Solly Matshonisa Seeletse

Huge monetary investments are made towards private-public partnerships (PPPs) in an effort to develop South Africa. These PPPs are based on emulations from international benchmarks. Many developed countries benefit from skillful use of PPPs. The paper is based on concerns that, in South Africa, many PPP projects do not reach finalization. Others only reach finalization from additional funding after exhausting initial invested funds. Some causes of barriers of success of these PPPs are reported. Respondents are 39 past PPP participants. A self-administered unstructured questionnaire was used to collect qualitative data. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. The results show negligence and wrong deployment as main causes of the failures in which the government side is a grave wrongdoer. Recommendations found to be necessary for improving PPP performance are suggested

The paper focuses on experiences of resigning academics in higher education institutions (HEIs) of South Africa. The concern was the huge monetary cost involved, and student delays due to these resignations. The networks of the researchers benefitted this study by being alerted to resignations of academics in HEIs and arranging some of the interviews that were held. In some cases, exit interviews were also used. The study shows that these HEIs are negligent by failing to develop the appropriate policies for the new dispensation, and the bad practices of appointing managers. In addition, the improperly appointed managers lack skill and knowledge in management. As a result they discriminate, victimize and make job unbearable for some employees. Some of these employees who end up rising. Moreover, the decisions taken by the improperly appointed managers are also not monitored. Hence,the poor decisions made are not being over-ruled. The recommendations are that policies should be designed to align with the laws stated, and suitably experienced and qualified officials be appointed to enforce the policies. Also, interventions are needed regarding the powers given to improperly appointed managers

The focus of this paper was to determine research support benchmarks from higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa for application in the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). These benchmarks were sought from networked international HEIs and leading research HEIs in the country. Other benchmarks were sourced from cost-effective models of deployment from other service departments within SMU. The study involved nine HEIs and SMU human resources (HR) department for benchmarking. The study found that the statistics departments were used in these HEIs for major research support. These statistics departments operated from statistics support centres, were supported holistically by their institutions, and were allowed qualified autonomy in their functions. The SMU HR department was assigning individual HR experts to various academic departments for full-time support. The paper combines the models of statistics centres and of assigning HR experts to departments for a new one in SMU. It proposes establishment of a statistical services centre in SMU, in the Department of Statistics and Operations Research (SOR). The centre could be used for statistical training and for fundraising as well. However, the core activities of the centre should be to support research on SMU campus. The centre should operate by dedicating statistics experts to various departments. That model also requires an adequate academic staffing of SOR, as well as initial funding for the entire plans and initial operations of the centre

The paper reports on the findings made on an experiential exercise of Bachelor of Science Honours in Statistics (BSc Hons Stat) in the Department of Statistics and Operations Research (SOR) of the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in South Africa. SOR is a small, understaffed department, which offers courses for degrees from Bachelor to Doctoral levels in the subfields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, Operations Research, Statistics and related ones. On SMU campus, expertize in some of these fields is also available in the Department of Computer Science (DCS). In the 2015 academic year SOR admitted 20 BSc Hons Stat students beyond its staffing capacity. Then, SOR invited DCS in a crowdsourcing initiative to jointly supervise student projects in the various subfields mentioned. The challenges include conflict and limited experience. These are managed satisfactorily though, but mainly because they occur at low levels. This crowdsourcing arrangement nevertheless results in timely submissions of final projects, improved quality projects worthy of being published, innovation, quality teamwork, and some synergistic outcomes. Coordinators also learn and/or improved some project management skills

The Department of Statistics and Operations Reasearch (SOR) at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in South Africa desires to increase its research output, as well as to provide high quality teaching and learning. Most SOR lecturers want to embrace technology and innovations, and also be competitive both regionally and globally. This can be achieved more effectively if they are trained in computer applications. Thus, they should be developed into critical citizens of the digital world. They should also be prepared to use information and communication technology (ICT) as a teaching and learning resource, as well as a research and community engagement backing. An innovation in academia should be backed by the lecturer. Thus, the main concern of this paper is to explore use of ICT as a business tool in SOR. Methodologies of the study were case study and thematic content analysis, and the data collection tool was a questionnaire. The study found that SOR was understaffed and could not provide full statistics (stats) training mainly in the statistical packages. The lecturers were all trained in ICT and the packages. They were all willing to use ICT in SOR activities. The computer laboratories were adequate for the student numbers at the time, even though some computers were not working. These laboratories showed to be poorly adequate for the envisaged growth of SOR. SOR would also need more lecturers for the future growth. The study recommends growth of SOR in lecturers and ICT facilities, at the least

