The value chain is a major focus in today's business world, and many companies and managers allocate considerable resources to understanding and analysing their value chain. The main reason for doing this is either to eliminate activities that do not add value, or to improve on activities that do not add sufficient value. In order to ensure optimum customer satisfaction, businesses must integrate the activities of various departments and functions. This demands a sound understanding of the chain of activities and their interrelationship with other business activities.

The authors of Business management adopt the value chain as a framework in order to help business students to visualise how the value chain works. New ground is broken in that management is not dealt with merely from a functional perspective. While the goal is to introduce undergraduate learners to the concept of the value chain, it is not, however, to offer a comprehensive directory on the related literature. The book is divided into three parts.

Part A introduces the reader to business management, the value chain, the business environment, the entrepreneurial process, and the considerations that need to be taken into account when establishing a business. Part B examines the activities of the value chain, starting with general management and leadership, followed by the primary and support activities that constitute the value chain. In Part C, contemporary management issues are reviewed, including diversity management, business ethics, globalisation, creativity and innovation, environmental issues, corporate governance and black economic empowerment.

Business management - a value chain approach covers basic points of theory, but it also has a strong practical approach, and includes self-evaluation exercises, challenging experiential exercises, information about relevant websites, interesting discussion questions and case studies, as well as useful lists of key terms.

This revised second edition has been updated in respect of new legislation such as the Companies Act, the Co-operatives Act, the Consumer Protection Act and the National Credit Act. Statistics have also been aligned with Census 2011.

Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology is a highly regarded textbook that addresses project management across all industries. First covering the essential background, from origins and philosophy to methodology, the bulk of the book is dedicated to concepts and techniques for practical application. Coverage includes project initiation and proposals, scope and task definition, scheduling, budgeting, risk analysis, control, project selection and portfolio management, program management, project organization, and all-important "people" aspects—project leadership, team building, conflict resolution, and stress management.

The systems development cycle is used as a framework to discuss project management in a variety of situations, making this the go-to book for managing virtually any kind of project, program, or task force. The authors focus on the ultimate purpose of project management—to unify and integrate the interests, resources and work efforts of many stakeholders, as well as the planning, scheduling, and budgeting needed to accomplish overall project goals.

This sixth edition features:

• updates throughout to cover the latest developments in project management methodologies;
• a new chapter on project procurement management and contracts;
• an expansion of case study coverage throughout, including those on the topic of sustainability and climate change, as well as cases and examples from across the globe, including India, Africa, Asia, and Australia; and
• extensive instructor support materials, including an instructor’s manual, PowerPoint slides, answers to chapter review questions and a test bank of questions.

Taking a technical yet accessible approach, this book is an ideal resource and reference for all advanced undergraduate and graduate students in project management courses, as well as for practicing project managers across all industry sectors.

Now in its second revised edition, Labour Law in Practice has sold over 10 000 copies and has helped numerous South African managers and business owners navigate their way safely through what sometimes seems to be an impenetrable maze of labour law and practice.

Andrew Levy, arguably South Africa’s best-known labour resource, has over 50 years’ experience in the field, and has taught and trained thousands of students and managers. In Andrew’s opinion, labour relations are not difficult – it is really a matter of common sense and being able to judge an issue based on the facts. His teaching method is to reduce complex issues into simple and logical steps, and then to show how these can be taken with confidence.

Written in an easy-to-understand style and laid out in an accessible format, this book covers all essential labour law areas, including hiring new staff, terminating employment contracts, handling poor performance and misconduct, and managing staff attendance, leave and remuneration. The new edition has been updated to include topics such as minimum wage, the use of short-term contracts and labour brokers, up-to-the-minute labour law amendments, and strike handling.

An essential read for any employer or business owner.

An understanding of logistics is of primary importance in the modern business world and this text allows students and businesspeople alike to become comfortable with the fundamentals of this discipline. In its explanation of logistics--the process of moving a commodity or service from customer order to consumption--this guide provides insight into every step of the process, from order processing and purchasing to packaging and warehousing. Tips are included for integrated logistics, customer service, materials flow, and strategic logistics plans.

