OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Zolfaghari, Badri"

Browsing by Author "Zolfaghari, Badri"

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Open Access
A study on how franchisees finance their owner's contribution when buying a franchise
(2020) Ngqola-Sebone, Lumka; Zolfaghari, Badri; Alhassan, Abdul Latif
The South African economy has been lagging its forecasted economic growth statistics in recent years, particularly following the worldwide economic recession of 2008. The year-on-year economic growth of South Africa is forecasted to continue to be lower than other developing countries. SMMEs are a significant contributor to a countries GDP and most franchises are classified as SMMEs. Entrepreneurs in the SMME space often use franchises to not only penetrate the market but to grow existing ventures. In its annual report for the year 2016, the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) states that the franchise industry contributed an estimated 11.6% to South Africa's GDP. When applying for finance at most institutions, prospective franchisees are required to also contribute to the total funding required; this is known as owner's contribution. This study explores what challenges franchisees experience in trying to raise owners' contribution and how the y overcame these challenges. It further explores what prospective franchisees can learn from the experiences of the participants. Through research conducted predominantly through an online survey and interviews to a limited extent, this study found that the franchise model has many advantages, but also has disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages remains the accessibility of finance, particularly that most financiers and franchisors require substantial owners' contribution. Many participants faced challenges when having to raise owner's contribution They most used personal savings and donations or borrowings from friends and family. The negative impacts that were identified were mainly personal stress and anxiety, strained personal relationships and delays in personal and/or business plans. In conclusion, in attempting to address these challenges highlighted by participants, recommendations are made to all stakeholders on how to overcome some of the challenges identified.
Open Access
An assessment of capital expenditure, required to establish a steel distribution business, as a barrier to entry into the steel distribution industry
(2018) Gqoboka, Lithalethu; Zolfaghari, Badri
The South African steel industry plays a vital role in the economy of the country. It is seen to be a major source of employment for the South African people, and key to sustainable economic development for the country. In recent years however, the South African steel industry has been faced with a number of challenges resulting in the closure of some steel companies and consequently the loss of many jobs. It is posited that small and medium enterprises (SMME’s) can minimise these negative effects, balance out the job losses and keep the industry sustainable. However, the barriers to entry in the steel industry, and especially access to finance capital, require policy interventions to assist entrepreneurs to enter into the industry. This paper explores the barriers to entry for new entrants in the industry, with particular focus on capital expenditure as the main barrier to entry and seeks to understand what policy interventions would be beneficial in promoting new entrants into the steel industry value chain. Qualitative research was undertaken to gather data from senior personnel within various steel companies. A convenience sample of eleven participants were selected to participate in semistructured interviews. Transcripts of the interviews were used to conduct an analysis of findings. The research found that there is scope for new players in the steel industry value chain but that it is a highly competitive industry with many players currently. New entrants would need to focus on innovation or a niche area of specialisation, in order to compete effectively. In addition, having additional players would benefit the industry and contribute positively to economic development for the country. The largest challenge for new entrants is access is capital as financial institutions are risk adverse towards to the steel industry. However, there are various means by which small players can minimise the necessary capital outlay for a startup business. Policy interventions can also go a long way in encouraging additional entrants to the industry and further developing the economy.
