Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) academic Dr Emmanuel Mutambara supervised six students who were awarded PhDs during UKZN’s 2021 Spring Graduation.
They are Drs Shamola Pramjeeth, Godfrey Tambudzayi Musabayana, Webster Funhiro, Renee Naidoo, Tshifhiwa Gift Mulaudzi and Bulelwa Mduba.
Unlocking the Role of Leadership in Improving Organisational Performance in State-Owned Enterprises in Africa with a Focus on Eskom, was the title of Pramjeeth’s study co-supervised by the late Professor Kriben Pillay.
The study investigated whether leadership qualities of Eskom leaders – which were perceived to be important – aligned with the leadership qualities required for a volatile environment.
‘The research was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the lived experiences and lessons of senior managers and directors at Eskom as they navigated their team through the pandemic,’ said Pramjeeth.
‘Due to the surmounting challenges Eskom faces, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated, the study provides the key leadership qualities and traits their leaders should possess to effectively and efficiently manage and lead the entity in such a volatile environment, thereby assisting in addressing the key challenges plaguing Eskom and ensuring the sustainability of the entity thereof. The WELSPITL Framework which is the name of the feasible leadership framework and process for volatile environments attributes and process, a multidimensional and multifaceted leadership framework, is appropriate for the “new world” and the inherent diversity and complexity of Eskom and the South African environment,’ said Pramjeeth.
As a senior academic in the private Higher Education sector, Pramjeeth plans to use her PhD qualification to progress in her academic career, aiming to become a professor.
For Musabayana, being close to retirement age meant that attaining a PhD was not about career progression but more about reaching the highest level of education possible for an educator. ‘As an educator, I wish to assist students to attain their academic goals and offer my services without any restrictions,’ he said. Re-thinking Government Policy Framework Towards Resource Adequacy for Small and Medium Enterprise Performance in Zimbabwe was the title of his study co-supervised by Dr Tony Ngwenya. The research focused on Zimbabwe government policies that were enacted in support of small and mid-size enterprises.
‘The findings of this study revealed that government crafted policies that promote the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) performance were not supported by resources. I remained resolute in my studies because of my love for my country and the desire to bring new knowledge that Zimbabwe can use in order to improve its economic situation,’ said Musabayana.
Standardising and strengthening the functionality of hospital management boards in central hospitals of Zimbabwe was the aim of Funhiro’s study co- supervised by Dr Bhasela Yalezo.
‘The study is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, and involved all executive and non-executive directors of all the central hospitals in the country,’ said Funhiro. ‘The results from the research have an impact on the interests of multiple stakeholders such as the government, politicians, patients, consultants, auditors, and employees. The results also contribute to policy changes and gap filling in terms of strengthening training needs for board members and the development of operational manuals for hospital management boards.’
Developing a business sustainability framework for pharmaceutical Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Gauteng province was the aim of Mulaudzi’s PhD research.
‘Community pharmaceutical SMEs are a significant sector within the economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and poverty alleviation. The study’s findings revealed that community pharmaceutical SMEs in South Africa can be sustainable if manned by proactive, imaginative, creative and innovative leadership, and government assistance,’ said Mulaudzi.
As the Acting Deputy Director of the Assets and Stores section of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s Finance Department, Mulaudzi plans to use his newly acquired qualification to enhance his academic career. ‘With this qualification and targeted mentoring in the academic space, I will continue to aspire to my vision of one day holding the coveted leadership position of a university Vice-Chancellor. As the first PhD holder in my family, this degree will serve as an inspiration for current and future generations,’ said Mulaudzi.
With Eastern Cape being a province that relies on tourism, Dr Bulelwa Mduba’s research aims to assist local government, through local economic development, to assist and provide all kinds of support to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to help them improve on business operations, profitability and sustainability.
‘My research is based on intuitive competitive intelligence as the entrepreneurial path to success for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with special scrutiny of the tourism sector in the Eastern Cape,’ said Mduba. ‘Besides confirming that intuitive competitive intelligence is an entrepreneurial path to success for SMEs in their many everyday business operations for rural areas of an emerging economy, this research also produced a framework to comprehend and research intuitive competitive intelligence practice in this context.’
As a senior lecturer and Acting Rector at Walter Sisulu University’s Butterworth Campus, Mduba is looking forward to using the qualification to advance her academic career.
‘This qualification will make a great impact on my career as well as on new prospects for future employment, research and business created by my involvement with different stakeholders. In addition, through the research study I managed to network with other researchers, and learned how to publish papers and supervise other postgraduate students, by transferring the skills gained,’ she said.
