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Do companies that are involved in ventures at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) achieve both profit and an increase in the welfare of the poor as proposed by Prahalad and Hart (2002), or is there is a trade-off between profit and welfare as argued by critics of this proposition such as Karnani (2005). Research is lacking in the field, something that this investigation seeks to fill through qualitative research thereon. A central finding of this research was that the paradigms that the companies followed, impacted their views on welfare, profit and the trade-off. The findings reflect that companies have poor indicators of welfare and that there is very little evidence of companies measuring welfare. The findings in respect of a trade-off between profit and welfare is inconclusive, indicating that for some companies there is a trade-off but for others not. The trade-off may be explained by the view that capital should be patient and that the required profit will be achieved in the future. An alternative model of social entrepreneurship is suggested as a bridge between profit and welfare. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This thesis investigates investing in pyramid schemes. Study 1 explored the relationships between people s perceptions of investment options and their investment decisions. These options included a bank, a pyramid scheme, stock market and a safe. In this study, participants imagined they could invest money in any of the options and rated their perceptions of each option on various scales. When investing money, participants invested larger amounts in the options that they rated more positively. Compared to other investors, pyramid investors had higher positive correlations between their ratings of the pyramid scheme and how much money they invested. In Study 2 participants indicated how much money they would invest in each option and how risky they perceived the investment. As the perceived risk of an investment option increased, people invested less money. However, participants did not identify the pyramid scheme as the most risky option and rated it as being no more or less risky than the stock market. In both Studies 1 and 2 about half of the participants were willing to invest in the pyramid scheme. In Studies 3 and 4, participants imagined they had invested money in a pyramid scheme and were recruiting new target investors. Two experimental conditions were devised. In the first condition, participants were not informed of the potential for monetary loss, whereas in the second condition, monetary loss was made explicit. Potential target investors varied in the closeness of their rated relationship to the participant. When in the early non-loss condition, participants selected targets that were close to themselves, but in the loss condition they favoured targets that were less close. Furthermore, when in the non-loss condition, participants persuaded those targets they were closer to invest, whereas in the loss condition they persuaded them not to invest. Studies 5 and 6 found that there was no difference in sensation seeking propensities or intellect between pyramid scheme investors and non-investors. One clear finding for the research is that many people did not select the pyramid scheme as the poor investment that it is, a result which indicates its present illegal status is justified.

This thesis investigates investing in pyramid schemes. Study 1 explored the relationships between people s perceptions of investment options and their investment decisions. These options included a bank, a pyramid scheme, stock market and a safe. In this study, participants imagined they could invest money in any of the options and rated their perceptions of each option on various scales. When investing money, participants invested larger amounts in the options that they rated more positively. Compared to other investors, pyramid investors had higher positive correlations between their ratings of the pyramid scheme and how much money they invested. In Study 2 participants indicated how much money they would invest in each option and how risky they perceived the investment. As the perceived risk of an investment option increased, people invested less money. However, participants did not identify the pyramid scheme as the most risky option and rated it as being no more or less risky than the stock market. In both Studies 1 and 2 about half of the participants were willing to invest in the pyramid scheme. In Studies 3 and 4, participants imagined they had invested money in a pyramid scheme and were recruiting new target investors. Two experimental conditions were devised. In the first condition, participants were not informed of the potential for monetary loss, whereas in the second condition, monetary loss was made explicit. Potential target investors varied in the closeness of their rated relationship to the participant. When in the early non-loss condition, participants selected targets that were close to themselves, but in the loss condition they favoured targets that were less close. Furthermore, when in the non-loss condition, participants persuaded those targets they were closer to invest, whereas in the loss condition they persuaded them not to invest. Studies 5 and 6 found that there was no difference in sensation seeking propensities or intellect between pyramid scheme investors and non-investors. One clear finding for the research is that many people did not select the pyramid scheme as the poor investment that it is, a result which indicates its present illegal status is justified.

