The objective of grand corporate strategy is the attainment of a sustainable competitive advantage; it defines the company and its business, and selects the means of converting strategic intent into competitive advantage. In addition, a company must formulate its business and functional strategies. These are subordinate to the grand strategy and as such, determine and reveal the corporate purpose and goals, produces the company's principal policies and plans, and provides guidelines for its business units and functions to achieve these goals. At the level of a business unit, strategy aims to differentiate the company from its competitors by creating a unique source of value provided. This determines the company's distinctive competency, which is not what it can do well but what it can do better than its competitors. It is this distinctive competency that must be created if a company is to successfully align resources and processes to create a competitive advantage. As the world becomes a global market, the standards applied to "World Class Performance" takes on a common meaning across international boundaries. South African companies are not exempt and have to compete on a global arena. Global competitiveness has never been more intense as firms scan the world for the right mix of technology, skills, cost and stability. The main area to be researched that was highlighted is an evaluation of what can be done to improve the current strategic practices of the company to a level that exceeds that of world-class companies. By eliciting responses from employees, the researcher hopes to conduct an industry evaluation, generate strategy and culture profiles and utilise these profiles to determine the current position of the company. Based on the findings, recommendations would be made to develop an improvement plan for the company. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The origins of the retail furniture industry commenced with family run stores, traditionally known as "momma and poppa" stores as they were entrenched in certain families. A feature of these stores was that they traded with people that they knew and enjoyed a great deal of loyalty. As the businesses grew there was a need to supply furniture to their clientele with a facility to repay the full price over a number of months. Such arrangements were typically concluded on trust as the customers were well known by the owners. The industry has evolved from this type of operation to a multi-billion rand industry. In terms of the size of business that is transacted and the size of the major furniture retailing organisations, it is simply not possible to continue doing business in accordance with the same ethos that prevailed during the early days. However, given the decentralised nature of the industry, the philosophy of knowing their customers has prevailed and this notion of wanting to conduct business on this basis has largely been responsible for a many critical functions remaining under the control of the individual stores within the broader network. In terms of the high volume of transactions that are currently concluded, it is extremely difficult to ensure that the application of policy and risk-based decisions are made on a consistent basis. From a cost effectiveness and productivity point of view, it is not possible to realise efficiencies and economies of scale that could be enjoyed if certain business processes were centralised. The intention of this research is to evaluate how the introduction of automated decision making business processes can contribute towards managing the organisation's exposure to risk with the view to achieving required levels of organizational performance and also sustainable value creation through a customer-centric philosophy. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Innovation is a necessity, not a nicety - but many companies still think of innovation as being important rather than urgent. For innovation to be successful, it requires different behaviours and new ways of thinking. It is fundamentally a human activity; hence the people that make innovation a reality are the inner workings of this process. In this study, a measurement tool has been designed to assess the different types of personalities that exist in new product development teams. A model has also been proposed. This model classifies the different personalities according to their dominant traits. It was derived from a tool that is well known within many innovation driven organisations: the model for assessing brand personalities that is very similar to the Heylen model. Using this model, a new model is proposed for the assessment of individual personalities. The individual personality types were established and the overall team structure was examined to determine if diverse personality innovation teams have any correlation with the perceived output of innovation. This study served the purpose of determining if this relationship exists as well as introducing a new model for the classification of different personality types. Three companies within the Durban region were selected and upon investigation it was learned that there does exist a relationship between diverse personality innovation teams and the perceived output of the process. It was learned that diversity does contribute to the measured innovation output. There were four different personality types classified. It was established that too many of one or more type of personality (e.g. originators or effectors) or the lack of other types (in this case motivators) in a new product development team hinders the optimal output of the process i.e. it effectively delays innovation and a valuable market offering since the abundant personality types dominate with their respective functions and inhibit other critical functions for the innovation journey to run smoothly. Effective innovation is about each personality type adding his/her contribution to the process. In this study it was established that not many motivators were identified in teams and an increase in originators and effectors correlated with a decrease in perceived innovation output. Each team member exists in a team at the opportunity cost of another, and it is essential that the right mix of personalities be present for effective innovation. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003.

