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Article
Publication date: 1 May 2002

Adèle Thomas

South African companies employing 50 or more employees or those with a specified financial turnover, are required to comply with the provisions of the newly introduced Employment…

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Abstract

South African companies employing 50 or more employees or those with a specified financial turnover, are required to comply with the provisions of the newly introduced Employment Equity Act. Prior to the introduction of the Act, large companies in the country had already introduced strategies of affirmative action to achieve employment equity. This paper highlights some of the strategic and operational concerns surrounding employment equity legislation in South Africa and reviews broad practices of employment equity in Malaysia, India, the USA, Canada, Britain and Zimbabwe. Lessons for the effective implementation of employment equity in South Africa are identified.

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International Journal of Manpower, vol. 23 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7720

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Article
Publication date: 28 September 2012

Adèle Thomas

The overall objective of the study was to track, over a two‐year period, the reported incidences of corporate governance transgressions at five strategic South African state‐owned…

2957

Abstract

Purpose

The overall objective of the study was to track, over a two‐year period, the reported incidences of corporate governance transgressions at five strategic South African state‐owned enterprises (SOEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Transgressions for each SOE were documented against the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development's framework of best practice in governance for SOEs by reviewing annual reports and newspaper article citations over a two‐year period.

Findings

While political intervention in the operational running of each SOE is apparent, government appears not to have fulfilled its oversight role of ensuring the sound governance of SOEs according to best practices. While the SOEs appear to comply with external governance demands, compliance to internal, self‐regulated governance appears to be lacking.

Research limitations/implications

The use of annual reports and media reports to document governance practices are open to subjectivity. The broader extrapolation of findings based on five SOEs must be undertaken with caution.

Practical implications

The present study alerts government to potential areas of corporate governance practices at South African SOEs that warrant attention. As South Africa has recently joined the BRICS bloc of developing countries, the findings from the present study could afford a starting point for future comparative study among this group of countries, which appears to evidence similar challenges with regard to governance within their SOEs.

Originality/value

The present study begins to elevate the debate on corporate governance at South African SOEs from public rhetoric to a deeper understanding of the nature of the major problems that warrant attention. Although limited in scope, the study contributes to the scarce academic literature on public sector corporate governance in Africa in general, and in the South African SOE sector in particular.

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Article
Publication date: 1 February 1998

Robert L. Lattimer

Those entrusted with leading corporations and organizations into the 215t century face profound changes. They must address severe competitive pressures, globalization of markets…

2612

Abstract

Those entrusted with leading corporations and organizations into the 215t century face profound changes. They must address severe competitive pressures, globalization of markets, and deregulation, as well as an increasingly sophisticated, diverse customer base. All this is taking place as the workforce is becoming more diverse and its values and expectations are changing in fundamental and challenging ways. As a result, it has become clear that leaders of organizations must quickly develop business strategies and manage performance in significantly more creative and flexible ways.

Details

Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, vol. 8 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1059-5422

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Book part
Publication date: 18 May 2017

Howard Thomas, Michelle Lee, Lynne Thomas and Alexander Wilson

Free Access. Free Access

Abstract

Details

Africa
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-095-2

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Article
Publication date: 1 February 2003

Robert L. Lattimer

The premise is that organizations that are successful in the future, will develop and implement strategies that are based on the economic realities of the roots of the entity, but…

369

Abstract

The premise is that organizations that are successful in the future, will develop and implement strategies that are based on the economic realities of the roots of the entity, but understands the economic realities of which they currently compete; an additional premise is that organizational strategies must be designed within the context of the “real delivery time” environment.

Details

Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, vol. 13 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1059-5422

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2005

Babita Mathur‐Helm

The paper aims to examine whether the South African government and its corporate organizations have been successful in employing women as professional equals by utilizing them…

16954

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to examine whether the South African government and its corporate organizations have been successful in employing women as professional equals by utilizing them fully in senior and top management positions after equal opportunity and affirmative action legislation was introduced by the democratic government.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive and theoretical paper, and thus secondary data from previous studies are used as comparative analysis for discussions and examinations.

Findings

Reaching top level positions is still uncommon for South Africa's women, as its corporate environment is not yet ready to accept women as professional equals, resulting in government legislation and policies working against women's growth and advancement instead of working in their favour. Suggestions are made for future studies to investigate what makes women worldwide flourish in government and public sector jobs, but fail in private and corporate sectors.

Practical implications

Recommends implications for South Africa's corporate organizations to become more women‐sensitive and friendly by empowering women as a group regardless of their race and colour for government policy and legislation to be successful. This area is unexplored, thus making it a new topic.

Originality/value

This paper may be of value to those professional women who are oblivious to barriers affecting their advancement and to corporate organizations puzzled by the imperceptible upward mobility of women in top management positions despite the implementation of equal opportunity and affirmative action legislation.

Details

Women in Management Review, vol. 20 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0964-9425

Keywords

Available. Content available
Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2020

Abstract

Details

Sustainability
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-374-1

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Article
Publication date: 2 August 2024

Quynh Nguyen, Aaron Yankholmes, Adele Ladkin and Hanaa Osman

This study aims to investigate Vietnamese hotel workers’ use of national stereotypes in cross-cultural service encounters. The study extends the existing knowledge on service…

96

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate Vietnamese hotel workers’ use of national stereotypes in cross-cultural service encounters. The study extends the existing knowledge on service failures and recovery attempts by illustrating how national stereotypes could inform these decisions through the lens of the script theory.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative study, 34 service providers were interviewed about their experience in dealing with guests from different countries in Vietnamese hotels.

