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Nnamdi, Oguji, and Richard Owusu. "Africa as a source location: literature review and implications." International Journal of Emerging Markets 9, no. 3 (July 15, 2014): 424–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijoem-09-2012-0123.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the scope of sourcing research in Sub-Sahara African (SSA) from scholarly journals published from 1980 to 2013 on sourcing-related issues. The study identifies what is known about sourcing from this region and the implications for managers and researchers in supply chain management. Design/methodology/approach – Totally, 40 scholarly journals (supply chain journals and other journals publishing on diverse business topics) were found relevant and reviewed. Content (all field) search using the names of each SSA countries (e.g. Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, etc.) was carried out in the supply chain journals to filter out articles discussing sourcing-related topics. For other business journals, keyword search was performed (procurement, sourcing, purchasing, outsourcing, supplier relations, supplier selection, supplier development, supply management, offshore, supply chain and logistics). Findings – The literature review suggests that studies discussing sourcing issues in SSA have focussed mainly on challenges of sourcing from SSA, and they provide some insights on implementation of supply chain tools such as total quality management, negotiating and selecting suppliers from SSA, and just-in time purchasing. However, the authors found that there is an under-representation of this region in supply chain management literature. More so, the articles discussing sourcing issues in Africa are limited in scope empirically and theoretically in comparison with the large amount of contributions in other emerging economies of Asia and developed economies. Research limitations/implications – The limited amount of publications and contributions does not allow us to provide an integrated framework for sourcing from SSA. Practical implications – There is a need for future research to explore how the SSA context could enhance theorizing in supply chains. Also, there is need for researchers to extend the sourcing debate from the over emphasis on technology sourcing, knowledge intensive service outsourcing and component sourcing to other lower value-added products such as agricultural products and other raw materials sourced in SSA. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first to explore the scope of sourcing in Africa. As the findings suggest, there have been limited amount of papers published about this region. The review provides a perspective for researchers to explore this region and to aid theory development in supply chains. It also provided implications on how to support research publication focussing on this region and how to inform managerial perceptions on sourcing from SSA.
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Denner, M., and H. Oosthuizen. "The strategic positioning and configuration of national mapping organisations as enablers of economic and social growth in South Africa." South African Journal of Business Management 39, no. 3 (September 30, 2008): 41–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v39i3.566.
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This paper explores the transferability and application of business-driven strategic thinking to that of a public sector context, namely national mapping organisations. These organisations exist throughout the world because the economies of the world require geospatial information to support economic and social growth. As such their strategic positioning within government is of prime importance. In South Africa, however, there is a paucity of knowledge in this regard and consequently triggered the research which forms the basis of this paper.A macro-environmental analysis suggests significant growth opportunities for the South African geospatial industry, fuelled by a micro-industry borne out of the 2010 Soccer World Cup event. A profile description of the characteristics of consequence, boundaries between the private and public the industry and expected changes reflect a large industry which is expanding at a rapid rate but is fragmented and displays a complex network-system of inter and intra-industry relationships. As such it is attracting increasing numbers of competitors but, as an industry, appears to be slow to adjust to technological advancement. An internal analysis of the value chain of the National Mapping Organisation (NMO), the single most important player in the local public sector geospatial industry, reveals significant value creation in its inhouse activities. However, the external deconstructed operations, outbound logistics and procurement processes are not allowing the organisation to realise any benefits from efficiencies it may introduce. Key to achieving efficiencies lies in the human capital, which by all accounts, it is failing to retain.Future strategic thrusts for the NMO have been identified by constructing a SWOT model and by analysing its relative competitive strength. These thrusts were found to concentrate on actions and themes related to staff, communication, marketing, general management, production (cost and capacity) and product (quality and innovation). Interpreting and applying those themes on an interorganisational basis will enable the NMO to best position itself in the industry. In this regard sufficient related strategic fit is evident between the value chains of the NMO, The Satellite Application Centre (SAC) and Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), enabling the NMO to leverage on the sales, marketing and distribution activities of SAC and the financial leveraging capabilities of Stats SA.This paper has presented an example of how delivering an efficient and effective service delivery may be hampered through the inappropriate strategic configuration of South African public sector activities. It is therefore suggested that the government revisits the strategic positioning of public sector organisations engaged in the provision of geospatial information.
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Pienaar, Wessel. "Overview of business procurement processes in South Africa." Corporate Ownership and Control 10, no. 1 (2012): 311–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/cocv10i1c3art1.
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The article focuses on the procurement of goods to support the business operations of organisations, with special reference to South African practice. The following aspects are detailed: (1) identifying and specifying procurement needs; (2) selecting suppliers; and (3) controlling suppliers’ performance. It is deduced that the procurement management process consists of five principal steps: (1) identifying and specifying a procurement need; (2) supplier survey; (3) investigation and assessment of suppliers; (4) choice of supplier(s); and (5) establishing and developing relationships with suppliers and controlling their performance. Steps 2, 3 and 4 collectively form the supplier selection phase.
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Fourie, David, and Cornel Malan. "Public Procurement in the South African Economy: Addressing the Systemic Issues." Sustainability 12, no. 20 (October 20, 2020): 8692. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12208692.
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Public procurement fulfils an important role in the economy and public expenditure of a country and can be regarded as a critical indicator of the effectiveness of a government, because it is a central aspect of public service delivery. Notwithstanding various reforms made to date to public sector procurement in South Africa and the application of Supply Chain Management as a strategic policy strategic instrument, the South African public procurement system still faces several challenges and has been strongly criticised. This paper aims to understand the current public procurement environment in South Africa, its dilemmas and challenges, and to propose that public procurement be refocused towards a strategically placed business process, implemented by well-trained and competent procurement officials. The purpose is to provide a theoretical foundation as well as practical guidance regarding the role of public procurement in the South African public sector. The methodology involved an intensive literature study and document analysis to evaluate various official policy documents and official publications to determine the status of South African public procurement. The study found that the majority of challenges faced by public procurement in South Africa can probably be attributed to the implementation of the system, rather than to the system itself. In the shorter and longer term, the public procurement system in South Africa will have no choice but to emerge as a stronger, more resilient, streamlined and efficient provider of goods and services for the greater good of all.
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Havenga, Jan Hendrik, Wessel Pienaar, and Zane P. Simpson. "A case for measuring logistics costs on a national level: A South African application." Corporate Ownership and Control 8, no. 3 (2011): 622–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/cocv8i3c6p5.
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This paper makes a case for macroeconomic logistics measurement and presents the results of the 2009 logistics cost model for South Africa. The major portion of logistics costs is attributable to road transport, of which the biggest cost driver is fuel, which, in turn, is determined by volatile oil prices and the exchange rate of the country’s monetary unit. This poses a significant exogenous risk to logistics cost management in South Africa.
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Laryea, Samuel. "Procurement strategy and outcomes of a new universities project in South Africa." Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 26, no. 9 (October 21, 2019): 2060–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ecam-04-2018-0154.
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Purpose Construction project management outcomes in the literature typically portray significant deviations from expected outcomes. Various theories from studies that focus superficially on causes of project cost and time overruns rather than root causes have not addressed this problem. The need is for a better understanding of how procurement strategy provides a fundamental means to address this problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine the procurement strategy used to deliver a new universities project in South Africa within budget and to ascertain its influence on the outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A case study was designed to provide a comprehensive and intensive methodology to identify and examine the construction procurement strategy and its influence on the project outcomes. Document analyses and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on the construction procurement strategy and outcomes from the client team. Findings The evidence brought forward demonstrates that the successful outcome was largely a consequence of the client team, procurement strategy and systems of delivery. However, the collaborative procurement strategy formed the basis of the successful project delivery and outcomes. A general observation from the data is that an appropriate construction procurement strategy developed by an experienced client team and proactively implemented by an integrated delivery team working collaboratively is likely to achieve the intended project outcomes. Practical implications The findings show three critical keys to achieving intended outcomes – people, procurement strategy and systems of delivery at the governance, portfolio, programme and project management levels. Originality/value The value of this paper lies in using a comprehensive methodology to study the relationship between procurement strategy and outcomes. The findings can be applied by client teams to achieve better outcomes and value for money in infrastructure projects.
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Kwofie, Titus Ebenezer, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, and Seja Olgah Machethe. "Nature of communication performance in non-traditional procurements in South Africa." Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 26, no. 10 (November 18, 2019): 2264–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ecam-02-2018-0044.
