Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Roger Mason
Department of Marketing and Retail Management
Tel: +27 31 373 5385
Fax: +27 86 674 1196
Email: rogerm@dut.ac.za

 

 

 

I am an Associate Professor at Durban University of Technology. I have two roles: the first is in the Department of Marketing, Retail and Public Relations, while the second is as Research Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Management Sciences. In addition, I have been a visiting lecturer and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Wolverhampton, UK.

I obtained BA and PhD degrees from Rhodes University and an M.B.L. degree from the University of South Africa, as well as post graduate diplomas in Marketing Research and in Learning and Teaching, plus a Diploma in Marketing. I have presented papers at various international conferences in Europe, USA and Africa, and published in international journals such as Journal of Promotion Management, Industrial Management and Data Systems, Journal of Marketing Communications, Management Decision, and Journal of Enterprising Culture, as well as in South African journals.

I research in the fields of management, strategy and marketing, using a cross disciplinary approach involving the chaos and complexity sciences. My PhD, many of my articles and conference papers, and my current research is based on the principles of non-linear dynamics and complex adaptive systems. In addition to my own research, most of my time is dedicated to supervising and promoting masters and doctoral students, with current interests including business environment, marketing strategy and retail management. I have a close personal interest in space science and believe the area of management of space projects is an under-developed field in South Africa.

My main research outputs over the past five years include:

Journal articles

  • Mason, R.B. 2007. An exploratory study of the effect of the external environment on management and strategy: A complexity theory approach. Management Decision, 45(1), March, 10–28.
  • Mason, R.B. & Staude, G. 2007. A marketing mix model for the complex and turbulent South African environment: a complexity theory approach. Acta Commercii, 7, 236-254.
  • Mason, R.B. 2008. Word-of-mouth as a promotional tool for turbulent markets. Journal of Marketing Communications, 14(3), July, 207-224.
  • Mason, R.B. 2008. Management actions, attitudes to change and perceptions of the external environment: A complexity theory approach. Journal of General Management, 34(1), Autumn, 37-53.
  • Mason, R.B. & Staude, G. 2009. Marketing in turbulent environments: A complexity theory approach. Industrial Management & Data Systems. 109(2), 173-190.
  • Myeza, J., Mason, R.B. & Peddermors, V. 2010. Economic and social implications of the sardine run on local indigenous communities. African Journal of Marine Science, 32(2), 399-404.
  • Mason, R.B. 2011. Student engagement with, and participation in, an e-Forum. Journal of Education Technology & Society, 14(2), 258–268.
  • Corbishley, K. & Mason, R.B. 2011. Selection of Causes According to Socio-Demographic Status in South Africa. Journal of Promotions Management, 17(2), 228-240.
  • Corbishley, K. & Mason, R.B. 2011. Consumer Behaviour Towards Cause-related Marketing in the Greater eThekwini area. African Journal of Business Management, 5(17), 7232-9.

Conference papers

  • Mason, R.B. 2007. Word-of-mouth as a promotional tool for turbulent markets. Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Corporate And Marketing Communications, 2007, Middlesex University Business School, UK. 16 – 17 April.
  • Mason, R.B. 2007. Relationships between management, attitudes to change and perceptions of the external environment: A complexity theory approach. Proceedings of 3rd European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance, University of Winchester, UK. 19–20 April . ISBN 978-1-905305-43-8 cd.
  • Corbishley, K. & Mason, R.B. 2007. Consumer Behaviour Towards Cause-related Marketing in the Greater eThekwini area. Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Corporate And Marketing Communications, 2007, Middlesex University Business School, UK. 16 – 17 April.
  • Corbishley, K. & Mason, R.B. 2007. Selection of Causes According to Socio Demographic Status in South Africa. Proceedings of 3rd European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance, University of Winchester, UK. 19 – 20 April. ISBN 978-1-905305-43-8 cd.
  • Mason, R.B. 2008. Follow me, I’m right behind you: Leading from a complexity viewpoint. Read at 4th European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance 2008, 27-28 November, University of Reading, U.K.
  • Mason, R.B. 2011. Promotional Tactics In Turbulent Markets: A Complexity Theory View. Read at International Journal of Arts & Sciences’ (IJAS) National Conference for Academic Disciplines, University of Las Vegas, USA, March 7-10.
  • Mason, R.B. 2012. Product Tactics in a Complex and Turbulent Environment Viewed Through a Complexity Lens. Organized by: The Global Management & Information Technology Research Conferences. 14-17 June. Paper accepted.

Supervisions
D Tech

  • 2010. L Lekhanya. The use of marketing strategies by small, medium and micro enterprises in rural KZN

M Tech

  • 2007. J Myeza. The use of the sardine run as a marketing tool by indigenous business and its economic effect on the South Coast.
  • 2008. K Corbishley. Consumer behaviour towards cause-related marketing in the greater eThekwini region (distinction and dean’s award).
  • 2008. T Manana. Sardine run: analyses of socio-economic impact and marketing strategy in the South Coast region of KwaZulu-Natal (co-supervisor).
  • 2011. Portia Redmond. The influence of marketing communication on students’ decisions to enrol at Durban University of Technology.
  • 2012. N Ngobese. Client perception of service delivery in the South African Police Service Community Service Centres in the greater Durban area.