Corporate South Africa Research Articles

Fraud: An SMME perspective

<p>Given the important socio-economic role performed by Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and the negative consequences of fraud on their businesses, the objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions and management of fraud by SMME owners/managers. Respondents were of the opinion that fraud is a serious and increasing problem in corporate South Africa and viewed ethics policy implementation and internal controls as important measures of fraud detection and prevention. Only 10 per cent of respondents, however, made provision in their budgets for combating fraud. It is recommended that SMME owners/managers gain more knowledge on inexpensive yet effective fraud detection and prevention measures.</p><p><strong>Key words and phrases:</strong> Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), causes of fraud, fraud detection, fraud prevention, internal controls, ethics programmes.</p>

Malware: the new legal risk

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to show that companies world‐wide are being placed under increasing pressure by an onslaught of cyber risks and malware is one of the most common sources of security failures at present. The position in South Africa is no exception and malware presents a very real danger to corporate South Africa's information assets, resources and systems, as it has the capacity to undermine firewalls, hijack Virtual Private Networks (VPN's) and defeat digital signatures. The threats associated with malware have several salient legal issues embedded in it and these are elaborated in the paper. Unfortunately, corporate South Africa is still largely ignorant of the range of tools available to the “Darkside” and the potential legal consequences which may ensue if this cyber risk materialises. The article helps in the understanding of the problem.Design/methodology/approachThis paper examines malware, and more specifically legal liability for malware from a South African perspective. The account contained in this contribution deals with the question whether or not a company who falls victim to a malware attack or unwillingly facilitates such an attack, may be held legally liable. This is done by giving a brief overview of the nature of the cyber risk malware, before moving on to observe the consequences which may ensue if a malware attack occurs. Corporations who fall victim to malware attacks or unwittingly facilitates such an attack may suffer: direct damage; indirect damage; and physiological damage.FindingsIt will be pointed out that malware attacks may result in legal liability in civil law for the “victim” company because of its failure to take reasonable steps to secure the information assets, resources and systems of the company.Research limitations/implicationsIt will furthermore be observed that companies who unwillingly facilitate malware attacks, where for instance the company's own employee uses company resources to launch a virus attack, may be faced with legal liability in the form of vicarious liability.Practical implicationsSuggestions are made on how to avoid legal liability for failed information security.Originality/valueNo such a study has yet been undertaken in South Africa as most view the law and technology as strange and perhaps dangerous bedfellows. The study will also be of use, value and interest to the library and information community outside South Africa since it raises an issue of real significance.

The advancement of successful implementation of a computer-based training strategy in the South African corporate training environment

Computer-based training is now widely recognised as a viable approach for education in institutions of higher learning, as evidenced by the number of institutions that offer courses (Van der Westhuizen, 1999:1). Corporate South Africa has embarked on a similar course of action. The researcher used a qualitative research design in this study, with participation from learning facilitators, learners and managers in 15 South African organisations. Data was collected by way of individual interviews, focus group interviews, observations and the analysis of legislative documentation. On the basis of a study involving a number of South African organisations, some requirements were found relevant for the successful implementation of a computer-based training strategy. The performance of the organisations selected for the study was measured against requirements for the successful implementation of computer-based training. Although the integration of online learning in the corporate training environment is still in its early stages, corporate South Africa is very advanced in certain aspects of computer-based training implementation.

Corporate South Africa: making multicultural knowledge sharing work

PurposeKnowledge management in South Africa is still a very new field of management and knowledge managers are experiencing difficulties with the added dimension of multiculturalism. The history of South Africa, along with its current focus on cultural equality, complicates the matter. This research seeks to look at the challenges facing knowledge managers in a multicultural South African corporate environment.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory study, using in‐depth interviewing and a focus group as information collection methods, was launched to explore South African knowledge‐management practices in a cross‐section of companies in the economy.FindingsResults showed that companies were afraid to acknowledge cultural differences because of major cultural sensitivity and, as a result, corporate culture was seen as the great equaliser of cultural exchanges. Knowledge managers, along with top management's support, must rather create a cooperative knowledge‐sharing environment in which South Africa's diverse cultures can interact, learn from one another and innovate.Research limitations/implicationsServes as a pilot study that aims to explore new territory. From this explorative research, a new and extensive study of the contributing factors should be conducted. This study does not proclaim to be representative of all companies, as only a cross‐section of the South African corporate market was targeted for participation.Practical implicationsCompany management and knowledge workers will see the necessity of incorporating different approaches to knowledge‐management implementation to suit individual needs.Originality/valueVery little research has been done on this subject from a South African corporate‐environment perspective. These researchers hope to make knowledge workers more sensitive to the influence of multiculturalism on potential implementation of a knowledge‐management strategy.

Corporate South Africa's response to HIV/AIDS: Why so slow?

