https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/19909 2026-09-17T23:25:03Z 2026-09-17T23:25:03Z Fourie, Antonie https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32981 2026-08-23T11:03:58Z 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z

Business model innovation dynamic capability in the South African fintech industry Fourie, Antonie The fintech industry has seen significant growth since the 2008 financial crisis, and financial technology innovation is viewed as an important contributor to financial inclusion, especially in developing countries. Yet, business model innovation in the fintech industry remains a nascent area of academic research, both globally and in South Africa. Little has been published on the properties of the organisational capabilities that underpin business model innovation, and limited research has been conducted in the South African fintech sector. The objective of this study was to uncover the multi-level causal mechanisms that allow a business model innovation dynamic capability to emerge. A qualitative case study research design, utilising a critical realist, grounded theory method was employed in this study. Business model innovation and the organisational capabilities that underpin this phenomenon were investigated in five fintech firms situated in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Dynamic Capability and Complex Adaptive Systems theoretical perspectives were employed to explicate a Dynamic Capability-Complex Adaptive Systems (DC-CAS) explanatory framework as the basis of fintech business model innovation. This study identified nine causal mechanisms including a Problem Framing Mechanism, Resource Deployment Mechanism, Strategic Prioritisation Mechanism, Market Fit Mechanism, Resource Protection Mechanism, Measured Risk-Taking Mechanism, Leveraging Equity Mechanism, Regulatory Alignment Mechanism and Value Proposition Alignment Mechanism. The DC-CAS explained how these causal mechanisms interacted to enable business model innovation. A further output of the study is a managerial framework to provide practical guidance on the development and application of business model innovation dynamic capabilities. This study also makes policy recommendations to facilitate the development of the fintech sector in South Africa. In conclusion, this study contributes to our understanding of the emergence of business model innovation dynamic capability by explicating the complex organisational and environmental context within which it is situated.

2025-08-01T00:00:00Z Van den Heever, Marina https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32974 2026-08-21T10:32:25Z 2006-11-01T00:00:00Z

Accelerated leadership development in South Africa Van den Heever, Marina South African leaders who can deal with the complexities of the global and local economic challenges are scarce. Thus individuals with high potential are targeted for appropriate exposure to accelerate or "fast-track" their development. The present study aims to contribute to the knowledge base of accelerated leadership development in South Africa by investigating the reasons, programme design, content, training methods and programme effectiveness, as well as guidelines for programme development. The research method used is qualitative, comprising personal and group interviews, supplemented with document studies. The research was conducted at Vodacom, Gold Fields and Anglo Platinum. The study indicated factors that detract from the effectiveness of accelerated leadership development programmes, e.g. resistance at middle management level and the negative impact of outside appointments. Guidelines for effective programme design were determined and included commitment from top management, selection of candidates, management of expectations, and effective retention strategies.

2006-11-01T00:00:00Z Maharaj, C. D. https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32972 2026-08-19T12:14:51Z 2000-03-28T00:00:00Z

A comparative study of the MBA/MBL Programmes in the important global regions Maharaj, C. D. In the United States of America and in Europe, many questions are being posed concerning the effectiveness and relevance of management education, particularly the Master of Business Administration/Master of Business Leadership programmes. The main criticism facing the MBA/MBL programme include: • it is too analytical m its orientation and out of touch with the needs of the business world; • insufficient attention is being paid to areas such as people skills, leadership and ethics; and • it is seen as being out of touch with current trends in business such as internationalisation of business, the trend towards an information/service society and the renewed interest in organisational culture and participative management. The objective of this study is to analyse the MBA curricula in the important global regions so as to identify common elements which can be used to determine focus areas in management education, particularly the MBL programme. Based on these research findings, the following recommendations are made: • South African business schools need to introduce pre-term courses so as to provide previously disadvantaged students the opportunity to develop the necessary quantitative and qualitative skills. Emphasis should move towards developing skills for managerial decision-making. Success in the pre-term courses can serve to measure reasoning abilities, interpersonal and communication skills which job experience, the interview process and the GMA T serve to measure. The Unisa business school has introduced the Programme in Business Leadership which, to a large extent, has addressed the above comments. However, the PBL could be extended to include courses in computing, communication skills and English language use. • the core courses of the MBA programmes evaluated in this report are being taught at South African business schools. Although the functional courses are taught from an international perspective, these courses should be more closely tied to the South African context. Case studies must be linked to local constraints and opportunities. This would serve to "contextualise" and to universalise the MBN MBL programmes; • South African business schools must place more emphasis on entrepreneurship and cross-cultural management. These courses are popular options at European and Asian-Pacific business schools. The importance of these courses is highlighted in Chapter four; • South African business schools should make the business project mandatory in the MBA curricula. The business project serves as an integrating mechanism and is important to develop leadership skills which are crucial for the national and international business environment; and • there is a trend at North American business schools to offer specialised/joint degree MBA programmes. This serves to internationalise the MBA programme and to address cross-cultural issues. South African business schools and especially the Unisa business school should consider this option. South African business schools need to develop an appropriate vision and values for South Africa in the twenty-first century and to translate them into practice. If business schools are driven by a relevant mission, it will be strategically positioned in a changing society. The challenge facing management education is to develop an adequate supply of competent managers to take South Africa into the twenty-first century.

2000-03-28T00:00:00Z Mahachi, Mukai https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32961 2026-08-18T10:34:57Z 2007-11-30T00:00:00Z

An evaluation of the effects of deregulation on the petroleum sector in Zimbabwe Mahachi, Mukai The purpose of this research paper is to examine the effects of deregulation on the petroleum sector in Zimbabwe. The sector was deregulated in order to encourage the participation of indigenous companies and to alleviate fuel supply constraints faced by industries such as manufacturing and transport. Deregulation occurred as a result of policy recommendations made by the International Monetary Fund in 1996 intended to create a more competitive environment and to reduce fiscal drain caused by fuel subsidies to the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe. The research was conducted in Zimbabwe on the nine indigenous oil companies recognised by statutory instrument No 301A/2001. The research was conducted by administering a questionnaire to respondents from the selected sample and a response rate of fifty six percent was achieved. Two companies were excluded from the research due to the loss of their licences during the year. The questionnaire consisted of both open ended and close ended questions covering issues pertaining to the regulatory environment and the strategies of the oil companies. The responses collected were summarised and tabulated. The results revealed that although the respondents acknowledged that deregulation had benefited indigenous companies, the level of environmental dynamism in the sector required urgent attention. By rationalising the number of oil companies and through the Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Government can bring order and set operational standards in the sector. The paper concluded that the competitive landscape has changed and both indigenous oil companies and multinational oil companies had the onerous task of crafting strategies that would enable them to survive the dynamic environment. Recommendations are made to Government on the need to bring order to the sector by implementing the provisions of the Petroleum Act through the Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Indigenous oil companies encouraged to create a united body to lobby for protective legislation and to develop strategies to become more competitive.

2007-11-30T00:00:00Z