Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Through the continual pursuit to reduce wastage through converting unmarketable by-products into a form that can be sold or used, it was established that an opportunity was available to refine poor-quality fish oil into a fuel source for internal use by a company. By commissioning a biodiesel refinery at the pelagic fish-processing facility of Pioneer Fishing (Pty) Ltd, it will be possible to refine the fish oil into biodiesel and easily distribute the fuel to the fishing vessels or the trucks used for the catching and transportation of pelagic fish. South African legislation is promoting small-scale biodiesel plants by reducing the taxes and levies payable on biodiesel sold by those refineries. The aim of this research report is to provide Pioneer Fishing (Pty) Ltd with a business plan to motivate the commissioning of a small-scale biodiesel plant to process the waste fish oil into a useable energy source to fuel the fishing vessels and trucks. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die voortdurende strewe na minder vermorsing deur onbemarkbare neweprodukte in ʼn verhandelbare of bruikbare vorm om te sit, het die geleentheid uitgewys om visolie van ʼn swak gehalte tot ʼn brandstof vir interne gebruik deur ‟n maatskappy te raffineer. Deur ʼn biodieselraffinadery by die diepseevisverwerkingsfasiliteit van Pioneer Fishing (Edms) Bpk in gebruik te neem, sal die afvalvisolie van dié aanleg tot biodiesel geraffineer kan word. Die biodiesel sal betreklik maklik beskikbaar gestel kan word aan die vaartuie en die vragmotors wat vir die vangs en vervoer van die diepseevis gebruik word. Heersende Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing moedig juis kleinskaalse biodieselaanlegte aan deur ʼn korting toe te staan op die belasting en heffings op die biodiesel van sodanige raffinaderye. Hierdie navorsingsverslag het ten doel om Pioneer Fishing (Edms) Bpk van ʼn sakeplan te voorsien ter motivering van die ingebruikneming van ʼn kleinskaalse biodieselaanleg om die afvalvisolie tot ʼn bruikbare energiebron te verwerk waarmee die visvaartuie en -vragmotors aangedryf kan word.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study project addresses the role spirituality in the workplace can play. The conclusion is that although people are different, in the working environment in an organisation, much time is spent together and creating an environment that is a joy to work in, will induce the employees to work with energy and be highly productive. A number of interviews were conducted and factual information was acquired to analyse the effects of spirituality in the workplace. A conclusion is reached that underlines the fact to counter low morale, low productivity and negative attitudes in the workplace it is imperative that we should address the spirituality in the workplace thus ensuring that a positive organisation culture is maintained within the organisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie projek behandel die rol wat geestelikheid in die werkplek kan speel. Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak kan word is dat alhoewel mense van mekaar verskil in die werksomgewing binne die organisasie, hulle ‘n groot gedeelte van die dag met mekaar spandeer en vir dié rede is dit van kardinale belang dat ‘n goeie werksklimaat geskep word wat sal bydra dat die werknemer energiek werk en hoë produktiwiteit handhaaf. ‘n Aantal onderhoude was gevoer en feitlike inligting was verkry om die effek van geestelikheid in die werksplek te ondersoek. ‘n Slotsom is bereik dat die feite van lae moraal, lae produktiwiteit en negatiewe ingesteldheid in die werksplek belangrik is om geadresseer te word ten einde te verseker dat geestelikheid in die werksplek toegepas word en dat ‘n positiewe klimaat in die organisasie handhaaf word.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / The ability to bring products to market which comply with quality, cost and development time goals is vital to the survival of firms in a competitive environment. New product development comprises knowledge creation and search and can be organised in different ways. New product development requires the close collaboration of virtually all functions within a company. The existence of an effective cross-functional team, with clearly-defined objectives, is thus critical to the successful development of any new product. Furthermore, the success of new products depends mainly on the new product development process. The purpose of this research study is to review literature on new product development processes and the effect it has on organisational performance and also to take a critical look at the new product development and implementation (NPD & I) process applied in Telecom Namibia (TN). This study also provides insights to