https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30864 2026-11-06T08:37:16Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/33112 Emergent strategy-making in private higher education institutions by managers: a micro-foundational perspective Magama, Grace EMERGENT STRATEGY-MAKING IN PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS BY MANAGERS: A MICRO-FOUNDATIONAL PERSPECTIVE The current study aimed to explore how strategy emerges in South African Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI) through the everyday micro-foundational practices of managers operating at various organisational levels. Existing strategy literature has largely prioritised deliberate, top-down processes, often overlooking how strategy is enacted informally, iteratively and contextually within complex institutional environments. This research departed from a linear, plan-based ontology and instead adopted a practice-process perspective grounded in Strategy-as-Practice (S-as-P), micro-foundational theory, and Bourdieu’s theory of practice. From this viewpoint, strategy is regarded not as a fixed outcome but as a dynamic phenomenon shaped by situated cognition, social interaction, power and individual routines. The study employed a qualitative, intrinsic single-case design, purposively sampling managers at operational, middle and executive levels within a South African PHEI. A constructivist-interpretivist paradigm guided the research, enabling a rich interpretation of how managers enacted strategy through daily micro-foundational-practices. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, written narratives and document analysis. The data were thematically analysed to produce a grounded model of emergent strategising informed by real-world managerial practices. Key findings revealed that strategy emerged through socially embedded micro-doings, such as strategic adaptation and flexibility, institutional purpose and vision, communication and collaboration in decision-making, and the influence of leadership and power dynamics. Central to these findings was the role of “phronesis” (practical wisdom) and “metis” (practical intelligence), which enabled managers to navigate flux, uncertainty, the institution and operating environment. Significantly, the study advanced a multi-level understanding of strategic agency, highlighting that managers at various hierarchical levels contributed meaningfully to emergent strategising, despite differing levels of formal iii authority. This contribution adds a contextual and empirical extension to S-as-P by recognising that strategising is not merely concentrated at the top but is distributed through layers of practice across the organisation. The main theoretical contribution of the study lies in its integration of micro-foundations with a practice-based view of strategy within a context from the Global South. The findings challenge essentialist views of strategy as formal design and instead position strategy-making as a pluralistic, emergent process shaped by practice, power and place. The final conceptual framework connects micro-practices to organisational outcomes, offering an alternative perspective on how strategy is enacted under real-world institutional conditions. The study concludes that strategising is not merely the result of deliberate planning but also arises from responsive, embodied and socially constructed actions. These insights enhance our understanding of the lived dynamics of strategy work and provide a valuable foundation for future research and leadership development in higher education contexts experiencing change. The findings may inform the design of more adaptive, inclusive and practice-oriented strategic processes within PHEIs and similar organisations; UKWENZIWA KWAMASU EZIKHUNGWENI EZIZIMELE ZEMFUNDO EPHAKEME OKWENZIWA NGABAPHATHI: NGOKWEZIMO ZANGALESO SIKHATHI EZENZAKALAYO Inhloso yocwaningo lwamanje ukuphenya mayelana nokuthi amasu avela kanjani ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme ezimele eNingizimu Afrika (HPEIs) kusetshenziswa imisebenzi yansuku eyenziwa abaphathi abasemazingeni ehlukene esikhungweni. Incwadi yamasu esetshenziswayo ibeka eqhulwini izinqubo ezihleliwe ukusuka phezulu, ezivame ukuthi zikushaye indiva okwamasu angahleliwe, okuphindaphindiwe, futhi ngokuhambisana nokwenzeka endaweni yesikhungo eziyinkimbinkimbi. Lolu cwaningo luyasuka ohlelweni olulandelwayo/oluqondile okuwucwaningo ngokukhona, kunalokho lusebenzisa umbono wenqubo yalokho kwangaleso sikhathi okusekelwe yi-Strategy-as-Practice (S-as-P), ithiyori yezenzo zabantu/yokwenzakalayo, kanye nethiyori yenqubo ka-Bourdieu. Ngokwalo mbono, isu aliwona umphumela ongaguquki kodwa liyaguquka ngokwezimo