The motor industry in South Africa has experienced exceptional growth during the past four years mainly due to a stable economy and exchange rates, economic growth and the low interest rates. However, the quality of management has not seen the same growth as the industry itself. This study sets out to investigate the quality of marketing management principles and its ability to influence the marketing assets that adds value to the business. A survey was carried out to support the investigation. It is concluded that quality management principles are interdependent with most of the correlation values being greater than 0.5, marketing assets are interdependent with correlation values ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 and that quality management principles influences the quality and value of marketing assets with the amount of variation in marketing assets explained by each of the quality management principles range between 24% to 78%. A problem in one of the quality management principles will have a snowball effect on the other marketing quality management principles as well as on the marketing assets. This study recommends the introduction of a quality management system as a management tool that will direct and facilitate the implementation of a marketing quality management improvement program. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

The purpose of this report is to offer an independent evaluation of strategic investment vehicles that are used to hedge against inflation by asset management companies in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's inflation stood at an alarming 536% at the end of December 2003,which gives the research enough motivation to establish the best inflation hedging instruments ideal in such a highly volatile and unstable environment. Since 1999 to date many companies have shut down and or scaled down their operational activities due to the adverse inflationary trading environment. This paper therefore serves to find out whether AMC's have strategic products to save corporations. The investigation starts off by discussing the Zimbabwean inflationary situation and followed by the research's main goals, investigative questions and the reason and value for carrying out the study. The pertinent literature is then discussed and evaluated with particular emphasis on the role of asset portfolio management. The research analyses the traditional asset classes and compares their attributes to the alternative investment classes in particular with real estate investments. Previous research studies support the view that real estate retains value and that it is an instrument for the protection of asset erosion caused by the effects of inflation. The empirical findings from this study have established that real estate investments have higher returns than inflation cumulatively. As a result real estate investments offer diversification benefits within any investor's efficient portfolio. Upon reflection of this investigation's findings some recommendations are made. Firstly the study recommends that rational investors should include real estate on their diversified portfolios in order to maximize shareholder wealth. Secondly we recommend that asset managers should push for higher holding weights when making strategic decisions on asset allocation. There is a potential for more appetizing alternative investments for the Zimbabwean investor and asset managers need a paradigm shift to include more alternative forms of investments in their portfolios. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2004.

The mobile data market in South Africa is predicted to be a significant revenue contributor for mobile telecommunication operators, such as MTN, over the next five years. In light of the declining revenue from the traditional voice services, most operators worldwide are turning to mobile data as the solution to this problem. However, there is widespread confusion on which is the correct business model to implement in order to maximise the gains from this new market. To add to the complexity, there is also no clear cut technology upgrade path. While it is well understood that the main driver for the mobile data market will be high data throughputs, the industry is still unsure on which is the best route for an operator to follow as it moves from a second generation (2G)to a third generation (3G) network. This dissertation discusses the business model that MTN should implement in order to become the market leader for mobile data in South Africa. A literature survey on the latest market characteristics and forecast for the mobile data industry is presented. The recent developments on mobile data business models is also discussed. The technology upgrades, i.e. GPRS, EDGE and UMTS, available to a mobile telecommunication operator is described in detail. GPRS is the first stage in the evolution from a 2G to a 3G network and offers data rates of 40 Kb/s. EDGE improves on the GPRS technology with data speeds of 59.2 Kb/s per timeslot and utilise the same frequency, radio and switching equipment. UMTS is the final stage and is capable of delivering 2 Mb/s data rates. It operates on a different frequency spectrum, thus, requiring a new licence from the telecommunications regulator. In order to develop a new business model, MTN's current GPRS model is analysed. The poor success rate of this model can be attributed to the high prices being charged for the services and the lack of any "killer applications" to entice the users. The business model focuses on the customer value of service, organisational, technical and pricing models. For the customer value of service, it is shown that MTN must offer cheaper prices for the services, higher data rates and more exciting applications. The pre-paid subscribers should also be allowed access to the mobile data network. The main changes to the organisational arrangement in MTN includes creating sub-departments in marketing, sales and network group to