Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainability is a key requirement for business success and is often regarded a competitive advantage if strategically managed. Sustainability-mature organisations look to their value chains where the retailer-supplier relationship becomes critical in embedding sustainability. With this in mind, it has been established that a large South African retailer, Woolworths, has limited insight into the level of engagement in terms of sustainability with its key food suppliers, and no knowledge of the effectiveness of current tools used in enhancing their supply chain sustainability. This poses a problem, as it hinders the full implementation of Woolworth’s sustainability strategy across their value chain. In response to this, a study was undertaken to establish the level of engagement in terms of sustainability and obtain supplier feedback on the effectiveness of current tools used to enhance Woolworth’s supply chain sustainability. To facilitate this, the United Nations’ Global Compact and the Supply Chain Sustainability Guideline were utilised. Secondary research was conducted by means of a literature review covering the theoretical concepts of corporate social responsibility, sustainability, supply chain sustainability and retailer-supplier collaboration. The qualitative and exploratory nature of the study necessitated a case study research design, while the technique of purposive sampling was used to select the sample of three of Woolworths’ food suppliers. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews facilitated by an interview guide, and data analysis was conducted with Atlas.ti software. It was determined that the current engagement around sustainability between Woolworths and their suppliers is still at a basic and broad level, with a strong environmental focus. Additionally, monitoring and support of sustainability initiatives seems to be lacking. Managerial implications emphasise the importance of an integrated sustainability approach driven by the retailer and a strong focus on collaboration and communication with suppliers around ongoing sustainability challenges and opportunities. The United Nations Global Compact Supplier Engagement Continuum was utilised as a framework to map the current level of engagement and was amended for use in the South African context. Future research agendas suggest replica studies in other industries, and that the amended continuum should be tested and further refined for the South African context. In conclusion, specific propositions were formulated to aid future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhoubaarheid is ‘n sleutel vereiste vir besigheidsukses en word dikwels gesien as ‘n mededingende voordeel indien dit strategies bestuur word. Volhoubaar-volwasse organisasies fokus op hul waardekettings waar die kleinhandelaar-verskaffer verhouding krities is vir die implementering van volhoubaarheid. Met bogenoemde in gedagte, is dit bevind dat ‘n groot Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelaar, Woolworths, beperkte insig het aangaande die vlak van samewerking in terme van volhoubaarheid met sleutel voedselverskaffers. Verder is daar ook geen kennis oor die effektiwiteit van huidige tegnieke wat gebruik word om volhoubaarheid in hul waardeketting te bevorder nie. Dit skep ‘n probleem aangesien dit die effektiewe implementering van Woolworths se volhoubaarheidstrategie in hul waardeketting verhinder. Dus is ‘n studie onderneem om die vlak van betrokkenheid in terme van volhoubaarheid te bepaal, sowel as om terugvoer vanaf verskaffers in te samel aangaande die effektiwiteit van huidige volhoubaarheidsinisiatiewe. Om dit te fasiliteer was daar van die United Nations Global Compact en die Supply Chain Sustainability Guideline gebruik gemaak. Sekondêre navorsing was uitgevoer deur middel van ‘n literatuur studie wat fokus op die teoretiese konsepte van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid, volhoubaarheid, waardeketting-volhoubaarheid, en kleinhandelaar-verskaffer samewerking. Die kwalitatiewe en ondersoekende eienskappe van die studie het gelei tot ‘n gevallestudie navorsingsontwerp, terwyl doelgerigte steekproeftrekking gebruik was om die steekproef van drie van Woolworths se voedselverskaffers te identifiseer. Data insameling het deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude plaasgevind en was gefasiliteer deur ‘n onderhoudgids. Die data was verwerk en geanaliseer met behulp van Atlas.ti sagteware. Dit is bevestig dat die huidige samewerking tussen Woolworths en hul verskaffers, aangaande volhoubaarheid, steeds op ‘n basiese en breë vlak is met ‘n sterk omgewingsfokus. Addisioneel wil dit voorkom dat volgehoue monitering en ondersteuning van volhoubaarheidspogings tekort skiet. Bestuursimplikasies beklemtoon die belangrikheid van ‘n geïntegreerde volhoubaarheidsbenadering wat gedryf moet word deur die kleinhandelaar. Terselfde tyd word ‘n sterk fokus op samewerking en kommunikasie met verskaffers aangaande deurlopende volhoubaarheidsgeleenthede en –uitdagings benodig. Die United Nations Global Compact Supplier Engagement Continuum was gebruik as raamwerk om die huidige vlak van samewerking te bepaal en was aangepas vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Toekomstige navorsingsagendas stel voor dat replika studies in ander industrieë gedoen word, en dat die aangepaste kontinuum getoets en verder verfyn word vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Ten slotte was spesifieke proposisies geformuleer vir toekomstige navorsing.