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STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE: A CASE STUDY OF IMPERIAL HOLDINGS LTD.

Erin Walker

Research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration at the University of Stellenbosch

Supervisor: Professor Marius Ungerer

Degree of confidentiality: A

December 2010

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Declaration

By submitting this research report electronically, I, Erin Walker, declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification.

E. Walker

May 2010

Copyright © 2010 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved

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Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude and love for Jesus in giving me the strength and wisdom to complete this work. My beautiful wife, Janie, for all her encouragement and love. Professor Marius Ungerer for all his advice, guidance and help in unwinding the Imperial group case.

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Abstract

The main purpose of this research report is to create a case study of the JSE listed company, Imperial Holdings Ltd. around the theme of strategic leadership, entrepreneurship and organisational development. In a nutshell – the development of an entrepreneurial organisation into a professional organisation. The second purpose is to discuss literature around the theme of strategic leadership, entrepreneurship and organisational development. This topic was further broken down into five topics including strategic leadership, organisational strategy, owner start-up dynamics and entrepreneurship, owner transition and succession management, organisational and cultural change and the theory of organisational maturity development. Imperial Holdings Ltd. is a diversified industrial services and retail group with activities spanning...