Theses and Dissertations (Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS))

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/51280

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Influence of dynamic sensing capabilities on firm competitiveness and mediation role of inside-in innovation
Sennanye, Lebogang Jennifer (University of Pretoria, 2025)
The aim of the study is to determine the influence dynamic sensing capabilities on Firm Competitiveness and the mediation role of Inside-In Innovation. The study is done within the context of the South African energy companies, an industry undergoing profound structural and technological shifts. Hence, the research aims to deliver actionable insights for practitioners to enable robust innovation strategies that enhance Firm Competitiveness amid rapid change in the ecosystem. Furthermore, the research anticipated to close the theoretical divide in the mechanisms underpinning dynamic capabilities. Existing archetypes of open innovation fall short of explaining dynamic capabilities - mechanisms of transforming resource advantage into competitive advantage - because they omit Inside-In Innovation. Hence, the objective is to determine mechanisms underpinning Inside-In Innovation and its integration within dynamic capabilities frameworks. Positivism paradigm deploying deductive or quantitative research approach was deployed. Existing validated survey instruments were adopted for the study targeting a minimum of 150 responses to provide meaningful analysis closer to previous studies. Ethical considerations were adhered to, and the research rigour will be determined. The study is limited by its cross-sectional nature and reliance on self-reported data from participants. The results have shown that direct relationship between Dynamic Sensing Capabilities (DSC) and Firm Competitiveness (FC) is not statistically significant, while direct relationship between Dynamic Sensing Capabilities (DSC) and Inside-In Innovation (III) is statistically supported. Furthermore, the direct relationship between Inside-In Innovation (III) and Firm Competitiveness (FC) is statistically supported; however, the effect sizes are small indicating that complementary elements of open innovation may be required to strengthen the relationship. Lastly, H4 analysis shows that indirect path (DSC → III → FC) was considered statistically supported, while the direct path (DSC → FC) was considered not statistically supported; therefore, this indicates full mediation. Therefore, Inside-In Innovation provides mechanism of transforming resource advantage into competitive advantage and deeper reflections and reconfiguration of internal resources and processes enabling innovation, in so doing, closing the current gap in open innovation archetypes failure to explain dynamic capabilities mechanism.
Lines of defence for combined assurance models: a structured literature review
Mamotheti, Sethopo (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This structured literature review (SLR) evaluates the current state of knowledge on Combined Assurance (CA) by examining and integrating findings from peer-reviewed academic journals. Its objectives are to identify topics covered in CA research, and conceptual inconsistencies or ambiguities, revealing gaps that could enhance understanding, and assessing the maturity level of CA. Topics that emerged were identification of core components of CA and the main stakeholders involved, classifications of the stakeholders within the lines of defence framework, incorporation of lines of defence into various CA models, tools used to strengthen CA, the level of CA adoption in organizations, and the advantages CA provides. The continued use of the outdated Three Lines of Defence (TLoD) model, mixed opinions on the updated Three Lines Model (TLM) of whether it is an improvement or regression, and contradicting evidence of its effectiveness in the banking sector create ambiguity and inconsistencies around CA. Slow adoption of TLM, lack of consensus on board roles as line of defence, and resistance to internal audit leading CA efforts add to ongoing uncertainties. Research gaps include limited exploration beyond TLoD/TLM, a focus mainly on South Africa, lack of study focused on failure of CA to detect corporate scandals timely, and insufficient evaluation of CA’s role in providing assurance on unethical leadership risks. Most studies focus on outward-facing aspects, such as assurance on integrated reporting (IR), while giving little attention to inward-facing or internal perspectives. Although publications are increasing, CA remains underdeveloped. The SLR provides a thorough overview, identifies key trends, highlights gaps, and suggests directions for future research on CA.
