Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / This research examines the effect of human capital investment on the firm’s performance in South African companies. This research is important given that the human asset has been proven to be one of the most important assets in the organisation and therefore this research set out to examine whether human assets actually contribute to the performance of the firm in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Social Responsible index (SRI). Therefore the objective of this research was to examine the relationship between human capital investment and firm performance in terms of sales turnover, share price and net profit. Secondary data on human capital investment and companies’ performance (sales turnover, net profit and share price) were collected from integrated report archives of the 28 best performing companies in the JSE SRI Index for the six years from 2010 to 2015. The theoretical foundation was on the human capital theory and related previous literature. The research adopted a quantitative paradigm and applied the regression statistics, which were analysed with the aid of the excel software. Findings from the regression analysis indicate p value of 0.04 for HCI and sales turnover, p value of 0.69 for HCI and the share price and p value of 0.16 for HCI and net profit. This therefore, means that, within the sample of companies, there is a significant relationship between human capital investment and sales turnover of firms and no significant relationship between human capital investment and share price, and net profit of companies. This finding indicates that the result may change from negative to positive with a longer period of data. Over the long term companies that invest in HC would experience profitability (within a range of 10 to 13 years) (Blundell et al, 1999).This means that future research should use a longer period of data and include more companies outside of the JSE SRI Index companies. The research recommends that there is a need for companies to invest in human capital to improve companies’ performance and to win customers’ confidence.

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This paper evaluated the relationship between the Chief Executive Officer’s gender and firm performance. This study was conducted by evaluating the differential effect of CEO’s gender and sales turnover, share price and net profit. The study was deemed necessary because related researches in South Africa did not address the relationship between gender and variables such as turnover, share price and net profit. Hence this research focuses on the evaluation of the differential effect between CEO's gender and the corporate turnover, share price and net profit. The methodological approach used in this study was the quantitative approach. Data were collected from the archives of Socially Responsible Investing Index companies in the JSE. The T-test of difference was applied for data analysis of sixteen (16) selected companies. Three specific objectives were examined as follows: (1) To evaluate the relationship between the CEO's gender and company turnover (2) To assess the relationship, the CEO's gender and share price (3) To examine the relationship between the CEO's gender and net profit. Findings from the statistical analysis revealed that there is no significant relationship between CEO gender and sales turnover. It was further identified that no relationship exists between CEO gender and share price. It was also discovered that there is no differential effect between CEO gender and net profit. Findings from statistical analysis revealed that P-Value was greater than 5 percent indicating that there was no significant relationship between CEO gender and sales turnover, share price and net profit. This means that within the companies examined, CEO gender had no influence on sales turnover, share price and net profit. Based on the findings above, women CEOs can perform as well as the men CEOs. Therefore, women should be afforded the CEO’s positions as their presence have no negative effect on firm performance. Key words: CEO gender, firm performance, sales turnover, share price, net profit, JSE listed companies, corporate profitability, shareholder value and gender stereotyping.

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / This study examined whether the presence of women in top management positions affects firms‘ performance. This study became necessary given that, whilst there is a growing call for gender equity in top managerial positions, many companies are still hesitant, as some trust that the presence of women in top management positions might weaken their market value. The main purpose of this research was to analyse the link between women in top management positions and net profit, sales turnover and share price. Secondary data on women in top management positions and companies‘ performance were collected from integrated report archives of twenty-nine (29) companies listed in the FTSE/JSE Responsible index for six years, 2010 to 2015. This study was theoretically inclined on the Resource Based Theory and related current literature. A quantitative research design was adopted. Regression statistics utilizing the Excel Spreadsheet software was used for data analysis. Findings from the statistical analysis disclosed the following: within the twenty-nine (29) companies examined, firstly, existing positive relationship between women in top management and net profit, although not significant. Secondly, there was a negative relationship between women in top management and sales turnover. Thirdly, there was a positive relationship between women in top management and share price, although not significant. The research implication and contribution are that companies that encourage women to ascend management positions may not necessarily lose market value and net profit as feared by some companies around the world. In addition, the study recommends that women in top management should have a deputy that works closely with them such that when they take family leave, these deputies will function without company performance, such as sales, dropping its value. The findings provide further research agenda on the linkage between women in top management positions, net profit, sales turnover and share price using a larger sample of companies across industries.