Constraints to the implementation of a market development approach to the delivery of business Development Services within the Makana municipal area
- Authors: Van Heerden, Garth William
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Makana Municipality Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Growth Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Public opinion Small business marketing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Unemployment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:814 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007746
- Description: South Africa's biggest challenge remains the high rate of unemployment especially among the country's youth. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have been shown to be instrumental in many third world economies as a sustainable means not only to address unemployment but also to contribute significantly to economic growth. Despite government's good intentions and support, the South African SMME sector is not growing as expected and this is impacting negatively on unemployment creation in the country. Good business development services (BDS) is necessary to support SMMEs and specifically the Market Development Approach to the provision of BDS, where subsidies are replaced by private payment for services. Makana municipal area provided scope for analysing the constraints to the implementation of such business development services. Analysing the scope and magnitude of the constraints in this setting would contribute to understanding the constraints also in other parts of the country and help officials in local economic development make better informed decisions regarding support to SMMEs. Authors like Rogerson (2011), UNDP (2004), Miehlbradt and McVay, (2003), the Committee of Donor Agencies for SME Development (Blue book) (2001) and Bear et al., (2001) Gibson (2001), propose that the key to sustainable BDS is the implementation of the Market Development approach which focusses on for-profit activities in the provision of BDS to SMMEs. The aim of this study was to examine perceptions of key stakeholders towards SMME support and development, to identify the constraints to the implementation of a Market Development approach to the provision of business development services to SMMEs in the Makana area and to make recommendations to the Makana LED office of possible intervention strategies to address identified constraints. Purposive sampling was used to identify key stakeholders in SMME support in the Makana area in the categories of, big institutional buyers, public and private BDS providers as well the municipal LED office. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each stakeholder using questions shown in appendixes A to D. Perceptions of all key stakeholders were very positive with good intentions to support SMMEs. However, this was not consistent with procurement practice at the big institutional buyers. Constraints are summarized in the following five themes: Theme 1. Inconsistent practice in dealing with SMMEs across the organisation. Theme 2. Absence of a cooperative body or Chamber of Commerce. Theme 3. Fragmented Business Development Services. Theme 4. A lack of a culture of cost recovery. Theme 5. Limited awareness of BDS in the Makana area. A number of recommendations were suggested. Big institutional buyers like Rhodes University and Makana municipality need to take a longer term view and move the focus from employment creation to enterprise support which is a more sustainable and empowering source of employment (ILO, 2009). The Grahamstown Chamber of Commerce should become more representative and big institutional buyers also need to be convinced of the value of private BDS. Stakeholders should work together to combine resources to offer a comprehensive one-stop BDS for the Makana area (Chetty, 2009) and this comprehensive BDS should be provided according to the Market Development approach focusing on those services that lend themselves better to this approach whilst using subsidies only for those services with a low potential for cost recovery (UNDP, 2004).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van Heerden, Garth William
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Makana Municipality Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Growth Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Public opinion Small business marketing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Unemployment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:814 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007746
- Description: South Africa's biggest challenge remains the high rate of unemployment especially among the country's youth. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have been shown to be instrumental in many third world economies as a sustainable means not only to address unemployment but also to contribute significantly to economic growth. Despite government's good intentions and support, the South African SMME sector is not growing as expected and this is impacting negatively on unemployment creation in the country. Good business development services (BDS) is necessary to support SMMEs and specifically the Market Development Approach to the provision of BDS, where subsidies are replaced by private payment for services. Makana municipal area provided scope for analysing the constraints to the implementation of such business development services. Analysing the scope and magnitude of the constraints in this setting would contribute to understanding the constraints also in other parts of the country and help officials in local economic development make better informed decisions regarding support to SMMEs. Authors like Rogerson (2011), UNDP (2004), Miehlbradt and McVay, (2003), the Committee of Donor Agencies for SME Development (Blue book) (2001) and Bear et al., (2001) Gibson (2001), propose that the key to sustainable BDS is the implementation of the Market Development approach which focusses on for-profit activities in the provision of BDS to SMMEs. The aim of this study was to examine perceptions of key stakeholders towards SMME support and development, to identify the constraints to the implementation of a Market Development approach to the provision of business development services to SMMEs in the Makana area and to make recommendations to the Makana LED office of possible intervention strategies to address identified constraints. Purposive sampling was used to identify key stakeholders in SMME support in the Makana area in the categories of, big institutional buyers, public and private BDS providers as well the municipal LED office. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each stakeholder using questions shown in appendixes A to D. Perceptions of all key stakeholders were very positive with good intentions to support SMMEs. However, this was not consistent with procurement practice at the big institutional buyers. Constraints are summarized in the following five themes: Theme 1. Inconsistent practice in dealing with SMMEs across the organisation. Theme 2. Absence of a cooperative body or Chamber of Commerce. Theme 3. Fragmented Business Development Services. Theme 4. A lack of a culture of cost recovery. Theme 5. Limited awareness of BDS in the Makana area. A number of recommendations were suggested. Big institutional buyers like Rhodes University and Makana municipality need to take a longer term view and move the focus from employment creation to enterprise support which is a more sustainable and empowering source of employment (ILO, 2009). The Grahamstown Chamber of Commerce should become more representative and big institutional buyers also need to be convinced of the value of private BDS. Stakeholders should work together to combine resources to offer a comprehensive one-stop BDS for the Makana area (Chetty, 2009) and this comprehensive BDS should be provided according to the Market Development approach focusing on those services that lend themselves better to this approach whilst using subsidies only for those services with a low potential for cost recovery (UNDP, 2004).
- Full Text:
Contrasting habitat associations of imperilled endemic stream fishes from a global biodiversity hot spot
- Chakona, Albert, Swartz, Ernst R
- Authors: Chakona, Albert , Swartz, Ernst R
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011850 , http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/12/19
- Description: Knowledge of the factors that drive species distributions provides a fundamental baseline for several areas of research including biogeography, phylogeography and biodiversity conservation. Data from 148 minimally disturbed sites across a large drainage system in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa were used to test the hypothesis that stream fishes have similar responses to environmental determinants of species distribution. Two complementary statistical approaches, boosted regression trees and hierarchical partitioning, were used to model the responses of four fish species to 11 environmental predictors, and to quantify the independent explanatory power of each predictor.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chakona, Albert , Swartz, Ernst R
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011850 , http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/12/19
- Description: Knowledge of the factors that drive species distributions provides a fundamental baseline for several areas of research including biogeography, phylogeography and biodiversity conservation. Data from 148 minimally disturbed sites across a large drainage system in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa were used to test the hypothesis that stream fishes have similar responses to environmental determinants of species distribution. Two complementary statistical approaches, boosted regression trees and hierarchical partitioning, were used to model the responses of four fish species to 11 environmental predictors, and to quantify the independent explanatory power of each predictor.
- Full Text:
Contribution towards the development of a management plan for the baitboat and sport fishery for tuna in South Africa
- Authors: Newcombe, Hylton Cecil
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Tuna -- South Africa , Tuna fishing -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Fishery management -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Catch effort -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005092 , Tuna -- South Africa , Tuna fishing -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Fishery management -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Catch effort -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Description: Tuna are of significant global economic importance and a prime food source. Increased levels of fishing have resulted in many stocks being under threat and a number of species are considered to be overfished. The South African tuna industry has had limited management attention from the South African fisheries management agency. A recent development has been an increase in the number of tuna caught by small vessels that target the fresh tuna market in South Africa and overseas. This has highlighted the importance of developing a holistic management plan for the sector and creating an awareness, among vessel owners, of the importance of compliance with initiatives such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The South African tuna fishery comprises three sectors: baitboat, sport and longline, all of which are currently in need of acquiring more biological and fisheries data. This project was initiated to collate existing information and to collect additional information where possible. This encompassed a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the size and shape of the tuna fishing industry, which included estimates of total catch, effort, catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) and stock structure (obtained through comparative estimates of age and growth), as well as socio-economic and economic information. A technique involving an examination of specific vertebrae was used to obtain age-growth information for T. albacares. These data were used to estimate von Bertalanffy (VBGF) growth parameters: F 2 1. , k 0.1 , and t₀ -0. 