set parameters as the owner has expressed specific requirements regarding the ultimate solution. This study provides a framework from which the developer, consultant and owner can sit at a planning stage and discuss an action plan for initialising and completing this project. Specifications and technical requirements can be deduced from the conclusions drawn in this study. The success of the new information system will depend solely on the quality of information and involvement of the users. The success of the ultimate solution will need the support of non-technology related functions. The information system will be dependent on the current processes and how well they are managed in conjunction with the new system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie behels die formulering van 'n oplossing vir 'n Suid Afrikaanse kleinsake onderneming. Die ontwikkeling van 'n inligtingstelsel proses model wat die onderneming in staat sal stel om hulle doelwitte te bereik is die fokus van die studie. Die onderneming en huidige prosesse word in diepte geanaliseer waarna die ontwikkeling van 'n transaksionele prosesering sisteem krities bestudeer word. Klein ondernemings het spesifieke informasie tegnologie behoeftes wat grootliks verskil ten opsigte van groot ondernemings. Hierdie studie neem in ag die spesifieke omstandighede wat die onderneming se suksesse en mislukkings sal bepaal. Dit wys uit dat die proses vanaf beplanning, tot en met implementasie en evaluasie, dit noodsaaklik is om die informasie tegnologie sonder haakplekke te integreer met die huidige kultuur en operasie. Bestaande beginsels vir kleinsake besighede word hersien en die gevolgtrekkings wat daaruit vloei word saamgevat en toegepas op die onderneming wat bestudeer word om 'n praktiese oplossing te ontwikkel. Die eienaar is bewus van die voordele wat informasie tegnologie vir sy onderneming kan inhou. Sy steun en oortuiging dat dit die regte oplossing is, is noodsaaklik vir die langtermyn sukses van die uiteindelike oplossing. Riglyne vir die studie word voorgeskryf waar die eienaar spesifieke parameters aangaande die uiteindelike oplossing vereis. Die studie verskaf 'n raamwerk waarmee die programeerder, konsultant en eienaar 'n beplanningsessie kan bywoon om 'n aksieplan te bespreek vir die oorsprong en voltooiing van die projek. Dit is moontlik dat spesifikasies en tegniese vereistes afgelei kan word vanaf die gevolgtrekkings gemaak in die studie. Die sukses van die nuwe inligting stelsel sal ten volle afhanklik wees van die kwaliteit van inligting en betrokkenheid van die verbruikers. Die sukses van die uiteindelike oplossing moet ondersteun word deur die funksies wat nie direk verwant is aan tegnologie nie. Die inligtingstelsel sal afhanklik wees van die huidige prosesse en hoe goed die prosesse gesamentlik met die nuwe stelsel bestuur word.

Submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Doctorate in Philosophy: Management Science (Marketing), Durban University of Technology, Durban. South Africa, 2017. / Loyalty programmes have become a popular marketing tool in marketplaces that are highly competitive and where differentiation is difficult. Although they are not new anymore, they continue to grow in popularity, particularly in South Africa where numbers are steadily increasing. The main aim of this study was to determine the influence of various types of perceived benefits from loyalty programmes in the South African fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) market with respect to their impact on relationship quality and loyalty towards the retailer concerned. The study reveals three forms of perceived benefits which are named as consumeristic, altruistic and egoistic benefits. In addition, the influence of socio-demographic characteristics are examined to ascertain any differences that might occur in the results. The study design was based on an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach and began with qualitative research before proceeding to quantitative data collection and analysis. The qualitative section of the research involved two in-depth interviews with managers of loyalty programmes at major retailers and two focus groups aimed at loyalty programme members. These assisted in the design of the quantitative data collection instrument. The quantitative data collection was aimed at a consumer database which incorporated those who were actively employed in the economy, resulting in a sample of 559 respondents. The initial findings of the study, revealed by means of regression analysis, were that all three forms of perceived benefits lead towards the three constructs that make up relationship quality, namely trust, satisfaction, and commitment with the retailer concerned. In addition, the same benefits were found to contribute towards customer loyalty. However, once structural equation modelling was employed, the results evolved. Firstly, the constructs of trust and satisfaction cross loaded onto each other and were therefore treated as a single construct named trust/satisfaction. Secondly, egoistic benefits were absorbed into consumeristic benefits and were therefore no longer featured as a separate item. Explanations are offered for this phenomenon. Consumeristic benefits still had a positive and significant relationship with trust/satisfaction, as did altruistic benefits. However, it was found that although altruistic benefits still enjoy a significant relationship with commitment, consumeristic benefits did not. A suggestion for this is that the perception of altruistic benefits has a greater attitudinal impact than consumeristic benefits do. Finally, neither altruistic nor consumeristic benefits showed a direct relationship with loyalty. The introduction of demographic variables established that only age affects the results, with older consumers being more receptive than others to altruistic benefits. However, findings revealed that a pathway to loyalty remains through the constructs of trust/satisfaction and commitment. This emphasises the importance of achieving trust and satisfaction first by means of the benefits offered. Finally, a new structural model is developed in line with the results of the structural equation model. The results from this study add to the body of research in the field, yielding both significant theoretical and practical contributions to the field of loyalty programmes, relationship quality and loyalty research, particularly in the South African FMCG retail marketplace. Retailers are advised to continue offering both altruistic and consumeristic benefits to customers, despite consumeristic benefits not necessarily creating a direct route towards loyalty. This is because once trust and satisfaction is achieved, loyalty will follow. In addition, loyalty programme providers should ensure that offerings provide both simplicity and transparency in order to create a positive relationship with trust and satisfaction. / D

The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual integrated online visual merchandising framework containing online visual merchandising themes that South African apparel e-tailers could use when developing an effective apparel e-store, with the main aim of possibly influencing consumer purchasing behaviour. The study adopted a consumer-centred response approach to online visual merchandising in an attempt to holistically consider this area of the South African e-tail industry from the consumer’s perspective. The study followed a pragmatic paradigm that implemented a mixed-method approach. The qualitative section of the mixed-method approach primarily comprised four focus group interviews as the main data-collection instrument. The data obtained during the qualitative section was analysed by Tesch’s inductive descriptive coding technique, better known as thematic analysis. The findings obtained during the qualitative section were used as the basis for the quantitative section of the mixed-method approach, which implemented a self-administered web-based questionnaire as the data-collection instrument. The data was analysed by means of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. The findings of the study delivered a conceptual integrated online visual merchandising framework that consists of 13 themes and 82 items. This conceptual integrated online visual merchandising framework will contribute to the South African apparel retail and e-tail industry, as both apparel brick-and-mortar retailers and apparel e-tailers in South Africa can benefit from using the conceptual integrated framework as a guideline. The value of the conceptual integrated framework lies in the fact that it includes consumers’ views regarding the online visual merchandising themes. Therefore, apparel e-tailers, as well as brick-and-mortar retailers that want to develop an e-store, or update an existing e-store, can use this conceptual integrated framework as a guideline to make their online offering as attractive as possible. This way involves the least possible online risks to ensure that online trust is created, and ultimately, that consumer purchasing behaviour has been influenced. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Management Studies)