various TN stakeholders, particularly senior management and relevant individuals involved in product development, enabling individuals to recognise the role product development plays towards sustainability of the company. The study also provides a working guide for managers to identify opportunities for improving the new product development (NPD) process. The primary research objective is to critically audit the effect of new product development processes on TN’s performance. The secondary research objective is to develop frameworks and methodologies for guiding the development of effective strategies that have been tested in numerous businesses. A major finding of this study is that the success of new products depends mainly on the new product development process and that it has a major impact on organisational performance.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Empirical research is done to determine whether trading strategies based on technical analysis can outperform a naive buy-and-hold strategy. A study is made of classical and contemporary academic literature. The central investigation is threefold. Firstly, the degree of randomness of a chosen basket of securities is determined vis-a-vis the Random Walk Hypothesis. Secondly, the effectiveness of stop loss orders is assessed. Lastly, a collection of chosen trading strategies is back-tested on security data ranging over 20 years. Performance of these systems is measured on net average and risk-adjusted gains in the absence of transaction and taxation costs. The finding of this report is that, in the absence of these costs, certain technical trading strategies can indeed outperform a buy-and-hold strategy. Although end-of-day data is used throughout the study, the techniques can also be applied to intra-day trading. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Empiriese navorsing is gedoen om te bepaal of handelstrategiee wat op tegniese ontleding gebaseer is, beter kan presteer as 'n klassieke konserwatiewe koop-en-hou-strategie. Omvattende literatuurstudie is gedoen van klassieke en kontemporere literatuur, en die kruks van die navorsing is drieledig. Eerstens word die toevalligheidsgraad van 'n gekose aandelepakket ten opsigte van die hipotese van ewekansigce koersbeweging bepaal. Tweedens word die effektiwiteit van "stop-verlies" opdragte ontleed en laastens word 'n versameling historiese handelstrategiee getoets met die laaste 20 jaar se aandeledata. Die prestasie van die onledingstelsels word gemeet aan die hand van die netto gemiddelde en risiko aangepaste opbrengste met uitsluiting van die transaksie en belasting kostes. Die bevinding van die studie is dat met uitsluiting van die transakie en belasting kostes, die gebruik van tegniese ontledings inderdaad hoer opbrengste lewer as die klassieke koop-en-hou strategie. Alhoewel dag sluitingsdata deurlopend vir die studie gebruik was, kan die tegnieke ook op intradag data toegepas word.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ultimate goal of the African Union is full political and economic integration, which includes a monetary union with a common currency for all member states of the African Union. This monetary integration is proposed to take place in two stages: firstly, through five regions, and secondly, through complete integration. This report examines current trade data for member states of the African Union using k means duster analysis to group countries according to trade patterns. Analysis was performed for the actual US dollar value of trade, as well as considering only the presence or absence of trade. There are limitations to the data collected: firstly, they are annual data, which masks fluctuations in trade due to economic conditions or political developments. Secondly, they are subject to missing or under-reported values. The focus of this research report was to consider trade figures for the first time, and the limitations were considered acceptable in view of the aim of achieving a first approximation of results. When considering all solutions, there are overlaps between clusters, but no definite patterns emerge that are common to all analyses. Considering the F and Euclidean distances of all solutions, the best appears to be that for clusters derived from analysing trade figures between Africa and its trading partners outside Africa. Further analysis of this solution failed to demonstrate viable clusters. The final conclusion to be made from this analysis is that k means clustering of trade figures for member states of the African Union does not generate viable clusters that could be used as steps towards full monetary integration in Africa. Given this conclusion it is recommended that the stepwise progression towards full monetary integration be considered by utilising existing economic arrangements, i.e. by using the five Regional Economic Communities proposed by the African Union. