Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The objective of this research study was to investigate whether socially responsible companies that disclose their carbon emission, referred to in this research report as ‘carbon disclosure leaders’, outperform their non-disclosing counterparts, referred to in this research report as ‘carbon disclosure laggards’. This research study attempted to substantiate the relationship between companies’ carbon disclosure practices and companies’ share price performance. An empirical analysis was conducted with a focus on South African-listed Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) top-100 companies. A portfolio approach was utilised to establish if any significant relationship exists between company carbon disclosure and company share price performance. Portfolios were constructed based on companies that participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and were thus categorised into JSE industry sectors. It was assumed that by using industry-specific sectors, the macro-economic conditions would generally affect all companies in that specific sector in a similar way, thus enabling comparative analysis. The results from this study subsequently found, having done various analyses in terms of share price growth and carbon disclosure, that no significant correlation exists in terms of the CDP. This would, however, be correct in terms of the analysed data, which is limited at times, but cannot be necessarily inferred as a broader statement. Intuitively, it can be said that carbon disclosure and greater ratings in terms of the CDP would imply that companies are more positive in dealing with their carbon footprint, which would be more positive for their long-term existence and sustainability. Equally, it could also yield various cost savings that will translate into higher earnings and earnings per share that drive share price growth. In becoming more active in reducing the carbon footprint, companies would also reduce their risk profile since they would be better aligned to potential restrictive carbon emission legislation and improve their public profile, which could again boost profitability. Further arguments can be made to suggest that disclosure of a company’s carbon initiatives and footprint would benefit the company’s value and share price performance. Thus, having observed the outcomes of the analyses conducted in this report, the more appropriate question would be if other factors exist that could have affected the outcomes as observed and whether these factors could have overshadowed the proof that there is a positive correlation between share price growth and carbon disclosure.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main problem area this dissertation studied is whether there is a place for the social audit in corporate governance, or if it is only used as a marketing tool by organisations to positively influence public opinion in this era where public opinion heavily influences an organisation's bottom line profits. The King II report proposes that all JSE listed companies include nonfinancial issues in their statutory reports. Many companies do not use the process of social responsibility reporting merely to give back what they had previously taken from society, or to ensure their continued existence in the years to come (sustainability) as part of good corporate governance, they use this as a tool to manage their reputation - a marketing ploy. The real issue where the big question lies is: does CSR contribute to good corporate governance and therefore add value, or is it used as a risk management (reputation) tool by most companies? The social report of British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) was chosen as a case study to investigate this hypothesis. The King II report brings corporate governance into the sphere of the social audit report - in that companies must render an account! report if they are accountable to their stakeholders. In terms of good corporate governance, stakeholders need to be taken into account and a social audit needs to be done to report to them on it. A new governance theory has therefore developed with the central concept being that of sustainability (the triple bottom line): financial, envirorunental and social survival of a company and the reporting thereon. The umbrella term is corporate governance and everything that goes with it: CSR, stakeholder inclusivity and the social audit. In all of these, stakeholding (or stakeholder theory) is the central concept - to create value. The social audit is a tool or process of good corporate governance that uses a stakeholder approach to gain information that is later used and embedded in company principles and processes. An internal audit will provide assurance to the organisation as to the quality of its social and ethical accounting/auditing and reporting process, as well as to the organisation's social and ethical performance. It also provides the necessary support to the process of external audit. The external audit process and report provide assurance to the organisation and its stakeholders of the quality of the social and ethical accounting/auditing and reporting process and build credibility in the reporting of the organisation's social and ethical performance. This credibility is needed as a basis of effective engagement with the organisation's stakeholders, and of a common understanding of the organisation's performance. It must establish methods for producing knowledge with application to corporate governance and strategizing. This dissertation comes to the conclusion that the social audit is not a new fonn of marketing; there is a direct link between good corporate governance and the reporting thereon. Although there is always the possibility that there might be a little bit of PR involved in the publishing of a social audit, the process is not only very expensive, but the buy-in from the company as a whole is needed. It does impact on the reputation of a company and on the corporate affairs and governance thereof. So, if a company continues with this exercise, with the sole intention to use it as reputation marketing, should this becomes known the effect might be disastrous. The other side of the argument is that for a company to manage its reputation is definitely part of risk management. Risk management can be seen as the flipside of the coin to perfonnance management - the effect should be the same. How performance is managed is often similar to the way in which risk is managed. It is therefore not true that the social audit is "wellpublicised window-dressing" (Henderson, 2001: 5). On the contrary the social audit is essential to good corporate governance; it is up to the leadership of a company to use it as such. