M.Comm.

The purpose of this thesis was to identify possible weaknesses of the current strategic management system applied within the selected bank in Ghana. Globalization of companies has strategically changed the face of management practices across the world, especially in the banking industry. The purpose of this thesis was achieved by providing answers to four major research questions which relates to the importance of strategic management practices in the Ghanaian banking industry. This thesis, therefore, sampled Barclays bank Ghana out of the entire population of the Ghanaian banking industry and both structured and an unstructured questionnaire were used to gain the primary data for the thesis. The thesis analyzed various aspects of Barclays bank strategic management and its implementation including environmental analysis. It was found that the bank is doing well by maintaining the business strategy throughout the organizational settings. Also, the bank has a well-documented strategy which is made available to top managers who review their plans when new strategies are being formulated. It was also found that even though the bank is doing well in the area of strategic management, there are a few lapses that need to be addressed during implementation of strategies. Administratively the bank inability to marshal resources, bureaucracy system within the bank affects implementation of the strategy. This thesis, therefore, recommends that the bank needs to carefully access the creditworthiness of whoever they give loans to both individuals and organizations in other to reduce their non-performing loans. Again, the bank must ensure that the core values which the bank was built on are maintained. Finally, Barclays Bank Ghana staff needs to be encouraged and trained in their business strategy and the bank’s strategic management process to help the bank grow organically

South Africa's adherence to the Gold Standard while many other countries abandoned it, placed the country in a difficult position. This was exacerbated by the worldwide economic depression that resulted in the sharp decline of primary commodity prices, a decrease in demand and unemployment. The commercial banks in South Africa were obviously also affected by the prevailing circumstances and the position of one of them, Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas) will be the focus of this study. One of the most important questions that will receive attention is to what extent the bank was affected by the gold standard crisis. Linked closely to this is the question of the nature of the problems encountered by the bank and the measures, if any, it took to overcome these difficulties. In this regard it will be necessary to investigate the most important areas of the imperial banks' business and the type of customers they served. Another question or issue to be investigated is the relationship between the two British banks on the one hand and the South African Reserve Bank and the government on the other. The establishment of the Reserve Bank was not openly welcomed by the imperial banks as they feared competition from the Bank while, with their considerable balances overseas, they were not convinced that there existed a need for a central bank in South Africa. In this respect, the question of co-operation between the two banks will also receive attention. / Prof. G Verhoef

The purpose of the study was to conduct an evaluation on the effectiveness of the change communications distributed to the occupants of Barclays Towers West, Barclays Africa‟s first green building, in ensuring the sustainability of the change after the move into the building. In addition, recommendations are made to improve the change communications directed towards the building occupants to ensure the sustainability of the change and for future moves to green buildings. The research paper is made up of the following three distinct sections: Section One – Evaluation Research Report: this section outlines the organisational and research context for the study, the objectives of the research and rationale for conducting the research. A brief overview of the key theories and models on change communication that were utilised in the study are discussed, and definitions of important terms are presented. The research methodology is also described which includes an explanation on the evaluation research approach utilised as well as the use of both qualitative and quantitative data in the study. In addition, the results from the research conducted are presented, based on three data collection methods utilised: document analysis, semi-structured interviews and a survey. The results are then analysed and discussed in relation to the literature reviewed on change communication. Recommendations are made on improvements that can be made to the change communications to ensure the sustainability of the change. Section Two – Literature Review: the literature, theories and important concept definitions of organisational change management, change sustainability, change communication and green buildings which are relevant for the research topic and have been used as the theoretical base of the study are explored in this section. A key component of the literature review is the description of the change communication theories and models: communication theory, Armenakis, Harris and Field (2007) Model, and the Barrett (2002) Model. An understanding of the theories and models is imperative, as the effectiveness of the change communications after the move into Barclays Towers West is assessed based on the elements of the change communication theories and models. Section Three – Research Methodology: the research methodology for the study is described in this section. Specifically, the research aims and objectives, the research paradigm, the population and sampling, data collection, data analysis and ethical considerations are outlined. A key component of the section is the explanation on how the data was collected and analysed in the study and the sequence. The post move communications and artefacts and meeting presentations were collected first. The qualitative data was analysed and used to determine the questions for the semi structured interviews. Semi-structured one on one interviews were then conducted. The qualitative data and the change communication theories and models used in this study were used to determine the questions for the online survey. An online survey tool was used to administer a predominantly five point Likert scale questionnaire with an invitation to participate emailed to the building occupants. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. Research Findings: The key research findings revealed that the messages communicated to the occupants after the move into the building have been mainly focused on operational matters and rarely on educating occupants on the green aspects of the building. A large majority of the survey respondents were aware of the building facilities, details and required behaviour. However it was found that the occupants, Line Managers and Senior Management are not displaying the required behaviour for a green building and do not know how to use some of the building facilities. A major gap was found in communicating with people moving into the building. In addition it was found that some of the information communicated to occupants is outdated. Written communications are used extensively and face to face communication is rarely used to communicate with the occupants. As a result, a number of changes are required to improve the effectiveness of the change communications to the occupants of Barclays Towers West. The improvements include communicating to new occupants; utilising additional communication channels; focusing communication messages on educating occupants on the strategic objectives for the building; rationale for building features and facilities; how to use the facilities and the impact of their behaviour on the building objectives being achieved.