1 year. No significant differences in growth parameters were found in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from different localities around the South African coast, i.e. from the south eastern Atlantic and the south western Indian Ocean. In addition, growth did not differ between South Africa and other regions (Draganic and Pelzcarski 1984, Fonteneau 1980, Gascuel et al. 1992, LeGuen and Sakagawa 1973, Lehodey and Leroy 1999, Lessa and Duarte-Neto 2004, Shuford et al. 2007, Stequert et al. 1996, Wild 1986, Yang et al. 1969). Further substantiation of the above-mentioned observations was found by recording differences in the sizes of fish caught in the inshore (baitboat and sport fishery vessels) and offshore (large pelagic longline vessels) sectors of South African tuna fisheries. A significant difference between the regions — in terms of the size of fish caught inshore — was noted, with mostly-juvenile fish being caught in KwaZulu-Natal (5.4 ± 3.5kg), sub-adult fish in the Eastern Cape (26.2 ± 13.4kg), and adult fish in the Western Cape (42.3 ± 14.4kg). Since mostly-adult fish were caught offshore by longliners, with no significant differences between regions, it is however possible th at adult fish predominantly inhabit the offshore region. Yellowfin tuna caught by the large pelagic longline fishery in the three managerial zones (A, B and C) were predominantly adult fish of similar size, namely Zone A: 38.9 ± 6.9kg; Zone B: 28.7 ± 4.6kg, and Zone C: 36.0 ± 5.1kg. The recreational ski boat sport fishery has remained stable, in terms of participation, consisting mostly of white middle aged males in the top 25% of household income distribution, having either permanent occupational status or being retired. Fishers within this sector are willing to incur great expense to partake in the fishery and they provide an important economic contribution to coastal towns, particularly in the Eastern Cape. The total catch (of 83t) of yellowfin tuna by the competitive sport fishery within the Western and Eastern Cape regions was considerably lower than that of commercial tuna baitboat catches, which amounted to 186t, and the large pelagic longline sector that caught t in 200. It is however likely that the competitive sport fishery's total yellowfin tuna catch (of 83t in 2009) of the Eastern and Western Cape competitive sport fishery was considerably less than the total yellowfin tuna catches of the whole South African deep-sea sport fishery. Longfin tuna are the primary target species of South Africa‘s baitboat fisheries, comprising an average of 86% of the total catch and generating ZAR49 million in employment income in 2002. South Africa was responsible for 20% of the total longfin tuna annual yield in 2004 in the southern Atlantic Ocean, behind Taiwan with 59%. However, yellowfin tuna only contributes a small percentage towards total catches (8.4 ± 8.2% between 1995 and 2009), generating ZAR1.3 million in employment income in 2002. Of the four vessel categories comprising the tuna baitboat fishery, ski boats had the highest yellowfin tuna CPUE in 2009 (117 ± 62 kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹) and the lowest effort. The ski boats sector is the most opportunistic fishery as they are only active when either longfin or yellowfin tuna are in high abundance. At such times catches are guaranteed, so can be expected to offset expenses. In 2009 the CPUE for yellowfin tuna for 15–19m vessels and freezer deckboats was 12 ± 20kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹ and 3 ± 6kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹, respectively. These vessels specifically target longfin tuna when they are in abundance. Since the start of the tuna baitboat fishery in 1995, there has been a substantial increase in the number of new entrants. In 2002 this sector had a fleet size of 82 vessels with a capital value of ZAR163 million and a total employment income of ZAR58 million, employing 2 173 fishers, of which 87% were black African. The commercial tuna baitboat fleet has subsequently grown to 200 vessels and 3600 crew, with 110 active vessels fishing for a combined fleet average of 46 days per year. There are a high number of owner-operated vessels. Since 2007 the fishery's profit to cost ratio has been low due to the low abundance of tuna stocks off the coast of South Africa, which has resulted in poor catch returns, placing economic pressure on the fishery. The baitboat industry is a low-profit-margin fishery with a total net catch value worth ZAR90 million in 2009 (Feike 2010). The abundance of yellowfin tuna influences profit margins, with very high profits being made when abundance and catches are high. The large pelagic longline fishery has a total allowable effort of 43 vessels of which only 30 vessels fished during 2009, when a reported 766t of yellowfin tuna were caught, representing a total tonnage far in excess of that obtained by the combined effort of the baitboat and sport fishery. It is, however, assumed that considerable underreporting of catches takes place within this fishery, which means that the estimated total net catch value of ZAR100 million could, in fact, be much higher. Such underreporting of catches is of great concern for this fishery, as is the high bycatch of Chondricthians spp. that significantly outweighs imposed regulatory limits (DEAT 2007). The present study demonstrates the current lack of comprehensive catch and effort data for the sport, baitboat and longline fisheries as well as the serious limitations and flaws associated with current databases. Results from the present study have drawn attention to a number of high-priority research needs, as outlined below. (1) A major lack of comprehensive catch and effort data for the sport fishery, which can be rectified by focussing on obtaining more competition data, as well as high-quality catch and effort and socio-economic information, as opposed to relying on information from non-club anglers (Gartside et al. 1999, Williams 2003, Cass-Calay 2008). Acquisition of such data is relatively inexpensive: the location of organized clubs and their frequent competition meetings provide widespread coverage along the Southern African coastline. Such data acquisition efforts have the potential to provide reliable information on spatial catch trends. (2) Validation of vessel catch return data is required for commercial fisheries and on some recent data that has emerged from studies of catch rates and trends for target species, particularly in the longline fishery. In this context it should be noted that the most recent peer-reviewed publications on this exploratory fishery were published more than a decade ago (Kroese 1999, Penny and Griffiths 1999). Additional studies need to be undertaken and journal articles published on the current stock status of South African catches of yellowfin and bigeye tuna and swordfish.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Newcombe, Hylton Cecil
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Tuna -- South Africa , Tuna fishing -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Fishery management -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Catch effort -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005092 , Tuna -- South Africa , Tuna fishing -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Fishery management -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Catch effort -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Description: Tuna are of significant global economic importance and a prime food source. Increased levels of fishing have resulted in many stocks being under threat and a number of species are considered to be overfished. The South African tuna industry has had limited management attention from the South African fisheries management agency. A recent development has been an increase in the number of tuna caught by small vessels that target the fresh tuna market in South Africa and overseas. This has highlighted the importance of developing a holistic management plan for the sector and creating an awareness, among vessel owners, of the importance of compliance with initiatives such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The South African tuna fishery comprises three sectors: baitboat, sport and longline, all of which are currently in need of acquiring more biological and fisheries data. This project was initiated to collate existing information and to collect additional information where possible. This encompassed a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the size and shape of the tuna fishing industry, which included estimates of total catch, effort, catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) and stock structure (obtained through comparative estimates of age and growth), as well as socio-economic and economic information. A technique involving an examination of specific vertebrae was used to obtain age-growth information for T. albacares. These data were used to estimate von Bertalanffy (VBGF) growth parameters: F 2 1. , k 0.1 , and t₀ -0. 1 year. No significant differences in growth parameters were found in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from different localities around the South African coast, i.e. from the south eastern Atlantic and the south western Indian Ocean. In addition, growth did not differ between South Africa and other regions (Draganic and Pelzcarski 1984, Fonteneau 1980, Gascuel et al. 1992, LeGuen and Sakagawa 1973, Lehodey and Leroy 1999, Lessa and Duarte-Neto 2004, Shuford et al. 2007, Stequert et al. 1996, Wild 1986, Yang et al. 1969). Further substantiation of the above-mentioned observations was found by recording differences in the sizes of fish caught in the inshore (baitboat and sport fishery vessels) and offshore (large pelagic longline vessels) sectors of South African tuna fisheries. A significant difference between the regions — in terms of the size of fish caught inshore — was noted, with mostly-juvenile fish being caught in KwaZulu-Natal (5.4 ± 3.5kg), sub-adult fish in the Eastern Cape (26.2 ± 13.4kg), and adult fish in the Western Cape (42.3 ± 14.4kg). Since mostly-adult fish were caught offshore by longliners, with no significant differences between regions, it is however possible th at adult fish predominantly inhabit the offshore region. Yellowfin tuna caught by the large pelagic longline fishery in the three managerial zones (A, B and C) were predominantly adult fish of similar size, namely Zone A: 38.9 ± 6.9kg; Zone B: 28.7 ± 4.6kg, and Zone C: 36.0 ± 5.1kg. The recreational ski boat sport fishery has remained stable, in terms of participation, consisting mostly of white middle aged males in the top 25% of household income distribution, having either permanent occupational status or being retired. Fishers within this sector are willing to incur great expense to partake in the fishery and they provide an important economic contribution to coastal towns, particularly in the Eastern Cape. The total catch (of 83t) of yellowfin tuna by the competitive sport fishery within the Western and Eastern Cape regions was considerably lower than that of commercial tuna baitboat catches, which amounted to 186t, and the large pelagic longline sector that caught t in 200. It is however likely that the competitive sport fishery's total yellowfin tuna catch (of 83t in 2009) of the Eastern and Western Cape competitive sport fishery was considerably less than the total yellowfin tuna catches of the whole South African deep-sea sport fishery. Longfin tuna are the primary target species of South Africa‘s baitboat fisheries, comprising an average of 86% of the total catch and generating ZAR49 million in employment income in 2002. South Africa was responsible for 20% of the total longfin tuna annual yield in 2004 in the southern Atlantic Ocean, behind Taiwan with 59%. However, yellowfin tuna only contributes a small percentage towards total catches (8.4 ± 8.2% between 1995 and 2009), generating ZAR1.3 million in employment income in 2002. Of the four vessel categories comprising the tuna baitboat fishery, ski boats had the highest yellowfin tuna CPUE in 2009 (117 ± 62 kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹) and the lowest effort. The ski boats sector is the most opportunistic fishery as they are only active when either longfin or yellowfin tuna are in high abundance. At such times catches are guaranteed, so can be expected to offset expenses. In 2009 the CPUE for yellowfin tuna for 15–19m vessels and freezer deckboats was 12 ± 20kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹ and 3 ± 6kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹, respectively. These vessels specifically target longfin tuna when they are in abundance. Since the start of the tuna baitboat fishery in 1995, there has been a substantial increase in the number of new entrants. In 2002 this sector had a fleet size of 82 vessels with a capital value of ZAR163 million and a total employment income of ZAR58 million, employing 2 173 fishers, of which 87% were black African. The commercial tuna baitboat fleet has subsequently grown to 200 vessels and 3600 crew, with 110 active vessels fishing for a combined fleet average of 46 days per year. There are a high number of owner-operated vessels. Since 2007 the fishery's profit to cost ratio has been low due to the low abundance of tuna stocks off the coast of South Africa, which has resulted in poor catch returns, placing economic pressure on the fishery. The baitboat industry is a low-profit-margin fishery with a total net catch value worth ZAR90 million in 2009 (Feike 2010). The abundance of yellowfin tuna influences profit margins, with very high profits being made when abundance and catches are high. The large pelagic longline fishery has a total allowable effort of 43 vessels of which only 30 vessels fished during 2009, when a reported 766t of yellowfin tuna were caught, representing a total tonnage far in excess of that obtained by the combined effort of the baitboat and sport fishery. It is, however, assumed that considerable underreporting of catches takes place within this fishery, which means that the estimated total net catch value of ZAR100 million could, in fact, be much higher. Such underreporting of catches is of great concern for this fishery, as is the high bycatch of Chondricthians spp. that significantly outweighs imposed regulatory limits (DEAT 2007). The present study demonstrates the current lack of comprehensive catch and effort data for the sport, baitboat and longline fisheries as well as the serious limitations and flaws associated with current databases. Results from the present study have drawn attention to a number of high-priority research needs, as outlined below. (1) A major lack of comprehensive catch and effort data for the sport fishery, which can be rectified by focussing on obtaining more competition data, as well as high-quality catch and effort and socio-economic information, as opposed to relying on information from non-club anglers (Gartside et al. 1999, Williams 2003, Cass-Calay 2008). Acquisition of such data is relatively inexpensive: the location of organized clubs and their frequent competition meetings provide widespread coverage along the Southern African coastline. Such data acquisition efforts have the potential to provide reliable information on spatial catch trends. (2) Validation of vessel catch return data is required for commercial fisheries and on some recent data that has emerged from studies of catch rates and trends for target species, particularly in the longline fishery. In this context it should be noted that the most recent peer-reviewed publications on this exploratory fishery were published more than a decade ago (Kroese 1999, Penny and Griffiths 1999). Additional studies need to be undertaken and journal articles published on the current stock status of South African catches of yellowfin and bigeye tuna and swordfish.