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kern probleemgebied wat in die verhandeling bestudeer is, is of daar plek is vir die maatskaplike audit in korporatiewe bestuur, en of organisasies dit net gebruik as 'n bemarkingstrategie om die openbare mening positief te beinvloed in die era waar die openbare mening 'n groot invloed het op 'n organisasie se wins. Die King II-verslag stel voor dat alIe JSE-gelyste maatskappye nie-finansiele kwessies by huI statutere verslae insluit. Talle maatskappye gebruik nie die proses van maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid net om terug te gee wat hulle voorheen uit die samelewing geneem het nie, of om as deel van goeie korporatiewe bestuur hul voortgesette bestaan in die komende jare (volhoubaarheid) te verseker nie. Hulle gebruik dit as 'n manier om hul reputasie te bestuur - 'n bemarkingstrategie. Die kwessie waar die groot vraag Iê, is: dra korporatiewe maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid by tot goeie korporatiewe bestuur en voeg dit derhalwe waarde by, of gebruik die meeste rnaatskappye dit as 'n middel tot risikobestuur ter wille van hul reputasie? Die maatskaplike verslag van British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) is gekies as 'n gevallestudie om die hipotese te ondersoek. Die King II-verslag bring korporatiewe bestuur binne die sfeer van die maatskaplike ouditverslag met die dat maatskappye 'n verslag moet lewer as hulle verantwoordbaar teenoor hul belanghebbendes is. lngevolge goeie korporatiewe bestuur moet belanghebbendes in ag geneem word en moet 'n maatskaplike oudit gedoen word om aan hulle daaroor verslag te doen. 'n Nuwe bestuursteorie het derhalwe ontwikkel waarvan die kernkonsep volhoubaarheid (die driedubbele winsbasis) is: die finansiele, maatskaplike en omgewingsoorlewing van 'n maatskappy en verslagdoening daaroor. Die sambreelterm is korporatiewe bestuur en alles wat daarmee saamgaan: korporatiewe maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid, die insluiting van belanghebbendes en die maatskaplike oudit. Met al die aspekte is die belanghebberteorie die kernkonsep - om waarde te skep. Die maatskaplike audit is 'n werktuig of proses van goeie korporatiewe bestuur wat 'n belanghebberbenadering gebruik om inligting in te win wat later gebruik en in die maatskappy se beleid en prosesse vasgele word. 'n Interne oudit gee die maatskappy sekerheid oor die gehalte van sy maatskaplike en etiese oudit- en verslagdoeningproses, asook die organisasie se maatskaplike en etiese funksionering. Dit verskaf ook die nodige steun aan die proses van eksterne ouditering. Die eksterne ouditproses en -verslag verskaf sekerheid aan die organisasie en sy belanghebbendes oor die gehalte van die maatskaplike en etiese oudit- en verslagdoeningproses en bou geloofwaardigheid in die verslagdoening van die organisasie se maatskaplike en etiese funksionering. Die geloofwaardigheid word benodig vir die organisasie se belanghebbendes, en 'n gemeenskaplike begrip van die organisasie se prestasie. Dit moet metodes om kennis te produseer vestig wat van toepassing sal wees op korporatiewe bestuur en strategie-bepaling. Die verhandeling kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die maatskaplike oudit nie 'n nuwe vorm van bemarking is nie - daar is 'n regstreekse verband tussen goeie korporatiewe bestuur en verslagdoening daaroor. Hoewel daar altyd die moontlikheid is dat 'n bietjie skakelwerk betrokke kan wees by die publisering van 'n maatskaplike oudit, is die proses nie net baie duur nie, maar word die betrokkenheid en steun van die maatskappy as geheel benodig. Dit het 'n invloed op die reputasie van 'n maatskappy, asook die korporatiewe sake en die bestuur daarvan. Dus, as 'n maatskappy met die oefening voortgaan met die enigste doelwit om dit as reputasiebemarking te gebruik en dit word bekend, kan die resultaat rampspoedig wees. Die ander kant van die argument is dat die bestuur van sy reputasie vir 'n maatskappy beslis deel van risikobestuur is. Risikobestuur kan beskou word as die een kant van die muntstuk met prestasiebestuur aan die ander kant - die uitwerking behoort dieselfde te wees. Hoe prestasie bestuur word, is dikwels dieselfde as die manier waarop risiko bestuur word. Dit is dus nie waar dat die maatskaplike oudit "goed gepubliseerde vensterversiering" (Henderson, 200 I: 5) is nie. Inteendeel, die maatskaplike oudit is noodsaaklik vir goeie korporatiewe bestuur, en dit hang van die leierskap van 'n maatskappy af om dit as sulks te gebruik.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Companies produce carbon and GHG emissions in the course of doing business. Climate change issues and the impact of global warming affect business conditions. Companies need to deal with these issues and to introduce procedures for their mitigation. They can also aim to formulate strategies to enable the company to achieve a sustainable future. This study was designed to evaluate the motivation for South African businesses to voluntarily invest in becoming carbon neutral and to assess the payoff when adopting such strategies. This study has defined the concept of carbon neutrality, the opportunities of pursuing such a strategy and the risks of not doing so for the purpose of understanding the motivational drivers. An adapted framework was developed to assess whether or not such strategies are attractive. The empirical study examined four companies in terms of motivation. The exploratory case studies were compared to the descriptions and the frameworks discussed in the literature review. The study should serve to inform other companies of the possible opportunities and risks of lowcarbon initiatives. Exploring the methods leading to carbon neutrality should also serve as a tool for companies willing to participate in such projects.