The performance of South African shared services

 

 

R.R. Ramphal

Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, South Africa. ramphrr@unisa.ac.za

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Many South African companies are adopting the shared services methodology because this structure has led to lower operating costs, greater business efficiency, and improved internal service quality in international companies. Part of a doctoral study on shared services in South African companies shows that their business unit managers have not yet experienced positive rewards from their shared services. This article reports on this study, and suggests a larger-scale research project to validate these findings and to investigate the reasons for the poor performance.

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OPSOMMING

Baie Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye maak toenemend gebruik van die 'shared services'-metodologie omdat die struktuur daarvan kan lei tot 'n afname in operasionele koste, verbeterde besigheidseffektiwiteit, en verhoogde diensgehalte in internasionale maatskappye. n Doktorale studie oor 'shared services' in Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye wys daarop dat individuele besigheidseenheidsbestuurders nie n positiewe belewenis het met 'shared services' nie. Hierdie artikel verwys na dié studie, en stel voor dat 'n meer omvangryke navorsingsprojek onderneem word om die bevindinge te staaf, sowel as om die redes vir swak prestasie te ondersoek.

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REFERENCES

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1 The author completed a doctoral study in organisational leadership at the Business School of the Tshwane University of Technology.