Open Access
An assessment of the impact of Private equity funding on agricultural development in Namibia
(2023) Shimbamba, Werner; Zolfaghari, Badri
This study was an assessment of the impact that Private equity funding has on agricultural development in Namibia. The study's research questions were: how has private equity funding resulted in agricultural development in Namibia? Also, what strategies have been implemented to attract private equity funding to boost agricultural development? The study adopted a qualitative research approach to map up ways to collect data. The sample of the study comprised of 25 farmers, private equity firms as well as banks and the sampling technique used to select these was purposive sampling. Data collection was performed using a semi-structured interview guide through interviews with key informants. Thematic analyse was used as the data analysis method for this study. It was established from the study that private equity funding has not played a significant role in the development of the Namibian agricultural sector with most farmers especially small scale still struggling to acquire alternate capital injections to expand and modernise their operations. It was further established that the most prevalent sources of financing were through state-owned institutions such as Agribank that usually give bailouts and subsidies to farmers in various areas to increase production of certain products that the government can then facilitate to import. Moreover, farmers get funding through loans from commercial banks which at have also been seen to at times suffocate farmers due to high interest rates. It was also found that there seems to be a lack of understanding of private equity funding and how to access it and that leads to failure to take advantage of the benefits that it comes with. This lack of understanding has been identified to be as a result of lack of exposure, most farmers especially small scale being illiterate and a lack of information sharing or educational initiatives to help farmers identify the various possible funding sources they may access to help grow their farms. Some of the strategies that have been highlighted to solve this issue include promotion and development of Private Equity Funds in Agriculture, establishment of a private public partnership in the venture capital industry and that they should harness resources and avail them for this purpose. Additionally, Agribank and the Development Bank of Namibia should vigorously undertake awareness campaigns and educate the investment community about the true value and risks found in the agricultural sector as this could improve investors' appetite for such investments.
Open Access
An impact investing and blended finance framework for foundations to leverage impact capital
(2019) Hand, Geraldine Mary; Zolfaghari, Badri
With the right tools, South Africa’s endowed philanthropic foundations can use their full asset base to leverage traditional capital pools toward market-based solutions. These solutions address key socio-economic challenges of inequality, unemployment and poverty using investing for impact strategies and blending models. However, this is an opportunity not yet exploited in South Africa despite traction abroad. By developing case studies of six international foundations that have deployed impact investment and structuring strategies, this study formed an understanding of how key enablers to adoption of these strategies were utilised. Thereafter, the leaders of fourteen local foundations were interviewed to expose current practices and barriers to adoption. Subsequent focus groups were conducted to examine the outcome of the previous data collection process. Findings reveal that chief among the barriers is the lack of appreciation of Total Portfolio Management as an asset management strategy for foundations. The reasons advanced being, the role of investment advisors, application of fiduciary duty, and an understanding of the tax dispensation for foundations. Another barrier is the limited use of innovative blended funding models to leverage traditional investors who have a greater pool of financial resources to potentially finance solutions. The reasons advanced are leadership vision and structuring skills within foundations. This study contributes to theory and practice by providing an initial attempt as a toolkit for South African foundations to enable them to be more effective in catalysing much needed financial resources to alleviate the Country’s triple constraint (inequality, unemployment and poverty). In so doing, adding to the growing body of impact investing knowledge in South Africa.
Open Access
An investigation into the National Water Act No 36 of 1998: Its impact and effectiveness on stakeholders in a Water Users' Association in a rural community in the Western Cape
(2022) Andre Marshall Thops; Hara, Mafaniso; Zolfaghari, Badri
This study investigates the possible failure and the reasons for the failure of the policies and strategies of the National Water Act (NWA) of 1998 and the impact on the rural community of the Hex River Valley. This study interrogates the negligence to implement the policies and strategies of the NWA to redress the practice of segregated use of the water resource as a natural resource and the failure to address the pro-poor visions of the NWA. This investigation furthermore looks at the role and impact of policies and strategies of the NWA on responsibilities of the Water Users' Association (WUA) of the Hex River Valley as the bulk water management structure of the community and the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (CMA) in its role as management agent representing the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) at grassroots level. This study, through a research strategy, reached the conclusion that the ANC government has failed to implement the strategies and policies of the National Water Act no.36 of 1998 to implement equitable water sharing. A deductive approach, using qualitative data, was used to address the research question. This research method was used to uncover trends and patterns in thoughts and opinions of rural communities regarding the NWA, its policies and strategies
Open Access
Coproduction inside the investment nexus; a retail investor perspective of demand and supply of responsible investment opportunities in South Africa
(2023) Roux, Andre; Zolfaghari, Badri; McCallum, Stephen
Little is known about responsible investment (RI) opportunities for retail investors in South Africa. Disconnect between RI demand and RI supply seems evident, undermining the growth of RI in this country, which in turn frustrates opportunities for economic growth and social well-being. “Over the past decade, environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have been among the most important factors responsible for shifting the axes of the financial industry”. This research examines retail investor demand for RI and supply of RI opportunities for the same market segment, in South Africa, observing inclusionary investment practice via the application of co-production. The paper reflects a survey of retail investor demand, from which 14 indicators are developed. The indicators are utilised to assess the dynamic between RI demand and available RI supply across three investment subsectors (commercial banks, asset managers, and alternative investment platforms). The paper leverages industry perspective to support its interpretations of existent demand for RI and accessible RI supply, circa 2019 to 2022. It intones the importance of using co-production to create investment context, to find equilibrium between supply and demand, and to enable resilient RI practice at the retail level. Methods of enabling inclusivity within nascent but pertinent RI practice for retail investors are reified. Deeper understanding of retail investor demand and methods of leveraging RI supply are required in future iterations of this type of research.
