Vodacom is a South African telecommunications company that provides mobile voice, messaging, data, and converged services to over 110 million African customers. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Vodacom is majority-owned by Vodafone Group, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, and has a strong presence in South Africa, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Lesotho. The company has invested heavily in upgrading its network infrastructure and developing innovative digital products, including mobile payment solutions and Internet of Things (IoT) services. Vodacom is committed to driving social and economic development in its communities and has implemented several initiatives to promote digital inclusion and environmental sustainability. The company is focused on improving its data, messaging and voice profitability while maintaining a solid customer base. To achieve these goals, Vodacom has implemented effective managerial principle mechanisms.

Vodacom's managerial planning involves setting financial and strategic goals for the company. The company has a well-defined roadmap for increasing data and voice profitability, including increasing subscribers by 10% by 2024. Vodacom aims to provide high-quality data services to its customers and increase its voice profitability by improving its network coverage and capacity. However, it has been challenging to retain customers because improving customer service and offering innovative products to keep customers satisfied have been complex because of ineffective planning. The company also plans to expand its market share by acquiring new customers and retaining existing ones in developing economies like Namibia and Angola. Financial planning is a critical aspect of Vodacom's managerial planning. The company monitors its financial performance and takes appropriate measures to improve it. For instance, Vodacom has implemented a cost management program to reduce operational expenses while maintaining quality services.

Organising Vodacom's well-structured organisational and reporting structure facilitates effective communication and decision-making. The company has a hierarchical organisational structure, with a board of directors at the top, followed by the CEO and executive management team, and various departments such as marketing, finance, and operations.

The reporting structure at Vodacom is designed to ensure that information flows smoothly across the organisation. The company has a centralised reporting system where departmental heads report to the CEO or executive management team. This structure ensures that all decisions are made based on accurate information and that there is no information asymmetry within the organisation.

Vodacom is headed by its CEO, Shameel Joosub, who is responsible for the overall management and performance of the company. Joosub is a seasoned executive with vast experience in the telecommunications industry, having worked in various leadership positions in the sector.

The team is responsible for executing the company's strategy and driving performance. The strategy deals with two key challenges that include Regulatory challenges: The South African government has introduced several regulations aimed at reducing the cost of data and increasing competition in the telecommunications industry. And intense competition: The telecommunications market in South Africa is highly competitive, with several significant players vying for market share. This has led to aggressive pricing strategies, which have impacted Vodacom's revenues.

The leadership at Vodacom is committed to ensuring that employees are motivated and engaged. Keeping employees motivated and engaged is essential for any organisation to achieve its goals and objectives. Vodacom sets clear expectations: Employees need to clearly understand what is expected of them in their roles and how their performance will be measured. Regular feedback and performance reviews can help employees stay on track and feel valued, recognised and fairly rewarded for good performance: Recognising and rewarding employees for their achievements and contributions can help boost morale and motivation. This can be through bonuses, promotions, or public recognition.

Vodacom's robust performance management system measures employees' performance against set targets. The company also has a financial control system that monitors revenue and expenses to ensure that it meets its financial targets. Additionally, Vodacom has a robust information control system that safeguards its data and information from unauthorised access or use.

Question 7 (4)

Do you think Vodacoms objective: to expand its market share by acquiring new customers and retaining existing ones in developing economies like Namibia and Angola, is a good objective that is aligned with SMART principles?