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uiteindelike doel van die Afrika-unie is volledige politieke en ekonomiese integrasie, wat 'n monetere unie met 'n gemeenskaplike geldeenheid vir al die lidstate van die Afrika-unie insluit. Hierdie monetere integrasie word in twee stadiums beoog: eers deur vyf streke, en daarna deur volledige integrasie. Hierdie verslag ondersoek die huidige handelsdata vir lidstate van die Afrika-unie deur k gemiddelde trosanalise te gebruik om lande volgens handelspatrone te groepeer. 'n Analise is ook gedoen van die werklike VS-dollarwaarde van handel, en deur die aanwesigheid of afwesigheid van handel in aanmerking te neem. Daar is beperkings op die data wat ingesamel is: eerstens is dit jaarlikse data, wat skommelings in handel as gevolg van ekonomiese toestande of politieke ontwikkelings verberg. Tweedens is hulle onderworpe aan ontbrekende of ondergerapporteerde waardes. Die fokus van hierdie navorsingsverslag was dus om handelsyfers vir die eerste keer te oorweeg, en die beperkings is aanvaarbaar beskou in die lig van die doel om 'n eerste benadering van resultate te verkry. Wanneer aile oplossings oorweeg word, is daar oorvleueling tussen trosse, maar geen definitiewe patrone ontstaan wat vir alle analises geld nie. Wanneer die F- en Euklidiese afstande van alle oplossings oorweeg word, lyk dit asof die beste die trosse is wat verkry is uit die analise van handelsyfers tussen Afrika en sy handelsvennote buite Afrika. Verdere analise van hierdie oplossing het nie lewensvatbare trosse aangedui nie. Die finale gevolgtrekking wat uit hierdie analise gemaak kan word, is dat k gemidderde trosvorming van handelsyfers vir lidstate van die Afrika-unie nie lewensvatbare trosse genereer wat gebruik kan word as stappe in die rigting van volledige monetere integrasie in Afrika nie. Met die oog op hierdie gevolgtrekking word daar aanbeveel dat die stapsgewyse vordering na volledige monetere integrasie oorweeg moet word deur bestaande ekonomiese reelings te gebruik, d.w.s. deur die vyf Streeksekonomiese Gemeenskappe te gebruik wat deur die Afrika-unie voorgestel is.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / In June 2009, there were 56 244 not-for-profit organisations registered with the Department of Social Development in South Africa. In addition, there are about 100 000 informal (non-registered) not-for-profit organisations in South Africa. The budget allocation of these organisations varies from R100 thousand to R20 million. The South African not-for-profit sector comprises of three types of organisations, namely the Section 21 companies, trusts and voluntary associations. The Non Profit Organisations Act, No. 71 of 1997, came into effect on 1 September 1998 to assist and guide the not-for-profit sector in improving its governance practices. Globally and in South Africa, we see a shift in the focus of governance in the not-for-profit sector. In 2005, a broad forum of South African organisations, donors and government representatives developed a code of good governance for not-for-profit organisations. The forum focused on the need of profit-motivated organisations to invest in community and social developments that exhibit good governance practices. Corporate governance in South Africa has its foundation in the first King Report of 1994. This report, King I, was the result of the work of a committee, formed to address a code of good practices for corporate governance. Its purpose was to promote the highest standard of governance in South Africa, and it is not enforceable by law. In 2009, the third version of the King Report, King III, was released to enhance the current set of governance practices. In the South African context, the King Report is the key piece of best practices that drives governance in the for-profit sector. The not-for-profit sector in South Africa is transforming and adapting to the changing external environment. There is a requirement to have good governance practices in the sector. The size and nature of the organisation would determine the areas of governance that the organisation would apply. The “apply or explain” principles of King III provide each not-for-profit organisation with the flexibility to apply good governance practices.