Selection processes of credible candidates in competitions are often flawed. The flaws may be deliberate when there is corruption. In other cases the flaws occur because of the decision makers’ inadequacies. Many competitors do their best in developing exceptional proposals, but unfairness of the decision makers undermines these efforts. Ideally, undeserving candidates should be disqualified, and deserving ones be allowed to contest. Systematic methods should be used in the proposal evaluation, and the process should be verifiable. This paper discusses scientific methods proposed for use to select a criterion-based worthy competitor in service provider selection problems. The method is a technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). TOPSIS is a mathematically-derived statistical method useful to offset the biases in the selection process. Features that address both added value and reduced costs are incorporated in the TOPSIS selection process. A numerical example is included to demonstrate TOPSIS fortes

The paper addresses the low research standing of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). SMU is a university established on 1st January 2015 in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Its weaknesses were inherited through history. The former Medical University of Sothern Africa (MEDUNSA) and University of Limpopo (UL) are the SMU’s predecessor universities from which SMU emerged. One main weakness is that UL appointed managers on Medunsa campus to head divisions but disregarding merit. Hence, many current SMU managers do not necessarily possess the qualities required for a research campus that is technology dominated. In particular, some staff and managerial appointments made prior to the SMU formation, which SMU had to inherit are the causes of deficiencies in SMU’s research and information development. The paper develops an approach for SMU to enable existing resources of information technology and communication (ICT) and statistical sciences to improve research on SMU campus. The approach developed is robust. It also has a built-in monitoring evaluation and control element. Benchmarks are used in the method development

The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are important to the South African economy and social development. This paper discusses the case of Ga-Rankuwa Township SMEs, causes of their proven failure and the methods used by the SMEs owned by people who came from foreign countries and operating in this township. These foreign SMEs did not have access to loans for business. On the other hand the local ones could apply for the loans but many did not know how and where. The locals then forfeited the opportunity, but still refused to partner with foreign ones who could assist them. The foreign ones were more successful in using business skills and knowledge to nurture their SMEs. They also contributed to the township’s economy by employing local people. Recommendations include that local SMEs should partner with foreign ones to develop synergies, and that the SME agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) should design policies for foreign SME access to business loan funds by ensuring and enforcing local empowerment as part of their loan access package

This study examines the factors that cause failures of many South African rural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in poultry business. The research method was qualitative phenomenology using in-depth, semi-structured interviews to explore the factors considered by rural chicken SMEs owners to be causes of their business difficulties. The study revealed that these entrepreneurships knew chicken business only from the home-grown chickens, and the local poultry was usually providing only meat. Compared to the local chickens that were cheap to acquire and nurture, the commercial ones had to be purchased, nourished with purchased foods, supported with electricity light at night, and still, some died. It was much cheaper to raise indigenous chickens. The results indicate that rural poultry SMEs owners did not know that buying a commercial chick carries benefits that range from eggs, feathers, meat, and other chicken products. Also, after purchasing each chick, there are more additional investments needed to maintain the market standard. The study enlightens chicken entrepreneurs that they should, first, learn the insight of business, the poultry industry, and the context of the business they wish to pursue.

Keywords: competition, formal market, informal business, SMEs, poultry, rural, tax.
JEL Classification: Q13, O17

The use of temporary workers by organizations is growing, and has extensively extended to higher learning institutions (HLIs). This paper discusses the challenges of fixed term contract administrative and professional employees (FTC A/Ps) in Gauteng Provinces’ HLIs in South Africa. The research methodology used was exploratory. Surveys were used to collect data. The study sample consisted of 107 FTC A/Ps. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire. Text data were analyzed using the thematic content analysis of qualitative design. The study revealed that the HLIs did not provide training to the FTC A/Ps, but required them to perform as if they were trained. The FTC A/Ps were not getting employee benefits, were abused, underpaid, lacked privileges, lacked morale, could be dismissed any time, were driven to lose trust on managers and to be disloyal to their HLIs. They sometimes caused unscheduled turnover. Their commitment to work diminished. Still, they were bound to increase their productivity under punitive working conditions. The study recommends involving of FTC A/Ps when necessary, and not to abuse them. This also includes possibilities of integrating them in the HLI workforce, but to put proper precautionary measures when empowering them.

