This study evaluates the implementation of a performance management system within a division of a company operating in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry. The research has been carried out in order to establish the perceived effectiveness of a performance management system as well as to identify areas where the system can be improved upon. An empirical study was carried out in the form of an e-mailed questionnaire to approximately 350 employees at Paterson grading level Upper C to Upper 0 across all mills, covering all aspects of the performance management system which included the process of establishing individual performance agreements, performance feedback as well as performance rewards. An analysis on the relationship between salary, salary increase percentage and performance positioning was also carried out. The survey data showed an overall positive level of satisfaction with the performance management system. A shortcoming, however, was found in the link between performance and pay, which very few of the employees surveyed were satisfied with. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

HIV / AIDS in the South African present context remains fraught with obstacles and challenges. The previous regime's willingness to turn a blind eye to the problem, combined with the present government's confused response has accelerated the disease and it's devastating impact to pandemic proportions. This has placed additional pressure on other sectors to respond. While civil society challenges government's delaying tactics and seeks to ease the plight of those living with HIV, the business sector is being called upon to act, in the interests of the stability of the national economy and it's own survival. Business is identified, locally and abroad, as the most relevant environment for intervention because of it's unique capacity to impact on both the workforce and the consumer market simultaneously. Business however exists for the purpose of making a profit. This is in itself an area of study that requires investigation: how does business meet the pressure to 'do the right thing' and protect its own best interests? This study will consider how some businesses have shifted the burden of AIDS, while others have prepared to meet the costs associated with implementing any interventions. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of HIV / AIDS on the business sector with an assessment of the risk faced by business in the immediate and long-term. It further seeks to analyse business's current response in the context of international best practice standards. Case studies of Workplace HIV / AIDS Programmes are used to identify and analyse successful interventions that may be utilised in the South African context. While there are a few outstanding examples of workplace interventions being implemented in South Africa, there is some concern that too many companies are processing HIV / AIDS as a paper exercise without the commitment and care required for change. The impact of the disease on a physical level is compounded by stigmatization and fear. Issues of discrimination and intolerance permeate the environment in which employers are required to implement programmes that shift knowledge, attitudes and behaviour around HIV / AIDS. The secondary objective of this study is to test the emerging hypothesis that the face-to-face or one-on-one intervention is the most effective in successfully changing knowledge and attitudes about HIV / AIDS and can therefore influence a long-term change in behaviour. This study seeks to provide guidelines and recommendation for companies willing to implement HIV / AIDS workplace interventions by presenting an overview of the options available and indicating where best to invest limited resources. While the nature and scope of the study is by no means conclusive and remains open to ongoing social and medical research, it remains relevant in that it is placed in the context of timeless best practice. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The aims of the study were to determine if unfair discrimination in employment is being eliminated; to establish if a diverse workforce representative of the population is in the process of being achieved, and to find out if economic development and efficiency in the workplace is being promoted. The study made use of the organizational survey research method. Organizational surveys are powerful in: identification of opportunities for improvement, reality check, determining if a strategy is outdated and needs to change, measurement of performance improvements, changing mind-set of management, where necessary, increasing the commitment of people in the organization. The sample consisted of 166 participants. These participants comprised of 110 employees described as Crew Members and 56 employees described as Officers. All races were represented within the sample. In a population of 166 staff members at Natal Sharks Board, a sample of forty (40) participants was randomly selected. The sample was further subdivided into 20 Crew members and 20 Officers. The former 20 participants (Crew) were interviewed through medium of IsiZulu because most of them could not read or write. The latter 20 participants (Officers) were given questionnaires to fill-in. These questionnaires were in English. All 20 participants are competent English-speakers and could read and write. Data gathering took three weeks to complete. Collected data was analysed through quantitative and qualitative methods. The results and the findings of the study were presented according to the aims of the study. The findings according to aim number one, that is, to determine if unfair discrimination in employment is being eliminated; show that there is a change to eliminate discrimination at Sharks Board. The second aim, that is, to establish if a diverse workforce representative of the population is in the process of being achieved; show that there is a change in the diversity of the workforce. The last aim of the study, that is, to find out if economic development and efficiency in the workplace is being promoted at Sharks Board; shows that this process has began. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