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Risk management is a widely used term meaning different things to people in different economic sectors. To some, it refers to auditing and, to others, it means Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), compliance or any risk management activity dominant in the user’s frame of reference. Risk management probably includes all these associations. Viewing this study field from different angles prevents the visualisation and grasping of the whole. Business schools do not lead the way in overcoming this fragmented study field, as an all-inclusive theory basis and course outline are not yet available. The whole is taken to be the complete answers to a list of very basic questions, namely who must do what, how, when and why, and what then. This introductory study starts with the what question. Risk management activities within a sample of companies from banking to mining and manufacturing were researched. The result is a proposed map of common risk types and sector or industry-unique risks dominant in a specific environment. Three risk management training programmes were evaluated to determine whether or not the basic questions are addressed: the UNISA Advanced Programme in Risk Management, the USB Programme in Risk Management and the Enterprise Risk Management Integrated Framework developed by COSO. These programmes were assessed to determine whether they address the practical risk management questions of who must do what, when and why, and what then. A combination of some of the strong points of the courses is proposed as a starting point for overcoming the theory gap. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Risikobestuur is ʼn algemeen gebruikte term wat verskillende dinge vir verskillende gebruikers beteken. Vir party verwys dit na die ouditfunksie, vir ander beteken dit beroepsgesondheid en -veiligheid, wetlike voldoening of enige ander risikobestuursaktiwiteit wat deel van ʼn persoon se verwysingsraamwerk vorm. Risikobestuur sluit waarskynlik al hierdie assosiasies in. Die benadering van die studieveld vanuit verskillende verwysingspunte maak dit egter moeilik om die studieveld as geheel te sien en te begryp. Bestuurskole neem ook nie die leiding om die gefragmenteerde aard van die studieveld te oorkom nie, want ʼn omvattende teoretiese grondslag en raamwerk is nie beskikbaar nie. Die geheel word geag te wees volledige antwoorde op ʼn paar basiese vrae, naamlik wie moet wat, wanneer, hoe en wat daarna doen. Hierdie inleidende studie fokus op die wat vraagstuk. Risikobestuursaktiwiteite in ʼn steekproef van firmas vanuit die bankwese, mynwese en vervaardigingsektor word ondersoek. Die resultaat is ʼn voorgestelde raamwerk van algemene asook omgewingsunieke risikosoorte. Drie risikobestuuropleidingsprogramme, naamlik UNISA se Gevorderde Sertifikaatprogram in Risikobestuur, die USB se Risikobestuursprogram en COSO se Ondernemingswye Risikobestuursprogram, is geëvalueer om te bepaal in watter mate hulle op die praktiese risikobestuursvraagstukke, naamlik wie moet wat, wanneer, hoe en wat daarna moet doen, ingaan. ʼn Kombinasie van die verskillende kursusse se sterkpunte word uiteindelik as beginpunt vir die oorbrugging van die gaping in die teorie voorgehou.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskeie navorsingsprojekte is oor die jare gedoen ten opsigte van die voorspellingsmoontlikhede van kontantvloei en winste, met teenstrydige resultate. Daar is egter weinig navorsing gedoen oor die verhouding wat tussen winste en kontantvloei bestaan. Hierdie navorsingsverslag beoog om ondersoek in te stel na die verhouding tussen kontantvloei en winste, dus om te poog om te bepaal watter een die drywer is, maar ook om te bepaal of die een veranderlike ingespan kan word om vooruitskattings ten opsigte van die ander te kan doen. Aangesien finansiële tydreekse die meeste van die tyd nie-stasionêr is, moet dit in ag geneem word wanneer die kousale verwantskap tussen die twee veranderlikes bepaal word, asook wanneer regressie-analise met die oog op vooruitskatting gedoen word. Daar word egter vermoed dat die aspek van stasionariteit weinig aandag geniet in menige navorsing wat ten opsigte van finansiële tydreekse gedoen word. Die feit dat weinig tydreekse stasionêr is, is bevestig deur te toets vir die bestaan van eenheidswortels in die