Acta Commercii - Special issue 1, January 2011

As global markets embark on some serious introspection after the global crisis of 2008, many business decision makers are asking "How did this happen?" What has become clear, however, is that we are stumbling from one business crisis to another. First it was corporate scandals such as Enron, Parmalat and Fidentia. Then came the financial crisis and the dire straits of, inter alia, Merrill Lynch, RBS, and Lehmann Brothers. Luckily, perhaps, it is not known what and when the next crisis will be. What is certain is that it will come. This begs the question: does business ever learn from what has gone before?

Objectives: Supply chain design (SCD) is a concept that forms an integral part of supply chain management (SCM). Effective SCD enhances supply chain integration (SCI) which in turn contributes towards improved supply chain performance. Therefore, organisations' supply chain designs need to be analysed. This article proposes a conceptual framework to analyse organisations' supply chain designs. The objective of this article is to determine whether the proposed conceptual framework is a workable instrument with which organisations can analyse their supply chain designs.

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Problem investigated: Effective SCD is a complex and demanding undertaking and has become a major challenge for organisations. Moreover, the literature suggests that organisations allow their supply chains to evolve rather than consciously designing them. Although the importance of SCD is emphasised, very little attention is given to what it entails exactly. The problem statement of this article is thus: What are the elements of SCD and how can these elements be included in a conceptual framework to analyse organisations' supply chain designs?

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Methodology: The methodology used in this article comprised two phases. Firstly, a literature review was conducted to identify SCD elements. The elements were used to develop a conceptual framework with which organisations can analyse their supply chain designs. Secondly, the conceptual framework was tested in 13 organisations to determine whether it is a workable instrument to analyse supply chain designs. The respondents were selected by means of non-probability sampling. Purposive, judgmental and convenience sampling methods were used to select the sample.

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Findings and implications: As mentioned, the conceptual framework was tested empirically within 13 organisations. The findings show that the conceptual framework is in fact a workable instrument to analyse supply chain designs.

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Value of the research: The research will make a contribution in the field of supply chain management and more specifically in the field of supply chain design. As mentioned, very little attention is given to the specifics of SCD. This article provides a more structured approach to analysing supply chain designs.

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Conclusion: SCD forms an important part of SCM and may play a role in improving performance. The conceptual framework proposed in this article will assist organisations with the analysis of their supply chain designs, which in turn may highlight potential areas in their supply chains where there may be room for improving their SCD practices.

Purpose: A study was conducted at two merged South African higher education institutions to determine which management factors, as identified in a literature study as well as through a factor analysis of survey data, were predictive of the dependent variable 'research output'.

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Problem investigated: Research output contributes to creating sustainability of knowledge of management sciences and therefore the active management of research is in the interest of progressive universities. Research management related activities are usually associated with measurable targets, detailed plans, rigorous evaluation and decisive action - all of which are observable (perhaps programmable) behaviour also referred to as tangible factors. Authors argue that the tangible factors of any successful institution can be copied, technology can be bought, and in theory you should have an instantly thriving research institution. It is, however, clear that although many institutions have exactly the same technology and structure as their successful competitors, they still fail to succeed in increasing research output.

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Design and Research methodology or approach: A survey was distributed to n=411 and yielded a 49.6% response rate. A confirmatory reliability analysis as well as a factor analysis was conducted.

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Findings / implications: The empirical model that was derived through a factor analysis strengthens the argument that both tangible and intangible factors exist in a research environment. Tangible and intangible factors play a different role in predicting research output. The tangible factors are predictors of research output for non-research-active academics. The theoretical research output prediction model highlights predictors such as 'professional activities' and 'individual skills and competence' for specific groupings. The theoretical model indicates that the factors that predict research output are largely intrinsic to a researcher but could also be supported by institutional research management.

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Value of research: Findings provide direction on the differences in managing research active and research non-active academics. Findings could influence institutional research management practices and policies.

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Conclusion: A large percentage of the knowledge capital of the global economy is managed and retained in a university setting through the management of tangibles and intangibles. Research management, of which impact is measured through research output, can only be optimised through a balanced combination of tangibles and intangibles.

Purpose and / or objectives: This paper presents a framework to investigate money attitudes and materialistic values. The conceptualization of the framework is guided by a critical review of literature. The intention is to provide a framework that will be useful to examine how various childhood family experiences influence later-life consumption orientations.

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Problem investigated: The differences in family resources represent one of the biggest distinctions between an intact and a disrupted family. The underlining question is whether children raised in disrupted families will experience lower levels of family resources (economic and emotional) and find the experience stressful. If so, will these experiences influence them to adopt conservative money attitudes and be less materialistic or will they symbolically value money and be more materialistic?

