Financial services companies pride themselves on delivering quality services to customers. However, in order to sustain their revenue streams in challenging macroeconomic times and rapid technological growth, a shift in culture is required. The facets of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) are explored to determine whether or not it advocates worthy practices in driving service innovation (SI) in order to maintain the competitive advantage of financial services companies. A case study approach was taken that gathered individuals' responses from a leading South African bank. This approach enabled the researcher to understand the state of CE within the organisation and how CE has influenced SI. The case study used quantitative data gathered through an online survey utilising scales for CE and SI. A factor analysis on the gathered data was used to refine the number of data variables. Linear and multiple regression analyses were conducted against the resultant factors of CE and SI. The findings revealed that most of the underlying constituencies of CE are positively correlated to SI. A true assessment of the financial services industry was not attained. However, the insights gained from this study are useful to companies that are looking to find methods to revive or improve their commercial services offered to customers. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Technological advancements, the rise of the internet and development of Web 2.0 has enabled the interconnectivity of consumers to increase. As a result consumer behavior has changed and organisations needed to understand the impact of digital marketing on the consumer decision making process. The research study analysed the impact of digital marketing on the consumer decision making process in Nike's customer retail operations in South Africa. The view of digital marketing impact on consumer decision making was that off the retail organisation. The research methodology used for the study was a hybrid approach consisting of exploratory and descriptive research with exploratory being the primary research method. Exploratory research conducted consisted of primary and secondary data whilst descriptive research consisted of secondary data. Analysis of the results revealed that consumer have embraced digital marketing and it has influenced consumer behavior. As a result retail organisations had to shift their marketing strategies to incorporate digital. It was further established that digital marketing has an impact on consumer decision making process with a more influential impact on problem recognition, purchase decision and post purchase behavior. Due to these shifts in technology and consumer behavior retail organisations need to develop marketing strategies that reach out to consumers at moments that most influence their decisions. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The results of this study showed that there is an overall positive relationship between captive solar PV technology and economic growth. Furthermore, it was identified that finding an ideal penetration level is possible, however there are a number of constraints and variables that need to be considered when modelling the ideal penetration level. Participants mentioned a few approaches to how the ideal penetration level may be found. One approach could be to align the motivators for solar penetration, and the motivators for the need to find an ideal penetration and ensure that the one does not overly influence the other, i.e., they need to meet at a neutral point. Moreover, it can be deduced that the ideal penetration will be at a point where the economic benefits are high. Additionally, there are a number of drivers that motivate the need to find an ideal penetration level, and these were found to be similar to those that were mentioned in existing studies. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / nk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Private equity has shown persistence in creating value in underlying portfolio investments as evidenced from its outperformance of corporate counterparts. The superior returns that these investments achieve have been attributed to a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, including financial engineering, operational improvements and strong capabilities in composing and effectively structuring the management function of underlying investments. This research set out to identify and quantify the relative importance and preferred levels of features, both quantitative and qualitative, that are deemed by private equity practitioners to create value in underlying private equity investments. The research was conducted using a mixed-method approach with conjoint analysis, which is often used in decision-making research, as the main tool and basis for the design and data analysis. The quantitative results of the research showed that the quality of a management team is the key feature that private equity professionals deem important and together with Corporate Governance and Incentive structures, is the management platform that drives value creation. The results also showed that Financial value engineering continues to play a strong role, but that Operational improvements take a small leading position in creating value. Finally, the composition of each category's underlying features appears to have distinct features when compared to the literature reviewed. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

In a world of increased disruptive innovation, volatile macroeconomic variables and unpredictable change, businesses are at risk of being disrupted as disruptors grow enormous user bases seemingly overnight and are then agile enough to continue innovating to stay ahead of the game. Incumbent businesses default to survival mode as they struggle to keep market share because the bureaucracy that burdens these large corporates inhibits their ability to react quickly. That being said, it has never been easier to revolutionise business models and innovate than it is presently, given the velocity of change in technology which underpins most of what disruptive innovation is about. Numerous models and frameworks have been proposed to assist one's cognitive process for ideation but none exist for disruptive thinking, hence a disruptive innovation ideation framework is called for. Using a qualitative research approach, the study was conducted in four phases as we inductively derived a preliminary cognitive framework for disruptive innovation. Phase 0 of this study included an extensive literature review to ensure the important theories relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation were taken into consideration. Three significant findings were uncovered using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method to examine the interviews gathered in Phase one, two and three of this research. Two population groups formed part of this study, (1) 26 of Africa's most accomplished Disruptive Innovators and (2) 12 Senior Managers from the retail and wholesale sector. Group 1 was used to seek answers to research questions one and two using semi-structured interviews whilst Group 2 was used to answer research question three using the same interview method. The study led to the creation of the preliminary cognitive framework "Enriched Disruptive Ideation" (EDI) framework and revealed three major findings: (1) Challenging both the common perception and the conception of business (2) the importance of building a good team (3) the emergence of the seven main themes, all of which were incorporated in the framework. This research as a result provided some contributions to bridging the gap in linking entrepreneurship and innovation theory. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Purpose - Diversification is a popular sought-after growth strategy for organisations in response to the dynamic and rapid changes of a VUCA economy. However, there has been limited exploration into the leadership required to ensure its success. This exploratory study looks at how dominant logic, through its mechanism of mental maps known as schemata and information filtering system, enables the dimensions of Contextual Leadership Intelligence, such as contextual awareness, 3D thinking and meta-competencies to enable a diversification strategy. Design methodology - Following the recommendations of Saunders and Lewis (Saunders & Lewis, 2012), a qualitative study was conducted collecting data through semi-structured interviews from 15 senior executives, with an average experience of 21 years in a senior management role, who had been involved in a diversification strategy. Findings - It was concluded, through the development of a de facto model that there is a relationship between dominant logic and contextual intelligence, in terms of the awareness given to operating within context and the process of filtering information to effectively operate within dynamic contexts. Through the awareness given to the mental maps of dominant logic and 3D thinking, learning and unlearning of bias occurs, providing a leader with the ability to act with contextual intelligence to enable a diversification strategy. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / pa2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