veranderlikes. Die beste resultate vir stasionariteit is verkry deur die tweede verskille van die veranderlikes te bereken. Daar kon egter nie met sekerheid vasgestel word of winste kontantvloei dryf of andersom nie. Die gevaar van skyn-korrelasie is ook bewys, aangesien 'n groot aantal pare veranderlikes beduidende korrelasies tussen mekaar aandui, maar wanneer hulle stasionariteit en kousaliteit in ag geneem word, is weinig van die pare veranderlikes kousaal verwant aan mekaar. Die toets vir ko-integrasie is ingespan om steun te verleen by die regressie-analise en vooruitskatting van die tydreekse. Die regressie analise van die geko-integreerde tydreekse het in die meeste gevalle 'n hoë R2 en aangepaste R2 gelewer. Die vooruitskattings was egter teleurstellend onakkuraat. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Throughout the years a variety of research projects have been done about the predictive ability of cash flow and earnings, with contradictory results. However, limited research has been done about the relationship between cash flow and earnings. The aim of this research report is to investigate the relationship between cash flow and earnings, thus attempting to determine which one is the driver, but also to investigate the ability of one variable to predict the other. Because financial time series are non-stationary most of the time, this fact has to be taken into account when the causal relationship between the two variables is determined, as well as when regression analysis is done with forecasting in view. It is, however, suspected that the fact of stationarity has been neglected in much of the research that has been done on financial time series. The fact that very few time series are stationary has been established by testing for the existence of unit roots in the variables. The best results for stationarity were obtained by calculating the second differences of the variables. It could not be established beyond doubt whether earnings cause cash flows or vice versa. The danger of spurious correlation has been proved, because a vast number of pairs of variables indicates a significant correlation with one another, but when stationarity and causality are taken into account, only a few pairs of variables are truly significantly correlated to one another. The test for co-integration was used to assist in the regression analysis and forecasting of non-stationary time series. The regression analysis of most of the co-integrated variables resulted in a high R2 and adjusted R2. The forecasted values, however, were disappointingly inaccurate. / cmc2010

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main objective of the study is to examine the components required for the successful implementation of Sickness Absence Management. Although there are various approaches to the management of absence the focus of this study is the implementation of policies which is the most frequently used approach. Sickness Absence Management represents the strategy of the organisation to enhance the performance of human capital by ensuring that employees that are not truly sick, are present at work. The importance of Sickness Absence Management is highly recognised, but few employers record and measure absence. Reasons for this include the complexity of the factors that influence absence and the lack of resources to record absence data, and to calculate and interpret absence indicators and costs. Frustrations from the study include the non-standardisation of absence terminology, and the lack of data on absence statistics. Sickness Absence Management is complicated by the behaviour of people. Absence trends indicate that abuse of sickness absence amounts to an average of 33% of sickness absence and that absence rates are higher in the public than in the private sector. Success factors for Sickness Absence Management include clear, consistent and well-communicated policies and effective information systems with the required functionalities to record absence data and to enable the tracking of absence indicators. Top management commitment transpired as the factor with the biggest influence on the success of Sickness Absence Management. Research indicated that it was better to have a policy than to have no policy at all. The quality of the policy depends on the involvement of employees and the consistent application by supervisors/managers. Furthermore, an effective computer-based information system is crucial for the management of absence. The system should have the required functionalities to enable administration and decision-making on absence issues. A strategy is necessary to set objectives and targets, and communicate commitment from top management. A strategy is also required to ensure the allocation of resources to HR for the Sickness Absence Management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vernaamste doelwit van hierdie studie is om die komponente te ondersoek wat nodig is vir die suksesvolle