Effective supply chain management can have a vast impact on the efficiency and bottom lines of both small and large businesses.

In Fundamental principles of supply chain management, the importance of supply chain management in both a global and local context and all areas of business is discussed. Fundamental principles of supply chain management highlights supply chain management from purchasing, operations and logistics perspectives. It also investigates facilities, inventory, information, transportation and sourcing as the key drivers of supply chain performance. The integrated supply chain is explained in terms of a more strategic coordination for increased market impact, overall efficiency, continuous improvement and heightened competitiveness.

Fundamental principles of supply chain management is a vital asset to understanding supply chain management and making it more efficient in a business.

Change is the distinguishing characteristic of the business environment across the world and it affects how contemporary organisations operate. While organisations need to do more with less, they also have to satisfy the needs of their customers who, with more exposure to local and global markets, have higher expectations relating to the cost, quality, speed and innovation of the services and products they purchase from these organisations. In response to the changes in their business environment, organisations are becoming flatter, networked, global, more flexible and diverse and managers have to acquire the skills to face the challenges associated with these features.

The contemporary management principles offered in this publication integrates discussions on vital managerial competencies and skills with information on traditional and essential managerial concepts that have been effective in the past and are still relevant. The first part of the book deals with the evolution of management theory, the management process, and the features of contemporary organisations.

The next six chapters deal with the internal environment of contemporary business organisations, including a discussion on the composition of the management environment; managing change, corporate culture, power, politics conflict resolution and negotiation; business ethics; CSR and corporate governance; and workforce diversity. The rest of the chapters focus on the management functions of planning, organising, leading and control. An additional chapter deals with the role of management in the implementation of project management and a second chapter provides an overview of organisational value chains and the impact of electronic media and e-business on organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

The authors of Contemporary Management Principles are experienced lecturers in the field of business management from various universities in South Africa and Africa.

These are difficult times. The Covid-19 pandemic has proved to us that we cannot rely on tomorrow to be like today; there is no such thing as ‘business as usual’. The social and economic upheaval has been devastating, and its effects long-lasting, making these times even more uncertain. The antidote to this uncertainty is clarity.

Maanda Tshifularo has had the privilege of interacting with successful innovators, culture shifters, business leaders and thought leaders, and their ‘common success denominator’ is the ability to see, say, and do things, with purposeful clarity. He has identified ‘Super Clarity’ as the differentiator that helps leaders navigate the ambiguity and half-heartedness which have become the default state in many organisations, leading to plummeting employee morale and productivity.

Not only does a super-clear leader achieve and make a meaningful contribution, but they also experience remarkable joy and personal growth in the journey.

It has never been more crucial for leaders to provide clarity and, in this book, Maanda defines and explains the importance of Super Clarity, and how to translate purpose into our day-to-day activities to unlock exceptional results, job satisfaction, team cohesion and employee engagement.

He outlines in Lead with Super Clarity the critical steps that we can take, as business leaders or in our own lives, to foster clarity – and, in so doing, create an environment characterised by purpose, insight and alignment.

GOOGLE Search: my job makes me...

- my job makes me miserable
- my job makes me depressed and anxious
- my job makes me cry
- my job makes me sick to my stomach
- my job makes me suicidal
- my job makes me feel worthless
- my job makes me angry
- my job makes me drink

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING?!!! This was the authors' immediate reaction when they saw these prompts from Google (so many people had previously searched all of these that Google assumed they were going to as well). Consider how many millions of people need to have typed in these particular statements relating to their jobs for this to occur?

Are you feeling uncomfortable as you read them? Either because you feel the same way, or because you lead, own or work in a business full of people and if you’re brutally honest with yourself you may realise that this is quite possibly exactly how they feel. Do you have any tangible or quantifiable measure for how much this may be enhancing or diminishing your business bottom line? Most importantly, do you know what to do to meaningfully impact this? To create that work doesn’t suck! (step 1) And even better, is AWESOME! (step 2).

