Neglecting the needs of important stakeholders has implications not only for the company and its industry, but even the national economy. South Africa’s business history is littered with examples where a failure to take stakeholders such as local communities properly into account has led to tragedy – the most recent of which is Marikana. Elspeth Donovan, who convenes an executive education course on Strategic Social Engagement Practice at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) refers to Marikana and recalls a quote by a mining executive about how “if you can’t get stuff right above the... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Saturday, April 12th 2014 |
A well-known legal and business education expert sums up the current Amcu platinum strike in one word: insanity. “If you are looking at the current wage strike in the platinum industry; that is a lose-lose situation all the way. Everybody is losing, both employers and employees. This is a classic situation of negotiation gone wrong,” says Barney Jordaan, a past professor of law who these days specialises in teaching negotiation skills and advising corporates on negotiation strategy. “To put it simply, the point of negotiating is to persuade the other party to satisfy your interests to the greatest degree possible.... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Tuesday, April 8th 2014 |
The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) is re-launching its pioneering Wine Business Management Programme, the only course of its kind focusing on the business aspect of wine in South Africa. The postgraduate diploma in management practice fills a critical gap in the wine education industry, which has largely been focused on the technical aspects of wine making. According to Jonathan Steyn, convener of the programme, it is designed to equip wine industry leaders with the business acumen and skills necessary to make their organisations more competitive and innovative in a tough global environment. “Although the... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Friday, April 4th 2014 |
Johannesburg: The Board of Adcock Ingram today announced the appointment of Kevin Wakeford as Chief Executive Officer, with immediate effect. Wakeford joins Adcock Ingram following more than 10 years’ experience with the Bidvest Group Limited, where he led various companies within the group. Wakeford served as Chief Executive Officer of Bidvest Travel and Aviation for the past three years. Prior to joining Bidvest, he spent nine years in the Southern Sun Hotel group and before that Wakeford was Group Financial Manager at SA Breweries. Wakeford, who is 53 years of age, is a CA (SA) and was educated at the... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Friday, April 4th 2014 |
South Africa has an overall gender gap of 25%, as measured by economic participation and opportunity, education, health and political empowerment, yet its gender pay gap remains static at 35%. “This means women effectively earn in a full year what men earn in eight months,” says Sandra Burmeister, CEO of executive search firm Amrop Landelahni. In many of countries across the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa, earlier gains in closing the pay gap have been reversed. “This trend is alarming,” says Burmeister. “Even if a slow rate of change were to be maintained,... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Tuesday, April 1st 2014 |
