Category Archives: Research

A Systems Thinking Approach to the Growth of the Creative Economy of Johannesburg

My full thesis, completed as part of my DPhil in Digital Transformation at the University of Johannesburg: Johannesburg Business School, now available to read. This thesis, titled “A Systems Thinking Approach to the Growth of the Creative Economy in Johannesburg,” investigates the application of systems thinking to foster the development of the creative economy in […]

Navigating the PhD Journey: What Worked for Me

Since sharing that I completed my DPhil in Digital Transformation at the Johannesburg Business School (University of Johannesburg) in two years, I’ve had lots of PhD candidates reach out asking how I managed it. This blog pulls together some of the tips and tricks that helped me stay focused and get through the mountain of […]

The Role of Entrepreneurship Training within Art and Design Departments at Universities: The Case of Johannesburg’s Creative Economy

Mariapaola McGurk – Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-4173 Natanya Meyer – SARChI Entrepreneurship Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3296-7374 First presented at the 17th International Business Conference, 2024, Stellenbosch AbstractThe 21st century has led to the emergence of new economies like creative,circular, and green economies, but […]

Systemic neglect of Johannesburg Art Gallery contrasts with creative industry growth

Mariapaola McGurk (PhD candidate Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg) and Prof Natanya Meyer (Professor, SARChI Entrepreneurship Education, University of Johannesburg) For over a decade, the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) has faced persistent challenges with little progress. Every year, public concern resurfaces over the potential loss of one of South Africa’s most significant art collections […]

The Creative and Cultural Industries of Jozi: A Mapping Study

Johannesburg, one of Gauteng Province’s trio of cities alongside Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, stands as the economic powerhouse of South Africa, boasting the seventh-largest economy on the continent. Referred to as the “financial and technological nerve of Africa,” Gauteng Province is primed for growth according to the Gauteng 2030 report, pinpointing Agro-Processing, Creative and Cultural Industries, […]

SURVEY: THROUGH YOUR LENS – Gaining insights into how Creative Practitioners Perceive the Creative and Cultural Industries and its Growth in the City of Johannesburg.

Find the survey THROUGH YOUR LENS – HERE or https://form.jotform.com/240924246146051 Do you work within the Creative and Cultural Industries in the City of Johannesburg? You could be behind the scenes as a researcher, an educator, a project manager, a hub manager, a practitioner, an artist, a small business owner, a marketing guru, a sound engineer […]