USB Leaders' Lab Magazine
Permanent URI for this community
This research publication provides an exclusive source of organisational leadership research and insights generated by USB academics and PhD, MBA and other Master's students, as well as by experts associated with the school.
The aim of the publication is to share new knowledge – in an accessible and useful way – with current and future leaders in order to contribute to the development of the South African and African economies. Hence its tagline: Where leaders grow. Published by: USB. Publication frequency: twice a year.
Browse
Browsing USB Leaders' Lab Magazine by Title
Now showing 1 - 20 of 25
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Item13 Ways to turn people on(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2010) Swart, Marinda; Louw, Johan
- ItemAfrica pressing foward as an emergent power(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2010) Nkuhlu, Wiseman
- ItemBalancing your BEE act : is your strategy poised for sustaining the growth?(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Bosman, Estelle; Oosthuizen, Hein
- ItemBrand-building : a telling story(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2010) Van Loggerenberg, Marthinus; Herbst, FrikkieWhy word-of-mouth marketing speaks to the important consumer community of black middle-class women in South Africa.
- ItemCan sugar provide a spark? : wanted! greener energy : is South Africa doing everything in its power to come clean?(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Norris, Grant; Volschenk, JakoThe province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa has two strong bioindustries, namely sugar and forestry, which produce considerable volumes of residue. What is the potential of these two waste resources to deliver cost-effective, green electricity? This question led to research at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) to determine to what extent these two resources can offer feasible and economically viable sources of electric energy.
- ItemCash-flow tells a story : how can cash-flow patterns assist analysts in investigating a company's financial health?(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008-02) Steyn Bruwer, Wilma; Hamman, WillieCash has been called the lifeblood of a business. A company’s ability to generate cash from its activities is a critical determinant of its survival and growth. Moreover, companies that consume cash consistently are on the way to disaster. This makes the cash-flow statement a vital set of information for assessing financial health. It reveals a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash to repay loans, to fund expansion and to pay dividends, and also enables analysts to understand how much profit is realised in cash. Past research has established that there are distinct cash-flow patterns that can be associated with the life-cycle phases of companies. Life-cycle theory suggests that companies go through phases of start-up, growth, maturity and decline. In each phase they face different operational circumstances which give rise to different cash-flow patterns. This research, conducted at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), used empirical data to show how analysts can study a company’s cash-related variables and ratios and, by comparing them with expected patterns, gain a broader understanding of the company and its relative level of maturity. The study found that listed South African industrial companies displayed predictable occurrences of cash-flow patterns associated with start-up, growing and mature enterprises. It also found that certain patterns are only sustainable over short periods. Companies exhibiting these are at the end of their life cycle, and will either disappear or be restructured.
- ItemThe dangers of positional smugplacency : is a wave of destructive incompetence gathering momentum in the South African workplace?(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Leonard, Basil C.
- ItemFollow the road to Eden(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Brown, Chris; Botha, M.C.The research discussed here started as an MBA research project with the aim of designing a strategy to implement a project management capability in a district municipality. Subsequently, the strategy proposed by that study was used to guide the real-life implementation of project management in the Eden District Municipality, seated in George. This practical opportunity was seized as an ideal case study for recording the problems encountered and the techniques deployed to overcome them.
- ItemThe fund performance illusion(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Wessels, Daniel; Kriger, NielResearch conducted at the University of Stellenbosch Business School into the long-term performance of equity fund managers found that past performance was not a reliable indicator of future performance. The study links up with the trends revealed by previous international and local studies and found relative persistence in yields in the short term, but short-term results did not have long-term predictive value. The longer the investigation period, the more the performances would adopt a random up-and-down movement. The clear message from the research is a warning to investors. Do not put your trust in one active manager only. In the long run, a particular fund’s performance may deviate substantially from its recent track record. The study thus exposes the danger of accepting current performance as the sole predictor of future performance and suggests, especially for longer-term investments, that investors must become better acquainted with the investment philosophies and decision strategies of fund managers before making investments.
- ItemFurther research(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2010)The place of marketing in business - Frikkie Herbst. Enlarging the economic cake - Wolfgang Thomas. Aligning IS with business strategy - Martin Butler. Societal sensitivity in the future workplace - Dr Babita Mathur-Helm.
- ItemIn terms uncluttered(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Smit, E. van der M.
- ItemLeading tourism ventures : what are the characteristics that enable some small tourism enterpreneurs to succeed, while others fail?(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008-02) Van Zyl, Chris; Mathur-Helm, Babita
- ItemNational sporting success and investor optimism(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2010) Smith, Brendan; Krige, NielContrary to findings of overseas studies, the mood of South African investors seems to be influenced less by the outcomes of national sporting events.
- ItemOptimising fruit production choices(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2010) Steenkamp, Matthys; Gevers, WimMathematical modelling techniques show that choosing the right cultivar mix for deciduous fruit production units can drastically improve profitability.
- ItemThe project mindset : a streamlined corporate culture will make matrix project management fly(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Morrison, John; Brown, Chris; Smit, E. van der M.Setting up a project management capability in an organisation is not a trivial exercise. The decision to implement project management means a substantial investment in new software tools, changes to your accounting system and training of staff. To start with, you will probably also need to recruit some expertise, including consultants charging expensive fees. In return you will expect a positive return on this investment. However, if your organisation depends on matrix project management but lacks the corporate culture which drives it, the investment will be poor. Your organisation will simply not be prepared for the en route turbulence of projects. This was the premise for research conducted at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) to establish the link between an organisation’s culture and its ability to integrate matrix project management into its routine work. This research has come up with a structured, twelve-point checklist to gauge your corporate readiness for the journey.
- ItemRaising a crop of farmers(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008-02) Duma, Moses; Thomas, WolfgangIn the wake of the launch of Zimbabwe’s land-reform programmes and the subsequent deterioration of the formal farming industry, contract farming has emerged as a significant economic activity. It offers communal farmers the opportunity to sell their produce to agribusinesses at predetermined terms and prices. The concept has gradually taken off to provide a degree of stability in crop production that might otherwise have collapsed. Research conducted at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) investigated contract farming in Zimbabwe and came up with suggestions for improving the system. The study found that contract farming enjoys substantial acceptance and support from its key participants: smallholder farmers, agribusiness, and the Zimbabwean government.
- ItemReaping the rewards of risk(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008-02) Long, JuliaSouth Africa needs more venture capitalists who brave risks by supporting new entrepreneurs with early-stage finance. In such uncharted territory failure is a possibility, but so are excellent returns
- ItemRelationships that can bear fruit(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008-02) Smuts, Annelie; Loubser, StephanusCan a new model of supplying fruit to the export market nourish competitiveness and help ensure the long-term survival of South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry? Research conducted at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) revealed that the present linear supply chain model of producer to marketer to retail may have become outdated. Instead, the study suggests that South African fruit exporters cultivate a new approach towards producers that can strengthen the position of both parties in world markets.
- ItemRelief for a profession in spasm : is there hope for the physiotherapy profession as it loses touch with its strategic role and becomes cramped for space in a fast-chaning healthcare industry?(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Rossouw, Tania; Oosthuizen, Hein
- ItemThe right leader for the right time(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2007-08) Van der Erve, Marc