MNP3703 Assessment 2023
MNP3703: SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
ASSESSMENT NUMBER: 5
HONESTY DECLARATION
STUDENT NUMBER: __________________
The University of South Africa emphasises ethical values with regards to the preparation and
submission of all written assessments. Please consult Unisa’s Policy for Copyright Infringement
and Plagiarism.
Students who are guilty of plagiarism will receive 0 marks for the assessment. In addition, the
matter will be referred to Unisa’s Student Disciplinary Committee for misconduct.
The assessment will not be accepted unless this declaration has been completed and signed and
is included in the submission.
Declaration
I, (full names & surname): __________________________________________________
with student number: ____________________, declare the following:
1. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard.
2. I declare that this assessment is my own work. Where someone else’s work was used
(whether from a printed source, the Internet or any other source) reference was made
according to the Harvard referencing method.
3. I did not copy and paste any information directly from an electronic source (e.g., a web page
or electronic journal article) into this document.
4. I declare that no one has written or completed this assessment on my behalf.
5. I did not make use of another student’s previous work and submitted it as my own.
6. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of presenting it
as his/her own work.
7. I have referenced the relevant material correctly and responsibly by acknowledging the
sources in the text, as well as in the list of reference.
Signature: Date:
, MNP3703 Assessment 2023
Question 1: Eskom has been plagued by a series of operational and financial challenges, leading
to frequent power outages and load shedding in the country. External factors, such as
technological changes may affect relationships between buyers and suppliers. Relate how
technological changes affected the relationship between Eskom and MTN
A) Integration of Smart Grids: Eskom's potential investments in smart grid technologies can
offer real-time electricity consumption data to MTN, enabling them to optimize energy
usage, resulting in cost savings and more efficient operations. This data-sharing initiative
could foster a stronger partnership and facilitate more collaborative decision-making.
B) Renewable Energy Adoption: The adoption of renewable energy sources by either party
could reshape the dynamics of their relationship. If Eskom incorporates more renewable
energy, it might present MTN with environmentally-friendly power options, though this shift
could also impact pricing and contractual terms.
C) Technological Vulnerabilities: MTN's reliance on electricity for powering its network
infrastructure exposes it to vulnerabilities during power outages. Thus, Eskom's ability to
maintain a stable power supply becomes increasingly pivotal, potentially necessitating
investments in advanced infrastructure to ensure reliability.
D) Load Shedding's Ramifications: Technological strides have translated into heightened
energy consumption within the telecommunications industry. The unfortunate
consequence of load shedding and power interruptions in South Africa, stemming from
Eskom's operational and financial predicaments, has profoundly disrupted MTN's services.
Contemporary technology-driven enterprises like MTN heavily hinge on uninterrupted
power supplies to sustain network connectivity, data transmission, and customer services.
Load shedding has inevitably culminated in service disruptions and financial setbacks for
MTN.
E) Reliance on Electricity: MTN heavily relies on electricity to operate its network
infrastructure, including base stations, data centers, and communication towers. Any
disruptions or power outages can have a significant impact on MTN's operations, leading
to service disruptions and financial losses. Therefore, MTN became increasingly
dependent on Eskom to provide a stable and uninterrupted power supply.
MNP3703: SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
ASSESSMENT NUMBER: 5
HONESTY DECLARATION
STUDENT NUMBER: __________________
The University of South Africa emphasises ethical values with regards to the preparation and
submission of all written assessments. Please consult Unisa’s Policy for Copyright Infringement
and Plagiarism.
Students who are guilty of plagiarism will receive 0 marks for the assessment. In addition, the
matter will be referred to Unisa’s Student Disciplinary Committee for misconduct.
The assessment will not be accepted unless this declaration has been completed and signed and
is included in the submission.
Declaration
I, (full names & surname): __________________________________________________
with student number: ____________________, declare the following:
1. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard.
2. I declare that this assessment is my own work. Where someone else’s work was used
(whether from a printed source, the Internet or any other source) reference was made
according to the Harvard referencing method.
3. I did not copy and paste any information directly from an electronic source (e.g., a web page
or electronic journal article) into this document.
4. I declare that no one has written or completed this assessment on my behalf.
5. I did not make use of another student’s previous work and submitted it as my own.
6. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of presenting it
as his/her own work.
7. I have referenced the relevant material correctly and responsibly by acknowledging the
sources in the text, as well as in the list of reference.
Signature: Date:
, MNP3703 Assessment 2023
Question 1: Eskom has been plagued by a series of operational and financial challenges, leading
to frequent power outages and load shedding in the country. External factors, such as
technological changes may affect relationships between buyers and suppliers. Relate how
technological changes affected the relationship between Eskom and MTN
A) Integration of Smart Grids: Eskom's potential investments in smart grid technologies can
offer real-time electricity consumption data to MTN, enabling them to optimize energy
usage, resulting in cost savings and more efficient operations. This data-sharing initiative
could foster a stronger partnership and facilitate more collaborative decision-making.
B) Renewable Energy Adoption: The adoption of renewable energy sources by either party
could reshape the dynamics of their relationship. If Eskom incorporates more renewable
energy, it might present MTN with environmentally-friendly power options, though this shift
could also impact pricing and contractual terms.
C) Technological Vulnerabilities: MTN's reliance on electricity for powering its network
infrastructure exposes it to vulnerabilities during power outages. Thus, Eskom's ability to
maintain a stable power supply becomes increasingly pivotal, potentially necessitating
investments in advanced infrastructure to ensure reliability.
D) Load Shedding's Ramifications: Technological strides have translated into heightened
energy consumption within the telecommunications industry. The unfortunate
consequence of load shedding and power interruptions in South Africa, stemming from
Eskom's operational and financial predicaments, has profoundly disrupted MTN's services.
Contemporary technology-driven enterprises like MTN heavily hinge on uninterrupted
power supplies to sustain network connectivity, data transmission, and customer services.
Load shedding has inevitably culminated in service disruptions and financial setbacks for
MTN.
E) Reliance on Electricity: MTN heavily relies on electricity to operate its network
infrastructure, including base stations, data centers, and communication towers. Any
disruptions or power outages can have a significant impact on MTN's operations, leading
to service disruptions and financial losses. Therefore, MTN became increasingly
dependent on Eskom to provide a stable and uninterrupted power supply.
