Applied research has value to the extent that it assists management to make better decisions. It is only through a scientific thinking process that we come to understand, and take into consideration, the complex set of factors that operates in any given situation. Having analysed the results from the data analysis the manager exercises good judgment by using both the research findings and drawing on the personal and invaluable resources of past experience. In sum, research indicates the direction of problem solving; experience and common sense, in conjunction with scientific research results. One without the other is not completely effective. This Dissertation sets out to carry out a strategy evaluation of the ZESCO Business Plan using a set strategy evaluation criteria of; suitability, acceptability and feasibility. In conducting this evaluation, it is recognised that; although it is impossible to demonstrate conclusively that a particular business strategy is optimal or even guarantee that it will work, one can nevertheless, test it for critical flaws using a set criteria. The results from the evaluation revealed that; in terms of suitability some of the strategies scored lowly due to the low disposable incomes of ZESCO's customers; in terms of acceptability of ZESCO's strategies to its principle stakeholders, there is a need for it to improve the input from these stakeholders when formulating its strategies and lastly the feasibility analysis revealed that ZESCO will struggle to implement its strategies. Lastly the importance of carrying out Business Research is well summed up by Sekaran (2000: 4) "the difference between the manager who uses common sense alone to analyze and make a decision in a given situation, and the investigator who uses a scientific method, is that the latter does a systematic inquiry into the matter and proceeds to describe, explain, or predict phenomena based on data carefully collected for the purpose. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tourism is emerging as one of the most important socio-economic sectors for developing as well as developed countries. Tourism incorporates features of the information society such as globalisation, mobility, and information reach and richness. A national Tourist Office or as commonly referred to Destination Marketing Organization is the core tourism product of any nation. The new forms of ebusiness are offering major opportunities for all tourism destinations and suppliers, whether large or small, to improve their business and remodel such in a more cost-effective manner. The study discusses the impact and existing relationship between ICT and tourism as an emerging ecommerce sector in the Zambian tourism industry. It focuses on the tremendous changes in consumer expectations for the Zambia tourism sector caused by the impact ofInternet revolution. The World Wide Web through Information and Communication Technology (lCT) is the driving force that is changing the tourism landscape and affecting the production, distribution and consumption of its products. This symbiotic relationship existing between ICT and the tourism sector provides an opportunity for the Zambian tourism industry to create a competitive advantage for the 21st century. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toerisme kom as een van die belangrikste sosio-ekonomiese sektore in beide ontwikkelende sowel as ontwikkelde lande voor. Kenmerke van die inligtings-gemeenskap soos globalisasie, mobiliteit, inligtings-toegang, -reikafstand en -rykheid word ook in toerisme aangetref. Die kern toerisme-produk van enige nasie is 'n nasionale Toeriste Buro of, soos algemeen verwys word, 'n Bestemming Bemarkings Organisasie (BBO). Toerisme bestemmings en verskaffers, klein of groot, word vele geleenthede aangebied om ten middele van nuwe vorme van e-handel hulle besighede op koste-geskikte manier te verbeter en te hervorm. Die studie bespreek die impak van en die bestaande verwantskap tussen Inligtings en Kommunikasie Teknologie (IKT) en die toerisme-bedryf in die Zambiese toerisme industrie as 'n ontwikkelende e-handel sektor. Daar word hoofsaaklik op die geweldige impak van die Internet-revolusie op verbruikersverwagtinge in die Zambiese toerisme bedryf gefokus. Deur middel van IKT word die Wereld-Wye Web (WWW) die dryfkrag wat die toerisme landskap verander en die produksie, verspreiding en verbruik van sy produkte beïnvloed. Die wedersydse verwantskap tussen IKT en die toerisme sektor verskaf 'n geleentheid vir die Zambiese toerisme industrie om 'n mededingende grondslag vir die 21ste eeu te skep.

