Introducing Molefe Isaac Fani, our esteemed doctoral candidate. We are thrilled as he reaches this significant milestone and prepares to venture into the next exciting phase of his journey. Molefe enlightens us about his career, offers insights into his academic journey with DaVinci, and briefly explores the exciting prospects that lie ahead.
DaVinci's doctoral candidate, Molefe Isaac Fani started his career as a chemical engineer at organisations such as Sasol Chemical Industries (SASOL) in Sasolburg, and BHP-Billiton in Richards Bay. He has also worked at Eskom, at various power stations, and was promoted to various positions; he was then moved to Grootvlei power station when Eskom took a decision to bring back the mothballed power stations. Molefe took the opportunity and became the commercial manager and was responsible for procurement and warehousing, with specific attention to capital projects procurement. The move also resulted in him having to look at different processes and business models in the supply chain and construction to ensure smooth return to service of the station. His fascination with SCM (Supply chain management), business processes and business enhancements were further sparked by working for CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Gauteng Provincial Treasury, Central Energy Fund (CEF), and National Treasury.
Presently, Molefe serves as the Divisional Commissioner of supply chain at South African Police Service. A qualified engineer, he currently holds a degree of Master of Commerce (MCom) in Business Management. Particularly interesting, Molefe is a doctoral candidate at DaVinci, set to graduate later in October.
To the man's perspectives, Molefe is of the view that change is a phenomenon that has affected all businesses the world over, thereby imposing strategies to ensure future economic development. However, he notes, designing a competitive strategy requires a business model for implementation; Molefe further recognises that business models play a fundamental role in facilitating the process of understanding, communicating, analysing and managing strategic orientation in the organisation. This observed phenomenon by Molefe was that despite the importance of the Gauteng Provincial Treasury (GPT) in ensuring strategic direction on provincial and local levels, there was no indication of implementing an agile and effective business model framework, he accords.
With that in mind, Molefe’s thesis, entitled: “Business models for business strategy implementation: A Gauteng Provincial Treasury framework”, the aim of which was to derive a business model framework for agile strategy implementation in public sector organisations. The study, following a rigorous process of data collection and analysis, as Molefe grants comprehensively, “found that the GPT adopted a strategy from the province called the Transformation Modernisation and Re-industrialisation (TMR) strategy. The TMR is developed from the national strategy called the National Development Plan (NDP). Development of strategy follows a rigid downward approach, being the National Development Plan, TMR and then the departmental plan. The study concluded that the organisation did not have a coordinated and defined model or framework for strategy implementation. Also, there was no evidence of ensuring that strategies are developed in an integrated manner for sustainable results. The indication was that there is a need to build a framework to ensure that strategies are integrated and provide sustainable results. A business model framework for strategy development and implementation was derived from the findings for application in public sector organisations. The study contributed to the body of knowledge in business leadership management and business model strategy development and implementation.”
Probed about this academic journey, Molefe says that it was an enjoyable one yet had its own challenges: “What I liked when we were inducted to the programme, the then Dr Stoltz-Urban promised us a customer experience, that made the difference in the journey. My employer allowed the seamless conducting of research, and the university was at a speed dial for enquiries. The curiorita was a necessary step, which prepared the path... I started being a step ahead at the workplace in the application of the framework that was developed in the study, without pronouncing that I am. My thinking process and approach to strategy formulation is way different now, and I am being acknowledged for thought leadership in some critical areas of strategy. I have been able to turn-around the performance of the division I am leading currently”.
When asked about what lies ahead in his path, Molefe hopes to venture into the academic space as a lecturer; and based on a recommendation, he is also set to write a book. Owing to his erudite manner, Molefe advises doctoral students embarking on this journey, saying, “it is life changing. Embark on it with an objective in mind. Do it to change someone’s life. Impact the world.”