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Design / methodology / approach: The development of a framework requires a critical review of secondary sources. The literature review is based on theories that provide an explanation of how childhood family experiences can affect the development of materialistic values and money attitudes. The secondary sources require careful scrutiny of journal articles, dissertations and essays in a number of libraries to provide more scholarly insight into the concepts and to assist in the conceptualisation of the framework.

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Findings and / or implications: Four main theories were found useful in conceptualizing the framework. They are Ryan and Deci's (2000) self-determination theory, Maslow's (1943) human need theory, Wicklund and Gollwitzer's (1982) symbolic self-completion theory and the life course theory contextualized by Moschis (2007). However, in line with Moschis' (2007) realization, the perspectives of the life course theory were found to be multi-disciplinary, multi-theoretical and thus innovative. They would therefore form the main theoretical guide for the design of the framework.

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Originality and / or value of the research: The paper provides a framework to investigate the moderating effect that money attitudes can have on how childhood family experiences influence later-life materialistic values. This proposed framework may form the building blocks for a number of empirical studies especially as the life course approach in studying consumption orientations is innovative and multidisciplinary.

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Conclusion: The framework includes as independent variable, childhood family structure. Depended variables are perceived level of family resources, stress and materialistic values. Money attitudes are regarded as moderating variables.

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to examine perceived impediments to export involvement among non-exporting small and medium sized firms (SME's) in Malawi. The study also examines levels of interest in exporting among the firms.

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Problem investigated: Many countries have programs aimed at promoting export involvement among SME's. Despite this, most SME's continue to ignore exporting as a viable business strategy. Information on perceived impediments to export involvement especially from the non-exporters' perspective is often lacking hence the need for this study.

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Methodology: Data was collected from 80 owner managers of non-exporting SME's. A structured questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect data. Personal interviews were also held with managers for the purposes of probing their answers to the questions in the questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 18 was used to analyse the quantitative data obtained from use of the structured questionnaire. Qualitative data obtained through personal interviews was analysed used thematic analysis.

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Findings: The findings of the study showed significant levels of interest in exporting among the firms. The majority of the owner managers indicated willingness to exploit export opportunities that may be readily available to them. The findings however showed that just over half of the respondents had discussed or investigated the possibility of exporting before. On impediments to exporting, the findings showed that managers perceive many factors as important impediments to their firm's involvement in exporting. The top two most important impediments were internal to the firm and related to human resource issues. They included insufficient knowledge about export opportunities and lack of personnel knowledgeable in exporting.

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Originality and value of the research: A review of literature shows that most export promotion studies tend to focus more on issues relating to firms already involved in exporting. Efforts aimed at encouraging more SME's to take up exporting are however likely to fail if they do not address non-exporters' concerns.

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Conclusion: There are many non-exporting firms which would consider exporting if only they could receive appropriate help. It is thus important for officials involved in export promotion to understand perceived impediments to export involvement from the non-exporters perspective. Such information can help in designing export promotional programs that will address concerns and help improve uptake of exporting as a business strategy. This study contributes towards this understanding.

Orientation: Research has shown that total rewards models structured according to individual preferences, positively influence efforts to attract, retain and motivate key employees. Yet, this is seldom done. Structuring total rewards models according to the preferences of employee segments is a viable alternative to accommodate individual preferences.

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Research purpose: The primary aim of the study was to determine the relationship between personality types and reward preferences. The secondary aim was to determine the reward preferences for different demographic groups.

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Motivation for the study: An enhanced understanding of reward preferences for different employee segments will enable employers to offer more competitive reward options to their employees. This may, in turn, have a positive impact on retention.

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Research design, approach and method: Two measuring instruments, the MBTI^® Form GRV and the Rewards Preferences Questionnaire, were distributed electronically to 5 000 potential respondents. The results from 589 sets of questionnaires were used in the data analyses. Primary and secondary factor analyses were done on the items in the Rewards Preferences Questionnaire.

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Main findings / results: The study confirmed that individuals with certain personality types and personality preferences, have different preferences for certain reward categories. There was a stronger relationship between reward preferences and personality preferences than for reward preferences and personality types. Preferences for reward categories by different demographic groups were confirmed. The significant difference in reward preferences between Black and White respondents in particular was noteworthy, with Black respondents indicating significantly higher mean scores for all reward categories than White respondents. Finally, a total rewards framework influenced by the most prominent preferences for reward categories, was designed.

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Practical / Managerial implications: This study confirms that there are significant differences in the reward preferences of different segments. Management can more effectively structure reward models according to these preferences without increasing overall costs.

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Contribution / value-add: The existing body of knowledge on the reward preferences of people with different personality types and personality preferences are enhanced. In addition, the study on the reward preferences of different demographic groups within a South African context adds considerably to the existing body of literature. Based on research results, a total rewards framework, on employee preferences, was designed. Furthermore, an increased understanding of the reward categories that contribute towards .the attraction, retention and motivation of employees as well as preferences for certain reward categories, have been obtained.