In researching Capital Budgeting, special emphasis is employed to the Decision Making proposal presented by Maintenance Management. This study attempts to reveal the Capital Budgeting Techniques used by Toyota South Africa's Maintenance Departments. It interrogates if these techniques are correctly administered, and whether or not an appropriate decision is made. An indepth study of Capital Budgeting theory is done where among others, the following topics are discussed: The Capital Budgeting Process; The Techniques used in Capital Budgeting; Types of Projects; Funding and Risk. The detail of the theory is intended to be as an educator to those oblivious to the standards set out by scholars on these relevant topics. A questionnaire type survey was conducted, where the respondents answered pertinent questions, that adds value to this study. The unique feature of this study is that the sample size of thirty-five, is equivalent to the population of respondents within the company. A holistic picture of only the relevant information is gathered and interpreted, where both graphical and tabular representation is used to explain the findings. What is evident from the survey is that there is a lack of knowledge in the Maintenance Departments with regards to the usage of Capital Budgeting Techniques. The results prove that much guesswork goes into the proposal, as Gut-Feel and Discretion are key components of the decision. This anomaly is due to the finding that the Maintenance Management has not received relevant type training for this facet of their jobs. The recommendation to Management is that training and education be made available to these relevant people. Furthermore, it is proposed that the human resource department maps out the future career path opportunity and expectations that the employer has from the employee. In doing this type of succession planning, the company is assured of the best quality management at all times. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

This research on Sappi Kraft (Pty) Ltd, focuses on the Health and Safety Programme that is in implementation. The programme is expected to entrench the Health and Safety Culture by encouraging acceptable Behaviour Based Safety, continuous staff Training, encouraging interactive communication and housekeeping to be adopted by all employees. The documented study is based on the participation of the staff and management influence to ensure organisation behavioural changes to Safety are challenged. To verify the impact of the analysis, a questionnaire was distributed to the shop floor staff. Interview sessions were conducted on Sappi Management members. Analytical tools such as SPSS and Excel spreadsheet were used to demonstrate the research trends. The analysis findings are detailed in Chapter 5. The study considers the Health and Safety of employees as crucial. In this instance, the secondary recorded statistical data serve as a trigger to further research to the cause of increasing Lost Time Injuries and a proportional increase in serious injuries sustained. This record became a trigger for Sappi Management to implement initiatives to reduce the number of serious injuries being sustained. Such initiatives are implemented to avoid high loss control, continual losses of life and Safety Disasters. The disasters that occurred at Foskor, formerly known as Indian Ocean Fertilizers and Chrome Chemicals in Merebank, are still fresh in industrial news. Sappi Kraft management's commitment to the programme emphasizes the cultural change and acknowledgement of the conditions under which it operates, for the manufacturing of different paper grades. Management takes Safety objectives seriously with the understanding that attributes such as improved health; safety and production performance would be sustained. It must be noted that previous strategies and measures have been implemented to improve safety. The major challenges for Sappi Kraft to the recent strategy are to improve safety through staff participation in continuous risk assessment training, behaviour based safety and interactive communication. The research study period is limited to report on the full objectives to be fulfilled, but the progress towards success is documented. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Federal Mogul Valves manufacture automotive components for customers in both the domestic and export markets. For the components that are exported, they receive a government funded export subsidy. This subsidy is progressively being reduced each year and will, at this point in time, be discontinued in 2007. While Federal Mogul Valves' ability to export these components is not totally dependent on this export subsidy, the subsidy is certainly contributing to the profits that they are achieving. If they simply continue with their present strategy they will experience reduced margins as the export subsidy is reduced and eventually removed completely. If however they alter their strategic approach to the business to take into consideration the changes that they are faced with, they can introduce changes that will compensate for the reduction in profits that they will experience when the export subsidy is removed. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Investment in the South African economy is acutely needed for it to absorb the high numbers of unemployed and to grow the economy. The valuation of potential investments needs to capture all sources of revenue so that the investor has all possible information about the enterprise. The current methods of evaluating capital investment in the South African Chemical Industry continue to be based almost exclusively on Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methods. While these techniques are certainly useful, they are unable to capture all aspects of capital investment viability. A more recent valuation technique of regarding investments as options can substantially change the decision making process about capital investment. Investment in the chemical industry can be viewed as a strategic initiative to develop the long term potential of the industry. This investment can also contribute to growth in other sectors of the economy. While these benefits are difficult to measure, the criteria of maximizing investor returns remain the cornerstone of any investment decision. Using the DCF methods and real options framework for analyzing capital investments, a proposed investment to manufacture the chemical resorcinol in South Africa will be analysed. This study will illustrate how the real options approach, developed in this study, can more fully capture the dynamic and strategic value of the investment project, than the DCF methods. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Ms Jennie Chua, President and Chief Operating Officer of Raffles International, Singapore once said that if "high-tech" represents the higher spectrum of industries in the manufacturing sector, then "high-touch" would represent the pinnacle of the service industry. "High-touch" is the art of service. It is the personal touch, the extra effort, the Attention and alertness to customer needs and preferences. Excellent service is both a skill and an attitude. Training equips our people with the know-how to provide good service. Excellent service exudes warmth and friendliness, not cold efficiency. Yet how many of our catering companies have reached that pinnacle? For our enterprises to stay productive and competitive in the midst of high business and labour cost, offering excellent service is one differentiating factor. This study was concerned with analysing the Fedics division of KZN, with special emphasis on the customer service. According to Strauss and Frost (2001), there are many trends that are apparent about individuals and businesses, which are important in developing marketing strategy that involves the catering industry. The research analyses the effects of buying behaviour and makes recommendations for the improvement of Customer service, which is an important strategy for any service related organization to survive and grow. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2006.