South Africa suffers from high rates of unemployment, low economic growth and has experienced a drop in entrepreneurial intention. Research has established that entrepreneurship plays a vital role in stimulating economic growth and creating employment. Therefore, a better understanding is required around the factors preventing individuals from taking the proverbial leap into entrepreneurship. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which situational, environmental and psychological factors impeded entrepreneurial intent. This was tested amongst a group of well-educated MBA graduates through the use of face-to-face, semi-structured interviews to probe emerging perceptions around entrepreneurial intention. The findings from the research identified that the assumption behind MBA graduates being the ideal demographic to become entrepreneurs within South African was incorrect. The three key findings that impede MBA graduate's entrepreneurial intent was the high risk profiles of MBA graduates, socio-economic factors of the country relating to highly-skilled MBA graduates, and the potential entrepreneur's locus of control and propensity to act on entrepreneurial behaviour. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Familiness has emerged as a central theory in the family business field yet little research has addressed how familiness impacts non-family employees and organisational performance in large private family firms. This study investigates non-family employee organisational identification and commitment, how these constructs are influenced by familiness and how they contribute to organisation performance in terms of customer service. A questionnaire based survey yielding 354 responses was conducted in a large fourth generation private family business. The multi-level latent variable constructs and their relationships were analysed simultaneously using partial least squares structural equation modelling to determine the relationship significance and scale of influence. Familiness was found to have a significant relationship with non-family employee organisational identification, commitment and customer service. The structural model explained a large percentage of the latent construct's variance and had strong statistical power, relevance and predictability. Organisational identification emerged as the most important factor in the proposed model as it was most influenced by familiness and displayed the largest effect on customer service. The findings indicate that the higher organisational performance outcomes often attributed to family firms may predominantly be the result of the familiness resources developing stronger emotional attachments and organisational identification in employees. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / ms2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

In a 1982 research by Bibeault, it was found that only 33% of the companies that embarked on a turnaround processes were successful. Kalwani, in his 2012 research found that 37% of the turned around companies managed to sustain the recovery. Another statistic from a 2016 research by Tenkasi & Kamel puts the rate of sustaining the recovery at 25%. These statistics suggest a perennial problem of a low rate of maintaining recovery which requires the attention of both academics and business. This problem persists despite a large interest in research on turnaround interventions. This study looks at what are the competencies which support a sustainable turnaround. It focuses on the competencies which will promote superior performance from a leader and the organisation. The method of research adopted to conduct the study was qualitative and exploratory. A total of 14 in-depth semi-structured interviews formed part of the sample. Seven executives were from six organisations active in the Gold mining, Fixed and Mobile Telecommunications, and Food processing sectors and seven turnaround practitioners practising in the consulting sector. Thematic content analysis was conducted, using Atlas.ti to analyse the data. The analysis process was iterative generating 127 codes abstracted to 10 themes. The interview questions were formulated based on the literature from the turnaround field to confirm the context of turnaround and from behavioural sciences literature from where the critical competencies were drawn. The findings highlighted the complexness of the turnaround process which impact on the strategies and the quality of decision made and thus the sustainability of the turnaround. The critical competencies suggested by the behavioural science researcher were found to apply to support the process of achieving a sustainable turnaround. The findings were processed to generate a Sustainability Path Model which will serve as a guide and a reference for executives, practitioners and academics involved with turnarounds. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The unemployment rate in South Africa and around the world has a crippling effect on economies. Many studies have shown that an improvement in entrepreneurial activity frequently leads to a decrease in unemployment and increase in economic growth rate. Young firms play an essential role in new job creation through both start-ups and firm growth, and business incubators have been shown to be highly effective tools for developing these new ventures and contributing to job creation and economic development. Gaining a greater understanding of the factors driving business incubator effectiveness will lead to an increase in the number of successful early stage firms, thus contributing to job creation and economic growth. In addition, having an understanding of the differences in perceptions between incubator managers, tenants and key stakeholders with regards to business incubator effectiveness will help tenants and stakeholders make better decisions on which incubators to work with, as well as helping business incubators to align their offering to the needs of tenants and stakeholders. This study explored the factors that drive business incubator effectiveness from the perspective of entrepreneurs, incubator managers and stakeholders as well as to identify differences in opinions between these three groups. This was done using a phenomenological approach, focused on gathering qualitative data using in-depth semi-structured interviews from 16 participants. A success framework for business incubation emerged from the research findings and was found to represent the 16 components that are crucial to incubator effectiveness from the perspective of the three sample groups. The results of this study could help to improve effective incubation by highlighting the factors driving effectiveness and discovering new factors relevant to the South African context. This could in turn provide incubator managers with knowledge to better tailor their offerings to tenants and key stakeholders. This improved value proposition would lead to greater success for all involved. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / zk2017 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted