The textile industry in South Africa has undergone many changes over the years since its inception into the global arena. The industry's success will depend on its ability to adopt world class manufacturing principles, create more value-added products and be highly competitive to sustain itself in the long term. The main objective of this study was to determine whether or not the textile industry in South Africa is under threat. The other objective was to provide information on the textile industry that would be of assistance to stakeholders and policymakers in South Africa. Certain factors that were thought to impede or restrict the overall performance of the South African textile industry at macro and industry level were identified as follows: 1. Trade liberalisation(globalisation) 2. Tariffs and regulations 3. Imports and exports 4. Cotton 5. Labour 6. Currency fluctuation The secondary research was based on a literature survey of current textile journals, articles from South African textile magazines, statistics from industry reports, textbooks on international trade and marketing, the Internet and newspapers. To evaluate the fmdings of the literature survey, a questionnaire was formulated and empirically tested among selected experts in the textile industry in South Africa. The review of the factors in both the literature review as well as the experts opinions support the statement that the textile industry is under threat. This study was conducted during a time when the industry's perfonnance was down and many of the views and opinions of those experts consulted could have been biased. The time taken to undertake this study is also questionable as a longer review period would have been more appropriate for this type of study to be conducted. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

This study was concerned with determining and providing recommendations for the possible strategic gaps of Amalahle Maintenance Services. This company is a small to medium enterprise offering maintenances services within the Power Generation industry of Eskom. During the study, an in-depth literature review was done to analyse the 21 st century strategy trends, the impact of these trends on small to medium enterprises such as AMS, the reasons for failures among small to medium enterprises, a comparison of strategy theories appropriate to AMS current situation and a review of maintenance and safety management techniques. This review was performed to determine the importance of strategic management for small to medium enterprises in the new economy. The review also determined the importance of strategic management in the new economy for the survival of companies large and small. A case study research strategy was chosen due to the unknown strategic gaps. The research was both qualitative and exploratory as the study concentrated on finding the possible strategic gaps. A literature review was also performed on the strategic management process in order to develop a framework to determine the current situation faced by the firm and to evaluate the current situation to determine the strategic gaps and also to provide recommendations. The strategic management process developed by Johnson and Scholes (1998) was adapted to determine and provide recommendations concerning the possible strategic gaps. The management process included three categories of strategic analysis, strategic choice and strategic implementation. These three categories were utilised to determine the current strategic analysis, that is, the external and internal environment of AMS, current business level and functional level strategic choices made by the firm, and the current strategic implementation, which included the firm's structure, controls, culture and leadership. The three categories of strategic analysis, strategic choice and strategic implementation were thereafter evaluated to determine the possible strategic gaps. The evaluation process was also broken up into the three strategic management processes. The strategic analysis included the STEEP, industry, competitor, stakeholder, functional capability and resource, and the SWOT analysis techniques. The SWOT analysis technique was also utilised to determine the current strategic options for AMS. The strategic choices made by the firm, together with the strategic options determined by the SWOT analyses were evaluated by the following techniques: SWOT interaction matrix, industry life cycle, positioning, value chain, grand strategy matrix and the grand strategy cluster to determine the possible strategic gaps and provide recommendations for strategic choices. The strategic implementation was evaluated by comparing the theories in Chapter Two to the current situation of the strategic implementation represented in Chapter Three. The evaluation of the strategic implementation determined the strategic gaps between the strategic choices and implementation. The final step included the recommendations for each of the evaluated strategic analysis, strategic choice and strategic implementation categories and their respective subcategories. Since the strategic gaps were unknown it was appropriate to utilise the entire management process as a strategic fault finding tool. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2006.

The focus of this study revolved around the importance of internal corporate communication to employees within Durban organisations. The research objectives were to measure the importance of internal corporate communication to employees within Durban organisations; ascertain the reasons why employees attributed the identified levels of importance to internal corporate communication; and identify the methods of internal corporate communication that were most preferred by Durban employees. The study analysed the data received from 165 respondents, who as a prerequisite, were employed within the Durban area. The sample was attained with the use of the snowballing sampling technique. A self-completion questionnaire, which was quantitative in nature, was distributed to the participants and a two week data collection period was allotted. The collected data was analysed using SPSS statistical software, the results of which revealed that internal corporate communication was of significant importance to Durban employees. It further revealed that there was a direct relationship between a manager’s communication skills and the confidence that subordinates place in the manager. Other positive relationships that evidently existed were between internal corporate communication and job performance; internal corporate communication and employee decision making ability; and internal corporate communication and team work. The findings revealed that by improving the effectiveness of the communication, employers would be able to improve employee morale, commitment, job performance and decision making. The research further revealed that email, face-to-face communication, and the sms were the most preferred mediums for internal corporate communication. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Total Quality Management (TQM) has become the focus of all organisations that strive for excellence in service delivery. The healthcare sector is not an exception though it is exclusively different from other organisations because of the nature of service they provide, and the kind of risk involved in service provision. The aim of this study was to assess employees’ perceptions about TQM at Queen Elizabeth II hospital, and their expectations regarding TQM implementation in the new Private Public Partnership (PPP) National Referral hospital. It also sought to measure the gap that exists between employees’ perceptions and expectations. It focused on three fundamental principles of Total Quality (TQ), namely ‘focus on customers and stakeholders’, ‘participation by everyone and teamwork’, as well as ‘process focus and continuous improvement’. This, quantitative research study, utilised a cross-sectional approach. The self-administered questionnaires were employed to obtain data. A stratified sample of 240 employees was drawn from Q.E.II hospital employees, which represented a population size of approximately 685 employees. Out of the sample size of 240, only 157 questionnaires were completed and returned. The respondents comprised of 38.2% males and 61.8% females. The highest percentage of the respondents (53.5%) was in the clinical category; 33.8% in Administration; 8.3% in ‘other’ health professionals such as pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology. The lowest percentages of 3.8% and 0.6% were in Accountancy and Human Resources categories respectively. The findings of this study revealed that employees have relatively low perceptions about TQM at Q.E.II hospital, while their expectations regarding TQM in the new PPP National referral hospital are extremely high. Process focus and continuous improvement attained a larger overall gap between perceptions and expectations. Although an analysis revealed that focus is needed in all areas that constitute total quality, but evidence suggests that process focus and continuous improvement need special attention. Thus, it is recommended that management creates a quality culture through strong leadership, putting the needs of both employees and patients in the fore-front, ensuring that employees understand hospital processes, and mostly, continuously improving the hospital processes. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