Open Access
Examining The Public-Private-Partnership Tourism Toolkit as a vehicle for socioeconomic beneficiation
(2020) de Kock, Gary; Zolfaghari, Badri; Koelble, Thomas
By way of their geographic range and financial spend, South Africa's national parks have the potential for significant economic impact in the country's rural and urban areas. The research used three small-cap case studies to examine government's Public Private Partnership (PPP) Toolkit for Tourism for its ability to deliver economic benefit to communities around South African National Parks. The study identified areas of disjuncture between policy intention and policy implementation and suggests that the measures used to assess the contribution of small-cap PPPs be revised if the Toolkit is to become a meaningful instrument for small business growth and economic transformation. Findings reveal that simplifying the Toolkit bidding process is not likely to broaden entry for small businesses as the due diligence elements embedded in it are necessary to restrict corruption and abuse. Instead, it concluded that the ecosystem in which small businesses are required to operate is more important for creating economically sustainable small businesses. The most significant feature of this ecosystem would be the empowerment culture of the recipient institutions and the contractual binding of big business to enterprise development targets. The barriers to entry do not necessarily arise from the design of the Toolkit itself, but from the support institutions that have not transformed sufficiently to become the fertile grounds for the mentoring of small businesses expected of these institutions.
Open Access
Exploring the capital investment practice of mining corporations in Namibia
(2018) Iiyambo, Hilma Naleshemunyenga; Zolfaghari, Badri
Namibia is a country rich in minerals, and this has attracted both national and international investors to the mining industry in the country. The mining sector is a capital-intensive industry that calls for long-term investment. Capital investment is a long-term economic venture that requires and consumes a lot of resources, for example, the purchase of fixed assets, such as land, machinery, and buildings (Ward, 2013). Capital investment in the mining sector is risky because of various uncertainties that include among others, political risks, environmental risks (geological), fluctuations of mineral prices on the world market, changes in fiscal policies, and the depletion and exhaustion of mineral resources. Generally, risks associated with technical and commercial aspects have always been high in the mining sector (Bhapu, 2005). Because of the risky nature of the mining sector, companies venturing into a mining project need to adopt comprehensive capital investment practices that realise the return on capital, taking into cognisance all risks that could jeopardise and frustrate the ambitions of the promoters, shareholders and various stakeholders, which include the government, downstream industries and the local community. The aim of this study was to explore capital investment practices of mining corporations in Namibia focusing on the five large mining companies. The purpose was to identify gaps between investment practice and investment theory that might have a long-term impact on mineral dependent national economies, development finance for local community sustainable development and the return on capital to investors. Since large-scale mining demands large capital investment that requires proper long-term planning for the realisation of return on capital, it has been found necessary to purposively select five largest mining corporations for the study. The mining organisations involved were De Beers Marine, Rosh Pinah, Rössing, Tsumeb Corporation and Navachab. The study employed an exploratory qualitative research approach to explore the capital investment practices of five major mining operations in Namibia that generate more than 95% of the mining income. The study employed the qualitative research in order to obtain a deep understanding of capital appraisal methods used and get reasons why they are used. Purposive sampling was used to select five participants for the survey. The collected data was assessed and analysed using thematic analysis. The analysed data was converted into tables and bar charts. The tables and bar charts of analysed data are presented as findings in chapter four of this study. The results show that five of the mining organisations use Net Present Value to conduct capital investment appraisal and a similar number uses the Payback Back Period. Two of the mining organisations use IRR and one uses ARR for capital investment appraisal. It was further found that mining organisations surveyed factor in development finance in their capital budgeting process but experience unforeseen incidences when it came to implementation. Finally, it is recommended that the Government of Namibia together with various stakeholders consider and incorporate development finance in their capital investment appraisal and capital budgeting for sustainable development.
