Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review, 2024
The TQM concept gets less logical given the increasing challenges in its implementation for servi... more The TQM concept gets less logical given the increasing challenges in its implementation for service delivery. This research aimed to determine the significance of such challenges. Based on a questionnaire survey of 297 participants, comprising 98 staff and 199 clients, the study obtains survey data from a 5-year result of TQM implementation attempts at Queen 'Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH), Lesotho. TQM demonstrates great potential to support service delivery as a strategic approach. The study isolates the management-oriented facet of TQM implementation challenges and finds them considerably influenced by the various TQM components. Conclusion: This study establishes and classifies the TQM implementation challenges in QMMH, which are mostly organization, management, and client-oriented. It further addresses assumptions relating to their classifications. Overall, the result suggests that the significance of the underlying challenges in service delivery is more management-oriented. Contribution: The study provides directions that strengthen the effectiveness of the TQM concept and its implementation. It suggests the capacity-building of a hospital's management team drives TQM implementation.
This research emanates from the need to optimize the potential of the hair salon industry in the ... more This research emanates from the need to optimize the potential of the hair salon industry in the Free State province. It provides a vivid evaluation of the industry’s contribution to the economy of the province, given the recognition of its role in terms of job creation and local economic development. The increasing demand for hair care services was considered in providing justification for the proliferation of hair salons across many towns in the province. It was intended that the study detect outstanding practices from across South Africa and the rest of the world. These applicable practices were to be replicated in the Free State province in order to reposition the industry for more contributions to the growth of the provincial economy.
Introduction: While many emerging agricultural cooperative firms in the Central Free State of Sou... more Introduction: While many emerging agricultural cooperative firms in the Central Free State of South Africa remain inclined to progress into mainstream markets, conditions of market exclusion continue to dampen their predisposition to exploit competitive opportunities. Since cooperatives determined to reach their full market potential must contemplate competitive positions in their value networks, the business strategy literature on cooperative firms foregrounds the theoretical assertion that the value network configuration significantly influences competitiveness. Purpose: This conceptual study challenges the assertion that emerging agricultural cooperative firms' value network configuration significantly influences their competitiveness. Methodology: Drawing on the transaction cost economics theory and a review of literature, the study sought to address the core constructs that constitute the claims, establishing, rather, that sustained competitive performance has a direct influence on the competitiveness of emerging agricultural cooperative firms. Findings: The findings suggest sustained competitive performance as the principal determinant of competitiveness and a function of the cooperative firms' ability to navigate through transaction interaction dynamics and configurational influences. Originality: The study links industry structure and competition intensity to configurational influences, manifesting in various drivers and indicators determining sustained competitive performance, a novel concept underexplored in cooperative entrepreneurial literature.
Pig-farming SMMEs in the Central Free State of South Africa resort to diversification as a busine... more Pig-farming SMMEs in the Central Free State of South Africa resort to diversification as a business development strategy, with the aim of prevailing through or sustaining pressures over a number of dynamic risks. However, the frequency of liquidations among these enterprises substantiates the statement that sustainable performance is less than satisfactory. This article aims to illustrate theoretical debates on the nature and consequences of diversification as well as to provide an empirical insight into a five-years-result of diversification attempts. Based on a questionnaire survey of 144 participants comprising 71 diversified and 73 specialised pig-farming SMMEs, results show that there is no significant association between diversification and sustainable performance among pig-farming SMMEs in the Central Free State of South Africa. Hence, the study identified entrepreneurial idiosyncrasies to be largely responsible for results shown in each of the variables studied, such as sale...
Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms ... more Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms in South Africa, many emerging agricultural cooperatives in the Central Free State remain underrepresented in the mainstream market, thereby undermining their long-term financial sustainability. Yet, business sustainability literature on cooperative firms foregrounds the theoretical assertion that the existence of market power significantly influences financial sustainability. Purpose: The study set out to debunk the assertion that emerging cooperative firms in the Central Free State have market power that they can exert to increase their financial sustainability. Methodology: Drawing on the resource-based view theory and a review of literature, the study sought to establish whether market dynamics have a direct influence on the financial sustainability of emerging agricultural cooperative firms. Findings: The findings suggest that competition intensity and market concentration undermine...
Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms ... more Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms in South Africa, many emerging agricultural cooperatives in the Central Free State remain underrepresented in the mainstream market, thereby undermining their long-term financial sustainability. Yet, business sustainability literature on cooperative firms foregrounds the theoretical assertion that the existence of market power significantly influences financial sustainability. Purpose: The study set out to debunk the assertion that emerging cooperative firms in the Central Free State have market power that they can exert to increase their financial sustainability. Methodology: Drawing on the resource-based view theory and a review of literature, the study sought to establish whether market dynamics have a direct influence on the financial sustainability of emerging agricultural cooperative firms. Findings: The findings suggest that competition intensity and market concentration undermine the ability of the market power of cooperatives to positively predict long-term financial sustainability. Originality: The study links various indicators of financial sustainability to market power and establishes the influence of each of them on market power—an approach under-explored in entrepreneurial literature.
Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review, 2024
The TQM concept gets less logical given the increasing challenges in its implementation for servi... more The TQM concept gets less logical given the increasing challenges in its implementation for service delivery. This research aimed to determine the significance of such challenges. Based on a questionnaire survey of 297 participants, comprising 98 staff and 199 clients, the study obtains survey data from a 5-year result of TQM implementation attempts at Queen 'Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH), Lesotho. TQM demonstrates great potential to support service delivery as a strategic approach. The study isolates the management-oriented facet of TQM implementation challenges and finds them considerably influenced by the various TQM components. Conclusion: This study establishes and classifies the TQM implementation challenges in QMMH, which are mostly organization, management, and client-oriented. It further addresses assumptions relating to their classifications. Overall, the result suggests that the significance of the underlying challenges in service delivery is more management-oriented. Contribution: The study provides directions that strengthen the effectiveness of the TQM concept and its implementation. It suggests the capacity-building of a hospital's management team drives TQM implementation.
