Teses / dissertações sobre o tema "Securities industry – moral and ethical aspects"

Ethics is not a new or modern discipline. It was developed thousands of years ago and still remains relevant today. Ethics is applied in all spheres of modern life from philosophy to business and religious environments and even around dinner table conversations. It is applicable to all areas of life. This research is aimed at investigating whether ethical conduct among new entry level emerging contractors can contribute to and ensure their sustainable competitiveness within the South African construction industry. This research is also aimed at determining whether education and knowledge of entrepreneurship, business, project and construction management and building contracts can contribute to new entry level emerging contractors’ ethical conduct and sustainable competitiveness. The literature reviewed and results of quantitative and qualitative research amongst professional consultants in South Africa formed the basis of the study. Ethics is a sensitive topic within the industry and therefor it is difficult to gather data directly from contractors, as they are reluctant to participate in fear of revealing their identities and having it negatively influencing their personal and business credentials. Therefor unbiased respondents who were not directly linked to emerging contractors and who were unafraid to give objective opinions were questioned. These unbiased respondents included consultants within the industry. The study revealed that ethics is an important factor in any business environment and that the correct application thereof can partially contribute to the sustainable competitiveness of new entry level emerging contractors and this in turn can promote the long term survival of a business. Furthermore, knowledge of good management practices and building contracts can contribute to a successfully run business. However, the average new entry level emerging contractor has insufficient experience and knowledge of the management of construction projects, as well as building contracts.

Pharmaceutical advertising involves the advertising of medicines, medical devices, and healthcare services. A review of available international literature indicates the belief that pharmaceutical advertisements negatively affect healthcare decisions made by consumers. Very little research has been conducted to determine how consumers in South Africa (SA) are affected by pharmaceutical advertisements. This study aimed to determine how consumers in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM) perceive pharmaceutical advertisements. More specific objectives included the investigation of legislation in SA employed in pharmaceutical advertisements, the interpretation and misinterpretation of the advertisements, and the identification of problematic areas in this form of advertising. South African legislation applied to pharmaceutical advertisements was investigated by means of a literature review. A qualitative research design was also used to achieve the aim and objectives. This included a focus group consisting of six randomly selected participants in the NMM. A consumer survey, consisting of a 100 consumers obtained from 10 randomly selected community pharmacies within the NMM, supported the findings of the qualitative techniques. The themes identified in the focus group were incorporated into a questionnaire used in the consumer survey. Three randomly selected pharmaceutical advertisements were also decoded to interpret the components employed in each. The results determined that pharmaceutical advertising is a marketing tool that incorporates various emotional and psychological techniques to persuade consumers. It was also evident that consumers can misinterpret pharmaceutical advertisements. Various legal and ethical problems were identified in pharmaceutical advertisements. These results showed that pharmaceutical advertisements have the possibility of negatively affecting consumers’ healthcare decisions and warrants further investigation.