Findings

Service providers categorised guests based on their countries of origin to predict their behaviour prior to guest arrivals. When the guest’s behaviour matches the expectations, the service encounters went smoothly by following existing scripts. If there is a discrepancy between the guest behaviours and expectations, it could lead to service failure and the need for new scripts. Appropriate interventions in this process could turn anecdotes into accumulated understanding of guest behaviour for better service and guest experience as a new application of national stereotypes.

Originality/value

This study advances cross-cultural service encounter research by integrating national stereotypes and script theory. It sheds new light on how national stereotypes could inform service delivery and recovery attempts in service organisations.

目的

本研究旨在调查越南酒店员工在跨文化服务遭遇中使用民族刻板印象的情况。研究通过脚本理论的视角阐释了国家的刻板印象如何为这些决定提供信息, 扩展了现有的服务失败和恢复尝试的知识。

设计/方法

在这项定性研究中, 采访了34家服务提供商, 了解他们在越南酒店与来自不同国家的客人打交道的经历。

调查结果

服务提供商根据客人的原籍国对他们进行分类, 以预测他们在客人抵达前的行为。当客人的行为符合预期时, 通过遵循现有脚本, 服务接触会顺利进行。如果客人的行为和期望之间存在差异, 可能会导致服务失败, 并需要新的脚本。作为国家刻板印象的新应用, 在这一过程中进行适当的干预可以将轶事转化为对客人行为的累积理解, 以提供更好的服务和客人体验。

独创性/价值

本研究通过整合民族刻板印象和脚本理论, 推进跨文化服务遭遇研究。它揭示了在服务组织中, 国家的刻板印象如何影响服务提供和恢复尝试。

Objetivo

Este estudio tiene como objetivo investigar el uso de los estereotipos nacionales por parte de los trabajadores hoteleros vietnamitas en el encuentro intercultural de servicios. El estudio amplía el conocimiento existente sobre los fallos en el servicio y los intentos de recuperación al ilustrar cómo los estereotipos nacionales podrían influir en estas decisiones a través de la teoría del guion.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

En este estudio cualitativo, se entrevistó a 34 proveedores de servicios sobre su experiencia en el trato con huéspedes de diferentes países en hoteles vietnamitas.

Resultados

Los proveedores de servicios clasificaron a los huéspedes en función de sus países de origen para predecir su comportamiento antes de su llegada. Cuando el comportamiento de los huéspedes coincide con las expectativas, los encuentros con el servicio se desarrollaron sin problemas siguiendo los guiones existentes. Si hay una discrepancia entre los comportamientos y las expectativas de los huéspedes, podría provocar un fallo en el servicio y la necesidad de nuevos guiones. Las intervenciones consideradas apropiadas en este proceso podrían convertir las anécdotas en una comprensión acumulada del comportamiento de los huéspedes, lo cual mejoraría el servicio y la experiencia de los huéspedes como una nueva aplicación de los estereotipos nacionales.

Originalidad/valor

Este estudio avanza en la investigación de encuentros de servicio interculturales mediante la integración de estereotipos nacionales y la teoría del guion. Además, arroja nueva luz sobre cómo los estereotipos nacionales podrían influenciar la prestación de servicios y los intentos de recuperación en las organizaciones de servicios.

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Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2020

Thomas Walker, Dieter Gramlich and Adele Dumont-Bergeron

In 2017, global plastic production reached 348 million tonnes. Despite growing concerns about the environmental challenges associated with both plastic production and plastic…

Abstract

In 2017, global plastic production reached 348 million tonnes. Despite growing concerns about the environmental challenges associated with both plastic production and plastic waste, recent estimates suggest that plastic production and subsequent waste is expected to double by the year 2035 (European Commission, 2018). To help reduce the amount of plastic waste that litters the oceans and damages the environment, the European Union has recently commissioned a study about the feasibility of levying a tax on plastic products (New Economic Foundation for the Rethink Plastic Alliance, 2018). However, very few academic articles currently exist that critically examine the arguments for or against a plastic tax and thereby enlighten government and regulators on the subject. This chapter investigates whether plastic taxes can be used as an economic disincentive for plastic products and explores its advantages and disadvantages within a circular economy. It explores whether a plastic tax is the right economic instrument to limit the use of plastics, generate design and technical innovations for bio-based materials and degradable/recyclable plastics, create other economic incentives to optimize the value of plastic and its waste collection, and increase public awareness and responsibility. We find that a plastic tax may be a suitable solution as it is likely to influence the design, production, consumption, and waste sectors if designed properly. Yet, the tax should be carefully implemented and combined with other instruments to obtain the desired outcomes and reduce the occurrence of unfavorable side effects.

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Book part
Publication date: 14 November 2022

Robert Thornberg

Constructivist grounded theory method (GTM) as outlined by Kathy Charmaz has its explicit roots in the American pragmatism and symbolic interactionism primarily developed at the…

Abstract

Constructivist grounded theory method (GTM) as outlined by Kathy Charmaz has its explicit roots in the American pragmatism and symbolic interactionism primarily developed at the University of Chicago during the early and mid-twentieth century. Symbolic interactionism considers people as active and interpretative agents who co-construct selves, identities, meanings, social actions, social worlds, and societies through interactions. Charmaz argues that symbolic interactionism is an open-ended theoretical perspective that fosters studying action, process, and meanings, with a focus on how people co-construct and negotiate meanings, orders, and actions in their everyday lives. In this chapter, I argue that constructivist GTM, including its theory-method package built upon symbolic interactionism and the Chicago School tradition, can be further combined with the new sociology of childhood to study children's social worlds and negotiated meanings, orders, and actions.

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