Faculty of Management Sciences
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Browsing Faculty of Management Sciences by Author "Chinomona, E., Prof."
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Item Internal drivers of innovation and sustainability in South African manufacturing small and medium enterprises(Vaal University of Technology, 2022-01) Mofokeng, Simon Abram; Mafini, C., Prof.; Chinomona, E., Prof.The study aimed to analyse the relationship between internal management systems, innovativeness, and the sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the South African manufacturing sector. Most of the studies in this regard were mainly focusing on large and well-established companies, and the focus would be found to be aligned to only one variable. Studies with reference to SMEs where a linkage amongst the variables is clearly established are limited, thereby providing an impetus to conduct this study. As a result of the changes taking place daily in technology and business operational policies, SMEs typically have to revisit their internal management systems, level of innovativeness, and sustainable measures. Such methods are intended to promote their existence, survival, and growth into the unforeseeable future. A quantitative method based on a positivistic research paradigm was adopted in undertaking the study. The sample consisted of 500 respondents, who were owners, managers, and employees of SMEs in Gauteng Province. The collected data were tested using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Exploratory Factor Analysis, Pearson Correlations and Regression Analysis. Application of factor analysis led to the extraction of two additional SME sustainability factors, namely Employee Training Outcomes and Corporate Compliance to Policy. Of the three internal management systems, only two factors, namely infrastructure development and employee training outcomes, exerted a significant positive influence on innovation. In turn, innovation exerted a significant positive influence on two SME sustainability factors, namely the nature of the product and social sustainability. The study has several implications. Theoretically, the study provides information on how internal management systems relate to innovation. As indicated in the results, only infrastructure development and employee training outcomes exert an influence on innovation and should thus be prioritised when attempting to improve the extent of innovation within SMEs. Likewise, innovation in SMEs results in benefits in terms of the nature of the product and social sustainability only. Practically, the study recommends that there is a need by the South African government through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Department to review their approach on SMEs so that they can obtain adequate resources to enhance their business success. Additionally, there is a need for both governmental and non-governmental organisations to develop initiatives where SMEs go through the incubation process. During this process, training and business advisory services will be offered for free to equip owner-managers with the relevant business skills. Areas of further research, as well as limitations, were also discussed.Item Supply chain coordination and firm performance in the construction industry in Gauteng Province(Vaal University of Technology, 2022) Montso, Mosidi Elizabeth; Mafini, C., Prof.; Chinomona, E., Prof.The construction industry is an important contributor to the economy of South Africa. In this industry, buyers and suppliers work in collaboration with each other to achieve superior supply chain performance. To achieve this, they have to find ways and methods to improve it. The purpose of this study was to investigate supply chain coordination and firm performance in the construction industry in the Gauteng Province. This study considers three drivers: supplier coordination, customer coordination and coordination effectiveness to achieve the performance of the construction industry. In most previous research studies, researchers have overlooked the important considerations and variables of supply chain coordination and firm performances as environmentally-friendly exercises in the construction industry. As a result, there was an abundant necessity to examine how the construction industry should implement a supply chain coordination programme and firm performance as environmentally-friendly practices in the organisational activities to ensure the sustainability of the construction industry. The effective application of SCC and firm performance in the construction industry will benefit all stakeholders. A quantitative approach was adopted in which a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 414 construction supply chain managers and professional employees in the Gauteng Province. The study used a non-probability convenience sampling technique to select respondents. Data were analysed with the aid of two software packages: the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 27.0) and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS version 27.0). A confirmatory factor analysis was applied in examining and testing the relationships between observed constructs and their causal latent constructs while structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships between constructs. The results revealed that supplier coordination, customer coordination and coordination effectiveness positively and significantly influence firm performance in the construction industry. Further, the study determines that to improve firm performance, the construction industry should advance the stages of trust, guarantee and sustainable relationships with their stakeholders. The results provide useful insights into how the construction industry could benefit from cultivating trust, assurance and sustainable relationships between supply chain partners as well as on how to improve firm performance. Therefore, this study is not only important for construction companies but also for manufacturers, suppliers and customers since most of them will collectively achieve the goal of performing purposeful activities to boost construction performance and sustainability.