International business is much more complicated than domestic business because countries differ in many ways. Countries have different political systems economic systems. Cultural practices can vary dramatically from country to country, as the education and skill level of the population, and countries are at different stages of economic development. Moreover, development of multinational strategies involves consideration of threats, opportunities, key success factors, and strategy options and issues that do not appear when the analysis is restricted to operations within a single country. In particular, the evaluation of a market must take into account the political and economic risks associated with individual countries. Thus the external analysis becomes much more demanding. South Africa's trade and industrial policy has moved away from a highly protected, inward-looking economy towards an internationally competitive system that is able to capitalize on its comparative advantages. Enhancement of the competitiveness of industries on the domestic and international markets has consequently become a prime focus of the country's industrial policy. International trade in textiles and clothing is conducted on an immense scale. Textile and clothing producers were responsible for 9.3 per cent of world exports of manufacturers in 2001. Barriers to entry for new firms and exporters are low, and consequently the degree of international competition is intense. Competitive advantage is very difficult to sustain for long periods of time. Newcomers speedily challenge successful exporters of basic products, and they must redirect their activities towards the production of higher value-added textiles and clothing in order to survive and prosper. As a world's fifth largest trading power, China economy expands promptly through their expert skills on technology, management, and labour-intensive products. Today, China represents between 5 to 10% of global output, their export market will continue to grow rapidly, and not only for their labour intensive products, but also for the higher technology goods and services that are an increasing proportion of China's output as it climbs up the production ladder. Textile industry represents a main role towards China's economy. However, due to the fast-moving pace of globalisation, it has increased the maturity on the product-life cycle of the industry. Multi-national organizations from China have a choice to extend their global reach, due to the government export incentive programme, the maturity companies can diversify their firms to emerging market in order to exploit their technological advantages and invest internationally . If firm's primary goal is to maximize their shareholder's value, then they and probably the economy are better off if they invest where they can earn the best return. As they do so, change in the global macro-environment further confounds the choices inherent in building a strategic organization. Some understanding of the organization's external and internal environment always drives strategy, as an international organizational better choice. In the most general sense, the long-run monetary benefits of doing business in South Africa are a function of the size of the textile and clothing market, the present wealth (purchasing power) of consumers in the market, and the likely future wealth of consumers. Also the Chinese's multi national companies can have the opportunity to gain export market in USA, Canada, Europe and other trade countries in South Africa. In order to achieve economic growth and competitiveness in South Africa, it is recommend that the several issues cutting across the textile industrial sector need to be addressed through knowledge transfer, training, investment and management. Develop innovative technologies to strengthen the competitiveness. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The aims of the study were to find out whether or not outsourcing essential to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The second aim was to establish how can outsourcing improve the Department's cost structure. And the last one was to develop a viable business model for outsourcing services within the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The main problem was that the Government opted for outsourcing as a move to save expenditure within the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. This Department has outsourced car and truck financial services, insurance and management to imperial Group. This venture estimated that it would save the Department and the Government approximately R1 Billion on operational costs. This system is currently operational, but already management in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry have realized that such a venture with huge financial implications should have been based on carefully planned and executed research findings than mere hypothesis about saving. The study research method that will be used is a case study. All the data gathered in the study, is relevant on to the case being studied. Though conclusions allow for inferences to be made, the cases where such generalizations are made or applied to must be similar in all respect. The study's sample consists of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the Imperial Group. The two organizations were chosen because the outsourcing strategy could serve as a yardstick to measure similar agreements in the future. The specific area of focus is the agreement on car rental between the two organizations. The documents analyzed include the: • Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Outsourcing Strategy and Outsourcing the Billing Process (January, 2001). • Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Outsourcing