DS Leathers, a leather manufacturing venture is faced with a challenge of penetrating the highly competitive leather industry. This study attempts to investigate what it will take for DS leathers to succeed, how can DS Leathers become more effective than its competitors in creating, delivering and communicating customer value? The study investigates the needs of DS Leathers prospective customers, analyzes the leather industry dynamics, key success factors and DS Leathers resources. A customer-focused company first investigates what its potential customer's desires are, and then builds the product or service. It was therefore pertinent for DS Leathers to pursue this exercise in order to be able to make informed strategic marketing decisions. The study lays a foundation and a framework for DS Leathers marketing management by reviewing a set of core concepts that are perceives as being fundamental to creation solid foundation for successful marketing. Concepts discussed include the development of marketing strategies and plans, capturing marketing insights, connecting with customers, building with strong brands, shaping market offering, delivering value, communicating value and creating long - term growth. The findings are that the industry is highly competitive with a lot global players. It is recommended that DS Leathers should focus on footwear and furniture segments, initially supplying the local government whilst developing its skills and its brand. The conclusion reached is that DS Leathers can achieve success by investing towards its attitudinal resources and superior skills, developing them into distinctive competencies for delivery of superior value. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which the existing ICT infrastructure in Kenya affects the provision of e-banking services at Barclays Bank of Kenya. The study also compares e-banking applications in Kenyan banks with best practice examples from other countries. Other areas studied are the existing ICT and e-banking security systems as well as the policy and regulatory framework that governs e-banking systems in Kenya. The dilemma still facing the banking and ICT sectors in Kenya is whether the existing ICT infrastructure is adequate and efficient enough to satisfy the demand for voice and data communications required in the provision of e-banking services. The problems that require attention are lack of appropriate equipment to serve a modem financial system and provide the full range of e-banking services, inadequate telephone landlines due to vandalism and failure of Telkom Kenya to expand its network. Other problems include lack of reliable Internet connection, high access costs for landlines and Internet, inadequate capital investment for the provision of sufficient ICT services, dumping of contraband traffic on Telkom's network, cyber crime due to lack of proper e-banking security systems and lack of a suitable policy and regulatory framework for Information Communication Technologies. A qualitative research methodology and a typical case study research design are adopted in the study. Barclays Bank of Kenya is examined as a case study. The activities of the banking and ICT key industry players, Central Bank of Kenya, Telkom Kenya, Communications Commission of Kenya and Today's Online, are also examined. In addition four other commercial banks namely, Standard Chartered, Citibank, Kenya Commercial Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa are contacted and their senior management interviewed concerning this study. Data is collected from interviews, archives, newspapers, published reports and the Internet. The study findings reveal that Barclays Bank Kenya offers different forms of e-banking services namely, Internet banking, online banking, telephone banking and mobile banking. However, the poor state of the ICT infrastructure hinders the growth of ebanking services in Barclays and other Kenyan banks. The existing security measures for landlines and e-banking systems in Kenya are also incapable of preventing most forms of risks and threats and need to be improved. Kenya also lacks a sound policy and regulatory framework to efficiently curb these ICT and e-banking risks. The study concludes by recommending that the Kenyan government should encourage the private sector and development partners to invest in ICT infrastructure and that a comprehensive review of existing laws relating to ICT and e-banking systems be done and amendments formulated. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