- Full Text:
Conveniencing the family in agri-based processing enterprise : a grounded theory study of strategic leaders' cultural assumptions and strategising activities
- Authors: Kanyangale, Macdonald Isaac
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Small business -- Malawi -- Management Agriculture -- Malawi -- Business management Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Malawi Grounded theory -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1181 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002798
- Description: As leaders of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), strategic leaders are responsible for strategising, the approach to which is influenced by their cultural paradigm. The effects of this strategising are manifested in the day-to-day activities of these leaders. This study aims to build an understanding of the shared cultural assumptions of strategic leaders in agri-based processing SMEs and how these assumptions affect the strategising activities that are adopted when addressing critical incidents related to the internal integration and external adaptation of the SME. Using Strauss and Corbin‟s (1990) grounded theory method, this study develops a theory titled Conveniencing the Family in Business, which is induced from critical incidents. A sample of critical incidents was gathered from 44 qualitative interviews conducted with strategic leaders of various agri-based processing SMEs operating in Malawi. This study found that strategic leaders display persistent and stable pragmatic business survival mind sets, but dynamic cultural assumptions about relationships with organisation members. The cultural influence of these assumptions is manifested in two distinctive and alternative processes making up the theory of conveniencing the family in business. These are the humanising and commodifying of relationships with organisation members, and they are evident in hostile and friendly business environments, respectively. Humanising of relationships with all members of the organisation builds and capitalises on inclusive, organisation-wide social capital that secures the future of the business. On the other hand, commodifying of relationships with non-family organisation members weakens collective support, which becomes mainly dependent on family and friendship ties. Thus, commodifying of relationships serves to perpetuate the close integration of business activity and family requirements to ultimately convenience the family in business, and represents the desired modus operandi of strategic leaders. As strategic leaders of SMEs have not yet conceptualised this, providing them with the conceptual theory developed here may be helpful towards a consistent re-orientation of the internal organisational support in a way that does not exclude but rather harnesses the wider solidarity of organisation members. The process explained by this theory is iterative, dynamic and distinguishes patterns of relationships amongst organisation members, which either enhances or compromises their collective support for the leaders and the enterprise. This by implication affects the performance of the enterprise. The results of this study are discussed from the perspective of social exchange and social capital theory, thereby contributing to the understanding of the strategising activities of strategic leaders, as well as the processes of building or destroying social capital in this type of enterprise.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kanyangale, Macdonald Isaac
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Small business -- Malawi -- Management Agriculture -- Malawi -- Business management Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Malawi Grounded theory -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1181 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002798
- Description: As leaders of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), strategic leaders are responsible for strategising, the approach to which is influenced by their cultural paradigm. The effects of this strategising are manifested in the day-to-day activities of these leaders. This study aims to build an understanding of the shared cultural assumptions of strategic leaders in agri-based processing SMEs and how these assumptions affect the strategising activities that are adopted when addressing critical incidents related to the internal integration and external adaptation of the SME. Using Strauss and Corbin‟s (1990) grounded theory method, this study develops a theory titled Conveniencing the Family in Business, which is induced from critical incidents. A sample of critical incidents was gathered from 44 qualitative interviews conducted with strategic leaders of various agri-based processing SMEs operating in Malawi. This study found that strategic leaders display persistent and stable pragmatic business survival mind sets, but dynamic cultural assumptions about relationships with organisation members. The cultural influence of these assumptions is manifested in two distinctive and alternative processes making up the theory of conveniencing the family in business. These are the humanising and commodifying of relationships with organisation members, and they are evident in hostile and friendly business environments, respectively. Humanising of relationships with all members of the organisation builds and capitalises on inclusive, organisation-wide social capital that secures the future of the business. On the other hand, commodifying of relationships with non-family organisation members weakens collective support, which becomes mainly dependent on family and friendship ties. Thus, commodifying of relationships serves to perpetuate the close integration of business activity and family requirements to ultimately convenience the family in business, and represents the desired modus operandi of strategic leaders. As strategic leaders of SMEs have not yet conceptualised this, providing them with the conceptual theory developed here may be helpful towards a consistent re-orientation of the internal organisational support in a way that does not exclude but rather harnesses the wider solidarity of organisation members. The process explained by this theory is iterative, dynamic and distinguishes patterns of relationships amongst organisation members, which either enhances or compromises their collective support for the leaders and the enterprise. This by implication affects the performance of the enterprise. The results of this study are discussed from the perspective of social exchange and social capital theory, thereby contributing to the understanding of the strategising activities of strategic leaders, as well as the processes of building or destroying social capital in this type of enterprise.
- Full Text:
Copyright law in the digital environment: DRM systems, anti-circumvention, legislation and user rights
- Authors: Latter, Gareth Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Digital rights management , Copyright and electronic data processing , Internet -- Law and legislation , Public domain (Copyright law) , Fair use (Copyright) , Intellectual property , Copyright
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3681 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003196 , Digital rights management , Copyright and electronic data processing , Internet -- Law and legislation , Public domain (Copyright law) , Fair use (Copyright) , Intellectual property , Copyright
- Description: This thesis deals with the way in which copyright law is changing in the digital environment and the mechanisms which are facilitating this change. It deals with these issues by analysing the mechanisms of this change, specifically Digital Rights Management (DRM)Systems and anti-circumvention legislation, and the impact which this change is having on the rights of copyright users. The purpose of copyright is to provide an incentive to authors to continue creating while simultaneously providing a public good in allowing the public to use those creations in certain ways. Copyright achieves this purpose by granting both the author and user certain rights. The author is given a limited monopoly over their work in exchange for allowing this work to enter the public sphere and ensuring that users of that work can utilise that work in certain limited ways. The success of copyright thus rests on maintaining the balance between the rights of these parties. The rise of digital technology has created a situation in which copyright content can be easily copied by any party with a Personal Computer and disseminated around the globe instantly via the Internet. In response to these dangers, copyright owners are making use of DRM systems to protect content. DRM systems include various measures of control within its scope. Theses systems allow for copyright owners to control both access and use of content by copyright users. DRM Systems are not foolproof measures of protection however. Technologically sophisticated users are able to circumvent these protection measures. Thus, in order to protect DRM Systems from circumvention, anti-circumvention legislation has been proposed through international treaties and adopted in many countries. The combined effect of these protection measures are open to abuse by copyright owners and serve to curtail the limited rights of copyright users. The end result of this is that the balance which copyright law was created to maintain is disrupted and copyright law no longer fulfils its purpose. This thesis undertakes an analysis of these issues with reference to how these issues affect copyright users in developing countries. This is done with particular reference to possible approaches to this issue in South Africa as South Africa is a signatory to these anti-circumvention treaties.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Latter, Gareth Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Digital rights management , Copyright and electronic data processing , Internet -- Law and legislation , Public domain (Copyright law) , Fair use (Copyright) , Intellectual property , Copyright
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3681 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003196 , Digital rights management , Copyright and electronic data processing , Internet -- Law and legislation , Public domain (Copyright law) , Fair use (Copyright) , Intellectual property , Copyright
- Description: This thesis deals with the way in which copyright law is changing in the digital environment and the mechanisms which are facilitating this change. It deals with these issues by analysing the mechanisms of this change, specifically Digital Rights Management (DRM)Systems and anti-circumvention legislation, and the impact which this change is having on the rights of copyright users. The purpose of copyright is to provide an incentive to authors to continue creating while simultaneously providing a public good in allowing the public to use those creations in certain ways. Copyright achieves this purpose by granting both the author and user certain rights. The author is given a limited monopoly over their work in exchange for allowing this work to enter the public sphere and ensuring that users of that work can utilise that work in certain limited ways. The success of copyright thus rests on maintaining the balance between the rights of these parties. The rise of digital technology has created a situation in which copyright content can be easily copied by any party with a Personal Computer and disseminated around the globe instantly via the Internet. In response to these dangers, copyright owners are making use of DRM systems to protect content. DRM systems include various measures of control within its scope. Theses systems allow for copyright owners to control both access and use of content by copyright users. DRM Systems are not foolproof measures of protection however. Technologically sophisticated users are able to circumvent these protection measures. Thus, in order to protect DRM Systems from circumvention, anti-circumvention legislation has been proposed through international treaties and adopted in many countries. The combined effect of these protection measures are open to abuse by copyright owners and serve to curtail the limited rights of copyright users. The end result of this is that the balance which copyright law was created to maintain is disrupted and copyright law no longer fulfils its purpose. This thesis undertakes an analysis of these issues with reference to how these issues affect copyright users in developing countries. This is done with particular reference to possible approaches to this issue in South Africa as South Africa is a signatory to these anti-circumvention treaties.