The influence of AI-enabled tool adoption, digital footprints, and SME credibility on loan approvals: a quantitative study of South African SMEs
Motsatsi, Thabitha (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Information asymmetry remains a critical barrier to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) financing in South Africa, with traditional credit assessment mechanisms failing to recognise the creditworthiness of viable enterprises. Digital transformation and AI-enabled technologies present potential new signalling mechanisms that could bridge this gap. This quantitative study examined whether AI-enabled tool adoption, digital footprints, and SME credibility influence loan approval outcomes for South African SMEs that applied for loans within a 12-month period. Data were collected through structured surveys and analysed using Bayesian logistic regression to test four hypotheses grounded in signalling theory and information asymmetry theory. Results revealed that AI adoption demonstrated strong model-level evidence and moderate interaction effects with credibility, both receiving partial support/association. However, digital footprints and credibility independently showed insufficient evidence to reliably predict loan approval. Credibility functions as a complementary signal that gains relevance when combined with AI adoption or hard financial metrics. Traditional financial indicators such as firm size, operational maturity, and cash flow capacity remain primarily associated with lending decisions. The study concludes that while digital signals are acknowledged by lenders, they function as transitional indicators requiring institutional maturation before becoming decisive factors in South Africa's conservative banking environment.
Benefits realisation management: a structured quantitative literature review
Ashipala, Nangolo (University of Pretoria, 2025)
The relationship between benefits realisation management (BRM) and project success has been widely established in literature. BRM ensures that project value is created, serving as the critical link between project execution and strategic implementation. Research on BRM has been steadily growing over the years. Various themes, theories, contexts, and methodologies have been explored in the literature. This study builds on previous reviews in the field by providing a comprehensive review of the academic literature on BRM. I adopt a structured quantitative literature review approach to identify the prevailing context in which BRM has been studied, the dominant methodological approaches, themes, and theories applied over the past decade. My analysis found that BRM research has gradually expanded and become more diverse in terms of study contexts, research methodologies, thematic scope, and the application of theories. However, despite this progress, BRM research remains unevenly distributed. Most studies in the field still focus on the meso-level of the IT/IS sector in developed economies. Methodologically, the literature remains dominated by qualitative research. The application and development of independent theories in BRM research also remain sparse and fragmented. Future research should thus focus on expanding the contextual and methodological diversity. There is also a need for more theory development and integration in BRM research.
Exploring how adaptive leadership is enacted and experienced in the South African aviation industry, and how it influences employee adaptive performance in a complex and evolving operational context
Simelane, Jazman (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This study explored the experience and implementation of adaptive leadership in South African aviation organisations, a sector characterised by regulatory complexity, technological upheaval, and strict safety standards. The research aimed to understand the interaction between leadership behaviours, organisational conditions, and employee adaptation in maintaining performance amid a changing environment. Using an interpretivist worldview and a phenomenological approach, the study employed qualitative methods, including 16 semi-structured interviews with leaders and employees from various aviation organisations. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns of meaning within participants' lived experiences. The findings show that adaptive leadership in aviation is marked by evidence-based decision-making, empowerment, and the creation of psychological safety. Organisational structures and cultures either support or hinder adaptation, with decentralised decisionmaking and alignment of policies and practices identified as key enablers. Resilience, learning agility, proactivity, emotional intelligence, and especially spiritual grounding all enhance an employee's capacity to adapt. The research suggests that adaptive leadership and adaptive performance are interconnected processes fostered by a culture that emphasises learning within the organisation. The study introduces an improved conceptual framework that integrates leadership, organisational, and individual elements of adaptability, offering practical guidance for developing adaptable capabilities in safetycritical environments.
Exploring the role of digital leadership in advancing digital accessibility and perceived inclusion of employees with disabilities in South Africa
Rajagopal, Melanie (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Digital transformation has redefined how organisations function, yet people with disabilities remain excluded from fully participating in digitally mediated workplaces. This study explores how digital leadership influences digital accessibility and perceived inclusion among employees with disabilities in South Africa. The research addresses key gaps, the lack of empirical frameworks linking leadership behaviours to accessibility outcomes, limited understanding of how accessibility mediates inclusion experiences, and scarce evidence contextualised to South Africa’s socio-economic and legislative landscape. Guided by Transformational Leadership Theory, Organisational Inclusion Theory and the complementary philosophy of Ubuntu, the study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design using a survey. While the small sample limits statistical generalisability, the findings provide valuable exploratory insights for theory refinement and policy advancement. Results revealed strong, positive correlations between digital leadership and digital accessibility, and between accessibility and perceived inclusion. Mediation analysis confirmed that digital accessibility fully mediates the relationship between leadership and inclusion. The direct effect of leadership on inclusion was non-significant, identifying accessibility as an essential, practical mechanism through which leadership intent must be translated to achieve perceived inclusion. The study contributes a contextually grounded model of digitally mediated inclusion, advancing theory and offering practical insights for leaders and policymakers to embed accessibility as an ethical and strategic imperative within South Africa’s evolving digital workplace.