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PurposeNon-traditional procurement is thought to offer enhanced benefits over traditional contracts. However, several factors significantly impacting the optimization of the benefits have been suggested. Even though effective communication is ranked high among these factors, not enough empirical insights have been given to the nature of communication performance in non-traditional procurements in construction project delivery. The purpose of this paper is to focus on understanding the taxonomy of communication performance in non-traditional procurements in the South African Construction Industry, given the centrality of communication to team effectiveness, performance, project success and managerial efficiency.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a deductive research approach, an empirical questionnaire survey was conducted drawing on the practical communication experience of project teams engaged in projects using non-traditional procurement systems.FindingsUsing aggregated mean scores and inter-rater agreement index and Mann‒Whitney tests, the results revealed inaccuracies, barriers and procedural challenges as frequently occurring in the interpersonal and organizational communication in the adopted non-traditional procurement systems. Additionally, untimeliness and distorted information were noted to be occurring occasionally, whereas incomplete communication, misunderstood information and gatekeeping rarely occurred. Lastly, protocol-related communication challenges were deemed to have never occurred in their interpersonal and organizational communication in their project delivery. In the assessment of communication performance, the less frequently occurring assessment indicator is a testament to good communication performance, whereas the frequently occurring indicator represents a poor performance in the communication.Originality/valueThis systematic approach toward understanding the taxonomy of the interpersonal and organizational communication performance in non-traditional procurement is very significant toward communication performance improvement in the industry. The insight given by the findings may help construction project practitioners to focus their attention on the necessary aspects of communication in non-traditional procurements to optimize their benefits over traditional procurement models.
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Pienaar, W. J. (Wessel). "Overview of procurement need specification and the organisation of supply chain processes to fulfil customers’ needs in South Africa." Corporate Board role duties and composition 9, no. 2 (2013): 12–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/cbv9i2art2.
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The article focuses on the procurement need specification of goods to support the operations of organisations, and how product supply chain processes are organised to fulfil customers’ procurement needs. Ten methods of procurement need specification for business purposes are dealt with. Product supply chain processes are executed as either ‘push’ or ‘pull’, or ‘push-pull’ oriented. Each of the approaches is discussed. Summaries of (a) the characteristics of the push and pull portions of supply chains; and (b) the spectrum of supply chain responses to customer demands are supplied
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Sanchez Rodrigues, Vasco, and Andrew Potter. "A comparison of FMCG logistics operations in the UK and South Africa." European Business Review 25, no. 4 (June 21, 2013): 351–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ebr-02-2013-0014.
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Kuo, Yi-Chun, and Yo-Ming Wu. "A Case Study on Reengineering the Trade Flow for the Cross-strait Tax Plans of Taiwanese Companies." International Journal of Business and Management 11, no. 11 (October 26, 2016): 70. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v11n11p70.
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New regionalism is sweeping the world making regional trade integration an irreversible global trend that countries like Taiwan must meet head on. A significant problem for Taiwan is that its competitors, such as Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN countries, enjoy a host of tariff preferences. All the above poses a very real threat of trade diversion and thus unfavorable economic outcomes for Taiwan. By using a case study, this article investigates how Taiwanese firms can develop new tax strategies through Chinese suppliers’ VAT (Value Added Tax) refunds by introducing business process reengineering (BPR), which will reintegrate current cross-strait trade routes and efficiently integrate Taiwanese corporations with the commercial flow and logistics of mainland-based trade. The main research objectives are 1. Explore the current situation for trade routes and logistics distribution of an individual company that does procurement on the mainland. 2. Under the influence of ECFA (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement), analyze how Taiwanese companies can effectively integrate commercial flow and logistics. The result of this study shows that reengineering the trade flow with a trade procurement platform allow case company significantly lower procurement-related costs, compared to direct trading, a 13.9% costs reduction for import prices makes the advantage quite clear. The main contribution of this study is helping trade managers to reintegrate a company’s internal trade process(es) and build a trade procurement platform that complies with current trade policy restrictions to reduce business operations-related costs, and raise the competitiveness of a product’s price.
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Hauptfleisch, A. C., and G. J. Meintjes. "Cmmunity development: The risks and opportunities of affirmative business enterprises’ participation in construction in South Africa." Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 22, no. 1 (September 26, 2003): 27–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v22i1.207.
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This research focuses on community development, specifically the upliftment and empowerment of previously disadvantaged people, through the participation of affirmative business enterprises (ABEs), in construction projects in South Africa. The significant change in the government’s approach to procurement of goods and services in the construction industry since 1994 and the development and implementation of affirmative procurement strategies by the government after 1994, gave rise to this research. Based on a literature study and a survey done by means of a questionnaire, this study identifies and evaluates the risks and opportunities as a result of the participation of ABEs in construction projects. The experience gained and lessons learned by construction managers of established construction enterprises, who were involved in managing these risks and opportunities, are analysed. On the basis of the foregoing, recommendations are made to enhance the successful outcomes of future development projects.
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Cooper, C. J. "Energy and transport issues for Gauteng, South Africa." Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 18, no. 2 (May 1, 2007): 11–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2007/v18i2a3369.
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Rapid urbanisation brings unwelcome negative impacts, and places excessive pressure on infra-structure development and maintenance. In partic-ular, transport networks become congested with negative impacts on energy logistics. The liquid fuel situation of South Africa and Gauteng is briefly examined. The paper considers the impact of con-strained oil supply, and supply infrastructure, on transport. The author further suggests that the authorities in Gauteng should critically examine an ultra light rail option in order to reduce reliance on imported oil, while helping reduce road congestion. A more energy efficient transport network for the province, able to meet the transport needs of pas-sengers and business, will help decrease environ-mentally damaging emissions.
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Windapo, Abimbola, Oluseye Olugboyega, and Abdulrauf Adediran. "Procurement strategies influencing small and medium contractor development in South Africa." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Management, Procurement and Law 172, no. 6 (December 1, 2019): 253–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jmapl.19.00021.
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Chen, Ivy S. N., Sherriff T. K. Luk, and Jinghui Tao. "Kerry Logistics — Paving the New Silk Road." Asian Case Research Journal 23, no. 01 (June 2019): 153–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0218927519500068.
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China’s logistics spending was roughly 14.5% of its GDP, higher than other developing countries like India and South Africa. With economic growth slowing, there was a need for more efficient logistics systems to move production resources at lower costs so that Chinese firms could remain competitive. Kerry Logistics, a third party logistics service provider, had grown rapidly in China and by now had established business centres in 32 provinces. Although it had many foreign clients who wanted to move goods in and out of China, it had difficulty gaining the trust of local clients who wanted a logistics firm with extensive local network. Kerry also wanted a share of the booming e-commerce delivery business but the market situation here was chaotic, unregulated and in a cut-throat price war. As its business was trade driven, there was an urgency to start extending its network along China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
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Bowman, Andrew. "Parastatals and economic transformation in South Africa: The political economy of the Eskom crisis." African Affairs 119, no. 476 (June 24, 2020): 395–431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa013.
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ABSTRACT This article analyses the causes, outcomes, and political significance of the inter-connected operational, financial, and governance crises afflicting Eskom, South Africa’s electricity parastatal. These crises emerged in the context of African National Congress initiatives to turn Eskom and other key parastatals into instruments of an envisaged South African developmental state, through increased investment and strategic procurement to support economic transformation goals. Instead, Eskom’s spiralling costs, procurement irregularities and inability to translate increased investment into functional new infrastructure meant it impeded these goals. Its indebtedness became a severe macro-economic risk, making Eskom a precarious nexus for the circulation of public funds, while the cost and unreliability of electricity has undermined South Africa’s energy-intensive industrial core. Intertwined with this were multiple high-profile corruption scandals associated with the ‘state-capture’ controversies of the latter stages of Jacob Zuma’s presidency. The article argues that Eskom’s extreme dysfunctionality results from long-running, and as yet unresolved, contestation of the parastatal and electricity policy more broadly by various interest groups, in a context of an increasingly fragmented political and business elite. This created a range of incoherent distributional pressures and institutional constraints. Rather than a straightforward outcome of corruption and ‘state capture’, this reflects deeper tensions in the post-apartheid political economy.