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The political changes in South Africa since 1994 and globalisation have brought about a dramatic increase in competition for South African companies. To ensure long-term survival and success, companies have to focus their strategies on continuous improvement and the ability to adapt to continuous change. Lean manufacturing principles were derived from the Toyota Production System (TPS) which was created by Taiichi Ohna, who is widely credited to be the father of Lean manufacturing principles. Lean principles originated in the automotive industry and transformed an industry that previously focused all its improvement efforts on the theory of mass production. Lean principles can be summarised as continuous improvement through focus on the elimination of waste from processes. Lean principles specify that organisations: • Change from using their view to using the view of the customer when evaluating value-creating activities; • Change production plans that focus on mass production to production plans that produce only what customers want now in flow production with small production batches; • Reduce lead times; • Improve quality; and • Achieve the above-mentioned by eliminating waste in all processes. Lean principles are based on the assumption that once waste is removed, the process improves and results in reduced lead time, improved quality, reduced costs and improved customer service. The aim of this research study was to test Lean principles by implementing applicable parts of it in the engine rebuilding section of MultiMech, a division of Golden Arrow Bus Services. The changes that formed part of the implementation included: • Reduced work in progress through improved production planning; • Improved performance of inbound processes through improved communication based on improved production planning; and • Improved productivity due to improved inbound processes and improved performance measuring. The results from the pilot implementation of Lean principles at the engine rebuilding section support the benefits documented in the theory. The major results were: • An increase in the number of engines built for the months June to September, from 54 in 2007 to 88 in 2008 which represents a 63 per cent improvement in productivity; • A decrease in the number of works orders from 58 to 21, which represents a decrease of 63 per cent in work in progress; and • A reduction in stores' lead time from 3.5 days to 1.4 days, which represents an improvement of 60 per cent. The results from the pilot implementation is only an indication of the total potential that will be realised when Lean principles are implanted throughout MultiMech. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die politieke veranderinge in Suid-Afrika sedert 1994 en globalisering het 'n dramatiese verhoging in mededinging vir Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye tot gevolg gehad. Ten einde langtermyn oorlewing en sukses te verseker, moet maatskappye hul strategiee fokus op aanhoudende verbetering en die vermoe om by konstante verandering aan te pas. 'Spilvrye' vervaardigingsbeginsels ('Lean manufacturing principles') is afgelei van die Toyota produksiestelsel ('Toyota production system') (TPS), wat ontwikkel is deur Taiichi Ohno, wat algemeen beskou word as die vader van spilvrye vervaardigingsbeginsels. Hierdie beginsels het ontstaan in die motorvervaardigingsindustrie en 'n industrie transformeer wat voorheen al sy verbeteringspogings gefokus het op die teorie van massaproduksie. Spilvrye beginsels kan opgesom word as konstante verbetering deur te fokus op die eliminasie van verspilling uit prosesse. Spilvrye beginsels bepaal dat organisasies: • Nie meer vanuit hulle eie perspektief nie, maar vanuit die klient se perspektief waardeskeppende aktiwiteite beoordeel; • Produksieplanne verander wat fokus op massaproduksie tot produksieplanne wat slegs produseer wat kliente nou wil he in 'n vloeiproduksieproses met klein produksievolumes; • Wagperiodes verminder; • Kwaliteit verbeter; en • Bogenoemde bereik deur verspilling in alle prosesse te elimineer. Spilvrye beginsels is gebaseer op die aanname dat sodra verspilling verwyder is, die proses verbeter en verkorte wagperiodes volg, kwaliteit verbeter, kostes verminder en klientediens verbeter. Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om Spilvrye beginsels te toets deur toepaslike gedeeltes daarvan te implementeer in die enjinbou afdeling van MultiMech, 'n divisie van Golden Arrow busdienste. Die veranderinge wat deel uitgemaak het van die implementering sluit in: • Verminderde werk-in-proses deur verbeterde produksiebeplanning; • Verbeterde prestasie van inkomende prosesse deur verbeterde kommunikasie gebaseer op verbeterde produksiebeplanning; en • Verbeterde produktiwiteit as gevolg van verbeterde inkomende prosesse en verbeterde prestasiemeting. Die resultate van die loodsimplemetering van Spilvrye beginsels by die enjinbou afdeling ondersteun die voordele wat in die teorie gedokumenteer is. Die vernaamste resultate sluit in: • 'n Toename in die aantal enjins gebou vir die maande Junie tot September, van 54 in 2007 tot 88 in 2008 wat 'n 63 persent verbetering in produktiwiteit verteenwoordig; • 'n Afname in die aantal werksopdragte vanaf 58 tot 21, wat 'n afname van 63 persent in werk-in-proses verteenwoordig; en • 'n Afname in store se wagperiode van 3.5 dae tot 1.4 dae, wat 'n verbetering van 60 persent verteenwoordig. Die resultate van die loodsimplementering van Spilvrye beginsels is 'n teken van die totale potensiaal wat gerealiseer sal word met die implementering in ander departemente van MultiMech.