The implementation of a leader-as-coach approach in professional service firms in South Africa

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (Business and Executive Coaching) April, 2017Professional Service Firms (PSFs) contribute significantly to employment and professional development in South Africa and to global economics. People are a PSF’s greatest asset; however, there is little empirical evidence on the implementation of a Leader-as-Coach (L-A-C) approach in PSFs in South Africa. The research aims to establish a framework for the implementation of an L-A-C approach in PSFs in South Africa. Using a qualitative multiple-case study method, the research examines the benefits of implementing an L-A-C approach within a PSF, determines the organisational factors affecting the implementation of an LA- C approach in a PSF and clarifies the individual factors affecting the implementation of an L-A-C approach in a PSF. There are clear reasons for implementing an L-A-C approach within PSFs and benefits range from ensuring a leadership pipeline for organisations, improving client and employee retention, and enhancing the firm’s success due to increased productivity. These benefits, in turn, foster positive benefits for the L-A-Cs (the managers who are coaches) and the employees (the coachees who receive coaching from their managers). Organisational factors include a culture of people-centricity which clearly enables an L-A-C approach, whilst a matrix structure which commonly exists within PSFs is an inhibitor of an L-A-C approach, with mitigating processes recommended for addressing this. The key processes which enable an L-A-C approach are the firm’s approach to: learning and development of L-A-C skills, ensuring tools and support are in place for the L-ACs, and linking coaching to the human resources (HR) performance management and enabling technology. A final key process is recognising effective coaching behaviours through monetary and non-monetary rewards. In addition, the individual skills and attitudes of the L-A-Cs, the attitudes of the coachees, and importantly, the relationship between the L-A-C and the coachee, all influence the L-A-C approach. An integrated and holistic framework is proposed for PSFs wishing to implement an L-A-C approach. This framework suggests that a firm should begin with the organisational strategic drivers, and the clear reasons for implementation of an L-A-C approach, followed by an enabling structure and processes, including the development of individual skills. However, overarching these organisational factors, is the necessity of having an organisational culture of learning and development.MT201

Adoption of AI in the Auditing Practice: A Case study of a Big Four Accounting Firm

This paper explores and explains key factors affecting the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the auditing practice by a Big Four accounting firm, through the lens of the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework. Using the case study method, we conducted semi-structured interviews with decision-makers of the firm, complemented by secondary data. The data analysis identified significant anomalies to existing theories, revealing the specificity of adopting AI in audits. The findings showed that the firm’s adoption process was influenced by technology affordance, technology barriers, communication process, linking agents, firm scope and readiness, regulatory environment, predicted industrial changes and client’s acceptance. This study will contribute to the literature by providing a better understanding of AI adoption at the firm level, thus filling the gaps in the literature. It may strengthen the theories that underpin our understanding of the technology adoption by firms, revising, extending, and elaborating the TOE framework with more empirical evidence

Internet sales as a new mode of internationalization

The way that organizations explore the Internet has been the focus of a substantial body of scientific studies and non-academic reflection. The main goal of this study is to analyze the potential of the internet as a mode of internationalization and the factors that influence the results of the adoption of this mean to access foreign markets. For this purpose, we examine the determinants of the level of international sales made via internet estimating an ordered probit model. The results show that the importance of previous experience in using the internet and developing international activity, together with the level of internet marketing budget , the level of investment on internet sophistication, the firm dimension, the business age and the type pf activity are variables that determine the results obtain in the international sales trough the internet.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Extending Two-Dimensional Knowledge Management System Theory with Organizational Activity Systems\u27 Workflow Dynamics

Between 2005 and 2010 and across 48 countries, including the United States, an increasing positive correlation emerged between national intellectual capital and gross domestic product per capita. The problem remains organizations operating with increasingly complex knowledge networks often lose intellectual capital resulting from ineffective knowledge management practices. The purpose of this study was to provide management opportunities to reduce intellectual capital loss. The first research question addressed how an enhanced intelligent, complex, and adaptive system (ICAS) model could clarify management\u27s understanding of organizational knowledge transfer. The second research question addressed how interdisciplinary theory could become more meaningfully infused to enhance management practices of the organization\u27s knowledge ecosystem. The nature of this study was phenomenological to gain deeper understanding of individual experiences related to knowledge flow phenomena. Data were collected from a single historical research dataset containing 11 subject interviews and analyzed using Moustakas\u27 heuristic framework. Original interviews were collected in 2012 during research within a military unit, included in this study based on theme alignment. Organizational, knowledge management, emergent systems, and cognition theories were synthesized to enhance understandings of emergent ICAS forces. Individuals create unique ICAS flow emergent force dynamics in relation to micro- and macro-meso sensemaking and sensegiving. Findings indicated individual knowledge work significantly shapes emergent ICAS flow dynamics. Collectively enhancing knowledge stewardship over time could foster positive social change by improving national welfare

Customer Centricity & Competitive Intelligence Performance in the Insurance Industry in Western Kenya, East Africa