This work examines the use of nonhuman animals in the farming industry and seeks to understand why this practice takes place and what supports its continuation. The research is approached from a critical realist perspective and after a description of past and current practices in the industry, it uses abduction and retroduction to determine the essential conditions for the continuation of the phenomenon of nonhuman animal farming. One essential condition is found to be the existence of negative discourses relating to nonhuman animals and this aspect is examined in more detail by analyzing a corpus of texts from a farming magazine using Critical Discourse Analysis. Major discourses which were found to be present were those of production, science and slavery which construct the nonhumans respectively as objects of scientific investigation, as production machines and as slaves. A minor discourse of achievement relating to the nonhumans was also present. Further analysis of linguistic features examined the way in which the nonhumans are socially constructed in the discourses. Drawing on work in experimental psychology by Millgram, Zimbardo and Bandura it was found that the effects of these discourses fulfil many of the conditions for bringing about moral disengagement in people thus explaining why billions of people are able to support animal farming in various ways even though what happens in the phenomenon is contrary to their basic ethical and moral beliefs.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is one important response to the increasing amounts of criticism levelled at corporations. A number of studies have focused on CSR in a range of industries; however, some contentious industries, e.g. the gambling industry, remain unexplored. Mobilizing CSR in a novel setting not only enhances the knowledge of CSR and gambling, but also provides an overview of this industry itself. This thesis attempts to investigate three questions: to what extent does the gambling industry disclose CSR-related data, how is CSR understood in this industry and why does the gambling industry engage in CSR? This thesis provides a general overview of the international gambling industry and an in-depth investigation of Macao's gambling industry. The research design of the thesis employs mixed methods: content analysis and semi-structured interviews. The principal research is based on 49 interviews. This thesis advances three main arguments. First, it will be argued that there are relatively low volumes of Corporate Social Disclosure (CSD) and Responsible Gambling (RG) disclosure in the international gambling industry, which can be viewed as a legitimising strategy. Second, in Macao's gambling industry, it is argued that organisations in this industry tend to place a greater emphasis on positive social impacts, while obscuring such negative impacts as gambling addiction and health-related issues. Third, this thesis holds that organisations in Macao's gambling industry engage symbolically, rather than substantively, with CSR and RG in order to manage stakeholders' perceptions in an attempt to gain different sources of legitimacy and in turn to enhance its economic interests. In conclusion, the gambling industry does not entirely conform to the institutional environment, which poses a challenge to the organisational legitimacy literature. This thesis introduces a necessary caution into the discussions about the extent of CSD, CSR, and RG in this industry more generally.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The historical development of the role of directors in public listed companies contains inherent tensions by reference to the fiduciary responsibility of directors and the method in which directors are remunerated. The nature of incentive based remuneration is such that it will compel directors, in certain circumstances, to weigh their interests against those towards whom they owe a duty of care and a moral responsibility to act with prudence and temperance. The modem day corporate environment is complex and calls for directors with strong ethical views. This assignment endeavours to identify some of the complexities that contribute towards directors finding it difficult to stay on the ethical "straight and narrow" and attempts to weigh the effect of those factors against the effect of incentive remuneration, both as detractors from ethical behaviour. Both the shareholder supremacy business model and the stakeholder approach are analysed to identify those factors present in each that may add to the ethical complexity that directors have to deal with. The advent of the stakeholder approach in particular, adds an enormous amount of complexity. The case studies deal with two South African financial services companies that have both ceased trading as a consequence of unethical behaviour. The incentive remuneration models of both companies have been found to have played a major contributing role in the decision making processes in the companies, and have contributed to the demise of these organisations. Lessons are taken from the case studies and applied against the backdrop of the various principles of ethical behaviour namely rights, utility, justice and the ethics of responsibility. The finding of this study is that there is a role for incentive remuneration of directors, provided that the ethical pitfalls that this causes are recognised and steps taken to address them. Some of these steps are identified.