Issue #3 (cont. 3) (Volume 14 2016)

The low representation of female leaders is problematic in work organizations. In fact, women historically have had trouble entering the managerial hierarchy of a multitude of industries including the sport industry. Accordingly, the evolution of sport has proffered a diverse array of jobs with growth potential. Despite this, sport remains a male dominated sector where women’s perspectives on work issues have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine perceived organizational factors impacting the representation of female leaders in college athletics. To promptly investigate issues and concerns of working women in sport, the research focused on human resource management (HRM). This study utilized survey design, specifically snowball sampling, to generated 60 completed questionnaires from female administrators working in U.S. collegiate athletics. A Qualtrics online survey site was created to gather responses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Demographics showed the level of work experience, position titles, and educational background varied across the sample. Results showed that structures were important factors in recruiting and advancing female leaders, while the ’ole’ boys’ networks and limited social capital negatively impacted leadership development. In conclusion, leadership opportunities for women in intercollegiate athletics were perceived to be shaped by organizational practices.

Keywords: female leaders, U.S. college athletics, social capital, organizational practices, HRM structures.
JEL Classification: M14

The concept of social media is top of the agenda for many organizations today. Decision makers, as well as marketers, try to identify ways in which organizations can make profitable use of social media platforms. The adoption of social media in marketing communication campaigns to carry the marketing communication message to the target audiences remains a challenge to organizations in the motor industry. The purpose of this paper was to establish an understanding of the online social media tools used by car dealerships in their marketing communication strategies and campaigns. In achieving the purpose of this paper, a qualitative research approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews with marketing personnel of different car dealerships in Gauteng province, South Africa was followed. In this paper, a qualitative content analysis was used to analyze primary data using Atlas ti version 10 computer software. The findings of this paper revealed that the use of social media platforms by car dealerships varied in terms of message content. Recommendations to stakeholders in the motor industry and future research directions are provided.

Keywords: social media, marketing communications, communication channels, consumer-to-consumer communications, car dealerships.
JEL Classification: M31, M37

Research over the years has shown that in order for any business to survive, the correct product mix must be offered to the market. If the product does not satisfy the needs of the market, its reason for existence can be questioned. This principle applies to all businesses – big or small. The question arises if SMEs adhere to this fact and, if so, how they go about doing this. SMEs over the world make huge contributions to economic growth and job creation and are seen to be a driving force for economic growth and development in any economy. In the highly competitive environment that SMEs operate in, selecting the right merchandise for the right customer is important and, in most instances, its ability to survive or perish. This study aimed to determine if SMEs in South Africa make decisions regarding the product mix and, if so, if they conform to different profiles regarding the decisions that they make. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and was sent to SMEs around South Africa operating in different industries. The results indicated that SMEs in South Africa consider product characteristics, consumer behavior and strategic aspects when making product mix decisions.

Keywords: merchandising, product, SMEs, product mix, business, South Africa.
JEL Classification: M00, M300, M310

The primary objective of the study is to explore the attitudes that consumers in Tshwane have towards the sponsors of the South African National Rugby team, commonly known as the Springboks as a result of the sponsorship partnership. Qualitative data collected by means of focus groups and naïve sketches were analyzed through content analysis. The study found that participants had a positive attitude towards the sponsors of the Springboks. This positive attitude was because participants felt that sponsors were endorsing good values that they perceived to be important, such as teamwork, healthy living and nation building.

Keywords: consumers, attitudes, sponsorship, rugby, Springboks.
JEL Classification: M30

Road related fatalities remain high in South Africa compared to other African nations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the determinants of road accident fatalities in South Africa’s transport sector. The determinants were examined using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method. The results suggest that drunken driving, paved roads and use of seatbelts are some of the determinants in the number of road related fatalities. The study recommends that the South African government put strict measures in dealing with drunk driving that has contributed to the unnecessary loss of life, especially during holiday periods.

Keywords: drunk driving, road safety management, Haddon matrix, enforcement, seatbelts.
JEL Classification: O18, R41, Z00, Z18

A mission and vision well designed are important for the business strategy. In addition, the Latin American firms are a relevant topic, but sub-studied in literature about international business. Thus, the main aim of this paper is identify the presence of international strategy (IS) in the strategic approaches of the 500 largest firms from Latin America. For this purpose, a qualitative technique of content analysis was carried out in official web pages of these firms. Several keywords were analyzed to locate the presence or absence of the IS. These words are: multinational, global, international, internationalization, world, worldwide, among others. With this, 375 firms were identified that mention the IE either its mission, vision or both. Likewise, this sample was subdivided in private firms (338) and state firms (37). The results indicate that the studied firms do not consider mostly the IE in the mission and vision. Another important finding is that companies consider the IS mostly in their vision. In adittion, another important finding is the increased presence of inclusion of IS in the vision of state companies (64.86%) above their private peers.

Keywords: international strategy, Latin America, mission, vision, strategic approaches.
JEL Classification: M15, M16

SMEs provide employment to approximately 61 per cent of households in South Africa (SA). Though, entrepreneurial activity rate (TEA) still poses a great concern, at 5.9% which is far below that of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China). Contingent employees in small retail businesses continue to face job insecurity as a result of poor working conditions and un-unionized. This study aims to explore whether contingent employees have entrepreneurial skills for self-employability as an opportunity to offset job insecurity in Roodepoort, SA. Likewise, the study used a quantitative approach and sampled 129 contingent employees from 60 small retail businesses in Roodepoort. Findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurial skills, job insecurity and contingent employees regarding job insecurity.