This study was conducted among clients of Mediterranean Shipping Company with three principal aims in mind. Firstly, adopt the appropriate measuring instrument to measure customer satisfaction levels within MSC, using the five SERVQUAL dimensions namely Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance and Empathy. The second is to measure the levels of customer satisfaction within MSC and lastly to make recommendations towards improving the levels of service quality and ultimately begin implementing a customer orientated quality assurance programme within MSC. The results show that there are significant differences between the respondents' expectation and their perceptions. All five dimensions showed that customers' expectations exceeded their perceptions, with Tangibles having the smallest gap and Reliability having the largest gap. It has been the talk of many customers that MSC provides very good service to their customers. On the contrary, this study reveals that there is still some level of dissatisfaction among the customers. Therefore, it is hoped that this study would contribute to MSC's understanding of their clients' perception of service quality and develop a marketing strategy that will increase their customers' level of satisfaction and improve their relationship with MSC. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

This research project forms part of a comprehensive coordinated project to determine whether it is feasible to introduce e-Education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) public schools by 2013, as envisaged in the Department of Education's 2003 White Paper on e-Education. This project mainly focuses on human problems that need to be solved among learners in urban schools of KZN for e-Education to be introduced successfully. The following problems are under investigation: 1. Before e-Education can be introduced in public schools in KZN by 2013 it must be empirically established whether learners are ready to learn effectively in an electronically managed educational environment. 2. Before the South African education and training authorities can establish clear standardized e-learning evaluation criteria it must first be established whether such criteria exist abroad, and if they do, how they are to be applied in die emerging South African e-education context. 3. Before e-Education can be introduced in public schools in KZN it must be determined what e-Education facilities are available in public schools in KZN, to serve as base line for what facilities need to be provided to schools by the educational authorities in order for e-education to succeed. This research used a quantitative research method to ascertain what the attitudes of learners in the Umlazi District of the Ethekwini Region in KZN, are towards e-Education. The research instrument that was used was a questionnaire to collect data. 800 questionnaires were disseminated and retrieved personally by the researcher at six approved schools. The survey was conducted among learners in Grade 9 andl 1 from a random selection of urban schools in theUmlazi District by the researcher, fellow researchers and the supervisor. The researcher used all 800 responses to set up the data base. The statistical program SPSS 13 was used to process and analyze the data that was collected. The following major findings emanate from this study: 1. No significant prior empirical research has been done about the state of ereadiness of learners in KwaZulu-Natal public schools. 2. The vast majority of learners are very positive about studying in an e-education environment. 3. Very few learners have been exposed to any form of e-education. 4. According to a case study reported, neither teachers nor learners were able to make effective use of sophisticated and expensive active boards that were donated by the British Department of Trade and Industry. / Thesis (M.Admin.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

It has become imperative for organisations to create family-friendly work-environments, where employees can effectively balance work and family life, in order to ensure employee satisfaction and increased productivity. It is important to establish how far South African organisations are in creating such environments and how much still need to be done as employee productivity ultimately impacts on the country's economic performance. This research study was concerned with dissecting the concept of work-life balance by highlighting the various types of flexible work arrangements that exist and comparing the legislations that promote work-life balance in South Africa with those of UK. The study was conducted in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban. A questionnaire was administered to 84 adults occupying management positions in various corporate organisations in Durban. The analysed findings revealed that South KwaZulu-Natal organisations are far behind UK in adopting and implementing work-life balance initiatives. South African organisations must introduce more flexible-working arrangements and the government must improve family-friendly legislation. South Africa still has a lot of work to do in introducing family-friendly legislation. Recommendations were also made with regards to what organisations as well as the government need to do in implementing work-life balance initiatives. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.