The socio-economic importance of small-scale mining in a developing country such as South Africa cannot be overstated. Millions of rural people trapped in abject poverty and disappointingly high unemployment, where the availability and accessibility to natural resources like sandstone is at their doorstep should never be allowed to remain poor and starve if job creation and poverty alleviation take precedence in both local and national agendas. It is against this backdrop that this pilot case study was initiated, the primary objective of which was to recommend tailor-made strategies for developing and stimulating socio-economic growth from small-scale mining operations in Qwaqwa. In order to do this a literature review was conducted, strategically aiming at establishing what was already known and in place on the subject through prior research. The process that ensued entailed designing a systematic blue print on the process of collecting, analysing and interpreting data about small-scale mining in the area. The study used multiple sources of evidence in the form of statistical analysis of the questionnaires, personal interviews, site observations and various documents to indeed confirm the indispensable nature of small-scale mining in the socio-economic fibre of rural communities. In order to stimulate socio-economic growth from small-scale mining, the formation of cooperatives for structured and coordinated assistance, favourable and encouraging regulations and policies, innovation, communication and publicity, product and market development strategies as well as the adoption and nurturing of small-scale mines by big conglomerates are some of the strategies postulated. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2008.

The long term aim of this research is to develop an interest in tourism Among Black People in South Africa Focussing on the Lowveld Region. The research examined whether; there are adequate Awareness and Marketing campaigns aimed at encouraging Black People to visit Lowveld Tourist attractions such as Kruger National Park and whether Black People have any interest in Nature-Based Tourist Attractions in the Lowveld. Though many South Africans consider the Lowveld Area an ideal holiday destination, the fact that few Black citizens visit the area was looked into as in a country where Black People are in the majority, there should be more Black tourists who visit to the Lowveld Region on an annual basis. The study discovered that the majority of the respondents are aware of the existence of the Tourism authorities in the Lowveld region (the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency), and they feel that this entity can play an active and visible role to get more Black South Africans interested to visit the Lowveld Tourist attractions on a regular basis. The study has further discovered that the majority of the respondents are interested in the Lowveld Region as their preferred holiday destination because it is home to tho world-renowned Kruger National Park. They also prefer to stay in a resort that provides additional attractions such as traditional dancing, sporting and recreational activities as part of their guest offering. This research recommends that the Tourism authorities need to promote more holiday group type bookings and to assist the public to access holiday booking facilities more easily. The study further recommends that Government needs to use tourism as a poverty reduction strategy, particularly the idea of community involvement ill tourism. Community-based tourism development has been determined to be of strategic importance for the continued growth and sustainability of the tourism industry in the Lowveld Region. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

Entrepreneurship is gaining popularity for reasons which include: people choose entrepreneurship as an alternate career and governments around the world have started to recognize the economic impact that entrepreneurship has in stimulating economies and reducing unemployment. Another reason for the growth and importance of entrepreneurship is the wide spread nature of capitalism that presents business opportunities. With the high unemployment rates in South Africa one would think that entrepreneurship ranks high on the agenda of students and service providers. The aim of the study was to investigate the quality of entrepreneurship and highlight the effects of entrepreneurship education on students to the point of determining firstly if there is a need for entrepreneurship education and secondly, if such education yields benefits and greater success for entrepreneurs. As entrepreneurship exponentially gains momentum the desire for knowledge to harness raw entrepreneurship into sustainable and growth business comes to light. Schools, Universities and other educational institutions in developed and developing countries are all embracing the culture of entrepreneurship. A non probability, convenience sample of 190 students at the Graduate School of Business, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal were chosen to answer a questionnaire designed to evaluate the nature, benefits and to check if there is a need for entrepreneurship education. One hundred and twenty one respondents completed the questionnaire. The study revealed that entrepreneurship is important and education can play a role in fostering and harnessing entrepreneurship. The study illustrates areas of improvements for the courses. This study benefits students who are considering entrepreneurship as an alternate career and service providers who offer entrepreneurship education. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

