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Supply chain management system challenges in the eThekwini District of the South African Police Service
(2024) Nduli, Delisile Portia; Fagbadebo, Omololu Michael
The concept of Supply Chain Management system challenges in the South
African Police Service (SAPS) involve issues such as procurement delays,
inadequate infrastructure, limited technology integration, and potential
corruption. These factors can hinder the efficiency of the supply chain,
impacting on the timely provision of essential resources for law enforcement
activities. Addressing these challenges requires strategic planning, technology
upgrades, and stringent oversight to ensure transparency and accountability
in the procurement process. The research objectives were to examine the
extent of SAPS management in the eThekwini District with the principles and
practices of the Supply Chain Management system to ascertain the level of
competence of personnel in the Supply Chain Management Department and
the challenges of the SAPS in the eThekwini District; to identify the challenges
associated with Supply Chain Management in the eThekwini District in the
SAPS and to submit proposals and recommendations that may enhance the
challenges and change and make SCM more effective since it is the core of
the organisation. The research adopted a qualitative design with the required
data collection methods and analysis techniques. Primary empirical data was
collected through in-depth interviews, public documents, and archival
materials, such as reports, records, events, and decisions. In this study, the
population comprised of the personnel in the SCM departments in the 42 (forty-two) SAPS stations in the eThekwini District. The sample for this study
comprised of 10 (ten) stations. The selected participants were those who were
directly involved in procurement process in the SCM unit. The main
contribution of this research was to enhance the internal control of SCM to
mitigate the risk of fraud, corruption, and non-compliance; to improve staff
compliance to ensure growth and development of both internal employees and
the management. The reason of this study is to reduce challenges to the
Organisation, within the sub-component, SCM in the South African Police
Service
Business environment’s influence on marketing tactics and their influence on business success.
(2016-12-31) Mason, Roger Bruce; Dobbelstein, Thomas
This paper proposes that the choice of marketing tactics is influenced by the company’s external
environment. It aims to illustrate the marketing tactics suggested for a complex, turbulent environment,
when marketing and the environment are viewed through a complexity lens. A quantitative, descriptive, cross
sectional study was used, based on an e-mailed survey to a purchased mailing list, which resulted in a sample
of 860 senior marketing or sales managers in medium to large profit oriented businesses in South Africa. The
study found that the manager’s evaluation of the environment as complex/turbulent was important, and that
there is a relationship between the use of destabilizing marketing tactics and complex/turbulent
environments. Although there is only a limited relationship with ‘success’, the study generally stresses the
importance of destabilizing tactics, and in fact, all marketing tactics, in a complex/turbulent environment.
Most work on complexity in marketing has concentrated on strategy, with little emphasis on tactics and the
marketing mix. Therefore, this paper is an important contribution to the understanding of marketing mix
choices, of interest to both practicing marketers and marketing academics.
The unique role of the survivalist retail entrepreneur in job creation and poverty reduction: implications for active stakeholder participation
(2016-9-30) Gwija, Saphetha; Tengeh, Robertson; Cupido, Chris; Mason, Roger Bruce; Mason, Roger Bruce
This is an applied study endeavour with the aim of exploring the specific role of survivalist
retail entrepreneurship in job creation and poverty reduction. Two hundred (200) subjects were
sampled using snowballing technique. Structured questionnaires as well as semi-structured interviews
were employed to collect data. 182 usable questionnaires were analysed with the help of SPSS
version 23. The results indicate that retail entrepreneurship is evolving in Khayelitsha, especially
when one does not only focus on spaza shops, but looks at the entire survivalist retail industry. This
sector is capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty and aiding economic growth of the country even
more, should measures to boost motivation levels and self-efficacy of the entrepreneurs emerge.
These measures, among others could include support programmes for survivalist entrepreneurial
ventures that present greater potential for growth and job creation. Part of the support programmes
should include business skills training (such as simple bookkeeping practices and human resource
management). Importantly, this study is the first of its kind in the community of Khayelitsha; an
emerging black-populated township in South Africa, indicating a new vista for retail entrepreneurship
research.
A model to operate an on-campus retail store for workplace experiential learning
(2017) Truman, Kiru; Mason, Roger Bruce; Venter, Petrus
Many retailers argue that university students do not have the practical experience and skills required in the workplace when graduating. This paper reports on research undertaken to address this issue and to identify a model to guide development and implementation of a retail store, on a university campus, to be used for work-integrated learning. A literature review was undertaken before a qualitative survey was conducted with 22 respondents, including retail lecturers, retail chain staff and other learning and retail experts. Data collection was via questionnaires, administered during semi-structured interviews. Lecturers provided details on activities and assessments used for practical assignments. Peer feedback via focus groups critiqued the findings once analysis was complete, increasing the trustworthiness of findings. A model was proposed that best suited the needs of retailers, learners and the university. Suggestions for further research are provided.
Covid-19 compelling governments to listen? Evaluating traces of listening to public opinion in Ghana's Covid-19 presidential lockdown speeches
(2021-12-1) Adjin-Tettey, Theodora Dame
In democratic contexts, attention is often given to voice to ensure transparency and accountability, however, there is little evidence for social and political actors having a sense of obligation to listen, let alone incorporating concerns of stakeholders into policy decisions. This study investigated whether the speeches of the Ghanaian president, delivered during the Covid-19 pandemic, when there was a compelling obligation to listen to inform measures to curtail the spread of the virus, exhibited any traces of listening. The study was grounded in the listening theory, which originates from the idea of path building, where stakeholders engage one another's perspectives on an issue to find solutions. Through the directed content analysis, 15 speeches delivered by the president were analysed. The results showed that the president took policy decisions based on engagements with relevant international, state, and private actors. He also listened to public sentiments regarding the socio-economic effects of measures taken and consulted relevant actors to address those concerns. The study recommends that the art of consciously listening be incorporated into all policy decision-making processes and not only be done during health crises. Future research could consider how listening during policy decision-making processes translates into policy acceptance.