Keywords: contingent employees, SME, job insecurity, unions, entrepreneurial skills, Roodepoort and South Africa.
JEL Classification: J46, L26

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

This article explores supply chain management practices within selected municipalities in the West Rand district, Gauteng. An empirical research was conducted among supply chain practitioners in the municipalities based on the purposive sampling technique and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the municipalities have adopted and implemented supply chain management practices. However, supply chain management objectives are not always appropriately aligned with government policies, and the municipalities face serious supply chain issues such as leadership, lack of proper accountability and good governance. From the findings, it is evident that the lack of proper implementation of supply chain management in municipalities is the root cause of problems in service delivery in South Africa. It is recommended that municipal supply chain officials be empowered with supply chain skills for proper supply chain management execution.

Keywords: supply chain, municipalities, practices, West Rand district.
JEL Classification: M11

Issue: The number of knowledge workers continues to grow, but we know little about what factors will promote knowledge workers’ productivity.
Problem for discussion: How can managers promote knowledge workers’ productivity?
Purpose: To develop aspects of a theory to promote knowledge workers’ productivity.
Method: Conceptual generalization.
Findings: Seven propositions (a mini-theory) for knowledge workers’ productivity.

Keywords: knowledge worker, productivity, theory.
JEL Classification: M1

Economic growth is considered as an important objective for national governments for which entrepreneurial management is required. This paper introduces issue on the business creation by women and the factors which are instrumental in their success including economics, institutions and infrastructural factors have been taken as major factors. The study used both primary and secondary sources. The study used hypotheses testing considering four factors of entrepreneurial facilities such as male and female entrepreneurs, infrastructural and institutional requirements, and economic factor whether helps to enhance growth of entrepreneurial management of the country. Authors’ observed that the nature of SME activities is less favorable for women entrepreneur than the men entrepreneur. The authors suggested that the number of women entrepreneurs at rural areas should be increased through establishing community banks at a cheaper rate. In the formal sector, financial organizations are being required for developing proper steps to poverty alleviation, public-private and foreign strategic alliances and implementation procedures are required with special emphasis on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGS) of the country.

Keywords: Bangladesh, economic factor, entrepreneurship, women, infrastructure, institutional.
JEL Classifications: L26, O43

Pioneering is meant to create a competitive advantage for businesses and yet imitations are accelerating globally, leaving businesses not knowing whether to pioneer or imitate. The purpose of this study was to make an analysis of the benefits and costs of pioneering and imitation, with the aim of possibly helping businesses to decide on which route to take, after considering their strengths and weaknesses. This was a desk research study which analyzed literature on business imitation and pioneering. It focused on imitation driven by technology; be it in products or services with a bias towards legal innovative imitation. The analysis was primarily dominated by literature obtained from developed countries because of the rich pool of research output on both concepts. Based on the findings, the paper concludes that most businesses are innovative imitations and technology has facilitated most of these imitations. Recommendations are that businesses should adopt innovative imitation, but do so legally and ethically. There is also need for more research studies on business imitation in order to come up with strategies that will accommodate global players.

Keywords: pioneers, competitive advantage, innovative imitation, global players, first mover.
JEL Classification: L26, M19

In as much as entrepreneurial action fosters job creation and economic growth, entrepreneurs encounter the significant risk of failure, and community bears the brunt. Though business incubators were designed to provide support and hope to ailing businesses, evidence suggests that not all on these programs succeed. Going on the assumption that even businesses on incubation programs do not seem to be immune to failure, this study sought to determine the key factors that hinder the growth of incubatees in South Africa.
Adopting a quantitative approach, the questionnaire was utilized as the primary data collection tool, and the snowball sampling method was employed resulting in a sample size of 93 respondents. The research participants for this study were limited to firms that were registered on the databases of two business incubators who promote small business development strategy and programs in Cape Town and Johannesburg, respectively. The findings indicated that lack of funding, lack of credit facility, competition, crime, lack of access to external market, lack of business skills and lack of product selection and design were the key factors that hinder the growth of incubatees.
Given the substantial resources invested in business incubation programs, the fact that business incubators are entrepreneurial ventures in themselves, understanding and finding sustainable solutions to the factors that hinder the growth of their clients (incubatees) would be a win-win solution for the relevant stakeholders.

Keywords: business incubatees, business incubators, entrepreneurship, growth, South Africa.
JEL Classification: M1, L84

This study examines the benefits of data envelopment analysis (DEA) in evaluating the performance of decision making units (DMUs). DEA is a mathematical programming tool applied in performance measurement. The problem identified is establishing business support units as value adding business units. A case is made for applying DEA when evaluating the performance of such business support units. To this end, a literature review of the results of applications of DEA to the evaluation of information technology and purchasing supply chain management functions was conducted. The findings indicate the benefits of DEA are that the method identifies efficient performers in a given population and, therefore, allows for benchmarking against the ’best in class’ performer. This as opposed to more commonly used parametric methods, such as regression analysis, which result in a comparator that represents the average performance for a given population, therefore, allowing only for measurement against the average. In addition, the findings indicate that in respect of business support units, the DEA methodology allows for the incorporation of intermediate outcomes, which facilitates the measurement of the contribution of these units to overall company performance. Although the DEA methodology has been widely applied, it is still not as well known or generally applied as the more common approaches. The recommendations made in this paper will be beneficial in bringing DEA to the attention of decision-makers. The recommendations will also raise awareness of the potential benefits to be realised when applying the method in developing performance measurement frameworks for business support units.

Keywords: performance measurement, data envelopment analysis, decision making units, business support units.
JEL Classification: C61, L25