Brad Shorkend and Andy Golding are the co-founders of Still Human. They help businesses around the world remain relevant by creating exceptional employee experiences and being innovation-ready always, ultimately becoming Companies Behaving Awesomely.

As you're well aware, your individual energy ebbs and flows--leading to high and low productivity cycles. Fail to manage your energy correctly, and you risk falling into traps including inertia, complacency, and frenzied, unfocused activity that only erodes the quality of your life. The same holds true for your entire organization. In Fully Charged, Heike Bruch and Bernd Vogel provide tools and strategies to help you manage your company's collective energy. First, diagnose your company's "energy state" using the Organizational Energy Matrix. By assessing the intensity (high or low) and the quality (positive or negative) of the energy in your enterprise, you discover which of four energy states your company is experiencing. Second, move your company out of dangerous states characterized by complacency, cynicism, aggression, withdrawal, and other perils. By applying practices mastered by companies as diverse as Airbus, Novartis, SAP, and Tata Steel, you can shift your firm into a state of high, positive energy--in which everyone is emotionally engaged, mentally alert, and working swiftly and productively toward critical goals. Practical and backed by extensive research, Fully Charged reveals how to continually refresh your company's energy--so it's always ready to tackle the next period of high demand.

No business exists in a vacuum – it is impacted on by a constantly evolving world, which presents new challenges and opportunities every day. To cope with these, a business should be proactive and adaptive, not just at an operational level, but at a functional and strategic level as well. There are 12 chapters in Business Management: A Contemporary Approach focuses specifically on the functions of the business organisation and how to respond to changes in the micro-, and macro-environment, and in the market.

An introduction to the field of business management orients the reader, followed by general management principles applicable to any business manager. The book goes on to cover the various functions of the business organisation: financial management; credit management; information management; public relations; operations management; marketing management; human resource management; and purchasing management in supply chain management. It also covers contemporary issues like corporate citizenship and trends and changes in internationalisation.

The fourth edition of Business Management: A Contemporary Approach includes new features and updated content, such as:

• New case studies applying theory to practical situations
• Experiential exercises and multiple-choice questions
• Up-to-date theory on the functions of the business organization
• In-depth analysis of the relevant issues of corporate citizenship, globalisation and international trade

This book will equip readers with a general understanding of the divergent internal functions of the business organisation and the interrelationships between and among these functions. The readers will also be equipped with the necessary competencies (knowledge, skills and values) to perform the tasks and roles of a manager in any functional area of a business. At the end of each chapter, there are questions for self-assessment. By answering these questions, you will get an idea of whether you have mastered the chapters.

In 2018 the world watched as 82 per cent of all wealth created was claimed by the top 1 per cent of the global population. The bottom 50 per cent of humanity saw no increase at all. While one new billionaire was created every two days, one in every four South Africans were living on less than R18 per day – not enough to buy a loaf of bread.

Inequality has always been part of the world we live in, but in the past twenty years the situation has worsened. We have seen the rise of mega corporations, where regional companies have become global players: power brokers that are richer and more powerful than most countries. This has seen businesses record ever-increasing profits while they pay ever-decreasing taxes. How is this happening?

In South Africa, millions of people depend on the services and products of mega corporations, but to what extent do these corporations influence and affect the lives of their consumers? What do these companies do with all the power that is in their hands?

In The Dirty Secrets of the Rich and Powerful, James-Brent Styan casts the spotlight on economic inequality and unpacks historical and ongoing business practices that have a real influence on people today. This book takes you right into the corridors of power and behind the closed doors of the boardrooms of the rich and powerful to show you how, and why, the status quo seems so unfair.

Personality Psychology is a locally developed textbook for students taking an introductory course in personality psychology either at undergraduate level as part of a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Social Sciences or a Bachelor of Psychology (B.Psych) degree, or as a Psychology Honours module.

Theory is presented with application to research and therapy, and with specific relevance to the South African context.

Pedagogical features such as case studies, 'in your own experience' activities, 'research issue' boxes, 'controversy' boxes, 'end-of-chapter review' questions, and an end-book glossary support student learning.

