June 2016 Newsletter - University of Johannesburg

Number 10 : July 2016
VISITOR FROM THE VU
During the final working week of March
this year, the Department of Business
Management saw months of preparation
culminate in a weeklong visit of Dr
Alex Alexiev, Assistant Professor in the
Faculty of Economics and Business
Administration at the Vrije Universitieit
Amsterdam.
Dr Alexiev presented both
undergraduate and post graduate
classes and ended off his visit with a
public lecture entitled: “Boundaryless
organisations and the future of
management education”. According
to Dr Alexiev, there is a gradual but
definite shift of emphasis away from
the organisation, and in favour of the
professional. As professional individuals
become more independently skilled, in
demand and thus mobile in a globalizing
world, they are also becoming more
entrepreneurial in an effort to sell
themselves. Organisations in turn
have access to divergent knowledge
and expertise and have the flexibility
to appoint people ad hoc to suit their
changing human capital requirements.
This is indeed becoming a knowledge/
opportunity driven global village.
Educationalists in management sciences
are now faced with the challenge
of what skills to teach these future
independent professionals to equip
them to compete successfully in
boundaryless organisations. The lecture
was well attended by UJ alumni, senior
staff as well as the Dean of the Faculty of
Management, Prof Daneel Van Lill and
the Vice Dean of Teaching and Learning,
Prof Jane Spowart.
Prof Spowart thanked Dr Alexiev for
his visit and stressed the importance
of such collaboration between partner
universities as academics, students and
both universities benefit greatly from it.
Students welcomed the international
flavour Dr Alexiev brought to their
lectures and feedback was positive all
round.
Dr Alexiev has an extensive publication
record and in future may collaborate with
Department of Business Management
staff to produce joint research articles
in the field of strategy, innovation, new
ventures and entrepreneurship as well as
culture and teams.
Dr Alex Alexiev, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Economics and
Business Administration at the Vrije Universitieit Amsterdam
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ROTARACT CLUB INCEPTION MEETING
From the left at front to right : Surrounded by community engagement volunteers
from Soweto, Bunting Road and Auckland Park President Annemarie Mostert, Rotary
E-Club of Southern Africa 9400, Ms Monki Motsepe (CE APK), Mr Theo Buttress ( )
Mr Steve du Plessis, (Rotary E-Club of Southern Africa 9400), Ms Lebogang Mawelela
(CE APB), Professor Llewellyn Leonard (Tourism Department STH), Dr Peta Thomas
(Department of Business Management).
Erika Kurten worked at the Department of
Business Management as Administrative
Assistant for BCom Honours (Strategic
Management) from 1 October 2013 till
July 2016. Erika enjoyed working at the
department and wish you all the best
with your future. Thank you for all your
love and support.
Guest Lecturer:
Brett Anitra Gilbert, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Entrepreneurship
Management & Global Business
Rutgers Business School
Lectured to ND Small Business
Management students in April. Theme
were on the international research
being conducted to identify how
countries like SA, and regions like Jhb
can develop their own Silicone Valley.
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Rotaract Clubs of the
University of Johannesburg
Throughout 2015 the Tourism
department of the School of Tourism
and Hospitality under Professor
Leonard Llewellyn helped by Dr.
Peta Thomas and Ms Anisah Deen,
worked closely with Steve du Plessis
who represents the Rotary E-Club of
Southern Africa 9400. The SANParksTourism Department-Rotary 9400
book project sprang from the Tourism
department interaction with SANParks’
Solly Themba (SANParks Community
Facilitator, People and Conservation
Department) in February of 2015. Solly
runs a massive education intervention
called Walk and Learn on the Wildside
(WALOW) for grade 10 and 11 pupils
in community high schools promoting
the role of SANParks in both community
and conservation. In 2015 the Faculty
of Management community project
initiated by the Tourism department
STH moved second-hand books to two
communities bordering the Kruger
National Park. A typical example of the
paucity of reading matter was a beautiful
brick public library near the Numbi
Kruger gate. This library serves 20 high
schools and 50 000 community members
and had 2 500 books (fiction and nonfiction). STH Honours students of 2016
– Jermaine Barnes and Thato Moagi
- were involved in 2015 and helped
choose and distribute Rotary books
also giving talks about the University of
Johannesburg and conservation and job
creation to community high schoolers.