Operations management is a broad subject that offers industry various planning and control philosophies and techniques on how best to manage all processes within an organisation. However, the macro environment in which companies are operating also affects the application of these techniques and philosophies. It is therefore important to understand the extent to which these tools can be applied by industry that is operating in an environment characterised by unpredictability. The manufacturing sector decision makers in Zimbabwe have been blaming the under performance and failures in the sector to the macro economic conditions which they claim is not conducive to business operations. Research has been conducted to investigate the challenges that this sector is facing and whether the application of operations management strategies and techniques could counter these challenges. This research is guided by the hypothesis that "The manufacturing sector's failure to strategically reposition itself in the current socioeconomic environment is the major contributor to its present distress. The methodology used is one consistent with the exploratory nature of the research and both quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied where data was obtained from personal interviews, questionnaires and articles on related topics. The findings of the research reveal that external factors (macro-economic conditions) are the reason for the under performance or failure of the manufacturing sector. These findings therefore rebut the initial hypothesis as false given the empirical evidence on the ground. It is recommended that companies in the manufacturing sector pursue investment strategies or form alliances with export earning companies internally and externally. Companies could also pool together financial resources to purchase equipment that produces a common output. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

International transportation costs and the use of a country’s imports cif/fob ratios as a measure for ad valorem shipping and direct international transportation costs measures has been at the forefront of international transport costing debates. Many researchers and analysts use the imports cif/fob ratios as a proxy for direct transportation costs in the absence of direct measures. The study was motivated to examine the authenticity and use of the imports cif/fob ratios as a measure for international transport costs. The study highlights the impact of the use of the ratios in presenting and interpreting international transportation costs. The study examined, investigated and analysed data on the United States, Germany, South Africa and Malawi and provided empirical evidence that the imports cif/fob ratios as a measure for ad valorem shipping and international transport costs are distorted and misused and are therefore misrepresentative and uninformative of the actual direct shipping and international transport costs of countries. Evidence from the study shows severe limitations in using the imports cif/fob ratios, as the trade data used for devising them are largely unreliable and inaccurate. Users of the imports cif/fob ratios generally assume when using the ratios that, the composition of imports are constant. By means of correlation analysis, the evidence from the countries analysed in this study shows otherwise and prove that where the quality of trade data applied are reliable and accurate, a country’s composition of imports has a considerable and significant effect on the level and trend of the country’s imports cif/fob ratios. On the other hand, where the data is unreliable, the resulting imports cif/fob ratios from the computation are inaccurate and insignificant as an informative indicator of the country’s actual international transportation costs. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

The term' intelligence failure' has been coined in light of the so called '911' terrorist attack on the United States of America. The general view of security experts is that this catastrophe could have been prevented had there been an effective and efficient homeland intelligence structure. This has subsequently led to a major drive to reform the intelligence service in that country. This line of thought is now beginning to manifest in South Africa with regard to the crime situation. In order to combat crime effectively the police must be able to access qualitative expertise, knowledge and an effective intelligence gathering capability, so that any challenge or contingency may be addressed in an appropriate manner. The continual availability or relevant and accurate crime intelligence is a crucial factor in augmenting the effectiveness of the South African Police Service in executing and fulfilling its functions and obligations. This has prompted the researcher to investigate the perceptions that exist around the organizational structure of the police's intelligence capability. The South African Police Services is organized into a number of divisions that have been categorized along the principles of work specialization. A survey based study was undertaken on the SAPS Crime Intelligence Division. The main objective of the research project was to study the perceptions of Crime Intelligence Manager's on the organizational structure of Crime Intelligence with regard to the organizational strategy, authority relationships, co-ordination and control, resource utilization and training and skills development, in respect of the matrix and divisional organizational structure. The units of analysis were the forty three Area Heads of the Crime Intelligence structure that have a countrywide spread. Two research question need to be answered in this project. The first question attempted to determine what are the perceptions of the Area heads with regard to the organizational structure dimensions in respect of the matrix and divisional structure? The second question related to whether there was a relationship between the biographical data and the organizational structure dimensions? A total of thirty seven respondents comprised the sample. A thirty eight item, questionnaire was used as the research instrument. Category analysis by frequencies and percentages was conducted on the collected data to establish common themes and trends. The results indicated that there is overwhelming support for the divisional organizational structure. The matrix structure was found to be the source of dysfunctions such as role conflict, management confusion and frustration, conflicting authority relationships and poor co-ordination and control processes. The cross tabulation of the biographical data against the organizational structure dimensions and not reveal any significant relationships between them, that could possibly underpin the choice of the divisional organizational structure. The reasons advanced for this by the researcher is largely centered on the homogeneous culture that pervades the organization. This culture has been postulated as the main determinant of the perceptions that are held by the Area heads on most fundamental issues, such as organizational structure. The researcher, nonetheless, recommends that this view be explored further in a future study. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2006.