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Literature on entrepreneurship has been criticised on several grounds including a strong bias to examine masculine traits, being deeply rooted in the private sector, limited to economics, conceptualised as a specialist skill pertinent only to non-public entities, overly positivist, single causal and with a tendency to downplay the relevance of both the social and human sciences. The relatively few studies of female entrepreneurs in the public sector have been criticised on the grounds of privileging structure over agency and for ignoring new research perspectives. The literature calls for the generation of alternative viewpoints on entrepreneurship and specifically towards those that pay greater attention to the level of the individual within an institutional setting and that embraces like interaction with multiple sociological variables. To generate research outside these biases, a dynamic relational model consisting of four interactive variables (structure, agency, networks and context) was developed and then used to guide a case study on women entrepreneurs within a male dominated institution - the United Kingdom’s (UK) Armed Forces. A critical realist research methodology was used. Interviews were conducted with a stratified sample of 52 female, uniformed officers drawn from all three services (Navy, Army, Airforce). The findings revealed how women use structure, agency, networks and context to create the necessary leverage to bring about entrepreneurial institutional change based on individual goal realisation strategies. The originality of this research is threefold. Firstly, it examines female entrepreneurs in a male dominated public sector institution. Secondly, it uses a critical realist research methodology. Finally, the research develops a dynamic relational model that has wider utility. The overall net result of this research approach is to provide a richer understanding of the complex, multi-causal nature of public sector entrepreneurship that has the potential for far broader application. / © Cranfield University 2015

South Africa like many other countries is faced with the problem of infrastructure backlogs and budget constraints. The South African government through the National Treasury recognized the need to co-operate with the private sector in order to address this problem, by establishing the PPP unit. This research examined the role of financiers in facilitating the implementation of PPPs, as well as the factors that blunt the effectiveness of PPPs as infrastructure delivery mechanism in SA. The research was done through conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews with 18 experienced and knowledgeable stakeholders in the Private and Public sectors, who are and have been exposed to PPPs in South Africa. The findings on the success of PPPs as a medium for infrastructure delivery gave credence to the necessity and timeliness of this research. There was a difference of opinion as to the success or otherwise of PPPs between the Public Sector on the one hand and the Private Sector on the other. The major factors which facilitate the successful implementation of PPPs included financial innovation and discipline, technical competency, and supportive legislative framework. The major findings in respect of the inhibiting factors were skills shortage and political commitment Suggestions were made to stakeholders on minimizing the inhibitors. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The aim of this research has been to develop an integrated life cycle methodology and assess the sustainability in the UK beverage sector considering environmental, economic and social aspects. The environmental impacts include climate change, resource depletion and emissions to air, land and water. The economic aspects considered are life cycle costs and value added. Social issues include health, labour and human rights and intergenerational issues. The environmental impacts have been assessed using life cycle assessment; economic impacts have been assessed using life cycle costing and value added analysis while social aspects have been assessed using relevant social indicators and social hot-spots analysis. The sustainability of the following beverages has been assessed: carbonated soft drinks, beer (lager), wine (red), bottled water and Scotch whisky. The environmental and economic assessments have first been carried out at the level of individual supply chains. The results have then been extrapolated using a bottom-up approach to the level of their respective sub-sectors and then, combining these results, to the UK beverage sector. This has been followed by the social assessment at the sectoral level. The results of the assessment at the sectoral level show that UK consumption of the five beverages is responsible for over 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 eq. emissions annually, with the carbonated soft drinks and beer sub-sectors accounting for 42% and 40% of the total, respectively. Total annual life cycle costs and value added are estimated at £1.3 billion and £15.8 billion, respectively. Production of packaging and raw materials are the major hot spots in the life cycle of the beverage supply chain for environmental and economic impacts. Strategies such as technological improvements, packaging optimisation as well as organic agriculture would lead to improved environmental and economic performance. The social hot spot assessment shows that China, Colombia and India are the countries likely to pose highest social risks. The findings of this study could help the government and beverage manufacturers to formulate appropriate policies and robust strategies for improving the sustainability in the UK beverage sector. The results could also help consumers to make more informed choices that contribute to sustainable development.