The Tourism department added another
1200 books to this particular library but it
was apparent that this contribution was
literally a drop in the ocean. The Tourism
department project of 2015 continues
in 2016 but hopefully on a much bigger
scale.
From this very exciting interaction
with Rotary E-Club of Southern Africa
9400, Professor Leonard and Dr.
Thomas supported by Steve du Plessis
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Number 10 : July 2016
approached Ms Joyce Sibeko (ENACTUS
Department of Business Management),
Ms Monki Motsepe (CE APK), Ms
Lebogang Mawelela (CE APB), Dr.
Dhliwayo and Professor Spowart (Faculty
of Management) to form five Rotaract
clubs within the University. The Rotaract
club project was supported as Rotary
projects link to ENACTUS and community
involvement in every way. Rotary’s six
community service priorities are: peace
and conflict prevention/resolution,
disease prevention and treatment,
water and sanitation, maternal and child
health, basic education and literacy, and
economic and community development.
March 2016 saw the inception meeting
for these five Rotaract clubs in the
University of Johannesburg - STH
Rotaract Club (Bunting Road campus); UJ
CE APK Rotaract Club (Kingsway campus);
UJ CE APB Rotaract Club (Bunting Road
campus); UJ CE SWC Rotaract Club
(Soweto campus); UJ CE DFC Rotaract
Club (Doornforntein campus). These
Rotaract clubs will be supported by the
Rotary E-Club of Southern Africa 9400
(http://rotaryeclubsa9400.org/).
“Rotary International is a global
community of committed professionals
working together to serve others and
advance peace. More than 1.2 million
members in over 34,000 Rotary clubs
worldwide volunteer in communities at
home and abroad. Rotaract is a service
club for young men and women ages 18
to 30 who are dedicated to community
and international service. Its membership
currently totals over 184,000 in more
than 8,000 clubs worldwide. Rotaract
clubs are self-governing and selfsupporting and can be either universityor community-based. Individual Rotary
clubs sponsor Rotaract clubs and offer
guidance and support, making the
Rotaract clubs true “partners in service”
and key members of the family of Rotary”
(Rotaract Handbook, 2016).
VICTORY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT, BUNTING ROAD
Diversity week was celebrated at the
Campus Director’s office grounds. A
total of twelve departments participated
in the diversity day festivities which
consisted of a variety of games, meet
and greets as well as dancing and
entertainment. The main focus of the
day was to get all the departments
involved. Two prizes were on the line.
The one prize was for “The Ultimate
Braai Master”.
In this category, the Department of
Business Management APB took second
place and was narrowly beaten by the
APB Library Department.
But being the strong and focused team
that we are, and with all of us working
together, we were not deterred by this
set-back and won the ultimate prize of
the day by being “crowned” The most
diverse participating Department at
Bunting Road Campus - and it was not
Number 10 : July 2016
even difficult. All we did was have a
fabulous time participating in all the fun.
Auhtor: Ms Evette Boys
CEP coordinator for Department
of Business Management
Auckland Park Bunting rd Campus.
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Eli Dhlamini –
Academic Coordinator
APK Business
Management:
COM 100
STUDENTS
The senior tutors in the
department of Business
Management have made a
wonderful contribution to the
learning journey of the COM100
students thus far in 2016. They
have embraced their role as
part of the teaching team and
have invested their time and
effort in guiding and assisting
students. As students themselves
they remember the challenges
and discouragements they
faced in their undergraduate
journey and this puts them in a
unique position to act as peer
instructors to the students in
their classes.