Open Access
Green finance and green growth: towards sustainable development in South Africa
(2019) Chinyamunzore, Ephraim; Zolfaghari, Badri; Ntsalaze, Lungile
The economic progress that the world has achieved so far, has come at a steep price to the environment and social justice. There is a general global rise in environmental degradation and social inequality, mainly due to unsustainable habits of production and consumption. Greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, are on the rise; causing global warming, climate change, and the resultant extreme weather conditions. This global trend is also manifesting itself in South Africa; where the current economic model has failed to adequately address unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Several studies have recommended that countries should implement the Green growth strategy as a solution, because it will move economies towards sustainable development. Greening economies require investments in low carbon infrastructures, such as Renewable Energy (RE) technology, and supportive policies. The purpose of this study is to explore South Africa’s RE policy instrument and the country’s progress towards green growth. To this end, correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between green finance and South Africa’s RE policy instrument; descriptive statistical analysis was employed to investigate South Africa’s progress towards green growth. Other BRICS countries as well as Germany were included in order to benchmark South Africa’s progress. The study found a positive correlation between green finance and the RE policy instrument. The implication of this finding is that reductions in tariffs paid to RE producers, due to the auction process, may result in decreased levels of green finance invested in the RE sector. A policy recommendation would be to include other financial incentives to attract investments in the RE sector, such as favourable tax rates for producers and the use of subsidies. Another finding is that there was a tendency for private finance invested in these projects to decrease as the level of public finance increases, suggesting crowding out. Policy recommendations are that public finance should be restricted to small projects; play a subordinated role in big projects; and address investment difficulties faced by private investors. The following are some of the findings with regard to South Africa’s progress towards green growth. South Africa was the second worst CO2 emitter per capita; recorded high levels of air pollution; was one of the least energy-efficient countries; regressed on forests management and had the lowest percentage of RE consumption. The implications are negative for the country’s progress towards green growth. The suggested solutions are to promote energy efficiency and increase RE consumption by accelerating green investments in the RE sector. There is hope though, that South Africa is making good progress towards sustainable development, as depicted by the growth rates of most of the country’s green growth indicators.
Open Access
How can Cape Flats youth overcome Environmental circumstance by using their Personal potential?
(2023) Stoffberg, Max-Gordon; Zolfaghari, Badri
This study focuses on identity and (un)employment among Coloured born-frees from the Cape Flats in Cape Town. Coloured adolescents could be classified as vulnerable because their living conditions are characterized by unemployment, crime, gangsterism and a lack of positive role models. In conjunction with digital exclusion and poor quality education; these circumstances restrict youth from participating fairly in socio-economic activities – effectively limiting their growth potential. Personalization theory states that growth is not solely dictated by environmental conditions but in part dependent on how an individual respond to these external experiences. Most members of the Cape Flats are not criminals or gangsters. However, most research utilizes a deficit paradigm; exclusively emphasizing the negative conditions in these disadvantaged districts. A qualitative Grounded Theory methodology was employed to address this gap by incorporating corporate and creatively employed youth as research participants. Moreover, male and female born-frees, aged 18-28, were interviewed. 10 individuals from each employment sector (corporate, creative and criminal) were given the same set of questions in order to establish reasons why certain careers were chosen. Cognitive and behavioural characteristics, both distinct and shared, across the 3 groups were identified. Personal Potential is derived from Self-actualization and Self-efficacy – this contributes to new knowledge as these theories have not previously been applied to the Cape Flats context. The most destructive influence limiting potential was found to be the behaviour witnessed by others in their neighbourhoods. The findings indicate that communication is the most practical learning tool among youth. However, youth do not want to be told what to do, rather, they want to be like those they see. The innovative praxis model aiding this connection is the digital network Question Mark Kaffy. This platform broadens the outlook of youth beyond what is merely observed in their physical setting, displaying the diversity of South Africa's creatives. This research project sheds light on youth who have maximized their Personal Potential and shares insights as to how others may do the same. Thus, it empowers Cape Flat's creatives to become constructive citizens by serving as new role models to aspiring artists, which contributes to the creation of a Collective Creative Cultural identity amongst Capetonians.