M.B.A. / Assessment of the service quality in the banking sector is necessary to obtain general performance result for both bankers and customers. Barclays presence in Mauritius dates back to 1919, and since that time the Bank has played a key role in the expansion of business on the island. Barclays currently holds a sixteen percent market share with the two local banks Mauritius Commercial Bank and State Bank Mauritius dominating their presence with a forty percent and thirty percent market share respectively. Barclays Bank Sub Sahara Africa has recently embarked on a major customer service revolution. This study attempted to examine any significant gaps between actual methods used to measure service quality within Barclays Bank Mauritius and empirically tested models in service quality and suggest how service can be better measured at Barclays by measuring service areas where significant gaps are identified between actual methods and empirically tested models. Models have been developed to find measure and assess the determinants of service quality. The works of Parasuraman et al. (1985, 1988, 1991, and 1994) led to the development of a service quality model (SERVQUAL) which is the result of a comparison of the expectations and perceptions of customers regarding a particular service and this model is used in this study. In view of improving customer service, Barclays Bank has been involved in a number of customer service surveys. For the purpose of this study, the researcher has used the results of existing surveys collected from 250 customers of Barclays in Mauritius. In addition, primary data was randomly collected in Mauritius at the main branch which is located in Port-Louis and a sample total sample size of 120 of which 60 were customers and 60 Barclay’s staff. iv Existing surveys shows that service is on the decline within Barclays Banks Mauritius. An overall gap of -1.2, performance (P) is less than expectation (E), showed that customers are dissatisfied with the overall level of service offered by Barclays Bank in Mauritius. An overall service gap of -1.04, performance (P) is less than expectation (E), showed that staff are dissatisfied with the overall level of service offered by Barclays Bank in Mauritius. Four new service dimensions were extracted from the customer data and six new service dimensions from the employee data which confirms that there is significant difference between customer and staff service dimensions at Barclays Bank Mauritius. Both the exiting surveys done by external researchers and the data in this study have the same overall conclusion, that is, service quality at Barclays Bank Mauritius is on the decline. Hence, no significant difference between theory and practice of customer service satisfaction at Barclays Bank Mauritius. A starting point to get service right within an organization has to start with the service providers themselves, all too often organizations steam ahead with service initiatives and campaigns but do not have the support and buy in of their staff. This study concludes that if employees are not properly equipped and motivated, service quality is adversely affected. Training is of prime importance to assist the company in increasing the level of service. Areas of further research has been identified for other industries in the country, banks and other institutions in the region and internationally.