bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A realização da abordagem histórico-cultural no ensino médio de Matemática
Authors: Kravtsov Lev Guennadievitch
Published: August 2019

O objetivo do presente artigo é examinar o significado da ideia de L. S. Vigotski de que o conhecimento é um meio cultural de desenvolvimento e as repercussões dessa ideia para a organização do ensino de matemática. Admitindo-se que se ensina não matemática, mas com a matemática, são examinadas criticamente algumas possibilidades de resposta à pergunta sobre o que se ensina ao aluno quando a matemática é entendida como um meio e não uma finalidade do ensino. Em seguida, são destacadas algumas conclusões psicológicas e pedagógicas ligadas à organização do processo de ensino de matemática, quando este campo do saber é compreendido como meio cultural de que o professor lança mão para ensinar.Palavras-chave: Teoria histórico-cultural. Pedagogia. Ensino da matemática.
Sobre o comportamento divergente no contexto da abordagem histórico-cultural
Authors: Kravtsov Oleg
Published: August 2019

O autor analisa o fenômeno do comportamento divergente no contexto da abordagem histórico-cultural. Parte da hipótese de que, por trás do comportamento divergente, há certa realidade psicológica que se apresenta como a única fonte de desvio de comportamento. No artigo, são analisados três aspectos do comportamento divergente, tendo por base a teoria histórico-cultural. O primeiro está ligado à fonte desse comportamento. O autor a enxerga na especificidade do desenvolvimento psíquico da personalidade e da esfera volitiva da pessoa. O segundo aspecto guarda relação com a estrutura complexa do fenômeno do comportamento divergente. Do ponto de vista do autor, o comportamento divergente, assim como o defeito, tem manifestações secundárias e terciárias que guardam relação com a influência do meio social. O terceiro aspecto de compreensão do comportamento divergente está relacionado à concepção de socialização. O autor indica que, no âmbito da abordagem histórico-cultural, esse conceito estrutura-se de modo diferente, quando comparado com a ciência psicológica tradicional. Porém, é exatamente assim que a socialização pode explicar o caráter e a essência do comportamento divergente.Palavras-chave: Comportamento divergente. Socialização. Desvio social.
As ideias de L. S. Vigotski na educação infantil russa na atualidade
Authors: Volobueva Ludmila , Zvereva Olga
Published: August 2019

No artigo, são analisados os principais postulados da teoria de L. S. Vigotski que fundamentam o processo de modernização da educação infantil na Rússia. Destacam-se as exigências apresentadas pelo referencial federal de formação para as instituições de educação infantil à luz da concepção histórico-cultural da atividade de L. S. Vigotski.Palavras-chave: Educação infantil na Rússia. Referencial federal de formação. Atividade.
A Teoria Histórico-Cultural e a apropriação da linguagem escrita: uma pesquisa em escolas indígenas no Paraná
Authors: Menezes Maria Christine Berdusco , Faustino Rosangela Célia
Published: August 2019

Este artigo é resultado de uma pesquisa empírica no Colégio Estadual Indígena Cacique Gregório Kaeckchot situado na Terra Indígena Ivaí, no Paraná, cuja população, de cerca de 1600 pessoas, é falante da língua kaingang como L1, tem como objetivo entender como as crianças indígenas se apropriam da linguagem escrita, cujo processo inicial de escolarização é feito em língua portuguesa L2. Entendemos que a concepção Histórico-Cultural pode contribuir, mais adequadamente, nos processos de ensino e aprendizagem das crianças indígenas no início da escolarização, nesse sentido o texto que segue tem como fundamento teórico os pressupostos da Teoria Histórico-Cultural (THC), para a qual a linguagem escrita é constituída socialmente nas interações humanas sendo, então, elemento fundamental na aprendizagem e desenvolvimento da criança. Organizamos o texto em dois momentos. O primeiro refere-se aos conceitos da THC e na sequência a apropriação da linguagem escrita com as crianças Kaingang durante o processo de escolarização.Palavras-chave: Teoria Histórico-Cultural; Apropriação da Linguagem Escrita; Indígenas Kaingang.
Towards a contingent model of key staff retention: The new psychological contract reconsidered
Authors: Lee Gregory
Published: August 2019

