helen mba _2 - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

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4.2.2 Types of researchSekaran (2003:119) is of the opinion that studies may be exploratory, descriptive, oraimed at hypothesis testing. The type of research used depends on the stage towhich information or knowledge about the research topic has advanced. A briefdiscussion of the three types of research will follow:• An exploratory study is undertaken when not much is known about theproblem situation, or when no information is available on how similar problemshave been solved in the past. Exploratory studies are thus undertaken to betterunderstand the nature of the problem (Sekaran, 2003:119).• A descriptive study is undertaken to describe the essential characteristics ofthe variables of interest, and produce a profile of behaviour. When largevolumes of data have been gathered from a variety of sources, it is necessaryto organise, summarise and extract the essential information contained in thisdata, for communication to management (Sekaran, 2003:119).• Hypothesis testing usually explains the type of relationships, or establishes thedifferences between groups, or the independence of two or more factors in asituation (Sekaran, 2003:119). Wegner (2001:214) writes that the reason forusing a hypothesis test is to establish whether a claim or generalisation madeabout the true value of a population parameter is true. To test these claims orassertions, sample data is gathered and analysed. On the basis of the samplefindings, the hypothesised value of the population parameter is eitheraccepted as probably true, or rejected as probably false. The process oftesting the validity of a claim about the true value of any population parameteris known as hypothesis testing.102
For the purposes of this study, the researcher chose the exploratory study, as notmuch is known about the intermodal industry in the NMMM. The intermodal industrybefore 2000 was a regulated industry served by the government-owned intermodalservice provider. The playing fields are now level. This has forced the oncegovernment-owned service provider to create a competitive advantage overcompetitors who have entered the intermodal market.4.3 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTIONAccording to Nel, Radel and Loubser (1990:142) there are fixed guidelines as towhich method a researcher should use for collecting data, the most important beingthat the researcher must collect the data as accurately and unambiguously aspossible.In the current study, a structured questionnaire was developed as an instrument forcollecting data, which the respondents would complete in the presence of theinterviewer. The following sub-sections discuss the design of the questionnaire,administering of the questionnaire, designing the structured interview, and use of theLikert scale as well as the sample selection and response rate.4.3.1 Questionnaire designParasuraman (1990:363) defines a questionnaire as a set of questions designed togenerate the data necessary for accomplishing a research project’s objectives.According to Sekaran (2003:237), the questionnaire design process needs to focuson the wording of questions, planning how variables will be categorised, scaled andcoded after the receipt of responses, and the general appearance of thequestionnaire.103
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THE IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS THAT
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI hereby wish to ex
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protection, human resource developm
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2.3.4 Competitive rivalry 372.4 SOU
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4.3.3.1 Section one : Demographics
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Figure 2.1 Porter’s diamond 13Fig
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LIST OF ANNEXURESPAGEAnnexure A Cov
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Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (
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activities at comparable cost but i
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core competences of establishing de
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Firms in every industry have some u
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• A survey was carried out in the
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surprise that the freight transport
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Source: Hill (2002: 159)According t
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attractiveness of a country as a pl
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generalised factor would be a pool
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The second determinant of Porter’
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This is because firms compete globa
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(c)Anticipatory buyer needsA countr
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the service or product buyer needs.
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arely a complete substitute, even i
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firm’s strategy, structure and ri
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Porter (1990:117) says domestic riv
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means of identifying the forces whi
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ased economies, and their trade pol
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Page 58 and 59: cost advantage. Successful cost lea
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Page 72 and 73: Source : Slack et al (2001 :116)The
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Page 84 and 85: also road movements, were performed
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Page 144 and 145: One of the goals of the National Tr
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Page 148 and 149: CIMEC. 2000. Annual report 1999/200
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Mattheus, B. 2002. Nelson Mandela M
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Strickland, A. & Thompson, A. 1999.
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19 May 2003For Attention:………
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Structured interview on the competi
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Section 2: Factors promoting compet
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Section 3 : Competitive advantagePl
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Section 5: Advantages and challenge
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