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An investigation into the extent of economic transformation in the ICT sector in the Western Cape

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When the government of national unity took over control of South Africa in 1994, their
primary aims were to address the legacy of apartheid and bring democracy to all of their
people. The legacy of the previous political dispensation, which favoured the minority, was
to be eradicated. The aim of this new government was to make sure that all South Africans
enjoy equality and receive equitable rewards from all economic activities. However, in
order for this to be possible the new government was forced to introduce policies and
legislation to facilitate that transformation. The Reconstruction and Development
Programme, the Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy, the Black Economic
Empowerment Act and various sectoral charters are but a few that were introduced to
facilitate change. Based on the literature review, it is evident that, although policies and
procedures have been introduced, the process of implementation is far too complex to see
change happen overnight.
The study targets the Information, Communication and Technology (lCT) sector. This
sector of industry is considered by the South African government as an integral component
of ensuring economic prosperity and it is therefore an interesting topic for investigation.
This sector was previously dominated by White South Africans. The aim of the study is to
investigate the extent of economic transformation and black economic empowerment in
the sector. There is also an interest to establish whether technical ICT skills and
knowledge have filtered down adequately to previously disadvantaged individuals (PDls).
The extent of transformation in the ICT sector is what the study aims to capture. The data
collection process was conducted within a qualitative and quantitative research framework.
The author plans to use an interpretive approach for the analysis of the findings. The data
collected for the study were by means of structured questionnaires; however, the last
section consisted of open-ended questions. The sample selected for this study was middle
management officials, many of them highly skilled and working in a technical environment
at these companies.
The responses to the questionnaires reflected a diverse and seemingly ambiguous
understanding of the ICT. Based on these perceptions, there is a clear indication that
many of the respondents have a narrow view of what transformation for the sector really
means. The answers to the questionnaires were analysed to test the hypothesis.
According to the research findings, it appears that transformation of the ICT sector has not
taken place successfully. The study concludes with recommendations for the ICT sector
and a brief conclusion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toe die regering van nasionale eenheid in 1994 beheer oor Suid-Afrika geneem het, was
sy hoofdoel om die nalatenskap van Apartheid aan te spreek en 'n demokratiese bestel vir
die land en al sy mense te vestig. Die nalatenskap van die gewese politieke bestel, wat
die minderheid bevoordeel het, sou uitgewis word. Die doel van hierdie nuwe regering
was om te verseker dat aile Suid-Afrikaners gelyk behandel word en billike voordeel uit
aile ekonomiese bedrywighede trek. Om dit egter moontlik te maak, is die nuwe regering
gedwing om beleide en wetgewing in te stel om te verseker dat transformasie plaasvind.
Die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram, die Ekonomiese Groei en Herverdelingstrategie
en verskeie sektorale handveste is maar enkele wat ingestel is om verandering te weeg te
bring. Gebaseer op die letterkundige oorsig, is dit voor die hand liggend dat, hoewel daar
beleide en prosedures ingestel is, die proses van toepassing geheel en al te ingewikkeld is
om verandering oornag te sien gebeur.
Hierdie studie is gerig op 'n spesifieke segment ekonomiese bydrae tot die ekonomie, die
Informasie, Kommunikasie en Tegnologiese (lKT) sektor. Die sektor van die nywerheid
word deur die regering as 'n integrale komponent beskou ten einde ekonomiese welvaart
te waarborg en is derhalwe 'n interessante onderwerp om van naderby te bekyk. Die
heersende opvatting is dat hierdie sektor voorheen deur blanke Suid-Afrikaners oorheers
is, veral wat betref tegniese vaardighede en tegnologiese kennis. Die doel van die studie
is om die omvang van ekonomiese transformasie en Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging
binne hierdie sektor te ondersoek. Daar is ook intense belangstelling om te probeer
vasstel of voorheen benadeeldes enigsins voordeel getrek het uit die bestaande tegniese
IKT-vaardighede en kennis.
Die navorsing oor mense se persepsie van die IKT-sektor is wat die studie beplan om vas
te vang. Die inligtingsinsamelingsproses is binne 'n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe
raamwerk uitgevoer - die rede hiervoor was dat die navorser beplan het om 'n
interpreterende benadering vir die analise van die bevindinge toe te pas. Inligting is deur
middel van vraelyste versamel, maar die laaste afdeling het uit half onbepaalde vrae
bestaan. Die monster wat vir hierdie studie gekies is, was middelvlakbestuurslede in diens
van die IKT-ondernemings - vele van hulle was hoogs opgelei en het in 'n tegniese
omgewing by hierdie ondernemings gewerk.
Die reaksies op die vraelyste dui oorweldigend daarop dat daar 'n diverse en oenskynlike
dubbelsinnige begrip van die IKT is. Gebaseer ap hierdie persepsies, is dit heel duidelik
dat talle van die respondente 'n eng siening het oor wat transformasie werklik vir die sektor
beteken. Die antwoorde op die vermelde vraelyste is geanaliseer om die hipotese te toets.
Volgens die navorsingsbevindinge wil dit voorkom of transformasie van die IKT -sektor nie
suksesvol plaasgevind het nie. Die studie sluit af met aanbevelings aan die IKT-sektor
rakende transformasie-suksesse en dit word gevolg deur 'n kort slotwoord.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6418
Date03 1900
CreatorsGordon, Faizel
ContributorsSonn, Julian P., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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