Discounted cash flow (DCF) techniques for capital investment appraisal perform very crucial and important roles that relate to issues ranging from financial to technical, policy and socio-economic environments. Analyses need to be carried out when an organization undertakes capital expenditure on projects and programs. Capital budgets coordinate the development of the organization's long-term capital expenditure projections based on its long-term strategic plans. This dissertation is a result of a descriptive study conducted in the Iringa diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania located in Iringa district. The purposes of this study were the following: > To undertake descriptive research to understand the practice of DCF capital· budgeting by key heads of programs and projects of the ELCT Iringa diocese. >To identify key problem areas pertaining to capital budgeting that led to the deterioration of finances in the diocese of Iringa. >To provide recommendations on the alleviation of those identified problems. The study used various forms of data including, the ELCT statistical reports, financial guidelines, a library literature review and a long questionnaire that was distributed to the heads of the particular program/project. The study established the following: > The diocese of Iringa has strategic plans some of which extend to a period of three years. > The heads of programs do not have the necessary skills to pursue DCF Capital budgeting techniques for cash flows estimates falling within the estimated time frame. > The available guidelines issued by the ELCT head office that are currently used do not include the discounting rates and the time value of money when analyzing and evaluating projects and programs. > Since 1997 there has been a decrease in the income that ELCT Iringa diocese is receiving. > There is a need for ELCT Iringa to concentrate more on public relations exercises to attract key donors who could support the running of its programs and projects. In order to reduce the degree of vulnerability and improve her financial viability, it is recommended that ELCT Iringa diocese employ DCF capital budgeting techniques by developing new and better guidelines for capital budgets. Program and project heads also need to be trained in the use of newly developed guidelines. The ELCT Iringa diocese is also advised to improve its handling of finances in order to inspire confidence from its donors. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003. / German Ecumenical Agency.

The aim of this study is to identify the opportunities that currently exist in the Egyptian market in order for Franke to make a decision on the expansion of their business into this market. In order for the Board of Directors to make a quality decision they require good and accurate information. In line with the Franke growth strategy Franke South Africa was given the clear directive to grow the market share on the African continent. With this continent being as diverse as it is and suffering from many years of poverty, a focused strategy is required. With this in hand a study of the African continent was undergone and a couple of markets were identified as targets for either a take-over or new formation. With the information gathered on Egypt it became clear that this would be the ideal market to establish another Franke operation. Egypt has many positive issues that attract a decision like this of which the local market size, geographical position, COMESA membership and the fact that the market is well structured form the backbone. Based on this Business Plan, which researches all the relevant issues required to make a quality decision, an investment could be qualified and supported. It focuses on the possible target as well as elaborates on the medium term forecasted performance of the new setup. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Teachers are being stretched to the limit. Expectations placed on them seem to be expanding exponentially. Their role encompasses not only teaching specific content and mentoring students in the love of learning, but functioning as frontline social workers. It is the task of the teacher as specialist to teach and to educate. The measure to which teachers experience fullfilment in their vocation in an accepted environment will, to a significant extent, determine their attitude and conduct. The principal cannot afford to disregard the expectations of the teachers, as there are too many benefits to be derived from a satisfied staff. It is the duty of the principal, therefore, to create a working environment conducive to education and teaching. This dissertation examines the job satisfaction and propensity to leave among level one educators in a Government school, viz. Apollo Secondary and an Ex-Model C school, viz. Queensburgh Girls' High. It has been undertaken to study the intrinsic and extrinsic factors in a working environment which influences the job satisfaction of teachers in order to determine how these factors may enable a teacher to fullfil his vocation effectively. It also explores the ability of extrinsic and intrinsic work rewards to predict the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of teachers. Work related rewards were studied in reference to their relative importance as determinants of work satisfaction. An analysis of the factors and· their influence on job satisfaction and propensity to leave reveals that there does exist some differences between educators in a Government school and in an Ex-Model C school. The results indicated that low salaries, poor working conditions, too large class sizes, too heavy workload-both in the classroom and beyond, lack of administrative support, resentment of central administration, pressures of limited time and resources, student discipline problems, lack of prestige, and limited input into school decisions have caused dissatisfaction in the teaching profession. Organizational climate is therefore, one of the integral factors that determine the quality of teaching in a school. Staff development programmes in which the developmental needs of teachers have been recognised, should be carefully structured so as to enable the teachers to render optimum service. Teachers experience job satisfaction when they are given responsibility in accordance with the demands of