Legitimisation of banking transparency in the institutional field discourse in South Africa

This article examines organisational transparency discourse in South African banking from 2008 to 2018. The financial crisis of 2008-2009 upset the global economy and resulted in general mistrust of banks and the global financial system. In addition to poor governance standards, inadequate transparency was identified as a key issue to be addressed in order to prevent future crises. The nature and consequences of banking transparency became a matter of worldwide debate and brought changes in banking regulation. While the extant literature focuses mainly on banking transparency in the context of accounting, this study examines transparency as a dynamic social and organisational phenomenon that is constituted through and reflected in organisational discourse, with both symbolic and practical implications. The study entails the analysis of 76 documents generated by the key actors in the institutional field of banking during the period from 2008 to 2018 in South Africa. The data analysis identifies two main discursive strands: one focused on market conduct transparency, and the other, which addresses the importance of banks’ transparency in maintaining stability in the financial system

Contribution of online corporate communication to brand reputation among Millennials in the Vaal region

Abstract: Over the past few years the Internet has become one of the most powerful communication tools. This has led to the evolution of the public relations discipline in keeping up with trends, embracing new opportunities and using diverse and effective communication mediums to engage with different stakeholders. This article looks at the contribution of online corporate communication to brand reputation amongst Millennials in the Vaal Region and the effect it can have on the perceived reputation of an organisation. This was done though ascertaining ways in which Millennials in the Vaal Region use different online corporate communicate tools to engage with brands, looking at the nature of their online engagement with brands and factors of online communication influencing corporate reputation. This quantitative study used a crosssectional descriptive research approach. Two hundred questionnaires were collected from Generation Y members between the ages of 18-35 in the Vaal Region. The findings indicate that the Millennials in Vaal region use online communication as a main source of brand information and brand engagement

Factors affecting the adoption of personal safety apps among Millennials in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract: Numerous studies around the world have examined how young people use digital technology mostly for social interaction, but also for marketing related purposes. However, few studies have addressed how mobile applications have been adopted in developing economies such as South Africa. Specifically, given that issues of personal safety are paramount in South Africa, which grapples with high levels of crime, it is necessary to explore factors that could affect the adoption of mobile safety applications. Theoretically, the study relies on the Generational Cohort Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model to provide insight into patterns of behaviour regarding the use of personal safety apps by college students

Organisational transparency in South African banking : an institutional field discourse analysis