Enhancement of the role of strategic leadership to ensure a successful turnaround strategy
Phungula, Gugu (University of Pretoria, 2025)
The cement industry has faced prolonged operational, financial, and competitive pressures stemming from declining demand, rising operating costs, infrastructure backlogs, regulatory constraints, and intensified competition from imports and new rivals. These challenges and new dimensions underscore the urgent need for effective turnaround strategies that restore organisational stability and long-term capabilities. The study examines how to enhance strategic leadership to ensure successful turnaround implementation in the cement industry. Considering leadership theory and turnaround strategy literature, the research identifies key indicators signalling when a turnaround is required, including continuous financial decline, operational inefficiencies, loss of market share, and critical skilled personnel. It further analyses the internal factors that the company can influence and the external factors that it has less influence over, which affect the design and execution of turnaround strategies. The study followed an exploratory qualitative methodology to investigate research questions. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with nine senior-level participants in the cement industry. The findings showed that adaptive leadership, which improves operational efficiency and promotes effective cost management and employee engagement, is vital for driving performance recovery, regaining market share, and rebuilding organisational capabilities. The study recommended that leadership development should emphasise strategic clarity, operational discipline, people engagement, and skill enhancement to enable the company to improve efficiency and create a competitive edge in a rapidly changing and challenging business environment. The insights benefit both academia and industry by connecting theoretical ideas with real-world leadership demands, providing practical guidance for leaders managing complex turnaround situations.
Digital pathways to innovation: assessing social commerce’s impact on product development and business growth
Novakova, Michaela (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Over the past two decades, social commerce had become an essential dimension of digital transformation, enabling small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to engage customers and pursue new forms of innovation and growth. Despite its growing importance, there was limited empirical evidence on how digital adoption translated into measurable organisational outcomes, particularly in developing economies. This study examined how the adoption of social commerce influenced product innovation and business growth among South African SMMEs. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), Resourced- Based View (RBV) and Consumer Innovation Theory, a quantitative research design was employed. We collected data through an online survey of SMMEs operating for more than 3.5 years and analysed it using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results showed that while social commerce adoption strongly influenced product innovation, it was the innovation that ultimately drove business growth. The direct link between social commerce and business growth was not statistically significant, suggesting that social commerce adoption on its own did not translate into higher income unless it was used to develop new products or services. These findings highlighted innovation as the practical route through which social commerce could improve firm outcomes and to help small enterprises to grow. They also offered direction for entrepreneurs and policymakers working to build more competitive and sustainable SMMEs in South Africa.
Evaluating the effectiveness of CSR initiatives in enhancing community development and social welfare
Njapha, Ntombifuthi (University of Pretoria, 2025)
The 21st century has seen the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) transition dramatically from peripheral philanthropic endeavour to, for many organisations, an integrated strategic imperative for sustainable and inclusive growth. While Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, a persistent practical problem remains: the effectiveness and sustainability of these CSR initiatives in addressing systemic community needs is generally unclear. This practical disconnect is rooted in a fundamental theoretical tension, as existing global evaluation frameworks possess a Eurocentric bias that prioritises capital market metrics, consequently failing to capture the Relational Accountability (Ubuntu/Stakeholder Theory) essential for local legitimacy and long-term transformation in contexts like South Africa. The objective of this study was, therefore, to explore the effectiveness of CSR initiatives in enhancing community development and social welfare, using Company X's initiatives in a community in the south of Johannesburg as a case study. This study employed an exploratory, qualitative case study design. The research was executed by conducting 14 semi-structured interviews with a diverse range of project stakeholders, including corporate staff, operational personnel, community beneficiaries, and NGO partners. The data was analysed using an inductive thematic approach to capture the subjective meanings and experiences of the participants. This primary data was triangulated with secondary documentary evidence, including internal strategic documents, the project charter, and official municipal agreements. The findings showed that while positive contributions were made, internal and external structural and governance issues often limited their effectiveness. Critically, there was no formal framework consistently used to evaluate the long-term impact, and Company X's global CSR imperatives were often misaligned with the contextual needs of the South African community they were serving. Hence, an emergent outcome of this study was the development of an Afrocentric Model to prioritise contextual community needs, relational ethics, and capacity building. The study highlights the need for more inclusive and sustainable CSR initiatives that prioritise actual community needs through meaningful engagement between all companies, government, and communities.