Keywords: abuse, fixed term contract, higher learning institutions, roll over.
JEL Classification: J71, J81, J82

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which, over the years, were in charge of supplying goods to rural areas and townships, are fast losing markets to large business. Modern customers want value-for-money through high-quality products at low prices, greater convenience, and a wide range of choices. Large enterprises are capable of meeting these demands. Hence, they have a competitive advantage over the SMEs. In addition, large corporations can deliver the convenience of one-stop-shopping. This paper exposes SMEs options useful for offseting the might of large business. It highlights the available routes for strength creation. One option is to step aside temporarily while running the SMEs, but preparing fully for future competition. Another option is to fill the gaps left by large companies while preparing to contest face-to-face. Recommendations are that SMEs should exploit available empowerment opportunities and, then, use methods of advantage to work in the presence of large businesses. SMEs can delay direct competition until the time is right.

Keywords: competition, empowerment, large enterprises, SEDA, SMEs.
JEL Classification: D41, D51, D83.

The paper describes a simple, straightforward method to measure progress of business process optimization (BPO). The aim is to derive measures of the degree of BPO attainment in order to identify future priority focus for ensuing exercises. These measures can help to identify components of business that should be improved towards full optimization of processes in business. In an ideal case of the business containing all the components, a large business scenario is assumed. However, flexibility is permissible when changes are experienced with either some business aspects missing or new ones added. A measure of BPO progress was eventually developed based on these circumstances. A BPO measurement is described for presentation as a percentage or proportion.

Keywords: BPE, BPO, change management, measure, risk management, success factor.
JEL Classification: C1, C3, C5, C6, O3

This paper illustrates ‘demarketing’ and its uses to improve product image in the customers’ viewpoints. Three events stimulated the investigations. First, a leading political party lost local municipal elections in a large South Africa metropolitan. Second, a reputable soccer club lost many fans to other teams. Thirdly, a local confectionary lost clients. Investigations took place in the three settings (soccer, politics and confectionary business). The respondents were known clients or fans of the original entities, who had defected to rivals. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The entities apparently ignored the services promised to clients. Despite them being dissimilar entities, similarities occurred in the way they lost favor with their clients. The study identified demarketing as a common factor. Demarketing was applied by the rivals, and was imbedded in their policies. People and entity representatives’ used demarketing strategies to lure clients. The paper recommends that demarketing should be applied to control the market. Also, it recommends that agile competitors should augment normal marketing with demarketing to optimize marketing results.

Keywords: demarketing strategy, demand, perception, product quality.
JEL Classification: D47, M14, M31, M37

This paper investigates networking and related activities for marketing performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the sustainable development and the preservation of the environment. These SMEs have limited business skills and knowledge, and don`t have any marketing funds. As a clearly growing trend aspect in business, networking approaches were blended to find approaches to help these SMEs to take their market niche. Thirty-seven (37) SMEs were used as a convenience sample to experiment with the concepts. They were investigated on what could optimize marketing results and what could offset marketing benefits. The paper finds out that networking provides effective marketing when is modeled under crowdsourcing. Options for crowdsourcing could also involve local organizations in the marketing networks. SMEs should document their activities for proper accountability and transparency. They should also use incentives to volunteers and crowdsourcing participants by giving them shares and be proactive in their approaches. Further, SME practitioners should require them to learn business skills.

The Department of Statistics and Operations Research (SOR) at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in South Africa offers courses in Statistics (Stats). Several departments in SMU campus require Stats training in their study program. In the interest of quality offering in Stats training and for statistical services needed for research, SOR oofers to collect, centralize and facilitate all the Stats modules on campus. This paper then reflects on the impressions of academics and researchers on SMU campus regarding their view on centralized Stats courses in SMU. This will help explore the opportunities, envisaged research benefits and challenges for centralizing all the SMU Stats training in SOR.