Abstract in English with Zulu and SeTswana translationsThis thesis examines organisational transparency in South African banking after the financial crisis of 2007-2009. The crisis upset the global economy and resulted in general mistrust in banks and the global financial system. In addition to poor governance standards, inadequate transparency was identified as a key issue to be addressed in order to prevent future crises. The nature and consequences of banking transparency became a matter of worldwide debate. While the extant literature focuses mainly on banking transparency in the context of accounting, this study uses a communication perspective, examining transparency as a dynamic social and organisational phenomenon that is constituted through and reflected in organisational discourse, with both symbolic and practical implications. The primary objective of this study was to establish how the discourse in the institutional field of banking in South Africa after the Financial Crisis shaped the construction of the meaning of transparency in banking, and consequently how organisational field level discourse contributed to the institutionalisation of transparency practices in South African banking. The study adapted several conceptual frameworks previously used in discourse studies in order to analyse a banking field discourse at meso-level. From the data analysis perspective, the qualitative content analysis was performed with the aid of ATLAS.ti 8 software. The sample for the study comprises 76 purposively selected documents produced by the actors within the institution field of banking from the onset of the Financial Crisis until 2018. This study underlines the importance of the discourse within the institutional field of banking in South Africa and the construction of what is normal, acceptable and expected in terms of banking transparency, and its institutionalisation, thus highlighting the historical and social embeddedness of banking transparency. The data analysis identifies the main discursive strands within the banking discourse: one that is focused on market conduct transparency and the other, which addresses the importance of banks’ transparency in maintaining stability in the financial system. The results also reveal multiple meanings of transparency in South African banking and draw attention to the historical and discursive events that trigger change in institutional fields.Le thesisi iphenya ukusebenza shashalazi kwenhlangano eNingizimu Afrika ngemuva kwenhlekelele yezimali ukusukela ngo 2007 ukufika ngo 2009. Le nhlekelele yaguqula isimo somhlaba kwezomnotho yaze yadala izinga lokungasathembeki kwamabhangi nohlelo lwezimali emhlabeni wonke. Ukwengeza phezu kwamazinga angagculisi okuphathwa kwamabhizinisi, ukungasebenzi shashalazi ngokwanele kuye kwabonwa njengodaba oluyinkinga okufanele luxazululwe ukugwema izinkinga esikhathini esizayo. Ubunjalo besimo kanye nemiphumela yohlelo olushashalazi lwemboni yezamabhangi kugcine sekuba wudaba oluxoxwa umhlaba wonke. Njengoba umbhalo wobuciko okhona ugxile kakhulu phezu kohlelo olushashalazi lwamabhangi kweze-accounting, lolu cwaningo lusebenzisa umqondo wezokuxhumana, luhlola uhlelo olushashalazi njengohlelo lwenhlangano yomphakathi oluguqukayo futhi olwakhekayo, kanti lolu hlelo lubonakala njengodaba lwenhlangano, ngendlela yophawu nangendlela ephathekayo. Inhloso yokuqala yalolu cwaningo kwabe kukuthola indlela lesi sifundo emkhakheni weziko lezamabhangi eNingizimu Afrika ngemuva kokuthi iziNhlekelele zeZimali zishintshe isakhiwo sencazelo yegama lokusebenza shashalazi kwezamabhangi, bese ekugcineni ingabe udaba lwezinga lomkhakha wenhlangano lube negalelo elinjani ekwakhiweni kwezingqubo zohlelo olushashalazi embonini yezamabhangi eNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningo luguqule izakhiwo zegama ezimbalwa ebezisetshenziswa esikhathini esedlule ezifundweni zocwaningo ukuhlaziya udaba lomkhakha wezamabhangi ezingeni lomhlaba. Ngokomqondo wokuhlaziywa kwedatha, ukuhlaziywa ngendlela egxile kwingxoxo yolwazi olumumethwe kwenziwa ngosizo lwe-ATLAS.ti 8 software. Isampula yocwaningo iqukethe imibhalo engama-76 ekhethwe ngenhloso ekhiqizwe ngabadlali abangaphakathi komkhakha weziko lezamabhangi ngesikhathi sokuqala kweNhlekelele yeZezimali ukufika ngonyaka ka 2018. Ucwaningo lugcizelela ukubaluleka kwesifundo esingaphakathi komkhakha weziko lezamabhangi kanye nokwakhiwa kwalokho okuthathwa ukuthi kujwayelekile, kuyamukeleka futhi kulindelwe mayelana nohlelo lokusebenza shashalazi kwamabhangi, kanye nokkwakhiwa kwalolu hlelo, ngakho-ke lokhu kuveza umlando kanye kanye nabantu ohlelweni lokusebenza shashalazi kwezamabhangi. Ukuhlaziywa kwedatha kwenze ukuthi kuphawuleke izimpawu ezibalulekile ezidukisayo ngaphakathi kohlelo lwezamabhangi; olunye lugxile phezu kohlelo olushashalazi mayelana nokuziphatha kwamabhangi, kanti olunye lubhekene nokubaluleka kohlelo olushashalazi kwezamabhangi ngenhloso yokugcina ingqubo ezinzile ohlelweni lwezezimali. Imiphumela nayo iveza izincazelo eziningi zohlelo lokusebenza shashalazi kwamabhangi eNingizimu Afrika kanye nokuxwayisa ngomlando nangezehlakalo ezidukisayo eziphembelela ukuthi kube nezinguquko emikhakheni yamaziko.Phuputso ena e hlahloba ponaletso ya mokgatlo lekaleng la dibanka tsa Afrika Borwa kamora koduwa ya ditjhelete ya ho tloha 2007 ho isa ho 2009. Koduwa ena e ile ya ferekanya moruo wa lefatshe mme ya fella ka ho se tsheptjwe ha dibanka le tsamaiso ya ditjhelete ya lefatshe. Ntle le maemo a mabe a puso, ponaletso e sa lekanang e ile ya hlwauwa e le taba ya mantlha e lokelang ho rarollwa ho thibela mathata a kamoso. Sebopeho le ditlamorao tsa ponaletso ya dibanka ebile taba ya puisano ya lefatshe ka bophara. Leha dingodilweng tse fumanehang hona jwale di shebile ponaletso ya dibanka haholo-holo maemong a ho boloka dibuka, phuputso ena e sebedisa pono ya puisano, e lekolang ponaletso e le taba e matla ya phedisano le mokgatlo e hlophisitsweng ka, mme e bontshitswe puong ya mokgatlo, ka diphello tsa matshwao le tse sebetsang ka bobedi. Morero wa mantlha wa phuputso ena e ne e le ho tiisa hore na puo lefapheng la dibanka Afrika Borwa kamora Koduwa ya Ditjhelete e thehile kaho ya moelelo wa ponaletso dibankeng jwang, le hore na puo ya boemo ba mokgatlo e kentse letsoho jwang ho hlophiseng mekgwa ya ponaletso dibankeng tsa Afrika Borwa. Phuputso e ile ya hlophisa meralo e mmalwa e neng e sebedisitswe diphuputsong tse fetileng tsa dipuo e le ho manolla puo ya lekala la dibanka maemong a bohareng. Ho latela pono ya manollo ya lesedi, manollo ya boleng ba dikateng e entswe ka thuso ya software ya ATLAS.ti 8. Sampole ya phuputso e na le ditokomane tse kgethilweng ka boomo tse 76 tse hlahisitsweng ke ba amehang lefapheng la dibanka ho tloha qalong ya Koduwa ya Ditjhelete ho fihlela 2018. Phuputso ena e totobatsa bohlokwa ba puo kahare ho lefapha la dibanka Afrika Borwa le kaho ya se tlwaelehileng, se amohelehang le se lebelletsweng mabapi le ponaletso ya dibanka, le tlhophiso ya yona ka hona ho totobatsa ho kenella ha nalane le phedisano ho ponaletso ya dibanka. Manollo ya lesedi e hlwaya dikarolwana tse ka sehloohong tse ka hare ho puo ya banka: e nngwe e shebane le ponaletso ya boitshwaro ba mmaraka, ha e nngwe e bua ka bohlokwa ba ponaletso ya dibanka ho boloka botsitso tsamaisong ya ditjhelete. Diphetho di boetse di senola ditlhaloso tse ngata tsa ponaletso dibankeng tsa Afrika Borwa le ho lebisa tlhokomelo diketsahalong tsa nalane le tse amanang le puo tse bakang phetoho makaleng a ditsi.Communication ScienceD. Phil. (Communication