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between corporate governance and the profitability of banks in Nigeria. This has been done in line with previous studies in other parts of the world where it was discovered that the corporate governance culture of a firm does have an effect on its profitability. The corporate governance variable employed in this study was that of ownership. Four types of ownership were used as the independent variables, namely board ownership, institutional ownership, foreign ownership and government ownership. Whilst the dependent variables employed were return on assets (ROA) and non performing loans ratio (NPL). Information on banks’ return on assets and non performing loans was generated from year end financial statements and yearly bank reviews from a Nigerian based research firm called Agusto and Company. Also the banks’ ownership variables information was also pooled from financial reports, the Agusto report on banking industry as well as bank websites. A descriptive statistic data was generated to review the trend of banks’ return on assets and non-performing loan performance indicators, whilst a Pearson correlation table was generated to review the correlation between the ownership variable and the performance of banks. The results generated were found to be similar to what has previously been done. This study makes a significant contribution to research by exposing the importance of corporate governance, a concept which has been neglected in the Nigerian corporate world. Finally it provides further justification to do further research in this area in the Nigerian banking and corporate environment.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact possible revisions to the international accounting standard (IAS) for intangible assets, under international financial reporting standards (IFRS), could have on the perception of value of information technology. Furthermore, the study discusses the fact that value of IT is still a debate and asks the question why. The use of the term information technology capability in IT research is used in many different contexts. The study also tested a framework that could possibly be used to view IT capability as, and used this framework to ascertain how accounting treatment of IT capability is happening in practice. The study is exploratory in nature since the impact of the possible revisions on IT capability is a current event. The revisions are in a second round of discussion and as such this study could provide insight to the discussion regarding the possible influence on IT capability. The revisions primarily focus on the recognition and measurement of internally generated intangible assets. It is currently being proposed that internally generated intangible assets be recognised as it would during a business combination at any point and also that fair value be considered as an alternative to the cost basis during initial recognition. While those are the most significant revisions, the discussion paper makes minor proposals regarding the identification of intangible assets and makes no suggestions regarding disclosure. A number of CIO’s and CFO’s or their direct delegates were interviewed to determine from a practitioner perspective what the impact of the revisions could be from both a financial perspective and IT management perspective. The participants were engaged through a semi-structured interview and the collective responses analysed for common themes. The study found that while the debate around IT value still exists, from the participant’s perspective, it centres on the fact that in the absence of appropriate performance measurement of businesses, it is difficult at best to reflect how IT contributes value to the organisation. The participants do not see the currently proposed revisions as being able to improve the perception of value of IT. This is primarily due to the fact that the financial reports are not for consumption of internal business stakeholders to whom CIO’s need to communicate the value contribution. Secondly, the cost focus of the financial reports is acknowledged and as well as the fact that increasing the uncertainty of values in financial reports due to subjective valuation of IT capability, will detract from the integrity of the financial accounting and reporting. Lastly, participants also recognised that it would be a significant revision if internally generated assets are recognised in the same way as during business combinations and that