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Havenga, Jan Hendrik, and Zane Paul Simpson. "National freight demand modelling: a tool for macrologistics management." International Journal of Logistics Management 29, no. 4 (November 12, 2018): 1171–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijlm-11-2017-0290.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the results of South Africa’s national freight demand model and related logistics cost models, and to illustrate the application of the modelling outputs to inform macrologistics policy. Design/methodology/approach Spatially and sectorally disaggregated supply and demand data are developed using the input-output (I-O) model of the economy as a platform, augmented by actual data. Supply and demand interaction is translated into freight flows via a gravity model. The logistics costs model is a bottom-up aggregation of logistics-related costs for these freight flows. Findings South Africa’s logistics costs are higher than in developed countries. Road freight volumes constitute 80 per cent of long-distance corridor freight, while road transport contributes more than 80 per cent to the country’s transport costs. These challenges raise concerns regarding the competitiveness of international trade, as well as the impact of transport externalities. The case studies highlight that domestic logistics costs are the biggest cost contributor to international trade logistics costs and can be reduced through inter alia modal shift. Modal shift can be induced through the internalisation of freight externality costs. Results show that externality cost internalisation can eradicate the societal cost of freight transport in South Africa without increasing macroeconomic freight costs. Research limitations/implications Systematic spatially disaggregated commodity-level data are limited. There is however a wealth of supply, demand and freight flow information collected by the public and private sector. Initiatives to create an appreciation of the intrinsic value of such information and to leverage data sources will improve freight demand modelling in emerging economies. Originality/value A spatially and sectorally disaggregated national freight demand model, and related logistics costs models, utilising actual and modelled data, balanced via the national I-O model, provides opportunities for increased accuracy of outputs and diverse application possibilities.
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Bag, Surajit, Shivam Gupta, and Zongwei Luo. "Examining the role of logistics 4.0 enabled dynamic capabilities on firm performance." International Journal of Logistics Management 31, no. 3 (July 24, 2020): 607–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijlm-11-2019-0311.
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PurposeThe study investigates the effect of technological capabilities, organizational capabilities and environmental capabilities on Logistics 4.0 capabilities and also examines the effect of Logistics 4.0 capabilities on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed theoretical framework is tested using WarpPLS 6.0 software. We selected samples from the Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers in South Africa. Initially, we sent the structured questionnaire online using Google forms to 800 potential respondents. After doing follow ups, we received 230 completed survey responses. Further, data preparation is done using established scientific approach and we checked suitability of its use in structural equation modelling. After ensuring all necessary checks are completed, the results are found satisfactory to further proceed with testing of research hypotheses.FindingsIt is observed that technological capabilities, organizational capabilities and environmental capabilities show significant effect on Logistics 4.0 capabilities. However, the outcome of technological capabilities and environmental capabilities on Logistics 4.0 capabilities (ß = 0.27) is found stronger than organizational capabilities. Logistics 4.0 capabilities shows significant effect on firm performance.Practical implicationsIt is important that the sustainability goals are aligned with Logistics 4.0 strategies. Managers need to increase focus towards development of Logistics 4.0 dynamic capabilities that enhance agility and responsiveness in the supply chain. Managers should check the financial performance and market conditions continuously to further review logistics performance as this can influence the overall firm performance.Originality/valueThis study advances the literature on Logistics 4.0 applications in operations management by investigating the key links such as Logistics 4.0 capability development and firm performance.
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Worku, Zeleke. "A Study Of Employee Perceptions About Performance Appraisal At Transnet Engineering, South Africa." Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR) 35, no. 5 (September 1, 2019): 145–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.19030/jabr.v35i5.10307.
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Transnet Engineering is a division of Transnet, which is a key South African state owned enterprise that is responsible for providing railroad, freight and logistics services to South African and international business enterprises. Transnet Engineering is located at Koedoespoort, just outside Pretoria, South Africa. This manuscript is a result of data gathered from 198 employees of Transnet Engineering as part of an attempt made by the company to describe and quantify the perception held by employees of Transnet Engineering on the degree to which the performance of appraisal system used by the company for performance appraisal was suitable enough for its intended purpose. The perception of employees was measured by using a benchmark defined by Pichler (2012) in which similar measurements were made under near-identical circumstances. All measurements were taken based on a standardised, validated and pre-tested instrument. Pearson’s two-by-two chi-squared tests of associations, discriminant analysis and logit regression were used for analyses. The study found that about 63% of participants were happy with the performance appraisal system used by the company, whereas about 37% of participants held a negative perception. The results confirmed that the perception of employees about the performance appraisal system used at Transnet Engineering was affected by the perception of employees on fairness, and the assessment of performance of employees based on key performance indicators. Findings obtained from the study are quite relevant and valuable to all other South African state owned enterprises.
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Nkosi, Nhlanhla, Edison Muzenda, Tirivaviri A. Mamvura, Mohamed Belaid, and Bilal Patel. "The Development of a Waste Tyre Pyrolysis Production Plant Business Model for the Gauteng Region, South Africa." Processes 8, no. 7 (June 30, 2020): 766. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pr8070766.
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Some of today’s modern life challenges include addressing the increased waste generation and energy deficiencies. Waste tyres have been identified as one of the key environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradable nature and bulk storage space demand. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process with the potential to address the growing waste tyre problem, energy deficits, and material recovery by converting waste tyres to pyrolysis oil that can be used as a fuel. This study seeks to critically evaluate the feasibility of constructing and operating a waste tyre processing facility and then subsequently marketing and selling the pyrolysis secondary end products by developing a financial business model. The model encompasses costing, procurement, installation, commissioning, and operating a batch pyrolysis plant in Gauteng, South Africa. To achieve the study objectives, an order of magnitude costing method was used for model construction. The results showed the feasibility and sustainability of operating a 3.5 tonne per day batch waste tyre pyrolysis plant in Gauteng Province, South Africa, with a 15-year life span and a projected payback period of approximately 5 years. It was concluded that for the pyrolysis plant to be successful, further treatment steps are required to improve the process economics; also, a stable and sustainable product market should exist and be regulated in South Africa.
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Mafini, Chengedzai, and Osayuwamen Omoruyi. "Logistics benefits and challenges: The case of SMEs in a South African local municipality." Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management 6, no. 1 (December 31, 2013): 145. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajesbm.v6i1.38.
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<p>Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of every economy. However, in order for them to sustain their role of contributing to the mainstream economy, SMEs have to implement effective strategies in all of their business operations, inclusive of logistics. The function of logistics is important to SMEs because it is the quintessence of the organisation’s relationship with suppliers and customers. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges encountered as well as the benefits realised by SMEs during the implementation of logistics strategies. A quantitative approach using the cross-sectional descriptive survey technique was used in which a three-section questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 131 SME owners and managers in Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analysis was conducted using simple descriptive statistics. The results of the study reveal that financial constraints, the lack of logistics skills among the workforce, high costs of information technology and rapid technological advancements were the most important challenges to SMEs. Challenges related to inventory and environmental management emerged as the least relevant. Enhanced competitive advantage, increased sales and a reduction in operational costs were the most important benefits to SMEs. Reduction in labour turnover and innovation emerged as the least important benefits. Based on the findings, several recommendations were proposed.</p><p><strong>Key Words:</strong> SME, benefits, challenges, Emfuleni Local Municipality</p>
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Mwendwa, Purity, Simon Githui, Eunice Marete, and Thilo Kroll. "COVID-19 and vaccines in Africa: a descriptive and thematic analysis of Twitter content." HRB Open Research 4 (May 5, 2021): 43. http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13255.1.
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Introduction: As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines become available, it becomes important to understand public perceptions of the vaccines and implementation plans. The social media platform TwitterTM, which publicly shares information, serves as an important source of content related to COVID-19 vaccines. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design to examine content related to COVID-19 vaccines posted by Twitter users located in Africa. Methods: Data were collected from Twitter between the 11th and the 16th of December 2020 using the NCapture tool. We searched Twitter using the terms 'coronavirus', 'COVID-19 vaccine' and 'Africa' to identify the nature and content of tweets related to COVID-19 and vaccines shared by Twitter users from the African region. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of Twitter accounts and thematic analysis helped determine, analyse, and clarify patterns of meaning (themes) emerging from the tweets. Results: The study found n=208 Twitter accounts, the majority (n=69; 33%) from South Africa and most (42%; n=87) from news agencies. The final dataset included n=212 tweets. The most used hashtag was #Covid19vaccine(s). Four themes were identified: i) capacity for vaccine production, ii) vaccine procurement, iii) vaccine logistics, and iv) perceived safety and efficacy of vaccines. The capacity of countries in Africa to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine was deemed minimal and most tweets questioned Africa’s ability to procure vaccines based on the costs. Tweets also centred around the distribution of vaccines, storage and roll-out and the need to leverage existing solar-powered technologies to enhance the cold supply chain in Africa's remote locations. Questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines developed in under one year were also raised. Conclusions: Concerns about vaccine procurement and readiness for distribution were dominant topics. These public concerns can be important in informing policymakers in preparation for the roll-out of vaccines in these contexts.
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Windapo, Abimbola Olukemi, Oluseye Olugboyega, and Sunday Odediran. "Impacts of procurement strategies on construction SMEs’ growth." Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction 25, no. 3 (August 17, 2020): 423–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jfmpc-05-2019-0045.