The role of resilience and well-being in enhancing employee engagement
Naidoo, Charissa (University of Pretoria, 2025)
An investigation into the correlation between three primary contracts was the objective of the research study. The focus was on the three primary constructs of resilience, well-being, and employee engagement, with the Conservation of Resources theory as the theoretical underpinning. This research study aimed to establish the impact of resilience and well-being, as personal resources, on employee engagement within the South African financial services industry. The research design employed a positivist quantitative methodology, using a structured survey questionnaire distributed across the South African financial services industry to examine the causal relationships among the three constructs: resilience, well-being and engagement. The study was a cross-sectional research design. The findings of this study suggest that individual resilience, a key personal resource, enables well-being and has a direct impact on employee engagement in the workplace. Higher levels of well-being are directly linked to higher levels of employee engagement, whereas the same was not found to be true for resilience. Therefore, employees with high levels of resilience may be able to withstand high pressure and stress, which may enable engagement; however, this will not sustain engagement levels over a longer period of time. The findings of this study reinforce a balanced approach to cultivating resilient employees and simultaneously fostering healthy and supportive work conditions. Thus, in doing so, the organisation creates a workforce that is enabled with high levels of engagement. The study aimed to test established theory and was therefore not intended as a theory-building study. Practical recommendations were established based on the study’s findings, which organisations can implement to enhance employee engagement and overall organisational performance, thereby contributing to the field of organisational psychology and workplace policy and practice.
Exploring how leadership-followership dynamics contribute to psychological safety in workplace settings
Mukwevho, Witness (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This research examined how leadership-followership dynamics contribute to the co-construction of psychological safety in workplace settings. Psychological safety emerged as a relational climate shaped through continuous, bidirectional exchanges: leaders set the tone through encouragement and humility, whilst followers sustained this climate through constructive engagement and voice behaviours. Situated within an interpretivist paradigm, semi-structured interviews across diverse organisational sectors explored the relational conditions enabling or constraining safety. Thematic analysis revealed psychological safety as not being a fixed state, but as a negotiated process shaped by the agency of both leaders and followers. Key themes included encouraging behaviours, open communication, followership styles, and the influence of power distance. The study extends Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) theory by positioning psychological safety as a relational outcome instead of a leader-driven construct. It further advances followership theory by demonstrating how followers actively reinforce emotionally safe environments through trust-building and shared decision-making. Practical recommendations for stakeholders are offered, alongside avenues for future research.
The influence of social capital on organisational resilience in the context of a developing country entrepreneurial ecosystem
Molefe, Shathani (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are essential to the growth and sustainability of economies across the globe. The survival rate of SMEs beyond three years is low in many countries including Botswana. Therefore, organisational resilience is critical for the growth and sustainability of developing county economies. Some of the factors that impacted organisational resilience were established to be institutional foundations, policy frameworks, processes and practices, entrepreneurial mindset, and level of collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The research was designed to be an exploratory qualitative study that explores how SMEs utilized their social capital to access the ecosystem actors and other entrepreneurial ecosystem participants through their social networks to gain access to resources, information and funding for survival and resilience during business challenges and crises. Research data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with SME owners as well as ecosystem actors in the public and private sector who support SMEs in the agriculture, tourism, and technology sectors in Botswana. The study outcomes contribute to the literature and provide recommendations for enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystems’ effectiveness and social capital influence for SME resilience.