Globally, inability to analyze information, to see past customer life cycle disruptions and dispassionately interpret events to anticipate competition threatens performance in the insurance industry. Organizations fail to respond and offer solutions desired by their customers, instead sticking to their traditional products not highly of customer choice. It was against this gap that this paper discussed Customer Centricity and its influence on competitive intelligence in Insurance Firms in Kenya. The objectives of this study were to determine effects of Customer Centricity on Competitive Intelligence of insurance firms in Kenya; to investigate whether Customer Life Cycle practices employed by insurance firms have effects on Competitive Intelligence; to assess whether the Customer Value practices affect Competitive Intelligence of insurance firms and establish the effects of Customer Experience on Competitive Intelligence of insurance firms in Eldoret Town in Kenya, East Africa. A mixed method design was used to study 250 selected from 600 employees of insurance firms in Eldoret. A semi-structured questionnaire and an interview guide were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using selected descriptive and inferential statistics The results of applying Spearman and Friedman tests showed that customer centricity and its dimensions  significantly affected competitive intelligence, with customer life  as the most important, indicated by the  Entropy technique. Customer experience emerged top when the Binomial test was applied. A recommendation is made that Managers in the insurance industry embrace all dimensions of customer centricity, especially the dimension of customer life cycles, in order to improve their competitive intelligence. Keywords: Customer Centricity, Competitive Intelligence, Customer Life Cycle, Customer Value, Customer Experience DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-10-07 Publication date: April 30th 201

Factors Affecting the Organizational Adoption of Blockchain Technology: An Australian Perspective

Blockchain Technology (BCT) is a novel innovation that has the potential to transform entire sectors, for instance, supply chain, energy, finance, and healthcare. However, despite the potential and the wide range of benefits reported, organizational adoption of BCT is low in several countries including Australia. Some studies investigated the adoption of BCT in different countries, however, there is a lack of research that examines the organizational adoption of BCT in Australia. This study fills this gap by exploring the factors, which influence BCT adoption among Australian organizations. To achieve this, we used an interpretative qualitative research approach based on the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework and the Institutional Theory. The findings show that organizational adoption of BCT in Australia is influenced by perceived novelty, complexity, cost, and disintermediation feature of BCT; top management knowledge and support; government support, customer pressure, trading partner readiness, and consensus among trading partners

Motivators And Inhibitors For Business Analytics Adoption From The Cross-Cultural Perspectives: A Data Mining Approach

In the increasingly knowledge-based world economy, the multinational firm\u27s success often hinges on its business intelligence capability nurtured by business analytics (BA). Despite the growing recognition of BA\u27s role in enhancing the firm\u27s intellectual capital and subsequent competitiveness, it is still unknown what truly motivates and inhibits BA adoption. This study aims to identify key influencing factors for BA adoption such as organizational characteristics, information security/privacy, and information technology maturity (knowledge level). In so doing, this study employed data mining and data visualization techniques to develop specific patterns of BA adoption practices based on a combined sample of 224 Korean firms and 106 U.S. firms representing various industry sectors. This study is one of the first attempts to develop practical guidelines for the successful implementation of BA based on the cross-national study of BA practices among both Korean and U.S. firms

Factors affecting the organizational adoption of blockchain technology : an Australian perspective

Blockchain Technology (BCT) is a novel innovation that has the potential to transform industries, for instance, supply chain, energy, finance, and healthcare. However, despite the potential and the wide range of benefits reported, organizational adoption of BCT is low in several countries including Australia. Some studies investigated the adoption of BCT in different countries, however, there is a lack of research that examines the organizational adoption of BCT in Australia. This study fills this gap by exploring the factors, which influence BCT adoption among Australian organizations. To achieve this, we used an interpretative qualitative research approach based on the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework and the Institutional Theory. The findings show that organizational adoption of BCT in Australia is influenced by perceived novelty, complexity, cost, and disintermediation feature of BCT; top management knowledge and support; government support, customer pressure, trading partner readiness, and consensus among trading partners. © 2021 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved

Business transformation through organisational ambidexterity and organisational agility

Purpose Ð Anchored on the theory of continuous change, the purpose of this research study is to offer relevant insights to businesses, by providing an informed case for business transformation facilitated by organisational ambidexterity and organisational agility. The constructs of ambidexterity and agility are explored and defined as business capabilities, resulting in a framework for the effective transformation of large and established organisations through an enhanced comprehension of organisational ambidexterity and agility. In the derivation of the framework, aspects enabling the Transformation through Ambidexterity and Agility framework are examined to provide clarity on how these interrelated competencies contribute to the overall performance of the business. Design/methodology/approach Ð Published empirical and research articles were reviewed to study the concepts of organisational ambidexterity and agility as critical factors contributing to business performance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 research participants to explore organisational comprehension, execution and enablement of ambidexterity and agility as business capabilities. Findings Ð Enhanced comprehension and execution of organisational ambidexterity and agility increases an organisationÕs ability to continuously and proactively respond to volatile market changes. Then with dexterity, speed and prudence, enable a continuous transient advantage. The commitment to continually transform the business through ambidextrous and agile strategies implies shifts at all levels of the organisation, starting with strategic leadership, down to the reward and motivation philosophy of the organisation. Practical implications Ð Business leaders should consider the combined enactment of ambidexterity and agility as dynamic capabilities that principally guide strategic, operational and portfolio activities. Fostering ambidexterity-agility enhancing capabilities is paramount to safeguarding a continuous successful integration of ambidexterity and agility as dynamic performance enhancing capabilities.Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017.nk2018Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)MBAUnrestricte