focus solely on mobile data. MTN must develop an integrated services approach and this can only be achieved by developing partnerships with all key players in the mobile data industry, such as content providers and application developers. Due to the high costs, the technology arrangement section proposes that MTN first upgrade the network to be EDGE capable and later implement a UMTS network. The financial arrangement discusses the revenue, pricing and cost model. The revenue model proposes the development of an exciting and attractive mobile portal. New services and applications such as mobile gaming and gambling must be created for the personal consumers. For the corporate consumers, applications and services must be developed for customer relation management, supply chain management and workforce application. A hybrid pricing model must be adopted. A fixed, metered and value based pricing structure should be implemented to make the services more affordable and to gain the maximum revenues. Finally, the various elements that constitute the cost model is examined. The major contributing costs for the operator will be the network upgrade and subscriber acquisition. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Stress is placed upon anything that is given special emphasis or significance, especially where this leads to, or involves, psychological, emotional and physical strain or tension. A part of it is therefore subjective, in that different reactions are produced in different individuals by the same set of circumstances. Stress is caused by a combined physical and psychological response to stimuli (stressors) that occur or are encountered during the course of living. The study will look at causes of stress and workplace stress and its impact on female employees' performance. Stressors from a general perspective will be identified. Further, workplace stress will be dealt with in detail using the integrated stress framework. The study will also look at effects on employees of negative feedback on self, as for example when a hierarchical superior in the course of an appraisal interview states that performance is unsatisfactory. The study will orientate towards a few questions such as: to what extent are individual well-being and performance similarly affected by stressors of various kinds, and to what extent to their effects appear to be distinct? What are the social and organizational conditions which give rise to the immediate stressors, and what qualities of personality and interpersonal relations mitigate the effects of stress? Creating workplaces that work for women and why the 'bottom-line' benefits workplaces that attract women are important components of this study. Further, organisations that target female consumers or clients is increasingly important as more women are entering the workforce and their spending power and disposable income continues to grow. To ensure a successful market focus on women, employers will want women employees to be a critical component of their organization. However, the mere presence of women in the workplace will not guarantee positive outcomes. What is required is a variety of best practice changes to ensure a work culture in which diversity is valued and effectively leveraged for better performance. A self-administered questionnaire will then be sent out to respondents to get their views on the effects of stress that they have felt in the past 12 months and how they rate their workplaces. Their views will also be sought on performance management issues and how to improve their performance management systems. A holistic approach which incorporates stress management into company health and i safety policies is viewed as the optimal strategy of this study. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

The cinema exhibition industry in South Africa is experiencing stagnant cinema attendances. The strategic planning approaches being utilized by management in this industry currently are not fully encompassing of the width and breadth of the challenges and opportunities inherent in this industry and have been unable to solve the problem of stagnant cinema attendances. The study used a combination of recent, innovative approaches to scenario planning as a strategic planning tool, along with quantitative research to determine the perceptions of industry professionals in order to chart a course for the future of the cinema exhibition industry in South Africa The major conclusions in this paper are that scenario planning can be used to plan for a profitable future in the cinema exhibition industry in South Africa because of the emphasis the technique places on the uncertainty inherent in the future and the degree of influence that external factors have on the future of this industry. Cinema exhibitors in South Africa have not sufficiently taken into consideration the drivers of cultural, social, economic, and technological change that will determine the relative place of cinema attendance in South Africa of tomorrow. The major recommendations are that cinemas should become more than just cinemas by evolving into multipurpose interactive public "meeting places" where watching films is but one of a range of leisure-time activities and that cinema exhibitors should fully embrace technological advances and the opportunities that they bring, and not view them as a threat. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