Exploring green innovation: organisational resources and product and market reconception
Mokoena, Mmapula (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This study investigates how organisations develop organisational resources (OR) to reconceive products and markets for green innovation (GI) in South‑African organisations, addressing a gap between sustainability rhetoric and practical integration. Using an interpretivist, qualitative design, semi‑structured interviews were conducted with 14 mid-to senior level leaders across various sectors (construction, consumer goods, FMCG, retail, pharmaceuticals, papermaking and recycling) and analysed through thematic analysis. Findings identify stakeholder pressure, including regulatory, customer, investor and competitor demands, as the primary external driver of GI, while leadership commitment, expressed through governance, personal conviction and resource allocation, functions as an important internal catalyst. Resource and integration constraints emerge as barriers. Core organisational resources enabling GI comprise employee green skills and empowerment, technology adoption coupled with knowledge‑management systems, and embedded research‑and‑development practices. Additionally, external partnership collaborations and brand positioning can help to build market legitimacy and are essential for product and market reconception. The results underpin an updated conceptual framework linking drivers, barriers, organisational resources, offering managerial guidance for building dynamic capabilities and orchestrating stakeholder alignment to sustain GI. The study contributes to the sustainability literature by empirically mapping the resource‑building processes of organisations operating under emerging‑market constraints and by highlighting the nuanced interplay between internal capabilities and external pressures in achieving green product and market reconception.
Investigating the continuance use intention of omnichannel retailing in South Africa: the role of customer experience
Khumalo,Shatadi (University of Pretoria, 2025)
The rapid evolution of retailing has been driven predominantly by digital transformation, necessitating retailers to integrate online and offline channels to enhance customer engagement and experience. South African retailers are increasingly adopting omnichannel strategies to provide seamless shopping experiences across digital and physical channels. However, determining the role of customer experience in the continuance use intention of omnichannel’s seems to be sparsely investigated. This study investigated the role of fashion retailer’s customer experience in the continuance use Intention of omnichannel’s in South Africa. To address the purpose of this study, the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) and Customer Experience Model (CX) were integrated to develop the conceptual model. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted. An online self-administered survey was conducted, which obtained 233 respondents who made use of fashion omnichannel’s in the past 12 months. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analysed using SPSS version 30. The findings revealed strong empirical support for seven among the eight proposed hypotheses, evidently customer satisfaction did not significantly influence customer experience when using a fashion retailer’s omnichannel. This study provides practical insights for South African fashion retailers, emphasising the need for integrated customer-centric omnichannel strategies to enhance satisfaction, drive desirable customer experiences and overall continuance use intention of fashion retail omnichannel.
The influence of narrative persuasion on the intent to acquire financial literacy amongst South African football players and the mediating effect of identification with character
Jasone, Mpho (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This study’s focus explores the relationship between message type exposure (narrative and non-narrative) and behavioural intention of football players to acquire financial literacy with the objective of understanding effective communication when it comes to financial education engagements with South African football players. With reported post-career financial demise of football players and absence of compulsory retirement pension structures within the football landscape, exploring effective ways to engage South African football players with regards to retirement planning is essential. Using an experiment strategy, this study compares the impact of narrative and non-narrative message exposure on behavioural intention to acquire financial literacy amongst South African football players and deploys quantitative methodology to report on the findings of the study. The findings reveal that both narrative and non-narrative message increase intent to acquire financial literacy, with football players exposed to narrative messaging showing higher levels of character identification. The study makes recommendation for integration of narrative message stressing the importance of financial planning within the financial education programmes presented to South African football players. At the core, this study underscores the importance of tailoring financial education programmes and marketing initiatives to first achieve psychological shift of football players with regards to their attitudes and intention toward financial literacy acquisition.
Transitions through organisational scaling phase: a founder’s role
Heymans, Alexis (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Entrepreneurial start-up organisations that do manage to grow and scale, possess the opportunity to make a positive impact on the economy and the national competitiveness of a country. Job creation is a direct impact of organisational growth and as such, South Africa with a high unemployment rate, needs organisations to grow. Much of the growth and scaling ability of the organisation, rests on the business founder and their capabilities, highlighted by the transformation within their role as the organisation grows. This research seeks to contribute to the understanding of organisational scaling and the complexities that are congruent to the process of scaling, including the anticipation and preparation for scaling. The focus is pertinent to the founder’s role during this transition phase. A qualitative research design approach, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 participants that have founded South African organisations and were in the process of scaling or had scaled. The findings grouped as themes, revealed founder engagement with various activities during the scaling phase.