At the recent South African Banking Associations inaugural summit held on September 2010, it was estimated that the unbanked South Africans have put approximately R12 billion “under their mattresses” (Greyvenstein, 2010). This money would have a huge impact in the banking system if it was banked. It is widely held that whilst this problem is not uniquely South African and as per the latest Finscope survey results, since 2004, when Finscope first began tracking the number of adults not being served, a steady decline has been noted over the years in the number of banked individuals. The 2009 survey shows a further 2% deterioration when compared to 2008 in the financially excluded category. The 2009 Finscope report findings also show for the first time since 2004, a decline in the percentage number of South African adults who are banked from 63% in 2008 to 60% in 2009. The financial services sector has been identified as playing a crucial role in this transformation through its financing activities. It is therefore in this context that Beck and de la Torre (2006) argued that broad access to financial services is related to economic and social development. The South African government has therefore implemented various initiatives to combat these challenges. These initiatives, some together with the private sector, include the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, Financial Sector Charter, Dedicated Banks Bill and the launch of the Mzansi initiative.The Government is aware that broad-based BEE cannot happen unless previously disadvantaged individuals, especially the poor, are able to access financial services – in order to borrow and invest in small businesses, to save and to protect themselves against risks. The basis of the research is therefore to explore some of the reasons for the low access to financial services in South Africa’s Foundation of the Pyramid (LSM 1- 4) and to find possible solutions by building a model that could possibly work based on propositions related to aspects of the literature around employment status and income, access to credit, some type of identifiable address / dwellings, education, use of technology and costs. The analysis of the proposed model using frequency, descriptive statistics and the results of the chi-square test upheld all but one of the propositions and showed the possibility of this model to work in South Africa. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The thesis seeks to uncover making of architecture as a constellation or cluster of elements which assemble to form spaces humans inhabit. In doing so, it explores the architecture of incompleteness, where fragmented elements combine to form a dialogue with their adjacent elements, intensifying the user's encounter with the structure. Plurality of elements is exposed by increasing their number from single to multiple in varying levels of transparency with the surroundings. The subtraction from a volume to reveal the additive quality of the structure is an effort to amplify the role of structural assembly that elevates the act of visual containment. Agglomeration of members and layers is vital to realize architecture. The programmatic aspect of this thesis manifests itself in a resort town where the proposition of three types of cabin, opposing in character, take shape. The relation of architecture with the ground is primarily observed as resting, floating and sunken. This connection is nourished by exploring the orders, rules and patterns offered by the context. It's an act of revealing and concealing clusters of members in action and assembly. / Master of Architecture / Architecture can be realized using materials and resources that are produced and modified artificially or found naturally. Therefore, its reliance on a physical substance is inevitable. The enormous volume of spaces created by the repetition of components in three dimensions is a result of multiplicity of elements. The thesis establishes itself by revitalizing a resort town called Hot Springs, North Carolina by offering different types of lodging experiences in the cabins. Thirteen unique cubes that are scattered across the site interact with the terrain in three different types of dialogues. The uniqueness of the cubes are conceptualized through contextual anomalies, while the placement of the cubes is guided from the history of the site.

Business leaders often leave more than half of the world's population the bottom of the pyramid (BOP), a $5-trillion market of potential consumers untapped for products and services on account of failing to see BOP markets as profitable for business, yet business leaders who have managed inclusive BOP marketing in Nigeria have experienced profit margins as high as 120%. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies of business leaders who market to BOP consumers in Nigeria and maintain a profit. The study population consisted of 3 business leaders in the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan area who marketed to BOP consumers in Nigeria and maintained a profit. The conceptual framework that grounded the study was BOP marketing theory. Data were collected through semistructured in-depth interviews and company documents, with member checking implemented to strengthen creditability and trustworthiness. Based on the methodological triangulation of the data sources collected, 3 emergent themes were identified following 5 stages of data analysis. The themes were (a) maintain low profit margins in marketing essential items to the BOP in Nigeria, (b) maintain high profit margins in marketing to the non-BOP in Nigeria, and (c) market scaled-down products to the BOP in Nigeria. The findings from this study may contribute to social change by providing insights and strategies for business leaders seeking to prepare for and sustain profitability. The data from this study may contribute to higher profit margins for business leaders as well as job placement and entrepreneurship opportunities for the communities of Nigeria.