The sense of ownership they
have for their tutorial classes
has resulted in a learning
environment where students
feel at ease to ask for assistance
and offer their input. Throughout
the semester the team has gone
to great lengths to be accessible
to students and to ensure that
they add to the quality with
which the unit is presented.
Tutorials form a crucial part of
the teaching strategy and I offer
my sincere thanks to the team
for their stellar contribution!
Eli joined the Department in 2011
as an academic coordinator. She is
responsible for the holistic coordination
of the MCom Business Management
programme. For the past five years she
has been involved in the optimisation
of post graduate student experience
from the moment they make application
enquiries until they graduate. Eli is
responsible for rendering quality
administrative services to all potential
and registered MCom Business
Management students. Throughout the
years she has built strong stakeholder
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relationships with students, lecturers,
supervisors and colleagues from other
departments within the Faculty of
Management as well as other Faculties.
Eli is currently studying towards
a Masters degree in Information
Management. Her academic
background and work experience
in the Department has equipped
her with good communication and
interpersonal skills, report writing skills
and programme management skills. She
enjoys trouble shooting and exploring
all possible solutions to a problem.
Number 10 : July 2016
Author: Suzaan Hughes. Lecturer:
Department of Business
Management APK.
Business Management Tutors APK
Chanté van Tonder (left)
Senior tutor of the Department of
Business Management.
She is currently studying towards her
Masters degree in Mcom Strategic
Management.
Nausheen Butler (right)
The tutor for the subjects, Commerce
100, Business Management 2 and 3. She
is currently studying towards her Honours
degree in Bcom Strategic Management.
Tumelo Maraka (left)
The tutor for the subjects, Commerce
100, Business Management 2 and 3. He is
currently studying towards his Honours
degree in Bcom Strategic Management.
Tenele Dlamini (right)
The tutor for the subjects, Commerce
100, Business Management 2 and 3. She
is currently studying towards her Masters
degree in Mcom Business Management.
Business
Management
Tutors SWC
The Department of Business
Management at Soweto Campus (SWC)
strives to achieve exceptional and quality
results as a standard. There are various
contingencies that have been put in
place to ensure that this is accomplished,
and one of those contingencies includes
the use of tutors within the department.
The purpose of these tutors is to ensure
that the content that is covered by the
respective lecturers is then broken down
into a more simple form, with the use of
practical examples related to the specific
field of study and disseminated to the
students. Furthermore students have
the opportunity to consult with their
allocated tutor/s responsible for that
particular module, in order to gain
clarity on specific issues or uncertainties
that may have arisen during their
lecture class or perhaps during their
tutorial class.
The aim of tutorials is to reduce the
failure as well as dropout rate through
the utilisation of tutors, who in essence
develop a more personal relationship
with their students. This also in turn
gives the tutors the opportunity to
develop and to play the role of a
mentor to students. Tutors/mentors are
then able to identify students who are
struggling academically and can offer
them additional support after tutorials
or alternatively recommend them to
the Academic Development Centre,
the tutors/mentors are also able to
identify those students who are perhaps
experiencing more personal issues and
can offer moral support, thereafter may
recommend them to the
relevant facilities (such as PsyCaD).
Martin Weale has been appointed as
the Senior Tutor for the Department
of Business Management at SWC as
of February 2016. He is responsible for
overseeing and coordinating ten tutors
for both degree and diploma modules
within the Business Department. He
plays the link between the lecturers and
their tutors, in addition to that it is also
essential that he monitors and evaluates
the progress of all the tutors, so as to
provide constructive feedback to the
tutors on various critical areas that they
may need to work on in order to better
their tutorial sessions.