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / The global business environment has undergone a systemic transformation that has influenced the way we see and do business. Central to this transformation is the rising importance of environmental sustainability, social responsibility and sound corporate governance. Given these changes, leaders require training and education about building a values-based, ethical business platform in order to operate effectively. Therefore, it is imperative that business people are appropriately educated in the art of handling matters of this nature. The primary aim of this research study is to evaluate the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) education on future business leaders by comparing the expected outcomes of a specific educational curriculum with its actual real-world outcomes. The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) introduced a module called Business in Society in 2011. This duration of the module is one full semester. At the time, the course outline stated that the aim of the programme was to improve the decision-making ability of students about ESG issues in the business context. Participants who were busy studying or had graduated from the programme were expected, in reasonable measure, to be able to formulate appropriate responses to the challenges and opportunities inherent in matters of the environment, sustainability and governance. The primary aim of this study was therefore to review and assess both current student’s and graduates’ envisioned and practical application of theory, their environmental and social awareness levels and any significant changes in ethical outlook and values, or lack thereof. The secondary aim of the study was to assess the quality of the educational intervention itself. In order to review the impact of the programme on participants, the study focused on the subjective experience of the students, their perceptions of the programme and their subsequent behaviour in the workplace as an outcome. The research involved a two-tier approach. The first tier entailed the deployment of surveys to the randomly selected graduates of the programme. The second tier involved interviews with randomly selected respondents in the first round of surveys. These research participants were current and former students of the programme. The expectation was to find that these future business leaders were properly equipped and educated to make the right decisions concerning sustainability issues and ethical dilemmas. Based on the results of the survey, it was evident that the majority of students had come away with a positive experience of the Business in Society Programme, and that the course had had a positive impact on their lives both professionally and personally. The results of the interview analysis offered a holistic review of the experience of students in relation to their learning, the essential learnings and practical application, and the extent of the impact on their personal and professional lives. Recurrent themes which came to light in the analysis were the increase in awareness and the absence of practical engagement. There was a general discontent with the delivery of the course, in particular its lack of practical emphasis, and fragmentation in delivery. Recommendations to improve the course are supplied and may be utilised and implemented at the discretion of the Business School.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / The market benefits and competitive advantage of integrating social responsibility initiatives are well known within the global marketing context. More recently, this movement had notably increased within the South African wine industry, where wine producers are integrating philanthropy into their overall business operations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the marketing of social responsibility initiatives, within the South African wine industry, would lead to a positive consumer attitude towards a brand and result in influencing South African wine consumers’ purchasing behaviour. The literature review was conducted to establish the effect of marketing social responsibility initiatives over consumer attitude, intention and planned behaviour. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. This study indicated that the marketing of social responsibility initiatives are recognised by South African wine consumers as a decision-making factor and do influence consumers’ attitude towards brands, when purchasing wine. Although social responsibility initiatives are regarded as a low decision-making factor, when compared to other factors, the study did indicate that South African wine consumers generally do portray positive attitude towards the South African wine industry’s social responsibility initiatives. Generally, it was found that South African wine consumers portrayed positive planned purchasing behaviour towards most of the South African wine producers’ social responsibility initiatives, with management of quality and environmental conservation initiatives receiving more positive response. Land reformation and legislative responsibility were regarded as lesser important initiatives. Given the fact that social responsibility initiatives are recognised, yet only influences a certain portion of South African wine consumers’ purchasing decisions, the study did indicate that there are opportunities for the South African wine industry to market its social responsibility initiatives. The study concludes with the educational role that the marketing of social responsibility initiatives may have on influencing wine consumers’ planned behaviour and suggests a multi-stakeholder approach towards marketing.