Open Access
How the teaching of indigenous languages among disparate multicultural groups in a South African corporate setting affect cohesion
(2021) Bauer, Nickolaus; Zolfaghari, Badri; Madiba, Mbulungeni
This study is an attempt to develop further theoretical insights into the link between language and cohesion across class and race within organizations operating in contemporary South Africa. Due to the combination of extensive diversity and pernicious inequality inherited from the country's colonial history, English – and to a lesser extent, Afrikaans – enjoys disproportionate power in education, commerce and industry over the other languages across South Africa. Notwithstanding the constitutional imperative of linguistic equality, English is the dominant tongue of power, which has led to indigenous languages – African indigenous languages in particular – assuming a subservient position within society. This has led to a myriad of knock-on effects that have either reinforced existing complex societal problems or have birthed entirely new issues, all of which have stifled attempts to build a non-racial, equal and prosperous South Africa for all. By using the existing literature compiled on subjects such as linguistic diversity, language acquisition, multiculturalism, organisational cohesion and their interconnectedness, this study aims to discover new thinking on how language can be used as a tool to re-order hierarchies and diminish divisions within an organization primarily and society more broadly. By measuring the level of cohesion and language capability and drawing inferences to their respective impacts on each other, it was investigated whether solidarity can be built across racial and class lines. The initial research question the researcher sought to answer morphed slightly from a specific focus on how teaching of indigenous languages by blue-collar workers to executives could affect cohesion within an organization into how such languages classes could impact interorganizational cohesion when conducted by juniors for their seniors within any company. This not only resulted in the research becoming more industry-agnostic, but empowered my findings to become broader, conclusions more comprehensive and recommendations more extensive. Research groups were formed across a variety of organizations from different sectors and research was conducted over a period of eight months. The extensive data collection was at once longitudinal - as cohesion and linguistic capability were measured before, during and after the study through questionnaires and written tests – but also auto-ethnographic in the personal conclusions the researcher drew throughout the study based on his adult life as a purveyor of multilingualism and ardent supporter of multiculturalism. Although the results of the research showed little direct change in measurable cohesion among participants, the process of language learning conducted by juniors for seniors presented a meaningful strategy to not only forge unity among participants but also understanding among individuals from disparate backgrounds, with a specific focus on identity, culture and class. It prompts further study into how language can be an easily accessible tool to build consensus not only within organisations, but in South African society at large, which remains one of the world's most unequal.
Open Access
Individual ambidexterity: a critical capability towards innovativeness in organisations
(2021) Nitsckie, Bradley; Zolfaghari, Badri
Innovation activities vary over time as organisations evolve towards more exploitative innovation to extract maximum performance from existing knowledge and operations. This is a natural evolution, where past innovators become the leaders, capital allocators and managers. Well-run and continuous improvement programmes deeply embed organisational preferences, inadvertently raising barriers to explorative innovation which seeks new knowledges and, with it, a divergence from current thinking. The prospect of new discovery induces paradox as it threatens obsolescence. It seeks high variance, in the face of a low variance focus. Enabling an ambidexterity capability will synergise these tensions and gain the benefits of both types of innovation. Synergising both offers long-term sustained innovation and enhanced performance, and so ambidexterity capability is of significant importance. The researcher's objective is to explore how an individual ambidexterity capability is able to improve an organisation's ability to synergise the paradoxical tensions in the innovation process. This thesis has a focus on how organisations may scale their internal ambidexterity capabilities. Individual ambidexterity proposes a reframing of the role of the individual towards taking a far more central role, and one from which the ambidexterity capability is scaled. It promises a richer, more generative capability which breaks beyond the limits and boundaries of the structural or leadership limitations. This thesis heeds a call for more theorising on how individuals experience paradox tensions and provides revelatory ambidexterity insights into real world of work situations. The work of this thesis has been to enter the real world of work through the interviewing of 12 participants from a selected case study on an explorative innovation, in an environment more familiar with exploitative innovation performance. The researcher also interviewed 3 functional experts to gain insights into current individual capability support and enablement. Through this thesis the researcher's findings contribute that the paradox tensions are complex layers of interrelated tensions, that they have severe implications for the individual in their ability to respond, that this ability to respond should be deliberately supported by competency, trait, behavioural and other capability models, but also that leaders play a critical role in creatings a supportive context for the individual to enact ambidexterity and lastly that there is also a need for the right instrumental support for the varying needs in the innovation process. This thesis supports the notion that with a lack of awareness and intentionality for ambidexterity, individuals are left to face complex paradoxical tensions but their response is left to chance or individual intuition. Their individual ambidexterity is a rich source of sustained innovation capability but requires a strategic approach to enable it. It requires the reframing of the role of the leader in shifting to a supportive and enabling role, emancipating the agency of the individual in creating a supportive organisational context, a context which normalises the empowerment of individuals, exploration, divergence and experimentation. It is critical to ensure that personal career risks do not inhibit the exploration or agency of individuals.