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Number 10 : July 2016
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1. Martin Weale the Senior Tutor of the Department of Business Management
2. Pebetsi Lewele the tutor for Business Management 2
3. Sindi Morajane the tutor for Business Management 1 & Introduction to
Business Management 1
4. Lutho Hlazo the tutor for Management 2 & Introduction to Business
Management 1
5. Lerato Semeno the tutor for Entrepreneurship 1, 2 & Management 1
10.
6. Ndivhuho Maelekano the tutor for Business Management 1 & Introduction
to Business Management 1
7. Kagiso Mahlangu the tutor for Business Management 1 & Introduction to
Business Management 1
8. Marriam Kgoale the tutor for Introduction to Business Management 1,
Business Management 2 & Management 3
9. Annah Modise the tutor for Business Management 1 & 2
10. Khulile Dlamini assisting with tutoring Business Management 3
11. Sarah Kanyinyia the tutor for Management 1
11.
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Number 10 : July 2016
EXPLORING SOUTH AFRICAN EMPLOYEES’
REWARD PREFERENCES.
By Authors: K Muiriri (UJ Hons student 2015) and C Jasson (lecturer)
Co Author: Cashandra. Johannesburg. Department of Business Management.
Abstract
Research has found a link between
reward systems and desired
performance. However studies have not
clarified whether and why managers
should employ intrinsic or extrinsic
reward systems. Therefore this study
aimed at further investigating employee
perceptions on intrinsic and extrinsic
rewards. Managers will be better
informed from this study as to which
reward system would work better in
which situation.
This research is significant because prior
studies on reward systems have not
been substantial on the issue of intrinsic
and extrinsic motivation. Therefore
further study was needed to investigate
how employees perceive intrinsic and
extrinsic reward systems and which
they prefer. The issue about employee
entitlement would be addressed
and deductions pointed out that will
assist organisations. Managers will be
enlightened about reward systems,
which to employ under which conditions
and about employees’ generally
perception of reward systems.
The research design used was
quantitative. Questionnaires were
administered to selected respondents
using simple random sampling. It was
found that employees still prefer extrinsic
rewards and are keen to advance their
careers. Employers understand this
and reward employees in the same
manner. Yet, considering that many
people are dissatisfied in the workplace,
perhaps further research may shed
light on employee happiness as an
intrinsic reward and the abilities of
transcendental, rather than transactional
leaders to deliver it. The research
conducted proved to be useful as the
aims of the research were achieved.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING | JULY 2016
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.
Win-Win Solutions: Applying Business Planning in
a Collaborative Undergraduate Design Project
Authors: Thea Tselepis & Chris Schachtebeck
ABSTRACT
Comprehensive universities in an
emerging tertiary education context
require effective teaching strategies and
projects to enhance optimal output
that is benchmarked on an international
level of excellence. This paper reports
on a collaborative project applied in
an undergraduate fashion design and
business (entrepreneurship) programme
at a comprehensive university in
Johannesburg, South Africa. The
purpose of this study was to enhance
programme outcomes through a creative
collaborative project in order to enhance
the quality of business planning through
an action learning approach.
Relevant principles were applied to the
collaborative project relate to theory
on collective creativity as well as action
learning. Empirical data collected
during the project was predominantly
qualitative in nature involving: student
reflections during and post-project
(probed by means of a developed tool),
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Number 10 : July 2016
7
minutes of students’ action-oriented
meetings, video recordings of final
presentations, as well as evaluation
of the final business plans proposing
a workable business concept for the
competitive and creative fashion
industry. Data were analysed by means
of content analysis of student journals,
lecturers’ observations of video material
were documented and an analytic rubric
was implemented to evaluate the quality
of the business plans.
Findings suggest the advantages for the
lecturers of the programme pertained to
using the allocated time for the project
optimally as they could only facilitate
the process and simply explain the
principles of the project and business
Chris Schachtebeck and Thea Tselepis
planning instead of formally teaching the
relevant theory relating to the business
plan. Other critical cross outcomes
were also obtained, such as enhancing
communication skills in meetings
and through social media, promoting
cultural and students’ self-awareness.