Thesis (DPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study commences with a critical, philosophical exploration of the ethical theories that constitute the normative basis of the dominant business ethics paradigm. It is argued that the universal and communitarian notions of the good upon which this paradigm is based, are inadequate in helping us deal with the complexities that define the modern day business environment. It is suggested that a sophisticated and affirmative account of postmodernism is a better suited alternative, as this paradigm is geared towards assisting us in finding workable solutions to our problems in the absence of universal truths or homogenous operating environments. Although postmodernism serves as a useful starting point for challenging the normative basis of business ethics, this study moves beyond this broad paradigm in providing an analysis of both complexity theory (specifically critical complexity theory), and Jacques Derrida’s deconstructive philosophy. The paradigm of critical complexity presents us with a useful framework for understanding, and thinking through the implications that complex phenomena hold for us, for our practices, and for our understanding of our responsibilities. Deconstruction (which serves as a philosophical example of a complex position) contributes to, and supplements this paradigm. Specifically, deconstruction draws attention to the processual nature of ethical decision-making and action, as well as to the ethical and political implications that arise from our limited knowledge of complex phenomena. Once critical complexity theory and deconstruction are adequately defined, a close reading of a critical text on the relevance of Derrida for understanding business ethics is presented. In undertaking the close reading, a number of criticisms against deconstruction are addressed, and an argument is made for why a more complex understanding of ethics is preferable to universal or communitarian notions of the good – and, therefore, preferable as a normative basis for business ethics. After making the case for a complex ethics, a general circumscription of a complex ethics is provided. This circumscription is premised on an understanding of ethics as a critical, provisional, transgressive, and imaginative enterprise. The specific implications that such a notion of ethics hold for teaching business ethics, and for understanding prominent business ethics themes (such as corporate social responsibility, responsible leadership, and sustainable development) are also elaborated upon. In conclusion, it is argued that taking cognisance of the insights and implications that arise from this study will help to support the future viability of business ethics. This is because a complex understanding of ethics can promote the development of robust and flexible strategies, which are needed for dealing with the realities of the modern business environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie begin met ‘n kritiese, filosofiese ondersoek na die etiese teorieë wat die normatiewe basis van die dominante sake-etiek paradigma vorm. Daar word aangevoer dat die universele en kommunitaristiese idees van die goeie, waarop hierdie paradigma berus, onvoldoende is om ons in staat te stel om die kompleksiteite wat die hedendaagse sakeomgewing definieer sinvol te hanteer. Die voorstel word gemaak dat ’n gesofistikeerde en positiewe beskrywing van postmodernisme ’n meer gepaste alternatief is, omdat hierdie paradigma gerig is op werkbare oplossings vir ons probleme in die afwesigheid van universele waarhede of homogene werksomgewings. Alhoewel postmodernisme as ’n nuttige vertrekpunt dien om die normatiewe basis van sake-etiek te bevraagteken, beweeg hierdie studie verby die breë paradigma deur ’n analise van beide kompleksiteitsteorie (meer spesifiek kritiese kompleksiteitsteorie), en Jacques Derrida se dekonstruktiewe filosofie aan te bied. Die paradigma van kritiese kompleksiteitsteorie verskaf aan ons ‘n nuttige raamwerk om komplekse verskynsels te verstaan, en ook om deur die gevolge wat kompleksiteit vir ons praktyke en ons begrip van ons verantwoordelikhede te bedink. Dekonstruksie (wat dien as ’n filosofiese voorbeeld van ’n komplekse posisie) dra by tot, en vul hierdie paradigma aan. Meer spesifiek fokus dekonstruksie ons aandag op die prosessuele aard van etiese besluitneming en optrede, sowel as die etiese en politieke implikasies wat uit ons beperkte kennis van komplekse verskynsels voortspruit. Nadat kritiese kompleksiteitsteorie en dekonstruksie deeglik omskryf is, word ‘n kritiese teks oor die moontlike bydrae wat Derrida tot ons begrip van sake-etiek kan lewer noukeurig ontleed. Deur die loop van die ontleding word ’n aantal punte van kritiek teen dekonstruksie aangespreek, en ’n saak word uitgemaak dat ’n meer komplekse begrip van etiek verkieslik is bo universele en kommunitaristiese idees van die goeie – en dus meer geskik is as ’n normatiewe basis vir sakeetiek. ’n Algemene omskrywing van ’n komplekse etiek word ook verskaf om verdere steun te bied vir die verkieslikheid van so ’n opvatting van die etiek. Hierdie omskrywing is op die begrip van die etiek as ’n kritiese, provisionele, oorskryende, en verbeeldingsryke onderneming gebaseer. Die bepaalde implikasies wat hierdie idee vir onderrig in sake-etiek en ’n kennis van prominente sake-etiek temas (soos korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid, verantwoordelike leierskap, en volhoubare ontwikkeling) inhou, word aangespreek. In die gevolgtrekkig word daar geargumenteer dat kennisname van die insigte en implikasies wat uit hierdie studie voortspruit die toekomstige lewensvatbaarheid van sake-etiek kan bevorder. Dit is omdat ‘n komplekse begrip van die etiek die ontwikkeling van robuuste en buigsame strategieë, wat nodig is vir die hantering van die realiteite van die moderne sakeomgewing, kan aanspoor.