Theories and evidence of widespread changes in employment relationships abound in literature. The organisational environment is increasingly characterised by mandates of flexibility, reorganisation, reengineering and downsizing. As a result, traditional perceptions of what is owed between an employee and an organisation are subject to reappraisal. Such perceptions are encapsulated by the concept of the ‘psychological contract’. Evidence suggests that in the transient global business environment, the psychological contract of employees and organisational representatives may be shifting towards a far more transactional paradigm. Transactional contracts describe perceptions that employment obligations are more short-term, work content based and less relational. However in the case of key employee groups, such transactional relationships may conflict with an organisation’s need to retain its core skills and knowledge that form one of its only truly sustainable competitive advantages. Therefore divergent and varied psychological contracts increase the difficulty of decisions regarding the long-term retention of key employees. An explanatory model is therefore presented here, allowing for the various permutations and effects on key staff retention that may arise from such differing perceptions. Organisational solutions and research propositions are suggested for future research.
Concern for others: A management attribute of excellent companies
Authors: Khumalo R.
Published: August 2019

This paper examines concern for others as an attribute prevalent and commonly engaged in by the most successful companies in Zimbabwe. The attribute has been identified to be, among others, characteristic of these excellent companies and it is possible that the success of these companies is partly attributable to this characteristic. Although it is likely that this attribute contributes to successful performance by companies that apply it, there is a possibility that the achievement of this could be most effective if all the attributes including those that are not discussed here are implemented collectively resulting in a synergistic effect. The singular application of this attribute, concern for others, should nevertheless, be tried by business practitioners because it could offer significant improvements to enterprises of all kinds.
South African consumer sentiment towards marketing: A longitudinal analysis
Authors: Boshoff C. , Van Eeden S. M.
Published: August 2019

A constant interaction occurs between the firm, its markets and the variables in the business environment. This dynamic interaction ensures that changes in the environment continuously exert an influence on consumer attitudes and sentiment and how consumers react to and perceive the marketing of products and services.The primary objective of this longitudinal study is to measure South African consumer sentiment towards marketing and to compare the results with previous studies done in 1990 and 1994. Secondary objectives include an investigation to establish to what extent this sentiment towards marketing is influenced by demographic variables.Although the marketing index decreased during the period 1990 to 1994, it improved dramatically during the period 1994 to 1999. In contrast to the previous studies it was established that demographic factors had no significant influence on the sentiment towards marketing in this study.As it is generally acknowledged that attitudes influence actual buying behaviour, marketers need to be aware that attitudes and sentiment toward marketing and marketing activities can change over time and proactive steps need to be taken to ensure that sentiment remains positive regardless of the changes in the external environment.
The bimodal character of stock distribution
Authors: Frank A. G.
Published: August 2019

The bimodal character of stocks is demonstrated when they are classified according to their style. Stocks are often assigned, on the basis of some valuation parameter, uniquely as either value or growth even though, over time, changes in a stock’s-growth probability should trace the evolution of the corporate life cycle. This study is concerned with investigating the relationship of that probability to market cycles. Two hundred and eighty eight stocks from the ASEAN are tracked over an eight-year period. The percentages of those, on a monthly basis, that are in the top quintile of EPS growth, as well as the top quintile of major value (current) styles are calculated. Using multidimensional scaling, the study concludes that the degree of differentiation between growth and value rises as the market declines, and that styles are purer at the bottom than at the top of the market cycle.
Free float and liquidity screening of the JSE
Authors: Andersen H. , Durand F.
Published: August 2019

Current index construction techniques screen potential index constituents in order to exclude those with a low liquidity and/or free float, the actual percentage of shares available for trade, to provide an improved performance benchmark.Four techniques have been applied to the JSE to determine an optimum benchmark. Three indices were constructed using the Financial Times Securities Exchange, Dow Jones STOXX and Morgan Stanley Capital International screening rules. The fourth was constructed by developing new rules. The study found that investors experienced free float and liquidity constraints and that a JSE free float index is required. It also showed that the American and British rules did not provide an improved index and that new, more appropriate rules were needed to create an optimum free float index.
Measuring customer satisfaction with the controllable elements of the in-store shopping experience
Authors: Terblanche N. S. , Boshoff C.
Published: August 2019

Evidence from various sources suggests that satisfaction with the individual components of an in-store shopping experience will result in customer satisfaction which will lead to customer retention and loyalty over the long term. It is argued that the in-store shopping experience (ISE) at store level consists of a variety of different dimensions that can be controlled by the retailer. This study reports on two phases of a long-term study on the controllable elements of the in-store shopping experience. Closely following the guidelines for multi-item scale development suggested by Churchill (1979) and based on the results of two empirical surveys, it is concluded that there are five dimensions of importance to consumers when assessing their satisfaction with an in-store shopping experience. These dimensions are merchandise value, personal interaction, merchandise variety, internal store environment and complaint handling. The proposed instrument in its current form demonstrates high levels of reliability, discriminant validity, convergent validity and construct validity.
Perceptions of Johannesburg small business operators about their small business support systems
Authors: Netswera F. G.
Published: August 2019