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die historiese ontwikkeling van die direkteursrol, en spesifiek van openbare genoteerde maatskappye bevat inherente teenstrydighede met verwysmg na direkteursvergoeding en die vertrouensverpligtinge wat op direkteure rus. Die aard van direkteursvergoeding met 'n aansporingskomponent is so dat dit 'n direkteur van tyd tot tyd in 'n posisie plaas waar hy tussen sy eie belange en die van die ander belanghebbendes in 'n maatskappy, aan wie hy dit verskuldig is om met verdrag en versigtig op te tree, moet kies. Die hedendaagse maatskappyomgewing is kompleks van aard, en vereis direkteure met sterk etiese oortuigings. Hierdie werkstuk poog om sommige van die komplekse faktore wat afbreuk doen aan 'n direkteur se vermoe om ten alle tye streng eties op te tree, te identifiseer en op te weeg teen die effek wat direkteursvergoeding speel - beide as items wat afbreuk doen aan etiese optrede. Hier word ondersoek ingestel na beide die sogenaamde "aandeelhouersmodel" asook die" belanghebbende" model waarvolgens besigheid bedryf word. Die ontsluimering van die belanghebbende model veroorsaak spesifiek 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid etiese kompleksiteit. Die gevallestudies behandel twee Suid Afrikaanse fmansiele instellings wat hul bedrywighede gestaak het as gevolg van onetiese optrede deur direkteure. Die aansporingskomponent van die vergoedingsrnodelle in daardie maatskappye blyk 'n groot bydraende faktor te wees in die onetiese besluitneming wat plaasgevind het, en wat uiteindelik tot die ondergang van die ondernemings gelei het. Laastens, word die lesse wat geleer is uit die gevallestudies, toegepas in gewysigde format, en getoets aan die hand van die verskillende beginsels wat etiese besluitneming onderhou, naamlik die beginsels van regte, regverdigheid, utiliteit en die beginsel van etiese verantwoordelikheid. Daar word tot die slotsom gekom dat daar wel ruimte vir aansporingskemas vir direkteure is, maar dat dit slegs eties regverdigbaar sal wees mits ag geslaan word op die lesse wat uit die gevallestudie voortspruit, tesame met die impementering van sekere korrektiewe maatstawwe.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the world of business today, the reputation of an organisation matters tremendously. After the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, it has never been more difficult for organisations to maintain a positive reputation. The past decade differs from previous ones, as rules and regulations enforced by regulatory bodies are more rigid, public criticism and expectations are greater and the emotional contracts between employees and leadership are not as strong as they once were. The financial services industry, in South Africa and abroad, has been inundated by unethical behaviour and the global downturn has exacerbated this problem. In light of the revelations that have come to pass worldwide, the magnifying glass has been firmly fixed on companies operating within the financial services sector. The crisis has led to numerous companies questioning and reviewing their own compliance and organisational practices to establish whether they are ethical. In the South African financial services industry there has been a war raging among organisations fighting for market share. With the increased competition levels among businesses, there is a desire to find new and creative ways of achieving competitive advantage. Business ethics, therefore, has become essential in the conducting of any type of business. The competitive advantage of business ethics revolves around the building of relationships with organisational stakeholders based on its integrity, which will maintain these relationships. By establishing an ethics programme, an organisation could enable the management of business ethics in the workplace. Ethics programmes often convey the values of the organisation, making use of policies and codes to guide behaviour and the decision-making process of stakeholders. These programmes could be used, during turbulent times, to maintain a moral path, especially when leaders require a clear moral compass for guidance. This moral compass function is also very helpful for new employees, as they may need to be familiarised with ethically correct behaviour within the organisation that aligns with its values. If employees are satisfied with the ethics programme, it could work as a mechanism to stimulate productivity, teamwork and to motivate personnel. A study was conducted within a private sector organisation in the South African financial services industry with a focus on evaluating the effectiveness of their ethics programme. The findings from the fieldwork established that the ethics programme of the organisation was found to be highly effective, as perceived by both employees and directors. An effective ethics programme means that the ethical culture of the organisation is strong. The findings serve to confirm that, by monitoring the key variables that play an important role in predicting the effectiveness of ethics programmes, organisations can achieve a positive result by knowing what the impact of potentially harmful behaviour can have on the ethical climate and culture. The findings also serve to confirm that an effective ethics programme can become a source of competitive advantage if engaged correctly by the entire organisation. This study may be used to argue that sound business ethics and ethics programmes can be viewed as a new competitive advantage that organisations require for long-term sustainability and business success.