Open Access
Moving from X to Xⁿ collaboration modes within organisational settings
(University of Cape Town, 2020) Lala-Sides, Kaylarsh; Zolfaghari, Badri
Organisations are increasingly dependent on the collaborative effort of individuals and teams to achieve outcomes such as solve complex problems, take advantage of opportunities and enhance organisational efficiencies. In fact, there are few activities that human beings are involved in which do not involve collaboration. Yet the experiences of individuals called upon to make collaborations work are often over-looked by leaders and collaboration conveners pre, during and post collaborations. These leaders tend to concentrate their attention on operational antecedents such as systems, processes and resources required, as well as the attainment of the collaboration outcome. It is therefore unsurprising that the outcome of collaborative activity is often capped at the specified outcome. However, in the context of a perform and outperform world and especially where global economic growth is severely contracted, there is ongoing interest in the ability of organisations to create competitive advantage through collaborativepeople- based advantage. The modern-day requirement is for collaboration activity to more accurately reflect the capabilities of the collaboration partakes. This study examines how individuals' self-efficacy, optimism, resilience, and trust influence how they collaborate within an organisation setting. Accordingly, the two primary areas of examination are collaboration and individuals' experiences. This phenomenological and explorative study adopted an inductive, qualitative, single-case study approach adopting interviews, questionnaire, observation and secondary data as research instruments. The study was conducted with a mature non-profit organisation where collaboration was identified as crucial to the attainment of their goals and targets. A review of the evolution of collaboration as a theory in its own right was conducted as part of the study. The field of positive psychology and in particular the offshoots of positive organisation behaviours and positive psychological capabilities were reviewed as the foundation from which individuals' experiences were examined within the study. The study revealed that while individuals' experiences were considered important by the leaders within the case examined, they were largely ignored during collaboration efforts. As a result, individuals' experiences were not considered important inputs to collaboration efforts. Furthermore, individuals' experiences were not considered influential to the attainment of collaboration outcomes nor to the attainment of specified organisational targets and goals. In particular, optimism and trust were found to markedly contribute to individuals' experience during a collaboration, while self-efficacy and resilience did so to a lesser degree. Interestingly, rapid organisation growth emerged as an unanticipated yet key influencer to individuals' experiences during collaboration. The study makes a threefold contribution. The first is theoretical contribution to collaboration theory by exposing the positive and negative, external and internal antecedents of individual's experiences during collaboration. The applicable experience construct (self-efficacy, optimism, resilience, trust and growth as an influencer), or a combination thereof, as found in this study, is mapped out for each antecedent type in the "Framework for Individual's Experiences during Collaboration". The framework also includes the positive and negative, individual level and organisational level outcomes of individual's experiences. Thus, in so doing, the second contribution made is to the continually expanding research of Psychological Capabilities (PsyCap) and the specific outcomes they influence. The third contribution of this study is the development of the "Xⁿ collaboration model" which depicts three modes of collaboration where each mode influences the outcome and performance of an organisation against its identified objectives.