their profession. Career development also promotes job satisfaction as it prevents a teacher's career from stagnating since it provides continual learning. Other factors that motivate teachers include love and respect for co-workers and colleagues, support of and feeling appreciated by administrators, and love of the students and the joy of working with them. The hope is expressed that this research project will enable principals and administrators to manage their schools in such a way that teachers will be able to fullfil their tasks ably and effectively. / Thesis (M.B.A)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The increase in trade between nations and relative decrease in international trade barriers has resulted in wider alternatives for customers all over the world. The resulting increase in global competition has caused organisations to use customer focused and internal strategies to remain competitive. One strategy that applies to both external and internal aspects of the organisation is the implementation and use of ISO 9000 quality systems. ISO 9000 is a set of quality guidelines to which an organisation must modify its own quality systems , in order to achieve ISO 9000 accreditation. ISO 9000 is a marketing tool, but there are additional benefits to using an ISO 9000 quality system. There is an opinion that ISO 9000 is not as beneficial as it should be. This exploratory survey of engineering manufacturing organisations in Durban, South Africa, is to prove that commitment and correct implementation of ISO 9000 will result in expected benefits to an organisation. Additional factors such as size of organisation, duration of ISO 9000 accreditation, degree of internationalisation, method of operation and perceived problems are also related to expected benefits of ISO 9000 accreditation. The results of the survey prove that there is a positive correlation between attitudes of commitment, implementation and degree of internationalisation with expected benefits from using ISO 9000 quality systems. It is further recommended that management commitment and training of all employees is required for ISO 9000 to be successful in an organisation. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

This study investigated the effects of globalisation on the empowerment of women in middle management positions. The first aim of the study was to determine the effects of globalisation on the empowerment of women in middle management. The second aim of the study was to establish if there is a correlation between perceptions of globalisation and empowerment for women in middle management. The third aim of the study was to describe the perceptions of women in middle management of globalisation. Globalisation and empowerment scales were used to achieve the objectives of the study and to measure the impact of globalisation on women. The measuring instruments were administered to groups of women in middle management. Fifty questionnaires were analysed. The sample consisted of twenty-five (25) respondents of women from private and twenty-five (25) from public organisations. The results of the factors analysed according to the aims of the study were as follows: • That there were significant differences between women in the private and the public sector with regard to perceptions of both globalisation and women's empowerment and that there were more women in the private sector than in the public sector who were positive about both the globalisation and women's empowerment. • That there was a significant positive correlation between women's perceptions of globalisation and empowerment. • That women from both sectors agreed that globalisation had a positive effect on their social, political and economic lives. That there was a need to provide women with self empowerment and training programmes that will equip them with the necessary skills so that they may occupy senior positions and be able to a make a meaningful contribution to the decision making process. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Over the last couple of years the ship repair industry in South Africa and in particular Durban has expanded significantly and the potential and opportunities for growth are still significant. This should be regarded as a positive sign for the industry that is currently enjoying a high level of demand for its services. This in turn has far reaching economic impacts upstream in the economy in terms of employment, revenue and income generation. The opportunities currently presented to the industry in the Port of Durban are vast and require exploitation. The Port of Durban, however, has physical constraints that are at present being addressed, but also structural and operational inefficiencies that hamper the full exploitation of such opportunities. The absence of a Development Framework Plan, in which these opportunities can be exploited, further aggravates the situation, much to the frustration of local ship repairers. This dissertation seeks to evaluate and assess opportunities currently presented to the industry in the Port of Durban. It further seeks to put a framework in place to best exploit such opportunities. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The purpose of this study was (1) to gain a better understanding of convenience marketing in the petroleum industry in South Africa, (2) to determine whether convenience marketing has positively contributed towards Engen's business objectives, (3) and whether implementation of the concept by Engen has been successful. During this study an in-depth literature review was done to analyse convenience marketing in the petroleum industry in South Africa by using various theories and models, such as the Buyer Behaviour Models, monadic models and multi-variable models, which are helpful in creating a basic and general foundation for the understanding of consumers and the relationships between external and internal influences that may affect the purchase behaviour of a consumer. Pathway modelling is also utilised for a better understanding of consumer preferences. Extensive brand research was undertaken to identify areas of strength and weakness within the Engen forecourt c-store network. The Ansoff Market/Product Matrix was used to recommend an effective product strategy. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.