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In vandag se sakewêreld is die reputasie van ’n organisasie geweldig belangrik. Sedert die globale finansiële krisis in 2008-2009 is dit vir organisasies moeiliker as ooit om ’n positiewe reputasie te handhaaf. Die afgelope dekade is anders as die voriges omdat reëls en regulasies wat deur reguleringsliggame afgedwing word, meer rigied is, openbare kritiek en verwagtinge groter is, en die emosionele kontrakte tussen werknemers en leierskap nie meer so sterk is as vroeër nie. Die bedryf van finansiële dienste – in Suid-Afrika en in die buiteland – is erg geteister deur onetiese gedrag, en die globale insinking het dié probleem vererger. In die lig van onthullings wat wêreldwyd plaasvind, word die vergrootglas ferm gerig op maatskappye wat binne-in die finansiëledienste-sektor sake doen. Die krisis het tot gevolg gehad dat talle maatskappye hul eie reëlnakoming en organisatoriese praktyke bevraagteken en hersien om vas te stel of hulle wel eties is. In die Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) finansiëledienste-bedryf het daar onder organisasies ’n oorlog om markaandeel gewoed Met die toenemende vlakke van mededinging onder sake-ondernemings, is daar ’n begeerte om nuwe en kreatiewe maniere te vind om mededingende voordeel te bereik. Sake-etiek het dus noodsaaklik geword om enige soort besigheid te bedryf. Die mededingende voordeel van sake-etiek draai om die bou van verhoudings met organisatoriese aandeelhouers, gebaseer op hul integriteit wat hierdie verhoudings in stand gaan hou. Deur die vestiging van etiese programme kan ’n organisasie die bestuur van sake-etiek in die werkplek moontlik maak. ’n Etiese program dra dikwels die waardes van die organisasie oor met die gebruik van beleid en kodes as riglyne vir gedrag en die besluitnemingsproses van aandeelhouers. Hierdie programme kan in onstuimige tye gebruik word om ’n morele weg te handhaaf, veral wanneer leiers ’n helder morele kompas nodig het vir leiding. Die funksie van hierdie morele kompas is ook baie nuttig vir nuwe werknemers omdat hulle vertroud wil raak met eties korrekte gedrag binne-in die organisasie wat in lyn is met sy waardes. As werknemers tevrede is met die etiese program, kan dit dien as meganisme om produktiwiteit en spanwerk te stimuleer, asook om hulle te motiveer. ’n Studie wat binne-in ’n organisasie in die private sektor van die Suid-Afrikaanse finansiëledienste-bedryf gedoen is, het gefokus op evaluering van die doeltreffendheid van hul etiese program. Die bevindings van die veldwerk het gestaaf dat die etiese program van die organisasie hoogs doeltreffend was, soos waargeneem deur die werknemers en direkteure. ’n Doeltreffende etiese program beteken dat die etiese kultuur van die organisasie sterk is. Die bevindings dien as bevestiging dat, deur die monitering van die belangrikste veranderlikes wat ’n belangrike rol speel in die voorspelling van die doeltreffendheid van etiese programme, organisasies ’n positiewe uitslag kan bereik indien hulle weet wat die impak van potensieel skadelike gedrag op die etiese klimaat en kultuur kan hê. Die bevindings bevestig ook dat ’n doeltreffende etiese program ’n bron van mededingende voordeel kan word as dit korrek deur die hele organisasie omarm word. Hierdie studie kan gebruik word in ’n betoog dat gesonde sake-etiek en etiese programme beskou kan word as ’n nuwe mededingende voordeel wat organisasies benodig vir langtermynvolhoubaarheid en sake-sukses.

There has been increasing public concern about farm animal welfare regarding transportation, slaughter, and some management practices, especially in systems where animals are confined for most of their existence. Animal welfare organizations (groups) have traditionally focused on forwarding their agendas through legislation, although more recent attempts have focused on convincing large firms that buy agricultural commodities to require particular production process standards to be met. The strategic interactions of players in the egg industry are modeled using a game theory approach. Two scenarios were explored: a principal-agent contract model between food firms and farmers, and a model where two firms are targeted by animal activists. The former model was empirically analyzed while the latter model was theoretically examined. Results for the principal-agent contract model indicate that, in general, the decision by the farmer of whether to invest in a free-range production system is dependent on the probability of being caught cheating. Whether contracts will be accepted or rejected by suppliers is dependent on the premium for free-range eggs. Finally, as the amount that can be lost if caught breaching the contract decreases, investment is motivated only with a higher probability of being caught. Theoretical analysis where competition did not matter and animal welfare was not a determinant of demand shows that animal activists must convince food firms that there will be a significant change in revenue with compliance as opposed to rejecting the contract or negotiating a compromise in order to attain their objectives of increased animal welfare.