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Purpose This study aims to investigate the impacts of procurement strategies on the growing proportion of construction small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and whether the size of the construction company moderates the effect. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a quantitative research approach and a cross-sectional questionnaire survey in achieving its objectives. The survey requires the respondent to identify both the most successful and most outstanding project that the respondent was involved in between 2010 and 2016. Findings The study found that only traditional and management-oriented procurement strategies ensure the achievement of all growth plans for construction SMEs in South Africa; and that medium-sized construction enterprises achieve social growth such as community empowerment, managerial skills and advancement on the cidb Register of Contractors. Practical implications The findings of the study imply that policymakers should base their decisions regarding macroeconomic issues and growth plans for construction SMEs on the internal and external factors such as differences in the sizes of construction SMEs and differences in the suitability of procurement strategies affecting the growth of construction SMEs. Originality/value In past studies, the diversity amongst SMEs is often overlooked and SMEs are erroneously assumed to share similar objectives, possess equal capabilities and face challenges of the same magnitude. The original contribution of this study is shown in the investigation of the moderating effect of SMEs’ diversity (in terms of company size) on their growth proportion as influenced by procurement strategies.
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Scheepers, Caren, Lyal White, and Adrian Kitimbo. "Political economy of Malawi: contextual leadership in expanding entrepreneurial businesses." Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies 7, no. 4 (October 20, 2017): 1–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/eemcs-03-2017-0039.
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Subject area Leadership; Political Economy; Strategy; Entrepreneurship. Study level/applicability Masters in Business Administration (MBA); MPhil in Strategic Leadership. Case overview On 5 February 2016, South African entrepreneur Jannie Van Eeden faced a dilemma about whether to expand his current businesses or not. He had to choose between focusing exclusively on hospitality and tourism or dividing his time and resources between the tourism business and expanding his existing logistics business. Expansions to his logistics business would entail investing in a warehouse and supplying fresh produce to the lodges in the wider area of Lake Malawi where he was based. Van Eeden realised that he needed to take into account the political economy of Malawi in unpacking the contextual variables related to his decision. Various stakeholders’ roles are illustrated in the case, for example the government’s role in enabling entrepreneurial businesses as well as the investments made by foreign organisations and international donors. Expected learning outcomes Development of leaders who can take contextually intelligent decisions. Insights into conducting Political Economy analysis to enable doing business in Africa. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science.
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Pienaar, Wessel. "Logistics aspects of pipeline transport in the supply of petroleum products." Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 27, no. 2 (September 16, 2008): 102–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v27i2.85.
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The commercial transportation of crude oil and petroleum products by pipeline is receiving increased attention in South Africa. Transnet Pipeline Transport has recently obtained permission from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to construct and operate a new petroleum products pipeline of 60 cm diameter from Durban to Gauteng. At an operating speed of 10 km/h the proposed 60 cm Transnet pipeline would be able to deliver 3,54 million litres of petroleum product per hour. This is equivalent to 89 deliveries per hour using road tank vehicles with an average carrying capacity of 40 000 litres of fuel per vehicle. This pipeline throughput is also equivalent to two trains departing per hour, each consisting of 42 petroleum tank wagons with an average carrying capacity of 42 500 litres of fuel per wagon. Considering that such road trucks and rail wagons return empty to the upstream refineries in Durban, it is clear that there is no tenable long-term alternative to pipeline transport:pipeline transport is substantially cheaper than road and rail transport;pipeline transport is much safer than rail and especially road transport; andpipeline transport frees up alternative road and rail transport capacity.Pipeline transport is a non-containerised bulk mode of transport for the carriage of suitable liquids (for example, petroleum commodities, which include crude oil, refined fuel products and liquid petro-chemicals), gas, slurrified coal and certain water-suspended ores and minerals. InSouth Africa, petroleum products account for the majority of commercial pipeline traffic, followed by crude oil and natural gas. There are three basic types of petroleum pipeline transport systems:Gathering pipeline systemsCrude oil trunk pipeline systemsRefined products pipeline systems Collectively, these systems provide a continuous link between extraction, processing, distribution, and wholesalers’ depots in areas of consumption. The following activities are involved in the flow of goods between place of origin and place of consumption or application:Demand forecasting, Facility site selection, Procurement,Materials handling, Packaging, Warehouse management, Inventory management,Order processing, Logistics communications, Transport, Reverse logistics. Because cost is incurred without adding value each time goods are handled (activity 4) at a terminal or storage facility, a primary logistics objective is to eliminate handling wherever possible. With the carriage of crude oil and petroleum products by pipeline this objective is fully met. Commodity intake, haulage, and discharge are combined in one process, usually a remote-controlled operation. Pipeline transport is a non-containerised bulk mode of transport thereby obviating the need for packaging (activity 5) and returning empty containers. Pipelines provide a direct and long-term link between these origins and destinations. If necessary a continuous service can be provided with no need for a return trip or a reverse pumping process (activity 11).The elimination of handling, packaging and reverse logistics activities contribute substantially to the high measure of economies of scale that pipeline transport enjoys. The article provides adscription of each of the eleven logistics activities in the context of pipeline transport. Effective logistics service is a prerequisite to help ensure that customers receive the required products at the desired quality and quantity, where and when needed. The most pertinent determinants of logistics service performance aresuitability, accessibility, goods security, transit time, reliability and flexibility. The article offers a discussion of the extent to which pipeline transport conforms to each of these measures of effectiveness.
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Peters, Ricardo M., and Pradeep Brijlal. "The Relationship between Levels of Education of Entrepreneurs and Their Business Success." Industry and Higher Education 25, no. 4 (August 2011): 265–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/ihe.2011.0048.
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The small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) sector has been widely recognized as an engine of economic growth in South Africa. The implementation of the National Small Business Strategy (NSBS) in 1995 established important objectives for the sector to address such problems as lack of access to markets and procurement, lack of access to finance and credit, low skills and education levels, lack of access to information and a shortage of effective support institutions. In response, the South African government established institutions and programmes designed to improve access to sources of finance, market opportunities, technology, training and development and education. This paper examines whether there is a relationship between the level of education of SMME owners and the growth of their businesses, using labour force and turnover as success indicators. The study adopted a mixed method approach, including questionnaire surveys, observations and face-to-face interviews. The results indicate that in the two years preceding the study there had been a relationship between the owner/manager's level of education and the business's ability to grow by increasing its labour force and annual turnover. This study, conducted in a developing economy, therefore supports the findings of similar studies in developed economies, that the level of education of an entrepreneur and the success of their business are related.
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Dirkse van Schalkwyk, Riaan, and Louis P. Krüger. "The potential financial impact and influence of black economic empowerment (BEE) on private higher education institutions in South Africa: management alert." Problems and Perspectives in Management 17, no. 3 (July 25, 2019): 45–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.17(3).2019.04.
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Education is considered an important pillar of economic development and a vital factor for nation building in post-1994 South Africa. Higher education (HE) is offered by government-subsidized universities and colleges, while there has been an increase in the number of private higher education institutions (PHEIs), which offer more expensive, unsubsidized tertiary education. While all state bodies and public entities are required to apply the provisions of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act, this is not (yet) seemingly a requirement for PHEIs. This study used an adapted version of the “5 Star” research methodology to explore the potential financial impact and influence of the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) black economic empowerment (BEE) policy on PHEIs. The research shows that the BEE policy has the potential to financially impact and influence most of the components of the total quality service (TQS) framework for PHEIs in terms of preferential procurement from suppliers, company ownership, appointment of executive, middle and junior managers, employment of academic and administrative staff, and throughput of black student graduates. Management at PHEIs should be alerted to the fact that it is probably not merely a matter of IF, but rather WHEN the policy will start impacting on the financial stability and viability of PHEIs as BEE compliance becomes mandatory.
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Balakrishnan, Melodena Stephens. "Aramex PJSC: carving a competitive advantage in the global logistics and express transportation service industry." Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies 5, no. 3 (October 25, 2012): 1–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/eemcs-03-2015-0036.