Open Access
On REIPPPP: Exploring the potential of intermediaries to support the implementation of the programme's socio-economic development obligations in low-income communities
(2021) Mgxashe, Phumeza; Wlokas, Holle; Zolfaghari, Badri
This research explores the potential role of intermediaries in the implementation of socioeconomic development (SED) benefits through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPPP) in low-income communities. SED benefits are a procurement requirement that forms part of REIPPPP's Economic Development scorecard and are required to be implemented in identified beneficiary communities, with the aim of improving livelihoods in such communities. Literature points to the fact that, community development is not a function of the private sector and that intermediaries can have success in partnering with communities in their quest for development. This research is approached through a qualitative inductive study of a case study. The case study is Project90by2030, a not-for-profit organisation (NPO) and public benefit organisation (PBO) that is focused on the mobilisation of and advocacy for clean energy in energy poor lowincome communities. The research pays attention to the organisation's community development approach and what possible learning benefits there could be for the REIPPPP. Interviews were held with community participants and facilitators of the Community Partnership Programme of the organisation. The research finds that low-income communities experience exclusion and inequality and identifies the agents of the said exclusion and inequality. This thesis argues that intermediaries can play an important role to bridge inequality of agency and other power dynamics that work to the detriment of the empowerment of low-income communities. It concludes that socio-economic community development is a contribution to society that business should pursue, with the support of intermediaries and with local government as a key strategic partner.
Open Access
Promoting Inclusive Higher Education in the digital age: Wrapping massive open online courses (MOOCs) for youth from marginalised communities in South Africa
(2021) Deane, Nawaal; Hunma, Aditi; Zolfaghari, Badri
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic led to the global shutdown of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) forcing the move from residential campuses to online learning. In South Africa, the shutdown further exacerbated the lack of access to Higher Education (HE) amongst youth, which adds to higher unemployment rates and perpetuates the cycle of poverty with detrimental consequences for society. However, in 2020 the forced move to online learning, and the use of freely available Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provided an opportunity to rethink accessto HE for youth from marginalised areas. In some cases, a blended learning approach has been adopted by universities to provide more flexible pathways to HE. The wrapping of MOOCs follows a similar process but can be specifically used to be inclusive of students traditionally excluded from HE. The aim of the research explores the extent to which wrapped MOOCs made in South Africa could serve as effective ‘boundary objects' for students to experience HE. This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) specifically in relation to the fourth goal that targets inclusive and quality education and promotes lifelong learning for all. It explores how MOOCs, if wrapped or blended in a face-to-face programmes could prepare young people from marginalised communities for the workplace in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The research aims to explore the characteristics of two wrapped MOOCs made in South Africa to make them more accessible to youth from marginalised communities. The researcher utilised a case study methodology and employed ethnographic methods to explore how MOOCs were wrapped to make them more accessible to youth in marginalised communities in South Africa. The cases were two learning contexts where MOOCs were wrapped for the youth from those communities. The data was analysed using concepts from Wenger-Trayner et al.'s (2015) Landscapes of Practice. One of the key concepts is the boundary object, which can ideally play a mediating role between knowledge practices across contexts. It can thus grant different forms of access to those who would otherwise have been excluded from specific ways of knowing, identity work and experience of digital technologies. The data found that some students were unaware that MOOCs existed. Students desired and accepted that MOOCs could be part of an offering of HE programmes or courses but mostly agreed that they would not take it on their own as they required the digital literacy, computer facilities and Internet to complete it. They preferred that it was wrapped within a face-to-face programme. Still, once they experienced taking it, they saw themselves as knowledgeable in taking MOOCs and the confidence to take online courses in the future. They attributed the social and epistemological access they received more to the programme than to the MOOCs. Most participants did not want MOOCs to replace HE institutions as they valued face-to-face engagement, that the wrapped MOOC format made possible. But the opportunity to learn on a digital platform and work online made them feel more equipped to choose their own pathways in the HE landscape. The study culminated in a set of characteristics that could make wrapped MOOCs effective ‘boundary objects'. The research recommends that future MOOCs be wrapped to be inclusive of these characteristics to enhance social and epistemological access to HE for students from marginalised areas. The contribution of this research would be to create a list of principles that allows for relevant MOOCs out of approximately 13500 MOOCs, that currently exist, to be used, adapted and wrapped by the HE sector or various stakeholders that provide training, education and skills to youth in marginalised or refugee communities. The Covid-19 pandemic shutdown impacted on the popularity of MOOCs where platforms like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn attracted as many users in one month as they did in an entire year of 2019. The significance of the study was evident during the HE shutdown when access to educational resources became crucial in the remote and online teaching format. The research contributed theoretically in terms of applying a landscapes of practice framework to understand and extend online and blended learning provision to marginalised communities. Future studies can take the recommendations of this research and apply the list of principles to wrap MOOCs and other online courses within particular landscapes of practice to explore their effectiveness in promoting access to HE.