Central to the current South African economic debates are the issues of equity, black empowerment and the promotion of small business activities. The promotion of small business activities is felt relevant as they are assumed to be addressing most of the country’s unemployment problem and those mentioned above while contributing largely to the GDP. Assumed problems facing this industry include the unavailability of support systems. This quantitative research explored through telephonic interviews, the perceptions of 60 Johannesburg small business operators of their small business support systems. The findings revealed access to information to be the perceived most important support system and business partnerships and subcontracting the least accessible.
The relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation in South African firms
Authors: Struwig F. W. , Smith E. E.
Published: August 2019

In this article the relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation in South African firms is investigated. The intention is to analyse whether South African firms with specific organisational culture types formulate strategies in the same manner. Literature available on the individual concepts of organisational culture and strategy formulation is extensive, but the relationship between the two concepts is generally ignored. During the empirical survey a self-administered questionnaire was send to 3000 firms. The culture type exhibited by firms was compared to the manner in which these firms formulate strategies. The findings confirm statistical significant relationships between firms with different organisational culture types and how strategies are formulated. Firms should therefore increase their emphasis on aligning culture and strategy.
A study in retail sales person effectiveness
Authors: Birt M. , Vigar D.
Published: August 2019

Strategic Management theory suggests the importance behavioural alignment of organisational actors with organisational objectives (Robbins, 1998, Hellriegel, et al. 2001). This study utilises Kelly’s Personal Construct theory to examine the similarity of constructs held by four groups of actors in a retailing operation, regional managers, store manageress, sales personnel and customers. The study also compares constructs in appropriate company documentation. The results suggest a lack of similarity between the groups and the groups with Company documentation, it is argued that this lack of alignment would have detrimental effects for the organisation.
The sharing principle: A way of managing multicultural organisations
Authors: Rijamampianina R. , Maxwell T.
Published: August 2019

Although much has been said in academia on the importance of multiculturalism, cultural clashes in business and the workplace continue to be an issue of growing concern as the world moves toward an interlinked, global economy. Now more than ever, learning to draw on the richness of a kaleidoscopic workforce and to assist all team members in delivering their best efforts is a critical managerial task. This article provides a synopsis of the background to the problem of managing culturally diverse organisations, discusses the influences of cultural diversity on management, and proposes a conceptual framework for managing multicultural organisations through the ‘sharing principle’. The challenge for a multicultural learning organisation is to increase the potential benefits of cultural diversity by creating a willingness-to-share attitude – sharing success, sharing mental models, sharing vision, and sharing competence. A real commitment to the sharing principle is essential to effective management in culturally diverse organisations.
Knowledge management practices in the South African business sector: Preliminary findings of a longitudinal study
Authors: Botha D. F. , Fouché B.
Published: August 2019

This article reports the findings of the first phase of a longitudinal research project on knowledge management (KM) practices in the South African business sector. The overall objectives of the research are to describe prevalent knowledge management practices, to identify patterns and trends, and to develop knowledge management benchmarking and strategic management tools for the business sector. During the first phase of the project a data collection and analysis instrument for a recurring survey of knowledge management practices was developed and verified. The statistical verification of the instrument was based on a pilot survey of seventy-four respondents representing fifty-three companies in the South African industry, using one-way analysis of variance, cross-tabular chi-squared tests and principal component analysis. The data collected during the pilot survey was considered to be sufficient for a first order analysis of KM practices. The survey tested respondent perceptions on six factors scored by aggregation from 24 indicators. The selection of the factors and indicators was based on a KM reference model developed for the purpose of the research. The findings indicated clear patterns of organisational performance related to the factors of the model. The patterns corroborated to a large extent the published findings of research on KM practices in industrialised countries. This provided the confidence to use the preliminary findings as the basis of hypotheses to guide the further phases of the project.
Management values at the Southern Sun Group
Authors: Thomas A. , Turpin M.
Published: August 2019