- Full Text:
Cost-effective realisation of the Internet of Things
- Andersen, Michael, Irwin, Barry V W
- Authors: Andersen, Michael , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427930 , vital:72474 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Irwin/publication/326225063_Cost-effec-tive_realisation_of_the_Internet_of_Things/links/5b3f2262a6fdcc8506ffe75e/Cost-effective-realisation-of-the-Internet-of-Things.pdf
- Description: A hardware and software platform, created to facilitate power usage and power quality measurements along with direct power line actuation is under development. Additional general purpose control and sensing interfaces have been integrated. Measurements are persistently stored on each node to allow asynchronous retrieval of data without the need for a central server. The device communicates using an IEEE 802.15. 4 radio transceiver to create a self-configuring mesh network. Users can interface with the mesh network by connecting to any node via USB and utilising the developed high level API and interactive environment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Andersen, Michael , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427930 , vital:72474 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Irwin/publication/326225063_Cost-effec-tive_realisation_of_the_Internet_of_Things/links/5b3f2262a6fdcc8506ffe75e/Cost-effective-realisation-of-the-Internet-of-Things.pdf
- Description: A hardware and software platform, created to facilitate power usage and power quality measurements along with direct power line actuation is under development. Additional general purpose control and sensing interfaces have been integrated. Measurements are persistently stored on each node to allow asynchronous retrieval of data without the need for a central server. The device communicates using an IEEE 802.15. 4 radio transceiver to create a self-configuring mesh network. Users can interface with the mesh network by connecting to any node via USB and utilising the developed high level API and interactive environment.
- Full Text:
Cryptic variation in an ecological indicator organism: mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data confirm distinct lineages of Baetis harrisoni Barnard (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in southern Africa
- Pereira-da-Conceicoa, L L, Price, Benjamin W, Barber-James, Helen M
- Authors: Pereira-da-Conceicoa, L L , Price, Benjamin W , Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011855
- Description: Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9–10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pereira-da-Conceicoa, L L , Price, Benjamin W , Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011855
- Description: Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9–10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
Cryptic variation in an ecological indicator organism: mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data confirm distinct lineages of Baetis harrisoni Barnard (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in Southern Africa
- Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L, Price, Benjamin W, Barber-James, Helen M, Barker, Nigel P, de Moor, Ferdy C, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L , Price, Benjamin W , Barber-James, Helen M , Barker, Nigel P , de Moor, Ferdy C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6535 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005976 , https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-26
- Description: Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9–10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L , Price, Benjamin W , Barber-James, Helen M , Barker, Nigel P , de Moor, Ferdy C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6535 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005976 , https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-26
- Description: Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9–10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
Culturally-relevant augmented user interfaces for illiterate and semi-literate users
- Authors: Gavaza, Takayedzwa
- Date: 2012 , 2012-06-14
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Computer software -- Research , Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Human-computer interaction , Computers and literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4665 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006679 , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Computer software -- Research , Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Human-computer interaction , Computers and literacy
- Description: This thesis discusses guidelines for developers of Augmented User Interfaces that can be used by illiterate and semi-literate users. To discover how illiterate and semi-literate users intuitively understand interaction with a computer, a series of Wizard of Oz experiments were conducted. In the first Wizard of Oz study, users were presented with a standard desktop computer, fitted with a number of input devices to determine how they assume interaction should occur. This study found that the users preferred the use of speech and gestures which mirrored findings from other researchers. The study also found that users struggled to understand the tab metaphor which is used frequently in applications. From these findings, a localised culturally-relevant tab interface was developed to determine the feasibility of localised Graphical User Interface components. A second study was undertaken to compare the localised tab interface with the traditional tabbed interface. This study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from the participants. It found that users could interact with a localised tabbed interface faster and more accurately than with the traditional counterparts. More importantly, users stated that they intuitively understood the localised interface component, whereas they did not understand the traditional tab metaphor. These user studies have shown that the use of self-explanatory animations, video feedback, localised tabbed interface metaphors and voice output have a positive impact on enabling illiterate and semi-literate users to access information. , TeX , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gavaza, Takayedzwa
- Date: 2012 , 2012-06-14
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Computer software -- Research , Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Human-computer interaction , Computers and literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4665 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006679 , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Computer software -- Research , Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Human-computer interaction , Computers and literacy
- Description: This thesis discusses guidelines for developers of Augmented User Interfaces that can be used by illiterate and semi-literate users. To discover how illiterate and semi-literate users intuitively understand interaction with a computer, a series of Wizard of Oz experiments were conducted. In the first Wizard of Oz study, users were presented with a standard desktop computer, fitted with a number of input devices to determine how they assume interaction should occur. This study found that the users preferred the use of speech and gestures which mirrored findings from other researchers. The study also found that users struggled to understand the tab metaphor which is used frequently in applications. From these findings, a localised culturally-relevant tab interface was developed to determine the feasibility of localised Graphical User Interface components. A second study was undertaken to compare the localised tab interface with the traditional tabbed interface. This study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from the participants. It found that users could interact with a localised tabbed interface faster and more accurately than with the traditional counterparts. More importantly, users stated that they intuitively understood the localised interface component, whereas they did not understand the traditional tab metaphor. These user studies have shown that the use of self-explanatory animations, video feedback, localised tabbed interface metaphors and voice output have a positive impact on enabling illiterate and semi-literate users to access information. , TeX , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
Curriculum reform in Lesotho: exploring the interface between environmental education and geography in selected schools
- Authors: Raselimo, Mohaeka Gabriel
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Curriculum planning -- Lesotho Curriculum change -- Lesotho Educational evaluation -- Lesotho Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Lesotho Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Lesotho Agenda 21 (Program)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1488 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003369
- Description: This study sought to explore the interface between environmental education (EE) and school geography with a view to understanding a process of curriculum reform in the context of Lesotho. The research was based on the curriculum reform process that was initiated by a Danish donor-funded project, known as the Lesotho Environmental Education Support Project (LEESP), which operated from 2001 to 2004. Driven by a sustainable development imperative, the project was intended to assist Lesotho in the implementation of local action for Agenda 21 by introducing environmental education into the formal education system. Deviating slightly from much published research on geographical and environmental education, which focuses on how geography contributes to environmental education, this study explored how the latter has shaped the former in terms of content and pedagogy. Using the lens of critical curriculum theory, I sought to understand the political nature of the curriculum and of curriculum change, focusing on the LEESP curriculum policy development, dissemination and implementation at classroom level. The study employed Bernstein's concepts of classification and framing to illuminate issues of power and control between discourses, and between teachers and learners. Operating within an interpretive qualitative research orientation, the study used a case study method focusing on five secondary/high schools in Lesotho. The data was generated through document analysis, interviews and classroom observations. The study examined the assumptions, values and ideologies underpinning environmental education curriculum intentions as reflected in LEESP documents. It also investigated the social process of conceptualising and disseminating environmental education to understand the challenges faced as education practitioners made sense of environmental education innovations in the specific contexts of Lesotho, and how these could possibly influence what happens at the classroom level. The analysis of the LEESP documents revealed that while there are many areas of synergy between the LEESP environmental education policy guidelines and the national education ideals in Lesotho, achievement of the transformational visions of action competence, which was the overarching concept in the reform process, would require major structural changes. The study also highlights issues of participation, contestations, tensions and contradictions associated with the conceptualisation and dissemination of environmental education. At implementation level, there is a disjuncture between environmental education policy intentions and practice. Geography teachers in the research schools generally understood the existence of environmental education in their schools in terms of environmental management. The findings also revealed that while there is generally a strong environmental dimension in geography content, as reflected in both curriculum materials and classroom practice, the subject still retains its disciplinary boundaries and makes little use of knowledge from other subjects or the everyday knowledge of the learners. Finally, it emerged that while the geography teachers in their rhetoric espoused learner-centred methods, in practice they generally employed traditional teacher-centred and book-centred methods. The study concludes that a lack of change in school geography in Lesotho, of the sort envisaged in LEESP, may be attributed to contextual and structural factors such as an overemphasis on examinations, and certain perceptions on the part of teachers and learners embedded in the history and culture of their society. A model of teacher professional development capable of supporting curriculum change is therefore proposed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Raselimo, Mohaeka Gabriel
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Curriculum planning -- Lesotho Curriculum change -- Lesotho Educational evaluation -- Lesotho Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Lesotho Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Lesotho Agenda 21 (Program)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1488 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003369
- Description: This study sought to explore the interface between environmental education (EE) and school geography with a view to understanding a process of curriculum reform in the context of Lesotho. The research was based on the curriculum reform process that was initiated by a Danish donor-funded project, known as the Lesotho Environmental Education Support Project (LEESP), which operated from 2001 to 2004. Driven by a sustainable development imperative, the project was intended to assist Lesotho in the implementation of local action for Agenda 21 by introducing environmental education into the formal education system. Deviating slightly from much published research on geographical and environmental education, which focuses on how geography contributes to environmental education, this study explored how the latter has shaped the former in terms of content and pedagogy. Using the lens of critical curriculum theory, I sought to understand the political nature of the curriculum and of curriculum change, focusing on the LEESP curriculum policy development, dissemination and implementation at classroom level. The study employed Bernstein's concepts of classification and framing to illuminate issues of power and control between discourses, and between teachers and learners. Operating within an interpretive qualitative research orientation, the study used a case study method focusing on five secondary/high schools in Lesotho. The data was generated through document analysis, interviews and classroom observations. The study examined the assumptions, values and ideologies underpinning environmental education curriculum intentions as reflected in LEESP documents. It also investigated the social process of conceptualising and disseminating environmental education to understand the challenges faced as education practitioners made sense of environmental education innovations in the specific contexts of Lesotho, and how these could possibly influence what happens at the classroom level. The analysis of the LEESP documents revealed that while there are many areas of synergy between the LEESP environmental education policy guidelines and the national education ideals in Lesotho, achievement of the transformational visions of action competence, which was the overarching concept in the reform process, would require major structural changes. The study also highlights issues of participation, contestations, tensions and contradictions associated with the conceptualisation and dissemination of environmental education. At implementation level, there is a disjuncture between environmental education policy intentions and practice. Geography teachers in the research schools generally understood the existence of environmental education in their schools in terms of environmental management. The findings also revealed that while there is generally a strong environmental dimension in geography content, as reflected in both curriculum materials and classroom practice, the subject still retains its disciplinary boundaries and makes little use of knowledge from other subjects or the everyday knowledge of the learners. Finally, it emerged that while the geography teachers in their rhetoric espoused learner-centred methods, in practice they generally employed traditional teacher-centred and book-centred methods. The study concludes that a lack of change in school geography in Lesotho, of the sort envisaged in LEESP, may be attributed to contextual and structural factors such as an overemphasis on examinations, and certain perceptions on the part of teachers and learners embedded in the history and culture of their society. A model of teacher professional development capable of supporting curriculum change is therefore proposed.