implementering van Siekverlofbestuur. Hoewel daar verskeie benaderings tot die bestuur van siekverlof is, is hierdie studie gerig op beleid wat as die voorkeurbenadering vir die bestuur van siekverlof beskou word. Siekverlofbestuur is die strategie van ’n onderneming om die prestasie van mensekapitaal te versterk deur te verseker dat die personeel wat nie werklik siek is nie, teenwoordig is by die werk. Die belangrikheid van Siekverlofbestuur word hoog aangeskryf, maar min werkgewers teken siekverlof aan of meet dit. Redes hiervoor sluit in die kompleksiteit van die faktore wat siekverlof beïnvloed en die gebrek aan hulpbronne vir die aantekening van siekverlofdata, en die berekening en interpretasie van siekverlofaanduiders en -koste. Frustrasies uit die studie sluit in die nie-standaardisering van siekverlof terminologie en die gebrek aan siekverlof statistiek. Siekverlofbestuur word gekompliseer deur die gedrag van mense. Siekverlof tendense toon aan dat die misbruik van siekverlof gemiddeld 33% van siekte-afwesigheid uitmaak en dat siekverlofkoerse hoër in die openbare as in die private sektor is. Suksesfaktore vir Siekverlofbestuur sluit in duidelike en konsekwente beleid wat behoorlik gekommunikeer word, en doeltreffende inligtingstelsels met die nodige funksionaliteit om siekverlofdata vas te lê en siekverlof aanwysers na te volg. Die verbintenis van topbestuur het na vore gekom as die faktor met die grootste invloed op die sukses van Siekverlofbestuur. Navorsing dui daarop dat dit beter is om 'n beleid te hê as hoegenaamd geen beleid nie. Die gehalte van die beleid hang af van die betrokkenheid van werknemers en die konsekwente toepassing daarvan deur toesighouers/bestuurders. Daarby is 'n doeltreffende rekenaar-gebaseerde inligtingstelsel noodsaaklik vir die bestuur van siekverlof. Die stelsel moet ook die nodige funksionaliteite hê vir administrasie en besluitneming oor siekverlof kwessies. 'n Strategie is nodig om doelwitte en teikens te stel, en om toewyding vanaf topbestuur te kommunikeer. 'n Strategie is ook nodig om die toewysing van hulpbronne vir Siekverlofbestuur na Menslike Hulpbronne te verseker. / cmc2010-1

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate CRM application in South Africa with specific reference to the FMCG industry in this country. The research started off with a literature review of CRM with reference to its failures and successes as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the system, furthermore the requirements for a successful CRM system were investigated. Interviews were also held with industry experts to gain insights into CRM application in South Africa. The study found that, although the FMCG industry in South Africa is based on the B2B route to market and not on the B2C route to market, CRM still has the potential to add value to the organisation. In addition, the failures of CRM are not industry-specific but common across industries. There are a vast number of reasons for the failure of CRM, ranging from CRM’s exclusion from the company strategy to a lack of change management and a lack of end-user involvement in the implementation of the system and process. Although it would seem that CRM fails more than it succeeds it is not due to the system itself but to human nature and reluctance to change. The research clearly illustrates that CRM fails as a result of human decisions and the disadvantages posed by the system. It is clear that CRM starts with the organisation’s strategy. If CRM complies or fits in with the strategy of the company it will succeed. What’s more, CRM has to be driven from top management down. Lastly, CRM will work for the FMCG industry of South Africa and will add value to any organisation dealing with customers. However, this will only be realised if the organisation follows a customer-centric approach and if CRM is not seen as an IT project but rather as part of the organisational culture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die toepassing van CRM (kliënteverhoudings-bestuur – customer relationship management) in Suid-Afrika te ondersoek met spesifieke verwysing na die bedryf vir vlot verkoopbare verbruikersgoedere (FMCG – fast-moving consumer goods) in dié land. Die navorsing het met ’n literatuuroorsig van CRM begin met verwysing na die mislukkings, suksesse en die voor- en nadele van die stelsel. Die vereistes vir ’n suksesvolle CRM-stelsel is ook ondersoek. Daarby is onderhoude met kundiges in die bedryf gevoer om insig in die toepassing van CRM in Suid-Afrika te verkry. Die studie het bevind dat hoewel die FMCG-bedryf in Suid-Afrika op die B2B roete na mark en nie op die B2C roete na mark gegrond is nie, het CRM steeds die potensiaal om waarde tot die organisasie toe te voeg. Daarby is die gebreke van CRM nie bedryfspesifiek nie maar kom dit algemeen by alle bedryfsrigtings voor. Die talle redes vir die mislukkig van CRM wissel van die uitsluiting van CRM van die maatskappy se strategie tot by ’n