This thesis provides a behavioural perspective to the problem of collusive tendering in the construction market by examining the decision making factors of individuals potentially involved in such agreements using marketing ethics theory and techniques. The findings of a cross disciplinary literature review were synthesised into a model of factors theoretically expected to determine the individual's behavioural intent towards a set of collusive tendering agreements and the means of reaching them. The factors were grouped as internal cognitive (the individuals' value systems) and affective (demographic and psychographic characteristics) as well as external environmental (legal, industrial and organisational codes and norms) and situational (company, market and economic conditions). The model was tested using empirical data collected through a questionnaire survey of estimators employed in the largest Australian construction firms. All forms of explicit collusive tendering agreements were considered as having a prohibitive moral content by the majority of respondents who also clearly differentiated between agreements and discussions of contract terms (which they found to be a moral concern but not prohibitive) or of prices. The comparisons between those of the respondents that would never participate in a collusive agreement and the potential offenders clearly showed two distinctly different groups. The law abiding estimators are less reliant on situational factors, happier and more comfortable in their work environments and they live according to personal value and belief systems. The potential offenders on the other hand are mistrustful of colleagues, feel their values are not respected, put company priorities above principles and none of them is religious or a member of a professional body. The research results indicate that Australian estimators are, overall law abiding and principled and accept the existing codification of collusion as morally defensible and binding. Professional bodies' and organisational codes of conduct as well as personal value and belief systems that guide one's own conduct appear to be deterrents to collusive tendering intent and so are moral comfort and work satisfaction. These observations are potential indicators of areas where intervention and behaviour modification can increase individuals' resistance to collusion.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The veterinary industry is operating in a highly regulated environment. Up till now these regulations prevented veterinarians to freely market veterinary services, especially professional services. Every business person in the biggest part of the world is subject to free-market economic pressures. However in the case of the professional, who is also a business person, these economic market-pressures could become very intense and unbalanced, and lead to what is called the “professional dilemma” (Du Preez, 2003: 8). Professional persons are governed by their respective codes of conduct. Those professionals who practice as entrepreneurs therefore need to be more business skilled and creative to successfully manage their businesses as they do not have the luxury of utilising the normal business strategies and options. The state of professionalism within the veterinary profession in South Africa in terms of entrepreneurship has been addressed in the past, but there is still a major gap in terms of providing business tools to managers in the veterinary industry. The biggest challenge in terms of the general business functions faced by veterinarians is the marketing function, thus the reason for this study. It is necessary that the highly regulated environments of professionals being understood. Therefore the research has been conducted by highlighting these environments. The researcher then continues to analyse the internal and external environment, client needs and customer profile in order to identify ways of optimising marketing opportunities.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veeartseny industrie word bedryf in ‘n hoogs gereguleerde omgewing. Hierdie regulasies het veeartse tot nou toe verhoed om dienste, veral professionele dienste, vrylik te bemark. Besigheidspersone regoor die wêreld verkeer onder vryemark ekonomiese druk. In die geval van die professionele persoon, wat ook ‘n besigheidspersoon is, kan die ekonomiese druk baie intens en ongebalansseerd word. Daar word verwys na die “professionele dilemma” (Du Preez, 2003: 8). Professionele persone word gereguleer deur hul onderskeie kodes. Daardie professionele persone wat praktiseer as entrepreneurs moet dus oor meer besigheids- en kreatiewe vaardighede beskik om hul besigheid suksesvol te bestuur. Hulle het nie die luuksheid om die algemene strategiee te benut nie. Die stand van professionalisme in die veeartsenyprofessie in Suid- Afrika in terme van entrepeneurskap is al voorheen aangespreek, maar daar is nog steeds gapings ten opsigte van die beskikbaarstelling van besigheidsvaardighede aan bestuurders in die bedryf. Die grootste uitdaging in terme van besigheidsfunksies wat veeartse in die gesig staar, is die bemarkingsfunksie. Dit is dus die rede vir hierdie studieprojek. Dit is belangrik dat die hoogs gereguleerde omgewing van professionele persone verstaan word. Die studie begin dus deur hierdie verskillende omgewings te skets. Die studie skenk verder aandag aan die ontleding van die interne en eksterne omgewings, klientebehoeftes en –profiel om maniere te vind om bemarkingsgeleenthede binne regulasies ten volle te kan benut.