- Full Text:
Dasein online! a study of the experience of flow in the virtual playground
- Authors: Godley, Donnae-Maree
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002492 , Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Description: The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it aimed to present and understand the experiences of online gamers from the paradigm of positive psychology. To achieve this, the phenomenon of flow was investigated to see whether or not, it is experienced whilst gaming online and if present, how it is revealed in this context. The second purpose was to contribute to theory building and to respond to extant research recommendations. Aligned with a qualitative orientation, the method selected to achieve the objectives of the study was interpretative phenomenological analysis. A sample of four participants who met the criteria for inclusion in the research were selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed and interpreted inductively and categorised into superordinate themes. These were presented as two sections: Section A explored the experience and meaning of online gaming through the following three superordinate themes; intention, pre-gaming rituals and gaming process. Section B discussed the social experience and meaning of gaming online through the superordinate theme, a gamers way. This study both challenged and supported theory and research in the field and introduced novel areas, such as pregaming rituals and the subthemes; marijuana and gaming space. This is a notable and promising "side effect" of a research design that is exploratory. Findings called for future multi-disciplinary research into flow, gaming and online relationships considering Csikszentimaihalyi‟s concept of autotelic relationships and Heideggers‟ philosophical framework.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Godley, Donnae-Maree
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002492 , Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Description: The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it aimed to present and understand the experiences of online gamers from the paradigm of positive psychology. To achieve this, the phenomenon of flow was investigated to see whether or not, it is experienced whilst gaming online and if present, how it is revealed in this context. The second purpose was to contribute to theory building and to respond to extant research recommendations. Aligned with a qualitative orientation, the method selected to achieve the objectives of the study was interpretative phenomenological analysis. A sample of four participants who met the criteria for inclusion in the research were selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed and interpreted inductively and categorised into superordinate themes. These were presented as two sections: Section A explored the experience and meaning of online gaming through the following three superordinate themes; intention, pre-gaming rituals and gaming process. Section B discussed the social experience and meaning of gaming online through the superordinate theme, a gamers way. This study both challenged and supported theory and research in the field and introduced novel areas, such as pregaming rituals and the subthemes; marijuana and gaming space. This is a notable and promising "side effect" of a research design that is exploratory. Findings called for future multi-disciplinary research into flow, gaming and online relationships considering Csikszentimaihalyi‟s concept of autotelic relationships and Heideggers‟ philosophical framework.
- Full Text:
DBU-Mediated cleavage of aryl-and heteroaryl disulfides
- Nyoni, Dubekile, Lobb, Kevin A, Kaye, Perry T, Cairab, Mino R
- Authors: Nyoni, Dubekile , Lobb, Kevin A , Kaye, Perry T , Cairab, Mino R
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/448884 , vital:74768
- Description: The capacity of the nitrogen nucleophile, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) to reduce aryl- and heteroaryl disulfides to the corresponding mercaptans is demonstrated. While dicarboxylated disulfide analogues afford the mono-DBU disulfide salts, as confirmed by X-ray crystallography, the corresponding methyl esters are cleaved normally.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nyoni, Dubekile , Lobb, Kevin A , Kaye, Perry T , Cairab, Mino R
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/448884 , vital:74768
- Description: The capacity of the nitrogen nucleophile, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) to reduce aryl- and heteroaryl disulfides to the corresponding mercaptans is demonstrated. While dicarboxylated disulfide analogues afford the mono-DBU disulfide salts, as confirmed by X-ray crystallography, the corresponding methyl esters are cleaved normally.
- Full Text:
Deciding and doing what's right for people and planet : an investigation of the ethics-oriented learning of novice environmental educators
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne Laura
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental education Environmental ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1913 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007238
- Description: This study probes the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of three novice environmental education practitioners in South Africa. Two of the cases examined work in a local government context, and the third in an environmental non-governmental organisation context. All three practitioners are studying a one-year professional development course in environmental education. The research asks how their ethical deliberations ‘come to be what they are’, at the interface of their workplace and course-based learning processes. Working within a relational, social realist ontology, the study takes a sociocultural-historical approach to learning, development and social change. Cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) provides theoretical tools and a descriptive language to approach the rich, qualitative data derived from workplace and course observations, extensive interviews, and document review. Critical discourse analysis was used as a secondary analytical tool to probe ethical and environmental discourses that were found to be influential in the course and workplace activity systems. Data from the three case studies was analysed in stages. In the first stage, CHAT provided a theoretical perspective and language of description to analyse the interacting activity systems in which each learner-practitioner’s ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occurred. This provided a platform for the second stage of analysis which was framed by Margaret Archer’s (1995) social realist theory of morphogenesis/ morphostasis, followed by a summative retroductive analysis, to give an account of the interplay of historically-emergent social and cultural structures and individual reflexivity in relation to the ethical dimensions of environmental education practice. The study traces how ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occur at the untidy, unpredictable intersection of workplace, course and personal contexts, and are strongest when they are situated in authentic contexts that resonate with learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ (after Archer, 2003; 2007). In this study, the learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ included family, personal well-being, social justice, cultural identity and religious commitments. The scope and depth of learner-practitioners’ social-ecological knowledge was also identified as a key factor influencing ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations, although the mediation of such knowledge can be hindered by language and conceptual ii barriers, amongst others. The study also noted how ethical positions circulating in the workplace, course and personal contexts were diverse, uneven and dynamic. Some ethical positions were found to be more explicitly differentiated than others, either resonating with or being overlooked by the learner-practitioners as they deliberated the ethical dimensions of their environmental education practice. In situations where there was limited depth, conceptual clarity and/ or confidence to engage directly with ethical concerns, there was a tendency towards (inadvertent) ethical relativism. Insights derived from the study suggest that these factors have limiting effects on the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators. These insights point to the need for ethical deliberations to be re-personalised in context and underpinned by depth knowledge. A relational and pragmatic approach to environmental ethics (that recognises the validity of judgemental rationality – which can be fallible – and which seeks out practical adequacy) is put forward as appropriate and potentially generative in environmental education and training processes. This would need to be supported by careful attention to the influence of environmental discourses and practices in shaping ethical deliberations, and may also be helpful in developing a much-needed accessible, everyday language of ethical engagement. This study’s contribution to new knowledge in the field of environmental education is through its account of ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations emerging (in the Archerian morphogenetic sense) in complex, indeterminate ways at the interface of sociocultural and social-ecological contexts. The ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators occur in relation to their ‘ultimate concerns’ and are advanced or hindered by the historically-emergent practices, discourses and material realities of their workplace, personal and educational contexts. These insights require that the complex interplay of intersecting contexts and concerns that shape ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations be acknowledged and carefully mediated in both workplace-based and coursebased professional development processes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne Laura
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental education Environmental ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1913 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007238
- Description: This study probes the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of three novice environmental education practitioners in South Africa. Two of the cases examined work in a local government context, and the third in an environmental non-governmental organisation context. All three practitioners are studying a one-year professional development course in environmental education. The research asks how their ethical deliberations ‘come to be what they are’, at the interface of their workplace and course-based learning processes. Working within a relational, social realist ontology, the study takes a sociocultural-historical approach to learning, development and social change. Cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) provides theoretical tools and a descriptive language to approach the rich, qualitative data derived from workplace and course observations, extensive interviews, and document review. Critical discourse analysis was used as a secondary analytical tool to probe ethical and environmental discourses that were found to be influential in the course and workplace activity systems. Data from the three case studies was analysed in stages. In the first stage, CHAT provided a theoretical perspective and language of description to analyse the interacting activity systems in which each learner-practitioner’s ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occurred. This provided a platform for the second stage of analysis which was framed by Margaret Archer’s (1995) social realist theory of morphogenesis/ morphostasis, followed by a summative retroductive analysis, to give an account of the interplay of historically-emergent social and cultural structures and individual reflexivity in relation to the ethical dimensions of environmental education practice. The study traces how ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occur at the untidy, unpredictable intersection of workplace, course and personal contexts, and are strongest when they are situated in authentic contexts that resonate with learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ (after Archer, 2003; 2007). In this study, the learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ included family, personal well-being, social justice, cultural identity and religious commitments. The scope and depth of learner-practitioners’ social-ecological knowledge was also identified as a key factor influencing ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations, although the mediation of such knowledge can be hindered by language and conceptual ii barriers, amongst others. The study also noted how ethical positions circulating in the workplace, course and personal contexts were diverse, uneven and dynamic. Some ethical positions were found to be more explicitly differentiated than others, either resonating with or being overlooked by the learner-practitioners as they deliberated the ethical dimensions of their environmental education practice. In situations where there was limited depth, conceptual clarity and/ or confidence to engage directly with ethical concerns, there was a tendency towards (inadvertent) ethical relativism. Insights derived from the study suggest that these factors have limiting effects on the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators. These insights point to the need for ethical deliberations to be re-personalised in context and underpinned by depth knowledge. A relational and pragmatic approach to environmental ethics (that recognises the validity of judgemental rationality – which can be fallible – and which seeks out practical adequacy) is put forward as appropriate and potentially generative in environmental education and training processes. This would need to be supported by careful attention to the influence of environmental discourses and practices in shaping ethical deliberations, and may also be helpful in developing a much-needed accessible, everyday language of ethical engagement. This study’s contribution to new knowledge in the field of environmental education is through its account of ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations emerging (in the Archerian morphogenetic sense) in complex, indeterminate ways at the interface of sociocultural and social-ecological contexts. The ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators occur in relation to their ‘ultimate concerns’ and are advanced or hindered by the historically-emergent practices, discourses and material realities of their workplace, personal and educational contexts. These insights require that the complex interplay of intersecting contexts and concerns that shape ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations be acknowledged and carefully mediated in both workplace-based and coursebased professional development processes.