gebrek aan veranderingsbestuur en ’n gebrek aan eindgebruiker-betrokkenheid in die implementering van die stelsel en die proses. Hoewel dit voorkom of CRM meer misluk as wat dit slaag, is dit nie die gevolg van die stelsel self nie maar van die menslike aard en onwilligheid om te verander. Die navorsing toon duidelik aan dat CRM as gevolg van menslike besluite en die nadele van die stelsel misluk. Dit is duidelik dat CRM by die organisasie se strategie begin. Indien CRM aan die maatskappystrategie voldoen of daarby inpas, sal dit slaag. Daarby moet CRM deur topbestuur van bo af gedryf word. Laastens sal CRM vir die FMCG-bedryf in Suid-Afrika werk en waarde tot enige organisasie toevoeg wat met kliënte werk. Dit sal egter net realiseer indien die organisasie ’n kliëntgesentreerde benadering volg en indien CRM nie as ’n IT-projek nie maar as deel van die organisasie se kultuur gesien word.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to investigate the contribution of progressive elaboration on the effectiveness of conducting projects. Effectiveness relates to project success in contrast to efficiency which relates to project management success. This study attempts to determine what the contribution of progressive elaboration of project detail is on the success of conducting projects, by examining three different aspects of project management. First, a historical background study was done of project management, highlighting the origin, paradigms and trends within project management. The underlying finding here is that in spite of the fact that it originated from a hard rules based environment, probably with memes delaying it from progress, project management is changing into a theoretically based hard and soft science, offering exciting opportunities. This was followed by a look into current best practice by means of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI’s) Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide (PMBOK Guide). Each of their nine project management knowledge areas was explored to determine the applicability of applying progressive elaboration within that area. Both scope management and risk management presented excellent opportunities for applying progressive elaboration while cost, quality, human resource and procurement management posed to be problematic. The third comparison area shows that a theoretical foundation exists, and that the theory underwrites progressive elaboration. Progressive elaboration has the potential of improving the effectiveness of projects, and of ensuring greater project success. The practical implementation is not well presented in literature and further research in this area is proposed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om te bepaal watter invloed of bydrae progressiewe uitbreiding in projekbestuur het op die effektiwiteit van die uitvoering daarvan. Effektiwiteit hou verband met die sukses van 'n projek, in teenstelling met doelmatigheid wat verband hou met die sukses van die projekbestuur proses. Hierdie studie poog om te bepaal wat die bydrae van die progressiewe uitbouing van projek detail op die sukses van projekte is. Die vraag word beantwoord deur na drie verskillende aspekte van projekbestuur te kyk. Eerstens is ' historiese agtergrondstudie gedoen wat poog om die oorsprong, sekere paradigmas en tendense in projekbestuur te ondersoek. Die slotsom hiervan is dat alhoewel projekbestuur sy oorsprong het in harde, reëlsgebaseerde omgewing, met oorgedraagde gebruike wat verandering strem, dit tog besig is om te migreer na 'n teoreties gefundeerde hard en sag gekombineerde wetenskap wat opwindende geleenthede bied. Vervolgens is gekyk na 'n hedendaagse beste praktyk model soos gevind in die “Project Management Institute (PMI)” se “Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide(PMBOK Guide)”. Elk van die nege projekbestuurkennisareas is ondersoek om te bepaal wat die toepaslikheid van implementering van progressiewe uitbreiding in die spesifieke kennisarea is. Beide werkomvang-bestuur en risikobestuur het uitstekende geleenthede gebied vir die toepassing van progressiewe uitbreiding, terwyl koste, kwaliteit, menslike hulpbron en kontrak-bestuur uitdagings voorgehou het. In die laaste van die vergelykings areas is daar getoon dat 'n teoretiese basis vir projekbestuur bestaan en dat die teorie progressiewe uitbouing onderskryf. Progressiewe uitbreiding beloof om die effektiwiteit van die uitvoering van projekte te verbeter en sodoende die kanse op sukses van projekte te verbeter. Praktiese implementering word nie volledig in die literatuur beskryf nie en verdere navorsing in die verband word aanbeveel.