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Title Aramex PJSC: carving a competitive advantage in the global logistics and express transportation service industry. Subject area Entrepreneurship, International Business, Strategy. Study level/applicability Post-graduates, Practitioners. Case overview This case chronicles the Aramex PJSC story of entrepreneur Fadi Gandhour. The case looks at the new start-up, its growth and financing plans for expansion and how it got a competitive advantage in an industry dominated by big players. Aramex, as of 2012, was the only Arab company to have successfully listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. After 30 years at the helm of the company, Fadi Ghandour, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), was stepping down and was being succeeded by regional head, Hussein Hachem, the CEO of Middle East and Africa. Aramex had a competitive edge in emerging markets, and Fadi and Hussein knew that the route to sustainable growth was to capitalize on this opportunity using organic growth, acquisitions and strategic alliances. Expected learning outcomes Strategy included looking at gaining a competitive advantage in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and other emerging markets. Lessons are provided on capitalization of opportunity, funding and creating an organization culture that is sustainable and reflects the Founder's ideal. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
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Ivanova, S. V., and A. V. Latyshov. "New Globalization as an Exogenous Factor in the Formation of the Foreign Trade Policy of the Republic of Korea." Vestnik of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, no. 6 (December 18, 2018): 214–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.21686/2413-2829-2018-6-214-223.
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The article reveals the content of the "new globalization" concept and characterizes the readiness of the Republic of Korea (RK) for a new technological order. Based on the analysis of the values of different indicators (KOF Index of Globalization, Digital Evolution Index, Digital Adoption Index and a number of others), the conclusion about the high dynamics of Korean society integration into the new global economy is made. South Korea is among the leading countries in terms of digital implementation in business and public administration. The country has a well-established system of e-government, which, among other things, allows it to export the system to other countries of the world. The procedure of customs clearance of goods has been optimized, the "single window" technology has been introduced, public procurement is carried out only through electronic bidding. The traditional close relationship between the state and the chaebols makes it possible to successfully transfer the policy of digitalization into business practices. As a result, digitalization has a positive impact on the development of Korean foreign trade: on the one hand, it allows to increase exports due to the growth of goods and services of the IT sector and related industries, and on the other hand - to reduce the time and money spent on logistics, customs clearance and on the interaction between government agencies.
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Dzomira, Shewangu. "Financial accountability & governance in an emerging country." Corporate Ownership and Control 14, no. 3 (2017): 204–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/cocv14i3c1art6.
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In the public sector the agents have the responsibility of being accountable to the exploitation of the resources towards service delivery. The public sector expenditure has been characterised with wasteful and fruitless, irregular and unauthorised expenditures. Therefore governance embraces the engagements set to certify that the anticipated upshots for stakeholders (citizens) are limpid and realized. This study is grounded on agency theory as it seeks out to analyse public expenditure and governance in South Africa’s public sector. The research study followed a qualitative research approach based on an interpretative philosophy which examined meaningful and symbolic content of qualitative data from 24 General Reports on The Provincial Audit Outcomes for the three periods (2012-2013; 2013-2014 and 2014-2015). The research results propose that public sector financial governance in South Africa is pitiable as the public agencies perpetrate an act of financial misdemeanour as they continue to errantly make irregular expenditures, unauthorised expenditures and, fruitless and wasteful expenditures. Public finance management reform is a necessity as it can aid governments move to single accounting systems across the public sector, permitting centralised planning and budgeting, as well as the capacity to observe the expenditure of funds centrally. It is recommended that governments should implement integrated financial management systems which allows for integrated budgeting, financial management, procurement and supply chain management.
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Dennehy, Maureen, Hamieda Parker, Sarah Boyd, and Claire Barnardo. "On purpose: leading manufacturing at Shonaquip social enterprise." Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies 10, no. 1 (March 11, 2020): 1–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/eemcs-09-2019-0234.
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Learning outcomes The case introduces students to aspects of operations management (OM) and management theory and provides examples of the real-world challenges facing a practitioner. It requires students to think about the operational manager’s responsibilities and how organisational context influences choices and possibly even fit within an organisation. Case overview/synopsis In this case, a factory lead protagonist presents her OM challenges and choices within a for-purpose, rather than for-profit, a social enterprise in South Africa. The context presented unusual constraints that required thoughtful adaptation and judicious choices. The case introduces students to aspects of OM and management theory and provides examples of the real-world challenges facing a practitioner. It requires students to think about the operational manager’s responsibilities and how organisational context influences choices and possibly even fit within an organisation. Complexity academic level The case is aimed at postgraduate business students studying OM. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and logistics.
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Zacharia Mhlanga, Mfanimpela, Elias Munapo, and Nehemiah Mavetera. "Investigating causes of delays and cost escalation in project execution during turnarounds." Investment Management and Financial Innovations 13, no. 2 (July 14, 2016): 334–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/imfi.13(2-2).2016.08.
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Engen Refinery plant is part of the Engen Petroleum Limited, with operations in Southern Africa. The plant is situated in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and it operates 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends. Although Engen operates 24 hours 7 days a week, the plant has to be shut down occasionally for maintenance. These shutdown periods are also used as an opportunity to implement most projects, especially those that could not be implemented during the normal run of the plant. In order to ensure that the plant operations are not interrupted, it is preferable to work on the equipment while the plant is not operational. The shutdown periods are very limited in time, so it is of utmost importance to complete tasks within the given turnaround period in order to get the plant back on line in time to deliver products as scheduled to customers. The main objective of this study is to explore the causes and consequences of delays in project execution and their impact on the success of the project. The study identified poor communication, repetition of tasks, resource allocation, scope change, procurement process management, inadequate planning and poor budget estimates as major contributors to delays and cost escalation during project execution. It is recommended that Engen Refinery put some means together to improve the above-mentioned issues
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Cupido, Kim, and Jean-Paul Van Belle. "A Digitally Enabled Strategic Sourcing Process to Mitigate Risk." Journal of Information Technology Education: Discussion Cases 6 (2017): 08. http://dx.doi.org/10.28945/3924.
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A South African insurance company is considering how to automate the process of handling home insurance repair claims in order to make the process more efficient and improve the customer experience. Should they stick with the status quo, develop their own system, purchase existing technology or employ a hybrid solution? ABC Insurance was a leading short-term insurer in South Africa. The FSB (Financial Services Board) of South Africa defined short term insurance cover as indemnification secured by the insurance purchaser over their fixed and movable assets (FSB, n.d.). Such insurable assets could be one’s home (the actual building) or motor vehicle (https://www.fsb.co.za). The purchased insurance cover protected the policyholder (customer) against total loss or accidental damage, as a result of insurable events like fires or floods. In exchange, payment for insurance cover (referred to as the “premium”), was collected by the insurance company from its customers. Andrew Cohen, commodity manager for the Non-Automobile Property and Casualty procurement division at ABC Insurance, was faced with the choice of either digitizing the day to day claims fulfillment procedures within his portfolio, or to continue his business unit’s activities “as is.” The main function of Cohen’s business unit was to ensure that home owners (policyholders) who purchased insurance cover over their fixed assets (i.e., buildings insurance) could access and receive the required repair services as per the provisions set out in their insurance policies. In delivering these services to the policyholders, Cohen’s immediate challenges were that he had to increase efficiency within the claims environment, meet customer demand and enhance operational processes while concurrently accelerating daily business operations. In opposition to maintaining the status quo, his options were to either build an in-house solution, or purchase an existing tool and customize it to his organization’s requirements. His preliminary cost benefit analysis showed that choosing to remain “as is” would cost the firm nothing in terms of immediate cash outflows, but in the long term would expose management to the risk of not capitalizing on opportunities to service their customers quickly and efficiently, infuse transparency into the appointment procedure of suppliers on repair claims, and gain line of sight of interactions between the firm, its service providers, and its customers. He furthermore surmised that whatever the solution was it might require the firm to make initial investments of time for the re-organization of internal processes and new information technology competencies to acquire. To select an ideal solution, he would need to weigh the risks of remaining “as is” against the benefits of infusing mobile technology such as a mobile app into his portfolio, and ultimately, into the core day-to-day operations of the firm as well.
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Bag, Surajit, Shivam Gupta, and Arnesh Telukdarie. "Importance of innovation and flexibility in configuring supply network sustainability." Benchmarking: An International Journal 25, no. 9 (November 29, 2018): 3951–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/bij-06-2017-0132.