South African companies need to become increasingly competitive and productive in the global economy while complying with the statutory requirements of a range of labour legislation. Implementation of the requirements of the Employment Equity Act is likely to result in greater diversity within companies and increasing representation of different race groups at all levels. As management practices may need to be tailored to harness, for competitive advantage, the diverse values that employees bring to the workplace, it was the objective of the present exploratory study to measure similarities and differences in values for managers in the Southern Sun Group, a prominent hotel group in South Africa. The methodology involved obtaining a convenience sample of 68 managers from three race groups, and having them complete the VSM94 instrument (Hofstede, 1994) with the aim of investigating similarities and differences in values between such groups. The findings indicate that managers in the sample evidence both similar and different values along the Hofstede (1994) values dimensions. The study addresses the implications for the Southern Sun Group of managing an increasingly diverse workforce. Where differences in value orientations are apparent, recommendations are made to the management of the Southern Sun Group as to how management practices could be adapted to effectively respond to these differences.
Business strategy and marketing: The positioning versus resource-based dichotomy and the way forward
Authors: Oosthuizen H.
Published: August 2019

This paper explores the relationship that exists between business strategy and marketing strategy and how the latter may contribute towards the development of an integrated and systemic approach to organisation-wide strategy development. It finds that the two broad streams in strategy, namely positioning-based and resource-based have a reciprocal relationship and indeed complement each other. The link between business strategy and functional strategies, however, is unclear, particularly in the case of marketing strategy. This uncertainty is mainly attributable to the consideration that marketing strategy appears to be frozen within either a positioning or resource-based view. In this regard a conceptual framework has been proposed which combines the two business approaches into one integrated marketing mission approach. As such the marketing function performs a facilitating role in the formulation of overall organisational strategy in an integrative fashion.
The development of a factor based instrument to measure corporate entrepreneurship: A South African perspective
Authors: Goosen C. J. , De Coning T. J. , Smit E. V.D.M.
Published: August 2019

This article outlines a conceptual model of corporate entrepreneurship in which management’s influence on an organisation is highlighted. The model is intended to depict the organisational elements that relate to South African industrial organisations. Corporate entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship is represented by a set of three ‘key factors’. Two key factors were taken from the well researched ENTRESCALE (Knight, 1997) and focus externally. The other key factor focuses internally and represents management’s influence on structures and processes, and relations.The model encompasses product lines and changes, research and development leadership, new techniques employed in the organisation, the organisation’s competitive posture and its risk-taking propensity, its environmental boldness and the decision-making style of management in terms of external opportunities. The model also addresses internal structures and processes, as well as relations. It emphasises intrapreneurial goal setting, and promotes the use of a system that facilitates and manages creativity and innovation. It addresses an intracapital system to supply resources and it facilitates communication. The model allows for staff input to management, a degree of intrapreneurial freedom, a problem-solving culture and empowered staff. Finally, it provides for the championing of intrapreneurship by management.The model is tested in context. There is significant negative correlation between intrapreneurship and organisational age, but not between the intrapreneurship and organisation size. The intrapreneurship factors furthermore correlate significantly with the measure of share price volatility, β (Beta).
Towards effective advertising regulation: A comparison of UK, Australian and South African schemes
Authors: Harker D. , Cassim S.
Published: August 2019

The regulation of advertising is a controversial and difficult process, and many schemes around the world opt for a self-regulatory approach to curb unacceptable advertising. However, when schemes are established or reformulated, most countries learn from other, more established, regimes. Whilst Australia and South Africa commenced the advertising self-regulation (ASR) process at similar times and based their systems on the UK model, two attempts have been made in Australia over the past three decades to produce more acceptable ads, whilst South Africa’s system has endured in its original form. This paper reviews the ASR systems in these three countries, using a macro framework for analysis which contextualises advertising in society. The systems have the fundamental process of handling complaints about advertising in common, however there are advantages and disadvantages of each and these are discussed with a view to providing some guidance for Australia’s fledgling, reformulated, system. Important insights for the development of regulation of advertising are presented.
Corporate entrepreneurship and financial performance: The role of management
Authors: Goosen C. J. , De Coning T. J. , Smit E. V.D.M.
Published: August 2019

It is hypothesised that a positive relationship exists between the financial performance of an organisation and the level of intrapreneurship within the organisation with causation running from entrepreneurship to financial outcomes. Using a three-factor key intrapreneurship model developed by Goosen, De Coning and Smit (2002) and financial outcomes from a sample of companies listed in the industrial sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, this proposition is put to the test. The results support the hypothesis that the key factors innovativeness, proactiveness and management’s internal influence all significantly contribute to financial performance if regarded individually, but that the last factor dominates the first two external factors when used simultaneously. The conclusion underscores the importance of the impact of leadership on financial outcomes.
Entrepreneurial risk allocation in public-private infrastructure provision in South Africa
Authors: Ahwireng-Obeng F. , Mokgohlwa J. P.
Published: August 2019

