Mthente Research and Consulting Services

Market & Consumer Insights

In a competitive economic climate, organisations cannot afford to make strategic business decisions without being thoroughly informed about current market conditions – the opportunities these offer, as well the risks and constraints.

We conduct market analysis and business intelligence across diverse economic sectors to inform: strategic business decisions, issues relating to market competitiveness, consumer insights, the re-launch and design of products and value propositions, decisions relating to market expansion and the entry of new markets. Our results similarly inform marketing and communication strategies, and assist in enhancing brand reputation. Our approach includes both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, centred on one-on-one in-depth interviews, focus groups across diverse communities, as well as surveys.

See a selection of our past and current projects:

Foote, Cone & Belding, for the Road Accident Fund: Brand Marketing & Communications Research, and Brand Audit

Mthente was commissioned by Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) to determine the effectiveness of the Road Accident Fund’s (RAF) marketing and communication campaign. The goal of the RAF campaign had been to achieve raised awareness of issues relating to road safety, RAF service offerings, and a positive change in behaviours amongst road users and pedestrians.

The RAF is undergoing a fundamental change in its operation and will be replaced by a new dispensation in the form of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS). Therefore, the insights and learning from this research was used to inform the new RABS brand, logo and corporate identity, as well as the development of its marketing and communications strategy, creative offering, and marketing and communication plans.

The research was informed by a desktop review, a desktop audit of the RAF brand, and a behavioural and attitudinal snap survey to probe the public’s attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, perceptions and awareness along the new RABS customer journey.

City of Cape Town, Arts and Culture Department: Delft Cultural Mapping Framework

Mthente was commissioned by the Arts and Culture Department (ACD) of the City of Cape Town to develop a Cultural Planning Framework for Delft, in collaboration with Delft’s arts and culture stakeholders. The Framework included a detailed action plan in order to provide strategic direction.

The desired outcome of the research was to develop a broad framework of long range goals to form the basis for more specific planning work in the future. This project involved extensive stakeholder engagement with the Delft community, local leaders and people involved in arts and culture, which was supported by extensive secondary research on the area.

City of Cape Town, Arts and Culture Department: Testing and updating of the draft Cultural Mapping Toolkit

Mthente was commissioned by the Arts and Culture Department (ACD) of the City of Cape Town to ‘test’ their draft Cultural Mapping Toolkit in the following previously mapped areas: Node 1: Bo-Kaap; Node 2: Woodstock, Salt River and Observatory; and Node 3: Kalk Bay and Simonstown.

This ‘testing’ resulted in Mthente updating the Cultural Mapping Toolkit and undertaking a mapping study in Hanover Park.

Small Enterprise Development Agency: Review of the current SEDA Incubation Ownership, Operation and Governance Model of the SEDA Incubation Programme

Mthente was commissioned by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) to undertake a review of its current Incubation Ownership, Operation and Governance Model of the SEDA Incubation Programme, in order to identify challenges with and/or gaps in the model, and to learn from best-practice incubation ownership, operational and governance models.

The review will be used as a basis for recommending changes or improvements to the current model in terms of effectiveness and agility.

Benchmark Study against Best Practice on Economic Transformation for the B-BBEE Commission

Mthente has been commissioned by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission (B-BBEE Commission) to conduct a Benchmark Research Study to identify best-practices on economic transformation in countries which have a similar political and economic background as South Africa, including the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). The B-BBEE Commission is an entity established in line with section 13 B (1) of the Amended B-BBEE Act No. 48 of 2013, under the administration of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). Strategically, this study will enable the Commission to achieve its mandate and accomplish its objectives, which among others include, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to advance transformation and safeguarding the outcomes of an inclusive economy based on international best-practice.

Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Western Cape Government: Premier’s Enterprise Recognition Awards (PERA), Awareness and Perception Study

The Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), Western Cape Government, through its sub-directorate: Department of Communication, commissioned research into the marketing and communication of the Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA).

The aim of the research was to:

assess the efficacy of advertising messaging; and
understand the motivation of businesses in entering the competition.