La presente tesis plantea que a través de la gestión de competencias se logra un impacto positivo en el valor estratégico de una Compañía del sector comercial farmacéutico, ya que el desarrollo de las competencias de los colaboradores y líderes de una Empresa tienen influencia en la materialización de su ventaja competitiva. Este fundamento surge ante la importancia que tiene para una Compañía el cumplimiento de su misión, de sus objetivos, a través de una serie de estrategias empresariales y funcionales que no sólo dependen de las Áreas comerciales o Unidades Estratégicas de Negocios, sino también depende de las Unidades de soporte, denominadas Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo. A fin de evidenciar la hipótesis propuesta, presentamos el caso de una Empresa del sector comercial farmacéutico ubicada en el puesto N° 25 de participación de mercado total, que tiene como principal objetivo incrementar su participación de mercado a través de una estrategia comercial que consiste fundamentalmente en fortalecer sus relaciones comerciales a través de sus visitadores médicos y líderes comerciales, así como conocer de cerca las exigencias de sus clientes; elementos de gran importancia como también lo es contar con un sistema operativo (responsabilidad de las Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo) eficiente que respalde cada una de las actividades de la Empresa en mención. En la tesis se detalla el diagnóstico realizado a las Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo (cinco) a partir de los resultados de la encuesta de clima laboral, que evidencia las oportunidades de mejora que existen, así como la ausencia de líderes que con su influencia inspiren a sus colaboradores en el logro de los objetivos planteados y que logren colaboradores motivados y comprometidos con la Empresa. Se muestra cómo las actividades de las Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo contribuyen a las estrategias de la Empresa, se identifican sus objetivos y las competencias consideradas de relevancia para el colaborador o líder que desempeña un cargo dentro de las Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo seleccionadas. A partir del nivel de cumplimiento de los objetivos planteados para las Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo seleccionadas: Nuevos Negocios y Administración y Finanzas, se identifican oportunidades de mejora que incluyen la necesidad de desarrollo o reforzamiento de las competencias (habilidades blandas y técnicas) relevantes, así como otras medidas de acción que contribuyen a maximizar las posibilidades de éxito de la Empresa materia de estudio. Cada una de las propuestas de valor en respuesta a los problemas identificados en el diagnóstico, están orientados a cubrir las falencias que existen en la Empresa, al no destinar recursos económicos en beneficio del desarrollo o reforzamiento de las competencias requeridas para que las Unidades de Apoyo Corporativo contribuyan con la estrategia empresarial. En el análisis económico – financiero se detalla la inversión requerida para la implementación de las propuestas de valor, así como los beneficios esperados en un horizonte de cinco años (para evaluar el proceso de cambio que conlleva la implementación de las propuestas de valor). Los resultados demuestran que se recuperará la inversión realizada, sustento para que la Alta Gerencia considere la implementación de la gestión por competencias, como una herramienta que permita reorientar los recursos hacia aquello que realmente impacte en el valor estratégico de una Empresa. Identificando las necesidades de reforzamiento de capacidades del personal, en beneficio del alcance de los objetivos la Empresa. / Tesis

0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

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In 2011 author Robert Neuwirth identified the global informal sector economy as having a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is equivalent to the second largest economy in the world behind the United States of America (USA).Studies have shown that the informal sector economy is prevalent in Africa and India which are both considered to be emerging market economies with potential for exponential growth. The GDP of a country is calculated using a total of a countries production of goods and services; however production in the informal sector economy is unaccounted for. The inclusion of their production could potentially boost the economic growth of these emerging market economies.This study aims to observe whether the informal sector economy should be formalized or left as it is in its current state. Despite the ‘problem statement’ in the previous paragraph, which appears to be in favour of formalization, there are advantages and disadvantages for both formalizing the informal sector economy and leaving it in its current state.The objective of this study is to come up with a sustainable strategy of how to manage and administer the informal sector economy as in its current state it is proving to be unsustainable.A two phased approach was used to produce the findings which included interviews with experts and interviews with entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector economy.These findings provided suitable recommendations to be made as to how to manage and administer the informal sector economy. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

South Africa’s democratic political regime opened up a global operating environment, affecting all sectors of the economy including the nonprofit sector. Models of sustainability have become more important than ever, with an increased emphasis on management models in this sector. New information and communication technologies such as the Internet and especially website technology have produced a challenging need for communication management paradigms. Operating within a context of increasing uncertainty may lead to nonprofit organisations looking outside the boundaries of their own sector for new management models and ideas. Strategic integrated communication is a management idea rooted in private sector knowledge. More specifically, Niemann’s (2005) conceptual model for the implementation of strategic integrated communication has the potential to address the sustainability issue within the website arena. The present study evaluates the application of strategic integrated communication according to Niemann’s (2005) conceptual model, among a selection of South African nonprofit organisation websites. Lack of research regarding strategic integrated communication within the South African nonprofit sector was the main motivating factor for this study. The study also represents an attempt to empirically test Niemann’s (2005) normative model within a specific context, thus helping to assess the scientific validity of the model. An exploratory qualitative research design was employed, with evidence collected by means of a content analysis of nonprofit websites and an e-mail questionnaire intended for the most senior communication/marketing staff member of each organisation. From an external perspective, nonprofit websites display many of the elements of Niemann’s (2005) conceptual model. Yet, evidence about the internal communication management aspects of the same organisations indicates that essential elements of the model are absent. Copyright / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Communication Management / MCom / Unrestricted

This dissertation focuses on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ('OECD') transfer pricing methods and its application to Multinational Enterprise ('MNE') groups in the financial sector. This study examines whether the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting ('BEPS') Action Plan 9 is an appropriate framework for MNE groups in the banking sector or whether it creates further challenges. Additionally, the dissertation scrutinises MNE groups in the financial sector that are involved in the business of global trading of financial instruments. It further explores the functions of a global trading entity, the arm's length principle and the OECD BEPS Action Plan 9. This dissertation concludes that the global trading of financial instruments using the integrated trading model is challenged when the OECD traditional transfer pricing methods are applied. Multinational financial institution groups in the banking sector that are involved in the business of global trading of financial instruments are subject to rigid regulations. Furthermore, the report concludes that these rigid regulations mitigate some of the complications that arise when applying the OECD BEPS Action Plan 9. Taxing authorities need to focus greater attention on the global trading of financial instruments by multinational financial institutions groups. As South Africa's financial institutions expand across borders, the concerns over transfer pricing and BEPS are likely to intensify. It is therefore imperative that the South African revenue authorities prioritise the recruitment of skilled personnel in order to address the complexities posed by the global trading of financial instruments by multinational financial institution groups.