A primary concern in the development of entrepreneurship through private-public partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure projects is the adversarial, complex and unequal power relations characterising the negotiation of project risk allocation (RA) among the multiple participants. The inertia of the RA process has led to delayed and costly financial closure and sub-economic costs. Transactions costs of up to ten percent have been incurred in documented cases, and the situation is exacerbated in emerging economies, like South Africa, by political and economic instability and unproven track record of PPP.These developments have led to frustration among private sector participants in PPPs and diminished incentives for their continued participation. Therefore, delivering “satisfactory” RA processes is critical for attracting both domestic and foreign private entrepreneurial resources.The aim of this paper was to ascertain ‘critical factors’ influencing RA processes; determine the extent to which PPP practices in South Africa have led to equitable entrepreneurial risk allocation; and assess the choice of contract for implementing the outcomes of PPP negotiations.Critical success factors included: limiting apprehensions about market, socio-political, regulatory and legal risks as well as risk of lenders; improving common understanding among PPP participants; enhancing the quality of RFP (request for proposal) processes; and strengthening the commitment of participants. RA practices regarding socio-political, regulatory, financial and legal risks allocations were found to be inequitable, and PPP participants preferred tight and highly specified contracts.
Intentions to buy a service: The influence of service guarantees, general information and price information in advertising
Authors: Boshoff C.
Published: August 2019

Against the background of the challenge service marketers face in influencing the risk perceptions of service buyers, this study attempts to assess the impact three independent variables can have on potential service buyers’ intentions to buy a service. The three independent variables were: providing general service information; providing price information; and providing a service guarantee. The empirical study was of an experimental nature and used a factorial design to assess the impact of different mock advertisements on intentions to buy. The 18 different advertisements showed different combinations of information, prices and three levels of service guarantees.The empirical results indicate that combing all three of the independent variables (providing general service information, providing price information and providing a service guarantee) in printed advertising significantly enhances consumers’ intentions to buy. Another important finding of this study is that an unconditional service guarantee is not as important as is often suggested in the service literature.
Serial correlation and TEV bias in index funds
Authors: Raubenheimer H.
Published: August 2019

Index or passive fund managers and investors analyse the interim volatility of the difference between their fund’s returns and the index’s returns, i.e. the fund’s tracking error variance** (TEV) in order to monitor the success with which tracker funds mimic their benchmark. The objective of a passive or index fund manager should be to keep TEV as close to zero as possible. Pope and Yadav (1994) show that an index fund that is overweight relative to it’s index in either relatively less or relatively more liquid stocks, is expected to exhibit negative serial correlation in its TE’s. Consequently, estimates of TEV will be upwardly biased, particularly when using high frequency (such as daily or weekly) data.This article finds evidence of negative serial correlation in the weekly, monthly and quarterly TE’s of domestic index funds. Consequently it is shown that TEV will likely be overestimated. There are two important implications of this upward bias in TEV estimation. Firstly, index funds, which are expected to offer close to zero benchmark-relative or active risk, may appear far more ‘risky’ than they actually are thus damaging their value-proposition to investors. Secondly, when funds appear to have greater TEV than they actually do, the manager may ‘churn’ the fund’s assets more than necessary in order to bring the fund back into alignment with its index thus incurring greater and unnecessary transaction costs.The analyses in this article therefore suggest that TE measurements should be examined for negative serial correlation before estimates of TEV are made. If serial correlation is detected, estimates of TEV should either be made from lower frequency, uncorrelated TE measurements, if they are available, or an adjustment technique such as the Lo-MacKinlay adjustment should be applied to correct for the bias in TEV estimation.
An investigation into the uniformity and non-uniformity of online/offline retail brand building in South Africa
Authors: Kruger H. , Fourie L. C.H.
Published: August 2019

Brand equity or -value is the result of the design and implementation of brand building, – measurement and – management programs. Brand building focuses on three interdependent tiers: selecting brand elements, choosing certain marketing activities and programs, and linking the brand to secondary brand associations. A brand holder’s first instinct may be, when it decides to evolve to the Internet, to maintain the status quo of its offline brand equity or value, by building a uniform online/offline brand. However, from the literature it is evident that authors are not united in their support of building uniform online/offline brands. Although building a uniform online/offline brand present certain tangible advantages, uniformity or non-uniformity proves not to be a binary decision, but dependant on the strategic imperative of the three tiered online/offline brand building initiative. To research three tiered online/offline brand building from a South African perspective, the uniformity and non-uniformity of brand name selection within the South African online/offline retail environment is firstly investigated. The advantages of building uniform online/offline brands are secondly elucidated as presented by the marketing programs – and activities of selected South African retail brands. Secondary brand associations, as part of the three tiered brand building phase or as separate strategic imperative, and the role it plays in non-uniform online/offline brand building, is thirdly examined. Findings are summarised, conclusions are drawn that elucidate the uniform and non-uniform brand building strategies of South African online/offline retailers and recommendations are made for future research.
BP case study: KM team structuration and sense-making (Part I)
Authors: Gorelick C. , April K. A.
Published: August 2019