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PurposeThe alignment of procurement strategy with overall business strategy is important for superior firm performance. It is also essential for firms’ purchasing structure to fit the purchasing strategy whether it is cost reduction; value analysis and/or improving delivery and increasing flexibility for achieving superior purchasing performance. The purpose of this paper is to scientifically examine the influence of organization culture (OC), green supplier development (GSD), supplier relationship management, flexibility and innovation on sustainability in supply network (SSN) under the moderation effect of institutional pressures and resources availability.Design/methodology/approachThe study is grounded by integrating institutional theory (IT) and resource-based view (RBV) theory. The study empirically tests the conceptual model through survey data gathered from 175 respondents in the KwaZulu-Natal province of Southern Africa using structural equation modeling which is a multivariate data analysis technique that permits to simultaneously examine many relationships among manifest and latent variables.FindingsIt was found that OC plays a crucial role in shaping the workforce behavior and responsible for enhancing GSDs and building good relationship with suppliers which ultimately results into increased flexibility and innovativeness. Coercive pressures (CPs) play a moderating role between the causal relationship of innovation and SSN. Therefore, CPs have got the ability to amplify or reverse the effect between innovation and SSNs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study suffers from few limitations. First, the study is restricted to one particular province in South Africa. Second, cross-sectional data were used for testing of model in the research study.Practical implicationsThe findings are of great importance for both the researchers and supply chain practitioners. Supply chain practitioners may use this knowledge for benchmarking the supply network configuration process and continuously improve the process. The tested model actually shows the mechanism for enhancing SSNs. In today’s dynamic and uncertain business environment, all firms in the supply network aims to minimize risks and maximize profitability. The findings show that CPs play a moderating effect on the relationship between innovation and SSN. Whenever government authorities and institutions pressurize firms for minimizing pollution levels, we see a trend of increased innovations in the form of new product developments, usage of eco-friendly raw material and application of eco-friendly technology which ultimately minimizes the carbon footprint. Through such initiatives steel and engineering firms conform to the government norms and regulations. However, innovations are possible through collaboration with specialist suppliers and sub-suppliers by adopting a common standard across the supply network. Through this overall process of innovation, the focal firm and sub-suppliers linked in the network will benefit and ultimately achieve a competitive edge. Therefore, firms can experience multiple benefits in terms of lower development costs, lower project cycle completion time, improvement in design for re-manufacturability, low downtime, low supply risks, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, ultimately, sustainable development.Originality/valueThe study is unique from dual perspective – both in terms of scope and contribution to supply chain management literature. First, the study integrates flexibility and innovation to study the impact on SSNs. Second, it integrates both IT and RBV theory of firm to test the moderation effect and the findings further opens up window for future research.
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Badenhorst, A., and J. D. Nel. "Identifying potential solutions for specific reverse logistics problems." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 6, no. 1 (November 26, 2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v6i1.32.
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The concept of reverse logistics is often misunderstood and academic research in this field is limited, especially in South Africa. The research for this article was based on the available literature. Various international sources and a limited number of South African sources were studied in an attempt to explore the concept of reverse logistics, and identify possible problems and potential solutions to such reverse logistics problems. There are several definitions of reverse logistics and the term is often confused with other terms such as returns management. Various problems and challenges also exist in reverse logistics; however, solutions have been proposed to address these problems. The research presented in this article clearly shows that a variety of opportunities exists in the field of reverse logistics in South Africa, with regard to research as well as the proper implementation and management of reverse logistics in business.
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Chinomona, Richard, and R. I. David Pooe. "The influence of logistics integration on information sharing and business performance: The case of small and medium enterprises in South Africa." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 7, no. 1 (May 31, 2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v7i1.92.
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Logistics integration across partnering firms has become the backbone of supply chain management as it facilitates information sharing, which is required in order to enhance business performance. This study investigated the mediatory role of information sharing on the relationships between logistics integration and business performance within the small and medium enterprise (SME) context. Five research hypotheses were postulated and the hypotheses were empirically tested using sample data from the SME sector in South Africa’s Gauteng Province. The results indicated that logistics integration positively influences information sharing and business performance in a significant way within the context of South African SMEs. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed, whilst limitations and future research directions are indicated.
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Bloem, Naomi, and Wilna L. Bean. "The application of outsourcing decision-making methods in a logistics context in South Africa." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 9, no. 1 (February 4, 2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v9i1.168.
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Background: Companies have often relinquished the control of important business functions to outside suppliers for the sake of short-term savings and because of the lack of use of proper decision-making methods within the business.Objectives: This article identified three methods of decision-making and applied it to a logistics outsourcing problem. The logistics outsourcing problem consisted of a make-or-buy decision as well as a supplier selection process. The purpose of the study was to determine the most suitable method in the case of logistics outsourcing.Method: The decision-making methods were applied to a South African case study within the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. The logistics functions considered in the case study included secondary distribution and warehousing of finished goods. Each method considered the same evaluation criteria and the results were analysed and compared.Results: Each method produced different results to the logistics outsourcing problem. The method developed by Platts, Probert and Canez (2000) suggested that the logistics functions be insourced. The decision tree method suggested outsourcing both functions, with a unit rate cost model. The results from the linear programming (LP) method indicated that the secondary distribution function should be insourced and the warehousing function outsourced, with a fixed and variable cost model pending further analysis of the demand trends.Conclusion: The study provides empirical evidence that proven outsourcing decision-making methods, such as the method developed by Platts et al. (2000), the LP method and the decision tree method traditionally applied to a manufacturing outsourcing decision problem, can be adapted and applied to a logistics outsourcing decision problem of a South African FMCG company.
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Havenga, Jan H., Zane Simpson, Pieter F. Fourie, and Anneke De Bod. "Sustainable freight transport in South Africa:Domestic intermodal solutions." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 5, no. 1 (November 26, 2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v5i1.26.
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Due to the rapid deregulation of freight transport in South Africa two decades ago, and low historical investment in rail (with resultant poor service delivery), an integrated alternative to road and rail competition was never developed. High national freight logistics costs, significant road infrastructure challenges and environmental impact concerns of a road-dominated freight transport market have, however, fuelled renewed interest in intermodal transport solutions. In this article, a high-level business case for domestic intermodal solutions in South Africa is presented. The results demonstrate that building three intermodal terminals to connect the three major industrial hubs (i.e. Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town) through an intermodal solution could reduce transport costs (including externalities) for the identified 11.5 million tons of intermodalfriendly freight flows on the Cape and Natal corridors by 42% (including externalities).
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Mafini, Chengedzai, and Asphat Muposhi. "The impact of green supply chain management in small to medium enterprises: Cross-sectional evidence." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 11 (February 24, 2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v11i0.270.
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Background: South Africa has a high rate of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) failure, especially in the manufacturing sector. The operational challenges confronting manufacturing SMEs are acknowledged by the Global Competitiveness Index that ranked South African SMEs as one of the lowest in emerging economies.Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the association between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, environmental collaboration and financial performance in SMEs.Method: The study is quantitative in nature and involves a convenient sample of 312 SMEs based in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analyses follow a two-step process involving a confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric properties of the measurement scale and Structural Equation Modelling to test the proposed hypotheses.Results: The study shows that three GSCM practices, namely, green procurement, green logistics and green manufacturing in SMEs exert a positive effect on environmental collaboration, with green manufacturing exerting a higher effect than the other two constructs. In turn, higher levels of environmental collaboration inspired higher levels of SME financial performance.Conclusion: The study advances that SMEs can succeed financially through the influence of enhanced environmental collaboration, which emanates, in part, from the adoption and implementation of GSCM practices.
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Windapo, Abimbola. "Editorial." Journal of Construction Business and Management 2, no. 1 (January 3, 2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.15641/jcbm.2.1.485.
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Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management in 2018. The themes covered in this issue are related to risk management and procurement practices used in the delivery of construction projects. These papers fill critical gaps in the knowledge and practice of construction procurement, business and project management by exposing the reader to innovative procurement systems and risk management techniques. The issue contains five articles that were written by authors based in South Africa and Nigeria. Altogether, eight authors produced these papers aimed at strengthening the discourse in and enhancing construction project procurement, business and management research.
The first paper by Ayegba investigates the duties performed by and the required competencies of management contractors, towards elucidating essential considerations for the selection and use of management contractors on construction projects. The study establishes that a management contractor's duties involve multi-tasking over the design and construction stages of a project. Paper two by Olusanya examines the influence of subcontracting systems on access to social protection measures by workers in the informal building construction sector and suggests that the government in Nigeria should advance formalization of employment in the informal sector and support community-based social insurance schemes. Dosumu's paper highlights the need to identify risks on projects before the initiation of the project based on the research findings that although stakeholders are aware and adopt risk management techniques on construction projects, the implementation is at response level rather than identification level. Paper four by Waziri identifies nine risk factors as significant contributors to the high-risk profile of Build Operate and Transfer projects and proposes that stakeholders should focus on these risk factors responsible for 80% of the risk impacts. The final paper by Anugwo, Shakantu, Saidu and Adamu suggests that a significant number of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) contractors in South Africa are reluctant to amplify their potential capabilities, and needed the readiness to develop international business strategies that would enable them to penetrate and participate in the South African Development Community region and global construction market. The authors recommend that both the SMME and large contractors in South Africa should harness their potential capacity towards globalizing their businesses and improving their global competitiveness.