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Successful strategy implementation is necessary in order for a strategic plan to be worthwhile for a business. Research has indicated that companies are often weak at strategic execution and it is held that weak execution is often the reason for a failed strategy or business. The execution of a strategy is, however, far more complex and difficult than the formulation of a good strategy. A reason for this is the fact that relatively few conceptual models for strategy execution exist while this field attracts less attention in research than the field of strategy formulation. Recent publications focus narrowly on specific areas such as leadership or performance measurement and fail to integrate these traditional views on business management into a single model for strategy implementation. GrainCo Group, a grain supply chain management company, does not follow a pre-defined strategy execution methodology and could, as a result, be missing out on profitable business opportunities. The group’s management team agrees that its ability to successfully execute strategy is hampered by a lack of such a methodology. This forms the basis for this research report where the question asked is the following: What framework can GrainCo Group adopt in an effort to improve strategy execution in the Group? It was found that strategy execution spans all aspects of business management and cannot be viewed in isolation. Strategy implementation should therefore be seen as an integrated, boundary-less set of activities where information flows unrestricted between all business units and constant focus is placed on both “hard” and “soft” management issues. Information flows and clarity about decision rights are of critical importance when applying a process perspective to business management. Strategy implementation cannot be viewed as a distinct event and should become inherent in the company’s management style. It was further suggested that the GrainCo Group adopt a combination of two of the most representative strategy implementation methodologies together with changes to a number of important elements of management style. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vermoë om ‘n sakestrategie suksesvol uit te voer is ‘n noodsaaklike voorvereiste vir ‘n strategiese plan om van waarde te wees. Navorsing het aangedui dat maatskappye dikwels nie goed vaar in die uitvoering van sakestrategie nie en dat swak uitvoering dikwels lei to die ondergang van ‘n besigheid of strategie. Die uitvoering van ‘n strategie is egter baie meer kompleks as die blote formulering daarvan. ‘n Rede vir bogenoemde is die feit dat daar relatief min konseptuele modelle vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie bestaan terwyl hierdie veld minder aandag trek in navorsing as die formulering van strategie. Onlangse publikasies fokus op spesifieke areas soos leierskap en prestasiemeting en slaag nie daarin om hierdie tradisionele areas van bestuur te kombineer in ‘n enkele model vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie nie. GrainCo Groep, ‘n graan-voorsieningsketting bestuursmaatskappy, maak tans nie gebruik van ‘n spesifieke model vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie nie en die groep se bestuurspan stem saam dat sy vermoë om strategie suksesvol uit te voer hierdeur ondermyn word. Voorgenoemde vorm die basis van hierdie navorsingsverslag waarin die volgende vraag gevra word: Watter raamwerk vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie kan die GrainCo Groep aawend om meer suksesvol te wees met die uitvoering van strategie? Navorsing het getoon dat die uitvoering van strategie alle aspekte van sakebestuur aanraak en dat dit nie in isolasie gesien kan word nie. Uitvoering behoort gevolglik gesien te word as ‘n grenslose, geïntegreerde reeks van aktiwiteite waar inligting onbelemmer vloei tussen alle sake-eenhede terwyl gereelde aandag gegee word aan die “harde” en “sagte” aspekte van sakebestuur. Die vloei van inligting en duidelikheid oor besluitnemingsregte is van kritieke belang in so ‘n geïntegreerde model. Die uitvoering van strategie kan ook nie in isolasie gesien word nie en behoort ‘n integrale deel te vorm van ‘n onderneming se bestuurstyl. Dit word voorgestel dat die GrainCo Groep ‘n kombinasie van die twee mees verteenwoordigende modelle vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie aanneem tesame met die aanpassing van ‘n aantal belangrike elemente van die maatskappy se bestuurstyl.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There has been a dramatic increase in the use of the drug methamphetamine, also known locally as tik, in the Western Cape, specifically in Cape Town. This trend impacts the availability and the quality of labour as well as the productivity of current employees. The presence of tik abuse in the workplace represents both legal and ethical challenges to employers. The Labour Relations Act of 1995 states that employers must ensure a safe working environment for their employees. The actions of tik users tend to increase the risk of injuries at work and the occurrences of workrelated accidents that may harm others. Social responsibility requires employers to operate their business in an honourable manner, to provide