- Full Text:
Deployment, Maintenance And Further Development Of Spatsim-HDSF Volume
- Clark, D J, Hughes, Denis A, Smithers, J C, Thornton-Dibb, S L C, Forsyth, David A
- Authors: Clark, D J , Hughes, Denis A , Smithers, J C , Thornton-Dibb, S L C , Forsyth, David A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438323 , vital:73451 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0295-9 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870-1-121.pdf
- Description: The National Water Act (NWA, 1998) of South Africa (Act 36 of 1998) aims to ensure that South Africa’s water resources are managed and used in an equitable and sus-tainable manner for the benefit of all. The National Water Act (NWA) requires a dif-ferent approach to managing the nation’s water resources and the concept of inte-grated water resources management (IWRM) is central to this approach (Pollard and Du Toit, 2008). IWRM requires water managers to consider hydrological, ecological, economic, political, social and institutional aspects of water resources. To imple-ment IWRM, water managers require integrated modelling tools to provide infor-mation that can assist in making managements decisions. There are two aspects of integrated modelling that have received increasing attention in recent years: (i) the coupling of models representing different water resource domains, and (ii) the de-velopment of integrated modelling frameworks or decision support systems. These integrated modelling frameworks typically include a common data repository, common data editing tools, common spatial and temporal data visualisation and analysis tools, and a collection of framework compatible models that make use of these common tools.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Clark, D J , Hughes, Denis A , Smithers, J C , Thornton-Dibb, S L C , Forsyth, David A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438323 , vital:73451 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0295-9 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870-1-121.pdf
- Description: The National Water Act (NWA, 1998) of South Africa (Act 36 of 1998) aims to ensure that South Africa’s water resources are managed and used in an equitable and sus-tainable manner for the benefit of all. The National Water Act (NWA) requires a dif-ferent approach to managing the nation’s water resources and the concept of inte-grated water resources management (IWRM) is central to this approach (Pollard and Du Toit, 2008). IWRM requires water managers to consider hydrological, ecological, economic, political, social and institutional aspects of water resources. To imple-ment IWRM, water managers require integrated modelling tools to provide infor-mation that can assist in making managements decisions. There are two aspects of integrated modelling that have received increasing attention in recent years: (i) the coupling of models representing different water resource domains, and (ii) the de-velopment of integrated modelling frameworks or decision support systems. These integrated modelling frameworks typically include a common data repository, common data editing tools, common spatial and temporal data visualisation and analysis tools, and a collection of framework compatible models that make use of these common tools.
- Full Text:
Deployment, Maintenance And Further Development Of Spatsim-HDSF: Volume 2
- Hughes, Denis A, Forsyth, David A, Stassen, J J M, van Niekerk, E
- Authors: Hughes, Denis A , Forsyth, David A , Stassen, J J M , van Niekerk, E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438255 , vital:73446 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0296-6 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870%20-2-121.pdf
- Description: The purpose of the National Database is to create a central repository of Reserve or EWR determination results that can be accessed by DWA as well as their service providers to ensure that information is not lost and that the maximum benefit is gained from previous experience for future determinations. This document summa-rises the information content of the database, as well as providing guidelines for entering new data and using existing data. Reference to both Reserve and EWR de-terminations is used as some of the data that are included pre-date the official con-cept of the ecological ‘Reserve’ and were referred to as IFRs at that time. It is ac-cepted, however, that the term ‘IFR’ has been largely superseded by the use of the term EWR or ecological water requirements.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hughes, Denis A , Forsyth, David A , Stassen, J J M , van Niekerk, E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438255 , vital:73446 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0296-6 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870%20-2-121.pdf
- Description: The purpose of the National Database is to create a central repository of Reserve or EWR determination results that can be accessed by DWA as well as their service providers to ensure that information is not lost and that the maximum benefit is gained from previous experience for future determinations. This document summa-rises the information content of the database, as well as providing guidelines for entering new data and using existing data. Reference to both Reserve and EWR de-terminations is used as some of the data that are included pre-date the official con-cept of the ecological ‘Reserve’ and were referred to as IFRs at that time. It is ac-cepted, however, that the term ‘IFR’ has been largely superseded by the use of the term EWR or ecological water requirements.
- Full Text:
Design and evaluation of illustrated information leaflets as an educational tool for low-literate asthma patients
- Authors: Wrench, Wendy Merle
- Date: 2012 , 2012-10-08
- Subjects: Asthma -- South Africa -- Study and teaching , Asthmatics -- South Africa -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016236
- Description: Asthma is a chronic non-communicable disease associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Globally 300 million people have asthma and it is estimated that one in every 250 deaths worldwide are due to asthma. South Africa has the highest asthma prevalence (8.1%) in Africa and the disease is 18th in the top 20 causes of death. Inadequate home management, poor availability of health care, and poor transport and emergency services are recognised as important contributing factors. Patients with a low level of education and limited literacy skills may be unable to understand instructions on frequency and use of asthma medicines, which could result in unintentional non-adherence leading to serious complications and increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a tailored educational intervention on low-literate patients with asthma. Objectives to achieve this aim included designing patient information leaflets (PILs) containing information on asthma, management of asthma and asthma therapy, and using the PILs to educate low-literate asthma patients. A before-andafter intervention type design evaluated self-reported selected health-related quality of life measures, self-reported self-efficacy, knowledge of asthma and asthma management, knowledge of the use of metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and MDI technique. The acceptability and understanding of the tailored PILs was also investigated. Two simple, readable PILs containing pictograms were developed in English and then translated into isiXhosa, the home language of the majority of the target population. Various guidelines on the design of health-related information for people with low-literacy were consulted and input on the design was received from health care providers, patients and graphic artists. A pilot study was conducted at a local primary health care (PHC) clinic to evaluate the PILs and final modifications to the PILs were made based on feedback received. For the main study, patients were recruited from the KwaNonqubela PHC clinic in Alexandria in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Patients were 18 years or older, dependent on public sector health care facilities, diagnosed with asthma, prescribed a MDI (beclomethasone and/or salbutamol) for at least one month and English or isiXhosa-speaking. The exclusion criterion for patients in this study was involvement in any other asthma educational intervention during the period of study. Interviewer-led structured questionnaires were administered to 55 patients at the baseline and follow-up. Data collected include demographics, brief medical history and current asthma medications. Self-efficacy and iii health-related quality of life were assessed. Knowledge of asthma and asthma management was evaluated, and the use of beclomethasone and/or salbutamol metered dose inhalers was assessed. The PIL ‘Understanding asthma and trigger factors of asthma’ formed part of the educational intervention to explain asthma and aspects related to its management. Inhaler technique was evaluated and corrected using the PIL ‘How to use your pump’ together with a demonstration of correct technique by the investigator. Follow-up interviews were conducted approximately four weeks after baseline. PIL acceptability, readability and understanding of each pictogram were investigated at follow-up only. The educational intervention resulted in a significant increase in mean knowledge of asthma from 52.7% at baseline to 75.5% at follow-up. Gender was not associated with knowledge, but there was a significant age effect at baseline only, with the younger patients achieving better knowledge results. In both phases, patients with higher education had improved scores. A significant increase (2.4% to 38.6%) in the number of patients taking the minimum recommended adult dose of beclomethasone was noted but it is a matter of concern that the majority of patients were taking less than this. Patient self-reports suggested a significant increase in adherence, with the number of patients taking beclomethasone daily increasing from 33.3% to 61.3%. Self-reported management and control of asthma improved and this was reflected by the enhanced HRQOL results. MDI technique also improved significantly with an increase in the mean number of correct steps from 4.6 ± 2.2 to 7.9 ± 2.7. Education had a significant effect on MDI technique with more errors associated with lower educational status. There were no significant age or gender effects on the total number of correct steps in either phase. The illustrated PILs were received favourably with the majority of literate patients reporting that they were easy to read. Patients commented positively on the inclusion of pictograms and stated that the pictograms had served as aids in the understanding of asthma, trigger factors of asthma and correct MDI technique. The results of this study show that specially designed illustrated PILs can be an effective tool in educating low-literate patients with asthma. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Authors: Wrench, Wendy Merle
- Date: 2012 , 2012-10-08
- Subjects: Asthma -- South Africa -- Study and teaching , Asthmatics -- South Africa -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016236
- Description: Asthma is a chronic non-communicable disease associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Globally 300 million people have asthma and it is estimated that one in every 250 deaths worldwide are due to asthma. South Africa has the highest asthma prevalence (8.1%) in Africa and the disease is 18th in the top 20 causes of death. Inadequate home management, poor availability of health care, and poor transport and emergency services are recognised as important contributing factors. Patients with a low level of education and limited literacy skills may be unable to understand instructions on frequency and use of asthma medicines, which could result in unintentional non-adherence leading to serious complications and increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a tailored educational intervention on low-literate patients with asthma. Objectives to achieve this aim included designing patient information leaflets (PILs) containing information on asthma, management of asthma and asthma therapy, and using the PILs to educate low-literate asthma patients. A before-andafter intervention type design evaluated self-reported selected health-related quality of life measures, self-reported self-efficacy, knowledge of asthma and asthma management, knowledge of the use of metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and MDI technique. The acceptability and understanding of the tailored PILs was also investigated. Two simple, readable PILs containing pictograms were developed in English and then translated into isiXhosa, the home language of the majority of the target population. Various guidelines on the design of health-related information for people with low-literacy were consulted and input on the design was received from health care providers, patients and graphic artists. A pilot study was conducted at a local primary health care (PHC) clinic to evaluate the PILs and final modifications to the PILs were made based on feedback received. For the main study, patients were recruited from the KwaNonqubela PHC clinic in Alexandria in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Patients were 18 years or older, dependent on public sector health care facilities, diagnosed with asthma, prescribed a MDI (beclomethasone and/or salbutamol) for at least one month and English or isiXhosa-speaking. The exclusion criterion for patients in this study was involvement in any other asthma educational intervention during the period of study. Interviewer-led structured questionnaires were administered to 55 patients at the baseline and follow-up. Data collected include demographics, brief medical history and current asthma medications. Self-efficacy and iii health-related quality of life were assessed. Knowledge of asthma and asthma management was evaluated, and the use of beclomethasone and/or salbutamol metered dose inhalers was assessed. The PIL ‘Understanding asthma and trigger factors of asthma’ formed part of the educational intervention to explain asthma and aspects related to its management. Inhaler technique was evaluated and corrected using the PIL ‘How to use your pump’ together with a demonstration of correct technique by the investigator. Follow-up interviews were conducted approximately four weeks after baseline. PIL acceptability, readability and understanding of each pictogram were investigated at follow-up only. The educational intervention resulted in a significant increase in mean knowledge of asthma from 52.7% at baseline to 75.5% at follow-up. Gender was not associated with knowledge, but there was a significant age effect at baseline only, with the younger patients achieving better knowledge results. In both phases, patients with higher education had improved scores. A significant increase (2.4% to 38.6%) in the number of patients taking the minimum recommended adult dose of beclomethasone was noted but it is a matter of concern that the majority of patients were taking less than this. Patient self-reports suggested a significant increase in adherence, with the number of patients taking beclomethasone daily increasing from 33.3% to 61.3%. Self-reported management and control of asthma improved and this was reflected by the enhanced HRQOL results. MDI technique also improved significantly with an increase in the mean number of correct steps from 4.6 ± 2.2 to 7.9 ± 2.7. Education had a significant effect on MDI technique with more errors associated with lower educational status. There were no significant age or gender effects on the total number of correct steps in either phase. The illustrated PILs were received favourably with the majority of literate patients reporting that they were easy to read. Patients commented positively on the inclusion of pictograms and stated that the pictograms had served as aids in the understanding of asthma, trigger factors of asthma and correct MDI technique. The results of this study show that specially designed illustrated PILs can be an effective tool in educating low-literate patients with asthma. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