Finally, I wish to thank all authors who submitted papers for consideration, members of the Editorial Board and Panel of Reviewers for their assistance, timeous feedback and comments that helped shape and improve the quality of the submitted manuscripts. Finally, we welcome your feedback and suggestions that will help improve the quality of the journal and maintain the integrity of the findings published.
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Badenhorst-Weiss, Johanna A., and Beverley J. Waugh. "A logistics sector’s perspective of factors and risks within the business environment that influence supply chains’ effectiveness: An explorative mixed method study." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 9, no. 1 (February 4, 2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v9i1.177.
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Background: Supply chains in South Africa operate in a challenging business environment. This environment influences the efficiency and effectiveness of South African businesses and supply chains. These factors further influence the competitiveness of products produced in the country, the economic growth and development of South Africa.Objectives: The purpose of this study was two-fold: Firstly, to obtain insight into the main business environment risks and other factors, from a logistics perspective; and secondly, to demonstrate the use of methodology not often used in logistics research − the sequential mixed method.Method: The explorative study was conducted amongst logistics service providers and cargo owners in 2013 by means of a sequential mixed method study, consisting of a survey to determine the importance of risk factors in the business environment, followed by a qualitative study in the form of a focus group discussion to obtain richer data and insight into these risks and factors. The results of these two methods were integrated with industry literature.Results: It was found that increasing transportation costs, operational management of infrastructure and human resources-related problems pose the biggest challenges in the logistics industry. In addition, it was found that the mixed method research study has application possibilities in logistics research.Conclusion: The factors identified as particularly problematic for the logistics industry, namely ineffective operational management of infrastructure, the general conditions in the labour market and increasing costs (to some extent) are outside the control of individual organisations. However, organisations can control how they react and mitigate these risk factors. It is shown that these factors and risks can change overnight. The use of the explorative mixed method in obtaining qualitative and quantitative inputs and integrating it with existing literature proved to be a workable and usable methodology.
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De Villiers, Chantelle, Henri Bezuidenhout, Sonja Grater, and Ewert P. J. Kleynhans. "Determinants of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in the freight and logistics industry of South Africa." Acta Commercii 19, no. 1 (September 25, 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ac.v19i1.725.
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Orientation: The article reports on applied and practical research that focuses on the understanding of the motivation and actions of Multinational Enterprises in Africa as far as mergers and acquisitions (MAs) are concerned.Research purpose: This study examines developments in the freight and logistics industry through MAs in South Africa.Motivation for the study: It is necessary to gain a better understanding of MAs from a firm-level perspective in the South African context. Little research exists on the dynamics of MAs, and even less relating to the logistics industry that plays such a large role in trade in the region. This research adds substantial and significant original work to the scarce body of meaningful literature on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa.Research design, approach and method: This study used a case study approach employing structured interviews. The population was freight and logistics companies that were involved in MA activities in South Africa. Quantitative data and other information from various databases, published MA data and financial statements were analysed to obtain background views of the companies’ where after, three companies were eventually selected. Direct unstructured interviews were then conducted with the main decision makers and a qualitative thematic analysis of the companies’ responses. Related themes and patterns were identified through the frequency of occurrence, similarities, differences and general patterns observed. This method yielded the most insight into the processes and company dynamics involved.Main findings: International MAs in the freight and logistics industry provide companies with international scale and effectively link to international markets. Companies benefit from expanded market opportunities across national borders, which generate substantial revenues, geographical growth and business expansion. It renders synergy and additional competitive advantage.Practical/managerial implications: Theoretical and practical aspects of FDI, such as motives for market entry, ownership, location and entry barriers within the context of multinational enterprises, globally, were investigated. Little data exist on the freight and logistics industry in Africa and also on MAs, which presented limitations. Companies are inexperienced and need to involve more expertise in MA processes. The results also found that South African companies need to expand their cultural intelligence and negotiation skills, especially within a diverse cultural realm, before entering into MA deals with foreign companies.Contribution/value-add: Services are determinants of trade volumes and offer distributional effects and patterns of economic growth, development and FDI inflows. Little research exists on the dynamics of MAs in the freight and logistics industry, especially within the African context. This study also makes some contribution in that regard.
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Epoh, Louis R., and Chengedzai Mafini. "Green supply chain management in small and medium enterprises: Further empirical thoughts from South Africa." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 12 (June 21, 2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v12i0.393.
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Background: For South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gain and maintain competitive advantages and succeed, they have to change their practices and adapt their strategies to the dynamic environment of today. A better understanding and application of green supply chain management practices by SMEs could enable such enterprises to improve their performance and succeed in their operations.Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the relationship between green supply chain management, environmental performance and supply chain performance in South African SMEs.Method: A conceptual model was proposed and subjected to empirical verification using data collected from SMEs based in Gauteng province. The structural equation modelling procedure was used to test hypotheses in the proposed relationships in SMEs within different industries.Results: The results of the study indicated mixed outcomes. No relationships were found between environmental performance and two green supply chain dimensions, namely green purchasing and eco-design. However, the remaining dimensions of green supply chain management, namely reverse logistics and legislation and regulation, positively and significantly predicted environmental performance. In turn, environmental performance positively and significantly predicted supply chain performance.Conclusion: Integrating green supply chain management practices, especially reverse logistics and adherence to legislation and regulation into the SME business strategy, leads to the improvement of environmental and overall supply chain performance.
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Chigbu, Bianca I., and Fhulu H. Nekhwevha. "The extent of job automation in the automobile sector in South Africa." Economic and Industrial Democracy, July 27, 2020, 0143831X2094077. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0143831x20940779.
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This study argues that the automobile sector’s body shop is fully automated, the paint shop is 80% automated, there is about 20% technology utilization in the car assembly line, and the supply for logistics is making a lot more use of machines as well. These percentages are an indicator of how workers have lost the contest with technology in the industry. Many workers are being deskilled and the remaining workers are being reshuffled to assembly lines likely to be automated with time. There should be interventions to ready the workers to adapt to society and the economy, or there will be massive unemployment.
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Coetzee, Nandie, and Wilna L. Bean. "A green profitability framework to quantify the impact of green supply chain management in South Africa." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 10, no. 1 (January 29, 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v10i1.251.
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Background: The greenhouse gas emissions of South Africa are the largest contribution by a country in the African continent. If the carbon emissions are not reduced, they will continue to grow exponentially. South Africa’s emissions are placed in the top 20 in the world when considering per capita emissions.Objectives: The aim of the research article was to investigate how the impact of implementing environmental initiatives on business profitability and sustainability can best be quantified in a South African business.Method: Various methods, theories and best practices were researched to aid in the development of the green business profitability framework. This framework was applied to two case studies in different areas of the supply chain of a South African fast-moving consumer goods business.Results: Results indicated that the green profitability framework can be used successfully to quantify both the environmental and profitability impact of green supply chain initiatives. The framework is therefore more suitable for the South African company than other existing frameworks in the literature because of its ability to quantify both profitability and sustainability in short- and long-term planning scenarios.Conclusion: The results from the case studies indicated that the green business profitability framework enabled the tracking of environmental initiatives back to logistics operations and profitability, which makes it easier to understand and implement. The developed framework also helped to link the carbon emissions to source, and to translate green supply chain actions into goals.
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Mafini, Chengedzai, and Welby V. Loury-Okoumba. "Extending green supply chain management activities to manufacturing small and medium enterprises in a developing economy." South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences 21, no. 1 (May 22, 2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v21i1.1996.
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Background: The implementation of green supply chain management activities as a business strategy remains unfamiliar to many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries such as South Africa. Setting: Implementation of green supply chain management activities by South African SMEs is necessary, given both the high failure rate of such enterprises in the country and the proven ability of such activities to promote the success of businesses. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between green supply chain management activities, operational performance and supply chain performance in manufacturing SMEs in South Africa. Methods: Data were collected from 219 manufacturing SMEs operating within Gauteng. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of measurement scales. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Results: Four green supply chain management activities, namely green purchasing, reverse logistics, environmental collaboration with suppliers and green manufacturing, exerted a positive influence on operational performance. Environmental collaboration with suppliers exerted the highest influence on operational performance when compared to green purchasing, reverse logistics and green manufacturing. In turn, operational performance exerted a strong positive influence on supply chain performance. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that manufacturing SMEs in developing countries could benefit by adopting green supply chain management activities, with improvements being realised in terms of increases in both operational and supply chain performance.
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Laryea, Samuel, and Ron Watermeyer. "Structuring architectural competitions as a competitive procurement process." Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management ahead-of-print, ahead-of-print (July 22, 2020). http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ecam-06-2019-0282.