This article addresses the slow response of corporate South Africa to HIV/AIDS. After outlining the impact of HIV/AIDS on the workplace and the corporate reaction, the apparent contradiction between threat and response is explored. Two explanations for the slow response of business are conventionally offered - that government failure to lead a national response to the epidemic confronted business with an insurmountable collective-action problem; and that managers misunderstood the vulnerability of their companies. It is argued that these explanations have validity, but do not fully satisfy. Rather, account must be taken of inescapable tensions that tangibly link internal and external environments in ways that pre-date and exist independently of any strategy seeking to respond to HIV/AIDS. Four such tensions are identified: political, moral, industrial relations, and socio-economic. Socio-economic tensions are illustrated and examined through the contemporary views of managers from a large South African firm. While progress has been made by business in responding to HIV/AIDS, these conflicts remain significant. A critical question is whether companies can resolve wider socio-economic tensions - a necessity if they are to protect workers and their skills. In contrast to unitarist calls for a 'war' on AIDS, offering an appropriate corporate response presents a complex and formidable challenge, but also an opportunity for South African management to establish a new role within the post-apartheid order.

Corporate Amazons or Empowerment Spice Girls?: Elite Black Businesswomen and Transformation in South Africa

This study attempts to map the consequences of elite black women’s mobilization for capitalism in South Africa in the context of the literature dealing with the role of women in post-revolutionary politics. Although a scion of the on-going quest for “black economic empowerment,” elite black businesswomen also see corporate entrepreneurship as a platform for fighting gender inequalities and white racial privilege. Five of the most successful black women-owned businesses were evaluated based on on-site research conducted between January and June 2001. Although some pioneer activist women went into corporate business following the transition from apartheid to black majority rule on their own initiative, their ascent owes much to the government with occasional cooperation from white business. A preliminary review shows evidence of achievements that qualify these businesswomen as “corporate Amazons.” However, their strategic partnerships with corporate South Africa, their fields of accumulation, and their familial attachments appear to have exposed them to charges of “empowerment Spice Girls,” facilitators of wealth accumulation by captains of industry and beneficiaries of patriarchal institutions. Suggestions for further research, fleshing out the implications for women’s movements are made.

Corporate Amazons or Empowerment Spice Girls?: Elite Black Businesswomen and Transformation in South Africa

This study attempts to map the consequences of elite black women’s mobilization for capitalism in South Africa in the context of the literature dealing with the role of women in post-revolutionary politics. Although a scion of the on-going quest for “black economic empowerment,” elite black businesswomen also see corporate entrepreneurship as a platform for fighting gender inequalities and white racial privilege. Five of the most successful black women-owned businesses were evaluated based on onsite research conducted between January and June 2001. Although some pioneer activist women went into corporate business following the transition from apartheid to black majority rule on their own initiative, their ascent owes much to the government with occasional cooperation from white business. A preliminary review shows evidence of achievements that qualify these businesswomen as “corporate Amazons.” However, their strategic partnerships with corporate South Africa, their fields of accumulation, and their familial attachments appear to have exposed them to charges of “empowerment Spice Girls,” facilitators of wealth accumulation by captains of industry and beneficiaries of patriarchal institutions. Suggestions for further research, fleshing out the implications for women’s movements are made.

Social Concertation, Labour Unions and the Creation of a Black Bourgeoisie in South Africa

In South Africa, one of organised labour's most revolutionary responses to globalisation and an emerging social concertation regime is the frenzied establishment of union-owned investment companies by almost all black-majority labour unions. Labour's resort to wealth accumulation, encouraged and facilitated by the state and segments of corporate South Africa, threatens to transform workers into both labour and capital, employees and employers. An evaluation of the fields of accumulation of these union investment companies shows their limited potential to advance the government's goal of creating a black capitalist class. However, a 'concertation regime' that gives organised labour a significant material stake in the economy has the potential to enhance cross-class compromises that are necessary for the consolidation of democracy in post-apartheid South Africa. Labour's wealth accumulation endeavour is shown to have contributed to the adoption (by labour leaders) of innovative industrial relations and handling of recent strikes and strains in labour's relations with the government.

Phaphama iAfirika!: The African Renaissance and Corporate South Africa

(1998). Phaphama iAfirika!: The African Renaissance and Corporate South Africa. African Security Review: Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 3-17.

Paradise or parking lots? A comparison between the attitudes of the South African business elite and the rest of the elite on selected environmental issues

ABSTRACT Corporate South Africa was characterised in the past by a technocratic ideology, namely, that technology and scientific know‐how will offer solutions to any environmental problems which might arise. This “marketplace” mentality often brought it into conflict with the environmental movement. This research article examines the new awareness of the South African business elite toward selected environmental issues and compares this to the attitudes of the rest of the South African elite. Although the environment was largely overshadowed by the constitutional negotiations it will continue to remain the crucial issue of this decade as the degradation of the environment is an indication of both poverty and wealth. Environmental questions fall within the sphere of the influence and power which important decision‐makers exercise. An investigation into the views of the South African business elite and opinion‐leaders on these issues can also give us an idea of their priorities on development.