Roles of various constituent elements of Strategic Leadership address deep and continuing issues relating to the creation and development of any organization. What is required to help firms successfully navigate the dynamics and uncertain environment in which they compete today to be successful is addressed. The founding in July 1991 of The Post, a privately owned Zambian newspaper, provided a unique opportunity to investigate the roles that various constituent elements of strategic leadership have played in its success. This is largely because much is already known about how state-owned media are managed, financed, and sustained by the state itself, which is fully involved in their re-capitalization and operating costs. The themes identified are at the heart of current debates about the capacity of private organizations to respond to new expectations, market realities, no state funding, globalization, technology, and a long list of other challenges so as to become market driven enterprises. The case of The Post is seen to present a story of an enduring publication in times of political, financial, social and other adversities and the research participants have no illusions about the success of the publication. The case study of The Post also gives useful insight into the many challenges and obstacles faced by the newspaper. It offers examples of determination, focused courage and innovation, complemented by strategic leadership. This was done by means of what emerged from the insight and experiences of the six research participants that were part of the founders of the newspaper and those associated with the development of the newspaper since its inception.

This thesis investigates policy formulation and implementation processes in Zambia. A number of issues emerge with respect to the weaknesses of the system and how policy decisions worsened Zambia's economic performance instead of improving it. The Kaunda era policies of nationalization had an adverse impact on productivity of industries as well as affecting the resource flow from donors and business houses. On the other hand President Chiluba's reforms in the 1990s have had both positive and negative impacts on the people of Zambia. The rapid privatization and liberalization affected employment levels thereby worsening the poverty levels. Further, the liberalization brought in stiff competition from other countries forcing most manufacturing companies to close down. The policy environment based on the Bretton Woods Institutions seems not to be working as result of not taking into account the local Zambian situation. On the other hand, there were positive macroeconomic developments such as growth in GDP, lowering of inflation and stabilizing of exchange rates as from 1996. This has however not improved the living standards of the people. In Zambia, the shifts back and forth between strong and weak planning institutions have negatively affected policy development and implementation. There has been uncoordinated policy development; as a result, some policies in the major sectors are contradictory while in other cases policies are not linked to the resource envelope, making them un-implementable. Secondly, the institutional framework for policy development is not effective. There is generally lack of coordination among ministries, provinces and other stakeholders in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of development programmes. This thesis urges that the improving planning capacities at the national, provincial and district levels should improve the processes of policy development and implementation in Zambia, which will in turn help to reduce poverty. Further, the districts should be the centre for the bottom-up process. In order to carryout this responsibility, efforts should be made to improve their capacities. As for the top-down process, the Sector Advisory Groups should continue to participate in the planning, monitoring and evaluation so as to contribute to policy formulation and implementation. These should be coordinated by the National Development Coordinating Committee (NDCC) through a Planning Bureau. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

This thesis investigates policy formulation and implementation processes in Zambia. A number of issues emerge with respect to the weaknesses of the system and how policy decisions worsened Zambia's economic performance instead of improving it. The Kaunda era policies of nationalization had an adverse impact on productivity of industries as well as affecting the resource flow from donors and business houses. On the other hand President Chiluba's reforms in the 1990s have had both positive and negative impacts on the people of Zambia. The rapid privatization and liberalization affected employment levels thereby worsening the poverty levels. Further, the liberalization brought in stiff competition from other countries forcing most manufacturing companies to close down. The policy environment based on the Bretton Woods Institutions seems not to be working as result of not taking into account the local Zambian situation. On the other hand, there were positive macroeconomic developments such as growth in GDP, lowering of inflation and stabilizing of exchange rates as from 1996. This has however not improved the living standards of the people. In Zambia, the shifts back and forth between strong and weak planning institutions have negatively affected policy development and implementation. There has been uncoordinated policy development; as a result, some policies in the major sectors are contradictory while in other cases policies are not linked to the resource envelope, making them un-implementable. Secondly, the institutional framework for policy development is not effective. There is generally lack of coordination among ministries, provinces and other stakeholders in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of development programmes. This thesis urges that the improving planning capacities at the national, provincial and district levels should improve the processes of policy development and implementation in Zambia, which will in turn help to reduce poverty. Further, the districts should be the centre for the bottom-up process. In order to carryout this responsibility, efforts should be made to improve their capacities. As for the top-down process, the Sector Advisory Groups should continue to participate in the planning, monitoring and evaluation so as to contribute to policy formulation and implementation. These should be coordinated by the National Development Coordinating Committee (NDCC) through a Planning Bureau. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)