ezikhona, ukuxhumana kwabantu, nangezinqubo zansuku zonke zomuntu ngamunye, izimo zenhlangano nezingaphandle kanye nobudlelwano bamandla. Ucwaningo lusebenzise ikhwalithethivu, olusezingeni eliphezulu olugxile ohlangothini olulodwa esikhungweni semfundo ephakeme eNingizimu Afrika, ukuhlola ukuthi abaphathi balisebenzisa kanjani isu ngokwezinto/izinqubo zansuku zonke. Ngemposamibuzo eyenziwe kubaphathi abehlukene kuwo wonke amazinga kanye nokuhlaziywa kwemiqulu, kusungulwe indlela ekhombisa ukuthi isu lakhiwa ukuziphatha kwabaphathi kwansuku zonke. Iziphumo ezisemqoka ukuthi isu livela ngokwenzeka nsuku zonke, izenzo zomphakathi, ngokuhambisana nezimo. Okubalulekile kulokhu okutholakele yindima ye-“phronesis” (ukusebenzisa ubuhlakani) kanye ne-“metis” (ukusebenzisa amaqhinga), okwenze abaphathi bakwazi ukubhekana nokungabikho kozinzo, ukungaqiniseki, kanye nokungezwani esikhungweni. Ucwaningo luhlonze izizinda ezine ezixhumene ezibe nomthelela ekuveleni kwamasu: indlela abantu abahlobana ngayo, indlela ababecabanga/abenza ngayo, izinqubo abazisebenzisayo, kanye nesikhundla sabo v enhlanganweni. Abaphathi badale isu ngezenzo ezincane, eziguquguqukayo, nezingekho emthethweni/ezingahleliwe. Ngokuphawulekayo, ucwaningo luveza ukuthi amasu awagcini ngokuvela kubaphathi abaphezulu, kodwa kuwo wonke amazinga okuphatha. Lokhu kuvumelana nethiyori yeS-as-P ngokubonisa abaphathi kunoma yiliphi izinga banesandla ekwakhiweni kwamasu, kungakhathaliseki igunya labo elisemthethweni. Lolu cwaningo luhlanganisa izenzo zomuntu ngamunye nezinqubo zansuku zonke ukuze kuqondwe isu ngokweGlobal South. Kubonisa ukuthi isu akulona nje uhlelo oluqala phezulu lwehlele ezansi, kodwa wuhlelo oluguquguqukayo olubunjwa ukwenza, amandla, nendawo. Uhlaka lokugcina luxhumanisa lezi zenzo zansuku zonke nemiphumela yesikhungo, lunikeza umbono omusha wokuthi isu lenzeka kanjani ngempela ngokwezimo zezikhungo Ucwaningo luphetha ngelokuthi isu akuyona nje into ehlelwayo ngaphakathi kodwa liphinde livele ngezenzo zesikhathi sangempela nezenhlalo, njall. Le miphumela isiza ukuthuthukisa indlela abaholi bemfundo ephakeme abaphatha ngayo izinguquko, ikhuthaze ukuhlela okuhambisana nezimo nokubandakanya wonke umuntu. 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/33104 Exploring nurses’ perceptions of the influence of compensation on work performance at a South African state hospital Modjela, Mapula Faith This qualitative study explored nurses’ perceptions of compensation at a state hospital in South Africa and its influence on work performance. The research pursued three empirical objectives:  to explore nurses’ perceptions regarding the effect of compensation on their performance;  to examine how compensation packages might be structured to enhance performance; and  to identify interventions beyond compensation that could improve nurses’ performance. A purposive sample of 11 nurses was interviewed, achieving data saturation. The thematic analysis revealed five main themes: inadequate compensation, incentives and financial strain; workload and resource challenges; motivation to perform work; leadership and communication; and training and development. The findings indicated that while nurses expressed dissatisfaction with compensation and inequitable incentives, their performance is sustained through intrinsic motivation, professional pride, and commitment to patient care. However, systemic challenges such as staff shortages,resource constraints, ineffective leadership, and limited training opportunities were identified as significant barriers to morale and optimal performance. The study was limited by its single-site focus, small sample size, reliance on self-reported data, and the researcher’s insider status. Despite these limitations, the research provided valuable insight into the lived realities of nurses in the public health sector. Recommendations have been provided for future research, the participating hospital, and the field of Industrial and Organisational Psychology (IOP). These include expanding the research study across multiple sites; addressing compensation inequities; strengthening leadership and communication; investing in training and development; and advancing theory-practice integration within IOP. Overall, the study contributed to understanding how compensation and organisational practices intersect with intrinsic motivation to shape nurses’ performance in South Africa’s public health system. By situating nurses’ experiences within broader socio-political and organisational contexts, the research offers practical and theoretical insights for hospital management, policymakers, and the IOP discipline.; Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie het verpleegkundiges