One of the most enigmatic phenomena to explain in social and business sciences is the functioning and economic growth of organisations and national economies. This is testified by the several theoretical frameworks, which, with varying degrees of success, attempt to unravel the growth puzzle. This dissertation focuses on the network theory, with particular reference to small business growth in the contemporary competitive global economy. The primary focus is the isolation thesis which maintains that although small business growth is constrained by a number of factors, isolation rather than size is the key problem and that the answer lies in networking and clustering. Hypothesising that fraternal network is the most significant type of network for small business growth, the dissertation investigates the structural properties of networks in relation to the performance of the small clothing manufacturing enterprises (SCMEs) in the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA). Combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches, descriptive network data and hermeneutic analyses, the dissertation argues that the growth and development of small business may be understood by the framework of relationships between the scopes of fraternal and factor networks, the medium of communication and the human factor. The dissertation empirically confirms the isolation thesis and the widely documented view that networks have positive impact on business performance although they could also be detrimental. The study finds that although clustering may be necessary it is certainly not a sufficient condition for inter-firm co-operation and joint action to a level that promotes individual firm performance and collective efficiency. The study argues that the widely documented poor performance of the clothing industry in the Durban Metropolis is, to a large extent, due to inadequate network relationships. The observed minimal network relationships among the sampled firms is largely the result of human factor decay manifesting as mistrust, selfishness, dishonesty, greed etc. Conceding that human factor decay is largely a consequence of the process of modernisation or the transition from Germeinschaft (Community) to Gesellschaft (Association), the dissertation maintains that human factor decay among the sampled SCMEs is exacerbated by the apartheid system, which undermined social and economic relationships. Of the three types of networks identified in the literature - factor, fraternal and communication networks - the study confirms the latter as the most significant to SCMEs in Durban. The study also confirms the view that the use of electronic networks or new information and communication technologies (ICTs) contributes significantly to economic performance. Although reverse causality is a possibility, the dissertation concludes that small firms are likely to be better off through increased electronic connectivity, as compared to face-to-face (FTF) interactions. By this finding and conclusion the study, on one hand, fails to confirm the hypothesis that fraternal networks are the most significant types of networks among the SCMEs in Durban. On the other hand, it confirms Castells' theory of a universal trend of social change towards a network society, a global informational economy and a culture of 'real virtuality'. The impact of ICTs use on the effectiveness and efficiency of networks, however, depends on the scope of networks but more importantly, on the human factor (HF) i.e., appropriate human personality traits, e.g., information management skills and knowledge, trust, honesty, reciprocity, loyalty and creativity. In the concluding chapter, the dissertation explores the policy implications of the findings and offers recommendations that could inform trade and industrial policy for small business growth and development through the network perspective. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Total Quality management (TQM) is a different way to organize the efforts of people. The objective is to harmonize their efforts in such a way that not only do people approach their assigned tasks with enthusiasm, but they also participate in the improvement of how the work gets done. Quality management introduces a significant change in the relationship between those who manage and those who actually do the work. TQM has had a significant influence on contemporary management practices. It is in this regard therefore, that the purpose of this research was to examine the feasibility of TQM implementation in Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management (KIST) to improve the quality of education. The main objectives ofthis study included: • Determining whether TQM can be effectively implemented for quality improvement in KIST. • Finding out any limitations to the implementation of TQM for quality improvement in KIST. • Establishing any benefits ofTQM in KIST. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of research were used to carry out this research and the literature reviewed on TQM was a major guide in the analysis process. The results revealed that with major improvements in areas of staff commitment, encouraging teamwork and participation of all staff coupled with staff education and development, TQM implementation in KIST could be realised. Various limitations of the implementation of this system in KIST include: lack of resources in terms of finance, insufficient academic facilities, shortage of academic staff, to mention but a few. The benefits of this system include: helping the institution to focus on the needs of its customers, achieving top quality performance, better communication methods and achieving commitment of all the staff Due to the limitation of the short time frame allocated to this research, the study could not go in detail consequently recommendations for further research were made. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

