Thesis (D. Tech. (Business Administration )) - Central University of Technology, Free State

Orientation: The identity of the emerging next industrial revolution is clarified by means of a quadruple helix model. It is revealed how the fourth industrial revolution (FIR), also referred to as Industry 4.0, is underpinned by schemas much more than cyber-physical systems, the internet of things, digitisation and automatic identification technologies such as chips, sensors and internet protocols. Research purpose: The emotional hype surrounding the FIR and the uncertainty around its identity need clarification. The purpose was to provide balancing perspectives for understanding the primary movements, management theories and sub-revolutions underpinning the emerging FIR. Motivation for the study: The rationale of the study is to bring more clarity in a collective model of multiple complex innovation concepts. Research design, approach and method: The study design was qualitative exploration. This implied a sequential exploratory qualitative multi-method process to obtain (1) practical case narrative data (phase A) and (2) theoretical narrative data (phase B). Main findings: The primary movements underpinning the FIR are (1) triple management theory (TMT), (2) upscaling agility, (3) university-business cooperation (UBC) and triple helix (TH) ecosystem partnerships and (4) epochal society. Practical/managerial implications: The exponential organisation of the future will require agile leaders who must be geared for change and personal transformation to thrive in a time of endless innovation. This study provides management with valuable insights and clarification of the complexities of innovation into a synthesised quadruple helix model of innovation for the FIR. Contribution/value-add: The contribution of the study is also generic in terms of its contemporary value, clarifying the FIR identity and to serve as a vantage point of reference for further research.

Orientation: This article provides a theoretical consolidation of Ubuntu antecedents to encourage understanding of the relationship between Ubuntu and organisational management. Research purpose: The Ubuntu conceptual elements – compassion, survival, group solidarity and respect and dignity – are appraised in the context of South African hospitality management. Motivation for the study: Ubuntu elements were identified as a regional sub-cultural influence in South Africa in Hofstede’s 1983 research on the influence of culture in managing organisations. Understanding the role of Ubuntu in management is argued as being important to effectively manage culturally diverse work teams in South Africa. Research design, approach and method: Qualitative data were collected from judgementally selected hospitality industry participants (stage 1) as to their perceptions of antecedents of Ubuntu applicable to hotel frontline employee management. Consequently, a Delphi method (stage 2) was applied asking eight purposefully selected participants to review the proposed sub-variables of the four Ubuntu elements derived from stage 1 to establish a theoretical Ubuntu measurement scale. Main findings: The research proposes a theoretical measurement scale for the four broad concepts of Ubuntu. Practical/managerial implications: Theoretically, this article contributes to management research for managing service orientated businesses. Practically, this research stresses the importance of Ubuntu motivational forces as mechanisms that service managers can implement in stimulating group collective achievement of organisational goals. Contribution/value-add: Ubuntu research has predominantly been conceptual related only to four elements (compassion, survival, group solidarity and respect and dignity) and no previous research has delineated antecedents for these elements to propose a multidimensional quantitative measurement scale for Ubuntu.

Orientation: Tax compliance costs are regressive in nature and impose a heavy burden on performance and sustainability of small businesses. Research purpose: The aim of this article was to identify endogenous factors that drive tax compliance costs of small businesses in the construction industry of South Africa. Motivation for the study: Small businesses in the construction industry face many challenges that result in low-profit margins, poor performance and eventually failure. Tax compliance costs are one of the factors behind poor performance and failure, as often cited by small businesses, and as such warranted an investigation into the factors that drive the costs. Research design, approach and method: Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires that were emailed to contractors in classes 3 and 4 of the Construction Industry Development Board’s register. A total of 83 usable questionnaires were returned and analysed using the structural equation modelling function of STATA data analysis and statistical software. Main findings: Statistical tests performed revealed that business size, age, method of settling tax obligations and qualifications of the tax preparer drive tax compliance costs of small businesses in the construction industry. Practical/managerial implications: Empowerment of employees and owners engaged in tax tasks, through formal education and tailor-made training, reduces the tax compliance burden and improves the performance of small construction businesses. Contribution/value-add: The results of the study could assist business owners and managers in the construction industry in identifying efficient tax approaches that could minimise the tax compliance costs burden. They also assist with better planning by government departments in terms of the kind of tax support required by small businesses in the construction industry.

Orientation: The South African economy and, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have shown uninspiring performance, reflected in low levels of job creation, worryingly low levels of total early-stage entrepreneurial activity and entrepreneurial employee activity (EEA). As SMEs are the innovation and growth engine of an economy, the poor EEA levels (0.7%) indicate lacklustre levels of innovation and intrapreneurial activity.Research purpose: This study aims to fill the void by assessing the effect of intrapreneurial orientation (IO) at the employee level on internal SME growth.Motivation for the study: Despite this bleak outlook, to date no study has attempted to determine the influence of an IO on SME growth metrics.Research design, approach and method: The study is quantitative in nature, using an adapted questionnaire and employing a random sampling approach. Data were analysed by means of factor, correlation and regression analyses. A total of 290 responses were received from SME employees across South Africa.Main findings: The empirical study showed that only risk-taking, innovativeness, personal control, self-esteem and certain managerial factors positively relate to the growth of an SME.Practical/managerial implications: The findings provide insights for managers within SMEs on improving employee entrepreneurial activity and growth rates, by means of focusing on growth-supportive IO interventions.Contribution/value-add: The findings of this research are beneficial to academia and industry as the framework and measuring instrument offer additional insights into IO within SMEs.