Employee engagement is at the forefront of business agendas as it facilitates organisational performance. Engaged employees result in delighted customers, which in turn contribute to improved financial results.

The book address the following issues:

• What is “employee engagement” – different levels i.e. organisational, department/team, individual?
• Why is employee engagement important?
• Measuring employee engagement; the different instruments available; the different national and international approaches in measuring employee engagement; why is it important to account for context in measuring?
• High level overview of the Nienaber and Martins employee engagement framework and measurement instrument (including trust)
• The current state of employee engagement in SA
• Engagement and related human resource concepts/constructs (eg. organisational culture, commitment, citizen behaviour).

Evidence-Based Validation of Herbal Medicines brings together current thinking and practice in the areas of characterization and validation of natural products. This book reviews all aspects of evaluation and development of medicines from plant sources, including their cultivation, collection, phytochemical and phyto-pharmacological evaluation, and therapeutic potential. Emphasis is placed on describing the full range of evidence-based analytical and bio-analytical techniques used to characterize natural products, including -omic technologies, phyto-chemical analysis, hyphenated techniques, and many more.

The need for "back to basics" information about credit risk has not disappeared; in fact, it has grown among lenders and investors who have no easy ways to learn about their clients. This short and readable book guides readers through core risk/performance issues. Readers learn the ways and means of running more efficient businesses, review bank and investor requirements as they evaluate funding requests, gain knowledge selling themselves, confidence in business plans, and their ability to make good on loans. They can download powerful tools such as banker's cash flow models and forecast equations programmable into a cell or tablet. Readers can punch keys to ascertain financial needs, calculate sales growth rates calling for external financing, profits required to internally finance their firms, and ways to position revenue growth rates in equilibrium with their firm's capital structure - a rock-solid selling point among smart lenders and investors. The book's "how-to," practical and systematical guide to credit and risk analysis draws upon case studies and online tools, such as videos, spreadsheets, and slides in providing a concise risk/return methodology.

The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Management offers a comprehensive and timely analysis of the nature and importance of innovation and the strategies and practices that can be used to improve organizational benefits from innovation. Innovation is centrally important for business and national competitiveness, and for the quality and standard of living around the world, but it does not happen by itself. For innovation to succeed, it needs to be properly managed. With contributions from 49 world-leading scholars, the Handbook explores the many sources of innovation, the broader social, economic, and technological contexts that encourage and constrain it, and the cutting-edge strategies and practices of innovation management. The book addresses the traditional concerns of innovation management-such as managing R&D, intellectual property, and creativity, and the contributions of science and marketing-but substantially extends traditional areas of interest. In this new volume, chapters examine emerging topics including design, social networks, open and social innovation, and innovation in business models, ecosystems, services, and platforms. The book explores the importance of innovation management for environmental sustainability, and its evolving nature and practice in Asia. Written in an accessible style, and with carefully selected bibliographies and a comprehensive index, the Handbook offers a uniquely authoritative and wide-ranging source of knowledge about innovation management. Each chapter identifies key issues and reviews the most important research findings. Future research questions are identified. The Handbook will be invaluable for students and faculty studying, researching, and teaching innovation, and for managers seeking to improve innovation outcomes in their organizations.

From executives complaining that their teams don't contribute ideas to employees giving up because their input isn't valued--company culture is the culprit. Courageous Cultures provides a road map to build a high-performance, high-engagement culture around sharing ideas, solving problems, and rewarding contributions from all levels. Many leaders are convinced they have an open environment that encourages employees to speak up and are shocked when they learn that employees are holding back. Employees have ideas and want to be heard. Leadership wants to hear them. Too often, however, employees and leaders both feel that no one cares about making things better. The disconnect typically only widens over time, with both sides becoming more firmly entrenched in their viewpoints. Becoming a courageous culture means building teams of microinnovators, problem solvers, and customer advocates working together. In our world of rapid change, a courageous culture is your competitive advantage. It ensures that your company is "sticky" for both customers and employees. In Courageous Cultures, you'll learn practical tools that help you: Learn the difference between microinnovators, problem solvers, and customer advocates and how they work together. See how the latest research conducted by the authors confirms why organizations struggle when it comes to creating strong cultures where employees are encouraged to contribute their best thinking. Learn proven models and tools that leaders can apply throughout all levels of the organization, to reengage and motivate employees. Understand best practices from companies around the world and learn how to apply these strategies and techniques in your own organization. This book provides you with the practical tools to uncover, leverage, and scale the best ideas from every level of your organization.