Stakeholders’ perception of the local government stakeholder engagement practices in the Bekkersdal township

Abstract: This research investigates community stakeholder perceptions of the local government stakeholder engagement practices in the Bekkersdal Township, south of Johannesburg. Bekkersdal Township has experienced a number of violent service delivery protests in recent years, and has been labelled, by a specialised local government data and intelligence organisation called Municipal IQ, a service delivery protest hotspot in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It is therefore essential to obtain a better and clearer picture of stakeholders’ perceptions of the local government stakeholder engagement practices because the community’s perceptions influence behaviour and consequently shape the relationships between stakeholders and the municipality. The research used focus groups to establish stakeholders’ perceptions of the local government’s stakeholder engagement practices. The findings reveal that the overall perception of the stakeholders of the municipality’s stakeholder engagement practices is not favourable and that stakeholders feel that they have been left out of and are not involved in local government activities as a result of the prevailing communication practices of local government

Zimbabwean communication agencies : current state and future prospects

Abstract: Researchers from various countries have studied the practice of communication industries worldwide. Despite this nexus of study, relatively little research has been done on the practice of communication in Zimbabwe. In order to contribute to the understanding of the state of the communication industry on the African continent, this study reports on the results of a survey of 50 Zimbabwean communication agencies. This article is different from other studies on the communication industry because it focuses at an institutional level across the agencies, rather than at the level of individual practitioners. The findings focus on four main topics, namely practitioner profile, agency profile, prevailing professional practices and practitioners’ views on future industry trends. The research indicates that the Zimbabwean communication industry is vibrant despite the economic and political challenges facing the country. Owing to economic challenges and stiff competition, most agencies are multipurpose in nature and provide a wide variety of communication and creative services to their clients. The agencies provide services such as advertising, graphic design, branding, website development, event management, video production, online marketing, media relations, mobile app development, and even animation. There is a growing trend to use digital platforms of communication, yet radio and print (magazines and newspapers) remain essential communication channels. Among social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are the most used by practitioners in Zimbabwe, while online audio-podcasts, blogging sites, crowdsourcing and Linked-in are less popular. Practical issues are addressed regarding information about how agencies have adapted (or can adapt) to the new ways of strategic practice with clients in order to keep up with the changing Zimbabwean market. This research also provides valuable insights into the communication industry as a whole. It explores possible opportunities and threats for communication practitioners presented by economic and political environment issues and suggests directions for further research in this area

Corporate reputation management : a case study of the Emfuleni local municipality in South Africa