The findings culminates in a framework
which aims to aid collective creativity
through action learning in a context of
in applying a higher level of designer-like
thinking to business planning.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING | 4-7 JULY 2016
35TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICAN TRANSPORT CONFERENCE
SOCIAL MEDIA WITHIN GLOBAL LOGISTICS
PROVIDERS: PERCEPTIONS FROM THE
GENERATION X COHORT
Authors: Eleni Albanis, Chennelle Gaitskill & Chris Schachtebeck
ABSTRACT
The rise of social media has
significantly impacted organisations
by providing the opportunity to
market goods/services more cost
effectively to a wider audience. It
however appears that social media
is not integrated into organisational
strategy. Furthermore, employees
from the Generation X cohort might
show resistance to adopting social
media as a marketing tool.
Likert-scale, measured perceptions of
social media usage in terms of ease of
use, usefulness, intention to use, actual
use and integration with corporate
strategy.
Results indicate Generation X employees
perceive social media as a useful
marketing tool, perceive social media
This study investigates social media
use in two global logistics providers,
specifically seen from the perspective
of Generation X employees. An
exploratory research design was
followed by means of conducting a
multiple-case study in the logistics
sector. Data were collected by means
of self-administered questionnaires.
The adapted instrument, utilising a
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Number 10 : July 2016
as easy to use and indicated high
intent to use social media. A lack of
real social media strategies and lack
of integration into corporate strategy
was indicated. This paper also provides
recommendations to enhance the
benefits and effectiveness of social
media usage.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING | 4-7 JULY 2016
35TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICAN
TRANSPORT CONFERENCE
Assessing the potential benefits of
road infrastructure development
for poverty alleviation: lessons
learnt from developing economies
Chris Schachtebeck
Authors: Chris Schachtebeck & Jean-Marie Mbuya
ABSTRACT
Poverty remains a critical challenge in
developing economies, as presented in
the Sustainable Development Goals. The
South African government, in particular,
has undertaken a number of initiatives to
alleviate poverty. However, a symbiotic
relationship can be created when
infrastructure development and poverty
alleviation are considered in unison.
A clear distinction needs to be drawn
between urban and rural road transport
infrastructure development and the
associated benefits for these
differing contexts.
This study investigates the potential
benefit that road transport infrastructure
development has for poverty alleviation.
The study was qualitative in nature
and made extensive use of secondary
sources, particularly focused on
research from developing economies.
Furthermore, an inductive research
approach was followed. The contribution
of the research is a theoretical
overview of the potential benefits road
infrastructure development has on
prevailing and future poverty levels,
from an emerging economies lens.
Results indicate a strong positive
relationship between road infrastructure
development and poverty alleviation.
Both direct and indirect poverty-related
Jean-Marie Mbuya
benefits can be associated with this
type of investment. In particular, the
investment does not only result in the
creation of job opportunities, but also
has associated effects on standards of
living, market accessibility, community
development and local growth rates.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
PROBLEMS & PERSPECTIVES IN MANAGEMENT
(VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2, 2016)
Future entrepreneurs: does the field of study matter? A
comparison of students in a South African urban environment
Authors: Jean-Marie Mbuya & Chris Schachtebeck
ABSTRACT
South Africa is experiencing high rates of
unemployment and poverty, particularly
among the youth. Entrepreneurship, and
the education of it, is often seen as a
solution to this socio-economic issue, yet
studies have shown conflicting results
on the impact the field of study has
on entrepreneurial intent. Accordingly,
the aim of this paper is to evaluate and
compare the entrepreneurial intention
among urban students enrolled for an
entrepreneurship qualification versus
students who were registered for a non-
entrepreneurship related qualification.
The article presents quantitative,
empirical data collected from 603
students by means of a questionnaire
to determine if the field of study has
an influence on entrepreneurial intent.