good working conditions and to work actively to better the quality of life of the local communities where it operates. This responsibility translates into helping the tik users that they employ. The current relationship between employer and employee regarding tik is marred by conflict and misunderstanding. Employers seem unsure what to do and are unaware of how far-reaching tik abuse is. Tik abuse causes many problems for employees and also for their family and friends. By gathering information in a structured way the study aims to improve the understanding of employers so that they can help and prevent tik-related problems in the future. The study utilized descriptive qualitative research in the form of a questionnaire given to recovering tik users at two treatment centres in Cape Town, SANCA and De Novo. The research ran for about a month and gathered 82 usable questionnaires. Results, along with a literature study, were used to create a framework to guide employers on identifying tik users and on how to deal with them. The framework, the Tik Identification and Intervention Protocol (TIIP), contains criteria to help identify employees that may be using tik. The study showed that many international trends are evident in Cape Town. Approximately 40% of participants indicated that they were absent from work more often than prescribed by labour legislation; 70% of participants experienced that tik affected their ability to perform their duties; 32% of participants admitted that they stole to obtain funding for their drug habit. Some new findings became evident, such as the impact of the family on the participant's decision to go for treatment. The Western Cape's treatment centres are severely hampered by a lack of resources and are incapable at present of dealing with the current flood of patients. While plans are in place to rectify this, it is clear that in the short term at least, employers will have to take up more of the slack. The recovery process for a drug addict takes a long time; experts suggest it may take up to two years. Therefore employers need to be involved and create support programs at work to assist employees in their recovery. Employees can be cured from their dependency on tik, so that they can become healthy and contribute to the community and to their employer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is 'n dramatiese toename in die voorkoms en gebruik van metaphetamien (plaaslik bekend as tik) in die Wes-Kaap, spesifiek in Kaapstad. Die tendens het 'n impak op die verskaffing en die kwaliteit van beskikbare arbeid, sowel as die produktiwiteit van huidige werknemers. Die voorkoms en gebruik van tik in die werksplek het beide wetlike en etiese uitdagings vir werkgewers. Die Arbeidswet van 1995 verklaar dat die werkgewer daarvoor verantwoordelik is om te verseker dat hul werksplek veilig is vir hul werknemers. Tik gebruikers verhoog die risiko en die voorkoms van werksbeserings en werksongelukke wat ander werknemers ook mag beinvloed. Sosiale verantwoordelikheid vereis van werkgewers om hul besighede op 'n eerbare wyse te bestuur, om goeie werksomstandighede te verseker en 'n aktiewe bedrae te lewer in die plaaslike gemeenskap waar hulle hul ook mag bevind. Die verantwoordelikheid sluit tik gebruikers in. Die huidige verhouding tussen werkgewers en werknemers in verband met die misbruik van tik word gekenmerk deur konflik. Werkgewers blyk onseker te wees ten opsigte van wat hul te doen staan en hoe verreikend die impak van die misbruik van tik mag wees. Die misbruik van tik veroorsaak 'n menigte probleme vir werknemers, sowel as vir hul vriende en families. Hierdie studie poog am deur 'n gestruktureerde wyse informasie te versamel met die doel om die begrip van werkgewers te verbeter, sodat hul tik gebruikers kan help en tik-verwante probleme in die toekoms kan voorkom. Die studie is beskrywend kwalitatief van aard en gebruik 'n vraelys om informasie te versamel by twee behandelingsentrums in Kaapstad, SANCA en De Novo. Die navorsing het vir omtrent 'n maand geduur waarna 82 bruikbare vraelyste ingewin is. Die resultate, sowel as die literatuurstudie wat gedoen is, is gebruik om 'n raamwerk op te stel wat werkgewers kan help om tik gebruikers te identifiseer, sowel as hoe om hulle te ondersteun. Die eerste gedeelte van die raamwerk, die Tik Identifikasie en Ingrypings Protokol (TIIP), bestaan uit kriteria wat gebruik kan word om werknemers te identifiseer wat tik gebruik. Hierdie studie het gewys dat verskeie internasionale tendense sigbaar is in Kaapstad. Ongeveer 40% van die deelnemers het aangewys dat hulle meer as die wetlike hoeveelheid dae afwesig was van die werk, 70% van die deelnemers het erken dat tik hulle vermoe am hul werk behoorlik te kan doen beinvloed het en 32% van die deelnemers het erken dat hulle gesteel het om geld te verkry am tik te koop. Die studie het daarop gedui dat die familie 'n integrale rol gespeel het in die deelnemers se besluit om vir behandeling te gaan. Dit blyk dat die Wes-Kaapse behandelings-hulpbronne ver te kort skiet om die saak te hanteer. Daar is tans planne in plek am die probleem die hoof te bied, maar dit is duidelik dat in die korttermyn, werkgewers 'n groter rol sal moet speel. Die herstelproses is van lange duur, en kenners meen dat dit tot twee jaar mag neem voor tik gebruikers volkome herstel het. Die werkemers het ondersteuning nodig gedurende hierdie moeilike proses. Die studie het bevind dat werknemers herstel en gesond kan word om weer 'n bydrae te kan lewer vir beide die werkgewer en die bree samelewing.