ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6155-6617
Current Organisations
University of the Sunshine Coast
,
North-West University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-08-2023
Publisher: University of the Sunshine Coast
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.25907/00088
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-08-2023
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 16-05-2023
DOI: 10.1108/JOEPP-05-2022-0126
Abstract: Empowerment is recognised as being a key to achieving organisational agility. Typically associated with a particular leadership style, implications of empowerment for management have remained vague in the literature. Thus, this study aims at unpacking the facets and mechanisms of empowerment in the context of organisational units (OUs). First, the authors review the extant literature and discuss the crucial concepts in the context empowerment. Then, the authors analyse qualitative data from interviews conducted in four research and development (R& D) departments in the industrial manufacturing industry. This study finds that the empowerment of business entities is crucial when operating in turbulent conditions. However, empowerment must be accompanied by a clear focus when aiming at higher agile performance. Moreover, different autonomy types and their interplay with critical factors of middle management empowerment could be identified. The research results also reveal important details about the effects of autonomy on motivation and performance and the role of OUs' dependencies. The model proposed in this paper can help senior and middle managers better manage the empowerment of OUs required to enhance middle management agility and, in turn, increase overall organisational adaptability. Beyond regarding empowerment as a leadership style, this paper takes a middle management perspective and unfolds the facets of empowerment in the context of OUs. Adding to the theory of self-organisation, a model is proposed to capture the key factors to determine and manage the autonomy of OUs. These insights are essential to managing autonomy successfully at the middle management level.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.2139/SSRN.2826317
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2021
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-04-2022
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-01-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU14031559
Abstract: New global and domestic policy and regulatory initiatives promoting a circular economy have renewed interest in the beneficial repurposing of commercial waste streams. Likewise, consumer trends and customers’ increased understanding of what they purchase, where it comes from, and what happens to it post-consumption have forced firms to consider reducing and reusing their production waste streams. The forest products industry is an exemplar of becoming more adept at reorganising and exploiting repurposed waste streams for beneficial reuse. This paper explores three case studies from the Australian forestry sector that illustrate how wood waste is being profitably repurposed as an input into other products. We use the lens of the entrepreneurial method to explore how firms recognise, strategically access, and exploit the sustainable opportunities that can range from sustainably sourced inputs to environmental-, social-, and governance-driven consumption and investments. Effectual logic allows the reconceptualisation of forestry waste streams into inputs for use in creating new commercial products and provides a theoretical framework. While the repurposing of wood waste is profitable for the forestry firm, we found that social and economic gains reach far beyond the region in which these activities occur. Innovations often stimulate other innovations, resulting in a virtuous cycle within regional Australia’s emerging circular economy.
Publisher: University of the Sunshine Coast
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.25907/00004
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 14-08-2017
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to address the role of accelerators as authentic learning-based entrepreneurial training programs. Accelerators facilitate the development and assessment of entrepreneurial competencies in nascent entrepreneurs through the process of creating a start-up venture. Survey data from applicants and participants of four start-accelerators are used to explore the linkages between accelerators and the elements of authentic learning. Authentic learning processes are then mapped onto the start-up processes that occur within the accelerators. Accelerators take in nascent entrepreneurs and work to create start-ups. This activity develops the participants’ entrepreneurial competencies and facilitates authentic self-reflection. This study explores how accelerators can be useful as authentic learning platforms for the development of entrepreneurial competencies. Limitations include perceptual measures and the inability to conduct paired s ling. Entrepreneurship training is studied through the lens of authentic learning activities that occur within an accelerator. Participants develop and assess their mastery of and interest in entrepreneurship through tasks, exposure to experts and mentors, peer learning, and assessments such as pitching to investors at Demo Day. This paper reports on the authentic learning processes and its usefulness in competency development and self-appraisal by accelerators participants. The opportunity for competency development and self-appraisal by nascent entrepreneurs before escalating their commitment to a start-up may be an accelerator’s raison d’être .