Budgeting is at the heart of the performance management process for most companies. However, some argue that many companies today are dissatisfied with budgeting. It is seen to be costly and time-consuming; it inhibits action and causes organisational problems. The influence of the "Beyond Budgeting" model has caused many major companies, including Toyota, to abandon traditional budgeting altogether. Should other companies follow suit?

This report explores the changes in budgeting through a survey of financial and non-financial managers. Concerns include:

The attitudes of managers towards budgeting models

How budgetary practices have changed

What problems budgeting can cause

The effects of budgets on overall company performance.

This report reveals that there s little evidence to suggest widespread dissatisfaction with traditional budgeting. However, to enable a company to perform at its best, understanding budgeting in context is essential and it is imperative that budgeting works in tandem with other control systems and organisational structure.

* Original research funded by the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting

* Reveals the realities of budgeting models in practice

* Includes interviews and surveys ofactual businesses"

Whilst enterprise technology departments have been steadily building their information and knowledge management portfolios, the Internet has generated new sets of tools and capabilities which provide opportunities and challenges for improving and enriching knowledge work. This book fills the gap between strategy and technology by focussing upon the functional capabilities of Web 2.0 in corporate environments and matching these to specific types of information requirement and behaviour. It takes a resource based view of the firm: why and how can the knowledge capabilities and information assets of organisations be better leveraged using Web 2.0 tools?
Identifying the underlying benefits requires the use of frameworks beyond profitability and cost control. Some of these perspectives are not in the usual business vocabulary, but when applied, demonstrate the role that can be played by Web 2.0, how to manage towards these and how to assess success. Transactive memory systems, social uncertainty, identity theory, network dynamics, complexity theory, organisational memory and the demographics of inter- generational change are not part of normal business parlance but can be used to clarify Web 2.0 application and potentiality.
Written by a well-respected practitioner and academicDraws on the author s practical experience as a technology developer, designer, senior manager and researcherProvides approaches to understanding and tackling real-world problems"

Sleep disorders and disruptions are commonly associated with negative mood, hostility, poor concentration, and ego depletion. And while researchers have long investigated the widespread negative effects of shift work on individuals, the knowledge derived from these studies is rather limited to those with non-linear work schedules. However, whether employees are clocking in a normal 9-5 or trudging through the graveyard shift, sleep is a crucial activity for us all. If the quantity and quality of our sleeping patterns are disrupted, the consequences affect not only the employee but for the organization they work for, as well. Work and Sleep: Research Insights for the Workplace addresses the effects of sleep on employee and organizational functioning, and the impact of common work experiences on a night's rest. With a team of influential organizational psychologists at the helm, the editors lead a group of expert contributors as they each explore the issues that, regardless of industry, matter in work force well-being today.