PERA was established to demonstrate the powerful potential of local entrepreneurs, create role-models and promote entrepreneurial activity amongst the youth and in communities at large. The Awards have been presented for the past three years during which time the number of entries has increased each year. However, the demographic profile of entrants and winners over the years was noted as a growing concern, with few entries received from black-owned businesses and from businesses located outside the metro. The information gathered from this research will be used to improve and enhance the 2016 PERA communication campaign.

Western Cape, Tourism and Investment Agency: Assessment of the Western Cape Agribusiness Investment Unit

The Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Agency (Wesgro) commissioned an evaluation of the confidence levels of existing investors in the Western Cape Agribusiness Investment Unit (AIU) and their experiences of engaging with the Unit. As the first point of contact for import, export and investment in the Western Cape, Wesgro manages the AIU through its Investment Promotion Unit (IPU). The assessment was used to improve the AIU services offered to investors and addressed the following thematic areas:

investment criteria and concerns influencing decisions to invest in agribusinesses in the Western Cape;
positive and negative investment experiences and interactions with the AIU; and
whether investor needs are being met by the AIU’s interventions and programmes.

Stakeholders perceived the AIU as a vital unit which contributes to the Western Cape’s attractiveness, especially in terms of investment promotion and agribusiness development and expansion. Among the successes expressed, access to information and being a supportive structure seem to be the most significant. However, it was highlighted that the AIU should conduct research within the agribusiness sector in order to provide information, act as a facilitator during the application process and provide post-investment follow up sessions.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): The Impact of Trade in Services for Employment

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) commissioned research exploring the services sector in South Africa to understand whether trade liberalisation within the sector has contributed to viable, sustainable employment over the past decade. The intention was then to publish the results of this research in one of UNCTAD’s annual publications. Employment and economic output data were employed to assess whether employment growth has kept up with GDP growth in the services sector. Desktop research was supplemented by data and econometric analysis, and reference was made to Lesotho as being the least developed country situated within the borders of South Africa.

Key findings from the analysis indicate that the services sector in South Africa has experienced higher average annual growth rates than those recorded in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. This has created an expectation that this growth will spill over into employment in other sectors.

Productivity SA: Development of Productivity Indicators for the Western Cape Fisheries Sector

Productivity SA (PSA) commissioned a study to develop productivity indicators for the fisheries sector in the Western Cape.

The objectives of the study were to:

evaluate different sub-sectors in the fishery sector;
identify the value chain of sub-sectors;
quantify seasonal patterns;
evaluate fish types;
identify periods and drivers of high productivity;
identify and quantify productivity indicators and patterns of sub-sectors; and
benchmark productivity indicators of the fishing sector between countries.

This research on the change in the productivity of fisheries provided information on the level of fishing effort and fish catch. Information was gathered in order to assess the competitiveness of the fishing industry. The study provided PSA with a document that can inform relevant initiatives within the fisheries sector in order to promote a culture of productivity as per PSA mandates.

The Small Enterprise Development Agency: Branch Establishment and Staffing Criteria Project

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), commissioned the development of guidelines for the establishment and staffing of Seda branches. Seda provides business development and support services for small enterprises through its national network, in partnership with other role players in the small, medium and micro-enterprise (SMME) sector. It also implements programmes targeted at business development in areas prioritised by the Government.

The guidelines developed by Mthente focus on:

setting up new Seda branches to deal specifically with the following five areas:

financial, political, societal and legal matters and practical arrangements such as geographical location;

criteria used to decide the nature of operations and activities;
staffing criteria and expected efficiency levels of each position; and
the amount of time required to establish a new Seda branch.

The guidelines were informed by a review of relevant best practice literature and information obtained from focus groups, in-depth interviews, and a survey among 139 Seda stakeholders.

See other works for SEDA

The Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd: Study on the Potential Market Gap in the Provision of Short-Term Trade and Finance Insurance Products for South African Exporters and Buyers of South African Goods and Services

The Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd (ECIC) commissioned a study on the market for the provision of short-term trade and finance insurance products for South African exporters and buyers of South African goods and services.