se persepsies van vergoeding by ’n staatshospitaal in Suid-Afrika en die invloed daarvan op werksprestasie ondersoek. Die navorsing het drie empiriese doelwitte nagestreef:  om verpleegkundiges se persepsies rakende die effek van vergoeding op hulle prestasie te ondersoek;  om te ondersoek hoe vergoedingspakkette gestruktureer kan word om prestasie te verbeter; en  om intervensies benewens vergoeding te identifiseer wat verpleegkundiges se prestasie kan verbeter. ’n Doelbewuste steekproef van 11 verpleegkundiges is ondervra en dataversadiging is bereik. Die tematiese analise het vyf hooftemas aan die lig gebring: onvoldoende vergoeding, aansporings en finansiële druk; werklas- en hulpbronuitdagings; motivering om werk te verrig; leierskap en kommunikasie; en opleiding en ontwikkeling. Die bevindinge het aangedui, dat hoewel verpleegkundiges ontevredenheid uitgespreek het met vergoeding en onbillike aansporings, hulle prestasie volgehou word deur intrinsieke motivering, professionele trots en toewyding aan pasiëntsorg. Sistemiese uitdagings soos personeeltekorte, hulpbronbeperkings, oneffektiewe leierskap en beperkte opleidingsgeleenthede is egter as beduidende hindernisse vir moraal en optimale prestasie geïdentifiseer. Die studie was beperk deurdat die fokus op een enkele terrein was, die klein steekproefgrootte, die afhanklikheid van selfgerapporteerde data en die navorser se binnekringstatus. Ten spyte van hierdie beperkings het die navorsing waardevolle insig verskaf in die lewenswerklikhede van verpleegkundiges in die openbare gesondheidsektor. Aanbevelings is gemaak vir toekomstige xvi navorsing, die deelnemende hospitaal en die veld van Bedryf- en Organisasiesielkunde. Dit sluit in die uitbreiding van die navorsingstudie oor verskeie terreine; die versterking van leierskap en kommunikasie; die belegging in opleiding en ontwikkeling; en die bevordering van teorie-praktyk-integrasie binne Bedryf- en Organisasiesielkunde. Oor die algemeen het die studie bygedra tot die begrip van hoe vergoeding en organisatoriese praktyke kruis met intrinsieke motivering om verpleegkundiges se prestasie in Suid-Afrika se openbare gesondheidstelsel te vorm. Deur verpleegkundiges se ervarings binne breër sosio-politieke en organisatoriese kontekste te plaas, bied die navorsing praktiese en teoretiese insigte vir hopsitaalbestuur, beleidmakers en die Bedryf- en Organisasiesielkunde-dissipline.; Nyakišišo ye ya khwalitheithifi e ile ya hlohlomiša dikgopolo tša baoki mabapi le tefo sepetleleng sa mmušo sa Afrika Borwa le khuetšo ya yona go phethagatšo ya mošomo. Nyakišišo e ile ya tsepelela ditebo tše tharo tša tebeledišišo, e lego go  hlohlomiša dikgopolo tša baoki mabapi le seabe sa tefo mošomong wa bona.  nyakišiša gore meputso le dikholego tša tefo di ka beakanywa bjang go kaonafatša phethagatšo ya mošomo.  hlaola ditsenogare tšeo di fetago tefo tšeo di ka kaonafatšago phethagatšo ya mošomo wa baoki. Go ile gwa boledišanwa le kemedi ye e kgethilwego ya baoki ba 11, go fihlelela kgoboketšo ya datha. Tshekatsheko ye e ka amantšhwago le hlogo ya nyakišišo e utolotše dihlogo tše hlano tše dikgolo: tefo yeo e sa lekanago; meputso le kgatelelo ya tša ditšhelete; tekanyo ya mošomo le ditlhohlo tša methopo; tutuetšo ya phethagatšo ya mošomo; boetapele le poledišano; le tlhahlo le tlhabollo. Dikhwetšo di bontšhitše gore gaešita le ge baoki ba be ba bontšha go se kgotsofale ka tefo le meputso ye e sa lokago, phethagatšo ya bona ya mošomo e tšwetšwa pele ke tutuetšo ya ka gare, boikgantšho bja mošomo le go ikgafa go hlokomeleng balwetši. Le ge go le bjalo, ditlhohlo tša tshepedišo tše bjalo ka go hlaelela ga bašomedi, go hlaelela ga methopo, boetapele bjo bo sa holego le dibaka tše di lekanyeditšwego tša tlhahlo di ile tša hlaolwa e le mapheko a magolo a go fokotša go ba le tutuetšo le go phethagatša mošomo gabotse. Nyakišišo e be e lekanyeditšwe ke go lebiša tlhokomelo lefelong le tee, bogolo bjo bonnyane bja kemedi, go ithekga ka tshedimošo yeo e begilwego ke motho ka noši le boemo bja motho yo a lego ka gare wa monyakišiši. Go sa šetšwe mafokodi a, nyakišišo e ile ya nea temogo e bohlokwa ya maitemogelo a baoki ka lekaleng la tša maphelo a setšhaba. Ditšhišinyo di ile tša newa bakeng sa nyakišišo ya nakong e tlago, sepetlele seo se kgathago tema le lefapha la Saekholotši ya Mokgatlo le Intasteri (IOP). Tše di akaretša go katološa thuto ya nyakišišo mafelong a mantši; go rarolla go se lekalekane ga tefo; go matlafatša boetapele le poledišano; go beeletša ka go tlhahlo le tlhabollo; le go tšwetša pele kopanyo ya teori le tirišo ka gare ga IOP. Ka kakaretšo, nyakišišo e ile ya thuša go kwešiša ka moo tefo le mekgwa ya go rulaganya e kopanago ka gona le tutuetšo ya ka gare ya go bopa