Abstract: The objective of this study was to explore how corporate reputation is managed at the Emfuleni local municipality in the Gauteng province of South Africa. This study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study design. In-depth individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants until data was saturated. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The results show that management of reputation is a multifaceted concept, which includes corporate social responsibility, emotional appeal, financial performance, products and services, vision and leadership and workplace environment. They also show that corporate communication is an essential part of the local municipality as it serves to align the organisation’s vision, culture and image. The study recommends that corporate reputation should be one of the most important objectives of corporate communication departments, meaning that the organisation needs to work harder to build and manage productive relationships with its internal and external stakeholders. The study further recommends that communication should be dialogic because it is a tool for negotiating and managing stakeholder relationships

Organisational transparency in South African banking : an institutional field discourse analysis

Abstracts in English, Zulu and Southern SothoThis thesis examines organisational transparency in South African banking after the financial crisis of 2007-2009. The crisis upset the global economy and resulted in general mistrust in banks and the global financial system. In addition to poor governance standards, inadequate transparency was identified as a key issue to be addressed in order to prevent future crises. The nature and consequences of banking transparency became a matter of worldwide debate. While the extant literature focuses mainly on banking transparency in the context of accounting, this study uses a communication perspective, examining transparency as a dynamic social and organisational phenomenon that is constituted through and reflected in organisational discourse, with both symbolic and practical implications. The primary objective of this study was to establish how the discourse in the institutional field of banking in South Africa after the Financial Crisis shaped the construction of the meaning of transparency in banking, and consequently how organisational field level discourse contributed to the institutionalisation of transparency practices in South African banking. The study adapted several conceptual frameworks previously used in discourse studies in order to analyse a banking field discourse at meso-level. From the data analysis perspective, the qualitative content analysis was performed with the aid of ATLAS.ti 8 software. The sample for the study comprises 76 purposively selected documents produced by the actors within the institution field of banking from the onset of the Financial Crisis until 2018. This study underlines the importance of the discourse within the institutional field of banking in South Africa and the construction of what is normal, acceptable and expected in terms of banking transparency, and its institutionalisation, thus highlighting the historical and social embeddedness of banking transparency. The data analysis identifies the main discursive strands within the banking discourse: one that is focused on market conduct transparency and the other, which addresses the importance of banks’ transparency in maintaining stability in the financial system. The results also reveal multiple meanings of transparency in South African banking and draw attention to the historical and discursive events that trigger change in institutional fields.Le thesisi iphenya ukusebenza shashalazi kwenhlangano eNingizimu Afrika ngemuva kwenhlekelele yezimali ukusukela ngo 2007 ukufika ngo 2009. Le nhlekelele yaguqula isimo somhlaba kwezomnotho yaze yadala izinga lokungasathembeki kwamabhangi nohlelo lwezimali emhlabeni wonke. Ukwengeza phezu kwamazinga angagculisi okuphathwa kwamabhizinisi, ukungasebenzi shashalazi ngokwanele kuye kwabonwa njengodaba oluyinkinga okufanele luxazululwe ukugwema izinkinga esikhathini esizayo. Ubunjalo besimo kanye nemiphumela yohlelo olushashalazi lwemboni yezamabhangi kugcine sekuba wudaba oluxoxwa umhlaba wonke. Njengoba umbhalo wobuciko okhona ugxile kakhulu phezu kohlelo olushashalazi lwamabhangi kweze-accounting, lolu cwaningo