Recently, an increasing amount of research and literature has focused on knowledge management, organizational learning and virtual teams. Building on Parsons 1950s and 1960s work around general Theory of Actions, this paper uses Schwandt’s (1994; 1995; 1999) dynamic organizational learning model that considers both cognition and action, as a framework, to explore the factors that a virtual project team (the British Petroleum Knowledge Management Team) used to contribute to a multi-national’s learning, along two-dimensions: structural and sense-making dimensions.Despite a growing body of literature in both organizational learning and groupware research, there are few studies on the relationship between the two areas. Exceptions are the empirical study of a groupware implementation by Riggs, Bellinger and Krieger (1996) and Neilson’s (1997) case study exploring the influence of a collaborative technology – this three year case study on BP’s virtual team provides new, qualitative insights into previously unexplored areas of research in the knowledge management discipline.
Focusing on maturity levels for the effective management of end users involved in software project teams
Authors: Leonard A.
Published: August 2019

This paper introduces a model of three maturity levels, which helps managers to evaluate end user involvement during systems development. This model is based on research done in terms of how relationships between IT departments and end users are constructed. The value of the three levels lies therein that it gives the IT department the advantage of understanding and supporting the end user in a more effective way during systems development. The model also enhances more efficient interaction between all participants of a project team. Furthermore, it gives management on the IT and business side the ability to establish training needs for both the end users and IT professionals of software project teams. End users on the other hand, who are aware of their level of maturity, could play a more efficient role during the systems development process.
Real option valuation of game lodge concessions
Authors: Spencer-Young J. , Durand F.
Published: August 2019

Recent commercialisation of property in the Kruger National Park was achieved by the tendering of various concession rights. South African National Parks generated scenarios of possible future cash flows for private lodges on the concession sites and identified what rental incomes they expected to receive from the different concessions. Following the public tender of the concessions, they found that they had grossly underestimated the value of the concession rights as the actual tender values of the winning bidders far exceeded their mean concession fee valuations.Through the use of random stochastic modelling and Monte Carlo simulation this research shows that real option valuation accounts for the positive difference between the winning bids and the mean concession fee values for each of the concessions investigated.
Strategy and business models - strange bedfellows? A case for convergence and its evolution into strategic architecture
Authors: Mansfield G. M. , Fourie L. C.H.
Published: August 2019

Strategy aims for sustainable competitive advantage; business models are said to be the sine qua non of value creation. Firms in the networked economy may ask which approach is the more relevant and whether either, or both, are sufficient for success - and then misinterpret the linkage between them. Internet-based businesses are faced with rapid change in an environment characterised by connectedness and choice in which dynamism, innovation and customer-centricity appear to be the winning ingredients for success. In the networked economy the internet with its open standards has created commercial arrangements which manifest a disdain for traditional boundaries and demand new patterns of management behaviour for effective performance. The classic approach to strategy formulation with its perceived indifference, for example, towards network formation, confusion around generic strategy deployment, lack of dynamism and its vacuous treatment of customer-centricity have led electronic business practitioners to the flawed conclusion that a business model is the only compelling strategic behaviour which predicates success. This conceptual paper builds a theoretical base which traces the roots of strategy and business models, reviews the context of each, postulates a relationship between these two fundamental approaches and offers some guidelines on the missing ingredients.
Selection of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
Authors: Das Neves D. , Fenn D. , Sulcas P.
Published: August 2019

In order to determine the process organisations go through in selecting an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, a field study was undertaken on eleven cases. Based on the findings a best practice selection process is proposed.A benchmark selection criteria checklist was drawn up as part of this investigation and each of the criteria listed should be considered prior to final selection.Other issues discussed in this article include the original motivation and justification for ERP purchase, change management, customisation of source code and the roles of the selection committee, consultants and vendors.
BP case study: KM team structuration and sense-making (Part II)
Authors: Gorelick C. , April K. A.
Published: August 2019

