DSpace Repository

Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

Communities in NWU Repository

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 18

Recent Submissions

Exploring employee morale and productivity following organisational restructuring in a selected petrochemical company in South Africa
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2025) Mokheseng, Konrad; Khumalo, N.
The petrochemical industry has recently been faced with macro-economic challenges such as volatile oil prices, high cost-pressure and technological advancements forcing them to implement strategic business transformation measures to ensure survival. Despite change management being inevitable and this process having been studied extensively, the failure rate remains high where unintended consequences include reduced employee morale and consequently poor business results. The need was therefore realised from this study to explore any impact that the organisational restructuring may have on the employee morale and productivity. By mitigating any adverse effect that the restructuring may have on employee morale and productivity, the desired benefits of the change process can be maximised, which include cost reduction, increase in productivity as well as profitability. This study used qualitative method of choice where semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the perceived employee morale and productivity following an organisational restructuring process from a selected petrochemical company in South Africa. The study furthermore employed an interpretivism paradigm which implies that participants interviewed in this study would interpret and react towards organisational restructuring subjectively based on their individual experiences. The study concludes that while there may be a negative impact on employee morale and productivity following a restructuring process, it is imperative that the process is conducted fairly with transparency, open communication, human factor and clear goal setting as this will help increase the likelihood of success as well as improve employee morale and productivity. To ensure that benefits from the restructuring process can be maximised and the risks are mitigated, it is recommended that organisations ensure constant communication and the achievement of strategic alignment, that appropriate vacancy placements are implemented, and employee wellness programs and support systems are made available on a continuous basis. It is envisaged that through implementing these recommendations, organisations can contribute favourably towards SDG 8: Decent work and Economic growth.
Investigating the relationship between compensation and organisational citizenship behaviour among cashiers at retail outlets in Sedibeng
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2025) Khumalo, Nomfundo; Pelser, A.M.F
This study explored the relationship between compensation and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) among cashiers at retail outlets in the Sedibeng Region of South Africa. The research addressed the following objectives: (1) to determine how cashiers perceive the impact of their compensation packages on their willingness to engage in discretionary OCB, (2) to understand how perceptions of fairness and adequacy of compensation influence their attitudes and behaviours related to OCB, and (3) to investigate how contextual factors, such as the local economic environment and cultural norms, shape the interplay between compensation and OCB among cashiers in the Sedibeng Region. A qualitative, constructivist methodology was employed, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with nine cashiers selected through non-probability purposive sampling to ensure a diverse range of experiences and tenures. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti 23 software, guided by the Morse and Field technique, to identify key themes and patterns in participants' responses. The findings revealed that cashiers who perceived their compensation as fair and adequate were more likely to exhibit OCB, such as helping colleagues, being courteous to customers, and going beyond their job descriptions. Conversely, those who felt their compensation was insufficient reported frustration and a lack of motivation to perform beyond their basic duties. The study also highlighted the influence of cultural values, particularly ubuntu, which fostered a sense of community and teamwork among employees. Economic constraints in the Sedibeng region further emphasized the importance of job security and fair compensation in motivating employees. Based on these findings, the study concluded that fair and transparent compensation packages are critical for enhancing OCB among cashiers. The recommendations include: (1) improving compensation structures to ensure fairness and adequacy, (2) implementing recognition programs to reward discretionary efforts, and (3) incorporating culturally aligned team-building activities to strengthen community-mindedness and teamwork. These strategies are essential for fostering a motivated and engaged workforce, improving employee retention, and enhancing overall retail performance.
Differential effects of macroeconomic indicators on food security in sub-Saharan African countries.
(International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics, 2024) Noah, Afees Oluwashina; David, Oladipo Olalekan; Grobler, Wynand
Global food insecurity has worsened due to COVID-19 and political crises. Persistent regional disparities are evident, with Africa, and specifically sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), bearing the heaviest burden. This study therefore explores the differential effects of macroeconomic variables on both the demand and supply sides of food security and their components, based on cross-country data from 2012 to 2022 for 28 countries, using panelcorrected standard error (PCSE) and system generalized method of moments (SGMM). Descriptive analysis reveals average food security percentages of 48.14% and 44.08% for the demand and supply sides, respectively. The PCSE and SGMM results also show that economic growth, agricultural output, and food trade openness have a similar effect on both the demand and supply sides, while employment in agriculture, population growth, and food price inflation have differential effects. The study recommends enhancing supply-side dimensions due to their lower indices and targeted interventions for short run impacts.
Institutional quality effect of ICT penetration: Global and regional perspectives.
(AOSIS (Pty) Ltd, 2024) Saba, Charles S; David, Oladipo O; Voto, Tewa P.
Background As countries at global and regional levels work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which emphasises the establishment and promotion of strong and inclusive institutions, there is a growing urgency to harness the power of information and communications technology (ICT) penetration in order to accomplish this objective. Hence, the rational for this study. Aim The institutional quality effect of ICT penetration (ICTP) is investigated at global and regional levels. Setting Annual panel data for 183 countries spanning 2003–2021 are utilised. The countries were further disaggregated to five major regions. Method We applied the Two-Step System-Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) estimation approach that incorporate forward orthogonal deviations to achieve the objective of the study. Results The results of the SGMM analysis demonstrate a statistically significant and positive effect of ICTP on institutional quality at the global level. However, the effect varies significantly at the regional level. Conclusion Overall, considering the inclusion of other control variables in the estimations, it is indicated that global and regional governments, as well as policymakers, could accelerate the achievement of institutional quality by strategically harnessing the potential of ICTP. Contribution This study makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature by revealing the impact of ICTP on institutional quality at both global and regional levels. To address endogeneity concerns, the Two-Step SGMM methodology is employed, offering a robust analytical framework for analysis.
Trade openness and economic prosperity in South Africa: Pre- and post-1994 analysis.
(International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS), 2024) David, Oladipo Olalekan; Saba, Charles Shaaba; Grobler, Wynand
This study empirically examines the causal relationship between trade openness and economic prosperity in South Africa with quarterly data from 1970 to 2017. The analysis is disaggregated into pre-1994 and post-1994 to capture the economic situation of South Africa during and after apartheid regimes. The long-run equilibrium is suggested between trade openness and economic prosperity using the Johansen cointegration process, during and after apartheid regimes. The Granger causality test suggested a unidirectional relationship running from economic prosperity to trade openness in the post-apartheid era but no causal relationship during the apartheid regime in South Africa. The vector error correction model (VECM) for short-run equilibrium suggests a positive relationship between trade openness and economic growth during the apartheid and post-apartheid era in South Africa. Therefore, the study suggests further trade liberalisation mechanisms in South Africa to enhance the export of excess domestic production, importation of capital goods and scarce skills and further development of technical know-how of local labour.