Strategy and Outsourcing the Billing Process (February, 2001). • Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Procedural Manual for Official Transport with Imperial Vehicles Outsourcing services for the public agencies is a tool that is being used to offload those non-core functions, such as transport for a period of time. According to theory it is more cost effective to outsource peripheral tasks because the alternative, this is, maintain the same service within the organization is expensive. The findings of this study show that service should be outsourced but it is expensive, the individual factors that lead to this conclusion are far beyond this scope of the study and therefore will not be discussed in great detail. [Refer to the abstract within the thesis for the outsourcing model] The outsourcing model above, developed in this study shows that the profile of task or process aligned with the first (left most) column will call for the outsourcing of the task to a supplier. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The main aim of the study was to investigate the Career Orientation profiles of first year and second year MBA students at the University of Natal in order to establish what particular profiles were prevalent amongst students with the view of using those as the diagnostic schedule of those that are likely to succeed in their careers. The first aim of the study was to compile the profile of first and second year MBA students. The second aim of the study was to determine MBA students' career orientation profiles. A standardized Schein's Career Orientation Inventory Scale was used in the study in order to achieve the objectives of the second aim. The researcher constructed a biographic questionnaire in order to achieve the objectives of the first aim. The measuring instrument was administered to groups of first and second year students. One hundred questionnaires were analysed, seventy for the first years and thirty for second year students. The sample consisted of 42 first year male students and 28 first year female students, and 18 second year male and 12 second year female students. The findings according to the first aim of the study, i.e., the compiling of the profiles of the first and second year MBA students, revealed that there was no significant difference in terms of age, marital status, level of education, employment sector and salary range between the two groups of MBA students. The findings based on aim two, i.e., determining the career orientation profiles revealed that the most dominant career anchor for both groups of MBA students was the Pure Challenge followed by Autonomy / Independence. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The service industry has been growing fast as national economies grew therefore becoming a major contributor to national gross domestic products (GDP). This growth in the services sector has led to questions around the issue of service quality. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of service, assess the level of service quality in commercial real estate leasing and identify possible quality improvement measures. In carrying out the study, the service quality model developed by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1988:14), SERVQUAL, was used. The study was based on the leasing services of the broking department of one of the leading commercial real estate companies operating in Durban. The study was restricted to the Durban market. A non-probabilistic sample of 120 customers was drawn from a list of lease transactions concluded in the last one year. From this sample, 84 questionnaires were successfully completed either by way of a face to face interview or by telephone, showing a response rate of 70 percent. Data was collected using a questionnaire based on the SERVQUAL model and adjusted by the researcher in order to be relevant to the commercial real estate industry. The questionnaire comprised two sections each with 22 questions divided into the five determinants of service quality, which are service tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. The first section of 22 questions was on customer expectations of service while the second section of 22 questions was on customer perceptions of service quality received and factor rating at the end. Factor analysis of survey response data was used to analyze the data and draw conclusions. The study findings are that commercial real estate service quality determinants match those in other industries except for rank and order. In general, service quality was found to be below customer expectations and commercial real estate firms need to work on ways to improve it. The study is limited to the specific settings of customers of property brokers in the Durban commercial real estate market. It is uncertain as to whether the findings can be generalized to other areas. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

The South African forestry industry has contributed significantly to the economic growth of the country by the planting of trees and the processing of these trees for the export market. With the increased demand for wood chips, the wood chip industry is concerned that the plantation resource that is currently available may not be adequate to fulfil the production required for future wood chip export. The purpose of this study is to examine the trends in wood chips exports from the Port of Durban and to examine the stability and growth of private pulpwood production in Southern KwaZulu-Natal. The forestry pulp and paper sector and its related downstream manufacturing enterprises is an important part of the KwaZulu-Natal economy. Eucalyptus and wattle timber are used to manufacture pulp and are exported in the form of wood chips. The Durban Wood Chipping facility is aimed at the export of wood chips from Durban to pulp and paper manufacturers in Japan. The methodology used in this study included questionnaires and