Orientation: This article investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial activities and the business cycle for selected countries in Southern African Development Community (SADC). Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand how business cycle affects the supply of small businesses in the selected SADC countries. Motivation of the study: The regional block has been witnessing low economic growth patterns accompanied by high unemployment rates, poverty and inequality leading policymakers to start looking at small business supply as a possible solution. Research design, approach and method: The article used panel data spanning from 2000 to 2016. It also used random and fixed-effects estimation techniques. Main findings: The study found a negative relationship between entrepreneurial activities and business cycle. Interestingly, our findings did not show either a bidirectional or unidirectional relationship between the variables of interest although they maintained an expected sign relationship as per a priori expectations. The findings also showed a negative relationship between inequality and new entrepreneurial activities and the variable is significant at the 1% level. Practical/managerial implications: The implications of this article are that governments in these selected SADC countries prioritise nurturing small businesses so that they can grow to significantly contribute to economic growth. Contribution/value-add: The contribution of this study is in finding the nature of the relationship that exists between the business cycle and supply of small businesses in selected SADC countries.

Orientation: Firms can no longer rely on their own internal capabilities to operate in dynamic business environments but rather depend on buyer–supplier relationships to resolve and survive supply chain disruptions.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the underlying role of personal buyer–supplier relationships in a supply chain disruption context.Motivation for the study: Previous research studies have focussed solely on the role of business relationships in a supply chain disruption context, while neglecting personal relationships.Research design, approach and method: A generic qualitative research strategy was used for this purpose. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine buyers and nine suppliers of logistics services who were involved in personal relationships during supply chain disruptions.Main findings: The findings of this study indicate the attributes that must be present for a personal relationship to form in a supply chain disruption context, along with the various advantages and disadvantages that are derived from personal relationships in times of supply chain disruption.Practical/managerial implications: For managers, this study identifies various attributes, advantages and disadvantages of personal relationships in supply chain disruptions, therefore equipping managers to extract value from personal relationships in supply chain disruptions.Contribution/value-add: Academically, this study expands the literature by being one of the first empirical studies to conduct research on the role of buyer–supplier personal relationships in the third-party logistics supply chain disruption context.

Research purpose: Board gender diversity is gaining increasing attention globally and in South Africa. Although more women are serving on the boards of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), they only represent approximately one-fifth of all directors. This situation mirrors international trends. A review of the extant literature revealed three prominent mechanisms to increase the appointment of female directors, namely mandatory board gender quotas, voluntary targets and shareholder activism. The authors critically evaluated these three mechanisms with the aim of suggesting the most appropriate ones in the South African context.Motivation for the study: The study was undertaken given the paucity of comparative research on the three change mechanisms and the need to promote greater board gender diversity in South Africa.Research design: Judgement and snowball sampling were used to identify a sample of experienced local asset managers. Semi-structured personal interviews were conducted to gauge these individuals’ views on the applicability of these change mechanisms in South Africa. The qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.Key findings: Although the participants acknowledged the importance of board gender female board representation, none of them have engaged investee companies on the topic over the period 2011–2016. This study provides evidence that legislation is the least preferred mechanism to promote board gender diversity in South Africa. Voluntary targets and public pressure from shareholders might be more effective.Contribution: Whereas existing research mainly centres on the rationale for board gender diversity, this study goes a step further by investigating three prominent mechanisms to promote female board representation. A contribution is made to the body of knowledge on diversity management. Context-specific recommendations are offered.

Orientation: Globally, destinations offer various products and services to visitors featuring different attributes and characteristics, making each destination unique. The critical success factors (CSFs) of each of these destinations may differ, making the management process more complex.Research purpose: The purpose of this research was to identify the CSFs for business tourism destinations in South Africa from a supply viewpoint.Motivation for the study: Because of the importance of CSFs, many previous studies have attempted to identify such factors within the tourism industry, but few concentrated on business tourism, especially in South Africa, leaving a gap in terms of knowledge. By means of identifying and understanding what these factors are for South Africa, the country could further develop its tourism sector, which could result in its being more competitive as a destination.Research design, approach and method: To achieve this goal, a qualitative research approach was followed by interviewing seven key business tourism coordinators in South Africa, to determine the key success factors of the business. The data gathered were transcribed and analysed using Creswell’s six steps in data analysis and interpretation.Main findings: Finances, human resources, product and customer-related aspects were identified as the CSFs for business tourism in South Africa.Practical/managerial implications: Educating the market and marketing value add-ons were identified as important for enhancing and making business tourism in South Africa more competitive.Contribution/value-add: The results could guide managers in the implementation of effective key success factors in an effort to mitigate management problems in a very competitive sector.

Orientation: Many firms encourage employees to undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. With any project, it is important that firm resources are committed to create valued outcomes for stakeholders.Research purpose: The study purpose was to gain insight into criteria that can practically help define the success of employee run CSR projects.Motivation for the study: CSR activities are reported in literature as creating valuable intangible and tangible assets for firms when planned as strategies to improve brand reputation, customer loyalty and future profit. This research reviews a South African retail bank that promotes CSR undertakings to employees exploring the bank’s support for employees engaged in CSR.Research design, approach and method: Two of the bank’s completed community CSR projects were identified by the bank’s senior CSR managers for this review. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with employees, bank CSR managers and project recipients. Participant interviews were transcribed into text then analysed to identify where stakeholder value diminished on these projects.Main findings: The study found that this bank’s CSR processes do not fully support the employees, detrimentally affecting the ability of the employees to optimise project outcomes.Practical or managerial implication: Because employee CSR efforts are often aligned with a firm’s value creation strategies, optimising the project management of employee CSR activities can improve the value of the outcomes achieved.Contribution or value add: Determining specific conditions that influence successful project management of employee CSR projects can help to improve the potential of CSR projects in co-creating optimised value for stakeholders.