Kandidatuppsatsen undersöker hur sex börsnoterade företag i två olika branscher tar hänsyn till och balanserar förväntningar och krav från olika intressenter under en konjunkturcykel.   Tidigare forskning har påvisat tvetydiga resultat som både pekar på att det sociala ansvaret ökar och minskar under ett och samma stadie av en konjunktur. Undersökningen har utförts genom en innehållsanalys och en kompletterande ordsökning av publicerade årsredovisningar. Till skillnad från tidigare forskning har den här studien valt att undersöka och analysera innehållet samt omfattningen av CSR-rapportering under både en hög- och lågkonjunktur. Resultatet visar på att CSR-rapportering inte följer konjunkturen och således inte ses som en kostnad då vissa företag ökade sin rapportering av CSR i lågkonjunktur. Detta påvisar att balansgången mellan att tillgodose olika intressenters krav inte gjort sig gällande.

In this thesis, a feasibility study will be conducted in order to determine if the usage of acontrol moment gyroscope is a possibility for a micro satellite as its attitude control. Thegoal is to conclude if gyroscopes are suitable replacements for the current reaction wheelswhich are acting as the attitude control for the satellite. In the first part of the thesis thegeneral function of the control moment gyroscope and three different types of arrangementsare displayed with all their respective advantages and disadvantages. Then one ofthem will be designed to fit within the restrictions of 1U. The full design of the pyramidconfiguration was chosen due to its compact size and spherical angular momentum envelope.The full design contains all the components such as motors, flywheels, mounts,frame, screws etc. which provide a cost estimate which is a huge input in determiningthe feasibility of this thesis. In the future the manufacture of the pyramid configurablecontrol moment gyroscopes shall be tested in the future with a more advanced steeringlaw in order to determine the full potential of the attitude control system.

Inledning: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) är numera ett mer förekommande inslag i varje företag. Tidigare forskning inom området har försökt fastställa en relation mellan CSR och lönsamhet, med varierande resultat. CSR-aktiviteter kan ses ur två olika perspektiv, där det första speglar det som en investering som ökar värdet för intressenter och i sin tur kan leda till ökad lönsamhet. Det andra synsättet förutsätter snarare att ett företag är lönsamt för att ge utrymme för CSR-aktiviteter. Genom dessa två perspektiv kan CSR-aktiviteter å ena sidan betraktas som en nödvändighet, å den andra som en lyx. Problemformulering: Vilka drivkrafter kan förklara på vilken nivå i Carrolls (1979; 1991) CSR-pyramid ett företag befinner sig? Syfte: Syftet är att ge en förklaring till om CSR-aktiviteter kan urskiljas som en nödvändighet eller en lyx, genom att studera nivån i CSR-pyramiden. Metod: Studien har utgått från en deduktiv ansats där befintliga teorier använts för att generera hypoteser, som sedan testats utifrån ett kvantitativt tillvägagångssätt med en longitudinell design. Ett kodningsschema togs fram och baserades på indikatorer för CSR-aktiviteter indelade i ekonomiskt, legalt, etiskt och filantropiskt ansvarsområde. Genom kodningsschemat utfördes innehållsanalyser av årsredovisningar från 26 företag på Stockholmsbörsens Large Cap, under en femårsperiod.  Resultat och slutsats: Resultaten som studien har erhållit visar att CSR-aktiviteter kan betraktas som en nödvändighet, i bemärkelsen att företag inom samma bransch engagerar sig i CSR-aktiviteter hänförbara till de etiska och legala ansvarsområdena. Vad gäller om CSR-aktiviteter kan betraktas som lyx, visar resultaten att en hög andel insiderägande i ett företag ger utlopp för ett opportunistiskt beteende, genom ett högt engagemang i filantropiska aktiviteter.