semi-structured interviews that were held with the respondents involved in the forestry industry. A questionnaire was sent electronically to 119 participants being the total population of timber farmers that supply NCT Durban Wood Chips. A total of 33 respondents completed the questionnaire resulting in a 27.73% response rate. Three key personnel, with a strong forestry background, belonging to NCT Forestry Cooperative limited were selected as participants for the qualitative aspect of the study. The findings of the study showed that wood chips exports have increased from the Durban facility between 2006 and 2011. This came from recent research literature as well as data from NCT Durban Wood Chips (PTY) LTD. Dominant challenges faced by the farmers were land reform, transportation costs and municipal rates. Land claims, road infrastructure, economics (cost vs income) and demand for timber were the most challenging factors affecting private timber production into the future. The qualitative and quantitative results confirm that timber production is definitely increasing and hence contributing to stability of private pulpwood production in Southern KwaZulu-Natal. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Information Systems play a vital and dominating role in business today by enabling as well as supporting business objectives and goals. As a result, the alignment of Information Systems strategy and business strategy has become a core concept in many organisations. The question that naturally arises is whether this is also true for Higher Education institutions in developing countries. This study examined the alignment of institutional and Information Systems strategy and its impact on Academic Computing divisions within Higher Education. It set out to determine if there was a link between the vision and mission of Information Systems and institutional vision and mission. This was achieved by critically evaluating current Information Systems strategy in relation to the institutional strategy and by determining the effectiveness of the current Information Systems strategy in the area of Academic Computing. In order to fulfil the objectives of the study, questionnaires were sent to a population of 22 Information and Communication Technology directors/managers at 22 universities in South Africa. In-depth interviews were conducted with senior Information and Communication Technology directors from two universities that reflected strong alignment between Information Systems Strategy and institutional strategy. Both universities also possessed strong and effective Information Systems strategy in the Academic Computing component. It was evident that alignment was the key to their effective Information Systems strategy. The overall findings of the study show that there is a strong link between the vision and mission of the Information Systems and institutional mission and vision. The Information Systems strategy in place was effective for the various institutions; however, it was not effective in the area of Academic Computing in most institutions. The need for a more enhanced Information Systems strategy in Academic Computing was acknowledged. Institutions should emulate leading universities in South Africa and first-world countries in respect of continuously adjusting and evaluating alignment between Information Systems and institutional strategy. An enhanced Information Systems strategy in Academic Computing is also required. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Online learning is one of the fastest growing internet resources in the world today and it is expected to become the third most common use of the internet after email and searches. However, whilst the spend on online learning is in the tens of billions of dollars in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, is this true in South Africa in general and in KwaZulu-Natal in particular? In order to understand the attitude and factors influencing the use of online learning in KwaZulu-Natal, a sample of decision makers was selected from relevant companies in KwaZulu-Natal to provide responses to an online questionnaire. Their responses helped to understand the factors that affect the acceptability of online learning and qualifications in IT departments in KwaZulu-Natal. Relevant companies were identified as those companies that were of medium to large size and had a staff complement of at least one hundred people. The size of the company relates to the total staff complement, not just the staff who make up the IT department. Relevant respondents were also identified as those people who were decision makers within their business with regards to the recruitment and training of IT staff. As limited research has been conducted in KwaZulu-Natal this study was a pilot study using a purposive sample of approximately fifty participants. Respondents were encouraged to suggest other possible candidates to answer the questionnaire. All in all, invitations to complete an online questionnaire were sent to fifty five participants. Of the fifty five participants invited to take part in the study, forty five started the questionnaire and thirty nine completed it. Although there were six people that did not complete the questionnaire their answers to the questions they did answer were deemed relevant to the study and were included in the result set. In analysing the responses of the sample it is interesting to note that online learning is still quite unknown in KwaZulu-Natal. In fact, although the respondents were all decision makers in their organisations, some of them had not considered the use and benefits of online training within their organisations. There also seems to be a systemic misunderstanding of what online training is. One of the main goals of this study was to ascertain what can be done to increase the awareness and understanding of (not necessarily the use of) online training in KwaZulu- Natal. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.