the use of fair value during initial recognition is allowed. As such the participants felt that it would be a long time before the revisions move onto the next stage. This pragmatic response indicated that the focus should rather be on ensuring business performance is measured and IT capability measured through business measures. The study is limited by focusing on organisations that do not create IT capability for resale. Also, the focus is on internally generated IT capability, and excludes the process of acquiring IT capability through merger and acquisition activity. Lastly, the focus has been limited to the impact of the revision on IT value perception. Practically, given the fact that the revisions are not seen to create an opportunity for IT value to be reported, practitioners are advised to focus on using benchmarking to report IT value for the business-as-usual IT capability, in business terms. Furthermore, in terms of ensuring the value of investment in IT capability is articulated, the upfront business case and investment decision process must articulate the business benefits clearly and thereafter ensure benefits tracking is done to measure the performance and value of the constituent parts that deliver the benefits can be measured. This study has value since these particular concepts have not been analysed in this way before. Previous studies have focused on certain elements of IT capability, or organisations that create IT capability for resale, not internal use, amongst others. The originality stems from linking accounting treatment to the definition of IT capability and investigating the impact it has on how the value of IT is perceived. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel wat die impak van moontlike hersienings van die internasionale boekhoudingstandaard (IAS) vir ontasbare bates, volgens internasionale finansiële verslagdoeningstandaarde (IFRS), sal wees op die persepsie van inligtingstegnologie (IT) se waarde. Voorts bespreek die studie die feit dat die waarde van IT steeds 'n voortgaande debat is en vra waarom dit die geval is. Die term inligtingstegnologievermoë in IT-navorsing word in verskillende kontekste gebruik. Die studie het ook 'n raamwerk getoets wat moontlik gebruik kan word om IT-vermoë holisties te bekyk. Die studie is verkennend van aard aangesien die impak van moontlike hersienings op IT-vermoë 'n gebeurtenis is wat tans plaasvind. Die hersienings is tans in die tweede ronde van bespreking en die studie sou insig kon verskaf oor die moontlike invloed van die bespreking op IT-vermoë. Die hersienings fokus primêr op die erkenning en meting van intern gegenereerde ontasbare bates. Tans word voorgestel dat intern gegenereerde ontasbare bates erken moet word soos dit in 'n besigheidskombinasie op enige punt erken sou word, en ook dat billike waarde oorweeg moet word as 'n alternatief tot die kostebasis gedurende aanvanklike of inisiële erkenning. Terwyl hierdie die mees belangrike hersienings is, sluit die besprekingsdokument kleiner voorstelle in oor die identifisering van ontasbare bates, maar verskaf geen voorstelle oor die bekendmaking van ontasbare bates nie. 'n Aantal hoof inligtingsbeamptes en hoof finansiële beamptes of hulle direkte gedelegeerdes, is ondervra om vas te stel, vanuit 'n praktisyn se oogpunt, wat die impak van die hersienings sou kon wees – gesien uit beide 'n finansiële en 'n IT-bestuursperspektief. Die deelnemers is betrek deur 'n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud en die kollektiewe response is geanaliseer vir gemeenskaplike temas. Die studie het bevind dat, hoewel die debat rondom ITvermoë steeds bestaan, vanuit die deelnemers se perspektief, die debat sentreer rondom die feit dat in die afwesigheid van toepaslike prestasiemeting van besighede, dit op sy beste moeilik is om te besin oor hoe IT waarde bydra tot die organisasie. Die deelnemers sien nie in dat die voorgestelde hersienings by magte sal wees om die persepsie oor die waarde van IT te verbeter nie. Dit is primêr as gevolg van die feit dat die finansiële verslae nie beskikbaar is vir interne besigheidsbelanghebbers nie aan wie hoof inligtingsbeamptes die waardebydrae moet kommunikeer. Tweedens word die kostefokus van finansiële verslae erken, asook die feit dat om die onsekerheid van waardes in finansiële verslae te verhoog weens die subjektiewe waardasie van IT-vermoë, die integriteit van die finansiële boekhouding en verslagdoening sal benadeel. Laastens het deelnemers ook erken dat dit 'n belangrike hersiening sal wees indien intern gegeneerde bates op dieselfde manier erken word as gedurende besigheidskombinasies en dat die gebruik van billike waarde gedurende aanvanklike erkenning toegelaat word. As sodanig was die deelnemers van mening dat dit nog lang sal duur voordat die hersienings na die volgende fase sal beweeg.