This paper summarizes the findings that answered the research questions, stated in Part I of this paper, in the previous edition of SAJBM. The primary research question - In what ways, if any, did the virtual KMT contribute to organizational learning? - was answered: Yes, through the successful completion of performance goals, which included measurable performance as well as learning.The major study findings and conclusions addressed in this paper are: (1) the dynamic interaction among the structural factors, and sense-making factors, human values and emotions plays a central role in effective organizational learning. Strong sense-making factors overcame weak or absent structuring factors, e.g., understanding the various roles internally and externally to BP, and the ability to create a conducive environment for the roles to truly add value, were important aspects which led to success; and, (2) a successful virtual project team, which has executive support and the necessary resources, has both learning- and performing components, and uses collaborative technology and complimentary infrastructures as enablers of that learning.
Contribution of worker participation to increase the efficiency of firms
Authors: De Villiers P. , Kooy G.
Published: August 2019

There are many factors that may lead to inefficiencies in a firm. One reason is the existence of a principal-agent problem. Linked with this problem is asymmetric information, unaligned motives of principals and agents, distrust (that was rampant in the era of apartheid in South Africa, but more recently the Basic Conditions of Employment Act can fulfil this role) and conflict. Worker participation schemes can help to alleviate this problem and different forms of worker participation schemes are discussed that can increase efficiency of firms.
The relationship between number of retail-credit accounts and response rates
Authors: Jordaan Y. , Kotzé T. G. , Louw H.
Published: August 2019

In South Africa, some of the bigger credit issuers operating in the direct marketing environment, specifically non-bank, personal finance companies, have complained that they are not seeing the return-on-investment they have come to expect from their direct mail campaigns, due to poor direct mail response rates. Low response rates have been encountered even though the market segment in which these companies are operating, has shown growing demand. With an increase in mailing costs and fierce competition in the direct marketing industry, lenders are constantly looking for ways to improve the effectiveness and profitability of their mailing campaigns. The approach followed was to analyse the response rate of a mailing campaign, and through regression analysis, determine the relationship between the number of active retail credit accounts held and response rates. This was done against the backdrop of segmentation opportunities and an increasingly credit-active South African population. The results indicate that, in the personal finance and loan marketing environment, there is a positive linear relationship between the number of active retail accounts held by prospective clients and the response rates to credit-related marketing offers. Finally, the implications for direct marketing companies are discussed, limitations presented and future research opportunities outlined.
Classification of a member in terms of healthcare risk
Authors: De Villiers A. , Van Der Merwe C. A. , Van Wyk Kotze T. J.
Published: August 2019

Legislation by government has changed the playing fields in the medical scheme industry in South Africa. Medical schemes can no longer choose their members or discriminate against members who claim more than projected amounts. Only those medical schemes that are able to manage their risk optimally, will ultimately survive.In the research it was established that the number of chronic beneficiaries in a family is an important risk factor if a member is classified into a normal claim category or an above-normal claim category. The medical schemes should make sure that they have systems in place to manage the health of such beneficiaries holistically. This group of individuals is ideally suited for a preventative healthcare programme.
Key information systems management issues: A comparative study in South Africa
Authors: Hart M. L. , Berkowitz S. , Ryan J. , Waspe K.
Published: August 2019

The identification of key Information Systems (IS) management issues is important for all players in the industry. Most academic research has followed the form of the Society for Information Management (SIM) studies, originating in the early 1980’s in the United States of America (USA), and since replicated in many countries, yet no comprehensive recent study had been carried out in South Africa. This study was performed within weeks of September 11, 2001 on a sample of 121 members of the Cape IT Initiative (CITI), and of the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA), from a range of industries and geographical regions. Highest rated issues were business intelligence, a responsive IT infrastructure and disaster recovery, while Business Relationship and Technical Infrastructure issues were prominent overall. Demographic factors did not significantly influence overall results. Rankings were correlated with an earlier South African study and with 1997 Australian research, but not with a 1995 USA study. The economic developmental status of a country was found to be linked to the key issues that country faces.
Project management effectiveness as a construct: A conceptual study
Authors: Morrison J. , Brown C.
Published: August 2019

Project management has grown from being mainly a tool for large single projects, to being used by organizations for running multiple smaller projects on an ongoing basis. Since this trend has caused scholarly attention to expand from studying the project itself, to focusing on the organization’s project management capability, the absence of a coherent proposition of effective project management becomes evident. This study addresses and conceptually explores this shortcoming by blending success concepts in project management with the theory of organizational effectiveness, to propose a framework of project management effectiveness. The result is a multi-dimensional construct that has substantial support from the project management success literature and that compares well with the open systems thinking of organizational effectiveness. A selected group of project management experts gave strong support to the list of variables established to define the domain of such a construct.
Assessing company strength in South Africa using value added: 1990-2000
Authors: King C. , Hamman W. D.
Published: August 2019