The graduates thanked their supervisor Mutambara for his support and guidance on their academic journey.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photographs: Supplied
They are Drs Shamola Pramjeeth, Godfrey Tambudzayi Musabayana, Webster Funhiro, Renee Naidoo, Tshifhiwa Gift Mulaudzi and Bulelwa Mduba.
Unlocking the Role of Leadership in Improving Organisational Performance in State-Owned Enterprises in Africa with a Focus on Eskom, was the title of Pramjeeth’s study co-supervised by the late Professor Kriben Pillay.
The study investigated whether leadership qualities of Eskom leaders – which were perceived to be important – aligned with the leadership qualities required for a volatile environment.
‘The research was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the lived experiences and lessons of senior managers and directors at Eskom as they navigated their team through the pandemic,’ said Pramjeeth.
‘Due to the surmounting challenges Eskom faces, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated, the study provides the key leadership qualities and traits their leaders should possess to effectively and efficiently manage and lead the entity in such a volatile environment, thereby assisting in addressing the key challenges plaguing Eskom and ensuring the sustainability of the entity thereof. The WELSPITL Framework which is the name of the feasible leadership framework and process for volatile environments attributes and process, a multidimensional and multifaceted leadership framework, is appropriate for the “new world” and the inherent diversity and complexity of Eskom and the South African environment,’ said Pramjeeth.
As a senior academic in the private Higher Education sector, Pramjeeth plans to use her PhD qualification to progress in her academic career, aiming to become a professor.
For Musabayana, being close to retirement age meant that attaining a PhD was not about career progression but more about reaching the highest level of education possible for an educator. ‘As an educator, I wish to assist students to attain their academic goals and offer my services without any restrictions,’ he said. Re-thinking Government Policy Framework Towards Resource Adequacy for Small and Medium Enterprise Performance in Zimbabwe was the title of his study co-supervised by Dr Tony Ngwenya. The research focused on Zimbabwe government policies that were enacted in support of small and mid-size enterprises.
‘The findings of this study revealed that government crafted policies that promote the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) performance were not supported by resources. I remained resolute in my studies because of my love for my country and the desire to bring new knowledge that Zimbabwe can use in order to improve its economic situation,’ said Musabayana.
Standardising and strengthening the functionality of hospital management boards in central hospitals of Zimbabwe was the aim of Funhiro’s study co- supervised by Dr Bhasela Yalezo.
‘The study is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, and involved all executive and non-executive directors of all the central hospitals in the country,’ said Funhiro. ‘The results from the research have an impact on the interests of multiple stakeholders such as the government, politicians, patients, consultants, auditors, and employees. The results also contribute to policy changes and gap filling in terms of strengthening training needs for board members and the development of operational manuals for hospital management boards.’
Developing a business sustainability framework for pharmaceutical Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Gauteng province was the aim of Mulaudzi’s PhD research.
‘Community pharmaceutical SMEs are a significant sector within the economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and poverty alleviation. The study’s findings revealed that community pharmaceutical SMEs in South Africa can be sustainable if manned by proactive, imaginative, creative and innovative leadership, and government assistance,’ said Mulaudzi.
As the Acting Deputy Director of the Assets and Stores section of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s Finance Department, Mulaudzi plans to use his newly acquired qualification to enhance his academic career. ‘With this qualification and targeted mentoring in the academic space, I will continue to aspire to my vision of one day holding the coveted leadership position of a university Vice-Chancellor. As the first PhD holder in my family, this degree will serve as an inspiration for current and future generations,’ said Mulaudzi.
With Eastern Cape being a province that relies on tourism, Dr Bulelwa Mduba’s research aims to assist local government, through local economic development, to assist and provide all kinds of support to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to help them improve on business operations, profitability and sustainability.
‘My research is based on intuitive competitive intelligence as the entrepreneurial path to success for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with special scrutiny of the tourism sector in the Eastern Cape,’ said Mduba. ‘Besides confirming that intuitive competitive intelligence is an entrepreneurial path to success for SMEs in their many everyday business operations for rural areas of an emerging economy, this research also produced a framework to comprehend and research intuitive competitive intelligence practice in this context.’
As a senior lecturer and Acting Rector at Walter Sisulu University’s Butterworth Campus, Mduba is looking forward to using the qualification to advance her academic career.
‘This qualification will make a great impact on my career as well as on new prospects for future employment, research and business created by my involvement with different stakeholders. In addition, through the research study I managed to network with other researchers, and learned how to publish papers and supervise other postgraduate students, by transferring the skills gained,’ she said.
The graduates thanked their supervisor Mutambara for his support and guidance on their academic journey.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photographs: Supplied