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PurposeArchitectural competitions have been in existence for over 2,500 years. Past studies on this have focussed on the architectural aspects, competition formats, design evaluation by jury members and its evolution. However, no comprehensive research has examined the way that architectural competitions can be structured as a competitive procurement process for contractual outcomes. This paper addresses that gap by examining the way in which a two-stage proposal procedure (as defined by ISO 10845) was used to convert the architectural ideas competition for two new universities in South Africa (SPU and UMP) into a public procurement process with contractual outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA case study was designed to examine (1) the procurement and contractual aspects of the two-stage proposal procedure within a public procurement context; (2) the challenges encountered in implementing the procurement procedure adopted; and (3) the outcomes of the procurement process. In total, 16 documents relating to the architectural competition were examined, using document analysis, to obtain insights into the procurement approach and processes. This was followed by in-depth interviews with the competition administrators to identify the key challenges encountered in implementing the procurement procedure. A content analysis method was used to analyse the qualitative data.FindingsOnly 40% of architects who expressed interest made submissions in the first stage. Those admitted to the second stage associated themselves with architectural practices and submitted tender offers which were evaluated on the basis of their financial offer, preference and quality. Most participants experienced difficulty with the procurement procedure due to unfamiliarity with the process and tight timescales. However, necessary clarifications provided by the client's team enabled them to respond appropriately and the procurement procedure proved effective for procuring innovative design ideas from nine talented architects. They were all based in small to medium-sized firms rather than large firms.Originality/valueThis paper fills an important gap in current understanding of how architectural competitions may be alternatively structured into a competitive procurement process, using empirical evidence from two architectural competitions. Architectural competitions have traditionally been used and characterized in the research literature primarily as an ideas competition rather than a competitive procurement process. This paper, therefore, extends current knowledge on the traditional way architectural competitions are generally used in practice and demonstrates through examination of two case studies how architectural competitions may be further extended and utilized as a competitive procurement process rather than just a process for obtaining ideas.
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Amoah, Christopher, and Linda Bikitsha. "Emerging contractor's management and planning skills to overcome business risk factors." International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation ahead-of-print, ahead-of-print (April 29, 2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijbpa-01-2021-0003.
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PurposeEmerging construction companies often liquidate due to their inability to institute strategies to handle their business risks. This study investigated the skills and strategies adopted by emerging contractors to overcome business risk factors to make their businesses sustainable.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Semi-structured interview questions were used to solicit information from emerging contractors within the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Grade one (1) to four (4) in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The data gathered were analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify the main themes.FindingsThe study's findings indicate that emerging contractors face business risk factors that impact their project execution hugely. Thus to overcome these risk factors, they implement various strategies to curtail the risk they encounter in their businesses. These strategies include; human resource management (employing experienced and skilled labour and training of staff); communication management (with other employees about set goals); financial management (effective pricing of tender documents); procurement management (ensuring materials are available as and when necessary in their projects) and quality management (ensuring effective work supervision); among others.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the study concentrated on the emerging construction firms in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, the findings may be applicable in other provinces and beyond South Africa.Practical implicationsIn order for emerging contractors to prevent the collapse of their businesses, there is the need to be educated on effective project risk management to identify potential business risk, the mirage associated with the notion of the construction business profitability, effective tender pricing and strategic business partnership. These strategies, if well thought, will help sustain their businesses and growth in the construction industry.Originality/valueThe study has identified the management strategies used by emerging contractors to sustain their businesses in the construction industry. Thus, the finding will guide both emerging contractors who are already in the construction business and those planning to enter the construction market.
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Sartorius, Kurt, Benn Sartorius, and Dino Zuccollo. "Does the Baltic Dry Index predict economic activity in South Africa? A review from 1985 to 2016." South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences 21, no. 1 (April 5, 2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v21i1.1457.
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Background: The ability of the Baltic Dry Index to predict economic activity has been evaluated in a number of developed and developing countries. Aim: Firstly, the article determines the primary factors driving the dynamics of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and, secondly, whether the BDI can predict future share price reactions on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange All Share Index (JSE ALSI), South Africa. Setting: This article investigates the dynamics and predictive properties of the BDI in South Africa between 1985 and 2016. Methods: The article uses a review of a wide range of published data and two time-series data sets to adopt a mixed methods approach. An inductive contents analysis is used to answer the first research question and a combination of a unit root test, correlation analysis and a Granger causality model is employed to test the second research question. Results: The results show that the BDI price is primarily driven by four underlying constructs that include the supply and demand for dry bulk shipping, as well as risk, cost and logistics management factors. Secondly, the results indicate a break in the BDI data set in July 2008 that influences a fundamental change in its relationship with the JSE ALSI index. In the pre-break period (1985 to 2008), the BDI is positively correlated with the ALSI (0.837, α = 0.05) before sharply diverging in the second period from August 2008 to 2016. In the first period, the BDI showed an optimal lag period of 6 months as a predictor of the ALSI index, but this predictive ability ceases after July 2008. The article makes a two-part contribution. Firstly, it demonstrates that the BDI is a useful predictor of future economic activity in an African developing country. Secondly, the BDI can be incorporated in government and industry sector planning models as a variable to assess future gross domestic product trends. Conclusion: The study confirms that the BDI is only a reliable indicator of future economic activity when the supply of shipping capacity is well matched with the demand.
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Tolmay, Aletta S. "The correlation between relationship value and business expansion in the South African automotive supply chains." Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management 11 (February 24, 2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v11i0.245.
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Background: The South African automotive industry includes complete supply chains. The South African automotive supply chain stakeholders operating within the global arena are faced with opportunities as well as challenges. The South African government supports the automotive industry and encourages the vision to drastically expand the industry by the year 2020. However, having to adhere to strict prescriptions from customers regarding product quality and logistics, automotive component suppliers have only the actual relationship with customers through which value can be added. Literature acknowledges the importance of relationship value and agrees that it results in business retention. However, literature fails to prove whether relationship value can result in business expansion where more business is generated.Objectives: The objective of this article was to provide a better understanding of how to optimise relationship value within the South African automotive supply chains between Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. Furthermore, the correlation between relationship value and business expansion was tested through a linear regression model. It was also important to determine whether supply chain stakeholders from different countries of origin and cultural backgrounds attach the same importance to relationship value.Method: This article reports on research which followed a positivistic paradigm, through a quantitative study undertaken in the South African automotive supply chains. Members of the National Association for Automobile Component and Allied Manufacturers of South Africa (NAACAM), defined as Tier 1 suppliers, were approached to describe their best Tier 2 suppliers. Questions relating to relationship value and business expansion were asked via a closed-ended questionnaire. The aim was to obtain the perceptions of Tier 1 suppliers of their best Tier 2 suppliers in terms of relationship value and business expansion. The data were analysed through a linear regression model.Results: It was found that relationship value directly correlates with business expansion and is therefore highly regarded as important by Tier 1 suppliers in terms of their Tier 2 suppliers in the South African automotive supply chains. Notwithstanding the different countries of origin, respondents are in agreement regarding the importance of relationship value.Conclusion: As the South African automotive industry plays an important role in the South African economy, all efforts should be made to retain and expand the industry. The industry is characterised by a difficult economy, and supply chain role players should constantly investigate new strategies to gain a competitive advantage. It was found that there was a high regard for relationship value which could result in business expansion. Automotive component suppliers are encouraged to invest in a relationship value governance strategy to actively pursue added benefits for all stakeholders.
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Nguegan Nguegan, Catherine A., and Chengedzai Mafini. "Supply chain management problems in the food processing industry: Implications for business performance." Acta Commercii 17, no. 1 (January 31, 2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ac.v17i1.485.
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Orientation: In emerging economies such as South Africa, the implementation of supply chain management is characterised by significant problems. Despite its continued growth and importance to the economy, the food processing industry in the country remains vulnerable to these problems, which threaten its viability.Motivation for the study: The aim of this study was to investigate supply chain management problems in the food processing industry and their influence on business performance. The study was motivated by the need to use supply chain management practices as a tool to improve business performance in the food processing industry.Research design, approach and method: A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 303 supply chain professionals working in the food processing industry in Gauteng Province. The collected data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, Pearson correlations and regression analysis.Main findings: Supply chain management problems were identified in seven areas, namely human resource management, technology, facilities, supplier relationship management, customer relationship management, regulatory factors and logistics and transportation. Except for regulatory factors, all supply chain management problems negatively predicted business performance.Contribution or value-add: Practically, the study enables supply chain professionals in the food processing industry to understand the sources of problems and use this information to develop solutions for the improvement of business performance. Theoretically, the study endorses the view that part of the key to resolving business performance complications in the food processing industry involves streamlining supply chain management by resolving its identifiable problems.