On Wednesday evening, 21 June 2017, the annual EMS Faculty Awards Function took place. The EMS Faculty Awards Function is hosted to honour and celebrate the research and teaching achievements of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences staff members.

Dr Tania Maree, a senior lecturer in the Department of Marketing Management, was awarded the 2016 Best Junior Researcher Award for Management Sciences by the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Elsabé Loots. Dr Maree shares this award with Dr Nasima Carrim, a senior lecturer in the Department of Human Resource Management. This was Dr Maree’s first time receiving this prestigious award.

Prof Elsabé Loots presenting the Junior Researcher Award to Dr Tania Maree

Dr Maree’s 2016 publications explored various interesting research areas, such as consumer behaviour and social media, as well as advertising in South Africa. She was specifically praised for three articles which were published in 2016. One of the studies shed light on female consumers’ motives for joining apparel brand communities on Facebook, the level to which they engage on this brand community, their attitude toward the brand and their intentions of buying the brand. The study also investigated the interrelationships amongst these elements. The findings suggest that online brand communities have a measureable, positive impact on consumers’ brand attitude and their buying intention.  

A second article found that the theory of planned behaviour is very useful in predicting the consumption of speciality coffee in South Africa. This study will be of instrumental value to independent coffee roasters who wish to compete in this rising industry. Another study examined the racial diversity of South African women as portrayed in television advertisements. The results indicated that the current diverse landscape of women in South Africa was misrepresented in the advertisements broadcast on South African television channels. Dr Maree urged advertisers to realign the casting for their advertising in order to reflect our rainbow nation which will, in turn, assist brands to appeal to a larger, more lucrative market.

When asked about the function, Dr Maree noted that it was great to spend an evening celebrating the achievements of colleagues and friends. The Department of Marketing Management is extremely proud of Dr Tania Maree’s outstanding achievement, and we look forward to the many more awards that lie ahead!

Congratulations to each award recipient at this year’s Faculty Awards Fuction. The picture below features all the award recipients in the research category.

Front row (left to right): Dr Nasima Carrim, Dr Nicky Nicholls, Prof Jenny Hoobler, Dr Roula Inglesi-Lotz, Ms Cecile Janse van Rensburg. Back row (left to right): Ms Tanya Hill, Ms Astrid Schmulian, Prof John Hall, Dr Tania Maree, Mr Cobus Janse van Rensburg, Prof Chantal Olckers, Prof Madeleine Stiglingh, Ms Elmarie Louw, Dr Yoseph Getachew, Prof David Fourie, Prof Rangan Gupta.