This research emanates from the need to optimize the potential of the hair salon industry in the ... more This research emanates from the need to optimize the potential of the hair salon industry in the Free State province. It provides a vivid evaluation of the industry’s contribution to the economy of the province, given the recognition of its role in terms of job creation and local economic development. The increasing demand for hair care services was considered in providing justification for the proliferation of hair salons across many towns in the province. It was intended that the study detect outstanding practices from across South Africa and the rest of the world. These applicable practices were to be replicated in the Free State province in order to reposition the industry for more contributions to the growth of the provincial economy.
Introduction: While many emerging agricultural cooperative firms in the Central Free State of Sou... more Introduction: While many emerging agricultural cooperative firms in the Central Free State of South Africa remain inclined to progress into mainstream markets, conditions of market exclusion continue to dampen their predisposition to exploit competitive opportunities. Since cooperatives determined to reach their full market potential must contemplate competitive positions in their value networks, the business strategy literature on cooperative firms foregrounds the theoretical assertion that the value network configuration significantly influences competitiveness. Purpose: This conceptual study challenges the assertion that emerging agricultural cooperative firms' value network configuration significantly influences their competitiveness. Methodology: Drawing on the transaction cost economics theory and a review of literature, the study sought to address the core constructs that constitute the claims, establishing, rather, that sustained competitive performance has a direct influence on the competitiveness of emerging agricultural cooperative firms. Findings: The findings suggest sustained competitive performance as the principal determinant of competitiveness and a function of the cooperative firms' ability to navigate through transaction interaction dynamics and configurational influences. Originality: The study links industry structure and competition intensity to configurational influences, manifesting in various drivers and indicators determining sustained competitive performance, a novel concept underexplored in cooperative entrepreneurial literature.
Pig-farming SMMEs in the Central Free State of South Africa resort to diversification as a busine... more Pig-farming SMMEs in the Central Free State of South Africa resort to diversification as a business development strategy, with the aim of prevailing through or sustaining pressures over a number of dynamic risks. However, the frequency of liquidations among these enterprises substantiates the statement that sustainable performance is less than satisfactory. This article aims to illustrate theoretical debates on the nature and consequences of diversification as well as to provide an empirical insight into a five-years-result of diversification attempts. Based on a questionnaire survey of 144 participants comprising 71 diversified and 73 specialised pig-farming SMMEs, results show that there is no significant association between diversification and sustainable performance among pig-farming SMMEs in the Central Free State of South Africa. Hence, the study identified entrepreneurial idiosyncrasies to be largely responsible for results shown in each of the variables studied, such as sale...
Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms ... more Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms in South Africa, many emerging agricultural cooperatives in the Central Free State remain underrepresented in the mainstream market, thereby undermining their long-term financial sustainability. Yet, business sustainability literature on cooperative firms foregrounds the theoretical assertion that the existence of market power significantly influences financial sustainability. Purpose: The study set out to debunk the assertion that emerging cooperative firms in the Central Free State have market power that they can exert to increase their financial sustainability. Methodology: Drawing on the resource-based view theory and a review of literature, the study sought to establish whether market dynamics have a direct influence on the financial sustainability of emerging agricultural cooperative firms. Findings: The findings suggest that competition intensity and market concentration undermine...
Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms ... more Introduction: Despite the accessibility of institutional support mechanisms to cooperative firms in South Africa, many emerging agricultural cooperatives in the Central Free State remain underrepresented in the mainstream market, thereby undermining their long-term financial sustainability. Yet, business sustainability literature on cooperative firms foregrounds the theoretical assertion that the existence of market power significantly influences financial sustainability. Purpose: The study set out to debunk the assertion that emerging cooperative firms in the Central Free State have market power that they can exert to increase their financial sustainability. Methodology: Drawing on the resource-based view theory and a review of literature, the study sought to establish whether market dynamics have a direct influence on the financial sustainability of emerging agricultural cooperative firms. Findings: The findings suggest that competition intensity and market concentration undermine the ability of the market power of cooperatives to positively predict long-term financial sustainability. Originality: The study links various indicators of financial sustainability to market power and establishes the influence of each of them on market power—an approach under-explored in entrepreneurial literature.
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Purpose: The study set out to debunk the assertion that emerging cooperative firms in the Central Free State have market power that they can exert to increase their financial sustainability.
Methodology: Drawing on the resource-based view theory and a review of literature, the study sought to establish whether market dynamics have a direct influence on the financial sustainability of emerging agricultural cooperative firms.
Findings: The findings suggest that competition intensity and market concentration undermine the ability of the market power of cooperatives to positively predict long-term financial sustainability.
Originality: The study links various indicators of financial sustainability to market power and establishes the influence of each of them on market power—an approach under-explored in entrepreneurial literature.
Purpose: The study set out to debunk the assertion that emerging cooperative firms in the Central Free State have market power that they can exert to increase their financial sustainability.
Methodology: Drawing on the resource-based view theory and a review of literature, the study sought to establish whether market dynamics have a direct influence on the financial sustainability of emerging agricultural cooperative firms.
Findings: The findings suggest that competition intensity and market concentration undermine the ability of the market power of cooperatives to positively predict long-term financial sustainability.
Originality: The study links various indicators of financial sustainability to market power and establishes the influence of each of them on market power—an approach under-explored in entrepreneurial literature.