The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry
| dc.contributor.advisor | Black, Anthony | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Lepelle, Refilwe | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mkhabela, Vuyiswa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-10T10:55:21Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-10T10:55:21Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-09-10T10:50:45Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation investigates the sourcing strategies and value chain governance of South African apparel retailers and their impact on the local textile and apparel manufacturing sector. Over the past three decades, value chain research has highlighted the crucial role of lead firms in coordinating production networks and shaping supplier relationships. However, little research has focused on the strategies of lead firms from the Global South, particularly in Africa's apparel industry. Through an integrated analysis of value chain governance, trade, and industrial policies, supplemented by case studies, this research examines the evolving sourcing strategies of South African retailers. Findings indicate that these strategies are influenced by strategic priorities, public value chain governance, global trends towards resilient supply chains, and supplier capabilities. Over the past 10-15 years, South African retailers have shifted from offshoring to nearshoring and reshoring, transitioning from transactional and captive governance to hierarchical and network-based models. The study demonstrates that hierarchical governance, marked by vertical integration, and network-based governance, characterized by partnerships, have distinct implications for supplier development and sectoral restructuring. This research contributes to the literature by providing insights into the sourcing strategies and value chain governance of lead firms in the Global South, highlighting the interaction between private sector practices and public policy in fostering industrial development. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Mkhabela, V. (2025). <i>The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41746 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Mkhabela, Vuyiswa. <i>"The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41746 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Mkhabela, V. 2025. The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41746 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mkhabela, Vuyiswa AB - This dissertation investigates the sourcing strategies and value chain governance of South African apparel retailers and their impact on the local textile and apparel manufacturing sector. Over the past three decades, value chain research has highlighted the crucial role of lead firms in coordinating production networks and shaping supplier relationships. However, little research has focused on the strategies of lead firms from the Global South, particularly in Africa's apparel industry. Through an integrated analysis of value chain governance, trade, and industrial policies, supplemented by case studies, this research examines the evolving sourcing strategies of South African retailers. Findings indicate that these strategies are influenced by strategic priorities, public value chain governance, global trends towards resilient supply chains, and supplier capabilities. Over the past 10-15 years, South African retailers have shifted from offshoring to nearshoring and reshoring, transitioning from transactional and captive governance to hierarchical and network-based models. The study demonstrates that hierarchical governance, marked by vertical integration, and network-based governance, characterized by partnerships, have distinct implications for supplier development and sectoral restructuring. This research contributes to the literature by providing insights into the sourcing strategies and value chain governance of lead firms in the Global South, highlighting the interaction between private sector practices and public policy in fostering industrial development. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - South African textile KW - Apparel industry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry TI - The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41746 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41746 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Mkhabela V. The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41746 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | School of Economics | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Commerce | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | South African textile | |
| dc.subject | Apparel industry | |
| dc.title | The implications of lead firm sourcing strategies and value chain governance on suppliers and sector development: the case of the South African textile and apparel industry | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MCom |