Publisher: Macmillan Education UK
Date: 1994
Publisher: University of the Sunshine Coast
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.25907/00005
Publisher: AOSIS
Date: 30-06-2008
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 25-05-2018
Publisher: AOSIS
Date: 31-03-2010
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-06-2022
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-09-2021
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 13-02-2007
DOI: 10.1108/00251740710718980
Abstract: The purpose and the goal of this paper were to investigate South African businesses and determine their utilisation of new technologies and business structures. The role and development of e‐commerce and networks in South African businesses can determine their competitive role in a global market. The paper shows that South Africa's position in the networked economy was researched through an empirical survey and the use of a convenience s le that incorporated 707 online businesses listed in an online directory in South Africa. Manufacturing businesses, retail and wholesale businesses, as well as business rendering services online, were targeted. The paper finds that business networks have necessitated new business structures and 78.4 percent of the respondents are currently using these modern business structures to adapt to the demands of the networked economy. These include the matrix structure (42.9 percent), the networked business structure (25 percent) and the extended business structure (10.7 percent). E‐commerce provides many advantages, the response received on the reasons for e‐commerce utilisation includes enhanced profit (86 percent), entering strategic markets (64 percent) and building international association (61 percent). The value of this paper is that the focus should be on finding new opportunities and the most important recommendations include: South African business people should be informed about the importance of shared knowledge, intellectual capital and establishing strategic alliances that are facilitated through the use of networks. Proactive management and added value in business processes should be implemented and can enhance the competitive advantage amongst South African businesses.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-04-2017
Publisher: Academic Journals
Date: 09-05-2012
DOI: 10.5897/AJBM11.2637
Publisher: AOSIS
Date: 07-12-2011
DOI: 10.4102/AC.V11I1.152
Publisher: University of La Laguna
Date: 2009
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 08-06-2022
Abstract: This paper takes a holistic and process-based view on agility from a Middle Management (MM) perspective. Its purpose is to identify subjective factors of agility emerging from people's interpretations and perceptions and to integrate them into the process of agile strategy-making. To provide a theoretical foundation, literature was reviewed in the area of agile ersity and strategy-making. A qualitative study based on interviews was conducted to uncover the hidden subjective factors from the personal experiences and perceptions of the participants. The study has revealed that in idual opinions in terms of agility can originate from three sources: in idual understandings, contextual drivers and personal beliefs. The research contributes to dynamic capability theory by providing a better understanding of agile ersity at the MM level. The findings can help mid-level executives to cope with the complexities and ambiguities in managing agility by aligning the different understandings and people's perceptions. This is crucial, as missing alignment of team members can lead to poor dynamic capabilities of business entities and thus threatens overall organisational agility. A model was developed to align the subjective factors of agility during the process of agile strategy-making at the MM level. The framework allows a flexible adaptation to the in idual demands of organisational units, as well as concentrated measures for effective agile management. It contributes to organisational agility and business success by scaling the dynamic capabilities of MM.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 13-04-2021
Publisher: Academic Journals
Date: 08-2012
DOI: 10.5897/AJBM11.321
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-07-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S10490-021-09769-7
Abstract: This research focuses on how entrepreneurs utilize cronyism to acquire resources. A case study method allowed us to explore three firms in the private property development industry in China. These firms uniquely cultivated cronyism and achieved distinctly different outcomes. Our findings highlight Chinese entrepreneurs in start-up ventures and later-stage enterprises employ cronyism. The underlying rationale for using cronyism have common and heterogeneous motivations. The similarity and distinguishing rationale also apply to the impact of cronyism. We also find two contingency working mechanisms for cronyism: entrepreneurial characteristics and a staged model for cronyism. With the firm’s growth, cronyism remains important, but firms with more community involvement outperform others. This research contributes to the theory on strategic network utilization for resource acquisition during entrepreneurial development stages. We investigate how entrepreneurial strategies can assist in adapting to the “rules of the game” while utilizing resources within the set contextual constraints.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 24-08-2012
DOI: 10.1108/09555341211254490
Abstract: Networking is an important managerial skill and small businesses and businesses that are operated in informal settings, such as those of the festival entrepreneur, need to concentrate on building strong relationships with the role players in their networks in order to survive, thrive and to enhance their competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current level of networking skills and to determine the perceptions of entrepreneurs of their current networking relationships. The tourism industry, which is regarded as a people's industry, needs high levels of networking skills to meet customer needs and expectations. Networking can therefore be seen as a key success factor. The Grahamstown National Arts festival is South Africa's oldest arts festival and was chosen, first because of the economic impact it has and, second, tourism and entrepreneurship are considered as key developmental issues in South Africa. A quantitative study (structured questionnaire) was used to achieve the goal of the study and 137 festival entrepreneurs participated. A factor analysis was conducted with an Oblimin rotation to determine the factors that correlate most strongly with each other. The main findings indicated that becoming a festival entrepreneur is a career choice and, second, that relationships and trust are important aspects of networking behaviour. It is very important to investigate entrepreneurial behaviour in terms of networking practices at festivals. This research might help festival organisers to better understand and support the entrepreneurs conducting their business at these festivals and the organisers can offer services to support these networking efforts by offering courses, networking opportunities and engagement on higher levels of festival management. This research might also assist in the development of tourism curriculums which focus on event tourism.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 24-03-2021
Abstract: Not only do Australian mature-aged entrepreneurs contribute $11.9 billion per annum to the Australian economy in over 379,000 businesses, they launch approximately 14,000 new businesses each year and actively contribute to fiscal, social, health, and active ageing outcomes in their communities. Thirty-four per cent of all young businesses in Australia are now led by mature-aged entrepreneurs, identifying mature-aged entrepreneurship as the fastest growing sector of entrepreneurship. This study is the first of its kind to examine mature-aged entrepreneurship in Australia using five pragmatic and embedded case-study ex les. Aligning to Cartensen's sociomotional selection theory, we adopted an interpretivist philosphical framework of emergent enquiry action research. The paper includes benefits and challenges associated with mature-aged entrepreneurship, including contextual and theoretical foundations. We provide policy and research recommendations to enhance the development of a dedicated entrepreneurial ecosystem for mature-aged people.
Publisher: University of the Sunshine Coast
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.25907/00112
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-10-2019
Publisher: Science and Education Centre of North America
Date: 28-03-2013
DOI: 10.12735/JBM.V2I1P11
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 18-05-2015
No related grants have been discovered for Saskia de Klerk.