Open Access
The role of founder identity in the evaluation of entrepreneurial opportunities
Madjdi, Farsan; Zolfaghari, Badri; Meyer, Camille
Entrepreneurship is a fundamental part of the economic development and value creation of societies. Value can be defined in different ways, but at its core it is the production of new goods and services. How these outcomes are produced, how they are shared and distributed across the economy and what is done with the earnings that are created from their production (reinvestment) are key questions in defining economic value. Ventures that are created by founders driven by economic self-interest, community development or to societal advancement bear importance in this relation. This study explored the role of founder identity in the evaluation of entrepreneurial opportunities. It was argued that a social identity lens can be central in improving our understanding of founders' heterogeneous behaviours and actions in new firm creation and development. Using the lens of identity and social identity theory as mentioned above can help gaining new important insights for a better understanding of how founders behave and act in new firm creation which influences how new ventures emerge and develop. In doing so, special attention is given to the way in which the level of inclusiveness, as part of their self-concept as founders', influences their forming of first-person opportunity beliefs to guide opportunity selection and the type of venture they intend to form. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used to answer the research question of how founder identity influences the evaluation of entrepreneurial opportunities. An online survey using an empirically validated 15-item scale conducted with first-time founders and students generated 173 responses. This was followed by a qualitative phase, conducted with a subset of the survey respondents, comprising 34 face-to-face interviews using verbal protocols. The findings of this study revealed that differences in the structure of founder's identities drive variations in how they evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities and form first-person opportunity beliefs. The study showed that the ‘individuation' of the opportunity evaluation process varies between distinct founder identity types and offers novel insights into the forming of first-person opportunity beliefs derived from the use of individual-level cognitive resources during opportunity evaluation. It provides evidence that social identities of founders relate to distinct entrepreneurial behaviours and actions during the entrepreneurial process, and in specific, to distinct behaviours and actions during opportunity evaluation as part of the entrepreneurial process.
Open Access
Working mothers self care practices as a coping mechanism: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
(2023) Mahadeo-Diercks, Sarika; Zolfaghari, Badri
Title: Experiences of modern-day motherhood and work: An interpretative phenomenological study of professional working mothers' self-care and coping Objective: This study explores the experiences and understandings of self-care and coping in professional working women in South Africa who are first-time mothers. Working mothers find it difficult to balance work and home responsibilities, and often at the expense of self-care. Method: The sample comprised five mothers of singletons working in business or the corporate sector, who had integrated back into work for at least six months after maternity leave. They began by drawing a picture of how they saw themselves coping with the demands of being a professional working mother. Their portrayal provided a strong introduction to the conversation about their experiences of self-care and coping post-motherhood. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The participants descriptions highlighted the challenges of meeting the demands of being a working professional and a first-time mother. The participants' accounts offered deep insights into their experiences of motherhood, self-care and coping. This study suggests that participants found the experience of motherhood a transition that they were not fully prepared for, regarding increased demands and unrealistic expectations. There was a strong sense of pressure on them to live up to the ideals of motherhood. Self-care was challenging particularly once they had returned to work in relation to time, energy, and support. Conclusion: Self-care was an enabler to coping and lack of self-care led to poor coping. Keywords: Professional working mothers, self-care, coping, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)

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