South African infrastructure has traditionally been funded through general government budgets and dedicated taxes and fees rather than tolls. However since the early 1980's, the South African Government has adopted a strategy of tolling portions of the national road infra-structure either through PPP's or toll routes owned by the SANRA. This paper investigates whether the approach of tolling the road infrastructure together with the financing, construction and maintenance of roads by means of PPP's is the most efficient economic manner to finance such endeavours. A case study analysis of TRAC, a concession toll road project, highlights the theoretical economic inefficiencies which are primarily present in relation to marginal operating and external costs, misallocation of resources, the costs of collecting tolls, contractual efficiency as well as the efficiency in raising capital. The decision to toll routes, albeit theoretically economically inefficient, is however contextualized when viewed against the funding needs of Government, particularly in light of the fact that the South African government will continue to experience severe funding shortfalls for road maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction. However, highway needs are increasing yet public funding sources are constrained by limited resources together with spending priorities in other areas. Ostensibly the decision to toll a route is not based on theoretical economic efficiency issues but rather on a strategy to lessen the financial burden on the state by freeing up more money with the implementation of toll roads. This strategy thus allows the state to maintain those roads funded through the national fiscus by tolling certain routes and thereby continue to maintain and expand the road infrastructure with the given financial constraints. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Public lighting is seen as a non-core function by many municipalities and therefore does not always receive the necessary management attention. As a result the provision of public lighting maintenance differs substantially between Local Authorities; in some instances public lighting is in a state of disrepair and in other instances the service delivery is excellent. One of the major problems identified is the lack of information with regard to the number and types of fittings installed and also the number of failures that occur. As a consequence many municipalities cannot provide accurate costs to enable comparison with other Local Authorities. There is also a general lack of consensus as to what constitutes appropriate service delivery in terms of system availability and failure response times. This results in large differences in terms of costs, which range from R11.50 to R26.60 per fitting per month and system availability, which ranges from less than 70% to better than 99%. To establish appropriate service levels responses were obtained from the general public and two groups more directly involved with streetlight maintenance namely, public officials and street lighting experts. This data together with the evaluation of historical data collected over the last 16 months on the Benoni network allows the formulation of appropriate cycle times in order to achieve the expected service delivery in terms of system availability and response times. A holistic literature survey is presented covering the major aspects which impact on service delivery such as the restructuring of the electricity distribution industry and local authority transformation. The aspects of energy efficiency and equipment life expectancy are covered in detail and recommendations are made as to the appropriate replacement cycles. The different lamp replacement policies are also discussed and cost comparisons made. Recommendations made are that a system availability of 98% is both acceptable and achievable with a moderate budget. Response times of less than 24 hours would be ideal but this does not optimise the utilisation of resources, budget constraints may dictate a longer response time. Response times of more than 5 days would generally be unacceptable. Optimal fitting replacement age is between 19 and 23 years. Under normal circumstances the introduction of energy efficient luminaires is the most cost effective when inefficient fittings have reached their optimal replacement age. Changes in energy costs, tax concessions or cost subsidisation will however impact on the appropriate replacement strategy. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

The aim of this study was to investigate the current ERP selection processes that are used by KwaZulu-Natal organizations, in order to determine what problem factors were evidenced during the selection process. In order to obtain a KwaZulu-Natal organizations' perspective of the ERP selection process, two stages were used to gather survey data. The first stage consisted of an electronic mail and fax survey; the second stage was a door to door survey done in business parks and industrial parks/zones in the Greater Durban region - this was for purposes of remedying the low response rate obtain during the first stage. Sixty-three respondents from a wide range of industrial sectors in KwaZulu- Natal responded to the research questionnaire. In terms of response information: more than 55% of respondents had recently acquired an ERP solution and their ERP systems were fully integrated 12.7% of respondents had bought ERP software, but it was not fully implemented 6.3% of respondents were at the ERP selection stage, they were without an ERP system but had already commenced the selection process 23.8% of respondents did not have ERP nor did they intend to obtain ERP in the future 1.6% of respondents did not have ERP but indicated that they may have such a system in the future. Respondents were randomly chosen from medium sized and large sized organizations in KwaZulu-Natal. They are determined as large in turnover, total asset and number of employees by South African standards and aremostly hierarchical and centralized organisations with a divisional/functional structure. The study revealed that although ERP selection was considered to be making a significant contribution to organizations7 IT/IS strategy, the ERP selection process was not paid enough attention in practice in KwaZulu- Natal organizations due to a number of obstacles deduced from this study. Therefore, this study can be of benefit to organizations in identifying these obstacles and in recommending strategies that could be employed to overcome them. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.