Dans les matières dites techniques, auxquelles se rattachent les règles d'organisation et de fonctionnement du marché boursier, le droit pénal est utilisé comme une discipline accessoire, garantissant l'efficacité de ces réglementations. Cette approche emporte une déformation du droit pénal de fond et un recul de la protection normalement garantie par celui-ci, essentiellement par des atteintes au principe de la légalité criminelle et une instrumentalisation du mécanisme de la responsabilité pénale. Il en résulte que l'apport du droit pénal à la moralisation du marché boursier est limité aux exigences du procès équitable, l'assimilation des sanctions pécuniaires administratives à des peines ayant emporté leur soumission aux principes généraux qui gouvernent la matière pénale. Pourtant, quel que soit le champ de son intervention, le droit pénal demeure porteur de valeurs morales fondamentales. Il ne peut d'ailleurs contribuer à moraliser le marché boursier que dans la mesure où il est normatif. Le recours à la sanction pénale doit dès lors être limité à la répression de la ruse, matérialisée par la création ou l'exploitation d'une situation de déséquilibre entre les individus. Le droit pénal ne doit plus être au service de la régulation des marchés, mais voir son efficacité garantie par celle-ci. Loin d'être étrangère aux préoccupations de concurrence inhérentes au fonctionnement des marchés, cette approche contribuerait à la conciliation de la morale et de l'économie sur ceux-ci
In so-called technical subjects which relate to the rules of organisation and operation of the stock market, criminal law is used as an ancillary discipline, ensuring the effectiveness of these regulations. This approach leads to a distortion at the core of criminal law and adecline in the protection which is normally guaranteed by, essentially, violations of the principle of criminal law and a manipulation of the mechanism of criminal responsibility. As a result, the contribution of criminal law to the morality of the stock market is limited to therequirements of fair trial, the balance between administrative sanctions and penalties that have been achieved through abiding to the general principles that govern the criminal.Yet regardless of the scope of its intervention, the criminal law remains with its fundamentalmoral values. It can only contribute to the morality of the stock market by being normative.The use of the criminal sanctions must therefore be limited to the suppression of the ruse, aswitnessed by the creation or operation of a situation of imbalance between individuals. The criminal law should no longer be at the service of the regulation of markets, but see its efficiency guaranteed by it. Far from being foreign to the concerns of competition inherent tothe key components of the markets, this approach would lead to the reconciliation of morality and the economy of the markets themselves

In 2005, the House of Commons (HoC) Health Committee produced a report on The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry – the first of its kind since 1914. The inquiry concluded that there were ‘over-riding concerns about the volume, extent and intensity of the industry’s influence, not only on clinical medicine and research but also on patients, regulators, the media, civil servants and politicians’, and stressed the need ‘to examine critically the industry’s impact on health to guard against excessive and damaging dependencies’ (HoC 2005, p. 97). It also noted that it is important to comprehensively analyse pharmaceutical regulation in order to ascertain whether there are systemic problems: In some circumstances, one particular item of influence may be of relatively little importance. Only when it is viewed as part of a larger package of influences is the true effect of the company’s activity recognised and the potential for distortion seen. The possibility that certain components of any such campaign are covert and their source undeclared is particularly worrying. (HoC 2005, p. 97) This study addresses this recommendation and