This article aims to determine if value added-based ratio analysis could be used to measure organisation strength and be useful as a tool in corporate strategy formulation. The areas of investigation included productivity of production factors, reinvestment in capital and overall business control.Productivity measurement provides insight into the capital and labour intensity of organisations. Some organisations were able to exert high value added to sales ratios, but they did not perform as well when their productivity levels were measured. Reinvestment in capital tries to establish if organisations have the means to uphold and strengthen their present asset base, which also includes its human capital. Margins on sales and value added are used to measure overall business control and provide insight into the ability of organisations to add value through their own production skills or by command of lucrative contracts with suppliers. Organisations that are able to show high values on both ratios are said to display a high degree of overall business control.The formulas used in this article are a replication of those used by the mentioned authors. The models as developed by Bryant are specifically used to see how they fit in the South African context and to draw conclusions about their use for future purposes.
From the literature
Authors: Beenhakker J. C.
Published: August 2019

No abstract available
From the Publisher
Authors: Short Roger
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
The post pneumonectomy chest radiograph
Authors: De Groot Mark
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
MR of the CNS in patients with AIDS
Authors: Jinkins J. Randy , Bazan C.
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
RSNA Congress held in the McCormick Conference Centre, Chicago from 25 November to 1 December 1995
Authors: Beningfield S. J.
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
The development of the imaging camera: CRT to Laser
Authors: Short Roger
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
Quality assurance in radiology
Authors: Corr Peter
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
Ultrasound training and accreditation
Authors: Corr Peter
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
Endovascular occlusion of intracranial aneurysms with electrically detachable platinum coils
Authors: Fourie Pieter
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
Intraoperative digital subtraction angiography in neurovascular disorders
Authors: Boet R. , Royston D. D.
Published: August 2019

Intraoperative digital subtraction angiography is useful for assessing the results of complex neurovascular procedures. Fifty-five patients with AVMs, aneurysms (Berry and bacterial), carotid-cavernous fistulae, spontaneous intracranial haemorrhages and penetrating head injuries had intraoperative angiograms. Sixteen of these patients had findings on the angiogram which altered the surgical procedure. There were no angiographic complications. We found intraoperative digital subtraction angiography a valuable adjunct to several neurovascular procedures.
Transient global amnesia: Acute SPECT functional imaging and neuropsychological deficits
Authors: Hoffmann Michael , Watts Runge Ann , Foreman Alan
Published: August 2019

Five patients with transient global amnesia (TGA) were seen clinically and studied neuropsychologically and with SPECT scanning within 24 hours in four and one within 48 hours of the attack. The memory deficits were characteristic of TGA and the magnetic resonance brain scans were normal in all patients. The SPECT scans showed hypoperfusion in the frontal and thalamic regions in all patients. In addition biparietal hypoperfusion was seen in one, parieta occipital in two and unilateral temporal in two patients. Transcranial Doppler studies were performed in three of the five patients and revealed abnormalities of possible relevance in one. Two of the SPECT studies had normalised when repeated at approximately 2 months post ictus. These five patients represent relatively "pure" forms of TGA as they all had normal MRI scans which excluded other disease processes such as subclinical or silent strokes. The frontal hypoperfusion in all five patients is of interest given the role of the frontal lobes in memory processing. Transient global amnesia (TGA) remains a clinical diagnosis of unknown pathophysiology with no corroborative laboratory or radiological test. Despite over one thousand case reports in the literature,1-9 neuropshyhological assessment at time of or immediately after the ictus is limited to less than a dozen cases.1,3-5 Strict definition as recommended by the Oxford criteria was not used in the majority of studies.1 Several functional scanning studies, mainly single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) reports and one positron emission computed tomography (PET) study, report of thalamic and/or neocortical hypoperfusion with hippocampal, temporal, frontotemporal, thalamus, hemicortical and mesial temporal sites of decreased cerebral blood flow.3,10-19 Functional imaging with SPECT and PET may be useful in elucidating the cause for the most popular proposed mechanisms which include cerebral ischaemia, seizures and migraine. To date 10 such studies have been published describing 13 patients. In these studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were not reported on, or not performed in six studies and were abnormal in a further two. In the remaining two studies MRI scans were performed 10 days and three months post ictus.3, 10-19 This report describes five patients in the acute phase, all with normal MRI scans. To our knowledge, this study represents the largest case series at TGA patients with normal MRI scans but abnormal SPECT scans.
Connectivity, Teleradiology and beyond (Part one)
Authors: Short Roger
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.
Whither breast Imaging in South Africa?
Authors: Movson I. J.
Published: August 2019

No abstract available.