* Thoroughly explains generic knowledge management frameworks and their application and relevance to planned events and event tourism * International case studies contributed by practitioners and other experts in the field at the end of chapters used to illustrate methods and applications. * Online lecturer resources to accompany in the form of teaching ppt slides, end of chapter multiple choice questions and sample questions. Provides an in-depth understanding of the challenging nature of events, where knowledge needs to be created and shared quickly and efficiently (pre- and during the event), as well as stored effectively post-event before the event organising team disperses. Generic Knowledge Management frameworks and models are introduced, applied and adapted to fit this challenging environment in order for event organisers to avoid 'reinventing the wheel' each year. Knowledge Management in Event Organisations is the first book to: * Encourage the adoption of standard knowledge management frameworks and methods in the field of event management; * Provide concepts and frameworks that can be adapted to a range of different events and different stakeholders; * Introduce the reader to alternative approaches to knowledge management, such as communities-of-practice, power/knowledge and Appreciative Sharing of Knowledge; * Recommend best practices for event organisers to develop a collaborative 'knowledge culture' through, e.g. trust and mutual understanding, and hence develop professionalisation of the field; * Develop a better understanding of how effective Knowledge Management can provide a competitive advantage for event organisations through, e.g. Efficiency, Innovation and Organisational Learning. Part of the Event Management Theory and Methods Series. This series examines the extent to which mainstream theory is being employed to develop event-specific theory, and to influence the very core practices of event management and event tourism. They introduce the theory, show how it is being used in the events sector through a literature review, incorporate examples and case studies written by researchers and/or practitioners, and contain methods that can be used effectively in the real world. With online resource material, this mix-and-match collection is ideal for lecturers who need theoretical foundations and case studies for their classes, by students in need of reference works, by professionals wanting increased understanding alongside practical methods, and by agencies or associations that want their members and stakeholders to have access to a library of valuable resources. Series editor: Donald Getz PhD., Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary, Canada.

"Managing Systems and Documentation" addresses the main systems necessary for the successful operation of a maintenance organization, such as performance control, work control and documentation. It shows how they can be modelled, their function and operating principles, and the main problems encountered in operation. It is the third of three stand-alone companion books with the aim of providing better understanding of maintenance operations, in order to identify problems and prescribe effective solutions.
This is one of three stand-alone volumes designed to provide maintenance professionals in any sector with a better understanding of maintenance management, enabling the identification of problems and the delivery of effective solutions.
* The third of three stand-alone companion books, focusing on the main systems necessary for the successful operation of a maintenance organization
* Covers the maintenance of plant, production and operations assets in industry and service sectors, including manufacturing, food and process engineering, minerals and mining, transport, power and IT
* Includes review questions, exercises and case studies
* Clearly specified objectives and learning outcomes are given for each chapter, including a route map to link each chapter to the rest of the topics covered

Merging the benefits of two well-known methodolgies, Lean Thinking and Total Productive Maintenance, Lean TPM shows how to secure increased manufacturing efficiency.
Based on their experienc of working with organisations that have successfully achieved outstanding performance, McCarthy and Rich provide the tools and techniques that convert strategic vision into practical reality. Lean TPM accelerates the benefits of continuous improvement activities within any manufacturing environment by challenging wasteful working practices, releasing the potential of the workforce, targeting effectiveness and making processes work as planned.
* Unites world-class manufacturing, Lean Thinking and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
* Shows how to achieve zero breakdowns
* Optimises processes to deliver performance and new products efficiently
* Delivers benefit from continuous improvement activities quickly
Lean TPM provides a single change agenda for organisations. It will help to develop robust supply chain relationships and to optimise the value generating process. Supported by an integrated route map and comprehensive benchmark data, this book enables engineers, technicians and managers to explore this potent technique fully.
*Unites the concepts of world-class manufacturing, Lean and TPM.
*Shows how to accelerate the benefits gained from continuous improvement activities.
*Includes an integrated route map for Lean TPM, including benchmark data.

Every company can point to a growth strategy. Far fewer, however, systematically implement them; instead, they spend their time on incremental innovations, or rely on acquisitions. Still, organic, internal growth, accomplished through product line renewal and new service development, is essential to the long-term vitality of corporations across all industries. The FASTPATH to Growth takes on the challenge large corporations have in generating internal innovation-developing new product lines that address new market applications and provide the corporation with new streams of revenue. It integrates the key disciplines-new product strategy, user research, concept development and prototyping, market testing, and business modeling-needed for enterprise growth. The book illustrates its framework with in-depth examples of companies that have leveraged their core technologies to new markets and new types of uses in order to generate impressive results, including IBM, Honda, and Mars. Many of these examples contain templates that readers can use in their own projects. The book ends by addressing the human side of new market applications, providing advice on what executives and innovation team leaders must do to execute the steps of Meyers framework for new market applications development. This comprehensive management guide should appeal to practitioners in research and development, new business development strategists, and product managers, along with students in engineering management, innovation management, and corporate strategy courses that focus on technology industries.