Exploration of intrapreneurship practices to improve service delivery within the O.R. Tambo District Municipality

The general poor service delivery in municipalities raised the question of whether the incorporation of an intrapreneurship spirit might contribute in enhancing the effectiveness of service delivery in municipalities. The study aimed to examine whether intrapreneurship, if implemented within the O.R. Tambo District Municipality, can improve service delivery. The primary objective was to explore the intrapreneurship practices that can improve service delivery within the municipalities. A qualitative approach was used in the study. Twelve in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with middle and top managers of the district municipalities. Intrapreneurship was then established to be a positive culture that could be adopted by municipalities to foster innovation and enable efficient and effective service delivery. The results of the study showed that, while there is a general appreciation for intrapreneurship, there are many factors that are working against the success of intrapreneurship in the municipality. These factors need to be addressed if an innovation and intrapreneurial culture is to be fostered in municipalities. The findings were used to develop a framework illustrating the municipality’s internal environment and intrapreneurship.Business ManagementM. Com. (Business Management

Revisiting Agricultural Technologies in the 4IR Era

Food security is becoming a growing problem worldwide. Much focus should therefore be placed on the agricultural sector with a view of equipping the sector for increased food production capabilities. The agricultural sector is changing rapidly globally due to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) mega tech nologies, resulting in smarter ways to farm. These technologies allow farmers to maximise production remotely while controlling every aspect of crop farming such as pest control, soil conditions, crop monitoring, and soil moisture. These advances will allow farmers to be more profitable, efficient and environmentally friendly. However, evidence suggests that small-scale farmers are left behind in the use of 4IR mega technologies in South Africa. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the use of various 4IR technologies in the agricultural sector by using a desktop review of current literature. The paper recommends for a government-driven entity to be established that will focus on building capacity for small-scale farmers to build more sustainable and bigger businesses to assist in increased food production through the introduction of 4IR technologiesColleges of Economic and Management Science

Managing Assets to Facilitate Circularity and Sustainability of Food Systems

The United Nations Zero Hunger Challenge focuses on finding solutions to achieve the 2030 SDG 2 targets, albeit in a manner that is consistent with the precepts of circular economy. Sustainable solutions to food accessibility, security and continuous improvements in nutrition will invariably depend on effective management of the value networks that characterize the forward loops of systems of food production and distribution as well as the reverse loops of food waste management. Food systems encompass physical assets within value networks that are inextricably interwoven within societal structures, the natural environment and ecology. Given that societal structures are conventionally delineated in terms of governance, industrial and commercial sectors of endeavor, as well as within local, regional and global jurisdictions, it is paramount that natural assets (e.g., land, vegetation) and engineered assets (e.g., equipment, machinery, infrastructure) are effectively managed to facilitate circularity, security and sustainability of value networks that underpin systems of food production and distribution, nutrition improvements and food waste management. This paper highlights the need for proper management of land and engineered assets. The discourse emphasizes a ‘whole-of-life’ approach to physical asset management that takes into account both the forward and reverse logistics processes of food systems so as to concurrently conform to circular economy precepts and sustainable development imperatives.Colleges of Economic and Management Science