The objectives of the research were to:

gain an understanding of short-term trade finance and insurance products globally and in South Africa;
identify potential gaps in the market;
identify new short-term trade finance and insurance products; and
provide recommendations to streamline ECIC’s role in the trade finance market to ensure optimal utilisation of limited resources for South African exports abroad.

The methodology included:

a comprehensive literature review,
international benchmarking research, which examined trade financing and Export Credit Agency (ECA) activity in the United States of America (USA), Brazil and China; and
key stakeholder interviews to obtain in-depth understanding of the current shortcomings of the short-term trade finance and insurance market in South Africa.

This research provided input and insights to assist the ECIC in streamlining its role in the short-term credit insurance market so as to ensure optimal utilisation of limited resources.

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development: Research on the Minimum Age of Criminal Capacity

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ & CD) commissioned statistical information and an analysis that led to recommendations on whether the minimum age of criminal capacity should remain at 10 years, as provided for in Section 7(1) of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008) or whether the minimum age of criminal capacity should be raised.

The objectives of the project were to compile a record of:

statistics on the number of children from 10 years up to the age of 14 (per type of criminal offence category) who are alleged to have committed offences;
the type of offences that they allegedly committed;
the sentences imposed on these children, if they were convicted; and
the type of offences that did not go to trial because the prosecutor was of the view that criminal capacity would not be proved, the reasons for that decision in each case, and the ages of the children involved.

The research included the collection of statistical data in 92 identified courts across the nine provinces of South Africa. The courts were chosen by the DoJ & CD based on the high number of child justice cases reported in these courts in order to give a more detailed picture of the status of 10 to under 14-year-old children within the justice system.

In terms of Section 8 of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008), the research provided the Minister with the necessary information to present a report to Parliament detailing the research findings of the DoJ & CD with regard to the minimum age of criminal capacity.

The Funding Practice Alliance and Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement: Civil Society Research

The Funding Practice Alliance (FPA), under the auspices of Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement, commissioned a research study on civil society in South Africa to gain an understanding of how the civil society sector is resourced and to legitimate the sector as a crucial agent in the South African economy.

The research objectives were to:

determine where funding to civil society comes from (i.e. funding source);
determine where this funding goes to in terms of issue/sector and geography;
quantify how much the civil society sector contributes to employment (remunerated employment) as well as to training new graduates (non-remunerated employment / voluntary work); and
quantify how much the civil society sector contributes to the South African economy.

A sector scoping exercise and desktop review was conducted to provide an in-depth analysis of the civil society sector and also included the development of three country case studies (Brazil; India; and Kenya) highlighting the impact that a vibrant civil society can have on the country. These countries were selected on the grounds that each has a large and well-established civil society sector and also some economic, social and political similarities with South Africa. A list of key stakeholders was drawn from across the various sectors within civil society, covering CEOs and COOs of philanthropic organisations, academics, sector experts and government donors and departments working on civil society issues. Key variables employed for the selection and stratification of the research sample were: organisational type; geographic location; and sector focus. The sample frame was based on the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) database of 133,879 registered Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs). This resulted in 500 CSOs being interviewed and nine focus groups being conducted across the nine provinces.

Inyathelo, Institute Institutional Philanthropy Research Study

Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement commissioned a research study to better understand the size and scope of institutionalised private philanthropy in South Africa.

The objectives of the research project were to:

understand the size and scope of the local institutionalised philanthropic sector i.e. established charitable trusts and philanthropic foundations;
evaluate the impact of philanthropy within different sectors, including education, employment creation, and infrastructure development, but not excluding others; and
assess the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions supported by philanthropic foundations.

This research provided influential insights and information to better understand formal, institutionalised philanthropy in South Africa and will be of value not only to civil society, but also to private wealth management professionals, the South African Treasury and individuals interested in philanthropic endeavours. Research included an analysis of existing literature and definitions of philanthropy, and a consideration of the origins of, motivations for and trends in philanthropy (or giving) both in South Africa and internationally. Case studies on Ireland, Singapore and Egypt as well as case studies of South African Foundations and Trusts were developed to present an analysis of emerging innovative funding models such as donor-advised funds (DAFs); social impact bonds (SIBs) and social enterprises.