was primarily conducted to examine whether recognised concerns are merely ad hoc or as a result of systemic flaws in the current system of pharmaceutical regulation. The work addresses a gap in the academic literature by drawing on the fragmented criticisms of the pharmaceutical industry in order to produce a model to illustrate how various stakeholders collaborate with drug companies to promote licensed products, and to explore the nature of the relationships between these elite stakeholders. The thesis begins with a literature review which determines who is involved in pharmaceutical regulation; how the regulatory system works; and explores the key role of communication in this process (Chapters 1 to 3). The recurrent theme is the neglect or exclusion of the patient/consumer, which leads to the development a model of intra-elite communication in drug regulation called Pharmaffiliation (Chapter 3). The thesis then looks for evidence to support or refute this model, using multiple methods (Chapter 4). Four case studies (with specific selection criteria) are chosen to test the model’s constructs and indicators (Chapters 5 to 8). The research uncovers systemic problems in the current system of pharmaceutical regulation which can ultimately harm the patient/consumer, and the implications of these findings are discussed (Chapter 9). Solutions on a micro-level include consumer involvement in decision making processes, which can be enhanced through public education and awareness campaigns and the instigation of public inquiries whenever drugs are withdrawn from the market (HoC 2005, p. 105). On a macro-level, however, this will involve critically exploring neoliberal capitalism and the empowerment of the citizenry (Street 2001).

Defence date: 29 September 2014
Examining Board: Professor Pepper D. Culpepper, EUI (Supervisor); Professor Adrienne Héritier, EUI (Co-supervisor); Professor Steven Casper, Keck Graduate Institute; Professor David Coen, University College London.
This thesis is an account of international efforts to assess and control the possible human health and environmental effects of nanotechnologies. I show how the desire to reap the benefits of nanotechnologies has led decision-makers in America and Europe to adopt very similar policy strategies. While political reactions thus are largely comparable, industry responses however differ remarkably. The diverging industry reactions to comparable state policies invite a closer inspection of the institutional drivers of business behavior in regulatory politics. I trace the roots of the varied business responses through two case studies that explore how the institutions and processes of national chemical control regimes link to the strategic risk-benefit calculations of companies. I examine the policies developed to regulate the risks of nanomaterials in Britain, Denmark, Germany and the United States and compare the role of industry in the four countries' regulatory processes. I argue that the capacity of state bureaucrats to credibly commit to regulatory outcomes shapes the political behavior of business. In areas of high scientific and technical uncertainty, such as nanotechnologies, new information can exercise significant influence on regulatory agendas, priorities and policies. This can work in industry's favor, if disclosing information succeeds in convincing state bureaucrats to make decisions that benefits industry. Companies will however only volunteer information about their operations if they are confident that it will not be used to the detriment of their interests. I demonstrate how concentration of regulatory powers in executive bureaucracies and deliberative institutions structure business expectations about the probable behavior of state authorities, and how such institutions can convince companies to entrust state bureaucrats with sensitive information. The thesis in short speaks to the significant business influence over the outcome of regulatory politics that flows from the power to disclose, bias and withhold information from state authorities.