Through a prime lens: a review of the extension of protection motivation theory to study user information security behaviours within organisations
Williams, Alfred (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Information security breaches have become more prevalent and severe for organisations, with users often being labelled as both the cause of such breaches and, lately, the first line of defence against such breaches. The dual role of users in information security has led to the study of user information security behaviour, especially in understanding the factors that influence users' motivation to behave in a manner that enhances or exposes organisational information security. Behavioural Information Security, a field dedicated to the study of user information security behaviour, has emerged and grown to provide a sturdy foundation for scholarly advancements in the field; however, the literature has remained contradictory and divergent. Although reviews have been conducted to address the disjointed literature, this review employs Protection Motivation Theory as a primary theory to synthesise the literature, examining how it has been extended in specific contexts. In doing so, it highlights how the theory is integrated with others to understand user behaviour in organisational information security, using a common base. This paper reviews existing literature using the PRISMA framework, identifying and analysing prominent academic research papers in Behavioural Information Security. Eight dimensions that share commonalities with the Protection Motivation Theory in Behavioural Information Security were highlighted. These eight dimensions are examined, gaps identified, and a roadmap for future research is provided.
Mandatory audit firm rotation: a structured literature review
Nyane, Ramothamo (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This systematic literature review responds to the calls in previous literature to understand how Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation (MAFR) evolved post-its implementation. The review further examines the theoretical perspectives used to understand the development of MAFR and the factors that motivate the decisions made by various stakeholders regarding the implementation of MAFR. The main motives behind MAFR implementation are as follows: reduced audit market concentration, improved audit quality, and enhanced auditor independence. This review follows the methodological approach outlined in the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, which enables the systematic assembly, arrangement, and assessment of peer-reviewed academic articles. It employs thematic analysis to analyse the data. The findings reveal that the research has focused predominantly on audit quality, followed by auditor independence, and then audit market concentration. Audit market concentration was the least researched area, but the scholarship finds that MAFR is not the best antidote to resolve it; rather, it intensifies it. Regarding audit quality and auditor independence, the debate remains inconclusive, with no consensus reached on whether MAFR is the most effective solution to address these issues. This review contributes to the MAFR literature by identifying emerging themes and the theoretical drivers that add to the field.
A Structured literature review on AI-driven operations: exploring disruption, human value, and implementation challenges
Ntshalintshali, Mandisa (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This structured literature review explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping operations management through three interconnected lenses: disruption of traditional operational models, evolving forms of human participation, and the persistent gap between strategic intent and implementation. Drawing on 58 peer-reviewed studies across multiple sectors, the review identifies how AI reconfigures decision-making structures, challenges established routines, and introduces new organisational tensions. It highlights that effective AI integration depends not only on technological readiness but also on trust, governance, contextual alignment, and human capability. The review contributes a nuanced understanding of AI-driven operations and responds to recent calls for operations management scholarship to engage more deeply with the complexities of AI implementation. It concludes by proposing future research directions focused on human-AI collaboration, context-sensitive deployment strategies, and the development of governance models that balance performance, accountability, and adaptability.
A structured literature review of sustainability-focused strategic foresight research
Naicker, Prevashni (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This review examines the development of the agenda on sustainability-focused strategic foresight research since the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Progress toward achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda remains off track, underscoring the need for innovative, lateral, and pluralistic approaches to navigate growing global uncertainty. Strategic foresight is conceptualised as an instrumental approach in the global sustainability agenda by the United Nations, governments, organisations and scholars. The existing knowledge infrastructure was analysed in line with an established sustainable development framing architecture. Nine emerging research themes were identified, of which five are classified as key themes aligned with sustainability goals, namely, enhanced innovation, organisational capabilities, sustainability of natural resources, social cohesion and policy development. Four themes support the enabling environments, as capabilities and tools. These are individual cognition, methodological advancements, dynamic capabilities and digital tools. Significant observations are the disproportionate scholarly focus on goals and the consequent prominence of innovation and organisational research. Further, the low emphasis on societal benefit is pronounced and the inequitable geographical concentration is void of developing economies. This literature landscape review provides several opportunities and implications for future research.

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