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Environmental Management / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The integration of sustainability performance of companies is becoming increasingly important. The recent global requirements (i.e. the Kyoto Protocol) for significant reduction of the negative impact of companies on the environment over the next 6 years have been putting pressure on the companies, requiring them to lower the negative environmental impact of market performance. This requirement challenges the profitable growth of the companies' business functions, given the change needed for business operations to improve on their environmental impact. In this dissertation a new corporate sustainability performance index, called: The Green Index, for measuring and assessing the integrated sustainability performance of companies is developed. The Green Index integrates Environmental Performance, Green Innovativeness and Financial Performance, by quantifying the expert opinions toward their integration. Development of the Green Index is a holistic approach in defining and measuring "green" performance for companies, integrated into their market performance. Green Index, for the first time in the literature, introduces Green Innovativeness in defining and measuring Green Performance of companies, in integration with Environmental and Financial Performance. In the literature and business practices, there are various sustainability indices used, and methodological approaches in measuring corporate sustainability performance with more than hundred performance indicators. The Green Index, uniquely refers to the collective expert opinion of management researchers, executive managers of corporations, high-tech companies' R&D managers, financial managers, corporate social responsibility managers, in defining a shorter list of 29 performance measures under the three core performance dimensions. Hierarchical Decision Modeling is used for the development of Green Index based on experts' collective decisions. At the next level, desirability levels for each one of the 29 performance measures are scaled by a group of angel investors and investors. And their collective desirability quantifications are used toward the application of the Green Index to quantify the Green Index value for a set of scenario analyses for alternative company performance states. Green Index fills a major gap in the scholarly literature and business practices. It meets the needs prioritized in the near future strategy of World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) towards development of new performance metrics and business models for industries that are financially successful while innovating with green products as they are reducing their negative environmental impact (WBCSD Annual Report 2010, 2011).

M. Tech. (Human Resource, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of employees of their organisation’s CSR activities and their effects on employees’ organisational commitment and intentions to stay. This study advocates that the way employees perceive their organisation’s CSR practices influences the types of attachment they have towards their organisation and reinforces their intentions to stay in their current organisation. The fact that employees play a central role in the realisation of an organisation’s goals makes it critical for any organisation to have employees who are willing to go beyond what is required of them and who are willing to stay in the organisation at least until the completion of their duties or contracts. In this study, a quantitative research paradigm and a descriptive research method were used to investigate a sample size of 350 employees working in one of the telecommunication organisations in Cameroon. In order to minimise the study bias, simple random sampling was used to ensure that the sample accurately reflects the larger population (N=670). Data was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire and the results of the correlation analysis revealed that all four CSR dimensions are significantly and positively related to organisational commitment variables as well as to employees’ intentions to stay. CSR also showed strong predictive relationships with the various facets of organisational commitment. Organisational commitment in turn also showed strong predictive relationships with intention to stay within an organisation. Findings and recommendations of this study are important to employers as it provides crucial information regarding the types of activities organisations could engage in, and for employees to consider them as socially responsible. Such involvement in CSR activities can improve employees’ organisational commitment and reinforce their intentions to stay in their current organisation.