lusebenzisa umqondo wezokuxhumana, luhlola uhlelo olushashalazi njengohlelo lwenhlangano yomphakathi oluguqukayo futhi olwakhekayo, kanti lolu hlelo lubonakala njengodaba lwenhlangano, ngendlela yophawu nangendlela ephathekayo. Inhloso yokuqala yalolu cwaningo kwabe kukuthola indlela lesi sifundo emkhakheni weziko lezamabhangi eNingizimu Afrika ngemuva kokuthi iziNhlekelele zeZimali zishintshe isakhiwo sencazelo yegama lokusebenza shashalazi kwezamabhangi, bese ekugcineni ingabe udaba lwezinga lomkhakha wenhlangano lube negalelo elinjani ekwakhiweni kwezingqubo zohlelo olushashalazi embonini yezamabhangi eNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningo luguqule izakhiwo zegama ezimbalwa ebezisetshenziswa esikhathini esedlule ezifundweni zocwaningo ukuhlaziya udaba lomkhakha wezamabhangi ezingeni lomhlaba. Ngokomqondo wokuhlaziywa kwedatha, ukuhlaziywa ngendlela egxile kwingxoxo yolwazi olumumethwe kwenziwa ngosizo lwe-ATLAS.ti 8 software. Isampula yocwaningo iqukethe imibhalo engama-76 ekhethwe ngenhloso ekhiqizwe ngabadlali abangaphakathi komkhakha weziko lezamabhangi ngesikhathi sokuqala kweNhlekelele yeZezimali ukufika ngonyaka ka 2018. Ucwaningo lugcizelela ukubaluleka kwesifundo esingaphakathi komkhakha weziko lezamabhangi kanye nokwakhiwa kwalokho okuthathwa ukuthi kujwayelekile, kuyamukeleka futhi kulindelwe mayelana nohlelo lokusebenza shashalazi kwamabhangi, kanye nokkwakhiwa kwalolu hlelo, ngakho-ke lokhu kuveza umlando kanye kanye nabantu ohlelweni lokusebenza shashalazi kwezamabhangi. Ukuhlaziywa kwedatha kwenze ukuthi kuphawuleke izimpawu ezibalulekile ezidukisayo ngaphakathi kohlelo lwezamabhangi; olunye lugxile phezu kohlelo olushashalazi mayelana nokuziphatha kwamabhangi, kanti olunye lubhekene nokubaluleka kohlelo olushashalazi kwezamabhangi ngenhloso yokugcina ingqubo ezinzile ohlelweni lwezezimali. Imiphumela nayo iveza izincazelo eziningi zohlelo lokusebenza shashalazi kwamabhangi eNingizimu Afrika kanye nokuxwayisa ngomlando nangezehlakalo ezidukisayo eziphembelela ukuthi kube nezinguquko emikhakheni yamaziko.Phuputso ena e hlahloba ponaletso ya mokgatlo lekaleng la dibanka tsa Afrika Borwa kamora koduwa ya ditjhelete ya ho tloha 2007 ho isa ho 2009. Koduwa ena e ile ya ferekanya moruo wa lefatshe mme ya fella ka ho se tsheptjwe ha dibanka le tsamaiso ya ditjhelete ya lefatshe. Ntle le maemo a mabe a puso, ponaletso e sa lekanang e ile ya hlwauwa e le taba ya mantlha e lokelang ho rarollwa ho thibela mathata a kamoso. Sebopeho le ditlamorao tsa ponaletso ya dibanka ebile taba ya puisano ya lefatshe ka bophara. Leha dingodilweng tse fumanehang hona jwale di shebile ponaletso ya dibanka haholo-holo maemong a ho boloka dibuka, phuputso ena e sebedisa pono ya puisano, e lekolang ponaletso e le taba e matla ya phedisano le mokgatlo e hlophisitsweng ka, mme e bontshitswe puong ya mokgatlo, ka diphello tsa matshwao le tse sebetsang ka bobedi. Morero wa mantlha wa phuputso ena e ne e le ho tiisa hore na puo lefapheng la dibanka Afrika Borwa kamora Koduwa ya Ditjhelete e thehile kaho ya moelelo wa ponaletso dibankeng jwang, le hore na puo ya boemo ba mokgatlo e kentse letsoho jwang ho hlophiseng mekgwa ya ponaletso dibankeng tsa Afrika Borwa. Phuputso e ile ya hlophisa meralo e mmalwa e neng e sebedisitswe diphuputsong tse fetileng tsa dipuo e le ho manolla puo ya lekala la dibanka maemong a bohareng. Ho latela pono ya manollo ya lesedi, manollo ya boleng ba dikateng e entswe ka thuso ya software ya ATLAS.ti 8. Sampole ya phuputso e na le ditokomane tse kgethilweng ka boomo tse 76 tse hlahisitsweng ke ba amehang lefapheng la dibanka ho tloha qalong ya Koduwa ya Ditjhelete ho fihlela 2018. Phuputso ena e totobatsa bohlokwa ba puo kahare ho lefapha la dibanka Afrika Borwa le kaho ya se tlwaelehileng, se amohelehang le se lebelletsweng mabapi le ponaletso ya dibanka, le tlhophiso ya yona ka hona ho totobatsa ho kenella ha nalane le phedisano ho ponaletso ya dibanka. Manollo ya lesedi e hlwaya dikarolwana tse ka sehloohong tse ka hare ho puo ya banka: e nngwe e shebane le ponaletso ya boitshwaro ba mmaraka, ha e nngwe e bua ka bohlokwa ba ponaletso ya dibanka ho boloka botsitso tsamaisong ya ditjhelete. Diphetho di boetse di senola ditlhaloso tse ngata tsa ponaletso dibankeng tsa Afrika Borwa le ho lebisa tlhokomelo diketsahalong tsa nalane le tse amanang le puo tse bakang phetoho makaleng a ditsi.Communication ScienceD. Phil. (Communication