The concept of ethical leadership has been intrinsically evident for over a century, but studies have only recently been documented that have attempted to observe and analyse the phenomenon. The concept has become more popular in the information age as companies start to employ additional knowledge workers who search for enhanced meaning in their respective occupations. The gold mining industry in Africa has improved substantially as conflicts have subsided slightly. As such, industry leaders need demonstrate better skills of engagement when managing legacy issues. While the shareholders’ interest remain high on leaders’ radar, leaders need effectively manage operations to address issues that might not be immediately evident in balance sheet, but that nonetheless have an effect on economic sustainability of the gold mining entities. Given that the concept of ethical leadership is known, there are still scandals that have recently been documented that involve leaders who have made decisions that led to demise of entities for which they were responsible. The purpose of this research was to explore ethical leadership and its association with sustainable economic performance within gold mining industries. The study aimed to analyse companies that have an African footprint, while originating from South Africa. A qualitative research method was employed following a phenomological approach to obtain insights of how African leaders have operated gold mines in Africa and have managed operations that performed very well. The aim was to crystallise and distil the findings for the use by future leaders so that they could avoid future scandals and not destroy shareholder value and disappoint stakeholders. The personal and leadership traits of ethical leaders were reviewed with the aim of determining the mental development that would be required, as well as which aspects would require consideration when determining the effects on economic sustainability. The African leaders interviewed were familiar with the concept of ethical leadership, economic sustainability and implicitly understood the association of ethical leadership with economic sustainability. The concept of ethical leadership generated two new terms, as described by the interviewees that could be infused to the definition to cater for an African context. The concept of “Ubuntu” and “displaying appropriate conduct” were the two terms that were derived from the leaders. The concept of greed was identified as a strong impediment towards economic sustainability. The gap of iii displaying that ethical leadership has a favourable outcome towards economic sustainability was demonstrated. By attempting to close this gap, it could help curb unemployment rates, as decisions would be made differently. From the propositions made, which were all proven successfully, there remains opportunities for future quantitative studies to be undertaken to add insight to the existing body of knowledge.
Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
zkgibs2015
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
Unrestricted

LL.M. (Human Rights Law)
Figures released recently by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs indicate that rhino are being poached in South Africa at an alarmingly high rate, meaning that they are being used like a never-ending commercial resource. It has been debated in South Africa that, if legal trade in rhino horn were to be introduced, it may be a solution to curbing rhino poaching. There are animal rights views that condemn the use and exploitation of nonhuman animals for the financial gain of human beings, one of the foremost rights views being that of Tom Regan. In his view, he proposes ways in which nonhuman animals can be perceived as more than just commercial resources. He elaborates on how nonhuman animals can be regarded as beings in their own right with a unique value that entitles them to respectful treatment and, at the very least, protection from harm and cruel treatment. Analyses and arguments made in this dissertation are not rooted in what the economic consequences of having trade in rhino horn would be. They are rooted in morality and in law to demonstrate why trade should be seen as a solution that is a last resort to curbing rhino poaching. The first chapter of this dissertation concerns itself with unpacking the central tenets and principles of Regan’s rights view in the context of how nonhuman animals can be regarded as beings rather than resources. The second chapter provides an analysis of approaches in environmental ethics that are relevant for preserving the rhino for future generations and how this could be achieved with reference to Regan’s rights view. The third chapter deals with the application of Regan’s rights view to legal and illegal trade in rhino horn. This will also include evaluation of plausible methods for securing rhino horn that are available in the event that legal trade in rhino horn is accepted as a solution to the current rhino poaching situation in South Africa.

The South African property sector is characterised by property practitioner firms that fail to comply with the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) code of conduct and firms having inefficient systems which are unable to combat hacking and cybercrime in the sector. Although property practitioner firms have systems and processes in place, there are still instances of unethical behaviour. Failure to prevent client personal information from being leaked is still a major problem in the sector, this issue can be addressed by demonstrating due diligence with respect to safeguarding sensitive information. The accuracy of information is also a problem in the sector and requires firms to resort to analysing collected data before capturing it, in order to maintain accuracy. The sector encounter illegal access to systems including breaking the password protected websites and password protection on a computer system. The objectives for this study were to investigate the extent to which firms enforce Information Ethics (IE), explore the systems and processes put in place by firms to enforce IE and to explore the challenges experienced by the firms in the Gauteng province when enforcing IE. The study was qualitative in nature and indepth interviews were conducted to gather information from five managers and five employees within the firm situated in Gauteng province. The study found that these property practitioner firms enforce IE to a certain extent. These firms use (22) systems and processes to enforce IE and experienced (5) challenges during the enforcement of IE. The study concludes that these property practitioner firms enforce IE using different systems and processes and experience challenges during enforcement. The list of IE enforcement systems and processes and challenges identified in this study will assist policy makers in compiling IE policies. The findings will also assist firms in IE enforcement and reduction of IE enforcement challenges.
Business Management
M. Com. (Business Management)