The study made use of descriptive
statistics, factor analysis, Kaiser-MeyerOlkin and Bartlett test in order to
discover similarities and differences
in entrepreneurial intent in students
pursuing entrepreneurial and nonentrepreneurial qualifications. The
Number 10 : July 2016
results revealed that students view
entrepreneurship as a valuable career
path, regardless of field of study. Both
groups held similar strong positive views
and beliefs regarding their intention to
pursue this career path. Entrepreneurship
students, however, display a marginally
higher self-observed personal attitude
toward becoming entrepreneurs. Results
also showed that family support is an
important influencer in entrepreneurial
intent among students.
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Number 10 : July 2016
BIOGRAPHY
Peta Thomas
Department of Business
Management
I have a PHD from North-West
University South Africa, a MBA from
Oxford Brookes University, U.K. and a
BSc Honours Botany and Zoology. I
have undertaken a specialist 18 month
training with the UCT Business School
gaining expertise and experience in
application of open systems thinking
and viable system modelling for the
diagnosis of improving business
systems as strategic management.
I am particularly interested in
understanding the value of
interventions that create knowledge
and potential for innovation and
quality improvement for business.
I have been lucky enough to work
for several years at a time in various
countries – U.S.A., Zimbabwe and
the Sultanate of Oman plus briefer
immersions in Bhutan, Mocambique
Malawi, Tanzania and Botswana.
In the past two years I have worked to
support South African SANParks both
conducting research with Parks and
out-reach projects to communities
abutting Parks. E-Rotary Johannesburg
has worked with me the on Parks
community projects. Working with
E-Rotary has sprouted four Rotaract
clubs at the University in February
2016. I am supported on the Rotaract
UJ intiative with great support from
Monki Motsepe (CE APK), Leobgang
Mawelala (CE APB) and Joyce Sibeko
(ENACTUS – Department of Business
Management).
I spend a great deal of free time
exploring South Africa, southern and
eastern Africa.
BIOGRAPHY
I am Sibusiso Shabalala, and I am a Tutor at DFC for the Business Management
Department at APB. I am currently completing my Bachelor of Technology
Degree in Logistics Management, and I also serve as a Tutor in the
Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management at APB. I started
tutoring business management in mid-February, and the reason why that
is the case is because I have a flair for academic teaching especially in the
field that I am in. I believe that teaching is a double-edged sword that can
help me to learn more, understand more and retain more content. My short
term future goal is to obtain my Masters of Commerce/Philosophy Degree in
Logistics Management and thus be an expert that contributes positively to
the discipline.
Number 10 : July 2016
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UJ Rotaract Clubs Sorting books for
Kruger Community Libraries.
Saturday morning 28 May thirty UJ
Rotaract Club members went to the
Rotary E-Club Humanitarian Centre to
sort 2nd hand books for the community
libraries abutting the Kruger National
Park. The Kruger Park rests along-side
some 200 local communities with over 2
million permanent residents supported
by a multitude of government schools
and public libraries. Each school relies
on the public library for all reading
material for the students. The libraries
are often well built with qualified
librarians but extremely short of books.
Rotaract club presidents / leaders
Muhammed Sibanypni, Kelebogile
Tsoku, Masala Hangammbi and Unathi
Valashiya worked on Saturday with Dr
Peta Thomas (Department of Business
Management) and Steve du Plessis of
Rotary E-Club of Southern Africa D9400
to sort books into boxes of childrens’
fiction and non-fiction, adult fiction and
non-fiction. The project hopes to ship
over 120 000 books to the community
libraries by the end of 2016- all of which
must first be sorted. Co-ordination of the
Rotaract club members (APK, APB, DFC
and SWC) and bus transport to the book
sorting venue, was kindly organized by
Ms Lebogang Mawelala (CE APB).
Compiled and edited by Ridwaan Roberts,
kindly forward ideas or suggestions to [email protected]
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