UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Economic and Management Sciences
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
MNG2602: Contemporary Management Issues
Assignment 1 | Semester 2, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
MNG2602
Module Code:
Contemporary Management Issues
Module Name:
Imbokodo Manufacturing Group – Annual
Assignment Topic:
Report Case Study
Assignment 1
Assignment Number:
Department of Business Management
Department:
24 August 2026
Due Date:
46
Total Marks:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for Contemporary Management Issues, UNISA 2026
, UNISA | MNG2602 Contemporary Management Issues – Assignment 1
Section A: Annual Report
Question 1: Business-Level Strategy
Imbokodo Manufacturing Group operates three brands, each pursuing a distinct competitive
positioning that can be analysed through Porter’s (1985) generic strategy framework, which
holds that a firm builds sustainable competitive advantage either through cost leadership or
through differentiation, since attempting both simultaneously risks leaving the firm "stuck in
the middle" (Porter, 1985).
1.1 Umkhombe Signature: Differentiation Strategy (3 marks)
Identify which business-level strategy Umkhombe Signature is implementing. Theoretically
explain what this strategy entails and provide a quotation from the report to support your
answer.
Umkhombe Signature implements a differentiation strategy. A differentiation strategy entails
offering a product that is perceived as unique along dimensions that buyers genuinely value,
such as craftsmanship, design or exclusivity, so that the firm can charge a premium price
rather than compete purely on cost (Porter, 1985). The strategy succeeds when customers
are willing to pay more because the offering cannot easily be substituted by a standardised
competitor product. Umkhombe’s premium, handcrafted cookware and homeware, sold under
a distinctive copper whale-tail identity, exemplifies this positioning. The report confirms that
‘Customers value the individuality of each piece, and the team takes pride in that’ (Imbokodo
Manufacturing Group, 2025), which shows that the brand competes on perceived uniqueness
rather than on price.
1.2 KayaPure Essentials: Low-Cost Strategy (3 marks)
Identify which brand is implementing a low-cost strategy. Theoretically explain what a
low-cost strategy entails and provide a quotation from the report to support your answer.
KayaPure Essentials is implementing a low-cost (cost leadership) strategy. A low-cost
strategy entails becoming the most cost-efficient producer in the industry, typically through
economies of scale, lean processes and tight cost control, so that the firm can offer products
Page 2 of 12
College of Economic and Management Sciences
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
MNG2602: Contemporary Management Issues
Assignment 1 | Semester 2, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
MNG2602
Module Code:
Contemporary Management Issues
Module Name:
Imbokodo Manufacturing Group – Annual
Assignment Topic:
Report Case Study
Assignment 1
Assignment Number:
Department of Business Management
Department:
24 August 2026
Due Date:
46
Total Marks:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for Contemporary Management Issues, UNISA 2026
, UNISA | MNG2602 Contemporary Management Issues – Assignment 1
Section A: Annual Report
Question 1: Business-Level Strategy
Imbokodo Manufacturing Group operates three brands, each pursuing a distinct competitive
positioning that can be analysed through Porter’s (1985) generic strategy framework, which
holds that a firm builds sustainable competitive advantage either through cost leadership or
through differentiation, since attempting both simultaneously risks leaving the firm "stuck in
the middle" (Porter, 1985).
1.1 Umkhombe Signature: Differentiation Strategy (3 marks)
Identify which business-level strategy Umkhombe Signature is implementing. Theoretically
explain what this strategy entails and provide a quotation from the report to support your
answer.
Umkhombe Signature implements a differentiation strategy. A differentiation strategy entails
offering a product that is perceived as unique along dimensions that buyers genuinely value,
such as craftsmanship, design or exclusivity, so that the firm can charge a premium price
rather than compete purely on cost (Porter, 1985). The strategy succeeds when customers
are willing to pay more because the offering cannot easily be substituted by a standardised
competitor product. Umkhombe’s premium, handcrafted cookware and homeware, sold under
a distinctive copper whale-tail identity, exemplifies this positioning. The report confirms that
‘Customers value the individuality of each piece, and the team takes pride in that’ (Imbokodo
Manufacturing Group, 2025), which shows that the brand competes on perceived uniqueness
rather than on price.
1.2 KayaPure Essentials: Low-Cost Strategy (3 marks)
Identify which brand is implementing a low-cost strategy. Theoretically explain what a
low-cost strategy entails and provide a quotation from the report to support your answer.
KayaPure Essentials is implementing a low-cost (cost leadership) strategy. A low-cost
strategy entails becoming the most cost-efficient producer in the industry, typically through
economies of scale, lean processes and tight cost control, so that the firm can offer products
Page 2 of 12