phethagatšo ya mošomo ya baoki setemong ya tša maphelo a setšhaba ya Afrika Borwa. Ka go bea maitemogelo a baoki ka gare ga maemo a magolo a tša leago le dipolitiki le a mokgatlo, nyakišišo e nea ditemogo tše bohlokwa le tša teori bakeng sa taolo ya sepetlele, bahlami ba melao le lefapha la IOP Abstract in English with Afrikaans and SePedi translations 2026-06-09T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/33082 Assessing the impact of China's belt and road initiative on the political economy of the horn of Africa : a case study of Ethiopia and Djibouti Ratshikuni, Mugabe Funzani This research examines the challenges and ramifications of China’s increased involvement in the Horn of Africa, through a comparative case study of Ethiopia and Djibouti, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Horn of Africa holds a strategic position due to the convergence of economic actors and geopolitical complexities. The BRI has provided significant financial resources to the region, resulting in extensive infrastructure development, increased trade, and improved connectivity. The increase in Chinese investments in countries such as Ethiopia and Djibouti, standing at over US$14 billion and $1.68 billion respectively, raises concerns regarding economic dependency, debt sustainability, and changes in regional power dynamics. Comprehending the complex relationship between economic development, geopolitics, and local welfare is crucial for establishing a sustainable and equitable regional future. Adopting a qualitative research design grounded in the analysis of documentary and secondary-source evidence, and applying realism and dependency theory as its dual theoretical framework, this study aims to enhance understanding of the effects of China’s BRI on the political economy of Ethiopia and Djibouti, with an interest in assessing and determining its impact in terms of sustainable economic development and advancement of national development aspirations. The study provides valuable insights for policy-making and regional stability in promoting decision-making that might help to eliminate dependency and debt traps in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia and Djibouti. It acknowledges that the BRI presents economic opportunities but also poses potential risks of debt crisis and dependency, potentially undermining sustainable development in Ethiopia and Djibouti. The political implications of the BRI in Ethiopia and Djibouti extend beyond the China bilateral relationship, impacting regional geopolitics and domestic governance. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/33077 The impact of inclusive procurement practices on small and medium-sized enterprises operating within the South African mining sector Luthuli, Nkanyezi Nqobile This study explores the impact of inclusive procurement practices on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within South Africa’s mining sector. Inclusive procurement, defined as the deliberate integration of diverse and marginalised suppliers into supply chains, has emerged as a strategic mechanism for advancing socio-economic development, equity, and sustainability. In the mining industry, procurement policies are central to shaping opportunities for local enterprises and host communities, making this an important area of inquiry. A survey was conducted with SMEs participating in mining supply chains to evaluate their experiences, challenges, and perceived benefits of inclusive procurement initiatives. Quantitative methods, including descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, were applied to examine the relationship between procurement practices and business outcomes such as growth, competitiveness, and community development. Results indicate that inclusive procurement contributes positively to SME empowerment by expanding market access, strengthening capacity, and encouraging innovation. However, significant barriers remain, including limited supplier readiness, compliance burdens, and inconsistent enforcement of policies. The study concludes that inclusive procurement is both a developmental imperative and a strategic enabler for SMEs in the mining sector. It recommends strengthening policy implementation, enhancing supplier development programs, and fostering collaborative partnerships between mining companies, government, and communities. By addressing existing challenges, inclusive procurement can unlock greater opportunities for SMEs, drive sustainable growth, and promote resilience. Collectively, the research highlights the transformative potential of inclusive procurement in advancing equity and socio-economic progress within South Africa’s mining economy 2026-02-27T00:00:00Z