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / The purpose of the study is to investigate the feasibility and sustainability of producing biodiesel from Jatropha, which contains oil in its seeds by using the Rainbow Biotech economic intervention or also known as the Distributed Food and Fuel Plantation (DFFP) model. The DFFP model is an effective mechanism for producing food and fuel in conjunction with each other, without the biodiesel production influencing the production of food in an adverse way. This is very important, as food security is a high priority for Africa, in order to address the problem of hunger and poverty. Biodiesel produced from Jatropha is an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to fossil fuel diesel, as it is a carbon neutral fuel. Jatropha cultivation will also create much needed employment in the rural areas of Africa, which has the highest need for socio-economic development on the continent. Jatropha also has the ability to grow on marginal soils and wastelands. Africa has vast open spaces on which Jatropha, as a biodiesel source, can be cultivated without infringing on food production areas. The energy return of the whole production cycle of Jatropha biodiesel is nevertheless a source of much debate. Most stakeholders felt that the energy return is negative. No agreement has yet been reached about whether the energy content of the by-products from biodiesel must be included in the integrated energy balance equation. In order to make biodiesel from Jatropha a sustainable alternative for small farmers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), government and regional policies will have to support it by promoting it actively. This will generate interest from global biodiesel investors who will then be willing to invest in projects based on the DFFP model of economic development. The DFFP model offers investors economic returns on investment of between 29 and 33 per cent and payback periods of less than four years. It is a very attractive economic development instrument, as it will ensure equitable and sustainable economic and rural expansion in SADC. Ultimately, this model has the potential to create a better life for all the inhabitants on the African continent. Rainbow Biotech (the DFFP model), as an economic development mechanism, will therefore indeed be the next big thing for the SADC in the future.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / On 16 January 2004, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa published the Draft Regulations to the Medicines and Related Substances Act No. 101 of 1965 (Republic of South Africa, 2010a) for comments due by 16 April 2004. These regulations would change the retail pharmacy landscape that generations of pharmacists had become dependent on in supporting themselves and the communities that they served. These regulations proposed a single exit price (SEP) that manufacturers might charge pharmaceutical wholesalers, which included the distribution cost. The wholesaler in turn would sell the pharmaceutical to the pharmaceutical retailer at the listed SEP, thus prohibiting discounts and in the process creating transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. This transparency would ensure that all people would pay the same price for their medication with the aim of making it affordable and available to those in need. Preceding these draft regulations was the amendment to the Pharmacy Act No. 53 of 1974 (Republic of South Africa, 2010c) concerning pharmacy ownership, which allowed non-pharmacist and legal entities to own pharmacies as of 2003. This amendment posed the first external threat to the autonomy of pharmacists regarding independent pharmacy ownership. Pharmacists now had to compete not only amongst themselves but also with large corporate food and health shops with in-house pharmacies. The resources and capabilities inherent to independent community pharmacies given the events of the past few years proved inadequate in competing with the corporate retailers. These two amendments to acts that influenced the existing pharmacy landscape posed a real threat to the sustainability of independent pharmacy business models. This paper investigates the issues that independent community pharmacies in South Africa are facing and their strategic options in the pharmaceutical and services value chain.