Developing a form-process framework to describe the functioning of semi-arid alluvial fans in the Baviaanskloof Valley, South Africa
- Authors: Bobbins, Kerry Leigh
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Alluvial fans -- Research -- South Africa Sedimentation and deposition -- Research -- South Africa Geomorphology -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005500
- Description: The Baviaanskloof catchment is a semi-arid catchment located in the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa. Little is known about the functioning of the complicated Baviaanskloof fluvial system and the role alluvial fans in the fluvial landscape. This thesis will contribute to field of geomorphology and, more specifically, to the field of fan morphometry by producing a standalone fan framework outlining methods to investigate the influence of external and internal control variables on alluvial fans. In this thesis, outcomes of the applied framework and case study are used to develop fan restoration guidelines for the Baviaanskloof Valley. The framework incorporates external and internal fan control variables at a valley-wide and local fan scale. External control variables include accommodation space, base-level change, and drainage basin inputs. Internal control variables include fan style, morphometry and fan channels. In order to apply the framework, fan morphometry data was required. This data was collected by creating a spatial plan of fans and basins in the valley. Outcomes of the applied framework include; an understanding of baselevel change on fans, relationships between fan basin characteristics and the fan surface and insight into fan channel processes. Results of the applied framework are investigated further using bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate (principle component analysis and regression analysis) analysis techniques. Significant relationships identified are: drainage basin area versus fan area, fan area and fan slope and drainage basin ruggedness and basin size. The primary outcomes of this thesis include an alluvial fan form-process framework, key considerations to be included in alluvial fan restoration projects and fan restoration guidelines. Contributions of this thesis to broader alluvial fan morphology science includes new insights into general fan literature by compiling a form-process alluvial fan classification framework to identify external and internal fan control variables and identify fan form. Additions have been made to Clarke’s (2010) evolutionary stages to describe stages 4 and 5 of fan evolution that has been adapted to describe fan evolution and differentiate between stages of mature fan evolution. This thesis has also contributed to the study of alluvial fans in South Africa, particularly in the Baviaanskloof Valley. The layout of the procedural guidelines and key considerations for an alluvial fan project provides a guide for rapid fan assessment for maximum cost and time benefits for stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Bobbins, Kerry Leigh
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Alluvial fans -- Research -- South Africa Sedimentation and deposition -- Research -- South Africa Geomorphology -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005500
- Description: The Baviaanskloof catchment is a semi-arid catchment located in the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa. Little is known about the functioning of the complicated Baviaanskloof fluvial system and the role alluvial fans in the fluvial landscape. This thesis will contribute to field of geomorphology and, more specifically, to the field of fan morphometry by producing a standalone fan framework outlining methods to investigate the influence of external and internal control variables on alluvial fans. In this thesis, outcomes of the applied framework and case study are used to develop fan restoration guidelines for the Baviaanskloof Valley. The framework incorporates external and internal fan control variables at a valley-wide and local fan scale. External control variables include accommodation space, base-level change, and drainage basin inputs. Internal control variables include fan style, morphometry and fan channels. In order to apply the framework, fan morphometry data was required. This data was collected by creating a spatial plan of fans and basins in the valley. Outcomes of the applied framework include; an understanding of baselevel change on fans, relationships between fan basin characteristics and the fan surface and insight into fan channel processes. Results of the applied framework are investigated further using bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate (principle component analysis and regression analysis) analysis techniques. Significant relationships identified are: drainage basin area versus fan area, fan area and fan slope and drainage basin ruggedness and basin size. The primary outcomes of this thesis include an alluvial fan form-process framework, key considerations to be included in alluvial fan restoration projects and fan restoration guidelines. Contributions of this thesis to broader alluvial fan morphology science includes new insights into general fan literature by compiling a form-process alluvial fan classification framework to identify external and internal fan control variables and identify fan form. Additions have been made to Clarke’s (2010) evolutionary stages to describe stages 4 and 5 of fan evolution that has been adapted to describe fan evolution and differentiate between stages of mature fan evolution. This thesis has also contributed to the study of alluvial fans in South Africa, particularly in the Baviaanskloof Valley. The layout of the procedural guidelines and key considerations for an alluvial fan project provides a guide for rapid fan assessment for maximum cost and time benefits for stakeholders.
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Developing marine pollution awareness among new recruits at SAS Saldanha Naval Gymnasium: a training needs analysis
- Authors: Kwak, Gerrit Werner
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Marine pollution -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Naval education -- South Africa -- Evaluation Training needs -- Armed forces -- South Africa -- Evaluation S.A.S. Saldanha (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:774 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003895
- Description: This dissertation focuses on the marine pollution awareness training needs of newly recruited SAN employees. It uses Training Needs Analysis (TNA) as a tool to gain a better understanding of what knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. Ultimately, their individual and collective abilities will be a determining factor in the strategic intent of the SAN to be unchallenged at sea. The absence therefore of a Marine Pollution Awareness Training Programme (MPTAP) within the Basic Military Training (BMT) curriculum of new recruits at SAS SALDANHA Naval Gymnasium necessitated a TNA. Based on prior research on training conducted by subject matter experts both internal and external to the SAN it was decided to conduct a TNA on the KSA‟s required in terms of marine pollution awareness amongst newly recruited members. The literature provided discusses education, training, development of employees and focuses then on the role and importance of TNA‟s. Information was gathered from various subject matter experts, archival records, policy documents, internet-based resources and newly recruited naval learners consisting of a sample of 25 new recruits. Theory was used to determine the KSA expected from naval employees in terms of marine pollution awareness. Data obtained from each of the research resources was coded and grouped in order to establish themes. This allowed the researcher to determine what KSA‟s recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. The researcher therefore found that first priority in terms of KSA‟s should be given to a basic legal understanding of the regulatory framework that is applicable on marine pollution. This understanding will form the foundation for recruits to have the ability to know “what to do when” during observed transgressions. The legal understanding in combination with the Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) unit standards will help new recruits to be skilful when applying safe working practices thereby ensuring their own and others' safety. Ultimately, a basic but well entrenched knowledge about marine pollution together with applied skills on how to use the knowledge should influence the attitude of new recruits in a positive manner. The researcher concluded that there is a need on the macro, meso and micro level for a MPATP amongst new recruits at SAS SALDANHA. It is recommended that since this research appears to establish the first empirical confirmation of the training need amongst new recruits, it will require further research in terms of curriculum design, curriculum implementation and the evaluation thereof. It would therefore be in the best interest of the SAN to ensure the integration of a MPATP into the planning phase of future BMT Curriculum‟s. It would also be advisable to communicate this intent with all the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure alignment with governmental organisations as well as the private sector where these new recruits can be employed based on their newly acquired competencies.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kwak, Gerrit Werner
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Marine pollution -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Naval education -- South Africa -- Evaluation Training needs -- Armed forces -- South Africa -- Evaluation S.A.S. Saldanha (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:774 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003895
- Description: This dissertation focuses on the marine pollution awareness training needs of newly recruited SAN employees. It uses Training Needs Analysis (TNA) as a tool to gain a better understanding of what knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. Ultimately, their individual and collective abilities will be a determining factor in the strategic intent of the SAN to be unchallenged at sea. The absence therefore of a Marine Pollution Awareness Training Programme (MPTAP) within the Basic Military Training (BMT) curriculum of new recruits at SAS SALDANHA Naval Gymnasium necessitated a TNA. Based on prior research on training conducted by subject matter experts both internal and external to the SAN it was decided to conduct a TNA on the KSA‟s required in terms of marine pollution awareness amongst newly recruited members. The literature provided discusses education, training, development of employees and focuses then on the role and importance of TNA‟s. Information was gathered from various subject matter experts, archival records, policy documents, internet-based resources and newly recruited naval learners consisting of a sample of 25 new recruits. Theory was used to determine the KSA expected from naval employees in terms of marine pollution awareness. Data obtained from each of the research resources was coded and grouped in order to establish themes. This allowed the researcher to determine what KSA‟s recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. The researcher therefore found that first priority in terms of KSA‟s should be given to a basic legal understanding of the regulatory framework that is applicable on marine pollution. This understanding will form the foundation for recruits to have the ability to know “what to do when” during observed transgressions. The legal understanding in combination with the Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) unit standards will help new recruits to be skilful when applying safe working practices thereby ensuring their own and others' safety. Ultimately, a basic but well entrenched knowledge about marine pollution together with applied skills on how to use the knowledge should influence the attitude of new recruits in a positive manner. The researcher concluded that there is a need on the macro, meso and micro level for a MPATP amongst new recruits at SAS SALDANHA. It is recommended that since this research appears to establish the first empirical confirmation of the training need amongst new recruits, it will require further research in terms of curriculum design, curriculum implementation and the evaluation thereof. It would therefore be in the best interest of the SAN to ensure the integration of a MPATP into the planning phase of future BMT Curriculum‟s. It would also be advisable to communicate this intent with all the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure alignment with governmental organisations as well as the private sector where these new recruits can be employed based on their newly acquired competencies.
- Full Text:
Development of a hydraulic sub-model as part of a desktop environmental flow assessment method
- Authors: Desai, Ahmed Yacoob
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Hydrologic models -- Research -- South Africa Hydraulic engineering -- South Africa Rivers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:6041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006200
- Description: Countries around the world have been developing ecological policies to protect their water resources and minimise the impacts of development on their river systems. The concept of ‘minimum flows’ was initially established as a solution but it did not provide sufficient protection as all elements of a flow regime were found to be important for the protection of the river ecosystem. “Environmental flows” were developed to determine these flow regimes to maintain a river in some defined ecological condition. Rapid, initial estimates of the quantity component of environmental flows may be determined using the Desktop Reserve Model in South Africa. However, the Desktop Reserve Model is dependent upon the characteristics of the reference natural hydrology used. The advancements in hydraulic and ecological relationships from the past decade have prompted the development of a Revised Desktop Reserve Model (RDRM) that would incorporate these relationships. The research in this thesis presents the development of the hydraulic sub-model for the RDRM. The hydraulic sub-model was designed to produce a realistic representation of the hydraulic conditions using hydraulic parameters/characteristics from readily available information for any part of South Africa. Hydraulic data from past EWR studies were used to estimate the hydraulic parameters. These estimated hydraulic parameters were used to develop hydraulic estimation relationships and these relationships were developed based on a combination of regression and rule-based procedures. The estimation relationships were incorporated into the hydraulic sub-model of the integrated RDRM and assessments of the hydraulic outputs and EWR results were undertaken to assess the ‘applicability’ of the hydraulic sub-model. The hydraulic sub-model was assessed to be at a stage where it can satisfactorily be incorporated in the RDRM and that it is adequately robust in many situations. Recommendations for future work include the refinement of estimation of the channel forming discharge or the use of spatial imagery to check the maximum channel width estimation. It is also proposed that a future version of the hydraulic sub-model could include flow regime change impacts on channel geomorphology and sedimentology so that flow management scenarios can be more effectively assessed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Desai, Ahmed Yacoob
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Hydrologic models -- Research -- South Africa Hydraulic engineering -- South Africa Rivers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:6041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006200
- Description: Countries around the world have been developing ecological policies to protect their water resources and minimise the impacts of development on their river systems. The concept of ‘minimum flows’ was initially established as a solution but it did not provide sufficient protection as all elements of a flow regime were found to be important for the protection of the river ecosystem. “Environmental flows” were developed to determine these flow regimes to maintain a river in some defined ecological condition. Rapid, initial estimates of the quantity component of environmental flows may be determined using the Desktop Reserve Model in South Africa. However, the Desktop Reserve Model is dependent upon the characteristics of the reference natural hydrology used. The advancements in hydraulic and ecological relationships from the past decade have prompted the development of a Revised Desktop Reserve Model (RDRM) that would incorporate these relationships. The research in this thesis presents the development of the hydraulic sub-model for the RDRM. The hydraulic sub-model was designed to produce a realistic representation of the hydraulic conditions using hydraulic parameters/characteristics from readily available information for any part of South Africa. Hydraulic data from past EWR studies were used to estimate the hydraulic parameters. These estimated hydraulic parameters were used to develop hydraulic estimation relationships and these relationships were developed based on a combination of regression and rule-based procedures. The estimation relationships were incorporated into the hydraulic sub-model of the integrated RDRM and assessments of the hydraulic outputs and EWR results were undertaken to assess the ‘applicability’ of the hydraulic sub-model. The hydraulic sub-model was assessed to be at a stage where it can satisfactorily be incorporated in the RDRM and that it is adequately robust in many situations. Recommendations for future work include the refinement of estimation of the channel forming discharge or the use of spatial imagery to check the maximum channel width estimation. It is also proposed that a future version of the hydraulic sub-model could include flow regime change impacts on channel geomorphology and sedimentology so that flow management scenarios can be more effectively assessed.
- Full Text:
Development of molecularly imprinted polymer based solid phase extraction sorbents for the selective cleanup of food and pharmaceutical residue samples
- Authors: Batlokwa, Bareki Shima
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sorbents -- Research Nanofibers -- Research Aflatoxins -- Research Electrospinning -- Research Extraction (Chemistry) -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4309 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004967
- Description: This thesis presents the development of chlorophyll, cholic acid, aflatoxin B1 molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles and cholic acid MIP nanofibers for application as selective solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents. The particles were prepared by bulk polymerization and the nanofibers by a novel approach combining molecular imprinting and electrospinning technology. The AFB1 MIP particles were compared with an aflatoxin specific immunoextraction sorbent in cleaning-up and pre-concentrating aflatoxins from nut extracts. They both recorded high extraction efficiencies (EEs) of > 97 % in selectively extracting the aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2). High reproducibility marked by the low %RSDs of < 1% and low LODs of ≤ 0.02 ng/g were calculated in all cases. The LODs were within the monitoring requirements of the European Commission. The results were validated with a peanut butter certified reference material. The chlorophyll MIP on the other hand selectively removed chlorophyll that would otherwise interfere during pesticide residue analysis (PRA) from > 0.6 to <0.09 Au in green plants extracts. The extracted chlorophyll was removed to far below the level of ≥ 0.399 Au that is usually associated with interference during PRA. Furthermore, the MIP demonstrated better selectivity by removing only chlorophyll (> 99%) in the presence of planar pesticides than the currently employed graphitized carbon black (GCB) that removed both the chlorophyll (> 88%) and planar pesticides (> 89%). For the interfering cholic acid during drug residue analysis, cholic acid MIP electrospun nanofibers demonstrated to be more sensitive and possessing higher loading capacity than the MIP particles. 100% cholic acid was removed by the nanofibers from standard solutions relative to 80% by the particles. This showed that the nanofibers have better performance than the micro particles and as such have potential to replace the particle based SPE sorbents that are currently in use. All the templates were optimally removed from the prepared MIPs by employing a novel pressurized hot water extraction template removal method that was used for the first time in this thesis. The method employed only water, an environmentally friendly solvent to remove templates to ≥ 99.6% with template residual bleeding of ≤ 0.02%.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Batlokwa, Bareki Shima
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sorbents -- Research Nanofibers -- Research Aflatoxins -- Research Electrospinning -- Research Extraction (Chemistry) -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4309 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004967
- Description: This thesis presents the development of chlorophyll, cholic acid, aflatoxin B1 molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles and cholic acid MIP nanofibers for application as selective solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents. The particles were prepared by bulk polymerization and the nanofibers by a novel approach combining molecular imprinting and electrospinning technology. The AFB1 MIP particles were compared with an aflatoxin specific immunoextraction sorbent in cleaning-up and pre-concentrating aflatoxins from nut extracts. They both recorded high extraction efficiencies (EEs) of > 97 % in selectively extracting the aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2). High reproducibility marked by the low %RSDs of < 1% and low LODs of ≤ 0.02 ng/g were calculated in all cases. The LODs were within the monitoring requirements of the European Commission. The results were validated with a peanut butter certified reference material. The chlorophyll MIP on the other hand selectively removed chlorophyll that would otherwise interfere during pesticide residue analysis (PRA) from > 0.6 to <0.09 Au in green plants extracts. The extracted chlorophyll was removed to far below the level of ≥ 0.399 Au that is usually associated with interference during PRA. Furthermore, the MIP demonstrated better selectivity by removing only chlorophyll (> 99%) in the presence of planar pesticides than the currently employed graphitized carbon black (GCB) that removed both the chlorophyll (> 88%) and planar pesticides (> 89%). For the interfering cholic acid during drug residue analysis, cholic acid MIP electrospun nanofibers demonstrated to be more sensitive and possessing higher loading capacity than the MIP particles. 100% cholic acid was removed by the nanofibers from standard solutions relative to 80% by the particles. This showed that the nanofibers have better performance than the micro particles and as such have potential to replace the particle based SPE sorbents that are currently in use. All the templates were optimally removed from the prepared MIPs by employing a novel pressurized hot water extraction template removal method that was used for the first time in this thesis. The method employed only water, an environmentally friendly solvent to remove templates to ≥ 99.6% with template residual bleeding of ≤ 0.02%.
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